Volume 14 | Issue 2 |

 Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder has emerged as a global health concern demanding attention and awareness of general public. Autism is a neurological condition that affects an individual's ability to interact and communicate as non-autistic individuals do. This paper intends to examine the representation of Autism in "Fiction" such as cinema and literature. Cinema and Literature; serves as a bridge to connect people and make them aware and well-informed about new topics such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Representation of Autism in movies and novels builds cultural impressions about persons with autism. Filmmakers try to mirror the reality of Autism, but fail to do so by limiting their perspectives. They merely focus on certain aspects by portraying autism as an illness that needs to be cured, or by using autistic characters as narrative tools, they portray autistic individuals as someone who needs constant supervision. Cinema and Literature are powerful cultural tools that have the capability to influence people's understanding of a concept, shape their opinions and perceptions about it. They are sources of communication that can have a positive or negative impact on the masses regarding the concerned issues. While the representations in fictional narratives work to convey information to promote awareness and inclusion, they can also be inaccurate and based on stereotypes and misconceptions that can have a negative influence on the perspectives of the masses towards people with autism. This essay attempts to analyse how autism is portrayed and constructed in selected films and texts, and how they influence the perception of the audience with their depictions. This study has used a mixed method of research, qualitative approach to analyze texts and movies for example I am Sam, The Curious Incident of a Dog in The Night-Time and Barfi; quantitative approach to collect responses through surveys; about the awareness and understanding of the public about autism, whether they have inclusiveness in their or not and to what extent people are willing to accept and include people with autism in mainstream institutions. This study also aims to assess the level of awareness people have regarding autism.

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 Keywords

Autism, Representation, Stereotypes, Public perception, Fiction analysis, Cinema, Literature, Misconceptions, Narrative Device

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Modern Family (2009-2020) is a television sitcom which notably challenged the idea of a 'family' on mainstream American Television. Modern Family engaged with a modern representation of families by setting non-traditional family narratives; intercultural marriages, same-sex parenting, age-discrepant marriages, and blended families, within the American mainstream media spotlight. This study will attempt a content analysis of the representation of non-traditional families in Modern Family. The purpose of this study is not only to get better understanding of the non-traditional family portrayals, but also to analyse if this reformulation in any way reshapes larger societal perceptions of inclusivity in mainstream popular American Culture. Previous studies such as Staricek's Textual Analysis of Gender in Modern Family (Staricek, 2011), have analysed the show's depiction of same-sex parenting, gender roles, and generational gaps. These scholars largely acknowledge that the Modern Family series balances the narrative of family between questioning and reinforcing conventional ideas, by using humour as a tool. However, scholars differ on whether to consider Modern Family as a truly progressive show, or if it reinforces traditions by domesticating differences. Drawing on queer theory and cultivation theoretical frameworks, this article will try to build upon earlier works in this field, to examine how the series portrays non-traditional families, how it made such families visible on prime-time television, and how this mainstream visibility opened a cultural space for broader acceptance of same-sex parenting, intercultural marriages, and generational gaps. By doing so, this study will try to examine if Modern Family culturally modernised the family structures, and simultaneously helps in normalising "modern families", and whether this contributes in any significant way to society's cognitive shift in making traditional families central and making them familiar to a broader audience through humour and relatability.

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 Keywords

Modern Family; Non- traditional families; American Sitcoms; T V Shows; LGBTQ+ representation; Blended families; Migration; Family diversity; Gender Roles; Generational Gap; Normalisation; Social impact.

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Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of headache associated with nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, and functional disability. In addition to neurovascular mechanisms, musculoskeletal impairments such as cervical spine dysfunction, temporomandibular joint restrictions, and myofascial trigger points significantly contribute to migraine symptoms. Vestibular disturbances such as dizziness and balance impairment are also frequently observed in migraine patients. Physiotherapy interventions targeting these dysfunctions have gained increasing attention. The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of manual myofascial release combined with Lewit mobilization and vestibular rehabilitation training in patients with migraine. Sixty diagnosed migraine patients aged 30-60 years were randomly allocated into three groups. Group A received conventional stretching and postural correction exercises, Group B received vestibular rehabilitation, and Group C received myofascial release along with Lewit mobilization. Interventions were administered three times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures included Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Myofascial Diagnostic Scale, Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). Statistical analysis showed significant improvement in all outcome measures, with Group C demonstrating superior outcomes. The study concludes that manual myofascial release combined with Lewit mobilization is more effective in reducing migraine severity and disability, while vestibular rehabilitation is beneficial for balance-related symptoms.

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Migraine, Myofascial Release, Lewit Mobilization, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy

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Background: Waste management addresses the entire lifecycle of waste, starting from its generation to its recovery or elimination. Each year, over 2 billion tons of municipal solid wastes are generated globally. Objectives: To Assess the Effectiveness of Video Assisted Teaching (VAT) Program on Knowledge regarding Waste Management among Adolescent Students in a selected High School, Aizawl, Mizoram Methods: The study adopted a Pre-experimental (one group pre-test post-test design), 100 samples of students from 9th and 10th standard were selected for the study using Non-Probability Simple random sampling technique. Demographic variables and Self-Structured knowledge questionnaire were used to collect data required for the study. Results: The majority of respondents were 15 years old (39%), followed by 16 years (32%) and 14 years (29%). Females made up 51% of the sample, and males 49%. All participants were Christian. Regarding family type, 61% belonged to nuclear families, 29% to joint families, and 10% to extended families. Educationally, 50% were in Standard IX and 50% in Standard X .In terms of prior exposure to waste management education, 45% had previous knowledge, while 55% did not. Analysis showed the association between pre-test knowledge score regarding Waste Management with selected demographic variables. It reveals that there is a significant association between pre-test knowledge score regarding Waste Management with selected demographic variables like age, type of family and standard at 0.05 level of significance. Thus, the null hypothesis was accepted, and the research hypothesis was rejected. Conclusion: The study concludes that the Video Assisted Teaching Program (VAT) Program on knowledge regarding Waste Management was effective.

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Assess, Effectiveness, Adolescent ,Waste Management, Video Assisted Teaching (VAT) Program.

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Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions On Mental Health And Academic Adjustment of Urban-Rural Higher Secondary Students

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Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions On Mental Health And Academic Adjustment of Urban-Rural Higher Secondary Students

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Abstract: This study investigates the persistent digital infrastructure divide between urban and rural areas in Manipur, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in bridging this gap. Despite technological progress, rural Manipur faces inadequate connectivity, limited high-speed internet access, and infrastructural shortcomings compared to urban centres. Key challenges include difficult hilly terrain, low investment in rural telecom networks, and socio-economic issues such as low digital literacy and affordability. Policy implementation gaps and limited local stakeholder involvement further worsen the divide. Opportunities stem from government initiatives to expand broadband under national digital inclusion programs, growing mobile device penetration, and potential public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure. The study uses a qualitative approach based on secondary data from government reports, policy documents, academic sources, and digital inclusion publications, providing comprehensive insights into infrastructure, socio-economic factors, policies, and technology penetration. Bridging this divide is essential for equitable access to education, healthcare, governance, and economic opportunities, supporting Manipur's socio-economic development. This research lays the groundwork for future studies and policy development toward a digitally inclusive Manipur.

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Digital Divide, Urban-Rural, Manipur.

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In developing economies such as India, women entrepreneurship has become a significant force of inclusive economic development, creation of employment, and innovations. Nevertheless, women entrepreneurs still experience structural, socio-cultural, financial, and institutional obstacles that influence the establishment of a startup and business development. This research paper discusses women entrepreneurial ecosystem by highlighting major elements of the ecosystem networks, funding, mentorship, policy support, and Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDP). The research formulates a theoretical construct that connects the aspects of ecosystem to the performance and growth results of a startup. It suggests that EDPs are catalytic tools that optimize human capital, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, innovativeness and market integration. The theoretical viewpoints that are incorporated in the paper are Human Capital Theory, Social Capital Theory, Resource-Based View, and Institutional Theory to elaborate the interaction between ecosystem factors and business performance. There are also policy implications and future research directions.

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Women Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Startup Growth, Entrepreneurship Development Programs, Policy Support, India.

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Mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue and Malaria remain major global public health challenges, causing millions of infections and substantial mortality each year, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Conventional diagnostic methods for both diseases rely heavily on manual microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears, a process that is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and vulnerable to observer variability. Recent advances in digital pathology and image-processing-based automation offer promising solutions for early, accurate, and cost-effective diagnosis. In dengue detection, peripheral blood smear (PBS) analysis reveals hallmark changes such as thrombocytopenia and lymphocyte morphological alterations. Machine-learning approaches using morphological and Gray-Level Spatial Dependence Matrix (GLSDM) features extracted from lymphocyte nuclei have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with Support Vector Machine-based models achieving up to 95.74% accuracy in distinguishing dengue-infected samples. Similarly, for malaria diagnosis, automated image analysis systems employing color thresholding, segmentation, blob analysis, watershed techniques, and shape-based classification have shown excellent performance in detecting Plasmodium-infected red blood cells. Systems using texture and intensity features, neural network classifiers, and morphological processing have achieved accuracies ranging from 93% to 99%, significantly reducing dependency on expert microscopists. This combined study highlights the growing potential of AI-driven digital microscopy for the automated screening of vector-borne diseases. Integrating machine learning, deep learning, and advanced image-processing techniques enables rapid detection of infected cells, accurate parasite quantification, and improved clinical decision-making. Such automated frameworks can provide scalable, low-cost diagnostic support in resource-limited settings, thereby strengthening global disease surveillance and early intervention strategies for both dengue and malaria.

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Digital Image Processing, Machine Learning, SVM, CNN, Disease Detection, Biomedical, Dengue, Malaria.

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: Fifty Pounds is an excellent short story by A. E. Coppard. The story concerns two characters namely Philip Repton and Eulalia Burnes (Lally) who love each other and are living together without matrimonial bond. Their relationship begins after Repton finds Lally in distress and helps her. Thus, they were lonely before they met each other. This article seeks to explore how the sense of loneliness is a dominant theme in this story. If read thoroughly, it is noticeable that the story begins with the idea of loneliness and ends with the same idea. They feel loneliness even when they are together as despite being together for several months, they are unable to understand each other as somehow, they are more concerned about themselves and their own thoughts and minds rather than that of the other person. The titular fifty pounds is largely responsible for their future life of loneliness. Then, their loneliness is the result of their ego, misunderstandings, emotional aloofness and rash judgements. Circumstances are also responsible for their feeling of loneliness. How much they struggle to endow their lives with a meaning by trying to lead a peaceful and happy life together, they fail in their attempts. Thus, this article also explores how their fight against loneliness reflects their enactment of absurd life.

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Loneliness, fifty pounds, misunderstandings, circumstances, absurd.

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Modernist literature is marked by an acute preoccupation with the instability of identity, the breakdown of coherent selfhood, and the disintegration of linear consciousness. Emerging in the aftermath of rapid industrialisation, world wars, and shifting social structures, modernist writers sought new narrative forms capable of articulating the fractured inner lives of individuals confronting a destabilised world. Within this context, questions of subjectivity--how the self is formed, sustained, and undone--occupy a central position. As Virginia Woolf observes in The Waves, "I am not one and simple, but complex and many," a sentiment that resonates deeply with the modernist understanding of the self as plural, unstable, and perpetually in flux.

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A Lacanian Reading of Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse' and Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar

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