Assessment of water quality and ecosystem health of a canal system during the lockdown period.

The impacts of the lockdown period on water quality and ecosystem health in an artificial canal water system were investigated from the rapidly growing Kozhikode City in India. The ecosystem health is measured in terms of water quality indicators such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) during the pre-lockdown and lockdown period. The study reveals the massive improvement of the ecosystem health of the canal in terms of DO, BOD, and E. coli during the lockdown period. DO values were improved from anoxic (0 mg/L) to oxic (> 5 mg/L), BOD reduced from 31 to 0.7 mg/L as well as E. coli at major urban stretches were 800 MPN/100 mL, which was observed to be absent during the lockdown period. Urban stretches of the canal implicitly proved that the lockdown period was not sufficient to recover the natural ecosystem condition of the canal system. Principal component analysis revealed that the ecosystem health of the canal majorly governs two factors, such as the weathering process and anthropogenic waste sources. The study advocates the policy makers that temporary pollution source control in a timely interval may heal the environment and is useful to the regulatory bodies for suggesting the pollution source control mechanism.

A comprehensive review on sources, analysis and toxicity of environmental pollutants and its removal methods from water environment.

Natural and human anthropogenic activities increase the concentration of the toxic pollutant in the water environment; they could cause harmful effects even in their lower concentration. In humans, toxic pollutants damage the structural and functional properties of essential organs including the heart, liver, kidneys, reproductive systems and pancreas. To avoid the toxicity of the pollutant, they should be removed from the water environment. Since various conventional water/wastewater treatment technologies including precipitation, ion exchange, flocculation, filtration, electrodialysis and membrane separation are employed to reduce the concentration of the pollutant, they have various difficulties in implementation, efficiency and ecological perspective. Therefore, several researchers are now focusing on alternative and eco-friendly approach called biosorption to remove toxic contaminants from the water environment. The biosorption innovation is one of the acclaimed systems for water treatment. The noteworthy endeavours have been made throughout the years to grow profoundly particular and effective biosorbent materials that are more effective, abundantly available, and cost-effective. Biosorption is effectively executed by utilizing both living and dead biomasses of bacteria, fungi and algae. Moreover, agro-waste materials are also utilized as biosorbents due to their excellent surface properties, abundant availability and cost-effectiveness. A variety of physical and chemical treatments enhances the biosorption capabilities of biosorbents via modifying their surface properties. In this review, biosorption mechanism, influencing parameters and application of biosorbent materials towards the removal of toxic pollutants are discussed. The future research opportunities for sustainable wastewater treatment were also explained.

Water quality assessment of Kavvayi Lake of northern Kerala, India using CCME water quality index and biological water quality criteria.

Assessment of water quality status of 7 sites of Kavvayi Wetland in northern Kerala (India) was carried out. The physico-chemical, bacteriological and biological parameters were monitored during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality index of the Kavvayi Lake samples ranged from 43.99-44.77; indicating that water quality was threatened or impaired. The poor water quality status might be due to dumping of wastes from municipal and domestic sources and agricultural runoff. Biological water quality criteria (BWQC) determined for wetland revealed that stations such as mixing point of Kariangode River into Kavvayi Lake and Kottikkadavu was moderately polluted in pre-monsoon and post- monsoon seasons. Mixing point of Nileswar River into Kavvayi Lake was moderately polluted in pre-monsoon season. Both calculated indices suggest that quality of lake was found to be influenced by anthropogenic activities such as unscientific tourism and infrastructure development, land encroachment, sand mining, pollution etc. The study was carried out as part of a programme, which aimed to conserve Kavvayi wetland because of its unique ecological and environmental characteristics.

Assessment and rationalization of water quality monitoring network: a multivariate statistical approach to the Kabbini River (India).

UNLABELLED: The establishment of an efficient surface water quality monitoring (WQM) network is a critical component in the assessment, restoration and protection of river water quality. A periodic evaluation of monitoring network is mandatory to ensure effective data collection and possible redesigning of existing network in a river catchment. In this study, the efficacy and appropriateness of existing water quality monitoring network in the Kabbini River basin of Kerala, India is presented. Significant multivariate statistical techniques like principal component analysis (PCA) and principal factor analysis (PFA) have been employed to evaluate the efficiency of the surface water quality monitoring network with monitoring stations as the evaluated variables for the interpretation of complex data matrix of the river basin. The main objective is to identify significant monitoring stations that must essentially be included in assessing annual and seasonal variations of river water quality. Moreover, the significance of seasonal redesign of the monitoring network was also investigated to capture valuable information on water quality from the network. Results identified few monitoring stations as insignificant in explaining the annual variance of the dataset. Moreover, the seasonal redesign of the monitoring network through a multivariate statistical framework was found to capture valuable information from the system, thus making the network more efficient. Cluster analysis (CA) classified the sampling sites into different groups based on similarity in water quality characteristics. The PCA/PFA identified significant latent factors standing for different pollution sources such as organic pollution, industrial pollution, diffuse pollution and faecal contamination. Thus, the present study illustrates that various multivariate statistical techniques can be effectively employed in sustainable management of water resources. HIGHLIGHTS: The effectiveness of existing river water quality monitoring network is assessed. Significance of seasonal redesign of the monitoring network is demonstrated. Rationalization of water quality parameters is performed in a statistical framework.

Characteristics of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse (Diptera:Culicidae) breeding sites.

We investigated the physicochemical characteristics of Aedes albopictus Skuse viz. breeding sites, by examining coconut shells, tires and plastic containers in a chikungunya affected area of Calicut, India. The study design was a cross-sectional ecological type. Thirty-four water samples were collected randomly from coconut shells, tires and plastic containers. The larvae were counted and the water was examined. The mean number of larvae per 500 ml was significantly higher in coconut shells than in tires and plastic containers. A negative correlation was observed with pH and a positive correlation was seen with most other variables. Coconut shells were the preferred breeding site for Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in our study. The rich organic content, low illumination and small orifice of the coconut shells could be the reasons for this. The higher salinity of the coconut shells did not affect breeding or survival.

Ecotoxicological impact assessment of heavy metals in core sediments of a tropical estuary.

Down core variation of heavy metals in three sediment cores from Cochin estuary was studied. The average concentration of iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury in each slices of sediment was determined. Quality of the sediments were evaluated based on sediment quality guidelines, pollution load index, and sum of toxic units and with effect range low/effect range median and threshold effect level/probable effect level values of environmental protection agency guidelines. The degree of contamination for each station was determined. The results of the study revealed higher concentration of heavy metals in surface layers than in deeper ones. The concentration of heavy metals in some stations exceeded the effect range median levels, which represents a probable effect range with in which adverse biological effects frequently occur. The spatial variation of heavy metals showed more contamination in the downstream at Pathalam industrial site. Statistical analysis showed that the correlation among different parameters differs with respect to stations. The present study highlighted severe heavy metal contamination of Cochin estuary with increased rate of deposition.

A rapid autolytic method for the preparation of protein hydrolysate from poultry viscera.

Protein hydrolysate was prepared from poultry viscera by a procedure involving autolysis for 6h at pH 2.8 and 55 degrees C followed by heat inactivation, filtration and drying. Recovery of nitrogen in the product was 87%. The process reduced the viable count of bacteria by 5-6logcfu/g. The product contained 84% protein, 6.5% ash and 8.8% moisture. Peptide analysis by gel filtration chromatography showed size in the range of 0.5-5kDa. RPHPLC exhibited the presence of hydrophilic peptides in higher concentration than that in trypsin digest of casein. Protein hydrolysate exhibited presence of all essential amino acids in comparison with reference protein except for methionine and threonine. The product possesses excellent solubility (>93%) over a pH range of 1-12. Efficacy of the product as a bacteriological media or feed supplement is discussed.

Autolytic degradation of chicken intestinal proteins.

Data on the exhaustive degradation of chicken intestinal proteins by endogenous proteases, which could be utilized as a means to prepare protein hydrolysate, is reported in the present paper. Chicken intestine possesses proteolytic activities (cathepsin B, D, H, L, aminopeptidases and alkaline proteases) comparable to that in organ tissues like liver and spleen, which could degrade the tissue proteins extensively. The autolytic degradation was found to be optimum at pH 2.5 and 60 degrees C. Analysis by SDS-PAGE showed a time dependent degradation of proteins to low molecular weight (<10 kDa) products. Kinetic studies employing specific inhibitors indicated that the degradation (90-94%) of proteins at acidic pH is governed largely by pepstatin sensitive proteases. The acidic extract of the tissue was found to hydrolyse albumin, casein and soybean proteins efficiently. Results point to the possible application of tissue autolysis for obtaining protein hydrolysates from chicken intestine. Chicken intestine could also serve as a potential source of much needed proteolytic enzymes for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Identification and purification of an aspartic proteinase from human semen.

To purify and evaluate the molecular changes associated with an aspartic protease (Cathepsin D) in human semen from infertile subjects. Cathepsin D was purified from normo-, oligo- and azoospermic semen, by a procedure involving detergent solubilisation, affinity chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme from normo-, oligo- and azoospermic samples was purified 86, 60 and 44 fold respectively. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on SDS as well as on native PAGE irrespective of the pathological conditions. The molecular weight of Cathepsin D from oligospermic and normospermic samples was 40 kDa while that of azoospermic sample was found to be 43 kDa. The enzyme was inhibited by pepstatin while other proteinase inhibitors and metal ions did not have any effect. Purified Cathepsin D from azoospermic sample differs from normospermia and oligospermia.

Seminal profiles of lysosomal enzymes in normal and infertile men.

Human seminal plasma is known to possess considerable proteolytic activity, much of which is associated with lysosomes. The activities of lysosomal hydrolases like alkaline proteinase, cathepsin-D, aryl-sulfatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in seminal plasma from randomly chosen infertile and vasectomised men have been compared. These enzymes have been implicated in the coagulation and liquefaction processes. The role of fructose and proteins in these processes has also been studied. The results indicate that cathepsin-D and aryl-sulfatase activity in infertile men were significantly lower than normo-spermic subjects. N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was lowest in azoospermia suggesting that it could be used as a biochemical marker for azoospermia. Conversely, alkaline proteinase showed increased levels in all the infertile cases.

Vitamin A-deficiency and its effects on the lysosomal enzymes of fish.

The effect of vitamin A-deficiency on the structural integrity of lysosomes in the skeletal muscle and skin of Heteropneustes fossilis, a dehydroretinol-rich freshwater siluroid used in pisciculture, has been evaluated. Dietary stress was found to cause enhanced release of acid hydrolases from both skeletal muscle and skin tissues. The results indicate that the regulation of lysosomal membrane stability in these tissues is a function of vitamin A.

Preparation of membrane vesicles from kidney cortex lysosomes using amino acid methyl ester.

A procedure for the preparation of intact membrane vesicles from kidney cortex lysosomes is reported. Highly purified preparations of lysosomes were isolated from rat and buffalo kidney cortex by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The lysosomal membrane vesicles were prepared by osmotic rupture of the organelle with glutamate dimethyl ester. The integrity of the vesicles was demonstrated by their capacity to hold K+ and maintain H+ gradients.

Purification and characterization of an alkaline proteinase from kidney cortex lysosomes.

An alkaline proteinase was purified to apparent homogeneity from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) kidney cortex lysosomes by affinity chromatography on STI sepharose 4B and gel filtration over Sephadex G-100. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 17,000 and 21,000 by gel filtration and SDS/PAGE respectively. The purified enzyme was optimally active at pH 8.5-9.0 at 50 degrees C and hydrolysed synthetic substrates of chymotrypsin but not those of elastase or trypsin. It was inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors like soybean trypsin inhibitor, limabean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethyl sulphonyl fluoride. Immunologically, the enzyme was similar to chymotrypsin. The amino acid composition showed high content of acidic amino acids. This protein was detected in kidney, liver, spleen, pancreas and heart.

Assessment of the genotoxic potential of riboflavin and lumiflavin. B. Effect of light.

On exposure to visible light, riboflavin and lumiflavin produced reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen and superoxide radicals. The reaction was found to be time- and concentration-dependent. Both riboflavin and lumiflavin, upon illumination, showed mutagenic response in the umu test as well as in the Ames/Salmonella assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA102. The mutagenic response was partially abolished by superoxide dismutase while sodium azide did not have any effect. No mutagenicity was observed if the compounds were not illuminated. The results suggested the involvement of superoxide radicals in light-induced mutagenicity of riboflavin as well as lumiflavin.

Assessment of the genotoxic potential of riboflavin and lumiflavin. A. Effect of metabolic enzymes.

The mutagenic potential of riboflavin and its photodegradation product lumiflavin was evaluated using the umu test, SOS chromotest and Ames Salmonella assay. Both riboflavin and lumiflavin by themselves were found to be non-mutagenic. On treatment with rat liver microsomal enzymes (S9) or caecal cell-free extract (CCE), lumiflavin acquired mutagenicity, while the status of riboflavin remained unaffected. Activation of lumiflavin by metabolic enzymes was found to result in an alteration of its spectral characteristics.

Gender preference in Goa.

PIP: Ramakumar's Index of Gender Preference (IGP) was used to examine sex preference and acceptance of contraception by sterilization and other methods or nonusers. Data were obtained from 798 mothers from the couple register at the St. Cruz Urban Health Center attached to the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Goa Medical College, India. Contraceptive acceptance in the study population was 48.12%, which was higher than the Goa average of 29.9%. Permanent contraceptive usage was low at 14.79%. Contraceptive use increased with family size. IGP was -0.40, which indicated weak size preference over sex preference. The index of size preference (ISP), when ignoring the number of daughters mothers have and taking into consideration their number of sons, was 55.27 and the ISP ignoring sons and counting daughters was 55.67. Contraceptive use increased above the average for those families already with sons. The comparison of indexes among non users and by type of contraceptive (permanent versus other contraceptive methods) indicated stronger size preference than son preference and a quicker decision to use contraception after the birth of a girl.^ieng

Evidence for the occurrence of an alkaline proteinase in kidney cortex lysosomes.

A novel alkaline endoproteinase optimally active at pH 8.5 has been detected in highly pure preparations of buffalo kidney cortex lysosomes. The enzyme has been partially purified (90-fold) by solubilization with octylglucoside, acid precipitation and chromatography over DEAE sephacel and sepharose 6B. The alkaline proteinase, resistant to known inhibitors of lysosomal cathepsins is inhibited by soyabean trypsin inhibitor and phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride indicating that the enzyme is a serine proteinase.

Influence of starvation on the intra-lysosomal proteolysis in rat liver.

Starvation induced changes in the intralysosomal proteolysis in rat liver were assessed in terms of the degradation of intravenously administered [131I]-human serum albumin 30 min after injection. Fasting for five days resulted in nearly 11% increase in the endocytic uptake of the labeled protein in lysosome rich fraction. However, the rate of degradation of internalized protein measured in terms of TCA soluble products showed a distinct decline in starved animals as compared to fed controls. The observed decrease in proteolysis was reversed completely by refeeding the starved rats for 10 days. The restoration of the degradation profiles in fasted animals was also accomplished by isolating lysosomes at a post injection period of 90 min. The results indicated that the starvation induced decrease in proteolysis was a consequence of delayed fusion of lysosomes and the phagosome containing the labeled protein.

The lysosomal proton pump is electrogenic.

Lysosomes were purified approximately 40-fold from rat kidney cortex by differential and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. In a sucrose medium, the lysosomes quenched the fluorescence of the potential sensitive dye diS-C3-(5) (3,3'-dipropylthiocarbo-cyanine iodide) in a time-dependent manner, indicating that the dye accumulates within the lysosomal interior. After treatment of the lysosomes with valinomycin, the dye fluorescence displayed a logarithmic dependence upon the external K+ concentration; thus, the fluorescence signal provides a semiquantitative measure of the lysosomal membrane potential (delta psi). In the absence of valinomycin, lysosomal quenching of diS-C3-(5) fluorescence was partially reversed by agents which collapse the lysosomal pH gradient (ammonium sulfate, chloroquine, and K nigericin), suggesting that the proton gradient across the lysosomal membrane contributes to delta psi. A rapid increase in diS-C3-(5) fluorescence, indicative of an increase in delta psi, was observed upon the addition of Mg-ATP to the lysosomes. The ATP-dependent fluorescence change was inhibited by protonophores, K valinomycin, permeable anions, and N-ethylmaleimide, but was unaffected by ammonium sulfate, K nigericin, or sodium vanadate. Oligomycin had no effect at concentrations below 2 micrograms/ml; at higher concentrations, oligomycin partially inhibited the fluorescence response to Mg-ATP, but it also inhibited the fluorescence response to K valinomycin, suggesting that it had modified the permeability of the lysosomal membrane. Dicylohexylcarbodiimide behaved similarly to oligomycin. Mg-ATP also altered the lysosomal distribution of 86Rb+ (in the presence of valinomycin) and S[14C]CN-, consistent with an increase in the potential of the lysosomal interior of 40-50 mV. The results demonstrate that the lysosomal proton pump is electrogenic.