Dr. S. Vijayalakshmi is a Professor in the School of Sciences at CHRIST University, Pune Lavasa Campus, India. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, with research interests focused on Image Processing and the Internet of Things (IoT). She has contributed to Scopus, WoS and SCI-indexed journals, as well as numerous national and international conferences. She has also authored and edited books and chapters on topics such as artificial intelligence, IoT, deep learning, big data, and blockchain. Her work extends beyond publishing—she has filed and published over 25 patents, covering innovations like IoT-based health monitoring systems, smart assistive devices for the visually impaired, agricultural robots, and various smart IoT gadgets. On the research mentorship front, she has guided 4 Ph.D. scholars to completion and is currently supervising 3 more. She has also mentored over 500 students on academic projects. She has received research funding from bodies like CSIR, SERB, ICSSR and seed grants from CHRIST University. She is a Google Cloud Certified Engineer. She is an active member of professional bodies including IEEE, ACM, IFERP and IAENG and has been recognized with multiple Best Paper and Best Presenter awards at national and international conferences.Dr. Savithri M. is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sciences at Christ University, Pune Lavasa Campus. She has over 20 years of teaching experience. Her research interests include IoT, artificial intelligence, data-driven applications, and network security. She has contributed to journal publications, book chapters, conference proceedings, and patents. She actively participates in conferences, collaborative research projects, and academic initiatives. Dr. Savithri is committed to teaching, mentoring students, and promoting innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and research-oriented education in Computer Science.Dr. Lija Jacob is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Statistics and Data Science and Computer Science at Christ (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus. With over 22 years of teaching and research experience, her work spans artificial intelligence, data science, and image processing. She has authored books, patents, and numerous research publications, and actively mentors young researchers while contributing to interdisciplinary innovation and technology-driven solutions for societal impact.

• Preface. FOUNDATIONAL AI AND MACHINE LEARNING MODELS. IT Index Predictive Modeling: A Deep Study With SARIMAX and Market Indicators. Artificial Intelligence-Based Intelligent Engine to Analyse Improvement in Speaking Skills at an ESP Classroom Using Existential Intelligence. A Robust NeuroNET Architecture for Reliable Brain Tumour Identification in MRI Images. Highlighting Lung Cancer Using 3D Grad-CAM in Pivot Point CNN. DEEP LEARNING IN SENTIMENT AND TEXT ANALYSIS. Deep Learning Methods for Aspect Oriented Sentimental Analysis on Social Media Data. Algorithmic Strategies for Copyright Protection in Digital Streaming Services through Geo-blocking and Geo-filtering. Implications of AI-Powered FinTech Service Adoption by Street Sellers: Insights From a Structural Equation Modelling Study. AI IN FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE. Incorporating Compliance, Ethics, and Advanced Algorithms in Robo-Advisors: A Comprehensive, Multidimensional Analysis. Blockchain-Powered Employee Life Cycle Management: A Framework Analysis for Transparency and Security. SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION. Preserving Format, Protecting Data: A Multi-Field Encryption Technique. Enhanced CBERP Detection of Attack Using AI. A Transformer-Assisted Reversible Data Embedding Framework for IRIS Images Using STC and Hashing. AI IN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT. Paddy Disease Identification via Deep Learning: A ResNet-50 Approach. Plant Disease Detection Classification Model Using Segmentation and GLCM. BLOCKCHAIN AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. Optimising Permissioned Blockchain Performance With Topology-Aware Raft Consensus. Graph Partitioning Techniques for Ameliorating Compression of 3D LiDAR Point Cloud Data. Index. About the Editors.

Dr. S. Vijayalakshmi is a Professor in the School of Sciences at CHRIST University, Pune Lavasa Campus, India. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, with research interests focused on Image Processing and the Internet of Things (IoT). She has contributed to Scopus, WoS and SCI-indexed journals, as well as numerous national and international conferences. She has also authored and edited books and chapters on topics such as artificial intelligence, IoT, deep learning, big data, and blockchain. Her work extends beyond publishing—she has filed and published over 25 patents, covering innovations like IoT-based health monitoring systems, smart assistive devices for the visually impaired, agricultural robots, and various smart IoT gadgets. On the research mentorship front, she has guided 4 Ph.D. scholars to completion and is currently supervising 3 more. She has also mentored over 500 students on academic projects. She has received research funding from bodies like CSIR, SERB, ICSSR and seed grants from CHRIST University. She is a Google Cloud Certified Engineer. She is an active member of professional bodies including IEEE, ACM, IFERP and IAENG and has been recognized with multiple Best Paper and Best Presenter awards at national and international conferences.Dr. Savithri M. is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sciences at Christ University, Pune Lavasa Campus. She has over 20 years of teaching experience. Her research interests include IoT, artificial intelligence, data-driven applications, and network security. She has contributed to journal publications, book chapters, conference proceedings, and patents. She actively participates in conferences, collaborative research projects, and academic initiatives. Dr. Savithri is committed to teaching, mentoring students, and promoting innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and research-oriented education in Computer Science.Dr. Lija Jacob is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Statistics and Data Science and Computer Science at Christ (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus. With over 22 years of teaching and research experience, her work spans artificial intelligence, data science, and image processing. She has authored books, patents, and numerous research publications, and actively mentors young researchers while contributing to interdisciplinary innovation and technology-driven solutions for societal impact.

• Preface. FOUNDATIONAL AI AND MACHINE LEARNING MODELS. IT Index Predictive Modeling: A Deep Study With SARIMAX and Market Indicators. Artificial Intelligence-Based Intelligent Engine to Analyse Improvement in Speaking Skills at an ESP Classroom Using Existential Intelligence. A Robust NeuroNET Architecture for Reliable Brain Tumour Identification in MRI Images. Highlighting Lung Cancer Using 3D Grad-CAM in Pivot Point CNN. DEEP LEARNING IN SENTIMENT AND TEXT ANALYSIS. Deep Learning Methods for Aspect Oriented Sentimental Analysis on Social Media Data. Algorithmic Strategies for Copyright Protection in Digital Streaming Services through Geo-blocking and Geo-filtering. Implications of AI-Powered FinTech Service Adoption by Street Sellers: Insights From a Structural Equation Modelling Study. AI IN FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE. Incorporating Compliance, Ethics, and Advanced Algorithms in Robo-Advisors: A Comprehensive, Multidimensional Analysis. Blockchain-Powered Employee Life Cycle Management: A Framework Analysis for Transparency and Security. SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION. Preserving Format, Protecting Data: A Multi-Field Encryption Technique. Enhanced CBERP Detection of Attack Using AI. A Transformer-Assisted Reversible Data Embedding Framework for IRIS Images Using STC and Hashing. AI IN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT. Paddy Disease Identification via Deep Learning: A ResNet-50 Approach. Plant Disease Detection Classification Model Using Segmentation and GLCM. BLOCKCHAIN AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. Optimising Permissioned Blockchain Performance With Topology-Aware Raft Consensus. Graph Partitioning Techniques for Ameliorating Compression of 3D LiDAR Point Cloud Data. Index. About the Editors.