Centurion University of Technology and Management is a multi-sector, private state university from Odisha, India. With its main campus at Paralakhemundi in the Gajapati district and another constituent campus located at Jatni, on the fringes of Bhubaneswar, it was accorded the status of a university in the year 2010. The university has been accredited by NAAC with 'A' Grade, thereby becoming the youngest private university to have earned the distinction. In 2016, the Bhubaneswar campus of the university was ranked 81 among the institutions offering engineering education in India by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India under the NIRF.The university offers under-graduate, post-graduate and doctoral courses in the fields of engineering & technology, agricultural sciences, architecture planning and design, mining, teachers' education, media and communication, paramedics and allied Health Sciences, pharmacy and life sciences, management, applied sciences and a number of vocational trades in its two major campuses. It also has regional campuses at Balangir, Rayagada and Chhatrapur.
Black rice is often referred to as long-life rice and is considered a nutrient-dense food by dietitians and nutritionists. The bioactive perspective, nutritional background, and health benefits of black rice promote its inclusion in everyday diets and highlight its role as an exciting superfood with the potential to increase dietary diversity and address global health issues. Vermicompost fertilization greatly enhanced soil properties, substantially improving growth indicators and yield. Agricultural output in Odisha is volatile, and the sector's expansion is quite unpredictable. This study should be conducted in Odisha soil to increase black rice yields, as organic fertilisers and amendments have been shown to improve nutrient content while enhancing crop yields considerably, and they also have therapeutic implications for various medical fields. Although black rice is famous for its excellent quality and valuable ingredients, producing it in a way that simultaneously improves grain yield and quality isn't easy. To fill a knowledge vacuum, this study analyses the nutrient and yield content of vermicompost-grown black rice in Odisha soil, demonstrating its originality for cultivation in that region. The unique aspect of this study is its broader approach to organic farming, specifically its examination of black rice production, which can help identify the limitations and appropriate use of organic fertilisers in agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the impact of organic fertiliser on the development and growth of black rice in Odisha soil. The work aims to maintain optimal soil conditions for the growth, nutrient content, and yield of the black rice variety in Odisha, making its cultivation as straightforward as that of any other rice variety. The obtained seeds were planted in three distinct soil treatments (ordinary, vermicompost, and soil + NPK). Plants harvested from different soil treatments underwent morphological examinations after germination, followed by analyses of chlorophyll, total sugar, starch, pH, qualitative phytochemicals, and XRF. After germination, the statistical parameters of the three growth stages—young, intermediate, and mature—of each plant collected from three treatment conditions were measured. Leaves extracts from each treated soil condition were tested for chlorophyll estimation, total sugar content, starch hydrolysis, pH, and phytochemicals assay. XRF analysis of soil and leaf samples revealed the presence of different elements and compounds that aid in development. According to the findings, plants grown in soil with vermicompost conditions performed better than those planted in soil with NPK conditions. The plant growing in soil treated with vermicompost had significantly more chlorophyll pigments, low sugar levels, and starch presence than other growing environments. Various extracts of black rice have been shown to contain different phytoconstituents, including alkaloids and flavonoids. The soil pH test results showed that the soil amended with vermicompost was slightly acidic, whereas the results for the other two soils were somewhat basic. Soil and leaf XRF analysis revealed varying concentrations of different elements and compounds. The study concludes that plants grown in soil amended with vermicompost were found to have superior characteristics than those grown in conventional soil. It also concludes that, with proper care, Odisha's soil is ideal for growing black rice, which results in a higher yield that is also nutrient-dense. The manuscript highlights the need for modified soil management strategies by identifying the varied nutritional characteristics and soil reactivity in black rice farming through thorough soil testing. This study demonstrates that vermicompost is an effective method for promoting plant growth, as it contains all the necessary nutrients, beneficial bacteria, and growth regulators that plants require. Integrating vermicompost into crop production and soil fertility improvement strategies can be an efficient and long-term solution supporting integrative nutrient management. To maximize growth and harvest, black rice in Odisha requires specific soil conditions to be maintained. In the future, further studies can be conducted to increase yield and enhance the nutritional benefits, thereby making it more accessible to the public.
Achieving sustainable health system performance (SHP) is a pressing challenge in emerging economies like India, where disparities in infrastructure, technology, workforce, and policy persist. This study investigates the complex, interdependent drivers of SHP by integrating three analytical methods. Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and artificial neural networks (ANN). Guided by socio-technical systems theory and systems thinking, we explore how health infrastructure (HI), technology adoption (TA), health workforce (HW), policy support (PS), and community engagement (CE) influence SHP. Data were collected from 412 stakeholders across six Indian states using a stratified purposive sampling method. DEMATEL identified causal relationships among constructs; PLS-SEM tested hypothesized paths, including mediation by CE and moderation by PS; and ANN validated predictive strength and variable importance. Results reveal that HI, TA, HW, and PS positively affect SHP. CE significantly mediates the impact of HI, TA, and HW, while PS strengthens the effects of TA and HW. TA and PS emerged as the most influential predictors. These findings underscore the need for integrated, community-centered, and policy-supported strategies to strengthen health systems. This study offers a novel multi-method framework to inform evidence-based health reforms in India and similar contexts.
Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa L, is well-recognized for its therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Despite its potential activities, curcumin’s low water solubility, poor absorption, fast metabolism, and low systemic bioavailability limit its practical use in nutrition and health. The different food-based approaches created to address these issues and encourage curcumin’s successful integration into functional food systems. In this review a variety of delivery methods that improve curcumin’s dispersibility and absorption in aqueous environments, including liposomes, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers and other lipid-based delivery systems is been studied for their ability to increase curcumin’s solubility and stability. Additionally, bioenhancers like piperine, dietary lipids, and food matrix interactions are reviewed in the context of improving curcumin’s bioefficacy. The review further highlights the application of curcumin in a range of functional food products including dairy, beverages, bakery items, and edible films, while also considering regulatory, sensory, and safety aspects relevant to product development. It aims to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and real-world food innovation, offering insight into the future of curcumin-enriched functional foods as a tool for preventive healthcare and wellness.
The advancement of efficient photo catalytic materials for environmental applications has become a rapidly growing area of research in recent years. This study emphasizes the photodegradation of Methyl Orange (MO), an anionic dye, under natural solar light using an innovative heterogeneous Ag@Co₃O₄/g-C₃N₄ catalyst synthesized via a green method using Syzygium cumini leaf extract. A comprehensive set of characterization techniques, were employed to investigate the crystal structure, surface morphology, functional groups, elemental composition, and optical properties of the synthesized material. The BET analysis indicated that the nanocomposite possessed a surface area of 68.4 m²/g, while the energy band gap, determined from Tauc’s plot, was approximately 2.25 eV. The photo catalytic performance was investigated by MO dye degradation with changing factors such as dye solution pH, dye concentration, catalyst dose, and irradiation period. Within 60 min, the catalyst attained a maximum degradation efficiency of 99
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are a promising drug carrier for the treatment of various diseases due to their biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and controlled-release properties. The present study aimed to develop vonoprazan (VP)- loaded ZnONPs (VP-ZnONPs) for the treatment of gastric ulcers. The VP-ZnONPs were prepared by direct precipitation and optimized using the design expert software. The zinc acetate dihydrate, sodium hydroxide, and stirring speed were selected as independent variables, whereas particle size, entrapment efficiency, and polydispersity index (PDI) were selected as responses. The optimized VP-ZnONPs (VP-ZnONPsopt) showed a particle size of 156.3 ± 3.4 nm, 0.371 ± 0.004 of PDI, 81.74 ± 0.50
