Biodiversity of Cyanobacteria in industrial effluents

Biodiversity of cyanobacteria in industrial effluents. In order to study the biodiversity of cyanobacteria in industrial effluents, four different effluents such as dye, paper mill, pharmaceutical and sugar were selected. The hysicochemical characteristics of all the effluents studied were more or less similar. Totally 59 species of cyanobacteria distributed in four different effluents were recorded. Among the effluents, sugar mill recorded the maximum number of species (55) followed by dye (54), paper mill (45) and pharmaceutical (30). Except pharmaceutical effluent, others recorded heterocystous cyanobacteria. In total 26 species of cyanobacteria were recorded in common to all the effluents analysed. Of them, Oscillatoria with 13 species was the dominant genus which was followed by Phormidium (8), Lyngbya (2), Microcystis (2) and Synechococcus with single species. The abundance of cyanobacteria in these effluents was due to favourable contents of oxidizable organic matter, rich calcium and abundant nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates with less dissolved oxygen. Indicator species from each effluent and their immense value for the future pollution abatement programmes have also been discussed.Biodiversidad de cianobacterias en vertidos industriales. Se ha estudiado la biodiversidad de cianobacterias presente en vertidos industriales de diferente naturaleza (colorantes, fabricación de papel, sector farmacéutico y azúcar). Las características físico-químicas de los vertidos fueron más o menos similares. Se han identificado un total de 59 especies de cianobacterias en los cuatro tipos de vertidos. La mayor riqueza específica se encontró en el vertido de la industria azucarera (55 especies), seguida luego por la industria de colorantes, papel y productos farmacéuticos (54, 45 y 30 especies, respectivamente). Con la excepción del vertido de la industria farmacéutica, en los restantes vertidos se detectaron cianobacterias heterocistadas. El número de especies comunes a los cuatro vertidos ascendió a 26. Entre éstas, Oscillatoria, con 13 especies, fue el género dominante, seguido por Phormidium (8), Lyngbya y Microcystis (ambas con 2) y Synechococcus (1). La abundancia de cianobacterias en estos vertidos se debió al contenido en materia orgánica oxidable, altos niveles de calcio y nutrientes inorgánicos (nitratos y fosfatos) y bajos niveles de oxígeno disuelto. Se discuten el valor del indicador de especies de cada vertido y su importancia para los programas de reducción de la contaminación

Internal fixation of pediatric shaft femur fractures by titanium elastic nails: clinical and radiological study

Background: Management of diaphyseal femoral fractures in the pediatric age group is challenging. There has been a demand worldwide for operative fixation.Methods: Twelve children (7 boys, five girls) aged 6-16 years with diaphyseal femoral fractures (12 fractures, one in each) was stabilized with titanium elastic nail system (TENS). Patients underwent surgery within a week days of their injury. The results were evaluated using Flynn's Scoring system. Identical two nails were used in each fracture.Results: All 12 patients were available for evaluation and follow-up for a mean duration of 24 months (14-34 months). Radiological union in all cases was seen at a mean duration of 8 weeks. Full weight bearing was possible at a mean duration of 10 weeks (8-12 weeks). The results were excellent in 8 patients (67%) and satisfactory in 4 patients (33%).  Complications that occurred were infection (2 cases), knee joint stiffness (4 cases), angulation <10 degrees (1 case), and shortening less than 10 mm (2 cases). Conclusions: Intramedullary fixation by TENS is an effective, time-tested treatment of fracture of the femur in patients of the 6-16 years age group

In-vitro Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activities of Stevia Rebaudiana (Asteraceae) Leaf Extracts

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the antimicrobial and antitumor activities of Stevia Rebaudiana (Asteraceae) leaf extracts. Methods: Four solvent extracts (ethyl acetate, acetone, chloroform and water) of Stevia rebaudiana leaves were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio cholerae by using agar well diffusion method. Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton species were used to test anti-yeast and antifungal activity. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts on Vero and HEp2 cells were assayed using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT]. Results: Among the four extracts tested, acetone extract had effective antibacterial potential, followed by ethyl acetate extract. The acetone extract showed greater activity against Gram-positive than against Gram-negative organisms. All the extracts were active against Epidermophyton species and Candida albicans. The 1:8 dilution of the acetone extract was non-toxic to normal cells and also had both anticancer and anti-proliferative activities against cancerous cells. Conclusion: The study confirms the antimicrobial and antitumor activities of Stevia Rebaudiana leaves extracted using various solvents, and is therefore, a potential drug that requires further studies and development. Keywords: Stevia Rebaudiana; Antibacterial; Antifungal; Antitumor; HEp2 cells; MTT assayTropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 7(4) 2008: pp. 1143-114

Influence of Income and Education of the Parents on the Career Aspirations of Industrial Aspirants

Latest Aspiring Minds National Employability Report reveals that only 20 per cent of the engineering graduates are employable.  Career aspirations measure the strength of an aspirants’ intention to be active in a particular career field. Our notion of career aspiration shows similarities with the notion of 'career anchors' from Schein (Schein, 1977; Schein, 1994), who differentiates between managerial competence, technical competence, security, creativity, and   autonomy / independence. Furthermore, career aspirations represent a type of mental self selection. This assumption is supported by the so-called “Person-Job-Fit-Theory“, relying on the hypothesis of a “congruence between person and working environment” (Weinert, 1998), according to which there is an agreement between the expectations, needs and values of the individual on the one hand and the circumstances, opportunities, parental income, education and chances, with which certain carrier fields can fulfill these aspirations on the other hand. Holland builds his theory of “vocational choice“(Holland, 1973, 1985) on a similar premise: There is an interaction between personality and behavioral characteristics and one’s vocational choices, so that people tend to move into career fields that are congruent with their personal qualities. Thus our concept works as a so-called “matching-model” (Hall, 1987b) that focuses on the match or fit between the personality traits and the career field. In the present paper the researchers do believe and bring out the influence of the Income and Education of the parents on the Career Aspirations of Industrial Aspirants. The authors have undertaken the present Descriptive Research study among the Engineering Graduates (Fresh BE., and B.Tech.,) selected for one year Graduate Apprenticeship at a Heavy Engineering and Manufacturing Public Sector. The sample size was 149 having the mixture of major discipline in Engineering and passed out from different colleges in Tamilnadu. Data were collected at the time of their joining by using census sampling procedure through a pre-designed interview schedule. Appropriate statistical tools have been used for analysis and the results. Keywords: Career Aspirations, Technical Competency, Practical and Behavioral skills, Industrial Aspirants, Income and Education of the parents

Antigenotoxic Effect Of Ferulic Acid In 7,12-Dimethyl Benz(A)- Anthracene (Dmba) Induced Genotoxicity

The antigenotoxic effect of ferulic acid was carried out by evaluating the cytogenetic markers, the micronuclei frequency and chromosomal aberrations, in the bone marrow of hamsters in 7,12- dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced genotoxicity. Genotoxicity was induced in experimental hamsters by single intraperitoneal injection of DMBA (30mg kg-1 b.w). Pretreatment of ferulic acid orally at a dose of 40mg kg-1 b.w for five days significantly reduced the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) and the percentage of chromosomal aberrations in hamster\'s bone marrow. Our results thus suggest that ferulic acid has potent antigenotoxic effect in DMBA induced genotoxicity in golden Syrian hamsters. Keywords: DMBA, ferulic acid, genotoxicity, chromosomal aberrations, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, hamster.African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 32-3

Institutions, impact synergies and food security: a methodology with results from the Kala Oya Basin, Sri Lanka

Institutional development / Development plans / Development policy / Impact assessment / River basins / Food security / Models