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Online game addiction and psychological distress are two continuously developing problems in the Philippines, with Filipinos aged 18 to 24 being the second largest age group to overuse interactive online-related games. This sequential explanatory mixed method study aimed to assess the young adults' gaming addiction and perceived psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the other factors contributing to the respondents' frequent engagement in online interactive games, which served as a basis for a preventive intervention program. The researcher administered the survey questionnaires of the Gaming Addiction Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 to 399 young adults aged 18-24 and a semi-structured interview guide to 20 addicted and non-addicted gamers. Key results showed that a small percentage of the respondents experienced polythetic and serious monothetic addiction to interactive online games. In contrast, half of the respondents manifested mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major findings also found no significant gender differences in the level of online game addiction and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a moderate level of relationship substantiated the association. Further results revealed that the negative compensatory factors were associated with addicted gamers' frequent engagement with online games, whereas non-addicted gamers were associated with positive, beneficial factors. This phenomenon has hardly ever been the focus of in-depth research, and the results of this study can be used to further refine the conceptualization of "internet gaming disorder" as a mental disorder and develop a more comprehensive treatment method.

ABSTRACT: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a febrile illness, followed by an oral exanthema and a macular, maculopapular, or vesicular rash of the hands, also involving palms, feet, and buttocks caused by enteroviruses of the picornaviridae family. It is a benign self-limiting disease which spreads by fecal–oral, oral–oral, and respiratory droplet contact. This case series describes cases of HFMD, presenting with typical clinical features in the North Indian region where early diagnosis and management of the condition can be carried out to halt the disease progression and prevention for the betterment of children. We came across four cases of HFMD in the month of early September to October. Their parents were health care workers, and the patients had typical symptoms and signs, except in one case, which showed extensive vesicular eruptions and crusting. All children improved at domiciliary care. Active communication and close monitoring are what is required to manage HFMD without complications. These cases infer that counseling and monitoring are an integral part in the management of HFMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of superior grade wood fibers is a prime problem faced by Indian pulp and paper industries. As a result, the pulp and paper industry find it difficult to withstand the competition in the market, which had grown extremely competitive. In order to increase the utilization of non-wood fibers resources in the production of high quality eco-friendly papers, dhaincha, a non-wood fiber resource has potential industrial application. In this research, pulp and paper were developed from Sesbania aculeata stem using kraft pulping followed by bleaching. Optimization of conditions for pulping was carried out by Response Surface Methodology. The relationship between three variables and three responses were studied using Box–Behnken experimental design. The developed pulp was evaluated for kappa number, brightness index, viscosity, FTIR and TGA. Then paper was developed by using optimized pulp and evaluated for physical properties. The statistical analysis (ANOVA) was carried out in order to establish the relationship between the concentration of NaOH, Na2S, treatment time and temperature with kappa number, brightness index and viscosity. The physical properties of pulp and developed handmade paper highlights the sustainable use of dhaincha plant in pulp and paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials play a crucial role in the extraction of trace analytes; yet, the attainment of high selectivity and efficient regeneration continues to pose a considerable problem. In this study, we employed a green method to synthesize porous carbon microspheres. These microspheres were subsequently functionalized with aminophosphonic acid to facilitate the extraction of heavy metal ions from real samples. A comprehensive analysis of the aminomethylphosphorylated carbon microspheres was conducted using FTIR, SEM, EDX, TEM, BET and water contact angle measuring techniques. The potential optimization of analyte enrichment can be accomplished by the proposed solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach, which notably reduces spectrum interferences following sample purification. Following the IUPAC equation, the detection limit of the proposed method was found to be 0.04 ng mL -1 , after running 20 replicate blank tests. The primary focus of sequestration of trace metal ions is the formation of metal-ligand chelates within the carbon spheres, resulting in enhanced selectivity and extraction rates exceeding 99.9% from samples with low concentrations. The present studies show a significant preconcentration limit of 0.4 ng mL -1 and a substantial preconcentration factor of 500. The method was implemented to examine real food and water samples, and the obtained data exhibit significant accuracy with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 5%., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Nanoplastics (NPs) generated from plastic debris weathering pose a significant threat to ecosystems. The ubiquity of plastics driven by their advantageous physical properties, necessitates the development of efficient degradation and removal methods. Polystyrene (PS), a common and hazardous aquatic NP is a long-chain hydrocarbon with alternating phenyl groups. This study investigates the photooxidative degradation of PS NPs under UV light irradiation using synthesized MoO 3 nanoflakes, nanobelts, and MoO 3 /SWCNT nanocomposites. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and UV-vis spectroscopy were employed to characterize the photocatalyst. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize morphological changes in the spherical PS NPs upon interaction with the photocatalysts. MoO 3 nanoflakes acting as a photocatalyst under UV irradiation for 24 h achieved an impressive degradation efficiency exceeding 19%. This treatment significantly reduced the average diameter of PS NPs from 220 to 178 nm. Notably, even higher degradation efficiencies were observed with MoO 3 nanobelts and nanocomposites as a complete change in the spherical morphology of PS NPs is observed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy elucidated the chemical transformations of PS during degradation. The observed changes in PS NPs structure due to photocatalytic oxidation at different time intervals indicate a promising approach.

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets were synthesized onto cellulose nanofiber surfaces utilizing an eco-friendly salt melt approach. The fabricated material CNF@C 3 N 4 selectively removes Ni(II) and Cu(II) from electroplating wastewater samples. The immobilization of g-C 3 N 4 on solid substrates eases handling of nanomaterial in a flow-through approach and mitigates sorbent loss during column operations. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, tunneling electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron microscopy were employed to analyze the surface morphology and chemical bonding within the synthesized material. Selective Cu(II) and Ni(II) sorption predominantly arises from the soft-soft interaction between metal ions and associated nitrogen groups. An inner-sphere surface complexation mechanism effectively elucidated the interaction dynamics between the metal and CNF@C 3 N 4 . Experimental findings demonstrated satisfactory separation of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, with the extraction of 340.0 and 385.0 mg g -1 of material, respectively. Additionally, the devised technique was executed for the preconcentration and quantification of trace metals ions in water samples with a detection limit and limit of quantification of 0.06 and 0.20 μg L -1 , respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)