Institutional Repository

Scholar@UOC is the primary academic repository of the University of Calicut.

This repository is aimed to collect, preserve and distribute the research output of the members of our University. This is an open access system hosted and managed by the University Library.

@Designed by BiZkettE1 / Freepik

Departments in the repository

Select a department to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 38

Recent Submissions

Systematic studies on fig moraceae ficus and fig associated wasps hymenoptera chalcidoidea of wayanad region of western ghats
(Malabar Christian College, University of Calicut, 2024) Shilpa. K. Satheesan; Santhosh, S
This study investigates the genus Ficus, a keystone plant, and its associated fig waspspecies to enhance our understanding of plant-animal interactions. Conducted in theWayanad region, the research identifies 24 species of Ficus, providing a taxonomic keyfor their identification. Additionally, it reports 66 species of fig wasps associated with 13Ficus species, accompanied by taxonomic keys. Notably, eight Ficus species are newlyrecorded for the Wayanad district. The study introduces two new genera,Ornatopedicellum gen. nov. and Rahimaniella gen. nov., within the familyEpichrysomalidae, and describes 22 new fig wasp species, including Neosycophilatinctoria sp. nov., Ornatapedicelum virens sp. nov., Rahimaniella drupacea sp. nov.,Sycobiomorphella religiosa sp. nov., Sycophila drupacea sp. nov., Sycophila mysurensissp. nov., Sycophila arnottiana sp. nov., Sycophila religiosa sp. nov., Sycophila virens sp.nov., Sycophila infectoria sp. nov., Sycophila wayanadensis sp. nov., Sycophila batherisp. nov., Sycophila tinctoria sp. nov., Sycophila gibbosa sp. nov., Micranisa microcarpaesp. nov., Otitesella virens sp. nov., Walkerella talboti Shilpa & Santhosh, Apocryptamicrocarpae sp. nov., Philotrypesis virens sp. nov., Philotrypesis talboti sp. nov.,Sycoscapter racemosa sp. nov. and Sycoscapter tsjahela sp. nov. Moreover, the generaNeosycophila and Odontofroggatia are newly reported for India. The study also recordssix fig wasp species as new to Kerala. Additionally, the distribution of 1415 individualFicus trees across 16 species within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is documented, withFicus talbotii being the most abundant. The research further notes 631 strangling Ficustrees associated with approximately 50 different tree species. This comprehensive surveycontributes significantly to the taxonomy and ecological understanding of Ficus and itsfig wasp associates in the region.
Molecular characterisation and diversity analysis of cultivable gut microbiota of selected mosquito larvae from thrissur district, Kerala
(Department of Zoology, University of Calicut., 2025) Lekshmi Jayakrishnan; Aneesh E.M.
Mosquito holds microorganisms in their digestive tract to form gut microbiota. This colonization and acquisition begins from their immature larval stage. Recent research is now peeping into mosquito microbiomes to analyse their role in mosquito biology. This knowledge may provide more information regarding its potential for developing bio-control strategies. Meanwhile, little research is focussed on the fungal entities of mosquito larval gut, as more research has been concentrated mainly on gut bacteria. Therefore the rationale of the present study intended to characterise and analyse the diversity of bacterial and fungal gut content of Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles stephensi of three sites of Thrissur districts across seasons pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon from 2018-2020, to analyse the phylogeny of bacterial and fungal gut entities as well as physicochemical parameters of larval breeding water during these stipulated time period (2018-2020) from aforementioned sites and seasons. The study proposed to identify bacterial and fungal gut content from these mosquito larvae by 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing, respectively. A total of 1026 bacterial isolates grouped into 63 species and 239 fungal isolates fitting into 64 species were identified from these mosquito larval species by culture-dependent methods. The bacterial isolates belonging to phylum Pseudomonadota and fungal isolates belonging to division Ascomycota were predominant in these mosquito species. This study provides insight into the predominance, abundance, and coexistence of bacteria and fungi within and between the larval gut of mosquito species. These bacterial and fungal communities identified from the gut of mosquito larval species of Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles stephensi were used for phylogenetic analysis. The organisms were primarily classified based on their morphological characteristics and biochemical assays. However, the limitations and accuracy of these methods were rectifiedby molecular characterisation. For the present study, the 16S rRNA gene and ITS were used for molecular characterization and phylogenetic assessment of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Nuclear 16S rRNA gene sequences are beneficial for the differentiation between organisms at the genus level across all major phyla of bacteria, while ITS is a well-recognised marker for systematics and phylogeny. During the study, a total of 63 bacterial isolates and 64 fungal isolates were obtained. The reference sequences from the NCBI database were also used for the study. For phylogenetic analysis, bacteria were clustered into distinct families, including Pseudomonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriacea, Yersiniaceae, Moraxellales, and Paenibacillaceae, using their 16S rRNA sequences. On the other hand, a phylogenetic assessment of fungi was carried out after grouping them into various families, such as Davidiellaceae, Debaryomycetaceae, Pleosporaceae, Trichocomaceae, Aspergillaceae, Cordycipitaceae and Syncephalstracea based on their ITS sequences. The results of the study provide valuable insight into intra and interspecific genetic divergences between members of specific classes. Another finding of the study was the close genetic similarity observed between morphologically dissimilar and geographically distant species. The abiotic and biotic factors of breeding water influence the survival and proliferation of mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes prefer diverse aquatic bodies for egg-laying and larval survival. During the present study physico-chemical properties of breeding water, across seasons and their influence on the larval abundance of three mosquito larval species, such as Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus were assessed. Dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and temperature were found to have a significant influence on seasonal variations and played a substantial role in determining the prevalence of these three mosquito larval species. The findings of this study provide valuable insight into important physicochemical parameters that affect the presence of mosquito larval species. The study provides an interconnectedness or idea of the physicochemical parameters of breeding waterand the microbial composition of that water, which in turn are linked to larval abundance and their role in shaping the gut microbiota of mosquito species. These results offer valuable information regarding the role of physicochemical parameters and their influence on larval abundance. This information can be used to create new vector control strategies.
Self efficacy parental support and school climate as predictors of career aspirations of adolescent girls in Kerala
(Farook Training College, University of Calicut, 2025) Raseena M.K; Rekha P.
It is the education system that set students with the upgraded skills andproficient competencies they need to succeed in the modern world. The majorobjective of schooling is to prepare the learner to enter into a career. The period ofadolescence is a turning point in the life of students; they make career choices duringthis period of study. Students’ aspirations influence their future career. Career touchesthe entire quality of an individual’s life, not only just a means of earning for living,but also helps in moulding identity and personal fulfilment. Career goals of everyindividual play a vital role in the nation’s development also as they stimulate theeconomic progress as well as inspire creative innovation. Career aspirations refer tothe dreams, goals and plans on future. There are several personal, familial, social,psychological and environmental factors which influence career aspirations ofadolescent girls. The present study is intended to find out the extent of careeraspirations of adolescent girls in Kerala and relative efficiency of the variables, self-efficacy, parental support and school climate in predicting career aspirations. Sevenobjectives were set forth for the study and nine suitable hypotheses were proposed intune with the objectives. The study is correlational research with predictive designconducted on a sample of 1097 X and XII standard girls selected using stratifiedsampling technique from 21 schools of six districts of Kerala state. The instrumentsemployed for data collection were Scale on Career Aspirations, Scale on Self-Efficacy, Scale on Parental Support and School Climate Scale. The statisticaltechniques such as percentile analysis, mean difference analysis, correlational analysisand multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings of the studyindicate that, adolescent girls of Kerala have a moderate level of Career Aspirations;there is significant difference in the Career Aspirations and its components based onlocale of the school, level of education, parental education and religion; self-efficacy,parental support and school climate are predictors of Career Aspirations of adolescentgirls. The variables in the order of individual contribution in predicting careeraspirations of adolescent girls are Self-Efficacy, Parental Support and School Climate.The present study provides valuable insights for educational interventionsemphasising the importance of fostering career aspirations of adolescents especiallygirls and providing supportive environment by teachers, parents, educators,counsellors and other stake holders.
Impact of technological innovations on the investment behaviour of stock market investors
(Govt. College Madapally, University of Calicut, 2025) Aghilesh, M.; Balakrishnan, P.
he technology used for stock trading continues to develop rapidly, which has asignificant impact on stock market participation, particularly in developing economieslike India. The current study, titled “Impact of Technological Innovations on theInvestment Behaviour of Stock Market Investors”, explores the effects oftechnological innovations on the investment behaviour of retail investors. The studyis both analytical and empirical in nature, relying on primary and secondary data. Astructured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 420 active stock marketinvestors in Kerala, who were selected purposively. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis H Test, and Partial Least Squares Structural EquationModelling (PLS-SEM) were used in the analysis. The results indicate that the attitudeof investors towards technological innovations is the most important variabledetermining their use of fintech tools. The attitude had a significant positive impacton the probability of investors intending to utilise such tools, and risk and costconcerns decreased after the adoption decision. These findings provide empiricalevidence to support the existing theories of technology adoption, demonstrating theirapplicability in financial contexts. The research also indicates that technologicalchanges transform investor behaviour to be more dynamic, enlightened and active intrading. In the context of practicality, the implications of the results to brokerage firms,regulators and policymakers are considerable. Brokerage firms are encouraged todevelop user-friendly platforms that incorporate onboarding tracks tailored to variousinvestor segments, video tutorials, and regional language support to enhanceaccessibility. Such insights can be utilised by regulators and policymakers to designpolicies that promote the responsible use of financial technologies, striking a balancebetween innovation and investor protection. The study contributes to the theoreticaldiscussion of technology adoption. It lays the groundwork for future research infinancial markets, particularly in the investigation of the ever-changing fintechsolutions and their long-term effects on retail investment behaviour.
Initiatives of Kerala state for the empowerment of transgender community
(Christ College , Inrinjalakuda, University of Calicut, 2025) Muvish, K. M.; Josheena Jose
Transgender individuals represent one of the most historically marginalizedand socially excluded communities across the world. Despite centuries of culturalexistence and recognition in various societies, including India, their rights,identities, and dignity have often remained invisible in legal, institutional, andsocial frameworks. In India, ancient texts and traditions acknowledged genderdiversity, yet colonial and postcolonial structures reinforced rigid binaries thatexcluded non-conforming identities. This marginalization has led to systemicbarriers in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and social protection. Thetransgender community has thus continued to face stigma, discrimination, andviolence, often relegated to the margins of both policy and public discourse.Against this broader national backdrop, Kerala has emerged as a pioneering statein advancing transgender rights and inclusion, marking a significant shift in therecognition and empowerment of the community.In 2014, the Supreme Court judgment in the National Legal ServicesAuthority (NALSA) v. Union of India case. An affirmation of the right to self-identify as a 'third gender;' an affirmation of rights to receive legal recognition; anaffirmation of rights to equal rights and equal opportunities, the court recognisedtransgender persons as a 'third gender'. It also directed the centre and states toformulate a comprehensive policy for the transgender socio-economic upliftment.Following this directive, several other states began to bring policy interventionsinto place. However, with the launch of Kerala’s first and most comprehensiveTransgender Policy in 2015, Kerala made an early foray. This policy sought toempower transgender people to access rights to education, skill development,employment, healthcare, legal aid, and social protection. It also suggestedmeasures to end the societal stigma and demeanour of girls and respect for sexvariety by means of awareness campaigns, institutional training, and affirmativeaction. Kerala’s proactiveness to recognize the dignity, identity and aspirations ofthe transgender was widely applauded.However, despite progressive legal frameworks and policy initiatives,important horizontal gaps exist between policy intent and what is happening on theground. In Kerala, many transgender people are unaware of their entitlement underthe Transgender Policy and the Act of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights)Act 2019 passed at the national level. Although some of these individuals areaware of this, they still face bureaucratic hurdles, attitudinal barriers, and socialprejudice when attempting to access these services. In addition, implementationchallenges, including the lack of trained officials, inadequate monitoring tools, andfailure to allocate a sufficient budget to interventions, are bottlenecks to theseinterventions. Additionally, ongoing discrimination and exclusion continue toaffect a community's well-being. Against this backdrop, this study aims to examinethe range and scope of initiatives carried out by the Kerala Government to empowertransgender individuals. This study intended to measure awareness levels, analysethe socioeconomic and psychological effects of these measures, and obtain a list ofobstacles to inclusion to aid in shaping more realistic perceptions of policyeffectiveness and empowerment of the community in Kerala.