Feature Article

Cement Industry is necessary for the growth of the economy. At the same time it contributes substantially to the air pollution problem of the area around. Modern cement industries have taken measures to control the air pollution effect. No doubt that the industrial units are responsible for the overall socio-economic growth of the locality. They have the obligationto take up community development programme under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Nevertheless, the study shows that the perception of the local people was not very favourable.

The observed warming of the surface air temperature (SAT) over the last 50 years has not been homogenous. There are strong differences in the temperature changes both geographically and on different time frames. Here, we review the observed diurnal asymmetry in the global warming trend: the night-time temperatures have increased more rapidly than day-time temperatures. Several explanations for this asymmetric warming have been offered in the literature.

The present work measures the concentration of different solid species of the trace elements Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Co and Ni in the surface sediments of Arasalar river estuary at different stations & seasons (2011-2012). Analysis of sediments for trace element concentration gives history of accumulation of metals in environments. Estuarine and marine sediments are very important accumulation site of metals in the coastal areas; therefore analyses of these metals are important to assess the degree of pollution in the marine environment.

Plastics are a contaminant of emerging concern accumulating in marine ecosystems. Plastics tend to break down into small particles, called microplastics, which also enter the marine environment directly as fragments from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes. Given their ubiquitous nature and small dimensions, the ingestion and impact of microplastics on marine life are a cause for concern, notably for filter feeders.

The researchers extracted data on iodized household salt from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys conducted in 2000 and 2010. As part of the surveys, household salt samples were tested for iodization by standardized rapid-test kits that yield results to indicate whether salt is not iodized, inadequately iodized, (less than 15 parts per million, ppm), or adequately iodized (more than 15 ppm). We calculated indices of household salt iodization in 2000 and 2010, taking into account survey sampling weights.

A succession of storms reaching southern England in the winter of 2013/2014 caused severe floods and £451 million insured losses. In a large ensemble of climate model simulations, we find that, as well as increasing the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold, anthropogenic warming caused a small but significant increase in the number of January days with westerly flow, both of which increased extreme precipitation.

Exposure to traffic noise has been associated with adverse effects on neuropsychological outcomes in children, but findings with regard to behavioral problems are inconsistent. The researchers investigated whether residential road traffic noise exposure is associated with behavioral problems in 7-year-old children.

Original Source

Three decades of rapid economic development is causing severe and widespread PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm) pollution in China. However, research on the health impacts of PM2.5 exposure has been hindered by limited historical PM2.5 concentration data. The researchers estimated ambient PM2.5 concentrations from 2004 to 2013 in China at 0.1° resolution using the most recent satellite data and evaluated model performance with available ground observations.

Original Source

Rapid sequencing of RNA/DNA from pathogen samples obtained during disease outbreaks provides critical scientific and public health information. However, challenges exist for exporting samples to laboratories or establishing conventional sequencers in remote outbreak regions. We successfully used a novel, pocket-sized nanopore sequencer at a field diagnostic laboratory in Liberia during the current Ebola virus outbreak.

A method is developed for determination of levoglucosan at trace concentration levels in complex matrices of snow and ice samples. This method uses an injection mixture comprising acetonitrile and melt sample at a ratio of 50/50 (v/v). Samples are analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography system combined with triple tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Levoglucosan is analyzed on BEH Amide column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 um), and a Z-spray electrospray ionization source is used for levoglucosan ionization.