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In present years, the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) has established excessive potential in biological applications due to their non-toxic role in biological systems, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Ongoing research efforts focused on IONPs in the expansion of novel technologies as they can be synthesized with surface modification. Here we have studied the antibacterial effects of IONPs which were synthesized effectively through a green synthesis route by using leaf extract of the Carica papaya plant. The formation of IONPs was confirmed by the color change. The crystallinity of IONPs was determined by XRD and the morphology by using SEM, which showed spherical particles of well-dispersed size. The absorption peak was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy at 390 nm. Average particle size distribution was obtained at 56 nm using PSA. FL spectroscopy indicated the higher emission wavelength by redshift at 641.6 nm. TGA showed that the IONPs are thermally stable up to 200⁰C with no decomposition. The outcome would pave a way for utilizing IONPs for better biomedical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present time, Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IOMNPs) have paid considerable attention due to their exclusive applications in terms of surface-to-volume ratio, superparamagnetism, high surface area, biosensor, bio-separation, catalysis, and biomedicine. Our goal was to synthesis iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles by chemical route technique. The preparation method had a very large effect on the size, shape, and surface chemistry of the magnetic nanoparticles including their applications. The iron chloride solution was prepared by mixing deionized water with iron chloride tetrahydrate. The synthesized powder was characterized by XRD, UV-vis, SEM, FT-IR, DLS, FL, and TGA techniques. Moreover, antibacterial activity was evaluated using the synthesized IOMNPs against Escherichia coli (A), Pseudomonas (B), Enterobacter (C), Staphylococcus aureus (D), and Bacillus subtilis (E) in the concentration of 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg. The results showed that Bacillus subtilis possess a higher antibacterial activity at the concentration of 0.5 mg comparing the other bacterial species. The outcome of this work would contribute to the present understanding of the biomedical application with the obtained size, shape, and synthesized method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental results such as the adsorbate-adsorbent chemical properties and chemical interaction as well as adsorption conditions. The experimental results were fitted to batch kinetic studies to obtain the characteristic parameters of each model. According to the evaluation using the Kinetic equation, the maximum sorption capacity at dye concentration was 19.6 (mg g-1), pH 11.6 (mg g-1) and temperature 24.2 (mg g-1) Rhodamine dye were investigated. For all of the systems studied, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model provided the best correlation of the kinetic experimental data. The results revealed that with increasing temperature and decreasing pH, ionic strength, and adsorbate concentration, dye removal efficiency has increased. Chitosan-Jackfruit nanocomposite could remove 90.2% dye from the solution containing 40 mg/L dye at 100 min. The results indicated that dye removal followed pseudo-second-order kinetic (R²>0.99). According to the findings, Chitosan-Jackfruit nanocomposites an effective adsorbent for direct dye removal from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions are effective in reducing diarrhea, there are methodological issues regarding the research tools used to evaluate their health impact. Moreover, there is limited research on individuals' subjective interpretations of diarrheal illness which may introduce further limitations in relying on self-reported data. Therefore, we conducted a study that aims to understand adolescents' perceptions of diarrheal illness in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Next, we wish to explore the acceptability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale to assess self-reported diarrhea in water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions involving adolescent participants in low-resource settings. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as part of the formative research phase in the cultural adaptation of Project SHINE, a school-based educational water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention in Thirumalaikodi, Tamil Nadu, India. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design with a purposive sampling strategy was used. Qualitative data included 10 in-depth interviews with student participants aged 13-14. Quantitative data were collected through interviewer-administered face-to-face surveys ( n = 14) and one-week stool diaries ( n = 14). Each data set was analyzed separately and compiled during the interpretation of the findings. Results: Across all data sets, diarrhea was reported to be perceived as unhealthy and an irregular occurrence among participants. Participants also reported diarrheal-taboos, local methods to cure or control diarrhea, and discussed how diarrheal illness can lead to absenteeism or withdrawal from school and social activities. Moreover, participants were able to understand and answer questions about their stool using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, suggesting that is an acceptable tool. Discussion: Visual tools demonstrate promise in improving self-reported diarrheal illness among adolescents in low-resource settings in India. However, until we address diarrhea-related taboos it will be difficult to address methodological issues in the assessment and reporting of diarrheal illness among adolescents., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Gold-Watts, Aamodt, Gandhimathi, Sudha and Bastien.)

Background : In low- and middle-income countries, women and girls experience menstrual hygiene management-related health and social challenges such as urinary tract infections, social stigma, and school and workplace absenteeism. Purpose : In this study, we sought to explore how adolescent girls in rural Thirumalaikodi, Tamil Nadu, India experience menarche and menstruation, how their experiences connect to the sociocultural context, and what strategies they use to manage menstruation. This study also informed the adaptation and development of a school-based water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention. Methods : We conducted ten semi-structured qualitative interviews with adolescent girls in ninth standard from June-July 2018. Data were analysed using a thematic network approach. Results : Findings revealed that menarche inaugurates biological transitions of puberty and cultural codes that shape gender norms. Gender norms in turn generate, maintain, and reproduce stigmatizing attitudes, beliefs, and practices that influenced the development of coping mechanisms at home and at school. Resulting adaptations to the intervention consisted of two activities (school lesson and an extracurricular activity) that address knowledge gaps and myths. Conclusions : This study demonstrates the importance of qualitative research in unpacking adolescent girls' experiences with menarche and menstruation. Study findings also show how formative research can contribute to the adaptation and development of a contextually and culturally-relevant water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention.