Volume 14 | Issue 1 |

 Abstract

Patrick White's The Tree of Man (1955) examines the lives of ordinary individuals and the quiet, persistent cycles of life. Taking place in the Australian countryside, the narrative traces the experiences of Stanley and Amy Parker, a simple couple who establish a home bordering wilderness. Their homestead Patrick White's The Tree of Man (1955) examines the lives of ordinary individuals and the quiet, persistent cycles of life. Taking place in the Australian countryside, the narrative traces the experiences of Stanley and Amy Parker, a simple couple who establish a home bordering wilderness. Their homestead forms the focal point of a story spanning generations, illustrating how human life flourishes, declines, and regenerates in parallel with the surrounding natural environment. The focal point of a story spanning generations, illustrating how human life flourishes, declines, and regenerates in parallel with the surrounding natural environment. 1955 novel, The Tree of Man, examines the lives of common individuals and the quiet, persistent cycles of life. Set in rural Australia, the narrative traces the experiences of Stanley and Amy Parker, an unassuming couple who establish a homestead on the fringes of the wilderness. Their farm serves as the focal point of a story spanning generations, illustrating how human existence evolves, declines, and regenerates in parallel with the natural environment.

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 Keywords

Absurdity, Authenticity, Isolation, ,Transcendence ,Meaninglessness

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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At present, the centralized AI development method that relies on the centralization of massive, sensitive data is now confronted with technological and ethical issues brought on by the unmanageable explosion in edge data and global regulatory mandates such as GDPR and HIPAA. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of Federated Learning (FL) as the primordial architectural approach, a distributed machine learning paradigm in which model learning is decentralized, and raw data remains compliant with the data sovereignty principle--never leaving its physical location.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Distributed Machine Learning, Federated Learning, Data Sovereignty, Privacy Preserving AI, Edge Computing

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This study examines gender-based differences in risk tolerance among equity investors in Surat City. Using a quantitative survey of 383 respondents, risk tolerance was assessed through scenario-based behavioural questions and analysed using SPSS. Results from independent samples t-tests revealed significantly higher mean risk tolerance scores for males compared to females (p < 0.001), indicating that gender plays a statistically meaningful role in shaping investment risk behaviour. Chi-square analysis further confirmed associations between gender and specific risk-taking decisions. Findings suggest that while financial literacy levels did not vary substantially across genders, sociocultural and psychological factors influenced women's lower inclination towards risky investment choices. The study highlights implications for financial advisors, policymakers, and investor education programs, especially in promoting gender-sensitive financial inclusion and advisory strategies.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Gender Differences, Risk Tolerance & Equity Investors.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Heritage tourism has emerged as a critical segment within cultural tourism, emphasizing the preservation, interpretation, and consumption of tangible and intangible heritage assets. Kerala, endowed with rich historical architecture, cultural traditions, and living heritage practices, has increasingly positioned heritage tourism as a strategic tourism product. Despite growing visitation, sustaining repeat visitation remains a central challenge for heritage destinations. Revisit intention is widely regarded as a key indicator of destination loyalty and long-term tourism sustainability. This theoretical article explores revisit intentions in the context of heritage tourism in Kerala by synthesizing existing literature on heritage experience, destination image, place attachment, perceived authenticity, and satisfaction. Anchored in experiential tourism theory and destination loyalty frameworks, the study conceptualizes revisit intention as an outcome of cognitive, affective, and relational processes. Through a structured narrative review, the paper identifies critical antecedents influencing tourists' intention to revisit heritage destinations and proposes a conceptual framework tailored to the Kerala context. The article contributes to heritage tourism literature by providing a theoretically grounded understanding of revisit behavior and offering directions for future empirical research and policy-oriented heritage tourism development.

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 Keywords

Heritage tourism, Revisit intention, Destination loyalty, Place attachment, Kerala

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) is the most widely adopted international quality standard, implemented by more than one million organisations worldwide. Despite its popularity, the impact of ISO 9001 on organisational performance remains debated, with scholars reporting both positive and mixed results. This study empirically investigates the critical factors influencing the relationship between ISO 9001 QMS implementation and organisational performance in Sri Lanka, where limited research has been conducted. Using a structured questionnaire distributed across 83 ISO 9001-certified organisations, the study examined five independent variables leadership, resource availability, operational efficiency, performance evaluation, and improvement and their effect on organisational performance. Data analysis using regression and decision tree models revealed that performance evaluation was the strongest predictor of organisational performance, followed by improvement, operational efficiency, and resource availability. Leadership showed only a weak relationship in the Sri Lankan context. While respondents acknowledged improved product and service quality and customer satisfaction after certification, issues such as excessive documentation and rigid formats were noted as challenges. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on ISO 9001 effectiveness and provide practical implications for managers to focus on robust evaluation systems and continuous improvement mechanisms rather than mere compliance.

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 Keywords

ISO 9001, Quality Management System, organizational performance, quality management, operational efficiency, Sri Lanka, continuous improvement, leadership, Organisational performance, Business Performance.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This paper presents a wearable assistive communication system for real-time bidirectional translation between sign language and speech using embedded hardware and machine learning. A sensor-based smart glove incorporating flex sensors and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) captures hand gestures and finger movements. The acquired data is processed by an Arduino Nano and transmitted to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, where a lightweight machine learning model performs gesture recognition. Recognized gestures are translated into text and synthesized speech, enabling communication for speech-impaired users. In the reverse direction, spoken input is converted to text and mapped to sign language visual outputs on a mobile interface. The system is designed to be portable, low-cost, and efficient, supporting real-time operation for daily use.

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Sign Language Recognition, Assistive Communication System, Smart Glove, Embedded Systems, Machine Learning, Arduino Nano, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, Speech-to-Text, Text-to-Speech, Wearable Technology.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism can be classified into Sutric and Tantric. Within the Tantric form of Teaching lies the importance of the Terma Tradition. A form of teaching passed down through transmission with the specific purpose of retaing the purity of the original teaching. This paper seeks to understand the origination of the Terma Tradition and the essence of the concept of transmission teaching as it exists in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly in Vajrayana or Mantrayana

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 Keywords

Buddhism. Terma. Transmission. Vjrayana. Mantrayana

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Nanotechnology is an expanding scientific domain which deals with the manipulation and application of materials at a level of precision smaller than 100 nanometers (nm). The versatility in characteristics and functions has driven profound developments in various fields such as electronics, medicine, and energy pro-duction. More significantly within dentistry, particularly within periodontics, nanotechnology has become promising. Its integration has revolutionized the landscape of how periodontal diseases are managed, ultimately enhancing treatment effectiveness and patients' satisfaction. This review elucidates this rising trend in current application for periodontics; encompassing its roles in diagnosis, therapeutic interventions as well as regenerative.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Nanotechnology, periodontics, diagnosis, therapeutic, regenerative

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Indoor environments, such as libraries, are susceptible to fungal contamination, which can endanger human health and compromise the integrity of valuable materials in these environments. This study focused on identifying the presence, variety, and distribution of airborne fungi in the Sangameshwar College library located in Solapur, India, to evaluate potential health threats and recommend preventive strategies for them. Samples were gathered using the settle plate method from three key areas: the surfaces of books, bookshelves, and the librarian's desk. Fungal isolates were grown on Potato Dextrose Agar and identified through both macroscopic and microscopic examination. The investigation identified 16 fungal species across ten genera, with Aspergillus and Penicillium being the most prevalent. Bookshelves showed the greatest fungal load and diversity, likely due to dust buildup and inadequate air circulation. The detection of allergenic and pathogenic species, such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata, underscores the potential health risks to library patrons and staff, including allergic reactions and respiratory issues. These results highlight the importance of regular monitoring of fungal contamination and the adoption of preventive measures, such as enhanced ventilation, humidity regulation, and cleaning, to ensure a healthy library environment. Future research should explore seasonal changes in fungal diversity to refine environmental management practices in libraries.

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Key Words - Airborne fungi, fungal contamination, indoor environments, libraries, health risks, allergenic species, pathogenic species, Aspergillus, Penicillium, biodeterioration, cellulose, lignin and Environmental management.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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This paper explores the dynamic evolution of governance in India, tracing its trajectory from traditional administrative frameworks to contemporary models shaped by globalization, democratization, and technological advancement. It highlights transformative policy innovations across sectors such as economic liberalization, digital governance, social welfare, and institutional reforms, while critically evaluating their design, implementation, and measurable outcomes. The study underscores achievements in areas like poverty alleviation, financial inclusion, infrastructure development, and citizen-centric service delivery, alongside persistent challenges including bureaucratic inertia, regional disparities, and issues of accountability. By analyzing key reforms introduced in recent decades--ranging from the Right to Information Act and Aadhaar-based digital identity systems to decentralized governance initiatives--the paper assesses their impact on socio-economic indicators such as literacy, health, employment, and equity. Furthermore, it situates India's governance experience within a comparative global framework, drawing parallels and contrasts with other emerging and established governance models. The discussion not only identifies lessons learned and best practices but also emphasizes the need for adaptive, inclusive, and transparent governance mechanisms to sustain India's developmental momentum in the face of evolving domestic and international challenges.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

governance, transparency, digital, innovation, schemes and programmes

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition