Vinoba Bhave University

Salman Rushdies Midnights Children (1981) stands as one of the most influential postcolonial novels of the twentieth century, widely regarded as a landmark work that revolutionised English-language fiction through its dazzling deployment of magic realism as both aesthetic strategy and political discourse. This paper examines the intricate relationship between magic realism and postcolonial identity construction in the novel, arguing that Rushdie employs the supernatural and the fantastic not merely as literary ornament but as a deeply ideological mode through which the contradictions, traumas, and possibilities of post-Independence India are articulated. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Homi K. Bhabha, Frantz Fanon, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Fredric Jameson, among others, the paper analyses how Saleem Sinais fragmented, unreliable, and magically endowed subjectivity mirrors the fractured, plural identity of the newly decolonised nation. The paper further explores how the novels narrative form its digressive, polyphonic, and self-conscious structure enacts the postcolonial condition by simultaneously inheriting and subverting the conventions of the European realist novel. Special attention is given to the themes of memory, history, embodiment, the politics of language, and the allegorical relationship between the individual body and the body politic. The paper concludes that magic realism in Midnights Children functions as a counter-hegemonic discourse that dismantles colonial epistemologies and enables the articulation of a genuinely hybrid, plural, and irreducibly complex postcolonial identity.

Customer co-creation, where businesses collaborate with customers to jointly create products, services, or solutions, is a promising future strategy, offering benefits like increased innovation, customer loyalty, and deeper understanding of needs. Co-creation also means finding ways to include customers where they haven’t been invited in the past. The voice of the customer is “heard” in the process earlier than the typical process of waiting on survey results. Customers benefit from being included in ways that help them feel heard and part of the community. It’s great to actually reward customers for participating, too, through simple things like company swag or more complicated reward systems based on participation “points.” Customers often participate because they want to help create an experience they want, with a brand they already like. Research Objective: This study delves into the intricate relationship between customers' willingness to co-create (WCC) and the required level of cocreation (LCC) for effective service innovation adoption. In response to recent findings suggesting a “co-creation sweet spot,” beyond which additional co-creation activities have detrimental effects, this research aims to provide both theoretical and empirical insights into this phenomenon.

The Thar Desert of northwest India, despite its harsh ecology, has sustained settlement of ancient crafts and pastoral communities. Their persistence provides a unique opportunity to study how migration, ecology, and culture have shaped genetic diversity. Methods We analyzed genome-wide SNP data from 176 individuals across eight occupational communities in four districts, alongside 158 global and Indian populations and diverse ancient genomes. Population history, including ancestral migration routes, population structure, demography, admixture, and founder effects, was elucidated using diverse population genetic statistics. Thar groups occupy an intermediate position on the Indian north south cline. Pastoralists and artisans (woodcarvers, Persian gold embosser) clustered with West Eurasian lineages, while potters and performers aligned with southern clines. Uniparental data confirmed heterogeneous Indian lineages. Signals of gene culture was evident the lactase persistence allele was higher in pastoralists but lower in gold embossers despite shared ancestry. Noteworthy, the populations retains a high frequency of the European allele of SLC24A5 associated with lighter skin pigmentation despite the desert environment. Demographic analyses indicate admixture 60 to 80 generations ago and strong founder effects in certain groups, particularly tie and dye artisans approx 500 to 600 years ago. Ancient DNA comparisons confirmed continuity with Indus periphery and historical South Asian populations. The genetic landscape of the Thar is a palimpsest shaped by successive layers of settlement, migration, and cultural continuity. By establishing the first genomic baseline of its craft and pastoral communities, this study reveals how ecology and endogamy intersect with population history to generate a unique genetic landscape. These findings provide essential context for studying genetic risk, adaptation, and human resilience in extreme environments.

ABSTRACT This piece of work provides an in‐depth analysis of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) fluid flow and heat transport near a continuously moving vertical plate in the presence of nonlinear thermal radiation with convective boundary condition. A nonlinear dependence of thermal radiation on temperature enhances thermal transport, while convective boundary conditions govern heat transfer at the plate surface. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) through the application of a similarity transformation. To numerically solve these ODEs, we have used bvp4c method in MATLAB. The influences of dimensionless parameters on heat transfer and fluid flow are presented using tables and graphs. The key novelty of this study lies in analyzing the impact of nonlinear thermal radiation on MHD flow over a constantly moving vertical plate using the bvp4c method. When the fluid flows in the positive x‐direction and the plate moves in the opposite direction, the coefficient of skin friction decreases. Moreover, when the direction of the fluid and the plate is the same, both the velocity and the temperature profiles increase with greater nonlinear thermal radiation. Near the wall, the temperature gradient decreases as nonlinear thermal radiation intensifies, while it increases in the free stream. The thickness of the thermal boundary layer decreases, while the thickness of the velocity boundary layer increases with increasing magnetic parameter. Similarly, when the Grashof number increases, the velocity boundary layer becomes thicker, while the thermal boundary layer tends to become thinner. However, when the Prandtl number increases, the thermal boundary layer becomes thicker, whereas the velocity boundary layer tends to become thinner. Practically, these findings aid in optimizing heat transfer in engineering applications such as cooling systems, heat exchangers, aerospace thermal protection, and biomedical devices.

Background: One of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped countries, is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Tobacco, alcohol, and areca nuts are known risk factors, but new research suggests that chronic inflammation, microbial dysbiosis, and inadequate dental hygiene might also play a role in the development of oral cancer. Aim: There are limited data on the existence of a relationship between poor oral hygiene, periodontal pathogens, and early oral cytological indicators of oral carcinogenesis in clinically normal oral mucosa. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was done involving 150 individuals ( n = 50 in each group), namely: People in Group A with chronic periodontitis and inadequate dental hygiene practices; People in Group B have moderate gum disease and poor oral hygiene, whereas those in Group C have excellent gum disease and periodontal health. The degree of dental care was assessed using periodontal factors and the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified. Micronucleus (MN) and nuclear abnormality frequency measurements were derived from exfoliative cytology of buccal mucosa. Using the polymerase chain reaction, samples of subgingival plaque were tested for Porphyromonas gingivalis , Tannerella forsythia , and Fusobacterium nucleatum . Results: Group A exhibited much more MN frequency (17.6 ± 5.7 per 1000 cells) than Group B (10.2 ± 3.9) and Group C (3.8 ± 1.7) ( P < 0.001). The nuclear abnormalities were common in Group A (70.0) compared to Group B (46.0) and Group C (12.0). In Group A, P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were the most common (60.0 and 66.0, respectively). The positive correlation was found between MN frequency and probing pocket depth; between MN frequency and F. nucleatum . Conclusion: The relationship between oral hygiene and periodontal pathogens with cytological indicators of genomic instability in healthy oral mucosa is strongly related, implying a contributory role in oral carcinogenesis. Oral health and periodontal health should be maintained optimally to potentially have a significant preventive value in decreasing the risk of oral cancer.

Context Poultry farming is challenged by various stressors, particularly transportation stress, which negatively impacts the health and productivity of birds. Aims This study explores the outcomes of transportation stress and resting period on the expression of Superoxide dismutase, Caspase-6 and Glucocorticoid-related genes in broilers, both with and without the use of anti-stressor supplements. Methods An entirety of 240 Cobb broilers (40 days old) were divided into six treatment groups as follows. All groups were transported for 8 h. T1: control group; T2: 1-h rest after transport in a ambient room temperature; and T3: 1-h rest after transport in a cool environment (20–25°C). For the last three groups: T4, T5, T6: received an anti-stressor solution (4.2 g/L) twice daily for three straight days before transport. After transport, T5: 1-h rest in ambient room temperature; T6: 1-h rest in a cool environment (20–25°C). Following transport, bodyweight changes were measured, and liver and jejunum tissues were harvested for RNA extraction purposes. The samples were analysed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of genes. Key results Results showed that those broilers supplemented with an anti-stressor package had a significant reduction in bodyweight loss (P < 0.001), with the lowest weight loss (−6.37%) noted in the T6 group. Gene expression analyses revealed significant (P < 0.05) down-regulation of Superoxide Dismutase, Caspase-6, and Glucocorticoid genes in liver and jejunum tissues of supplemented and cooled birds, with T6 exhibiting a pronounced reduction. Conclusions This study confirms that using an anti-stressor supplement along with suitable lairage environments effectively alleviates transport-induced oxidative stress in broilers, and offers a promising solution for reducing transportation stress in broilers. Implications The formulated anti-stressor package is designed for use in broiler birds prior to transport, across all climatic conditions, effectively minimising stress and enhancing profitability for stakeholders.

ABSTRACTBackground:Stainless steel (SS) crowns are a widely accepted restorative option for primary molars due to their durability and longevity. Recently, Bioflx crowns, a biocompatible alternative, have been introduced, claiming improved esthetics and comparable clinical success. This study aims to compare the clinical success of SS crowns and Bioflx crowns in primary molars over 12 months using a split-mouth design.Materials and Methods:A total of 40 children, aged 5–8 years, with bilateral carious primary molars were included in this 12-month prospective split-mouth study. Each child received an SS crown on one side and a Bioflx crown on the contralateral side. Standardized crown placement protocols were followed. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to assess retention, marginal integrity, gingival health, and overall success. Data were statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test and paired t-test, with significance set at P < 0.05.Results:At the 12-month follow-up, clinical success rates were 95% for SS crowns and 92% for Bioflx crowns. Retention was 100% for SS crowns and 98% for Bioflx crowns. Marginal integrity scores were slightly higher for SS crowns (96%) compared to Bioflx crowns (92%). Gingival health was comparable between the two groups, with no significant difference observed (P > 0.05). Patient satisfaction regarding esthetics was significantly higher for Bioflx crowns (P < 0.01).Conclusion:Both SS and Bioflx crowns demonstrated high clinical success rates in restoring primary molars. While SS crowns showed marginally better retention and marginal integrity, Bioflx crowns were preferred for esthetic reasons. Bioflx crowns may serve as an effective alternative to SS crowns, particularly in esthetically sensitive cases.