Impact of Seasonal Changes on Water Characterstics at Palakkad in 2021-2022

Geometric increase in population coupled with rapid urbanization, industrialization and agricultural development has resulted in high impact on quality and quantity of water in India. Hence, the availability and the quality of the freshwater resources are the most pressing of the many environmental challenges in India (CPCB 2011). The quality of water is of vital concern for mankind, since it is directly linked with human welfare. Poor quality of water adversely affects the plant growth and human health (WHO 1984; Hem 1985). A number of studies on water quality have been carried out in different parts of India All these studies reveal that both rivers and groundwater in India are facing water quality issues. The state of Kerala, located in the south-western corner of India, is blessed with 44 rivers and heavy rainfall of ~ 3000 mm/year. However, most of the water in the rivers is quickly drained into the Arabian Sea due to the steep seaward sloping of the state. Hence, in addition to rivers, the groundwater is also utilized to meet the water requirements of the state. The increase in population, development activities, urbanization, change in land-use pattern, etc. has created a concern among the people of Kerala regarding both the river water and groundwater quality of various river basins

Assessment of Carbon Storage and Biomass on Minelands Reclaimed to Grassland Environments Using Landsat Spectral Indices

This study investigated carbon (C) storage and biomass in grasslands of West Virginia reclaimed surface minesites. Mine-related disturbance and subsequent reclamation may be an important component of C cycling. Biomass and C storage generally increased for the first five years after reclamation, but then declined, suggesting a nonlinear pattern to vegetation recovery. Three 2007 Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus images were used to assess the potential to predict biomass from raw red and near infrared radiance, the tasseled cap transformation (TC), and four vegetation indices [normalized difference vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index (EVI), triangular vegetation index, and the soil adjusted vegetation index]. TC greenness and EVI were most strongly correlated with biomass and illustrate a modest potential for monitoring vegetation recovery in reclaimed minelands. Additionally, a number of regression models that included age since reclamation and spectral indices were statistically significant suggesting a temporal recovery pattern amongst minesites in this study

Effect of Silver Plasmonic Layer on Cu2O/In2S3 Solar Cell

Solar cell with the structure Cu/Cu2O/In2S3/Ag@NP/Ag was fabricated where the In2S3-window layer and the plasmonic Ag nano particle thin film layer were deposited using injection chemical spray pyrolysis technique. Quantum efficiency measurement of these solar cells showed improved performance in the blue region of the visible spectrum compared to their counterparts. The films with Ag nano particles exhibited surface plasmon resonance peak at 432 nm which could be assigned to plasmon resonance of Ag nano-particles. The open circuit voltage of the best solar cell is 0.65 V, with short circuit current density of 1.2 mA/cm2, fill factor 22% and efficiency 0.17 %. We conclude that the in-coupling of light by the metallic nanoparticle thin film layer into the underlying semiconductor layer resulted in improvement in electrical performance of these solar cells containing the plasmonic Ag nano particles

Twisted large cellular fibroma of the ovary with pelvic effusion-revisiting incomplete demons Meigs’ syndrome

Fibromas of the ovary are benign tumours arising from the stromal component of the ovary. They represent 1% of ovarian neoplasms and are generally benign. The cellular subtype accounts for around 10% of these and is a tumour of uncertain malignant potential. Recurrence may occur or it could be associated with peritoneal implants. Usually these are solid tumours, sometimes with small areas of cystic degeneration. Occasionally, large fibromas may undergo torsion causing acute abdominal pain and generally tends to occur in post-menopausal women. The solid areas, ORADS and ascites simulated a malignant ovarian tumour on both MRI, USG and gross pathologic examination. Here we present a case of a postmenopausal woman presented with abdominal pain and postprandial vomiting with a large twisted ovarian fibroma leading to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges masquerading as a malignant ovarian neoplasm

Composition-dependent xBa(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-(1-x)(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 bulk ceramics for high energy storage applications

This work reports the composition dependent microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and energy storage properties, and the phase transitions sequence of lead free xBa(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-(1-x)(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 [xBZT-(1-x)BCT] ceramics, with x = 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6, prepared by solid state reaction method. The XRD and Raman scattering results confirm the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases at room temperature (RT). The temperature dependence of Raman scattering spectra, dielectric permittivity and polarization points a first phase transition from ferroelectric rhombohedral phase to ferroelectric tetragonal phase at a temperature (TR-T) of 40 0C and a second phase transition from ferroelectric tetragonal phase - paraelectric pseudocubic phase at a temperature (TT-C) of 110 0C. The dielectric analysis suggests that the phase transition at TT-C is of diffusive type and the BZT-BCT ceramics are a relaxor type ferroelectric materials. The composition induced variation in the temperature dependence of dielectric losses was correlated with full width half maxima (FWHM) of A1, E(LO) Raman mode. The saturation polarization (Ps) ≈ 8.3 μC/cm2 and coercive fields ≈ 2.9 kV/cm were found to be optimum at composition x = 0.6 and is attributed to grain size effect. It is also shown that BZT-BCT ceramics exhibit a fatigue free response up to 105 cycles. The effect of a.c. electric field amplitude and temperature on energy storage density and storage efficiency is also discussed. The presence of high TT-C (110 0C), a high dielectric constant (εr ≈ 12285) with low dielectric loss (0.03), good polarization (Ps) ≈ 8.3 μC/cm2) and large recoverable energy density (W = 121 mJ/cm3) with an energy storage efficiency (η) of 70 % at an electric field of 25 kV/cm in 0.6BZT 0.4BCT ceramics make them suitable candidates for energy storage capacitor applications.This work was supported by (i) DST-SERB, Govt. of India through grant ECR/2017/000068 and (ii) UGC through Grant Nos. F.4-5(59-FRP/ 2014(BSR)). The authors AR Jayakrishnan acknowledges Central University of Tamil Nadu, India for his Ph.D fellowship. K.V.A. acknowledges the DST for the Inspire fellowship IF170601. J.P.B.S. is grateful for the financial support through the FCT Grant SFRH/BPD/92896/2013.The authors thank to Vivek Sudarsanan from the Central University of Kerala for XRD measurements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Performance measures for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:A European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative

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Carbon ion radiotherapy for basal cell adenocarcinoma of the head and neck: preliminary report of six cases and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Basal cell adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 1.6% of all salivary gland neoplasms. In this report, we describe our experiences of treatment for BCAC with carbon ion radiotherapy in our institution.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Case records of 6 patients with diagnosis of basal cell adenocarcinoma of the head and neck, who were treated by carbon ion radiotherapy with 64.0 GyE/16 fractions in our institution, were retrospectively reviewed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In a mean follow-up period of 32.1 months (14.0-51.3 months), overall survival and local control rates of 100% were achieved. Only one grade 4 (CTCAE v3.0) late complication occurred. There was no other grade 3 or higher toxicity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Carbon ion radiotherapy should be considered as an appropriate curative approach for treatment of basal cell adenocarcinoma in certain cases, particularly in cases of unresectable disease and postoperative gross residual or recurrent disease.</p