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• The growth of solar energy usage and solar power generated in India is exponential. • Theoretical and experimental research efforts in India on solar ponds are elaborated. • The possible scopes of applications of solar ponds in India are detailed. • Problems faced by the solar pond researchers are discussed. • Future of solar pond research in India is illustrated. Solar pond is generally a shallow artificial pool of water in which considerable temperature can be established within its lower layers by suppression of convective transport. Generally, for prevention of convection, some suitable salt solution is used. In this paper, various aspects of solar pond, in terms of both simulation and experimental research advances, practical applications, economic features, challenges faced and future prospects, particularly with respect to Indian context have been reviewed. In general, the importance and the position of India at global level in terms of solar energy harvesting potential have been discussed. Apart from conventional uses of solar ponds in process heating and salt production, their applications in water distillation and thermoelectric power generation are also highlighted. Besides, stability aspect and its importance are revisited from simulations and experimental observations. Important identified areas requiring future research and development to recognize more technically feasible solar pond-based systems include organic Rankine cycle for electrical power production, crop drying, building cooling and air-conditioning based on absorption systems, thermoelectric cooling, and integration of solar ponds with other renewable energy resources. The present literature is proposed to offer guidelines in policy making aimed at addressing various societal requirements in a sustainable and affordable manner by utilizing available natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results on the characterization and hydrometallurgical studies for the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from micro-granite type hard rock REE deposit of Bhatikheda, Siwana Ring Complex, Rajasthan, India. The total REE (TREE) content of the ore is 0.36%. Heavy REE (HREE) constitutes about 40% of the TREE by weight. Allanite, zircon and gittinsite were identified as the major REE bearing phases. The nature of occurrence of REE phases in the ore is widely varying with the presence of fully liberated grains to those which occur very finely disseminated in lighter gangue minerals. Physical beneficiation using gravity-based separation techniques gave suboptimal performance. Agitation leaching of ground ore with different mineral acids gave good solubilisation of light REE (LREE), about 75%, but the leach recovery of HREE was only 40%. However, sulfation roasting followed by aqueous leaching (SRAL) yielded leach recovery of 85% of total REE under optimised conditions. The lean tenor of TREE in the leachate coupled with its complex solution chemistry necessitated use of ion exchange (IX) process with strong cationic resin in lieu of conventional solvent extraction based separation and purification. The dissolved REE values from the purified liquor were quantitatively precipitated in the form of TREE fluoride using HF as the precipitant. The final product was about 90% pure on dry weight basis. An integrated process scheme for the recovery of TREE values from the Bhatikhera hard rock deposit is designed- [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exploration was conducted in the year 2017-2018 at College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India to evaluate nutritional quality of dehydrated spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) slices as influenced by different pretreatments. Spine gourd is a high value underexploited vegetable which is rich in nutrition, medicinal value and also having potential to cure many diseases and disorders with good cultivation potential. In order to enhance its availability in the offseason along with proper retention of nutritional property dehydration was carried out with different pretreatments as a preservative method. The effect of pretreatments on nutritional attributes was observed in the present study. The treatment T2 which include blanching of spine gourd slices for 3 min. and steeping in 0.2 per cent KMS and 2 per cent salt solution for 10 min. showed significantly best results with respect to protein (1.93%), ash (8.11%), total phenols (831.20 mg GAE/100g) and L*(78.32), a*(0.68), except b* (32.28) values and carbohydrate per cent (p>0.01). The effect of pretreatments showed non-significant results for moisture, water activity, fat, crude fibre and calorific value (kcal/100g). It was concluded form the study that the pretreatment with KMS (0.2 %) and salt (2%) solution along with blanching for 3 min. was considered best with respect to nutritional quality retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justification: The IAP last published the guidelines "Comprehensive Management of Diarrhea" in 2006 and a review in 2016. The WHO in 2002 and the Government of India in 2004 recommended low osmolarity rehydration solution (LORS) as the universal rehydration solution for all ages and all forms of dehydration. However, the use of LORS in India continues to be unacceptably low at 51%, although awareness about ORS has increased from a mere 14% in 2005 to 69% in 2015. Availability of different compositions of ORS and brands in market added to the confusion. Process: The Indian Academy of Pediatrics constituted a panel of experts from the fields of pediatrics, pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition to update on management of dehydration in children with particular reference to LORS and issue a current practice guideline. The committee met twice at CIAP HQ to review all published literature on the aspect. Brief presentations were made, followed by discussions. The draft paper was circulated by email. All relevant inputs and suggestions were incorporated to arrive at a consensus on this practice guideline. Objectives: To summarize latest literature on ORT and empower pediatricians, particularly those practicing in rural areas, on management of dehydration by augmenting LORS use. Recommendations: It was stressed that advantages of LORS far out-weigh its limitations. Increased use of LORS can only be achieved by promoting better awareness among public and health-care providers across all systems of medicine. LORS can also be useful in managing dehydration in non-diarrheal illness. More research is required to modify ORS further to make it safe and effective in neonates, severe acute malnutrition, renal failure, cardiac and other co-morbidities. There is an urgent need to discourage production and marketing all forms of ORS not in conformity with WHO approved LORS, under a slogan "One India, one ORS". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continued use of chemical fertilizers causes severe damage to the natural fertility of soil and soil ecosystem. Crops that are grown on chemical fertilizers are not healthy. Some photosynthesis inhibitors at ultra-high dilution (UHD) enhance photosynthesis and plant growth. The objective of the present study was to see whether the UHD of a photosynthesis inhibitor, paraquat, could promote the growth and yield of potatos in fields. Paraquat was diluted with sterile distilled (SD) water 1:100 and succussed 10 times to prepare the first potency, called paraquat 1cH. This potency was successively diluted and succussed in a similar way in 29 more steps to prepare the 30th potency, paraquat 30 cH. The 30th potency was prepared in 90% ethanol. Paraquat 30 cH was diluted with water 1:1000 and applied on potato plants by a folier spray in a field five times at intervals of 6-14 days. The control plot was sprayed with water only. The treated plant showed significant improvement in growth in terms of shoot length, the number of leaves per plant, the gross leaf area, and chlorophyll content as compared to the control. The potatoes in the treated plot were larger in size and were juicier than those in the control plot. Free water content was higher in the potatoes of the treated plants than they were in the control as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The total potato yield was 20% higher in the treated plot than it was in the control. Paraquat in high doses produces H2O2, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals etc. breaks down chlorophyll and affects photosynthetic electron transport activity. Paraquat 30cH is thought to produce exactly the opposite effect like promotion of electron transport activity and photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten (W) concentrations were measured along with arsenic (As) in groundwaters from the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India. Tungsten concentrations range from 0.8 to ~8 nmol kg (0.15-1.5 μg kg) in the circumneutral pH (average pH ~ 7.3) Murshidabad groundwaters, and attain concentrations as high as 14 nmol kg (2.5 μg kg) in local ponds ( n = 2). Total dissolved As concentrations (As) range from 0.013 to 53.9 μmol kg (<1 to 4,032 μg kg), and As(III) predominates in Murshidabad groundwaters accounting for 70 %, on average, of As in solution. Tungsten concentrations in Murshidabad groundwaters are low compared to alkaline groundwaters (pH > 8) from the Carson Desert in Western Nevada, USA, where W concentrations are reported to reach as high as 4,036 nmol kg (742 μg kg). Although W is positively correlated with As in groundwaters from the Carson Desert, it is not correlated with As or As(III) in Murshidabad groundwaters, but does exhibit a weak relationship with As(V) in these groundwaters. Surface complexation modeling indicates that pH related adsorption/desorption can explain the geochemical behavior of W in Murshidabad groundwaters. However, the model does not predict the high As concentrations observed in Murshidabad groundwaters. The high As and low W concentrations measured in Murshidabad groundwaters indicate that either As and W originate from different sources or are mobilized by different biogeochemical processes within the Murshidabad aquifers. Mobilization of As in Murshidabad groundwaters is presumed to reflect reductive dissolution of Fe(III) oxides/oxyhydroxides and release of sorbed and/or coprecipitated As to the groundwaters. Multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater composition data indicate that W is associated with Mn and Cl, which may point to a Mn oxide/oxyhydroxide, clay mineral, and/or apatite source for W in the Murshidabad sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The degradation of an aqueous solution of dichlorvos, a commonly used pesticide in India, has been systematically investigated using hydrodynamic cavitation reactor. All the experiments have been carried out using a 20ppm solution of commercially available dichlorvos. The effect of important operating parameters such as inlet pressure (over a range 3–6bar), temperature (31°C, 36°C and 39°C) and pH (natural pH=5.7 and acidic pH=3) on the extent of degradation has been investigated initially. It has been observed that an optimum value of pressure gives maximum degradation whereas low temperature and pH of 3 are favorable. Intensification studies have been carried out using different additives such as hydrogen peroxide, carbon tetrachloride, and Fenton’s reagent. Use of hydrogen peroxide and carbon tetrachloride resulted in the enhancement of the extent of degradation at optimized conditions but significant enhancement was obtained with the combined use of hydrodynamic cavitation and Fenton’s chemistry. The maximum extent of degradation as obtained by using a combination of hydrodynamic cavitation and Fenton’s chemistry was 91.5% in 1h of treatment time. The present work has conclusively established that hydrodynamic cavitation in combination with Fenton’s chemistry can be effectively used for the degradation of dichlorvos. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cu (t 12.7 h) is a versatile radionuclide owing to its unique decay scheme and exhibits three types of decay electron capture (41%), β (40%), β (19%) that is useful in nuclear medicine applications. Different batches of natural copper oxide (CuO) and 99.9% enriched CuO targets were irradiated in research reactors at a neutron flux of 6.6 × 10 n cm s for duration of 3 days. Irradiated samples dissolved in hydrochloric acid solution were measured in HPGe-MCA system, the activity of Cu, co-produced radionuclide impurities and radionuclide purity was determined. Average specific activity of 254 GBq Cu per g Cu and ~348 GBq Cu per g Cu was recorded at the end of irradiation from natural and enriched CuO targets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A laboratory scale facility has been set up for fabrication of test fuel pins through sol-gel route for irradiation in FBTR, Kalpakkam. The facility is a train of glove boxes fitted with master slave manipulators for carrying out various operations involved in the fuel fabricat ion process. The paper describes the design features of the equipment and mechanisms for automation, developed for microsphere production and other processes. The design features include control system and vision systems for man- machine interface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biotite is a constituent Fe-bearing mineral of Delta subsoils in India and Bangladesh and has been hypothesized as a primary source of arsenic (As). The adsorption behavior of As onto structural Fe(II, III)-bearing biotite fractions (<50μm) was investigated in the pH range of 4–8 under a CO2-free, anoxic condition (O2 <1ppmv) using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The batch experiments indicate that As adsorption is strongly pH dependent and that As(V) adsorbs more efficiently than As(III). X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) spectra show no oxidation or reduction of As by biotite after reaction with As(III) or As(V) solutions for 3days. Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic results suggest that As(III) forms bidentate mononuclear edge-sharing (2E) and bidentate binuclear corner-sharing (2C) surface complexes at pH 7.7 as indicated by average As–Fe bond distances at 3.00±0.02Å and 3.37±0.03Å respectively. The surface speciation retrieved by XPS does not provide any evidence of reduction of As(V) on biotite after 30days further confirming the thermodynamic prediction and the XANES results. This study has therefore significant environmental implications for As contaminated areas, where biotite retards the release of As into reducing groundwater. The changes in soil redox conditions and weathering of biotite may likely contribute to the occurrence of high As in groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived drug use stigma, acquiescence response bias, and HIV injection risk behaviors among current injection drug users in Chennai, India. Methods: The sample consists of 851 males in Chennai, India who reported having injected drugs in the last month and were recruited through street outreach. Results: Results indicate a strong and consistent positive association between drug use stigma and HIV injection drug use risk behaviors. This association held across the injection behaviors of frequency of sharing needles, cookers, cotton filters, rinse water, pre-filled syringes and common drug solutions, even after controlling for acquiescence response bias, frequency of injection, and HIV/HCV serostatus. Conclusions: These findings suggest that future HIV prevention and harm reduction programs for injection drug users and service providers should address drug use stigma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Details of the research and development work carried out in India using SX for the treatment of the leach/waste solutions and effluents containing base metals are reviewed, focusing on solutions obtained from low-grade or complex ores, secondary resources or industrial wastes. Commercially available organic extractants, such as hydroxyl-oximes, hydroxyl-quinoline, tertiary amines, substituted phosphoric acid and other phosphate based extractants, have been used for the recovery of metals from acidic, alkaline and mixed sulfate–chloride solutions containing copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and associated metals. The applicability of commercially available tailor-made extractants is described for the purification and enrichment of the metal contents of lean and complex solutions in an Indian context. Research efforts for the separation and recovery of valuable metals by SX are also highlighted. Treatment of solutions for producing metals by crystallization or electrowinning is described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lead(II) was removed from aqueous solution by adsorption on a montmorillonite−illite type of clay (MIC) collected from the Gulbarga district of Karnataka, India. The objectives of the current work were (i) to characterize the clay (adsorbent) and (ii) to perform equilibrium, kinetic, mass-transfer, and thermodynamic studies for the adsorption of Pb(II) on the clay. Batch adsorption equilibrium data were determined with different initial Pb(II) concentrations (100, 150, and 200 ppm) at pH 4 and 37 °C, and the data were tested with isotherm models. The three-parameter Freundlich−Langmuir model gave the best fit to the equilibrium data (R2= 0.9979). However, as the initial Pb(II) concentration was increased (150 and 200 ppm), multilayer adsorption was observed. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the clay was determined to be ∼52 mg/g. Kinetic studies indicated that the rate of adsorption of Pb(II) on the clay followed a second-order rate mechanism, with decreasing rate constant values of 0.1097, 0.0571, and 0.0022 g/(mg min) as the initial Pb(II) concentration was increased in the order of 100, 150, and 200 ppm, respectively. The value of the Freundlich constant (n) in the range of 2.5−4.6 indicated that MIC was a good adsorbent of divalent lead. At a higher initial Pb(II) concentration (200 ppm), the adsorption process was determined to be film-diffusion-controlled, with a rate of 0.051 min−1. The mean values of the thermodynamic parametersthe change in the free energy (ΔH°), the change in the entropy (ΔS°), and the change in the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) showed that the adsorption process was endothermic, thermodynamically favorable, and spontaneous. A two-stage adsorber system that has been proposed reduced the clay dose by 8.5%, compared to that of a single-stage adsorption system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leach liquor of uranium concentrates are generated at Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, India. Application of the emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technique was tested for the efficient recovery of uranium from the leach liquor, in the presence of metal ions such as Fe, Ca, Mg, and Mn. The liquid membrane employed consisted of a diluent (light and heavy paraffin), a surfactant (Span 80), and an extractant (Alamine 336), and sodium carbonate was used as the stripping solution. Initially, the ELM process parameters were optimized by using synthetic leach liquor as the feed phase. The role of the acidic feed-phase pH, which enhances the cotransport of H+ions along with uranium inside the emulsion globules, was found to be significant, as it helped in achieving the complete extraction and stripping of uranium. The best optimized parameters were directly used for the separation and concentration of uranium from industrial leach solutions. In one step, in the presence of various metal ions, the selective permeation of uranyl ions through the liquid membrane was observed to be greater than 90%, and the concentration of uranium inside the strip phase was observed to be nearly 7 times higher. Separation factors of uranium with respect to Fe, Mg, Ca, and Mn were experimentally found to be 129, 781, 43, and 1462, respectively, in 12 min. Finally, application of the process in uranium ore processing is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before taking any decision regarding strategies for prevention and remediation of wax deposition problems in the production tubing, pipeline, and process equipment, it is essential to identify the conditions of wax deposition and to predict wax deposition rates. In this article a study on the prediction of wax deposition, different factors affecting the deposition, and the practical applications of laboratory results obtained for characterization of the Indian crude oils have been presented. The waxy crude characterization study was performed on both stock tank crude oil and recombined integrated crude oil. The results of it exemplify the influence of composition, temperature, and pressure on the solid behavior of Indian paraffinic crudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric aerosol (PM10) measurements were made at a regional representative semi-arid urban site, Tirupati, India over one-year period i.e. from October, 2001 to September, 2002. The samples were collected on polyflex filters, and analyzed for the major water-soluble ions – F, Cl, NO3, SO4, Na, NH4, K, Ca and Mg, employing ion chromatograph. The average mass of PM10 is found to be 32.75 μg/m3 with a total water-soluble aerosol load (total anion + total cation) of 13.56 μg/m3. Composition of aerosol showed higher concentration of SO4 followed by Na, Ca and NO3. Very good correlation is observed between crustal ions Ca and Mg ( r=0.82) as well as between crustal and acidic ions; Ca and SO4 ( r=0.75) and NO3 ( r=0.67) and Mg and NO3 ( r=0.78) and SO4 ( r=0.73), suggest that the ionic composition was influenced by local terrestrial sources. The presence of SO4 and NO3 may be due to re-suspension of soil particles (formation by heterogeneous oxidation). Ca, Mg and Na are mainly soil derived ones. Correlation matrix with meteorological factors, as well as seasonal distribution of PM10 and its ionic components present a clear trend of higher concentrations during summer due to greater particle release and lowering atmospheric levels during the rainy season due to washout effect. ANOVA results showed the significant variation of composition from season to season. Paired comparisons (DMRT) revealed the occurrence of significant difference in pairs of mean concentration from season to season except within monsoon i.e. between S-W and N-E monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a speech by Dr. Venkat Sripathi, president of the Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons in August, delivered at the 38th annual conference of the Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, November 2, 2012, in which he discussed what exactly is pediatric surgery, problems incurred during the surgery, and its solutions.