Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sericulture as a Sustainable Rural Enterprise: Quantitative Assessment of Production, Employment and Economic Benefits

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Authors: Assistant Professor Dr. M. Stephen

Abstract: Sericulture is an agro-based rural enterprise that integrates mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, cocoon production, silk reeling and value-added silk processing. Its importance extends beyond silk production because the sector provides employment, income diversification and livelihood opportunities for small and marginal farmers. India is the world's second-largest producer of raw silk and produced 38,913 MT in 2023–24, of which mulberry silk contributed 29,892 MT, while Tasar, Eri and Muga contributed 1,586, 7,183 and 252 MT, respectively. Estimated cumulative employment associated with the Indian silk sector reached 9.5 million persons in 2023–24. This review quantitatively examines sericulture as a rural enterprise by comparing production, employment, labour utilization, production costs, gross and net returns, benefit–cost ratios and technological interventions. Published farm-level studies demonstrate substantial economic potential. In Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, the reported total cost of sericulture was ₹279,585.80 ha⁻¹, gross income was ₹332,168.80 ha⁻¹ and net income was ₹52,583 ha⁻¹, with a benefit–cost ratio of 1.37. Labour requirements were also substantial, particularly for women during mulberry maintenance and silkworm rearing. Recent evidence further demonstrates that structured training can significantly improve adoption of sustainable sericulture practices. Among 222 farmers in West Bengal, trained farmers recorded a knowledge score of 94.12 ± 6.35 compared with 74.33 ± 8.21 among untrained farmers, while adoption scores were 71.31 ± 9.42 and 53.00 ± 10.18, respectively. The evidence indicates that sericulture can function as a sustainable rural enterprise when productivity-enhancing technologies, skill development, market access, labour availability and environmental management are integrated into production systems.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23097476

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From Wilderness To Environmental Crisis: An Ecocritical Study Of Human–Nature Relationships In Canadian Fiction

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Authors: Dr. J. Felcia Pushpalatha

Abstract: The representation of nature has undergone significant transformation in Canadian fiction, moving from images of wilderness and geographical vastness towards complex representations of ecological crisis, environmental vulnerability, and human–nature interdependence. This paper examines this transformation through an ecocritical reading of selected Canadian fiction, focusing on Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003), Lee Maracle's Celia's Song (2014), Cherie Dimaline's The Marrow Thieves (2017), and Waubgeshig Rice's Moon of the Crusted Snow (2018). The study investigates how Canadian writers have moved beyond representing nature as a passive landscape or national symbol and increasingly portray it as an active component of human identity, cultural memory, survival, and ethical responsibility. The analysis considers wilderness, anthropocentrism, technological intervention, climate change, Indigenous ecological knowledge, environmental justice, and community resilience. Atwood's dystopian fiction demonstrates the consequences of technological domination and the commodification of biological life, whereas Maracle's work foregrounds relationality between humans, land, animals, and community. Dimaline connects ecological catastrophe with colonial histories and Indigenous displacement, while Rice explores energy dependence and the significance of local ecological knowledge during social disruption. The paper argues that contemporary Canadian fiction represents a movement from the idea of nature as wilderness towards an understanding of nature as an interconnected ecological system in which human survival is inseparable from environmental health. Through this transformation, Canadian fiction contributes to the development of ecological consciousness and challenges conventional anthropocentric understandings of the human–nature relationship.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23096611

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Graph Theory Applications In Artificial Intelligence And Data Science

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Authors: Dr.V.Bhagyalakshmi, Gunnam Prasada Rao

Abstract: Graph Theory has been established as a fundamental approach to modeling relational data in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. In this paper, a thorough study of graph-related methods has been conducted with a special focus on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and its variants for processing non-Euclidean data structures. A new hybrid framework combining Graph Convolutional Network with attention model and hyperbolic embedding has been developed to overcome the drawbacks of current techniques. The proposed methodology is tested on standard datasets for the task of node classification and link prediction. It was found that the suggested technique provides better results than the baselines with an accuracy gain from 3% to 5%. The findings confirm the efficiency of the graph theoretical approach in dealing with complex dependencies and hierarchical relationships embedded in the data.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23095657

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Explainable Artificial Intelligence For Real-Time Cyber Attack Detection And Risk Assessment

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Authors: Priya Mahesh Borkar, S.Divya

Abstract: Security operations centers rely on machine learning in increasing amounts when conducting network intrusion detection, but the inability to comprehend, trust, and act on alerts caused by black-box models is a significant issue under time pressure. Explainable AI (XAI) solutions such as SHAP and LIME provide solutions to the transparency problem, yet the explanation latency that they introduce makes them unsuitable for real-time triage of security alerts. This paper introduces an integrated XAI framework that consists of a Random Forest-XGBoost soft voting model along with a latency-aware dual mode explanation engine that uses the optimal LIME path for real-time query explanation and the approximated KernelSHAP path for forensic query explanation. A feature weighted risk scoring component transforms explanation attribution scores into a risk score bound in real time. Using the UNSW-NB15 dataset, we show that the framework provides state-of-the-art detection performance comparable to black box baselines with explanation latency well within real-time bounds and high attribution stability for forensic purposes.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23095318

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An Intelligent Data Mining Framework For Predictive Decision-Making Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence

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Authors: Mr. R K Arunkumar, S. Inbaroja

Abstract: Integration of artificial intelligence into vital decision-making fields has led to the emergence of a demand for transparency and interpretability in the used predictive models. This research aims to present an intelligent data mining framework, which utilizes the combination of predictive modeling methods and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI). The use of the suggested framework is meant to ensure transparent decision-making process by implementing such methods of predictive modeling as ensemble learning, including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Gradient Boosting along with the methods of SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations) for multi-level explanation generation. Our research applies the intelligent data mining framework on the dataset related to healthcare and includes several classes of diseases, ensuring high performance of the model in terms of prediction along with generating actionable explanations for each prediction.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23095207

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Civil Engineering Challenges and Sustainable Infrastructure Strategies for Hyperscale Data Centers

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Authors: Dhruval Jigar Shah

Abstract: The rapid growth of hyperscale data centers has created new demands on civil engineering systems that support mission-critical digital infrastructure. This paper evaluates civil engineering challenges associated with large data-center campuses through a real-life case study of the QTS data center development in York County, South Carolina. Publicly available project information is combined with established civil engineering and construction-management principles to examine mass grading, geotechnical engineering, foundation interfaces, stormwater management, underground utilities, pavement systems, construction materials testing, quality assurance, and sustainability. The study proposes a risk-based framework in which civil infrastructure is treated as a reliability system rather than as a collection of independent site activities. The case study demonstrates that phased development, dense utility networks, temporary drainage conditions, heavy construction traffic, and rapid technology change require strong coordination and location-based quality documentation. Project-specific confidential information is not assumed; technical controls beyond verified public facts are presented as engineering recommendations. The resulting framework is applicable to hyperscale and mission-critical construction projects where long-term reliability depends on the quality of site and civil infrastructure.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23096932

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Passive Thermal Logic And Conservation Significance Of Ethiopian Tukul Architecture In A Warm Semi-Arid Region

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Authors: Eswara Rao Petta, Viswanadh Kumar G.

Abstract: Ethiopian Tukul houses embody a close relationship among local materials, craft practice, spatial organization and climate-responsive building. This study examines the passive thermal logic and conservation significance of Tukul architecture in Kechema Ward, East Shewa, Oromia, with attention to the circular plan, earthen and wattle-and-daub walls, conical thatched roof, restricted openings, roof-wall air paths and locally available materials. The investigation adopts a qualitative architectural-heritage approach based on author-prepared field drawings from a 2023 field study and a structured synthesis of 35 peer-reviewed studies, with emphasis on Ethiopian, sub-Saharan African and recent architectural-heritage research. Architectural features are interpreted through heat-transfer and environmental mechanisms and examined through cross-study triangulation. The synthesis indicates that the Tukul envelope functions as a coordinated passive system in which earthen walling can buffer diurnal heat flow, deep thatch and eaves limit direct solar loading, and the doorway and roof-wall gap support controlled air exchange under favourable outdoor conditions. Conservation priorities therefore extend beyond the circular silhouette to compatible earthen finishes, roof craft, the raised base, ventilation details and the knowledge required for maintenance. The study presents a heritage-centred framework for understanding the environmental logic of Tukul architecture and for guiding conservation and climate-responsive adaptation.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23080000

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Experimental Investigation on the Performance and Durability of Self-Curing Self-Compacting Concrete Using Polyethylene Glycol and Liquid Paraffin Wax

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Authors: U. Srikanth, Assistant Professor A. Ram Kumar

Abstract: Variations in concrete performance are frequently associated with inadequate compaction and insufficient curing, particularly in structural members containing congested reinforcement. Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is capable of flowing and consolidating under its own weight, whereas self-curing concrete is intended to maintain the internal moisture required for continued cement hydration without depending entirely on external curing. The present experimental investigation combines these two concepts to evaluate the performance and durability of self-curing self-compacting concrete using polyethylene glycol of two molecular weights, PEG 4000 and PEG 200, together with light and heavy grades of liquid paraffin wax as self-curing agents. The agents were incorporated at dosages ranging from 0.1% to 1.0% by mass of cement in three SCC mixes, designated A, B and C, having different water-cement ratios. Fresh-state performance was assessed through slump-flow, T50, V-funnel, J-ring and L-box tests in accordance with the workability requirements adopted for SCC. Hardened concrete performance was investigated through compressive strength, acid-attack resistance and sorptivity tests. The experimental results were compared with conventional SCC and conventionally cured specimens in order to examine the influence of the different self-curing compounds and their dosages. The investigation demonstrates that self-curing SCC can provide durability characteristics comparable with conventionally cured concrete while reducing dependence on external curing. The study therefore supports the potential use of PEG and liquid paraffin wax as internal curing agents in SCC where conventional curing and mechanical compaction are difficult to achieve.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23076863

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Mechanical and Durability Performance of Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete

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Authors: K. Sathish Kumar, Assistant Professor A. Ram Kumar

Abstract: This research investigates the development and structural performance of fly ash-based Geopolymer Concrete (GPC) reinforced with polypropylene fibers as a sustainable alternative to conventional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. The study addresses the growing environmental concerns associated with cement production, particularly the high emission of carbon dioxide and the disposal of industrial waste materials. By utilizing Class F fly ash as the primary alumina-silicate and activating it with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions, a cement-free geopolymer binder was produced to promote environmentally friendly construction practices. The experimental program focused on evaluating the influence of polypropylene fibers on the mechanical and micro structural properties of geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer mixtures were prepared using locally available fly ash, fine and coarse aggregates, and alkaline activators with different molar concentrations. Heat curing was adopted to accelerate the geopolymerization process and to achieve rapid strength development. The study examined important engineering properties including compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and durability characteristics to assess the suitability of GPC for structural applications. In addition to mechanical evaluation, the research investigated the nano- and micro structural behaviour of polypropylene fibre-reinforced geopolymer concrete through characterization of pore volume, crystalline structure, morphology, surface area, and surface-active phases. These analyses provided insight into the formation of a dense alumina-silicate gel matrix and the role of fibers in controlling micro-crack propagation and improving the internal structure of the composite. The interaction between geopolymer binder and polypropylene fibers was found to enhance the integrity of the matrix while reducing brittleness. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of polypropylene fibers significantly improves tensile and flexural performance, crack resistance, and overall durability without compromising the environmental advantages of geopolymer concrete. Heat-cured fly ash geopolymer concrete exhibited excellent early-age strength, superior resistance to aggressive environments, and the potential to replace OPC concrete in sustainable infrastructure. The study concludes that polypropylene fibre-reinforced geopolymer concrete is a high-performance, eco-friendly construction material capable of contributing to low-carbon and durable structural development.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23076276

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Consumption Puzzle theory in Economics

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Authors: Shad Ali Khan, Dr. Shikhar Kumar

Abstract: This research paper examines the concept of consumption Puzzle in the long-term context. An eye caching and an important problem in macroeconomics theory which economists have tried to solve for decades. The mirage of a given predicted relationship between income and consumption is yet to be supported by theories over the long term. The absolute theory of consumption is an important traditional theory. The theory says changing income will lead to change in consumption but only at a diminishing rate. This concept leads to formation of another important concept that is average propensity to consume (APC) will gradually decrease when the economy grows. According to this reasoning the long run economic growth will be achieved by raising the savings in the economy. Historical economic data shows a distinct trend when examining national income in the long term. As economics grew over many years, both income and spending increased together in almost the same. In simple words, when people earn more over the long term they also spend more and divide their income for future expenditures that make their consumption and income stable in the long run. But according to old theories if the income rises then people should save more of their income and the spending share will change. To solve the consumption puzzle many economists said people do not make spendings by only present income. In fact they think more broadly when their income is increased. The Permanent income hypothesis says that people spend their income on the basis of not only current income but also care about future income. Example: if someone's income increases for a short time or a one-time increment then they may save most of it because they know it is a temporary income change. But when the income changes permanently then they increase their consumption. The Life Cycle Hypothesis also provides a similar idea. It says people plan their spending over their whole life, they may save during the working year, make consumption and save for retirement and sustain their consumption even after retirement. However their low income doesn’t affect their consumption. People not only save for retirement but also have saving habits from generation for emergence funds, education and major household works.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23075989

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