An Investigation of Online Navigation Patterns of Consumers Across Cultures

Researchers have been interested in understanding the online purchase intentions of consumers. It’s interesting to see why consumers differ in the way they navigate the Internet. However, it’s still not very well explored as to what role a country\u27s cultural variables play in online purchase behavior of its users. The goal of this dissertation is to identify the determinant variables of online buying behavior of users from different cultural environments. Hofstede\u27s cultural dimensions are used to understand some of the differences. This study also conceptualizes attitudes toward search on mobile devices vs. desktops. The search behavior on mobile devices is analyzed based on demographic profiles of the e-shoppers. In Chapter 1, the background of the research is set by looking into the web adoption patterns for multiple needs, and the distinction is made between the users’ behaviors focused on actual use of the services offered versus the internet access for general purpose i.e., without any specific service in mind. This helps segment the consumers based on demographic variables and the social context of the user. The primary factors affecting the internet penetration rate in different countries are looked into too. This gives an important perspective of the key foundation of the e-commerce industry i.e., access to Internet to the populace — which forms the superset of potential buyers. The effects of high education, per capita income and telephone connectivity are explored. It\u27s intuitive to see that credit card penetration level will have a positive correlation with the online purchase rate. In this research, it is found that countries with low credit card penetration have less e-commerce even though the cash on delivery option is available there. In chapter 2, the consumer behavior in different countries is analyzed through the lens of Hofstede\u27s cultural dimensions – Uncertainty avoidance (UAI), Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV), Masculinity (MAS) and Long-term orientation (LTO). We use the browsing behavior data of the top 5 e-commerce websites of 45 countries obtained through the Alexa website. In order to approach a conceptualization of cultural dimensions with regards to the web, we work with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and consider how cultures might affect user interface design. It is found that consumers from countries that are high on uncertainty avoidance search for longer durations. In addition to that, consumers from countries high on collectivism are more likely to come to a shopping website from social media websites as compared to that from search engine websites. With the data collected from Globalwebindex platform, the online purchasing drivers for 36 countries are also explored and it is found that the social network\u27s influence on purchase decision is more for countries with low IDV scores and the chances to buy on social network are less for users of high IDV countries. Similarly, we find that users from countries with low UAI and high IDV are more likely to use private browsing window during the online purchase as it protects the users\u27 browsing behavior data on e-commerce websites. And it\u27s also found that users from countries low on IDV are more likely to write post-purchase online reviews. The results support the conjecture that examining the cultural dimensions and customers\u27 attitudes for online shopping is critically important for e-commerce players intending to make their mark in the global arena. They should consider these different types of online buying behaviors when it comes to web design. In chapter 3, we attempt to model consumer choice behavior towards web search engines, taking into account users\u27 demographic and cultural dimensions too. The factors that contribute towards the choice of a consideration set of web search engines are explored—using consideration set theory. The choice of the number of web search engines is modeled, taking into account three different categories of variables i.e., ‘who’ – which includes consumer characteristics including cultural dimensions, ‘what’ – which includes information search characteristics and ‘why’ – which includes attitudinal characteristics. Results of the study indicate that \u27Age\u27 and \u27Uncertainty Avoidance\u27 have significant effect on choice of number of search engines by consumers. Attitudinal characteristics don\u27t contribute significantly towards explaining the choice behavior towards web search engines but information search parameters are significant in that regard. In chapter 4, the roles of uncertainty avoidance and the demographic variables are identified in online purchase behavior of mobile-only-internet-users (MOIU) vs. desktop-internet users. It is found that the countries with high IDV scores have higher percentage of MOIU and UAI has no effect irrespective of the fact that internet access with mobile devices offers less data privacy. The more individualistic nations have better infrastructure, they have more opportunities to use other mobile devices like iPad and laptop to access the Internet. So, they are less likely to be mobile only. The effect of income per capita on a PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) basis has no significant effect on MOIU. An explanation for it could be the one mentioned above—the required infrastructure not being in place for potential users to access the Internet on desktops. In addition to that, it is found that the effect of IDV scores and the age of users— on MOIU number—are significant too. Also, the young users, aged between 25 – 35 years, are much more likely to fall into the MOIU category, irrespective of which country they are from. In chapter 5, we conclude with our findings and identify the limitations and the future research directions

A study on effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea as a method of contraception

Background: The lactational amenorrhea method, known as LAM, is part of the World Health Organization’s list of accepted and effective methods of family planning. Studies show LAM to be 98% effective, as effective as the pill and other modern methods, when used according to guidelines. As LAM costs nothing, easy and natural to use, no medication or any devise needed, no interference with natural hormones, no interruption in conjugal life and more over the mother enjoying her motherhood life, it sounds very good as a method of contraception.Methods:This is a prospective non-comparative study. A total of 298 mothers participated in this study. The benefits of exclusive breast feeding with particular emphasis on timely breastfeeding and must feeding during the night hours were explained to the mothers and the physiology of lactational amenorrhea was explained to them. All the mothers were interviewed and followed up on monthly basis. Results:No lactating mothers conceived within the first six months of delivering their baby and only 4% mothers had evidence of pregnancy mainly after the 10th months after delivery.Conclusions:The lactational amenorrhea method is a highly effective method of contraception for 6 months if exclusive breastfeeding practices are followed. In a country like India where use of contraceptive methods are very meager, LAM may prove a boon as it provides dual benefit of exclusive breastfeeding and prevention of pregnancy

A study on knowledge of breast feeding and effect of antenatal counselling on exclusive breast feeding in primigravida mothers

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age is very beneficial not only to baby and mothers, but also to the family, society and the whole nation. In spite of best efforts by various organizations at government and NGO levels, the counselling for breast feeding during ante natal period is almost an unaddressed arena, which if proper attention is given, may result in very high incidence of successful breast feeding.Methods: It is a hospital based prospective study. A total of 150 primiparous mothers (100 study group and 50 control group) were counselled during every antenatal checkup for exclusive breast feeding attending the OPD of Obstetrics & Gynaecology department of Vardhman Institute of Medical sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar from January 2015 to December 2016 and the outcome of counselling was observed during follow up in puerperium for 6 weeks.Results: Similar profile primiparous mothers in both study and control group, the mothers who were counselled on their antenatal visit for exclusive breast feeding, the success rate was much higher in counselled group than study group (p value 0.0001). It was also observed that the prior information about breast feeding were provided by electronic media, papers and family members and in this regard contribution of health system is minimal.Conclusions: Every obstetrician and other care givers must include routine care of breast and counselling on breast feeding during antenatal check up to enhance the confidence of primiparous mothers. A few extra minutes spared in counselling on breast feeding has a long-lasting effect on successful breast feeding during the post-natal period.

Conceptual framework on - establishing healthy life style centre in Chhattisgarh state, India

Lifestyle diseases characterized by those diseases whose occurrence is primarily based on the daily habits of people and are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. The main factors contributing to lifestyle diseases include bad food habits, physical inactivity, wrong body posture, and disturbed biological clock. Lifestyle diseases are the most common causes of disability, morbidity and premature mortality. They account for 52% of deaths, 43% Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and 62% of total disease burden in India. Life style disease can be prevented through focused and comprehensive public health intervention by establishment of Healthy Life Style Centre (HLSC). HLSC will be a comprehensive approach which will provide health services for Non-Communicable diseases under the one roof. The HLSC will offer consultation, learning, counselling and testing facilities regarding Diabetes and other Non-Communicable diseases (NCD). Life style diseases can be prevented through public health intervention by special task force and policy document related to life style disorders

High Accuracy Determination of Rheological Properties of Drilling Fluids Using the Marsh Funnel

Efficient and safe drilling operations require precise determination of rheological properties in drilling fluids, encompassing dynamic viscosity for Newtonian fluids, and apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point for non-Newtonian fluids. Conventional viscometers like vibrating wire, ZNN-D6, and Fann-35 offer high accuracy but are limited by cost and complexity in small-scale industries and labs. To address this, our research presents a novel mathematical model based on the Herschel-Bulkley model, aiming to accurately characterise drilling fluids' rheological properties using the Marsh funnel as an alternative device -- an economical, operator-friendly, and power-independent equipment. Drawing inspiration from seminal works by Li et al. (2020), Sedaghat (2017), and Guria et al. (2013), this innovative framework establishes a universal inverse linear relationship between a fluid's flow factor and final discharge time. For any fluid, it utilises its density and flow factor (or final discharge time) to determine all its rheological properties. Specifically, it evaluates dynamic viscosity for Newtonian fluids, apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point for weighted non-Newtonian fluids, and apparent viscosity for non-weighted non-Newtonian fluids, with average systematic errors (against Fann-35 measurements) of 0.39%, 3.52%, 2.17%, 18.38%, and 5.84%, respectively, surpassing the precision of alternative mathematical models found in the aforementioned literature. Furthermore, while our framework's precision in plastic viscosity and yield point assessment of non-weighted non-Newtonian fluids slightly lags behind the framework of Li et al. (2020), it outperforms the model of Sedaghat (2017). In conclusion, despite minor limitations, our proposed mathematical model holds huge promise for drilling fluid rheology in petroleum, drilling, and related industries.Comment: 57 pages, 1 figure, and 10 tables. Funding for this research work was provided through the IIChE Research Grant for the academic year 2022-23, granted by the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE

Underground Corrosion by Microorganisms Part II : Role of Anaerobic Sulphate Reducing Bacteria-Desulfotomaculum SP

During the course of studies on the corrosion causing soil microflora from different geoclimatic regions of India, several strains of anaerobic sulphate reducing bacteria belonging to genus Desulfotomaculum were isolated and characterised. Their corrosive action on mild steel, galvanised iron and structural aluminium, the three main metals of construction of underground structures, have been studied under laboratory conditions

Detecting Anomalies using Generative Adversarial Networks on Images

Automatic detection of anomalies such as weapons or threat objects in baggage security, or detecting impaired items in industrial production is an important computer vision task demanding high efficiency and accuracy. Most of the available data in the anomaly detection task is imbalanced as the number of positive/anomalous instances is sparse. Inadequate availability of the data makes training of a deep neural network architecture for anomaly detection challenging. This paper proposes a novel Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) based model for anomaly detection. It uses normal (non-anomalous) images to learn about the normality based on which it detects if an input image contains an anomalous/threat object. The proposed model uses a generator with an encoder-decoder network having dense convolutional skip connections for enhanced reconstruction and to capture the data distribution. A self-attention augmented discriminator is used having the ability to check the consistency of detailed features even in distant portions. We use spectral normalisation to facilitate stable and improved training of the GAN. Experiments are performed on three datasets, viz. CIFAR-10, MVTec AD (for industrial applications) and SIXray (for X-ray baggage security). On the MVTec AD and SIXray datasets, our model achieves an improvement of upto 21% and 4.6%, respectivel