Search

In groundwater, excess fluoride concentration (>1.5 mg/L) is a primary concern for various countries. Nanoadsorbents have been proven to possess higher adsorption capacity than conventional adsorbents. This review aims to provide insights into recent advancements in the adsorption of fluoride using various nanoadsorbents. Nanoparticles have very high specific surface area but are usually found unsuitable for real field applications as they tend to agglomerate. They are also difficult to recover after use and pose a significant threat to the environment through leaching. These limitations have given rise to the trend of the development of nanocomposites for defluoridation. Nanocomposites often involve a polymeric matrix that serves as a medium for their homogenous dispersion. This reduces agglomeration and leaching into the surroundings without altering the original activities of the nanoadsorbent. This review classifies the fluoride nanoadsorbents into three categories: bare nanoparticles, nanocomposites with nanoparticles inside the porous matrix, and nanocomposites with nanoparticles coated with or anchored on the matrix surface. Critical analyses of the importance and shortcomings of these classes have been presented. In general, bare nanocomposites show the best fluoride adsorption performance compared to other classes of nanoadsorbents.

Carbon-neutral sustainable approaches are highly demanding in the coal energy sector. Coal mine effluent disposal is a severe challenge with crucial concern issues of salinity hazard and heavy metal contamination due to long-duration water and coal interaction. The medium to the high salinity of coal mine effluent leads towards irrigation unsuitability due to the negative impact upon infiltration and permeability of nutrients from the soil to plant. Focusing on the international irrigation water quality standards given by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, most coal mine effluents are considered negatively impacting crops, soil fertility, groundwater, and aquatic life. Therefore, the current study investigates the direct cultivation suitability of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to simultaneously treat coal mine effluent for salinity removal and biomass production. Initially, C. pyrenoidosa culture adaptation in varying concentrations of coal mine effluents (25%–100%) in coal mine effluent, which are collected from two different points of coal mine named as coal mine effluent 1 (CME1) and coal mine effluent 2 (CME2). Evaluating C. pyrenoidosa growth kinetics, it was observed that the doubling time extended from 2.25 days (100% BG-11 as a medium; control) to 4.33 days (100% CME as a medium). Interestingly, the highest value for biomass production was 1.78 ± 0.12 g/ L with 25% CME 1 supplemented with essential growth nutrients; this value lies near 100% BG11 supplemented growth, 1.81 ± 0.05 g/L. In the current study, taking salinity removal as a prime concern, 100% utilization of CME-2 in place of BG-11 medium was very significant for salinity reduction from 4.80 ± 0.50 mS/cm (initial) to 0.98 ± 0.02 mS/cm (final) during 14 days batch growth. In continuation of that, the significant finding was salinity reduction of both samples (50% and 75% sample) to the level of 0.7 mS/ cm, which lies under the FAO guidelines for irrigation. Present findings also revealed an alternative to conventional processes, i.e., thermal and membrane desalination. Microalgae-assisted desalination is a novel, energy-efficient, eco-sustainable, cost-effective, and long-term operational approach. It has good potential to treat medium to sub-optimal salinity of coal mine effluent coupled with high-value biomass production.

Since the entry of female troops in different paramilitary forces, there is a dearth of well-fitted personal protective gear for them to maximise operational safety and protection. A mismatch of anthropometry in design adversely affected the user’s performance during critical operation, compromising the safety and well-being of an individual. A detailed anthropometry-based sizing study was conducted by the research team, on the Indian female paramilitary troops for proper sizing of their protective gears and ensembles. An anthropometric survey of 325 female para-military troops, posted in two locations with age ranged from 21 to 54 years (mean ± SD) value: 37.14 ± 8.49 years was done. Each subject’s 28 different body dimensions were taken. The data was then investigated using the factor analysis method. Principal component analysis technique was used to reduce the variables to similar factor components where, two components with an Eigenvalue of more than 1 were selected. viz. Principal component 1 (girth dimensions) and Principal component 2 (abdomen or waist dimension). These two key variables were used to divide the population into three separate clusters using the K-means cluster method. These cluster groups were validated using a regression tree. Descriptive statistical analysis of data was conducted followed by Cluster analysis (of key components shortlisted) using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 21. The current study was the first complete anthropometric survey of Indian female paramilitary personnel for the development of a female-specific sizing system for a full-body protector (FBP) design resulting is an improved fit of full-body protector.

In this study, an effective surface functionalization of carbon fiber (CF) and its subsequent coating with functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were carried out to obtain improved interfacial shear strength (IFSS) which was validated by single fiber fragmentation test (SFFT). Functional groups, -COOH, -OH, and -NH2, were separately grafted on the CF surface using different chemical routes. Additionally, ultrasonic assisted electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique was used to coat -COOH, -OH, and -NH2 functionalized CNTs on the sized and surface functionalized CFs. Attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy (ATRIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images confirmed the successful surface functionalization and coating on CF. Neat PP and a blend of PP and maleic anhydride-grafted-styrene ethylene butylene styrene (MA-g-SEBS) were used as two different base polymer matrixes in preparing a total of 26 different SFFT samples. Silane functionalized CF coated with amine functionalized CNTs using ultrasonic assisted EPD process showed IFSS of ~ 29 MPa which was an impressive ~ 758% higher than pristine CF and highest among all the surface modified CFs. Interestingly, this translated into useful increase of ~ 13% in single fiber tensile strength of functionalized and treated CF over and above that of as received CF.

Adsorption has proven to be most effective for arsenic removal. But standalone adsorption cannot cater to the need for large-scale treatment in centralized water supply systems. Combining adsorption with other low-pressure membrane processes may aid in scaling up and intensifying the overall arsenic removal. In the present pilot study, a low-cost laterite-derived adsorbent (LDA) has been used in combination with cross-flow ultrafiltration (Ads-UF) to develop a strategy suitable for remediation of arsenic-contaminated water. Effect of adsorbent particles on permeate flux has been assessed at different transmembrane pressure (0.2-0.6 MPa). Two different hybrid configurations, with and without intermediate sand filtration (SF), i.e. Ads-SF-UF and Ads-UF, were considered. Resistance-in-series and combined complete pore block-cake layer models have been used to understand the flux profiles. In the case of arsenic-spiked groundwater, it was observed that flux decline, at 0.6 MPa, was 28% higher with Ads-UF during a 12 h run compared to Ads-SF-UF. Spent LDA retrieved from the sand column was found to retain the elemental composition as that of the unused LDA (as per FT-IR and EDX) and was considered safe for disposal based on Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). Cost estimation for a facility with 200 m

Stature is one of the most important elements in the identification of a person. Many different anthropometric dimensions can be used in the estimation of stature. Establishing the identity of an individual from body fragments has become an important necessity in recent times due to natural and man-made disasters. This study was performed on 226 Gurung soldiers of Gorkha regiment of Indian Army. The studied soldier’s age range was 18 years - 48 years. Six anthropometric measurements (Stature, Hand length, Arm length, Standing knee height, Foot length and Leg length) were measured and stature is estimated with the help of these measurements.There was no significant difference between actual and estimated stature. All anthropometric measurements were highly correlated with stature at significance level p< 0.001 but leg length had better correlation (r=0.816) compared to other variables. Staturecan be estimated with the help of standing knee height (r=0.686, p

Background: Physical strength can be measured by means of hand grip strength. It is of great use as a functional index of nutritional status.Aims and Objectives: Physical strength can be measured by means of hand grip strength. It is of great use as a functional index of nutritional status. Association of hand grip strength with other variables is studied in order to predict the strength outcomes and to study the effect of factors that can influence hand grip strength performance.Materials and Methods: In the present study the correlations of dominant hand grip strength and anthropometric and body composition variables namely, height, weight, forearm length, arm length, hand breadth, body mass index (BMI), and fat mass in randomly selected 375 unrelated, normal, healthy Indian office going females of age 20-60 years with mean height and weight of 154.12 ± 5.94 cm and 59.86 ± 10.94 kg respectively has been studied.Result: Hand grip strength of the females varied from 17 kg to 32 kg with a mean of 23.86 ± 2.74 kg. The comparison of age, height, weight, forearm length, arm length, hand breadth, and fat mass with the hand grip strength showed good correlation (p

Microbial fuel cell technology is a recent approach which consist renewable and sustainable technology for electricity generation. Great attentions have been paid to microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Since, it recovers energy from renewable materials that can be difficult to dispose, such as organic wastes, waste water etc. and utilize variety of biodegradable substrates as fuel. Through which, microorganisms actively catabolize substrate and generate electricity. Besides many advantages, it still faces some limitations such as low power and current density. In the present research waste water was physically, biologically and chemically tested. We found that waste water has less amount of toxicity. Thus, it was assumed as low strength waste water and used for the MFC setup for bioelectric generation.Initially, the setup was run three times in a small scale. Simultaneously voltage and current was measured at different time intervals. It was observed that in first run, the voltage and current fluctuation data was not significant but voltage generation was varied from 140.8-182.5 mV in final run, correspondingly current fluctuated from 51-352 μA and power varied from 7180.8-66439.1 nW. However, we got highest power density of 0.0215-0.042 mW when the setup was moved in higher scale.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(3): 281-287

[No abstract available]

Introduction: Nutritional content of diet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian differs in terms of food composition and vegetarian diets are often low in protein, probably causing a difference in body composition, structure and strength characteristics. Purpose of study: To study anthropometric, body composition and hand strength differences among 641 vegetarian and 424 non-vegetarian Indian women, aged 20–60 yrs. Methods: ANOVA, t-test, multivariable stepwise regression and logistic regressions were performed to analyse association between BMI, hand grip strength and potential confounders using SPSS Version 17 for Windows. p < 0.05 referred to as statistically significant. Results: Vegetarians had less body fat than non-vegetarians. Statistically significant difference was found in their grip strength (GS) (t = 2.459, p < 0.05) and BMI (t = 2.188, p < 0.05). Height and weight were positively associated with grip strength in the vegetarian group while height and fat free mass were seen to be positively associated with grip strength in the non-vegetarian group. Grip strength was greater in non-vegetarian group and the vegetarians had lower BMI (25.33 kg/mt 2 ± 4.56) than nonvegetarians (25.95 kg/mt 2 ± 4.45, t-test = 2.188, p

Introduction: The study was designed to investigate back pain among working women in one of the largest Research and Development Organization in India and identify occupational factors associated with lower back pain by means of a survey of female employees. Methods: This study investigated the relative risk of whether different age groups, job types, body mass index (BMI), years or service, screen viewing distance, self perception of comfort level and duration of use of computer have a bearing on the occurrence of back pain and if such risk factors aggravate cases of back pain. Results: In the unadjusted table, there was a statistically significant chance of developing backpain as the age increases (odds ratio) OR 1.56, 95% (confidence interval) CI (1.030 - 2.372), however, after adjusting for the other co-variates, this chance was not of significance. Job types, body mass index (BMI) >30 (OR >1 (0.802-1.877), years of service and screen distance OR >1 (0.96-1.745) all showed a positive association with back pain though the p values were not of statistically significance. In the adjusted table, for those who use the computer daily at the workplace for more than 6 hours, there was a statistically significant association for this group of developing back pain as compared to the first group i.e. those who work for 0-2 hours, as shown by OR 1.79, (1.123 - 2.864).Conclusion: The present study indicated that backpain is present in as much as about 25.3% of the study population. For those who use the computer >6 hours daily, there was a statistically significant chance of developing backpain.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v3i1.5567 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 3(2012) 6-12