Monitoring Secchi disk transparency of Warasgaon reservoir of Pune by using LISS III sensor

ABSTRACT Secchi disk transparency (SDT) is the simplest and the most efficient measure to monitor water quality of the reservoir. The nutrients from the agriculture fields, sewage from human settlements and industries drain into reservoirs and lakes. It contributes to the increasing level of suspended particles, algal growth and coloring of water and reduces transparency of water. These changes can be detectable by remote sensors. In this study LISS III sensor of Resourcesat-2 used to model SDT of Warasgaon reservoir, Pune. The green (r = 0.75), red (r = 0.79) and NIR (r = 0.75) bands of LISS III showed good correlation with observed SDT, while band ratios Red/NIR (r = 0.81) and NIR/SWIR (r = 0.81) showed significant correlations. Several linear and multiple linear regression models developed from the in-situ measurements of SDT and the radiance value of LISS III image. The multiple linear regression model based on green, red, NIR and red/SWIR found to be the best fit (r = 0.88) to the in-situ data. The results showed that the Warasgaon reservoir was oligotrophic in condition during the December 2012

Investigation of reaction and α\alpha production cross sections with 9^9Be projectile

In order to investigate the contribution of $\alpha$ production in the reaction cross sections, measurements of elastic scattering and inclusive $\alpha$ particle angular distributions have been carried out with the $^9$Be projectile on $^{89}$Y, $^{124}$Sn, $^{159}$Tb, $^{198}$Pt, and $^{209}$Bi targets over a wide angular range at energies near the Coulomb barrier. The measured elastic scattering angular distributions were fitted with optical model calculations, and reaction cross sections were extracted. The same data were also analysed using both global optical model potentials (Global OMP) and microscopic S$\tilde{a}$o Paulo potentials (SPP), to obtain the reaction cross sections. The data available in the literature for $^9$Be projectile includes the elastic scattering angular distributions, $\alpha$ production cross sections, and complete fusion cross sections on these and other targets at several energies are also utilised for comparative studies. The reaction cross section extracted from the three potentials (Best Fit, Global OMP and SPP) are in reasonable agreement for all the targets except for the energies below the barrier where the results from SPP deviate by 30-50 \%. Inclusive $\alpha$ particle production cross sections were also extracted by integrating the $\alpha$ particle angular distributions. The present data and data available from literature of reaction and $\alpha$-particle production cross sections were utilised to make systematic studies. Systematics of reaction and $\alpha$-particle production cross sections revealed their universal behaviour.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Cytotoxic activity of NN-32 toxin from Indian spectacled cobra venom on human breast cancer cell lines

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer which causes significant morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Lack of medical facilities for early detection, therapeutic strategies for treatment and side effects due to pharmacological compounds have encompassed the need for new therapies mostly from natural sources. A lot of components have been identified from different snake venoms as therapeutic agents. A group of polypeptides (60–70 amino acid residues) called cytotoxins or cardiotoxins present in an elapid family of snakes have a wide variety of pharmaceutical actions and have the tendency to damage a wide variety of cells including cancerous cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of NN-32 protein toxin purified from Indian Spectacled Cobra venom against human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Methods The NN-32 toxin was purified by ion exchange chromatography and further by RP-HPLC. The potential anticancer effects of the NN-32 toxin on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were evaluated using MTT, anti-proliferation, neutral red (NR) uptake and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Results The ion exchange chromatography showed various peaks among fraction no. 35 showing cytotoxic activity and this fraction showed a single peak with retention time 3.6 mins by HPLC using C18 column. The NN-32 toxin induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with the IC50 value of 2.5 and 6.7 μg/ml respectively. The NN-32 showed significant cytotoxicity to both the cell lines along with low cytotoxicity to MCF-10A (normal breast epithelial) cells. The cytotoxic effect was further confirmed by the anti-proliferative, NR uptake and LDH release assays. Conclusion The purified toxin NN-32 from Naja naja venom showed cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (ER+) and MDA-MB-231(ER-) cells in both dose dependent and time dependent manner

Genotoxicity and oxidative stress as biomarkers in fresh water mussel,<i> Lamellidens marginalis</i> (Lam.) exposed to monocrotophos

822-828Monocrotophos (MCP) is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in India for controlling various pests. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative stress and genotoxic potential of MCP on the freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck) after 7 days exposure and repair of the damaged DNA after 4 days recovery. The bivalves were exposed to 5.25 mg/L of MCP for 7 days and then allowed to recover for 4 days in pesticide-free water. Increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was recorded in the gill, muscle, foot and mantle tissues. Cellular antioxidant defences i.e. antioxidant enzyme activities like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Altered activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed after exposure. There was a significant recovery in the antioxidative enzymes in the tissues after the recovery period. To monitor genotoxicity of MCP, we used micronucleus and comet assay. Increase in Olive tail moment in the gill cells of exposed mussels as compared to that of control ones indicated significant DNA damage. Our findings suggest that the MCP-induced oxidative stress may be contributing partly to genotoxic damage of gill cells. Thus, these biomarkers are found to be useful in evaluating the toxicity of MCP in mussels

Individual and combined exposure of cupric chloride di-hydrate and anthracene to Lamellidens corrianus (Lea): Evaluation of genotoxic responses using comet assay

949-955Industrial, domestic and agricultural wastes pose potential threat to the aquatic environment as major sources of toxic contaminants along with carcinogenic and genotoxic compounds. Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have increased concern due to their mutagenic features as they can bind to DNA molecule and lead to genotoxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the genotoxic potential of cupric chloride di-hydrate (A), anthracene (B) and combined exposure of both (C) on the freshwater mussel, Lamellidens corrianus (Lea 1834). Animals were exposed individually to cupric chloride di-hydrate (A, 0.1 ppm) and anthracene (B, 0.5 ppm) and their combined exposure (C) for 7 days (T1) and 14 days (T2), followed by the transfer of exposed animals to toxicant free water for four days after each treatment for assessment of recovery pattern (R1, R2). Genotoxicity was evaluated after each exposure and recovery with the help of comet assay and micronucleus assay. In all the above exposures (A, B and C) it was observed that increased exposure duration leads to more DNA damage. However, recovery potential of animals upon exposure to extended duration found to be greater than that of the short duration exposure (R2>R1), indicating adaptability of animals. The trend of damage in tail DNA% and olive tail moment (OTM) was consistent after both (T1 and T2) durations such as C>A>B

Comparative evaluation of aquatic biomass feedstocks for energy application and potential for extraction of plant nutrients from their ash

Aquatic biomasses have fast growth rate amicable for energy applications. Presence of low melting alkali elements is a major challenge; however they are plant nutrients that enhances the ash utilization potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate aquatic biomasses (Eichornia, Hydrilla, Lemna, and Spirogyra) for potential energy application, and to assess the accumulation of plant nutrients in the ashes obtained at different temperatures (500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C). Volatile matter content (wt.% dry basis) was lower in Spirogyra (58.2%) or Hydrilla (56.8%) than Eichornia (68.3%) or Lemna (64.7%), whereas fixed C content (wt. % dry basis) was higher for Eichornia and Lemna (about 11%) and lower for Spirogyra (7.4%) and Hydrilla (1.0%). Carbon content ranged from 25.2 to 37.9%; decreased in the order Eichornia > Lemna > Spirogyra > Hydrilla. Ash content was higher for Hydrilla (42.1%) followed by Spirogyra (34.5%), Lemna (24.0%) and Eichornia (19.9%). FTIR and cluster analysis showed comparable ash characteristics for Eichornia and Lemna; Hydrilla and Spirogyra have typical characteristics. Plant nutrient (except N, and K) contents in the ash increased with increase in temperature. Potassium and phosphorous content was higher in Eichornia and Lemna. Slagging and fouling tendencies could be arranged in the order Hydrilla > Eichornia > Lemna > Spirogyra. Eichornia, Lemna, and Spirogyra feedstock could be used for energy application and the resultant ash has valuable plant nutrients (K and P). Low temperature (600–700 °C) processing is advantageous to conserve plant nutrients in ash