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1 – 10 of 38V. Rajasekharan and P. Manisankar
The purpose of this study is to introduce mechanochemically prepared polyaniline anticorrosive additives. In primer coating technology, there is an increasing interest in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to introduce mechanochemically prepared polyaniline anticorrosive additives. In primer coating technology, there is an increasing interest in the development of efficient anticorrosive additives which replace the conventional inorganic anticorrosive pigments like heavy metal chromates and phosphates normally added to primer paints for the coating on metals. Conducting polymers are found to be better alternatives.
Design/methodology/approach
Polyaniline phosphate is synthesized through solid-state conditions without using any solvent. The synthesized polyaniline phosphate is added in the primer formulation instead of zinc phosphate. Primers with different quantity of zinc phosphate are also formulated and studied for comparison. The comparison between their abilities to control corrosion of carbon steel were done with application of open-circuit potential monitoring, polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution.
Findings
Corrosion studies indicate that polyaniline phosphate can improve corrosion protection properties by taking part the passivation processes. The performance of polyaniline phosphate is better than zinc phosphate.
Originality/value
I certify that the results are from our original research and this paper is neither considered for publication elsewhere nor published previously.
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Hasirumane Venkatesh Mukesh, Nandana Prabhu, Navin Kumar Koodamara, Suman Chakraborty and Pallavi Kamath
The central purpose of this study is to investigate the relative effects of leadership styles, i.e. transactional leadership and transformational leadership, and achievement…
Abstract
Purpose
The central purpose of this study is to investigate the relative effects of leadership styles, i.e. transactional leadership and transformational leadership, and achievement motivation on the entrepreneurial potential of MBA and engineering students. This study also examines whether the MBA and engineering students differ in terms of their entrepreneurial potential.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has used a cross-sectional research design along with a quasi-experimental research method to investigate the study's objectives on a sample consisting of 952 engineering and business students. The study has also used the PLS-SEM approach to carry out the data analysis, and to evaluate the group differences among MBA and engineering students concerning the relationships investigated, i.e. leadership motivation-entrepreneurial potential, and achievement motivation-entrepreneurial potential.
Findings
This research has primarily made four findings. First, the study has found that there are statistically significant differences between students pursuing a business education, and those students who are seeking management education about their entrepreneurial potential. Second, this study demonstrates that leadership and achievement motivation are strongly associated with entrepreneurial potential. Third, this research shows that the achievement motivation-entrepreneurial potential is more substantial among engineering students than among business students. However, the leadership-entrepreneurial potential relationship is more influential among MBA students than among engineering students. Lastly, the effect size of leadership is small in comparison with the effect size of achievement motivation, which is substantially healthy.
Originality/value
This research has attempted to address the riddle of a leadership attribution error in the context of entrepreneurship. Accordingly, this study has demonstrated that the idea of leadership attribution error has empirical evidence in the context of entrepreneurship also. Further, this study has tried to address the “behavior-motive preeminence” dichotomy. The results of this research show that internal motivation is more reliable than external leadership behavior in cultivating the entrepreneurial potential of students.
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Lihong Gao, Jiang Chen, Jun Zheng and Haiyan Zhang
The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to synthesis curcumin, which was reported to possess broad pharmacological effects and excellent dyeing properties, via…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to synthesis curcumin, which was reported to possess broad pharmacological effects and excellent dyeing properties, via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction catalysed by an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3.
Design/methodology/approach
A series of catalysts with different KF loadings and varying calcination temperatures had been prepared, characterised by Brunauer–Emmett–Taller surface area, temperature-programmed desorption with CO2 using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested in the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction. The effects of different reaction parameters such as temperature, the amount of catalyst, reactant ratio and time on the synthesis of curcumin were examined. The possibility of recycling the catalyst was also investigated in detail. Moreover, the reaction mechanism and the role of KF/Al2O3 in the synthetic process were discussed.
Findings
The study provides an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3, and 64.3 per cent yield of curcumin was obtained under the optimum reaction conditions. Experimental results indicate that the third reused catalyst could retain part of the catalytic activity, and the regenerated one could be reused with reasonable catalytic activity. Besides, K3AlF6 was proposed as the active site of the catalyst for the reaction by the analysis of the characterization results of KF/Al2O3.
Originality/value
KF/Al2O3 was found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic synthesis of curcumin and could be easily recycled several times. This information may be useful for further research and practical applications of curcumin.
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Adelaide Lusambili, Joyline Jepkosgei, Jacinta Nzinga and Mike English
The purpose of this paper is to provide a situational overview of the facility-based maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality audits (MPMMAs) in SSA, their current efficacy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a situational overview of the facility-based maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality audits (MPMMAs) in SSA, their current efficacy at reducing mortality and morbidity rates related to childbirth.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a scoping literature review based on the synthesis of secondary literature.
Findings
Not all countries in SSA conduct MPMMAs. Countries where MPMMAs are conducted have not instituted standard practice, MPMMAs are not done on a national scale, and there is no clear best practice for MPMMAs. In addition, auditing process of pediatrics and maternal deaths is flawed by human and organizational barriers. Thus, the aggregated data collected from MPMMAs are not adequate enough to identify and correct systemic flaws in SSA childbirth-related health care.
Research limitations/implications
There are a few published literature on the topic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Practical implications
This review exposes serious gaps in literature and practice. It provides a platform upon which practitioners and policy makers must begin to discuss ways of embedding mortality audits in SSA in their health systems as well as health strategies.
Social implications
The findings of this paper can inform policy in sub-Saharan Africa that could lead toward better outcomes in health and well-being.
Originality/value
The paper is original.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of SiC addition up to 60 percent SiC on the mechanical properties and thermal expansion of Al‐7vol.% Si/SiC composites.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of SiC addition up to 60 percent SiC on the mechanical properties and thermal expansion of Al‐7vol.% Si/SiC composites.
Design/methodology/approach
Composite specimens containing 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 vol.% SiCp are fabricated by pressureless infiltration technique. The obtained metal‐matrix composites (MMCs) then are characterized for density, porosity, microhardness, ductility, and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE).
Findings
The results show that the composite specimens have very low‐porosity volumes. Moreover, it is found that silicon carbide particles are distributed uniformly in the matrix. Both porosity and mean linear CTE of the composites decreases with silicon carbide volume fraction. However, higher amount of SiCp reinforcement content tends to increase density, microhardness and improve ductility.
Originality/value
The processing employed in this paper would enable realization of electronic packages made out of Al‐Si/SiCp MMCs.
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Rajasekharan Pillai K. and Ashish Viswanath Prakash
The purpose of the study is to analyse the perception of students toward a computer-based exam on a custom-made digital device and their willingness to adopt the same for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to analyse the perception of students toward a computer-based exam on a custom-made digital device and their willingness to adopt the same for high-stake summative assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study followed an analytical methodology using survey design. A modified version of students’ perception of e-assessment questionnaire (SPEAQ) was used to elicit information from the subjects, who were drawn from a first-year post-graduate course in management and commerce, soliciting voluntary participation in the survey. SmartPLS 2.0 was the major analytical tool used to understand the theoretical robustness of observed and latent variables through structural equation modelling. The final model was retained based on the structural significance of the path coefficients.
Findings
The results of the study offer ample evidence to establish the proposed theoretical relationship. It was found that the subjects of the study maintained a positive attitude toward e-assessment. Hence, the introduction of e-exams for high-stake assessment is suitable to current generation students.
Research limitations/implications
Findings of the study may be irrelevant to students who are not subject to e-learning processes, as an e-assessment can only be effective when students have ample exposure to working on computers.
Practical/implications
A major practical implication of the study is that e-exams will positively influence the outcome of education and effectiveness of the teaching–learning process. Technology, as an eclectic paradigm, can amplify the educational outcome by boosting the competency of students to meet challenges of any emerging situations.
Originality/value
The idea of an e-exam, using a custom-made device, is unprecedented. This paper offers a convincing empirical evidence to academic administrators to integrate e-assessment with e-learning programs.
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Roopa Modem, Sethumadhavan Lakshminarayanan, Murugan Pattusamy, Rajasekharan Pillai K. and Nandan Prabhu
This study addresses a central research question: Is individuals’ propensity to hide knowledge a “political phenomenon” among researchers in the Indian higher education…
Abstract
Purpose
This study addresses a central research question: Is individuals’ propensity to hide knowledge a “political phenomenon” among researchers in the Indian higher education institutions? Drawing upon social exchange and uncertainty management theories, the authors examine how a three-way interaction effect of perceptions of organizational politics, political will and political skill contributes to knowledge hiding. In addition, this study aims to develop a nuanced understanding of the knowledge hiding phenomenon in the Indian higher education context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a mixed-method study design with an explanatory sequential approach. The authors gathered data through a cross-sectional survey of 286 researchers (Study 1) followed by two focus group discussions (Study 2) involving 13 academic researchers from five Indian universities. The sample includes full-time faculty members, postgraduate and full-time doctoral students engaged in research.
Findings
The results of Study 1 indicate that researchers’ perceptions of organizational politics positively relate to their knowledge hiding. The findings of this study also suggest that the positive relationship between perceptions of organizational politics and knowledge hiding turns negative for individuals with high political will and high political skill. The focus group discussions (Study 2) explore significant predictors of knowledge hiding. This study unveils various characteristics of knowledge, knowledge hider, knowledge seeker and interpersonal dynamics as the key drivers of knowledge hiding in Indian academia.
Originality/value
The significant contributions of this study are to provide new insights into the relationship between organizational politics and knowledge hiding and to unravel the various factors that incite knowledge hiding among researchers in the Indian higher education context. This study is one among the few in the knowledge hiding literature to adopt a mixed-method research design with an explanatory sequential approach.
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Roopa Modem, Sethumadhavan Lakshminarayanan, Rajasekharan Pillai and Nandan Prabhu
The dynamic career scenario and the significant change from traditionally placing careers in employers’ hands to self-managing one’s careers have sparked profound scholarly…
Abstract
Purpose
The dynamic career scenario and the significant change from traditionally placing careers in employers’ hands to self-managing one’s careers have sparked profound scholarly interest in career growth. This paper aims to analyze quadricentennial literature on career growth published during the years 1995 through 2020. In this paper, through bibliometric and integrative reviews, the authors address the two critical questions, “what do we know?” and “where should we go?” While the bibliometric review examines the evolution and trends, the integrative review examines the dynamics of conceptual frameworks, primary research foci, research context and quality in research designs and methods.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to identify the papers for this review. The data set comprised 102 papers and 60 papers for bibliometric and integrative review, respectively. “CiteSpace” is used for the bibliometric analysis and the template designed by the authors is used for the integrative review.
Findings
The results present conceptual clarification for career growth and its related constructs. The bibliometric analysis findings highlight the extensive research on career growth followed by organizational career growth and career growth opportunities. The findings also show that seven of the top 10 productive authors are from China. This study also identifies theoretical, conceptual and methodological opportunities and provides recommendations intended to further research engagements across the different aspects of career growth.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to introduce bibliometric analysis into career growth literature. This research adopts an integrative review approach and offers insights into career growth literature.
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K. Thirugnanasambantham, Pillai K. Rajasekharan, Vidya Patwardhan, G. Raghavendra and Shreelatha Rao
India has a marvelous distinction of hosting religious and cultural extravaganzas on an enormous scale, keeping in with its rich lineage and civilizational assortment. The…
Abstract
Purpose
India has a marvelous distinction of hosting religious and cultural extravaganzas on an enormous scale, keeping in with its rich lineage and civilizational assortment. The philosophical threads of such festivals are eventually subjective well-being and spiritual awakening. In this context, the authors examine how the visitors' festival motivation culminates in life satisfaction and subjective well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
The study follows a theory-driven deductive approach to test the construed relationships. The data were collected from the sites of religious fiesta when the participants were immersed in their cultural fervor. The study uses structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized model.
Findings
The study finds that place attachment and life satisfaction empirically mediate the relationship between festival motivation and subjective well-being. However, the relationship between place attachment and subjective well-being is not empirically strong when life satisfaction mediates their relationship.
Research limitations/implications
The study is based on a convenience sample and is limited to the visitors of local religious festivals. Future research must verify the suitability of the model in other types of festivals of other religions and different locations. Also, this research deliberates on the relationship between only four variables. Future researchers could discuss other variables such as authenticity, emotional solidarity, festival images, festival values, religious faith, etc. to develop a more robust model to explain the relationship between festival motivation and subjective well-being.
Practical implications
In India regardless of social strata, people are religiously conscious and inclined toward attending publicly celebrated religious festivals. The scale of these festivals is significant and given the scenario, the local Government has to join hands with the temple administration, local people and visitors to reap the full benefits of the festival. These temple festivals not only foster coordination and involvement among various stakeholders, but also invoke the devotion of the people to jointly organize the celebrations.
Social implications
As some of the religious festivals go beyond caste, creed and nationality, the celebrations should evolve as multi-cultural mass events uniting the societal cohesiveness, spirit and national culture. The variables chosen and results found in this study will surely support publicizing the significance of religious festivals in the region and provide an idea to the organizers and supporters to develop new strategies to promote similar events.
Originality/value
The results claim several implications for theory and practice. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature on religious tourism and event management. Practically, the study discussions indicate the importance of disseminating the significance of religious festivals as a platform for local tourist attractions to generate social, cultural and economic benefits.
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