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Beauty and charm quarks are ideal probes of pertubative Quantum Chromodymanics in proton–proton collisions, owing to their large masses. In this paper the role of multi-parton interactions in the production of doubly-heavy hadrons is studied using simulation samples generated with Pythia, a Monte Carlo event generator. Comparisons are made to the stand-alone generators BcVegPy and GenXicc. New methods of speeding up Pythia simulations for events containing heavy quarks are described, enabling the production of large samples with multiple heavy-quark pairs. We show that significantly higher production rates of doubly-heavy hadrons are predicted in models that allow heavy quarks originating from different parton–parton interactions (within the same hadron–hadron collision) to combine to form such hadrons. Quantitative predictions are sensitive to the modelling of colour reconnections. We suggest a set of experimental measurements capable of differentiating these additional contributions.

The present study has been conducted to examine the relationship among the identified core-competencies to have successful e-governance. The study is carried out using a mixed method research, wherein the research model is developed based on the outcomes of exploratory study along with literature support. The model is empirically validated with 359 respondents from the Ministry of Finance, India using structured equation modelling technique. The theory of strategic intent forms the basis of the study. The study revealed the significant relationship amongst the identified core-competencies. The process management (PM) core-competency results in high employee engagement (EE). The PM and EE together lead to high internal service quality (ISQ). ISQ in turn leads to high external service quality (ESQ). This high ESQ leads to enhanced citizen satisfaction (CS). Leadership, culture, and technology moderate the impact of independent variables on dependent variables.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify the themes of core-competencies required for future-oriented and sustainable e-governance practices, especially across the developing nations. Design/methodology/approach The present study has been conducted using the sequential mixed method research wherein the exploratory qualitative study is first carried out with the government officials involved in e-governance implementation across India to identify the themes of core-competencies. The findings of this exploratory study are then empirically tested with the 359 respondents from Group A and Group B officers of the two government departments in India using partial least square technique. Findings The findings suggested that to ensure the implementation of future-oriented and sustainable e-governance, it is required to develop the core-competencies. The significant core-competencies explored are, namely, process management, employee engagement, internal service quality, external service quality, citizen satisfaction, leadership, culture and technology. Research limitations/implications As strategic implementation of e-governance is a relatively new area of study, the present study has used the learning from core-competencies studies in the non-government sector. Practical implications The findings of this study underscore the need for strategic implementation of e-governance to have long-term success of e-governance. The requirement is to develop the core-competencies. These core-competencies are the key to making the government departments proactive in dealing with any future contingency without compromising on the departmental performance. Originality/value The present research is one of the few research studies focusing on the implementation of sustainable and future-oriented e-governance. The current study has laid the stepping stone for investigating the role of core-competencies to ensure the implementation of sustainable and future-oriented e-governance.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how to strategically reengineer the government processes in e-governance to ensure the implementation of future-oriented and sustainable e-governance across developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThis study has used learning from the theory of strategic intent. The present study has been conducted using exploratory sequential mixed method research. The findings of exploratory study, supported by extant literature on reengineering, core competencies and e-governance success, forms the basis for proposed research framework, which is empirically tested with 359 respondents from the two government departments in India using partial least square technique.FindingsThe findings of this study suggested that it is needed to reengineer the government processes with a view to develop the core competencies to ensure the long-term success of e-governance implementation in terms of future-orientation and sustainability. The reengineering transformations are found to have significant positive effect on the core competencies development that, in turn, has a positive effect on the success of e-governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study is the small sample size of qualitative and quantitative study owing to the missing willingness of government officials to respond to the research instruments.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study would help e-governance practitioners to focus on the key strategic areas which will ensure the long-term success of e-governance and make the same valuable for the current and upcoming generations.Originality/valueThis study made an original contribution to e-governance literature by developing and validating a theoretical model for empirically assessing the strategic effect of business process reengineering changes on e-governance success (in terms of future orientation and sustainability) through mediating variable, core competencies.

Silica/silver core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by coating silver NPs on silica core particles (size ~300 ± 10 nm) via electro less reduction method. The core–shell NPs were characterized for their structural, morphological, compositional and optical behavior using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and UV–Visible spectroscopy, respectively. The size (16–35 nm) and loaded amount of silver NPs on the silica core were found to be dependent upon reaction time and activation method of silica. The bactericidal activity of the NPs was tested by broth micro dilution method against both Bacillus subtilis (gram positive) and Escherichia coli ATCC25922 (gram negative) bacterium. The bactericidal activity of silica/silver core–shell NPS is more against E. coli ATCC25922, when compared to B. subtilis . The minimal inhibitory concentration of the core–shell NPs ranged from 7.8 to 250 μg/mL and is found to be dependent upon the amount of silver on silica, the core. These results suggest that silica/silver core–shell NPs can be utilized as a strong substitutional candidate to control pathogenic bacterium, which are otherwise resistant to antibiotics, making them applicable in diverse medical devices.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of metaphor “Digital India-Power to Empower” on citizens’ intention to adopt the e-governance while taking citizens’ attitude and emotional attachment with Digital India as mediating variables between citizens’ involvement and intention to adopt e-governance.Design/methodology/approachAfter reviewing the extant literature and using the learning from Technology Acceptance Model-Extension (TAME), a conceptual model has been proposed. The model is empirically tested on 224 respondents from India using structural equation modeling technique.FindingsThe paper suggested that the metaphoric promotion of E-Governance leads to a higher intention to adopt E-Governance. Metaphoric promotion has a positive influence on citizen involvement with E-Governance, which leads to positive attitude toward E-Governance. This positive attitude leads to citizens’ emotional attachment with E-Governance, which in turn leads to citizens’ positive behavioral intention to adopt E-Governance. In addition, there is a significant difference in attitude toward E-Governance with respect to education level and metro city dwelling, but there is no difference in intention to adopt E-Governance with respect to education and metro city dwelling.Research limitations/implicationsAs there is a dearth of research on the usage of metaphor by government and its effect on citizens’ adoption of E-Governance, a conceptual model has been prepared by using learning from metaphor studies majorly in non-government services.Originality/valueAs marketing and metaphors are rarely spoken words in E-Governance research, present study starts the much-needed conversation. In the past, adoption of E-Governance is studied in terms of technology attributes using TAM Model. The present study is first to explore the behavioral impact of E-Governance metaphoric promotion on citizens’ intention to adopt E-Governance based on TAME model. It raises the issue of marketing foundation of E-Governance in mobilizing the citizens’ intention to adopt the E-Governance.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the maturity level of government process reengineering and investigate the reasons for not achieving much anticipated benefits of E-Governance implementation across developing countries. The present study qualitatively analyzes the reengineering status of government processes in the current E-Governance implementation practices across India using the Process and Enterprise Maturity Model (PEMM). The structured interview was conducted with key people involved in the E-Governance implementation across India. The findings of study indicated that the E-Governance implementation in India is presently missing on the reengineering of government processes, owing to which these processes are not mature enough to deliver the higher performance post E-Governance implementation. The findings of the study suggested that to ensure the performance of government processes, the need is to focus upon the process enablers and enterprise capabilities.

Nanocomposites of AgCl/PANI were synthesized by chemical polymerization/precipitation in aqueous HCl solution using both aniline monomer and AgNO 3 precursors in different molar ratio in PVP. Silver ions interact with PVP which restrict the bulk growth of AgCl and keep it in nanosized. During synthesis, AgCl NPs got entrapped in PANI chains through inter-chain hydrogen bonding. TGA studies showed complete decomposition of polymer chains occurred at 30–40 °C higher temperature than PANI alone. DSC studies indicate higher thermal stability of the composite, which is due to more heat flow for decomposition of polymer chains indicating compact packing of polymer matrix with AgCl NPs having large surface area to volume ratio. The TEM image showed spherical NPs were randomly dispersed in a polymer matrix and from XRD data crystalline nature of composite was seen. In FT-IR spectrum strong absorption band of a carbonyl stretching group due to PVP indicates its presence on nanoparticle surface in composite. Thin films of nanocomposite were spin casted on ITO coated glass surface. Electrical conductance was calculated from I–V data which was found to be in the range of 10 −2 –10 −7  S cm −1 depending on the concentration of NPs in it. These composites may find applications in solar cells as semiconductor material and for designing multiarray sensors for quality interpretation of beverages on the basis of their conductance changes using soft computing techniques.

The study involves the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPY) and polythiophene (PTP) composites of TeO 2 via in situ oxidative polymerization procedure. These composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM, which proves the successful chemical synthesis of PPY, PTP and their composites. FTIR absorption peaks confirms the insertion of TeO 2 in the backbone of PPY and PTP and also justifies the strong interaction of TeO 2 with PTP than PPY, which is responsible for a significant increase in the conductivity value in case of PTP composite than PPY composite, which ensures its better capability in future electronics. Thermal analysis shows no change in thermal stability unlike composites of PPY and PTP with other metal oxides, hence rules out the application of these composites for higher temperature purposes, however, the PTP composite material has shown the stability up to 200 °C which ensures its use in low temperature applications. The compactness, ordered morphology, better conjugation or chain length and orientation of TeO 2 with PTP backbone are responsible for more conductivity of PTP composite than PPY.

Emeraldine base (EB) polymer–ZnO nanoparticles composite films has been synthesized by solution casting technique on ITO-coated glass substrate and characterized by XRD, FTIR and TEM for their structure and morphology. Dielectric behaviour of these composite films has been investigated in the very low frequency region to medium frequency region (1 kHz–1 MHz). The dielectric constant of the composite with 30% nanoparticles is almost one-tenth of the pure EB. The dielectric value becomes constant in the frequency region greater than 400 kHz. The change in dielectric behaviour of the composite is explained on the basis of multilayered interface formed between the ZnO nanoparticles and emeraldine chains. Nanoparticles have high energy surface which is responsible for the decrease of free volume for the orientation of polymer chains consequently decrease in dielectric constant of the composite. TEM images shows about 10 nm ZnO particles embedded in the emeraldine matrix. From the XRD data it has been observed that the lattice parameters of ZnO have been modified due to the alignment of polymer chains along the basal planes of the nanoparticles. The shift of N=Q=N and N–B–N vibration bands to higher wave number in IR indicates that interaction between emeraldine chain and nanoparticles which provides stability to emeraldine matrix.