Evaluation of groundwater for nitrate and fluoride in Alappuzha region from the southwestern coast of India and associated health risks

Nitrate and fluoride are two of the most prevalent pollutants in drinking water and exposure to their high concentrations could cause methemoglobinemia and fluorosis. This study attempted to evaluate the groundwater quality (pH: 4.4-9) from a relatively understudied part of the southwestern coast in India (i.e., Alappuzha, Kerala state) and assessed the associated health risks from exposures to nitrate (0.2-5.8 mg/l) and fluoride (0.2-1.9 mg/l) present in the groundwater. Pollution index (PIG: 0.35-5.43) grouped about 21% samples in high pollution and very high pollution categories because of fluoride content above the WHO guidelines. The total hazard index (THI) for adult male (0.17-1.70; average: 0.75), adult female (0.19-1.85; average: 0.81) and children (0.35-3.40; average: 1.50) suggested more non-carcinogenic risks for children from 41.6% samples compared to adult male and female from 33.3% samples in the absence of any mitigation measure. These results provide additional data from the country with highest population and the largest groundwater use in the context of sustainability in availability and supply of groundwater under the increasing risks of population growth, climate change and industrial development.

Submarine groundwater discharge: An Asian overview

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the combination of fresh and saline groundwater flux to marine system through continental boundaries regardless of its chemical composition and factors influencing the flow. We have discussed the SGD studies in the Asian context; SGD has been studied in various parts of Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. In China, SGD has been studied in several coastal regions, including the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. In Japan, SGD has been studied in the Pacific coast, where it has been found to be an important source of fresh water to the coastal ocean. In South Korea, SGD has been studied in the Yellow Sea, where it has been found to be an important source of fresh water to the coastal ocean. In Southeast Asia, SGD has been studied in several countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Recently the SGD studies acquired much development India, the research on SGD in India is limited, and more studies are needed to understand the SGD process, its impact on the coastal environment, and the management strategies, Groundwater extraction for irrigation, industry, and domestic use is increasing in India, which can affect the SGD process in coastal aquifers. Overall, the studies suggest that SGD is an important process in Asian coastal regions, playing a role in the supply of fresh water and the transport of pollutants and nutrients.

The large key space image encryption algorithm based on modulus synchronization between real and complex fractional-order dynamical systems

This paper constructs and analyzes the dynamical properties of a new fractional-order real hyper-chaotic system and its corresponding complex variable system. A thorough analysis was done by employing stability of equilibrium points, phase plots, Lyapunov spectrum, and bifurcation analysis for the consequences of varying fractional-order derivative and parameter values on the system. For the first time, a modulus synchronization scheme is proposed to synchronize real and complex fractional-order dynamical systems. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, non-linear controllers are designed to achieve the proposed modulus synchronization scheme. A new modulus synchronization encryption algorithm with a large key space size for digital images is introduced for the application. The experimental results and analysis validate the desired algorithm. Also, we compare our result of the new encryption algorithm with the previously published literature and verify the efficacy of the considered scheme. Numerical simulations are given to validate the theoretical analysis.

Submarine groundwater discharge and associated nutrient influx in surroundings of the estuary region at Gulf of Mannar coast, Indian Ocean

The influx of fresh groundwater and re-circulated sea water into coastal ecosystem occurs through the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Measurement of salinity, radium tracers (²²⁴Ra, and ²²⁶Ra isotopes) and nutrients in estuarine water, coastal surface water and groundwater during December 2019 estimated the SGD and associated nutrient fluxes near the Karameniyar estuary (Gulf of Mannar) and surroundings of the Manapad region at southern part of Tamil Nadu state in India. The presence of excessive radium tracers revealed that the SGD was contributing to Ra desorption from the sediments and enrichment in the coastal waters. We estimated SGD of approximately 0.03-0.59 m³ m^-2 d^-1 for the Manapad region and relatively more homogeneous but comparatively less values in the Karameniyar estuary (0.03-0.34 m³ m^-2 d^-1). Higher average values of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; 43.62 μmol L^-1) and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP; 1.848 μmol L^-1) suggested greater influence of SGD on the overall coastal water nutrient budget. This study also indicated simultaneous occurrence of fresh and saline SGD in this region.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metal and pathogenic contamination in surface water of the Punnakayal estuary, South India

Variation in levels of toxic heavy metals in river system during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown might potentially assist in development of a public health risk mitigation system associated with the water consumption. The water quality of Punnakayal estuary in the Thamirabarani River system from the south India, a vital source of water for drinking and domestic purposes, industrial usage, and irrigation was assessed here. A comparitive assessment of physico-chemical variables (pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, turbidity and NO₃), microbiological parameters (total coliform bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, fecal streptococci and escherichia coli) and toxic metals (As, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) suggested a decrease of 20% in the contaminant ratio during the lockdown period in comparison to the pre-lockdown period. The Health risk assessment models (HQ, HI, and TCR) highlighted carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards for both children and adults through the ingestion and dermal adsorption exposures. The HI values for both As and Cr exceeded the acceptable limit (>1) during the lockdown period, but the potential risk for children and adults remained low in compaisio with the pre-lockdown period. Our results suggested that the Thamirabarani River system remained hostile to human health even during the lockdown period, and it requires regular monitoring through a volunteer water quality committee with private and government participations.

Measurement of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into Tiruchendur coast at southeast India using 222Rn as a naturally occurring tracer

Application of natural tracers such as radon isotope mass balance has been useful in estimating the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). This study used ²²²Rn and evaluated the magnitude of SGD at Tiruchendur coast of southeast India in the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean). Higher magnitudes of ²²²Rn in the porewater and seawater in comparison with the groundwater suggest simultaneous SGD with fluxes of 0.1-0.25 m³ m^-2 d^-1 at offshore and 0.4-0.20 m³ m^-2 d^-1 at the near shore. These baseline data would contribute to the management and protection of the Gulf of Mannar region in near future.

Microplastics and trace metals in fish species of the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean) and evaluation of human health

The importance of microplastic (MPs) contamination in marine environments is reflected by increasing number of studies in fish species. Some even dedicated to the toxicological effects from the ingestion. Microplastics (MPs) and their trace metal composition were examined in the muscle and intestine of five commercially important fish species (i.e., Sufflamen fraenatus, Heniochus acuminatus, Atropus atropos, Pseudotriacanthus and Leiognathus brevirostris) from Thoothukudi at the Gulf of Mannar coast in south India. The abundance and morphology of MPs (size, shape, and texture) in muscle and intestinal were investigated by micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μ-FT-IR) and atomic force microscope (AFM). ICP-OES was used to investigate the adsorption/leaching of trace metals in microplastics in order to assess health risk for adults and children. Particles of 100-250 μm and white color dominated, and the mean abundances (items/100 g) of total MPs were more in Pseudotriacanthus (muscle: 51.2; intestine: 50.1) compared to Heniochus acuminatus (muscle: 9.6; intestine: 15), Leiognathus brevirostris (muscle: 12; intestine: 13.2) and Atropus atropus (muscle: 15.2; intestine: 44.1). Polyethylene (35.3%), polypropylene (27.2%), polyamide (nylon) (22.2%) and fiber (15.3%) represented the MPs present in muscles, and polyamide (nylon) (30.2%), polyethylene (28.1%), polypropylene (25.9%), and fiber (15.8%) composed the intestine MPs. We estimated possible consumption of 121-456 items of MPs/week by adults and about 19-68 items of MPs/week by children by considering the sizes of safe meals. Zn, Cu, Mn and Cr in these fish species reflected influence of the sewage waste. However, the non-carcinogenic risk evaluated through EDI, THQ, HI, and CR did not suggest any immediate health problem for the consumers.

Assessment of groundwater from an industrial coastal area of south India for human health risk from consumption and irrigation suitability

We assessed the groundwater quality in an industrial area (Tiruchendur Taluk) of Tamil Nadu state in coastal south India for human health risk from drinking as well as irrigation suitability by using the drinking water quality index (DWQI), irrigation factors (sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percentage, residual sodium carbonate and permeability index) and health hazard valuation (THQI- by consuming NO₃^- and F^-). About 57% of the samples represented Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-Cl^--SO₄^2- facies and the anthropological unhygienic inputs elevated the salinity. Our results indicated that all the samples are unsuitable for drinking (DWQI up to 1063) and almost half of them are also unsuitable for irrigation due to sodium risk. Total hazard quotient index (THQI; HQ _nitrate and HQ _fluoride) suggested the order of health risk as children > women > men with about 64%, 70% and 79% of the samples posing non-carcinogenic risks for men, women and children, respectively. Different mitigation measures and sustainable development should be enforced to minimize the health issues from contamination caused by industries, fertilizers in agro-fields and natural processes and reduce the sodium dominance in groundwater. The spatial distribution maps of this study could also be helpful in organization of proper treatment plans to provide safe and hygienic groundwater to the community.

Dynamical analysis and optimal harvesting of conformable fractional prey-predator system with predator immigration

Aim of this work is to study the four species various fractional-order prey-predator or Lotka-Volterra (LV) system with both immigration and harvesting effects. The existence and uniqueness, uniform boundedness, persistence, permanence, and extinction of this system solution are analyzed. The stability behavior of the system is obtained with the help of the Routh-Hurwitz (RH) stability criterion. The small changes in fractional-order values can produce a significant impact on the stability of the system is confirmed. This work verifies that the small amount of immigration effect can change the dynamic nature of the LV system. Numerical results are given to illustrate the obtained theoretical results of the stability analysis. The bionomic equilibrium points of the system are attained with their feasibility conditions. To get the optimal amount of harvesting effect with the Pontryagin's maximum principle, the harvesting parameter is considered as the control parameter.

Imprints of pandemic lockdown on subsurface water quality in the coastal industrial city of Tuticorin, South India: A revival perspective

Globally, the incidences of environmental improvements owing to seizing the anthropogenic activities during the lockdown have been reported through news articles and photographs, yet a formal scholarly study has been lacking to substantiate the imprints of lockdown. We hereby present the imprints of lockdown on water quality (both chemical and biological) parameters during the nationwide lockdown (COVID-19 epidemic) in India between 25th March to 30th May 2020. The present study describes the changes in chemical and biological water quality parameters based on twenty-two groundwater samples from the coastal industrial city of Tuticorin in Southern India, taken before (10 and 11th February 2020) and during the lockdown (19 and 20th April 2020) periods. The physico-chemical parameters compared are pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO₃), fluoride (F), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and selenium (Se), and the bacterial parameters are total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli, and fecal streptococci. Among the metals, the significant reductions in Se (42%), As (51%), Fe (60%) and Pb (50%) were noticed probably owing to no or very less wastewater discharges from metal-based industries, seafood-based industries and thermal power plants during the lockdown. Reduction in NO₃ (56%), total coliform (52%) and fecal coliforms (48%) indicated less organic sewage from the fishing industries. Contents of Cr, Cu, Zn and Cd, however, remained similar and fluoride did not show any change, probably as they were sourced from rock-water interactions. Similarly, we did not observe alterations in E. coli and fecal streptococci due to no significant change in domestic sewage production during the lockdown. The multivariate analyses aptly illustrated this and the principal component analyses helped to identify the sources that controlled water qualities of the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period. Our observation implies that groundwater is definitely under active interaction with surface waters and thus a quick revival could be observed following the seizing of anthropogenic activities.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown: Effects on air quality in the industrialized Gujarat state of India

Two weeks after the world health organization described the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak as pandemic, the Indian government implemented lockdown of industrial activities and traffic flows across the entire nation between March 24 and May 31, 2020. In this paper, we estimated the improvements achieved in air quality during the lockdown period (March 24, 2020 and April 20, 2020) compared to the pre-lockdown (January 1, 2020 and March 23, 2020) by analyzing PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, CO, NO₂ and O₃ data from nine different air quality monitoring stations distributed across four different zones of the industrialized Gujarat state of western Indian. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-Air Quality Index (AQI) illustrated better air qualities during the lockdown with higher improvements in the zones 2 (Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar) and 3 (Jamnagar and Rajkot), and moderate improvements in the zones 1 (Surat, Ankleshwar and Vadodra) and 4 (Bhuj and Palanpur). The concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ were reduced by 38-78%, 32-80% and 30-84%, respectively. Functioning of the power plants possibly led to less reduction in CO (3-55%) and the declined emission of NO helped to improve O₃ (16-48%) contents. We observed an overall improvement of 58% in AQI for the first four months of 2020 compared to the same interval of previous year. This positive outcome resulted from the lockdown restrictions might help to modify the existing environmental policies of the region.

Nonfragile Sampled-Data Control for Uncertain Networked Control Systems With Additive Time-Varying Delays

This paper investigates the stabilization problem of uncertain networked control systems with additive time-varying delays by using nonfragile sampled-data control. Suitable Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) is constructed which includes more information about the additive time-varying delays. The main aim of this paper is to design a nonfragile sampled-data control scheme which guarantees asymptotic stability of the considered system. Besides that, the Jensen's and improved integral inequalities are used for estimating the single and double integral terms in the derivative of LKFs and the sufficient conditions are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of proposed theoretical results are validated and compared with existing literature by numerical examples and their simulation results.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessment of brain injury after moderate hypothermia in neonatal encephalopathy: a prospective multicentre cohort study

Background

In neonatal encephalopathy, the clinical manifestations of injury can only be reliably assessed several years after an intervention, complicating early prognostication and rendering trials of promising neuroprotectants slow and expensive. We aimed to determine the accuracy of thalamic proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (MRS) biomarkers as early predictors of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities observed years after neonatal encephalopathy.

Methods

We did a prospective multicentre cohort study across eight neonatal intensive care units in the UK and USA, recruiting term and near-term neonates who received therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy. We excluded infants with life-threatening congenital malformations, syndromic disorders, neurometabolic diseases, or any alternative diagnoses for encephalopathy that were apparent within 6 h of birth. We obtained T₁-weighted, T₂-weighted, and diffusion-weighted MRI and thalamic proton MRS 4–14 days after birth. Clinical neurodevelopmental tests were done 18–24 months later. The primary outcome was the association between MR biomarkers and an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, defined as death or moderate or severe disability, measured using a multivariable prognostic model. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to examine the prognostic accuracy of the individual biomarkers. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01309711.

Findings

Between Jan 29, 2013, and June 25, 2016, we recruited 223 infants who all underwent MRI and MRS at a median age of 7 days (IQR 5–10), with 190 (85%) followed up for neurological examination at a median age of 23 months (20–25). Of those followed up, 31 (16%) had moderate or severe disability, including one death. Multiple logistic regression analysis could not be done because thalamic N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration alone accurately predicted an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome (area under the curve [AUC] of 0·99 [95% CI 0·94–1·00]; sensitivity 100% [74–100]; specificity 97% [90–100]; n=82); the models would not converge when any additional variable was examined. The AUC (95% CI) of clinical examination at 6 h (n=190) and at discharge (n=167) were 0·72 (0·65–0·78) and 0·60 (0·53–0·68), respectively, and the AUC of abnormal amplitude integrated EEG at 6 h (n=169) was 0·73 (0·65–0·79). On conventional MRI (n=190), cortical injury had an AUC of 0·67 (0·60–0·73), basal ganglia or thalamic injury had an AUC of 0·81 (0·75–0·87), and abnormal signal in the posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) had an AUC of 0·82 (0·76–0·87). Fractional anisotropy of PLIC (n=65) had an AUC of 0·82 (0·76–0·87). MRS metabolite peak-area ratios (n=160) of NAA–creatine (<1·29) had an AUC of 0·79 (0·72–0·85), of NAA–choline had an AUC of 0·74 (0·66–0·80), and of lactate–NAA (>0·22) had an AUC of 0·94 (0·89–0·97).

Interpretation

Thalamic proton MRS measures acquired soon after birth in neonatal encephalopathy had the highest accuracy to predict neurdevelopment 2 years later. These methods could be applied to increase the power of neuroprotection trials while reducing their duration.

Funding

National Institute for Health Research UK.

Sliding mode control for generalized robust synchronization of mismatched fractional order dynamical systems and its application to secure transmission of voice messages

This paper proposes a generalized robust synchronization method for different dimensional fractional order dynamical systems with mismatched fractional derivatives in the presence of function uncertainty and external disturbance by a designing sliding mode controller. Based on the proposed theory of generalized robust synchronization criterion, a novel audio cryptosystem is proposed for sending or sharing voice messages secretly via insecure channel. Numerical examples are given to verify the potency of the proposed theories.

Protocol of a randomised controlled trial of real-time continuous glucose monitoring in neonatal intensive care 'REACT'

INTRODUCTION

Hyperglycaemia is common in the very preterm infant and has been associated with adverse outcomes. Preventing hyperglycaemia without increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia has proved challenging. The development of real-time continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to inform treatment decisions provides an opportunity to reduce this risk. This study aims to assess the feasibility of CGM combined with a specifically designed paper guideline to target glucose control in the preterm infant.

METHODS AND ANALYSES

The Real Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care (REACT) trial is an international multicentre randomised controlled trial. 200 preterm infants ≤1200 g and ≤24 hours of age will be randomly allocated to either real-time CGM or standard care (with blinded CGM data collection). The primary outcome is time in target 2.6-10 mmol/L during the study intervention assessed using CGM. Secondary outcomes include efficacy relating to glucose control, utility including staff acceptability, safety outcomes relating to incidence and prevalence of hypoglycaemia and health economic analyses.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The REACT trial has been approved by the National Health Service Health Research Authority National Research Ethics Service Committee East of England (Cambridge Central); Medical Ethics Review Committee, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the Research Ethics Committee, Sant Joan de Déu Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. Recruitment began in July 2016 and will continue until mid-2018. The trial has been adopted by the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network portfolio (ID: 18826) and is registered with anInternational Standard Randomised Control Number (ISRCTN registry ID: 12793535). Dissemination plans include presentations at scientific conferences, scientific publications and efforts at stakeholder engagement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN12793535; Pre-results.

Global asymptotic stability of complex-valued neural networks with additive time-varying delays

In this paper, we extensively study the global asymptotic stability problem of complex-valued neural networks with leakage delay and additive time-varying delays. By constructing a suitable Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and applying newly developed complex valued integral inequalities, sufficient conditions for the global asymptotic stability of proposed neural networks are established in the form of complex-valued linear matrix inequalities. This linear matrix inequalities are efficiently solved by using standard available numerical packages. Finally, three numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

Infinite horizon optimal control of forward–backward stochastic system driven by Teugels martingales with Lévy processes

In this paper, we consider the infinite horizon nonlinear optimal control of forward–backward stochastic system governed by Teugels martingales associated with Lévy processes and one dimensional independent Brownian motion. Our aim is to establish the sufficient and necessary conditions for optimality of the above stochastic system under the convexity assumptions. Finally an application is given to illustrate the problem of optimal control of stochastic system.

Synchronization and an application of a novel fractional order King Cobra chaotic system

In this paper, we design a new three dimensional King Cobra face shaped fractional order chaotic system. The multi-scale synchronization scheme of two fractional order chaotic systems is described. The necessary conditions for the multi-scale synchronization of two identical fractional order King Cobra chaotic systems are derived through feedback control. A new cryptosystem is proposed for an image encryption and decryption by using synchronized fractional order King Cobra chaotic systems with the supports of multiple cryptographic assumptions. The security of the proposed cryptosystem is analyzed by the well known algebraic attacks. Numerical simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results.

Platelets for neonatal transfusion - study 2: a randomised controlled trial to compare two different platelet count thresholds for prophylactic platelet transfusion to preterm neonates

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal thrombocytopenia is a common and important clinical problem in preterm neonates. A trial assessing clinically relevant outcomes in relation to the different platelet count thresholds used to trigger transfusion has never been undertaken in preterm neonates with severe thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVES

Platelets for Neonatal Transfusion - Study 2 (PlaNeT-2) aims to assess whether a higher prophylactic platelet transfusion threshold is superior to the lower thresholds in current standard practice in reducing the proportion of patients who have a major bleed or die up to study day 28.

METHODS

PlaNeT-2 is a two-stage, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. PlaNet-2 compares clinical outcomes in preterm neonates (<34 weeks' gestation at birth) randomised to receive prophylactic platelet transfusions to maintain platelet counts at or above either 25 × 10(9)/l or 50 × 10(9)/l. The primary outcome measure is the proportion of patients who either die or experience a major bleed up to and including study day 28. A total of 660 infants will be randomised.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

This trial will help define optimal platelet transfusion support for severely thrombocytopenic preterm neonates by evaluating the risks and benefits of two different prophylactic neonatal platelet transfusion thresholds.

Severe thrombocytopenia and patterns of bleeding in neonates: results from a prospective observational study and implications for use of platelet transfusions

OBJECTIVE

To describe patterns of clinical bleeding in neonates with severe thrombocytopenia (ST and platelet count <60 × 10(9) L(-1)), and to investigate the factors related to bleeding.

STUDY DESIGN

Seven tertiary-level neonatal units enrolled neonates (n = 169) with ST. Data were collected prospectively on all clinically apparent haemorrhages. Relationships between bleeding, platelet count and baseline characteristics were explored through regression analysis.

RESULTS

Bleeding was recorded in most neonates with ST (138/169; 82%), including 123 neonates with minor bleeding and 15 neonates with major bleeding. The most common sites of minor bleeding were from the renal tract (haematuria 40%), endotracheal tube (21%), nasogastric tube (10%) and skin (15%). Gestational age <34 weeks, development of ST within 10 days of birth and necrotizing enterocolitis were the strongest predictors for an increased number of bleeding events. For neonates with ST, a lower platelet count was not a strong predictor of increased bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of neonates with ST bleed, although most episodes are minor. These findings establish the importance of clinical factors for bleeding risk, rather than minimum platelet count. Further studies should assess the clinical significance of different types of minor bleed for neonatal outcomes, the predictive value of minor bleeding for major bleeding and the role of platelet transfusions in preventing bleeding.