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An attempt has been made in the present study to assess various physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal analysis of water quality in Banas river, Rajsamand city, India. To maintain a balance in an aquatic ecosystem, the inter-relationship between varieties of factors is essential to maintain the water potability at a high level. It is confirmed that mining has a substantial influence. Present study examined pre- and post-monsoon physico-chemical variables, heavy metal analysis and computed water quality index, eutrophication index, organic pollution index and heavy metal pollution index. The pH, EC, COD, total hardness, zinc, silver and iron were within the acceptable limit, whereas the TDS, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, BOD and lead were found beyond the permissible limit. Therefore, the present study provides the essential information about deteriorating river water quality. Most crucially, a number of external factors like mining, soil erosion, religious activities, daily human needs activities, etc. are responsible for the degradation of water quality of nearby Banas river.

Ptosis, unilateral or bilateral, partial or complete, occurring in cases of cerebral ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, trauma or tumor without involvement of brainstem or oculo-sympathetic mechanism can be termed as cerebral ptosis. Such eyelid dysfunction can occur with hemispheric involvement of either side. It is associated with higher frequency of gaze preference to side of lesion as well as upgaze limitation compared to patients without cerebral ptosis. Here, we present our observations in four such patients with stroke and discuss its evaluation and implications with a brief review of literature.

Puttaparthi is a birthplace of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and is a small town situated in the district of Anantapur, in Andhra Pradesh. Chitravathi River is the main water-body in Puttaparthi. The river remained dry for many years. Only in the recent years, rainfall events fed water to the river. Last year in 2019 a check-dam was also constructed in Puttaparthi due to which the river water has been stagnant. This review paper aims to assess the surface water quality of the Chitravati River in Puttaparthi after the establishment of the check-dam. In this regard, literature reviews were performed and the paragraphs in the literature reviews were arranged as per three major themes, which are: 1. check-dams, 2. water-quality assessment and monitoring, and 3. non-perennial river systems. By examining these three themes through the literature reviews, key inferences were made. For instance, it can be understood that the check-dam in Puttaparthi is an important water-storage structure, which is likely to have both positive and negative impacts upon the nearby region. Secondly, in order to examine water-bodies like the Chitravati River in Puttaparthi, we have to perform water quality assessment and monitoring. To perform water quality assessment and monitoring for the Chitravati River in Puttaparthi; we have to use important tools like the Water Quality Index (WQI), Water Pollution Index (WPI), and Water Poverty Index (WPI). Thirdly, non-perennial river systems such as intermittent rivers, ephemeral rivers and their key features have been stressed upon by several readings. These are river systems where a river ceases to flow for some months or for several yearas. The Chitravati River in Puttaparthi can be appropriately classified as a non-perennial river system and as an intermittent river. Finally, this review paper concludes through a personal reflection, which stresses upon studying the Chitravati River in Puttaparthi and how the literature reviews will help in this regard.

The Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors are aggressive malignant small round blue cell tumors of undifferentiated mesenchymal origin. Skeletal Ewing's sarcoma is a common entity that classically involves the diaphysis of the long bones, pelvis, ribs, and sacrum. Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (EES) is rare, most commonly presenting as a paravertebral mass lesion. Its manifestation as an anterior epidural mass lesion with extension along brachial plexus is an even rarer phenomenon. A 25-year-old male presented with neck stiffness and progressive weakness of the bilateral upper and lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed an anterior epidural mass lesion compressing the cervical cord and extending along the right brachial plexus, suggesting imaging differentials of EES and lymphoma. The patient underwent laminectomy with gross tumor resection, and histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of EES. EES should be kept in the differential diagnosis of anterior epidural mass lesions in young adults, specifically when the lesion shows extension along multiple neural foramina and nerve plexus.

Nanoparticles are being extensively studied these days to grab more knowledge on how they can be used in various fields to increase the yield and hence be beneficial for biotic components of the ecosystem. Chemicals being used in agriculture have caused a lot of damage to the soil and water quality along with the crops, ultimately affecting human health severely. Better alternatives are thus required to achieve higher yields with a better quality of crop plants that enhance human health. A variety of nanoparticles exist in nature, while others have been manufactured accidentally or engineered purposefully. These nanoparticles can play many beneficial roles in crop plants, increasing the yield of crops and the quality of the grains. They can be applied at various stages and for different doses. The effect that they exhibit would be dependent on many factors. Different nanoparticles have diverse effects on different plants. Some nanoparticles may be beneficial to one species of crop plant and may be disadvantageous to the other ones. Therefore, an elaborative study is required for all the types of nanoparticles exhibiting their advantageous and disadvantageous impacts on different species of crop plants for the dose and stage in which they have been applied. This review explains that the different types of nanoparticles are categorized based on their manufacture and the different effects they cause in different plant species. More research knowledge works are yet to be obtained before using nanoparticles in crop plants since the way they affect human health is a serious matter of concern.

Polymeric materials exposed to sunlight radiation and environmental conditions experience severe surface degradation, affecting the material physical and mechanical properties. The interaction of sunlight with material results in photolytic, photooxidative, and thermo oxidative reactions, all of which are considered major degradation processes. In this study, a 3D printed PETG carbon fibre composite was exposed to sunlight for 10, 20 and 30 days, and the resulting degradations of impact and flexural properties were studied and analysed. The experiment revealed that the flexural and impact properties of the specimens deteriorated as the specimen exposure time increased, with the impact properties deteriorating more sharply than the flexural properties. To determine and comprehend the cause of the degradation, irradiated specimens were subjected to a Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test, and the evolved peaks in the FTIR plot of degraded specimens were compared to untreated specimens. Furthermore, the effect of irradiation on the bulk domain of the printed specimens is investigated using scanning electron micrography on fractured specimens. It is observed that irradiation had little effect on the geometrical properties of the bulk zone (mesostructure), and the formation of the mesostructure was largely influenced by infill density and layer thickness. An in-depth scanning electron microscopy study is carried out to investigate the reasons for the influence of mesostructure on fracture initiation to termination in the specimens caused by impact load.

AIM To present the application of volume rendering technique (VRT) of computed tomography (CT) scan in cranio-vertebral junction (CVJ) surgeries. MATERIAL AND METHODS The authors used VRT images of CT scan in patients of congenital CVJ anomalies who were subjected to various surgeries through midline posterior approach. The screw entry points and courses of vertebral arteries were identified in relation to various landmarks on the VRT images, preoperatively and intra-operatively. RESULTS A total of 15 patients of CVJ anomalies, who underwent surgeries through midline posterior approach, formed the study group. The screw entry points and courses of the vertebral arteries could be effectively identified in the surgical fields. CONCLUSION We conclude that VRT images are an inexpensive and user friendly tool to identify the screw insertion points in the surgeries of CVJ anomalies. They also help in identifying the course of the vertebral artery in the surgical field. On the whole, their use makes the surgery in this region, safer.

Ageing behavior is one of the crucial factor for selection of material by designers and engineers, mainly for structural applications. Investigation of the ageing effect on biocomposites would supplement current knowledge and may help in encouraging their uses in real life applications. The current experimental investigation aims to determine the variation in various properties of Bagasse fibers reinforced Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) biocomposites during accelerated thermal ageing. Specimens of biocomposite were fabricated and exposed to temperature cycles of −20 °C and 65 °C (12 h each) for 12 weeks and characterized after every 4 weeks of exposure. Tensile and flexural properties exhibited steady improvement on exposure up to 8 weeks, followed by a reduction after ageing for 12 weeks. It can be concluded from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) that significant change in crystalline and glass transition behavior happens during the exposure period.

Biodiversity protection and maintenance are important for the elimination of poverty and sustainable development. India is a nation rich in biodiversity and supports 18% of the world’s population over just 2.4% of the total land area in the world. It comprises notable sections of four global biodiversity hotspots with high taxa concentrations and some of the highest wild populations of large, widespread mammals. In India, the maintenance of its great biological resources and enhanced human growth and well-being are facing special, challenging challenges. Climate change brings to this problem an overall level. There are many expectations that climate change would have several detrimental effects on wildlife and harmful consequences on human nature. Biodiversity, however, is important both to climate change mitigation and to adaptation by its supportive ecosystem services. Climate change has a major effect on the availability of numerous earthly resources, especially water that supports the life of the earth. Biosphere transitions, habitats and natural resources have harmful consequences for human well-being and life quality. India is predicted to undergo global warming in the twenty-first century. India will also undergo more seasonal temperature fluctuations with more winter warmth than summers. In recent years, the longevity of heatwaves in India has extended with hotter and colder night temperatures and is forecast to continue. It is estimated that the overall temperature rise will be 2.33–4.78 °C with the concentrations doubling. These heatwaves will contribute to increased variability of the summer monsoon vine, which will have significant effects on Indian agriculture. Weather simulations expect a steady increase in concentration and temperature of carbon dioxide (CO2) worldwide. However, these simulations do not forecast changes in local weather patterns very well. Local climate conditions, such as rain, temperatures and the sun and the wind, along with the locally adaptable plant diversity, cropping systems and soil quality, can optimize food production so long as plants can be regulated by plant conditions. The most successful way of promoting swift improvements required for human populations to respond to future climate change is by maintaining biological diversity on all levels, from genes to biomes. India is well placed to face this challenge due to its vast diversity of human and biological processes.

An innumerable group of microorganisms are associated with plants and present in the phyllosphere, rhizosphere, and endosphere. They produce different metabolites—such as amino acids, proteins, polysaccharides, and vitamins—that affect plant growth and help to improve soil fertility and crop production naturally. Furthermore, among all inhabitants of the rhizosphere, cyanobacteria are among the foremost organisms, with potential to contribute to biological nitrogen fixation. They contain a specialized type of cell (a heterocyst), which is considered the actual site of dinitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria. Bryophyte–cyanobacterial associations are significant sources of nitrogen fixation in terrestrial ecosystems such as boreal forests. Therefore, cyanobacterial inoculants are influential biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture. This chapter describes beneficial aspects of nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteria in the rhizosphere and the role of cyanobacteria in increasing soil fertility, which leads to improved crop productivity.

The most complex community biologically is the soil environment, and the organisms present in soil are extremely diverse. They also contribute to a wide range of functions which are essential for sustainable functioning of both managed and natural ecosystems. The land productivity is affected by soil organisms in both direct and indirect ways. The direct effects involve crop yield alterations, whereas indirect effects involve carbon and nitrogen cycle, modification in soil structure, productivity followed by food web interactions. The soil is capable of producing agronomic, economic services along with environmental maintenance. Key indicators of soil health, similar to that of soil quality, are soil structure, soil organic carbon concentration and quality, water retention and intake rate, and soil biodiversity. However, these properties must be maintained and enhanced above threshold level to sustain soil health and productivity.

The biological reduction of nitrogen is catalyzed by nitrogenase enzyme which is irreversibly inhibited by molecular oxygen. Cyanobacteria are nitrogen-fixing organisms that produce oxygen as a by-product of the process of photosynthesis, and which must negotiate the presence of molecular oxygen with an essentially anaerobic enzyme. This chapter draws together an international group of leading cyanobacterial investigators’ experience and excitement to include a state-of-the-art review of the area and addresses problems around cyanobacterial life. On our planet, for quite a long time there have been cyanobacteria. They are mostly widespread, making them ideal model organisms for the study of microbial biogeography as problems of evolution. Aerobic nitrogen fixation is localized in heterocysts and these heterocysts protect nitrogenase from inactivation by atmospheric oxygen. Cyanobacteria contribute greatly to the primary production of oceans and are one of the most important groups that release molecular nitrogen. We confirm that their pigmentation is due to the strength and sometimes even to the color of the light available. Others display remarkable life tolerance under anaerobic conditions; several forms of cyanobacteria thrive at extreme temperatures; other organisms can endure adverse conditions for long periods in salinity and pH, including when growth conditions are not acceptable. Many forms of cyanobacteria are simple to grow in the laboratory, and those in axenic culture have been collected and examined. Cyanobacteria are the most broadly dispersed community of photosynthetic prokaryotes present in virtually every region of the world and play an important role in the nitrogen and carbon cycle of the planet. Research efforts in the past 10 years have revealed a range of O2 sensitivity of nitrogenase in different strains of cyanobacteria and a variety of adaptations for the protection of nitrogenase from damage by both atmospheric and photosynthetic sources of O2. The most complex and apparently most efficient mechanisms for the protection of nitrogenase are incorporated in the heterocysts, the nitrogen-fixing cells of cyanobacteria. Several genetic studies have shown that the controls of heterocyst development and nitrogenase synthesis are closely interrelated and that the expression of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes is regulated by pO2. The incremental transition from decreasing environment to oxidizing atmosphere has become a turning point in the Earth’s evolutionary past which has made possible the conditions for present life types.

Soil is known as one of the most capable microorganism survival habitats. Diverse heterotrophic microbial species in the earth and their complex network of connexions allow the cycling of micro and macronutrients in their soil environment. Demands are addressed by the maintenance of soil fertility for sustainable plant productivity. The diverse interrelationship of various agroecosystem elements, living or not, influence the resources of crops and plants. Soil organic matter is, however, affected by the inputs of plants and also its chemistry uniqueness in each ecosystem’s microbium. Although it is generally recognised that the Soil Microbiome is essential, its complexity remains small. This would improve our ability to increase agricultural productivity by recognising the microbial diversity. Each environment becomes something by the inputs from plants and their chemistry special with the culture of microbials. The function of the microbiome of the soil is very important. We realise that we have still a small grasp of its complexity. Intelligence thus the microbial diversity would increase our agricultural potential performance. The soil is generally recognised as one of the world’s most hostile biological ecosystems. The Antartica’s ice-free regions covering about 0.44% of the overall continental land area, shelter significant and complex macro-organism populations and in particular the microorganisms of the more “hospitable” maritime regions. Nutrient cycling and habitat maintenance in soils is primarily guided by the microbial populations, as is the case with the McMurdo Dry Valleys of South Victoria Land, in the most extreme non-maritime areas. Nitrogen transactions are an important part of the environment maintenance. Bacteria diazotrophic and archaeal taxa add up to the genetic capacity of the elements from the whole n cycle, and nitrification processes like the anammox reaction are included. In the ensuing growth season, N cycling may have a major effect on the soil microbial population in bioavailable nitrogen cycling as well as microbial dynamics during plant dormitory season. The biogeochemical effects on bioavailable N cycles were not well defined, despite frequent observations of seasonal changes in microbial community composition in forestry. Here we investigate the relationship between microbial dynamics in communities and bioavailable N dynamics in a cool temperate Low Forest one-year environment, with an eye to sleeping season. Subsequent peaks in winter and early spring were also correlated with NH4+, NO−3, and dissolved bio-N concentrations. These results suggest that successive growth of litter degraders, ammonifier, nitrifiers, and denitrifies in the dormant season drives the subsequent bioavailable N transformation. After summarizing the recent findings, the novel process N-cycle microbes were characterized. Also, we explored the environmental importance of population dynamics in N cycling microbes, which is critical to our understanding of ecosystem feature stabilisation.

The rhizosphere is a biologically active zone of the soil around plant roots containing soil microbes including bacteria and fungi, where plant–microbe interactions taking place are often beneficial to the plant, the microbes or to neither of them. The developments in molecular biology methods of recent times are focusing on rhizospheric microbial diversity. The rhizosphere is a microenvironment which is very much different from non-rhizosphere soil. The activity of the microbes in the rhizosphere is high and leads to better cycling and availability of nutrients improving the chemical soil quality indicators. With the advances in second generation sequencing and omic technologies, several important mechanisms underlying plant–microbe interactions have been revealed. Metagenomics has revolutionized microbial ecology by facilitating the genomic characterization of microbial communities in various segments of the environment. This has provided a deep insight to the genes that are present in varying environments and constitutes powerful reference material for studying microbial gene expression. Another approach, metatranscriptomics, enables the characterization of community transcription patterns and is a significant advancement in understanding of plant and microbe gene expression. This chapter discusses about how metatranscriptomics could rapidly improve our understanding of plant–microbe interactions in the rhizospheric region.

Study Design: Prospective. Purpose: Over past one and half decade, ready-to-use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible spinal implants have changed the clinical practice and economics of spinal surgery. These are beyond reach of majority of population of developing countries like India due to financial reasons and also availability in remote areas. There is a growing need for a MRI compatible cost-effective spinal implant of proven quality. The authors used bone cement spacers for the said purpose for various level spine surgeries. Overview of Literature: Methylmethacrylate, known as bone cement, was used extensively for spinal surgeries from craniovertebral junction to sacrum for augmentation and replacement of various spinal elements. Its biochemical and biomechanical properties were tested for safe clinical use and was a favored material for spinal surgeons. Materials and Methods: The authors made molds for making bone cement spacers for various spine levels with the help of silicone material. Results: Sixteen patients (12 males, 4 females with an average age of 31 years) of various spine level surgeries were done where bone cement spacers were used. It included patients of basilar invagination (n = 9), dorsal Pott's disease (n = 1), lumbar (n = 2), and lumbo-sacral spondylolisthesis (n = 1). Spacers could be used without any difficulties and postoperative day 1- and 3-months follow-up computed tomography scan of the patients revealed no change in the dimensions of the spacer and fusion at 3 months of operated levels. Conclusion: The authors feel that bone cement spacers may be an effective and low-cost alternative to the existing costly alternatives.

Transesterification of propylene carbonate (PC) and ethanol is a potent non-phosgene route for the synthesis of diethyl carbonate (DEC). In the present study, hydroxyapatite was synthesized and modified using Zn and Mg (Zn/HAP and Mg/HAP). Modified hydroxyapatite was used as catalyst for the synthesis of DEC. The thermal analysis of the catalytic precursor was studied using thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis. The structural analysis, surface morphology, and nature of active sites over the catalyst surface were studied using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy, and CO2 temperature-programmed desorption. Effects of reaction conditions like reaction temperature, reaction time and ethanol/PC molar ratio on DEC yield were also studied. The effects of Mg and Zn on HAP were found to be promotional for the synthesis of DEC using PC and ethanol. Mg/HAP was found to be the best among the three catalysts studied owing to its high basicity. Maximum DEC yield of 52.1 % was obtained in 5 h at 433 K using Mg/HAP catalyst.

This paper is about selecting the best server out of many servers available for a website. In the present scenario, the number of users is increasing day by day on the Internet and the services provided by this website are facing heavy traffic. Services like downloading and uploading fail due to many reasons like geographical location, heavy traffic or server not responding. Sometime even the best server might fail to provide the service. This can be reduced by implementing bully algorithm of the distributed algorithm. This paper provides an idea and extended use of this algorithm in various scenarios. This algorithm deals with a large number of servers that are working and providing the best server (depending upon the priority and working of the server) out of multiple servers, which is similar to electing a leader in an election. This algorithm can be programmed and computed individually on each server. It can save time and even reduce the work load on each server. It can further be implemented in routers, printers and other distributed computing devices. The algorithm can be considered successful and is ready to be implemented on the system.

Propylene carbonate is an important organic carbonate having wide applications. In the present work, thermodynamic analysis of propylene carbonate synthesis routes was performed. Benson group contribution method and Rozicka–Domalski model were used to estimate the heat of formation and the heat capacities of some of the components, respectively. Urea alcoholysis was found to be a favorable method for producing propylene carbonate under mild conditions. This route was further studied experimentally using various MgAl and ZnAl hydrotalcite derived catalysts. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Yield of PC was found to be strongly correlated to the basicity of catalysts. Addition of a third element, Ca or La, was found to reduce the surface area of the catalysts. Fluorinated MgAlO (MgAlO-F) was found to possess greater basicity than MgAlO and greater catalyt...

Diethyl carbonate, an important member in the family of organic carbonates, is a fuel additive like dimethyl carbonate (DMC). It holds an extra edge of having better gasoline/water distribution coefficient than DMC, and also DEC is widely used as an electrolyte in lithium ion batteries. Ethanolysis of ethyl carbamate (EC) is the most economical and greener route for DEC synthesis. Zn–Al–M (M=Ca, La, Mg and Y) have been synthesized using two methods and their activity have been explored DEC systhesis from EC and ethanol. The catalysts were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface area, N2 adsorption–desorption textural analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), atomic-force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Pure metal oxides were observed during the XRD analysis and Al2O3 was found to be in amorphous form. Third metal oxide prepared from impregnation method was found to be present on the surface as well as in impregnated form. CO2-TPD analysis showed close correlation between the basicity and the DEC yield. Zn–Al–Mg, prepared from precipitation method, being most basic, was found to be most effective although the performances of Zn–Al–Ca and Zn–Al–La were good. The effect of precipitants was also studied by synthesizing Zn–Al–Mg using NaOH and liquid NH3 as precipitants. DEC yield of 40.2% and turn over frequency of 1055 mgDEC gcat −1 h−1 was obtained in 5 h at 190 °C using Zn–Al–Mg prepared from precipitation method. Effect of reaction conditions was also studied and equilibrium constant of the reaction was estimated using the Benson group contribution method.

In this study, thermodynamic analysis of various possible synthesis routes of diethyl carbonates (DEC), a benign organic carbonate, was carried out and a comparative analysis was performed. Chemical equilibrium constants at standard conditions were calculated using Gibbs free energy of the system. The Benson group contribution method was used to estimate standard heat of formation and standard entropy change of some raw materials/components like dimethyl carbonate. Variation of heat capacity (Cp) with temperature was estimated for different components from the Rozicka-Domalski model. Variation of chemical equilibrium constants with temperature and pressure was studied for various routes. Synthesis of DEC from ethylene carbonate (EC) was also found to be better considering equilibrium constants at room temperature. The CO2 route was found to be the most unfavourable route for DEC synthesis due to stability of CO2 molecules. Moreover, DEC synthesis through the urea route was found to be best at high temperatures since the equilibrium constants were found to increase exponentially. Experiments were conducted for DEC synthesis using the EC route at two temperatures. Activity coefficients were calculated using the UNIFAC model. Experimentally and theoretically determined chemical equilibrium constant values were found to be similar. PRO/II was also used to minimize Gibbs free energy of the system and estimate the equilibrium constants and the results were comparable with those obtained by the equilibrium constant method and the trend was found to be the same for both the methods.

Diethyl carbonate (DEC) is a linear organic carbonate which has applications as a fuel additive, in production of polycarbonates, and as a solvent in lithium ion batteries. Ethanolysis of urea, as compared to other methods of DEC synthesis, has an edge having requirements of cheap and abundant raw materials. However, only few studies have been reported due to low acidity of ethanol. In the present study, cerium-zinc based oxides in various molar ratios were used for DEC synthesis from ethanol and urea. These catalysts were prepared by auto combustion technique and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 adsorption-desorption, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and NH 3 - and CO 2 -temperature programmed desorption (TPD) methods. No additional phases except pure Ce and Zn oxide were observed in the catalyst from XRD analysis. Effects of pore surface area and surface acidity/basicity were found to be profound in the synthesis of DEC. DEC yield of 28.8% was obtained at 190 °C and 5 h using Ce 0.1 -Zn 0.9 mixed oxide. Effect of operating parameters such as ethanol/urea molar ratio, temperature, time and catalyst concentration were also studied.

Organic carbonates are green compounds with a wide range of applications. They are widely used for the synthesis of important industrial compounds including monomers, polymers, surfactants, plasticizers, and also used as fuel additives. They can be divided into two main classes: cyclic and linear carbonates. Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) are the important linear carbonates. Carbonyl and alkyl groups present in DMC and DEC make them reactive and versatile for synthesizing various other important compounds. Ethylene carbonate (EC), glycerol carbonate (GC) and propylene carbonate (PC) are well-known cyclic organic carbonates. Phosgenation of alcohols was widely used for synthesis of organic carbonates; however, toxicity of raw materials restricted use of phosgenation method. A number of new non-phosgene methods including alcoholysis of urea, carbonylation of alcohols using CO2, oxy-carbonylation of alcohols, and trans-esterfication of alcohols and carbonates have been developed...

Background: A surgical audit of neonates with anorectal malformation in advanced tertiary neonatal care unit. Methods: A retrospective (2004-2013) and prospective (2014-2015) audit of medical records of newborn with GIT disorders admitted in a tertiary care center of central India. The trends analyzed for the duration based on gender, region and birth weight and data base was generated depicting the burden of disease in the region. The data base for the prospective study was also compared with a tertiary center from Nigeria. Results: Total 3309 admission included 73.56% (2438) patients of GIT diseases. Congenital anomalies were the most common cause in each category, major part being anorectal malformation (727) and trachea-esophageal fistula (730). Out of 727 admissions, 651 neonates were operated & total 1194 deaths recorded during this audit year 2004 to July 2015. Majority of new born admitted with were low birth weight male from rural skirts of this region. 509 have associated anomalies and 218 isolated ARM. Conclusions: There is significant increase in admissions in last decade with triple fold increase in GIT disorder and twice rate in anorectal malformation substantially increasing onwards. The quality of management has to continue further to achieve parity with international standards, as there is lack of antenatal screening and details of any antenatal checkup are scarce, for congenital anomalies at primary level. Early recognition, risk stratification of the baby and timely referral to higher pediatric surgery units is the way forward.

Background: A surgical audit of neonatal surgical diseases especially GIT disorders whereby demanding to establish advanced tertiary neonatal care unit. Methods: A retrospective (2004-2013) and prospective (2014-2015) audit of newborn with surgical diseases especially GIT disorders admitted in a tertiary care center of central India. The trends analyzed for the duration on gender, region and birth weight basis. A data base was generated depicting the burden of diseases in the region. The data base for the prospective study was also compared with a tertiary center from Nigeria. Results: Total 3309 admission included 73.56 % (2438) patients of GIT diseases followed by neural tube defects & hydrocephalus (16.8%), urogenital disorders (3%) and surgical infections. Congenital anomalies were the most common cause in each category, major part being anorectal malformation (727) and trachea-esophageal fistula (730) followed by CNS neural tube defect (431). Out of 3309 admissions, 2392 neonates were operated for different indications of their disorders and total 1194 deaths recorded during this audit year 2004 to July 2014 - July 2015. Majority of new born admitted with were low birth weight male from rural skirts of this region. Conclusions: There is significant increase in admissions in last decade with triple fold increase in GIT disorder and substantially increasing onwards. Demands generated through this audit also encouraged the health officials of this region to provide the paediatric division with two more standard working operation theatres (year 2015) with additional ventilator and resuscitation equipment for SNCU. This development has to continue further to achieve parity with international standards, as there is lack of antenatal screening and details of any antenatal check-up are scarce, for congenital anomalies at primary level. Early recognition, risk stratification of the baby and timely referral to higher paediatric surgery units is the way forward.

Diethyl carbonate (DEC) is a well-known linear organic carbonate that has wide applications. Besides its use as a fuel additive, DEC is an excellent electrolyte for lithium ion batteries and is used for the production of polycarbonates, which are globally used engineering plastics. The synthesis of DEC from CO2 helps in CO2 mitigation. It was earlier synthesized by phosgenation of ethanol, which is a toxic and dangerous process. Certain non-phosgene routes have been developed in recent years, which include oxidative carbonylation of ethanol, trans-esterification of carbonate, alcoholysis of urea, ethanolysis of CO2 and the ethyl nitrite route for DEC synthesis. This review underlines various non-phosgene methods for the synthesis of DEC by critically evaluating the catalysts used, operating conditions and mechanism of synthesis. The performances of various catalysts have been compared graphically along with the identification of problems and potential solutions. Certain engineering aspects, including kinetics and thermodynamics of the various routes, have also been highlighted. The shortcomings and research gaps have been explicitly mentioned and discussed along with required future developments and research work for DEC synthesis.

In this paper, a series of CexZr1−xO2 solid solution spheres were synthesized by exo- and endo-templating methods and tested for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis using direct conversion of CO2. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and CO2/NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Formation of CexZr1−xO2 solid solutions with tetragonal and cubic crystal structures depending on cerium/zirconium compositions was confirmed by XRD analysis. The specific surface area of the mixed oxide decreased and the average pore diameter increased with an increase in the ceria content, with the exception of the mixed oxides with x = 0.4–0.5 i.e. Ce0.4Zr0.6O2 and Ce0.5Zr0.5O2. The basic and acidic site density of the synthesized catalysts was in the order: ZrO2 < CeO2 < Ce0.5Zr0.5O2, and the basic and acidic site density per unit area followed the same order. The best Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 catalyst was further used for the optimization of reaction conditions such as reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst dose and reusability for DMC synthesis. Furthermore, study of chemical equilibrium modeling was done using the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera equation of state (PRSV-EoS) along with the van der Waals one-fluid reaction condition so as to calculate change of Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) and heat of reaction (ΔH°).

The coexistence of pituitary adenoma (PA) and meningioma in the same patient is rare, after excluding radiotherapy-induced meningiomas. Most of the literature on their coexistence describes meningiomas located in the close vicinity to PA, that is, in the sellar/parasellar region. We describe a case of a 65-year-old lady with a nonfunctioning PA and an associated frontal convexity meningioma with frontal sinus invasion. The imaging was nonspecific for the meningioma, and its association with concomitant PA has not been reported before.

A 32-year-old man presented with a fairly large intramedullary mass lesion involving D5 to L1 segment of spinal cord. It was hyperintense on both T1Weighted (W) and T2W sequences, with signal suppression on fat-saturation images leading to the diagnosis of dermoid cyst (with extensive intramedullary occupancy of dorsolumbar cord) with multiple tiny fat deposits along proximal cervicodorsal cord. Keywords: Dermoid, Intramedullary, Spinal

Background: Classical Baastrup’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the lumbar spine characterized by the approximation of adjacent spinous processes due to excessive lordosis. This results in edema, sclerosis, cyst, bursitis, and midline epidural fibrosis and is often overlooked as a cause of low back pain. Here, we report a patient with atypical Baastrup’s disease and lumbar spinal stenosis who presented with a cauda equina syndrome. Case Description: A 67-year-old male presented with low back pain of 1 year’s duration. This exacerbated over the past 3 weeks, becoming associated with the left lower limb numbness/weakness and bladder dysfunction. The lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) showed atypical Baastrup’s disease characterized by multiple ill-defined areas of contrast enhancement in the paraspinal region in conjunction with lumbar canal stenosis. The patient underwent lumbar decompression and exhibited improvement in his neurological deficits postoperatively. Conclusion: This case highlights the atypical MR features of lumbar Baastrup’s disease in conjunction with stenosis. Atypical Baastrup’s disease should be differentiated from classical Baastrup’s disease or other infectious pathologies (e.g., Pott’s disease of the spine) and appropriately treated with timely spinal decompression.

Population explosion leads to deterioration and degradation of environment due to industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural practices. Industrial growth, economic development, urbanization, consumerization, etc. took place over last few decades to meet out the demand of growing population. All these activities result into generation of waste in enormous amount which is highly variable in nature. The nature of these wastes are simple organic compound to hazardous toxics materials using GMOs in industrial processing to produce desired products which involve different containment levels. Sustainable development includes the environment, economy, and community. It has become imperative to consider economic prosperity in such an integrated manner that social development is on one hand while environment protection on the other. There are various issues associated which greatly affect the sustainable development. These are regulation, planning, technological advancement assessment, globalization, and problems of developing countries. Environmental aspect of sustainable development and applications of technology must accept the recently implemented ambitious project CDM (Clean Development Mission) by the Government of India, wherein clean technology in general and green chemistry and white biotechnology in particular can make remarkable contribution toward the sustainable development. Wastes must be treated properly before disposing to the environment. Tools and techniques of biotechnology has given new impetus and opened new vistas in pollution control. Biosensors play critical role in detecting the pollutants even at very low concentration to assess the risk level.

Diethyl carbonate (DEC) is a well-known linear organic carbonate that has wide applications. Besides its use as a fuel additive, DEC is an excellent electrolyte for lithium ion batteries and is used for the production of polycarbonates, which are globally used engineering plastics. The synthesis of DEC from CO2 helps in CO2 mitigation. It was earlier synthesized by phosgenation of ethanol, which is a toxic and dangerous process. Certain non-phosgene routes have been developed in recent years, which include oxidative carbonylation of ethanol, trans-esterification of carbonate, alcoholysis of urea, ethanolysis of CO2 and the ethyl nitrite route for DEC synthesis. This review underlines various non-phosgene methods for the synthesis of DEC by critically evaluating the catalysts used, operating conditions and mechanism of synthesis. The performances of various catalysts have been compared graphically along with the identification of problems and potential solutions. Certain engineering aspects, including kinetics and thermodynamics of the various routes, have also been highlighted. The shortcomings and research gaps have been explicitly mentioned and discussed along with required future developments and research work for DEC synthesis.

Excess of nutrients such as P and N causes eutrophication on the shores of lakes and ponds. Simulated soil column study showed that the physico-chemical properties of soil affects the movement of anions such as PO 4 3– and NO 3 1– by the soil pore water thereby affecting the leachability at soil water interface. In the present study, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) was used as a measure contributing in the swelling of the soil micelles. Two water bodies (sites) were selected for the study coded as RJP and BT located in the district Lucknow UP, India. Different textured soils with a fine sand fraction 0.15 mm of BT soil and 2.0 mm of RJP soil were collected from the shorelines of BT and RJP. The values of SAR was found maximum (15.57) in the soil at the site coded as RJP and minimum on the soil at site BT. More P ions were found in the leachates of BT soil and least in the leachates collected from RJP soil column. The retention time was more in the column system of soil RJP, depending on the sodium ions in the soil. The porosity of soil is largely affected by the cations and their hydrates thereby affecting the downward movement of soil pore water and leachability of the ions from soil to the nearby water bodies.