Adjoining Land Research Articles

Genotoxic impact of agricultural insecticides as contaminants of river Teesta on the resident fish Pethia Conchonius.

Fish, being highly sensitive to changes in the physico-chemical parameters of water, are good indicators of contamination. Teesta, a prominent northern West Bengal River system, is increasingly contaminated due to anthropogenic activities. This study aims to determine agricultural pesticide contamination and its genotoxic impact on the resident fish, Pethia conchonius, as an experimental organism. Sample water analysis from three riverine sites I, II & III, showed the presence of the insecticides imidacloprid (IMI), chlorpyrifos (CPF), bifenethrin (BF), cypermethrin (CP), difenthiuron, acetamiprid (AC) in the sites II and III only with adjoining agricultural lands. Comet assay revealed a significantly lower % Head DNA (~ 1.2 times), higher %Tail DNA (~ 16 times), and %Tail length (~ 3.1 times) in the gills of Pethia conchonius from sites II and III. About 4 and 10 times increase of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities were also noted in the erythrocytes of the fish from sites II and III than I, which was not contaminated. The antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and GST activity and MDA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the liver samples from sites II and III, while AChE activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in the brain tissues. Moreover, the sod, cat, and gpx expression in the hepatic cells were significantly upregulated compared to the β actin mRNA indicating increased oxidative stress. Increased genomic damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, higher MDA levels, decreased AChE activity in the brain, and the upregulation of hepatic genes strongly suggested the genotoxic effects of the detected insecticides in combination with other contaminants.

Application of Methodology for Defining the Adjoining Lands and Flooding River Strips in Bulgaria in a GIS Environment Upon Bridge Facility Designing

The "Methodology for defining the adjoining lands and flooding rivers stripes in Bulgaria” (MALFARS) has been developed in 2012 based on the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60. In this article we investigated another aspect of MALFARS application. We have reviewed the possibilities for methodology application upon designing of bridge facilities within the researched river section. The study presents the application of the Methodology for the designing of a bridge facility over the Dzherman River upon the maximum dimensional water quantities calculated for the studied section of the river. We have used GIS instruments to analyze and evaluate the results obtained for the parameters of the maximum runoff and the conductivity of the river section. The results present the defined flooding zones of the adjoining river areas/stripes, good conductivity of the road facility, hydraulic and geometric characteristics of the runoff in the investigated river section in cases of high water levels

Exploring the West African forest island phenomenon: scientific insights gained, successes achieved and capacities strengthened.

Anthropogenic activities around local villages in mesic savanna landscapes of West Africa have resulted in soil improvement and forest establishment outside their climatic zones. Such unique 'forest islands' have been reported to provide ecosystem services including biodiversity conservation. However, the science underpinning their formations is limitedly studied. In 2015 and with funding support from the Royal Society-DFID (now FCDO), we set out to investigate the biogeochemistry of the forest islands in comparison with adjacent natural savanna and farmlands across 11 locations in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria. Our results showed that the forest islands do not differ significantly from the adjoining ecosystems in soil mineralogy implying that their formation was anthropogenically driven. We observed greater soil organic carbon and nutrient distributions in the forest islands, which also had more stable macro (>500 μm) and meso-aggregates (500-250 μm) than the adjoining agricultural lands. We found that soil micro-aggregate (250-53 μm) stability was climate (precipitation) driven in the West African ecosystems while meso- and macro-aggregate stability was land-use driven. In one of the unique forest islands we studied in the Mole National Park of Ghana, we found its mineral-associated organic carbon over 40% greater than the adjoining natural savanna with potential implications for the achievement of the global initiative of the '4p1000' in West Africa. We conclude that the North-South-South research collaboration has established clearly, the science underlying the age-long West African forest island phenomenon and has, among many successes, led to capacity building of young scientists driving cutting-edge research in climate change adaptation and food systems transformation in the sub-region.

Soil organic carbon and nutrient characteristics of Anogeissus groves in old Opara forest reserve, Nigeria.

Forest-savanna transition zones of West Africa are uniquely characterized by forest groves, forest patches, or forest islands, the importance of which for sustainable resource management and their potential for carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling is often underrated. Our study conducted a comparative analysis of the soil organic carbon and nutrient characteristics of the Anogeissus groves in the old Opara forest reserve and their adjoining arable lands. We established 30 sampling frames of 100m × 100m plots with 15 frames per land use type. For each sampling frame, six observation points were randomly selected, and composite soil samples were collected at soil depths of 0-20cm and 20-50cm per observation point. Our results showed Anogeissus groves and their adjoining arable lands to exist on similar landscapes while the groves have enriched soil morphological characteristics (e.g., soil color), higher soil organic carbon (SOC), and better nutrient characteristics. There were strong positive relationships between SOC, effective cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and calcium, zinc, electrical conductivity, and copper. The significant soil organic matter accumulation in the groves accounts for the overall improved soil characteristics over the adjoining arable lands. Preserving the groves and similar Africanecosystems may be important in climate regulation, resources and biodiversity conservation, and ethnopharmacology for rural communities. Thus, a question arises: should more land be set aside for ecological conservation or for agricultural productivity?

A Mechanism for the Summer Monsoon Precipitation Variability Over Northwest India Driven by Moisture Deficit Transport

AbstractA large reservoir of saturation deficit air is known to exist over the northern Arabian Sea and the adjoining land regions during the peak of Indian summer monsoon (ISM). The strengthening of monsoon low‐level jet (LLJ) in the northern parts of the Arabian Sea during the break phase of ISM helps in transporting this dry air toward northwestern India. Here, we show that, a weakening (strengthening) of the zonal flow over the northern Arabian Sea can reduce (enhance) the influx of the unsaturated air to the Northwest India and thereby enhance (reduce) precipitation there. The variability in the zonal flow over the northern Arabian Sea is a direct geostrophic response to the variability in the meridional pressure gradient over the Northwest India. The interannual variability in the mean sea level pressure over the region explains the inter‐annual variability of ISM precipitation during July–August over northwestern India. The contribution of El Niño Southern Oscillation in the interannual variability of precipitation over this region is not significant.

Tropical cyclone-driven rainfall in the northeast Indian Ocean and adjoining land regions during the period 2000–2020

Cyclone-induced rainfall analysis plays a significant role in cyclone-related disaster mitigation and management. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of tropical cyclone (TC)-induced rainfall in Bay of Bengal (BoB) and its adjacent land regions by the land falling TCs for the past two decades (2000–2020). An average of 12.6 mm/day of land precipitation and 28.75 mm/day of oceanic precipitation are found within 300 km radius of the cyclones, as analysed from the 54 cyclones occurred during the study period. It is observed that the highest TC rainfall contribution to the total rainfall is in the winter months of January and February (40%), whereas the smallest is in the monsoon months of June, July, August and September (0.85%). The TC rainfall contributes about 10% to the annual rainfall over the land regions. The quadrant analysis shows that the TC rainfall depends on the season of TC formation and its direction. About 40.47% of BoB cyclones has the highest rainfall in the right-top quadrant, 35.15% in the left-top quadrant and 14.18% in the left-bottom quadrant. Our study provides key information on land falling TCs and their potential to inflict disasters and thus, this information can be used to provide better safety measures for TC-related hazards such as heavy rainfall and floods. This is particularly important, as the TCs can be more intense and frequent in the context of climate change.

Land-use pattern and landscape structure impact butterfly diversity and abundance in organic agroecosystems

ContextAgricultural intensification and land-use patterns impact biodiversity and reduce ecosystem functions. Organic farming is often seen as a more biodiversity friendly way of farming. However, not all organic farming is equally supportive for biodiversity, structural diversity of the farms has a great impact and the often high intertwinement of organic and conventional farmland causes spill-over problems.ObjectiveOn organic farmland in central Italy, we analysed butterfly diversity and community structures in different land-use categories across a heterogeneous landscape. We aim to analyse the impact of the different land-use structures such as hedges and forest edges on this farmland, as well as the influence of adjoining conventionally farmed areas.MethodsWe studied butterflies on organic farmland including olive and hazelnut plantations, as well as meadows and fallow land, surrounded by hedges and forests. Hereby we considered the effects of land-use on the studied site and the adjoining land, e.g., semi-natural habitats (as hedges or forest edges), organic or conventional farmland. We counted butterflies along line transects and recorded habitat parameters for each transect. All encountered butterflies were classified according their ecological demands, behaviour, and life-history.ResultsWe found highest mean butterfly species richness in fallow land and lowest in hazelnut plantations. Species community structures differed hardly between plantations and meadows, but considerably compared to fallow land. Butterfly abundances are reduced for olive plantations adjacent to agricultural fields treated with pesticides, compared to such surrounded by organic fields. Habitat para-meters such as the number of flowering plant species and shade impact butterfly diversity and abundance. Forest edges producing considerable shadow to the transects had a significantly negative effect on diversity and abundance, while the influence of hedges was positive.ConclusionsBased on our findings, we conclude that also organic farmland has different degrees of biodiversity depending on a variety of land-use pattern. In particular, habitat heterogeneity and a high diversity of flowers positively influence butterfly diversity. The intensive mixing of organic and conventional agriculture must be seen critical for conservation as negative effects might spill over to organic fields, but might be compensable by landscape structures like hedges.

Water quality assessment for River Mahanadi of Odisha, India using statistical techniques and Artificial Neural Networks

The present study is conducted on Mahanadi River, which is considered as the lifeline for the state of Odisha. There is a persistent outcry of the people in upstream reaches of the catchment, blaming the industries for pollution of water, air and adjoining land, whereas the industries have taken all steps to remain as zero effluent industries. Also due to presence of the Hirakud dam and its water reservoir, the major multipurpose water resources project, near Sambalpur of Odisha state in India, there is a boost in agricultural production. The farmers are using various fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop production, which has made the portion of Odisha, close to the Hirakud dam, a food bowl of Odisha state. The management, utilization and protection of the water resources is based on right assessment of pollutants released from both point and non-point sources. It helps in improving the health condition of the people, and irrigation water use by controlling the disposal of waste load. To address the issue scientifically, the demand for development of water quality models has increased manifold. The objective of the current study is to develop a model to assess the temporal and spatial variability in the quality of water of Mahanadi river basin lying in the state of Odisha and to evaluate with respect to municipal and agricultural use. Pollution of the river water is mainly due to releases of agro-chemicals and releases from the local industries. To take a stock of the situation, six different locations (gauging stations) are selected at different locations of the river and the water quality data such as pH, Temperature, PO4, SO4, TDS, EC, Nitrate, K, F, Cl, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Turbidity, T-Hardness, T-Alkalinity, TC, BOD, DO and BOD are collected from the year 2011–2019 for the purpose of analysis and modeling of water quality. To interpret the complex water quality data matrices and to identify the most influential water quality parameters, three different methods viz., Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA), and Cluster Analysis (CA) were applied. Water Quality Index (WQI) for different seasons were calculated to evaluate the quality of water. The parameters such as Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Permeability Index of soil, Percent Sodium, Magnesium ratio, Kelley's ratio, Residual sodium carbonate and Exchangeable sodium percentage were used to evaluate the quality of water from view point of irrigation.The PCA and ANN are applied jointly to predict the water quality parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to interpret the complex water quality data matrices and to choose the parameters which have major influence on water quality. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were used to develop a model and to simulate as well as to predict the water quality parameters. It is observed that ANN model predicts the water quality with an appreciable accuracy. Scatter plots between actual and predicted WQI for training and validation phases showed high degree of co-efficient of determination (R2) with the values 90.14% and 98.2%. Hence it is observed that Back-propagation Neural Networks (BPNN) is able to predict the water quality one month ahead, thereby giving sufficient time to take preventive measures to keep river water free from pollution.

“What Really Happened?”: The Life and Death of Olivia Coombs

“What Really Happened?”: The Life and Death of Olivia Coombs

A review of the vascular plant flora of the Cairngorms Connect project area, Scotland, and some possible implications of forest expansion to the natural tree line

Cairngorms Connect, a partnership of four adjoining land owners, is committed to a 200-year vision to enhance and restore habitats, species and ecological processes across a 592 km2 area within the Cairngorms National Park. This will be achieved by, inter alia, expanding woodland to its natural altitudinal limit, including high altitude sub-alpine scrub. All or parts of six native Caledonian pinewoods occur here, c.26% of the national total. Ancient, semi-natural woodland within the Cairngorms Connect area is 43% of the National Park total. Modelling of the extent of potential-natural woodland (sensu Peterken, 1981, 1996) indicates that below 600 m all terrestrial habitats are potentially capable of supporting some degree of tree and scrub cover. 899 vascular plant taxa have been recorded here, of which 693 are native to the area. 7.6% of native taxa are endemic to Great Britain (and Ireland) or to Scotland; these are mainly Hieracia (Hawkweeds). Of the native taxa, 23% are of national, and 11% of regional conservation concern. Few native taxa are widespread within the Cairngorms Connect area, most are local or rare. 40% of native taxa have been recorded in five or less monads (1 km squares), with 16% recorded from just a single monad. 12% of native taxa are associated with shaded locations or semi-shade (Ellenberg Light values 3-5). 51% of taxa are found in partial shade to well lit locations (values 6 and 7) and 37% of taxa in well lit to fully lit locations (values 8 and 9). Native taxa with Light values of 6-7 are the most frequent in 92% of monads with more than 10 recorded taxa. 65% of taxa of national conservation concern favour well lit to fully lit locations (Light values 8-9). Shading of plants, at altitudes below the potential tree line, is strongly influenced by the extent of woodland and scrub and its structure, and by herbivore grazing levels determining height and structure of the field layer. To achieve forest expansion to the natural tree line by natural regeneration will require sustained low levels of grazing and browsing, for decades, or longer. This is already leading to a taller field layer and an increased density of tree regeneration. 40% of native taxa may be negatively impacted, if existing and new woodland becomes dense with a high level of shading. Of these 'at risk' taxa, 50% have maximum height less than 50 cm and may be especially at risk from sustained periods of low grazing. Limited disturbance and lack of open sites and bare ground for seedling recruitment is another potential constraint on vascular plants. The issue of vegetation succession and shading, leading to possible loss of plant diversity is likely to be much less of an issue at altitudes around and above the tree line. Here there are likely to be benefits, with possible expansion of tall herb communities.

Urban expansion and the urban–rural income gap: Empirical evidence from China

Developing countries tend to exhibit evident urban–rural income divergence as urban areas rapidly expand into adjoining land. However, Western-centric urban theories and studies of spatial inequality have not paid sufficient attention to the connection between income divergence and urban expansion. This paper employed a panel quantile regression model to investigate this relationship in 220 prefecture-level Chinese cities in 2006–2014. To identify potential spatiotemporal effects, we conducted additional robustness checks using the spatial Durbin model and geographical and temporal weighted regression. The results show that a 1 % expansion of urban land decreases the urban–rural income gap by 0.005 % to 0.011 %. This narrowing effect is particularly prominent in the eastern and central regions and in areas that are less urbanized overall. It also varies within regions that have a more pronounced difference between the lowest and highest quantiles in northeastern China and cities with urbanization rates of >50 %. Finally, we find evidence for an inverted U-shaped relationship between urban expansion and the urban–rural income gap. Our results entail suggestions for improved urban–rural development policies aimed toward greater integration and efficiency in urban expansion.

Seamless topo-bathymetric surveys of Maiyegun Estate Waterfront Lagos State, Nigeria

Topo-bathymetric surveys are mostly desired in coastal area where water and land perpetually interact. This work explore the ground-based methods of topographic and bathymetric surveys in collecting data for the appropriate description of the Mayegun Estate water front and the adjoining land topography. To acquire depth data at pre-defined transects lines, hydrographic vessel and a trained diver were engaged. The topo-bathy DEM was produced at 1m and contour at 0.5m interval. The wave pattern was determined to be semi-diurnal. The fitted second order polynomial regression equation for wave amplitude against time yielded (y = 2E-07x2 - 0.0003x - 0.0276 at R² = 0.0064) while that of depth versus sounded points gave (y = 5E-09x2 - 5E-06x - 7.1512) at R² = 0.0019. The vertical and horizontal uncertainties were computed as 0.015m and 5m + (-0.47) at 95% confidence level based on (IHO) specification for order 1a. This principle can be adopted with caution as a viable alternative for topo-bathy surveys to minimize cost.

‘A City’s Paradise’: preserving the remainder of Box Hill, voluntary social action and Country Life, 1919–1936

ABSTRACT Land was first purchased at Box Hill, Surrey, on the North Downs, to save a famous viewpoint in 1914. Safeguarding the remainder of Box Hill from development necessitated public appeals in 1919, 1923, 1926 and 1935. Led by the largely autonomous Box Hill Management Committee, and often supported by Country Life, voluntary social action in Surrey and London was mobilised to preserve adjoining land for the National Trust by accretion, intent on avoiding spoliation by villas on winding drives, extensive tree felling, streets of bungalows, and highway construction. Sub-national piecemeal protection and voluntary vigilance sustained delight in the country by subscribers who affirmed their familiarity with Box Hill, where views, trees and sequestered spaces on low and high ground offered quiet enjoyment amid common nature. Using sources which originated in the hill’s management, complemented by Country Life and newspaper reports, the article evaluates the interrelationship of locality and nation during the subscription appeals, with reference to private acts of informal benevolence and personal sense-impressions of Box Hill. The importance of providing respite from congested districts, on unembellished former wooded pasture in its natural state, is explored before sufficient national political consensus arose for the statutory protection of open country. In 1944 the Greater London Plan demanded that remaining unspoiled chalk country should be taken into public possession.

Impacted leopard tooth in thyroid gland of victim in a case of leopard attack – A case report

Attacks by wild animals on humans are not rare in India. Most of the cases are seen in rural areas and areas adjoining forest lands. The nature of the attack may be predatory or defensive. The main culprit for this is deforestation and encroachment of humans into the natural habitats of wild animals. Wild animal attacks can cause very severe injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and vascular injuries, and are often associated with high rates of mortality. Treatment depends on the type and nature of the injury. Those who survive the initial attack often succumb to infection and septicemia during the early hospital stay. Psychiatric complications are also common in survivors. We present the case of a 70-year-old man, who was attacked by a leopard. He sustained a few lacerated bite injuries to the neck and was treated at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. A computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a tooth of the animal impacted in the thyroid gland of the patient. The patient is currently receiving treatment for deranged thyroid function, and awaiting normalization of the same, to get anesthetic fitness for surgical removal of the tooth. Treating surgeons must be well aware of the patterns of injuries and their treatment in cases of animal attack injuries. In-depth clinical and radiological investigations are of utmost importance to find out occult injuries that may become life-threatening. A standardized treatment protocol needs to be developed for the treatment of wild animal attack victims. There is a need to extend health care into the remote areas of the nation, for early treatment of such cases.

Diagnostics of soils located in the gradient of urban-technogenic impact

The rapidly progressing urbanization results in decline of environmentally valuable forest territory. Intact ecosystems bordering urban communities suffer from heavy technogenic pressure and degrade irreversibly over time. This situation necessitates studies that analyze the ecological condition of major components of forest ecosystems exposed to various levels of such pressure. The survey was carried out in the city of Petrozavodsk in sites with degraded, slightly disturbed, and undisturbed forest ecosystems. For each site, the soil condition was assessed, the tree stand and the living ground cover were described. As a result, it was found that soils in the slightly disturbed forest ecosystem generally corresponded to the natural background (Ferric Illuvial Podzol). Changes in their morphological and chemical properties compared to soils in the undisturbed reference plot were identified. The thickness and ash content of the upper organic horizon in the slightly disturbed site changed. The forest ecosystem was in the transitional stage (from I–II to III) of recreational digression and required infrastructural improvements. The forest ecosystem in the built-up site was totally destroyed. Irreversible transformation of its natural environment resulted in the loss of woody and ground vegetation. The native zonal soils were ruined, and their diagnostic horizons cannot be identified. There was observed a large amount of rocks and anthropogenic inclusions throughout the profile. According to the Russian soil classification, these formations belong to the subgroup of organo-mineral strata of technogenic surface formations. The collected data can be used as the basis for ecological monitoring of urban soils. Based on the findings, recommendations were given on how to conserve and improve the sanitary and esthetic functions of forest areas adjoining urban built-up land.

Risk-informed land-use planning in the Indian context: A social cost-benefit analysis

Major chemical process accidents over the recent past decades have led to the formulation and enforcement of land-use planning (LUP) practices across many countries, so as to mitigate the public risk emanating from major chemical hazard installations. The present paper presents an approach to deciding land-use policy founded on integrated local risk-acceptance criteria and an attendant societal cost-benefit analysis. The application of the proposed approach is demonstrated by a case study of an example greenfield industrial facility for which the adjoining land is subject to strictures of LUP policy. The context is chosen to be that of India, which is an emergent economy that is beset with unique challenges for balancing land-use between agrarian and industrial use. The societal costs and benefits are computed employing macro-economic indicators; the former comprise opportunity cost of land restricted for development, while the benefit is comprised of the cumulative wealth generation due to economic development of the jurisdiction over the facility life time. The value of the benefit to cost ratio is found to be highest corresponding to a LUP based on a relatively relaxed risk acceptance criterion with As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) limits of 10−6–10−4/yr for public individual risk. The primary reason for this outcome is that, in comparison to a developed economy, land prices in India are relatively high vis-à-vis labour productivity and wages. This shifts the LUP choice towards the policy which involves least land-use restrictions against non-agrarian, commercial developments in the vicinity of major hazard installations. It is also demonstrated that if the per capita GDP values corresponded to those of developed economies, a LUP policy based on a more stringent risk acceptance criterion may be affordable for the society. An additional significant finding of the study is that the Value of Statistical Life of humans makes a relatively minor contribution to the societal cost-benefit analysis. Thus, its value as a determinant to LUP decision may be relatively limited. This essentially underscores the idea that the broader objective of LUP need be to simultaneously foster economic development and minimise human and other critical losses.

Fire risks management in emerging Ghanaian cities: land use planning responses for siting petrol and gas stations in the Tamale Metropolis

Fire disasters are common in unplanned areas of African cities. In urban Ghana, recent increases in fire outbreaks from gas and petrol stations with devastating effects on adjoining land uses raise questions about the effectiveness of the current zoning regulations and land-use planning regimes. Using Tamale Metropolis, a fast growing city in northern Ghana, this paper explores how land use planning and zoning practices reduce fire risk from gas and petrol stations. The study adopted qualitative methods of in-depth interviews of 35 metropolitan officials, 39 landowners and 78 operators of gas and petrol stations, purposively selected. In addition, the locations of all gas stations were visited and observed using site analysis techniques. The study revealed that there has been no accidental fires in the last decade. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, through its Physical Planning Department and Spatial Planning Committee implements its land use decisions and zoning codes through monthly sensitization programs, field visits and effective monitoring of adherence and compliance with development permits given to operators of gas stations. The study recommends intensified and sustained land use planning and zoning enforcement in rapidly urbanizing cities in Ghana.

Expanding scrub typhus beyond territories with a varied presentation in the holy Himalayas (DPST–AIIMS Rishikesh study)

Background: Scrub typhus, a rickettsial zoonosis, is endemic in Indian sub-continent, but is rare in holy Himalayan region due to natural adverse to both organism and vector. The study sought to describe the clinical profile of scrub typhus in the Himalayan region and adjoining plain lands. Methods and materials: We did a retrospective observational study of the positive cases from July 2018 to June 2019 in a tertiary care center. All possible risk factors, demographic details, clinical presentations, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 80 cases were analysed. Maximum cases were observed in month of September (post-monsoon). Major symptoms noted were fever, abdominal pain, headache, cough, breathlessness, and myalgia. Atypical presentations included were capillary syndrome and demyelinating polyneuropathy. Eschar detection rate was low. Among organ involvement, hematology system (70%) was most commonly observed followed by liver, kidney, brain, lungs, and heart respectively. Case fatality rate was 6.82%. Himalayan and non-Himalayan cohorts (n = 32 vs 48 respectively) did not show any statistically significant differences in clinical profile, although one could observe that Himalayan cohorts had higher incidences of leukopenia, splenomegaly, and myocarditis, while fever for >7days at admission, hepatomegaly, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and requirement of mechanical ventilation, and major organ involvement and resulting admission in high definition unit and mortality were higher in the non-Himalayan cohorts. Uncontrolled diabetes, leucocytosis, liver and lung involvements were found to be predictor of hospital stay of >5days. Leucocytosis, kidney, liver, and brain involvements were found predictor for high dependency unit admission while development of shock was associated with liver, kidney, heart, and lung involvements. Similarly smoking >40 pack-years and presence of leucocytosis, kidney and brain involvements were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion: The study reveals several atypical presentations and complications differing from the classical description, calling for redefining the clinical profile of scrub typhus. Himalayan cohorts have higher incidences of leukopenia, splenomegaly, and myocarditis compared to sub-Himalayan populations who have more incidence of ARDS. Brain and kidney involvements are found to have a higher incidence compared to other Indian scrub typhus cases. Ongoing study will answer more hidden truths of emerging scrub typhus.

Sea level rise inducing tidal modulation along the coasts of Bengal delta

The Bengal delta, the largest delta on the Earth, is subject to a marked coastal flooding hazard and associated with widespread vulnerability. The situation will expectedly deteriorate in the ongoing context of sea level rise. This sea level rise will not only have a direct effect on the coastal flooding, but will also have indirect effects, through the alteration of the coastal hydrodynamics. In the present study, we investigate the impact of sea level rise on tide, which is the largest source of variability of sea level along the macro-tidal coast of Bengal delta. Through a comprehensive modelling framework comprising the coastal delta, major estuaries, as well as the intricate hydraulic network of the delta, we assess the future changes of tidal properties to be expected for various sea level rise scenarios, representative of the end of the 21st century and beyond. It is found that the effect is large, and regionally dependent. Over both the south-western and south-eastern parts of the delta, the amplitude of the tide is expected to increase when the sea level is higher, which is bound to aggravate the tidal flooding hazard. In contrast, the central part of the delta will potentially experience massive flooding of river banks and adjoining lands in the scenarios exceeding 0.5 m of sea level rise. Consequently, this flooding induces a decay of the tidal amplitude in the central part. Our study shows that the tidal modulation is a significant ingredient that needs to be accounted for in the evolution of the future hydrodynamics of the Bengal delta. The friction-dominated and regionally contrasting damping and amplification mechanism also underscores the potential application of managed realignment strategy for a sustainable delta management in the future.

Bioefficacies of microbes for mitigation of Azo dyes in textile industry effluent: A review

In recent years, India has emerged as a promising industrial hub. It has a cluster of textile, dyeing, and printing industries. The adjoining rivers/water bodies receive mostly untreated discharge from these industries. Textile industrial effluent contains various contaminants (dyes, heavy metals, toxicants, and other organic/inorganic dissolved solids) that alter the physico-chemical properties of adjoining land and waterbodies in which it is discharged, thereby degrading the water quality and subsequently affecting the landscapes in the vicinity. This ultimately affects the flora and fauna of the locale and has adverse effects on human health. Out of the total dyes (approximately 10,000 dyes) exploited in the textile dyeing and printing units, azo dyes possess a complex structure and are synthetic in origin. They contribute nearly 70% to the total effluent discharge. Biological processes are based on the ability of inhabiting indigenous microorganisms in these contaminated environments to tolerate, resist, decolorize/degrade, and mitigate the recalcitrant compounds. Exploring microbes with higher efficacy of azo dye degradation can reduce the amount of chemical discharged from the process. The present review explores the potential of microbial diversity for the development of an effective bioremediation approach. The review also includes the impact of azo dyes on the flora and fauna, as well as conventional and microbe-assisted nanoparticle technology for treatment of the textile wastewater targeting the degradation of dye contaminants.