504 research outputs found
Sort by
Gender Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) in Dental Higher Education: A Narrative Review on Current Evidence and Future Direction
Get PDFThe present narrative review aimed to appraise the current evidence on gender diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) in dental higher education. It highlighted the existing gender disparities in dental education and leadership roles as well as the progress and challenges faced by contemporary dental schools in achieving gender DEI. Although men historically dominated the leadership roles in the dental higher education sector, evidence has shown an increase in women enrolling into dental programs and holding top-management roles in dental institutes, progressing towards a more inclusive, supportive and gender-friendly educational environment. However, gender disparities in these leadership roles, salary, and academic achievements persist, underscoring the underrepresentation of women in senior roles within dental higher education. In addition, this review further elaborated on the theoretical framework, such as the Critical Feminist Theory, Social Role Theory, and the Inclusive Excellence Framework that underpinned gender DEI. Effective strategies and future research are warranted to support dental higher education in fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment, ultimately benefiting the dental profession
Assessing Challenges and Policy Interventions for MSMEs in Industrial Estates: Insights from Assam, India
Get PDFThis study examines the operational challenges faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within Assam's primary industrial estates, specifically Kamrup Rural and Kamrup Metro districts, regions with Assam's highest MSME density and strategic significance under India’s Act East Policy. As Guwahati serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia, the resilience of MSMEs in these districts is crucial to regional economic integration. Using Garrett’s Ranking Technique, the study identifies and ranks critical issues in finance, marketing, raw materials, labour, technical management, and power, while a one-way ANOVA assesses variations across business types: sole proprietorships, partnerships, and private limited companies. The findings reveal pervasive challenges across these categories, with significant strain from high financial costs, raw material scarcity, and inconsistent power supply, alongside gaps in labour and waste management. Policy recommendations highlight the need for adaptive financial assistance, improved industrial infrastructure, and targeted skill development to strengthen MSMEs' contributions to Assam’s industrial landscape. This research offers valuable insights into creating a supportive environment for MSMEs, underscoring the broader implications for economic growth in Northeast India. The study’s relevance lies in its potential to inform policy and foster sustainable growth pathways for MSMEs in line with the Act East Policy
Clean Energy Transition in USA: Big Data Analytics for Renewable Energy Forecasting and Carbon Reduction
Get PDFThe United States is at a critical juncture in its effort to overhaul the national energy system to meet bold climate objectives. The Biden Administration has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50–52% from 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Meeting these goals demands a swift rollout of renewable energy sources while keeping the electricity grid reliable, affordable, and equitable. A key driver in this transition is big data analytics, which plays a vital role in forecasting the performance of variable renewable sources and supporting carbon-conscious decision-making. This paper explores how advanced data-driven technologies—such as machine learning, IoT sensors, satellite imaging, and predictive modeling—can help accelerate the U.S. shift toward clean energy. By examining recent peer-reviewed studies (2018–2022), policy developments, and case studies, it introduces a structured big data framework for forecasting renewable energy output and modeling carbon intensity. Findings show that data analytics can increase forecasting accuracy by up to 40%, cut reserve costs by billions annually, and reduce over 100 million metric tons of CO₂ through smarter, carbon-aware decisions. Highlighted case studies—including CarbonCast, predictive wind turbine maintenance, and open-source datasets—demonstrate the real-world technical and economic value of analytics. Cost-benefit assessments reveal that improving forecast accuracy by just 1% could cut CO₂ emissions by roughly 20 million metric tons each year. However, regional readiness varies: while CAISO and PJM are well-equipped for scaling these tools, ERCOT and ISO-NE face more infrastructure-related hurdles. The paper concludes that big data analytics is a powerful and timely tool for decarbonization. When integrated into energy markets, grid operations, and policy design, analytics can fast-track emission reductions while advancing equity, as seen in programs like Justice40. Future research should prioritize probabilistic forecasting, marginal carbon modeling, and inclusive data governance
AI Chatbots in Clinical Settings: A Study on their Impact on Patient Engagement and Satisfaction
Get PDFWorkforce shortages, uneven access, and escalating demand in the U.S. healthcare system cause long wait times, fragmented communication, and low patient involvement. This study examines how AI-powered chatbots can improve patient engagement and satisfaction by improving response speed, usability, and trust. Mixed-methods design was utilized. Response times, System Usability Scale (SUS) usability, and trust ratings were examined in simulated survey data from 200 U.S. medical school–affiliated clinic patients. Thematically examined qualitative data from patient and medical student focus groups. Chatbots lowered average response times to 2.4 minutes from 12.7 minutes for human workers. Patients reported 72% more satisfaction with SUS scores of 78/100. Trust averaged 3.8/5, highest with clinician-supervised chatbots. Thematic analysis identified trust-building, convenience-accuracy balance, and educational integration. AI chatbots should complement clinicians rather than replace them. Chatbots can improve efficiency, usability, and engagement and prepare future physicians to use digital technologies, advancing patient-centered care in the U.S
Numerical Modeling of Fire Growth and Smoke Propagation in Enclosure
Get PDFIn this study, fire growth and smoke propagation in enclosures are numerically modeled based on the material properties, ventilation and the enclosure geometry of similar geometries. Thing such as combustible materials, ventilation openings, and ceiling height affect the fire behavior. This research employs the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to study the influence of the ventilation conditions on the ceiling jet phenomenon, heat release rates (HRR) and smoke movement. Its high flammability is analyzed, as polyurethane foam is a key material in the development of fire. The results show that ventilation plays an important role in fire dynamics, depending on ceiling height, and highlight the weaknesses of existing numerical models regarding the smoke propagation in the situation of complex scenarios. Understanding fire behavior in mechanically ventilated spaces improves and insights into improving fire safety strategies in building design and emergency response
Green Human Resource Management and Environmental Performance: The Mediating Role of Employee Commitment and the Contingent Effect of Organizational Culture
Get PDFOrganizations are increasingly implementing Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices to enhance Environmental Performance (ENVP) in response to growing sustainability demands. However, the pathways through which GHRM impacts ENVP, particularly the mediating role of Employee Commitment (EMPC) and the moderating effect of Organizational Culture (ORGC), remain insufficiently explored. This study employs a quantitative approach, collecting data from 348 valid responses through convenience sampling in Oman’s service sector. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze direct, mediating, and moderating effects within the proposed framework. The results reveal that GHRM practices positively impact ENVP both directly and indirectly through EMPC. Employees’ commitment mediates this relationship by converting organizational sustainability strategies into tangible outcomes such as resource conservation and waste reduction. Additionally, ORGC moderates the GHRM-ENVP relationship, with supportive cultures amplifying the impact of GHRM practices on sustainability goals. This study underscores the strategic importance of integrating GHRM practices with a supportive culture to achieve superior environmental outcomes. By bridging theoretical gaps, it provides insights for policymakers and leaders to embed EMPC and ORGC into sustainability frameworks, aligning organizational practices with global environmental objectives
The Impact of Opportunities generated through Q-Commerce on the Performance of Online Fruit Marketers in Pune City
Get PDFThe Maharashtrian fruit market is one of the leading fruit markets in the country. Maharashtra, which is also known as a fruit bowl of the country. It majorly produces 5 fruits namely Banana, Grapes, Mango, Orange and Pomegranate. The online fruit market has grown tremendously in the last few years. The changing phase of e-commerce and introduction of q-commerce brought a fabulous growth in this market. The research is conducted with the basic objective to study whether there is a significant impact of opportunities generated through the q-commerce on the business performance of the online fruit marketers in Pune city. The researchers also intended to study the internal differences between variables of opportunities through q-commerce and performance of online fruit marketers separately. It was also intended to study the correlation between opportunities through q-commerce and performance of online fruit marketers. The parameters to study the opportunities for the sellers and marketers were ‘Allows you to tap the newer and faster market’, ‘Increases the reach in terms of customer base in the existing local market’, ‘Helps you to gain competitive and pricing advantage’, ‘Helps to promote your products and build your own brand’, and ‘Allows you to work on 24x7x361 basis’. Similarly, the parameters for studying the business performance of the online fruit marketers were ‘Helps in improving sales of the product’, ‘Helps in reducing promotional expenses’, ‘Helps in gaining new customers and strengthening the existing customer network’, ‘Helps in gaining advantage over traditional marketing methods’, and ‘Helps in keeping accurate track of all the marketing & selling activities online’. A questionnaire was designed which consists the set of straight forward, limited probing & structured questions. A sample of 100 respondents was interviewed & simple random sampling method was used. Keeping the above objectives in mind, the researchers created the hypotheses and tested those through statistical tests like Friedman Test, Pearson correlation and Regression Analysis with ANOVA. During the study, the researchers found out that there is a significant impact of opportunities through Q-commerce on the performance of the online fruit marketers in Pune city. It was also found that there is a significant positive correlation between opportunities through Q-commerce and performance of the online fruit marketers in Pune city. The researchers also found that there is a significant difference between the internal opportunities’ variables through q-commerce and internal performance’s variables of online fruit Marketers in Pune city respectively
The Effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Purchasing Power, Unemployment, and Income in Indonesia: Reviewed from the Perception of Indonesian
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic has tremendously impacted economic activity in many countries, including Indonesia. The impact greatly felt by the community is declined purchasing power, unemployment, and increased poverty. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the impact of the pandemic on the decline in people's purchasing power, unemployment, and increased poverty due to reduced economic activity in Indonesia. A survey method was used with a quantitative approach involving 850 selected respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire distributed through google form media. The data analysis showed that Coronavirus positively and significantly affects purchasing power and unemployment but negatively and significantly affects income or poverty. Furthermore, Coronavirus and unemployment have a partial negative and significant effect on income, but purchasing power has a positive and significant effect. Therefore, purchasing power and unemployment mediate the positive and significant effect of Coronavirus on income
The Influence of Social Media Influencers on Online Purchase Intention of Beauty Products in Malaysia: Moderating Role of Consumer Skepticism
Get PDFThis study explores the influence of social media influencers on online purchase intentions for beauty products among Malaysian millennials, integrating consumer skepticism as a moderating variable. Grounded in the Elaboration Likelihood Model and Source Credibility Theory, the research investigates four key influencer attributes—trustworthiness, expertise, likeability, and similarity—and their impact on purchase behavior. Utilizing a quantitative methodology, data were collected from 200 respondents via a structured online questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed relationships and moderation effects. The findings reveal that trustworthiness, likeability, and similarity significantly enhance online purchase intentions, while expertise shows no notable effect. Consumer skepticism moderates the relationships involving trustworthiness and likeability but not expertise or similarity, underscoring the nuanced role of skepticism in shaping consumer behavior. This research advances theoretical understanding by highlighting the interplay of influencer attributes and skepticism and provides actionable insights for marketers to design transparent, effective influencer campaigns in the beauty industry. Future studies are recommended to expand the scope by incorporating additional variables and diverse contexts
The Paradoxes of Territorialising Public-Private Patnerships in Senegal
Get PDFThe aim of the study is to help to understand the notable paradoxes between the existence of a legal framework designed to facilitate the development of PPPs and the lack of an organisational basis for PPPs in Senegal's local authorities. For the purposes of this study, we have adopted a qualitative approach. Twenty-three (23) interviews were held with PPP and decentralisation stakeholders in Senegal: two (02) executives from the Ministry in charge of partnerships, two (02) executives from the Ministry in charge of sports, one (1) from the Ministry in charge of decentralisation, three (03) PPP experts, three (03) decentralisation experts, six (06) municipal councilors and six (06) municipal secretaries. After analysis, it is possible to note, in one hand, the contradictions in territorialisation of PPPs, and on the other hand, the limits they pose if we want to aim for organisational performance. Beyond the paradoxes, the analysis shows pitfalls at four levels. These pitfalls relate to values in local authorities that are not oriented towards those of the Public Management, an organisational structure that is not adapted to PPPs, formal frameworks for action that are far removed from the targets, and management tools that need to be defined