Energy based techno-economic and environmental feasibility study on PV/T and PV/T heat pump system with phase change material-a numerical comparative study.

A sustainable, affordable, and eco-friendly solution has been proposed to address water heating, electricity generation, space cooling, and photovoltaic (PV) cooling requirements in scorching climates. The photovoltaic thermal system (PV/T) and the direct expansion PV/T heat pump (PV/T DXHP) were numerically studied using MATLAB. A butterfly serpentine flow collector (BSFC) and phase change material (PCM) were assimilated in the PV system and MATLAB model was developed to evaluate the economic and enviroeconomic performance of the PV/T water system (PV/T-W), PV/T PCM water system (PV/T PCM-W), the PV/T DXHP system, and the PV/T PCM heat pump system (PV/T-PCM-DXHP). In this study, annual energy production, socioeconomic factors, enviro-economic indicators, and environmental characteristics are assessed and compared. Also, an economic, environmental, and enviro-economic analysis was conducted to assess the commercial viability of the suggested system. The PV/T PCM-DXHP demonstrated the highest electrical performance of 53.69%, which is comparatively higher than the other three configurations. The discounted levelized cost of energy (DLCOE) and payback period (DPP) of the PV/T PCM-DXHP were ₹2.87 per kW-h and 3-4 years, respectively, resulting in a total savings of ₹67,7403 over its lifetime. Furthermore, installing this system mitigated 280.72 tonnes of CO2 emissions and saved the mitigation cost by ₹329,700 throughout its operational lifecycle.

Feasibility assessment of a stepped solar still integrated with hexagram fin: an experimental and numerical approach toward sustainability.

Effective utilization and conservation of freshwater is a global concern due to the rapid population growth and industrial usage. To address this challenge, various approaches have been developed and implemented to convert brackish water into freshwater and meet the global water demand. This study introduces hexagram-shaped aluminum fins attached to a powder-coated basin to improve the freshwater production rate of stepped solar still. The experiment involved testing the modified stepped solar still (MSSS) equipped with hexagram fins and the conventional stepped solar still (CSSS) without hexagram fins during summer days at the Sathyamangalam location (11.49° N, 77.27° E). A mathematical model was used to analyze the performance of the solar stills, and the simulation results were validated by comparing CSSS and MSSS in terms of their freshwater production. The results indicate that the productivity of CSSS increased by 40% using hexagram fins, and the MSSS with hexagram fins produced a maximum of 4.45 l/m2 of fresh water daily. The annual performance of MSSS and CSSS in the experimental location reveals a 12.6% reduction in the payback period of the solar still due to the presence of fins. The study recommends using fins in solar stills in hot climates for efficient and cost-effective water desalination applications to achieve sustainable development objectives while reducing carbon emissions.

Geochemical provenance of an Indo-Arabian stone anchor from Manikapatna highlights the medieval maritime trade of India.

India is one of the oldest maritime nations in the world, and the overseas contacts date back to the third millennium BCE. Besides several archaeological vestiges, numerous stone anchors of various types have been documented during maritime archaeological explorations along the Indian littoral. During a recent maritime archaeological exploration, a broken Indo-Arabian stone anchor, of the Medieval period, was discovered along the Manikapatna coast of Odisha, Indian eastern littoral. In an attempt to determine the provenance of the anchor, we carried out a detailed petrographic, geochemical (major/trace elements) and Sr-Nd isotopic investigation. The results of our study reveal that the stone of the anchor had been cut out of a geologically young, vesicular, subalkalic basalt lava flow. Source fingerprinting done using petrographic, geochemical and isotopic data, suggests that contrary to the general perception, the anchor rock did not come from any local rock formations. All data point to the most likely scenario that the anchor rock was sourced from one of the lava flows of the Deccan Traps at Palitana in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, western India. This result confirms the existence of Medieval maritime trading between western and eastern Indian states.

Post depositional changes of sedimentary organic matter influence chromium speciation in continental slope sediments - A case study.

Influences of post depositional changes of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) on chromium (Cr) speciation in continental slope sediments from the east and west coast of India are presented in this study. Average concentrations of total sedimentary Cr (CrT) in the slope areas of both the coasts were not elevated and ranged from 56.8 to 163 mg·kg-1 (avg. 97.3 ± 28.3 mg·kg-1). The geology of adjacent land masses influenced sedimentary Cr concentration in the slope areas. Geochemical fractionation study showed that a major fraction (51.6-159 mg·kg-1; avg. 89.6 ± 24.3 mg·kg-1) of the total sedimentary Cr was present in residual part of the sediments. Prime hosting phase for non-residual sedimentary Cr was oxidizable binding phase (SOM) (1.4-23.9 mg·kg-1; avg. 6.7 ± 6.3 mg·kg-1) followed by reducing binding phase (Fe/Mn-oxyhydroxide phase) (0.1-1.7 mg·kg-1; avg. 0.7 ± 0.3 mg·kg-1). Concentration of Cr (VI) in the slope sediments, varied from 0.2 to 8.3 mg·kg-1 (avg. 1.2 ± 1.0 mg·kg-1), was also predominantly associated with the SOM. The δ13Corg values of the SOM (ranged from -19.4 to -21.4‰; avg. -20.3 ± 0.5‰) suggests that they were derived from marine sources. Based on molar C/N ratio (ranged from 6.3-12.9; avg. 9.0 ± 2.0), the SOM were classified as labile organic matter. Increasing molar C/N ratio in the studied sediments was used as a proxy to reflect post depositional changes of the SOM. Association of normalized Cr (VI) (with respect to CrT) increased with increasing SOM concentration by 0.008 mg·kg-1. One unit increase of sedimentary molar C/N ratio was found to increase normalized Cr (VI) (w.r.t. CrT) by 0.003 mg·kg-1 in the sediments. This study suggests that post-depositional changes of SOM may increase Cr binding capacity and control its speciation and mobility in marine sediment system.

Operationally defined mercury (Hg) species can delineate Hg bioaccumulation in mangrove sediment systems: A case study.

This study investigated the linkage between mercury (Hg) speciation in the surficial sediments from a mangrove ecosystem of the Zuari Estuary, west coast of India, with Hg bioaccumulation in gastropods collected from the same area. Multiple operationally defined protocols and methods were used for determination of Hg speciation study in the mangrove sediments. Moderately low concentrations of Hg were observed in the sediments, ranging from 37.3 ±â€¯1.9 to 79.6 ±â€¯4.0 µg/kg. Geochemical fractionation showed that a significant part of sedimentary Hg was present within the structure of the sediment (residual fraction) and not bioavailable. Non-residual Hg was primarily associated with oxidizable (sedimentary organic matter (SOM) or sulfide) binding phase of the sediments, and ranged from 9.2 ±â€¯0.3 to 78.5 ±â€¯3.9 µg/kg. Concentration of methylmercury (MeHg) (a neurotoxin) in the sediments varied from 1.7 ±â€¯0.1 to 4.4 ±â€¯0.1 µg/kg. l-Cysteine, a suitable complexing ligand, extractable Hg concentration in the sediments ranged from 4.3 ±â€¯0.1 to 15.9 ±â€¯0.3 µg/kg. Statistical analysis suggested that MeHg was adsorbed on Fe/Mn oxyhydroxide phases in the sediments. l-Cysteine was found to extract sedimentary MeHg and thermodynamically less stable Hg-SOM complexes from the sediments. Concentrations of bioaccumulated Hg in soft tissues of the gastropod, Pirenella cingulata, ranged from 57.6 ±â€¯4.4 to 224.4 ±â€¯7.2 µg/kg. Positive correlations existed between the concentration of bioaccumulated Hg in the gastropods and the concentrations of Hg associated with the oxidizable phase, sedimentary MeHg and l-Cysteine extracted Hg in the sediments. This study indicated that operationally defined Hg species can be useful in estimating bioavailable Hg to obligatory deposit feeder in tropical mangrove systems.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals higher expression of stress and defense responsive genes in dwarf soybeans obtained from the crossing of G. max and G. soja.

BACKGROUND: Plant height is an important component of plant architecture and significantly affects crop breeding practices and yield. Dwarfism in plants prevents lodging and therefore it's a desired trait in crops. OBJECTIVE: To find differentially expressed genes to classify and understand the regulation of genes related to plant growth in mutant dwarf soybeans, which appeared in the F5 generation. METHODS: We obtained a few segregated dwarf soybeans in the populations derived from the crossing of Glycine max var. Peking and Glycine soja var. IT182936 in an F5 RIL population. These dwarf soybeans may be useful genetic resources for plant breeders, geneticists and biologists. Using the Illumina high-throughput platform, transcriptomes were generated and compared among normal and dwarf soybeans in triplicate. CONCLUSION: We found complex relationship of the expressed genes to plant growth. There were highly significantly up-/downregulated genes according to the comparison of gene expression in normal and dwarf soybeans. The genes related to disease and stress responses were found to be upregulated in dwarf soybeans. Such over-expression of disease resistance and other immune response genes can be targeted to understand how the immune genes regulate the response of plant growth. In addition, photosynthesis-related genes showed very low expression in dwarf lines. The transcriptome expression and genes classified as related to plant growth may be useful resources to researchers studying plant growth.

46 XX, SRY Negative Ovotesticular DSD.

46 XX ovotesticular DSD is a rare disorder. It presents with cryptorchidism, hypospadias or ambiguous genitalia at birth, gynaecomastia in adolescent stage or infertility in adult age. We report here a 20 year old phenotypically male who presented with gynaecomastia and found to have testis on right side and left inguinoscrotal swelling consisting of ovary, uterus and fallopian tubes. Evaluation revealed SRY negative 46 XX karyotype. He underwent surgical removal of ovary and mullerian structures. The highlight of case is development of testicular tissue in absence of SRY gene.

Evaluation of Jordan's meatoplasty for the treatment of fossa navicularis strictures. A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Fossa navicular strictures can be a challenging problem for reconstructive urologists in which there is a need to achieve good cosmetic results along with a consistent stream. Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome of Jordan meatoplasty in the management of fossa navicularis strictures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients who underwent Jordan meatoplasty for the management of fossa navicularis strictures between 2011 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated with uroflometry. Preoperative retrograde urethrogram was performed in all patients to exclude proximal urethral strictures. The operative details including operative time were analyzed. All patients were evaluated for urinary pattern changes, irritative voiding symptoms and with uroflometry at the end of three months. Hypospadias objective score evaluation (HOSE) was applied at the end of three months for the evaluation of cosmetic outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64 years and the mean operative time was 42 minutes. The mean follow up period was 30 months. The mean post-operative peak urine flow rate at three months after removal of the catheter was 18 ml per second. The meatus was slit shaped in 84%. Only 12% of patients complained of splay of urine at the end of three months. 96% of patients were stricture free, with one patient developing a recurrence at 12 months of follow up which was managed by urethral dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Jordan meatoplasty is a feasible and easily reproducible technique for the management of distal penile strictures.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of kidney masquerading as renal carcinoma.

Inflammatory pseudotumor also known as inflammatory fibroblastic tumor is a rare benign tumor, which commonly affects the lung. It is very rarely seen in the genitourinary tract. As the preoperative diagnosis, clinically and radiologically is inconclusive, it is imperative to surgically remove and confirm it on histopathologic examination. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor in a 51-year-old male who presented with flank pain and was treated with nephrectomy.

Fetus in bladder.

This is the first reported case of vesicouterine fistula presenting with a fully formed dead fetus in the urinary bladder.

The ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid and Ginkgo biloba on learning and memory deficits associated with fluoride exposure.

Chronic exposure to fluoride causes dental and skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride exposure is also detrimental to soft tissues and organs. The present study aimed at evaluation of the effect of Ginkgo biloba and ascorbic acid on learning and memory deficits caused by fluoride exposure. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=6). Group 1 control. Groups 2 to 5 received 100 ppm of sodium fluoride over 30 days. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were further treated for 15 days receiving respectively 1% gum acacia solution, 100 mg/kg body weight ascorbic acid, and 100mg/kg body weight Ginkgo biloba extract. After 45 days, all animals were subjected to behavioural tests. The results showed that fluoride affected learning and memory. Fluoride causes oxidative stress and neurodegeneration, thereby affecting learning and memory. Ascorbic acid and Ginkgo biloba were found to augment the reversal of learning and memory deficits caused by fluoride ingestion.