Removal of Chromium (VI) cation metal using Poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)/Magnetite nanocomposite from aqueous media

Groundwater contamination with heavy metals is considered as serious environmental hazard that affect the human society. Nano adsorbents incorporating magnetite nanoparticles provides promising alternative to facilitate removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. The present work focuses on removal of chromium (VI) cationic metals from aqueous media using Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP)/Magnetite (Fe3O4) Nanocomposite (MNC). Magnetite nanoparticles are synthesized using chemical co-precipitation and grafted using polyvinyl pyrrolidone to form a magnetite nanocomposite. MNC were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Infrared absorption spectrum (FT-IR) studies to affirm the formation and presence of polymeric functional groups of PVP/Magnetite nanocomposite. Batch experiments are carried out at exclusive concentration intervals to study about the adsorption efficiency of MNC on chromium (VI) cationic metal using U-Vis spectroscopy. The results obtained through adsorption studies shows the synthesized PVP/Magnetite nanocomposites has a removal efficiency of 94%

Boundary layer jet on the lee side of Western Ghats during southwest monsoon as revealed by high resolution sodar winds

High resolution winds measured by SOund Detection And Ranging (SODAR) in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over Pune, located on the lee side of the Western Ghats (WG) reveal the presence of Low Level Jet (LLJ) in the atmospheric boundary layer (hereafter called as boundary layer jet, BLJ) during southwest monsoon (June-August) for three consecutive years, viz., 2009, 2010 and 2011. Its prevalence only during the monsoon period, even at monthly scale indicates a possible interconnection to another LLJ, Somali jet, present during this period. An investigation is done to look into the dominant mechanisms those could result in such an occurrence in the lee side of the WG. Baroclinicity, inertial oscillation, upstream topographic blocking and variability of Somali jet are the mechanisms considered. Baroclinicity due to east-west temperature gradient on the leeside to induce thermal wind and inertial oscillation appear to have a little role in LLJ formation. However, Somali jet seems to govern the BLJ on the lee side through its dynamical interaction with the WG causing flow reversal and wave breaking above WG and inducing acceleration of downslope winds. The height and sharpness of Somali jet core on the windward side and its magnitude as well as direction with respect to WG are observed to determine the strength of BLJ on the lee side illustrating the signature of the summer monsoon in the boundary layer over Pune

Intrahepatic portal-venous shunts during PVE

Portal venous embolization (PVE) is a well-validated technique to promote contralateral liver lobe hypertrophy prior to hepatic resection. We present a case of a patient with Type IV cholangiocarcinoma undergoing PVE prior to hepatic surgical resection. However, intrahepatic portal-venous shunts were incidentally found during the procedure and were subsequently embolized using embolic coils and N-butyl cyanoacrylate. While most patients with congenital portal-venous shunts remain asymptomatic, an unrecognized shunt during PVE could have resulted in a devastating complication secondary to nontarget embolization through the fistula.To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a portal-venous shunt being discovered during a PVE. Keywords: Portal venous embolization (PVE), Cholangiocarcinoma, N-butyl cyanoacrylate, Portal-venous shun

Transient land breeze: Eclipse induced wind flow modifications-Observations over plant canopy

An experiment is conducted over Cassava plant canopy at a coastal station at CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram (8°29'N, 76°59E) to study the response of meteorological parameters and land-sea breeze circulations to the annular solar eclipse on January 15, 2010. Observations reveal decrease of solar radiation to a minimum of 96 W m-2 during the peak eclipse period. Air temperature drops by 4 °C and relative humidity increases by 20. Sensible heat flux reduces to zero. Transient land breeze occurs for a few minutes with a time lag of about 1 h possibly due to outflow from the umbra region or temperature gradient over land with the eclipse progressing in the eastward direction. Sea breeze is delayed by about 3 h on the next day of eclipse. Spectral energy density of wind (u, v, w) and temperature attains a minimum value during totality and increases later, attributable to reduction in turbulence due to eclipse-induced stability

Direct percutaneous embolization of intestinal lymphatic trunk for chylous ascites management following liver transplant

Chylous ascites can be caused by infection, trauma, malignancy, or maybe a complication after major abdominal surgery including liver transplantation. We present a case of a patient who developed chylous ascites following his liver transplantation. He was subsequently treated with direct embolization of lymphatic trunk efferent branches with a mixture of N-butyl cyanoacrylate and lipiodol after the identification of a localized leak on a fluoroscopic lymphangiogram. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chylous ascites following liver transplantation that was treated with direct embolization of intestinal lymphatic trunk branches. Keywords: Chylous ascites, N-butyl cyanoacrylate, Intestinal lymphatic, Liver transplantatio

Pre-monsoon/monsoon thunderstorm characteristics over Pune-An investigation using Doppler Sodar observations

Doppler sodar observations of three dimensional (3D) wind fields and thermal structure of convective boundary layer (CBL) on a few thunderstorm days of 2009 during pre-monsoon (May and June; June due to delayed arrival of monsoon over Pune) and monsoon (July and August) are analyzed. They reveal the typical signatures of wind fields for the late afternoon thunderstorm (TS) such as deceleration of winds with or without change in direction leading to convergence a few minutes (∼15–30 min) prior to the onset of TS. Pre-monsoon TS are characterized by broad updrafts and narrow downdrafts in CBL in contrast to the narrow updrafts and broad downdrafts of a normal day (i.e. No-TS day). Mean vertical velocity averaged over CBL period shows net updraft on TS days and net downdraft on No-TS day for the pre-monsoon cases. Similarly calm winds are observed in the CBL on TS-days that support enhanced free convection. During the monsoon period updrafts are observed on both TS and No-TS days with higher values on TS days in comparison, due to the dominance of large-scale monsoon flow over local convection. Relatively higher turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) in CBL is observed on all TS days. Analysis shows that TKE maximum for the day is attained about 1.5–2.0 h prior to the onset of afternoon TS. Mixed-layer depth, determined from TKE profile, is higher than lifting condensation level (LCL) on TS days in May and June indicating saturation of air parcels in updrafts

Impending fibroid expulsion on MRI after uterine fibroid embolization

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors seen in women and can be managed with a variety of treatment options, including hysterectomy, myomectomy, and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). UFE is an acceptable alternative to surgical treatment in well-selected cases and offers the added benefit of decreased hospital stay and avoidance of general anesthesia risk. Like any other procedure, UFE carries risks and complications. Post-UFE fibroid expulsion is one of them.We present a case of impending fibroid expulsion pre-emptively identified on magnetic resonance imaging at 6-month follow-up after UFE. While the majority of fibroid expulsions occur spontaneously by 3 months post-UFE, delayed expulsions have been reported as late as 4 years following the procedure. Therefore, a high degree of clinical suspicion is paramount for early diagnosis of this complication in UFE patients. Keywords: Uterine artery embolization, Fibroid expulsion, Submucosa