Effective removal of nitrate and phosphate using graphene nanosheets synthesized from waste plastics.

In this work, waste plastics have been used with bentonite clay to produce silica-containing graphene nanosheets (GNs) for adsorption of nitrate and phosphate from synthetic water. The GNs were obtained by the two steps process, namely (1) pyrolysis at 750 °C and (2) ball milling. Then, GNs were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM and EDX spectroscopy, which provided the details of material's morphology, surface properties, and composition. From Raman spectroscopy, D and G bands were found at 1342 cm-1 and 1594 cm-1, respectively, which confirmed the presence of nanosheets on the graphene surface. Furthermore, the layers of nanosheets were confirmed by the HRTEM analysis and XRD peaks. In analytical study, the batch experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of operational parameters such as pH (03-12), contact time (05-120 min), adsorbent dosage (0.01-0.06 g), and initial concentrations of adsorbates (10-50 mg/L for nitrate and 03-15 mg/L for phosphate) on adsorption process. The removal percentage of nitrate and phosphate at optimum dosage = 0.05 g, pH = 6.5, contact time = 60 min, nitrate concentration = 30 mg/L, and phosphate concentration = 09 mg/L were found to be 85 and 91, respectively. The highest adsorption capacity of nitrate and phosphate was found to be 53 mg/g and 16.4 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviour of both nitrate and phosphate showed chemisorption as the experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-2nd-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of the synthesis process was conducted to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis for commercial feasibility. The estimated price for the synthesis of GNs using 1 kg of waste plastics and bentonite clay as precursor was $4.21, suggesting commercialization.

Soil-mustard revitalization via rice husk ash, a promising soil amendment material for sustainable management of heavy metal contamination in tropical ecosystem.

Prolonged wastewater irrigation in agriculture has led to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil, endangering both the soil quality and food safety, thereby posing a potential threat to human health through the consumption of contaminated crops. The present study aimed to enhance the yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Varuna and NRCHB 101) plants and stabilize heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in wastewater-irrigated soil using rice husk ash (RHA), rice mill by-product, collected from Chandauli region of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Results demonstrated significant improvements in growth, biomass, physiology, and yield of mustard plant with increasing RHA application in wastewater irrigated soil (p ≤ 0.05). Heavy metal accumulation in different parts of mustard plants decreased as RHA application rate increased. Applying RHA at 2% in soil proved to be most effective in reducing Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn accumulation in seeds by 29%, 29.6%, 23.1%, 21.3% and 20.1%, respectively in Varuna and 30.1%, 21.4%, 11.1%, 12.1%, and 28.5%, respectively in NRCHB 101cultivars. The present findings showed that RHA amendment in wastewater irrigated soil had reduced bioaccumulation of Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn and consequently their toxicity in cultivated mustard plants. A novel application of RHA is unveiled in this research, offering a promising solution to promote sustainable agriculture and to reduce heavy metal associated health risks within the soil-mustard system.

Screening of mustard cultivars for phytoremediation of heavy metals contamination in wastewater irrigated soil systems.

The mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plant is a well-known and widely accepted hyper-accumulator of heavy metals. The genetic makeup of mustard's cultivars may significantly impact their phytoremediation capabilities. The present study aimed to investigate the growth performance, yield attributes, and heavy metal accumulation potential of B. juncea cv. Varuna, NRCHB 101, RH 749, Giriraj, and Kranti, cultivated in soil irrigated with wastewater (EPS) and bore-well water (MPS). EPS contributed more Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni to tested mustard cultivars than the MPS. EPS reduced morphological, biochemical, physiological, and yield attributes of tested mustard cultivars significantly (p < 0.05) than the MPS. Among the tested cultivars of mustard plants, Varuna had the highest heavy metal load with the lowest harvest index (35.8 and 0.21, respectively). Whereas NRCHB 101 showed the lowest heavy metal load with the highest harvest index (26.9 and 0.43, respectively). The present study suggests that B. juncea cv. Varuna and NRCHB 101 could be used for the phytoextraction of heavy metals and reducing their contamination in food chain, respectively in wastewater irrigated areas of peri-urban India. The outcomes of the present study can also be utilized to develop a management strategy for sustainable agriculture in heavy metal polluted areas resulting from long-term wastewater irrigation.

Traumatic bilateral neck of femur fracture in paediatric age: A case report and review of literature.

Bilateral femoral neck fractures are rare, and only a few cases have been reported following major trauma in children. An 8-year-old male patient presented with pain both hips and inability to bear weight on his lower limbs, four days after he fell through a roof while playing. The anteroposterior pelvic radiograph showed a displaced transcervical fracture of the right femoral neck and an undisplaced transcervical fracture of the left femoral neck. Operative fixation of both hips with cannulated cancellous screws done on the 5th day of injury led to a successful outcome. This case is presented due to its rarity and successful outcome despite a late presentation.

On estimation of P(Y < X) for inverse Pareto distribution based on progressively first failure censored data.

The stress-strength reliability (SSR) model ϕ = P(Y < X) is used in numerous disciplines like reliability engineering, quality control, medical studies, and many more to assess the strength and stresses of the systems. Here, we assume X and Y both are independent random variables of progressively first failure censored (PFFC) data following inverse Pareto distribution (IPD) as stress and strength, respectively. This article deals with the estimation of SSR from both classical and Bayesian paradigms. In the case of a classical point of view, the SSR is computed using two estimation methods: maximum product spacing (MPS) and maximum likelihood (ML) estimators. Also, derived interval estimates of SSR based on ML estimate. The Bayes estimate of SSR is computed using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approximation procedure with a squared error loss function (SELF) based on gamma informative priors for the Bayesian paradigm. To demonstrate the relevance of the different estimates and the censoring schemes, an extensive simulation study and two pairs of real-data applications are discussed.

Carpet industry irrigational sources risk assessment: Heavy metal contaminated vegetables and cereal crops in northern India.

Wastewater is often discharged to natural water bodies through an open channel as well as used by marginal farmers to irrigate the agricultural fields, particularly in sub-urban areas of developing countries. In the present study, the samples of irrigation water, soil, vegetables (i.e., palak; Beta vulgaris L. var All green H1, radish; Raphanus sativus L., garlic; Allium sativum L., cabbage; Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata, brinjal; Solanum melongena L.) and crops (i.e., paddy; Oryza sativa L. and wheat; Triticum aestivum L.) were collected from the agricultural areas receiving untreated wastewater from a carpet industrial and residential areas since a decade. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the filtrates of water, soil, and crops were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer AAnalyst 800, USA). Daily intake, hazardous quotient and heavy metal pollution index were computed to assess the health risk associated with consumption of heavy metal contaminated crops. The mean concentrations of Cd and Zn in B. vulgaris (5.35 µg g-1 dw and 58.41 µg g-1 dw, respectively) and Cr, Cu, and Ni in grains of T. aestivum (16.02 µg g-1 dw, 27.97 µg g-1 dw and 40.74 µg g-1 dw, respectively) were found highest and had exceeded the Indian safety limit. Daily intake of Cu, Ni, and Cr via consumption of tested cereal crops was found higher than the vegetables. The health quotient revealed that health of local residents is more linked to vegetables than cereal crops. The present findings may be helpful to the policymakers and regulatory authorities to modify the existing policy of wastewater uses in the agriculture and disposal to the natural water bodies. The regular monitoring of heavy metals in the wastewater should also be ensured by the regulatory authorities for their safe disposal to natural water bodies/agriculture in order to reduce the human health risk associated with the degree of heavy metal contaminated suburban food systems.

Outcomes of operative management in the delayed presenting neck of femur fractures in children: A case series.

Introduction: Fracture neck of femur in pediatric age group occurs due to high energy trauma and is an uncommon entity with high complication rate. No uniform guidelines are present to manage these fractures, especially in delayed presentation of fracture neck of femur as a smaller number of such cases were reported. Cases: Eight children (nine hips), five boys and three girls of age <15 years, were operated on. The mean delay in surgery time was 8.6 days (range: 5-22 days). The mean union time was 13.44 weeks. The mean follow-up was 20.88 months (range: 12-36 months). All the cases were managed with closed or open reduction followed by internal fixation with or without hip spica application and resulted in satisfactory outcomes in most of the cases. Conclusion: Anatomical reduction (open or closed) and fixation reduce the risk of complications even in delayed presentation if the orthopedic surgeon is familiar with the management.

A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Limb Salvage Surgery Using Mega Prosthesis in Bone Tumours at a Tertiary Care Centre in Eastern India.

Background The method known as "limb salvage surgery" (LSS) aids in the removal of extremity tumours, and reconstruction is completed with satisfactory oncologic, functional, and cosmetic outcomes. Oncologic clearance is given first priority, followed by functional outcomes. Worldwide, the trend has already shifted away from amputations and toward limb salvage surgery for eligible patients due to efficient chemotherapy regimens, improved imaging techniques, precise administration of enhanced radiation, better reconstructive choices, and developments in bio-engineering. The purpose of the present study was to determine the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical techniques, functional outcome, and prognostic factors of limb salvage surgery performed using mega prosthesis in primary malignant or benign resectable tumours. Methods Our retrospective cohort study was carried out over a period of two years and included 28 patients who received care for bone tumours. The data gathered comprised the demographic profile, clinical characteristics, histological characteristics, treatments given, functional results, and survival. LSS was performed on all patients by orthopaedics oncologists trained in the surgical oncology department. Following surgery, during the first two years, patients were examined at every three-month interval, then every six months until the fifth year, and then once a year after that. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to determine the median follow-up and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results In our study, the mean age of study subjects was 30.0±10.9 years. Almost all of the subjects included in the study had lower limb bone tumours (96.4%). The most common site for the tumour was the distal femur (57.1%) followed by the proximal femur (32.2%). The most common type of benign tumour was giant cell tumour (GCT) (53.6%), including recurrences of giant cell tumour (GCT), and among malignant tumours, osteosarcoma was the most common (25.0%). The mean surgical resection of bone in limb salvage surgery was 125.2±24.2 mm. The most common post-operative complication was leg length discrepancy (LLD) among 25.0% of subjects, which was managed by shoe raise. The overall mean musculoskeletal tumour society (MTSS) score after LSS was 25.0±4.3. Using the Kaplan-Meier method analysis, we found that relapse-free survival was 83.7% among enrolled subjects at a median follow-up period of 80 months. Conclusion It can be difficult to surgically treat patients who have malignant bone tumours. In limb-sparing surgery for bone tumours, the modular segmental-replacement system prosthesis that we preferred produced satisfactory results in terms of tumour control and limb function. To get good long-term results, the case selection must be appropriate.

A Retrospective Audit of Demography and Different Surgical Modalities Adopted for Giant Cell Tumor of Bone in Eastern India.

Background and objective There is scarce data on demography and different surgical treatment modalities for giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) from eastern India. In light of this, the present study aimed to examine the demographic characteristics, different surgical treatment modalities, and recurrence rate of GCTB at a tertiary care institute in Bihar. Materials and methods A retrospective audit of 52 GCTB patients who were treated at the center from January 2016 to December 2020 was conducted. The minimum follow-up period was one year. GCTB patients underwent surgical procedures ranging from extended intralesional curettage with bone graft or bone cement with or without fixation to wide local excision to resection with or without reconstruction or amputation depending on the stage and site of the tumors. Results The mean age of patients was 31.86 years (range: 13-67 years). The distal femur (20 patients, 38.46%) and proximal tibia (11 patients, 21.15%) were the most common sites of the tumor. Sixty-eight confirmed cases (male: 32, female: 36) of GCTB were operated on, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.125. Sixteen patients (four males and 12 females) were lost to follow-up. So, the final study consisted of 52 patients with a median age of 28 years (first quartile: 24 years, third quartile: 38 years). The majority of patients (32 patients, 61.53%) were in the third and fourth decades of life. Conclusion Based on this retrospective audit, it is concluded that the knee region is the most common site of GCTB. Surgery is the mainstay of management. Most of the patients came under Campanacci Grade 3 with low compliance with follow-up and adherence to the treatment. Hence, educational programs, the establishment of early detection centers, and timely referral to expert treatment are necessary.

Algal Metabolites Can Be an Immune Booster against COVID-19 Pandemic.

The world has faced the challenges of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for the last two years, first diagnosed at the end of 2019 in Wuhan and widely distributed worldwide. As a result, the WHO has proclaimed the illness brought on by this virus to be a global pandemic. To combat COVID-19, researcher communities continuously develop and implement rapid diagnoses, safe and effective vaccinations and other alternative therapeutic procedures. However, synthetic drug-related side effects and high costs have piqued scientists' interest in natural product-based therapies and medicines. In this regard, antiviral substances derived from natural resources and some medicines have seen a boom in popularity. For instance, algae are a rich source of compounds such as lectins and sulfated polysaccharides, which have potent antiviral and immunity-boosting properties. Moreover, Algae-derived compounds or metabolites can be used as antibodies and vaccine raw materials against COVID-19. Furthermore, some algal species can boost immunity, reduce viral activity in humans and be recommended for usage as a COVID-19 preventative measure. However, this field of study is still in its early stages of development. Therefore, this review addresses critical characteristics of algal metabolites, their antioxidant potential and therapeutic potential in COVID-19.

Ultrahigh sensitive long-period fiber grating-based sensor for detection of adulterators in biofuel.

An ultra-sensitive sensor based on dual resonance long-period fiber gratings has been fabricated for the detection of methanol and water content in ethanol. The developed sensor is compact in size and light weight and employs a highly accurate spectral interrogation technique for adulterant detection, increasing its applicability compared to conventional surface plasmon resonance based sensors, which are generally expensive, as they require metal film deposition. We demonstrate that the sensor is capable of achieving sensitivity of 802.66 pm/V% methanol and 749.06 pm/V% water in the ethanol solution. The estimated detection limit using the experimental data and spectral resolution of the interrogator is found to be ∼1.3×10-3V% in the 1300-1700 nm wavelength range. We also present the sensor's theoretical study, and good agreement is found between theoretical and experimental results.

Osteochondrosis of Primary Center of Patella: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Osteochondrosis of the primary ossification center of the patella (Kohler's Disease) is a rare and self-limiting condition of unknown etiology. Sometimes it may be found as normal variant. CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old boy presented with anterior right knee pain. On radiological examination, there was increased density, irregularity, and fragmentation of the patellar primary ossification center. Activity modification and exercise led to marked symptomatic improvement after 1 year. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the disease either physiological or pathological, diagnosis is usually difficult. However, the treatment is simple. There was improvement functionally as well as radiologically with activity modification.

Cost-effective synthesis and characterization of CuO NPs as a nanosize adsorbent for As (III) remediation in synthetic arsenic-contaminated water.

The lower concentration of arsenic in the groundwater is serious health concerns of the people who are continuously taking from their drinking water. In this study, synthetic arsenic-contaminated water was prepared in the laboratory with varying concentrations of arsenic (100 to 1000 µg/L) and treated by nanosize adsorbent (copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs)). The colloidal and powder form of CuO NPs were synthesized in the laboratory by the hydrothermal technique on a large scale and their shape and size were confirmed by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and HRTEM analysis. It was found 30 ± 2 nm as size and spherical shape. The equilibrium adsorption of As (III) occurred at 90 min of contact time, pH 7.5, and 4 g/L adsorbent dosage. The maximum percent removal of As (III) was reached to 97.8, 94.6, 91.5, and 88.4% at an initial arsenic concentration of 100, 200, 500, and 1000 µg/L, respectively. The adsorption of As (III) followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm model. Moreover, the overall cost of the synthesized CuO NPs (including material, operational, manpower, and transport cost with other overhead charges) was Rs. 281.832 g-1, which is lesser than the market price (Rs. 500.018 g-1). Hence, the optimized adsorption design would help for the efficient removal of As (III) from aqueous medium.

Growth, serum biochemical, and histopathological responses of broilers administered with silver nanoparticles as a drinking water disinfectant.

The supplementation of 50 ppm dosed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a disinfectant in broilers drinking water was investigated to examine their growth performance, blood serum biochemistry, and organ histology in the case group, compared to the control. The growth performance parameters, such as water intake, feed intake, and body weight were recorded 6 times, each in an interval of 7 days, over a period of 42 days. At the end of each 42 days, the blood and major organs of the 1 case boiler out of 75 and 1 control broiler out of 75 were collected in random. The procedure was repeated 3 sets one after another, each consisting 42 day intervening period. The liver enzyme, lipid profile, glucose level, organ histology, and concentration of AgNPs in liver, spleen, heart, and small intestine were determined. The obtained results show that the growth performance of the case broilers was significantly higher than the control section (p < 0.05). However, in all the three sets the changes in lipid profile, liver enzyme, and glucose level of the case broilers were not statistically significantly different compared to the control (p > 0.05). The histology of liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and small intestine of broilers has not shown any damages to the cells as compared to the control samples. In the case samples, the highest concentration of AgNPs was observed in the small intestine (5.44 µg/g) followed by liver (4.32 µg/g), kidney (3.94 µg/g), heart (3.82 µg/g), and spleen (3.49 µg/g). The present study concludes that the administering 50 ppm AgNPs of average 15 nm size in the poultry drinking water was found safe for consumption as well as for growth enhancing, due to better bird comfort.