PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of customer switching and the reasons that underlie customer‐switching intentions. The paper aims to focus on the various factors on account of which a customer may or may not switch a particular bank.Design/methodology/approachA total of 800 bank customers were selected randomly from a total population of 71,600 and were contacted personally to gather the requisite data.FindingsThe paper finds that the model reveals significant effect of quality, satisfaction and trust on predicting switching barriers. Of these relationships, satisfaction emerged as the strongest factor which influences switching barriers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to Indian banks; a larger empirical study would be useful to replicate the results in the banking as well as other services.Practical implicationsIn order to ensure loyalty among bank customers, increased value addition in the banking services and wide‐ranging relationships with customers can make the switching process more complex.Originality/valueThe preliminary work in this paper demonstrates the impact of various relationship marketing factors, namely, service quality, customer value, satisfaction, trust, commitment, loyalty, switching costs and barriers on customers' switching intentions.

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the level of internal market orientation (IMO) in Indian banking as seen from the perspective of internal customers and suppliers, particularly with regard to the three components of market orientation: intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination, and responsiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on primary research conducted with data gathered from 611 internal customers and 37 internal suppliers of an Indian private sector bank.FindingsThe results indicate that all the three components of market orientation mentioned above determine the IMO level. Furthermore, the continuous emphasis on IMO by internal suppliers results in organizational commitment and job satisfaction among internal customers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to the three main dimensions of IMO: intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination, and responsiveness.Practical implicationsIn order to ensure increased satisfaction of internal customers, internal suppliers have to give due cognizance to the three aspects of IMO as these influence the internal customers' commitment, loyalty and hence their retention.Originality/valueThe research findings should prove to be of immense help to bankers, academicians and policymakers. Bankers will be benefited to the extent of ensuring zero internal customer defection through the implementation of effective intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination and responsiveness to internal market needs. Policymakers can devote their energies and resources towards identifying the constraints that lead to lower internal customer satisfaction and accordingly formulate policies aimed at maximizing their satisfaction level, thereby enhancing both market and financial performance of an organization.

Fly ash (FA) is an industrial waste produced in large quantities whereas nano-TiO 2 is a widely studied material for multifarious applications. Synergy of the two materials is created to produce a multifunctional composite material for low cost NIR reflective coating applications. Effective formation of a TiO 2 shell on the FA core was achieved by use of an anionic surfactant (SDS). Studies on thermal annealing of specimen of different TiO 2 loadings showed changes in morphology of TiO 2 and effects on porosity, particle size, and phase of TiO 2 . NIR reflectivity increased with increase in annealing temperatures as result of fusion of nanoparticles and formation of rutile phase. Change in porosity increased adsorption and decomposition of dye. The amorphous nature and higher surface area of nanoTiO 2 annealed at lower temperature showed better performance in zone-inhibition test to establish antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus indicating its selfcleaning nature. The present study discusses development of favorable conditions for incorporation of TiO 2 on FA while establishing the concept of making a sustainable material for energy conservation.

Zeolite has been surface modified to form novel multifunctional materials having capability for simultaneous and facile removal of heavy metals [Pb(II)], organic pollutants [methylene blue dye], and microorganisms [E. Coli, S. Aureus, and Pseudomonas] from contaminated water. The unique concept involves formation of core-shell particles with a functional core of zeolite and a porous shell of ZnO nanoflakes which not only imparts photocatalytic and antibacterial properties but also renders the surface negatively charged, thereby facilitating rapid adsorption of Pb(II) and MB. The uniform formation of ZnO nanoflakes (shell) on the zeolite (core) surface has been confirmed by XRD, DRS, FE-SEM, and TEM studies. Metal ion adsorption studies under varying conditions of time and concentration indicate that the material follows the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics with good correlation to the experimental data. The rapid and high adsorption capacity of the material for both Pb (II) and MB has been established while factors responsible for enhanced adsorption have been discussed. The antibacterial studies against Gram negative bacteria (E. Coli and Pseudomonas) and Gram positive bacteria (S. Aureus) showed good zone inhibition characteristics. The material can be regenerated and reused besides having ease of separation using simple techniques. Being multifunctional, efficient, nontoxic, energy neutral, and recyclable with no effluent generation, the material is an efficient and sustainable alternative for water purification.

In view of the mandate from the World Health Organization (WHO) for developing novel drug candidates against human lymphatic filariasis, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors are explored as potential antifilarial agents. The in vitro biological evaluation of an in-house library of 12 diverse antifolate compounds with 2,4-diaminopyrimidine and 2,4-diamino-s-triazine structural features against Brugia malayi is reported. To confirm the DHFR inhibitory potential of these compounds, reversal studies using folic acid and folinic acid were undertaken. Inhibition of DHFR can induce apoptosis; in this light, preliminary evidence of apoptosis by test compounds was detected using ethidium bromide-acridine orange staining and the poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition assay. Among the evaluated compounds, 3 showed significant activity against both microfilariae and adult worms. The effects of 2 of these compounds were mostly reversed by folic acid, validating DHFR inhibitory activity. Partial reversal of the effect of 2 compounds by folinic acid and non-reversal of the effect of the third compound both by folic and folinic acids are discussed. This study opens new avenues for the discovery of lead molecules by exploiting the folate pathway against one of the major neglected tropical diseases, filariasis.