Biosorption of Long Half-life Radionuclide of Strontium Ion (Sr+) by Marine Actinobacterium Nocardiopsis sp. 13H

Microorganisms may have a direct action on the fate of organic/inorganic ions in the environment through biosorption, detoxification or bioaccumulation processes. In the present study, the marine actinobacterial Nocardiopsis sp. 13H strain, isolated from different nuclear power plant (NPP) sites, India, tested for long half-life radionuclide of strontium (Sr⁺) was studied. Nocardiopsis sp. 13H could remove 93.6 ± 0.8% of Sr⁺ from test solutions containing 10 mM SrCl₂. The biosorption of Sr⁺ was studied for optimum condition of pH, temperature and time interval of remediation. Further, Sr⁺ adsorption was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, with the presence of Sr⁺, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were also found more and suggested interaction of EPS surface active assemblages being involved in radionuclide remediation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study confirmed that Nocardiopsis sp. 13H cell surfaces are involved in Sr⁺ adsorption with the presence of dominant functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl and amide groups. The results conclude that marine actinobacterial Nocardiopsis sp. 13H could be useful for the treatment of long half-life radioisotope pollution as an eco-friendly biosorbent in marine environmental cleanup.     

Mosquito transmission of wild turkey malaria, Plasmodium hermani.

Culex nigripalpus experimentally transmitted Plasmodium hermani, a plasmodium of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Florida. The mosquitoes were infected by feeding upon blood induced parasitemias in domestic turkey poults. The resulting sporozoites, transmitted by either mosquito bites or injection, produced malaria infections in domestic poults.     

Chemoreceptor sensitivity and maladaptation to high altitude in man

Studies were carried out to find out the role of chemoreceptor sensitivity in the causation of maladaptation syndromes on acute exposure to altitude. The experiments were done in two phases. In phase I, the responses in chemoreceptor sensitivity were studied in altitude acclimatized subjects and compared with those who suffered from either High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). In Phase II, a similar comparison was done in two groups of subjects, one representing normal sojourners at 3,500 m and the other being subjects who had just recovered from HAPO. The first phase was done at Delhi; and the second at an altitude of 3,500 m. Parameters of assessment were hypoxic sensitivity, carbon dioxide sensitivity, ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (Rf), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and oral temperature (Tor). The results showed significantly lower sensitivity to both hypoxia and carbon dioxide in maladapted subjects, as compared to those who were acclimatized in both the categories suggesting thereby that reduced chemoreceptor sensitivity might be an initiating factor in the causation of maladaptation syndromes at altitude.     

Uses of Plants and Plant Products in Traditional Indian Mural Paintings

The genius of Indian paintings was first manifested in the Ajantan mural art which spanned a whole millennium from the second century B.C. to the eighth century A.D. This rich tradition, which continued up to the nineteenth century under the patronage of different dynasties in India, declined by the end of that century. But this cultural heritage has been kept alive by a few artists in Kerala who practice even today the methods and techniques of mural paintings similar to those practiced by the Ajantan mural painters. Plant materials and/or plant products used during different phases of a mural painting, from preparation of the base wall to the finishing touches of the creation are identified and pro-cessing and application detailed. Ajantan and post-Ajantan murals are reviewed and the ma-terials, methods and techniques used in them are discussed.     

Variation in the susceptibility to cold injury in Indians

The peripheral vascular responses during local cold stress, (heat output from the hands and cold induced vasodilatation-CIVD response) were studied on 4 groups (10 each) of Indian population, viz., South-Indians, North-Indians, Gurkhas and High Altitude Natives (HAN) of 3,500m. The parameters were recorded at Delhi, and at 3,500 m in thermoneutral laboratory (25–28°C). The sea level readings of HAN were taken after 3 weeks of their stay at Delhi; and that of lowlanders at 3,500 m were taken after 3 weeks of their sojourn. The results show that the heat output and CIVD were highest in HAN, and lowest in the South-Indians. The responses of the other two groups were similar in nature and were better than that of South-Indians. Based on an earlier study which has shown that individuals with higher heat output and CIVD are better protected against the occurrence of cold injuries, it can be suggested that HAN are most resistant and the South-Indians are highly susceptible to the occurrence of cold injuries.