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Osteoporosis (OP) is a bone-metabolic disorder, causing micro-architecture degeneration and a decrease in bone density. Nutritional deficiency, i.e., calcium, vitamin D, and hormonal imbalances are the primary cause for the occurrence of OP. Although conventional diagnostic techniques and therapies are available and found to be effective only at a later stage, though still lack prevention strategies. Thus, the patients tend to suffer incidence of fractures and many difficulties to manage their day-to-day activities at an elderly stage. Numerous nanomaterial(s) possessing unique physicochemical, optical, and electrical properties are reported nowadays to be employed for both early-stage detections of disease and its treatment. Amongst these nanomaterials, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) possessing strong magnetic susceptibility, less in vivo toxicity, and surface functionalities are extensively employed for MRI contrast imaging agents in the area of disease diagnosis, and drug delivery tools for various therapies. Therefore, this review highlights the pathophysiology of OP, conventional techniques of diagnosis, and the application of SPIONs for diagnostic and treatment purposes of osteoporosis.

Febuxostat is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor approved by the US FDA for long-term treatment of gout and hyperuricemia. There were no reports on identification and characterization of stress degradation products of the drug.Febuxostat was subjected to forced decomposition conditions of hydrolysis (neutral, acidic and alkaline), oxidation, photolysis and thermal stress, as per the ICH guideline Q1A(R2). The degradation products were formed were subjected to UPLC on C18 (100 mm x 4.6 mm; 2.6μ, Kinetex) column using isocratic elution method. Detection wavelength was 317 nm. The developed method was extended to UPLC-MS/TOF studies to identify and characterize the degradation products.The drug showed significant degradation under alkaline/neutral hydrolytic, alkaline/acidic photolytic and oxidative conditions, while it remained stable in acid hydrolytic, neutral photolytic and thermal conditions. In total, eight degradation products (I-VIII) were formed, which could be adequately resolved from the drug by the developed UPLC method. Out of the eight degradation products identified from the LC/UV chromatogram, five (III-IV and VI-VIII) could be characterized through their MS/TOF spectral data. The degradation pathway leading to generation of the products was postulated and this is not reported so far.Forced degradation studies were conducted on Febuxostat and the generated degradation products were identified and by their mass spectral data obtained from LC-MS studies.

Gamma ray shielding ability of WO3 borate glasses is analyzed by using the Phy-X/PSD software. Mass attenuation coefficient of glasses gets enhanced with addition of tungsten oxide resulting in lowering of the values of MFP, HVL, TVL and EBF at 10 mol % of tungsten as compared to many commercial and radiation shielding glasses/concretes. The higher value of FNRCS (∑R) in studied glasses than concretes shows their neutron shielding ability. The sample with highest value of tungsten is most suitable for making radiation shielding materials. The OPD, OMV, n ¯ c , nb and dbb values indicate the rigid and stable glass structure due to the formations of stable BO4 groups. Poisson ratio confirms high cross density and stability of prepared glasses as its value decreases from 0.233 to 0.226. The increased values of elastic constants and VHN are also in the favour of higher stability and rigidity of the glasses due to addition of WO3. All of these parameters are in good relation with each other and support the shielding power of the studied glasses.

Quality of drinking water is associated directly with the health of mass population. Therefore, study on radiation level in groundwater has been taken up around the Sohna fault line, Haryana state, India. Uranium concentration has been measured in drinking water samples collected from sources such as hand pump, tube well from different depths around the Sohna fault line, using LED Fluorimetry Technique. Uranium concentration in study area varies from 0.10 µg/L to 223.16 µg/L with an average value of 22.09 µg/L. The average value of uranium concentration is within the safe limit recommended by World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The annual effective dose has also been measured in all the water samples and is found to be below the prescribed dose limit of 100 µSvy−1 recommended by WHO (2011). Risk assessment of uranium in water is also calculated using life time cancer risk, life time average daily dose and hazard quotient. The high uranium concentration observed in certain areas is due to interaction of ground water with the soil formation of this region and the local sub-surface geology of the region.

The contamination of food and potable water with microorganisms may cause food-borne and water-borne diseases. The common contaminants include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella sp. etc. The conventional methods for monitoring the water quality for the presence of bacterial contaminants are time-consuming, expensive, and not suitable for rapid on-spot detection in field conditions. In the current study, super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesized and conjugated with E. coli specific Aptamer I to detect E. coli cells qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The sludge consisting of E. coli- SPION complex was separated via magnetic separation. The presence of E. coli cells was confirmed with the help of standard techniques and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) employing Aptamer II conjugated CdTe-MPA quantum dots (QDs). Finally, an ATmega 328P prototype biosensor based on Aptamer II conjugated CdTe MPA QDs exhibited quantitative and qualitative abilities to detect E.coli. This prototype biosensor can even detect low bacterial counts (up to 1 × 10

A comprehensive study is conducted to determine the elemental concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in surface soil samples collected from four well-populated districts of central part of Haryana, India. NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer is used for measurement of 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil samples and SMART RnDuo is used for estimation of exhalation rate in soil samples. Average values of activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 27.9 ± 6.0 Bqkg-1, 34.0 ± 6.6 Bqkg-1 and 306.9 ± 15.9 Bqkg-1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity is lower than the recommended limits with an average value of 97.98 Bqkg-1. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoors, effective dose rates for indoor and outdoor, internal and external hazard index, radium equivalent activities and annual effective dose are measured in soil sample of the study area. A weak positive correlation is observed between radionuclides and exhalation rate.

The glasses of series xTiO2-xCeO2-(30-x) PbO-(70-x) B2O3 where 2 ≤x ≤ 10 mol% were made using conventional melt-quench method and X-ray diffraction technique has been used to ascertain the amorphous nature of these glasses. The analysis of the compositional dependence of the physical parameters like density, molar volume and oxygen packing density along with the elastic parameters (Young's modulus, shear modulus, Vickers hardness number) of the studied glasses has been done. Infrared (IR) spectra revealed BO3 and BO4 units as main glass forming groups in these glasses but at higher concentrations of TiO2, Ti3+ and Ti4+ ions get significantly incorporated in glass matrix thereby creating TiO4 and TiO6 structural units. Optical spectral studies indicated that the band gap energy values decreased with increasing TiO2 content and these glasses had good UV-blocking efficiency which could be exploited for their use as transparent UV shielding materials. The radiation shielding parameters such as Half Value Layer, Linear Attenuation Coefficient, Exposure Buildup Factor, Mean Free Path including thermal and fast neutron cross section were deduced which indicated that the attenuation performance of these glasses improved with the addition of TiO2. Lower values of Exposure Buildup Factor and higher values of thermal and fast neutron removal cross section reflect the proficient shielding ability of these glasses.

The natural radioactivity levels have been determined by means of gamma ray spectroscopy in surface soil samples collected from the historical city Panipat and its surrounding areas. The activity concentrations are estimated for 238U (range from 14.82 ± 0.26 to 42.82 ± 0.84 Bq/kg), 232Th (from 12.94 ± 0.32 to 43.48 ± 0.96 Bq/kg) and 40K (from 238.05 ± 0.28 to 348.50 ± 0.95 Bq/kg). Radium equivalent activities are calculated to be in the range of 82.24–108.49 Bq/kg with an average value of 92.21 Bq/kg. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoors are measured in the range of 32.01–56.47 nGy/h with an average value of 44.16 nGy/h. The corresponding effective dose rates (indoor and outdoor) are calculated to be in the range of 0.09–0.158 mSv/y and 0.039–0.069 mSv/y respectively. The internal and external hazard index varies from 0.234 to 0.339 and 0.207 to 0.286 respectively. The activities of radium equivalent in all the soil samples are lesser than the limit (370 Bq/kg) recommended in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the annual effective dose was within the safe limit of 1 mSv/y.

Uranium gets into drinking water when the minerals containing uranium are dissolved in groundwater. Uranium and radon concentrations have been measured in drinking water samples from different water sources such as hand pumps, tube wells and bore wells at different depths from various locations of four districts (Jind, Rohtak, Panipat and Sonipat) of Haryana, India, using the LED flourimetry technique and RAD7, electronic silicon solid state detector. The uranium (238U) and radon (222Rn) concentrations in water samples have been found to vary from 1.07 to 40.25 µg L−1 with an average of 17.91 µg L−1 and 16.06 ± 0.97 to 57.35 ± 1.28 Bq L−1 with an average of 32.98 ± 2.45 Bq L−1, respectively. The observed value of radon concentration in 43 samples exceeded the recommended limits of 11 Bq L−1 (USEPA) and all the values are within the European Commission recommended limit of 100 Bq L−1. The average value of uranium concentration is observed to be within the safe limit recommended by World Health Orga...

This study focuses on alkali oxide (lithium and sodium) glasses with an aim to explore suitable host for cerium ions which will enhance the optical properties like UV blocking efficiency. Conventional melt quench method was employed for making these glasses. FTIR results show conversion of BO3 to BO4 units and development of CeO4 groups with addition of CeO2. The increase in density values (2.10 to 2.67 g/cm3 for sodium glasses and 2.04 to 2.75 g/cm3 for Lithium glasses) and decrease in band gap values (3.16 to 2.40 eV for sodium glasses and 3.28 to 2.08 eV for Lithium glasses) in both glass systems confirm the modifier role of CeO2. Hardness of lithium-based glasses (1366.91 Kg/mm2) at 4 mol% of CeO2 is higher than the glasses containing sodium (1007.21 Kg/mm2). The obtained values of refractive index and transmittance show better suitability of CeO2 incorporated lithium glasses in some optical applications.

The radon concentration levels in soil samples from 39 locations of Northern Punjab are measured using AlphaGUARD (PQ 2000 PRO Model) of Genitron instruments, Germany. The radon concentration in soil varies from 0.3 to 35.8 kBq/l. The minimum value of radon is observed in Talwandi Choudhrian and is maximum for Nushera Dhala. The soil gas radon is correlated with soil temperature, pressure, and humidity to observe the effect of these parameters on radon release. The soil gas radon values in the study area are compared with that obtained in groundwater. The results are also compared with the available radon data for other parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Radon is a radioactive gas which makes the primary contribution to the natural radiation to which people are exposed. For that reason, great importance is attributed to the determination of radon concentration levels in water, indoor air and soil gas and outdoors. In this paper, measurements of radon concentration in soil gas have been carried out around some areas of the Upper Siwaliks of the Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills, India, using a portable AlphaGUARD PQ 2000 device into which the soil gas is drawn using active pumping. The soil gas radon concentration around the Upper Siwaliks was found to vary from 11.5 +/- 0.9 to 78.47 +/- 3.1 kBq m(-3). The annual average indoor radon concentration in the study area was measured in the range from 71.7 +/- 21.0 to 421.7 +/- 33.6 Bq m( - 3) using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The values of soil gas radon concentration in the study area were compared with those from the adjoining low-radioactive areas of Punjab. Since the soil or bedrock beneath a building is one of the sources of radon gas in the indoor air, an effort has been made to find a possible correlation between soil gas radon with the indoor radon. A satisfactory positive correlation has been observed between soil gas radon and indoor radon in the study area.

Radium concentration and radon exhalation rate have been measured in soil samples collected from some areas belonging to upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh states, India using LR-115 type II plastic track detectors. Uranium concentration has also been determined in these soil samples using fission track registration technique. Radium concentration has been found to vary from 5.30 to 31.71 Bq.kg−1, whereas uranium concentration varies from 33.21 to 76.26 Bq.kg−1. The radon exhalation rate in these samples varies from 216.87 to 1298.00 mBq.m−2hr−1 (6.15 to 36.80 mBq.kg−1.hr−1). Most of the samples have uranium concentration above the worldwide average concentration of 35 Bq.kg−1. A good correlation (R2 = 0.76) has been observed between uranium concentration and radon exhalation rate in soil. The values of uranium, radium and radon exhalation rate in soil are compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab.

Natural radioactive materials under certain conditions can reach hazardous radiological levels. So, it becomes necessary to study the natural radioactivity levels in soil to assess the dose for the population in order to know the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental radioactivity due to human activities. The natural radionuclide (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) contents in soil were determined for 26 locations around the Upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills, Northern India, using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometric analysis. It was observed that the concentration of natural radionuclides viz., 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, in the soil varies from 28.3+/-0.5 to 81.0+/-1.7Bqkg(-1), 61.2+/-1.3 to 140.3+/-2.6Bqkg(-1) and 363.4+/-4.9 to 1002.2+/-11.2Bqkg(-1) respectively. The total absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 71.1 to 162.0nGyh(-1). The radium equivalent (Req) and the external hazard index (Hex), which resulted from the natural radionuclides in soil, were also calculated and found to vary from 149.4 to 351.8Bqkg(-1)and from 0.40 to 0.95 respectively. These values in Upper Siwaliks area were compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were lower than the limit (370Bqkg(-1)) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the dose equivalent was within the safe limit of 1mSvy(-1).

Besides uranium and radium, radon exhalation rate is also a crucial factor for radon emanation from ground or building material. In the present study uranium concentration and radon exhalation rate in the wide range of soil and rock samples collected from Tusham ring complex, Haryana, known to be composed of acid volcanics and the associated high heat producing granites, have been estimated. For comparative analysis, the soil samples from some districts of Punjab have also been analysed for uranium estimation and radon exhalation rate. The ‘can’ technique using plastic track detectors LR-115 type-II has been used for radon exhalation rate measurement, whereas the ‘Fission track registration’ technique has been employed for uranium content determination in these samples. The 222 Rn exhalation rate in weathered granite area of the Tusham ring complex shows a maximum value of 63.76 Bq kg - 1 h - 1 , whereas the maximum value for uranium content has been found to be around 62.02 ppm. The corresponding values of exhalation rate and uranium content in the soil samples of this region are 11.54 Bq kg - 1 h - 1 and 13.41 ppm, respectively. A positive correlation between radon exhalation rate and uranium concentration has been observed for both soil and rock samples under the present investigation.

The concentration of uranium and radon has been assessed in drinking water samples collected from different areas belonging to the upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh states, India. The water samples are taken from hand pumps, natural sources and wells. Fission track registration technique has been used to estimate the uranium content of water samples. The uranium concentration in water samples varies from ( 1.08 ± 0.03 ) to ( 19.68 ± 0.12 ) μ g L - 1 . These values are compared with safe limit values recommended for drinking water. Most of the water samples are found to have uranium concentration below the safe limit of 15 μ g L - 1 [WHO (World Health Organization), 2004. Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. third ed.]. The radon estimation in these samples has been made using α -scintillometry to study its correlation with uranium. The radon concentration in these samples is found to vary from ( 0.87 ± 0.29 ) to ( 32.10 ± 1.79 ) Bq L - 1 . The recorded values of radon concentration are within the recommended safe limit of 4– 40 Bq L - 1 [UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations), 1993. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations, New York]. No direct correlation is found between uranium concentration and radon concentration in water samples belonging to upper Siwaliks. The values of uranium and radon concentration in water are compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab.

The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible correlation between indoor radon and gamma radiation levels in a region of high heat producing rock formations. Since the natural occurring radionuclides are responsible for the major contribution to the total effective dose of the ionizing radiations received by the population, so keeping this in view the indoor radon and gamma radiation levels have been measured in the dwellings of different villages situated in and around the Tusham Ring Complex, Bhiwani district, Haryana, known to be composed of acidic volcanics and the associated granites. The radon concentration levels have not only been found to be varying with the mode of construction of houses and building materials utilized, but also especially on their location with respect to the nearby high heat producing granite rocks. The indoor radon concentration levels at some places, especially those on or close to granite rock formations have been found to be considerably higher and even at some places it also exceeds the upper limit of the proposed action level of the ICRP limits. A better correlation between indoor radon and gamma radiation levels has been observed particularly in case of the dwellings well exposed to the high heat producing granitic rock formations.

Uranium and radon concentration was assessed in water samples taken from hand pumps, natural sources and wells collected from some areas of Upper Siwaliks, Northern India. Fission track registration technique was used to estimate the uranium content of water samples. The uranium concentration in water samples was found to vary from 1.08 +/- 0.03 to 19.68 +/- 0.12 microg l(-1). These values were compared with safe limit values recommended for drinking water. Most of the water samples were found to have uranium concentration below the safe limit of 15 microg l(-1) (WHO, World Health Organization, Guidelines for drinking-water quality (3rd ed.). Geneva, Switzerland: WHO, 2004). The radon estimation in these water samples was made using alpha-scintillometry to study its correlation with uranium. The radon concentration in these samples was found to vary from 0.87 +/- 0.29 to 32.10 +/- 1.79 Bq l(-1). The recorded values of radon concentration were within the recommended safe limit of 4 to 40 Bq l(-1) (UNSCEAR, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations, Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. New York: United Nations, 1993). No direct correlation was found between uranium concentration and radon concentration in water samples belonging to Upper Siwaliks. The values of uranium and radon concentration in water were compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab state, India.

The presence of radon and its decay products in the human environment are considered a potential health hazardous and measurement of them is important to assess the threat they might pose. Keeping this in view, indoor radon measurements were carried out in dwellings of different villages belonging to the upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan, and Morni Hills, India using the LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The annual average radon concentration in the studied area was measured in the range from 71.7 ± 21.0 to 421.7 ± 33.6 Bq·m-3. The levels of radon activity were found to be within the action level internationally recommended by ICRP. The average annual effective dose was found to vary from 1.22 to 7.20 mSv per year. Gamma ray activities were also measured in the dwellings of different villages to look for a possible correlation between indoor radon and gamma ray levels in the study area. The values of gamma ray activity were found to vary from 9.75 to 17.50 μR·h-1. The values of indoor radon concentration and gamma ray activity in the study area were compared with those from the adjoining nonradioactive areas of Punjab.

In this paper, the results of radon concentrations in the drinking water in some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are presented. Samples were collected from the hand-pumps, tube-wells and natural springs, which are the major sources of drinking water in these areas. Radon concentration values in drinking water showed a wide variation depending on its source and location. The radon concentration values in hand-pump drawn groundwater have been found to be higher than the values from other sources. The recorded radon concentration in these samples has been found to vary from 1.0 0.3 to 48.0 2.2Bq·L 1. The radon concentration has also been measured in some thermal springs and these values have been found to be quite a lot higher than from other sources of ground water. Mineral water has the minimum radon concentration compared with groundwater sources.

An exact cylindrically symmetric solution to Einstein equations for scalar waves is presented. The asymptotic behaviour of the null geodesics near the singularity is discussed.

The indoor radon concentration levels and their regional variations pattern, for two consecutive half-year periods, in a wide range of dwellings of some regions of Punjab and Haryana states have been studied. The objective was to find the relation between the variations of indoor radon levels with the sub-soil and local geology, type of building materials utilised in the dwellings of the region. Keeping this in view, indoor radon measurements have been carried out in the dwellings of 30 villages around the Tusham Ring Complex, Bhiwani district, Haryana, known to be composed of acidic volcanics and associated granites, along with 11 villages of Amritsar District, Punjab. The indoor radon concentration in the dwellings around Tusham (Haryana) was found to vary from 120 +/- 95 to 915 +/- 233 Bq m(-3), whereas radon levels varied from 60 +/- 37 to 235 +/- 96 Bq m(-3) for the dwellings studied in Punjab. We believe that local geology including embedded granitic rocks, and sub-soil, as well as building materials having higher radioactive content, is the major contributor for the higher indoor radon levels observed particularly in the dwelling around Tusham Ring complex, where some dwellings are showing higher radon concentrations than the ICRP recommendations. The environmental samples from some areas of Punjab state and around the Tusham Ring Complex of Haryana state have also been analysed for radon exhalation studies. Higher values for radon exhalation rates have been observed for the Tusham's soil/rock specimens, as compared with soil samples of the Amritsar region of Punjab.

Indoor radon concentrations have been measured for two consecutive half-year periods in a wide range of dwellings of some regions of Punjab and Haryana states. The objective was to find correlation between the variations of indoor radon levels with the sub-soil, local geology, type of building materials, etc. of the two regions. So keeping this in view the indoor radon measurements have been carried out in the dwellings of different villages around the Tusham ring complex, Bhiwani District, Haryana, known to be composed of acidic volcanics and the associated granites along with some villages of Amritsar District, Punjab. The indoor radon concentration in the dwellings around Tusham (Haryana) have been found to be varying from 120.5±95 to 915.2±233 Bq m−3, whereas it ranges from 60.0±37 to 235.6±96 Bq m−3 for the dwellings of Punjab. The 222Rn concentration observed at most of locations particularly around Tusham ring complex region is higher than that of all the villages studied in Punjab region. Local geology including embedded granitic rocks, sub-soil, etc. as well as building materials having higher radioactive content are the major contributors for the higher indoor radon levels observed in the dwelling around Tusham, where few dwellings have higher radon concentrations than the ICRP, 1993 recommendations. The annual effective dose equivalent has also been estimated for each location of the both regions, which has been found to be varying from 1.0 to 17.2 mSv/y.

Uranium concentrations in the drinking water samples collected mainly from hand pumps along the Amritsar to Bathinda track are presented. Uranium concentration values in these samples show a wide range of variation depending upon different factors like source, location, depth and local geology etc. The observed uranium content in water samples has been found to be varying from 0.9 ± 0.08 to 63 ± 0.21 ppb and even the radon activity in ground water observed in our earlier survey carried out in this area has been found to be increasing from Amritsar towards Bathinda. The higher values were observed from the ground water samples particularly of the areas falling in belt from Zira to Maur towards the Haryana border. The values observed at certain locations are found to be higher than the highest recommended value of 15 ppb [1]. The high uranium concentration observed particularly in certain areas along this track can be attributed due to interaction of ground water with the soil formation of this region and the local subsurface geology of the region.