Volume 13 | Issue 8 |

 Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in soil ecosystems poses a significant environmental and microbiological concern due to the persistent and toxic nature of metals such as Zinc and Cadmium. This study evaluated the microbial response to heavy metal-induced stress by isolating soil bacteria from industrially impacted areas in Bangalore, India. Using standard microbiological techniques, the isolates were cultured on various media and were exposed to various concentrations of Zn and Cd to evaluate their tolerance profiles. Disc diffusion assays were performed to determine zones of inhibition, revealing concentration-dependent sensitivity. Zinc showed moderate antimicrobial effects, with partial bacterial growth observed at lower concentrations, while cadmium exhibited strong toxicity and completely inhibited microbial growth in most cases. Subculturing in broth media further confirmed these observations, with visible growth in Zinc-supplemented Nutrient Broth but complete inhibition in Luria Broth, potentially due to me

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Heavy metal stress; Cadmium; Zinc; Disc diffusion assay; Bioremediation potential

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Body self-image refers to how one perceives their own bodies on the basis of different aspects like fitness, fatness, overall appearance, and some other aspects. The motivation to compare one's body through social media describes a person's inclination to evaluate their own physical appearance in relation to others they see online. The present study was done on 200 college students to study the relationship between social media use with the motivation of body comparison and dimensions of body self-image. The tools used were motivation to use social media for body comparison and subscales of body self-image questionnaire-short form (BSIQ-SF). Correlation design was used and the results showed a significant negative relationship between motivation to use social media for body comparison and investment in ideals (r = -0.145*), other correlations with BSIQ-SF subscales were not significant. Regarding BSIQ-SF subscale interrelations, positive significant correlations emerged between investment in ideals and health fitness influence (r = 0.179*), social dependence (r = 0.267***), and attention to grooming (r = 0.377***). Negative significant correlations were found between overall appearance evaluation and other variables like fatness evaluation (r = -0.516***) and negative affect (r = -0.496***). The study is significant because it provides the basis for developing psychological interventions, educational policies, empirical evidence that would help in the reformation of societal standards of beauty and perception of a 'perfect body', by forming an essential reference for further studies in this field of research.

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College Students, Motivation to Use Social Media for Body Comparison, Dimensions of Body Self-image, Social Media

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Abstract- The relationship between violence and memory in Saadat Hasan Manto's Partition tales Thanda Gosht and Khol Do is examined in this essay. Both tales illustrate how the pain of Partition persists as an embodied memory and psychological scar long after the violence has ended. Ishwar Singh's discovery of the murdered girl and his subsequent impotence in Thanda Gosht reveal how cruelty leaves a lasting memory that undermines connection and identity. In contrast, Sakina's dehumanized state, where her robotic answer to the command "open it," attests to the erasure of agency under the weight of repeated assaults, is how Khol Do foregrounds the collective pain of displacement and sexual abuse. Together, these stories illustrate Manto's unflinching portrayal of Partition as not merely a historical rupture but a continuing site of memory, where survivors and victims' alike embody the afterlife of violence. Drawing on trauma theory, particularly Cathy Caruth's notion of trauma as a belated and intrusive experience, this paper argues that Manto situates Partition within a framework of unending remembrance, making visible the inescapable entanglement of violence, memory, and identity.

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Violence, trauma, memory, partition, Manto and Caruth

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Background: Somatoform disorder is characterized by physical symptoms without adequate medical explanation, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and contributing to disability. Despite its clinical relevance, limited research has focused on the Indian population, particularly in Madhya Pradesh. Objectives: To assess the quality of life and disability among patients diagnosed with somatoform disorder and to examine their association with selected sociodemographic variables. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 patients attending psychiatry outpatient departments in selected hospitals of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Standardized tools including the WHOQOL-BREF scale and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) were administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, SD, percentage) and inferential statistics (chi-square test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation). Results: The majority of participants (58%) were females, and the most affected age group was 25-44 years (62%). The mean quality of life score was 47.6 (SD = 8.9), indicating poor quality of life across physical and psychological domains. Disability scores revealed moderate to severe impairment in work and social functioning, with a mean WHODAS score of 39.4 (SD = 11.2). Gender, educational status, and duration of illness were significantly associated with both quality of life and disability (p < 0.05). A negative correlation (r = -0.62) was found between quality of life and disability scores, suggesting that higher disability was associated with poorer quality of life. Conclusion: Patients with somatoform disorder experience substantial impairment in daily functioning and reduced quality of life. Early detection, psychoeducation, and integration of psychosocial interventions are essential for improving outcomes.

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Keywords: Somatoform disorder, quality of life, disability, psychosocial variables, Indore

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Abstract : This research study is based on innovative teaching method for Science subject. The primary students afraid about the science subject. Most of the students and their parents use to send their children to the coaching classes from the primary stage. It creates burden on the students. Science is the subject that can be apply in the day today life also. Teacher should develop the scientific attitude of the students. From the primary classes if proper teaching method is adopted then it will make sound base for the future. Therefore an attempt has been made to taught the science subject by using Cross Over Learning Method. In cross over learning method formal way of teaching and informal way of teaching is adopted. The main objective was to select the lesson for science subject and develop the material for Cross over Learning Method and to study its effectiveness in terms of achievement of the students in science subject. For this research study two schools were randomly selected. Two classes of six slandered were selected. Total 100 students were selected by using simple random method. Both the classes randomly assigned in Control group and Experimental group. Experimental method was used to study the effectiveness of the Cross Over Learning Method. Pre teat and post test control group design was used to control the extraneous variables. The treatment was given for 30 days. It was found that Cross Over Learning makes the students active learners. They become happy while learning the Science subject. The Cross Over Learning Method was more effective then traditional method of teaching Science subject,

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Cross over Learning, Science teaching , Innovative Teaching Learning

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Heavy metal contamination is a significant environmental issue. Toxic metals like lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) do not break down and build up in living organisms. They disrupt how microbes function and can affect ecosystems, even in small amounts. This study looked at how stress from heavy metals impacts bacterial populations isolated from industrial soil samples. We also assessed their tolerance and growth responses to lead acetate (Pb(C?H?O?)?) and mercury chloride (HgCl?). Soil samples were collected from two industrial sites in Bengaluru. We obtained bacterial isolates using serial dilution and culture methods. Pure isolates underwent disc diffusion assays, heavy metal-supplemented sub-culturing, and broth exposure experiments to examine their responses based on metal type and concentration. The disc diffusion assay showed that mercury chloride had strong bacteriostatic activity. It created large zones of inhibition at all tested concentrations (5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg) and completely stopped bacterial growth. In contrast, lead acetate created smaller inhibition zones, with bacteria continuing to grow at all concentrations. This indicates partial tolerance and suggests adaptive mechanisms like efflux, sequestration, or biosorption. Broth culture experiments confirmed that the inhibition was dependent on concentration with lead exposure. However, there was no growth in mercury-supplemented broth. Luria broth did not support bacterial growth for either heavy metal, and we consistently observed precipitation, likely due to chemical interactions reducing nutrient availability. Screening on Eosin Methylene Blue agar showed no growth, suggesting that the isolates were non-lactose fermenters. Gram staining confirmed the presence of Gram-positive cocci and bacilli, indicating a diverse bacterial community. Overall, the results showed that bacterial tolerance to heavy metals varies by metal type and concentration. Isolates were more sensitive to mercury but showed greater tolerance to lead. These findings shed light on how microbes adapt to heavy metal stress and underline the potential use of lead-tolerant bacterial strains in bioremediation efforts for contaminated environments. There is a need for more molecular characterization and resistance gene profiling to better understand adaptive mechanisms and improve microbial applications for environmental restoration

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Heavy metal contamination, bacterial tolerance, lead acetate, mercury chloride, bioremediation.

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Topic: Materialism and consumerism portrayed in The Rape of the Lock and the movie " Parasite". Abstract: Both the film and the poem is a satire on the consumerist, capitalist society. In the film, we see that Kim 's family is aiming to achieve the materialistic things of Mr Park's family and due to this, they commit mistakes and crimes. The film becomes a satire on a consumerist and capitalist society and how too much desire of the materialistic things could be detrimental. In the poem, The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope, there is a similar obsession with the materialistic things. When Belinda wakes up from sleep, we see that she is obsessed with the dressing table and the make-up products that lay on the dressing table. Pope uses a mock- heroic style to depict the consumerist society and how the cutting of the lock, which symbolises the beauty of Belinda, arouses anger in Belinda.

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Keywords: Materialism, class disparity, mock- heroic

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In an era dominated by digitalization, corporate liability in data breach cases has become a pressing concern in India's legal and regulatory landscape. Indian corporations are increasingly custodians of vast quantities of sensitive personal data, making them attractive targets for cyberattacks. However, the existing legal framework, comprising primarily the Information Technology Act, 2000 and related rules, has not evolved in tandem with the complexity and scale of contemporary data breaches. This has led to significant ambiguity in assigning corporate accountability. While Section 43A of the IT Act imposes civil liability for failure to protect sensitive personal data, its enforcement remains weak, and it lacks specific criminal provisions for gross negligence or willful data misuse. Furthermore, the absence of a dedicated data protection statute has contributed to inconsistent jurisprudence and inadequate remedies for victims.

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Corporate liability, data breach, Indian IT law, data protection, digital compliance

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Abstract Background: Mental illness is often accompanied by stigma, misconceptions, and negative attitudes that hinder the reintegration of cured individuals into society. Families play a crucial role in the rehabilitation and acceptance of recovered persons. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude about mental illness and the acceptance of mentally ill cured persons among family members residing in selected areas of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 family members selected using a purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire assessed knowledge (20 items), attitude (15 statements), and acceptance (10 items). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Results: Out of 200 participants, 62% had adequate knowledge, 25% had moderate knowledge, while 13% demonstrated poor knowledge. A positive attitude was reported in 58% of participants, whereas 30% had a neutral and 12% had negative attitudes. Acceptance levels showed that 64% of family members were willing to reintegrate a cured person into their family life, but only 48% were comfortable with marriage alliances involving recovered patients. A significant association was found between knowledge levels and education (p<0.05), and between attitude and occupation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although most family members showed adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes, gaps in acceptance--especially concerning marriage and social integration--were observed. Targeted awareness programs and community-based mental health education are recommended to reduce stigma and enhance acceptance of cured persons.

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Keywords: Mental illness, family members, knowledge, attitude, acceptance, Indore, India.

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Juxtaposing literary works and psychological theories is one of the methods to assess the merit of any literary work. More than the merits, at times, this method is also employed to unearth the social, cultural, aesthetic and psychological aspects of the literary work at hand. Herman Hesse's Siddhartha bears a lot of psychological dimensions. The different facets of the protagonist's life can only be perceived by careful consideration of what is working inside his psyche. Analytical Psychology directs us towards a deeper understanding about the protagonist's deportment beyond the surface level of understanding. It leads us to a more intricate pattern of human behavior. Jung's theory offers an array of terminologies that can explicate intentional and unintentional acts. Collective unconscious is the central idea of Jungian psychology. It is considered as the reservoir of archetypes and universal symbols shared by all humanity. The protagonist in Siddhartha also comes across with various archetypal figures and symbols which mirrors his own mind and the collective unconscious. At times, the psychic forces are on a collision course, resulting a confused mixture of emotions. The spiritual quest in the novel is often disturbed by the shadow archetype of the protagonist. An insight can be gained from the mundane and spiritual quests of the life of the character by employing various postulates of Analytical Psychology. This paper tries to enquire justifications of human actions by taking Hesse's Siddhartha as specimen and placing it onto the plane of Analytical Psychology.

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Collective Unconscious, Archetype, Self-actualization, Spirituality

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