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Sustaining Tomorrow: Strategies for Long-Term Environmental Governance
Long-term environmental governance (EG) is crucial for addressing global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. This chapter explores the principles, challenges, and emerging trends in EG, emphasizing the necessity of sustainability-focused policies that transcend short-term interests. It discusses key governance frameworks, including the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighting their successes and limitations. The study underscores the role of corporate responsibility, technological innovations, and collaborative governance in promoting sustainable environmental management. It also identifies political, economic, and global disparities as significant barriers to effective governance. This chapter concludes with policy recommendations advocating adaptive governance structures, enhanced international cooperation, and localized sustainability initiatives. By integrating scientific advancements, stakeholder engagement, and long-term policy planning, EG can ensure a balanced approach to development and ecological preservation, securing a sustainable future for coming generations. 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved. -
Student-centered accountability: Bridging the gap between expectations and outcomes
In order to better meet the needs, experiences, and holistic results of their students, higher education institutions (HEIs) may alter standard accountability frameworks, as this chapter examines. Conventional metrics tend to ignore the growth, wellbeing, and career readiness of individual students while placing a strong emphasis on institutional performance indicators such as employment opportunities, rate of graduation, and financial viability. It explores methods for modifying institutional procedures in response to changing student populations, technological advancements, and a range of learning requirements, with a focus on integrating technology, analytics of data, and stakeholder involvement to improve equality and transparency. A thorough framework for student-centered accountability is also presented in this chapter, along with information on its application, difficulties, and potential to promote a more inclusive and responsive system in higher education. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Personality Traits and Financial Literacy: Impact on Equity Investment Intention among Planters in India
This paper examines the relationship of personality and financial aspects toward investment intentions among Indian planters, including long-term and short-term investment decisions. This quantitative study is based on a random survey of 568 planters for the role of Openness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, financial knowledge, financial skills, and financial attitudes. The findings indicate that Extraversion and financial knowledge are significant predictors of risk perception, mediating their influence on investment intentions. Planters with a higher level of financial literacy and an extroverted personality are more likely to perceive risk appropriately, making better investment decisions. Agreeableness was insignificant concerning risk perception, while Openness positively correlated with short-term investment decisions. The findings demonstrate that risk perception acts as a meaningful force towards LTI and STII since planters with the capability to perceive risk appropriately tend to make better decisions in investment. In addition, these results support the idea of financial education's importance in influencing investment behaviour. Such financial literacy programs, targeted towards improving the ability of farmers to assess risk and investment strategies, will be the initiative of the highest priority to bring about better financial outcomes in the Indian agricultural context. In this regard, this research will add knowledge of psychological and financial factors that impact investment decisions in India, and it will provide valuable insights into building an effective financial literacy program to target the enhancement of the investment strategies of planters in the Indian market. 2025, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved. -
Gender and Ontological Friction in Endometriosis Diagnosis
Endometriosis often struggles to consolidate as a recognizable condition during biomedical encounters; in India, this unfolds at the interstice of biomedicine and gender-caste-class persistence. We contribute to contemporary endometriosis discourse by considering how, given the ontological politics of Indian womens reproductive health care, symptoms move across porous configurations without consolidating as disease. Through reflexive thematic analysis, informed by feminist new materialism, of interviews with nine cisgender women in urban India, we trace ontological friction and its influence on patient care practices. We identify this friction as the condition through which diagnostic delay continually emerges. 2026 Society for Menstrual Cycle Research. -
Sociocultural aspects of the medicalisation of infertility: A comparative reading of two illness narratives
This paper is a comparative reading of variations in the medicalisation of infertility caused by sociocultural aspects, in two illness narratives by patients: Elizabeth Katkin's Conceivability (2018), a story of navigating a fertility industry with polycystic ovarian syndrome and antiphospholipid syndrome in America and Rohini Rajagopal's What's a Lemon Squeezer Doing in My Vagina (2021), a discussion from India of a growing awareness of medicalisation in treatment of unexplained infertility. For this purpose, it first charts scholarship on illness narratives and medicalisation, noting a historical association. Following this, it shows how infertility, a physiological symptom of reproductive incapacity or failure to show clinical pregnancy, is generally medicalised. This paper reads the texts as showing hitherto unaddressed sociocultural aspects of infertility's medicalisation. At the same time, drawing from existing sociological and anthropological scholarship, it shows how a reading of sociocultural aspects in medicalised infertility nuances understanding of it's medicalisation. This comparative reading attends to sociocultural values and norms within the texts, including pronatalism, fetal personhood, kinship organisation, purity/pollution, individual reliance, sacred duty and so forth. It draws from scholarship on embodiment, rhetorical strategies and the language of medicine. It also shows how a patient's non-medicalised, affective history of 'deep' sickness caused by the biographical disruption of infertility is not that of a 'poor historian'. In laying out the particularisation of such sociocultural values and norms across America and India, medicalisation's migration from its origins to the margins reveals subjectivised, stratified reproduction in infertility illness narratives. This paper is part of a turn in scholarship away from understanding the medicalisation of infertility as naturalised and decontextualised. Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group. -
A cultural analysis of "Newshour" in shaping the image of Times now news channel /
Television is medium which has the power to influence the people. With the advancement in technology and innovation, this medium became pervasive in nature. This particular study tires to explore how a particular television programme helps in shaping the image of television channel. -
The Problem of Perception in Sandor Mais Embers: An Advaitic Study
This article attempts to study the problem of perception in Sandor Mais celebrated novel Embers from the standpoint of the pramana (a method of knowledge) of Advaita Vedanta. An epistemic problem, the problem of perception, concerns the overwhelming questions of life, culminating in an enigmatic amalgamation of dilemmas and paradoxes. Genuine dilemmas and paradoxes problematize human relationships, which is evident in the complex narrative of Embers. Our contention in this article is to show how, even though enacted within the periphery of the purely fictional, Embers bears testimony to the complexities of life that are quickened by the limits of human perception, which keeps one from seeing how things really are by creating a shadow or reflected consciousness. Set against the backdrop of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the novel opens up a dialogic space at the intersection of a triangular relationship enacted on the threshold of perception and its multidimensional problems. 2024 Management Centre for Human Values. -
Unravelling the potential plant growth activity of halotolerant Bacillus licheniformis NJ04 isolated from soil and its possible use as a green bioinoculant on Solanum lycopersicum L.
Immensely expanding world population and narrowing arable land for agriculture is a mighty concern faced by the planet at present. One of the major reasons for decline in arable lands is the increased soil salinity, making it unfavourable for crop cultivation. Utilisation of these saline land for agriculture is possible with suitable invention for improving the soil quality. Biofertizers manufactured out of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria is one such innovation. In the present study, Bacillus licheniformis NJ04 strain was isolated and studied for its halotolerance and other effective plant growth promoting traits. The NJ04 strain was able to tolerate salt up to 10% and highlighted remarkable antifungal activity against common fungal phytopathogens. The preliminary seed germination test in Solanum lycopersicum seeds revealed a significant increase in root length (16.29 0.91 cm) and shoot length (9.66 0.11 cm) of treated plants as compared with the control plants and thereby shows its possible use as a green bioinoculant in agriculture and an ideal candidate to compete with salt stress. 2022 Elsevier Inc. -
Multifarious Potential of Biopolymer-Producing Bacillus subtilis NJ14 for Plant Growth Promotion and Stress Tolerance in Solanum lycopercicum L. and Cicer arietinum L: A Way Toward Sustainable Agriculture
Diverse practices implementing biopolymer-producing bacteria have been examined in various domains lately. PHAs are among the major biopolymers whose relevance of PHA-producing bacteria in the field of crop improvement is one of the radical unexplored aspects in the field of agriculture. Prolonging shelf life is one serious issue hindering the establishment of biofertilizers. Studies support that PHA can help bacteria survive stressed conditions by providing energy. Therefore, PHA-producing bacteria with Plant Growth-Promoting ability can alter the existing problem of short shelf life in biofertilizers. In the present study, Bacillus subtilis NJ14 was isolated from the soil. It was explored to understand the ability of the strain to produce PHA and augment growth in Solanum lycopersicum and Cicer arietinum. NJ14 strain improved the root and shoot length of both plants significantly. The root and shoot length of S. lycopersicum was increased by 3.49 and 0.41cm, respectively. Similarly, C. arietinum showed a 9.55 and 8.24cm increase in root and shoot length, respectively. The strain also exhibited halotolerant activity (up to 10%), metal tolerance to lead (up to 1000?g/mL) and mercury (up to 100?g/mL), indicating that the NJ14 strain can be an ideal candidate for a potent biofertilizer. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023. -
Symmetric Supercapacitors based on Reduced Graphene Oxide/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Cobalt Oxide Ternary Composites
Ternary nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/cobalt oxide nanoparticles (rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4) were synthesized employing a facile hydrolysis method with subsequent heat treatment. The good electrical conductivity and remarkable carrier mobility of rGO and MWCNTs make them a suitable matrix for hybrid supercapacitors, and their composites with metal oxides exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties due to the advantages of the synergistic contribution and the integration of different dimensionalities. The binary counterparts of Co3O4 with GO or MWCNTs were also produced using the same technique to gain additional insight into the characteristics of the individual components. The structural and morphological properties of the composites were analyzed using various analytical techniques. The electrochemical behaviors of the prepared composites were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic chargedischarge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1 M H2SO4. A platinum electrode modified with the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite displayed a remarkable specific capacitance of 922 F g?1 at a current density of 1 A g?1 composite with a negligible capacitance drop after 2000 cycles. The symmetric supercapacitor fabricated using the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite showed an energy density of 32.2 Wh Kg?1 at 1 A g?1, and the corresponding power density was 2000 W Kg?1. The supercapacitor fabricated using the composite displayed 83% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 3 A g?1 composite. 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Indium oxide decorated graphitic carbon nitride/multiwalled carbon nanotubes ternary composite for supercapacitor applications
A hybrid ternary composite In2O3/g-C3N4/MWCNT (GCI) was synthesized by combining three-dimensional In2O3, two-dimensional g-C3N4, and one-dimensional MWCNTs employing a one-pot solvothermal method. The resulting In2O3/g-C3N4/MWCNTs composite leverages the combined benefits of the integration of different dimensionality materials and the synergy between its components. Integrating 1D, 2D, and 3-D materials can create hybrid structures with 3D architectures. It exhibits hierarchical porosity that provides better conductive pathways for ion transport and improves the rate performance. The distinct spatial structure of the composite with short ion diffusion paths maximizes the exposure of the active sites and enhances the conductivity, leading to superior energy storage performance. The electrochemical assessment of the In2O3/g-C3N4/MWCNTs composite exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance of 1081 F g?1 at 1 A g?1 with a commendable capacitance retention of 97.5 % at 3 A g?1 over 5000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated using In2O3/g-C3N4/MWCNT//AC showcased a notable energy density of 57.5 Wh Kg?1 with an impressive power density of 2760 W Kg?1 at 1 A g?1. The outstanding electrochemical attributes of the fabricated device underscore the potential of the material for future applications in hybrid energy storage systems. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Integrated fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS as innovative student selection methodology at institutions of higher learning
BACKGROUND: The selection of students at academic institutions has been a challenging affair given multiple criteria that need to be considered by the institution. Additionally, multiple evaluators and decision makers are involved in the student selection process, rendering it inconsistent. The complexity and subjectiveness in such decisions making requires new and innovative approach in order to be more systematic and transparent. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents an innovative methodology for student selection for admission into an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Drawing on the success of using these methods in other fields, this study applies the technique and principles on student selection process. METHOD: Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is used in determining the weights of the criteria by the decision makers which avoids the vagueness and inconsistencies in decision making process and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method ranks finds out the best alternative solution for student selection by calculating the relative closeness from the positive ideal solution. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This research finds using the hybrid method is effective in student selection for IHL and makes the process efficient and bias-free. This method can be applied to various fields and uses where multi-criteria decision making is involved. 2023 - IOS Press. All rights reserved. -
Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Chronic Kidney Disease
Early detection and characterization of chronic renal disease are crucial to ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment. This study uses data mining techniques to uncover hidden information about patients. The outcomes of using the Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree, XGBoost, LGBM Classifier, GaussianNB, KNeighbors Classifier, and XGBRF classifier have been compared. In our study, we demonstrate that Random Forest and XGBoost algorithms are more effective in classifying and predicting the severity level of chronic kidney disease 2022 IEEE. -
The Effect of Logotherapy on Meaning and Quality of Life of the Elderly in Old Age Homes.
Today the elderly in India is faced with a changing life situation where the traditional joint family system, according to which the elders were recognized and respected have given way to nuclear families where the elderly try to fit in. The number of old age homes in India is on increase especially in the state of Kerala. The existing literature shows that the elderly in old age homes in India undergo the problems like, relational issues, poverty, health issues, rejection from children, death of the partner, death anxiety etc, which lead to meaninglessness and poor quality of life. The current research is aimed at studying the effectiveness of a logotherapy intervention called Meaning in Life Programme on the meaning and quality of life of the elderly in old age homes. For the purpose of the study three old age homes with similar administration were selected from the districts of Kottayam, Kannur and Ernakulam district of Kerala where the highest number of old age homes of India are situated. 60 of them who met the inclusion criteria were randomely put into two groups, namely control group and experimental group. At par with the existing literature the study proves that the elderly in old age homes have a low meaning and quality of life. The average mean score of meaning in the pre-test was 14.23 in MiLS and the average mean score of quality of life in the pre-test is 51.83 in WHOQOL. The experimental group was given an intensive Logotherapy- meaning in life programme for five days and the control group had normal life. After a period of one month both groups were tested with MiLS and WHOQOL and there was significant difference between the control group and the experimental group. The Experimental group scored 22.06 in MiLS at the significant level of p < .001 and 59.73 in WHOQOL at the significant level of p < .001. The study revealed that logotherapy is effective in enhancing meaning and quality of life of the elderly in old age homes. Key words: meaning, quality, elderly, logotherapy -
Structural, luminescence and NMR studies on Nd3+-doped sodiumcalcium-borate glasses for lasing applications
In this work, Neodymium (Nd3+) -doped borate glasses were synthesised by melt-quenching method and their structural as well as optical properties were analysed through XRD, Raman, NMR, DSC, UVVisible, luminescence and decay studies for the possible application as laser gain medium. DSC and XRD results revealed that the glasses have high transition temperature and are in amorphous nature, respectively. The vibrational characteristics of the host matrices as well as the effect of Nd3+ incorporation were analysed by using Raman spectra, which exhibit majorly borate groups as supported by NMR results. The band gap energy of the glasses decreases with an increase in Nd3+ concentration. Using Judd-Oflet theory the characteristic intensity parameters (??, ? = 2, 4 and 6) were calculated and further used for calculating the various radiative parameters from the emission spectra. The emission cross-section (?em) was estimated as high as 1.15 10?20 cm2 from the FhtbauerLandenburg (FL) equation for the dominant 4F3/2?4I11/2 (1056 nm) transition. The effect of Nd3+ concentration on the lifetime of the 4F3/2 luminescent level was analysed from the decay curve analyses. From which, the corresponding quantum efficiency (?) was estimated and found as high as 54%. The investigated result suggests the prepared glasses can be utilized as gain medium to generate laser at around 1.05 ?m. 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. -
Drinking straw from coconut leaf: A study of its epicuticular wax content and phenol extrusion properties
Background and Objectives: Plastics are a ubiquitous part of our daily life but now posing a major threat to marine life, animal and human health. More than 50% of the manufactured plastic including straws are being disposed of after single-use. There is an increasing need to mitigate this trend so that the damage could be brought under control. The aim of this research was to develop a compostable, eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws using the leaves of Cocos nucifera L. Materials and Methods: The biochemical properties of 6 varieties of Cocos nucifera L. leaflets were studied in order to screen the most suitable material for making sustainable straws. Epicuticular wax content was analyzed to choose the best variety for preparation of hydrophobic straws. Total antioxidant activity, total tannin content, phenolic and flavonoid content were assayed to evaluate the potential functionality of the leaflets. The phenol extrusion properties of the material were also checked in acidic and normal beverages. Results: Estimation of epicuticular wax and phytochemical analysis in all 6 varieties revealed that all varieties of Cocos nucifera L. leaves provide a potent biomaterial for straw preparation. Silicon 732 was found to be a good adhesive agent for straw preparation. Phenol extrusion assays revealed that there is a negligible difference in the release of phytochemicals before and after dipping of straws in the beverages. Conclusion: The outcome of this research opens up vistas to carry out further research in a hitherto unexplored area of utilizing the leaf of Cocos nucifera in a novel way with far reaching economic and employment implications. 2019 Jyoti Jeena James et al. -
A Comprehensive Study on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Issues of global warming and hike in the fuel price have taken electric vehicles (EVs) to be popular among the ordinary people. But the main drawbacks are related to the vehicle price and the scarcity of charging infrastructure. In this paper, a review of various charging infrastructures of electric vehicles that are existing and emerging are discussed. The paper also gives an overview of the charging standards for EVs. The Electrochemical Society -
Enhancing Stroke Prediction: Leveraging Ensemble Learning for Improved Healthcare
Stroke, a potentially deadly medical disorder, requires excellent prediction and prevention measures to minimize its impact on individuals and healthcare systems. In this study, ensemble learning techniques are employed to enhance the accuracy of stroke prediction. The method combines four different machine learning algorithms, Adaboost, CatBoost, XGBoost, and LightGBM, to produce a strong predictive model. The data was composed of a rich set of demographic, medical, and lifestyle information. The data was preprocessed and features were engineered to maximize predictive performance. Results showed that the stacked ensemble model, which is composed of Adaboost, CatBoost, XGB, LightGBM, and Logistic Regression, meta-model, outperformed other models. The model has the potential to be used as a decision support tool in an early stroke risk assessment system, enhancing clinician decision-making and improving healthcare outcomes. 2024 IEEE. -
Presence of red giant population in the foreground stellar substructure of the Small Magellanic Cloud
The eastern region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is found to have a foreground stellar substructure, which is identified as a distance bimodality (?12 kpc apart) in the previous studies using red clump (RC) stars. Interestingly, studies of red giant branch (RGB) stars in the eastern SMC indicate a bimodal radial velocity (RV) distribution. In this study, we investigate the connection between these two bimodal distributions to better understand the nature and origin of the foreground stellar substructure in the eastern SMC. We use the Gaia Early Data Release 3 astrometric data and archival RV data of RGB stars for this study. We find a bimodal RV distribution of RGB stars (separated by ?35-45 km s-1) in the eastern and south-western (SW) outer regions. The observed proper motion values of the lower and higher RV RGB components in the eastern regions are similar to those of the foreground and main-body RC stars, respectively. This suggests that the two RGB populations in the eastern region are separated by a similar distance to those of the RC stars, and the RGB stars in the lower RV component are part of the foreground substructure. Based on the differences in the distance and RV of the two components, we estimate an approximate time of formation of this substructure as 307 65 Myr ago. This is comparable with the values predicted by simulations for the recent epoch of tidal interaction between the Magellanic Clouds. Comparison of the observed properties of RGB stars, in the outer SW region, with N-body simulations shows that the higher RV component in the SW region is at a farther distance than the main body, indicating the presence of a stellar counter-bridge in the SW region of the SMC. 2021 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.