Impact of topography on attenuation of noise from a cement plant in a hilly terrain.

The influence of hill topography on noise from industrial plants is scantly documented, despite the fact that the noise profiles can vary in plains and in hilly terrain. Significant noise data from a cement plant flanked by hills were collected and analyzed for its attenuation over space in the direction of the valley and across the hills. It was observed that the noise attenuation is not similar to that experienced in plains owing to interactions with the mountains.

A machine learning-based approach to determine infection status in recipients of BBV152 (Covaxin) whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for serological surveys.

Data science has been an invaluable part of the COVID-19 pandemic response with multiple applications, ranging from tracking viral evolution to understanding the vaccine effectiveness. Asymptomatic breakthrough infections have been a major problem in assessing vaccine effectiveness in populations globally. Serological discrimination of vaccine response from infection has so far been limited to Spike protein vaccines since whole virion vaccines generate antibodies against all the viral proteins.

A holistic review on Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes infection in immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients, organ transplant patients, hematological malignancies, diabetes patients, etc. The most common invasive fungal pathogens are Candida spp., Aspergillus spp.

Petrographic and Geochemical Controls on Methane Genesis, Pore Fractal Attributes, and Sorption of Lower Gondwana Coal of Jharia Basin, India.

The Barakar coal seams of Jharia Basin have been evaluated for the geochemical and petrographic control of coalbed methane (CBM) reservoir characteristics. The coal core samples are analyzed for the total gas content, gas chromatography, stable isotopes (δC), and geochemical, petrographic and vitrinite reflectance. The significant face (1.

Evaluation of metal contamination, flux and the associated human health risk from atmospheric dustfall in metal mining areas of Southern Jharkhand, India.

Metals can be apprehended in the atmospheric environment of copper and iron mining areas of Jharkhand, which falls in one of the most mineralized areas of India with extensive mining and industrial activities. The study was taken up to appraise the metal contamination in the atmospheric dust to evaluate the metal fluxes and associated health risk considering the seasonal variations. Sixty samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and the contamination levels were assessed by various indices.

Visible light photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol using nanostructured NaBiS: Kinetics, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and electrochemical studies of the photocatalyst.

Removal of the hazardous and endocrine-disrupting 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from water bodies is crucial to maintain the sanctity of the ecosystem. As a low bandgap material (1.37 eV), NaBiS was hydrothermally prepared and used as a potential photocatalyst to degrade 2,4-DCP under visible light irradiation.

Stabilization of metals in sludge-amended soil using red mud and its effects on yield and oil quality of Brassica juncea cultivar Kranti.

Prolonged application of sewage-sludge may cause excessive accumulation of metal(oid)s in soil, leading to phytotoxic effects. Spread of contaminants in soil can probably be hindered by using an effective metal(oid) stabilizer. Pot experiment in open field conditions was conducted for five months to evaluate the metal(oid) (Al, Cu, Zn, Cd and Cr) stabilization potential of red mud (RM) in sludge-amended soil and its effects on growth, yield, oil quality parameters and metal(oid) accumulations in Brassica juncea cultivar Kranti.

Sulphur in Jharia and Raniganj coalfields: Chemical fractionation and its environmental implications.

In coal, total sulphur content is not the only important factor for the industry, but also the forms of sulphur and their distributions should be considered before utilizing any coal for a particular use. In Jharia and Raniganj coalfields, sulphur is present in the forms of organic sulphur (OS), pyritic sulphur (PS), and sulphate sulphur (SS). In this perspective, the present study aims to know the different forms of sulphur in coking and non-coking coals of Jharia and Raniganj coalfields.

Variation in Pore Structure and Associated Fractal Dimensions of Barakar and Barren Measures Carbon-Rich Gas Shales of Jharia Basin, India.

The carbon-rich Barakar and Barren Measures shale beds of the Jharia basin were evaluated for variation in pore size, pore structure, and fractal dimensions. The shale core samples were obtained from exploratory boreholes drilled at the Jharia basin. The shale samples were analyzed for organo-inorganic composition by FTIR, pore size, and pore structure using BET low-pressure N adsorption and pore geometry through FE-SEM photographs.

A review on the synthesis and properties of hydroxyapatite for biomedical applications.

Hydroxyapatite (HA or HAp) is one of the most preferred biomaterials, specifically for bone tissue engineering. HAp is available naturally and is also chemically synthesized. The properties, shape, size and crystalline structure and applications of HAp vary widely depending on the source and extraction methods used.

Organo-Lithotype Controls on Cleat/Fractures, Matrix-Associated Pores, and Physicomechanical Properties of Coal Seams of Raniganj Coalfield, India.

The organo-lithotype properties of Barakar and Raniganj Formation coal seams have been investigated to assess the process of cleat origin, occurrence, and their influence on strength properties. Coal cleats have wide applications in coalbed methane gas recovery, underground mine strata mechanics, beneficiation, and pulverization. However, there is very limited information available on the cleat occurrence and controlling parameters of Indian coals.

Integrated hydrochemical and ERT approach for seawater intrusion study in a coastal aquifer: a case study from Jafrabad Town, Gujarat State, India.

Hydrochemical and geophysical approach has been adopted to evaluate the seawater intrusion (SWI) in coastal aquifers of Jafrabad Town, Gujarat State, India. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (no. 9) was carried out with spread length of 160-400 m which provided penetration depth of about 23 to 76 m.

Anthropogenic arsenic menace in contaminated water near thermal power plants and coal mining areas of India.

Coal mining and coal combustion in thermal power plants (TPPs) are the major anthropogenic sources of arsenic (As) contamination in many different industrial regions. In this study of industrial regions of West Bengal and Singrauli, it is observed that there is an anthropogenic contribution to the contamination from As-bearing coal. Up to 14.

Insights from a Pan India Sero-Epidemiological survey (Phenome-India Cohort) for SARS-CoV2.

To understand the spread of SARS-CoV2, in August and September 2020, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India) conducted a serosurvey across its constituent laboratories and centers across India. Of 10,427 volunteers, 1058 (10.14%) tested positive for SARS-CoV2 anti-nucleocapsid (anti-NC) antibodies, 95% of which had surrogate neutralization activity.

Fugitive dust emission control study for a developed smart dry fog system.

Air pollution due to dust emission is continuously increasing day by day in mining and allied industrial areas. Mining operations contribute a substantial amount of dust emission at the crushing, screening, and bulk material handling in loading areas. The ambient suspended dust particles create a severe nuisance to workers and local dwellers.

Multivariate linear regression models for predicting metal content and sources in leafy vegetables and human health risk assessment in metal mining areas of Southern Jharkhand, India.

The present study was intended to investigate the metal concentrations in the leafy vegetables, irrigation water, soil, and atmospheric dust deposition in the iron and copper mining areas of Southern Jharkhand, India. The study aimed to develop a multivariate linear regression (MVLR) model to predict the concentration of metals in leafy vegetables from the metals in associated environmental factors and assessment of the risk to the local population through the consumption of leafy vegetables and other allied pathways. The developed species-specific MVLR models were well fitted to predict the concentration of metals in the leafy vegetables.

A study on the interdependence of heavy metals while contributing to groundwater pollution index.

The contribution of heavy metal to the groundwater pollution index (m-HPI) is dependent on other heavy metals present in it. This contribution may be synergistic or anti-synergistic (antagonistic) depending upon the constituent matrix. Both heavy metal type and its concentration are important.

Phytostabilization of coal mine overburden waste, exploiting the phytoremedial efficacy of lemongrass under varying level of cow dung manure.

A pot study was performed to assess the phytoremedial potential of Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Staf.

Mercury emissions and partitioning from Indian coal-fired power plants.

In India coal combustion is the single largest source of emission of mercury which is a wide-spread persistent global toxicant, travelling across international borders through air and water. As a party to the Minamata convention, India aims to monitor and reduce Hg emissions and stricter norms are introduced for mercury emissions from power plants (30 μg/Nmfor flue gas in stack). This paper presents the results obtained during the experimental studies performed on mercury emissions at four coal-fired and one lignite-fired power plants in India.

Elucidating the distribution and sources of street dust bound PAHs in Durgapur, India: A probabilistic health risk assessment study by Monte-Carlo simulation.

Spatial and seasonal distribution of PAHs, source identification, and their associated carcinogenic health risk was investigated in street dust of Durgapur, India. Street dust is an important indicator to detect the quality of the environment as well as the sources of pollutants. The obtained results showed fluctuation in PAHs concentrations from 2317 ± 402 ng/g to 5491 ± 2379 ng/g along with the sampling sites.

Impact of the Combined Application of Biochar and Compost on Mine Soil Quality and Growth of Lady's Finger (Abelmoschus esculentus).

Amelioration of mine soil is challenging because of the lack of biologically active organic matter. The study was aimed to recycle yard waste into compost and biochar and to use them to reclaim mine soil. Biochar prepared at 350 °C showed the highest stable organic matter yield index and was used for the experiments.

Evaluation of atmospheric dust deposition rates and their mineral characterization in copper and iron mining areas, Singhbhum, India.

Atmospheric dust can play a very important role in the polluted atmosphere. This has a direct impact on human health, global warming, climate change, visibility, precipitation, cloud formation, and so on. To evaluate the atmospheric dustfall rate and their mineralogical aspects, three separate sites were selected, namely mining, suburban, and control for dust sampling.

Valorisation of agricultural biomass-ash with CO.

This work is part of a study of different types of plant-based biomass to elucidate their capacity for valorisation via a managed carbonation step involving gaseous carbon dioxide (CO). The perspectives for broader biomass waste valorisation was reviewed, followed by a proposed closed-loop process for the valorisation of wood in earlier works. The present work newly focusses on combining agricultural biomass with mineralised CO.

Metal remediation potential of naturally occurring plants growing on barren fly ash dumps.

The present study aimed to elucidate the remediation potential of visibly dominant, naturally growing plants obtained from an early colonized fly ash dump near a coal-based thermal power station. The vegetation comprised of grasses like Saccharum spontaneum L., Cynodon dactylon (L.