Volume 14 | Issue 4 |

 Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) have traditionally been associated with younger populations, but recent evidence indicates that they are increasingly prevalent among middle-aged and older adults, affecting both men and women. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, gender differences, and psychological correlates of EDs in adults aged 40 and above. A quantitative, cross-sectional, comparative research design was used, with 120 participants (60 males and 60 females) selected through purposive sampling. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess eating disorder symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and depression, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson correlation. Results indicated that females scored significantly higher than males on eating disorder symptoms, t(118) = 4.87, p < .001, body dissatisfaction, t(118) = 6.12, p < .001, and depression, t(118) = 5.03, p < .001. A strong positive correlation was observed between eating disorder symptoms and depression (r = .62, p < .01). The findings emphasize that eating disorders persist into middle and old age, with females showing greater vulnerability, and underscore the need for age-sensitive screening, gender-inclusive assessment tools, and integrated treatment approaches.

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 Keywords

Keywords: eating disorders, gender differences, body dissatisfaction, depression, middle and old age

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This study focuses on the development and characterization of herbal-based cosmeceutical formulations, including a sunscreen and a peel-off face mask. Continuous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation leads to skin damage, premature ageing, and increased risk of skin cancer. Conventional synthetic products often contain harmful chemicals such as parabens and oxybenzone, which may cause adverse effects. Therefore, the present study aims to develop eco-friendly and skin-compatible alternatives using plant-based ingredients. Selaginella bryopteris was utilized for the preparation of an herbal sunscreen incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) via green synthesis, while Bougainvillaea glabra and orange-peel extracts were used to formulate a peel-off mask. The formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity, and sun protection factor (SPF). The sunscreen exhibited a high SPF value of 48-50, indicating effective UV protection. Both formulations demonstrated good stability, spreadability, and non-irritant properties. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids, contributing to antioxidant activity. The study concludes that these herbal formulations are safe, effective, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to synthetic cosmetic products, with significant potential for cosmeceutical applications.

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 Keywords

Selaginella bryopteris, Bougainvillaea glabra, herbal sunscreen, peel-off face mask, zinc oxide nanoparticles, green synthesis, sun protection factor, cosmeceuticals.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The intricate relationship between religious practices and traditional medicine has long shaped the cultural and healthcare landscapes of rural India. This study documents 55 plant species commonly used in religious ceremonies within the Narmadapuram region of Madhya Pradesh, highlighting their profound ethnomedicinal significance. These plants, belonging to diverse taxonomic families such as Fabaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae, and Moraceae, are deeply integrated into ritualistic practices associated with major deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, and Ganesh. Our ethnobotanical data reveals that these species serve a dual purpose--spiritual reverence and therapeutic application--addressing a wide spectrum of ailments, from digestive disorders and skin diseases to respiratory and gynecological issues. Ultimately, this study underscores the urgent need to conserve traditional knowledge systems and promote the sustainable utilization of these invaluable plant resources.

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 Keywords

Ethnobotany, Religious plants, Narmadapuram, Medicinal plants, Traditional knowledge

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This quantitative study investigates the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on the psychological well-being of married working women employed in public sector insurance companies in Kolkata. Women today face dual responsibilities of professional careers and intensive family obligations, often resulting in stress, role conflict, and reduced well-being. Drawing on existing literature, the study highlights how factors such as role overload, emotional intelligence, flexible work arrangements, and childcare facilities influence WLB outcomes. Findings from prior research consistently show that imbalance leads to stress, diminished job satisfaction, and health issues, whereas supportive organizational policies and family structures enhance engagement and well-being. By focusing on employees of five major insurance companies--LIC, NICL, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, and United India Insurance--this research aims to identify determinants of WLB and propose strategies to strengthen psychological well-being among married working women in India's public insurance sector.

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 Keywords

Work-Life Balance (WLB) - Psychological Well-being - Married Working Women - Role Conflict - Stress Management - Public Sector Insurance Companies - Employee Engagement - Organizational Policies - Gender Roles - Dual-Career Families

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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An Intelligent Campus Placement Portal that predicts each student's placement probability and recommends targeted improvements to increase chances of selection. The system centralizes student, company, and placement records while offering dashboards for students, faculty, and administrators. Using academic scores, aptitude and programming test results, skills, and historical placement data, the portal computes a confidence score for likely companies and highlights specific skill or aptitude gaps with prioritized, actionable suggestions. Faculty gain visualization tools to analyze placement trends, monitor cohort readiness, and run targeted interventions. The portal is web-based, cloud-deployable, and designed for real-world integration with college workflows .

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 Keywords

: XG Boost, NLP, Random Forest, Vote Classifier,Javascript

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Abstract

Education has always been a cornerstone of human civilization, shaping societies and fostering intellectual and moral development. Across the world, ancient civilizations established unique systems of learning to promote knowledge and societal progress. In India, the indigenous Gurukul system served as an exemplary model of holistic education, emphasizing not only academic learning but also character building, discipline, and the cultivation of values. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 represents a significant paradigm shift in India's educational landscape by integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into mainstream curricula. This inclusion reflects a growing recognition of the relevance of traditional wisdom in enhancing modern pedagogy and fostering a more contextually grounded education. In the ancient Gurukul system, teachers, revered as Gurus, played a selfless and transformative role in imparting knowledge that encompassed intellectual, theoretical, practical, and moral dimensions. Education extended beyond mere academic learning to include subjects such as philosophy, science, art, and warfare, ensuring the all-round development of the learner. This paper examines the Gurukul system's principles and practices and explores their adaptation for modern classrooms to create holistic, meaningful, and culturally grounded learning experiences. By bridging ancient wisdom with modern innovation, education can remain both meaningful and future-oriented.

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 Keywords

Ancient Indian Education, Holistic Learning, Value-based Education, Experiential Learning, Indian Knowledge System

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Growing environmental concerns and increasing awareness of sustainable tourism have significantly influenced the hospitality industry worldwide. However, the adoption of green practices in developing regions, such as Punjab, India, remains limited because of uncertain consumer acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP). This study aimed to model tourist choice behavior for green hotel attributes using a choice experiment (CE) approach and multinomial logit (MNL) model, focusing on Patiala, Punjab. Primary data were simulated based on realistic demographic and behavioral distributions reflecting urban Punjab's tourism patterns (N = 420 respondents). This study evaluated key attributes, including room quality, personal toiletries, service quality, environmental cooperation, green measures, and price. Additionally, latent constructs such as environmental attitude and green consumer behavior were incorporated to capture heterogeneity. The findings reveal that while tourists prefer higher service quality and convenience (e.g., provision of toiletries), they demonstrate a limited willingness to compromise comfort for environmental practices unless compensated. The estimated marginal willingness to pay indicates a premium for luxury and convenience attributes but a discount requirement for participating in eco-friendly behaviors. This study contributes to the literature by extending the CE framework to the Indian context and providing actionable insights for policymakers and hotel managers in emerging markets. This highlights the need for incentive-based green strategies and targeted segmentation to promote sustainable tourism.

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 Keywords

Green hotels, Willingness to pay, Choice experiment, Service quality, Sus- tainability, Consumer behavior

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Keywords: - Adolescent health, Reproductive health education, Self-instructional module, Rural health, Knowledge enhancement.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Digital marketing has become an important tool for communication, product promotion, customer engagement, and business growth. In India, digital technology is expanding rapidly through smartphones, internet services, and digital payment systems. However, many rural areas are still unable to use digital tools effectively for business purposes. Rural Akola is also facing a similar situation.

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 Keywords

Digital Marketing, Rural Akola, Adoption, Awareness, Farmers, Youth, Rural Development.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The Bharat Stage 6.2 automotive emission norms draw attention to exploring alternative fuels like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which offers cleaner combustion and reduced emissions. However, maintaining the BS 6.2 emission compliance levels requires a fine balance between combustion stability and after-treatment performance. The purpose of this review is to systematically analyze previous research related to the influence of air-fuel ratio on engine performance, emission formation, and catalyst conversion efficiency in spark-ignition CNG engines. The review spans from early experimental works in the 2000s to recent studies incorporating advanced control strategies, catalyst optimization, and BS VI calibration technologies. Several studies have analyzed ?, but most either focus only on combustion or only on catalyst performance, or often use single-cylinder test engines or older measurement techniques. Very few studies combine ? variation, multi-cylinder engines, and BS 6.2-compliant emission testing. This review summarizes key findings from existing research, trends, identifies technological progress, discusses research gaps that remain unexplored, and highlights the need for integrated studies that link ?, engine combustion, and catalyst efficiency for modern CNG engines.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

CNG engine, Air-Fuel Ratio (?), NOx, Methane Slip, Three-Way Catalyst (TWC), ECU Calibration, air-fuel ratio, BS 6.2, emissions.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition