Exploring antibiotic resistance genes,mobile gene elements,and virulence gene factors in an urban freshwater samples using metagenomic analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antimicrobial resistance elements (AMR) are novel environmental contaminants that pose a significant risk to...     

Ambient air quality during wheat and rice crop stubble burning episodes in Patiala

Open crop stubble burning events were observed in and around Patiala city, India. A ground level study was deliberated to analyze the contribution of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oriza sativa) crop stubble burning practices on concentration levels of aerosol, SO₂ and NO₂ in ambient air at five different sites in and around Patiala city covering agricultural, commercial and residential areas. Aerosols were collected on GMF/A and QMF/A (Whatman) sheets for a 24 h period throughout the year in 2007. Simultaneously, sampling of SO₂ and NO₂ was conducted and results obtained during stubble burning periods were compared to the non-stubble burning periods. Results clearly pointed out a distinct increase in aerosol, SO₂ and NO₂ levels during the crop stubble burning periods.     

Assessment of biological effects of environmental pollution along the NW Mediterranean Sea using red mullets as sentinel organisms

A biomonitoring program was carried out in spring and autumn in three pollution hot-spots and sensitive areas of the NW Mediterranean Sea using red mullets (Mullus barbatus) as sentinel organisms and a battery of biomarkers together with gonad histology. In fish from anthropogenic impacted areas (Fos-sur-mer, Cortiou, Arenzano, Delta of Ebro) lysosomal membrane destabilization occurred indicating disturbed health. There were no significant differences in metallothionein (MT) levels among stations. Peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX) activity was highest in fish from Cortiou. Both MT levels and AOX activities were significantly correlated with gamete development. Prevalence of melanomacrophage centers were high in Cortiou in all samplings and in Fos-sur-mer in September samplings. In conclusion, the application of a battery of biomarkers in red mullets provided relevant data for the assessment of environmental pollution in the NW Mediterranean Sea but also showed the difficulties of using native fish as sentinels. For future studies caging strategies are recommended.     

Risk assessment of antibiotic residues in different water matrices in India: key issues and challenges

Global detection of antibiotic substances in water matrices has considerably increased in the recent past. However, in India research on this issue is limited or generalised in the literature. Risks associated with the presence of antibiotics in the environment can be quantified using a hazard quotient (HQ) approach. Here, HQs were developed using the measured environmental concentration (MEC) approach for antibiotic residues in Indian water matrices previously reported in the literature. In the present study, environmental risk assessment, using the HQ index [HQ?=?measured environmental concentration (MEC)/predicted no effect concentration (PNEC)] for different antibiotics, was performed according to the guidelines of European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA). MEC and PNEC levels were obtained from the literature. PNEC values were also calculated from EC₅₀ using a safety factor when no PNECs were reported in the literature. HQs were obtained for industrial effluents (HQ?=?10⁴) that were greater than any previously reported values. Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, seemed to present the greatest risk in India. The HQ indices for Indian water matrices were in the following order: industrial effluents?>?lake water?>?river water?>?hospital effluents?>?treated sewage ? groundwater. A very high HQ represents a potential environmental concern for aquatic environments in India and demands that immediate attention be devoted to regulating these compounds, especially in pharmaceutical industrial wastewater.     

Cost Effective Production of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate by Bacillus subtilis NG05 Using Sugar Industry Waste Water

The present study describes the treatment of sugar industry waste water and its use as a potential low cost substrate for production of bioplastic by Bacillus subtilis NG05. The B. subtilis NG05 grow at the rate of 0.14 g h^?1 L^?1 of production media used and accumulate the 50.1 % of poly β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). The phase contrast microscopy revealed the presence of PHB granules in B. subtilis NG05 which was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. The polymer was further analysed by differential scanning calorimetry. PHB production yield was achieved up to 4.991 g L^?1 with Sugar industry waste water as sole nutrient source. Thus the process provided dual benefits of conversion of a waste material into value added product, PHB and waste management.     

On-chip waste heat-driven absorption cooling system for sustainable data center environment: simulation

Development of waste heat-driven absorption-based cooling system is inspired for the need of removing high heat flux from the sustainable data centre environment. This paper presents a simulation study of single-stage Lithium Bromide–Water (LiBr–H₂O) vapour absorption heat pump for chip cooling. In the present work, a complete thermodynamic analysis of the single-stage LiBr–H₂O vapour absorption-based heat pump for chip cooling without a solution heat exchanger is performed and a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI) package including visual components is developed by using MATlab (2008b). The effect of chip heat flux on COP (Coefficient of Performance), flow rates and conductance is examined using the developed package. The model is verified using the data available in the literature which indicates that there is a greater reduction in the absorber load. The influence of chip heat flux on the performance and thermal loads of individual components are studied, and it is concluded that COP decreases from 0.7121 to 0.68924 with increase in chip heat flux.     

Decadal emission estimates of carbon dioxide,sulfur dioxide,and nitric oxide emissions from coal burning in electric power generation plants in India

This study aims to estimate the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitric oxide (NO) for coal combustion in thermal power plants in India using plant-specific emission factors during the period of 2001/02 to 2009/10. The mass emission factors have been theoretically calculated using the basic principles of combustion under representative prevailing operating conditions in the plants and fuel composition. The results show that from 2001/02 to 2009/10 period, total CO₂ emissions have increased from 324 to 499 Mt/year; SO₂ emissions have increased from 2,519 to 3,840 kt/year; and NO emissions have increased from 948 to 1,539 kt/year from the Indian coal-fired power plants. National average emissions per unit of electricity from the power plants do not show a noticeable improvement during this period. Emission efficiencies for new plants that use improved technology are found to be better than those of old plants. As per these estimates, the national average of CO₂ emissions per unit of electricity varies between 0.91 and 0.95 kg/kWh while SO₂ and NO emissions vary in the range of 6.9 to 7.3 and 2.8 to 2.9 g/kWh, respectively. Yamunagar plant in Haryana state showed the highest emission efficiencies with CO₂ emissions as 0.58 kg/kWh, SO₂ emissions as 3.87 g/kWh, and NO emissions as 1.78 g/kWh, while the Faridabad plant has the lowest emission efficiencies with CO₂ emissions as 1.5 kg/kWh, SO₂ emissions as 10.56 g/kWh, and NO emissions as 4.85 g/kWh. Emission values at other plants vary between the values of these two plants.     

Evaluation of adsorption characteristics of an anionic azo dye Brilliant Yellow onto hen feathers in aqueous solutions

Purpose and aim

Removal of an anionic azo dye Brilliant Yellow has been carried out from its aqueous solutions by using hen feathers as potential adsorbent.

Materials and methods

Hen feathers procured from local poultry were cut, washed, and activated. Detailed chemical and physical analysis of hen feathers and its characterization through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared measurements have been made. Procured dye has been adsorbed over under batch measurements and adsorption process is monitored using UV spectrophotometer.

Results

Optimum parameters for the adsorption of Brilliant Yellow over hen feathers have been determined by studying the effect of pH, temperature, concentration of dye, and amount of adsorbent. On the basis of Langmuir adsorption, isotherms feasibility of the ongoing adsorption has been ascertained and thermodynamic parameters have been calculated. Attempts have also been made to verify Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin?CRadushkevich adsorption isotherm models. It is found that during adsorption, uniform distribution of binding energy takes place due to interaction of the dye molecules and the ongoing adsorption process is chemisorptions. The kinetic measurements indicate dominance of pseudo-second-order process during the adsorption. The mathematical treatment on the kinetic data reveals the rate-determining step to be governed through particle diffusion at 8?×?10^?5?M and involvement of film diffusion mechanism at higher concentration at temperatures at all the temperatures.

Conclusions

The developed process is highly efficient and it can be firmly concluded that hen feather exhibits excellent adsorption capacity towards hazardous azo dye Brilliant Yellow.     

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols for organic tarry matter and combustible matter during crop residue burning and non-crop residue burning months in Northwestern region of India

Aerosol (total suspended particulate) samples collected at three diverse locations (urban-commercial, semi-urban and rural-agricultural) in Patiala, India were analyzed for loss on ignition (LOI) and organic tarry matter (OTM) content in ambient air during crop residue burning (CRB) episodes and non-crop residue burning (NCRB) months in 2006–2007. Results showed high levels of LOI and OTM during wheat and rice crop residue-burning periods at all the sites. Higher levels were obtained during rice crop residue-burning period as compared to the wheat residue-burning period. At semi-urban site, LOI varied between 53 ± 36 μg m^?3 and 257 ± 14 μg m^?3 constituting 38–78% (w/w) part of the aerosols whereas levels of OTM varied between 0.98 ± 0.11 μg m^?3 and 7.93 ± 2.76 μg m^?3 comprising 0.42–3.28% (w/w) fraction. At rural-agricultural area site, levels of LOI varied between 86 ± 40 μg m^?3 and 293 ± 70 μg m^?3 comprising 27–84% (w/w), whereas OTM levels varied between 1.31 ± 0.64 μg m^?3 and 10.09 ± 6.56 μg m^?3 constituting 0.83–2.42% (w/w) fraction of the aerosols. At urban-cum-commercial site, levels of LOI and OTM varied between 48 ± 23 μg m^?3 and 281 ± 152 μg m^?3 and 2.53 ± 1.23 μg m^?3 and 17.40 ± 8.50 μg m^?3, constituting 24–62% (w/w) part of the aerosols, respectively. Results also indicated that OTM and LOI were integral parts of aerosols and their concentrations were influenced by the crop residue burning practices with incorporated effect of vehicular activities in Patiala.     

Monitoring of Pathogenicity of Effluents from the UASB Based Sewage Treatment Plant

We researched the behavior of pathogenic microbes in a treated wastewater reuse system to acquire knowledge for establishing new standards for the reuse of treated wastewater. Based on the results that showed occasional growth of total coliforms but barely any growth of Escherichia coli in the supply tank, we found that the total coliform, which includes bacteria that also breed in the soil, etc., is not necessarily suitable as the index bacteria for indicating pollution by excrement. We also clarified that it is possible to decrease the heterotrophic plate count to a specified level in cases where combined residual chlorine is more than 0.3 mg/l, and that the standard value for residual chlorine should be set at 0.3 mg/l or more. At the same time, we found that applying sand filtration treatment to water used for toilet flushing, sprinkling and landscaping, and sand filtration treatment plus coagulation treatment to water for recreational use lowers the annual risk of infection by Cryptosporidium to less than 10⁻⁴. The standard for viruses must be examined in the future because Noroviruses were sometimes detected even in the reclaimed water, although we could not establish the standard at this time due to problems with the virus detection method.