Future of e-Government: An integrated conceptual framework

The information and hyper-connectivity revolutions have caused significant disruptions in citizens’ interactions with governments all over the world. Failures in implementing e-government interventions suggest the lack of an integrated approach in understanding e-government as a discipline. In this study, we present an overarching and integrated conceptual framework of e-government grounded in robust qualitative research to describe the factors that must be integrated to implement e-government successfully. Drawing insights from 168 in-depth interviews conducted with multiple stakeholders in India, this study defines e-government as a multidimensional construct with customer orientation, channel orientation and technology orientation as its antecedents. Building on customer orientation and relationship marketing theories, this study proposes that the most significant factor impacting success in implementing e-government projects is citizen orientation, followed by channel orientation and technology orientation. The study also identifies the digital divide, economic growth and political stability as moderators of e-government. Furthermore, the study proposes the tangible and intangible outcomes of e-government with perceived privacy and shared understanding as moderating conditions. Finally, the study presents relevant theoretical and practical implications with future research directions.publishedVersio

Impact of Blockchain on Financial Technology Innovation in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Sector

This research paper aims to highlight the progression of the technological advancements emerging in the BFSI sector across the globe, evaluate them, and find the merits and shortcomings in this sector using literature review assisted by the prior knowledge from the renowned works published in reputed journals. The information was obtained from secondary sources, thereby helping us draw a picture of the existing state of technology in the BFSI sector and its future potential/applicability within the field. We have used advanced search criteria of two levels to comprehensively cover the existing research papers on the topic for evaluation. With the rising need for digital change, banks look up to speed up the existing plans to arrange authoritative changes driven by the new initiatives. Artificial intelligence companies in the upcoming years will thrive. Banks will make all the efforts to utilize their advances to lessen the cost, mechanize all ordinary procedures, and separate administration levels through personal information which was not accessible before

Shedding light on sexual crimes and victim's rights: Examining the intersection of psychology and law in the Indian legal system

Abstract The Indian legal system reveals a complex and often problematic relationship between law, society, and sexual crime. This paper tries to investigate the different legal meanings and the role of law in treating individual psychology through analysis of various laws, scenarios, and their respective shortcomings, along with the changes that need to be introduced. The paper thoroughly asserts, taking with it arguments and criticisms of the law, the need for a sense of awareness regarding victim’s rights in India. One side of the Indian legal system which has to change and has been changing for progress in penalizing sexual crimes is the Indian Penal Code which has also been critically analyzed;moreover, the contradictory paradox of marital rape and the retrogression which is extremely prevalent in India has also been discussed in the paper. There is a need for greater awareness and education about sexual rights and laws in India, particularly in rural areas where there may be a lack of understanding and access to legal resources. The laws must be reformed to reflect the diverse sexual identities and experiences of individuals and communities and to ensure that the legal system serves as a tool for justice and equality rather than a source of further oppression and discrimination

Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Impact of Change in Promoters’ Shareholding Pattern on the Performance of Small-Cap-Value Equity Stocks in the National Stock Exchange of India

This paper studies the impact of a change in promoter shareholding on small-cap-value stocks. NIFTY Small Cap 250 index stocks within the top 20th percentile of the book-to-market (B/M) ratio of the same universe have been considered for this study. The paper uses regression analysis for understanding the impact of independent variables on returns. The universe is further narrowed down to stocks with a positive change in promoter shareholding, which is found to be negatively related to stock returns. In addition, although the book-to-market ratio does not play any role in the prediction of returns while within this narrowed-down universe, the size effect is present. The results are discussed with reference to some relevant past research literature, and the scope for further research is also discussed

Future of e-Government: An integrated conceptual framework

The information and hyper-connectivity revolutions have caused significant disruptions in citizens’ interactions with governments all over the world. Failures in implementing e-government interventions suggest the lack of an integrated approach in understanding e-government as a discipline. In this study, we present an overarching and integrated conceptual framework of e-government grounded in robust qualitative research to describe the factors that must be integrated to implement e-government successfully. Drawing insights from 168 in-depth interviews conducted with multiple stakeholders in India, this study defines e-government as a multidimensional construct with customer orientation, channel orientation and technology orientation as its antecedents. Building on customer orientation and relationship marketing theories, this study proposes that the most significant factor impacting success in implementing e-government projects is citizen orientation, followed by channel orientation and technology orientation. The study also identifies the digital divide, economic growth and political stability as moderators of e-government. Furthermore, the study proposes the tangible and intangible outcomes of e-government with perceived privacy and shared understanding as moderating conditions. Finally, the study presents relevant theoretical and practical implications with future research directions

Comparison of psychiatric morbidity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and non-ulcer dyspepsia

Background and Aims: The present study aimed to find psychiatric morbidity, stress, anxiety, and depression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and compare it with patients having non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Methods: This case NUD study compared 50 patients each with IBS and NUD. The two groups were compared on demographic data, psychiatric diagnosis using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 disorders, anxiety levels using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and depression using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). The Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES) was used to measure stress. Results: The cases of IBS were more likely to be of female gender (P = 0.012), married (P = 0.009), and employed (P < 0.001). Psychiatric diagnoses were more common in the cases of IBS than NUDs (88% vs. 30%, P< 0.001), the most common being major depression and somatization disorder. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were more common in patients with IBS (P < 0.001 for HAM-A and HAM-D). Logistic regression revealed that having IBS and increased age were independent predictors of having a psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions: IBS is associated with the considerable degree of psychiatric morbidity. Adequate attention should be paid toward comorbid psychiatric illnesses, and prompt treatment should be instituted

Effect of stoichiometry upon the characteristics of quercetin-arginine cocrystals formulated through solution crystallization

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of stoichiometry upon characteristics of quercetin-arginine (QCT-Arg) cocrystals. Quercetin (QCT) is a most abundant flavonoid in vegetables and fruits and has been widely used as an antioxidant. However, its oral bioavailability remains low due to poor aqueous solubility. We illustrate that QCT-Arg cocrystals formulated through an optimized stoichiometry can be a useful approach for its solubilization. Cocrystals were prepared using solvent evaporation method. Characterizations were performed through microscopic, spectroscopic, and thermal techniques. The stoichiometry was confirmed from the binary phase diagram which was prepared using thermograms derived from differential scanning calorimetric experiments. Cocrystal formation was accompanied by the conversion of isotropic phase into anisotropic one. Thread-like cocrystals were formed, regardless of QCT-Arg stoichiometry and solvent’s polarity. Spectral analyses suggested that cocrystal structure was held together by hydrogen bonding between QCT and Arg. We ruled out the existence of eutectic mixture based on the observation of two eutectic points in the binary phase diagram. Morphology of cocrystals remained unaffected by the solvent type, stoichiometry and the presence of surfactant. We noticed that the cocrystals could improve the aqueous solubility of QCT.</p

C-cell hyperplasia in sporadic and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma

Context: C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) is characterized by increased mass of C-cells and has been identified as a precursor condition for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Varying proportion of MTCs is associated with CCH in different studies. This could be due to the lack of uniformity of the definitions and techniques used to identify CCH in these studies. Aims: This study aims to study the occurrence, clinicopathological, and immunohistochemical features of CCH in MTC diagnosed during a 22-year period at a tertiary care center in North India and to review the available literature on CCH. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive cases of MTC were included in the study. Histological evaluation for the presence of CCH and neoplastic CCH was performed. Confirmation of CCH was done by immunohistochemistry for calcitonin and chromogranin. The presence of neoplastic CCH was correlated with clinical factors and prognostic factors. Results: Of 87 cases of MTC included in the study, 71 (82%) patients were sporadic and 16 (18%) had familial MTC. Neoplastic CCH was seen in 12 (75%) familial and in 9 (13%) sporadic MTC. Patients with familial MTC were more frequently associated with neoplastic CCH than sporadic MTC (P < 0.001), were younger (P < 0.001), and had more often bilateral and multifocal tumors (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in mean survival time and progression-free survival in patients with and without CCH. Conclusion: CCH, though more common in familial MTC, can also be seen in sporadic tumors. CCH is not associated with patient survival and disease progression

Dual role of FOXG1 in regulating gliogenesis in the developing neocortex via the FGF signalling pathway

In the developing vertebrate central nervous system, neurons and glia typically arise sequentially from common progenitors. Here, we report that the transcription factor Forkhead Box G1 (Foxg1) regulates gliogenesis in the mouse neocortex via distinct cell-autonomous roles in progenitors and in postmitotic neurons that regulate different aspects of the gliogenic FGF signalling pathway. We demonstrate that loss of Foxg1 in cortical progenitors at neurogenic stages causes premature astrogliogenesis. We identify a novel FOXG1 target, the pro-gliogenic FGF pathway component Fgfr3, which is suppressed by FOXG1 cell-autonomously to maintain neurogenesis. Furthermore, FOXG1 can also suppress premature astrogliogenesis triggered by the augmentation of FGF signalling. We identify a second novel function of FOXG1 in regulating the expression of gliogenic ligand FGF18 in new born neocortical upper-layer neurons. Loss of FOXG1 in postmitotic neurons increases Fgf18 expression and enhances gliogenesis in the progenitors. These results fit well with the model that new born neurons secrete cues that trigger progenitors to produce the next wave of cell types, astrocytes. If FGF signalling is attenuated in Foxg1 null progenitors, they progress to oligodendrocyte production. Therefore, loss of FOXG1 transitions the progenitor to a gliogenic state, producing either astrocytes or oligodendrocytes depending on FGF signalling levels. Our results uncover how FOXG1 integrates extrinsic signalling via the FGF pathway to regulate the sequential generation of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the cerebral cortex