Water quality of River Ganga with reference to physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics during Kanwar Mela 2017, at Haridwar, India: A case study

The present investigation was conducted to study the water quality of river Ganga during Kanwar Mela 2017 with reference to physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics at Haridwar city. Five sampling sites viz., Har ki Pauri (HKP), Vishnu Ghat (VG), Daksh Mandir (DM), Pul Jatwara (PJ) and Bhimgoda Barrage (BGB as control) were selected for collection of water samples. The reseult revealed that among the different sampling sites, the maximum values of EC (0.164 dS m-1), TS (545 mg L-1), TDS (320 mg L-1), TSS (225 mg L-1), pH (8.76), DO (10.04 mg L-1), BOD (4.76 mg L-1), COD (6.89 mg L-1), Cl– (124.50 mg L-1), Hardness (232.54 mg L-1), Alkalinity (158.36 mg L-1), NO32- (76.88 mg L-1), SO42- (228.34 mg L-1), SPC (6.8×106 SPC ml -1), MPN (4.6×108  MPN 100 ml -1), Cd (BDL), Cu (0.171 mg L-1), Cr (1.503 mg L-1), Fe (3.642 mg L-1), Ni (BDL) and Zn (2.456 mg L-1) of Ganga River water were recorded higer at Har ki Pauri (HKP) in comparison to Vishnu Ghat (VG), Daksh Mandir (DM), Pul Jatwara (PJ) and Bhimgoda Barrage (BGB) sampling sites. Therefore, it was concluded from the present investigation that the mass bathing and relegious activities greatly influenced the water quality of River Ganga and significantly contributed to the water pollution of River Ganga during the Kanwar Mela 2017

Prevalence and knowledge of hypertension among students of medical college of central Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Hypertension is one of the biggest health challenges, which is continuously increasing among young adults, especially students. The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence, associated factors and knowledge of hypertension among undergraduate students of a medical college of a rural area in central Uttar Pradesh, India. Methodology:  A cross-sectional study was conducted in one of the medical college of central Uttar Pradesh, India. Data were collected on socio-demographic and behavioral factors, and anthropometric assessments were carried out using standard equipment and procedures. Results: The present research involved 147 undergraduate medical students with a mean age of 21.9±2.2 years. Knowledge about hypertension was poor, average and good among19.7% (n=29), 76.8% (n=113) and 3.4% (n=5) students, respectively. Mean systolic blood pressure (mean SBP) was 127.07 ± 10.109 mm of Hg with a range 110 to 154mm of Hg, and mean diastolic blood pressure (mean DBP) was 80.5 ± 6.587 mm Hg with a range 68 to 94 mm of Hg. Conclusions: Smoking, alcoholism, non-vegetarian diet, body weight over 60 kgs and waist-hip ratio over 0.9 were recognized as risk factors of hypertension. Hence it needs a powerful surveillance program to find the exact problem

Observations of Multiple Surges Associated with Magnetic Activities in AR10484 on 25 October 2003

We present a multiwavelength study of recurrent surges observed in H{\alpha}, UV (SOHO/EIT) and Radio (Learmonth, Australia) from the super-active region NOAA 10484 on 25 October, 2003. Several bright structures visible in H{\alpha} and UV corresponding to subflares are also observed at the base of each surge. Type III bursts are triggered and RHESSI X-ray sources are evident with surge activity. The major surge consists of the bunches of ejective paths forming a fan-shape region with an angular size of (\approx 65\degree) during its maximum phase. The ejection speed reaches upto \sim200 km/s. The SOHO/MDI magnetograms reveal that a large dipole emerges east side of the active region on 18-20 October 2003, a few days before the surges. On October 25, 2003, the major sunspots were surrounded by "moat regions" with moving magnetic features (MMFs). Parasitic fragmented positive polarities were pushed by the ambient dispersion motion of the MMFs and annihilated with negative polarities at the borders of the moat region of the following spot to produce flares and surges. A topology analysis of the global Sun using PFSS shows that the fan structures visible in the EIT 171 A images follow magnetic field lines connecting the present AR to a preceding AR in the South East. Radio observations of type III bursts indicate that they are coincident with the surges, suggesting that magnetic reconnection is the driver mechanism. The magnetic energy released by reconnection is transformed into plasma heating and provides the kinetic energy for the ejections. A lack of a radio signature in the high corona suggests that the surges are confined to follow the closed field lines in the fans. We conclude that these cool surges may have some local heating effects in the closed loops, but probably play a minor role in global coronal heating and the surge material does not escape to the solar wind.Comment: Accepted for the Publication in ApJ; 25 pages, 10 Figures, and 1 Tabl

Contamination, enrichment and translocation of heavy metals in certain leafy vegetables grown in composite effluent irrigated soil

The present investigation was carried out to determine the contamination, enrichment and translocation of heavy metals in vegetables viz., spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) grown in the composite effluent (mixture of industrial and domestic wastewater) irrigated soil. The composite effluent of Hindon River was significantly (P<0.05/P<0.01) loaded with different physical (TDS, EC), chemical (pH, BOD5, COD, Cl –, TKN, PO43-, SO42-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) and microbial  (total bacteria, total fungi, total coliform and yeast) parameters in comparison to the ground water. The composite effluent irrigation significantly (P<0.05) altered the soil characteristics like EC, pH, PO43-, K+, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb in the soil used for the cultivation of S. oleracea, T. foenum-graecum and C. sativum. The composite effluent irrigation significantly increased the contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn in the S. oleracea, T. foenum-graecum and C. sativum. The enrichment factor of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn in vegetables was recorded to be plant part specific after irrigation with composite effluent. The enrichment factor of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were recorded in the order of Cd>Zn>Pb> Fe>Cr>Mn>Cu for S. oleracea, Cd>Zn>Fe>Mn>Pb>Cr>Cu for T. foenum-graecum and Cd>Zn>Pb>Fe>Cu>Mn>Cr for C. sativum after irrigation with composite effluent. Therefore, disposal of sewage and industrial effluents in the Hindon River must be strictly prohibited to save the existence of the Hindon River and irrigation practices using composite effluent should also be banned to prevent the possible health hazards due to consumption of contaminated vegetables