Surveying macro-invertebrate diversity in the Tons river,Doon Valley,India

A survey of macro-invertebrates and their monthly variations occupying the Tons river in Doon Valley was conducted from August 2003–July 2004. Macro-invertebrate collections and water samples were taken from three sampling stations every month during the period of study. All the hydrological attributes were measured monthly for 1 year. The present study showed that the water velocity, hydromedian depth, turbidity and dissolved oxygen and nature and size of the bottom substrates do play a major role in determining the macro-invertebrate diversity of Tons river. The ecological relevance of the measured hydrological attributes was investigated by comparing their degree of correlation with invertebrate density and diversity. The Shannon–Wiener index (H′) of macro-invertebrates was found to be highest (3.60) during spring season (February and March) and lowest (2.59) during monsoon season (July and August). The high values of diversity index of macro-invertebrates at all the three sampling sites indicate diverse macro-invertebrate communities in the Tons river in Doon Valley, India.     

Dual earner couples: Attitudes and actions in restructuring work for family

In a matched data set consisting of survey responses from both members of 39 dual earner couples, work and family involvement was used to predict job satisfaction, marital satisfaction, stress and work restructuring of both members of the couple. In general, the wives were found to be restructuring their work activities more than their husbands. Couples whose members had high levels of family involvement were experiencing high levels of marital satisfaction and low levels of stress. In addition, the coded responses to seven open ended questions provided qualitative data reflecting what specific types of work restructuring arrangements were most popular and the reasons for work restructuring.     

Effect of arsenite on certain aspects of protein metabolism in fresh water teleost, Tilapia mossambica (Peters)

The sublethal toxicity of sodium arsenite on protein metabolism was investigated in teleost fish, Tilalpia mossambica at the end of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure. Total protein content, free amino acid content and activities of the enzymes aspartate amino transferase (AAT) and alanine amino transferase (ALAT) in liver, gill, brain and muscle exhibited significant (P<0.05) alterations throughout the investigation in relation to that of control. It is suggested that the fish is able to respond to the stressful situations by gearing up the metabolic activity as revealed by the elevated protein, amino acid content and the activities of AAT and ALAT.     

Trace metal concentration in scalp hair of occupationally exposed autodrivers

The concentrations of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd wereanalyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in thescalp hair of professional male autodrivers who areoccupationally exposed to the vehicular/industrialpollutants in the industrial city of Coimbatore, TamilNadu. The unwashed hair samples when compared with thewashed hair showed a significantly higher levels of Cr,Zn and Pb. The correlation coefficient showed a strongmutual dependence on the scalp hair of the exposedindividuals and no correlation was found among the tracemetals except for Ni–Pb and Ni–Cd. The results ingeneral showed a positive exogenous contribution of allthe analyzed industrial trace metals. The drivers who are occupationally exposed to vehicular/industrial pollution are at risk.     

Chromium (VI) tolerance in two halotolerant strains of Nostoc

The present study reports on chromium (VI) tolerance of two cyanobacterial strains Nostoc linckia and Nostoc spongiaeforme isolated from salt affected soils using uni-algal and bi-algal systems. Besides distinct halophilism, the two strains exhibited remarkable tolerance to chromium (VI) and revealed 1.2 to 2.8 times more chlorophyll in the presence of the metal. While phycobilins and carotenoids also increased in Nostoc linckia with total dissolved salts (TDS) as well as metal, a decline was observed in Nostoc spongiaeforme in the presence of Cr (VI). Relative algal biomass (as % of control) showed significantly higher values (123-239) in Nostoc linckia in the presence of salt, metal and combination of the two. In Nostoc spongiaeforme it declined in the presence of metal (72-81) but increased in the presence of salts (143-249) and also in the binary systems (121-440). The bi-algal consortium showed relatively less tolerance to salt and metal stress. Nostoc linckia (20 day culture) showed upto 40% chromium removal whereas Nostoc spongiaeforme showed up to 12% removal, indicating greater suitability of the former for use in bioremediation studies.     

Coal Combustion Product: Nonhazardous Material for Mine Fill

As is the case in many other countries around the world, India's main source of electricity is coal‐fired power plants. In addition to providing energy, the burning of coal also results in large amounts of coal combustion products (CCP), the incombustible material, such as fly ash, left after the coal is burned. These materials are produced in large volume, and if they are not managed or utilized properly, they can pose a danger to the environment. This article discusses the uses of CCP, with a special emphasis on fly ash, and the role that it is currently playing and can continue to play as a mine filler for India's depleted opencast and underground coal mines.     

Characterization of Super Paramagnetic Nanoparticles Coated with a Biocompatible Polymer Produced by Dextransucrase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Weissella cibaria</Emphasis> JAG8

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) synthesised by chemical co-precipitation method was subjected to dextran coating by sonication method. The dextran was enzymatically synthesised by extracellular dextransucrase isolated from Weissella cibaria JAG8. The crystalline nature of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies with average particle size of 25 nm, which was confirmed further by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The surface morphology of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs were monitored by scanning electron microscopy studies. The vibrating sample magnetometer investigation displayed the super paramagnetic nature of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs. FT-IR analysis of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs, displayed characteristic band of Fe–O bond at 582 cm^?1. Thermo-gravimetric analysis of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs (1:1) ratio displayed a weight loss of 15 and 18 %, which clearly indicated 3.0 % of dextran was coated on to the MNPs. The elemental composition study by scanning electron microscopy confirmed the association of dextran with MNPs. The in vitro effect of MNPs and dextran coated MNPs was performed on human colon cancer (HT-29) cell lines and the results showed that dextran coated: MNPs (2:1) displayed good biocompatibility results over dextran coated: MNPs (1:1) and un-coated MNPs.