Health risk assessment of heavy metals in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivated in domestic wastewater and lake water irrigated soils

Irrigation of crops with domestic wastewater (DW) is a common practice in developing countries like India. However, domestic wastewater irrigation poses a risk of migration of toxic heavy metals to edible parts of crops, which requires serious measures to prevent their uptake. In this study, the effect of DW irrigation in comparison with Sarbal Lake water (SLW) and borewell water (BW) on soil characteristics and cultivated saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was investigated. For this purpose, samples of water, soil, and saffron (corm, petal, and stigma) were collected from the suburban area of Pampore, Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The results showed that DW irrigation had the maximum significant (p < 0.05) influence on the physico-chemical and nutrient characteristics of the soil, followed by SLW and BW irrigation, respectively. The growth and yield parameters of saffron were also significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the case of DW irrigation as compared to SLW and BW. The quality ranking of the cultivated saffron was found to be in accordance with the ISO standard (III: BW and II: DW and SLW). On the other hand, DW irrigation showed a significant increase in heavy metal contents (mg/kg) of saffron plant parts such as As (0.21-0.40), Cd (0.04-0.09), Cr (0.16-0.41), Cu (7.31-14. 75), Fe (142.38-303.15), Pb (0.18-0.31), Mn (15.26-22.81), Hg (0.18-0.25), Ni (0.74-1.18), Se (0.13-0.22), and Zn (3.44-4.59), followed by SLW and BW. However, the levels of heavy metals did not exceed the FAO/WHO safe limits. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), dietary intake modeling (DIM<0.006496), health risk assessment (HRI<0.028571), and target hazard quotient (THQ<1) analyses showed no potential health hazard associated with the consumption of saffron irrigated with DW and SLW. Therefore, the results of this study provide valuable insights into the optimization of irrigation sources for saffron cultivation.

Helium line ratio imaging in the C-2W divertor

A 2D imaging instrument has been designed and deployed on C-2W ("Norman") [H. Gota et al., Nucl. Fusion 61, 106039 (2021)] to study the plasma in the expander divertor by simultaneously measuring three neutral helium spectral lines. Ratios of these images, in conjunction with a collisional-radiative model, yield 2D maps of electron temperature and density. Almost the entire radial plasma cross-section (∼60 cm) can be mapped with a spatial resolution ≲1 cm. These data can, in principle, be acquired at 3 kHz. The neutral helium target is provided by a custom-built supersonic gas injector located inside the divertor vessel, which injects helium toward the magnetic axis and perpendicular to the camera sight-cone. Images of helium emission and reconstructed electron density and temperature profiles of the plasma produced from an end gun are presented. Voltages applied to concentric annular electrodes located in the divertors are used to stabilize beam-driven field reversed configuration plasmas. Magnetic field expansion is also employed to thermally isolate electrons from the end electrodes. Measurements of electron temperature and density in the divertor are important in order to study the effects of both the electrostatic biasing and the divertor magnetic field on electron confinement, neutral gas transport, and the overall machine performance.

OC-003 PORT POSITIONS IN TEP FOR SHORT PATIENTS: OUR EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Totally extraperitoneal repair (TEP) is a popular technique for repair of inguinal hernia. One common technique of TEP involves placement of one 10 mm port 1–2 cm below the umbilicus just off the midline, one 5 mm port 2–3 cm above the pubic symphysis, and a third 5 mm port between these 2 ports in the midline (Figure 1a). In case the distance from the superior border of the symphysis pubis to the inferior edge of the umbilicus is less than 15 cm, this leads to crowding of instruments and results in ergonomic problems during the operation. Daes has popularized eTEP for this indication. The aim is to shift the first 10 mm port to a position 5 cm superior and 4 cm lateral to the umbilicus (Figure 1b). eTEP has also found application in the repair of ventral hernias. However, for most inguinal hernias, we feel that eTEP is an overkill.

Methods

We place the first 10 mm port at the level of the superior border of the umbilicus and just lateral to it (Figure 1c). The two 5 mm ports are placed in the midline. Initial dissection is performed telescopically.

Results

This technique provides 2–3 cm of extra working space, which improves ergonomics while operating on patients with a short pubo-umbilical distance. Other parameters like operating time, postoperative pain and other complications remain the same.

Conclusion

We recommend placement of the 10 mm port at the superior border of the umbilicus, particularly in short patients.

P-011 FEASIBILITY OF VENTRAL-TAPP FOR VENTRAL HERNIA REPAIR IN A LOW INCOME COUNTRY LIKE INDIA

Aim

Minimal invasive repair is now the established procedure for ventral hernia. Surgeons are now validating newer techniques each year to deal with the ventral hernia. It becomes difficult to choose, best fit technique from this large armamentarium. For a low income country like India, ventral- trans abdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) technique is cost effective and uses simple polyester or polypropylene mesh.

Methods

For this article we used our experience with ventral-TAPP performed from July 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. Patients were followed up for 6 months.

Results

In the above time period, we had performed 10 ventral-TAPP. Out of these, 3 had completed the follow up. Median age was 45.0 years, BMI was 26.56 kg/m2. One patient was male (33.33%). All patients were presented to surgery due to bulge or pain in the anterior abdominal wall.

The median hernia defect measured 80 mm, median mesh diameter was 15 cm and median operative time was 125 min. No intraoperative complications occurred.

Postoperatively, none of the patients developed complications. Length of hospital stay was 3.0 days. Six months after surgery, neither recurrence nor chronic pain were recorded.

Conclusion

We have concluded that mesh used in repair with ventral-TAPP costs one fourth to one-fifth to that of composite mesh used in intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair with the comparable results. So in a low income country like India, ventral TAPP should be a preferred approach.

Resonance Excitations in ^{7}Be(d,p)^{8}Be^{*} to Address the Cosmological Lithium Problem

The anomaly in lithium abundance is a well-known unresolved problem in nuclear astrophysics. A recent revisit to the problem tried the avenue of resonance enhancement to account for the primordial ^{7}Li abundance in standard big-bang nucleosynthesis. Prior measurements of the ^{7}Be(d,p)^{8}Be^{*} reaction could not account for the individual contributions of the different excited states involved, particularly at higher energies close to the Q value of the reaction. We carried out an experiment at HIE-ISOLDE, CERN to study this reaction at E_{c.m.}=7.8  MeV, populating excitations up to 22 MeV in ^{8}Be for the first time. The angular distributions of the several excited states have been measured and the contributions of the higher excited states in the total cross section at the relevant big-bang energies were obtained by extrapolation to the Gamow window using the talys code. The results show that by including the contribution of the 16.63 MeV state, the maximum value of the total S factor inside the Gamow window comes out to be 167 MeV b as compared to earlier estimate of 100 MeV b. However, this still does not account for the lithium discrepancy.

Differentiating border-zone tissue from post-infarct scar using ripple mapping during VT ablation

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Areas of post-infarct ventricular scar and border-zone slow conduction are often highlighted on a bipolar voltage map with generalized values 0.5mV–1.5mV. The true voltage that differentiates regions of conducting from non-conducting tissue is unknown. Ripple Mapping (RM)displays allows conducting tissue to be seen as areas supporting Ripple activation, and non-conducting tissue as areas devoid of Ripple activation.

Purpose

We describe application of Ripple Maps to differentiate areas of scar from conducting tissue during ischemic VT ablation.

Methods

Dense bipolar voltage maps were created (Pentaray catheter, pacing 80-100bpm) and presented as a single value (e.g. 0.5mV-0.5mV) to binarize the color display (red and purple). RMs were superimposed on the voltage map and played above a pre-set noise threshold (&gt;0.05mV). The voltage map mV limit was sequentially reduced ("border-zone threshold") until only those areas devoid of Ripple bars appeared red. The surrounding border-zone supporting ripple activation thus appeared purple. We performed off-line analysis of border-zone voltage thresholds from a series of RM guided VT ablations.

Results

10 consecutive patients (LVEF 32.3±7.5%) with remote myocardial infarction underwent VT ablation (median 19days (IQR 8-33) since last VT). Bipolar voltage mapping (5873±2841 points, median shell area 224cm2), revealed voltages&lt;0.5mV covered a median 11% (IQR 7-17%) of the shell. The border-zone voltage threshold was median 0.2mV (range 0.12mV - 0.3mV). Non-conducting tissue below this value covered only median 5% (IQR 3-7%) of the entire shell. VT was mappable in 4 patients, and the isthmus was bordered by tissue below the same border-zone threshold as found in normal rhythm. The border-zone was homogenized with ablation(40-50W, median 29 mins (IQR 22-33), and clinical VT was non-inducible in all, and 9 pts (91%) remain sustained VT-free at median 90-day follow-up (IQR 23-139), 2-weeks blanking period).

Picture 1 presents an infero-lateral LV infarct collected in an RV paced rhythm (7340points) and displayed at conventional bipolar voltage settings 0.5-1.5mV. Tissue with voltages&lt;0.5mV appear red and cover 30% of the total area. In this case, this border-zone voltage threshold was defined as 0.25mV. Non-conducting tissue, seen as areas devoid of ripple bars below this value, now appeared as red, and covered only 11% of the total area. Picture 2 demonstrates the morphologies of 4 poorly tolerated induced VTs during this case. Each had near perfect pacemaps to the exit sites of border-zone tissue defined using this approach, and were targets for ablation resulting in complete non-inducibility and no VT recurrence in early follow-up.

Conclusion

The bipolar voltage that differentiates putative scar from bordering conducting tissue is unique to each patient, and far lower than 0.5mV-1.5mV. RM presents a practical approach to visualize the border-zone activation to guide ablation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hemoglobinopathies: Progress and prospects

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical donor is currently the only means of curing thalassemia . Transplant outcome depends upon the presence of risk factors (hepatomegaly, portal fibrosis and poor quality of chelation). patients are defined to have class I - if no risk factor, class II with one or two and class III - if all three risk factors are present. For patients under 16 years of age, for class I, class II and III the probabilities of survival are approximately 95%, >80% and 60-70%, respectively. The risk of transplant related morbidity& mortality is low when transplant is done at an early age. Currently, busulfan, cyclophospahmide and antithymocyte globulin based combination is used for conditioning. More than 200 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have undergone allogeneic SCT with long term survival in >80% of patients. Results are better if donor is an HLA-identical sibling and if transplant is done early in the course of disease. Presently, experience with reduced intensity SCT and matched unrelated donor transplant is limited to recommend their routine use.