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This study aims to spotlight the postmodern tendency of metafiction in Preeti Shenoy’s selected texts. Metafiction is self-conscious in relation to language, literary form, and storytelling in fiction. This form of fiction accentuates its construct and reminds the readers to be aware of a fictional work. Shenoy is a noteworthy postmodern writer, and her famous novels are ‘The Secret Wish List’ (2012) and ‘It Happens for Reason’ (2014). These two novels exhibit the subject of postmodern metafiction through her writings. In these novels, the protagonists overcome their family doctrines to fulfill their wishes. The method of study adopted the metafiction theories proposed by Mark Currie, Patricia Waugh, and Linda Hutcheon. It highlights Shenoy’s texts that represent the elements of metafiction through the protagonists. Using various theories related to postmodern metafiction, the view of metafiction in the texts is substantiated and explored. The postmodern perspective of metafiction is explored in Shenoy’s texts and analyzed with metafiction theories. The study results are compared and discussed with other studies and contemporary texts concerning metafiction. The findings show that metafiction is applicable in the texts of the two novels by Shenoy. She projects the aspects of metafiction in her works through her writing, especially narration, both fiction and reality.

Education 4.0 is considered a significant technology for teaching and learning. The present study aims to explore the impact and the importance of Education 4.0 for improving English language learning in the perception of students in India, especially Hyderabad City. Moreover, Education 4.0 has bloomed as an important need to move along with the fast-growing education system of the world. But, it is a fact that many Indian students have complications and difficulties in learning English due to many reasons. The traditional methods of teaching are one of those reasons. Students learn only through the conventional methods, and they may find it boring and not effective. The education and mode of teaching have changed a lot, and it has attained a newer form of using the technology. Moreover, in the current era, where work from home and online teaching has become a new normal throughout the world, the technology used for teaching is inseparable. Hence, the authors are motivated to study the impact of Education 4.0 on improving English learning from Hyderabad, India. The methodology of the study has applied quantitative research. The study has employed pre-tested, close-ended questionnaires and post-assessment to gather data from the respondents to understand students' performance in English language learning after implying Education 4.0. The five-point Likert scale has been used to analyse the collected data and to get mean values of responses. The total number of respondents is 145 students who pursue their engineering degrees in the select region. Among the collected data, most of them were from urban. The data obtained from the respondents proved that there is a direct correlation between the students' perception and implementation of Education 4.0 in learning the English language. This study indicated that the respondents upheld Education 4.0 to improve English language learning in Hyderabad, India.

The importance of growth mindset and teachers’ feedback has been widely recognised to improve the English language performance of students; however, the impact of growth mindset as a mediator is least explored. Therefore, the study aimed to empirically analyse the interrelationships between growth mindset and teachers’ feedback levels on secondary school students’ English as a Second Language (ESL) performance and to study the mediation effects of growth mindset in the relationships. The research model examined growth mindset along with four types of feedback. The levels of feedback include task, process, self-regulation and self-based feedback that teachers provide to improve the ESL performance of students. Survey questionnaires were administered to 301 secondary school students in Class 9 from two private schools in India. The data were analysed using PLS-SEM 4.0 software. The results indicated that the direct effect of feedback that emphasised process and self-regulation fosters a growth mindset in ESL students. Feedback levels focused on task, process, self-regulation, and growth mindset significantly impact ESL performance. Moreover, growth mindset mediated the relationships between process and self-regulation-focused feedback and ESL performance. However, no evidence supports the relationship between self-focused feedback, growth mindset, and ESL performance. The study concludes with implications and directions for future research.

Background As Industry 4.0 debuted roughly a decade ago, it is now necessary to examine how it affects various aspects of the discipline. It is the responsibility of the education sector to guarantee that the next generation is equipped mentally, physically, and cognitively to face unforeseen challenges. Numerous educational institutions are outfitted with Industry 4.0 technology-based learning. Industry 4.0 fosters advancements in learning methodologies, especially for language enhancements. Learners may gain knowledge at their base, providing them an opportunity for independent study. The majority of subjects have been acquired through Industry 4.0. This research chapter explores the intersection of Industry 4.0 and education, specifically focusing on the SmallTalk AI tool. It investigates how technological and digital innovations within the context of Industry 4.0 can serve as powerful tools to enhance language learning outcomes. Methods This article presents a comprehensive analysis of statistical data and empirical evidence to support the positive impact of Industry 4.0 technology of SmallTalk on language acquisition particularly speaking. The study also determines the relationship among participants’ usage through the technology acceptance model (TAM). Furthermore, it examines the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating these innovations into language learning pedagogies, offering insights for educators and policymakers to harness the potential of Industry 4.0 in fostering language proficiency. The research employs quantitative analysis. The data obtained from educational institutions has been analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS software. Results The results indicate that Industry 4.0 has had an important effect on English language acquisition. This self-supported adaptable system of education facilitates effective student learning. This study also suggests that future research into the utility of Industry 4.0 be conducted elsewhere internationally.

AbstractEnglish is globally recognized as the dominant language for communication, playing a vital role in various fields. With the increasing interconnectivity and automation of the 21st century, the demand for professional English communication skills has risen worldwide. Multimedia learning has become crucial for engaging and motivating learners, aligning with Education 4.0 principles. This study explores the potential of the Education 4.0 tool ELSA (English Language Speech Assistance) app, which utilizes AI and speech recognition to enhance professional English communication skills among Business school students. The research utilized a cross-sectional survey approach with purposive sampling targeting Business school students, with 206 participants. Over a four-week intervention period, the students were guided to explore the ELSA application as per the study plan. After the intervention, the students’ perceptions were gathered and analyzed using the statistical tool SPSS version 21. The study’s novelty lies in combining multimedia learning with the Education 4.0 tool ELSA to enhance Professional English Communication skills. Results indicate that multimedia learning and ELSA significantly improve communication skills, motivation, engagement and learning outcomes. Further research is needed to address limitations and expand these findings.

This paper aims to analyze the impact of body dissatisfaction on communication competencies among engineering college students and to put forth remedial strategies. As body dissatisfaction is still a grey area in research-related communication competencies, the researchers have focused on this arena. Sixty-one heterogeneous participants (male = 30 and female = 31) from one of the private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, India, participated during the summer semester. The judgment under the nonprobability sampling technique was used. Moreover, rubrics were developed with four parameters: color complex, consciousness over their physique, shame and guilt, self-blaming, and lamentation. In addition, class observation techniques were used based on the aforementioned rubrics; the students accessed their classroom presentation using an evaluation sheet derived from the rubrics. The result revealed that around 70% of the participants suffered from body dissatisfaction, while the degree ranges from minimum to maximum levels. This hampers their effective communication and self-expression. With a holistic approach that combines mental health support, awareness-building workshops, peer mentorship, and communication skills training, the participants are mitigated by the impact of body dissatisfaction on communication within the student cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of growth mindset and teachers' feedback has been widely recognised to improve the English language performance of students; however, the impact of growth mindset as a mediator is least explored. Therefore, the study aimed to empirically analyse the interrelationships between growth mindset and teachers' feedback levels on secondary school students' English as a Second Language (ESL) performance and to study the mediation effects of growth mindset in the relationships. The research model examined growth mindset along with four types of feedback. The levels of feedback include task, process, self-regulation and self-based feedback that teachers provide to improve the ESL performance of students. Survey questionnaires were administered to 301 secondary school students in Class 9 from two private schools in India. The data were analysed using PLS-SEM 4.0 software. The results indicated that the direct effect of feedback that emphasised process and self-regulation fosters a growth mindset in ESL students. Feedback levels focused on task, process, self-regulation, and growth mindset significantly impact ESL performance. Moreover, growth mindset mediated the relationships between process and self-regulation-focused feedback and ESL performance. However, no evidence supports the relationship between self-focused feedback, growth mindset, and ESL performance. The study concludes with implications and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various educational methods have been used by professional physical therapy teachers for their students. Since physical therapy includes both theory and practical, students may need to critically think about each patient's intervention based on the stage of their illness. It is necessary to teach and assess students' clinical reasoning abilities, so as to deal with the patients. The aim of the study was to find the impact of evidence-based pedagogical approach on clinical reasoning among undergraduate physical therapy students. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in our institution and it was a pre- and post-test experimental study design. Forty students in their 3rd year of undergraduate physical therapy (BPT) degree program were randomly assigned to experimental group (evidence-based pedagogical approach, n = 20) and to control group (traditional pedagogical approach, n = 20). They were assessed with Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning (SACRR), clinical reasoning assessment tool (CRAT) (3 domains), and multiple-choice test, at the baseline and after 4 weeks of training. Data were analyzed using an independent t -test. Results: Experimental group showed a significant difference in SACRR (t = 3.4446, P < 0.05), CRAT (Content knowledge and Conceptual reasoning domains showed significant differences with t = 3.2110; 2.7973, P <0.05, but Procedural knowledge domain was not significant with t = 0.7791, P <0.05), and multiple-choice test (t = 5.8538, P < 0.05) scores than the control group. Conclusions: The use of evidence-based pedagogical approach may be more effective than the traditional pedagogical approach for improving clinical reasoning among undergraduate physical therapy students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present era, women-owned firms are one of India’s fastest increasing entrepreneurial communities in the form of women entrepreneurs. The objective of the study is to identify the factors that influence women’s entrepreneurial orientation and firms’ performance. The research study discusses the influencing factors and their effect on firms’ performance and satisfaction in this regard. The proposed framework and hypotheses have been tested using data gathered from boutiques, beauty parlors, carpet manufacturers, and retail shops in Karnataka, India. Data analysis was done using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques. In Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), paths were created for evaluating the cause-and-effect relationship between different factors viz., social, psychological, financial, and resource factors and entrepreneurial performance and satisfaction. Seven relationships were significant, while two relationships were insignificant in this structural equation. The key finding of the paper is that all factors have a significant impact on the firm’s performance. The implications of research results for researchers and practitioners are discussed, and suggestions have also been made.

This paper focuses on the influence of ramp locations upstream of a strut-based scramjet combustor under reacting flow conditions that are numerically investigated. In contrast, a computational study is adopted using Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. The numerical results of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt or German Aerospace Centre (DLR) scramjet model are validated with the reported experimental values that show compliance within the range, indicating that the adopted simulation method can be extended for other investigations as well. The performance of the ramps in the strut-based scramjet combustor is analyzed based on parameters such as wall pressures, combustion efficiency and total pressure loss at various axial locations of the combustor. From the numerical shadowgraph, more shock interactions are observed upstream of the strut injection region for the ramp cases, which decelerates the flow downstream, and additional shock reflections with less intensity are also noticed when compared with the DLR scramjet model. The shock reflection due to the ramps enhances the hydrogen distribution in the spatial direction. The ignition delay is noticed for ramp combustors due to the deceleration of flow compared to the baseline strut only scramjet combustor. However, a higher flame temperature is observed with the ramp combustor. Because more shock interactions arise from the ramps, a marginal increase in the total pressure loss is observed for ramp combustors when compared to the baseline model.

The utilization of energy is on the rise in current trends due to increasing consumptions by households. Smart buildings, on the other hand, aim to optimize energy, and hence, the aim of the study is to forecast the cost of energy consumption in smart buildings by effectively addressing the minimal energy consumption. However, smart buildings are restricted, with limited power access and capacity associated with Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units. It further suffers from low communication capability due to device limitations. In this paper, a balanced deep learning architecture is used to offer solutions to address these constraints. The deep learning algorithm considers three constraints, such as a multi-objective optimization problem and a fitness function, to resolve the price management problem and high-level energy consumption in HVAC systems. The study analyzes and optimizes the consumption of power in smart buildings by the HVAC systems in terms of power loss, price management and reactive power. Experiments are conducted over various scenarios to check the integrity of the system over various smart buildings and in high-rise buildings. The results are compared in terms of various HVAC devices on various metrics and communication protocols, where the proposed system is considered more effective than other methods. The results of the Li-Fi communication protocols show improved results compared to the other communication protocols.

The energy market is gradually changing from centralized trading to peer-to-peer trading due to the tremendous increase in a microgrid with green energy resources. When more generating units are included in the microgrid, the possibilities of more reactive power flows exist in the system that leads to high transmission loss which has to be optimized. The reactive power is one of the essential ancillary services in the microgrid towards preserving the voltage in the transmission and distribution line. The major contribution of the paper is towards managing the ancillary service in the distributed energy network economically and technically. This study aims to estimate and optimize the power loss, reactive power, and price management as well. Towards optimization, the self-balanced differential evolution algorithm (SBDE) is used in this study. A distribution system operator is involved in coordinating the sellers and buyers. The proposed layered microgrid architecture uses the blockchain technology for reactive power price management by providing transparency and security among peers. The process of converging various transactions into a block and adding in the distributed blockchain is illustrated. Multiple transactions are performed by using the proposed methodology, giving efficient energy transaction. The results show that the power loss is minimized using SBDE algorithm for different cases. Additionally, the study has demonstrated the price allocation of the optimal reactive power obtained from providers. The blockchain technology embedded in reactive power pricing will play a significant role in the evolution of traditional power distribution systems to active distribution networks.