Development of indices for surface and ground water quality assessment and characterization for Indian conditions

Water quality indices are mathematical equations that transform water quality data into a particular number which describe the status of water. A number of water quality indices have been developed by various researchers for categorizing the water quality for different uses. These indices are developed based on classification criteria, sub-indices, and aggregation function. In the present study, a generalized Composite Water Quality Index (CWQI) is developed to classify the water into five categories, viz excellent, good, fair, poor, and polluted. For this purpose, the concentration ranges have been categorized on the basis of the Indian Standards (IS) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards and considering International standards of World Health Organization (WHO) and European Commission (EC). Twenty-five water quality parameters are selected based on the social and environmental impacts, and weights are computed using the Saaty's Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool. These parameters are selected such that the same indices can be used to assess the quality of both surface and ground water. The computed weights minimize the subjectivity in assigning the parameter weights. The proposed index improves understanding of water quality issues by integrating complex data and generates a score which describes the status of water quality. The index will be very useful for the water management authorities to maintain good health of surface water resources.

Index-based assessment of suitability of water quality for irrigation purpose under Indian conditions

Agriculture is a major sector in India which contributes around 14% of country's gross domestic product (GDP). Being an agriculture-based country, good quality of water for irrigation has been a prime requisite. Highly growing population and accelerated industrial development are causing anthropogenic pollution to both surface and groundwater on one side and geogenic contamination like arsenic, fluoride, high dissolved solids, sodicity, and iron in groundwater on other side. As a result, ensuring safe water quality for the irrigation has become a major challenge to both the central and state governments. The present irrigation water quality standards being followed in India have been set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in the year 2000. These standards are solely based on four parameters, namely electrical conductivity, sodium percentage, sodium absorption ratio, and residual sodium carbonate, which are quite subjective and many times are not capable to exactly decide the quality of irrigation water particularly when there are large variations in the source water quality. Therefore, in the present paper, an indices-based approach is presented for categorization of irrigation water quality. These indices are mathematical equations that transform water quality data into a numeric value, which describes the quality of irrigation water. The proposed irrigation water quality index (IWQI), which is based on 12 parameters, classifies the water into five categories, viz. excellent, good, medium, bad, and very bad in the same manner as given by the CPCB and CGWB. In order to give proper rating to various parameters of the index, weights are computed using Saaty's analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-based multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach. This approach minimizes the subjectivity in assessment of weights and improves understanding of water quality issues by generating an overall index to describe the status of water quality. The proposed index will be beneficial for the water management authorities in ensuring safe water to the stakeholders.

Design of sampling locations for river water quality monitoring considering seasonal variation of point and diffuse pollution loads

The design of a water quality monitoring network (WQMN) is a complicated decision-making process because each sampling involves high installation, operational, and maintenance costs. Therefore, data with the highest information content should be collected. The effect of seasonal variation in point and diffuse pollution loadings on river water quality may have a significant impact on the optimal selection of sampling locations, but this possible effect has never been addressed in the evaluation and design of monitoring networks. The present study proposes a systematic approach for siting an optimal number and location of river water quality sampling stations based on seasonal or monsoonal variations in both point and diffuse pollution loadings. The proposed approach conceptualizes water quality monitoring as a two-stage process; the first stage of which is to consider all potential water quality sampling sites, selected based on the existing guidelines or frameworks, and the locations of both point and diffuse pollution sources. The monitoring at all sampling sites thus identified should be continued for an adequate period of time to account for the effect of the monsoon season. In the second stage, the monitoring network is then designed separately for monsoon and non-monsoon periods by optimizing the number and locations of sampling sites, using a modified Sanders approach. The impacts of human interventions on the design of the sampling net are quantified geospatially by estimating diffuse pollution loads and verified with land use map. To demonstrate the proposed methodology, the Kali River basin in the western Uttar Pradesh state of India was selected as a study area. The final design suggests consequential pre- and post-monsoonal changes in the location and priority of water quality monitoring stations based on the seasonal variation of point and diffuse pollution loadings.

Effects of vitamins A and D on the biosynthesis of L-ascorbic acid by rat-liver microsomes

1. The synthesis of l-ascorbic acid from either d-glucuronolactone or l-gulonolactone by liver microsomes of rats is decreased under conditions of hypervitaminosis A; under hypervitaminosis D the synthesis from d-glucuronolactone is increased and that from l-gulonolactone is not affected. 2. The microsomal conversion of l-gulonolactone into l-ascorbic acid is impaired in liver tissues of rats made deficient with respect to either vitamin A or vitamin D when compared with the controls maintained on stock diet.

A fraction isolated from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma as an antitumor and differentiating agent against human leukemic cell ML-2

Lipopolysaccharide fraction isolated from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (E-LPS) was investigated as an antitumor agent against human leukemia cell ML-2. Marked cell growth inhibition was observed with ML-2 cell accompanied by inhibition of DNA synthesis and perturbation of cell cycle. Induction of differentiation in treated ML-2 cells was observed as indicated by morphological maturation, NBT reducing activity and indirect immunofluorescence.

Product development studies on the tablet formulation of ibuprofen to improve bioavailability

To improve the bioavailability of ibuprofen, a thorough preformulation trial was undertaken. As a part of these studies, particle size of the drug, solubility-pH profile, and pH-partition coefficient profile were studied. The probability of improving solubility by solid dispersion technique was also investigated. The effects of different binding agents and incorporation of various proportions of sodium lauryl sulfate on the release rate of ibuprofen were also studied. The in vitro release profiles of the developed tablets showed superiority over the popular marketed tablets.

Development and evaluation of an ideal formulation of glibenclamide by solid dispersion techniques

An attempt was taken to develop an ideal formulation of Glibenclamide. Considering the physico-chemical nature of the drug the solid dispersion system was utilised using hydrophilic and hydrophobic carriers and formulations were made by fusion as well as solvent evaporation/co-precipitation techniques. The resulting formulations were evaluated in respect of physical nature, yield, assay content and stability. The in vitro release profiles of the formulations were compared with the marketed tablet and simple physical mixtures having same composition of drug and excipients. The effects of various carriers as well as manufacturing procedures on the in vitro release rate of drug were also studied. It is observed that a suitable blend of different batches of solid dispersions containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic carriers will give an optimum formulation with quick onset and prolonged duration of action.

Glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activities in different tissues of rats and guinea pigs exposed to varying levels of altitude stress for different periods of time

It was observed that both glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities were significantly increased in different tissues of both rats and guinea pigs, during a short period of altitude exposure, as well as in acclimatized animals. Interestingly, it was found that oral administration of glucose showed no such significant change at either sea level or in a hypoxic condition. Studies on the activity of GOT and GPT in different tissues of normal guinea pigs showed a little change in liver and brain during short periods of exposure. Kidney and heart showed a significant increase in GOT activity without any change in GPT activity. Increased activities were observed in all the tissues of the acclimatized animals. Of both unexposed and acclimatized animals, there was no change in the enzyme of unexposed and acclimatized animals except in heart following injection of thyroxine (16 micrograms X kg-1), but the enzyme activities were most pronounced in scorbutic animals.

Metabolic effect of intermittent exposure to altitude stress on rats and guinea pigs

Growing rats during intermittent exposure to altitude stress of 5486.4 m, lost weight; the loss during a 2-week period was 50% compared to controls. When the stress was withdrawn the rats began to gain weight normally. The activities of proteolytic enzymes (pepsin and trypsin) were found to be significantly increased under the influence of stress. In thyroxine-injected guinea pigs (16 micrograms/kg) the activities are more pronounced.

Characteristics of a cholera phage

The basic physical, chemical and physiological properties of a group II cholera phage belonging to Mukerjee's classification has been described.