Phytolith particulate matter and its potential human and environmental effects.

Particulate matter from both natural and anthropogenic sources is known to affect air quality and human health. However, the abundance and varied composition of the suspended particulate matter make it difficult to locate the precise precursors for some of these atmospheric pollutants. Plants deposit appreciable quantities of microscopic biogenic silica in and/or between their cells, known as phytoliths, which get released into the soil surface after the death and decomposition of plants.

Dead bone in bladder- sequestrum perforating into urinary bladder leading to hydroureteronephrosis masquerading as bladder calculus.

Sequestrum formation is a known complication of osteomyelitis. This is usually a source of chronic non resolving infection and inflammation. We present a rare case of pelvic sequestrum following septic arthritis of hip joint invading into the urinary bladder mimicking a bladder calculus and leading to hydroureteronephrosis.

Hydrochemical characterization and pollution assessment of groundwater in Jammu Siwaliks, India.

Physico-chemical groundwater (GW) parameters were evaluated to understand the hydrogeochemical processes in the Siwalik plains of Jammu and Kashmir, India. During the 2012-2013 post-monsoon (POM) and pre-monsoon (PRM) seasons, GW samples (n = 207) from deep bore wells and shallow open wells were chemically analysed. Cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K and Fe) and anions (HCO, Cl, SO and F) showed a wide spatio-temporal variation.

Sustainability of winter tourism in a changing climate over Kashmir Himalaya.

Mountain areas are sensitive to climate change. Implications of climate change can be seen in less snow, receding glaciers, increasing temperatures, and decreasing precipitation. Climate change is also a severe threat to snow-related winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing.