CORRESPONDENCE The ‘impact’ of Current Science Among the 49 Indian scientific journals covered by the 2005 Journal Citation Reports ICR) Science Baitioo!, only Journal of Biosciences bas an impact fae- tor (IF) of more than 1,000. Current Sci ence with an TF 0.728 ranks seventh among Indian scientific journals, bebind Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences = Chemical Sciences (0.921), Indian Journal of Medical Research (0.869), Journal of Genetics (0.833), Jounal of Chemical Sciences (0-818), and Bulletin (of Materials Science (0:77). Despite being ranked seventh ia 2008 when compared to third in 2004 (ref. 2), the IF of Current has increased from 0.688 in 2004 100.728 in 2008. However its the most cited Indian scientific joural with 3451 citations in 2005, the next closest being Indian Journal of Chemistry (setion B) ‘with 2284 eitations!. Moreover, itis also the Indian scientific journal with the largest numberof articles, ie. 537, pubs lished in 2005, followed by Asion Jour. nal of, Chemisiry with 467 published asieles", We hope thatthe Current Science IP will eos the magical figure of 1.000 ia 2006, and that Current Science will re- tain its position atop thelist oft ss and otal number of published anicles among the Indian scientific jour. nals covered by JCR in 2006 1. Journal Citation Reports 2005, Seienee Editon (CD ROM), Thomson Scientific, Journal Citation Reports 2004. Science Fain (CD ROM), Thomson Setentfic, Philadepia, 2005, TS. Mona Kus RITESIG. MENEZES* Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 376 104, India e-mail: mangalore9?1@ yahoo.co.in CO, storage in coal mines Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is naturally occurring methane (CH). with small amounts of other hydrocarbon and non- hydrocarbon pases contained in coal seams a result of chemical and physical processes. CBM is an environment-fiendly ‘lean fel with properties similar to natu- ral gas, It is often produced at shallow ‘depths and in most eases with large vol: umes of water of variable quality. 1 is sourced and reservoired in a coal seam tnd is often produced through a borehole to the surface, CBM resources represent valuable volumes of natural gas. within and outside the areas of conventional oil tnd gas production, ‘The commercial production of CBM is f proven technology and CBM is now ‘considered major source of pas sup. plementing the production of hydrocarbon 8 from petroleum sources. The consid- erations that weigh for development of CBM resources are: (i) The produced pas Js a clean source of energy an ifnot extrac ted prior to or during mining, would vent ‘out resulting in increased greenhouse gas ‘emission detrimental to atmosphere and athe sume time loss of valuable resources, (Gi) Extraction of CBM makes coal mining safe, economic and profitable. (it) There is also a pressing need for harnessing this alternate source of natural gas, as there is ‘quantum jump in demand for natural gas the county. In May 2001, based on the initiative taken by the Directorate General of Hy gro: ‘carbons, for the first time in the country, CBM blocks were offered through inter national bidding for exploration and pro- duction of CBM in the country. AS on dlte, under two rounds of CBM bidding, the government has awarded 16 CBM blocks to national, private and joint ven ture companies for exploration and pro- ‘duction of CBM in the country. The total CBM resources in the 16 awarded blocks covering an area of around 7800 kim are estimated to be 820 BCM and expected {ola production from these blocks is esti- ‘mated at 23 million metric standard cubic metre per day (MMSCMD) st their peak production level, During the last 3 years ‘more than 75 exploratoryitest wells have heen drilled in the awarded blocks. The results in some of the blocks are very en- ccouraging. and there have been signifi ccant finds in eastern and central part of India, Preliminary estimates indicate that (CBM production from blocks offered could be in the range of 20-22 million cubic ‘metres per day for about 20 years, ‘The rate of CBM production isa product ‘of several Factors like Fracture permeability development, gas migration, coal matura- tion, eval distribution, geological strue- ture’ and produced Water- management ‘These factors vary from basin to basin In mos of the basin areas, naturally deve- loped fracture networks are the most soughtalier areas for CBM developed. Areas where geologic structures and loca- lized faulting have occurred tend to in- duce natural fracturing. which increases the production pathways within the coal ‘CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 01, NO. 4,25 AUGUST 2006 seam, Current commercial CBM produc: tion is almost exclusively through reser- voir pressure depletion. This is simple but inefficient because total recovery by this technique is generally less than S0%% of the gas-in-place. Geologic sequestra tion of CO» generated from fossil fuel combustion may be an environmentally atactive method to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and enliance CBM recovery, Subsurface formations retaining bydro- carhon resources do have substantial eapa- city to store COs and might act as sizable CO, sinks, Depleted or abandoned oil and natural gas reservoirs might be utili- zed for CO} storage. Injection of CO; in depleted oi and gas reservoirs leads to ‘improving the recovery of hydrocarbons from the drained wells, Another related issue of importance is injection of CO: in tunmineable coal deposits t0 store the carbon and simultaneously enhance the recovery of CBM. Thus, COr storage in petroleum andl coalfields provides oppor- tunity for combining both economic and environmental goals in the fom of en hanced oil and gas recovery and huge sink of COs Many power plants and other large emitters of CO» are located near geologic formations that are amenable to COs storage. Further, in many eases, injection ff COs into a geologic formation ean en- hhance the recovery of hydrocarbons, pro- viding. valueadkled byproducts that ean offset the cost of CO; capture and sequesta- ausCORRESPONDENCE, tion, Approximately one third of all COs ‘emissions duc to human activity come from fossil fuels used for generating electricity, with each power plant eapa- ble of emitting several million tonnes of CO; annually. A variety of other indus- trial processes, for example oil refineries ‘cement works and iron and steel produe- tion also emit large amounts of CO from ‘each plant. These emissions could be re- ‘duced substantially, without major changes to the basic structures, by capturing and storing the CO, Injecting COs into methane-rich coal seams hundreds oF thousands of feet un- derground could have a double benefit of| boosting enerey production and at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Many unmineable coal seams have ass0- ciated methane that is adsorbed on the coal, Field tests carried out ia Nosth America have shown that CO» pamped down an injection well into a deep, un- ‘mineable coal seam may be adsorbed on the coal bed, displacing the methane and forcing it to rise up through a production well. Carbon sequestration ia selected Gondwana coalfields of India may pro- Vide valuable leads regarding application of CO; for enhanced CBM recovery and atthe same time provide a viable avenue for long-term sequestration of CO;, V.K. sina! S.V. Rau! M.E, A. Moxpa?* M. Nauoz.Anwap'? "Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, New Delhi 110 001, India “Deparinent of Geol, Aligarh Mastin Univers, “Aligarh 202 002, India ‘e-mail: emondalGlycos.com Combination drugs: Are they rational? ‘Combination prodvts also known as fixed ose combinations (FDCS) are combina tion of two or more active drugs present in a dosage form The Food and Drug. Admi- nistration, USA defines & combination product as a product composed of any ‘combination of a drug and a device or a biological product and a device or a deug and a biological product ora dru device and a biological product Several branded formulations are avail: able in dia which are either single ot fixed dose combination drugs. No doubt all the formulations are meant for pre- vention or treatment of ailments and dis: ease, out of whieh only afew drugs are lifesaving and essential: rest of the drugs a substitutes for each ther. The safety ‘of the combination drugs has to be thor ‘oughly evaluated and there are consider sions for the drugs that are altady in the market as individual or single drug en- tty. However, the sifety profile of the ‘established drugs wil alter When they axe ‘combined together. There was alarming incease in inational FDCs in recent years and pharmaceutical companies manufoe- turing these FDCs are luring physicians to preseribe by unethical means. This may be due tothe implementation of product patent regime where the medioere compa: nis find various alternatives to sustain themselves in the marketplace and com: bination products for newer indications play a major role. The total number of ‘essential drags mentioned in the 1th ist ‘of essential medicines by WHO is 312, out of which only 18 az fised dose combina tions’. But many of the irtio nations are popular and Widely prescribed by physicians in our country. The combi- nations such as tetracycline and vitamin , quinolones and nitroimidazoles and penicillins with sulfonamides. are some of the examples of irrational FDCs, Such dubious FDCs entail financial burden, resistant strains of bacteria and inerease in unwanted effects. The regulatory requ ements for approval of combination products vary from country to country and there are no specific regulations in our ‘country. In our country, ater amendment of the Drugs Act in 1982, the Government has acquired the power to prohibit manufacture and sale of certain drugs and irrational FDCs, The government, subsequently. issued a first gazette notification in July 1983 banning several drugs and their FDCS after due consideration. Since then the government bas been notifying the list ‘of banned drugs on a regular basis’. The Drugs Consoller General of India (CGD) had issued an order in May 2002 10 State drug-controlling authorities not to grant any manufacturing or marketing approvals for new drugs. Since then DCGT has be- ‘come the centralized authority for granting new drug approvals. This has affected many companies who have already estah- lished manufacturing units for their ap- proved FDCs by the State drug-regulatory authorities. ‘The principal regulatory body, USEDA. is not convinced of the rationality behind combination products other than anti tubercular and anti-AIDS drugs. Due to ‘continuous demands from pharmaceuti- cal companies, they had established the office of combination products in 2002 fand they bad approved a Few combina- tions in anti-diabetic and cardiovascular segments. Regrettably there are no guide- lines for the combination produets. with specific demarcation of chemical, herbal, biological produets and devices. AS of now, there is oly a guidance draft avilable a office of combination products. USFDA website. Hence, there exists confusion in manufacturing and rationality of the FDCs. [As the wellbeing of a patient's health lies in the bands of healthcare profes: sionals and pharmacists, itis essential for them to get acquainted with the list of «drugs which are itrational and banned by DCG. In addition, they should keep themselves updated with the notifications issued by the DCGI to curb irrational fixed dose combinations. Moreover, regula- tory authorities, healthcare professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical companies should join hands together to formulate guidelines for the FDC’s to drive away fear from the minds of patients 2 vs intng 20087487017 snp 3 hiipu/www.edsconie.i/him/Drugsbanned ri) D. Sacepnar G. Sumramanian N. Upurat Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576 104, India e-mail: nudupa@ manipal.edu 406 (CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 91, NO. 4,25 AUGUST 2006