Perceived Economic Empowerment through Self-Help Groups: A Statistical Study of Scheduled Caste Women in Ramgarh District, Jharkhand, India | Chapter 9 | Economics, Business and Management: Recent Advances Vol. 1

 

The issue of financial inclusion and economic upliftment among marginalised sections, particularly Scheduled Caste (SC) women, continues to pose a major challenge in India’s development process, including in Jharkhand. In this context, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as a crucial mechanism for promoting socio-economic advancement and empowerment at the grassroots level. Participation in SHGs not only enables women to achieve financial independence but also helps them acquire essential skills and strengthens their collective voice within their communities.

 

This study aims to examine the transformative impact of SHGs on the economic empowerment of SC women in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. A total of 100 women associated with SHGs across five blocks—Gola, Mandu, Chitarpur, Ramgarh, and Patratu—were selected for the study. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and interviews, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to assess changes in participants’ economic conditions before and after joining SHGs.

 

The findings reveal a statistically significant improvement in key economic indicators after participation in SHGs, highlighting their strong positive influence on economic empowerment. There has been a notable increase in members’ annual income and savings, along with improvements in employment duration. These results demonstrate the tangible benefits of SHG involvement in enhancing livelihood opportunities and financial stability.

 

The study further suggests that sustained efforts—particularly through targeted training and skill development programs aligned with local market demands—are essential to maintain and expand these gains. It also emphasises the need for further research and supportive policy initiatives to strengthen and extend SHG programs, ensuring continued positive impact on the lives of Scheduled Caste women.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Manisha Kumari
Department of Commerce and Business Management, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India.

 

Shashi Shekhar Murmu
Department of Commerce and Business Management, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India.

 

Rinki Kumari
Department of Commerce and Business Management, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ebmra/v1/7021

Book of Innovation and Technology for Economic Growth | Book Publisher International

 

This book investigates the impact innovation and technology can have on digital advancements across multiple industries and sectors of the current economy. The evolution and expansion of the digital economy requires businesses and public sectors to incorporate new technologies in order to remain viable, competitive, and provide effective services.

 

This book examines and exemplifies the impact of digitalization on operational frameworks and customer interaction. The first chapter(s) focus on the impact of social media on consumer behaviour, in particular, how advertising on Instagram and the use of nano influencers affect the purchasing intentions of the digital natives of Generations Y and Z. The book also examines the omnipresence of retail mobile applications and how they position themselves to be customer-centric in the South African market.

 

The book also goes beyond consumer markets and critically examines other areas of significant change. It talks about and validates a conceptual framework for digital transformation of the South African public sector. The authors identify and discusses key components of the model, which include: transformational leadership, organizational culture, and adaptable governance. It also discusses and systematically examines the impact of digitalization on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SME), and how it enhances operational efficiency and productivity.

 

Integrating theoretical approaches such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), with practical perspectives, this book is a critical reference for policymakers, marketers, and researchers. It examines the possibilities and complexities of the digital age and articulates strategies for optimizing technology for sustainable value economic creation.

 

Editor(s) Details

Prof. Michael Twum-Darko

Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-69006-58-3

 

Sectoral Output and Employment Dynamics in Nigeria: Evidence from an ARDL Analysis (1981-2021)| Chapter 8 |Economics, Business and Management: Recent Advances Vol. 1

 

Background: In Nigeria, a country with a predominantly youthful population estimated at over 224 million, the capacity for growth to generate productive jobs is a pressing development concern.

 

Aim: This study examines the employment effects of sectoral contributions to Nigeria’s GDP and evaluates the relative labour‑absorption capacity of agriculture, industry and services over 1981–2021. It seeks to identify which sectors are growth‑led in employment generation and to inform policy that aligns growth with inclusive job creation. The core problem addressed in this study is the lack of clear, long-run, sectorally disaggregated evidence showing the employment contributions of the broad sectors of agriculture, industry, or services. Existing studies have either focused on aggregate relationships, examined single sectors in isolation, or limited their analysis to short‑run dynamics.

 

Theoretical Framework: The analysis is grounded in Keynesian demand theory and Okun’s law, which link aggregate output to employment, and extends these to a sectoral perspective. The framework recognises capital intensity, technology bias, and value chain linkages as mediating mechanisms that determine whether sectoral growth translates into net employment gains.

 

Methodology: Using annual data for 1981-2021 sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s statistical bulletin and Penn World Tables, the study proxies sectoral output by agricultural, industrial and services GDP and measures employment by total employed persons. After log transformation and unit root testing, an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach is employed to detect cointegration and estimate short-run dynamics and long-run elasticities. Estimated models control for inflation, public expenditure and lagged employment; diagnostic checks ensure robustness.

 

Results: Bounds tests indicate cointegration at both aggregate and disaggregated levels. Long-run elasticities indicate that agricultural GDP has the highest employment intensity, supporting a growth-led employment strategy. Industrial expansion displays characteristics of jobless growth, while service‑sector growth is associated with job‑loss dynamics, reflecting low labour absorption due to capital and technology intensity. Public expenditure shows a positive long‑run association with employment. In the aggregate analysis, a 1% rise in GDP is associated with a 0.27% increase in employment in the short run.

 

In comparison, a 1% increase in GDP raises employment by about 0.53% in the long run, roughly double the short‑run elasticity, indicating that the employment response to growth strengthens over time. When GDP is disaggregated, short‑run dynamics reveal important heterogeneity across sectors. Agricultural output (AGRGDP) exerts a positive and significant short‑run effect on employment (approximately 0.15% per 1% AGRGDP increase), while industry and services coefficients are negative and statistically insignificant. Agricultural GDP displays a large and significant long‑run elasticity (≈0.52), implying that sustained agricultural expansion is strongly employment‑intensive. By contrast, industry and services show small negative long‑run coefficients (statistically insignificant).

 

Conclusion: Policy should prioritise targeted support for agriculture and labour‑intensive industrialisation, strengthen value‑chain investments, and align fiscal allocations to maximise employment outcomes. Reorienting sectoral growth toward labour‑absorbing activities is essential to mitigate Nigeria’s persistent unemployment challenge. Future research should disaggregate services and industry to identify sub‑sectoral employment potentials.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Ololade J. Olaniyan
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Business School - Ibadan, Nigeria.

 

Rosemary Bukola Ajala
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ebmra/v1/7319

Investment and Economic Growth in West Africa: Panel Data Evidence from Selected Countries | Chapter 7 | Economics, Business and Management: Recent Advances Vol. 1

 

Economic growth constitutes one of the fundamental macroeconomic objectives, which most nations, especially the developing economies, strive to achieve. Investment plays a critical role in a country’s economic growth by allowing for the use of modern production methods, stimulating innovation, technology transfer and expanding countries’ production efficiency. Both domestic and foreign generally promote economic growth in developing countries. This study examined the impact of investment on economic growth using panel data from selected West African countries over the period 1990–2024. The dependent variable was gross domestic product, while domestic investment, inward foreign direct investment, outward foreign direct investment and insecurity index were the independent variables. The data were sourced from the World Development Indicator and Central Banks of the respective countries. The selected West African countries in focus included Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. A panel random effect model was used in analysing the data. The result obtained revealed that domestic investment had a significant and positive effect on the economic growth of the selected countries, while FDI inflow and the insecurity index exerted negative effects on economic growth. Ghana had the most positive effect as the country recorded positive trends in their domestic investment and inward foreign investment, which exerted positive effects on the country’s economic growth. The study concluded that domestic investments in the selected countries have been appreciable and have increased the economy of the countries, but foreign direct investment inflow and outflow have not had the desired effect on the growth of the countries’ economies. Security challenges continued to pose significant constraints on both inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows within the region. It is therefore recommended that governments in the West African region enhance the attractiveness of their domestic economies to foreign investors by strengthening infrastructure development, accelerating industrialisation efforts, and leveraging regional trade agreements to promote and facilitate cross-border investments.

 

 

Author(s) Details

A. A. Igwemma
Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

 

U. Eronini Nnamdi
Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

 

A. Mbadugha Onyebuchi
Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

 

C. Ike Chigozie
Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ebmra/v1/7194

Superior Sagittal Sinus: Normal and Varied Anatomy and Associated Clinical Implications |Chapter 13 | Medical Science: Updates and Prospects Vol. 7

 

The superior sagittal sinus is the largest venous sinus enclosed in two layers of the dura mater and situated in the midline in the groove in the parietal bone. The superior sagittal sinus drains blood from the cerebral hemisphere of the brain. It begins at the foramen cecum anteriorly and ends at the confluence of sinuses posteriorly. The superior sagittal sinus is divided into three types, namely, the anterior part extending from the foramen cecum to bregma, the middle part extending from bregma to lambda and the posterior part spanning from lambda to confluence of venous sinuses.

 

The anatomical variations of the superior sagittal sinus are common and may involve any of the three parts mentioned, but most commonly involve the cranial part of the superior sagittal sinus. Various variations observed in the cranial part of the superior sagittal sinus include hypoplasia, which may be unilateral or complete and duplication. These variations are important for neurologists and radiologists as they may be mistaken for venous sinus thrombosis, leading to misdiagnosis and mismanagement. The chapter throws light on the normal configurations, variations in its configuration, embryological aspect along with the repercussions of the varied configuration of the superior sagittal sinus. Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the dural venous sinuses is clinically significant during neurosurgical procedures involving the cranial cavity. For surgical resection of the petroclival meningiomas, the information regarding the patterns of drainage of the confluence of sinuses is of paramount importance. Lack of awareness of the detailed anatomy of the dural venous sinuses may lead to misinterpretation of radiographs of the posterior cranial fossa and subsequent mismanagement. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of the anatomical variations of the superior sagittal sinus is essential for accurate radiological interpretation and safe neurosurgical intervention.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Rajani Singh
Department of Anatomy, Graphic Era of Medical Sciences, Dhulkot 248007, Dehradun, UK, India.

 

K. C. Thakur
Department of Anatomy, Graphic Era of Medical Sciences, Dhulkot 248007, Dehradun, UK, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msup/v7/7312

Hypereosinophilia as a Presentation of IGH-Rearranged B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: A Comprehensive Review | Chapter 12 | Medical Science: Updates and Prospects Vol. 7

 

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) harbouring immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements encompasses a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous group of haematological malignancies. Among these, the subset presenting with hypereosinophilia represents a particularly underrecognised diagnostic challenge, frequently resulting in significant delays to appropriate treatment. The paradigmatic example is B-ALL with t(5;14)(q31.1;q32.3)/IGH::IL3, in which dysregulated interleukin-3 (IL-3) expression driven by the IGH enhancer leads to pronounced reactive eosinophilia that may entirely dominate the clinical picture. The leukaemic blast burden at presentation may be deceptively low, and the eosinophilia—reactive rather than clonal—can divert clinical attention towards primary eosinophilic disorders, myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia, or common reactive causes including parasitic infection and atopy. Beyond the IGH::IL3 fusion, other IGH partner genes, including CRLF2, EPOR, and DUX4, create signalling environments that may further potentiate eosinophil recruitment and bone marrow expansion. Accurate diagnosis requires the integration of peripheral blood film morphology, multiparameter flow cytometric immunophenotyping, conventional cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), and, increasingly, next-generation sequencing (NGS) or transcriptomic profiling. Treatment of the underlying leukaemia with standard multi-agent B-ALL chemotherapy regimens remains the definitive approach, resolving the associated eosinophilia as the leukaemic clone is suppressed. Emerging immunotherapeutic agents and targeted kinase inhibitors are reshaping the treatment landscape for molecularly defined B-ALL subtypes. This comprehensive review synthesises current knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic strategies for this underrecognised entity, with the dual aim of heightening clinical awareness and reducing diagnostic delay.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Sonagara Nikhilkumar Mavjibhai
Military Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

 

Rushang Mukeshbhai Dave
Shantabaa Medical College and General Hospital, Amreli, Gujarat, India.

 

Chinmay Shrikrishna Pendharkar
181 Military Hospital, Tenga, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msup/v7/7288

Dieulafoy’s Lesion as An Important Cause of Obscure GI Bleeding: A Case Report | Chapter 11 | Medical Science: Updates and Prospects Vol. 7

 

Dieulafoy's lesion is a rare but serious cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, typically affecting older adults. It involves an aberrant arteriole eroding the gastric mucosa, resulting in severe, recurrent bleeding that poses diagnostic and management challenges. A review of the literature revealed that, since the original description of Dieulafoy’s lesion over 100 years ago, only 280 cases had been reported worldwide up to 2010. From Bangladesh, only two cases have been reported, both described recently. This study reported the case of a female in her mid-sixties who presented with melena. She had coexisting left heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Initial and repeat upper GI endoscopies were negative, but a subsequent emergency endoscopy revealed bleeding from two sites near the gastroesophageal junction. Hemostasis was achieved with argon plasma coagulation, and Dieulafoy’s lesion was identified as the cause of her recurrent GI bleeding. This case highlights the importance of considering Dieulafoy’s lesion (DL) in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal haemorrhage, as it can cause significant morbidity, weight loss, and may be missed during initial investigations. Therefore, DL should be emphasised in postgraduate medical curricula and always considered in patients presenting with GI bleeding.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Mamun Al Mahtab
Department of Hepatology, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

 

Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar
Oita University, Oita / Miyakawa Memorial Research Foundation, Tokyo, Japan.

 

Musarrat Mahtab
Clinical Research Organization, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msup/v7/7281