Dynamics of land, ocean, and atmospheric parameters associated with Tauktae cyclone.

During the pre- and post-monsoon season, the eastern and western coasts are highly vulnerable to cyclones. The tropical cyclone "Tauktae" formed in the Arabian Sea on 14 May 2021 and moved along the west coast of India, and landfall occurred on 17 May 2021. During the cyclone, the maximum wind speed was 220 km/h with a pressure of 935 mb affecting meteorological, atmospheric parameters, and weather conditions of the northern and central parts of India causing devastating damage. Analysis of satellite, Argo, and ground data show pronounced changes in the oceanic, atmospheric, and meteorological parameters associated during the formation and landfall of the cyclone. During cyclone generation (before landfall), the air temperature (AT) was maximum (30.51 °C), and winds (220 km/h) were strong with negative omega values (0.3). The relative humidity (RH) and rainfall (RF) were observed to be higher at the location of the cyclone formation in the ocean and over the landfall location, with an average value of 81.28% and 21.45 mm/day, respectively. The concentration of total column ozone (TCO), CO volume mixing ratio (COVMR), H2O mass mixing ratio (H2O MMR), aerosol parameters (AOD, AE) and air quality parameter (PM) was increased over land and along the cyclone track, leading to a deterioration in the air quality. The strong wind mixes the air mass from the surroundings to the local anthropogenic emissions, and causing strong mixing of the aerosols. The detailed results show a pronounced change in the ocean, land, meteorological, and atmospheric parameters showing a strong land-ocean-atmosphere coupling associated with the cyclone.

Assessment of national beach litter composition, sources, and management along the Indian coast - a citizen science approach.

The present study evaluates the Pan-India beach litter density (items/m2), weight (kg/m2), composition (%), and probable sources based on the citizen science approach. A total of 33 beaches in 2019 and 30 beaches in 2021 were studied. Based on density, the national beach litter average was 0.475± 0.51 and 0.3 ± 0.4 items/m2 in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Plastic was the dominant litter type (65 % in 2019; 74 % in 2021) and Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) were predominant. Based on Clean-Coast Index, six beaches in 2019 and three beaches in 2021 are classified as "extremely dirty". The principal (∼60 %) sources of litter were tourism and public littering. Improving solid waste management, stringent implementation of environmental legislation, leveraging the polluter pays principle, monitoring the effectiveness of SUPs ban, generating awareness, and beach clean-up at regular intervals by engaging the public, educational, and non-governmental organizations will improve and sustain the cleanliness of beaches.

Bacteriorhodopsin-ZnO hybrid as a potential sensing element for low-temperature detection of ethanol vapour.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and bacteriorhodopsin (bR) hybrid nanostructures were fabricated by immobilizing bR on ZnO thin films and ZnO nanorods. The morphological and spectroscopic analysis of the hybrid structures confirmed the ZnO thin film/nanorod growth and functional properties of bR. The photoactivity results of the bR protein further corroborated the sustainability of its charge transport property and biological activity. When exposed to ethanol vapour (reducing gas) at low temperature (70 °C), the fabricated sensing elements showed a significant increase in resistivity, as opposed to the conventional n-type behaviour of bare ZnO nanostructures. This work opens up avenues towards the fabrication of low temperature, photoactivated, nanomaterial-biomolecule hybrid gas sensors.

Effect of coating over the handle of a drill machine on vibration transmissibility.

This study was to see the effect of different coatings on the handle of hand-held drilling machines. Out of five different handles chosen for this study, including one handle uncoated. Root mean square (rms) values of the vibration levels (acceleration) were recorded at the surface of handle and wrist of the operators. Results showed that maximum vibrations were reduced by coating of handle coated with rubber sheet and Rexene (H4) followed by handle coated with cotton sandwiched between jeans cloth (H5). Equivalent vibrations transmitted through coating of handles coated with sponge and velvet (H2) and jute and cotton (H3) were of almost same magnitude and these two coated handles were able to reduce least vibration transmitted. Transmissibility of vibrations along dominant (Z) direction was analyzed using ANOVA. Results showed that coating on handles significantly affected vibration transmitted in Z direction. Vibration transmissibility ratios were found to be 0.354, 0.571, 0.408, 0.4326, and 0.3555 for handles H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5 respectively.

Facile route for the synthesis of a vertically aligned ZnO-PANI nanohybrid film for polyphenol sensing.

Vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods have been fabricated on a polyaniline (PANI) film template after electrochemical seeding and hydrothermal growth in a nutrient medium at a low temperature of 65 °C. Dense c-oriented [0001], hexagonal-shaped, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods are obtained on the PANI film surface, which is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy studies. The nanohybrid film used as the working electrode has been characterized for sensing catechin polyphenol in different tea varieties through cyclic voltammetry. Principal component analysis shows enhancement in the classification ability of the nanohybrid film for various concentrations of catechin standard and tea infusions.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and In Vitro Antimicrobial Studies of Pyridine-2-Carboxylic Acid N'-(4-Chloro-Benzoyl)-Hydrazide and Its Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) Complexes.

N-substituted pyridine hydrazide (pyridine-2-carbonyl chloride and 4-chloro-benzoic acid hydrazide) undergoes hydrazide formation of the iminic carbon nitrogen double bond through its reaction with cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) metal salts in ethanol which are reported and characterized based on elemental analyses, IR, solid reflectance, magnetic moment, molar conductance, and thermal analysis (TG). From the elemental analyses data, 1 : 2 metal complexes are formed having the general formulae [MCl(2)(HL)(2)] ·yH(2)O (where M = Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II), y = 1-3). The important infrared (IR) spectral bands corresponding to the active groups in the ligand and the solid complexes under investigation were studied. IR spectra show that ligand is coordinated to the metal ions in a neutral bidentate manner with ON donor sites. The solid complexes have been synthesized and studied by thermogravimetric analysis. All the metal chelates are found to be nonelectrolytes. From the magnetic and solid reflectance spectra, the complexes (cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II)) have octahedral and square planner geometry, respectively. The antibacterial and antifungal activity's data show that the metal complexes have a promising biological activity comparable with the parent ligand against bacterial and fungal species.

Avian influenza outbreak investigation and containment.

Influenza A viruses cause pandemics at recurring yet unpredictable intervals. The past three pandemics had origin from birds. Although the viruses of avian influenza are not easily transmitted to humans, this may change due to either mutation or genetic reassortment. There is still an opportunity to pre-empt the pandemic. It is believed that if the surveillance system for animal health is able to detect infection in poultry quickly followed by rapid and safe culling of infected and exposed poultry and the surviellance system for human health is able to detect first human cases quickly followed by rapid containment measures including strategic use of antiviral drugs, the pandemic could be averted. This article discusses the principles and major steps of avian influenza outbreak investigations and containment.

Anthrax.

Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, an encapulated and spore-forming bacillus. The disease is usually contracted through uptake of spores that remain viable in the contaminated soil for many years. Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals and is uncommon in humans who may get the infection through contact with contaminated animals or their products. Anthrax spores germinate after entering the body through skin abrasions (cutaneous anthrax) or by inhalation (inhalation anthrax) or ingestion (gastrointestinal anthrax) and multiply to produce two exotoxins which determine the virulence along with capsule. Although most cases occur within 48 hours of exposure, germination of spores may occur upto 60 days later. While inhalation anthrax is almost always fatal, intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases. Upto 20% of cases having cutaneous anthrax may die. Antibiotics are effective if the disease is recognised early and treated appropriately. Penicillin is the drug of choice when disease occurs in natural setting. Ciprofloxacin is recommended when aerosols of anthrax spores are used as bioweapon, prophylactic antibiotics should not be prescribed until risk of exposure is considered real by experts.