Prevalence of multidrug-resistant,coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus in nasal carriage,food, wastewater and paper currency in Jalandhar city (north-western), an Indian state of Punjab

Eighteen sites impacted by abandoned mine drainage (AMD) in Pennsylvania were sampled and measured for pH, acidity, alkalinity, metal ions, and sulfate. This study compared the accuracy of four acidity calculation methods with measured hot peroxide acidity and identified the most accurate calculation method for each site as a function of pH and sulfate concentration. Method E1 was the sum of proton and acidity based on total metal concentrations; method E2 added alkalinity; method E3 also accounted for aluminum speciation and temperature effects; and method E4 accounted for sulfate speciation. To evaluate errors between measured and predicted acidity, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), the coefficient of determination (R ²), and the root mean square error to standard deviation ratio (RSR) methods were applied. The error evaluation results show that E1, E2, E3, and E4 sites were most accurate at 0, 9, 4, and 5 of the sites, respectively. Sites where E2 was most accurate had pH greater than 4.0 and less than 400 mg/L of sulfate. Sites where E3 was most accurate had pH greater than 4.0 and sulfate greater than 400 mg/L with two exceptions. Sites where E4 was most accurate had pH less than 4.0 and more than 400 mg/L sulfate with one exception. The results indicate that acidity in AMD-affected streams can be accurately predicted by using pH, alkalinity, sulfate, Fe(II), Mn(II), and Al(III) concentrations in one or more of the identified equations, and that the appropriate equation for prediction can be selected based on pH and sulfate concentration.     

Fish scales as indicators of wastewater toxicity from an international water channel Tung Dhab drain

The effect of wastewater exposure on scales and chromatophores of freshwater fish Channa punctatus was studied using wastewater dilutions (60–100%) from an international water channel Tung Dhab drain at an interval of 15 and 30 days. The exposed fish showed significant alterations such as uprooted and damaged lepidonts and dispersal of chromatophores. These observations strongly suggest that fish scales can be successfully employed as indicators of wastewater pollution.     

A linear and nonlinear approach for interpretation of groundwater quality based on water quality index

In this study using linear and nonlinear approach, aggregate indices for various water quality parameters were analyzed. Using a linear and nonlinear interpolating surface, various water quality variables at grid points were investigated that is essential for mapping. The values help in constituting a key approach for determining the water quality index (WQI), which converts pollutant concentration data into subindex values and then combines them into a single score. One of the biggest advantages of WQI is its summary and intuitive communication capability which will be extremely helpful for demarcating safe aquifer zones of groundwater and in the selection of suitable method for remedial. The present study also describes pollution potential in ground water of Madhya Pradesh, India. The aggregate indices suggest intermediate to high pollution susceptibility in some region of Madhya Pradesh that may increase further if not managed. The overall interpretation of the study will be helpful in formulating suitable approach for water quality interpretation and sustainable planning of groundwater resources.     

Combustion of flame retardants

2,4,6-Tribromoaniline (TBA) is used in the preparation of various dyes, polymers, and, in combination with antimony trioxide, as a flame retardant in the textile and plastic industry. Pyrolysis studies of TBA done previously in our laboratory indicated the presence of some potentially toxic nitrogen analogs of dioxins. Combustion of TBA was further studied using a flame to simulate the conditions of an incinerator; it was observed that, along with the formation of phenazines, small but significant amounts of brominated benzidines and carbazoles were also formed.     

The effect of triethylene tetramine upon the selective removal of nickel (II), iron (II), manganese (II) and tin (II) in rats

The distribution of Nickel-63, Iron-59, Manganese-54 and Tin-113 in plasma was studied in rats which received single intravenous (i.v.) injection of aqueous solutions of their salts alone, and in rats which also received single intramuscular (im) injection of triethylene tetramine (TETA). TETA was extremely effective in reducing the plasma concentration of Nickel-63 followed by that of Iron-59, Manganese-54 and Tin-113.     

Genetically Modified Organisms: An Indian Ethical Dilemma

In today’s rapidly merging technological realms, basic necessity and morality of the society is often overlooked. Genetic Engineering, a great leap in human understanding of life sciences with possible impacts on every facet of life, is one such advancement. A technology which tampers with the nature at the DNA level and has the prowess to shuffle genes between distantly or even non-related organisms is bound to have gravid moral implications. Tagged with ecological, economic and bio-safety issues, it is being termed as an imprecise tool, which may cause irreversible damages. Apparently, it has shaken the age old, deeply entrenched ideologies of people around the globe leading to a massive uproar in the society. This synthesis is an attempt to dissect and analyze the ethical and moral repercussions of Genetic Engineering with special reference to Indian scenario.     

Modelling fertility: an application of count regression models

Often the lifecycle data occur as count of the vital events and are recorded as integers. The purpose of this article is to model the fertility behavior based on religious, educational, economic, and occupational characteristics. The responses of classified groups according to these determinants are examined for significant influence on fertility using Poisson regression model (PRM) based on the National Family Health Survey -3 dataset. The observed and predicted probabilities under PRM indicate modal value of two children for the Poisson distribution modeled data. Presence of dominance of two child in the data motivates the authors to adopt multinomial regression model (MRM) in order to link fertility with various socioeconomic indicators responsible for fertility variation. Choice of the explanatory factors is limited to the availability of data. Trends and patterns of preference for birth counts suggest that religion, caste, wealth, female education, and occupation are the dominant factors shaping the observed birth process. Empirical analysis suggests that both the models used in the study perform similarly on the sample data. However, fitting of MRM by taking birth count of two as comparison category shows improved Akaike information criterion and consistent Akaike information criterion values. Current work contributes to the existing literature as it attempts to provide more insight into the determinants of Indian fertility using Poisson and MRM.     

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss.)

Polyphenols and polyphenol-rich fractions of plants have been reported to have protective effects against lipid peroxidation, most probably by serving as scavengers of free radicals and/or by chelating metal ions. In the present study, the effect of different extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis) on peroxyl radical mediated damage to the polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. Liver homogenate was used as experimental material. The production of malondialdehyde served as a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. It was observed that polyphenol-rich fractions, particularly the ethyl acetate fractions of bark and leaves, showed the highest protective activity of 83.02% and 88.62% inhibition, respectively. This study will help in knowing the scientific validation of this plant, for its use in ayurvedic formulations. The current in vitro experiments performed herewith comply with the current laws of India.