Kritika Sharma

Bio: Kritika Sharma is an academic researcher from Birla Institute of Technology and Science. The author has contributed to research in topics: Fermentation & Absorption spectroscopy. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 8 publications receiving 489 citations.

Water resources of India

Abstract: 3 per year, respectively. With rapid growing population and improving living standards the pressure on our water resources is increasing and per capita availabi lity of water resources is reducing day by day. Due to spatial and temporal variability in pr ecipitation the country faces the problem of flood and drought syndrome. Over- exploitation of groundwater is leading to reduction of low flows in the rivers, declining of the groundwater resources, and salt water intrusion in aquifers of the coastal areas. Over canal-irrigation in some of the com- mand areas has resulted in waterlogging and salinity. The quality of surface and groundwater resources is also deteriorating because of increasing pollutant loads from point and non-point sources. The climate change is expected to affect precipitation and water availability. So far, the data collection, processing, storage and dis- semination have not received adequate attention. The efforts initiated under the Hydrology Project Phase-I and the development of the Decision Support System proposed under Hydrology Project Phase-II are ex- pected to bridge some of the gaps between the developed advanced technologies of water resources planning, de- signing and management and their field applications. The paper presents availability and demands of water resources in India as well as describes the various issues and strategies for developing a holistic approach for sustainable development and management of the water resources of the country. It also highlight s integration of the blue and green flows and concepts of virtual water transfer for sustainable management of the wa- ter resources for meeting the demands of the present, without compromising the needs of future generations. OF all the planet's renewable resources, water has a unique place. It is essential for sustaining all forms of life, food production, economic development, and for general well being. It is impossible to substitute for most of its uses, difficult to de -pollute, expensive to transport, and it is truly a unique gift to mankind from nature. W ater is also one of the most manageable of the natural r esources as it is capable of diversion, transport, storage, and recycling. All these properties impart to water its great utility for human beings. The surface water and groundwater resources of the country play a major role in agriculture, hydropower generation, livestock production, industrial activities, fo restry, fisheries, navigation, recreational activities, etc. Accor d- ing to National Water Policy 1 in the planning and operation

Nanoparticulate carrier system: a novel treatment approach for hyperlipidemia.

Abstract: Hyperlipidemia is a prevailing risk factor that leads to development and progression of atherosclerosis and consequently cardiovascular diseases. Several antihyperlipidemic drugs are having various disadvantages such as low water solubility and poor bioavailabilty due to presystemic gastrointestinal clearance. Thus, there is a considerable need for the development of efficient delivery methods and carriers. This review focuses on the importance and role of various nanoparticulate systems as carrier for antihyperlipidemic drugs in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Some nanoparticle technology-based products are approved by FDA for effective treatment of hyperlipidemia, namely Tricor® by Abbott Laboratories (Chicago, IL, USA) and Triglide® by Skye Pharma (London, UK). Efforts to address each of these issues are going on, and should remain the focus on the future studies and look forward to many more clinical products in the future.

STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnS NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED BY MICROWAVE IRRADIATION METHOD

Abstract: ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by Microwave assisted irradiation method. The obtained ZnS nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD characterization of the samples were taken which verify the crystalline form of the samples and also the average size of the nanocrystallites were measured by DebyeScherrer formula as per the XRD spectrum, which was found to be around 6 nm. The surface morphology of the ZnS nanocrystallites was taken by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The UV-Visible absorption spectra of the nanocrystallites were taken and the optical bandgap of the ZnS nanocrystals were found to be 3.76 eV.

Development and characterization of floating spheroids of atorvastatin calcium loaded NLC for enhancement of oral bioavailability.

Abstract: Objective: The obejctive of the present study was to investigate the potential use of floating spheroids of Atorvastatin Calcium (ATS) Loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Materials and Methods: The final formula of floating spheroids was optimized on the basis of shape (spherical), diameter (0.47 mm), lag time (20 s), and floating time (> 32 h). Results: The results were further confirmed by different pharmacokinetic parameters—it was observed that the developed optimized floating ATS spheroid-loaded NLCs formulation has significantly improved relative bioavailability, that is, 3.053-folds through oral route in comparison to marketed formulation.

Satellite-based estimates of groundwater depletion in India

Abstract: Groundwater is a primary source of fresh water in many parts of the world. Some regions are becoming overly dependent on it, consuming groundwater faster than it is naturally replenished and causing water tables to decline unremittingly 1 . Indirect evidencesuggeststhatthisisthecaseinnorthwestIndia 2 ,butthere has been no regional assessment of the rate of groundwater depletion. Here we use terrestrial water storage-change observations from the NASA Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites 3 and simulated soil-water variations from a dataintegrating hydrological modelling system 4 to show that groundwater is being depleted at a mean rate of 4.0 61.0cmyr 21 equivalent height of water (17.7 64.5km 3 yr 21 ) over the Indian states

Dwindling groundwater resources in northern India, from satellite gravity observations.

Abstract: [1] Northern India and its surroundings, home to roughly 600 million people, is probably the most heavily irrigated region in the world. Temporal changes in Earth's gravity field in this region as recorded by the GRACE satellite mission, reveal a steady, large-scale mass loss that we attribute to excessive extraction of groundwater. Combining the GRACE data with hydrological models to remove natural variability, we conclude the region lost groundwater at a rate of 54 ± 9 km3/yr between April, 2002 (the start of the GRACE mission) and June, 2008. This is probably the largest rate of groundwater loss in any comparable-sized region on Earth. Its likely contribution to sea level rise is roughly equivalent to that from melting Alaskan glaciers. This trend, if sustained, will lead to a major water crisis in this region when this non-renewable resource is exhausted.

Global impacts of conversions from natural to agricultural ecosystems on water resources: Quantity versus quality

Abstract: [1] Past land use changes have greatly impacted global water resources, with often opposing effects on water quantity and quality. Increases in rain-fed cropland (460%) and pastureland (560%) during the past 300 years from forest and grasslands decreased evapotranspiration and increased recharge (two orders of magnitude) and streamflow (one order of magnitude). However, increased water quantity degraded water quality by mobilization of salts, salinization caused by shallow water tables, and fertilizer leaching into underlying aquifers that discharge to streams. Since the 1950s, irrigated agriculture has expanded globally by 174%, accounting for � 90% of global freshwater consumption. Irrigation based on surface water reduced streamflow and raised water tables resulting in waterlogging in many areas (China, India, and United States). Marked increases in groundwater-fed irrigation in the last few decades in these areas has lowered water tables (� 1 m/yr) and reduced streamflow. Degradation of water quality in irrigated areas has resulted from processes similar to those in rain-fed agriculture: salt mobilization, salinization in waterlogged areas, and fertilizer leaching. Strategies for remediating water resource problems related to agriculture often have opposing effects on water quantity and quality. Long time lags (decades to centuries) between land use changes and system response (e.g., recharge, streamflow, and water quality), particularly in semiarid regions, mean that the full impact of land use changes has not been realized in many areas and remediation to reverse impacts will also take a long time. Future land use changes should consider potential impacts on water resources, particularly trade-offs between water, salt, and nutrient balances, to develop sustainable water resources to meet human and ecosystem needs.

Fixed-bed column adsorption study: a comprehensive review

Abstract: Present paper involved the review of fixed-bed column studies for removal of various contaminants from synthetic wastewater. Basic concept of adsorption, its types (i.e., chemisorption and physisorption) and its mechanism, adsorbents and adsorbates were included. Comparison of batch and column adsorption study is mentioned. Complete study of breakthrough curve for designing adsorptive column is interpreted. This paper explicates the detailed explanation of various process parameters and isotherm models for column study. Fixed-bed adsorption studies using various adsorbates, i.e., metal, ion, dye and other hazardous materials, are reviewed, in which adsorption of chromium metal is most exploitable. Conclusion and some challenges for utilization in real world are also exposed.