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Background: To estimate a correlation between change in lung ultrasound aeration score (LUSS) and mortality in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in which lung ultrasound, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (PaO2/FiO2 ratio), and static lung compliance were performed for five consecutive days since the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (day 1-5) in a 20-bed multidisciplinary intensive care unit in at a tertiary care academic institute in Northern India. A hundred and seventeen ventilated patients were studied for the first 5 days after ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) development. Lung ultrasounds were performed with an ultrasonography machine using a round-tipped probe of 2-5 MHz at six different areas of each hemithorax, which includes superior and inferior in anterior, lateral, and posterior lung fields. Patients with a decreased LUSS of 2 were labeled as responders. A decrease of LUSS of less than 2 or an increase of LUSS were leveled as nonresponders. Results: The correlation between the change in LUSS between days 1 and 5 was significant with 28-day mortality (26.3% in responders vs 87.8% nonresponses with p < 0.001) Conclusion: The responders to treatment for VAP described by LUSS had lower mortality than non-responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The second peak of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) experienced by India in April-May 2021 overwhelmed the health care system. A severe shortage of oxygen was experienced, and it was realized that some method of estimating the oxygen consumption should be available in order to streamline the distribution network of oxygen. Methods: In this paper, the authors propose a method of estimating the daily oxygen consumption for a hospital based on different formulae used to calculate oxygen consumption by various oxygen therapy devices. The proposed method was tested for its accuracy by measuring the actual oxygen consumption during the same period on the basis of pressure gauge readings difference observed on the liquid oxygen tank. The estimated and actual oxygen consumption was calculated each day for a period of 10 days. Results: The mean estimated oxygen consumption was 1.26±0.11 metric Tonne (MT), and the actual consumption was 1.34±0.08 MT. The estimated and actual consumption had a positive and significant correlation between them (correlation coefficient of 0.699). Reliability analysis performed using the Cronbach’s alpha revealed a factor of 0.94 as a coefficient between both variables indicating that the actual and calculated oxygen consumptions are nearly equal. The Bland and Altman analysis revealed a good agreement. Interpretation and Conclusions: It is concluded that the total oxygen requirement can be reliably estimated based on the proposed formulae, which can be useful to estimate the oxygen consumption of different hospitals, and plan the distribution of oxygen in a city or a district as a part of preparedness to deal with future surges of COVID-19 infections, if any. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Multiple sources of medical oxygen, namely liquid medical oxygen (LMO) tanks, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, concentrators, and gaseous cylinders, are available at different healthcare facilities. These sources of oxygen have varying installation and operational costs. In low-resource settings, it is imperative to utilise these assets optimally. This study investigated the operational costs of multiple oxygen sources available at a healthcare facility. Methods: A Microsoft (MS) Excel-based model was developed to analyse and compare the oxygen manufacturing costs (in ₹/m³) using PSA plants and procurement costs (in ₹/m³) of LMO and third-party vendor-refilled cylinders. Results: The oxygen manufacturing costs for PSA plants of different capacities and running times on electricity and diesel generators (DGs) as a power source were calculated. This study highlights the cost-benefit of using PSA plants over LMO and third-party vendor-refilled cylinders as a source of oxygen. PSA plants are most economical when they are of higher capacity and used to their maximum capacity on electricity as the power source. On the contrary, they are most expensive when used on a DG set as a power source. Furthermore, this study provides evidence of PSA plants being more cost-effective for refilling cylinders using a booster compressor unit when compared to third-party vendor-cylinder refilling. Conclusion: Given their cost-effectiveness and low third-party dependence, they should be utilised to their maximum capacity as medical oxygen sources at healthcare facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present research highlights the promising factors that suggest the possible occurrence of the fourth COVID wave in India. India is among the major victim of this pandemic and has already witnessed the three dangerous COVID waves, and the lives of Indian people are put to a major setback. When it appears as the destruction caused by the third wave seems to getting over and people are trying to return to their normal lives, meanwhile with the mutation of the virus, the new COVID variants (COVID XBB 1.16 or Arcturus, XBB.1.5, and Delta Omicron) are again shaking our universe. Methods: Research studies and developed predictive models are suggesting the possible occurrence of the fourth COVID wave in the coming months. Considering the predictions and model developed, a critical insight is provided in the present study, which predicts the prospect of the fourth COVID wave in India. Results: Research proposed that the new COVID variants (COVID XBB 1.16, XBB.1.5, and Delta Omicron) are again leading to an increase in the number of active infected cases. Several factors, as mentioned in the research, are responsible for this spread of infection. Conclusions: Important factors are highlighted, which portray the probability of the fourth coronavirus wave in India. Important factors are presented in individuals, and an attempt is made to relate them with the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the fourth wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Palliative care deals with patients who are facing problems of life-threatening diseases. Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, a new cadre of Community Health Officers (CHOs) is provisioned at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) who are nursing graduates. Being the team leader at the HWC level, having a low level of knowledge of palliative care would compromise their service. The study assessed the knowledge of CHOs about palliative care services in a rural district of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design was carried out among 314 CHOs posted in different HWCs of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, during July–August' 2022. We used to collect data based on questionnaires of 'Palliative-Care-Knowledge Questionnaire-Basic' comprising items related to palliative care, the requirement of palliative care, pain management, communication, and dealing with psychosocial issues. A chi-square test was performed to check the association with educational- and experience-related variables and knowledge. Results: Overall, adequate knowledge was present in 216 (68.8%) and inadequate knowledge in 98 (31.2%) of CHOs. Improper knowledge was present regarding the role of oxygen supplementation in dying patients, the need for palliative care in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic non-malignant diseases, pain management, and communication about the prognosis of disease. The proportion of CHOs who had adequate knowledge who were highly educated (70%) and those who had previous job as CHO (73.3%). Almost similar knowledge scores were found among those who ever cared for or never cared for either terminally ill patients (P = 0.89) or cancer patients (P = 0.853). Conclusion: In-depth knowledge was lacking among the CHOs. Training and re-training of CHOs to develop technical and communication skills will help them deliver proper palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen support became one of the rate-limiting steps for medical care during COVID-19 pandemic in India. The primary aim of this study was to appraise the manufacturing, supply, and distribution of medical oxygen during the pandemic. The secondary objectives were to highlight the coordination of various stakeholders to mitigate the oxygen surge and to present a critical analysis of India's response to the emergent situation. Using an analytic approach, we have delineated India's response to mitigate the medical oxygen surge during the distressing second peak between March–May 2021. In the pre-COVID-19 era, of the total 6900 MT of oxygen produced in India, only 1000 MT was available for medical usage, which was increased up to 19940 MT through the strengthening of in-house oxygen manufacturing, low-cost innovations, and enhanced storage facilities. High-burden states were identified, and transport was facilitated through departments of railways, defence and civil aviation. Real-time scrutiny of the oxygen supply was provided. Essential customs duties on importing oxygen and vital equipment were exempted, along with other swift decisions. National Oxygen Stewardship Program' was initiated to build the capacity of health care workers in oxygen therapy and rational use of surplus oxygen. The pandemic overwhelmed the health system. But a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach facilitated the fight against oxygen surge. However, a comprehensive pandemic response will need more than just oxygen. This resourceful utilization offers a silver lining and facilitates the improvement of health systems and health outcomes in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive fungal infection that increased significantly during the 2nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. The rise of cases was attributed to inflammatory changes, poor quality oxygen, immune suppression, and corticosteroid therapy. Case Presentation: This case study reports the history, treatment, and rehabilitation of a case of post-Covid-19 mucormycosis infection. The patient was admitted to the hospital following respiratory distress, at the beginning of the 2nd Covid-19 wave in India. Intravenous antibiotics, steroids, and moist O2 were administered, intensive support was provided and the patient was discharged after 13 days. Following extraction of 17, the patient reported signs of oro-antral communication which was managed by performing antral lavage and buccal advanced flap closure. Histopathological investigation of tissue salvaged during the procedure revealed the presence of fungal hyphae. Management and Prognosis: Following diagnosis, anti-fungal medication was prescribed, and a maxillectomy was performed to remove the affected tissue. On follow-up, the tissue healed with no further complications or symptoms, and rehabilitation was performed using an obturators and are movable complete denture. Histopathological investigations were carried out on the tissue salvaged during maxillectomy which confirmed Mucormycosis infection. Conclusion: The importance of histopathological investigation in the diagnosis of any infectious disease is enumerated in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has proven to be the worst pandemic in the history of mankind. While the pandemic still continues to perplex scientists globally, attempts are being made to quantify the mortality caused by the pandemic. Official COVID-19 figures in India grossly understate the true scale of the pandemic in the country. Fatality rates help us understand the severity of a disease, identify at risk populations, and evaluate quality of healthcare. Official COVID-19 mortality figures in India grossly understate the true scale of the pandemic in the country. A COVID-19 death is defined for surveillance purposes as a death resulting from a clinically compatible illness in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative cause of death that cannot be related to COVID-19 disease (e.g., trauma) and excess mortality is defined as the difference in the total number of deaths in a crisis compared to those expected under normal conditions. Materials and Methods: We did a systematic review of multiple papers on PubMed, Medline, Embase, MedRxiV pre print on excess mortality. Differentiation between model based estimated excess mortality and data based excess mortality was studied. Results: All the studies showed that the excess mortality was to the tune of almost three times the official figures. The model based excess mortality assumptions showed higher deaths as compared to the data based one. However, there were a lot of discrepancies in the data provided by various states along with variations observed between the two waves as well. Health survey data suggested higher mortality rate as compared to data compiled from the civil registration system. Additionally, in the second wave, a small but a significant number of deaths occurred due to non availability of oxygen and beds in the hospitals. Conclusions: Official COVID-19 deaths have entirely failed to capture the scale of pandemic excess mortality in India. If most excess deaths were, indeed, from COVID-19 then under ascertainment of COVID-19 deaths has been high, with around 8-10 excess deaths for every recorded COVID-19 death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis was seen in increasing severity in the recent second wave of COVID-19 in India. The incidence of mucormycosis is increased significantly in patients with diabetes. The most common cause attributed to the rise of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients are uncontrolled diabetes. Lymphopenia and increased levels of certain cytokines, such as IL-6, have been closely associated with the disease severity. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze risk factors involved in Mucormycosis in 2nd wave of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: The study was done in the Mucormycosis ward, Department of ENT, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna, between May 2021 and July 2021. A total of 100 patients of both gender and all age groups were taken into the study. Results: Out of 100 patients included in the study, 57% (n=57) of patients had history of steroid intake, while 43% (n=43) had no history. About 41% (n=41) of patients needed oxygen support during treatment, while 59% (n=59) had no history of oxygen inhalation. About 88% (n=88) of patients had prior history of diabetes or detected during treatment, while 12% (n=12) had no prior history of diabetes or detected during treatment. About 91% (n=91) of patients had uncontrolled hyperglycemia, while 9% (n=9) had controlled blood sugar level. Conclusion: Uncontrolled hyperglycemia and delta strain are mainly associated major risk factors that lead to such high number of mucormycosis cases in India (post 2nd wave of COVID-19). Steroid role is not that much significant in our study and oxygen inhalation is not associated with mucormycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the oxygen production potential of India taking baseline data from ISFR 2019. The Indian forests have an oxygen production potential of 7896.14 million tonnes (mt) and the annual potential was 28.04 mt yr-1 for 2019. Considering oxygen production potential of the top 10 tree species from forests and those outside forests, Shorea robusta (Sal) and Mangifera indica (Mango) ranked first, i.e. 657.87 and 214.39 mt respectively. The fast-growing agroforestry tree species exhibit a net oxygen production rate in the range of 1.03-34.15 tonnes ha-1 yr-1. Bamboo being a fast-growing and higher biomass-producing species showed oxygen production of 27.38 mt yr-1. Overall this provides huge scope for establishing oxyparks in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sudden surge of mucormycosis cases in India needs an urgent attention as multiple factors have been implicated. However, diabetes mellitus remains to be one of the most important and modifiable factors. Methodology: We prospectively followed 11 patients with mucormycosis in May 2021 and June 2021, admitted to our hospital to study the possible etiologies. Results: Out of the 11 patients, six were males and five were females, with an average age of 52.45 years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the ubiquitous comorbidity, and every patient presented with uncontrolled hyperglycemia (six out of them were in diabetic ketoacidosis). Glycated hemoglobin levels ranged from 10.2% to 15.1%. Out of 11 patients, four patients were non-COVID, whereas five patients had a history of COVID-19 infection. All these five post COVID-19 patients presented approximately 20 days after recovery, out of which one patient had severe infection who was hospitalized. The remaining two patients were COVID-19-positive. Out of 11 patients, 10 patients had rhino-orbital mucormycosis at presentation, among which four patients had cerebral involvement, and one out of them later developed invasive disease. However, one patient had only pulmonary mucormycosis at presentation. Serum ferritin was raised in all the patients, and six had serum zinc levels below the reference range. Serum flow cytometry showed leukopenia with normal CD4:CD8 ratio in seven patients. In the clinical outcome, six patients expired, whereas five patients responded to the treatment and were discharged on oral posaconazole therapy. Conclusion: From our study, it is quite evident that uncontrolled diabetes and its complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis were an important risk factor for the occurrence of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients as well as non-COVID-19 patients, even without exposure to steroids or oxygen. Thus, blood glucose levels should be kept at optimum level during the management of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen is used extensively in illnesses involving respiratory system. In emergencies such as the one created by the flare of Covid-19, oxygen consumption has increased tremendously. This article aims to improve our understanding about the medical oxygen, its production (air separation unit, pressure swing adsorption, oxygen concentrators), the supply chain, storage methods, and the final delivery system to the patient. This article also provides a comprehensive review on the additions in the medical infrastructure during the time of oxygen crisis in India along with the introduction of certain novel approaches towards oxygen production and conservation. We aim to minimize the panic among our readers by giving them an insight about the course behind the oxygen supply in that oxygen mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reusable humidifiers are often colonised by microbes, the aerosols generated from which are hypothesised to transmit respiratory infections-jeopardising patient safety. Materials and Methods: In this time-bound cross-sectional study, 10 ml of water was collected in sterile containers from humidifiers installed in selected wards/critical care units/intensive care units and from the source used to refill these humidifiers. These samples were subjected to KOH and gram staining followed by inoculation on blood, MacConkey and Sabouraud dextrose agar and brain heart infusion broth in the aerobic environment at 37°C. Observations were recorded as per standard guidelines and compared against blood and respiratory cultures of patients. Results: Despite an average of 8.23 days of exposure to oxygen humidified by contaminated water, n = 28 (of n = 39) blood samples reported no growth (NG) and n = 12 reported nonpathogenic organisms (NPO). Among n = 18 available respiratory samples, n = 1 reported Escherichia coli, which was not cultured from the same humidifier indicative of some other source. n = 1 reported NG, n = 6 reported NPO and n = 10 reported normal throat flora. No fungal elements were reported from any humidifier, source, or patient samples. The source-humidifier pathogen pair did not match for any humidifier. Conclusions: Sterile patient cultures, despite prolonged exposure to oxygen humidified with contaminated water, indicate that humidifier contaminants did not infect patients. The disparity between the source or patient cultures and humidifier contaminants may be attributed to compromised universal precautions due to the exhaustion of health-care professionals during COVID-19. Furthermore, the type of water used to refill (Distilled/RO/Tap water) had no effect on the microbial contamination of humidifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is passing through a significant impact of Wuhan origin coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the second wave. Mucormycosis is emerging as a larger problem for our patients as compared to the first wave. Several plausible explanations have been put forth-but none has been proven as yet. We herein report eight cases of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital mucormycosis diagnosed and managed at our center. We observed a higher risk among middle-aged men, with known or covert diabetes who received high-dose steroids and/or prolonged oxygen for COVID-19 management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Childhood blindness from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing as a result of improvements in neonatal care worldwide. We evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)--based screening in an Indian ROP telemedicine program and whether differences in ROP severity between neonatal care units (NCUs) identified by using AI are related to differences in oxygen-titrating capability. METHODS: External validation study of an existing AI-based quantitative severity scale for ROP on a data set of images from the Retinopathy of Prematurity Eradication Save Our Sight ROP telemedicine program in India. All images were assigned an ROP severity score (1--9) by using the Imaging and Informatics in Retinopathy of Prematurity Deep Learning system. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and sensitivity and specificity for treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity. Using multivariable linear regression, we evaluated the mean and median ROP severity in each NCU as a function of mean birth weight, gestational age, and the presence of oxygen blenders and pulse oxygenation monitors. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detection of treatmentrequiring retinopathy of prematurity was 0.98, with 100% sensitivity and 78% specificity. We found higher median (interquartile range) ROP severity in NCUs without oxygen blenders and pulse oxygenation monitors, most apparent in bigger infants (.1500 g and 31 weeks' gestation: 2.7 [2.5--3.0] vs 3.1 [2.4--3.8]; P = .007, with adjustment for birth weight and gestational age). CONCLUSIONS: Integration of AI into ROP screening programs may lead to improved access to care for secondary prevention of ROP and may facilitate assessment of disease epidemiology and NCU resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the distribution of lung patterns determined by High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) in COVID patients with mild and moderate lung involvement and outcomes after early identification and management with steroids and anticoagulants. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study of COVID-19 patients with mild and moderate lung involvement presenting at 5 healthcare centres in Trichy district of South TamilNadu in India. Patients underwent HRCT to assess patterns and severity of lung involvement, Inflammatory markers (LDH/Ferritin) and D-Dimer assay and clinical correlation with signs and symptoms. Patients were assessed for oxygen, steroid and anticoagulant therapy, clinical recovery or progression on follow up and details on mortality were collected. The RSNA, Fleischer Society guidelines and CORADS score was used for radiological reporting. New potential classification of patterns of percentage of lung parenchyma involvement in Covid patients is being suggested. Results: The study included 7,340 patients with suspected COVID and 3,963 (53.9%) patients had lung involvement based on HRCT. RT PCR was positive in 74.1% of the CT Positive cases. Crazy Pavement pattern was predominant (n = 2022, 51.0%) and Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) was found in 1,941 (49.0%) patients in the study. Severe lung involvement was more common in the Crazy Pavement pattern. Patients with GGO in moderate lung involvement were significantly more likely to recover faster compared to Crazy Pavement pattern (P value <0.001). Conclusion: HRCT chest and assessment of lung patterns can help triage patients to home quarantine and hospital admission. Early initiation of steroids and anticoagulants based on lung patterns can prevent progression to more severe stages and aid early recovery. HRCT can play a major role to triage and guide management especially as RT PCR testing and results are delayed for the benefit of patients and in a social cause to decrease the spread of the virus [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although oxygen is one of the oldest drugs available, it is still one of the most inappropriately administered drugs leading to over utilization of this very expensive resource. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was done in a large emergency department (ED) in India. The pattern of oxygen usage was studied before and after the strict implementation of an oxygen treatment algorithm. The algorithm was taught to all doctors and nurses and its implementation was monitored regularly. The main outcome measures were proportion of patients receiving oxygen therapy, inappropriate usage, and avoidable direct medical cost to the patient. Results: The 3-week pre-protocol observation phase in April 2016 included 3769 patients and the 3-week post-protocol observation phase in April 2017 included 4608 patients. The baseline demographic pattern was similar in both the pre-protocol and post-protocol groups. After the strict implementation of the algorithm, the number of patients receiving oxygen therapy decreased from 9.63% to 4.82%, a relative decrease of 51.4%. The average amount of total oxygen used decreased from 55.4 liters per person in pre-protocol group to 42.1 liters per person in the post-protocol group with a mean difference of 13.28 (95% CI 5.30-21.26; P = 0.001). Inappropriate oxygen usage decreased from 37.2% to 8.6%. There was a significant decrease in inappropriate oxygen use for indications like low sensorium (60.8% vs 21.7%) and trauma (88.5% vs 15.8%). The mortality rate in the pre-protocol phase was 2.7% as compared with 3.2% in the post-protocol phase. The total duration of inappropriate oxygen usage significantly decreased from 987 h to 89 h over the 21-day study period. Conclusion: The implementation of an oxygen therapy algorithm significantly reduces inappropriate oxygen use and decreases treatment cost to the patient with no additional mortality risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of a sewer system and inadequate wastewater treatment plants results in a discharge of untreated wastewater to the urban drainage channels and pollutes receiving waters. Field visits were carried out to observe water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in an urban drainage system (Kolshet drain) in Thane City, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India. Dye-tracing studies using rhodamine WT dye were used for computing the velocity, discharge, and dispersion coefficient of the drain. The data analysis shows that the BOD and COD values in the drain are higher than the permissible limits (30 mg L -1 for BOD and 250 mg L -1 for COD), which is not suitable for disposal to any receiving water body. Also, the DO was less than the permissible limit of a minimum of 3 mg L -1 (for the survival of aquatic life). It is seen that the higher BOD load significantly reduced the DO throughout the drain. The Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP 8.32, 2019) developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has been used for the simulation of the DO and BOD in the drainage channel. The model simulates an appropriate estimate of the expected variation of DO and BOD at points of interest. The modeling for the Kolshet drain is expected to enable better estimates of the wastewater parameters and the pollution transport in the drain for planning purposes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The largest continental shelf Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) in the world is formed along the Indian western shelf in the eastern Arabian Sea during the Southwest Monsoon [(SWM); June-September], which is a natural pollution event associated with the coastal upwelling. This study examines the composition, abundance, and distribution of copepods during the Northeast Monsoon [(NEM); November to February] and SWM in 50 m depth zones along the Indian western shelf in the eastern Arabian Sea. The NEM was characterised by warm, stratified, and low-salinity waters in the southeast Arabian Sea and cold, high-salinity, and well-mixed waters in the northeastern Arabian Sea. During the SWM, cold and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) deficient waters (<22 μM/0.5 ml L -1 ), which are the signs of coastal upwelling, were evident all along the study zone, but with more intensity off Kochi, Mangalore, and Goa in the south than off Mumbai and Okha in the north. The zooplankton total biomass and abundance showed seasonality with a general decrease during the SWM (av. 3.68 ± 1.29 ml m -3 and av. 5711 ± 3096 Ind. m -3 , respectively) compared to the NEM (av. 7.37 ± 2.17 ml m -3 and av. 14,473 ± 4966 Ind. m -3 , respectively). At the same time, the abundance of Polychaeta and Siphonophora showed an increase during the SWM (av. 1187 ± 1055 Ind. m -3 and av. 169 ± 119 Ind. m -3 , respectively), probably a result of the DO deficient waters associated with upwelling. Two striking seasonal features in Copepoda community were evident in this study: (a) a compositional shift from Cyclopoida dominant during the NEM to Calanoida dominant during the SWM, and (b) the coastal OMZ along the Indian western shelf during the SWM was dominated by Calanoida, which include oceanic OMZ species such as Pleuromamma indica, Lucicutia flavicornis, L.paraclausii, Eucalanus elongatus, Subeucalanus pileatus, S.subcrassus, and Clausocalanus furcatus. This forms a clear imprint for the extension of the oceanic OMZ into nearshore waters during the SWM due to coastal upwelling., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest with this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Western Indian Continental Shelf (WICS) experiences upwelling during the Southwest Monsoon (SWM), leading to deoxygenation and acidification of subsurface waters. The region has patchy growth of corals, e.g. in the Grande Island and Angria Bank. Measurements made during the late SWM of 2022 reveal that the shelf waters around the Grande Island were subject to varying environmental conditions, viz. lower temperature (21.3-26.1°C), oxygen (0-4.9 mL L -1 ) and pH T (7.506-7.927). Complete anoxia was associated with sulphide build-up to a maximum of 5.9 μmol L -1 at 17 m depth. An additional episodic condition (high temperature, low oxygen and pH) also occurred associated presumably with a plankton bloom in April 2017. Hence, unlike the offshore coral site Angria Bank, waters around the Grande Island experiences extreme changes in physico-chemical conditions (e.g. Ω arg ∼1.2-1.8 during October 2022) seasonally as reported here. The biogeochemical conditions are however not as intense (Ω arg  = 0.6) as observed along the eastern boundary upwelling system of the Pacific Ocean., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial or non-financial interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted here for publication., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

When breastmilk is insufficient to meet planned feed volumes, neonatologists need to continue parenteral nutrition (PN) or use formula. This trial conducted at a tertiary care unit in South India between August 2014 and April 2016 compared time to full feeds in preterms fed 'mother's milk alone(MM)' vs. 'hybrid feed-mother's milk supplemented with formula(HF)'. We also compared time to regain birth weights, duration of PN, feed intolerance, Necrotizing Enterocolitis stage 2 or more, all-cause mortality, Extrauterine growth restriction, Healthcare associated infections, exclusive breast milk feeding rates at discharge, Retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser therapy, abnormal neurosonogram and oxygen dependency at 28 days. Neonates between 27 and 32 weeks were randomized into MM/HF when breast milk was insufficient. HF received formula to reach targeted feed volumes. MM received more PN to meet fluid requirements. 54 babies were analyzed in MM and 58 in HF. Time to full feeds were similar-MM (14.1 ± 4 days); HF (13.5 ± 4 days), p = 0.45. Exclusive breast milk feeding rates at discharge were higher in MM when compared to HF (74% vs. 51%). Other secondary outcomes were similar between groups. When mother's milk is unavailable in sufficient quantities, preterm babies may receive hybrid feeds. (Clinical trials registry of India no. REF/2016/02/006622). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study suggests that varying concentration of dissolved oxygen of overlying bottom water influences geochemical fractionation, speciation, and oxidation state of sedimentary Cr in a marine system. The nature of sedimentary organic matter (labile or nonlabile) and Fe speciation also controls the geochemical fractionation and oxidation state of Cr in the sediment from the continental margin across the oxygen minimum zone of the Arabian Sea. Increasing concentration of sedimentary organic matter (under hypoxic conditions) increased association of Cr with sedimentary organic binding phases. The association of Cr with Fe‐Mn‐oxyhydroxide phase gradually decreased with decreasing dissolved oxygen concentration due to the reduction and dissolution of Fe (III). The sedimentary organic matter was found to be the major hosting phase for Cr (VI) in the shelf sediments. The decrease in sedimentary Fe (III) concentration under hypoxic conditions also prevented Cr (VI) reduction. This study suggests that the type of sedimentary organic matter and Fe (III) concentration may influence benthic exchange fluxes of Cr under variable redox conditions in many coastal/margin systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potholes are microhabitats in riverine ecosystems that substantially contribute to the unique regional faunal diversity and community composition. Investigations on the ecological status of potholes in riverine habitats are very scanty. The present work is of utmost importance, particularly as a pioneering study to evaluate the health status of riverine potholes using aquatic insects as potential biological indicators. Samples of water and aquatic insects were collected and analyzed during the pre-monsoon season from February 2022 to May 2022 in the potholes at Athirappilly and the Ezhattumugham regions of the Chalakudy river basin. The present study identified 208 individuals represented by 15 families in the potholes at Athirappilly, whereas 94 individuals belong to 10 families at Ezhattumugham. The computation of water quality parameters and benthic metrics revealed a significant variation between the stations. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the water temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen concentration, and biochemical oxygen demand were influencing the distribution of aquatic insects in the potholes. Families such as Perlidae, Ephemeridae, Baetidae, Stenopsychidae, and Hydropsychidae (sensitive families) reported from the well-oxygenated potholes at Athirappilly, where the water temperature and biochemical oxygen demand were minimum. The significantly high percentage composition of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa and a low family biotic index value indicate good health condition of the potholes at Athirappilly. In contrast, the low percentage composition of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa and high family biotic index values, with the abundance of tolerant families (Micronectidae, Caenidae, and Chironomidae), reflect the impact of organic pollution at Ezhattumugham., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Deep learning models deliver a fast diagnosis during triage prescreening for COVID-19 patients, reducing waiting time for hospital admission during health emergency scenarios. The Ministry of health and family welfare government of India provides guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for triage requirements and emergency response with faster allotment of oxygen beds for COVID-19 patients requiring immediate treatment in Tamil Nadu, India. A combination of pretrained models provides a faster screening rate and finds patients with severe lung infections who need to be attended to and allotted oxygen beds. Deep learning (DL) algorithms need to be accurate in triaging undifferentiated patients entering the emergency care system (ECS). The major goal of this work is to analyze the accuracy of machine learning approaches in their application to triage the acuity of patients arriving in the ECS. The proposed triage model has an accuracy of 93% in classifying COVID/non-COVID patients. The proposed triage DL model effectively reduces the time for the triage procedure and streamlines screening and allocation of beds for patients with high risk.

The article presents a case study that involves an asymptomatic neonate with reduced peripheral oxygen saturations (SpO2), whereby the patient's father has a confirmed rare haemoglobinopathy, haemoglobin Titusville. It reports that Haemoglobin Titusville is a low-oxygen affinity haemoglobinopathy involving a single nucleotide change from G to A at codon 94 of the alpha globin gene.

The article discusses Indian forests have the potential to produce 7896.14 million tones of oxygen, signifying it as an ecosystem service. Trees, forests and biodiversity are important elements from a climate change perspective. However, there is a need to introspect on this publication to avoid any misconceptions and misinterpretations.

CO 2 -air is a potential gasifying-oxidizing medium for two stage mode of underground coal gasification (UCG). The existing literature deficits the UCG studies on the use of CO 2 -air as a gasifying medium especially for high ash Indian coals. Thus, the present study investigated the viability of utilizing the CO 2 -air as a gasifying medium for high ash Indian coals using a laboratory scale borehole gasification set-up in a two-stage gasification mode of operation. A typical Indian coal having 42% ash and a North East Indian coal having 4% ash are used for the borehole gasification experiments. The effect of the process parameters such as the molar ratio of O 2 /air and the molar ratio of CO 2 /oxidizing agent on the product gas composition is evaluated. The results show that the gasification of low ash coal and high ash coal produced product gas with a calorific value as high as 260 kJ/mol and 214 kJ/mol, respectively. CO 2 -air based gasification necessitates the presence of oxygen in the feed gas with O 2 /air ratio of 0.1 and 1 for the low and the high ash coal, respectively. Repeatability experiments show 7% and 14% error in the calorific values of syngas for low and high ash coals, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of this study are (i) to evaluate the feasibility of using an inexpensive air pump to maintain reliable oxygen concentration in a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system and (ii) to evaluate whether an inexpensive air pump can maintain infant 02 sats >90%.Methods: This prospective study, which included 19 babies in pilot phase and 90 during extension phase, was conducted at a neonatal intensive care unit in a resource-poor academic medical center in India. The intervention involved introduction of an air pump in the CPAP delivery system. Outcome measures were oxygen concentration in the air-oxygen blend and oxygen saturation of the study babies.Results: Oxygen concentration at the outlets ranged between 56 and 70% and in the blend between 42 and 51%. Oxygen saturation ranged between 90 and 97%.Conclusion: A simple and inexpensive air pump can work as a safe and effective oxygen blender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a case study of identification of high oxygen affinity hemoglobin (Hb Andrew-Minneapolis) in an Indian family.

Summary: Oxygen is a most essential medical gas. This report shows the observations during the second wave of oxygen management in Karnataka, India, where there was an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases during May-June 2021. The state was allocated 731 metric tons against the actual requirement 1200 (63%). While there were several bottlenecks in the production, filling, transportation, and refilling, there were issues with supply-chain management, which led to the death of 24 patients on life-support in a district. The pandemic showed fragility in existing supply chain management and warrants further streamlining to address future crises., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Public Health.)

Objectives: The study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression and the quality of life among patients with chronic respiratory failure and the changes in anxiety and depression scores after initiating domiciliary oxygen., Design and Setting: Prospective, single-centre cohort study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in India., Participants: Patients of Indian origin with chronic respiratory failure who visited the hospital where domiciliary oxygen is indicated were included in the study. Patients with acute respiratory failure on a mechanical ventilator, haemodynamic instability and already-diagnosed psychiatric conditions were excluded from the study., Interventions: Patients who met the inclusion criteria were assessed at baseline, at 3 and 6 months, for anxiety and depression using the 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Quality of life was evaluated using the WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with chronic respiratory failure having depression and anxiety and assessing the changes in anxiety and depression scores after initiating domiciliary oxygen. The secondary outcome is the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients on domiciliary oxygen., Results: 121 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Of 102 patients who completed the study, 36.2% (n=37) had anxiety and 44.1% (n=45) had depression at baseline. There is a worsening trend in the mean GAD-7 (p=0.003) and PHQ-9 score (p=0.015) in patients over 6 months while on domiciliary oxygen. HRQOL is poor in all the domains at baseline, and there is a progressive worsening during follow-up while on oxygen., Conclusions: The worsening trend in anxiety and depression in patients after initiating domiciliary oxygen may be related to social isolation, restricted mobility, economic issues, addictions and frequency of exacerbations. Screening for psychological problems in these patients at baseline and on follow-ups helps early detection, and prompt intervention could improve the quality of life and survival., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a well-known complication of preterm birth that can result in avoidable blindness and visual impairment, is especially sensitive to the quality of neonatal inpatient care and appropriate, well-monitored oxygen. In 2010, the annual incidence of blindness and visual impairment from ROP was estimated to be 32,200 cases worldwide. The greatest burden is seen in middle-income countries, particularly where coverage of neonatal inpatient care has expanded without due attention to the quality of care provided, and the neonatal nursing skills and training of those providing this care. India accounted for nearly 10% of all estimated worldwide visual impairment following ROP in 2010, with at least 5,000 developing severe disease and 2,900 children surviving with visual impairment related to ROP. Screening all those at risk and providing treatment for those with severe disease will require investment to increase the capacities and competencies of eye-care providers. Scale-up of neonatal services must be coupled with implementation of standards for high quality care, including safe oxygen management, and detection and treatment of ROP. Otherwise the number of children surviving preterm birth with visual impairment secondary to ROP will continue to increase in India and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of COVID-19 infection despite vaccination. Limited data exist on COVID-19 cases among vaccinated HCWs. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of RT PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases in vaccinated HCWs, at a COVID clinic in a medical college hospital. This single-center, prospective cohort study included HCWs who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and tested positive for COVID-19 within 6 months. Data on demographics, symptoms, work category, COVID-19 vaccination interval, and infection severity were collected. Of 2381 vaccinated HCWs, 105 tested positive and were categorized as mild, moderate, or severe cases. Among vaccinated HCWs, 4.41% had post-vaccine COVID-19 infections. All 105 cases received the first dose, and 79 received the second dose. Of the cases, 47.6% were partially vaccinated, and 53.3% were breakthrough cases. The mean age was 30.90±8.69 years, with 63.8% male and 36.2% female cases. Most cases (85.7%) acquired infection in the hospital, and 47.6% had direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Common symptoms included fatigue (85.7%), fever (82.9%), and cough (64.8%). Among cases, 93.3% were mild, 5.7% were moderate, and 0.9% were severe. Hospital admission and supplemental oxygen therapy were required for moderate and severe cases. No mortality was reported. Certain variables were associated with age, preventive measures, workplace type, symptoms, and comorbidities. Breakthrough infections can occur among fully vaccinated HCWs but with reduced severity and mortality. Monitoring and infection control measures remain crucial even in vaccinated individuals. This study provides insights into clinical presentations, oxygen therapy requirements, and outcomes of post-vaccine COVID-19 cases among HCWs. The data will inform strategies for booster doses to prevent COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2023 JOURNAL of MEDICINE and LIFE.)

In the Gulf of Mannar, Noctiluca scintillans blooms have been observed three times in September 2019, September and October 2020, and October 2021. It was determined and measured how the bloom period affects ichthyo-diversity. Noctiluca cell density varied slightly from year to year, ranging from1.8433 × 10 3 cells/L to 1.3824 x 10 6 cells/L. In surface and sea bottom waters, high ammonia levels and low dissolved oxygen levels were noted. During the bloom period a significant increase in chlorophyll concentration was found. The amount of chlorophyll in GOM was extremely high, according to remote sensing photos made using MODIS-Aqua 4 km data. Acute hypoxia caused the death of wild fish near coral reefs and also in fish reared in sea cages. The decay of the bloom resulted in significant ammonia production, a dramatic drop in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, and ultimately stress, shock, and mass mortality of fishes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The article discusses photosynthesis is a biochemical reaction which releases oxygen that sustains life on earth. The recent publication in Current Science 2 mentions that the Indian forests have the potential to produce 7896.14 million tonnes of oxygen, signifying it as an ecosystem service.

There is an increase in the incidence of intraoperative fire in Indian hospitals. It is hypothesized that oxygen (O2) enrichment of air, is primarily responsible for most of the fires, particularly in intensive care units. As the amount of ignition energy needed to initiate fire reduces in the presence of higher O2 concentration, any heat or spark, may be the source of ignition when the air is O2-rich. The split air conditioner is the source of many such fires in the ICU, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and operating room (OR), though several other types of equipment used in hospitals have similar vulnerability. Indian hospitals need to make several changes in the arrangement of equipment and practice of handling O2 gas, as well as create awareness among hospital staff, doctors, and administrators. Recommendations for changes in system practice, which are in conformity with the National Fire Protection Association USA, are likely to be applicable in preventing fires at hospitals in all developing countries of the world with warm climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A study was conducted to understand the intra- and inter-seasonal variability of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in a tropical monsoon estuary (Zuari in Goa, India). We adopted a dual sampling approach with (a) daily or alternate day sampling at a fixed location in the mid-estuarine zone and (b) longitudinal transect sampling from freshwater end to mouth during spring and neap tides of each month for about a year. Multivariate statistical analyses of oxygen and nutrients were carried out to evaluate the hypotheses: (i) biogeochemical processes chiefly regulate their variability and (ii) anthropogenic inputs lead to material accumulation in the estuary. Multivariate statistical analyses helped identify the controlling factors of the oxygen and nutrient variability. Our results significantly revealed (i) physical forcings (freshwater discharge and tidal circulation, these also facilitate sedimentary releases) are more important than biogeochemical processes in determining oxygen and nutrient variability in the water column and (ii) the monsoon driven regular annual flushing makes the system resilient to human interference as the Zuari estuary returns to normalcy by postmonsoon every year. Our study identified the significance of subsurface discharges in transporting mining effluents from the river basin. Results also suggest that extrapolation of controlling factors of biogeochemical variables at a fixed location to the entire estuary is untenable since the relative dominance of forcings vary in time and space in the estuary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

South Asia, particularly the Indo-Gangetic Plains and foothills of the Himalayas, has been found to be a major source of pollutant gases and particles affecting the regional as well as the global climate. Inventories of greenhouse gases for the South Asian region, particularly the sub-Himalayan region, have been inadequate. Hence, measurements of the gases are important from effective characterization of the gases and their climate effects. The diurnal, seasonal, and annual variation of surface level O measured for the first time in northeast India at Dibrugarh (27.4° N, 94.9° E, 111 m amsl), a sub-Himalayan location in the Brahmaputra basin, from November 2009 to May 2013 is presented. The effect of the precursor gases NO and CO measured simultaneously during January 2012-May 2013 and the prevailing meteorology on the growth and decay of O has been studied. The O concentration starts to increase gradually after sunrise attaining a peak level around 1500 hours LT and then decreases from evening till sunrise next day. The highest and lowest monthly maximum concentration of O is observed in March (42.9 ± 10.3 ppb) and July (17.3 ± 7.0 ppb), respectively. The peak in O concentration is preceded by the peaks in NO and CO concentrations which maximize during the period November to March with peak values of 25.2 ± 21.0 ppb and 1.0 ± 0.4 ppm, respectively, in January. Significant nonlinear correlation is observed between O and NO, NO, and CO. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory back-trajectory and concentration weighted trajectory analysis carried out to delineate the possible airmass trajectory and to identify the potential source region of NO and O concentrations show that in post-monsoon and winter, majority of the trajectories are confined locally while in pre-monsoon and monsoon, these are originated at the Indo-Gangetic plains, Bangladesh, and Bay of Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty two surface sediment samples collected from the region off Goa, central west coast of India from water depths of 15-3300 m were analyzed with special emphasis on foraminiferal content. Rectilinear benthic foraminiferal morphogroup shows a high relative abundance within Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ), both shallow marine (50-60 m water depth) and intermediate to deep water (150-1500 m water depth). We gave special emphasis on four rectilinear foraminiferal genera, namely Fursenkoina, Bolivina, Bulimina and Uvigerina to observe their individual distribution among OMZ. We found genus Fursenkoina predominates at the shallow water OMZ, within the water depth zone of 50-60 m. Within 150-1500 m water depth, which is considered as intermediate to deep water OMZ in this region, genus Uvigerina shows its highest abundance above 1000 m water depth, whereas genus Bulimina shows its affinity with deeper water environment (>1000 m water depth). Genus Bolivina does not show any such depth preference, except its higher abundance in only intermediate to deep water OMZ. This depth differentiation among four rectilinear benthic foraminiferal genera presents the basic data for palaeoclimatic study based on the extent and intensity of OMZ along with the palaeobathymetry study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with clinically relevant extra pulmonary manifestations; one of them is weight loss. However, there are very few studies from North India available in relation to body mass index (BMI) and Oxygen saturation (SpO2) with COPD. Aims: To study the prevalence of undernutrition among stable COPD patients and correlation of COPD severity with SpO2 and BMI. Settings and Design: A prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods: COPD patients were diagnosed and staged as per global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) guidelines. SpO2 was measured using pulse oxymeter and BMI categorization was done as per new classification for Asian Indians (2009). Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15.0. Results: Out of 147 COPD patients, 85 (57.8%) were undernourished. The prevalence of undernourished BMI was 25%, 50.8%, 61.7%, and 80% in stage I, II, III and IV respectively; statistically significant (P < 0.050). The mean SpO2 was 95.50 ± 1.41, 95.05 ± 2.42, 94.37 ± 2.28 and 93.05 ± 1.39 in stage I, II, III and IV respectively; statistically significant (F = 4.723; P = 0.004). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of under nutrition among COPD patients was 57.8%. With increasing COPD stage the BMI and median SpO2 value decreased in progressive manner. Association of SpO2 and COPD stages could be explored further in order to suggest an additional marker of disease severity that would add a new dimension in the management of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation accounts for the environmental impact assessment of an intense algal bloom caused by the dinoflagellate Noctilucas scintillans. The bloom was first observed on the 10 th of September 2019, in the vicinity of the Mandapam group of Islands, spreading from Rameswaram Coast in the North (9° 14' 15″ N, 79° 9' 46″ E) to Hare Island in the South (9° 14' 51″ N, 79° 5' 48″ E). The coastal waters in and around the Mandapam region appeared dark green, and the microscopic examination of the water sample revealed the presence of N. scintillans in large numbers. N. scintillans is a bioluminescent organism; it is inflated and sub-spherical in shape, and the size of the organisms ranged from 350 to 1300 microns. During the intense periods of the bloom, the average density of N. scintillans was recorded with 226.5 × 10 3 cells/l, and the dissolved oxygen content was very low and the ammonia content was extremely high in certain sites (avg. 4.3635 µm/l). Intensive bloom may lead to a loss of biodiversity in the affected areas of the region. Subsequent investigations indicated that the resilience of the ecosystem in response to natural adversity., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

A study on biogeochemical cycling in the west coastal Bay of Bengal was undertaken during the peak discharge period to understand the influence of enhanced stratification and primary production on the possible intensification of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Our study reveals that oxygen concentrations were below the detection limits in the northwestern (NW) coastal Bay of Bengal between 100 and 500 m associated with strong stratification and high phytoplankton biomass. Such low oxygen concentrations have never been reported so far from the coastal Bay of Bengal. Despite the existence of an environment conducive to denitrification in the coastal Bay of Bengal, accumulation of neither secondary nitrite nor nitrous oxide (NO) was observed. The absence of denitrification was reported to be caused by faster scavenging of organic matter and low bacterial respiration rates; in contrast, our results suggest that neither of these factors are potential reasons for the absence of denitrification in the coastal Bay of Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on experiments which involved Shri Ramanand Yogi of Andhra, India staying in an air-tight sealed box aimed at determining his metabolic pattern. The researchers calculated his oxygen consumption under basal conditions. The results were compared to studies of two normal persons subjected to similar conditions.

Abstract: Eutrophication has often been one of the major problems encountered in estuaries and coastal waters. The oxic/anoxic status of an estuary can be effectively determined by measurement of the Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD). The present study forms a pioneering attempt to evaluate the SOD of the Cochin Backwater System (CBS), a tropical eutrophic estuary in the south-west coast of India. The CBS exhibited significant spatio-temporal variations in SOD. The mean net SOD during the dry season (2569.73 μmol O2 m−2 h−1) was almost twice that of the wet season (1431.28 μmol O2 m−2 h−1), presumably due to higher discharge during the latter season. The observed pockets of net oxygen release indicate that the CBS still retains certain autotrophic regions in spite of heavy organic drains. The low oxygen flux in light chambers points towards the role of microphytobenthos in maintaining the oxygen reservoir of the estuarine system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) like Force Vital Capacity (FVC), Force Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) and Force Expiratory Flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF25–75%) and Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) level of 50 healthy inhabitants with respect to rice crop residue burning were investigated for three rice cultivation periods from 2007 to 2009. The subjects were residents of five sampling sites selected in Patiala city. Concentration of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM) of size less than 10 and 2.5μm (PM10 and PM2.5) were measured by using High Volume Sampler (HVS) and Cascade Anderson Impactor. Results show that rice crop residue burning increases the pollution level in the ambient air, and PFTs undergo a significant decrease in their respective values. No significant change was seen in SpO2 level during rice crop residue burning. In 2008, an increase of 10μgm−3 in PM2.5, PM10, SPM and NO2 was associated significantly with decrease in FVC in percentages predicted −1.541, −1.002, −1.178, −0.232%, respectively. The decrease in air quality due to open rice crop residue burning has sub acute effect on pulmonary functions of healthy subjects and that SO2 and NO2 have less adverse effects on pulmonary functions than with different size Particulate Matter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]