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The qualitative and quantitative assessment of groundwater is one of the important aspects for determining the suitability of potable water. Therefore, the present study has been performed to evaluate the groundwater quality for Achhnera block in the city of Taj, Agra, India, where groundwater is an important water resource. The groundwater samples, 50 in number were collected and analyzed for major ions along with some important trace element. This study has further investigated for the applicability of groundwater quality index (GWQI), and the principal component analysis (PCA) to mark out the major geochemical solutes responsible for origin and release of geochemical solutes into the groundwater. The results confirm that, majority of the collected groundwater samples were alkaline in nature. The variation of concentration of anions in collected groundwater samples were varied in the sequence as, HCO 3−  > Cl −  > SO4 2−  > F − while in contrast the sequence of cations in the groundwater as Na > Ca > Mg > K. The Piper diagram demonstrated the major hydro chemical facies which were found in groundwater (sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride type). The plot of Schoellar diagram reconfirmed that the major cations were Na + and Ca 2+ ions, while in contrast; major anions were bicarbonates and chloride. The results showed water quality index mostly ranged between 105 and 185, hence, the study area fell in the category of unsuitable for drinking purpose category. The PCA showed pH, Na + , Ca 2+ , HCO 3− and fluoride with strong loading, which pointed out geogenic source of fluoride contamination. Therefore, it was inferred that the groundwater of the contaminated areas must be treated and made potable before consumption. The outcomes of the present study will be helpful for the regulatory boards and policymaker for defining the actual impact and remediation goal.

This study quantifies the groundwater fluoride contamination and assesses associated health risks in fluoride-prone areas of the city of Taj Mahal, Agra, India. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) risk model and Monte Carlo Simulations were employed for the assessment. Result revealed that, among various rural and urban areas Pachgain Kheda exhibited the highest average fluoride concentration (5.20 mg/L), while Bagda showed the lowest (0.33 mg/L). Similarly, K.K. Nagar recorded 4.38 mg/L, and Dayalbagh had 1.35 mg/L. Both urban and rural areas exceeded the WHO-recommended limit of 1.5 mg/L, signifying significant public health implications. Health risk assessment indicated a notably elevated probability of non-carcinogenic risk from oral groundwater fluoride exposure in the rural Baroli Ahir block. Risk simulations highlighted that children faced the highest health risks, followed by teenagers and adults. Further, Monte Carlo simulation addressed uncertainties, emphasizing escalated risks for for children and teenagers. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for the 5th and 95th percentile in rural areas ranged from was 0.28–5.58 for children, 0.15–2.58 for teenager, and 0.05–0.58 for adults. In urban areas, from the range was 0.53 to 5.26 for children, 0.27 to 2.41 for teenagers, and 0.1 to 0.53 for adults. Physiological and exposure variations rendered children and teenagers more susceptible. According to the mathematical model, calculations for the non-cancerous risk of drinking water (HQ-ing), the most significant parameters in all the targeted groups of rural areas were concentration (C W) and Ingestion rate (IR). These findings hold relevance for policymakers and regulatory boards in understanding the actual impact and setting pre-remediation goals.

This study was conducted to inspect the spatial distribution, source identification, and risk assessment of groundwater arsenic (As) in different blocks that lie on the opposite banks of river Bhagirathi (a distributary of river Ganges), Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. It has been observed that the blocks that lie towards the eastern bank of river Bhagirathi have elevated arsenic and comparatively more reducing groundwater (lower oxidation–reduction potential and high iron). About 66% of groundwater samples across the district have arsenic concentration higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit. Speciation of groundwater arsenic reveals that about 90% of arsenic species were present as arsenic (III). Further, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify the controlling factors that favor the release of arsenic. PC1 comprises EC, TDS, As, Fe, TOC, and HCO 3 − with moderate loadings, which suggests microbially mediated degradation of organic matter (OM), helps in reductive dissolution of arsenic-bearing Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides. Results pointed out severe groundwater arsenic poisoning; hence, a health risk assessment was performed for the exposure of arsenic in groundwater, using incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) models coupled with Monte Carlo simulations. On the eastern bank of river Bhagirathi, incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) due to oral exposure (5th to 95th percentile values) ranged from 1.30538E − 04 to 9.31398E − 03 with a mean of 2.84194E − 03 for adults, which is 2841 times higher than the USEPA high safety risk guidelines of one in 1 million. The outcomes of the results will be useful for the policymakers and regulatory boards in defining the actual impact and deciding the pre-remediation goals. Graphical abstract

EuAl4 possesses the BaAl4 crystal structure type with tetragonal symmetry I4/mmm. It undergoes a charge density wave (CDW) transition at TCDW = 145 K and features four consecutive antiferromagnetic phase transitions below 16 K. Here we use single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the incommensurately modulated crystal structure of EuAl4 in its CDW state. The CDW is shown to be incommensurate with modulation wave vector q = (0,0,0.1781 (3)) at 70 K. The symmetry of the incommensurately modulated crystal structure is orthorhombic with superspace group Fmmm(00σ)s00, where Fmmm is a subgroup of I4/mmm of index 2. Both the lattice and the atomic coordinates of the basic structure remain tetragonal. Symmetry breaking is entirely due to the modulation wave, where atoms Eu and Al1 have displacements exclusively along a, while the fourfold rotation would require equal displacement amplitudes along a and b. The calculated band structure of the basic structure and interatomic distances in the modulated crystal structure both indicate the Al atoms as the location of the CDW. The tem­per­ature dependence of the specific heat reveals an anomaly at TCDW = 145 K of a magnitude similar to canonical CDW systems. The present discovery of orthorhombic symmetry for the CDW state of EuAl4 leads to the suggestion of monoclinic instead of orthorhombic symmetry for the third AFM state.

Street dogs survive on food handouts provided by individuals, or the wider community yet typically receive limited to no veterinary care. They can also carry a variety of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, posing a significant risk to human and dog population health. Dog sterilisation is one of the most humane and effective methods available to control street dog populations. Dog sterilisation programmes, particularly those operating at a large-scale, often face a variety of challenges including limited resources, staffing, and less-than-ideal facilities. Recordkeeping is often a challenge as well, which can complicate the return of a sterilised dog to their location of capture. Street dogs are territorial, and the return of a dog to an incorrect location is fraught with various welfare issues, as well as an increased risk of postoperative complications, including death. Humane Society International developed a mobile phone-based application called ‘HSIApps’ drawing on years of field experience and data collection in street dog location recording, as well as clinical and postoperative treatment. HSIApps facilitates the return of dogs back to their exact captured location, which ensures dog welfare, and generates reports of a variety of useful data variables to maximise the efficacy and reliability of sterilisation programmes.

EuAl 4 possesses the BaAl 4 crystal structure type with tetragonal symmetry I 4/ mmm . It undergoes a charge density wave (CDW) transition at T CDW  = 145 K and features four consecutive antiferromagnetic phase transitions below 16 K. Here we use single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the incommensurately modulated crystal structure of EuAl 4 in its CDW state. The CDW is shown to be incommensurate with modulation wave vector q  = (0,0,0.1781 (3)) at 70 K. The symmetry of the incommensurately modulated crystal structure is orthorhombic with superspace group Fmmm (00σ) s 00, where Fmmm is a subgroup of I 4/ mmm of index 2. Both the lattice and the atomic coordinates of the basic structure remain tetragonal. Symmetry breaking is entirely due to the modulation wave, where atoms Eu and Al1 have displacements exclusively along a , while the fourfold rotation would require equal displacement amplitudes along a and b . The calculated band structure of the basic structure and interatomic distances in the modulated crystal structure both indicate the Al atoms as the location of the CDW. The temperature dependence of the specific heat reveals an anomaly at T CDW  = 145 K of a magnitude similar to canonical CDW systems. The present discovery of orthorhombic symmetry for the CDW state of EuAl 4 leads to the suggestion of monoclinic instead of orthorhombic symmetry for the third AFM state.

EuAl4 possesses the BaAl4 crystal structure type with tetragonal symmetry I4/mmm. It undergoes a charge-density-wave (CDW) transition at TCDW = 145 K and it features four consecutive antiferromagnetic phase transitions below 16 K. Here, we use single-crystal x-ray diffraction to determine incommensurately modulated crystal structure of EuAl4 in its CDW state. The CDW is shown to be incommensurate with modulation wave vector q = (0, 0, 0.1781(3)) at 70 K. The symmetry of the incommensurately modulated crystal structure is orthorhombic with superspace group Fmmm(00{\\sigma})s00, where Fmmm is a subgroup of I4/mmm of index 2. Both the lattice and the atomic coordinates of the basic structure remain tetragonal. Symmetry breaking is entirely due to the modulation wave, where atoms Eu and Al1 have displacements exclusively along a, while the fourfold rotation would require equal displacement amplitudes along a and b. The calculated band structure of the basic structure and interatomic distances in the modulated crystal structure both indicate the aluminum atoms as location of the CDW. The temperature dependence of the specific heat reveals an anomaly at TCDW = 145 K of a magnitude similar to canonical CDW systems. The present discovery of orthorhombic symmetry for the CDW state of EuAl4 leads to the suggestion of monoclinic instead of orthorhombic symmetry for the third AFM state.