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Advances in suicide prevention: Critical overview of the gaps in suicide risk assessments, multimodal strategies, medicolegal risks, and the emerging evidence
The CDC reports that the United States has the highest suicide rates in over 80 years. Numerous public policies aimed at reducing the rising suicide rates, such as Aetna's partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the zero-suicide initiative, continue to challenge these attempts. It, therefore, remains imperative to explore the shortcomings of these efforts that hamper their efficiency in reducing suicide rates. Advancements in research over time have sparked scientific skepticism, encouraging re-evaluation of established concepts. The current paper tests prevalent assumptions and arguments to uncover a scientifically informed approach to addressing rising suicide rates in clinical settings. The Author(s), 2024. -
Breaking the Taboo: Addressing Menstrual Health Challenges in India
Although, menstrual hygiene is a topic as ancient as mankind, it has recently garnered attention because society is more willing to face its difficulties. Adolescents seldom talk about issues related to menstruation, menstruation disorders, menstrual cleanliness, and customs of their culture. There is little data on the hardships that teenage females bear from menstruation and their social norms. Adolescent health education must include information about menstruation. Menstrual behaviors are often greatly influenced by culture, awareness, and social condition. However, periods, behaviors, and problems are seldom included in health education programs for the younger girls in impoverished nations. International health organizations such as WHO and UNICEF have advised developing culturally responsive menstrual health management (MHM) as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs for the adolescent girls. Without an awareness of the preconceived notions and prejudices that teenage girls in poor nations currently have about menstruation, these programs cannot be implemented. The goal of this review from India was to record the myths that are currently in circulation concerning menstruation, menarche, and other understudied menstrual constraints. Our goal in conducting this review was to characterize and assess the effectiveness of menstruation education programs designed to provide early teenage girls the information and abilities they need to support menstrual health. RJPT All right reserved. -
Nanocarbon assisted green hydrogen production: Development and recent trends
The increasing consumption of energy and consequent fast depletion of fossil fuels and associated environmental challenges necessitate transformative innovations in the field of energy conversion. Owing to its exceptional energy density and zero emissions during combustion, Hydrogen is hailed as a promising source of clean and renewable energy that can replace fossil fuels in future energy conversion systems. Since Hydrogen is not readily available in the atmosphere, a variety of pathways have been followed for the evolution of Hydrogen from water and organic materials, which requires the involvement of catalysts to accelerate the reactions. Currently, noble metals and their alloys represent state-of-the-art materials for HER (Hydrogen Evolution Reaction), and the scarcity and high expense of such materials impose significant constraints on their widespread implementation in hydrogen production. In this context, nanocarbons and their composites for HER are worth exploring owing to their abundance, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, exceptionally large surface-to-volume ratio, and excellent electrical and charge transfer properties. Here, three leading hydrogen production methods - biological, electrochemical, and photo-driven- are analyzed based on their characteristics, effectiveness, and limitations w.r.t. different nanocarbon materials. 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC -
Growth of Indian cement industry, its environment impact and emerging alternatives
The present study provides a detailed review on growth of Indian cement industry, its environmental implications of cement production and its significant influence on the future trajectory of the Indian concrete industry. The Indian cement sector, a vital contributor to the nation's economy, faces a dual challenge of meeting the growing demand for construction materials while mitigating its environmental footprint. The study delves into the industry's current status as the world's second-largest cement producer and its impact on various sectors, including employment, GDP contribution, and dependence on real estate and infrastructure. The paper identifies key obstacles hindering the Indian concrete industry's full potential, such as a slowdown in real estate development, low industrial investment, regulatory changes, and constraints on resource extraction. Despite the industry's promising growth, the looming threats from emerging technologies and increasing environmental concerns, particularly related to greenhouse gas emissions, necessitate a strategic shift towards sustainability. A central focus of the research is the urgent need for the Indian concrete industry to address its environmental impact, specifically the 7% contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. The study explores the industry's role in creating carbon-neutral concrete by 2050 and emphasizes the importance of collaboration with policymakers, financial institutions like the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and end users in achieving this ambitious goal. The study reveals the comprehensive resource for industry stakeholders, and researchers interested in understanding the environmental implications of cement production and charting a sustainable course for the future of the Indian concrete industry and emerging alternatives. 2024, National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research. All rights reserved. -
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)A potential source of phytochemicals, food, and nutritionAn updated review
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is believed to be an important staple food crop providing potential valuable food source as well as variety of phytoconstituents. Its starchy tubers provide a significant source of energy for around 500 million individuals. Among staple crops, it is regarded to be one of the top suppliers of carbohydrates. Its physicochemical qualities, as well as its availability, have made it a captivating food component. Cassava starch is a valuable raw material used to make a variety of both native and modified starch for cooking purposes. They have also been used for a variety of industrial uses. Cassava starch and flour have the potential to be valuable alternatives to rice, maize, and wheat crops. The advantages included being a staple diet for humans, a component of animal feeds, a raw ingredient for food processing, edible coatings, locally produced alcoholic beverages, and ethanol manufacturing. The roots consist of cyanogenic glycosides, which can lead to lethal cyanide poisoning if tubers arse not properly detoxified using different processing methods include washing, fermentation, boiling, peeling and chemical processing to escape toxin content. The current review summarizes cassava's bioactive components which could be a potential source of various pharmaceutical drugs as well as a source of traditional and modern food applications. 2024 The Authors. eFood published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety. -
Hardware in loop network simulators - An insight overview
Network simulation is a method of using software or a tool which can be used to mimic the network conditions that exist in pre-defined places. This kind of simulation allows the developers, designers, researchers and the network planners to intelligently plan, design, develop and test their applications or research work in changing network conditions. With varying network conditions either because of wireless nature or because of user mobility, it is very difficult to simulate the exact network conditions with the existing network simulators. These network simulators are flexible, re-usable and reliable. But they have a limitation of not being able to replicate the actual network conditions in the laboratories. This calls for a system in the loop or hardware in the loop concept to be extended to the network simulators. The idea of system in the loop is not new. In this paper, an overview with the fundamental understanding of the hardware-in-loop concept for network simulators, their applications and a review of the existing hardware-in-loop network simulators with their advantages and disadvantages is presented. 2024 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
Polymer-nanocarbon composites: a promising strategy for enhanced performance of organic solar cells
The exigency for sustainable and clean energy resources has led to profound research in development of various generations of solar cells, aiming to control the over-exploitation of fossil fuels and subsequently limit environmental degradation. Among the fast-emerging third-generation solar cells, polymer solar cell technology has gained much consideration due to its potential for achieving economically feasible, lightweight, flexible solar energy harvesting devices. As a predominant research area, at present, the major concerns regarding polymer solar cells include improving conversion efficiency, enhancing absorption bandgap in polymers, limiting photochemical degradation, and remediating low dielectric constant. Nanocarbon materials can be effectively blended with polymers and have been widely reported to enhance the performance of polymer solar cells owing to their desirable characteristics like high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, thermal stability, non-toxicity, large specific surface area, flexibility, and optical transparency. In this review, we briefly discuss various conjugated polymer-nanocarbon composites, including polymer/graphene derivatives, polymer/graphene quantum dots (GQD), and polymer/carbon nanotubes (CNTs), elucidating their roles in the performance enhancement of polymer solar cells (PSCs). Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.). The Author(s) 2023. -
The effect of dietary supplementation of proteases on growth, digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and intestinal morphology in fishes A review
Optimizing utilization of nutrients and improving protein digestibility, particularly in the early stages of cultivable species, is a challenging task for the sustainable development of aquaculture. The use of protein-digesting enzymes as a feed supplement is an eco-friendly approach to improve protein digestibility. Exogenous enzymes, particularly proteases, have been shown to improve fish growth, nutrient digestibility, immunological parameters, intestinal topography, and most importantly, water quality. Although there is a clear understanding of the role of proteases and their mechanism of action, their role as a feed supplement in aquaculture remains controversial. In this review, we present updated information on the impact of proteases in improving various development indicators and fish health in general. Based on the information gathered from the current state of knowledge, it is clear that extensive research has to be made to broaden the application of proteases overcoming the drawbacks that could hinder its application in the field. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. -
A Systematic Review of Fish-Based Biomaterial on Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Processes
Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review to study the effects of fish-based biomaterials on wound healing in both in vivo and in vitro animal models. Approach: This review covers the study reported in different articles between 2016 and August 2022 concentrating mainly on the cytotoxicity evaluation of different fish-based biomaterials on inflammation, reepithelialization and wound healing. Significance: This review shows considerable amount of research work carried out with fish-based biomaterials and collagen for treating burn wounds. Surprisingly there are only a few commercial products developed so far in this particular regard for surgical purpose and therefore, there is a way out and need for developing medical support product from fish-based biomaterials to treat and cure wounds. Recent Advances: Three-dimensional skin bioprinting technique is a large-scale solution for severe burn wounds that requires collagen as a raw material for printing, wherein fish collagen can be used in place of bovine and porcine, as it is biocompatible, promotes cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration, and degrades enzymatically. In the recent times, there are a few fish-based surgical products that have been formulated by Kerecis in United States. Critical Issues: The different fish-based biomaterial products are all mere supplements taken in orally as food or supplements till date and there is no proper proven medications that has been formulated so far in the field of wound healing and inflammation based on fish biomaterials except the surgical products that can be finger counted. Future Directions: Fish-based biomaterials are known for the medicinal properties that are used throughout the world and further investigations should be carried out to understand the actual physiochemical properties of its derivatives for the discovery of novel products and drugs. Copyright 2024 by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. -
Anticancer activity and other biomedical properties of ?-sitosterol: Bridging phytochemistry and current pharmacological evidence for future translational approaches
Sterols, including ?-sitosterol, are essential components of cellular membranes in both plant and animal cells. Despite being a major phytosterol in various plant materials, comprehensive scientific knowledge regarding the properties of ?-sitosterol and its potential applications is essential for scholarly pursuits and utilization purposes. ?-sitosterol shares similar chemical characteristics with cholesterol and exhibits several pharmacological activities without major toxicity. This study aims to bridge the gap between phytochemistry and current pharmacological evidence of ?-sitosterol, focusing on its anticancer activity and other biomedical properties. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of ?-sitosterol's potential for future translational approaches. A thorough examination of the literature was conducted to gather relevant information on the biological properties of ?-sitosterol, particularly its anticancer therapeutic potential. Various databases were searched, including PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science using appropriate keywords. Studies investigating the effects of ?-sitosterol on different types of cancer were analyzed, focusing on mechanisms of action, pharmacological screening, and chemosensitizing properties. Modern pharmacological screening studies have revealed the potential anticancer therapeutic properties of ?-sitosterol against various types of cancer, including leukemia, lung, stomach, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. ?-sitosterol has demonstrated chemosensitizing effects on cancer cells, interfering with multiple cell signaling pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, survival, metastasis invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Structural derivatives of ?-sitosterol have also shown anti-cancer effects. However, research in the field of drug delivery and the detailed mode of action of ?-sitosterol-mediated anticancer activities remains limited. ?-sitosterol, as a non-toxic compound with significant pharmacological potential, exhibits promising anticancer effects against various cancer types. Despite being relatively less potent than conventional cancer chemotherapeutics, ?-sitosterol holds potential as a safe and effective nutraceutical against cancer. Further comprehensive studies are recommended to explore the biological properties of ?-sitosterol, including its mode of action, and develop novel formulations for its potential use in cancer treatment. This review provides a foundation for future investigations and highlights the need for further research on ?-sitosterol as a potent superfood in combating cancer. 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
A review on ethanol tolerance mechanisms in yeast: Current knowledge in biotechnological applications and future directions
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the prominent strains in the brewing and bioethanol industries and has been used for many industrial purposes for ages. Though the organism is an outstanding ethanol producer, the major limiting factor is the stress the organism undergoes during fermentation. One of the significant stresses is the ethanol stress, created by ethanol accumulation in the medium. The ethanol starts to interact with the yeast cell membrane; further, as ethanol concentration increases, it affects a lot of cell organelles. Thereby, cellular activities get disrupted, causing cell death and hence reducing ethanol production. The organism has developed many strategies to overcome this stress by activating the stress response pathway, which regulates many genes involved in modifying the cell membrane cell wall, renaturation of proteins, and altering the metabolism. However, with higher ethanol concentrations, the yeast cells will be unable to tolerate, leading to cell death. Hence, to minimize cell death at higher ethanol concentrations, there is a need to understand the effect of ethanol and its response by the organism; this helps improve the ethanol tolerance of the organism and, thereby, ethanol production. Although many research works are carried out to understand the vital aspect of the tolerance and are reported, very few review papers cover all these points. Hence, this review is designed to include information on all the elements of ethanol tolerance, i.e., ethanol tolerance of different strains of S. cerevisiae, the effect of ethanol on the yeast cells, the mechanism used to tolerate the ethanol, and various techniques developed to improve the ethanol tolerance of the yeast cells. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Biotechnological approaches for the production of hypericin and other important metabolites from the genus Hypericum
Hypericin, a polycyclic naphthodianthrone and active plant pigment with the molecular formula C30H16O8, is a crucial phytochemical extracted from the dark-colored glands present on the aerial parts of the genus Hypericum. It is biosynthesized through the polyketide pathway by plant-specific type III polyketide synthases (PKSs). In addition to hypericin, the genus Hypericum is rich in various classes of phytochemicals. Alongside other bioactive compounds like hyperforin and flavonoids, hypericin exhibits antidepressant activity. Recently, hypericin has gained increased importance in the research due to its unique properties. Its photodynamic nature makes it an effective natural photosensitizer, extending its use in investigating skin disorders. Moreover, hypericin demonstrates antiviral and antitumoral properties. Despite its effectiveness in treating cancers and neurological disorders, hypericin production faces challenges due to its site-specific nature. Conventional methods struggle to meet the growing demand for hypericin. Biotechnological approaches, including plant tissue culture and bioreactor-based large-scale production, offer promising solutions to address this demand. This review focuses on various plant tissue culture techniques, such as cell and organ culture, and elucidates their biosynthetic pathways. It also discusses hypericin production using elicitation strategies involving biotic and abiotic components, as well as genetic engineering approaches to enhance hypericin yields. Bioreactor-scale production presents significant potential for sustainable hypericin production. Further advancements in understanding and engineering biosynthetic pathways hold promise for unlocking new avenues in hypericin production. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
First Aid Kit to Solve Mental Health Crisis in India: Mental Health First Aid to the Rescue
India has a large population with the prevalence of many mental health concerns but faces a shortage of mental health professionals. This paper deals with this mental health crisis in India and how Mental Health First Aid and developing a first aid kit for mental health would help to address the issue. Mental health and mental illness in India additionally face stigma and backlash from the society. Due to this, very few people with mental ailments come forward to seek professional help. While we are aware of and trained in first aid for physical health, the concept of first aid for mental health is in its infancy. Hence, a review of literature was done to find the benefits of Mental Health First Aid and how it could benefit in solving the crisis in India. Creating a Mental Health First Aid Kit on a similar basis to its physical counterpart can also come in handy while administering mental health first aid. Results show that an individual trained inmental health first aid might act as a bridge between people with mental ailments and mental health professionals and assist in providing timely help. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India 2023. -
State of the art MOF-composites and MXene-composites: Synthesis, fabrication and diverse applications
The composites of MXene and Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained considerable attention recently due to their synergic properties. MOFs are advantageous as it offers high surface area, good stability, and tunable chemical structure, MXenes, on the other hand, provide superior ion-transport characteristics, high conductivity, large surface-to-volume ratio, and facile modification strategies. Composite fabrication enables tuning the desired properties of the individual materials and propounds good stability and enhanced performance. This review assembles and describes the composites of MXene and MOF in various fields of application like energy storage devices, sensors, medicinal, separation membranes, medicinal, and photocatalysis in a comprehensible way. Here we first outline the characteristics of MOFs and MXenes along with a comparative study of different synthesis routes for the fabrication of the composites. The review also encompasses a detailed discussion on different industries and applications that the MXene and MOF composites are subjected to. Finally, the review provides future perspective for designing and development of newer composites as well as scope for further industrial approach. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Low-cost bio-waste carbon nanocomposites for sustainable electrochemical devices: A systematic review
Innovative brains have always drawn inspiration from nature while creating new designs. Animals and plants offer a variety of structures that are stronger, have higher energy sorption capacities, and have lower densities. These structures can inspire the creation of new, functional designs. Scientists have created structures by drawing inspiration from biological structures seen in nature. These structures have been demonstrated to significantly outperform conventional structures for use in the environmental and energy sectors. Due to their simple synthesis, adaptability, excellent performance, and variety of uses, including in light-harvesting systems, batteries, catalysis, bio-fuels, water, and air purification, and environmental monitoring, bio-fabricated materials have demonstrated several advantages. However, sensitive fabrication tools that can create bio-inspired structures and scale up manufacturing from laboratory-scale synthesis are urgently needed. A quick rundown of recent developments in bionanomaterials for different electrochemical systems, particularly the extensively researched rechargeable batteries, sensors, and supercapacitors, provided a discussion of the design principles for bionanomaterials, synthesis, and strategies for low-cost bio-inspired nanomaterial synthesis and device integration. A quick overview of the future research priorities is then suggested, followed by a critical analysis of the current problems. This review is anticipated to provide some understanding of biowaste-nanocomposites for electrochemical applications by taking cues from nature. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Graphs on groups in terms of the order of elements: A review
Two mathematical fields that concentrate on creating and analyzing structures are algebra and graph theory. There are numerous studies linking algebraic structures like groups, rings, fields and vector spaces with graph theory. Several algebraic graphs have been defined based on the properties of the order of the group and its elements. In this paper, we systematically review the literature on such graphs to understand the research dynamics in the field. 2024 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
An outlook on zero-dimensional nanocarbons as components of DSSC
Solar energy is an abundant source of energy, and harnessing the suns radiation with an efficient solar cell can be a promising technology for a limitless supply of sustainable energy. The amount of solar power that reaches the earth is beyond the worlds energy consumption. But, the main cause for minimal usage of the suns energy is the complicated technology, restricted band gap, high-temperature instability, and high cost of production. Likewise, the usage of space and infrastructure required for the installation of solar cells is yet another reason for limited usage. Upon comparing the emerging photovoltaics, DSSC (dye-sensitized solar cells) can be a solution for the drawbacks faced by the older generation solar cells which has greater future scope as an energy harvester. Rapid technological growth over the years, usage of affordable materials, and capability of working efficiently in low lighting conditions make DSSC a commercially viable and potent solar energy harvester. Furthermore, its efficiency can be improved with the inclusion of low-dimensional nanocarbons in various components of DSSC. Therefore, this review describes the mechanisms of improving the performance of zero-dimensional nanocarbons and their application in components of DSSC alternative to conventional materials. The significant impact of surface functionalization of low-dimensional nanocarbon on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells is also discussed. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022. Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. -
Triggers of Changes in Business Processes and Applications: A Systematic Review
Organizations must constantly adapt due to the rapid rate of technological development, market conditions, and customer expectations. The multidimensional world of catalysts that drive changes in corporate processes and applications is explored in this systematic review. Every business must adopt the changes if it wants to compete in the market and outlast its rivals. A wide range of factors, including internal and external forces, can cause applications and business processes to change. These changes are frequently necessary to stay current with the shifting demands of the market, technology advancements, organizational requirements, competitive pressures, legal compliance, environmental and sustainability programs, market trends, and consumer insights. Taking this into account, this chapter attempts to concentrate on the causes of changes in business processes and applications by analyzing the perspective. 2024, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved. -
Microplastic residues in clinical samples: A retrospection on sources, entry routes, detection methods and human toxicity
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging toxicants which have been detected in varying environments. Despite MPs adverse effects, reports on MPs detection from human clinical samples are only a few. This is due to several reasons such as inefficiency of current MPs detection techniques to detect them from human clinical samples, lack of understanding about the MPs toxicity to human organs and ethical regulations that restricts study with human placental exposure to MPs. This review gives a comprehensive outlook on the major sources MPs sources and routes into human system and their human toxicity mechanisms. Further an in-depth discussion on the significance and limitations of various MPs detection methods is elaborated in the review. Challenges in current research framework for detection of MPs from human clinical samples and the possible future directions in this imperative research domain are also focused in this review. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Experiences of Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education: A Scoping Review
Background: As the number of students with learning disabilities (SwLD) entering higher education (HE) increases, a need arises to improve the services provided to them by understanding their experiences. This scoping review explores the extent and type of evidence on the experiences of SwLD in HE. Method: The review followed the six stages outlined by Arksey and OMalley. PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, ProQuest, and APA PsycNet were searched for primary data, and studies published between January 2012 and July 2022 were included. The following information was extracted and collated from the included studies: author/s, year, location, objective/aim, study design, materials and methods, and major findings. Results: The search yielded 3729 titles and abstracts. Their screening resulted in 26 eligible articles. The review of these articles identified three major themes: (a) academic concerns, (b) psychosocial experiences, and (c) support systems and accommodations. The academic concerns included difficulties in areas such as reading, writing, and spelling. The studies on psychosocial experiences showed that SwLD experience stress, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. The studies on support systems and accommodations indicate that they get academic support, technological support, and extra time for examinations from educational institutions. Conclusion: The SwLD experiences academic and psychosocial challenges during higher studies. However, the existing support systems do not address these challenges, and there is a need for further research in this area. 2023 The Author(s).