Volume 14 | Issue 7 |

 Abstract

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the port of Surat, situated on the western coast of India, played a pivotal role as a trade hub connecting southern and western Asia. The involvement of European powers in Asian commerce led to Surat becoming a recurring location for both confrontations and negotiations. The Portuguese had established their monopoly in the region by capturing the island of Diu and posed a threat to Indian merchants with overseas interests. They issued Cartaz against money to protect foreign ships. EIC and VOC merchants faced strong resistance from the Portuguese when they tried to trade directly with Asia. The Portuguese resisted the VOC and EIC's attempts to establish themselves in India, particularly Gujarat. The Dutch and the English could not silently accept the blockade. The English were also prohibited from accessing the Gulf. Armed warefare followed as both sides sought superiority. Their approach was antagonistic to the Portuguese. It was very important for the EIC to get a foothold on the coast of Guajart so it could store goods and live there to help its trade. Suart was the most popular place to live because it was well populated, connected to production centers, and had expert brokers, wealthy bankers, and people who could help with trade by providing collateral. Because of this, the English began a series of direct attacks on the Portuguese ships that seemingly controlled trade in the Persian Gulf. Although English merchants were desperately seeking for the alternative trading settlements in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea as well to moor their ships without any hindrance. Simultaneously, they invested their energies in obtaining a grant from the Mughal court to establish themselves in Surat.

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 Keywords

EIC, VOC, SETTELEMENTS, TRADE, SURAT

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 Abstract

Between 1940 and 1970 the display title on the Malayalam book cover passed through three states. It began as composed foundry type set beside an ornament drawn from the printer's case. It became, in the middle 1950s, a drawn and engraved relief surface carrying the entire design with no picture beside it. It ended, in the 1960s, as a letterform magnified and cropped past legibility into pattern, with a smaller legible title laid over it. This study reads seven dated covers against their imprints, two from every decade to 1970 and one from 1970 itself. The imprints of the last three, all published by Current Books at Trichur, print the production chain line by line, from the cover designer through the block house to the two printers and the size of the impression. The block house is the constant term. Sankar Blocks cut the covers of 1962, 1967, and 1970 under two different designers, while the covers of 1946 and 1947 name no maker at all. The account gives a periodisation for Malayalam display lettering grounded in objects rather than in the literary chronology of the books, shows that the decisive change lies in the letter rather than in the picture, and locates the authorship of the mid-century Malayalam cover in the studio that cut it as much as in the hand that drew it.

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 Keywords

Block-making, Kerala, Malayalam typography, Display lettering, Letterpress, Book cover design, Print history.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Multifaceted and flexible school education demands skill-based, competent teachers for the holistic development of 21st-century learners. The professional competency of secondary teachers has emerged as a critical determinant of educational quality in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) 2023. This paper aims to conceptualize the professional competency of secondary teachers by synthesizing theoretical perspectives, policy frameworks, and empirical evidence, and to identify its core dimensions in alignment with contemporary educational reforms. A systematic review methodology was adopted, drawing on national and international policy documents, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and reports published between 2010 and 2025. The review examined major competency frameworks and their relevance to secondary education in India. The findings reveal that professional competency is a multidimensional construct encompassing professional knowledge and subject expertise, pedagogical competency, classroom management and socio-emotional competency, technology integration, assessment practices, continuous professional development, understanding the learner, and ethical and inclusive practices. These dimensions closely align with the competency domains articulated in NPST 2023 and support the learner-centred, competency-based vision of NEP 2020. The study provides a comprehensive conceptual framework that can guide teacher education institutions, policymakers, and researchers in developing competency-based teacher preparation, professional development programmes, and assessment tools for enhancing teacher effectiveness and improving the quality of secondary education.

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 Keywords

Professional competency, Secondary teachers, National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), National Education Policy 2020

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Steroid induced hyperglycaemia, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Corticosteroids, Respiratory infections, Basal Bolus insulin.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The increasing adoption of renewable energy systems has created a need for intelligent control techniques to improve the performance of solar-powered DC motors. This study presents a simulation-based investigation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) controller for enhancing motor speed regulation and energy utilization. The proposed controller is designed to adapt to variations in solar irradiance, load disturbances, and operating conditions, thereby ensuring stable and efficient motor operation. A detailed simulation model is developed to evaluate the performance of the ANFIS controller and compare it with conventional control methods. The evaluation is based on performance indices such as speed tracking accuracy, response time, energy efficiency, and system robustness. The simulation results demonstrate that the ANFIS-based control strategy provides improved dynamic performance, higher reliability, and better adaptability under varying environmental conditions. The proposed approach contributes to the development of efficient and intelligent solar-powered motor drive systems for sustainable renewable energy applications.

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ANFIS Controller, Artificial Intelligence, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System, DC Motor, Renewable Energy, Intelligent Control, Energy Efficiency, Solar Irradiance, Fuzzy Logic, Sustainable Energy

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Keywords: Hyperlipidemia, Sthaulya, Atherosclerosis, Medaroga, Cardiovascular diseases, Cholesterol, Ama

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Diversity and inclusion (D&I) have emerged as strategic priorities for organizations seeking to attract, engage, and retain talented employees in today's competitive business environment. In the Information Technology (IT) industry, where workforce diversity and employee mobility are high, fostering an inclusive workplace has become essential for enhancing organizational commitment and reducing employee turnover. Despite the increasing adoption of diversity and inclusion initiatives, limited empirical evidence exists on their influence on employee retention within Indian IT organizations. This study examines the impact of diversity and inclusion practices on employee retention in Tech Mahindra. Specifically, it investigates employees' perceptions of inclusive recruitment and selection, equal employment opportunities, anti-discrimination policies, diversity training and awareness, inclusive leadership, fairness and respect, employee belongingness, and flexible work practices, and their influence on employees' intention to remain with the organization. The study adopts a quantitative research approach using a descriptive research design. Primary data were collected from 100 employees of Tech Mahindra, Hyderabad, through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings indicate that employees perceive the organization's diversity and inclusion practices positively and that these practices have a significant positive influence on employee retention. Inclusive leadership, equitable treatment, equal opportunities, and a strong sense of belonging were found to enhance organizational commitment and reduce employees' intention to leave. The study concludes that effective implementation of diversity and inclusion practices serves as a strategic mechanism for improving employee retention and strengthening organizational sustainability. The findings provide valuable insights for organizational leaders and human resource professionals in designing inclusive workplace strategies that enhance employee satisfaction, commitment, and long-term organizational performance.

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 Keywords

Diversity and Inclusion Practices, Employee Retention, Inclusive Leadership, Equal Employment Opportunity, Organizational Commitment, Sense of Belonging, Human Resource Management, Tech Mahindra, Information Technology Industry, Workplace Inclusion.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Ear diseases are common medical conditions that can affect hearing ability, quality of life, and overall health if not diagnosed at an early stage. Accurate interpretation of otoscopic images often requires specialist expertise, creating challenges in timely screening and diagnosis. This study presents a GenAI-enhanced clinical decision support system for early detection of ear infections using otoscopic images. The proposed framework employs a hybrid VGG19 and Vision Transformer fusion model to classify ear conditions into Acute Otitis Media, Cerumen Impaction, Chronic Otitis Media, Myringosclerosis, and Normal categories. Generative Artificial Intelligence is integrated to automatically generate clinically meaningful diagnostic reports, improving interpretability and supporting healthcare professionals during assessment. A blockchain-based mechanism is incorporated to ensure secure storage, integrity verification, and traceability of diagnostic records. The developed web-based platform enables image upload, automated prediction, confidence score visualization, report generation, and historical record management. Experimental results demonstrate reliable classification performance and practical applicability for intelligent ear disease screening. The framework supports efficient clinical decision-making and telemedicine services. Index Terms--Ear Infection Detection, Otoscopic Images, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Clinical Decision Support System, Vision Transformer, VGG19, Deep Learning, Medical Image Analysis, Blockchain Security, Telemedicine.

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Ear Infection Detection, Otoscopic Image Analysis, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), Vision Transformer (ViT), VGG19, Deep Learning, Blockchain-Based Healthcare Security

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Childhood experiences significantly influence an individual's academic achievement, psychological well-being, and lifelong participation in sports and physical activities. This study investigates the relationship between childhood activities, 12th-grade academic performance, and adult psychological profiles among individuals involved in sports. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was adopted using a hypothetical sample of 300 participants aged 18-35 years. Data were collected through structured questionnaires measuring childhood activity engagement, academic achievement, and psychological characteristics, including resilience, self-esteem, motivation, emotional intelligence, and stress management. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and one-way ANOVA were employed to examine the relationships among variables. The findings suggest that participation in structured childhood sports and recreational activities positively predicts higher academic performance and healthier adult psychological profiles. Individuals who engaged consistently in sports during childhood demonstrated greater resilience, emotional regulation, and self-confidence than those with minimal participation. The study emphasizes the importance of promoting organized physical activities during childhood to foster academic excellence and psychological well-being throughout life.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Childhood activities, sports participation, academic achievement, psychological development, resilience, self-esteem, adolescent development.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

- PIR sensor, LM35, LDR, fire sensor, relay module, energy conservation, Arduino Uno, smart classroom, embedded system, and educational automation

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition