The Human Dimension in Conservation Biology Curricula in Developing Countries

The social sciences and humanities are essentially absent from most conservation biology or wildlife management courses in the developing world. This is a critical shortcoming because of human dependence on natural resources within protected areas and the escalating conflicts between humans and wildlife and between local communities and state agencies over access to resources. We call for increased input from the social sciences and the humanities in conservation biology and wildlife management curricula in the developing world. We suggest some materials and methods that should ideally be a part of such curricula.     

Short chain fatty acids influence virulence properties of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The present study investigated SCFA exposed Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium for its virulence characteristics such as mouse lethality adhesion, surface hydrophobicity, phagocytic uptake, intracellular survival within the murine peritoneal macrophages, induction of acid tolerance response (ATR), and the expression of outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Lethal dose (LD50) for mice was found to be more for SCFA exposed cells as compared to the normal cells. In vitro adherence to murine intestinal epithelial cells as well as surface hydrophobicity of SCFA exposed cells were found to be lower than the normal cells. Though the phagocytic uptake of normal cells and SCFA exposed cells was similar, the SCFA exposed cells exhibited increased intracellular survival as compared to the normal cells, which were completely killed after 4 h. Moreover, SCFA exposed cells also survived exposure to extremely low pH (3.0). Outer membrane proteins extracted from SCFA exposed cells revealed an enhanced expression of proteins (porins) at 4% SCFA concentration. Thus, SCFA exposure may contribute to enhanced virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium by increased intracellular survival, induction of acid tolerance response, and the enhanced expression of outer membrane matrix proteins (porins).     

Lab-on-a-chip technologies for food safety,processing, and packaging applications: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The advent of microfluidic systems has led to significant developments in lab-on-a-chip devices integrating several functions onto a single platform. Over the...     

Metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles from plant,animal, and fisheries wastes: potential and valorization for application in agriculture

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Global agriculture is facing tremendous challenges due to climate change. The most predominant amongst these challenges are abiotic and biotic...     

Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and paddy crop (Oryza sativa), irrigated with water of Ramgarh Lake,Gorakhpur, UP,India

Heavy metals, a highly polluting group of constituents known to exert adverse effects, tend to accumulate in living organisms. The objective of this study was to determine the accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and in paddy crop irrigated with lake water compared to soil and paddy crop irrigated with bore-well water. The quantities of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg) were determined in different parts of rice plants (Oryza sativa). Results revealed that the mean levels of soil Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg in experimental soil and in different parts of rice plant (root, straw, and grain) were higher than the control except for Cu. The content of eight toxic metals was significantly higher in root than in aerial parts of the rice (straw and grains). Rice roots were enriched in Cd, As, Hg, and Pb from the soil, while Cr, Cu, Zn, and Mn were hardly taken by the roots. Bioaccumulation factor for Hg was significantly higher than other heavy metals. Metal transfer factors from soil to rice plants were significant for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg. The concentrations of metals in lake water were found to be within the permissible limit of Indian standard prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (2000), except for Hg and As, which were higher than the limit of Indian standard. However, the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and rice grains were still below the maximal levels, as stipulated by Indian Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA, 1954) and World Health Organization (WHO, 1993) guidelines.     

Antecedents and consequences of adopting CLTS among tribal communities to become open defecation free: case study on Indian Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Swachh Bharat Mission undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) has been successful in accomplishing this objective within a short period...