महात्मा गाँधी के राजनीतिक और आर्थिक दर्शन में आर्थिक विकेन्द्रीकरण एक मूलभूत और केंद्रीय सिद्धांत है, जो स्वदेशी, ग्रामोद्योग, और आर्थिक आत्मनिर्भरता की अवधारणाओं के माध्यम से अभिव्यक्त होता है। यह शोध पत्र गाँधीजी द्वारा प्रतिपादित आर्थिक विकेन्द्रीकरण के सिद्धांत का व्यापक और गहन विश्लेषण करता है तथा यह प्रदर्शित करता है कि आर्थिक विकेन्द्रीकरण के बिना राजनीतिक विकेन्द्रीकरण अधूरा और असार्थक है। गाँधीजी का आर्थिक विचार केवल आर्थिक समृद्धि तक सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि यह सामाजिक न्याय, राजनीतिक सशक्तिकरण, और नैतिक राजनीति का एक समन्वित दर्शन है जो भारतीय समाज की बहुआयामी समस्याओं का समाधान करने में सक्षम है।
विशेषकर, गाँधीजी की यह मान्यता कि आर्थिक शक्ति के केंद्रीकरण से राजनीति पर नियंत्रण स्थापित होता है, वर्तमान नव-उदारवादी आर्थिक परिवेश में अत्यंत प्रासंगिक और दूरदर्शी है। शोध के निष्कर्ष प्रदर्शित करते हैं कि भारतीय पंचायती राज व्यवस्था में आर्थिक विकेन्द्रीकरण का गहरा अभाव उसकी प्रभावशीलता को गंभीर रूप से बाधित करता है। यह अभाव पंचायतों को वित्तीय परनिर्भरता में ढकेलता है और ग्राम स्वराज की मूल भावना को कुंठित करता है। लोकतांत्रिक सशक्तिकरण, सामाजिक समानता, और ग्रामीण विकास के वर्तमान संघर्षों में गाँधीजी की आर्थिक विचारधारा न केवल प्रासंगिक है, बल्कि अपरिहार्य मार्गदर्शक है।

The ubiquity of digital connectivity has altered classical educational structures, transforming how students acquire knowledge. While internet resources provide unprecedented learning opportunities, they simultaneously reshape student-teacher dynamics. Objectives: This study investigated the baseline relationship between higher secondary students' internet access and their academic engagement, evaluating the role of the internet as a moderating variable on student-teacher dynamics and academic performance. Methodology: Utilizing a quantitative case study design, data were compiled from a validated sample of N = 300 students (Grades 11 and 12) across four selected institutions in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Structural parameters were evaluated using descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Descriptive metrics indicated substantial digital saturation, with a sample mean of 3.3 hours of daily internet consumption; notably, 66.3\% of participants accessed the internet for 5 or more hours daily. Inferential models confirmed strong baseline links between teacher guidance and performance (r \ge 0.920). However, hierarchical regression verified that internet addiction acts as a significant negative moderator, where a one-unit increase in unguided digital reliance was associated with an approximate 42\% reduction in students’ dependence on instructor expertise. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that unmonitored web usage isolates students from traditional pedagogical frameworks, weakening the instructional authority of educators. It recommends the structural implementation of interactive blended learning curricula to preserve student-teacher alignment.

Internal labour migration has become an important livelihood strategy for rural households in India, especially in regions with limited employment opportunities. Remittances sent by migrant workers contribute significantly to household consumption, savings, education, healthcare, and overall financial security. This study examines the impact of digital remittances on household welfare among migrant-sending rural households in Odisha. Primary data were collected from 420 households through a multistage stratified sampling technique. The analysis compares households receiving remittances through digital and traditional channels using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate regression models. The findings reveal a significant shift from cash-based remittances to digital payment systems. Households using digital remittance channels exhibit higher consumption expenditure, improved savings behaviour, greater access to formal financial services, and increased spending on education and healthcare. Regression analysis confirms that digital remittances have a significant positive effect on household welfare even after controlling for socio-economic and migration-related characteristics. The study concludes that digital remittance systems enhance the developmental benefits of migration by promoting financial inclusion and strengthening household economic resilience. It recommends targeted policy measures to improve digital literacy, expand rural digital infrastructure, and ensure inclusive access to digital financial services so that the welfare gains from digital remittances can be realised more broadly across rural India.

Nigeria’s electricity distribution assets were acquired to enhance operational efficiency, attract private investment, minimise technical, commercial, and collection losses, and improve the reliability of electricity delivered to end-users. However, over a decade since distribution companies were handed over to core investors, their performance remains inconsistent and, in some areas, structurally fragile. This paper analyses the post-acquisition performance of Nigerian electricity distribution companies and explores the effects of this performance on power supply stability in an emerging economy. It contends that ownership transfer alone does not guarantee utility performance unless issues such as network deterioration, inaccurate customer enumeration, metering gaps, poor collection discipline, tariff deficiencies, foreign-exchange risks, and regulatory inconsistencies are addressed. Using recent quarterly data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the study shows that aggregate ATC&C losses remained significantly above the 2025 MYTO target, with weighted average losses of 37.92% in Q2 2025, 33.27% in Q3, and 34.90% in Q4. In Q4 2025, DisCos billed NGN 795.06 billion but only collected NGN 630.93 billion, resulting in an estimated revenue loss of NGN 139.19 billion due to excessive ATC&C losses. The paper emphasises that post-acquisition performance should be evaluated on tangible improvements in energy accountability, metering, network investment, collection efficiency, market remittances, consumer trust, and feeder-level reliability, rather than on ownership transfer alone. The Nigerian experience illustrates that electricity-sector acquisitions in emerging economies require enforceable performance contracts, credible regulatory incentives, cost-reflective and service-linked tariffs, and enhanced subnational accountability under the Electricity Act 2023.

Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) rhizome essential oil is a sesquiterpene-rich natural product with a long history of traditional use against unwanted, androgen-driven hair growth. This article synthesizes published network pharmacology, molecular docking, and phytochemical evidence to explain the mechanistic basis of the oil's action on the androgen signaling axis. Note on terminology: the literature supports an anti-androgenic action — primarily 5α-reductase inhibition — rather than an androgen-boosting one; "androgenic effect" is used throughout to mean the oil's interaction with, and dampening influence on, this signaling pathway. Compound-target network construction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) mapping, and docking studies converge on 5α-reductase (SRD5A1/SRD5A2) as the primary hub target, with sesquiterpene constituents such as cyperene, α-humulene, and β-selinene showing favorable predicted binding. Secondary, inflammation-linked hub proteins (IL-6, TNF, PTGS2, STAT3) suggest an additional indirect route of action. The evidence base remains largely computational and preclinical, and clinical validation is still needed.

This study investigated the effect of Jigsaw Instructional Strategy on senior secondary school students' interest and academic achievement in Chemistry practical in Plateau South Education Zone, Plateau State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study employed a quasi- experimental design. Two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significance level. The theoretical framework integrated Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky's (1978) Social Cognitive Theory and Jean Piaget's (1969) Learning Theory. A pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design was adopted with two groups: Experimental Group (Jigsaw IV, n=87) and Control Group (lecture method, n=97). The population comprised of 19,087 Senior Secondary II (SS II) students in 56 public secondary schools. Multi-stage sampling yielded 184 students from four intact classes across four schools. Data were collected using the Chemistry Interest Scale (CIS) with 20 items (Cronbach Alpha=0.69) and the Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) with 25 multiple-choice items (test-retest reliability=0.76), alongside the Chemistry Retention Test (CRT) with 25 items (split-half reliability=0.79), all validated by experts and trial-tested on 25 students. Data analysis employed mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA. Findings revealed that Jigsaw Instructional Strategy significantly improved interest and achievement compared to lecture method. The study concluded that learner-centred cooperative strategies significantly out achieved teacher-centred approaches in fostering interest and achievement in Chemistry practical. Recommendations included integrating Jigsaw Cooperative Instructional Strategy into Chemistry practical instruction, providing comprehensive professional development for Chemistry teachers, revising curriculum guidelines to emphasize cooperative learning principles, incorporating Jigsaw methodology into pre-service teacher education programs, ensuring adequate laboratory facilities and resources, implementing additional interest driven interventions to address achievement gaps, and conducting further research on long-term effects and applications across different Chemistry topics and educational contexts.

Background: The escalating incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food-borne pathogens and the growing consumer preference for clean-label, naturally preserved food products have catalysed the search for plant-derived bio-preservative agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and bioactive protein fractions from food-grade plant sources represent a promising, safe, and resistance-minimising alternative to synthetic chemical preservatives. Methods: Aqueous extracts were prepared from ten food-grade plant samples Cinnamon (SP1), Nutmeg (SP2), Clove (SP3), Black pepper (SP4), Sorghum (S1), Kidney beans (L1), Peas (L2), and Pearl millet (PM1) — at a standardised concentration of 100 mg/mL. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against six food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella Typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., and Bacillus sp. using the agar well diffusion method (Zone of Inhibition, ZOI in mm) and broth microdilution Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC, mg/mL) assay.
Results: Clove (SP3) and Black pepper (SP4) demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity, with ZOI values of 14–18 mm and 13–17 mm respectively against all six test organisms, and MIC values as low as 6.25 mg/mL. Pearl millet (PM1) and Cinnamon (SP1) exhibited moderate activity (ZOI: 9–13 mm; MIC: 12.5–25 mg/mL). Gram-positive bacteria were generally more susceptible than Gram-negative organisms. Kidney beans (L1) and Sorghum (S1) showed the lowest activity (ZOI: 6–10 mm; MIC: 50–100 mg/mL).
Conclusion: The aqueous extracts of Clove, Black pepper, and Pearl millet demonstrate significant antimicrobial potential against food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, supporting their candidacy as sources of natural bio-preservative peptides. These findings provide a strong empirical foundation for the subsequent isolation and characterisation of antimicrobial peptide fractions from these priority plant sources.

This study investigated the influence of instructional supervision on the professional development of Universal Basic Education (UBE) teachers in Benue State, Nigeria. The study examined the influence of conferences and in-service training on teachers’ professional development. It was anchored on the Human Relations Theory of Management propounded by Elton Mayo. A survey design was adopted. The population comprised all UBE teachers in Benue State, while a sample of 370 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire validated by experts in educational measurement and evaluation. Reliability was established through a pilot study using Cronbach Alpha. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while chi-square test of goodness-of-fit was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that conferences and in-service training had positive influence on the professional development of UBE teachers. The chi-square analysis showed that all instructional supervision strategies had statistically significant influence on teachers’ professional development, leading to the rejection of all the null hypotheses. The study concluded that instructional supervision significantly enhances the professional development of UBE teachers by improving instructional competence, promoting accountability, and encouraging continuous professional learning. The study recommended that the Universal Basic Education Commission and State Universal Basic Education Boards should strengthen regular conferences and in-service training to improve teacher effectiveness and the quality of basic education.

This paper examines the pervasive sense of spiritual crisis in the modern world as articulated in the poetry and criticism of T. S. Eliot. It argues that Eliot’s works, particularly The Waste Land and The Hollow Men, diagnose a profound erosion of spiritual consciousness in post-war modernity, where human existence is reduced to mechanical routine and existential emptiness. Drawing upon close textual analysis and contemporary critical perspectives, including selected scholarly insights associated with Ramen Goswami’s interpretative approach to modern literature, this study explores how Eliot constructs a fragmented world deprived of metaphysical anchoring. “ जीवनों मधुरम, स्वस्थ प्रयोजन”
The paper situates Eliot within the broader context of modernist disillusionment, where the collapse of traditional belief systems leads to a condition of cultural sterility and moral paralysis. Eliot’s representation of humanity as spiritually “hollow” reflects not only historical trauma but also an enduring condition of alienation in modern society. As The Hollow Men suggests, individuals become “shape without form… gesture without motion” (Eliot), indicating the loss of authentic spiritual identity. By engaging with religious, philosophical, and literary frameworks, the paper demonstrates that Eliot’s poetry is not merely descriptive but diagnostic, offering a critique of modernity’s spiritual void. Ultimately, the study argues that Eliot’s work continues to resonate in contemporary times, where the absence of spiritual grounding remains a defining feature of human experience.

Background: The isolation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from food-grade plant sources requires efficient, reproducible protein extraction and comprehensive chromatographic characterisation as mandatory first steps. Acetone precipitation selectively precipitates proteins while removing interfering pigments and lipids; reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) provides chromatographic resolution of protein and peptide components by hydrophobicity, enabling tentative identification of AMP-class fractions prior to mass spectrometric sequencing.
Methods: Eleven food-grade plant samples (S1–S11) were processed by cold Tris-HCl buffer homogenisation and acetone precipitation (−20°C, 3–4 volumes, 2–4 hours). Total soluble protein was quantified by Bradford assay validated against a BSA standard curve (0–100 µg/mL). Protein purity was assessed by NanoDrop UV–Visible spectral scanning (200–800 nm; A260/A280 ratio). RP-HPLC was performed on a Waters XBridge C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm; 5 µm) using a 0.1% TFA/acetonitrile gradient (5–60% B over 40 minutes) with detection at 214 nm and 280 nm to characterise protein/peptide profiles and identify AMP-candidate fractions.
Results: Bradford assay demonstrated a highly linear BSA calibration curve (y = 0.0064x − 0.004; R² = 0.993). Protein concentrations ranged from 19.7 µg/mL (S8, Pearl millet) to 86.4 µg/mL (S4, Black pepper). NanoDrop A260/A280 ratios (0.60–0.78) confirmed acceptable to moderate protein purity. RP-HPLC profiles of all eleven samples revealed 3–6 resolved peaks per sample; candidate AMP fractions (retention time 20–35 min; estimated MW 3–9 kDa; characteristic A280/A214 ratios) were identified in all eleven samples. Black pepper (S4) and Guava (S11) produced the highest AMP-zone peak areas (634.8 and 846.9 mAU·min respectively), correlating strongly with their highest antimicrobial activities. S4 candidate AMP peaks (P4: RT 23.8 min; P5: RT 31.4 min) were consistent with plant defensin/thionin and LTP structural classes based on retention time, estimated molecular weight (4–9 kDa), and A280/A214 ratio profiles.
Conclusion: The integrated platform of acetone precipitation, Bradford quantification, NanoDrop purity assessment, and RP-HPLC chromatographic profiling provides a comprehensive and analytically validated characterisation system for plant protein extracts intended for AMP isolation. Black pepper (S4), Guava (S11), and Peas (S7) are designated primary AMP isolation candidates based on combined protein yield, purity, and RP-HPLC AMP-zone peak area evidence. The RP-HPLC fingerprint data provide the first comparative chromatographic AMP candidacy assessment for this diverse panel of food-grade Indian plant sources.

Environmental sanitation plays a critical role in preventing the transmission and proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms that pose significant threats to human health. This study investigated the influence of environmental sanitation on the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in selected communities. The study was anchored on the Germ Theory of Disease, propounded by Louis Pasteur (1861) and further developed by Robert Koch (1876), which postulates that microorganisms are the causative agents of infectious diseases and that their presence in the environment directly affects disease occurrence. A laboratory-based cross-sectional research design was adopted. Environmental samples, including water, soil, waste disposal sites, drainage systems, and frequently touched surfaces, were collected from areas exhibiting varying levels of sanitation practices. Data were collected using microbiological sampling techniques, including swab sampling, water sampling, and soil sampling. The samples were cultured on selective and differential media, followed by microbial isolation, enumeration, and identification using standard biochemical tests and microscopic examination. Pathogenic microorganisms investigated included Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shigella spp. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive microbiological statistics (mean colony-forming units per milliliter/gram, microbial frequency distribution, and prevalence rates) and inferential statistical techniques, including Pearson correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), at a significance level of 0.05. Findings revealed significantly higher microbial loads in environments characterized by poor sanitation compared to well-maintained environments. Open waste dumps, stagnant water bodies, and poorly managed drainage systems recorded the highest prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms. A strong positive correlation was observed between poor environmental sanitation and increased pathogenic microbial contamination. The study concludes that inadequate environmental sanitation significantly contributes to the prevalence and persistence of pathogenic microorganisms. It recommends improved waste management systems, regular environmental cleaning, proper drainage maintenance, and public health education as effective measures for reducing microbial contamination and preventing sanitation-related diseases.

Innovation is widely recognized as a critical factor for improving the performance and competitiveness of construction firms. However, the successful adoption of innovation depends largely on the factors that drive innovation, the barriers that hinder its implementation, and the strategies adopted to enhance innovation within construction organisations. Despite the growing importance of innovation in the construction industry, many firms continue to face challenges that limit their ability to adopt and implement innovative practices effectively. This study therefore aimed to assess the drivers, barriers, and strategies for improving innovation among construction firms in Katsina State, Nigeria, from the perspective of construction professionals. The study adopted a quantitative survey research design. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean score, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that technological developments, knowledge sharing/willingness to exchange ideas on innovation, and new business opportunities/processes were the most significant drivers of innovation among construction firms in Katsina State, each recording a Mean Item Score (MIS) of 4.10, with standard deviations of 0.90, 1.08, and 1.13, respectively. These findings indicate that technological advancement, collaborative learning, and emerging market opportunities play a crucial role in motivating construction firms to embrace innovation. The study further identified weak institutional support, lack of understanding of the benefits of innovation, and lack of cooperation among stakeholders as the most critical barriers limiting innovation adoption, with MIS values of 3.82 (SD = 0.98), 3.81 (SD = 1.01), and 3.80 (SD = 0.93), respectively. These constraints reduce firms' capacity to invest in innovative technologies, processes, and management practices, thereby affecting their overall performance and competitiveness. Regarding strategies for improving innovation, the findings showed that knowledge exchange, sharing and transfer, stakeholder engagement and involvement, and education and training/retraining were the most effective measures for promoting innovation among construction firms in Katsina State, with MIS values of 4.02 (SD = 0.96), 3.98 (SD = 0.89), and 3.98 (SD = 0.93), respectively. These strategies were perceived to have the greatest potential for strengthening innovation capability and supporting sustainable organisational development. The study concludes that strengthening the key drivers of innovation while addressing the major barriers through appropriate capacity-building initiatives, institutional support, and stakeholder collaboration will significantly improve innovation adoption among construction firms in Katsina State. The study therefore recommends that government agencies, professional bodies, and construction firms should implement policies and programmes that promote knowledge sharing, strengthen institutional support, encourage stakeholder collaboration, and provide continuous education and professional training to enhance innovation and improve the overall performance and sustainability of the construction industry.

Accurate modelling and forecasting of infectious disease counts are essential for effective disease surveillance and public health decision-making. However, epidemic count data often exhibit overdispersion and serial dependence, making conventional count time series models inadequate for reliable prediction. This study comparatively evaluated the performance of five count time series models, namely the Poisson Autoregressive (PAR), Integer-Valued Autoregressive (INAR), Negative Binomial Autoregressive (NB-AR), Poisson Log-Normal Autoregressive (PLN-AR), and Discrete Autoregressive Moving Average (DARMA) models for modelling weekly confirmed Lassa fever cases in Nigeria. Weekly confirmed Lassa fever data comprising 307 observations from January 2020 to December 2025 were obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The models were evaluated using simulation experiments and empirical analysis across different partition sizes (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). Model adequacy was assessed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQIC), while forecasting performance was evaluated using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and Continuous Ranked Probability Score (CRPS). Preliminary analyses confirmed that the series was stationary, overdispersed, and exhibited significant temporal dependence. The results showed that the Poisson Log-Normal Autoregressive (PLN-AR) model consistently achieved the lowest information criteria values, indicating superior model fit. The PLN-AR model provided the best overall balance between goodness-of-fit and forecasting performance. The study concludes that the PLN-AR model offers a flexible and robust framework for modelling overdispersed epidemic count data and can substantially improve forecasting accuracy for infectious disease surveillance.

Water pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing threats to regional economies that depend on rivers for agriculture, small-scale industry, and domestic life. The Thirumanimutharu River, a major tributary of the river Cauvery originating in the Shevaroy (Yercaud) Hills of Salem district, is a lifeline for the districts of Salem and Namakkal in Tamil Nadu. Over the past two decades, unregulated discharge from sago-processing, textile dyeing and bleaching units, together with untreated municipal sewage, has driven the river toward ecological collapse. This study combines secondary time-series data (2012-2024) drawn from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) assessments, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) records, National Green Tribunal (NGT) status reports, and district economic reports to examine how deteriorating water quality has translated into ecological loss and economic hardship across the two districts. Multiple regression analysis shows that pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and total dissolved solids (TDS) are the strongest statistical predictors of overall pollution (R² = 0.993), while declining fish yield and worsening groundwater quality are the strongest predictors of ecological and economic loss (R² = 0.990). The Salem stretch of the river, which passes through the city's urban-industrial corridor, is consistently found to be far more degraded than the Namakkal stretch. The study estimates that unchecked pollution has cost the region with lost fisheries, groundwater remediation and health-related expenditure, and argues that without urgent, coordinated intervention spanning sewage infrastructure, industrial effluent regulation, and community-based restoration, these losses will compound into long-term regional economic stagnation.

Background
Vertical jump performance is a critical component in volleyball, directly influencing skills such as spiking and blocking. Stretching techniques are commonly incorporated into warm-up routines, with ballistic stretching gaining attention for its potential to enhance explosive muscle performance. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in improving vertical jump ability remains limited.
Objective
To determine the effect of ballistic stretching on vertical jump performance in volleyball players.
Methods
A single-group pre–post experimental study was conducted on 20 volleyball players aged between 18–30 years. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Baseline vertical jump height was measured using the Sargent Jump Test. All participants underwent a structured ballistic stretching program targeting major lower limb muscle groups for a duration of 4–6 weeks, performed 3–4 times per week. Post-intervention vertical jump height was assessed using the same procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
The mean vertical jump height significantly improved from 44.90 ± 2.78 cm in the pre-test to 67.50 ± 4.47 cm in the post-test. The mean difference was 22.60 cm. Statistical analysis using paired t-test revealed a highly significant improvement (t = 17.84, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The findings of the study indicate that ballistic stretching is highly effective in improving vertical jump performance in volleyball players. It can be recommended as an integral component of warm-up and conditioning programs to enhance athletic performance.

Background: Patients undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) frequently experience postoperative pain, muscle weakness, impaired mobility, and delayed return to functional activities despite advances in surgical techniques. Prehabilitation has emerged as an effective strategy to optimize physical function before surgery and improve postoperative outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of prehabilitation exercises on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery.
Methods: Sixty participants scheduled for MISS were randomly allocated into an experimental group receiving four weeks of prehabilitation in addition to standard postoperative rehabilitation and a control group receiving standard care alone. Outcome measures included pain intensity, functional disability, walking capacity, and core muscle strength assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.
Results: Participants receiving prehabilitation demonstrated significantly greater improvements in pain reduction, functional mobility, disability scores, and core strength compared with controls. Statistical analysis revealed significant between-group differences with p < 0.05.
Conclusion: Prehabilitation exercises significantly enhance postoperative recovery following minimally invasive spine surgery and should be considered an integral component of perioperative spine rehabilitation.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common and debilitating injuries in athletes participating in sports involving cutting, pivoting, jumping, and sudden changes in direction. Although ACL reconstruction combined with postoperative rehabilitation remains the gold standard treatment for restoring knee stability, a considerable proportion of athletes fail to regain their pre-injury level of performance and experience delayed return to sport. Prehabilitation, which consists of structured exercise interventions before surgery, has recently gained attention as an effective strategy for optimizing postoperative outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of prehabilitation exercises on postoperative recovery and return to sport among athletes undergoing ACL reconstruction.
Methods: Fifty athletes diagnosed with complete ACL rupture and scheduled for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A received a four-week supervised prehabilitation program followed by standard postoperative rehabilitation, whereas Group B received conventional postoperative rehabilitation alone. Outcome measures included quadriceps strength, Y-Balance Test, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm Knee Score, ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) score, and Single Leg Hop Test. Assessments were conducted preoperatively and at six months postoperatively.
Results: Athletes who participated in prehabilitation demonstrated significantly greater improvements in quadriceps strength, dynamic balance, functional performance, and psychological readiness to return to sport. Group A showed higher IKDC scores (91.3 vs 85.2), Lysholm scores (93.4 vs 87.1), and ACL-RSI scores (84.6 vs 77.8) compared with Group B. Return-to-sport rates were also significantly higher in the prehabilitation group (88%) than in the conventional rehabilitation group (68%).
Conclusion: Prehabilitation exercises performed before ACL reconstruction significantly improve postoperative recovery, functional outcomes, and return-to-sport rates in athletes. Incorporating prehabilitation into routine clinical practice may enhance rehabilitation efficiency and facilitate safer return to athletic participation.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become a transformative digital technology for improving construction project delivery; however, empirical evidence on its impact in Nigeria remains limited. This study examined the impact of BIM on construction project performance by assessing awareness, adoption, perceived benefits, and barriers to implementation among construction professionals. A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving a questionnaire survey of 529 construction professionals across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Enugu. A total of 515 valid responses were analysed, representing a 97.4% response rate, while qualitative insights were obtained through interviews with 15 BIM experts. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed a moderately high level of BIM awareness (overall mean = 3.39), with awareness of the BIM concept recording the highest mean score (3.54). BIM adoption was highest for design visualization and quantity take-off, while advanced applications such as 4D scheduling and facility management remained limited. Respondents agreed that BIM positively influences project performance (overall mean = 3.44), particularly in design quality (3.55) and collaboration (3.47). The principal barriers were the absence of a national BIM policy (3.88), inadequate technical skills (3.78), and high software costs (3.75). The study concludes that strengthening policy support, professional capacity, and organizational investment is essential for accelerating BIM adoption and improving construction project performance in Nigeria.

Academic burnout is a growing concern in higher education because of its impact on students&#39; academic performance, psychological well-being, and overall educational experience. Prolonged academic demands, continuous assessments, and competitive learning environments often contribute to burnout among university students. The present study aimed to assess the level of academic burnout among higher education students in West Bengal and to examine its variation with respect to gender, family type, social category, and age. A quantitative research approach was adopted using a cross-sectional survey design. The study was conducted among 386 higher education students selected through simple random sampling from eleven higher education institutions across six districts of West Bengal: Kolkata, Howrah, South 24 Parganas, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. Data were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (MBI-SS) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson&#39;s product-moment correlation. The findings revealed significant differences in academic burnout based on gender, family type, and social category. Male students reported higher burnout than female students, while students from nuclear families experienced greater burnout than those from joint families. Academic burnout also varied significantly across social categories, with General category students reporting the highest burnout levels. However, no significant relationship was found between age and academic burnout. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening institutional support systems, counselling services, and stress management programmes to reduce academic burnout and promote students&#39; psychological well-being in higher education.

The present study investigated the effects of an eight-week combined training program on selected motor abilities among high school hockey players. Forty male hockey players aged 15–18 years were randomly assigned into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group underwent a structured combined training program consisting of strength, speed, agility, endurance, plyometric, and flexibility exercises three sessions per week for eight weeks, while the control group continued regular hockey practice. Selected motor abilities including speed, agility, explosive power, muscular endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized field tests. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and ANCOVA with a significance level of 0.05. Results indicated significant improvements in all selected motor abilities among the experimental group compared with the control group. The findings suggest that combined training is an effective approach for enhancing motor abilities in adolescent hockey players and should be incorporated into school-level hockey conditioning programs.

Youth leadership development has emerged as a critical lever for strengthening democratic governance across the Global South and its diaspora communities. This paper examines the theoretical and practical dimensions of structured youth leadership programmes in Bangladesh and their replication models within South Asian immigrant populations in the United States. Drawing on two decades of practitioner experience in designing, coordinating, and evaluating youth parliamentary and leadership initiatives-including programmes under the Commonwealth International Youth Caucus and the Oxfam International Youth Parliament-this study synthesises primary observational data with existing scholarship to explore how formal leadership cultivation shapes civic agency, political participation, and institutional trust among young people aged 18–35. The findings indicate that participatory parliamentary models, when adapted to local cultural contexts, produce measurable improvements in civic knowledge, inter-communal dialogue, and long-term democratic engagement. This article further argues that immigrant leadership development platforms constitute an underexplored dimension of transnational democracy-building, with implications for diaspora policy, community governance, and post-migration civic integration. Recommendations are offered for policymakers, civil society organisations, and international development actors seeking to scale youth leadership investments.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems play a pivotal role in sustainable energy production, yet they are prone to operational faults that can significantly impair efficiency and longevity. This paper conducts an in-depth comparative analysis of four unsupervised machine learning techniques for anomaly detection in PV systems: Long Short-Term Memory Autoencoder (LSTM-AE), Gated Recurrent Unit Autoencoder (GRU-AE), Feedforward Autoencoder (FF-AE), and One-Class Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM). The evaluation utilizes synthetic hourly data representing one year of PV operation, with a simulated fault injected in the final 30 days to mimic real-world degradation scenarios. Models are trained exclusively on normal operational data and tested on the anomalous dataset. Findings indicate that recurrent autoencoders, particularly LSTM-AE, exhibit superior performance in capturing temporal dependencies, enabling earlier and more accurate fault detection compared to FF-AE and OC-SVM. This CPU-based implementation underscores the practicality of these approaches for predictive maintenance in environments with limited computational resources, potentially reducing downtime and maintenance costs in large-scale PV installations [1].

Corporate governance has increasingly become a critical driver of organizational performance by enhancing accountability, strategic decision-making, transparency, and efficient resource utilization. Despite its recognized importance, many agribusiness firms, particularly in developing economies, continue to experience governance weaknesses that undermine their competitiveness, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Existing empirical studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the influence of board composition and board characteristics on firm performance, while evidence from agribusiness firms remains limited. This study examined the effect of corporate governance on the performance of agribusiness firms in Uganda, with particular emphasis on board composition and board characteristics. The study adopted a a cross-sectional survey design. Data was collected from 371 respondents drawn from agribusiness firms and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that board composition (β = 0.374, p < 0.001) and board characteristics (β = 0.360, p < 0.001) each had a positive and statistically significant effect on agribusiness firm performance. The regression model explained 42.7% of the variation in firm performance (R² = 0.427), indicating that corporate governance is a major determinant of organizational performance. The composite analysis further established that corporate governance had a strong positive and significant effect on agribusiness firm performance (β = 0.654, p < 0.001). The study concludes that effective corporate governance, reflected through strong board composition and sound board characteristics, significantly enhances the performance and competitiveness of agribusiness firms. The study recommends that agribusiness firms strengthen their governance frameworks by appointing competent and diverse board members, promoting effective board structures and practices, and institutionalizing governance policies that enhance accountability, strategic oversight, and sustainable organizational performance.

Background
Potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are a major concern among hospitalized patients and may contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and healthcare costs. Early identification of potential DDIs is essential to improve patient safety and optimize therapeutic outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of potential DDIs among hospitalized patients.
Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of six months at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A total of 100 inpatient prescriptions from various departments were evaluated for potential DDIs using the Micromedex Drug Interaction Database. Identified interactions were classified according to their severity as major, moderate, or minor.
Results
Among the 100 prescriptions analyzed, 67 potential DDIs were identified. Of these, 40 (57.7%) were classified as major, 22 (32.8%) as moderate, and 5 (7.5%) as minor interactions. The average number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 6.2, indicating a high prevalence of polypharmacy. Fluoroquinolone-based antibiotics and antidiabetic agents were the drug classes most frequently involved in clinically significant interactions.
Conclusion
Potential DDIs were common among hospitalized patients and were strongly associated with polypharmacy. Routine prescription review using drug interaction screening tools and active involvement of clinical pharmacists can help identify, prevent, and manage potential DDIs, thereby improving medication safety and patient care.

The increasing penetration of renewable energy resources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind energy systems, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) has transformed conventional power systems into inverter-dominated microgrids. Although inverter-based systems offer advantages such as clean energy generation, improved controllability, and enhanced operational flexibility, they significantly reduce overall system inertia because they lack the physical rotating masses of conventional synchronous generators. This reduction in inertia leads to rapid frequency deviations, high Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF), weak damping characteristics, and poor transient stability, thereby posing significant challenges to the secure operation of modern microgrids. This paper investigates the stability analysis of microgrids with high inverter penetration and examines the impact of virtual inertia on grid frequency stability. A renewable energy-based microgrid comprising Solar PV, Wind Energy System, Battery Energy Storage System, inverter interfaces, and electrical loads is modeled in MATLAB/Simulink. Frequency dynamics are analyzed using the swing equation and RoCoF equation, while a virtual inertia controller is integrated with the inverter to emulate the inertial response of synchronous generators. Simulation studies are performed under two operating conditions: without virtual inertia and with virtual inertia support. The results demonstrate that virtual inertia significantly improves system performance by reducing the maximum frequency deviation from 0.65 Hz to 0.22 Hz, decreasing RoCoF from 1.25 Hz/s to 0.42 Hz/s, and shortening the settling time from 4.8 s to 2.1 s. The study concludes that virtual inertia is an effective solution for enhancing frequency stability, damping capability, and transient response in inverter-dominated microgrids, thereby supporting the reliable integration of renewable energy resources in future smart grids.

Background: This study investigated the socio-economic factors affecting maternal and child healthcare services and their impact on mortality rates in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Methods: A mixed-method research design was adopted, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Results: Data were collected using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews from healthcare personnel across selected Primary Healthcare Facilities. The reliability of the research instrument was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (0.844), indicating good internal consistency. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that factors such as skilled birth attendance, immunization coverage, access to emergency obstetric care, and postnatal services significantly influence mortality rates. Correlation analysis further indicated a strong positive relationship between maternal and child healthcare and mortality (r = 0.822, p < 0.01), suggesting that poor healthcare conditions are associated with higher mortality rates. Conclusion: The study concludes that improving access to quality healthcare services and addressing socio-economic inequalities are essential for reducing maternal and child mortality. Recommendations include strengthening primary healthcare systems, increasing health education, and improving economic support for vulnerable populations.

ABSTRACT
Pharmacovigilance is an essential branch of healthcare that focuses on the detection, assessment, understanding, andpreventionofadversedrugreactions(ADRs)andotherdrug-related problems. Thisreport provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacovigilance, including its origin, development, objectives, scope, and importance in ensuring patient safety. The report discusses the historical evolution of pharmacovigilance from early drug-related tragedies such as the thalidomide disaster to the establishment of global monitoring systems by the World Health Organization (WHO). It explains important terminologies, causality assessment methods such as WHO-UMC scale, Naranjo Algorithm, and Bayesian approaches, along with ADR reporting systems and medical evaluation of adverse events.

The report also highlights the process of ADR monitoring, diagnosis, management, and reporting under national and international pharmacovigilance programs. Furthermore, it describes quality systems in pharmacovigilance, pharmacovigilance databases, signal detection,riskassessment,andriskmanagement strategies.Specialemphasisisgiventocase narrative writing, global and Indian perspectives of pharmacovigilance, and the significant roleofpharmacists in ADR monitoring and patient safety. Overall, pharmacovigilanceplays a vitalrole in promoting the safe and rational use of medicines, improving healthcare outcomes, and strengthening public health systems through continuous drug safety monitoring and reporting.

Theshaftcoupling using for a steam turbine rotor is an indispensable element for its smooth operation. Mechanical couplings connect the turbine shaft to other rotating equipment such as generators. They facilitate the transmission of torque between the turbine shafts or from the turbine to the connected machineryand connect these two devices together precisely.
The shaft coupling in the thermal power plant is a critical mechanical interface that links separate rotor sections such as high-pressure (HP), intermediate-pressure (IP), low-pressure (LP), and the generatorinto a unified, high-speed rotating shaft in large-scale utility thermal power plants. This paper presents comprehensive research on the operational impact of different predominant coupling configurations: rigid flange, semi-flexible, and flexible gear couplings etc. The structural characteristics, torque transmission capabilities and thermal expansion management of each type are thoroughly analyzed. Furthermore, the study evaluates the direct consequences of coupling-related anomalies: such as thermal misalignment, loose fitted bolts, and dynamic unbalance. The findings provide critical reference data for power plant maintenance engineers to optimize shaft alignment, mitigate forced outages and ensure the long-term structural integrity of utility-scale steam turbines.

Skin disease diagnosis is challenged by overlapping visual symptoms and heterogeneous clinical factors, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Conventional machine learning models are predominantly unimodal and lack adaptive mechanisms for integrating multimodal data. This study proposes a Dynamic Multimodal Feature Fusion with Attention-Augmented Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (DMF-ANFIS) for multiclass skin disease classification. The framework integrates dermatological images, clinical attributes, and environmental variables using a self-attention–based feature weighting mechanism prior to neuro-fuzzy inference. Features are extracted using convolutional neural networks, reduced via principal component analysis, and normalized before fusion. Evaluated on 2,500 instances using 10-fold cross-validation, the model achieved 94.7% ± 0.9 accuracy and 0.94 sensitivity, outperforming benchmark classifiers. The framework enhances both predictive performance and interpretability for clinical decision support.

This study examined the effect of change management strategies on the performance of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study focused on three key dimensions: Leadership Support, Training and Capacity Development, and Technological/Structural Transformation. A survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 285 staff members using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple regression analysis). The findings revealed that Leadership Support has a significant positive effect on Polytechnic performance (β = 0.238, p

The article intends to analyze the theories of Time Travel Physics in a way briefly, so that it can Analyzing Entropy, the Arrow of Time, and the Conditions of Human Brain Limitation Confined to Planet Earth and its atmosphere, and knowing this, it's understood that the human brain has limitations in understanding the laws of the universe, such a sex traterres trial travel. This leads to ananalysis offamous physical theories of Relativity. Albert Einstein's General Theory, concluding with worm holes. and the Arrow of Time.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have emerged as the backbone of India’s industrial economy. This study evaluates the causal impact of government subsidy schemes on financial performance of MSMEs in Jharkhand using a quasi-experimental Difference-in-Differences approach combined with propensity score matching. Analysis of 672 enterprises (336 beneficiaries and 336 non-beneficiaries) over a five-year period reveals that subsidy recipients experienced significant improvements: net profit margin increased by 1.79 percentage points, return on assets increased by 1.48 percentage points, revenue growth accelerated by 5.2 percent annually, and employment expanded by an average of 1.1 additional workers per enterprise. Effects emerged gradually and accumulated over subsequent years.

The widespread adoption of social media has significantly transformed youth identity, communication, and psychological well-being. This study examines the relationship between social media use, youth identity formation, well-being, and digital social capital using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected from 720 respondents, complemented by 24 in-depth interviews to provide contextual insights. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including correlation, regression, t-tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression, were employed to analyse the data. The findings indicate that cyberbullyingand social comparison significantly reduce psychological well-being, whereas bonding social capital, bridging social capital, andactive content creation positively influence emotional well-being and social connectedness. The study also finds that stronger digital social networks increase access to educational and professional opportunities, although socio-economic status moderates these benefits. The study concludes that the impact of social media depends more on the quality of engagement than on the amount of time spent online. While constructive and active participation enhances identity development and well-being, passive consumption and negative online experiences increase psychological vulnerability. The findings contribute to understanding the dual role of social media in shaping contemporary youth culture and provide important implications for educators, policymakers, and digital platform developers.

This study examined socio-political empowerment and its effect on women’s decision-making power in local governance structures. The study was guided by three specific objectives which sought to determine the extent to which socio-political empowerment influences women’s participation in decision-making processes, examine the relationship between socio-political empowerment and women’s level of authority in local governance bodies, and identify the barriers limiting the effectiveness of socio-political empowerment in enhancing women’s decision-making power. A descriptive survey research design was adopted using a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 236 respondents selected through multistage sampling techniques using a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that socio-political empowerment significantly enhances women’s participation, authority, and influence in local governance decision-making processes through political education, leadership opportunities, and civic engagement initiatives. The study further established that barriers such as cultural norms, gender discrimination, financial constraints, low educational attainment, and political intimidation hinder the effectiveness of socio-political empowerment efforts. The study concluded that socio-political empowerment is essential for improving women’s decision-making power and achieving inclusive governance. The study therefore recommended stronger gender-inclusive policies, continuous empowerment programs, financial support initiatives, and societal reorientation toward women’s leadership participation in governance structures.

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) operating in 5G and Next-Generation (NxtG) environments require optimization techniques that can provide secure communication while minimizing energy consumption and computational overhead. To address the limitations of Golden Jackal Optimization (GJO), this paper introduces an Energy-Aware Quantum Swarm Optimized Zero Trust Framework (EAQSO-ZTF) to enhance security and energy efficiency in 5G and Next Generation MANET environments. The proposed EAQSO-ZTF employs a quantum-inspired swarm intelligence model in which mobile nodes in zero trust MANET environment are represented as particles within a probabilistic search space. An energy-aware initialization process selects nodes based on residual energy, trust level, and link stability, thereby reducing unnecessary participation of resource-constrained nodes. EAQSO-ZTF further incorporates a probabilistic position update mechanism that accelerates convergence and lowers computational cost compared with conventional iterative optimization approaches. To enhance adaptability, the swarm size is dynamically adjusted according to network density and mobility conditions. The fitness function integrates multiple performance metrics, including residual energy, packet delivery ratio, trust value, and link stability, ensuring balanced optimization of security and routing efficiency. A lightweight convergence criterion terminates the search process when further improvements become negligible. From that,EAQSO-ZTF achieves improved energy efficiency, faster convergence, and reduced processing overhead, making it a suitable optimization solution for secure MANET operations in emerging 5G and NxtG communication environments.

Phishing attacks remain one of the most prevalent and damaging cybersecurity threats to organizations, particularly academic institutions that manage vast amounts of sensitive data. This study assesses the effectiveness of a targeted cybersecurity awareness intervention conducted among staff from four academic schools at Federal Polytechnic Bali. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the research involved a pre-awareness survey, a simulated phishing email themed around a “13-month bonus payment,” and a post-intervention survey to evaluate changes in phishing awareness and response behaviours. Results revealed a high initial susceptibility, with 66.5% of participants falling for the phishing simulation, particularly from the Schools of Science and Technology (SST) and Business and Management Technology (SBMT). However, post-intervention assessments demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in participants' self-assessed cybersecurity knowledge, as confirmed by a Chi-Square Test for Independence (χ² = 72.43, p < 0.0001). The study highlights the critical need for continuous, customized awareness training and a proactive incident reporting culture to strengthen institutional resilience against phishing threats.

This study focused on the assessment of the profile of Gram-negative bacteria associated with some selected fish pond wastewater in Bali metropolis, Taraba state. Water samples were collected from three fish ponds namely Sky fish pond, Natural fish pond and Eastern fish pond and analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. Isolation of bacteria was carried out using Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, and Blood agar, while identification was based on cultural characteristics, Gram staining, and biochemical tests including catalase, coagulase, and oxidase reactions. The isolates were presumptively identified as Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Klebsiella sp., based on their cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. Pseudomonas sp., was isolated from Sky fish pond and Natural fish pond, while Klebsiella sp., was isolated from Eastern fish pond. The presence of these pathogenic Gram-negative bacteriain fish pond wastewater highlights the possible risks to fish health and public health, especially where wastewater is discharged without proper treatment. The study concludes that fish pond wastewater may serve as an important reservoir for microorganisms of public health importance. Regular microbiological monitoring, improved wastewater management, and strict hygienic aquaculture practices are recommended.

Digital transformation can connect data, users and organisational resources, but technology alone does not explain how a manufacturing firm converts digital strategy into action and performance. This study examines the human resource management (HRM) micro-mechanisms through which digital transformation becomes executable in Haier Smart Home, a platform-oriented Chinese manufacturing firm. Using a longitudinal embedded single-case design, the study draws on 35 semi-structured interviews conducted between 2020 and 2025, more than 2,500 minutes of recorded interview material, annual and ESG reports, governance documents, platform rules and public corporate materials. Gioia coding, temporal bracketing, process tracing and pattern matching were used to identify and verify mechanisms. The findings show that digital strategy produced organisational effects only after HRM redesigned decision rights and platform services. Three interacting micro-mechanisms then translated connectivity into action: order-based talent allocation recombined human capital around user opportunities; user-linked incentives internalised market signals into employee behaviour; and platform governance coordinated autonomous internal units and external ecosystem partners. These mechanisms improved response speed, user-oriented innovation and cross-boundary coordination, but they also generated risks of short-termism, income volatility and rule disputes when data quality, attribution and governance legitimacy were weak. The study contributes a mechanism-based explanation of digital HRM and shows that digital value creation depends on the organisational architecture through which people use digital tools.

Due to the dearth of empirical studies in the area and the contradictory information they offer, our understanding of the long-term effects of downsizing and the effects of repetitive downsizing is currently limited.This article reviews the three theoretical perspectives found in the downsizing literature and comes to the following conclusions: downsizing does have a long-term impact on employees and organizations; repeat downsizing outcomes are influenced by the type of downsizing contact and the order of that contact; and employee vulnerability or resilience to repeat downsizing is dependent on the outcome under investigation.Many businesses prefer to shrink as a means of survival during periods of difficult economic conditions like the current crisis.The survivors of downsizing may have a number of negative consequences, which may be harmful to the organization.The way these survivors are treated will determine how well the downsizing process goes.Because employee motivation affects productivity, it's critical to understand how to manage these survivors so that they are as driven as possible.According to researchers, most organizations that undergo downsizing have initiatives to assist the departing employees but very few have programs for the ones that stay.

In an era where the global neuromarketing market is projected to skyrocket from $1.5 billion in 2020 to $21.3 billion by 2030driven by widespread adoption of eye-tracking, EEG, and facial coding technologies by nearly half of Fortune 500 companies as of 2025 (Research and Markets, 2025; CB Insights, 2025)this conceptual paper introduces a unified framework that explores how multisource physiological and behavioral metrics—eye-tracking indicators like fixation duration, saccade patterns, heatmap attention (with eye-tracking variants improving ad conversion by up to 28%) and emotional responses captured through EEG, galvanic skin response, and facial coding—can reshape our understanding of consumer decision-making in digital advertising by revealing subconscious attention and affective engagement beyond the reach of traditional self-report methods, acknowledges the shift in marketing where passive attention (captured via eye-tracking) now delivers 6.7× more attentive seconds per dollar than conventional active attention (Nelson-Field, 2024), and grounds the framework in theoretical constructs such as the stimulus-organism-response (S–O–R) model, dual-process cognitive theory (system 1/emotional vs system 2/rational), and attention economy principles, while illustrating the implications for marketers—for instance, leveraging neurometrically optimized ad creatives (e.g. Mars measuring eye movement and brain data yielding 85% predictive power) to craft emotionally resonant messages with up to 2.5× ROI returns (Amra & Delma, 2025)—and concludes with conceptual propositions suggesting that combining eye-tracking and emotional biometrics offers a more predictive and empirically richer understanding of digital ad effectiveness, with this unified neuro-marketing framework offering meaningful theoretical contributions and practical guidance for designing emotionally compelling, attention-efficient ads, while also calling for future empirical validation through experimental eye-tracking and EEG studies, ethical consideration of subconscious influence and data privacy, and cross-context application across ad formats, platforms, and cultural settings to ensure robust, responsible, and scalable consumer insights in the digital marketing landscape.

The high cost of conventional wastewater treatment technologies has increased the demand for sustainable and locally available filtration materials capable of supporting environmental remediation and water resource protection. This study comparatively evaluated the performance of hollow fibre tubes (HFT) and processed Nipa Palm stem (PNS) as low-cost filtration media for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Laboratory-scale filtration columns were constructed and operated under identical hydraulic conditions using synthetic municipal wastewater. The treatment efficiencies of both media were assessed based on turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate, phosphate, and microbial load reduction. A completely randomized design with triplicate analyses was employed, and statistical evaluation was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of α = 0.05.The results revealed that HFT achieved significantly higher removal efficiencies for turbidity (94.8%), TSS (92.4%), BOD₅ (89.3%), COD (86.7%), and total coliforms (98.6%) than PNS, which recorded removal efficiencies of 82.1%, 79.5%, 71.8%, 68.2%, and 91.4%, respectively. However, PNS demonstrated comparable performance in nitrate and phosphate removal while exhibiting substantially lower operational costs. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two filtration media for most physicochemical parameters. The findings suggest that hollow fibre tubes provide superior treatment efficiency, whereas processed Nipa Palm stem represents a cost-effective and sustainable alternative for decentralized wastewater treatment in resource-constrained communities. By reducing contaminant loads prior to environmental discharge, both filtration media contribute to environmental remediation and the protection of soil and groundwater systems from pollution.

Electric vehicles, industrial automation, and robots are using brushless DC (BLDC) motors more and more because they are more efficient, reliable, and have a better torque-to-weight ratio. However, traditional Proportional-Integral (PI) and PID controllers lack functionality as well when parameters change, loads change, or DC-link voltage changes, leading to diminished dynamic performance. This research presents a cascaded BLDC motor control system that incorporates two Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) controllers—one for speed regulation and the other for DC-link voltage stabilization—aiming for optimum parameter tuning using the Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA). The optimization reduces a composite performance index that includes the Integral of Time-weighted Absolute Error (ITAE), overshoot, and DC-link ripple. Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink show that the SFLA-optimized ANFIS works better than regular ANFIS and PI controllers. It has less voltage ripple, smoother torque, more balanced phase currents, and a quicker transient response, all while keeping the steady-state error very low. The findings show that hybrid intelligent optimization works well to make BLDC drives more resilient for real-time application.

A microporous polymer electrolyte membrane based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was successfully fabricated using the solution-casting & polymer dissolution technique and subsequently impregnated with LiClO₄ electrolyte. The structural, thermal, and electrochemical properties of the prepared membranes were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), XRD analysis revealed a reduction in crystallinity and an increase in the amorphous phase following electrolyte incorporation, facilitating enhanced lithium-ion transport. Thermal characterization demonstrated that the membrane possesses excellent thermal stability with a multistage degradation profile, making it suitable for electrochemical applications.The synergistic combination of PVC and PVA provides desirable mechanical integrity, thermal stability, and electrochemical performance, indicating that the developed microporous polymer electrolyte membrane is a promising candidate for lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical sensors, and other solid-state energy storage devices. Recent studies have similarly highlighted that improving the amorphous phase and polymer–salt interactions enhances the thermal stability in polymer electrolyte systems.

Background: Information technology (IT) plays a critical role in improving Routine Health Information Systems (RHIS) by improving the quality, timeliness and reliability of data. But in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, inadequate infrastructure, lack of system integration and low digital capacity still impact negatively on RHIS. We examined the role of information technology in RHIS data quality within Osun State, Nigeria, with a focus on public health facilities that cater to urban and rural communities.
Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design with a multistage sampling approach among 317 health workers in 22 public health facilities (primary, secondary and tertiary) in Osun State, Nigeria. A questionnaire and observation checklist based on the Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM) framework were used to collect data. The questionnaire had a good level of reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.790). SPSS version 30.0 was used to analyse the data using descriptive statistics and linear regression to investigate the impact of IT-related factors on RHIS data quality.
Results: The study revealed a moderate level of IT infrastructure and use (mean = 35.34 ± 10.99). Although 53.2% of survey respondents indicated computer use and 58.9% claimed that computers improved data quality, observations revealed significant infrastructural deficiencies: 73.9% of facilities did not have functional computers and 78.3% lacked internet connectivity. While 82.6% indicated using Health Management Information Systems, only 13.0% had Electronic Health Records.
In terms of RHIS data quality, completeness (8.78 ± 2.0), timeliness (9.11 ± 1.7) and reliability (13.04 ± 3.2) were satisfactory. But reporting accuracy was low, with only 21.7% of facilities reporting accurately. The regression analysis revealed that the influence of IT factors on the data quality of the RHIS was positive and significant (β = 0.251, t = 4.428, p < 0.05), but the coefficient of determination (R²) was low (R² = 0.063) - meaning that the use of IT factors explained 6.3% of the variance in data quality.
Conclusion: Our analysis shows that while the use of information technology for RHIS-related activities in Osun State has improved, there are still significant gaps in infrastructure, connectivity and use of digital systems. The ongoing use of paper-based systems, especially in rural and resource-limited health facilities, is hindering the effective use of RHIS and is a factor in poor data quality, particularly accuracy.

This mixed-methods study combined surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups to explore discrepancies between how Ghanaian employees perceive their own workplace behaviour (self-perception) and how they are perceived by their colleagues (peer perception) across public sector, private Ghanaian-owned, and multinational organizational contexts. Drawing upon Social Constructionism (Berger & Luckmann, 1966) and Ubuntu Philosophy (Gyekye, 1997), the study surveyed 180 employees (60 per sector) measuring self-perceived and peer-perceived punctuality, initiative, accountability, relational contribution, and overall work ethic, followed by semi-structured interviews with 30 participants (10 per sector) and six focus groups (two per sector, total 36 participants) to explore the sources, consequences, and management of perception discrepancies. Data were analysed using paired t-tests to compare self and peer ratings, correlation analysis to examine convergence, and reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) for qualitative data. Six overarching themes emerged from the integrated analysis: the overestimation effect, wherein employees consistently rated themselves higher than peers rated them across all dimensions and sectors, with initiative showing the largest discrepancy (self-peer gap = 0.89 on 5-point scale); the sectoral moderation of discrepancy magnitude, with multinational sector showing smallest gaps and public sector showing largest gaps; the blindness to negative behaviours, wherein employees described being unaware of specific behaviours that peers identified as problematic; the attribution asymmetry, wherein employees attributed their own positive behaviours to character and negative behaviours to circumstance, while peers attributed the same behaviours oppositely; the cultural constraint on direct feedback, wherein Ghanaian norms of harmony and indirect communication prevented employees from receiving accurate peer perception information; and the recalibration strategies employed by employees who became aware of perception discrepancies, including behavioural adjustment, selective disclosure, and identity negotiation. Quantitative results showed statistically significant self-peer discrepancies on all dimensions (t values ranging from 3.21 to 6.54, all p < .01), with 74% of participants rating themselves higher than their peers rated them, 18% showing convergence, and only 8% rating themselves lower. Qualitative findings revealed that employees were often genuinely unaware of how they were perceived, that feedback was rarely direct, and that discovering perception discrepancies produced emotional responses ranging from defensiveness to gratitude. The study contributes to understanding of self-perception bias in Ghanaian workplace contexts, offering insights for performance feedback systems, 360-degree assessment, and workplace relationship management.

Thephysicalandchemicalcharacteristicsofsoildictateitsagriculturalviability,nutrientdynamics,andenvi-ronmentalresilience.Thiscomprehensivestudyinvesti-gatesthesoilprofileof the Gangapurareain Ambikapur,Chhattisgarh—aregiontransitioningfromaruralagrar-ianlandscapeintoarapidsuburbanin stitutionalhub.Fiverepresentativesoilsamplesweresystematicallyex-tracted and analyzed for physical parameters (texture, bulkdensity, structure, waterholdingcapacity) antichemical constituents (pH,electrical conductivity, organic car-bon Macronutrients, and micronutrients) utilizingstan-
dardlaboratoryprotocols. Resu ltsclassifytheregionalsoilasawell- drainedsandyloam (Matasi) exhibitingamoderatewaterholdingcapacity (40%) and aslightlyacidicp Hrange (5.4to6.8). Whilethesoilpresentslowelectricalconductivity(averaging0.29dS/m), indicatinganabsenceofsalinitystress, itdemonstratescriticaldefi-cienciesinorganiccarbon (0.36%ave rage)andavailablenitrogen.Conversely,theacidicprofilefacilitatesexcep-tionallyhighavailabilityofmet allicmicronutrientssuchasironandmanganese,alongsidearobustpotassiumbase.Thestudyunderscorest henecessityforsite-specificnu-trientmanagement,specificallytargetedorganicmanur-ingandzincsupplementation,tobridgeexistingfertilitygaps,counteractpotentialleaching,and sustainregionalagricultureamidstinfrastructuralexpansion.

This article analyzes the theoretical and practical foundations for innovating assessment and evaluation in teaching political theory subjects under the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). On that basis, it proposes several solutions to improve the quality of assessment, thereby contributing to the development of learners’ competencies in the current context of digital transformation in education. At the same time, the article clarifies the risks of academic dishonesty and the need to standardize assessment procedures in digital learning environments.

This paper elucidates the core essence of pedagogical innovation toward Competency-Based Instruction (CBI) in higher education, transcending fragmented instructional techniques toward a comprehensive systemic transformation. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the study analyzes the paradox between faculty members' theoretical awareness and actual classroom execution, while evaluating the efficacy of constructivist cognitive scaffolding. Survey datasets ( ) expose a profound "cognitive-behavioral paradox," wherein institutional barriers—such as curricular rigidity and traditional summative examination pressures—severely stifle classroom innovation. Conversely, quasi-experimental data demonstrate that horizontal instructional designs effectively unlock mature learners' experiential repositories, mitigate academic anxiety, and accelerate higher-order critical thinking. The findings underscore that the essence of CBI demands intense curricular contextualization embedded within regional realities, alongside a synchronized restructuring of macro-level educational governance.

This paper systematically analyzes the core role of political theory in constructing and shaping a scientific, revolutionary worldview for cadres and party members within the contemporary socio-political milieu. Throughout various developmental phases, the provision of political theory instruction must transcend the dynamic of transmitting pure, abstract academic knowledge; more crucially, it must foster a dialectical materialist methodology that empowers learners to orient their cognition and practice amid complex real-world fluctuations. Utilizing systematic analysis, historical-logical synthesis of academic literature, and empirical diagnostics of theoretical education, this study elucidates the dialectical correlation between theoretical cognition and its internal transformation into robust political beliefs and behaviors. The findings demonstrate that innovating political theory instruction toward active, practice-integrated methodologies serves as a foundational prerequisite for enhancing the political fortitude of cadres.

The paradigm shift from monological, one-way teaching to interactive teaching plays a decisive role in enhancing educational quality and fostering learners' comprehensive competencies. This paper provides a profound analysis of the theoretical and pedagogical significance of this core methodological innovation. By reviewing modern educational theories and empirical research outcomes within training institutions, the author elucidates the essence of multi-dimensional interactive relationships between instructors and learners. The findings demonstrate that interactive teaching not only stimulates cognitive activeness, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving capacities, but also transforms the training process into a self-training mechanism. This represents the ultimate key to shifting from content-driven education to a competency-based implementation approach.

This paper investigates the core differences between two fundamental educational paradigms: content-oriented traditional instruction and learner-centered competency-based training. Traditional teaching methodologies predominantly focus on unilateral knowledge transmission from instructors, rendering learners passive recipients and thereby limiting their independent thinking and real-world problem-solving capacities. Conversely, competency-based instruction centers on the learner, fostering cognitive engagement, autonomy, and emphasizing the integration of knowledge, skills, and behavioral motives within dynamic, real-life contexts. Utilizing a combination of theoretical synthesis and empirical situational analysis, this study elucidates the distinct criteria regarding objectives, curricular content, organizational modalities, and evaluative mechanisms separating the two models. The findings confirm that transitioning to a competency-based paradigm represents an imperative trajectory for enhancing contemporary educational quality.

Renovating instructional methodologies within a competency-based framework necessitates fundamental and systemic shifts, among which the innovation of lecturers' mindsets is identified as the decisive, critical breakthrough. This paper provides a profound analysis of the dialectical relationship between instructors' pedagogical worldviews and the efficacy of deploying modern instructional models within the classroom space. Utilizing systemic, empirical survey, and pedagogical experimentation methodologies, this study elucidates that advanced pedagogical techniques or technologies remain merely nominal if instructors do not autonomously abandon their deeply ingrained monological, one-way knowledge-transfer mindsets. The empirical findings affirm that restructuring the instructional mindset—shifting from a "monological transmitter" to a "designer, organizer, and facilitator of multi-directional interactions"—constitutes the core impetus to activate learners' cognitive engagement, optimize educational quality, and satisfy the rigorous imperatives of modern education.

Rapid urbanization and escalating population growth have led to a surge inmunicipal organic waste (MOW) generation, posing severe environmental risks. Conventional disposal methods, such as land-filling and open dumping, are increasingly problematic due to their significant contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) serves as a critical mitigation strategy, facilitating the conversion of biodegradable organic fractions into renewable energy in the form of biogas. This study conducts a comparative performance evaluation of food waste (FW) and garden waste (GW) as substrates for biogas production under semi-dry conditions. Experimentaltrialswereexecutedusingbatchreactorsmaintainedatmesophilictemperatures (35 ± 2°C) with a total solids (TS) concentration ranging from 15% to 20%. The study systematically monitored key operational indicators, including pH fluctuations, volatile solids (VS) reduction, cumulative biogas yields, methane (CH4) concentration, and overall process stability. Findings revealed that food waste achieved superior biogasand methane yields, attributed to its high biodegradability and rich organic density. Conversely, garden waste demonstrated reduced degradation rates and lower methane output, likely due to the structural recalcitrance of its lignocellulosic components. Notably, the co-digestion of FW and GW provided synergistic effects, enhancing process stability, optimizing methanerecovery, and ensuringa more favorable carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Furthermore, the semi-dry AD configuration offered distinct operational benefits, suchas minimized water requirements, increased solids loading capacity, anda reduction intherequired footprint for reactor infrastructure.

The present study focuses on the physico-chemical characterization of agricultural soil from the Ajirma area of Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, to evaluate its fertility status and suitability for sustainable crop production. Soil samples were collected from different agricultural fields at varying depths using standard sampling techniques. The collected samples were analyzed for key physico-chemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), texture, bulk density, water holding capacity (WHC), and essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) using standard laboratory methods. The results indicated that the soil in the study area is predominantly acidic to slightly acidic in nature, with moderate electrical conductivity, suggesting non-saline conditions. Organic carbon content ranged from low to medium, reflecting moderate soil fertility. The soil texture was mainly found to be sandy loam to clay loam, which influences moisture retention and nutrient availability. Nutrient analysis revealed variability in macronutrients, with nitrogen generally deficient, while phosphorus and potassium levels varied from medium to adequate. Micronutrient analysis showed sufficient levels of iron and manganese, while zinc deficiency was observed in some locations.

Tartrazine (E102) is a man-made azo food dye widely utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Ongoing release of effluents containing tartrazine into aquatic environments may subject non-target aquatic species to long-term toxic impacts. This study examines the sub-lethal effects of tartrazine on the liver condition of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and looks into using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the automatic identification and categorization of liver disorders. Fish were subjected to incremental sub-lethal levels of tartrazine for a duration of 30 days. Histopathological, biochemical, and image-driven AI assessments were performed to assess liver injury. Histological analysis showed hepatocellular degeneration, vacuolation, sinusoidal congestion, inflammatory infiltration, and focal necrosis in the exposed groups. The activities of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) rose notably as tartrazine concentration increased. A CNN model was developed by training it on digitized histological images and successfully attained high accuracy in differentiating between healthy and injured liver tissues. The results show that AI-supported histopathological evaluation can act as a quick and dependable method for tracking aquatic toxins and identifying early hepatotoxicity in fish.

Cervical cancer remains a major health problem worldwide, particularly in developing nations where it's one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. This type of cancer is mostly caused by persistent infections from high-risk human papillomavirus strains, particularly HPV types 16 and 18, and it develops gradually through identifiable pre-cancerous stages. Even though cervical cancer can be prevented and treated through vaccines, regular screening, and early treatment, unequal access to healthcare keeps driving up illness and death rates, especially in areas with limited resources. This overview looks at how cervical cancer spreads, what causes it, how it develops, what symptoms to watch for, and how doctors diagnose it. The review also covers three levels of prevention - stopping it before it starts, catching it early, and treating it once it's found - and explains why HPV vaccines, early screening through Pap tests and HPV testing, and treating pre-cancerous changes are so important. The review also discusses new treatment advances like immunotherapy, targeted treatments, personalized medicine approaches, and improved surgical techniques. Despite these medical improvements, fighting cervical cancer globally still faces challenges like limited access to preventive care, cultural and social barriers, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. The review wraps up by stressing how important innovation, international cooperation, and fair healthcare access are for achieving the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.

मुगल साम्राज्य की प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था का सबसे महत्वपूर्ण आधार उसकी सुव्यवस्थित न्यायिक प्रणाली थी, जिसने विशाल एवं बहुसांस्कृतिक साम्राज्य में विधि, प्रशासन तथा सामाजिक अनुशासन के मध्य संतुलन स्थापित करने का कार्य किया। यद्यपि मुगल न्यायिक प्रशासन के अध्ययन में प्रायः सम्राट, शाही काज़ी तथा उच्च प्रशासनिक अधिकारियों की भूमिका पर अधिक ध्यान दिया गया है, किन्तु स्थानीय स्तर पर कार्यरत परगना एवं सरकार (ज़िला) स्तर के काज़ियों की भूमिका अपेक्षाकृत उपेक्षित रही है। वस्तुतः यही अधिकारी ग्रामीण एवं नगरीय समाज के मध्य प्रतिदिन उत्पन्न होने वाले दीवानी, फौजदारी, राजस्व, पारिवारिक तथा सामाजिक विवादों के निपटारे का प्रमुख माध्यम थे। औरंगज़ेब के शासनकाल (1658–1707) में स्थानीय काज़ियों की संस्था न केवल न्यायिक प्रशासन का अभिन्न अंग थी, बल्कि राजस्व व्यवस्था, धार्मिक प्रशासन, सामाजिक नियंत्रण तथा राज्य की वैधानिकता को सुदृढ़ करने वाली एक महत्वपूर्ण प्रशासनिक इकाई भी थी।
प्रस्तुत शोध-पत्र का उद्देश्य औरंगज़ेब के शासनकाल में स्थानीय काज़ियों की नियुक्ति, अधिकार, न्यायिक कार्यप्रणाली, प्रशासनिक उत्तरदायित्व तथा ग्रामीण एवं नगरीय समाज में उनकी भूमिका का ऐतिहासिक एवं विश्लेषणात्मक अध्ययन करना है। विशेष रूप से यह अध्ययन इस तथ्य का परीक्षण करता है कि स्थानीय काज़ी केवल न्यायाधीश नहीं थे, बल्कि भूमि के क्रय-विक्रय, उत्तराधिकार, विवाह, वक्फ़, राजस्व विवाद, जज़िया एवं ज़कात के प्रशासन, बाज़ार नियंत्रण तथा स्थानीय प्रशासनिक समन्वय जैसे विविध कार्यों में भी सक्रिय भागीदारी निभाते थे। अध्ययन से यह भी स्पष्ट होता है कि स्थानीय न्यायिक व्यवस्था का संचालन केवल शरीअत के सिद्धांतों पर आधारित नहीं था, बल्कि स्थानीय परंपराओं, पंचायतों, प्रथागत विधि तथा प्रशासनिक आवश्यकताओं के साथ समन्वय स्थापित करके किया जाता था। यही कारण है कि मुगल न्याय व्यवस्था को एक मिश्रित (Composite) विधिक प्रणाली के रूप में देखा जाना अधिक उपयुक्त प्रतीत होता है।
यह शोध यह भी स्थापित करता है कि औरंगज़ेब के शासनकाल में स्थानीय काज़ियों की भूमिका समय के साथ और अधिक व्यापक हुई। विशेष रूप से जज़िया की पुनर्स्थापना (1679 ई.) के बाद अनेक क्षेत्रों में काज़ियों को जज़िया संग्रहण की निगरानी, विवादों के निपटारे तथा संबंधित प्रशासनिक प्रक्रियाओं में सम्मिलित किया गया। इसके अतिरिक्त ज़कात, धार्मिक अनुदानों तथा सार्वजनिक हित से संबंधित विषयों में भी उनकी भागीदारी बढ़ी। यद्यपि इन उत्तरदायित्वों ने स्थानीय न्यायिक प्रशासन को अधिक संगठित बनाया, परन्तु इसी के साथ भ्रष्टाचार, प्रशासनिक दबाव तथा धार्मिक पक्षपात जैसी समस्याएँ भी सामने आईं, जिन्होंने न्यायिक व्यवस्था की निष्पक्षता को प्रभावित किया।
प्राथमिक फ़ारसी स्रोतों, समकालीन दस्तावेजों तथा आधुनिक इतिहासकारों के विश्लेषण के आधार पर यह शोध-पत्र इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुँचता है कि स्थानीय काज़ी मुगल प्रशासन के सबसे प्रभावशाली किन्तु अपेक्षाकृत कम अध्ययन किए गए अधिकारियों में से एक थे। उनकी भूमिका को केवल धार्मिक न्यायाधीश के रूप में नहीं, बल्कि स्थानीय प्रशासन, सामाजिक समन्वय तथा राज्य की प्रशासनिक वैधता के प्रतिनिधि के रूप में समझना अधिक समीचीन होगा।

Disease eradication and elimination programmes are critical components of public health strategies in India. Over the past decades, India has implemented several national programmes targeting communicable diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy, and lymphatic filariasis. Significant achievements include the successful eradication of polio and elimination of diseases such as yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus. However, diseases like tuberculosis and malaria continue to pose major challenges due to socio-economic factors, population density, and emerging drug resistance. National initiatives such as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) have contributed to substantial progress, yet gaps in implementation, awareness, and healthcare accessibility persist. This short communication provides an overview of major disease eradication programmes in India, their current status, achievements, and challenges, along with future strategies to strengthen public health outcomes. This study highlights the need for integrated digital and policy-driven approaches to accelerate disease eradication in India.

The nature of work is changing dramatically as technology and automation advance, with old employment being redefined and new opportunities arising. In India, the gig economy, which is defined by short-term, flexible work arrangements made possible by digital platforms, is rapidly expanding, resulting in a rising number of people participating in flexible, temporary job opportunities. This transition also raises important concerns about job security, justice, and inequality; thus, it is critical to investigate gig workers' legal status and the influence of the digital divide on their rights and safeguards. So, the purpose of this research is to investigate the legal status of gig workers and find loopholes in labour laws and social security benefits. This chapter covers the issues that gig workers experience in India, as well as methods to encourage fair and secure labour in the gig economy. It also looks at how the digital divide affects gig workers, particularly those who have restricted access to technology, low digital literacy, or inadequate internet access. Addressing these concerns is critical to ensuring that the advantages of the gig economy are distributed equally across all workers. The study examines existing research and legal frameworks to gain a better understanding of the gig economy and digital divide in India. Its goal is to propose policies and practices that promote decent work, social justice, and inclusive growth by investigating the connections between technology, work, and inequality. The findings are important for policymakers, employers, and workers, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the gig economy's influence on India's shifting job market. The idea is to mitigate the negative consequences of gig employment and ensure that the benefits are distributed more evenly. The paper's goal is to contribute to a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future of work for all in India by investigating the links between technology, labour, and inequality.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting people across all age groups and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It has a significant impact on an individual's physical functioning, psychological well-being, work productivity, and overall quality of life. Physiotherapy has emerged as a widely accepted non-invasive treatment approach that focuses on reducing pain, restoring functional ability, improving mobility, and preventing recurrence through evidence-based therapeutic interventions. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the management of chronic low back pain. The study examines the impact of various physiotherapy interventions, including therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, stretching, strengthening programmes, posture correction, and electrotherapy, on pain reduction and functional improvement among patients with chronic low back pain. Data were collected from individuals undergoing physiotherapy treatment, and outcomes were assessed using standardized pain and disability measures before and after the intervention.
The findings indicate that physiotherapy significantly reduces pain intensity, improves spinal mobility, enhances muscle strength and flexibility, and increases the ability of patients to perform daily activities. Regular participation in physiotherapy sessions also contributes to improved posture, greater physical independence, and enhanced quality of life while reducing the likelihood of recurrence. Furthermore, patient education regarding ergonomic practices and home exercise programmes plays an important role in maintaining long-term treatment outcomes. The study concludes that physiotherapy is a safe, cost-effective, and evidence-based intervention for managing chronic low back pain. Early diagnosis, individualized treatment planning, and patient adherence to prescribed exercise programmes can substantially improve clinical outcomes. These findings support the integration of physiotherapy as a primary component of multidisciplinary management strategies for chronic low back pain and highlight its role in promoting long-term musculoskeletal health.

Financial literacy has become an essential life skill for students in today’s rapidly changing digital economy. As young adults increasingly manage educational expenses, digital payment systems, student loans, and online financial services, they need the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions. Yet many students enter higher education with limited understanding of budgeting, saving, investing, responsible borrowing, and digital financial security, which can leave them vulnerable to poor financial choices and unnecessary stress. This paper examines practical strategies that can strengthen financial literacy among students, including budgeting effectively, distinguishing needs from wants, building emergency savings, using credit responsibly, planning early for investment, and adopting digital financial tools safely. It also highlights the importance of continuous financial education and the shared responsibility of educational institutions, parents, financial institutions, and policymakers in promoting sound financial behaviour. The paper argues that financial literacy should be understood not only as financial knowledge but also as a lifelong competency that supports resilience, responsible decision-making and long-term economic well-being. By adopting simple and practical money management habits during their student years, young people can improve their financial independence, reduce stress, and build a strong foundation for future personal and professional success.

Financial well-being is a multidimensional concept that reflects an individual&#39;s ability to manage financial resources effectively, maintain financial security, and achieve economic stability. It encompasses key aspects such as financial literacy, income sufficiency, savings behavior, debt management, and financial resilience. Financial well-being is strongly linked to overall life satisfaction, psychological health, and social well-being, as financial stress can significantly impact mental and emotional stability. Various researchers have defined financial well-being differently, with common themes revolving around financial security, financial freedom, and the ability to meet present and future financial obligations. This systematic literature review explores the theoretical foundations of financial well-being, examines existing studies in the field, and identifies key factors influencing financial well-being across different demographics. The review aims to provide insights into the relationship between financial well-being and overall quality of life, as well as highlight gaps in the literature for future research.

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education by reshaping teaching, learning, research, administration, and institutional decision-making. At the same time, the increasing complexity of academic environments has amplified the need for emotionally intelligent leadership capable of fostering collaboration, trust, innovation, and ethical governance. This systematic review examines the evolving intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence (EI), and leadership in higher education by synthesizing recent scholarly literature. The review explores how AI-driven technologies are redefining leadership practices through data-informed decision-making, predictive analytics, process automation, and digital transformation, while highlighting the enduring importance of emotional intelligence in effective academic leadership. Key themes identified include AI-enabled decision-making, digital leadership, human-centered leadership, ethical and governance challenges, faculty and student engagement, organizational change management, and leadership competency development. The findings indicate that although AI significantly enhances analytical capabilities, operational efficiency, and strategic planning, it cannot fully replicate essential human attributes such as empathy, emotional awareness, effective communication, conflict resolution, and relationship management. Consequently, successful leadership in higher education requires a balanced integration of technological competence and emotional intelligence to support inclusive, ethical, and sustainable institutional development. The review further identifies important research gaps and recommends future investigations into ethical AI governance, integrated AI–EI leadership competency frameworks, cross-cultural comparative studies, and longitudinal assessments of AI-enabled leadership effectiveness. It concludes that the future of leadership in higher education will depend on leaders who can effectively combine AI literacy with strong emotional intelligence to navigate the challenges of digitally transformed academic institutions.

The rapid advancement of longevity science has transformed ageing research from disease treatment toward extending lifespan and health span. Despite significant progress in genomics, precision medicine, geroscience, regenerative medicine, and preventive healthcare, contemporary longevity research remains predominantly centred on biological ageing. While these developments have improved survival, they often underrepresent the influence of emotional resilience, psychological adaptation, social connectedness, caregiving responsibilities, purpose, and gender-specific life transitions that shape healthy ageing, particularly among women. This paper proposes Human Sustainability as an integrative conceptual framework that expands current longevity science by positioning healthy ageing as the lifelong capacity to sustain biological, emotional, cognitive, relational, occupational, financial, environmental, and existential well-being. Within this broader framework, two complementary concepts are introduced. First, Women's Sustainability is proposed as a multidimensional life-course model recognising the interaction of biological transitions with social, occupational, and psychological experiences that influence female longevity. Second, Emotional Longevity is introduced as a conceptual construct describing the long-term capacity to preserve emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, meaningful relationships, adaptive coping, and purpose throughout ageing. Drawing on evidence from geroscience, psychology, behavioural medicine, neuroscience, public health, and life-course theory, the paper develops the Human Sustainability Systems Model (HSSM) to illustrate how biological and psychosocial determinants interact throughout the lifespan. Rather than replacing existing frameworks such as Healthy Ageing, Geroscience, Precision Medicine, or One Health, Human Sustainability integrates and extends them through a systems perspective. The paper argues that future longevity research, healthcare policy, and clinical practice should complement biological indicators with measures of emotional resilience, social participation, caregiving burden, and purpose. Extending lifespan alone is insufficient; sustainable longevity requires preserving the human capacities that enable individuals to live healthier, more meaningful, and socially connected lives.

India’s rapid economic growth and demographic transformation have been accompanied by rising workforce burnout, occupational stress, and declining resilience across healthcare, education, law enforcement, agriculture, hospitality, and corporate sectors. Existing approaches remain largely reactive, with support accessible only after significant distress emerges. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the interdependence of institutional resilience and human resilience.
Objective: This paper proposes an integrated preventive framework—Project SAHARA (Sustainable Assistance, Healing, Awareness, Resilience, and Action)—grounded in One Health principles and tailored to India’s diverse workforce and policy landscape.
Approach: Drawing on capability theory (Sen, Nussbaum), burnout research (Maslach), resilience science, psychological safety (Edmondson), Conservation of Resources theory, and public health prevention models, the paper develops a multi-level conceptual model. It introduces a measurable Human Sustainability Index (HSI) and outlines a rigorous protocol for future empirical validation.
Key contributions: SAHARA extends the One Health paradigm by positioning workforce resilience and human sustainability as a strategic fourth pillar alongside human, animal, and environmental health. The framework emphasises prevention, early identification, recovery pathways, adaptive capacity building, continuous evaluation, and systems-level policy change. It is designed to be scalable across formal and informal sectors and aligned with India’s National Mental Health Programme, Digital Health Mission, and emerging One Health capacity-building initiatives.
Implications: By shifting from reactive clinical models to upstream, multi-level prevention, SAHARA offers a practical pathway to strengthen workforce sustainability and support national development goals under a One Health, One Nation vision. Future research should empirically validate the HSI and test SAHARA interventions across sectors and regions.

This current research considers the negotiation of gender roles and feminine agency in Jane Austen's Emma and Pride and Prejudice characters Emma Woodhouse and Elizabeth Bennet. The research, set in the sociocultural context of Regency England, demonstrates how normative expectations of women, based on the institution of marriage, decorum and dependence, both restrict and enable female action. While Emma Woodhouse's relative socioeconomic privilege allows her to exercise greater autonomy than was typical of women in her time, Elizabeth Bennet asserts her intellect and conscience by rejecting socially expedient but personally incompatible unions. Through a comparative close reading, this paper illustrates how Austen represents her heroines not as hapless victims of patriarchy but as empowered agents of self-definition. This agency is exercised through dialogue, choice and challenge, but it is ultimately resolved within the parameters of that which they implicitly question. The study also shows how Austen's mix of compliance and critique reveals the tension within the institution of marriage as simultaneously a social obligation and a human relationship with the potential for mutuality and satisfaction. Through its emphasis on agency as an element of Austen's proto-feminist narrative, this paper traces the complex nature of early 19th century gender ideology and the way in which fictional characters contribute to the negotiation of the ideologically constructed roles of women and men.

Education plays a transformative role in the lives of children with hearing impairment by promoting their cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and vocational development. It is not merely a means of acquiring academic knowledge but also a powerful tool for fostering independence, self-confidence, and social inclusion. Hearing-impaired children often encounter significant barriers in accessing quality education due to communication difficulties, inadequate educational resources, lack of trained teachers, and limited availability of assistive technologies. These challenges may hinder their academic achievement and overall development if appropriate educational interventions are not provided. However, inclusive and accessible educational practices can significantly improve learning outcomes and quality of life for these children.
The importance of education for hearing-impaired children extends beyond literacy and numeracy. Early identification of hearing loss, timely intervention, and access to appropriate communication methods such as sign language, spoken language, total communication, or bilingual approaches are essential for language acquisition and cognitive development. Schools that provide individualized educational plans, assistive listening devices, captioning services, speech-to-text technology, and qualified special educators create supportive learning environments that enhance participation and academic success. Furthermore, inclusive education encourages interaction with hearing peers, promoting mutual understanding, reducing stigma, and developing social competence.
Teachers, parents, speech-language therapists, audiologists, and special educators play a collaborative role in ensuring the holistic development of hearing-impaired children. Family involvement in education strengthens communication skills and emotional well-being, while continuous teacher training improves instructional effectiveness. Technological advancements, including digital hearing aids, cochlear implants, interactive educational software, artificial intelligence-based learning tools, and online captioning services, have further expanded educational opportunities for students with hearing impairment. These innovations facilitate equitable access to learning and improve classroom engagement.
National and international policies, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Salamanca Statement, and India's Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, emphasize the right of every child with a disability to receive inclusive, equitable, and quality education without discrimination. These frameworks advocate for accessible educational environments, reasonable accommodations, and equal participation in society. Despite these policy initiatives, many educational institutions continue to face challenges related to infrastructure, trained personnel, and the provision of specialized support services.

Folk traditions serve as the backbone of cultural identity in the Himalayan region, particularly in the Shimla Hills and surrounding districts such as Sirmaur, Solan, Mandi, and Kinnaur. These traditions expressed through folksongs, deity systems, festivals, rituals, dialects, food habits, and wooden architecture preserve centuries-old memories of the communities living in the mountains. However, the rise ofdigital technologiesandsocial media has created acomplex space where preservation and transformation simultaneously take place. This paper examines the identity, relevance, and transition of Himalayan folk traditions in the contemporary Indian context, focusing on the cultural fabric of the Shimla Hills. It integrates ethnographic insights, qualitative interviews with Himachali writers, cultural literature, and policy frameworks, including the Himachal Pradesh Cultural Policy (2021). By drawing upon classical villages such as Kotkhai, Kumarsain, Kotgarh, Rohru, Chopal, Theog, Giripar (Sirmaur), Churah and Balh (Mandi), Bhagat (Solan), and Kinnaur, the study illuminates how folk traditions continue to define identity while undergoing significant change due to migration,education, economicshifts,andthe influence ofdigitalmedia.Thepaperhighlights the dual role of social media as a preserver and disruptor and provides insights into how communities negotiate tradition and modernity in a rapidly changing socio-cultural environment.

The present piece of research aims to depict the theatre of protest in modern Indian drama. Modern Indian English drama has emerged as a powerful medium for expressing social, political, and cultural resistance. The tradition of protest theatre challenges injustice, questions oppressive institutions, and gives voice to marginalized communities through innovative dramatic forms and compelling narratives. This research paper examines the concept of the theatre of protest in modern Indian English drama, with particular reference to the plays of Vijay Tendulkar and Badal Sircar. It explores how these playwrights expose issues such as social inequality, caste and gender discrimination, political corruption, violence, exploitation, and the moral crisis of the middle class. The paper argues that modern Indian English drama extends beyond entertainment by encouraging critical reflection and inspiring social change. It concludes that protest theatre remains an important literary and cultural force, reflecting contemporary realities while promoting justice, equality, democratic values, and human dignity through dramatic expression.

Natural resources constitute the fundamental basis of economic growth and sustainable development. Land, water, forests, minerals, energy resources, and biodiversity provide the essential inputs required for agricultural production, industrial expansion, infrastructure development, employment generation, and overall improvement in living standards. However, the mere existence of abundant natural resources does not guarantee economic prosperity. The extent to which these resources are efficiently, scientifically, and sustainably utilized determines their contribution to national development. Fuller utilisation of natural resources refers to the optimum and productive use of available resources through technological advancement, effective planning, scientific management, institutional support, and environmentally sustainable practices.
This study examines the significance of fuller utilisation of natural resources and its impact on economic development from both theoretical and policy perspectives. The study analyses how efficient resource utilisation contributes to increased productivity, industrial growth, agricultural modernization, employment creation, environmental sustainability, poverty reduction, and balanced regional development.
The findings reveal that countries achieving optimum utilisation of their natural resources experience higher economic growth, greater industrial competitiveness, improved food security, enhanced energy efficiency, and better living standards. However, challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change, overexploitation of resources, institutional weaknesses, technological limitations, and unequal resource distribution continue to hinder sustainable development. The study concludes that adopting integrated resource management strategies, promoting green technologies, strengthening environmental governance, encouraging renewable energy, and enhancing public awareness are essential for ensuring that natural resources contribute effectively to long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic development.

HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the most significant public health and social challenges across the world, particularly in developing countries like India. Despite considerable progress in medical science, availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and expansion of prevention programmes, HIV/AIDS remains deeply intertwined with issues of stigma, discrimination, poverty, gender inequality, and psychosocial vulnerability. People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) often require not only medical treatment but also continuous psychological, emotional, and social support to cope with the illness and to maintain treatment adherence and quality of life.
In this context, counsellors and health activists constitute the backbone of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes. They work at the interface between the health system and the community, providing counselling, psychosocial support, health education, prevention services, follow-up care, and linkage to treatment and rehabilitation. Their roles are multidimensional and demanding, involving emotional labour, crisis intervention, confidentiality maintenance, stigma management, and continuous engagement with individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. As frontline service providers, they are frequently exposed to clients’ trauma, distress, social rejection, and economic hardships.
Occupational stress is a common phenomenon among professionals working in helping professions, particularly those engaged in long-term caregiving and counselling roles. Occupational stress refers to the physical, emotional, and psychological strain that arises when work-related demands exceed an individual’s ability to cope effectively. Counsellors and health activists working with PLWHIV often face heavy workloads, role ambiguity, inadequate staffing, limited resources, job insecurity, and emotional exhaustion. Continuous exposure to suffering, death, and relapse further intensifies their stress levels, making them vulnerable to burnout, compassion fatigue, and reduced work efficiency.
Alongside occupational stress, the concept of burden has gained increasing attention in mental health and social work research. Burden refers to the perceived load of responsibilities, emotional involvement, role strain, and psychological exhaustion experienced while providing care or support services. Although traditionally associated with family caregivers, recent research indicates that professional caregivers and counsellors also experience significant levels of burden due to sustained emotional engagement and high expectations.
In India, HIV/AIDS programmes are implemented through a network of government health institutions, Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs), ART centres, and non-governmental organizations under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). Karnataka has been one of the states with sustained HIV intervention efforts, and Tumkur district has an active presence of counsellors and health activists engaged in HIV prevention, care, and support services. These professionals often operate in challenging socio-cultural environments characterized by stigma and discrimination, which further complicates their work roles.
Despite their crucial contribution, the psychosocial well-being of counsellors and health activists has received relatively limited attention in research and policy discourse. Most HIV/AIDS-related studies in India focus on epidemiological or clinical aspects, while fewer examine the occupational stress and burden faced by frontline service providers at the district level. Understanding these dimensions is essential for ensuring workforce sustainability, service quality, and effective programme implementation. Against this backdrop, the present study seeks to examine occupational stress and burden among counsellors and health activists engaged with PLHIV in Tumkur district.

Achieving gender equality in education is one of the current problems, even though there have been considerable achievements in terms of providing educational opportunities for everyone around the world. The present paper considers the main obstacles to gender equality and the measures that should be used to make education more gender inclusive. The gender stereotypes, social norms, and institutional bias can influence people’s chances for getting an education, performance at school, choice of subjects to study, and future careers. The gender stereotypes may steer boys and girls on different educational trajectories, especially limiting women’s possibilities for studying STEM disciplines. Moreover, there are certain biases within the curriculum, textbooks, and other teaching methods that prevent gender equality and limit the opportunities for men and women. Finally, this paper pays attention to the importance of the involvement of teachers who are able to change their attitudes and expectations towards their students.

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder that affects reproductive-aged women and is frequently associated with diminished ovarian reserve and infertility. Fertility preservation has become an essential component of management, particularly for patients who delay childbearing or require surgical intervention that may compromise ovarian function. This article reviews current fertility preservation strategies in patients with endometriosis, including oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and the role of medical and surgical approaches in optimizing reproductive outcomes. The impact of endometriotic cysts and repeated ovarian surgeries on ovarian reserve is critically examined, alongside the timing of intervention and patient selection criteria. Emerging techniques and individualized treatment planning are emphasized to maximize success rates while minimizing disease progression. A multidisciplinary approach involving reproductive specialists, gynecologic surgeons, and patients is crucial for informed decision-making. Early counseling and proactive fertility preservation can significantly improve reproductive potential and quality of life in women with endometriosis.

The city is getting crowded and more people are buying cars, which is making the traffic really bad. This is why we need to have traffic lights that can control the traffic flow. The old ways of controlling traffic lights like using a fixed schedule or sensors do not work well because they cannot adjust to the changing traffic conditions. This means that cars have to wait there is more traffic people use more fuel and the air gets polluted. A new way to control traffic lights is by using something called Deep Reinforcement Learning. This is a type of computer program that can learn how to make decisions by trying different things and seeing what works best. We looked at how this type of program has been used to control traffic lights from 2016 to 2026. We saw how different types of computer programs like Deep Q-Network, Double DQN and Graph Neural Network have been used to control traffic lights. We talked about how these programs work, what they are good at and what their limitations are. We also looked at how new technologies, like self-driving cars the Internet of Things and smart transportation systems can be used to make traffic flow better. However, there are still some challenges that need to be solved like making sure the programs can handle a lot of data do not use too much computer power and can be used in the real world. Overall, we think that Deep Reinforcement Learning can be used to create traffic light systems that're smart, efficient and good for the environment but more research is needed to make sure they can be used in big cities. Deep Reinforcement Learning and traffic signal control systems are really important for the future of cities. Deep Reinforcement Learning can help traffic signal control systems to be more adaptive and efficient. Traffic signal control systems that use Deep Reinforcement Learning can reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and environmental pollution. We need to do research, on Deep Reinforcement Learning and traffic signal control systems so that we can use them in big cities.

This qualitative study provides an in-depth analysis of how informal feedback, casual comments, gossip, and peer reviews shape employees' perceptions of work ethic within Ghanaian organizational contexts. Guided by Foucault's concept of the docile body and Goffman's dramaturgical framework, interviews with six professionals across three sectors (banking, education, and civil service) in Accra reveal how informal evaluative discourse operates as a disciplinary mechanism that regulates workplace behavior. Findings identify three primary channels of informal feedback: peer-initiated casual commentary (performance observations, character assessments), gossip networks (reputational transmission, social sanctioning), and informal peer reviews (unsolicited evaluations, corridor consultations). The study examines how these feedback forms shape employees' perceptions of what constitutes "good work ethic," how organizational hierarchies mediate the reception of informal feedback, and how workers negotiate between formal performance metrics and informal reputational assessments. Results indicate that while informal feedback operates outside official channels, its influence on work ethic perceptions is substantial, often outweighing formal evaluations. Gossip networks function as rapid reputational transmission systems, rewarding performative displays of diligence while punishing perceived laziness or unreliability. Casual comments, particularly those framed as "just advising," carry significant disciplinary weight because they invoke shared cultural expectations of reciprocity, respect, and communal responsibility. The study also reveals how organizational seniority and gender shape experiences of informal feedback, with junior employees and women reporting greater vulnerability to reputational damage from casual commentary. This ethnographic perspective highlights the necessity of acknowledging informal feedback as a legitimate force in shaping workplace behavior and developing culturally sensitive approaches to performance management that recognize rather than deny the power of casual talk.

This qualitative study employed focus group methodology to explore the availability, accessibility, utilization, and effectiveness of formal support systems—counselling services, social welfare programmes, legal aid, school-based interventions, and religious institutional support—for children coping with parental divorce in Ghanaian families. Drawing upon Social Constructionism (Berger & Luckmann, 1966) and Ubuntu Philosophy (Gyekye, 1997), the study conducted six focus group sessions with 44 participants across three stakeholder groups: young adults who experienced parental divorce during childhood (16 participants), divorced parents who sought or attempted to seek formal support for their children (14 participants), and social workers, counsellors, legal aid officers, and religious leaders with experience providing support to divorced families (14 participants). Focus group discussions were guided by open-ended questions and narrative prompts designed to elicit participants' experiences with formal support systems, barriers to access, perceptions of effectiveness, cultural appropriateness of services, and recommendations for improvement. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Six overarching themes emerged from the data: the near-absence of professional counselling services, with participants describing counselling as virtually unavailable outside affluent urban areas and unknown to most families; the underfunded and overstretched social welfare system, wherein social workers described overwhelming caseloads that prevented them from providing meaningful support to children of divorce; the inaccessible legal aid system, with participants describing legal assistance for custody, child support, and visitation as expensive, slow, and intimidating for ordinary Ghanaians; the minimal and inconsistent school-based support, wherein counsellors were absent from most basic schools and teachers lacked training to support children experiencing family disruption; the ambivalent role of religious institutions, with churches and mosques offering prayer and limited practical support but also contributing to stigma and failing to provide structured programmes for children; and the emerging but fragile civil society and NGO interventions, with participants describing isolated programmes that were not sustained or scaled. Participants' narratives revealed that formal support systems for children of divorce in Ghana are severely limited, fragmented, and largely inaccessible to the majority of families. Professional counselling is concentrated in affluent urban areas and is unknown to most. Social welfare services are underfunded and overstretched, with workers unable to provide more than crisis intervention. Legal aid is inaccessible due to cost, complexity, and intimidation. Schools lack counsellors and teacher training. Religious institutions offer prayer but not structured support. The few NGO programmes that exist are not sustained. Children of divorce and their families cope with minimal formal support, relying instead on informal networks that are themselves strained. The study contributes to the understanding of the gaps in Ghana's formal support infrastructure for children of divorce, offering insights relevant to mental health policy, social welfare reform, legal aid access, educational counselling, and religious institutional programming.

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies is reshaping the landscape of social work practice in unprecedented ways. This paper examines the intersection of digital innovation and social work, analyzing how technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), telehealth platforms, mobile applications, big data analytics, and blockchain are transforming service delivery, client engagement, and professional practice. Drawing on current empirical literature, theoretical frameworks, and emerging practice models, this paper explores both the transformative potential and the significant ethical challenges inherent in technology-mediated social work.

Specifically, the paper investigates three overarching themes: (1) the opportunities presented by digital technologies to expand access, improve outcomes, and enhance efficiency in social services; (2) the ethical imperatives-including privacy, surveillance, algorithmic bias, informed consent, and digital equity-that practitioners and organizations must navigate; and (3) the innovative models emerging at the frontier of social work practice. Findings suggest that while digital tools offer extraordinary promise, their uncritical adoption risks deepening existing inequalities, eroding professional relationships, and compromising client dignity. The paper concludes with a forward-looking framework for ethical digital social work integration, emphasizing human-centered design, participatory approaches, and ongoing critical reflection.

सम्राट अशोक भारतीय इतिहास के उन महान शासकों में अग्रगण्य हैं जिन्होंने शासन को केवल राजनीतिक शक्ति का माध्यम न मानकर उसे नैतिक एवं मानवीय मूल्यों की स्थापना का साधन बनाया। कलिंग युद्ध के उपरांत अशोक के जीवन में आए वैचारिक परिवर्तन ने उनके धम्म की अवधारणा को जन्म दिया, जिसका मूल उद्देश्य समस्त प्रजा के नैतिक उत्थान, सामाजिक समरसता, धार्मिक सहिष्णुता तथा लोककल्याण की स्थापना था। अशोक का धम्म किसी संप्रदाय विशेष का धर्म न होकर एक सार्वभौमिक नैतिक आचार-संहिता था, जिसमें अहिंसा, दया, करुणा, सत्य, क्षमा, माता-पिता एवं गुरुजनों के प्रति सम्मान, सभी धर्मों के प्रति सहिष्णुता तथा प्राणिमात्र के कल्याण जैसे मानवीय मूल्यों को विशेष महत्व दिया गया।
प्रस्तुत शोध-पत्र में सम्राट अशोक के धम्म की अवधारणा का दार्शनिक एवं नैतिक दृष्टिकोण से विश्लेषण किया गया है। अध्ययन में अशोक के शिलालेखों एवं स्तंभलेखों के आधार पर धम्म के मूल तत्त्वों का विवेचन करते हुए यह स्पष्ट किया गया है कि अशोक का धम्म बौद्ध धर्म से प्रेरित होते हुए भी उससे व्यापक एवं व्यावहारिक स्वरूप रखता था। इसमें शासन, समाज और व्यक्ति के मध्य नैतिक संतुलन स्थापित करने का प्रयास परिलक्षित होता है। शोध में यह भी प्रतिपादित किया गया है कि अशोक के धम्म का मूल स्वरूप सार्वभौमिक नैतिकता पर आधारित था, जो आज के बहुसांस्कृतिक एवं वैश्विक समाज में भी समान रूप से प्रासंगिक है। यह अध्ययन अशोक के धम्म की दार्शनिक पृष्ठभूमि, नैतिक मूल्यों तथा समकालीन संदर्भों में उसकी उपयोगिता का समग्र मूल्यांकन प्रस्तुत करता है।

संघमाता डॉ. मुक्ति भटनागर समकालीन भारत में बौद्ध धम्म के प्रचार-प्रसार, संरक्षण एवं पुनर्जागरण की एक महत्वपूर्ण हस्ती के रूप में प्रतिष्ठित हैं। उन्होंने बौद्ध धर्म को केवल धार्मिक आस्था तक सीमित न रखते हुए उसे शिक्षा, संस्कृति, चिकित्सा, सामाजिक सेवा और मानव कल्याण के व्यापक आयामों से जोड़ा। उनके प्रयासों से बौद्ध धम्म के मूल सिद्धांत—करुणा, मैत्री, अहिंसा, प्रज्ञा एवं समता—को समाज के विविध वर्गों तक पहुँचाने का कार्य हुआ। उन्होंने शैक्षिक संस्थानों में बौद्ध अध्ययन एवं अनुसंधान को प्रोत्साहित किया तथा राष्ट्रीय एवं अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर बौद्ध विद्वानों, भिक्षुसंघों और शोधार्थियों के मध्य संवाद स्थापित करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई।
डॉ. मुक्ति भटनागर ने बोधि उपवन, बुद्ध प्रतिमाओं, स्तूपों तथा बौद्ध सांस्कृतिक स्थलों के निर्माण एवं संरक्षण द्वारा बौद्ध विरासत को जीवंत बनाए रखने का प्रयास किया। उन्होंने श्रीलंका, म्यांमार, नेपाल, थाईलैंड एवं वियतनाम जैसे बौद्ध देशों के साथ सांस्कृतिक एवं शैक्षिक संबंध स्थापित कर वैश्विक धम्म-संवाद को सुदृढ़ किया। उनके नेतृत्व में आयोजित अंतरराष्ट्रीय संगोष्ठियों, धम्म-चर्चाओं तथा सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों ने बौद्ध अध्ययन को नई दिशा प्रदान की।
चिकित्सक एवं शिक्षाविद् होने के कारण उन्होंने करुणा को व्यवहारिक जीवन का आधार बनाया तथा स्वास्थ्य सेवा, महिला सशक्तिकरण और वंचित वर्गों के कल्याण को बौद्ध मानवतावाद से जोड़ने का प्रयास किया। इस प्रकार उनका योगदान केवल बौद्ध धर्म के प्रचार तक सीमित नहीं रहा, बल्कि उन्होंने बौद्ध धम्म को समकालीन समाज की आवश्यकताओं के अनुरूप पुनर्स्थापित करने का कार्य किया। प्रस्तुत शोध-पत्र में उनके बहुआयामी योगदान का विश्लेषण करते हुए बौद्ध धम्म के प्रसार एवं सांस्कृतिक पुनर्जागरण में उनकी भूमिका का मूल्यांकन किया गया है।

Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO) operations are often constrained by poor road infrastructure, high transportation costs, security risks in the Niger Delta, delays in the delivery of equipment, and bottlenecks in crude evacuation. The main objective of the study was to ascertain the influence of logistics management on the performance of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO). Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted in the study and yhe population of the study was 46 management staff of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO). The study adopts the census technique by making use of the total population of 46 as the sample size because the population is sizeable for the researcher to handle. Findings showed that the two independent variables (transport management and inventory control have a significant positive influence on the performance of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO). It was recommended that SEEPCO should Optimize Fleet Utilization by conduct regular assessments of vehicle usage, route efficiency, fleet management software to monitor vehicle location, fuel consumption, maintenance schedules, reduce idle time and prevent underutilization of transport resources.

This study examined the prevalence, severity, and predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among 1,156 disaster survivors across five Indian states. Using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013), the study found a mean PTSD score of 30.8 (SD = 15.7), with 30.1% of survivors meeting criteria for severe PTSD. Significant regional, demographic, and disaster-related variations were identified. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that resilience (β = −0.54), loss severity (β = 0.18), and maladaptive coping (β = 0.16) collectively explained 53.6% of PTSD variance. These findings underscore the urgent need for region-sensitive, trauma-informed mental health interventions in post-disaster recovery frameworks.

Windenergy, despitebeingone of thefastest-growing technologies among renewable energy sources, contains significant uncertainties in production forecasting dueto itsvariable naturedependent on atmosphericconditions. Reducingtheseuncertainties has made it necessary to developaccurateforecastingmodels in terms of energyproductionplanning, gridoperation, management of energystoragesystems, and the efficient functioning of electricitymarkets. Inrecentyears, machinelearning algorithm shave started to be widelyused in wind energy fore casting studies due to their ability to model nonlinear relationshipsandlearnfromlargevolumes of data. However, comprehensiveevaluationsregardingwhichalgorithmsaremoresuccessful in terms of different data structures, forecastinghorizons, andperformancemetricsarelimited. Theaim of thisstudy is toevaluatethemachine learningalgorithmsused in windenergyforecastingthrough a systematicliteraturereviewapproachand to comparatively analysethepredictionaccuracyandperformancecharacteristics of thealgorithms. Inthiscontext, nationalandinternationalstudiesthathaveundergonepeerreviewwereexamined; SupportVectorRegression (SVR), DecisionTrees, RandomForest, XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost, ArtificialNeural Networks (ANN), LongShort-Term Memory (LSTM), ConvolutionalNeural Networks (CNN), andhybridmachinelearningmodelswerecompared in terms of performance, computationalcost, data requirements, interpretability, andgeneralisability. Additionally, theroles of performancemetricscommonlyused in theliterature, such as RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and R², in algorithm evaluations havebeen addressed. Thereviewresultsshowthat a singlemachinelearningalgorithmdoes not providethebest performance for all datasetsandallpredictionscenarios. It has been determinedthatthesuccess of thealgorithmdepends on manyfactorssuch as data quality, sample size, diversity of meteorologicalvariables, data preprocessingtechniques, featureselection, andhyperpara meteroptimisation. Especially, it has been observed thatensemblelearningmethodsanddeeplearning-basedhybridmodelsprovidehighprediction accuracy; however, they introduce new challenges in terms of computationalcostandinterpretability. Theliteraturealsoidentifiesrisingresearchtrends in thefield of windenergyforecasting, such as explainableartificialintelligence, automatedmachinelearning, digitaltwintechnologies, andphysics-informed artificial intelligence approaches. Inconclusion, thisstudy not onlyintroduces themachinelearning algorithms used in windenergyforecasting but alsoprovides a comprehensive evaluationfor researchers andpractitionersby critically comparingtheir performancesandapplicationareas. Additionally, it identifiesresearchgaps in theexistingliterature, proposing a scientificroadmapforfuturestudies.

This study examined the influence of board governance on financial reporting integrity among listed insurance firms in Nigeria, with specific objectives of determining the influence of board size and board independence on financial reporting integrity measured by accrual earnings management. The study adopted an ex post facto research design and covered a population of fifteen listed insurance firms in Nigeria, from which ten firms were purposively selected based on the availability and completeness of their annual reports for the period 2015 to 2024. Secondary data were collected from the audited annual reports and financial statements of the sampled firms, while the hypotheses were tested using Panel Estimated Generalized Least Squares with Cross Section Seemingly Unrelated Regression after conducting relevant diagnostic tests at a 5 percent level of significance. The findings revealed that: board size had a positive and significant effect on the financial reporting integrity of listed insurance firms in Nigeria by reducing accrual earnings management (β = −0.051990, p = 0.0000); board independence had a positive and significant effect on the financial reporting integrity of listed insurance firms in Nigeria by reducing accrual earnings management (β = −0.388944, p = 0.0000). The study concluded that effective board governance, through appropriate board size and greater board independence, reduced accrual earnings management and strengthened the integrity of financial reporting among listed insurance firms in Nigeria. The study recommended that the boards of listed insurance firms should maintain an appropriate board size and increase the proportion of independent directors to strengthen oversight functions and improve the integrity of financial reporting.

This study proposed a new extension of perks distribution by adding one shape and one scale parameter to the perk’s distribution using the exponential G-family proposed by Bourguignon (2014). This study has derived some expressions for its basic statistical properties such asmoments, moment generating function, the characteristics function, reliability analysis, quantile function and the distribution of order statistics. Some plots of the distribution and the reliability function were generated and interpreted appropriately. The model parameters have beenestimated using the method of maximum likelihood estimation. The performance of the model has also been tested by simulateddata. The distribution compared to some existinggeneralizations ofthe Perks distribution.The likelihood approach is used to estimate the parameters. The efficiency and consistency of these estimators are validated by Monte Carlo simulation analysis, which shows that bias, variance, and root mean squareerror (RMSE) all decline with increasing sample sizes. Applying the EPD to areal-worlddataset; the daily COVID-19-related mortality in China, validates its applicability.According to Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics, the Bayesian Information Criterion(BIC), the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and other well-knowncompetingmodels, the EPD exhibits better goodness-of-fit in both situations. The findingsdemonstrate that the EPD is a reliable and adaptable technique for modelingpositively skewed lifetime and survival data, with special potential for use inreliability analysis, medical research, and epidemiology.

Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors are widely utilized in various applications due to their high efficiency, low maintenance, and robust performance. Achieving optimal control of BLDC motors, however, is a complex task due to their nonlinear dynamics, parameter uncertainties, and operating conditions. Traditional control strategies like PID often fail to deliver the desired performance across all operating conditions. Soft computing optimization techniques, such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Fuzzy Logic (FL), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), have been proposed to address these challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the application of soft computing techniques for the optimal control of BLDC motors. We provide a detailed analysis of various optimization methods, their advantages, limitations, and specific applications in BLDC motor control. The review highlights the significant improvements in performance achieved through these methods and offers insight into future research directions.

This mixed-method comparative study employed surveys and semi-structured interviews to identify differences in work attitudes, specifically punctuality, initiative, accountability, and motivation between public sector and private sector employees in Ghana. Drawing upon Social Constructionism (Berger & Luckmann, 1966) and Ubuntu Philosophy (Gyekye, 1997), the study surveyed 240 employees (120 public sector, 120 private sector) across Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi using a adapted Work Ethic Questionnaire measuring punctuality, initiative, accountability, and motivation, followed by semi-structured interviews with 24 participants (12 from each sector) to explore the lived experiences and contextual factors shaping reported attitudes. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests; qualitative data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Six overarching themes emerged from the integrated analysis: punctuality as performance versus principle, with public sector employees reporting punctuality as externally motivated (fear of sanction) and private sector employees as internally motivated (self-discipline); initiative as permitted versus required, with public sector employees describing initiative as sometimes unwelcome and private sector employees describing it as expected for survival; accountability as vertical versus horizontal, with public sector employees oriented toward supervisor approval and private sector employees oriented toward market forces and peer accountability; motivation as security-driven versus opportunity-driven, with public sector employees valuing job stability and private sector employees valuing advancement potential; the systemic constraint narrative among public sector employees who expressed desire to work hard but described bureaucratic barriers; and the survival pressure narrative among private sector employees who described hard work as necessity rather than choice. Quantitative results showed statistically significant differences between sectors on all four dimensions, with private sector employees scoring higher on initiative (t = 4.82, p

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a structured core-strengthening exercise programme on the spiking ability of district-level volleyball players. Fifteen volleyball spikers aged 15–20 years from the Srinagar district of Kashmir were selected as subjects through purposive sampling. The study employed a single-group pre-test and post-test experimental design. Core strength and endurance were assessed using the Plank Hold Test and Sit-Up Test, while spiking ability was evaluated through a customized Volleyball Spiking Accuracy Test. Following the pre-test assessment, the participants underwent a structured core-strengthening exercise programme designed to improve trunk stability, muscular endurance, and overall core function. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and paired-samples t-tests at a 0.05 level of significance through JAMOVI software. The results revealed significant improvements in core strength variables. Sit-up performance increased significantly from a mean score of 27.87 to 30.67 repetitions (t = -6.089, p < .001), while plank hold duration improved from 71.53 seconds to 76.13 seconds (t = -5.901, p < .001). Spiking accuracy also increased from a mean score of 22.60 to 24.40; however, the improvement was not statistically significant (t = -1.79, p = .095). The findings indicate that core-strengthening exercises are highly effective in enhancing core muscular strength and endurance among volleyball players. Although improvements in spiking accuracy were observed, they did not reach statistical significance, suggesting that technical volleyball skills require integrating sport-specific practice with physical conditioning. The study concludes that core-strengthening exercises provide an important physical foundation for volleyball performance and should be incorporated into comprehensive training programmes aimed at improving athletic performance and reducing injury risk.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Suryanamaskar practice on selected physical fitness variables among male district-level (Bandipora) volleyball players of Kashmir. Fifteen male volleyball players aged between 15 and 20 years were selected through simple random sampling. The study employed a single-group pre-test and post-test research design. The selected participants underwent a structured Suryanamaskar training programme for six weeks, five days per week, with each session lasting 30–45 minutes. The dependent variables selected for the study were speed, agility, and flexibility. Speed was measured using the 50-Meter Dash Test, agility through the Shuttle Run Test, and flexibility through the Sit-and-Reach Test. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were computed, while a dependent-samples t-test was used to determine the significance of differences between pre-test and post-test scores at the 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed a significant improvement in agility (t = 3.25, p < 0.05) and flexibility (t = 7.95, p < 0.05) following the Suryanamaskar intervention. However, the improvement in speed was not statistically significant (t = 0.46, p > 0.05). The findings indicate that regular Suryanamaskar practice effectively enhances agility and flexibility among volleyball players but has limited influence on speed performance. Therefore, Suryanamaskar may be incorporated as a supplementary training modality in volleyball conditioning programmes to improve selected components of physical fitness. The study concludes that traditional yogic practices can serve as cost-effective and scientifically supported methods for enhancing athletic performance and physical fitness.

Autonomous multi-UAV systems are increasingly deployed in applications such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and smart city management, where dynamic and uncer-tain environments pose significant operational challenges. In such situations, UAVs have to cope with geospatial risks, establish reliable communication links, and strictly enforce con-straints on energy and latency requirements. Conventional strategies usually tackle these chal-lenges individually, making it hard to ensure feasible mission performance in uncertain envi-ronmental settings. To address this research gap, this paper proposes a feasibility-aware co-design framework that integrates geospatial risk-aware path planning, reconfigurable intelli-gent surface (RIS)-assisted wireless communication, and adaptive multi-agent decision-making within a unified control system. In contrast, the novel strategy utilizes risk-oriented geospatial planning, designs efficient phase configurations for RISs to improve communica-tion conditions in the presence of uncertainties, and enforces constraints on energy and laten-cy through a dual-primal control architecture. Moreover, a multi-agent reinforcement learning scheme helps make adaptive decisions for such a system without the need for manual repa-rameterization. Simulations in stochastic channel conditions and dynamic obstacle environ-ments demonstrate that the framework improves spectral efficiency by approximately 30% compared to non-RIS baselines and reduces energy consumption by over 20% relative to non-geospatial strategies.The framework achieves high feasibility across all simulated scenarios. These results demonstrate the applicability of integrating geospatial planning, communication management, and feasibility control in multi-UAV missions. The proposed framework pro-vides a scalable foundation for future autonomous UAV systems, enabling energy-efficient, reliable, and safe operation in complex real-world environments.

Women are the most integral, important and influential gender of the society. As our former Prime Minister and a great educationalist Dr.SarvepallyRadha Krishnan once said that “ If a man is educated only one person is educated but if a woman is educated, it is equal to educating a whole university.” This single sentence has in it all the underlying facts about the importance of women to be educated. At the same time it also reveals that women play an important role in influencing and also creating an impact on the people in the family and society at large. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is a ministry in the Government of India, which is an apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India. Most of the women from the rural and urban area avail Creches services and manufacture handicrafts by spinning and weaving etc. This helps them to provide employment to the women staying nearby which in turn increases the economy of the people and also GDP of the country. India has 63 million micro, small and medium enterprises of which women employing 22 to 27 own 20% million people. India is also ranked 57th among 65 countries in the Master card index of women entrepreneurs12 (MIWE, 2021)
This article highlights that women have proved themselves in various fields and also started many small scale units, but at the same time society needs to understand that they are the most important and influential part of family and society. Hence, they need to make themselves perfect and updated according to the changing times for a prosperous and better society.

This qualitative study employed focus group methodology to explore how Ghanaian employees perceive, describe, and evaluate the work ethic of their colleagues within their own employment settings, revealing the cultural norms, implicit standards, and underlying tensions that shape peer assessment of workplace diligence. Drawing upon Social Constructionism (Berger & Luckmann, 1966) and Ubuntu Philosophy (Gyekye, 1997), the study conducted six focus group sessions with 40 participants drawn from public sector institutions, private Ghanaian-owned enterprises, and multinational corporations operating in Accra and Kumasi. Focus group discussions were guided by open-ended prompts designed to elicit participants' descriptions of colleagues they considered to have a strong work ethic, colleagues they considered to have a weak work ethic, the specific behaviors and character traits that distinguished these evaluations, and the tensions that arise when peer expectations conflict with organizational demands or individual preferences. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Six overarching themes emerged from the data: punctuality and presence as the most visible and frequently cited marker of peer work ethic; initiative and discretionary effort as the distinguishing feature between minimally adequate and genuinely diligent colleagues; relational work values as an essential but contested component of peer evaluation; the tolerance spectrum as an implicit framework for evaluating colleagues who violate norms; envy and peer surveillance as tensions emerging from within-group work ethic comparisons; and the hypocrisy contradiction as the most frequently cited source of workplace demoralization. Participants' narratives revealed that peer evaluation of work ethic is a constant, informal, and emotionally consequential process in Ghanaian workplaces. Colleagues are continuously observed, compared, and discussed, with evaluations based on a complex set of criteria that include punctuality, visible busyness, willingness to help, reliability, and the perceived authenticity of effort. Significant tensions emerged between the desire for collective success and resentment of colleagues who exploit group goodwill; between Ubuntu relational values that discourage confrontation and the frustration generated by persistent free-riding; and between organizational demands for individual performance and peer expectations of mutual support. The study contributes to understanding of workplace dynamics in Ghanaian organizations by illuminating the informal evaluative culture through which colleagues shape each other's work behavior, offering insights relevant to team management, performance systems, and organizational culture development.

Amid the vast civilizational mosaic of India, Odisha emerges as a luminous repository of memory, imagination, and indigenous wisdom, where the echoes of the past continue to resonate through literature, ritual, folklore, and collective consciousness. Far from being confined to the annals of history, Odia civilization embodies a living continuum of knowledge in which cultural memory is incessantly preserved, negotiated, and rearticulated across generations.

Situated within the intellectual frameworks of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), cultural memory studies, and decolonial epistemology, this chapter explores the enduring vitality of Odia civilizational consciousness through the lens of autochthonous epistemologies. Employing the metaphor of the palimpsest, it conceptualizes Odia civilization as a multilayered archive where successive inscriptions of myth, spirituality, literary imagination, and social experience coexist in dynamic dialogue.

Particular attention is devoted to the literary and cultural contributions of Sarala Das, Jagannath Das, UpendraBhanja, GangadharMeher, and Fakir Mohan Senapati, whose works function as enduring repositories of ethical reflection, ecological sensibility, social consciousness, and collective remembrance.

The chapter argues that Odia civilization offers a distinctive paradigm of cultural sustainability rooted in relationality, ecological reciprocity, spiritual humanism, and civilizational continuity. Ultimately, this study contends that Odia civilizational memory is not merely a residue of the past but a dynamic and regenerative intellectual resource whose reverberations continue to illuminate pathways toward cultural resilience, sustainable futures, and a more pluralistic understanding of human knowledge.

Liposomes have revolutionized the field of pharmaceutics by providing a versatile platform for the delivery of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. This review explores the structural components of liposomes, primarily phospholipids and cholesterol, and their role in enhancing drug stability and bioavailability. We discuss various preparation methods, from traditional thin-film hydration to modern microfluidic techniques. Furthermore, the review highlights the transition from conventional liposomes to "smart" delivery systems, including PEGylated (stealth) and ligand-targeted vesicles, and concludes with an overview of FDA-approved liposomal products and future market trends.

Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) has become a fundamental component of modern drug discovery by accelerating the identification, optimization, and development of novel therapeutic agents while reducing both time and cost. The integration of computational techniques with experimental research has significantly improved the efficiency of lead identification and optimization, enabling researchers to predict molecular interactions, pharmacokinetic properties, and toxicity profiles before laboratory testing. CADD encompasses two principal approaches: structure-based drug design (SBDD), which utilizes the three-dimensional structure of biological targets, and ligand-based drug design (LBDD), which relies on the structural and biological information of known active compounds. Emerging tools such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modeling, pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven algorithms have revolutionized the drug discovery process by enhancing predictive accuracy and facilitating the identification of promising drug candidates. In addition, advances in machine learning, deep learning, cloud computing, and big data analytics have enabled the rapid analysis of large chemical libraries and complex biological datasets, supporting precision medicine and personalized therapeutic strategies. These technologies have played a significant role in the discovery of treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, and metabolic conditions. Despite remarkable progress, challenges such as limited structural data, computational complexity, prediction reliability, and model interpretability remain important considerations. Continuous improvements in computational power, algorithm development, and multidisciplinary collaboration are expected to overcome these limitations and further strengthen the impact of CADD. This review highlights the emerging computational tools, recent technological advancements, diverse applications, and future prospects of CADD, emphasizing its transformative role in improving the speed, efficiency, and success rate of modern drug discovery and pharmaceutical research.

This conceptual research paper examines the transforming role of Customer Experience Management (CXM) in the digital era, emphasising the emergence of augmented reality (AR) as a pivotal instrument for improving consumer interactions in both online and physical settings. It contends that AR provides businesses with an innovative approach to integrate digital and real-world experiences, fostering immersive, personalised, and engaging customer journeys that can substantially elevate customer satisfaction and loyalty. The paper commences by delineating the theoretical underpinnings of Customer Experience Management (CXM), highlighting its evolution from a transactional to an experiential paradigm in recent years, driven by advancements in digital technology and shifting consumer expectations. Companies are now striving to provide seamless, multi-channel experiences that emotionally engage their customers. Augmented Reality (AR), as a form of immersive technology, is proposed to be pivotal in this transition, especially within the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors, where the creation of memorable experiences can yield competitive advantages. drawing on recent studies, the paper explores how AR applications, such as virtual try-ons, interactive product visualizations, and location-based AR marketing, are reshaping customer engagement by enabling consumers to interact with products and services in highly personalized, realistic environments, and it is argued that these interactions help build stronger emotional connections between brands and customers, fostering greater loyalty and higher customer lifetime value; the theoretical discussion is complemented by an analysis of the key technological and psychological factors driving the adoption of AR in CXM, including advancements in mobile technology, the decreasing cost of AR tools, and the growing consumer demand for more interactive and immersive shopping experiences; the paper also highlights potential challenges in AR-driven CXM, such as privacy concerns, technological limitations, and the need for businesses to strike a balance between creating value-adding experiences and overloading customers with technological gimmicks, concluding that while AR represents a significant opportunity for enhancing CXM, its success will ultimately depend on how effectively companies can integrate it into a holistic, customer-centric experience strategy.This conceptual research paper delves into the evolving role of Customer Experience Management (CXM) in the digital age, focusing on how augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing consumer interactions across online and physical environments, and it argues that AR offers businesses a novel means of bridging digital and real-world experiences, creating immersive, personalized, and engaging customer journeys that can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty; the paper begins by outlining the theoretical foundations of CXM, emphasizing its shift from a transactional to an experiential focus in recent years due to advancements in digital technology and changing consumer expectations, with companies now seeking to deliver seamless, multi-channel experiences that resonate emotionally with their customers, and AR, as a form of immersive technology, is posited to be at the forefront of this transition, particularly in retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors where creating memorable experiences can lead to competitive advantages; drawing on recent studies, the paper explores how AR applications, such as virtual try-ons, interactive product visualizations, and location-based AR marketing, are reshaping customer engagement by enabling consumers to interact with products and services in highly personalized, realistic environments, and it is argued that these interactions help build stronger emotional connections between brands and customers, fostering greater loyalty and higher customer lifetime value; the theoretical discussion is complemented by an analysis of the key technological and psychological factors driving the adoption of AR in CXM, including advancements in mobile technology, the decreasing cost of AR tools, and the growing consumer demand for more interactive and immersive shopping experiences; the paper also highlights potential challenges in AR-driven CXM, such as privacy concerns, technological limitations, and the need for businesses to strike a balance between creating value-adding experiences and overloading customers with technological gimmicks, concluding that while AR represents a significant opportunity for enhancing CXM, its success will ultimately depend on how effectively companies can integrate it into a holistic, customer-centric experience strategy.

As India strides toward its ambitious vision of Vikasit Bharath 2047, capacity building and skill development emerge as pivotal enablers of inclusive economic growth and social transformation. This conceptual and exploratory manuscript unpacks the multi-dimensional framework of capacity building and skill enhancement, emphasizing its strategic role in shaping a competent workforce aligned with the evolving demands of the Accounting and Finance (A&F) Sectors. Unlike empirical studies that foreground quantitative analyses, this paper employs a theoretical lens to critically explore the foundational concepts and dynamic interplay between individual competencies, organizational capabilities, and systemic skill ecosystems.
The manuscript delineates capacity building as an integrative process encompassing knowledge acquisition, skill enhancement, attitudinal shifts, and institutional strengthening. It further underscores how capacity development transcends technical training to include fostering critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and adaptability—competencies indispensable in the contemporary finance and accounting landscape marked by digitization, regulatory complexity, and sustainability imperatives.
Skill development is analyzed not merely as workforce upskilling but as a strategic investment in human capital that catalyzes innovation, productivity, and resilience. The study explores emerging paradigms such as lifelong learning, industry-academia collaboration, and technology-enabled training methodologies, including AI-driven personalized learning and virtual skill labs. The significance of policy frameworks, public-private partnerships, and tailored programs for marginalized and underserved populations is foregrounded to ensure equitable access and capacity inclusiveness.
Crucially, this manuscript positions capacity building and skill development as foundational to realizing the broader goals of Vikasit Bharath 2047—economic prosperity intertwined with social justice and environmental stewardship. It calls for an integrated model where accounting and finance professionals are empowered not only with technical proficiency but also with visionary leadership and ethical accountability, enabling them to contribute effectively to national development and global competitiveness.
By constructing a conceptual scaffold and identifying key thematic priorities and challenges, this exploratory treatise provides a roadmap for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders to synergize efforts and innovate frameworks for holistic capacity enhancement. The insights presented aim to ignite further academic inquiry and practical action towards building a future-ready, skilled India that champions sustainable progress and inclusive development.

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Accounting and Finance (A&F)has sparked transformative changes in the way financial services are provided, with the potential to revolutionize the sector. This exploratory Paper seeks to examine the role AI is playing in shaping the future of A&F by investigating its applications, benefits, challenges, and long-term implications. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of how AI is poised to impact key areas such as financial reporting, auditing, risk management, fraud detection, and financial forecasting. By synthesizing available literature, expert opinions, and industry reports, it explores the extent to which AI has already influenced the financial landscape and what future trends can be anticipated. The outcomes of this Paper suggest that AI is enabling greater accuracy, efficiency, and scalability in financial operations. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering a comprehensive review of AI's evolving applications within the accounting and finance sectors. However, the Paper acknowledges several limitations, notably the absence of empirical data on the widespread adoption of AI in A&F. The implications of AI's growing influence in accounting and finance are profound. On one hand, AI offers the potential to reduce costs, improve service delivery, and streamline compliance with regulatory requirements and there are concerns about job displacement, ethical considerations, and data privacy. The Paper’s novelty lies in its exploratory approach, offering a forward-looking perspective on AI's future in A&F. While existing research often focuses on the current applications of AI, this paper takes a holistic view of AI’s trajectory, examining its potential long-term implications and the strategies required for successful implementation. By highlighting both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI adoption, this Paper provides a balanced perspective that can guide future research and practical applications in the field.

This paper investigates into the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards strengthening accuracy and decision-making in financial analysis and prediction. The comparison made on four distinct models of prediction: ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) Random Forest(RF). Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) brings to light the predictions like stock prices, inflation rate, and interest rates. Performance criteria were set through upper-hand that AI models have when contrasted with the traditional approach to financial indicators as well as several factors in terms of decision such as speed and decision confidence risk. Results and analysıs indicate how the Al-powered models, and 1n this regard the MAE, RMSE, accuracy models which utilized LSTM algorithm provide a very superior accuracy over forecasting, allow quicker decisions compared to traditional ones, and perform much better for predicting risks relate to any finance. This research underscores the immense potential of AI to optimize financial Strategy reduce risks, and enable more effective decision-making in real-time financial markets.

The intention of this article is to analyze the planet Saturn and its rings from a geophysical and geological perspective, examining how this affects gravity, as compared to planet Earth. It will also explore how this affects, and could affect, the distortion of spacetime, how the graviton particle and the Coriolis force would be studied, and the inferences that exist today about the planet Saturn and its rings.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the accumulation of α-synuclein-containing Lewy bodies. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide and represents a significant healthcare burden due to its increasing prevalence in aging populations. Despite substantial advances in symptomatic management, no definitive cure or disease-modifying therapy is currently available. Recent research has focused on understanding the complex molecular mechanisms underlying PD, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, protein misfolding, and genetic susceptibility. Emerging diagnostic approaches involving biomarkers, neuroimaging techniques, and artificial intelligence-based tools are improving the accuracy of early disease detection. Furthermore, innovative therapeutic strategies such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, neuroprotective agents, immunotherapy targeting α-synuclein, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are being actively investigated. This review highlights the current trends in Parkinson’s disease research, emphasizing recent scientific breakthroughs in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Additionally, it discusses future directions and challenges in translating these advances into effective clinical interventions. Continued multidisciplinary research efforts are essential for developing personalized and disease-modifying therapies that can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Facial skin aging involves a combination of deep structural laxity and superficial pigment or vascular changes. Radiofrequency (RF) and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are popular non-invasive treatments, but clinicians often debate their individual benefits when used alone. This prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study directly evaluated the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of standalone RF versus standalone IPL for full-face aesthetic rejuvenation.
Materials and Methods
Sixty healthy female subjects (aged 35–60, Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I–IV, Glogau scale II–III) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into two parallel groups (30 subjects each). Group A received 4 bi-weekly full-face treatments of non-ablative bipolar RF. Group B received 4 bi-weekly full-face treatments of IPL using custom wavelength filters (515–590 nm). Objective digital skin tracking (wrinkle depth, brown spots, red areas), blinded investigator assessments (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale [GAIS]), and patient satisfaction/pain scores (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]) were documented at baseline, Week 8, and Week 24.