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The globe is in search for an upgraded and compatible alternative of diesel to triumph over pollution and its limited availability issues. Researchers are using biodiesel from various edible and non‐edible oil sources to reduce environmental footprint of diesel. This article compares the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines fueled by edible and non‐edible oil biodiesel. In this work, five biodiesels (methyl esters of microalgae, jatropha, karanja, soybean, and sunflower) are tested and transesterification is used to produce methyl esters to optimize their physiochemical properties. It is observed that all the properties lie in tolerance limits. To examine the compatibility of the proposed methyl esters two performance characteristics, brake thermal efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption are examined. Further, the emission characteristics such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxides are investigated. To validate results the blend characteristics are compared to diesel. The relative analysis revels that the brake thermal efficiency is declined by 8.87% as compared to diesel whereas the brake specific fuel consumption is increased by 4.28%. The carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon levels are decreased by 7.32% and 20.56% whereas nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide levels are increased by 7.47% and 4.80%, respectively. The analysis infers that microalgae biodiesel gives adequately better characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diesel engine performance as well as exhaust emission attributes are influenced by different structures. Impact of compression ratio and microalgae biodiesel blending proportion in petroleum diesel on variable compression ratio diesel engine performance and exhaust emission have been investigated in this study. The five blends of microalgae have been prepared on volumetric basis adopting standard procedure. The engine is fuelled with these five blends respectively to investigate their impact on engine performance and emission attributes. The experimentation has carried out at compression ratio 15.5, 16.5, and 17. For benchmarking comparison, the obtained results have been compared to test results found using petroleum diesel as fuel. Obtained experimental results have uncovered that the engine brake thermal efficiency increases as compression ratio increases for all the microalgae biodiesel blends. The brake specific fuel consumption diminishes with rise of compression ratio for tested fuel blends. The outcomes additionally show brake specific fuel consumption stay higher for blends and increase with rise of biodiesel mixing percent contrasted with unadulterated diesel. At the point when compression ratio has expanded from 15.5 to 17.5, the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides outflow have reduced radically and nitrogen oxides discharge increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly altered granitoids in the western part of Bundelkhand craton around Kanchanpur and Thuni villages in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, India, are significantly associated with copper-molybdenum-tungsten mineralization which is manifested as stringers, blebs, clots and fine specks of chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite and scheelite and as vein-fillings associated with hydrothermal alteration within the ore zone and adjacent host rocks. The cumulative strike length of the zone of mineralization (NW-SE) and associated alteration is around 3.5 km. Various mineral assemblages, viz. Kfeldspar-biotite-chlorite, K-feldspar-sericite-chlorite and quartz-epidote-chlorite-sericite indicate intense hydrothermal alteration in the area. Analytical results have shown anomalous values for Cu (up to 1530 ppm), Mo (up to 4080 ppm) and W (up to 1449 ppm). Field observations and chemical analysis have been further supplemented by ore microscopic, petrographic, geochemical and EPMA studies to identify sulphide phases (of Fe, Cu and Mo) and scheelite. All the field and laboratory studies collectively indicate a probable hydrothermal origin of mineralization in the study area. The present study on Cu, Mo and W mineralization of economic grade in the western Bundelkhand craton has important implications for further metallogenic studies and mineral exploration in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetics and mechanism of the alkaline hydrolysis of two dihydroxamic acids, oxalo and malonodihydroxamic acids, have been studied in 25% (v/v) DMSO at 75°C. The solvent, salt, temperature, and solvent isotopic effects have been examined. Correlation of reaction rate with the acidity function (H–) and these effects indicate a pathway involving the rate-limiting formation of a tetrahedral intermediate that decomposes to give products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In portal hypertension, gastric varix-associated bleeding is known to have higher transfusion requirements, uncontrolled bleeding, rebleeding, intensive care unit requirements, and death. EUS-guided coil insertion is now an acceptable modality for endoscopic management in cases of gastric varices. With this study, we discuss our large single-center experience in the use of EUS for coil and glue injection in gastric varices. We also look into adverse events associated with and possibilities of using this modality as both primary prophylaxis and a rescue therapy., Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care center in India. A total of 86 patients were included in the study. The indication for EUS-guided coil and glue was divided into 3 clinical situations, namely, rebleed, rescue, and primary. The technical success and clinical success, that is, control of bleed in patients, were confirmed by absence of Doppler signal on EUS, endoscopic view, and stabilized hemoglobin with no need of blood product transfusion to maintain hemoglobin., Results: The mean Child-Turcotte-Pugh score and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Na score were 9.2 and 14.6, respectively. The mean size of the gastric varices was 18.9 mm. The mean number of coils used was 2.9, and the average quantity of glue required was 1.6 mL. The technical success was 100% across the patient group. Clinical success was seen in 90% of the patient group. Mean follow-up was seen for 175.2 days., Conclusions: EUS-guided coil and glue therapy has a role in different clinical settings, as primary therapy, rebleed, and rescue therapy. It has significant technical and clinical success. Its role in treatment algorithms needs to be further studied in prospective studies. It may offer a cost advantage in comparison to interventional radiology-led interventions., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc on behalf of Scholar Media Publishing.)

Background, Aim, and Scope: Primitive wax refining techniques had resulted in almost 50,000 tonnes of acidic oily sludge (pH 1-3) being accumulated inside the Digboi refinery premises in Assam state, northeast India. A novel yeast species Candida digboiensis TERI ASN6 was obtained that could degrade the acidic petroleum hydrocarbons at pH 3 under laboratory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degradation potential of this strain under laboratory and field conditions., Materials and Methods: The ability of TERI ASN6 to degrade the hydrocarbons found in the acidic oily sludge was established by gravimetry and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Following this, a feasibility study was done, on site, to study various treatments for the remediation of the acidic sludge. Among the treatments, the application of C. digboiensis TERI ASN6 with nutrients showed the highest degradation of the acidic oily sludge. This treatment was then selected for the full-scale bioremediation study conducted on site, inside the refinery premises., Results: The novel yeast strain TERI ASN6 could degrade 40 mg of eicosane in 50 ml of minimal salts medium in 10 days and 72% of heneicosane in 192 h at pH 3. The degradation of alkanes yielded monocarboxylic acid intermediates while the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pyrene found in the acidic oily sludge yielded the oxygenated intermediate pyrenol. In the feasibility study, the application of TERI ASN6 with nutrients showed a reduction of solvent extractable total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) from 160 to 28.81 g kg(-1) soil as compared to a TPH reduction from 183.85 to 151.10 g kg(-1) soil in the untreated control in 135 days. The full-scale bioremediation study in a 3,280-m(2) area in the refinery showed a reduction of TPH from 184.06 to 7.96 g kg(-1) soil in 175 days., Discussion: Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by microbes is a well-known phenomenon, but most microbes are unable to withstand the low pH conditions found in Digboi refinery. The strain C. digboiensis could efficiently degrade the acidic oily sludge on site because of its robust nature, probably acquired by prolonged exposure to the contaminants., Conclusions: This study establishes the potential of novel yeast strain to bioremediate hydrocarbons at low pH under field conditions., Recommendations and Perspectives: Acidic oily sludge is a potential environmental hazard. The components of the oily sludge are toxic and carcinogenic, and the acidity of the sludge further increases this problem. These results establish that the novel yeast strain C. digboiensis was able to degrade hydrocarbons at low pH and can therefore be used for bioremediating soils that have been contaminated by acidic hydrocarbon wastes generated by other methods as well.

Acid, alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural crop wastes were compared for yields of total reducing sugars with the hydrolysates being evaluated for ethanol production using a mixed culture of Zymomonas mobilis and Candida tropicalis. Acid hydrolysis of fruit and vegetable residues gave 49-84 g reducing sugars l(-1) and 29-32 g ethanol l(-1) was then obtained. Alkaline hydrolysis did not give significant amount of reducing sugars. Enzymatic hydrolysis of fruit and vegetable residues yielded 36-123 g reducing sugars l(-1) and 11-54 g ethanol l(-1).

Objectives: The present study was done to assess knowledge about osteoporosis in learned Indian women, identify their source of knowledge and to study the correlation of level of knowledge with other variables., Methods: A total of 73 female staff members (average age 44.7 years) of a teaching institute completed the Osteoporosis Questionnaire (OPQ). The mean +/- SD of total score for the sample was 4.1 +/- 4.1 (range -8 to 15; maximum possible score 20)., Results: The correct definition of osteoporosis was given by 74%, but there was general lack of awareness in all the areas assessed. There was statistically significant difference in the total score depending on the faculty of education, with staff members from the science faculty having the maximum mean score (p < 0.05). We found no influence of age, menopausal status, previous history of fracture and family history of osteoporosis on the level of knowledge. Media (74%) was the commonest source of knowledge followed by friends (49%) and doctors (25%)., Conclusions: This study highlights the general lack of knowledge about osteoporosis in learned Indian women and also the need for increased involvement of medical professionals in patient education.