Over the past few years, ever since the advent of HIV and AIDS, there has been increasing discussion of the concept of sexual health. This upsurge is especially noticeable not only in the field of health education and promotion but also in academic sources. The recent discourse on sexual health is paralleled by an upsurge in the debate on sexual rights. This book examines the social construction of sexual health in India through an analysis of HIV and AIDS messages. The broad objective of the chapters is to trace the growth and evolution of the concept of sexual health from a health communication perspective and to understand the role of the state in determining its form and structure. The methodology used includes comparative analysis of HIV and AIDS policies, document analysis on HIV and AIDS, poster and short films analysis, in depth and open-ended Interviews and case studies. The book shows that Sexual Health is constructed in various modes in India. The models that are elaborated are the Medical model that constructs HIV scientifically and in terms of a compromised immune system; the Epidemic model that identifies risk behaviours and transmission routes and the Moralistic model. Social constructions of AIDS as plague or punishment against society are advanced by moralists who equate HIV with taboo social and sexual behaviour and the political constructions highlights public health in the face of obstacles to treatment and the delivery of services to people living with HIV. Bringing together current research and discussions on the three areas of policy, practices and theoretical perspectives related to the use and social construction of sexual health through HIV and AIDS communication approaches with specific reference to India, this book will be of interest to academics in the field of health communication, HIV and AIDS, and South Asian Studies.

Genetic toxicology is considered to be an important assessment tool as there is genetic impact of artificial chemicals. Insight on Genotoxicity discusses testing, mechanism, prediction, and bioindicator of genotoxicity taking into consideration recent advances in nano-engineered particles. Corollary of DNA dent is also discussed in detail taking into consideration the impact of ICH guidelines on genotoxicity testing, which is important for drug discovery innovation and development. Perspective review of genotoxicity evaluation in phytopharmaceuticals has been mentioned along with the prevention of genotoxicity in brief viewpoint. Salient Features Presents methods, standard protocols, and guidelines for genotoxicity testing Examines the impact of ICH Guidelines on genetic toxicity testing which is a regulatory requirement for drug discovery and development Defines appropriate strategies about advances in in vivo genotoxicity testing which have been listed along with progress and prospects Discusses advancement in the high-throughput approaches for genotoxicity testing Details computational prediction of genotoxicity with consideration of mutagenicity, chromosomal damage caused and strategies for computational prediction in drug development

Contamination of aqueous environments by hazardous chemical compounds is the direct cause of the decline of safe clean water supply throughout the globe. The use of unconventional water sources such as treated wastewater will be a new norm. Emerging nanotechnological innovations have great potential for wastewater remediation processes. Applications that use smart nanomaterials of inorganic and organic origin improve treatment efficiency and lower energy requirements. This book describes the synthesis, fabrication, and application of advanced nanomaterials in water treatment processes; their adsorption, transformation into low toxic forms, or degradation phenomena, and the adsorption and separation of hazardous dyes, organic pollutants, heavy metals and metalloids from aqueous solutions. It explains the use of different categories of nanomaterials for various pollutants and enhances understanding of nanotechnology-based water remediation to make it less toxic and reusable.

Over the past few years, ever since the advent of HIV and AIDS, there has been increasing discussion of the concept of sexual health. This upsurge is especially noticeable not only in the field of health education and promotion but also in academic sources. The recent discourse on sexual health is paralleled by an upsurge in the debate on sexual rights. This book examines the social construction of sexual health in India through an analysis of HIV and AIDS messages. The broad objective of the chapters is to trace the growth and evolution of the concept of sexual health from a health communication perspective and to understand the role of the state in determining its form and structure. The methodology used includes comparative analysis of HIV and AIDS policies, document analysis on HIV and AIDS, poster and short films analysis, in depth and open-ended Interviews and case studies. The book shows that Sexual Health is constructed in various modes in India. The models that are elaborated are the Medical model that constructs HIV scientifically and in terms of a compromised immune system; the Epidemic model that identifies risk behaviours and transmission routes and the Moralistic model. Social constructions of AIDS as plague or punishment against society are advanced by moralists who equate HIV with taboo social and sexual behaviour and the political constructions highlights public health in the face of obstacles to treatment and the delivery of services to people living with HIV. Bringing together current research and discussions on the three areas of policy, practices and theoretical perspectives related to the use and social construction of sexual health through HIV and AIDS communication approaches with specific reference to India, this book will be of interest to academics in the field of health communication, HIV and AIDS, and South Asian Studies.

The global population is increasing rapidly, and feeding the ever-increasing population poses a serious challenge for agriculturalists around the world. Seed is a basic and critical input in agriculture to ensure global food security. Roughly 90 percent of the crops grown all over the world are propagated by seed. However, seed can also harbour and spread pathogens, e.g. fungi, bacteria, nematodes, viruses etc., which cause devastating diseases. Seed-borne pathogens represent a major threat to crop establishment and yield. Hence, timely detection and diagnosis is a prerequisite for their effective management. The book "Seed-Borne Diseases of Agricultural Crops: Detection, Diagnosis & Management" addresses key issues related to seed-borne/transmitted diseases in various agricultural crops. Divided into 30 chapters, it offers a comprehensive compilation of papers concerning: the history of seed pathology, importance of seed-borne diseases, seed-borne diseases and quarantine, seed health testing and certification, detection and diagnosis of seed-borne diseases and their phytopathogens, host-parasite interactions during development of seed-borne diseases, diversity of seed-borne pathogens, seed-borne diseases in major agricultural crops, non-parasitic seed disorders, mechanisms of seed transmission and seed infection, storage fungi and mycotoxins, impact of seed-borne diseases on human and animal health, and management options for seed-borne diseases. We wish to thank all of the eminent researchers who contributed valuable chapters to our book, which will be immensely useful for students, researchers, academics, and all those involved in various agro-industries.

This book offers essential insights into potential catastrophic events that might befall upon the emerging urban landscape in South Asia, and which are due to hazards, risks and vulnerabilities inherent in the region's geophysical location, as well as due to climate change and unplanned urbanization. It highlights major physio-graphic, demographic, geological and geophysical indicators that are responsible for changing the pattern and trend of urbanization in South Asia - a crucial issue in view of emerging threats of climate change, and changes in the demographic profile. The book addresses the disaster management scenario in South Asia, manifestations of climate change in the region and various urban setups under climate-change-induced risks. Further, it elaborates on the challenges of urbanization-based neo-risks and vulnerabilities, which manifest in the form of slum area growth, piling and littering of waste and filth, new health risks, groundwater contamination, air pollution, highly energy-dependent lifestyles, poverty, socio-economic tensions, etc. It also critically examines the institutional mechanisms for disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA) and urban governance, and suggests appropriate changes in the governing structure to mitigate these risks. The book draws the attention of urban planners and policymakers to current shortcomings in the administrative and financial structures of local urban bodies. While outlining climate-associated risks and adaptation strategies in South Asia, it also suggests measures for integrating climate change and urban adaption with state's planning processes, and puts forward a risk alleviation platform to bring the risk managers working in different fields together, so that they make concerted efforts to achieve sustainable development. It offers valuable takeaways for researchers, urban planners, those working in industry, consultants, and policymakers.

This book presents the emerging regime of zero refractive index photonics, involving metamaterials that exhibit effectively zero refractive index. Metamaterials are artificial structures whose optical properties can be tailored at will. With metamaterials, intriguing and spellbinding phenomena like negative refraction and electromagnetic cloaking could be realized, which otherwise seem unnatural or straight out of science fiction. Zero index metamaterials are also seen as a means of boosting nonlinear properties and are believed to have strong prospects for being useful in nonlinear optical applications. In summary, this book highlights almost everything currently available on zero index metamaterials and is useful for professionally interested and motivated readers.

The global population is increasing rapidly, and feeding the ever-increasing population poses a serious challenge for agriculturalists around the world. Seed is a basic and critical input in agriculture to ensure global food security. Roughly 90 percent of the crops grown all over the world are propagated by seed. However, seed can also harbour and spread pathogens, e.g. fungi, bacteria, nematodes, viruses etc., which cause devastating diseases. Seed-borne pathogens represent a major threat to crop establishment and yield. Hence, timely detection and diagnosis is a prerequisite for their effective management. The book "Seed-Borne Diseases of Agricultural Crops: Detection, Diagnosis & Management" addresses key issues related to seed-borne/transmitted diseases in various agricultural crops. Divided into 30 chapters, it offers a comprehensive compilation of papers concerning: the history of seed pathology, importance of seed-borne diseases, seed-borne diseases and quarantine, seed health testing and certification, detection and diagnosis of seed-borne diseases and their phytopathogens, host-parasite interactions during development of seed-borne diseases, diversity of seed-borne pathogens, seed-borne diseases in major agricultural crops, non-parasitic seed disorders, mechanisms of seed transmission and seed infection, storage fungi and mycotoxins, impact of seed-borne diseases on human and animal health, and management options for seed-borne diseases. We wish to thank all of the eminent researchers who contributed valuable chapters to our book, which will be immensely useful for students, researchers, academics, and all those involved in various agro-industries.

This book advances new understandings of how technologies have been harnessed to improve the health of populations; whether the technologies really empower those who use information by providing them with a choice of information; how they shape health policy discourses; how the health information relates to traditional belief systems and local philosophies; the implications for health communicators; how certain forms of silence are produced when media articulates and problematizes only a few health issues and sidelines others; and much more. The book brings together current research and discussions on the three areas of policy, practices and theoretical perspectives related to health communication approaches in developing countries, presenting well-researched and documented essays that will prove helpful for academic and scholarly inquiry in this area.

This book advances new understandings of how technologies have been harnessed to improve the health of populations; whether the technologies really empower those who use information by providing them with a choice of information; how they shape health policy discourses; how the health information relates to traditional belief systems and local philosophies; the implications for health communicators; how certain forms of silence are produced when media articulates and problematizes only a few health issues and sidelines others; and much more. The book brings together current research and discussions on the three areas of policy, practices and theoretical perspectives related to health communication approaches in developing countries, presenting well-researched and documented essays that will prove helpful for academic and scholarly inquiry in this area.

Due to the increase in the consumption of herbal medicine, there is a need to know which scientifically based methods are appropriate for assessing the quality of herbal medicines. Fingerprinting has emerged as a suitable technique for quality estimation. Chemical markers are used for evaluation of herbal medicines. Identification and quantification of these chemical markers are crucial for quality control of herbal medicines. This book provides updated knowledge on methodology, quality assessment, toxicity analysis and medicinal values of natural compounds.

This book offers essential insights into potential catastrophic events that might befall upon the emerging urban landscape in South Asia, and which are due to hazards, risks and vulnerabilities inherent in the region's geophysical location, as well as due to climate change and unplanned urbanization. It highlights major physio-graphic, demographic, geological and geophysical indicators that are responsible for changing the pattern and trend of urbanization in South Asia - a crucial issue in view of emerging threats of climate change, and changes in the demographic profile. The book addresses the disaster management scenario in South Asia, manifestations of climate change in the region and various urban setups under climate-change-induced risks. Further, it elaborates on the challenges of urbanization-based neo-risks and vulnerabilities, which manifest in the form of slum area growth, piling and littering of waste and filth, new health risks, groundwater contamination, air pollution, highly energy-dependent lifestyles, poverty, socio-economic tensions, etc. It also critically examines the institutional mechanisms for disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA) and urban governance, and suggests appropriate changes in the governing structure to mitigate these risks. The book draws the attention of urban planners and policymakers to current shortcomings in the administrative and financial structures of local urban bodies. While outlining climate-associated risks and adaptation strategies in South Asia, it also suggests measures for integrating climate change and urban adaption with state's planning processes, and puts forward a risk alleviation platform to bring the risk managers working in different fields together, so that they make concerted efforts to achieve sustainable development. It offers valuable takeaways for researchers, urban planners, those working in industry, consultants, and policymakers.

This book presents select proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science (ICAMEMS 2022). It discusses about the diverse technological advancements, innovations, and achievements in the areas of mechanical engineering and material science. It also covers the developments and challenges in the field of machine design, manufacturing, thermal and fluid engineering. Important topics covered in the conference include advanced manufacturing processes, machining, product design and development, mechatronics and robotics, non-conventional energy resources, green energy and energy harvesting, tribology, materials and characterization. The book also discusses advanced research areas in material science such as smart materials, bio-materials and advanced energy materials. Given the contents, the book will be a valuable reference for students, researchers and industrialists interested in advanced research areas of mechanical engineering and material science.

This book presents the emerging regime of zero refractive index photonics, involving metamaterials that exhibit effectively zero refractive index. Metamaterials are artificial structures whose optical properties can be tailored at will. With metamaterials, intriguing and spellbinding phenomena like negative refraction and electromagnetic cloaking could be realized, which otherwise seem unnatural or straight out of science fiction. Zero index metamaterials are also seen as a means of boosting nonlinear properties and are believed to have strong prospects for being useful in nonlinear optical applications. In summary, this book highlights almost everything currently available on zero index metamaterials and is useful for professionally interested and motivated readers.

Machine learning (ML) and the internet of things (IoT) are the top technologies used by businesses to increase efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in this fast-paced digital era transformation. ML is the key tool for fast processing and decision making applied to smart city applications and next-generation IoT devices, which require ML to satisfy their working objective. IoT technology has proven efficient in solving many real-world problems, and ML algorithms combined with IoT means the fusion of product and intelligence to achieve better automation, efficiency, productivity, and connectivity. Machine Learning-Enabled IoT for Smart Applications Across Industries highlights the importance of ML for IoT’s success and diverse ML-powered IoT applications. This book addresses the problems and challenges in energy, industry, and healthcare and solutions proposed for ML-enabled IoT and new algorithms in ML. It further addresses their accuracy for existing real-time applications. Covering topics such as agriculture, pattern recognition, and smart applications, this premier reference source is an essential resource for engineers, scientists, educators, students, researchers, and academicians.

This edited book provides an overview of omics technologies and methods for integration across multiple omics layers used in the plant disease diagnosis and developing management strategies. The book concentrates on the prevalence of soil-borne disease management in various important crops with use of different strategies, including host resistance and biological control etc. The special focus is on the resolving practical problems encountered after the resistance development in the pathogens against several chemical pesticides. Further, special attention is given to the emergence of new diseases or the re-emergence of old ones on several crops, and on the results and problems encountered by using microbial inoculants, biofumigation and other non-chemical control methods. This book has 18 contributory chapters from the eminent experts in the field of plant pathology, microbiology and biotechnology working on different aspects of soil-borne diseases of important agricultural crops. This edited volume is of interest and useful to researchers in plant pathology, agriculture sciences, plant genomics ecology, policy makers, also it is a valuable source of reference to the relevant researchers and students globally.

Raising one's sexual enjoyment to its highest power, and then using it as fuel for spiritual advancement, leading eventually to enlightenment, is the underlying principle of tantra. Yoga, medic and chanting of mantras are important in tantra. This book provides, briefly yet sufficiently, the necessary knowledge for achieving the goal of enlightenment.