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Optimum utilization of investments has always been considered one of the most crucial aspects of capital markets. Investment into various securities is the subject of portfolio optimization intent to maximize return at minimum risk. In this series, a population-based evolutionary approach, stochastic fractal search (SFS), is derived from the natural growth phenomenon. This study aims to develop portfolio selection model using SFS approach to construct an efficient portfolio by optimizing the Sharpe ratio with risk budgeting constraints.

This paper proposes a constrained portfolio optimization model using the SFS approach with risk-budgeting constraints. SFS is an evolutionary method inspired by the natural growth process which has been modeled using the fractal theory. Experimental analysis has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of the proposed model by making comparisons with state-of-the-art from domain such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing and differential evolution. The real datasets of the Indian stock exchanges and datasets of global stock exchanges such as Nikkei 225, DAX 100, FTSE 100, Hang Seng31 and S&P 100 have been taken in the study.

The study confirms the better performance of the SFS model among its peers. Also, statistical analysis has been done using SPSS 20 to confirm the hypothesis developed in the experimental analysis.

In the recent past, researchers have already proposed a significant number of models to solve portfolio selection problems using the meta-heuristic approach. However, this is the first attempt to apply the SFS optimization approach to the problem.

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of behavioural biases (i.e. overconfidence, risk-aversion, herding and disposition) on investment decisions amongst gender. The authors further examine the moderation effect of financial literacy in the relationship between behaviour biases and investment decisions amongst gender.

The study considered a cross-sectional research design. For this survey, the data have been collected through a structured questionnaire from 253 individual investors of the Delhi-NCR region. To analyse the validity and reliability, the Pearson correlation and Cronbach's alpha test have been taken into account respectively. For testing the hypothesis, hierarchical regression analysis has been used in the study.

The results of the study reveal that amongst male investors, the influence of risk-aversion and herding on investment decision was negative and statistically significant, while the influence of overconfidence on investment decision was positive and significant. However, the influence of disposition was found statistically insignificant. The results stated that amongst female investors the effect of risk-aversion and herding on investment decision was negative and statistically significant. However, the effect of overconfidence and disposition was statistically insignificant influence the investment decision. It has been observed that financial literacy has significantly influenced investment decisions amongst male and female investors. The results of the interaction effect amongst male investors stated that the interaction between overconfidence and investment decision was significantly influenced by financial literacy. However, the interaction of financial literacy with the remaining three biases, i.e. risk-aversion, herding and disposition was found insignificant. The results for the interaction effect of financial literacy with overconfidence, risk-aversion, disposition and herding were found statistically significant amongst female investors.

Based on this present research finding, the study is more productive for the portfolio manager and policymakers at the time of making an investment portfolio for the investors based on their behavioural biases. The study recommends that investors need training programmes, workshops and seminars that enhance financial literacy and financial knowledge of investors which helps them to overcome the behavioural biases while making an investment decision.

The current study aims to explore whether several behavioural biases can affect investment decisions amongst gender. Moreover, the authors would like to examine whether these associations are moderated by financial literacy. In this sense, financial literacy might also show a substantial part in the prediction of investments. The current study might be of the first study that examines the moderation effect financial literacy amongst male and female investors.

In an emerging economy like India, the contribution of Indians in the stock market is very low, despite having the highest percentage of savings. The research tries to look for the variables which influence the investor's intentions to invest in the Indian stock market, by considering the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Moreover, the study incorporates financial literacy (FL) in the model to examine its influence on investors’ investment intention and also examine the moderation effect of financial literacy.

Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 393 respondents by using the convenience sampling method which is followed by the snowball sampling technique. For testing the research hypotheses, SEM and PROCESS macro v3.0 for SPSS were taken into consideration.

The results explain that factors of TPB i.e. attitude (AT), subjective norms (SNs) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are significantly associated with investment intentions (IIs). Furthermore, along with the original components of the TPB model, Financial Literacy (FL) was also incorporated in the model, which predicted the investors' intention better. The results also stated that FL has a positive impact on AT, PBC and II. Moreover, results reveal that FL moderates the association between AT, PBC and II.

The study describes that financial literacy can help in increasing the participation of investors in the stock market. Therefore, in this situation, the current research permits the Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI), governments and financial institutions (FIs) to plan and design seminars or courses, programs, to enhance FL among individuals and promote individuals in making well-organized and efficient investment decisions in stock markets that will in turn upsurge individual investors participation. The study contributes to the existing literature of investment behavior by incorporating FL as a moderator. Research avoids considering actual investment behavior. The study also neglects demographic and socio-psychological factors which are the major factor that affects an investment decision. Furthermore, the research has only considered the objective dimension of FL.

The current research tries to incorporate FL in TPB model. Moreover, tries to examine the moderation effect of FL. The research is one of its kind as the past research neglect to examine the moderation effect of FL in relationship between AT, PBC and investment intension to investment in stock market. The research helps to understand how FL encourages investors to invest in the Indian stock market.

This study aims to empirically evaluate the performance of commercial banks operating in India.

The efficiency of the commercial banks is evaluated using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. We measure the technical, pure technical and scale efficiency of the sampled conventional banks using the input-oriented model. We employed an extended DEA window analysis approach based on a panel sample of 47 banks in the Indian scenario. The period of study is from 2009 to 2018.

The results obtained from CRS and VRS measures envisage that Indian banks have failed to manage their inputs efficiently and convert them into outputs. It implies that Indian banks do not operate at an optimum level. Moreover, the results show that public banks exhibit superior efficiency scores followed by private and foreign banks. Apart from the aggregate sector level, we also investigate the performance of Indian banks at the individual level for in-depth analysis. The individual bank-level analysis reports that the public sector banks (PSBs) are the most efficient followed by foreign banks, whereas, the least efficient are the private banks.

The findings of our study have implications for government, financial institutions and policymakers to access the verve and flexibility of the Indian banking system. The government should consider restructuring inefficient banks to enhance overall performance. This can be considered by improvement in managerial efficiency, efficient allocation of scarce resources and appropriate scale of operation. However, the findings of the study should be interpreted in light of the period of study for the banks being operational (as we filter out banks that ceased to exist) in India and empirical methods employed. The results may vary if alternative measures are used.

The present paper investigates the efficiency of the Indian banking sector employing the Data Envelopment Window Analysis (DEWA) technique. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is perhaps the first one to employ the DEWA measure on the Indian banking industry to gauge their performance over time.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the optimal leverage ratio, speed of adjustment, and which factors contribute to achieving the target of selected telecom companies in a partial adjustment framework from 2008 to 2017. Further is to analyze the likelihood of bankruptcy of sample companies by Altman Z-Score model and to suggest which theory of capitals structure is better in explaining leverage strategies and judicious mix of debt and equity structure of the selected telecom companies.

This paper chooses a partial adjustment model and uses the generalized method of moments technique to identify the variables that influence the target leverage ratio and the factors that influence the speed at which the target leverage is adjusted. Second, the Altman Z-score model is used in this paper to research the financial status of telecom companies using financial instruments and techniques.

For Indian telecom firms, firm-specific variables such as profitability, NDTS and Z-score lead to greater debt adjustment towards optimal level target leverage. The paper also highlights new paradigms in the Indian telecom sector, stating that top market leaders such as Bharti Airtel, BSNL, Idea, Vodafone and R.com, among others, should focus on debt reduction and interest payments, as well as implement new strategies to solve the crisis and change financial policies.

It mainly focuses on firm-specific variables because the firm-specific variables affect the leverage framework. The country-specific variables are not taken into the study. These results may be unique to telecom companies due to some peculiarities existing in the telecom sector in India. Although other sectors, both national and international level, can be taken into consideration.

This paper has ramifications for corporate executives, investors and policymakers in India, for example, in terms of considering different transition costs while changing a telecom company’s financing decisions.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper of its kind to look at both financial and econometric tools to assess financial performance using the Altman Z-Score model, as well as decide leverage strategies and the pace with which they can be adjusted to target leverage in the context of Indian telecom companies.

This study aims to examine the relationship between managerial supportive communication, CEO relational communication and symmetrical internal communication. It specifically investigates the mediating role of symmetrical internal communication and employee advocacy, as well as the moderating influence of proactive personality on the link between employee advocacy and employee creativity.

A survey was conducted involving 290 full-time employees, and a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) statistical approach was used to assess the proposed relationships.

Both managerial supportive communication and CEO relational communication were found to be positively associated with symmetrical internal communication. Furthermore, results indicated that symmetrical internal communication and employee advocacy acted as strong mediators in the hypothesized relationships. Notably, the study also found that the impact of employee advocacy on employee creativity was significantly amplified in cases where employees exhibited a higher degree of proactive personality.

By emphasizing managerial supportive communication, enhancing CEO relational communication and promoting symmetrical internal communication and employee advocacy, organizations can create an environment conducive to innovation and creativity among employees. Additionally, recognizing the buffering effect of proactive personality on employee advocacy's impact on creativity enables organizations to better tailor their strategies for fostering creativity.

This research presents a novel contribution to the field by exploring the less-explored relationships between these critical communication factors and employee creativity. It uncovers the mediating and moderating mechanisms, shedding new light on how internal communication dynamics influence creativity. This unique approach provides an original perspective on the role of communication in promoting creativity at workplace.

This study aims to examine the impact of website design, reliability and perceived ease of use as an engagement motivational factors on customer e-trust and e-retention in online shopping.

By using deductive approach, quantitative methods and purposive sampling technique, this study has collected the data from 295 young online customers to enhance an understanding of website design, reliability and perceived ease of use in an online shopping context.

The findings revealed interesting insights where reliability is the most significant predictor of customer e-trust in online shopping, followed by perceived ease of use and website design. In addition, a significant mediating effect of e-trust is found between customer e-retention, website design, reliability and perceived ease of use.

Future research is recommended to predict the antecedents of online engagement motivational factors with value co-creation and co-creation experience in online shopping context.

This study offers fresh insights about driving elements and impediments of online customer retention. Customer engagement comprising of website design, reliability and perceived ease of use appear to influence the online customer retention through direct and indirect effect.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the integrated ICT-based library services at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from the users' perspectives. By evaluating these services, the study seeks to know how ICT integration enhances academic access, user satisfaction and overall library functionality.

The research employed a survey approach with a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool, involving a sample of 277 participants, determined through the Cochran sample size formula, with a 95% confidence level and a ±5% margin of error, drawing upon 25% of the population using a stratified random sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23, applying statistical tests including T-tests, ANOVA and multivariate MANOVA, along with Tukey’s post hoc analysis.

The findings revealed that the library is equipped with a state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure facility, which significantly impacts users' academic performance. Research scholars (RS) perceived the highest impact with a mean score of 60.01, followed by postgraduates at 50.04 and undergraduates at 39.83. In terms of ICT-based library services, RS exhibit the highest usage. Additionally, the results indicate a high overall satisfaction level among users regarding library resources and services, with a mean satisfaction score of 4.10. However, 28.5% (N = 79) of respondents reported issue “in locating specific information.”

The study demonstrates how the integration of ICT can significantly enhance service delivery, support academic advancement and improve user satisfaction in an increasingly digital and networked environment. These findings and strategies are valuable for libraries around the world, providing a roadmap for using technology to satisfy their users' changing requirements and encouraging an atmosphere of innovation and constant development for library services.

By focusing on user perspectives, the study provides actionable recommendations for library administrators and policymakers aiming to optimize library services in the digital age. The findings can serve as a benchmark for similar academic institutions striving to enhance academic access through technological advancements.

The purpose of this study is to examine the Google Scholar (GS) and Scopus citations profiles of library and information science (LIS) faculty members employed in central universities in India to determine their research online visibility.

The data was collected through manual searches conducted on GS and Scopus profiles by the end of August 2023, using the names of the faculty members along with their affiliations. The determination of the minimum sample size for each was calculated based on Cochran’s formula.

The study revealed that out of 104 LIS faculty members from 19 central universities, 78 (75.0%) faculty members have profiles on GS, while 61 (58.6%) of them are on Scopus. The study found that the faculty members have a substantial number of publications on GS, while their publication count on Scopus appears comparatively lower. The results suggest that certain faculty members have produced a modest number of publications but have received a substantial number of citations compared to their colleagues. Consequently, it can be inferred that there is no straightforward correlation between the volume of publications and citation metrics.

As the study exclusively focused on LIS faculty members working within central universities in India who have profiles on GS and Scopus, the researchers did not reach all LIS faculty members in India.

The significance of this research lies in its potential of insights into research productivity and its impact, which are crucial aspects of academia. The study provides valuable insights for individual researchers, LIS departments, institutes and universities in India and other countries to enhance their research performance and foster collaboration by establishing new research guidelines.

There have been no published research studies regarding the GS and Scopus citation metrics concerning LIS faculty members across all central universities in India.

The hotel customers are conscious of the deteriorating environmental conditions and demand for online immersions. Hotels lack an exciting shift in customer behavior for augmented customer re-patronage intention (CRPI) especially in developing countries. This study aims to apply customer-dominant service logic (CDSL) to comprehend customers’ life-sphere contributing to some of the vital United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs). In this essence, CDSL grasps the impact of customer empowerment (CE) and environmental corporate social responsibility (Env CSR) on customer re-patronage intention (C-RPI) with the mediating and moderating effects in Pakistan’s four- and five-star hotels.

A deductive approach is followed in which an online survey of 400 hotel customers was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to understand the practice of C-RPI and UN SDGs.

This study reveals that executing the UN SDGs in the hotel industry eventually boosts CE and Env CSR, further enhancing online customer value cocreation (O-CVCC) resulting in C-RPI. Both CE and Env CSR gain a complimentary/partial mediation by O-CVCC on C-RPI is also reported. Moreover, sensation seeking moderates the relationship between CE and O-CVCC. Yet, customer commitment does not moderate the relationship between O-CVCC and C-RPI.

This study highlights that C-RPI (i.e. SDG 11) enhances when Env CSR is taken care of (i.e. SDG 13), customers are empowered (i.e. SDG 5 and SDG 17) and cocreated online (i.e. SDG 9). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first studies to empirically test the approaches in the hotel industry contributing to SDG 5, 9, 11, 13 and 17.

Los clientes de hoteles son conscientes de las condiciones ambientales deteriorantes y demandan inmersión en línea. Los hoteles carecen de un cambio emocionante en el comportamiento del cliente para la intención de repatronaje aumentada (CRPI) especialmente en países en desarrollo. Este estudio aplica la lógica de servicio dominante del cliente (CDSL) para comprender la esfera de vida de los clientes que contribuyen a algunos de los vitales Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de las Naciones Unidas (ODS de la ONU). En esencia, CDSL comprende el impacto del empoderamiento del cliente (CE) y la RSE ambiental (Env CSR) en C-RPI con efectos de mediación y moderación en hoteles de cuatro y cinco estrellas de Pakistán.

Se utilizó un enfoque deductivo en el que se llevó a cabo una encuesta en línea a 400 clientes de hoteles utilizando técnicas de muestreo intencional y de bola de nieve para comprender la práctica de RPI y los ODS de la ONU.

Este estudio revela que la ejecución de los ODS de la ONU en la industria hotelera finalmente impulsa CE y Env CSR, y mejora aún más O-CVCC resultando en C-RPI. También se informa que tanto CE como Env CSR obtienen una mediación complementaria/parcial por la co-creación de valor del cliente en línea (O-CVCC) en C-RPI. Además, la búsqueda de sensaciones (SS) modera entre CE y O-CVCC. Sin embargo, el compromiso del cliente (CC) no modera entre O-CVCC y C-RPI.

Este estudio destaca que C-RPI (es decir, ODS 11) mejora cuando se cuida Env CSR (es decir, ODS 13), los clientes están empoderados (es decir, ODS 5 y ODS 17) y co-creados en línea (es decir, ODS 9). Este estudio es uno de los primeros estudios en probar empíricamente los enfoques en la industria hotelera que contribuyen a los ODS 5, 9, 11, 13 y 17.

酒店客户对环境恶化的意识日益增强, 并呼吁进行在线沉浸体验。在发展中国家, 尤其需要酒店采取激动人心的客户行为转变措施,以增强客户再次光顾意向（CRPI）。本研究旨在运用客户主导服务逻辑（CDSL）理解客户的生活领域, 同时为联合国关键的可持续发展目标（UN SDGs）做出贡献。在这一框架下, 研究将探讨客户赋权（CE）和环境 CSR（Env CSR）对巴基斯坦四星级和五星级酒店中 CRP I的调节和中介作用。

本研究采用演绎方法, 结合目的性和雪球抽样技术, 对400名酒店客户进行了在线调查, 以深入了解 RPI 以及UN SDGs 的实践情况。

该研究表明, 在酒店业执行 UN SDGs 最终促进了CE 和 Env CSR, 并进一步增强了O-CVCC, 从而导致了C-RPI的提升。同时, CE和Env CSR在 C-RPI 上通过在线客户价值共创（O-CVCC）获得了互补/部分中介。此外, 感知寻求（SS）在CE和O-CVCC之间起到了调节作用。然而, 客户承诺（CC）在O-CVCC和C-RPI之间没有调节作用。

该研究表明, 在酒店业执行 UN SDGs 最终促进了CE 和 Env CSR, 进而进一步增强了O-CVCC, 从而导致 C-RPI的提升。同时, CE 和Env-CSR 在客户再次光顾意向上通过在线客户价值共创 (O-CVCC) 获得了互补或部分中介作用。此外, 感知寻求 (SS) 在CE和 O-CVCC 之间起到了调节作用。然而, 客户承诺(CC)在O-CVCC和C-RPI之间没有发现调节作用。

该研究强调了在 EnvCSR 受到关注时（即SDG 13）, 客户被赋权时（即 SDG 5和SDG 17）, 以及在线共同创造时（即 SDG 9）会增强客户再次光顾意向（即 SDG 11）。这项研究是第一批在实践中测试了酒店业对 SDG 5、9、11、13 和17做出贡献的方法之一。