9782 research outputs found
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Towards improved menstrual health: the impact of period products on reproductive tract infections
No full textWe examine the relationship between the use of period productsand reproductive tract infections utilizing the National FamilyHealth Survey-5 (2019–21) for India. To address endogeneity con-cerns in an OLS approach, we employ an instrumental variablestrategy that exploits exogenous variation in women’s averageexposure to television in neighbouring households. Conditionalon a comprehensive set of controls, we find that the use of periodproducts reduces the likelihood of contracting any RTI by 16 per-centage points. Our findings are robust to alternative specifications,sample restrictions, and the inclusion of additional covariates. Wefurther assess the sensitivity of our estimates by allowing the instru-ment to be plausibly exogenous, thereby relaxing the strict exclu-sion restriction. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that while the effectsare broadly consistent across caste, class, and wealth groups, ruralwomen and those aged 20–24 remain key populations requiringtargeted informational and policy interventions
Ethical Judgments in GenAI Environments: A Study of ChatGPT Users
No full textThe rise of ChatGPT has sparked significant ethical concerns. Academia worries about issues such as originality and undetectable plagiarism, while ethicists and industry experts highlight problems such as biased outputs, data security, and privacy. Given its broad reach and accessibility and profound impact on productivity and efficiency across academic, workplace, and social contexts, there is a pressing need to examine the factors influencing users’ ethical judgments regarding ChatGPT. This study addresses this gap by exploring the factors influencing ethical judgments in ChatGPT use. Through qualitative inductive research, it captures users’ ethical considerations, analyses them through dominant ethical philosophies, and proposes an emergent theory elucidating ethical considerations of ChatGPT users contextualized within existing ethical theories and philosophies. The findings aim to assist organizations, academia, and policymakers in developing robust ethical guidelines to govern the use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT
Groundwater depletion in a changing climate: global insights and strategic mitigation approaches
No full textWater shortage, intensified by climate change and poor management, presents a substantial risk to global sustainability, and human security. Increasing temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns hinder water accessibility, especially in susceptible areas like the Middle East and East Asia, where economic development may suffer owing to agricultural deficits and health repercussions. Presently, more than 2.4 billion individuals experience water stress, with disadvantaged areas being disproportionately impacted. Primary factors contributing to water shortage are population expansion, urban development, and contamination, which exert pressure on limited freshwater supplies. Inefficient agricultural techniques constitute over 72% of worldwide water withdrawals, exacerbating the situation. The ramifications surpass resource depletion; water insecurity incites migration, war, and fluctuations in food prices. Nonetheless, remedies are available. Coordinated policies that advocate for effective water distribution and infrastructure investment can bolster resilience. Innovations like wastewater recycling and climate-smart agriculture exemplify scalable success. Mitigating water shortage necessitates international cooperation and balanced resource allocation. Safeguarding ecosystems while promoting technology such as desalination is essential for ensuring sustainable water futures. Immediate action is essential to alleviate the effects of climate change on water supplies and provide a reliable supply for future generations
Erosion of international law in Trump’s threats to global order
Full text linkInternational law depends not only on treaties and institutions, but on the conduct of powerful states. For much of the 20th century, the United States positioned itself as both architect and guardian of the international legal order that prioritised sovereignty, collective security and rules-based governance. This role was institutionalised through the creation of bodies such as the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, and, later, NATO, which incorporated American power within multilateral frameworks. By promoting norms of non-aggression, dispute resolution and economic interdependence, the US sought to stabilise a post-war world while legitimising its leadership
How Not To Read The Dalai Lama’s Statement On His Reincarnation
Full text linkIn the week that he turned 90, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama made the much-anticipated announcement on his succession along anticipated lines. At the start of the Fifteenth Tibetan Religious Conference in Dharamsala on July 2, he said that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after him, and that the responsibility for finding his successor will rest with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, based in his private office in Dharamsala
Minorities at Risk
Full text linkhe recent turmoil in Bangladesh—marked by recurring episodes of violence, intimidation, and displacement affecting religious minorities—has once again drawn international attention to the precarious position of minority communities under international law. Periods of political instability in the country have repeatedly coincided with minority bashing, revealing the limits of constitutional guarantees and international commitments when confronted with majoritarian impulses. These developments reaffirm the continuing relevance of minority protection as a subject of international law and provide a timely context for examining broader legal frameworks, as well as India’s role in shaping minority rights at the international level
Vanadium in the Environment: Biogeochemical cycling, bioavailability, speciation and detoxification mechanisms
No full textVanadium (V) is a naturally occurring trace metal in the environment, with augmented emancipation mainly owing to industrial and mining activities, and has escalating issues with ecological and toxicological impacts. Although at low concentrations (\textless 2 mg/L), V can promote plant growth, at higher concentrations (≥ 2 mg/L), it exerts significant phytotoxic effects, comprising a 40% reduction in chlorophyll content and 30% inhibition of root elongation in various crop species. The environmental and biogeochemical behavior of V(V) is governed by redox potential, pH, organic matter, and mineral interplay, with V(V) accepted as the most versatile and lethal form. A primary mechanism of V toxicity is oxidative stress, which results from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and disrupts cellular homeostasis in both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. There are critical information gaps, particularly regarding the establishment of reliable environmental quality standards, clarification of molecular mechanisms of V(V) detoxification and tolerance in organisms, and the feasibility of leveraging plant-based systems for V(V) phytoremediation. This review delineates the need for scientific studies to address these research gaps, underscoring the need for integrated biogeochemical and physiological studies to deepen our understanding of V(V) dynamics in soil–plant systems and to support effective environmental management strategies
Human capital, digital transition and carbon emissions: Investigating non-linear dynamics for sustainable and human-centric future
No full textDigitalisation and Human Capital (HC) are key drivers of economic transformation, yet their joint influence on environmental outcomes remains underexplored in developing economies. Existing evidence largely focuses on linear or isolated effects, overlooking potential nonlinearities and complementarities crucial for sustainable development. This study investigates the nonlinear and interactive impacts of digitalisation and HC on carbon emissions in 23 developing countries from 2000 to 2023. A multidimensional digitalisation index is constructed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), integrating digital infrastructure, industrialisation, and innovation. Employing a dynamic system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, the study captures endogeneity, persistence, and feedback mechanisms. Results confirm that both digitalisation and HC exhibit U-shaped relationships with carbon emissions. While early stages enhance efficiency and environmental awareness, advanced levels intensify emissions through energy-intensive infrastructure and industrial upgrading. The interaction between digitalisation and HC is insignificant, revealing unrealised synergies in developing contexts. The study contributes to the environmental economics literature by integrating digital and HC dynamics into a unified nonlinear framework and offers policy insights for aligning digital transformation with renewable energy deployment, green skill formation, and institutional coordination to advance low-carbon, human-centric growth
Reimagining Peace for Gaza: A Board of Peace In Light of International Organization Law
Full text linkThe prolonged conflict in Gaza has exposed the deep limitations of existing international mechanisms for conflict prevention, civilian pro-tection, and post-conflict governance. Despite the presence of established in ternational organizations such as the United Nations, the Security Council, and various humanitarian agen-cies, peace has remained elusive. In this context, the idea of a Board of Peace for Gaza, a specialized, conflict-specific body dedicated to ceasefire enforcement, civilian protection, and re-construction, deserves se-rious consideration. When examined through the lens of international organi-zation law, such a Board poses both challenges to traditional institutional models and highlights their failures
Technology development to obtain pectin from corn waste using enzymatic method
No full textPectin's ability to remove radioactive nucleotides and heavy metals from the human body makes it useful in the food sector for more than just creating colorful foods. During the extraction process, an acid hydrolysis method is used to separate the pectin from the corn cob's surface. Food business waste pectin is less expensive, which creates a constant problem for the sector. Due to a lack of facilities, maize cobs are not processed industrially since, after the de-knelting process, they are at best used as animal feed. Because corn cob pectin is so gelling, its modest use results in a high technological coefficient in the manufacturing of confections