Higher Education Academy

Introduction Delayed motherhood, defined as childbirth at advanced maternal age (≥35 years), is a growing trend globally and increasingly observed in India, driven by shifts in socio-economic conditions, rising female education, and urbanization. While studies from high-income countries have linked advanced maternal age to adverse maternal outcomes, including nutritional risks and obstetric complications, evidence from nationally representative Indian data remains limited. Women aged 40–49 whose most recent birth likely represents their final reproductive event provide a unique opportunity to study delayed motherhood in the context of completed fertility. Data and methods This study analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21). The analytical sample included 148,655 ever-married women aged 40–49 years. Delayed motherhood was defined as having the most recent childbirth at age ≥35, irrespective of parity. Maternal health outcomes included nutritional status (underweight, overweight), anemia prevalence, reproductive healthcare utilization (delivery care, sterilization), contraceptive use prior to first childbirth, unmet need for contraception, and pregnancy termination. Bivariate analyses were conducted initially, followed by generalized linear models (logistic regression) adjusting for demographic (age, residence, religion, caste) and socioeconomic (education, wealth index, employment) covariates. Results Women experiencing delayed motherhood had significantly higher adjusted odds of being underweight (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.09–1.22) and having unmet contraceptive needs (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.89–2.09). They also showed increased odds of pregnancy termination (AOR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.36–1.50) and using contraception prior to first childbirth (AOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.15–1.32). Conversely, delayed mothers were less likely to be overweight (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.86–0.94) or to have undergone sterilization (AOR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.34–0.37). No significant association was observed with anemia after adjustment. Conclusion Delayed motherhood among women aged 40–49 in India is associated with maternal vulnerabilities, higher underweight prevalence, unmet contraceptive needs, and elevated pregnancy termination rates, alongside lower sterilization and overweight prevalence. These findings underscore the need for age-responsive and culturally sensitive maternal and reproductive health policies ensuring comprehensive prenatal, postnatal care and robust family planning services, empowering women to make informed reproductive choices in context of advanced maternal age.

Tariff Wars have become a serious concern that defines and affects global trade and economic relations in the 21st century. These policies, characterized using tariffs and other trade barriers, have had a broader impact on the world, extending beyond the economic or financial effects between the countries involved. The paper focuses on the long-term effects of tariff wars on global trade and the economic relationship between countries. Using historical and current tariff war scenarios such as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, the USA-China trade war, the study indicates that disruption of the global supply chain, volatility of the financial market, and impact on specific sectors of the country's economy, such as agriculture, are some of the long-term impacts of these policies on global trade. In terms of the impact on economic relationships between countries, the study highlights the creation of new trade agreements and the diversification of trade partnerships as possible effects on economic relationships between countries. It is therefore imperative for countries to diversify their trade relationship by adopting initiatives against the effects of trade wars. The study suggests that, even if some short-run political and economic payoffs obtain at the national level, global prosperity would not be sustainable without cooperative and stable international trade policies.

Sleep disorders particularly insomnia has significantly impact mental and physical health. Traditional diagnostic methods like polysomnography (PSG) are resource-intensive and rely on manual evaluation, limiting efficiency. By focusing on CAP Phase B, a critical recovery phase during sleep, the model enhances diagnostic precision, capturing subtle transitions and disruptions associated with sleep disorders. To tackle this issue, we propose a deep learning approach-based classification framework utilizing multimodal physiological signals EEG, EMG, and ECG. Three hybrid model like CNNLSTM, CNN-BiGRU, and CNN-BiLSTM are developed to enhance spatial and temporal feature extraction. The models are trained and evaluated using the CAP Sleep Database from PhysioNet. Among them, the CNN-BiLSTM model attains a top classification accuracy of (99.99%) outperforming CNN-BiGRU (96.69%) and CNN LSTM (94.46%). The integration of convolutional and bidirectional networks significantly improves detection accuracy, making the proposed method a promising tool for automated insomnia diagnosis.

Advancements in genomics and artificial intelligence are transforming precision agriculture by enabling early stress detection and adaptive crop management. Integrating genomic analysis, image-based stress detection, and real-time environmental monitoring, this approach assesses plant responses to stress factors such as drought and disease. A BERT-based model processes genomic data, while computer vision identifies visual stress indicators like wilting and discoloration. IoT sensors track environmental parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, and humidity, refining predictions and optimizing intervention strategies. The system leverages multimodal data fusion to enhance decision-making, improving the accuracy of stress detection and mitigation strategies. Machine learning models continuously adapt by learning from historical and real-time data, making recommendations more precise over time. A web-based platform allows users to upload plant images and environmental data for real-time analysis, generating personalized recommendations for irrigation, fertilization, and disease management. The platform's intuitive interface ensures accessibility for farmers and agricultural experts, facilitating widespread adoption. By combining AI, genomics, and IoT, this system enhances crop health, maximizes yield, and promotes sustainable farming through proactive, data-driven decision-making. Ultimately, it aims to reduce resource waste, mitigate crop losses, and support scalable, technology-driven agricultural solutions.

The 21st century has seen significant scholarly interest in the benefits of bilingualism and foreign language learning at both individual and societal levels. Bilingualism, defined as the capability to use two languages proficiently, is increasingly prevalent due to global mobility and cross-cultural interactions. This study explores the perceptions of bilingualism among 20 young adult Iranian EFL learners at a state-run university. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews incorporating both closed and open-ended questions to ensure triangulation and reliability of findings. Participants were asked specifically about how bilingualism impacts their identity, emotions, personality, mental abilities, cognitive processes, and intelligence. Results indicated strongly positive attitudes towards bilingualism, with learners highlighting benefits such as improved cognitive skills, increased mental flexibility, enhanced personal identity, and emotional stability. The findings underscore bilingualism as a valuable asset in personal development and academic contexts, supporting the promotion of bilingual education programs.

This systematic review paper analyzes the regulatory pathways of the Indian and European Union (EU) nutraceuticals to compare frameworks in these two regions. The regulatory framework of India is dominated by the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, with health supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods having their specific regulations in the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purposes, Functional Food, and Novel Food) Regulations of 2016. In contrast, the EU’s approach is managed by many comprehensive regulations, such as the General Food Law Regulation 178/2002, the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46, and specific regulations on fortified foods, nutrition claims, and novel foods. This study emphasizes key regulations in both regions, particularly focusing on the respective legal requirements regarding registration, product approval, and labeling, and discusses registration procedures in India and the procedural complexities of nutraceuticals within the EU framework.

The article is devoted to the problem of supporting the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly. The relevance of the topic "The role of physical rehabilitation in maintaining health and improving the quality of life of the elderly" is due to the increase in the number of elderly people in the population and the need to support their physical and psychological well-being. Ageing is accompanied by decreased physical activity and functional capabilities and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, negatively affecting quality of life. Physical rehabilitation is essential in maintaining the health of the elderly, improving their mobility, reducing the risk of falls, and increasing overall vitality. Because the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs can vary, research in this area will help to develop optimal strategies to improve the quality of life of older adults. This article examines the importance of physical activity for older people. The primary attention is paid to the impact of physical activity on the general state of health, functional capabilities and quality of life of the elderly. The purpose of the work is to study the impact of physical rehabilitation on the health and quality of life of the elderly and evaluate the effectiveness of various types of physical exercises in maintaining functional capabilities and reducing the risk of age-related diseases. Different types of physical exercises, including aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance exercises, were analyzed in the context of their effectiveness in maintaining and improving the health of the elderly. The role of these exercises in reducing the symptoms of age-related diseases, improving physical functions and reducing the risk of falls has been studied. Balance and strength training exercises effectively decrease the frequency of falls and related injuries. Multi-component exercise programs that combine balance, strength, and aerobic training are particularly effective. Regular exercise has been found to increase muscle strength and improve balance, flexibility and aerobic endurance, which in turn positively affects the overall quality of life. The article pays special attention to the practical aspects of physical rehabilitation implementation, including the development of individualized exercise programs adapted to the unique needs and capabilities of each elderly individual. The need for constant monitoring of progress and adjustment of physical exercise programs according to individual results is indicated. In general, the article emphasizes the importance of physical rehabilitation as a tool for improving the health and quality of life of the elderly, and also provides recommendations for the practical application of physical exercises in rehabilitation programs. While physical rehabilitation is beneficial, maintaining adherence to exercise programs remains a challenge. Strategies to improve adherence include personalized exercise plans, ongoing support from healthcare providers, and community-based programs. The effectiveness of physical rehabilitation varies among individuals. Tailoring exercise programs to meet the specific needs and capabilities of each elderly person is essential for maximizing benefits. Further research will be aimed at establishing optimal methods and strategies for physical rehabilitation. The article will be of interest to medical workers, scientists, representatives of health care authorities, elderly people and their families, as well as public and charitable organizations.

Psychology has largely viewed human functioning from a deficit model in the past but has since turned to a more optimistic, positive psychological lens. Gratitude is a well-researched concept associated with a broad range of psychology theories, such as Fredrickson’s broaden and build theory and Algoe’s find, remind, and bind theory. Research studies revealed that gratitude is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing and is strongly linked with better psychological and subjective wellbeing. However, gratitude is rarely studied in higher education contexts, making it critical to understand if and how gratitude can impact learners’ wellbeing positively, which, in turn, may lead to better performance in their studies and improvements in their overall wellbeing. This research study employs a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews to capture the experiences and perspectives of students and lecturers in higher education in relation to gratitude. Findings revealed that gratitude leads to positive emotions, better relationships, and prosocial behaviours. Additionally, gratitude was found to improve students’ wellbeing and increase their engagement and motivation levels towards learning. To integrate gratitude into the academic curriculum, discourses surrounding gratitude must be reconsidered, and intentional learning spaces for gratitude should also be developed.