eChapters

Revolutionizing skin cancer detection
The diagnostic process for skin cancer is evolving. Physicians have in the past relied upon physical exams to be followed by scanning and biopsies taking anywhere between 15 days to return results. Although most abnormalities turn out to be non-cancerous, this is distressing to patients and contributes to healthcare costs. Additionally, certain growths that turn out to be cancerous remain undiagnosed since they have not been visible.
Breakthrough startup Damae Medical is set to reverse this process. The startup has developed an advanced probe that is able to take 3D images of the skin to unveil the full extent of abnormalities in real time. This enables doctors to diagnose in an instant, enabling improved personalized treatment. When an operation is required only diseased tissue is removed to prevent unnecessary treatments and improved outcomes in patients.
The Origins in the Institut d’Optique
The beginnings of Damae Medical can be traced to Palaiseau-based Institut d’Optique where in 2013 two photonics students envisaged potential in an emerging imaging tech. Together with the inventor himself in 2014, they cofounded Damae Medical by taking an exclusive license to the core family of patents held by three partner institutions. While this contract was beneficial in launching the company to an early growth spurt, in the long run created difficulty in exercising control. This was resolved by taking an equity-forcontrol purchase in 2019 by Damae to acquire the foundational patent

1. Introduction

The Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (ODLIS) defines best practice as, “in the application of theory to real-life situations, procedures that, when properly, applied consistently yield superior results and are therefore use as reference points in evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative methods of accomplishing the same task. Best practices are identified by examining empirical evidence of success”. Commonly, best practices are those services, which satisfy the respective users’ community on their desired level. Earlier, best practice term was used in the manufacturing industries for implementation of benchmarking methods so that ultimate quality results may be achieved. But later on the term “best practice” has also been used in academia and other fields as well. The mandate of any library is to work according to the informational needs of the user’s and other facilities, which are desired by the users. The service delivery pattern has totally been changed gradually due to the technological impacts and ever changing needs of the users. Now library users’ wants quality information services, which satisfy their needs so it becomes necessary for any library to provide the satisfactory services in the best and desired way. Best practices can play a major role in the comprehensive development of any academic institute and the agricultural university libraries are not exception to it.

3.1 Introduction

Government of India has made significant impact in empowering girl child through initiation of various schemes viz; Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana etc. After initiation of such types of programme for girls, Child Sex Ratio was increased during 2021-22 i.e; 929 females per 1,000 males. Recently Government of India has initiated new innovation in Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme. Present Paper aim is to discuss the new innovations during 2017 to 2022 under this scheme.

In India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi foresee rural India as ability laden with great prospective to speed of Sustainable Development Goal. Looking at splurge of schemes targeting girl child like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Ladli Yojana and several other schemes empowerment of girl child seems to be heart of a plan to attain dream of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

13.1 Introduction

13.1.1 Bridging the Gap: Towards a More Equitable Digital Landscape

In an age dominated by digital technologies, the concept of a more equitable digital landscape is paramount to ensuring that the benefits of technology are accessible to all segments of society. The term "digital landscape" encompasses not only the physical infrastructure, such as internet connectivity and hardware, but also the socio-economic and educational factors that influence individuals' ability to participate in the digital realm. The digital divide, often exacerbated by disparities in access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital literacy, presents a significant challenge. This paper, titled "Bridging the Gap: Towards a More Equitable Digital Landscape," seeks to explore the multifaceted nature of the digital divide and propose strategies to overcome these challenges.

6.1 Introduction

In its broadest sense, literacy stands as a fundamental pillar of youth development, transcending mere reading and writing abilities to encompass critical skills necessary for navigating today's complex world (UNESCO, 2020). Concurrently, connectivity serves as the backbone of digital transformation, facilitating communication, collaboration, and access to information on a global scale (ITU, 2021). Skill development, particularly in digital literacy, has become indispensable in an increasingly digitized society, empowering individuals to thrive in both personal and professional domains (European Commission, 2019).

The increasing deployment of Large Language Models across education, healthcare, finance, employment and public services has made fairness and ethical responsibility central concerns in AI development. LLMs learn from enormous datasets that may contain historical inequalities, stereotypes, cultural assumptions and other forms of social bias. This chapter examines the origins, manifestations and consequences of bias in LLMs and considers approaches for promoting fair and responsible deployment. It discusses data bias arising from the composition and curation of training datasets, algorithmic bias introduced through model architectures and learning processes, and bias associated with human-in-the-loop systems. Gender, racial and cultural biases are considered because they can influence generated outputs and potentially reinforce existing inequalities. The chapter also examines fairness evaluation, mitigation strategies, transparency, accountability and human oversight. Ethical concerns extend beyond bias to hallucination, misinformation, privacy and inappropriate automation. Effective governance requires continuous monitoring rather than one-time assessment because model behaviour may change across applications and populations. The chapter therefore emphasizes responsible AI principles that place fairness, transparency, accountability, safety and human interests at the centre of LLM development and deployment.

1. Bibliometric

Bibliometrics is the application of quantitative techniques to analyze the volume, the movement, the frequency and the characteristics, etc of published documents and the related activities. Alan Pritchard was first to use the word “Bibliometrics” in an article “Statistical Bibliography or Bibliometrics” published in the 1969 issue of the “Journal of Documentation”. He defines Bibliometrics as “the application of mathematical and statistical methods to books and other media of communication.” In a later article, Pritchard explained Bibliometrics as the “metrology of the information transfer process and its purpose is analysis and control of the process”. Bibliometrics is a set of methods used to study or measure texts and information (Wikipedia, 2011).

Big Data refers to extremely large, very fast, highly diverse, and complex data that cannot be managed with conventional data management systems, tools or processes. In the perfect world, Big Data may include all kind of data, which can deliver the right information, to right person, in the right quantity, at the right time, to help in making the right decisions.

Introduction
The majority of the world’s population consumes plant-based meals, which frequently lack important micronutrients and fail to satisfy recommended daily allowances (RDAs). Micronutrient inadequacy, also known as ‘hidden hunger,’ affects one in every three individuals worldwide (FAO, 2013). The growing worldwide population, expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2017), has increased the demand for high-quality food. Unfortunately, the emphasis on food quantity has frequently outweighed issues of food quality. Undernourishment is a major issue, especially in emerging and undeveloped nations where diets are inadequate and largely reliant on staple commodities such as grains (Datta & Vitolins, 2016). Poor lifestyle and dietary choices contribute to food insecurity (Gakidou et al., 2017). To address endemic nutritional deficits, fortification or supplementing techniques have been used (Bouis et al., 2017). Biofortification, which involves breeding nutrient-rich staple crop types, is a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to give important micronutrients. While biofortified staple foods may not contain as many minerals and vitamins as supplements or industrially fortified items, they do help to improve daily micronutrient intake throughout the lifespan (Bouis et al., 2011). Success stories of biofortification include lysine and tryptophan rich quality protein maize won World food prize 2000, Vitamin A rich orange sweet potato won World food prize 2016. It is vital to highlight that biofortification alone cannot completely remove micronutrient deficiencies; however, it can supplement existing initiatives and help vulnerable groups.

Abstract
Managing weeds in agricultural productivity poses a formidable challenge. An increasingly common weed control strategy in ecologically friendly farming systems is integrated weed management, which involves bioherbicides. Ensuring global food security and environmental safety heavily relies on the sustainability of agricultural production. Worldwide, sustainable agricultural approaches, including the maintenance of a permanent layer of soil cover, the minimization of soil disruption, the implementation of regular crop rotations, the practice of integrated weed control, and the adoption of conservation agriculture, are becoming increasingly popular. Bio-herbicides are commonly derived from plants containing phytotoxic allelochemicals or specialized bacteria that can induce diseases and reduce the population of weeds within a given area. However, bio-herbicides have demonstrated significant potential in inhibiting the germination and spread of weed seeds. Bio-herbicides offer a promising, environmentally friendly, promising solution for weed control, as they are derived from natural sources such as bacteria, plants, or biochemical compounds. This study investigates the effectiveness, environmental benefits, and challenges of using bio-herbicides to achieve sustainable weed control. Bio-herbicides possess the capacity to reduce dependency on artificial pesticides, eradicate unintended harm to non-target organisms, and foster a more harmonious ecosystem by employing biological agents to target particular weeds selectively.
Keywords: Bio-herbicide, allelochemicals, weeds, sustainable agriculture.

Biodiversity provides the building blocks for sustainable food, health and livelihood security systems. It is the feedstock for both the biotechnology industry and a climate-resilient farming system. Because of its importance for human well-being and survival, a Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Convention’s triple goals are conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits. CBD defines biological diversity as follows:

Variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Demographic explosion, environment pollution, habitat destruction, enlarging ecological footprint, widespread hunger and unsustainable lifestyles, and potential adverse changes in climate all threaten the future of human food, water, health and livelihood security systems. 2010 appears to mark the beginning of uncertain weather patterns and extreme climate behaviour. Events like temperature rise, drought, flood, coastal storms and rise in sea level are likely to present new challenges to the public, professionals and policy makers. Biodiversity has so far served as the feedstock for sustainable food and health security and can play a similar role in the development of climate-resilient farming and livelihood systems. Biodiversity is also the feedstock for the biotechnology industry. Unfortunately, genetic erosion and species extinction are now occurring at an accelerated pace due to habitat destruction, alien species invasion and spread of agricultural systems characterised by genetic homogeneity. Genetic homogeneity increases genetic vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. To generate widespread interest in biodiversity conservation, the UN General Assembly has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.

Introduction

The dawn of the 21st century brings with it unprecedented challenges for agriculture - challenges that demand a departure from conventional practices and a harmonious integration of spirituality and sustainable methodologies. In this pursuit, Bio Dynamic Farming emerges as a beacon, guiding farmers to cultivate not only crops but also a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimensions intertwined with the earth's rhythms. Rooted in the visionary teachings of Rudolf Steiner and his anthroposophical principles, Bio Dynamic Farming transcends the mechanistic view of agriculture, offering a holistic paradigm where spirituality and sustainable agriculture dance in unison.

    Introduction
Over 60% of the population in India is occupied in agriculture and associated fields, making it one of the world’s most agriculturally dense nations. In India, the agricultural sector accounts for 18.6% of the country’s GDP. Almost all crops, including cereals, vegetables, and cash crops, are grown in India (Vanitha et al., 2013; APEDA, 2020). From the beginning of time, several pests, including weeds, insects, plant diseases, and nematodes, have had a detrimental effect on agriculture. As a result, crop losses are estimated to be 45%, or over 290 billion, annually (Aneja et al., 2016). Regardless of tactics, illnesses and pests significantly contribute to agricultural losses. Diseases, weeds, and insects hinder plant growth and lower plant density, eventually lowering the food supply. The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has released a policy statement stating that invasive insects cost more than $2.5 billion to control and cost $18 billion per year in economic losses to pastures, crops, lawns, and forests (The Not-So-Hidden Dangers of Invasive Species, 2018). Invasive crop pests continue to threaten food security because of the intricate relationships between human migration, international trade, climate change, and evolving agricultural techniques. Several of these variables also contribute to the sharp rise of urban pests and disease-carrying insects. The primary method of insect pest management has been chemical pesticides. Nonetheless, an increasing call for less agricultural chemical use due to worries about the environment, human health, and pesticide resistance ignites interest in novel ways.
Conventional chemical pesticides have raised food production and harmed non-target animals and the ecosystem. To prevent and mitigate pest-induced crop losses in storage (post-harvest losses) and in the field (pre-harvest losses). This has been accomplished through the development of numerous crop protection techniques. In the past few decades, chemical pesticides have been utilized to reduce food losses induced by insect pests; however, this has decreased agricultural production. Moreover, volatile pesticide residues have periodically raised questions about food safety among domestic customers and presented challenges to export crops’ ability to trade. Insecticides can cause physical or biological harm to pests. Certain insecticides are applied topically or indirectly to plants those insects may consume. Pesticides harm nature, soil, and human well-being, so regulations and rules governing their use are becoming more stringent. New technology and products to control and prevent pests are desperately needed. In modern agriculture, various methods are now available, including biological control, insect behavior, genetic modification, microbial pesticides and plant immunization of pest populations.

Abstract

Over the years, global climate change has negatively impacted the resources of western Himalayan region and the diversity of floral wealth has been endangered. The endangered livelihoods of agriculture based sector call for incorporating stress resistance by sustained effort that includes resort to infusion of new technologies. Biotechnology offers possible solutions to many of the intractable problems. Development and commercialization of transgenic crops have witnessed phenomenal growth in recent years. An array of traits viz. insect pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, abiotic stress tolerance, augmentation of nutritional qualities etc. have been targeted and successfully modified through plant genetic engineering. The global area of transgenic crops has seen a tremendous increase to attain 148 million hectares in 2010. Progress in understanding plant genome structure and function by high throughput characterization of genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome is providing new opportunities to deal with complex traits that result from interactions of a large number of genes. The other significant application of biotechnology in crop improvement has been “Marker Assisted Selection” (MAS). Development and integration of DNA based markers in the selection process has empowered the breeder to identify the desired genotypes without any interference of environmental effect or tissue specificity of expression. Cultivation of MAS derived crop varieties in the country bears testimony to the success of this technology.

The silkworm chawki rearing is a vital stage in rearing as it has major influence on cocoon production.  Temperature, humidity and leaf quality are the three key important factors influencing chawki rearing.  Hence, maintaining these conditions at every step is very important and calls for provision of separate chamber. Any alteration in these factors will influence during later ages of silkworm rearing leading to crop losses.  Taking these factors into consideration the Government of India promoted the establishment Chawki Rearing Centres (CRCs) in private sector also.  These CRCs brush the silkworm eggs at one point under controlled conditions and distribute the worms to the needy farmers.
 
In recent years, bivoltine hybrids are becoming more popular in India and particularly in Karnataka.  This is due to the efforts of the Central Silk Board, Karnataka State Department of Sericulture and Japanese International Co-operation Agency.  These Bivoltines have high cocoon shell ratio (24 to 25%), better quality, fetches high cocoon price, better returns, high rendita (5.1 to 6.1) and raw silk percentage (20 to 22%) with filament length of 11502 to 12200 meters.  The farmers could achieve up to 70kgs cocoon yield per 100 Disease Free Layings (DFLs) and quality silk of 2A to 4A grade. 

Introduction

Education as a process of development deals with three majors teaching, training and instruction. Its objective being to help students to achieve their highest potential and individual development which they are capable. Education needs to be tailored meaning to ensure that the information is relevant. Attitude, Knowledge and Skill “each one of them, with its inner components, prepares students to acquire and obtain different characters as means to produce a professional” Yang et al. (2015). Education is a field which is continuously growing from since long and is still growing through a phase of continuous change. To this fast changing world of higher education we need to adapt and adopt the changing environment to meet the circumstances posed by ICT. The educationists and students in particular have witnessed a tremendous change due to the changes brought in by ICT. ICT is what regarded as the efficient management of information, fostering the development of 21st century. The learner in today’s world is so much driven by technology that only traditional method of teaching does not bring satisfaction. Today, ICT is nothing but a blend of both which is yielding and having a good impact on the education scenario. ICT applications are undoubtedly improving the education system in all aspects. Escueta et al. (2017) the educational landscape has been indelibly altered over the past two decades by technological innovation.

The concept of gender, distinct from biological sex, serves as a lens through which societies organize individuals and define roles, expectations, and relationships. Gender is not merely a matter of identity but an intersectional construct shaped by cultural, social, economic, and political influences. It reflects how different societies understand and express masculinity, femininity, and other gender identities, often dictating the power dynamics, opportunities, and constraints placed on individuals.

The understanding of gender has evolved significantly over time. Initially, it was viewed as a binary construct aligned strictly with biological sex; however, modern perspectives recognize gender as a fluid and dynamic concept, shaped by individual experiences, social interactions, and institutional norms. This evolution has brought about greater recognition of diverse gender identities, challenging traditional binaries and expanding the conversation to include non-binary, transgender, and gender non-conforming identities.

At the heart of gender are the societal structures that enforce roles and expectations. These structures differ across cultures and historical periods but commonly emphasize the division of labor, power, and resources between men and women. Gender not only influences individual identity but also informs how societies function, shaping everything from economic participation to political representation.

1.1 Introduction

Gender permeates every facet of society, influencing power dynamics, access to resources, and opportunities. Understanding gender requires not only defining its conceptual framework but also acknowledging how these concepts manifest in everyday life, often creating deep divisions. Gender divides whether in education, employment, health, or political participation are enduring realities that reflect the unequal distribution of opportunities and rights between men and women, as well as between those who identify beyond the binary. These divides are more than social phenomena; they have concrete economic, political, and developmental impacts. Recognizing the persistent gaps in access and outcomes between genders has led to the development of gender-sensitive policies, such as gender budgeting. Gender budgeting is a critical tool for addressing these divides by ensuring that public resources are allocated equitably to benefit all genders. By focusing on the differential impacts of policies and budgets on women, men, and gender minorities, governments and organizations can work toward creating more inclusive and fair societies.

This chapter will introduce key gender-related concepts that form the foundation for understanding how gender influences social, economic, and political life. It will explore the roots and ramifications of gender divides across various sectors and explain how gender budgeting is employed as a strategic approach to reduce these disparities. Through this exploration, we will highlight the importance of integrating gender perspectives into policy and resource distribution to foster equity and social justice.

1.1 Introduction

Gender mainstreaming, a concept that emerged from international frameworks and global development agendas, is a strategy aimed at achieving gender equality by integrating gender perspectivesinto allstages of policy-making and organizational practices. Originating from the recommendations of the 1985 Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi and formally endorsed at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, gender mainstreaming has evolved into a fundamental approach within international development efforts. It was adopted as a methodology by ECOSOC in 1997, marking a significant commitment across the United Nations system to advance gender equality goals comprehensively.

In essence, gender mainstreaming is not merely about inclusivity; it represents a proactive stance towards challenging and reshaping societal structures and ideologies that perpetuate gender disparities.