bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
We need to explain subjective experience, but its explanation may not be mechanistic
Authors: Signorelli Camilo Miguel , Cea Ignacio , Prentner Robert
Published: February 2025

Models of consciousness need to explain both objective correlates of conscious experience as well as its subjective structure. However, such an explanation would not need to entail a reduction exclusively in terms of physical or neural systems. In this article, we develop some points of contention with recent work on integrated information theory (IIT). In particular, we identify ambiguities regarding the directionality of the explanation, i.e. important tensions between IIT's purported ontological, epistemological and causal primacy of experience, and its explanatory aim of accounting for consciousness in mechanistic terms. Across the text, we propose several ways to avoid these issues and eventually revise or replace the model. In our final section, we introduce alternative explanatory paths: mathematical, processual, and autonomy-based type of explanations. These novels and sound explanatory strategies may better inspire the next generation of models of consciousness.
Investigating the Effect of Mental Imagery Future Based Episodic Simulation on Subsequent Behavioural Engagement in Depressed, Dysphoric and Non-Depressed Individuals
Authors: Shevchenko Jennifer , Ji Julie , Cole Scott , Renner Fritz , Hallford David
Published: February 2025

Previous work has suggested that mental imagery may represent a useful strategy for motivating goal-directed behaviours. Given that individuals experiencing depression symptoms have low motivation to engage in pleasurable activities, this study aimed to explore the effect of mental imagery on activity engagement for pleasurable activities in non-depressed, dysphoric, and depressed individuals (N = 163). Participants selected four activities they wished to engage in and rated expected outcomes and anticipated emotions relating to activity completion before and after mental elaboration of each activity using either mental imagery or verbal reasoning. Over the following week, utilising ecological momentary assessment (EMA), participants recorded the frequency with which they engaged in their chosen activities. Results showed both conditions led to similar levels of behavioural engagement, across all participants, suggesting that both tasks may influence behavioural engagement. Research is now needed to investigate the underlying mechanism/s by which behavioural engagement is occurring.
Conceptual priorities shape individual gaze patterns during naturalistic visual attention
Authors: Haskins Amanda J , Packard Katherine O. , Robertson Caroline Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

Our visual landscape consists of not only people, places, and objects (e.g., “soldier”, “stadium”, “flag”), but also the conceptual relationships that unite them (e.g., “patriotism”). Do individuals’ gaze patterns reflect, in part, their conceptual-level attentional priorities? Here, we show that latent conceptual priorities drive an individual’s idiosyncratic gaze patterns across different real-world environments. Participants (N=61) naturally explored a diverse set of immersive real-world photospheres (N=100) in head-mounted VR while their gaze was continuously monitored using in-headset eye-tracking. We leveraged the embedding spaces of large vision and language models to uncover the latent priorities guiding individuals’ unique patterns of selective attention across environments. We found that different individuals exhibit stable and idiosyncratic gaze patterns across diverse real-world scenes, akin to an “attentional fingerprint”. These patterns can be accurately modeled in the embedding space of a large language model (LLM), which encodes the abstract relationships between scene content (e.g., “patriotism”, linking “flag” and “jet”) – in contrast with vision models that capture only visual similarity. LLM gaze models specifically leveraged conceptual information to predict participants’ attentional priorities, and these predictions were stable over time (i.e., across test-retest sessions), suggesting that they reflect enduring conceptual priorities of an individual mind. Together, these findings show that the eyes are not simply a “window into the mind”, but a window into an individual mind, and its unique cognitive priority map across diverse visual landscapes.
Do Large Language Models see the world with rose-colored glasses? Prompting ChatGPT-4o to associate colors with emotions in Spanish and Mandarin
Authors: Xu Mingshan , Benítez-Burraco Antonio
Published: February 2025

Color terms and emotions frequently intertwine in language. Humans systematically associate colors with emotions mostly through metaphor and metonymy. Large Language Models (LLMs) have emerged as a fundamental technology in the field of natural language processing (NLP). LLMs like ChatGPT can extract detailed linguistic information from vast amounts of data (generally, corpora of written texts). In this paper, we compare the performance by humans and ChatGPT-4o in an association task involving 13 colors and 20 emotions (and 5 intensities of emotion) in two languages, Spanish and Mandarin. We found that ChatGPT-4o associates colors with emotions similarly to humans, also apprehending cross-linguistic and cross-cultural differences. Nonetheless, some differences also exist. Overall, ChatGPT-4o associates colors with more positive emotions. Furthermore, whereas there are notable differences in the intensities of emotion associated to colors by speakers of Spanish vs Mandarin, the responses by ChatGPT-4o are more homogeneous. In conclusion, ChatGPT-4o is a reliable model of human emotional language, although some qualitative differences with humans persist.
Objective and subjective emotional face classification in non-clinical depression
Authors: Jennings Ben J , Boateng Derrick A. , Choudhury Tamera , Alotaibi Noof , Cheeta Survjit
Published: February 2025

Background: Many previous studies highlighting a relationship between depression and emotional face recognition have relied on measures of classification accuracy to determine recognition deficits. However, the perception of emotions is also related arousal levels and valence, and more research is needed to determine how depression impacts these dimensions.Aims: To compare performance on both an objective forced choice emotional recognition task and subjective emotional face valence rating task in participants with self-reported high depression.Methods: Based on screening using the depression sub-scale of the DASS-42, 46 participants (23 males, 23 female) were in the high depression group (mean DASS-42 34±5) and 50 participants in the control groups (25 males, 25 females) with DASS-42 scores of either 0 or 1. All participants completed both a performance-based task (objective) as well as a rating task (subjective) of emotional facial expressions. Results: The data indicate that difference in performance exist in classification accuracy between the groups, with depressed participants demonstrating reduced accuracy for anger, sadness and neutral facial expressions. Additionally differences in subjective ratings exist in the depressed group, but with the important caveat that these only relate to faces display positive emotional expressions.Discussion: The limitations of relying solely on objective tasks where recognition accuracy is the main outcome measure are discussed as well as the data quantitatively demonstrating a reduced response in the depression group to positive stimuli. This study justifies the need for future studies using both objective and subjective measures to assess emotion classification deficits in depression.
A Descriptive Report on the Psychotherapy Experiences of Adult Autistic Laypeople: Service Utilization, Therapeutic Process Familiarity and Preferences, Client-Therapist Factors, Perceptions of Harm, and Considerations for Those Without Experience
Authors: Bolton Matthew J.
Published: February 2025

Although research on the topic has taken off in recent years, little remains known about the psychotherapy and counseling service utilization and preferences of autistic persons. Adult autistic laypeople (N = 229) were thus recruited for an exploratory, mixed-methods study. Results indicate that most autistic people have some experience and/or familiarity with psychotherapy and counseling and that from those experiences they have small to moderate preferences, as evidenced by scores on the Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP), for therapist directivity; encouragement of emotional expression and therapist-guided exploration of the therapeutic relationship; focus on the client’s present and future; and warm support and unconditional positive regard rather than strong challenge and confrontation. Respondents valued their therapists holding systemic and social justice-oriented perspectives and preferred their therapists use identity-first language in reference to autism; and held favorable attitudes towards psychotherapy-adjacent supports like medication and self-help books. Most respondents with therapy experience believed they had experienced at some point a “seemingly or overtly harmful” event in meeting with their therapist. These and other findings are discussed. The study also examines considerations relevant to the future use and development of the C-NIP measure.
Age-related differences in emotion recognition are linked to cognition and brain structure and function
Authors: Wolpe Noham , Harlev Daniel , Bergmann Eyal , Henson Richard
Published: February 2025

People show significant individual differences in their ability to recognise emotions. These differences are particularly pronounced in ageing, with dementia, after brain lesions and as a function of mental health factors, such as depression. Older people, for example, tend to have poorer recognition of negative emotions, such as anger, fear and sadness, but better recognition of positive emotions, such as happiness. This ‘positivity bias’ has been suggested to support mental well-being in ageing, but has also been found in association with cognitive decline and brain lesions. Here, we investigated the brain correlates of increased positivity bias with age. We used multimodal brain imaging in a large, population-derived cohort across the adult lifespan, together with a standard emotion recognition task using facial expressions. We first replicated previous behavioural findings showing increased perceptual thresholds in older adults for detecting negative emotion, but reduced threshold for positive emotion, even after accounting for general face recognition abilities. This positivity bias was strongly associated with lower cognitive performance in older people, but not with (non-clinical) depressive symptoms. This age-related bias was associated with reduced grey matter volume in bilateral anterior hippocampus-amygdala. Moreover, resting-state functional connectivity between these regions and orbitofrontal regions was greater with increased positivity bias. Together, our results suggest that the age-related positivity bias is associated with cognitive decline and structural and functional brain differences. Similar to neurodegenerative conditions, a positivity bias in emotion recognition may reflect an early marker of neurodegeneration, which could be confirmed in longitudinal studies.
Impact of Digital Marketing on Business Performance: A PRISMA Model
Authors: Lamichhane Basudev , Lamichhane Saujan , Pandey Prerna , Regmi Shobhakant
Published: February 2025

This study aims to examine the impacts of digital marketing on business sustainability using a systematic analysis guided by PRISMA, focusing on their effectiveness, emerging trends, and obstacles. By comprehensively examining contemporary academic studies, the research highlights significant digital marketing methods that improve online presence, consumer interaction, and overall business performance. This research is constrained by its dependency on secondary data, which may not adequately reflect current industry trends. Moreover, the study primarily emphasizes existing literature and lacks in empirical data from direct consumer and business surveys. Additionally, variations in the effectiveness of digital marketing across different regions and industries are not thoroughly addressed. The study concludes that transformative trends and technologies are changing the landscape of digital marketing, including artificial intelligence, data driven analytics, and Omni channel marketing strategies positive impact on business sustainability. Further, the study addresses major challenges and concerns about data privacy, content saturation, issues with consumer trust while evaluating return on investment (ROI), reliance on specific platforms, and ethical considerations. The study provides several possible options for the problem that focus more on privacy-related marketing, using AI in personalized content creation, adopting complex analytics for performance assessment, and diversifying marketing channels. The research invariably emphasizes that businesses must infuse their digital marketing efforts with ethics, sound data-unforcedness, and customer focus to attain sustainable growth in their top-tier digital ecosystem. This study offers valuable insights for small and micro-entrepreneurs, policymakers, and regulators emphasizing digital marketing as a tool for sustainable marketing strategies.
National Social Health Insurance Program in Bara District of Nepal: A Systematic Review Paper
Authors: Kafle Bishnu Raj
Published: February 2025

The assessment of the SHI program's current state in Nepal's Bara District is the main objective of this study, which also looks at the program's obstacles to enrolment. Additionally, it summarizes the potential for increasing SHI availability and offers suggestions for improving SHI practice and policy. Using keywords that delved into understanding occupation, income, and awareness of participation in SHI, the publications were gathered from academic sites such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The research and survey show that those with low incomes and those in informal employment avoid registering in the SHI program because of cultural norms, ignorance, and financial difficulties. Administrative obstacles and a general lack of suitable health facilities have also been identified as cross-cutting problems that impede SHI. The study's last sections, the conclusions, include recommendations for public awareness campaigns, low-income earner subsidies, the creation of appropriate institutions, and easier-to-follow protocols. The above-mentioned actions aim to advance the idea of UHC(Universal Health Coverage) in Nepal by assisting SHI enrolment and utilization in Bara District and possibly resolving some of the issues.
नेपाली भाषा र साहित्यको विकासमा भारतीय नेपालीहरूको भूमिका
Authors: न्यौपाने विष्णु
Published: February 2025

नेपाली भाषा बहुसङ्ख्यक नेपालीको मातृभाषा हो भने भारतका विभिन्न ठाउँहरू ः दार्जिलिङ, खर्साङ, कालिपोङ, सिक्किम, आसाम, जलपाइगुढी आदि क्षेत्रका भारतीय नेपालीले पनि यस भाषालाई मातृभाषाका रूपमा प्रयोग गर्दछन् । भारतमा बोलिने नेपाली भाषालाई भारतीय नेपाली भाषा भनिन्छ । नेपालमा यो भाषा सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा हो भने भारतमा भारतीय सरकारी मान्यता प्राप्त भाषा हो । यो भाषा विभिन्न भाषाभाषिको सम्पर्क भाषा पनि हो । नेपालबाट काम र मामका सिलसिलामा नेपालीहरू जहाँजहाँ पुगेका छन् त्यहाँ नेपाली भाषा बोल्दछन् र यस भाषाप्रति सम्मान र प्रगाढ आस्था पनि प्रकट गर्दछन् । साहित्य सिर्जनाका हिसाबले पनि यो भाषा संवृद्ध छ । भारतीय भूमि खासगरी दाजिर्लिङ्, खर्साङ, कालिपोङ र सिक्किममा रहेका नेपालीहरू जसलाई भारतीय नेपाली पनि भनिन्छ, तिनीहरूको नेपाली भाषाप्रतिको माया, ममता; नेपाली भाषाको उत्थान तथा संवृद्धिमा उनीहरूको यो गदान र उनीहरूद्वारा सिर्जना गरिएका नेपाली साहित्यसम्बन्धी कार्यको खोजी गर्नु आवश्यक भएको छ । पुस्तकालय अध्ययन कार्यका आधारमा द्वितीयक स्रोत सामग्री सङ्कलन गरी यिनै सामग्रीको अध्ययन र पुनरावलोकनबाट गुणात्मक अनुसन्धान ढाँचामा विश्लेषित यस अनुसन्धान लेखमा भारतीय नेपालीहरूले नेपाली भाषा र साहित्यको विकासमा केकस्तो यो गदान पुर्याएका छन् भन्ने प्राज्ञिक समस्यामा यो लेख केन्द्रित रहेको छ । विवरणात्मक र विश्लेषणात्मक विधिद्वारा भारतीय नेपालीहरूले नेपाल भूमि वा भारतभूमिमा रहेर नेपाली भाषाको विकासमा योगदान दिएकाले तिनीहरूलाई नेपाल र भारत दुवै सरकारले उचित मान, सम्मान र संरक्षण गर्नुपर्दछ भन्ने निष्कर्ष यस लेखमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको छ ।
Migration and Remittances: Assessing Their Role in Socioeconomic Development in Nepal (2000–2023)
Authors: Dhakal Chuda Prasad , Dhungana Purna , Dhakal Abbal , Dhakal Aviral , Dhakal Apekshya
Published: February 2025

From 2000 to 2023, this study examines how migration and remittances impact Nepal's socio-economic development. This study employs quantitative approaches such as regression analysis and trend assessment to investigate the implications of remittances on GDP growth, poverty alleviation, and economic stability. According to its findings, remittances contributed to an average of 25% of Nepal’s GDP during the survey years, leading to a major decrease in poverty by increasing household incomes and enabling access to education and healthcare. On the other hand, the study does point out challenges, including economic vulnerabilities resulting from excessive dependence on remittances and susceptibility to changes in the global economy. Policy recommendations emphasize strategic economic diversification and the productive use of remittances.
लिङ्ग, वचन, पुरुष र आदरका आधारमा हायु, दराई र नेपाली भाषा
Authors: दाहाल दुर्गाप्रसाद
Published: February 2025

लिङ्ग, वचन, पुरुष र आदरका आधारमा हायु, दराई र नेपाली भाषा’ शीर्षकको यस लेखमा लिङ्ग, वचन, पुरुष र आदरमा हायु, दराई र नेपाली भाषालाई आधारमा तुलना गरिएको छ । यसमा हायु भाषाका सामग्री सिन्धुली र रामेछाप जिल्लाका हायु मातृभाषा बोल्ने हायुहरूबाट र दराई भाषाको सामग्री तनहुँका दमौली वरिपरिका दराई बस्तीहरूमा बस्ने दराईहरूबाट भाषा सङ्कलन गरी तयार पारिएको ढकाल (२०७०) बाट लिइएको छ । यस अध्ययनले हायु र दराई मातृभाषीलाई नेपाली भाषाको लिङ्ग, वचन, पुरुष र आदर व्यवस्था सिकाइमा के कस्ता भिन्नता देखा पर्छन् भन्ने कुराका विषयमा जानकारी प्रदान गरेको छ । यसले गर्दा यो अध्ययन हायु र दराई मातृभाषी विद्यार्थीलाई नेपाली भाषाशिक्षण गर्ने शिक्षक र विद्यार्थीका लागि निकै उपयोगी हुनेछ । हायु र दराई भाषामा लिङ्गको प्रभाव केवल नाममा सीमित छ, क्रियामा यस्तो प्रभाव परेको देखिँदैन भने नेपाली भाषामा लिङ्गको प्रभाव नाम, विशेषण र क्रियामा परेको देखिन्छ । हायु र दराई मातृभाषा भएका विद्यार्थीहरूले नेपाली भाषामा पुलिङ्ग र स्त्रीलिङ्गी प्रयोगमा कठिनाइ् बेहोर्नु पर्ने हुनसक्छ । नेपाली भाषाको झैँ हायु र दराई दुवै भाषामा कर्तामा एकवचन र बहुवचनको प्रयोग भिन्न हुने गरेको छ । यी दुवै भाषामा नेपाली भाषाको जस्तो एकवचन र बहुवचन क्रिया प्रयोगमा भिन्नता रहेको देखिएन । यस विशेषताका कारण हायु र दराई दुवै भाषी विद्यार्थीले नेपाली भाषाको एकवचन र बहुवचन प्रयोगमा त्रुटि गर्नसक्ने अवस्था सिर्जित हुन्छ । हायु र दराई भाषीले नेपाली भाषाको एकवचन र बहुवचनका आधारमा उपयुक्त क्रिया प्रयोग नगर्न सक्ने अवस्था देखिन्छ । पुरुषगत व्यवस्थामा नेपाली र दराई भाषामा समान किसिमले कर्ता र क्रिया प्रभावित बनेको अवस्था देखिन्छ भने हायु भाषामा पुरुषगत व्यवस्था कर्ताका लागि मात्र विभेदक बन्नाले हायु मातृभाषी विद्यार्थीहरूले प्रथम पुरुष, द्वितीय पुरुष र तृतीय पुरुषको प्रयोगमा क्रियामा त्रुटि गर्न सक्ने अवस्था सिर्जना भएको देखिन्छ । नेपाली र दराई भाषामा अनादर र आदर का लागि भिन्न कर्ता र क्रिया प्रयोग भए पनि हायु भाषाको आदर व्यवस्थामा यस प्रकारको व्यवस्था देखिँदैन । यसबाट हायु मातृभाषी विद्यार्थीहरूले नेपालीको आदरगत प्रयोगमा त्रुटि गर्ने सम्भावना देखिन्छ ।
Amalgamation of Mathematics in Economics: A Historical and Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Devkota Nanu Maya
Published: February 2025

The integration of mathematical models into economics has evolved into a cornerstone of contemporary economic research. This progression, marked by increasing algebraic usage, reflects the discipline's shift toward a structured, rigorous framework. Despite its value, the adoption of mathematical methods faced challenges and debates over their practical efficacy, highlighting the dynamic interplay between theoretical insights and practical applications to shape modern economic analysis. The paper addresses the lack of a simple and consolidated framework of essential mathematical concepts and their applications in economics. Focusing on that problem, this paper aims to examine the evolution of mathematics in classical economics. Moreover, role of mathematics in solving contemporary economic problems related to decision-making and forecasting, and its contribution to improving economic efficiency are also considered. To fulfill objectives, a qualitative method with descriptive analysis is used to examine the foundational works of classical economists and its application in current economic issues. Mathematical models and matrix algebra are used to forecast trends, maximize resources, and examine interdependencies among economic variables in Nepal, while game theory directs strategic policies in areas like hydropower trade. The findings reveals that mathematical tools and models have transformed economic analysis, offering a robust framework for addressing complex policy issues and promoting sustainable development, particularly in Nepal and beyond.
Key Drivers of Customer Satisfaction in Nepalese Mobile Banking Services
Authors: Aryal Narayan Prasad , Singh Govind Kumar
Published: February 2025

This study aims to explore the factors influencing customer satisfaction with mobile banking services of Nepalese commercial banks. The quantitative research method included descriptive, relational, and causal designs. A response of descriptive, correlational analysis and regression was conducted with IBM SPSS. There were 384 responses from commercial banks. Frequency, percentage, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, correlation, and regression were used to evaluate structured questionnaire data. The result showed that service quality and perceived usefulness have positive and significant impact on mobile banking services. In contrast, customer support and assistance has insignificant and negative relationship with mobile banking services. Regression analysis identified service quality as having the highest impact on customer satisfaction, followed by perceived usefulness, while customer support and assistance has a negligible effect. The study emphasises the importance of service quality and perceived usefulness in enhancing customer satisfaction with mobile banking services.
Commemorating the Glorious Past of a Guerilla Girl: An Analysis of Rai’s Chhapamar Yuvatiko Dayari (Diary of a Guerilla Girl)
Authors: Pokharel Badri Prasad
Published: February 2025

This article aims to analyze Tara Rai Anmol’s memoir work Chhapamar Yuvatiko Dayari (Diary of a Guerrilla Girl) with the perspective of trauma theorists like Duncan Bell and Nigel Hunt. Past events related to war and conflicts always bring a horrible consequence to the survivors who, if anything can, remember these historical events as a psychological need and a social duty to reminisce those who died in the battle. Focusing on the historical role in understanding the psychological response to war trauma, this write up elucidates the social factors which play in psychological understanding and building together to develop the concept of the personal narrative – the memoir of an ex-Maoist combatant, Tara Rai who fought in the ten-years long People's War instigated by the then Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) as a member of cultural troupe, arrested by the security personnel and spent a long time in jails. This article has tried to illuminate those facts which have made the traumatic past a meaningful one for memorialization and commemoration.
Exploring the Quality of Life Perceptions among Chinese Tourists in Pokhara
Authors: Laxmi Kanta Sharma
Published: February 2025

This study seeks to examine the influence of travel experiences in Pokhara on the Quality of Life (QoL) of Chinese tourists, with a focus on the notion that such experiences play a significant role in enhancing satisfaction across various dimensions of travel-related life domains. The investigation is grounded in the recollections of Chinese tourists following their most recent visit to Pokhara. To address the research objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed. This involved conducting a survey of 400 Chinese tourists to assess their satisfaction levels and the importance ratings assigned to 14 key travel-related life domains, in addition to carrying out 25 in-depth interviews with Chinese tourists to gather qualitative insights. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis, which confirmed the study's hypothesis by demonstrating that both satisfaction and the importance ratings across the identified travel-related life domains significantly contribute to the overall life satisfaction of these tourists. The findings reveal that experiences in Pokhara substantially influence the QoL of Chinese tourists, affecting all assessed travel life domains. Based on these insights, the research concludes with practical recommendations for tourism operators in Pokhara. These strategies aim to enhance the well-being of Chinese tourists, thereby contributing to improved business performance and long-term sustainability within the local tourism sector.
Building Internal Coaching Capacity: Key Ingredients for Developing Internal Champions in the Workplace
Authors: Mehdi Ebrahimi
Published: February 2025

An ongoing gap in the literature highlights the need to explore and address the essential elements required to build internal coaching capacity and develop effective internal coaches within organisations. This paper contributes to addressing this gap by exploring the essential ingredients critical for building internal coaching capacity. The main objective of this paper is to enhance our understanding of the factors that contribute to building internal coaching capacity, thereby supporting the design and implementation of effective internal coaching programs within organisations. First, an online survey was used to collect quantitative data, offering a general overview of coaching activities across Australia's rail organisations. This was followed by a qualitative phase, which involved semi-structured interviews with participants from two major rail organisations. Results from both the quantitative and qualitative phases indicate that organisations widely utilise both internal and external coaching, with internal coaching primarily occurring in an informal form. The qualitative findings relevant to the objective of this study suggest that (1) formalising internal coaching practices and ensuring accessibility across organisational hierarchies, (2) maintaining synergies between internal and external coaching activities while concurrently engaging in extensive internal coach training, (3) securing leadership commitment and support from upper management, and (4) cultivating a learning culture to support coaching can be considered among key components in building internal coaching capacity, and driving more effective coaching programs within organisations.
From Traditional Employment to Gig Work: Analyzing Labor Dynamics in Nepal's Emerging Gig Economy
Authors: Sagar B.K.  , Niranjan Devkota  , Smeeth Bista
Published: February 2025

This study explores the sustainability of labor participation in Nepal’s gig economy, focusing on the Kathmandu Valley, with an emphasis on identifying factors influencing gig participation across ride-sharing, online tutoring, e-commerce delivery, food delivery, and freelancing platforms. A binary logit regression model was employed to analyze survey data from 386 gig workers. Statistical robustness was ensured through normality tests, correlation matrices, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity checks, and sensitivity analyses. The results reveal that employment status significantly enhances the likelihood of gig economy participation, with a log-odds ratio of 5.469 (p < 0.01), indicating that employed individuals are over five times more likely to engage in gig work. Work satisfaction is positively correlated with participation (odds ratio = 3.147, p < 0.01), suggesting that satisfied workers are approximately three times more likely to take on gig roles. Employment and work satisfaction increase participation likelihood by 20.5% and 13.8%, respectively. Conversely, participation in e-commerce delivery and ride-sharing platforms is negatively correlated. Monthly income generally reduces participation, except in food delivery platform. Policy implications emphasize the need for enhanced legal protections, income stability, and platform transparency. Regulations ensuring job security, flexible scheduling, and supportive measures like tax incentives are vital to creating a sustainable and inclusive gig economy in Nepal.
Financial Inclusion among the Female Customers of Microfinance: An Evidence from Pokhara Metropolis
Authors: Susmita Subedi  , Bharat Ram Dhungana
Published: February 2025

This paper aims to examine financial inclusion among the female customers of microfinance in Pokhara metropolis. The study employed quantitative research design with a descriptive approach. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire to microfinance clients in Pokhara. A convenience sampling method was used, and data was collected from 110 participants. The results revealed that microfinance products have not significantly impacted financial inclusion (β= 0.015, p= 0.879) among female customers in Pokhara. While most participants were middle-aged, married, and involved in business, their financial literacy levels were basic and it is positively correlated with financial inclusion (p=0.006) and socio-economic factors significantly impact financial inclusion (β = 0.254, p=0.007). Key factors influencing their choice of microfinance included collateral-free loans and immediate access to funds. The findings suggest that achieving effective financial inclusion requires a broader approach beyond microcredit alone. Financial literacy empowers people to make better financial choices and access formal financial services. Additionally, socio-economic factors, such as education and income stability, positively influence financial inclusion. To enhance financial inclusion, it is essential to provide affordable financial products, digital services, and convenient access to financial services.
Quality of Life Determinants among Dalit and Non-Dalit Elderly Populations in Nepal
Authors: Bijaya Mani Devkota  , Lal Bahadur Oli
Published: February 2025

This study examines socio-demographic and economic determinants regarding the quality of life (QoL) among Dalits and Non-Dalit in the elderly populations of Nepal, particularly in Palungtar Municipality, Gorkha District. It employs a descriptive and explanatory design, interviewing 430 individuals aged 60 and above. The major evidence found includes various disparities in QoL determinants, illiteracy among Dalits registered at 78.11 percent, whereas Non-Dalit had an illiteracy rate of 64.92 percent (χ² (2) = 8.7406, P = 0.000). This gap is even clear in terms of employment; the retired employee status is reported by only 1.8 percent of Dalits compared to 6.5 percent of Non-Dalit (χ² (1) = 5.1930, P = 0.023). The income group is alarming; around 72.7 percent of Non-Dalit earn more than Rs.500,000 in a year, as opposed to only 27.3 percent of Dalits (χ² (1) =8.67010, P=0.031).  The logistic regression analysis yielded significant predictors of QoL with age found to be positively associated with QoL (β=0.129, p<0.01), which could indicate prospective adaptability among older adults. Literacy (β = -0.374, p < .01) and school education (β = -0.380, p < .05) are negatively related parameters, signifying the need for educational equity along the dimension. Employment (β = 0.569, p < .05) and income (β = -0.045, p < .05) contribute positively to QoL, while retirement (β = 1.282, p < .01) presents as a significant measure of determining one's experience of QoL.  This study points to systemic inequities and calls for specific measures in education, equity in income, and inclusive policies to improve QoL in marginalized (Dalit) aging populations.
Behavioral Influences on Individual Investors' Decision-Making
Authors: Guna Raj Chhetri
Published: February 2025

The performance and decision-making of individual investors in Nepal are investigated in this study, with an emphasis on the behavioural aspects that affect their investing decisions. Determiners of investment performance and decisions, the interaction between market, firm, and risk-return variables, and their influence on investor choices are the objectives of the study. 110 respondents, including commercial banks, business owners, government employees, graduate management students, and stock market investors, were selected from the Bharatpur metropolitan area in the Chitwan district using a descriptive and causal comparative study approach. The results indicate that market trends have a considerable impact on investing confidence, as seen by the moderately positive correlation found between investor decisions and market-related variables (MRV). The significance of a company's performance metrics, management quality, and reputation is highlighted by the greater positive correlation found for company-related variables (CRV). Additionally, there is a moderately positive correlation between risk and return variables (RRV), indicating that people who are more confident in their investing decisions are more likely to be willing to face risks in exchange for larger returns or who prefer steady returns. According to the study's findings, investor decisions are significantly influenced by a variety of interrelated factors, including firm characteristics, market conditions, and risk-return preferences.
From Margins to Mainstream: Uncovering Urban Informality of Street Vending in Kirtipur
Authors: Resham Thapa-Parajuli  , Bhuban Chandra Joshi  , Maya Timsina  , Bibek Pokharel
Published: February 2025

Street vending is crucial in fostering economic growth and providing livelihood opportunities, particularly for urban migrants with limited formal employment prospects. This study examines the drivers, financial performance, and challenges street vendors face in Kirtipur municipality, Nepal. Findings reveal that street vending is primarily driven by necessity, with 53.33% of respondents citing the inability to secure formal sector jobs and 51.67% pointing to a lack of alternative skills. Respondents reveal that the sector is profitable, with 98.33% of vendors reporting profits and 55% achieving monthly savings between NPR 15,000 and NPR 30,000. Despite financial literacy and access to banking for 75% of respondents, initial investments predominantly came from informal sources, reflecting limited access to formal credit. Key challenges include weather conditions (80%), municipal interventions (65%), and inadequate infrastructure, such as drinking water (48.33%) and sanitation facilities (41.67%). The study highlights the need for local governments to implement skill development programs, formalize the sector, and invest in infrastructure to enhance the sector’s viability. Inclusive policies and financial support mechanisms are essential to mitigate risks and foster sustainability. Future research could adopt longitudinal methods or broader coverage to provide deeper insights into the dynamics of street vending across diverse contexts.
Patient Satisfaction on the Utilization of Health Service in Bhaktapur Hospital, Nepal
Authors: Bishnu Bahadur Khatri  , Tirtha Raj Timsina  , Parbata Devi Karki
Published: February 2025

Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality, reflecting the extent to which services meet patients' expectations. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with health services at Bhaktapur Hospital, Nepal, to inform quality improvement initiatives and healthcare policy development. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 120 in patients who met inclusion criteria through structured interviews. The study utilized a validated questionnaire, translated into Nepali and English, and analyzed the data using IBM SPSS version 20. Findings reveal high levels of satisfaction with safety, cleanliness, and interpersonal skills of staff, particularly in communication and treatment explanation, with a mean satisfaction score of 3.836 ± 0.468. Accessibility to emergency services, admission processes, and laboratory facilities also received favorable ratings (mean score 3.837 ± 0.439). However, dissatisfaction was noted in toilet services, drinking water facilities, and room service (mean score 3.4476 ± 0.587). Additionally, challenges in specialist availability and pharmacy services were highlighted. Socio-demographic factors such as educational and marital status significantly influenced satisfaction, with graduates and unmarried patients reporting higher dissatisfaction. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address hygiene, basic amenities, and service delivery inconsistencies, particularly in room services and pharmacy access. Enhancing doctors’ attentiveness and respect in patient interactions could further improve interpersonal satisfaction. Addressing these areas is critical for achieving a balanced, high-quality patient experience and advancing healthcare delivery at Bhaktapur Hospital, Nepal.
Sustainable Consumerism: Green-Purchasing Trends among Generation Z
Authors: Ashmita Dahal Chhetri  , Pawan Poudel
Published: February 2025

This research investigates the perceptions surrounding green products and identifies key factors influencing green purchasing behavior. The primary objective is to understand the determinants that drive Generation Z's green purchasing decisions in the Chitwan district. A causal-comparative research design was employed to explore the relationships between variables affecting green purchasing behavior. Data were gathered from 189 participants through structured questionnaires, using a purposive sampling technique. Quantitative analyses, including both descriptive and inferential statistics, were conducted, with the PLS-SEM method utilized for evaluating the proposed model. The study reveals that factors such as environmental knowledge, governmental initiatives, and social influences significantly impact green purchasing decisions among Generation Z. Conversely, environmental attitudes and the sense of environmental responsibility do not demonstrate a significant influence on their purchasing behavior. This study is limited to Generation Z within the Chitwan district and relies on cross-sectional data, which may restrict the applicability of its findings to other contexts. Future research should consider examining determinants of green purchasing behavior across different demographic groups and geographic regions. Despite these constraints, the study provides meaningful insights for various stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses, and marketers. The findings offer practical guidance for businesses, marketing professionals, and policymakers to design strategies and products that align with Generation Z's inclination toward green products. Additionally, the outcomes encourage the development of initiatives that foster sustainable consumption habits, thereby supporting environmental preservation efforts within the Chitwan district.
Global Best Practices in Transit Facilitation and Supply Chain Management: Exploring Opportunities for Nepal
Authors: Prakash Prasad Pokharel
Published: February 2025

Transit facilitation and supply chain management are crucial for improving trade competitiveness, especially for landlocked countries like Nepal, which faces unique challenges due to its dependence on neighboring nations, particularly India, for access to global trade routes. This article explores global best practices in transit facilitation and supply chain management, highlighting how countries with similar geographical constraints, such as Switzerland and Austria, have effectively addressed logistical challenges through integrated infrastructure, digitalization, and regional cooperation. It examines how these strategies can be adapted to Nepal’s context to optimize its transit systems, reduce costs, and enhance its trade competitiveness. Key strategies include streamlining customs procedures, adopting digital integration like blockchain and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), and investing in efficient infrastructure, such as multimodal transport systems and dry ports. The article also underscores the importance of regional cooperation, exemplified by frameworks like ASEAN, which can offer Nepal opportunities to harmonize policies and reduce trade barriers. Furthermore, Nepal’s transit challenges—ranging from its dependency on India, infrastructure gaps, bureaucratic delays, and limited digitalization—are discussed, with actionable recommendations for overcoming these obstacles. Opportunities for Nepal include leveraging the India-Nepal Transit Treaty, enhancing digital platforms for transparency, improving infrastructure, and strengthening regional cooperation. By aligning with global best practices and strategically addressing its challenges, Nepal can improve its logistics and transit systems, foster economic growth, and enhance its position in regional and global trade networks. This study provides a comprehensive roadmap for Nepal to build resilience and competitiveness in the evolving global trade landscape.
Giving Instruction in the English Language Classroom: Principles and the Practices
Authors: Poudel Guru Prasad
Published: February 2025

Teaching English is often perceived as a challenging task to the teachers. One of the reasons behind the challenge is teachers’ difficulties to get students attentive in learning and help them understand the meaning. Not only the case of teachers, many of the learners find learning English as a headache. Sowell (2017) admits that one of the probable headaches in learning English is not being able to receive proper instruction. Sometimes students receive very little instruction whilst sometimes they receive no instruction at all. In my experience too, most of us just ask students do language tasks, such as listen and complete, read and write summary, give a short description, etc. without providing clear cut instruction on what to do, how and why. Teachers’ instruction in the classroom works as the guidance for task completion. And the absence of proper instruction in teaching English creates difficulties to perform required tasks and misleads the students, as a result, students show very little interest to do what they are asked to do or even leave the task incomplete. Considering such a situation, this article aims at introducing the instruction in teaching, discussing the importance, presenting the principles, suggesting processes and sharing hands-on tips for instruction giving in ELT classes. It has been developed from the review of related literature and self-reflection. The entire discussion enabled me to conclude that instruction giving is always desirable in teaching English if we wish to get students complete the tasks and have meaningful learning.
Community Colleges in Nepal and the Quest for Sustainability: Challenges, Prospects and SDG Alignment
Authors: Gupta Shatrughan Prasad , Shiwakoti Rabindra
Published: February 2025

Sustainable development is a movement toward improving the world, not just a passing trend . In Nepal, universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have yet to effectively fulfill their responsibility to promote sustainability . This study explores the sustainability perception of higher education (HE) by community-based HEIs, i.e., community colleges . A literature review indicates the benefits and threats of sustainability consciousness which is supplemented by primary and secondary data collected through interviews with high-ranking UGC and university officials and former Chairpersons of the Nepal Public Campus Association (NPCA) . The thematic analysis reveals that community colleges of Nepal are facing their identity crisis and struggling for their own sustainability with implications to fulfill the SDGs . Lack of uniform regulations, absence of sustainability-friendly curricula, declining student enrollment, ineffective management, conventional pedagogy, inadequate and poor research activities, unstable human resources, insufficient financial support, and inadequate eco-friendly infrastructure stand as key challenges . However, prospects are there that quality accredited community colleges can foster sustained growth by ensuring accessible, high-quality education along with strong leadership, governance, and community involvement . Their expected role in mitigating global warming, promoting gender equity, reducing carbon emissions, and bridging educational gaps makes them highly visible to achieving SDGs . This study recommends some strategic measures for addressing sustainability challenges, paving the way for making Nepal a more prosperous and sustainable country in the days to come.
Artificial Intelligence in Education: Adoption and Usage Patterns Among Technical and Non-Technical Students
Authors: Devkota Yuba Raj
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the adoption and usage patterns of AI tools among technical and non-technical students at Kathmandu Shiksha Campus (KSC). The data were drawn from 13 technical students studying in the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) program and 10 non-technical students from Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) programs. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining questionnaires with interviews. This present paper investigates the frequency of AI tool usage, major purposes, the most commonly used tools, perceptions about the integration of AI into the curriculum, challenges in adoption, and perceived benefits. The results point the usage of AI tools among both technical and non-technical students, their opinion regarding frequency of usages, purpose of using, challenges faced or benefits from it. The study has also underlined that technical students usually use AI tools for coding, debugging, and fine-tuning their coding ability, while non-technical students use the tool basically in report writing, analysis, and presentation. This paper suggests curriculum developers and college management to make a policy or conduct frequent seminars regarding AI literacy and accessibility in various educational faculties.
Feeding Practice and Nutrition status of Under-five Year's Children in Dalit Community in Darchula
Authors: Joshi Ohmprakash , Bist Suraj Kumar
Published: February 2025

This study aims to find out the feeding practices of under-five-year-old children, and to find out the relationship between socio-economic condition and nutritional status of less than five-year-old children in the study area. The study was conducted in Shailyshikhar Municipality-07 with the sample 98 mothers and 115 children as sample selected purposively using using census method. The study reveals that most of the mothers were found unaware of how to feed, what to feed and when to feed with the appropriate skill of preparing colostrum feeding, frequency of feeding and bottle feeding. The frequency of feeding babies and nutritional food practices were found poor. Furthermore, the study showed that 28.89 per cent of boys were not gaining proper weight for their age properly, 22.22 per cent were not gaining proper weight as per their height; 22.64 per cent of girls had low weight as per their and 33.96 per cent of girls had low weight as their age.  This study found that there was no proper feeding practice for children under five years old due to the lack of knowledge awareness and of the occupational composition of mothers. The nutritional status of the children depends on various factors such as breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, and duration of appropriate feeding, knowledge of the mother, proper feeding economic and social status and so on.