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For bench cutting in marble quarries in India, diamond wire saw (DWS) machines are mainly used. The cutting performance of the DWS machine depends on non-controllable parameters related to rock characteristics and controllable parameters related to machine and other operational aspects. Cut size area of a bench is one of the operational controllable parameters and it has an important role in the cutting performance of the machine. Dolomitic marble deposits are available in large quantities in India. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of bench cut size area on the cutting performance of DWS machines in soft, medium-hard and hard dolomitic marble. The study revealed that cut size of the bench plays a significant role in the performance of the DWS machine. The optimum bench cut size also varies with the nature of marble to be cut. It also depends on the types of cuts to be made in the marble such as vertical, vertical strand and horizontal. The results of this study can also be applied to other types of marble and they will also be of use to the operators of wire saw cutting machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrochemical study has been carried out on the fresh groundwater resources of Potharlanka, Krishna Delta, India. Groundwater samples were collected at 58 sites and analyzed in June and December 2001. The groundwater is mildly alkaline with a pH of 7.2–8.2, electrical conductivity (EC) varies from 645–4,700 μS/cm in June 2001 (pre-monsoon) and from 605–5,770 μS/cm in December 2001 (post-monsoon). More than 75% of the samples have >1000 mg/l TDS which is higher than the maximum permissible limit for potable water. Na and Cl are the dominating cations and these are directly proportional to TDS. Extremely low HCO3 /Cl and variable high Mg/Ca (molar ratios) indicated the transformation of the fresh groundwater aquifer systems to saline. Groundwater of this island is classified as Na–Cl, Na–Ca–Cl–HCO3, Na–Mg–Cl–SO4 and mixed types. A high percentage of mixed water types indicates the possibility of simultaneous fresh groundwater dilution activity along with a seawater ingression/intrusion process. Low rainfall and excessive withdrawal of groundwater has caused the increase of saline water intrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the India has witnessed a rapidly exploding epidemic of diabetes mellitus. It would not be hyperbolic to state that diabetes mellitus is the mother of morbidity of all vital organs. Diabetic retinopathy and its complications cause considerable ocular morbidity as well. With effective management strategies visual loss due to the disease can be controlled and further dissemination of the disease could be prevented. The key to proper management of diabetic retinopathy includes prophylaxis by controlling blood sugar, periodical screening of retina for early detection, prompt referral for prevention of progression by appropriate laser photocoagulation, surgical correction of various anatomical abnormalities, low vision aids and rehabilitative measures in patients with severe visual loss. Howerver, the awareness level of visual consequences of this widely prevalent disease even amongst diabetics is lacking.

ICRP Publications 53, 62 and 80 give organ dose coefficients and effective doses to ICRP Reference Man and Child from established nuclear medicine procedures. However, an average Indian adult differs significantly from the ICRP Reference Man as regards anatomical, physiological and metabolic characteristics, and is also considered to have different tissue weighting factors (called here risk factors). The masses of total body and most organs are significantly lower for the Indian adult than for his ICRP counterpart (e.g. body mass 52 and 70 kg respectively). Similarly, the risk factors are lower by 20-30% for 8 out of the 13 organs and 30-60% higher for 3 organs. In the present study, available anatomical data of Indians and their risk factors have been utilised to estimate the radiation doses from administration of commonly used 99Tcm-labelled radiopharmaceuticals under normal and certain pathological conditions. The following pathological conditions have been considered for phosphates/phosphonates--high bone uptake and severely impaired kidney function; IDA--parenchymal liver disease, occlusion of cystic duct, and occlusion of bile duct; DTPA--abnormal renal function; large colloids--early to intermediate diffuse parenchymal liver disease, intermediate to advanced parenchymal liver disease; small colloids--early to intermediate parenchymal liver disease, intermediate to advanced parenchymal liver disease; and MAG3--abnormal renal function, acute unilateral renal blockage. The estimated 'effective doses' to Indian adults are 14-21% greater than the ICRP value from administration of the same activity of radiopharmaceutical under normal physiological conditions based on anatomical considerations alone, because of the smaller organ masses for the Indian; for some pathological conditions the effective doses are 11-22% more. When tissue risk factors are considered in addition to anatomical considerations, the estimated effective doses are still found to be generally somewhat higher for the Indian, for both normal and pathological states (but lower than the values based on anatomical considerations alone). However, when the radiopharmaceutical is administered in quantities proportional to the body mass, the effective doses are 11-28% lower for the Indian under both normal and pathological conditions. It may be concluded that Indians are at a lower risk of radiation health detriment in comparison with the ICRP adult on administration of the various 99Tcm-labelled radiopharmaceuticals considered in this study.

The available limited anatomical and physiological data have been compiled for Indian adult as a part of ongoing efforts in the country to formulate an Indian Reference Man for radiation protection purposes. The parameters included weight, height, body surface area, weight of various organs (brain, heart, kidney, lung, liver etc.), total body water, extra-cellular water, blood volume, specific gravity, total lung capacity, vital capacity etc. The data have been drawn from post-mortem studies (566 males and 185 females) and other data from published work on 433 healthy male and 137 female volunteers. Data gaps have been filled by the method of pooling wherever necessary. This paper presents the intercomparison of the present data with the data available from other sources. The data from various Indian sources indicate a similar trend. However, a significant difference (P less than 0.01) was observed in organ weights and total body weights, in comparison to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) values. The present data are not comprehensive enough to suggest definitive norms of the Indian Reference Man.

An ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale was investigated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial and hypoglycaemic activities. In rats, the extract reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling and yeast-induced fever but was ineffective in suppressing the writhing induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid. The extract produced blood glucose lowering in rabbits. The growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was significantly inhibited. A dose-dependent inhibition of prostaglandin release effect was observed using rat peritoneal leucocytes.

Body density was experimentally determined at a field location at 3,920 m on 32 medically fit and active high altitude native males using a water displacement technique. Stature, body weight and the bony widths at the elbow, wrist, knee, and ankles; and thickness of skin folds at eight sites were measured. Based on body density and bony widths, body fat, total body water (TBW), mineral mass and total cell solids (TCS) were calculated. Similar measurements were made on another group of 16 high altitude natives after one months stay in Dehli (200 m). TBW of 11 of these subjects was experimentally determined by the oral administration of 200 muCi of tritiated water. This group of subjects was physically less active in Delhi. At high altitude the natives consumed a balanced diet which provided 20.21 MJ, but in the plains the diet provided only 15.69 MJ though it was nutritionally balanced. In spite of the reduced calorie intake this group showed greater fat content in Delhi than the group located at high altitude. These men were also hyperhydrated. Hyperhydration of the lean body could be an adaptive response of the high altitude natives to the new environment. Due to the disturbed state of hydration of the lean body of these men in the plains, use of Siri's formula for the computation of total body fat is questioned.

An ethanolic extract of the flowers of Calotropis procera was investigated for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial activities. The plant extract reduced the paw swelling induced by carrageenan by 37%, fever in rats by 40% and showed some weak effect in rats on the writhing induced by acetic acid. The growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was significantly inhibited. A dose-dependent effect on prostaglandin release was also observed.