Change in awareness levels of cervical cancer among rural women after intervention by health education: a community-based study

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. The prevention and control of cervical cancer depends on awareness about the disease, screening procedures, and preventive measures. Objectives of this study was to assess the awareness levels on various aspects of cervical cancer among women aged 25-65 years, and to assess the impact of health education intervention among them.Methods: This community-based interventional study was conducted for a period of 15 months among 250 women aged 25-65 years by cluster sampling method in a rural population. Data on all aspects of awareness about cervical cancer, i.e., risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and prevention were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured proforma. This was followed by a post-test 2 months after health education.Results: Overall awareness for cervical cancer was found to be very poor among the study subjects in the pre-test. Awareness on risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and prevention of cervical cancer was found to be 6%, 3.6%, 1.2%, and 1.6% respectively. A significant increase in the knowledge level was found after health education.Conclusions: As the awareness levels regarding the cervical cancer was poor among the study population, health education programme and campaigns, along with periodic screening is need of the hour to effectively prevent cervical cancer

Electrochemical estimation of the active site density on metal-free nitrogen-doped carbon using catechol as an adsorbate

Carbon is heat-treated with a nitrogen-containing precursor (ammonia) to obtain nitrogen-doped carbon and the composition is estimated using CHN and XPS analysis. The active site density of the carbon and nitrogen-doped carbon is quantified using 1,2-dihydroxybenzene (catechol) molecules as an adsorbate in phosphate buffer (pH 7) solution. The features of the voltammograms of the catecholadsorbed high surface area carbon and nitrogen-doped carbon are similar to that of the polished nitrogen-grafted glassy carbon electrode (GCE) reported in the literature. At the same time, the polished GCE does not show any well-defined catechol adsorption features. It is found that the adsorption charge (obtained by integrating the peak area, after subtracting the background) is in the order of N/C 900 > N/C 1000 > N/C 800 > N/C 700 > C. A similar trend is observed in their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in 0.1 M KOH. Moreover, the turnover frequency (ToF) of the catalysts is calculated and it is comparable to that reported in the literature using other methods for non-precious catalysts. Therefore, the adsorption charge can be correlated with the active site density of the carbon and nitrogen-doped carbon samples

Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Peroxide Generation on Shape-Controlled and Polycrystalline Platinum Nanoparticles in Acidic and Alkaline Electrolytes

Shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles (cubic, tetrahedral, and cuboctahedral) are synthesized using stabilizers and capping agents. The nanoparticles are cleaned thoroughly and electrochemically characterized in acidic (0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.1 M HClO4) and alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) electrolytes, and their features are compared to that of polycrystalline Pt. Even with less than 100% shape-selectivity and with the truncation at the edges and corners as shown by the ex-situ TEM analysis, the voltammetric features of the shape-controlled nanoparticles correlate very well with that of the respective single-crystal surfaces, particularly the voltammograms of shape-controlled nanoparticles of relatively larger size. Shape-controlled nanoparticles of smaller size show somewhat higher contributions from the other orientations as well because of the unavoidable contribution from the truncation at the edges and corners. The Cu stripping voltammograms qualitatively correlate with the TEM analysis and the voltammograms. The fractions of low-index crystallographic orientations are estimated through the irreversible adsorption of Ge and Bi. Pt-nanocubes with dominant {100} facets are the most active toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in strongly adsorbing H2SO4 electrolytes, while Pttetrahedral with dominant {111} facets is the most active in 0.1 M HClO4 and 0.1 M NaOH electrolytes. The difference in ORR activity is attributed to both the structure-sensitivity of the catalyst and the inhibiting effect of the anions present in the electrolytes. Moreover, the percentage of peroxide generation is 1.5-5% in weakly adsorbing (0.1 M HClO4) electrolytes and 5 12% in strongly adsorbing (0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.1 M NaOH) electrolytes

Amplification of Small and Marginal Farmers Income through Integrated Farming Systems

India is a farming country, and agriculture is the primary source of income for most Indian households. Monocropping is used by the majority of small and marginal farmers. Low yields, low income, a late monsoon, pest and disease concerns, and other risk factors are all linked. Integrated farming systems (IFS), or the integration of many crops and enterprises, are the current day's answer to increasing income. With the growing demand for animal products and decreasing in land, which reflects in the reduction of feed, such as grain deposits are used properly. It is clear that the Integrated Farming System (IFS) focuses on enhancing farmer profitability by improving and integrating properties, reusing wastes, and reducing chemical dependency. One of the changes in farming standards is improvement. Because monocropping entails a high level of risk for a little yield, the issues include low income. Paddy, fish, maize, stew, feed grass, dairy, and poultry are among the units to support the enterprise. It has been established that the expansion of agribusiness leads to an increase in farmer efficiency within the development zone, as well as a reduction in human resources. Diversification in the cropping systems and integrated farming systems are very beneficial for enhancing income for livelihoods and socioeconomic status