Elevated blood lead levels and cytogenetic markers in buccal epithelial cells of painters in India

Background, aim, and scope  

Lead, a major contaminant, is highly used in paint manufacturing due to its anticorrosive properties. Recent reports indicated high lead content among Indian paints used for commercial purposes. Painters are continuously exposed to these lead containing paints during painting of both commercial as well as residential buildings. Lead is well-known for its genotoxicty in occupational workers; however, in Indian painters the genotoxic effects of lead have not been reported to date. Therefore we aimed to study the genotoxic end points in painters due to their long-term exposure to these high lead-containing Indian paints.     

In vitro metabolism of deltamethrin by stem and leaf homogenates of tobacco plants

Stem and leaf homogenates from tobacco plants metabolised deltamethrin by oxidative and hydrolytic actions on the insecticide. Although a major portion of deltamethrin remained unchanged, metabolites such as 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and 3-(2,2-dibromonyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid were formed. The data suggest a major portion of the insecticide would remain unchanged when absorbed by tobacco plants.     

Binary mixtures of feeding deterrents mitigate the decrease in feeding deterrent response to antifeedants following prolonged exposure in the cabbage looper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoplusia ni</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Summary. The effect of rearing larvae of Trichoplusia ni on individual feeding deterrents or on binary mixtures of deterrents on their subsequent gustatory sensitivity was measured in paired choice leaf disc bioassays. Our working hypothesis was that mixtures of antifeedants (pure allelochemicals) would mitigate decreased feeding deterrent response following prolonged exposure in this generalist herbivore. Neonate larvae were reared on cabbage leaves treated with individual feeding deterrents (digitoxin, thymol, toosendanin or xanthotoxin), or with binary mixtures of these until the third instar. Feeding deterrent responses to each antifeedant or mixture was then determined in a leaf disc choice bioassay. All of the mixtures produced additive deterrence when presented to naïve larvae. Larvae reared on individual antifeedants showed a significantly decreased feeding deterrent response (except to digitoxin), whereas larvae reared on binary mixtures of antifeedants did not show a decreased feeding deterrent response to any of them. Such mixtures were synergistic in terms of their feeding deterrence to experienced larvae. Our experiment supports the hypothesis (Jermy 1986) that mixtures of deterrents can prevent decreased feeding deterrent response following prolonged exposure, and provides one explanation for the multiplicity of chemical defenses found in many plants.     

Sedimentation retention basin utilization for best management practice

Approaches to the artificial impoundment and theoretical design of sedimentation retention basin are reviewed with particular attention to best management practice(BMP) to control agriculture and surface runoff. Sediments retention basins are the small version of farm pond usedwhere a criteria of farm pond is not met. Such basin traps the pollutants and suspended solids prior to entry into streams and lakes. The study is focused with special reference to the assessment and control of non-point source pollution(NPSP) from the sub-basin area of Tai Lake in the Xishan County of Wuxi City of China, The author suggested two different approaches to conduct this study including theoretical design for sedimentation retention basin and computation of flow, sediment transport and deposition during the artificial impoundment of retention basin for BMP‘s utilization. Theoretical design will provide a useful function as a first line defense against the movement of sediments and transport of pollutants into the Tai Lake while the assessment of sediments deposition will help to make its proper use and periodic cleanup.     

Performance of seed germination and growth of Vicia faba L. in fly ash amended soil

The performance of Vicia faba L. in soil amended by different concentrations of fly ash has been studied. The parameters considered are seed germination, growth behaviour and nodulation frequency of the plant. Results revealed that while fly-ash amendment to the soil improved the growth performance at initial stages with application of lower concentrations, it was inhibitory at higher exposure concentrations. Although there was no difference in survival rates, but the seedling growth was reduced in comparison to control plants. Fly ash delayed the nodulation as lesser number of nodules was recorded at higher amendments. Results suggested feasibility of growing V. faba in fly ash contaminated area.     

How transformational leadership influences follower helping behavior: The role of trust and prosocial motivation

We proposed and tested a moderated mediation model that jointly examines affect‐based and cognition‐based trust as the mediators and prosocial motivation as the moderator in relationships between transformational leadership and followers’ helping behavior towards coworkers. Data were collected from 348 sales and servicing employees and their supervisors in four private retail companies and five private manufacturing companies located in Southeast China. The results showed that both affect‐based trust and cognition‐based trust mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and followers’ helping behavior towards coworkers. Furthermore, moderated mediation analyses showed that affect‐based trust mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and followers’ helping behavior towards coworkers only among employees with high prosocial motivation, whereas cognition‐based trust mediated this relationship among only those with low prosocial motivation. Implications for the theory and practice of leadership are then discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequential participation of glutathione and sulph-hydryl(s) in reductive dechlorination of 2,4-di-, and 2,4,5-trichloro phenacyl chlorides by soluble fraction (105,000 x g) of chicken liver homogenate.

The mode of reductive dechlorination of alpha-chloroacetophenones, 2,4-di-, and 2,4,5-trichloro phenacyl chlorides into respective acetophenone by soluble fraction (105,000 x g) from chicken liver homogenate has been investigated. The transformation involved the sequential participation of glutathione and a sulph-hydryl. The phenacyl chloride first reacted with glutathione to yield the phenacyl glutathione, which in turn, in the presence of a sulph-hydryl, was reduced enzymatically to produce the ketone, probably via a disulfide intermediate.     

Microanalysis of Alzheimer disease NFT and plaques

Electron probe energy dispersive microanalysis of isolated andin situ neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and neuritic (senile) plaque cores have been done to investigate the levels of Al, Si, Ca and Fe in the leading lesions of Alzheimer disease neuropathology. Varying levels of Si and Al, and to a lesser extent Ca, have been co-localized in about one half of the NFT and plaques examined using X-ray mapping. The variability of detection and the low levels of Al present indicates that aluminum is not required for the formation of the NFT and that aluminosilicates are not involved in the formation of the plaque core.     

Biosorption characteristics of unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana immobilized in loofa sponge for removal of Cr（Ⅲ）

Loofa sponge （LS） immobilized biomass of Chlorella sorokiniana （LSIBCS）, isolated from industrial wastewater, was investigated as a new biosorbent for the removal of Cr（Ⅲ） from aqueous solution. A comparison of the biosorption of Cr（Ⅲ） by LSIBCS and free biomass of C. sorokiniana （FBCS） from 10-300 mg Cr（Ⅲ）/L aqueous solutions showed an increase in uptake of 17.79% when the microalgal biomass was immobilized onto loofa sponge. Maximum biosorption capacity for LSIBCS and FBCS was found to be 69.26 and 58.80 mg Cr（Ⅲ）/g biosorbent, respectively, whereas the amount of Cr（Ⅲ） ions adsorbed onto naked LS was 4.97 mg/g. The kinetics of Cr（Ⅲ） biosorption was extremely rapid and equilibrium was established in about 15 and 20 min by LSIBCS and FBCS, respectively. The biosorption equilibrium was well defined by Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The biosorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The biosorption was found to be pH dependent and the maximum sorption occurred at the solution pH 4.0. Desorption studies showed that 98% of the adsorbed Cr（Ⅲ） could be desorbed with 0.1 mol/L HNO3, while other desorbing agents were less effective in the order： EDTA 〉 H2SO4 〉 CH3COOH 〉 HCl. The regenerated LSIBCS retained 92.68% of the initial Cr（Ⅲ） binding capacity up to five cycles of reuse in continuous flow-fixed bed columns. The study revealed that LSIBCS could be used as an effective biosorbent for the removal of Cr（Ⅲ） from wastewater.