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Unraveling connections with artificial sweeteners and their impact on human health: A comprehensive review
There is a recent trend showing an uptick in the artificial sweetener's usage, particularly the nonnourishing variety. The allure of a low-calorie choice that lets people indulge in their sweet tooths while consuming less calories overall is what motivates this. Children's food products often contain a substantial number of artificial sweeteners due to their properties that aid in moisture retention, act as fillers, and serve as bulking agents. This article provides a comprehensive overview of artificial sweeteners and influences in human wealth. Studies have linked the use of artificial sweeteners to premature birth, highlighting the teratogenic potential of these compounds, particularly in beverages. Pregnant women who incorporate nonnutritive sweeteners into their diet during pregnancy are more likely to have children with birth defects, as indicated by studies on the subject. Artificial sweeteners should not be added to food for children because studies show that eating them while a child's body is still developing might disturb the balance of gut microbiota and cause potential problems like heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. The ingestion of nonnourishing sweeteners has adverse effects on the fertility of both men and women. Studies indicate that exceeding the recommended daily consumption that the FDA has set for artificial sweeteners can result in conditions of infertility for both genders. Additionally, there is a connection between the onset of cancer and the use of artificial sweeteners. Presently, a considerable amount of research relies on animal models rather than human ones, creating a notable gap in research. The limitation of extensive human model studies represents a drawback in validating results. Furthermore, there is a necessity for increased research focused on advancing techniques that can minimize the adverse effects of artificial sweeteners, making them more suitable for addressing issues related to obesity and various types of diabetes. 2024 The Author(s). eFood published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. on behalf of International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety. -
Unraveling Campus Placement Success Integrating Exploratory Insights with Predictive Machine Learning Models
The dynamics of campus placements have garnered considerable attention in recent years, with educational institutions, students, and employers all keenly invested in understanding the factors that drive successful recruitment. This surge in interest stems from the potential implications for academic curricula, student preparation, and hiring strategies. In this study, we aimed to unravel the myriad factors that influence a student's placement success, drawing from a comprehensive dataset detailing a range of academic and demographic attributes. Our methodology combined thorough exploratory data analysis with advanced predictive modeling. The exploratory phase unveiled notable patterns, particularly highlighting the roles of gender, academic performance analysis, Degree and MBA specialization in placement outcomes. In the predictive modeling phase, the spotlight was on state-of-the-art machine learning models, with a particular emphasis on their capacity to forecast placement success. Notably, algorithms like Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines not only confirmed the insights from our exploratory analysis but also showcased remarkable predictive prowess, with accuracy scores nearing perfection. These findings not only demonstrate the capabilities of machine learning in the academic and recruitment spheres but also emphasize the enduring importance of core academic achievements in influencing placement outcomes. As a prospective direction, future research might benefit from examining how placement trends evolve over time and integrating qualitative insights to provide a holistic view of the campus recruitment process. 2023 IEEE. -
Unpaid Work by Women: A State-level Analysis of Evidence from Time-use Survey
Low and declining female labour force participation in India over the past two decades has turned attention to the high unpaid work time spent by women. The question, however, remains whether women spend more time on unpaid work because there are not enough jobs or whether it is time spent on unpaid work that is holding them back from participation in the labour force. Against this backdrop, the present article explores Indias nationally representative time-use survey conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to estimate factors that explain variations in time spent by women in unpaid work at the state level. The results show that structural transformation, entailing a reduction in employment in agriculture and an increase in the share of industries in state GDP, does not necessarily entail any reduction in unpaid time spent by women if the technology embodied in industrialisation is not gender-friendly. Worryingly, progress in female literacy recorded by states is no guarantee of a reduction in unpaid work by women. However, a gender-friendly atmosphere does make a difference in the reduction in unpaid work reported by women. Similarly, targeted public policy intervention does relax the constraints that women face at home, with a positive effect on unpaid work time. 2024 Institute for Human Development. -
Unpaid care labour in India: a feminist and intersectional analysis of lived experiences
The article offers an expanded feminist analysis of Unpaid Care Labour (UCL) by integrating a personal narrative style grounded in feminist theory, intersectionality, and ecological economics, drawing on qualitative data from five focus group discussions conducted in India. Through participant narratives, the article unpacks themes such as time poverty and the double burden, health implications and emotional well-being , economic dependency and intersectional inequities, cultural policing and social norms, and transformative pathways and policy gaps. While participants articulated the strain of time poverty and the double burden of juggling paid and unpaid work, the intensity and coping mechanisms varied markedly by caste and class context. Lower-caste women faced compounded strain due to limited support and infrastructure; in contrast, upper-caste women experienced emotional stress from societal expectations. The study foregrounds how caste-based hierarchies, economic precarity, and patriarchal norms intersect to shape womens caregiving realities in differentiated yet overlapping ways. It argues that public policy must move beyond tokenistic acknowledgements and instead invest in care infrastructure, legal protections for domestic workers, and campaigns that shift cultural perceptions of care as a shared societal responsibility. Recognizing, redistributing, and reducing UCL is essential to fostering gender justice and inclusive development. 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Unpacking the Psychology of Investment Intention: The Role of Emotional Intelligence, Personality Traits, and Risk Behaviour
In the dynamic realm of wealth accumulation, investments demand a meticulous evaluation of both financial and non-financial aspects inherent in securities. Prudent decision-making surpasses a fixation on anticipated returns, requiring a nuanced assessment of an investment's potential to actualize desired earnings. This study challenges the presumption of investor rationality in traditional financial theories, emphasizing the profound impact of non-financial determinants on decision-making, including personality traits, emotional intelligence, and risk behavior. With a robust sample size of 396 respondents, the research establishes a statistically significant correlation between emotional intelligence, personality traits, risk behavior, and the intricate domain of investment decisions. For middle-class investors, a pivotal recommendation emerges: fostering a discerning comprehension of one's psychological attributes. Active collaboration with seasoned financial advisers is imperative, serving as a compass through the complexities of the modern financial milieu. This holistic approach, harmonizing financial acumen with nuanced psychological insight, proves indispensable for navigating intricacies and facilitating judicious investment decisions aligned with individual aspirations and risk thresholds. The nuanced integration of financial prudence and psychological acuity fortifies investment portfolios and establishes a resilient foundation for adeptly navigating the dynamic terrain of wealth management. 2024, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved. -
Unpacking the burden of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka: implications for policy and practice based on NFHS-5 findings
Objective: To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking patterns of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, and to offer knowledge that might guide public health initiatives intended to lessen the burden of these illnesses. Methods: In order to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking behaviour of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, a cross-sectional study is carried out using the information gathered from 26,574 households on 30,455 women and 4516 men (who were in their reproductive period) from the National Family Health Survey (201920). The information was summarised using descriptive statistics, which included frequencies and percentages. The association between different risk variables and the likelihood of getting diabetes and hypertension was examined using the chi-squared test and a logistic regression model. Data were analysed using STATA software version 16. Results: The study found that age, gender, education level, religion, and BMI are all significantly associated with hypertension and diabetes (p < 0.001). Tobacco use and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with hypertension, but tobacco use was significantly associated with diabetes (p < 0.001). However, alcohol consumption was not found to be significantly associated with diabetes whereas the older age groups, males, underweight, overweight and obese, and tobacco use were all associated with increased odds of diabetes. On the other hand, females, secondary education or higher, and alcohol consumption were associated with decreased odds of diabetes. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study found a high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, and identified several risk factors associated with these diseases. The study also highlighted the need for improved healthcare-seeking behaviour among people with hypertension and diabetes. The findings can inform public health interventions aimed at reducing the burden of these diseases in Karnataka and similar settings. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India 2023. -
Unpacking power dynamics in coaching and leadership: A critical examination
This study examined the critical viewpoints regarding the convergences of coaching and leadership, elucidating the intricate complexities of power relations. Incorporated case studies from the business and nonprofit sectors shed light on the difficulties and achievements in these realms of transformation. The integration of insights gained underscores the profound impact of consciousness, openness, and moral behaviour on change. The obligation to exercise authority with discernment, promote inclusiveness, and empower entities and individuals alike. This study offers significant contributions for professionals, academics, and executives traversing the complex landscape of coaching and leadership. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Unpacking Insurance: The Challenges and Innovations in Tying and Bundling Practices in Insurance
The insurers market share mainly depends on the channels of distribution they have adopted to make the business cost-effective. IRDAIs working paper supported the idea that the lengthier the distribution channel, the more conflict of interest there was, and it had a mediating effect. There is a chance of misrepresenting policy information, which is an outcome of that effect. In India, as per IRDAI, the incurred insurance claim ratio, the ratio of claims settlement against the total premiums received in a year, varies yearly. Even though the ratio indicates the financial performance of each sector, it can also be a benchmark for explaining the scope of the product utilization by the insured. During 202223, the ratio ranges between 72 to 86% for the general insurance companies. It also differs for the Fire, Health, motors, and marine sectors. The highest ratio is for the health sector, around 86%. At the same time, the ratio for the domestic travel insurance business is around 19%. Travel insurance is an example of bundling an insurance policy with another product. However, there is no specific information about the scope of bundling of insurance policies and the claims arising out of it. To combat these challenges, innovative solutions must be explored. One such approach is the introduction of modular insurance plans, allowing consumers to customize their coverage based on specific needs without being forced into unnecessary add-ons. AI-driven policy comparison tools can further empower consumers by offering real-time insights into the value of bundled versus standalone options. Regulatory mandates for opt-out provisions in bundled offerings can ensure greater autonomy, allowing policyholders to reject unwanted components. Additionally, the implementation of blockchain-based smart contracts can bring transparency by clearly defining coverage terms and pricing, reducing hidden costs. By adopting these solutions, the insurance sector can enhance consumer trust, encourage informed decision-making, and create a more competitive marketplace, ultimately leading to fairer and more accessible insurance options for all. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026. -
Unopened windows: European existentialism and Indian classrooms /
International Journal Of English Language Literature and humanities, Vol.3, Issue 9, pp.434-440, ISSN No: 2321-7065. -
Unofficial Bilingualism in English-Only Policy Context: A Postmethod Pedagogy for Difficult Circumstances in Rural Government Schools of Tamil Nadu
This chapter introduces and explains the phenomenon of Unofficial Bilingualism in government-run English-medium schools in rural Tamil Nadu, India. It delineates instances of using the mother tongue to navigate language learning challenges in schools with an official English-only policy. It studies three schools in the Salem district of Tamazil Nadu using a qualitative research framework, with classroom observation and telephonic interviews with teachers as primary research methods. Using thematic analysis of recorded classroom observation of three teachers use of L1 in the English classroom and in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews with rural government schoolteachers across Tamil Nadu, the study grounds the phenomenon of Unofficial Bilingualism within the conceptual framework of Difficult Circumstances in ELT (West, 1960; Smith, 2011; Anderson, 2021) and explains it as a form of Postmethod Pedagogy (Kumaravadivelu, 2001, 2006). It explains the use of L1 in the classroom, despite official policy mandating teachers not to, and provides theoretical justification to legitimise the use of L1. The chapter argues for making Unofficial Bilingualism official and discusses its implications for classroom policy and teacher education, reconciling classroom practice with official policy. The study has implications for medium of instruction, language policy and teacher education. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Uma Pradhan and Mohini Gupta; individual chapters, the contributors. -
Unobtrusive Engagement Detection through Semantic Pose Estimation and Lightweight ResNet for an Online Class Environment
Analysing student engagement in a class through unobtrusive methods enhances the learning and teaching experience. During these pandemic times, where the classes are conducted online, it is imperative to efficiently estimate the engagement levels of individual students. Helping teachers to annotate and understand the significant learning rate of the students is critical and vital. To facilitate the analysis of estimating the engagement levels among students, this paper proposes a dual channel model to precisely detect the attention level of individual students in a classroom. Considering the possible inaccuracy of emotion recognition, a dual channel is configured with a Lightweight ResNet model for macro-level attention estimation and a 3d pose estimation using Euler angles for Pitch, yaw and roll that is trained, validated and tested on the Daisee database. The Emotional detection extracts the context of Engaged, frustrated, confused and disgust as higher levels of classroom attention cognition while the facial pose coordinates provide the real-time movement of the faces in the video to provide a series of engaged and disengaged coordinates. The Lightweight ResNet Model achieves a 95.5% accuracy and the Pose estimation test is able to distinguish the test videos at 92% as Engaged and Bored on the Daisee Dataset. The Overall Accuracies using the Dual channel was curated to 87%. 2023 Scrivener Publishing LLC. -
Unmet Spiritual Needs: A Study among Patients with Chronic Illness
Objectives: The conventional healthcare system operates on the physiological man and overlooks the spiritual man. Many studies reported on the unmet spiritual needs of terminally ill patients. Despite spiritual care being a predictor of a positive mindset (meaning making) among patients with terminal illnesses, assessing spiritual needs and providing adequate spiritual care is still a distant phenomenon in the healthcare setting. Materials and Methods: With the help of a spiritual needs questionnaire, we analysed the unmet spiritual needs and preferences of 30 terminally ill patients. Specific attention was given to psychosocial, emotional, existential, religious and acceptance of death. Results: The results show that 72% of terminally ill patients reported a strong desire to have their spiritual needs met. Psychosocial needs scored the highest, while acceptance of dying scored the least. The need to be connected with the family was one of the strongest wishes expressed in the study. Religious needs ranked as the second category of needs. Findings show that the highest needs are intertwined with the patients culture. Conclusion: In India, religion and family connections are essential; terminally ill patients expressed the desire that meeting these two aspects makes their lives meaningful even at the end stage. The results warrant a spiritual needs assessment as a deathbed test to make the endoflife more meaningful. 2024 Published by Scientific Scholar on behalf of Indian Journal of Palliative Care. -
Unmasking the Masked: A Classical Machine Learning Pipeline for Detecting Forged Receipts
The abundance of digital and paper document forgery requires strong automated detection tools against financial fraud. This research provides a classical machine learning method for forged receipt detection using multimodal features from image and text modalities. The approach entailed designing a feature set to obtain textural and statistical attributes from receipt images via Local Binary Patterns (LBP) and Canny edge detection, along with structural features obtained from the associated text files. Another demanding issue in this area is the excessive class imbalance between genuine and forged documents. To overcome this issue, Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) is used to create a balanced training dataset. The models are assessed using the macro F1-score, precision, recall, PR AUC and ROC AUC to address class imbalance. The enhanced detection of the minority class is achieved using SMOTE, while hyperparameter tuning leads to the improvements in performance. The final Tuned Support Vector Machine model achieves a macro F1-score of 0.5429, and it has the highest recall on forged receipts, demonstrating that it detects more histories of tampered documents effectively. This research sets a good baseline for receipt forgery detection and emphasizes that class imbalance solving is a key towards creating a working system. 2025 IEEE. -
Unmasking Fake Reviews: A Machine Learning Perspective
In the age of online shopping and digital information, product reviews play a crucial role in influencing consumer decisions. Fake product reviews are widespread and can mislead consumers, affect brand reputation, distort market dynamics and necessitate the development of robust techniques to identify and combat fake reviews, which is the focus of this project. The advent of machine learning has transformed several industries, and its capability to combat the issue of fake product reviews is equally significant. The problem is because of fake previews customers which are in huge confusion for not knowing what to believe. The goal is to develop a predictive model that can differentiate between authentic and fraudulent product reviews. In this project to detect fake product reviews, three preprocessing methods, two feature extraction techniques, and six classifications algorithms are used. In this proposed system, we acquired better accuracy 88.93% using SVM. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. -
Unmanned Artificial Intelligence-Based Financial Volatility Prediction in International Stock Market
This study investigates the capacity of autonomous artificial intelligence to predict the volatility of the worldwide stock market and proposes an innovative approach utilizing cutting-edge AI algorithms. A comprehensive literature review examines the evolution of financial prediction systems and the transformative effects of artificial intelligence in improving predictive capabilities. The AI system under consideration employs machine learning techniques more effectively than traditional methods for collecting and predicting financial volatility. The strategy heavily relies on automated data capture, preprocessing, and model training. A recall of 76%, an accuracy rate of 94%, a precision of 81%, an area under the curve of 0.87, and a sharp ratio of 1.25 comprise the model's impressive specifications. This research illuminates the prospective financial applications of artificial intelligence and provides a way to navigate the intricacies of international stock markets. 2024 IEEE. -
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to autonomously and wirelessly monitor security /
Patent Number: 202041010349, Applicant: Dr. K Selvi.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) autonomously and wirelessly monitors security within premises. The UAV includes a body, brushless dc motors (BLDC), a motor control dispatcher, a flight control board, sensors, wind propellers, solar panel, and a battery. The body uses a high landing gear skid to provide friction during flight maneuverability of the UAV. The BLDC actuates a rotor blade of the UAV, electrical wirings and connectors. -
Unlocking the potentials of using nanotechnology to stabilize agriculture and food production
In the face of alarmingly increasing climate change, agricultural sector is exposed to innumerable and unprecedented challenges globally. This has led to food insecurity worldwide and in order to achieve the required food security at the global level, various methods and techniques have been put forth by researchers from around the world for boosting crop production and ensuring sustainability. Advanced nano-engineering is found to be of great import in improving production in agriculture and increasing input efficiency and minimization of losses. The fertilizers and pesticides, used for increasing and protecting the crop production respectively, can gain not only specific but also wider surface area with the help of nanomaterials, which serve as exclusive agrochemical carriers and assure facilitation of nutrients to target areas with the help of delivery monitoring techniques. Nanobiosensors, an example of the wide ranging nanotools, scaffold the growth of high-tech agricultural farms and also stand proof for the practical and proposed applications of the nanotools in terms of agricultural inputs control and their management precision. Nanosensors the off-spring of the culmination of biology and nanotechnology has an increased potential level in sensing and identifying both the advantageous and adverse conditions of the environment. The other applications of nano-technology include nanofertiliers with release-control techniques for healthy growth and rich yield and productivity of crops, nano-based target delivery approach, also referred to as gene transfer technique, for improved quality of crops, nanopesticides for effective protection of crops and other nanomaterials for promotion of stress tolerance among plants and enhancement of quality of soil [4]. In our review paper, we intend sum up the recent research and studies on the nanotechnology's innovative uses in agriculture to cope up with the ever-increasing necessity for food and sustenance of environment. 2021 Author(s). -
Unlocking the potential of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles for degradation of synthetic organic dyes as wastewater pollutants
The azo dyes released into water from different industries are accumulating in the water bodies and bioaccumulating within living systems thereby affecting environmental health. This is a major concern in developing countries where stringent regulations are not followed for the discharge of industrial waste into water bodies. This has led to the accumulation of various pollutants including dyes. As these developing countries also face acute water shortages and due to the lack of cost-effective systems to remove these pollutants, it is essential to remove these toxic dyes from water bodies, eradicate dyes, or generate fewer toxic derivatives. The photocatalysis mechanism of degradation of azo dyes has gained importance due to its eco-friendly and non-toxic roles in the environment. The zinc nanoparticles act as photocatalysts in combination with plant extracts. Plant-based nanoparticles over the years have shown the potential to degrade dyes efficiently. This is carried out by adjusting the dye and nanoparticle concentrations and combinations of nanoparticles. Our review article considers increasing the efficiency of degradation of dyes using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and understanding the photocatalytic mechanisms in the degradation of dyes and the toxic effects of these dyes and nanoparticles in different tropic levels. 2021 The Authors -
Unlocking the potential of AI for efficient governance: Innovative approaches of Bahrain
The rapid development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will have significant economic, social, and ethical impacts. Efficient governance is essential to maximize AI's benefits while minimizing its risks. Bahrain is positioning itself as a fintech hub, with AI playing a central role in this transformation. Bahrain's smart governance efforts will be strengthened by integrating AI into public services. E-government efforts will use AI to streamline processes, improve citizen experience, and build a more responsive and efficient public administration. The study provides an overview of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various sectors in Bahrain with innovative approaches to boost productivity, better decision-making, and improve the general quality of services that may also impact the Bahraini economy. Bahrain continues to drive digital innovation, paving the way for a better and more prosperous future and sustainable development. Bahrain's digital transformation has been largely successful thanks to strong government measures. 2024, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Unlocking the future: A new era of artificial intelligence in efficiency, security, and intelligence with smarter systems
This chapter explores the transformative role of AI in reshaping critical domains such as health records, legal records, library and information management, and media services including communication, publishing, and broadcasting. This chapter examines AI applications inclusive of electronic health records optimization, predictive analytics, automated legal document review, personalized resource recommendation, and content generation in the media. It also addresses ethical concerns such as data privacy algorithmic bias and the implications of workforce transformation to real-world examples and case studies. This chapter highlights the current impact and future potential in streamlining operations, reducing human error, and improving outcomes. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing.