Volume 13 | Issue 9 |

 Abstract

This research investigates the development of low-grade geopolymer concrete (GPC) using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a complete replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), focusing on compressive and splitting tensile strength. Three nominal grades--M15, M20, and M25--were prepared using alkaline activation with sodium hydroxide (8M) and sodium silicate in a 2.5:1 ratio. The mixes were cured under ambient conditions, eliminating the need for external heat or steam curing, and their mechanical behavior was assessed at 7, 14, and 28 days. The M25 mix achieved the highest compressive strength of 33.64 MPa at 28 days, followed by M20 at 28.35 MPa and M15 at 23.87 MPa, while in terms of tensile strength, M25 also performed best with a splitting tensile value of 3.12 MPa, followed by M20 with 2.76 MPa and M15 with 2.43 MPa at 28 days. Strength gain increased gradually over time across all mixes, confirming the pozzolanic and long-term hydration effects of GGBS. These results demonstrate that GGBS-based low-grade geopolymer concrete exhibits sufficient strength characteristics for structural applications and offers a sustainable alternative to conventional OPC concrete, confirming that replacing cement entirely with GGBS is feasible without compromising mechanical integrity. Additionally, this approach significantly contributes to reducing CO? emissions and promoting eco-friendly construction, setting a foundation for large-scale adoption of GGBS-based GPC in civil infrastructure.

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 Keywords

Low-Grade Geopolymer Concrete, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, Ordinary Portland Cement, tensile strength, and sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Effective and systematic prioritization of functional requirements is critical and crucial for successful software development, especially in complex projects. Most traditional methods often overlook the linguistic nuances of requirement specifications, such as modal verbs, which convey varying levels of priority. This study explores the integration of modal verb analysis with machine learning classifiers to automate the prioritization process. Functional requirements are classified into High, Medium, and Low priority levels based on the presence of modal verbs such as must, will, should, would, may, can, might. Using a dataset of 375 requirement descriptions from 25 different projects, we employed TF-IDF vectorization for feature extraction and evaluated various classifiers including Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, and Linear SVM. Linear SVM emerged as the best-performing model, achieving 96% accuracy with superior precision, recall, and F1-score metrics. This work demonstrates the potential of Natural Language Processing features and Machine Learning to enhance requirement prioritization, making software development workflows more efficient and automated

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 Keywords

Functional Requirement Prioritization, Modal Verbs, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Requirement Engineering, TF-IDF Vectorization, Linear SVM, Classifier Comparison, Software Development, Automated Prioritization

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ABSTRACT Paramedic professionals play a vital role in rural West Bengal's healthcare system, often becoming the first and only point of care in underserved communities. This study explores the challenges they face--not just through the lens of infrastructure and training gaps, but by situating their work within broader ecological, cultural, and indigenous frameworks. Rural paramedics operate in fragile environments shaped by poor sanitation, climate-sensitive diseases, and water insecurity, all of which complicate healthcare delivery. Their work is further affected by global influences such as workforce migration, digital divides, and the tension between local realities and homogeneous global training protocols. Beyond these structural concerns, the study highlights how paramedics engage with indigenous health knowledge, community beliefs, and traditional caregiving practices--creating unique models of resilience and care deeply rooted in local ecology and rural cosmologies. It also evaluates the adoption of sustainable technologies like solar power and eco-friendly biomedical waste management in these contexts. Using a mixed-method approach that combines policy analysis with oral narratives and field-based insights, the paper argues for a culturally grounded and environmentally responsive public health framework. It calls for policies that not only build skills and resources but also recognize the wisdom and lived experiences of rural paramedics as essential to sustainable healthcare in ecologically vulnerable regions.

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Key Words: Rural Healthcare, Paramedic Professionals, Indigenous Knowledge, Ecological Vulnerability, Sustainable Healthcare, Cultural Narratives, Public Health Policy, Climate-Sensitive Disease, Biomedical Waste Management, Global-Local Healthcare Integration

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Mandibular condylar fractures account for a significant proportion of maxillofacial injuries and present complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their anatomical and functional importance. Traditional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) ensures anatomical restoration but is associated with facial nerve injury, scarring, and morbidity, whereas closed reduction may result in suboptimal alignment and dysfunction. Endoscopic-assisted repair has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative that combines improved visualization with reduced soft tissue trauma, offering excellent functional and esthetic outcomes. Advances such as rigid angled endoscopes, CAD/CAM-designed patient-specific plates, and navigation-assisted surgery have enhanced accuracy and fixation stability, particularly in complex fractures. Clinical evidence indicates lower complication rates, rapid restoration of temporomandibular joint function, and superior patient satisfaction. Despite limitations in comminuted or severely displaced fractures, ongoing technological innovations and improved surgeon training are positioning endoscopic-assisted repair as a preferred modality for condylar fracture management.

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Mandibular condyle, Endoscopic-assisted repair, Minimally invasive surgery, CAD/CAM implants, Maxillofacial fractures

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Gold has always been perceived as a reliable and safe investment option, particularly during times of financial uncertainty. With rapid technological growth and the emergence of financial technology platforms, the traditional practice of investing in physical gold has undergone a transformation, giving rise to digital gold investment. This mode of investment allows individuals to buy, hold, and sell gold electronically, backed by actual physical reserves, thus combining the security of traditional gold with the convenience of modern technology. This article aims to explore two critical dimensions of digital gold investment. First, it seeks to identify the key financial reasons that motivate investors to prefer digital gold over its physical counterpart. These financial drivers include affordability through fractional ownership, cost efficiency by eliminating making charges and storage costs, high liquidity through instant redemption options, portfolio diversification benefits, and transparency of pricing linked to global gold markets. Such advantages have made digital gold particularly attractive to small and medium investors who may not have the capacity to purchase larger quantities of physical gold. Second, the article examines the influence of behavioral finance factors on investor decisions. Traditional finance suggests investors act rationally; however, behavioral finance demonstrates that cognitive biases, emotions, and social factors often drive financial choices. In the case of digital gold, trust in fintech platforms, herd behavior influenced by peers and media, risk aversion during economic instability, mental accounting practices, and overconfidence in personal investment skills all play a crucial role. These behavioral dimensions explain why many investors are drawn to digital gold even beyond its financial advantages. The study concludes that investment in digital gold is shaped by a blend of economic logic and psychological tendencies. While financial motives ensure accessibility, liquidity, and efficiency, behavioral factors reinforce the decision-making process by providing emotional reassurance and perceived security. Together, these factors highlight the growing relevance of digital gold as a mainstream investment option, especially for the younger, tech-savvy generation seeking flexible and transparent wealth-building opportunities.

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 Keywords

Digital Gold, Financial Motivations, Behavioral Finance, Fintech Platforms, Portfolio Diversification, Investor Psychology, Liquidity, Trust in Technology

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Evaluation of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's "Philosophical Thought-Culture"

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Evaluation of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's "Philosophical Thought-Culture"

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The interplay between politics, power, and individual agency forms a cornerstone of Indian English literature, particularly in the works of Nayantara Sahgal and Raja Rao. This study examines the social and political contexts embedded in their novels, focusing on how protagonists navigate the turbulent landscapes of colonial and post-colonial India. Sahgal, drawing from her Nehru-Gandhi family background, infuses her narratives with critiques of post-independence corruption, authoritarianism, and gender dynamics, as seen in novels like Rich Like Us (1985) and Mistaken Identity (1988). Her protagonists, often elite women or intellectuals, grapple with personal crises amid national upheavals, such as the Emergency period under Indira Gandhi, highlighting the erosion of democratic ideals and the abuse of power. In contrast, Raja Rao's metaphysical approach blends Gandhian philosophy with spiritual quests, portraying politics as a pathway to self-realization in works like Kanthapura (1938) and The Serpent and the Rope (1960). His protagonists, typically Brahmin seekers, embody the fusion of social activism and inner enlightenment, reflecting the Gandhian non-violent resistance against colonial rule and the broader search for truth in a divided society. Through a comparative lens, this article reveals convergences and divergences: both authors use protagonists to symbolize national aspirations and failures, yet Sahgal emphasizes secular, feminist critiques of power structures, while Rao integrates Advaita philosophy and folklore to transcend political materialism. The analysis draws on historical contexts, including the freedom struggle, partition, and post-Nehru disillusionment, to argue that these novels not only document India's socio-political evolution but also interrogate the protagonist's role as a mediator between individual freedom and collective destiny. By exploring themes of power dynamics, social hierarchies, and moral decay, the study underscores how Sahgal and Rao contribute to a nuanced understanding of identity in modern India. Ultimately, their works serve as cautionary tales, urging readers to reflect on the perils of unchecked authority and the enduring quest for ethical governance in a diverse nation.

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 Keywords

Indian English literature, politics, power dynamics, protagonists, Nayantara Sahgal, Raja Rao, social contexts

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Abstract

The global index of disease analysis indicates there is high risk of mortality and risk of lifelong damage at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Global burden of neonatal mortality, with many newborn babies dying of preventable and treatable conditions, particularly in low and middle-income countries is very high. Parents staying with their child in the PICU have particular needs that should be acknowledged and responded to by clinicians. The researcher in the current study seeks to understand the meaning of lived experience i.e. known as phenomenology.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) , Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal mortality , Global burden of disease , Preventable conditions ' Treatable conditions

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The stabilization of expansive soils, characterized by high plasticity, poses significant challenges in geotechnics due to their substantial volume changes and low strength. Recent advancements have introduced alkali-activated binders and geopolymers--derived from industrial by-products like fly ash, slag, metakaolin, rice husk ash, and zeolitic materials--as sustainable alternatives to traditional lime and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for soil stabilization. This review consolidates both laboratory and field findings regarding the durability of geopolymer-stabilized expansive soils, examining their resistance to wetting-drying and wetting-soaking cycles, sulfate attacks, freeze-thaw cycles, leaching, long-term strength retention, and microstructural changes. We compare these mechanisms with conventional stabilizers, summarize the testing methods and durability metrics employed in existing literature, identify knowledge gaps (including standardization, long-term field monitoring, and the influence of local materials and activators), and propose research priorities for infrastructure applications. Key findings indicate that geopolymer stabilization generally enhances immediate strength, minimizes swell and shrinkage, and exhibits promising resistance to chemical and moisture cycles in contrast to OPC and lime. However, durability is highly dependent on precursor chemistry, Si/Al ratios, activator types and concentrations, curing conditions, and the presence of sulfates or chlorides. Evidence of multi-year field performance remains limited and necessitates coordinated long-term monitoring.

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 Keywords

geopolymer, alkali-activated binder, expansive soil, durability, wetting-drying, sulfate attack, long-term performance

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This literature review explores the rising phenomenon of screen overuse, particularly smartphone addiction, and its effects on physical, psychological, and social health. Excessive screen time has been linked to behavioral addiction, sleep disturbances, visual strain, and lifestyle-related disorders such as obesity and depression. [4,9] A systematic search of modern medical and homeopathic literature was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The review highlights the neurobiological basis of screen addiction, complications including mental health disorders, and effective preventive strategies like digital detox, physical exercise, and mindfulness practices. [5,6] From a homeopathic perspective, screen overuse is viewed as a manifestation of underlying constitutional susceptibility, with remedies like Nux vomica, Coffea cruda, and Aconite providing symptomatic relief[11,16] This paper aims to provide an integrated understanding for clinicians and researchers, while suggesting areas for future research.

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screen addiction, smartphone overuse, digital detox, lifestyle modification, homeopathy, behavioral health.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition