Volume 13 | Issue 8 |

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Mulches, Black plastic, Growth and yield

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Given in the full paper

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In the paper

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Financial inclusion has emerged as a pivotal strategy for driving inclusive economic growth and reducing rural poverty. In India, particularly in the state of Odisha, government-led financial initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Mudra Yojana, and Digital India have aimed to bridge the gap between rural populations and the formal financial system. For rural youths, access to financial services not only facilitates income generation and entrepreneurship but also enhances their socio-economic mobility and empowerment. This study investigates the impact of these financial initiatives on the economic empowerment of rural youths in Odisha. The primary objectives are to assess the level of banking inclusion, evaluate the awareness and utilization of government financial schemes, and analyze the relationship between financial access and youth empowerment in terms of income, savings, and entrepreneurial activities. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative data from 300 surveyed respondents across four rural districts in Odisha with qualitative insights from key informant interviews. Statistical tools, including correlation and regression analysis, were employed to examine the relationship between financial inclusion indicators and empowerment outcomes. Findings reveal a moderate but growing level of financial inclusion among rural youths, with PMJDY having the highest reach. However, gaps persist in credit access, digital literacy, and scheme utilization. Youths who actively participated in financial schemes demonstrated significantly better outcomes in income generation, self-employment, and savings behavior. The study concludes that while government financial initiatives have positively influenced youth empowerment, their full potential remains untapped due to implementation challenges and lack of awareness. Strengthening financial literacy, improving access to credit, and tailoring schemes to the needs of rural youth are critical to enhancing the long-term impact of financial development on youth empowerment in Odisha.

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Financial Inclusion, Rural Youth Empowerment, Banking Inclusion, Government Financial Schemes, Digital India, Odisha Rural Economy, Credit Access, Financial Literacy, Digital Banking, Rural Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Growth.

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India's rapid infrastructure expansion, driven by initiatives such as the National Infrastructure Pipeline, Smart Cities Mission, and large-scale urban water supply schemes, has been accompanied by persistent cost and time overruns. As of mid-2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports ongoing cost escalations exceeding INR2.89 lakh crore across major projects, with sectors like railways, urban transport, and pipeline infrastructure showing overrun rates far above the national average. This study systematically examines the root causes, financial impacts, and potential mitigation strategies for overruns in Indian infrastructure megaprojects, with a sectoral focus on pipeline projects. Adopting a mixed-method approach, the research integrates an extensive literature review, quantitative analysis of MoSPI datasets, and a detailed case study of a INR185-crore urban water supply pipeline project in West Bengal that experienced a 15-18% cost overrun and a delay of nearly 12 months. The findings identify regulatory delays, procurement inefficiencies, mid-project scope changes, material price inflation, and labor disruptions--exacerbated by global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic--as the most critical drivers of overruns. Sector-specific complexities in pipeline projects, including multi-agency clearance requirements, specialized material dependencies, and route realignments due to urban encroachments, make them particularly vulnerable. This work contributes to infrastructure project management literature by bridging national-level trends with sector-specific operational insights, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, project managers, and sector stakeholders to improve delivery timelines, cost control, and fiscal efficiency in India's megaproject ecosystem.

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Cost overruns, Time overruns, Infrastructure megaprojects, Pipeline projects, Project management, India, MoSPI data, Regulatory delays, Procurement inefficiencies, Material price inflation, Predictive analytics, Digital Twin, Earned Value Management (EVM), Risk mitigation, Public sector projects.

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Blockchain technology is increasingly explored in healthcare for its potential to improve data security, interoperability, and patient privacy. This bibliometric study analyzes 428 publications from the Web of Science (2014-2024) to identify research trends, collaboration networks, and key themes. Results show a sharp growth in publications since 2018, particularly in electronic health records (EHRs), secure data sharing, and supply chain management. Co-authorship patterns reveal strong international collaboration, with major contributions from the USA, China, and Europe. Keyword analysis highlights dominant themes such as data security, smart contracts, and interoperability. The findings underscore blockchain's growing role in decentralized health data management and its potential to transform healthcare systems into more secure, transparent, and efficient models.

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Blockchain Healthcare Digital Health Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Data Security Patient Privacy

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Community social work is a core dimension of professional social work practice that targets communities as both the setting and the focus of interventions across various fields. Social work entrepreneurship is an institutionalized practice model that integrates the professionalism of social work with the innovation and social commitment of entrepreneurship. This case study examines Peace Hub, a social work enterprise in Kerala, as an innovative practice model in addressing the well-being needs of different communities. Peace Hub integrates social work principles with entrepreneurial strategies to offer innovative well-being interventions tailored to the local contexts. The study employed thematic analysis to identify and extract themes from key informant interview and document analysis. The key themes that have emerged include overcoming motivational challenges to be a social work entrepreneur, community interventions, and the well-being outcomes. By examining Peace Hub's journey from inception to present-day, this case study contributes to the broader discourse on innovative practice models for community social work and its role in fostering wellbeing in local contexts. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing the scalability of similar models, suggesting that community-rooted social work enterprises hold significant potential for addressing well-being challenges.

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Social work entrepreneurship, community social work, practice model, well-being, Kerala, case study

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Abstract: Senior secondary school students' academic performance is significantly hampered by test anxiety, especially in high-stakes educational systems like India's. This study examines whether and to what degree students in Classes XI and XII experience gender-based disparities in test anxiety. Using purposive sampling, a sample of 120 students--60 males and 60 females--was chosen from urban senior secondary schools in Odisha. Spielberger's Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), created in 1980, was used to gauge cognitive and affective reactions to test stress. To compare the mean test anxiety scores of male and female students, an independent samples t-test was used. A statistically significant difference was found in the study, showing that female students had much greater levels of test anxiety than their male counterparts (p <.01). These results highlight the necessity of gender-sensitive mental health and academic counselling programs in schools. For educators, psychologists, and policymakers seeking to enhance student well-being and educational outcomes, the study provides valuable insights and contributes to the growing body of research on academic stress.

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Keywords: Test Anxiety, Gender Differences, Senior Secondary Students, Psychological Assessment, t-test

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Rasa oushadhis are effective in small doses and possesses the properties of Deepana and Pachana.As emphasized in the ancient text of Rasashastra, Rasa Kalpa is the primary treatment approach for all diseases. This article highlights the significance of Vasantakusumakara rasa and Nishakathakadi kashaya in managing the Kleda Pradhana Vyadhi, a condition dominated by excess Kleda dosha. A case study on Kleda pradhana vyadhi (Prameha-Madhumeha)treatment using Rasa Kalpa formulations demonstrates its effectiveness in balancing Kleda dosha, reducing inflammation, and enhancing immune function. This article underscores the importance of integrating Rasa Kalpa into Ayurvedic clinical practice for effective management of Kleda Pradhana Vyadhis.

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Kleda,Nishakatakadi Kashaya,Vasanthakusumakara Rasa

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This paper presents a modified dry ice engine design in which the reaction chamber (sphere) is surrounded by hot water. The system offers a low-temperature alternative to steam engines and is ideal for educational demonstrations of thermodynamic and propulsion principles.

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Hot water assisted propulsion,Low-temperature engine,Sublimation

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The rising frequency of violence against women in public spaces demands the design of sophisticated early intervention systems capable of detecting and mitigating threats in real time. This study introduces WATCHGUARD, a novel surveillance platform powered by artificial intelligence, which merges cutting-edge computer vision techniques and deep learning to enhance the safety of women in urban surroundings. The architecture adopts a multi-modal design: YOLOv8 performs object detection, the OpenAI CLIP model conducts semantic validation of actions, and a suite of custom neural networks executes gesture recognition and gender classification. Our experimental framework analyzes continuous video streams to detect dangerous objects, recognize distress signals, and automate alerts to law enforcement. The prototype achieves 94.2% accuracy in overall threat identification, 91.8% precision in gender classification, and 89.5% performance in gesture recognition, while sustaining a low false-positive rate of 3.2%. Validation across varied urban contexts demonstrates the ability to recognize threat manifestations, including physical assaults, weapon-mediated attacks, and standardized emergency gestures. Privacy is safeguarded through robust data anonymization protocols, and the architecture is designed for seamless integration within existing smart city infrastructures. The findings demonstrate substantial decreases in response times accompanied by heightened situational awareness among security staff, establishing this system as a feasible and proactive measure for advancing women's safety in urban environments.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Women safety, Computer vision, Deep learning, YOLOv8, Threat detection, Smart surveillance, Emergency response, Gender classification, Gesture recognition, Public safety

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition