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Exploring the Potential of Bacillus velezensis, an Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Alternanthera philoxeroides for Plant Growth Promotion and Bioremediation Properties
The current work was done to analyse the bioremediation and plant growth promotion (PGP) traits of endophytic bacteria isolated from Alternanthera philoxeroides from Bellandur Lake, Bangalore, India. Twenty-nine endophytic bacteria were isolated and tested for their PGP traits like indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, nitrogen fixation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production, phosphate solubilization etc. Endophytic bacterium, BEBAphL1 obtained from leaves of A. philoxeroides exhibited significant plant growth promotion properties and the isolate was identified as Bacillus velezensis OQ874364 using 16S rRNA sequencing. The bacterium showed potential IAA, ammonia production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and ACC deaminase production. The results indicate that this endophyte is promising as a growth-promoting inoculant, reducing the reliance on chemical inputs in conventional agricultural practices while enhancing nutrient uptake and stress resilience in plants. B. velezensis exhibited tolerance to high levels of chromium (500 mg/L) and NaCl (15%) and was also able to decolourize Congo red by 70% at 0.005% concentration of dye. Characterization of dye samples pre- and post-bacterial treatment was done using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The findings of the study indicate that B. velezensis shows promise as a plant growth stimulator capable of withstanding heavy metal exposure and breaking down dyes. The Author(s) 2023. -
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF VELVET BEAN, MUCUNA PRURIENS (L) SEED ON GROWTH AND GONADAL DEVELOPMENT OF MONO-SEX COMMON MOLY POECILIA SPHENOPS (VALENCIENNES, 1846)
Mucuna pruriens, a rich source of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, commonly known as L-DOPA and a precursor to dopamine, holds potential as a natural nutritional supplement. This study aimed to delve into the impact of incorporating M. pruriens seed powder (MpSP) into the feed on growth parameters and gonadal development of mono-sex common molly (Poecilia sphenops). The fish population was divided into three experimental groups, such as G1, G2, and G3, and a control group (C), each comprising 20 individuals. Over 45 days, the experimental groups were nourished with a commercial diet bolstered by MpSP in different concentrations (5, 7 and 10g/kg of feed, respectively). In contrast, the control group was provided with a regular diet devoid of the supplement. At the end of the experiment, MpSP demonstrated significant modulation (p<0.05) of growth performance metrics, including specific growth rate (SGR), length gain rate (LGR), body mass gain (BMG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Impressively, even the lower concentration of MpSP (5g/kg diet) yielded substantial increments in sperm count (p<0.05) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). These findings were corroborated by histological changes that reflected enhanced testicular development, consistently outperforming the control group. These outcomes collectively suggest the potential of velvet bean seed powder as a feasible, natural, and costeffective dietary supplement for enhancing growth and testicular development in mono-sex P. sphenops. (2024) West Bengal Veterinary Alumni Association. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Power of Agency in Womens Non-farm Business Participation
The relationship between rural womens agency and their non-farm self-employment is explored. Using a sequential explanatory design and nationally representative India Human Development Survey data, it is shown that agency outcomes, such as household decision-making, freedom of movement and group memberships, are crucial for womens participation and their roles in non-farm businesses. Additionally, personal in-depth interviews with self-employed women in rural West Bengal and Karnataka reveal how they navigate and negotiate within business environments despite existing constraints. 2026, Economic and Political Weekly. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Professional Problems Faced by Beginning Counsellors
Counselling Education at a Post-graduate level is of recent origin in India. Every year a number of students who complete their Post-graduate studies (M.Sc.) in Counselling get employed in various settings. As trainees their issues related to practice of counseling get addressed in training sessions, in supervision and through other means like personal therapy. Nothing is conclusively known about their status as beginning counselors. The aim and objectives of the study were exploring the professional problems faced by beginning counselors and the ways in which they are coping with them and their suggestions to cope as individuals and the ways in which the training institutes could help them to cope. The study was done by conducting two focus group discussions (FGD) of six beginning counselors and personal in-depth interviews of three beginning counselors who were working in different settings like Clinical-rehab, School and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). While three school counsellors, two counsellors working in clinical-rehab settings and one EAP counsellor formed the participants of FGD, one counsellor from each of these settings who was not part of FGD was interviewed personally. While for the FGDs, the researcher used the self-constructed guide, for the interviews, the findings of FGD data which formed the Interview Schedule. Both the FGDs and the interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and analyzed with conventional content analysis. Data from both the FGDs and interviews were included to form the Results. The findings show the various professional problems faced by the beginning counselors and the coping strategies used by them and their suggestions for coping with their professional problems at an individual level and at an institutional level. Implications for professional development, training of counsellors and scope for future research are presented. Key Words: Beginning Counsellors, Professional Problems, Coping, Professional Development. -
Exploring the Psychosocial Challenges and Strengths of Indigent Adolescents: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Counsellors Insights
Background: The Bronfenbrenner bioecological model of human development provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complex interactions between individual factors and environmental influences on adolescent mental health, such as limited access to resources, exposure to violence and trauma, and parental neglect. While discussing the challenges faced by at-risk adolescents, it is important to focus on the strengths of resilient adolescents living in similar conditions. These individual differences are the precursors in determining their futures. Methods: The present study aimed to explore the psychosocial challenges and strengths of indigent adolescents. Eight counselors who had been working with indigent adolescents for at least three years in school or NGO settings were identified through a snowball sampling design and interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Results: Reflexive thematic analysis of the interviews was done using Braun and Clarks protocol to identify themes. Challenges faced by indigent adolescents were a lack of parental supervision, vulnerability to cybercrime, emotional dysregulation, engagement in drug use, ambiguity in life aspirations and career goals, and societal mistrust and bias. The strengths identified were empathy, reconciliation dynamics and forgiveness, a yearning for change, a love of learning, help-seeking and help-providing behavior, attachment to religion and festivals, and a sense of gratitude and hopefulness, which indigent resilient adolescents display to navigate through their challenging lives. A detailed discussion of these challenges and strengths, along with their various dynamics, has also been provided. Conclusion: Identifying both the difficulties and strengths of indigent adolescents would promote more strength-based approaches to preventive and promotive mental health programs. 2024 The Author(s). -
EXPLORING THE REGULATION OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS: A SCOPING REVIEW ON BALANCING UNDERUSE, OVERUSE, AND OPTIMAL USE FOR WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE
Character strengths play a fundamental role in psychological well-being, resilience, and personal development. Traditionally, research in positive psychology has focused on the benefits of character strengths, emphasizing their role in enhancing life satisfaction, fostering positive relationships, and promoting professional success. However, recent studies highlight the critical importance of balance in strength utilization. Specifically, underuse, overuse, and optimal use of strengths can lead to varying consequences across different life domains. This scoping review systematically examined the imbalance of character strengths and its impact on mental health, leadership, and social interactions. A systematic search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, following PRISMA-SCR guidelines. The findings revealed that underuse of strengths is associated with low engagement, passivity, and decreased motivation, while overuse can lead to rigidity, interpersonal conflicts, and burnout. The review further identified contextual moderators (e.g., personality traits, cultural factors, and situational demands) that influence how strengths are applied in everyday life. Based on the findings, this review proposes the Balanced Strength Utilization Model (BSUM), integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to offer a comprehensive framework for character strength regulation. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and intervention-based approaches to help individuals optimize strength balance and apply their strengths effectively across different domains. The Author(s). All articles are licensed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). -
Exploring the Relationship between Clean Energy Indices and Oil Prices: a Ten-Day Window approach
This paper aims to assess the comovements between clean energy indices, namely the Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE), Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy (CELS), S&P Global Clean Energy (SPGTCLEN), TISDALE Clean Energy (TCEC.CN), Wilderhill (ECO), West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stock indices, over the period from 1 January 2018 to 23 November 2023. We used 10-day windows to analyse the duration and nature of the shocks. Granger causality tests revealed that 20 of the 30 possible pairs showed significant movements, with the WTI influencing all the clean energy indices, highlighting its global importance. CELS also showed a robust influence on all pairs, while SPGTCLEN had a significant but less far-reaching influence. The CLNE and ECO indices showed limited influences, suggesting the potential for diversification, the TCEC.CN proved to be independent and a determining factor for portfolio diversification. The Impulse Response Functions (IRF) confirmed significant movements between CELS, SPGTCLEN and WTI, reflecting the market's response to policies and adjustments in expectations. Fluctuations in oil prices substantially affect clean energy indices, highlighting the interconnectedness and volatility of these markets. In conclusion, these results indicate that despite the growth of clean energy, the sector is still influenced by fluctuations in the fossil fuel market. 2024, Creative Publishing House. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Relationship between Environmental Cognition, Pro-Environmental Behavior, and Mental Health among Adolescents: A Narrative Review
Introduction: Adolescents cognition, behavior, and attitudes are essential for environmental conservation; hence, the physical environment is inevitable in their mental health. The environment can influence adolescents sense of support, freedom, and the stimulation they seek in life. Environmental factors such as pollution, weather, lifestyle changes, and working conditions significantly influence adolescents' mental health. Knowing and learning about environmental cognition and its influence on adolescents is vital. Objective: To understand the relationship between environmental cognition, pro-environmental behavior, and mental health among adolescents with the help of a narrative approach. Methods: The present article employed a narrative review. Research articles were taken from four databases, PubMed, Research Gate, Web of Science, and Science Direct, using the PRISMA procedure from 2000 to 2023. The data was collected from various databases and narrowed down for the results. Results: This study proves a strong relationship between environmental cognition, pro-environmental behavior, and adolescents' mental health. Twenty-six selected research studies out of 45 initial studies state that solid environmental cognition may lead to enhanced pro-environmental behavior, which is crucial to adolescents mental health and well-being. Furthermore, pro-environmental cognition wholly mediated the relationship between environmental behavior and mental well-being. Conclusion: Implications of this study concentrate on developing focused interventions, creating urban planning policies, and developing adolescent-friendly community designs, which are solid pillars for promoting mental health. Adolescents must be motivated to protect the environment to become pioneers of pro-environmental behavior. The Author(s). 2024 Open Access. -
Exploring the relationship between esg performance and profitability in Indian power companies
This study aims to assess the relationship and impact of Indian power companies' environment, social, governance (ESG) scores on firm performance. Since 2022, CRISIL Ratings Ltd publishes yearly ESG scores for 225 companies in India. The final 'ESG' score is a composite of individual scores for the three metrics: 'Environment', 'Social', and 'Governance'. This study intends to examine the influence of ESG scores on financial profitability measured by both net profit ratio and return on investment. The existence and degree of association between the variables is measured using correlation and simple linear regression analyses, respectively. The findings suggest that the overall ESG composite score is positively and significantly associated with firm profitability and moderately associated with returns. The 'Governance' metric stands out which has a strong and positive relationship with profitability in particular. These findings advocate that by investing in ESG initiatives, the chances of better financial performance are improved. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Relationship Between Leadership and Well-Being
Leadership and well-being are deeply intertwined, influencing individuals and organizational dynamics in profound ways. This study explores the bidirectional relationship between leadership styles, emotional intelligence, organizational culture, and well-being. By examining frameworks such as transformational, democratic, and ethical leadership, the research highlights the importance of adaptive, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent leadership in fostering employee satisfaction, mental health, and work-life balance. Additionally, the role of positive organizational culture and the evolving challenges of remote and hybrid leadership are analyzed. Findings suggest that leaders who emphasize empathy, ethics, and inclusivity create environments conducive to personal and collective growth. This comprehensive review provides actionable insights for leaders, policymakers, and organizations striving for effective leadership and enhanced employee well-being. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the responsibility of journalists while reporting the sensitive issues: Khandamal case study /
Press is the watchdog of the democracy. Unending search for truth and fair reporting are the hallmarks of true journalism. With an increasing trend of competition among the media organizations and the rush to break the latest to the world, depth research on the beat gets diluted. There are other factors like time constraint, nature of the story, language and the geographical barriers etc. limit the validity and the accuracy of the beats that are covered. -
Exploring the role of AI attitude and AI perception on AI anxiety among Indian students
The increase in emerging AI technologies and their rapid evolution makes it difficult for students to effectively learn all these technologies as well as uncertainty in priorities as it keeps evolving. This brings a gap between individuals' skills and knowledge which further increases AI anxiety among the learners. The present study aims to understand the attitude and perception towards AI and AI anxiety among students in India. The authors utilised standardized test measures to collect the data among students. Perception and attitude towards AI and impact of AI had significant positive relationship while techno skepticism was negatively related. Further, significant difference was found in AI perception and techno skepticism based on gender and level of computer literacy. This study underscores the importance of digital literacy for healthy adoption and usage of AI. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Educational Technology
AI is a dedicated field that addresses cognitive challenges often linked to human intelligence, including learning, problem-solving, and pattern recognition. This chapter investigates the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational technology (EdTech). EdTech, short for EdTech, uses technology to support teaching and learning. EdTech firms employ advanced technology to offer personalized, experiential learning and online mentorship. With the rapid advancements in AI and its integration into various sectors, the educational landscape has witnessed significant transformations. This study explores the potential of AI as a powerful tool in enhancing teaching and learning experiences, improving educational outcomes, and addressing individual student needs. Employing the research synthesis methodology, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of AIs role in EdTech, highlighting its capacity to revolutionize teaching and learning practices. Finally, the chapter concludes with an outlook on the future of AI in EdTech, discussing emerging trends and potential growth areas. 2026 selection and editorial matter, A.V. Senthil Kumar, Ankita Chaturvedi, Atul Bansal, and Rohaya Latip; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Exploring the Role of Cultural Immersion in Enhancing Social Sustainability Through Community Engagement and Cross- Cultural Understanding
In an increasingly globalized world, cultural immersion has emerged as a powerful tool for fostering social sustainability through community engagement and crosscultural understanding. Cultural immersion refers to the process of deeply engaging with a foreign culture, whether through travel, education, work, or community- based initiatives. This study explores how cultural immersion enhances social sustainability by encouraging mutual respect, empathy, and intercultural dialogue. Social sustainability, as a core pillar of sustainable development, emphasizes the creation of inclusive, resilient, and cohesive societies. This research argues that cultural immersion, when combined with meaningful community engagement, facilitates long- term social cohesion by breaking down stereotypes, fostering intercultural cooperation, and promoting equity in social interactions. The primary objective of this study is to examine how cultural immersion contributes to social sustainability and to identify the mechanisms through which community engagement enhances cross- cultural understanding. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the role of E-servicescape dimensions on customer online shopping: A stimulus-organism-response paradigm
With limited empirical evidence and an incomplete understanding of e-servicescape environment, its effects on e-commerce websites still needs to be explored. Hence, the study understands and assesses the effects of e-servicescape environment on customer purchase behavior, considering the moderating role of gender. The stimulus-organism-response framework was adapted to formulate a conceptual model, in which the e-servicescape (stimulus) features were modelled as an antecedent of customer trust (organism) on website that directs customer behaviour of purchase intention (response). To conduct an analysis, a data sample of 304 responses was collected from those who have earlier used e-commerce websites using a structural equation modelling technique. Results of the study shows that e-servicescape dimensions are a strong predictor of trust that strongly impacts customer purchase intention. Results further reveal that in an online environment, the gender gap is depleting as it impacts all three dimensions of the e-servicescape on customer behavior which remains consistent for both groups. Copyright 2020, IGI Global. -
Exploring the Role of Multi-Catalytic Sites in an Amorphous Co-W-B Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions
Amorphous materials are used in multitude of catalytic applications, including electrocatalytic water-splitting. Identification and investigation of active sites in amorphous catalysts are rarely reported, mainly owing to the complexity of the systems. Herein, we report an amorphous bifunctional Co-W-B electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The optimized Co-W-B catalyst showed promising overpotential values of 97 mV (HER) and 292 mV (OER), respectively, to achieve 10 mA cm-2 in 1 M KOH, with good stability. The promoting effect of W in Co-B was investigated experimentally, while computational tools were used to identify all the possible catalytic sites in an amorphous Co-W-B model and classify the most preferred sites for HER and OER. The presence of multi-catalytic sites with specific selectivity toward HER and OER was observed, which explained the bifunctional activity of Co-W-B. This study will foster better understanding of the origin of catalytic activity in similar amorphous systems. 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. -
Exploring the role of plant oils in aquaculture practices: an overview
As the global demand for seafood surges, the expanding aquaculture industry faces a pressing need for viable aquafeed ingredients. The raw material for fish oil is limited and expensive due to unpredictable fishery resources in the fishing zones and the overexploitation of wild fisheries, underscoring the urgency of finding alternatives. This review explores diverse plant oil sources, including soybean, rapeseed, linseed, and algal oils, emphasizing their crucial role in nutritionally balanced aquafeeds. These oils support aquatic animals growth, health, and development, influencing membrane structure, energy storage, and hormone production. Genetically modified oilseeds (GM), such as camelina and canola, offer a controlled nutrient content, enabling customized nutrient profiles. This comprehensive review provides an overview of different plant oil sources, elucidates their nutrient profiles, and assesses their potential applications in aquaculture. The discussion encompasses their impact on growth, feed efficiency, lipid profile, health, immunological status, disease resistance, and overall performance of both freshwater and marine fish. Furthermore, the review compiles relevant data on the current status of genetically modified plant oils and explores their potential integration into aquaculture practices. In summary, substituting plant oils for fish oil in aquafeed presents a promising solution to aquaculture industry challenges to meet nutritional requirements for fish. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Exploring the role of Python in self-supervised contrastive learning for generating medical imaging reports
This chapter investigates Python's involvement in self-supervised contrastive learning (SSCL) for medical imagery with report generation. The research highlights the relevance of SSCL as a method for creating medical imaging reports and the benefits of implementing it using Python. The literature review gives a complete overview of SSCL approaches in medical imaging and shows the advantages of SSCL implementation using Python libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Keras. The study's methodology describes the research topics, survey design, methods of data gathering, and analytic procedures. The study named SSCL-GMIR findings indicate that several practitioners utilize SSCL in medical imaging using Python modules. This study highlights Python's significance in implementing SSCL for creating medical imaging report documents, offering researchers and practitioners a more efficient and effective method for producing accurate and informative reports and diagnoses. 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the role of social media influencer marketing in the tourism sector
The growing popularity of social media influencers (SMI) increasingly encourages destinations to use social media influencer marketing (SMIM) for their promotional campaigns. SMIs demonstrate the power of an individual based on certain factors employed to influence a broad segment of audience, and when it is used for marketing purposes, it is known as SMIM. SMIM is a part of the social media marketing that exercises all the commercial marketing techniques via social media channels. SMIM has impacted many industries including tourism, but looking at the progressive growth of SMIM today, it is surprising that such little attention had been paid to this area. However, while there is increasing use of SMIM by tourism organizations, there is a lack of research and limited knowledge on the roles of SMIM in travel and tourism. This chapter sheds light on the use of SMIM in the tourism sector where existing literature on the SMIM, its factors, and the influence of SMIM on the tourism sector by distinct authors are reviewed to identify the effectiveness of SMIM in the travel and tourism industry. 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Exploring the role of social media marketing in the education sector
The educational system across the world is undergoing a transition and is affected by numerous factors encompassing technology to psychology. The traditional model of face-to-face teacher-led learning approach has been gradually shifted to student-centric and outcome-based learning. Though the intellect and learning capacities among students differ in many aspects, personalized attention of the teacher to student and practical exposure to subjects are considered as few significant areas of concern in curriculum and pedagogy. The late 2000s witnessed the dawn of many EdTech companies proclaiming personalized attention and experiential learning through online platforms. EdTech companies make fine use of social media marketing and adopt well-thought-out strategies to reach out to the student segment and parents. The prime objective of this chapter is to study the role of social media marketing strategies in capturing student segments and the influence that makes on parents' purchase decisions. 2022, IGI Global. All rights reserved.