Indicators for Monitoring Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: A Systematic Review of Indicator Selection Methods

Monitoring water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) is important to track progress, improve accountability, and demonstrate impacts of efforts to improve conditions and services, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Indicator selection methods enable robust monitoring of WaSH projects and conditions. However, selection methods are not always used and there are no commonly-used methods for selecting WaSH indicators. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of indicator selection methods used in WaSH-related fields. We present a summary of indicator selection methods for environment, international development, and water. We identified six methodological stages for selecting indicators for WaSH: define the purpose and scope; select a conceptual framework; search for candidate indicators; determine selection criteria; score indicators against criteria; and select a final suite of indicators. This summary of indicator selection methods provides a foundation for the critical assessment of existing methods. It can be used to inform future efforts to construct indicator sets in WaSH and related fields

A Systematic Review and Application of Indicator Selection Methods for Monitoring Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools

Monitoring of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) is necessary to track progress, improve accountability, and demonstrate impacts of efforts to improve WaSH conditions and services. Particularly in low-resource settings, there is currently no standard method for selecting WaSH indicators, which are necessary for robust monitoring and evaluation. To address this need, we first conducted a systematic literature review of existing indicator selection methods used in environmental science, international development, and other related fields. Based on findings from the systematic review, we then developed a WaSH indicator selection method, which includes the following stages: (1) defining concepts and purpose; (2) selecting and justifying a conceptual framework; (3) developing a list of candidate indicators; (4) determining selection criteria; (5) scoring indicators against criteria; and (6) selecting the final suite of indicators. Finally, this method was applied to the selection of indicators for school WaSH, and these final twenty indicators were organized into an input-output-outcome- impact framework. The resulting suite of school WaSH indicators provides a foundation for coordinated monitoring, identifies focus areas for resource allocation, and highlights needs for policy development in WaSH.Bachelor of Science in Public Healt

Carbon nanodots as molecular scaffolds for development of antimicrobial agents

We report the potential of carbon nanodots (CNDs) as a molecular scaffold for enhancing the antimicrobial activities of small dendritic poly(amidoamines) (PAMAM). Carbon nanodots prepared from sago starch are readily functionalized with PAMAM by using N-ethyl-N0-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Electron microscopy images of these polyaminated CNDs show that they are approximately 30–60 nm in diameter. Infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses of the water-soluble material established the presence of the polyamidoaminated moiety and the intrinsic fluorescence of the nanodots. The polyaminated nanodots (CND-PAM1 and CND-PAM2) exhibit in vitro antimicrobial properties, not only to non-multidrug resistant bacteria but also to the corresponding Gram-negative multidrug bacteria. Their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges from 8 to 64 lg/mL, which is much lower than that of PAMAM G1 or the non-active PAMAM G0 and CNDs. Additionally, they show synergistic effect in combination with tetracycline or colistin. These preliminary results imply that CNDs can serve as a promising scaffold for facilitating the rational design of antimicrobial materials for combating the ever-increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. Moreover, their fluorescence could be pertinent to unraveling their mode of action for imaging or diagnostic applications

Antifungal properties and phytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles – a genotypic dependent effect

Pyricularia oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease, is a serious threat to rice. It reduces the yield and quality of rice. Agrofungicide used to control rice blast is harming the environment and human health. Safer alternative is needed. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against P. oryzae of Sarawak, and its phytotoxicity towards Sarawak rice. Solvothermal sysnthesis method was used to synthesize two sizes of ZnO NPs (~20nm and ~40nm). ZnO NPs showed inhibition effect on P. oryzae tested and the effect was isolate dependent. The effect increased along with the concentration increment of ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs were found not affecting the seed germination rate, but on the shoot and root development. The effect varies at different concentration treatments of ZnO NPs. Landrace/genotype dependent phytotoxicity effect of ZnO NPs was observed

Erläuterung der Blockchain und deren Anwendungsgebiete in der Lebensmittelindustrie

Einfache, aber detaillierte Erklärung, wie eine Blockchain funktioniert und welche Vor- und Nachteile sie Mitte 2020 hat. Danach gibt es viele Anwendungsbeispiele aus der Lebensmittelindustrie und welchen Einfluss die Blockchain Technologie auf die Bio- und Fairtrade-Bewegung hat