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The purpose of this paper is to study the corrosion inhibition tendency of cigarette waste (water extracts of cigarette butts, WECB) on an iron surface in an acid medium.

The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization techniques were used to analyze the performance of WECB on the iron working electrode. Electrochemical polarization curves were used to determine the intensity of the metal corrosion, specifically to see the effectiveness of the anodic and cathodic reactions in the corrosive medium having WECB. Moreover, the electrochemical impedance of WECB with electrode was analyzed qualitatively. The electrochemical data that relate isotherm adsorption of WECB with iron were analyzed; furthermore, the scanning electron microscope was used to analyze morphology change during the corrosion inhibition.

After analyzing the impedance data, it is seen that there exists a single capacitive semicircle at the higher frequency range corresponding to a one-time constant in the Bode-phase plot. In the polarization curves studies (Tafel slopes), the current densities of both cathodic and anodic branches are greatly affected in the presence of WECB in the corrosive medium, suggesting that WECB performs as a mixed inhibitor. The free energy data and Temkin adsorption isotherm process show that the adsorption process of WECB on the metal surface follows a physisorption. Furthermore, the WECB-coated metal surface analyzed by scanning electron microscopy confirms the corrosion inhibition of WECB in the acid medium.

An in-depth characterization of the corroded scales is recommended to endorse the results of this study.

There may be some people who may challenge that the research may encourage smoking; however, if taken positively, the research offers a very cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to tackle the cigarette waste.

Idea of the present work is to reuse the WECB as corrosion inhibitors for the metal surface, as this waste contains large amount of nicotine, which exhibits corrosion inhibition properties. The present work deals with the study of corrosion inhibition properties of WECB on the iron surface in acid medium. The findings of this study can be very useful from scientific, as well as industrial application point of view. Moreover, the research is important as there is no proper recycling process for this waste so as to maintain a clean environment.

This study aims to analyze the effect of organizational context on Entrepreneurial Orientation–Business Performance (EO–BP) relationship by drawing a sample from India.

This firm-level study uses a cross-sectional research design. A personal survey of key informants, one each from 500 North Indian firms, has been conducted. The hypotheses were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling and multi-group moderation analysis.

This study reveals the relevance of organizational context in strategic decision-making. This study finds that the firm’s size and nature of industry influence the inclination of an enterprise toward innovativeness and proactiveness. The results indicate that both, new entrants and older firms, can adopt entrepreneurial posture.

This study attempts to provide a unique perspective of entrepreneurship research by assessing the effect of organizational context on the EO–BP relationship in the Indian context. This study applies five-dimensional conceptualization of EO to EO–BP relationship and attempts to contribute to the literature by refining the inventory of five-dimensional conceptualization of EO construct. The CFA model of multifaceted subjective measurement of BP construct lends support to the integrated approach of BP measurement.

The aim of this paper is to provide a unique perspective on entrepreneurship by examining how different ways of understanding entrepreneurial orientation (EO) affect business performance (BP). The study uses a five-dimensional approach to understand EO’s relationship with BP.

A personal survey of key informants (who have decision-making power in their firm), one each from 550 North Indian firms has been conducted. The hypotheses were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

The results indicate that both uni-dimensional and multi-dimensional conceptualizations of EO are equally valid and have a significant impact on BP. The study highlights the contextual nature of the relationship between EO and BP.

This study supports a comprehensive five-dimensional approach to EO, benefiting researchers and management practitioners. It validates an integrated measurement of BP and advances entrepreneurship theories, enabling broader generalizations for improved decision-making and strategy development.

The study is relevant for researchers and management practitioners. This study supports the five-dimensional conceptualization of EO and reveals the relevance of both uni-dimensional and multi-dimensional conceptualizations of EO. The study also lends support to the integrated approach of BP measurement. The results may also help to generalize entrepreneurship theories.

Despite the susceptibility of cotton crops to pest attacks in the Malwa Region of Indian Punjab, no crop insurance policy has been implemented there– not even the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which is a central scheme. Therefore, this paper attempts to gauge the likely impact of the PMFBY on Punjab cotton farmers and assess the changes needed for greater uptake and effectiveness of PMFBY.

The authors have conducted a primary survey to conduct this study. Initially, the authors compared the costs of cotton production with the returns in two scenarios (with and without insurance). Additionally, the authors have applied a logistic regression framework to examine the determinants of the willingness of farmers to participate in the crop insurance market.

The study finds that net returns of cotton crops are conventionally small and insufficient to cope with damages from crop failure. Yet, PMFBY will require some modifications in the premium rate and the level of indemnity for its greater uptake among Punjab cotton farmers. Additionally, using the logistic regression framework, the authors find that an increase in awareness about crop insurance and farmers' perceptions about their crop failure in the near future reduces the willingness of the farmers to participate in the crop insurance markets.

The present study looks for the viability of PMFBY in Indian Punjab for the cotton crop, which can also be extended to other crops.

Punjab could also use crop insurance to encourage diversification in agriculture. There is a need for special packages for diversified crops under any crop insurance policy. Crops susceptible to volatility due to climate-related factors should be identified and provided with a special insurance package.

There exist very scant studies that have discussed the viability of a central crop insurance scheme in the agricultural-rich state of India, i.e. Punjab. Moreover, they do not also focus on crop losses accruing due to pest and insect attacks.

In the era of digitalization and technology, tremendous changes have taken place in the taxi industry worldwide. The traditional taxi service has transformed into the latest innovative technology-based e-hailing service. There are innumerable factors that drive the user adoption of e-hailing apps. This study aims to primarily concentrate on identifying, analyzing and ranking these factors which have an impact on the user intention toward using e-hailing apps.

The e-hailing app users in the state of Punjab and Chandigarh are the target population for the study. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process technique has been applied to analyze and codify the determinants that influence the user intention of adopting e-hailing apps. The primary factors that have been considered for the study are social influence, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, perceived ease of use, self-efficacy, perceived risk, compatibility and trust.

The study revealed that “Perceived Usefulness” is the factor that influences user intention to use e-hailing apps the most, while “Perceived Risk” the least. The sub-criteria codified in the top priority was as follows: “Overall, I find the e-hailing app useful in booking a taxi (C15)”; “I do not need some people to use e-hailing apps (C52); “I believe e-hailing app is compatible with existing technology (C61).” The sub-criterion “E-hailing app service provider keeps its promise (C72)” was demonstrated to have the least impact on the user intention of adopting e-hailing apps.

The study has been confined to only eight factors selected from the extended technological acceptance model framework and some related technology acceptance theories. Some more other factors may have an impact on user adoption of e-hailing apps, which need to be added further. Also, the scope of the study should be enhanced by expanding the geographical area beyond the selected region.

The findings of the study enable the e-hailing service providers and marketers to understand the users’ intention in a better way, to make improvements in e-hailing apps and formulate strategies accordingly.

The previous literature provides the base to the present study for identifying the factors affecting user behavioral intention toward e-hailing apps and information technology. The findings and results of the present research make value addition to the existing knowledge base.

The objective of this research is to identify and prioritize the critical factors that influence the adoption of blockchain technology within the banking sector.

A well-known theoretical framework, the “Technology Organization Environment (TOE),” was chosen to analyze what criteria and sub-criteria affect blockchain adoption in the banking sector after a thorough assessment of the prior literature. Following that, 3 evaluation criteria and 14 sub-criteria were selected and verified using expert opinion. A survey design was created, and data for the study has been collected from various information technology (IT) managers/officers in the banking sector. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) was then used to meet the purpose of the research.

The study identified that the organizational dimension is the most significant criteria for blockchain adoption in the banking sector, followed by the environmental dimension. In contrast, the technological dimension is the least influential criterion. Clientele pressure, IT resources, financial resources, pressure from competitors and relative advantage are the most influential sub-criteria for blockchain adoption.

This study provides valuable insights to bank managers, blockchain and IT developers, third-party service providers and policymakers. For instance, adopting the same blockchain platform is easier for both large and small banks for banking operations by using third-party service provider. At the same time, banks should have the banks' own core team to implement the blockchain-based systems or to have control over the third-party service providers during the adoption stage.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, no empirical studies have used a holistic organizational context to understand the factors influencing the adoption of blockchain technology from traditional to blockchain-based banking systems.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the US unconventional monetary policy surprises on the management of trilemma in India.

This paper uses the event study approach along with OLS and MANOVA to examine the impact.

The results validate the existence of trilemma in India for the period from October 2008 to December 2017. The results also show that monetary policy independence still exists in India in the wake of greater spillover effects during the Federal Open Market Committee announcement days. The spillover effects on USD-INR exchange rates and capital flows are found to be statistically significant. The MANOVA results show that the trilemma in India is influenced by around 20% by the changes in the US monetary policy.

The above approach of event study combined with MANOVA in this subject area has not been used before to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Further, there are only a few studies that exist on the spillover effects of the US monetary policy actions on the management of trilemma in India.

Over the last few decades, there has been a substantial increase in environmentally conscious consumers' willingness to switch their preferences from mainstream products to green products. Hence, it becomes essential for academicians and marketers to understand the notion, attributes and a comprehensive profile of green consumers. Since consumer attitude towards green products is not widely studied in developing countries, the present study aims at exploring the profile of green consumers in India (Punjab State) based on the same in the Indian context.

The study used the survey method, and a sample of 400 respondents was selected from the Punjab State of India. Initially, principal component analysis was employed to reduce the dimensions. Following this, cluster analysis was applied to segment consumer market in distinctive segments. Results of cluster analysis were validated with discriminant analysis and finally, differences amongst the segments of green and non-green consumers were examined to build on the profile of green consumers.

The study segmented the consumer market based on consumer attitude towards green products. Results of the study revealed four distinct segments. “Dynamic Green”, the largest cluster, presents truly green consumers who exhibit a positive attitude towards green products. Finally, the study highlighted the attitudinal profile of green and non-green consumers and differences amongst the segments were explained.

Similar study should be conducted in other developing/developed countries. Furthermore, cross-cultural studies can be undertaken to contrast consumer attitude towards green products. The study may also be extended to probe the connection between consumers' attitude and actual behaviour towards green products.

The study examined the role of consumer attitude towards green products in identifying the distinct segment of green consumers and determining different configurations of consumer characteristics to build on the profile of green consumers.

This is a review of the 2009 film Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year, directed by Shimit Amin, its impact on society, and the contribution of Indian film more broadly.

The purpose of this paper is to present elastic buckling behaviour of simply supported and clamped thin rectangular isotropic plates having central circular cutouts subjected to uniaxial partial edge compression. Analysis is carried out for four different kinds of partial edge compression and it is extended to study the effect of aspect ratio of plate on buckling load.

A finite element method technique is used in the current work to solve the buckling problem of plate using eight node quadrilateral element and plate kinematics based on first order shear deformation theory. Results obtained from finite element analysis are first validated for isotropic square plates, without cutouts, subjected to uniaxial partial edge compression with some earlier published literature.

From the current work it is concluded that the buckling strength of square plates is highly influenced by partial edge compression, as compared to plate subjected to uniform edge compression; but with increase in aspect ratio, influence of partial edge compression on plate buckling load decreases.

This paper usefully shows how partial edge compression of plates affects the buckling strength of plate having circular cutouts. Generally, simply supported plates subjected uniaxial partial edge compression of Type I and Type III are found to be stronger than plates subjected to partial edge compression Type II and Type IV, respectively.