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Change in drinking water quality from source to point-of-use and storage: a case study from Guwahati, India(Environment Monitoring and Assessment)
(G.K. Khadse, M. Kalita and P. K. Labhsetwar,184(9),,5343-61,Year : 2011)
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No information is available
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Air quality of respirable particulate levels at selected traffic junctions along the section of lateral highway in Hyderabad(Indain Journal of Environmental Protection)
(Manda Karunakar Reddy, Mareddy Sumathi,662-667,,662-667,Year : 2011)
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The aerodynamic diameter of an air borne particle is the key property in determining its respiratory deposition. The study aim to assess PM2.5 level and its size distribution at 5 traffic junctions located along the lateral highway connected to NH-202. A cascade impactor has been used to measure the size function range of PM2.5 apart from PM10 of atmospheric dust particles in air being PM2.5 is concern with respect to effect on human health and is able to tend deeply into the respiratory tract reaching the lungs. It is observed that weight % of PM2.5 values are in the range of 40% - 60% of PM10 and few values of PM2.5 are exceeding the standards prescribed by CPCB. It is concluded that free flow of traffic is main concern and maintenance of road should be carried out during low traffic hours.
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On the biosorption, by brown seaweed, Lobophora variegata, of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions: Equilibrium and thermodynamic studies(Biodegradation)
(Bhavanath Jha and Santlal Jaiswar,661–680,,,Year : 2010)
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The biosorption equilibrium isotherms of Ni(II) onto marine brown algae Lobophora variegata, which was chemically-modified by CaCl(2) were studied and modeled. To predict the biosorption isotherms and to determine the characteristic parameters for process design, twenty-three one-, two-, three-, four- and five-parameter isotherm models were applied to experimental data. The interaction among biosorbed molecules is attractive and biosorption is carried out on energetically different sites and is an endothermic process. The five-parameter Fritz-Schluender model gives the most accurate fit with high regression coefficient, R (2) (0.9911-0.9975) and F-ratio (118.03-179.96), and low standard error, SE (0.0902-0.0.1556) and the residual or sum of square error, SSE (0.0012-0.1789) values to all experimental data in comparison to other models. The biosorption isotherm models fitted the experimental data in the order: Fritz-Schluender (five-parameter) > Freundlich (two-parameter) > Langmuir (two-parameter) > Khan (three-parameter) > Fritz-Schluender (four-parameter). The thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaG (0), DeltaH (0) and DeltaS (0) have been determined, which indicates the sorption of Ni(II) onto L. variegata was spontaneous and endothermic in nature.
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Assessment of heavy metal content in suspended particulate matter of coastal industrial town, Mithapur, Gujarat, India(Atmospheric Research)
(Jayraj Jhala, R.B. Thorat, R.H. Trivedi, Kunal Shah, Gopalakrishnan Menon, P.M. Gaur, K.H. Mody and B.Jha, 257-265,,,Year : 2010)
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Heavy metal concentrations in suspended particulate matter (SPM) were investigated for their distribution and source in the atmosphere of coastal industrial town, Mithapur, Gujarat, India. SPM, at 10 locations covering three seasons, were trapped on glass fibre filters using high volume samplers and quantification of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry employing HNO3 based wet digestion. Results show relatively low concentrations of SPM (211.3 to 375.2 ?g/m3) compared to National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), specified By Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB, India), however, they were 2–3 times higher as compared to reference site. Among the heavy metals Cr, Mn and Pb levels were low, while Ni and Cd found to be exceeding the USEPA standards. The metal levels were also compared with those reported for other rural, coastal, industrial and urban parts around the world. Enrichment Factor analysis indicated that Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni were highly enriched relative to their crustal ratios (to Fe) and correspond to substantial contribution of anthropogenic source of these metals. The source identification was carried out by principal component analysis by applying a Varimax Rotated Component Matrix.
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Studies on the adsorption and kinetics of photodegradation of pharmaceutical compound, Indomethacin using novel photocatalytic adsorbents IPCAs(Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research)
(David Keane, Anne Morrissey, Kieran Nolan, Michael Oelgemoller, John Tobin,11302–11309,,,Year : 2010)
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Integrated photocatalytic adsorbents (IPCAs) based on TiO2-activated carbon synthesized by an ultrasonic impregnation technique have been used for the photodegradation of indomethacin (IND) in aqueous solutions. The IPCAs in dark adsorption studies had high affinity toward IND with the amount adsorbed proportional to the TiO2 loading. The adsorption capacity increased from 0.597 to 0.657 mmol/g with increase in TiO2 content from 0.5 to 10% in IPCAs. Three adsorption models, Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips, were used to describe the adsorption isotherms while the adsorption kinetic data were fitted to pseudofirst order and pseudosecond order models. The adsorption isotherm study showed that the adsorption followed both Sips and Langmuir models with high regression coefficients (R2) and low standard error (SE) and sum of residual square error (SSE) values. The adsorption kinetic data are well represented by pseudosecond order model. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation under UV were found to follow a Langmuir?Hinshelwood model for the various IPCAs. The adsorption rate constant (Kads) was considerably higher than the photocatalytic rate constant (kL-H), suggesting that the photocatalysis of IND is the rate-determining step during the adsorption/photocatalysis process. The proportion of TiO2 played a significant role upon the photoefficiency of the IPCAs. The photocatalytic efficiency of the 10% TiO2 IPCA remained greater than 70% after five cycles of use.
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Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Genus Crocodylus (Eusuchia, Crocodylia, Crocodylidae) and the taxonomic position of Crocodylus porosus.(Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution,)
(Meganathan, P. R., Dubey, B., Batzer, M. A., Ray, D. A., Haque.I
,,,393-402,Year : 2010)
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The genus Crocodylus consists of 11 species including the largest living reptile, Crocodylus porosus. The current understanding of the intrageneric relationships between the members of the genus Crocodylus is sparse. Even though members of this genus have been included in many phylogenetic analyses, different molecular approaches have resulted in incongruent trees leaving the phylogenetic relationships among the members of Crocodylus unresolved inclusive of the placement of C. porosus. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequences along with the partial mitochondrial gene sequences and a nuclear gene, C-mos were utilized to infer the intrageneric relationships among Crocodylus species with a special emphasis on the phylogenetic position of C. porosus. Four different phylogenetic methods, Neighbour Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference, were utilized to reconstruct the crocodilian phylogeny. The uncorrected pairwise distances computed in the study, show close proximity of C. porosus to C. siamensis and the tree topologies thus obtained, also consistently substantiated this relationship with a high statistical support. In addition, the relationship between C. acutus and C. intermedius was retained in all the analyses. The results of the current phylogenetic study support the well established intergeneric crocodilian phylogenetic relationships. Thus, this study proposes the sister relationship between C. porosus and C. siamensis and also suggests the close relationship of C. acutus to C. intermedius within the genus Crocodylus.
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A novel multiplex PCR assay for the identification of Indian crocodiles. (Molecular Ecology Resources)
(Meganathan, P. R., Dubey B., Jogayya, K. N., Whitaker, N., Haque. I
,,,744- 747,Year : 2010)
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Illegal hunting has been a major threat for the survival of wildlife fauna, including the three crocodile species that India harbours: Crocodylus palustris, Crocodylus porosus and Gavialis gangeticus. Although law prevents trade on these species, illicit hunting for trade continues to threaten the survival of these endangered species; conservation strategies therefore require a rapid molecular identification technique for Indian crocodiles. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with species-specific primers, considered as one of the most effective molecular techniques, is described herein. The primers were designed to yield species-specific sized amplicons. The assay discriminates the three Indian crocodile species unambiguously within a short time period using only simple agarose gel electrophoresis. We recommend this multiplex PCR assay to be used in the identification of Indian crocodile species.
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Molecular identification of three Indian snake species using simple PCR-RFLP method(Journal of Forensic Sciences)
(Dubey, B., Meganathan, P. R., Haque. I
,,,1065-1067,Year : 2010)
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Three endangered Indian snake species, Python molurus, Naja naja, and Xenochrophis piscator are known to be significantly involved in illegal trade. Effective authentication of species is required to curb this illegal trade. In the absence of morphological features, molecular identification techniques hold promise to address the issue of species identification. We present an effective PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method for easy identification of the three endangered snake species, Python molurus, Naja naja, and Xenochrophis piscator. A 431-bp amplicon from cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel snake-specific primers following restriction digestion with enzymes Mbo II and Fok I. The species-specific reference fragment patterns were obtained for the target species, which enabled successful identification of even highly degraded shed skin sample confirming the utility of the technique in case of poor-quality DNA. The assay could be effectively used for forensic authentication of three Indian snake species and would help strengthen conservation efforts.
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Traces of sub-Saharan and Middle Eastern lineages in Indian Muslim populations. (European Journal of Human Genetics)
(Eaaswarkhanth, M., Haque, I., Ravesh, Z., Romero, I. G., Meganathan P. R., Dubey, B., Khan, F. A., Chaubey, G., Kivisild, T., Tyler-Smith, C., Singh, L., Thangaraj, K
,,,354- 363,Year : 2010)
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Islam is the second most practiced religion in India, next to Hinduism. It is still unclear whether the spread of Islam in India has been only a cultural transformation or is associated with detectable levels of gene flow. To estimate the contribution of West Asian and Arabian admixture to Indian Muslims, we assessed genetic variation in mtDNA, Y-chromosomal and LCT/MCM6 markers in 472, 431 and 476 samples, respectively, representing six Muslim communities from different geographical regions of India. We found that most of the Indian Muslim populations received their major genetic input from geographically close non-Muslim populations. However, low levels of likely sub-Saharan African, Arabian and West Asian admixture were also observed among Indian Muslims in the form of L0a2a2 mtDNA and E1b1b1a and J(*)(xJ2) Y-chromosomal lineages. The distinction between Iranian and Arabian sources was difficult to make with mtDNA and the Y chromosome, as the estimates were highly correlated because of similar gene pool compositions in the sources. In contrast, the LCT/MCM6 locus, which shows a clear distinction between the two sources, enabled us to rule out significant gene flow from Arabia. Overall, our results support a model according to which the spread of Islam in India was predominantly cultural conversion associated with minor but still detectable levels of gene flow from outside, primarily from Iran and Central Asia, rather than directly from the Arabian Peninsula.
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Molecular identification of Indian crocodile species: PCR-RFLP method for forensic authentication(Journal of Forensic Sciences)
(Meganathan, P. R., Dubey, B., Haque. I
,,,1042- 1045,Year : 2009)
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South East Asian countries are known for illegal poaching and trade of crocodiles clandestinely, to be used in skin, medicinal, and cosmetic industries. Besides crocodiles being listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, India has its Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for conservation of crocodile species. Hitherto, lack of any rapid and reliable technique for examinations of crocodile-based crime exhibits such as skin, bones, etc. has been a major problem for an effective promulgation of law on illegal trade. DNA-based identification of species using PCR-RFLP technique for an apt identification of all the three Indian crocodile species namely, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris and Gavialis gangeticus is presented here. A 628 bp segment of cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel primers followed by restriction digestion with three enzymes i.e., HaeIII, MboI, and MwoI, separately and in combination. The technique has produced a species-specific pattern for identifying the three crocodile species individually, which fulfills the requirement for its forensic application. It is expected that the technique will prove handy in identification of all the three Indian crocodile species and strengthen conservation efforts.
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Multiplex PCR assay for rapid identification of three endangered snake species of India. (Conservation Genetics)
(Dubey, B., Meganathan, P. R., Haque.I
,,,1861- 1864,Year : 2009)
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Species identification has been the core issue in all approaches of conservation of endangered wild life. In this regard molecular techniques for species authentication have proved indispensable. A novel multiplex PCR assay for the identification of three Indian snake species Python morulus, Ptyas mucosus, and Naja naja is successfully demonstrated using 16S rRNA gene. Three reverse primers and a common forward primer were designed to generate three different size species-specific PCR fragments. Absence of any PCR amplification in non-target species proves the specificity of the primers. These four primers were combined in a multiplex assay to enable identification of three snake species in a single reaction. The assay described here shows its utility in identifying unknown snake specimen and in case of samples yielding low quality DNA. This multiplex PCR technique using novel primers is an unprecedented approach offered for forensic identification of exhibits originating from three Indian snake species. It is expected that this endeavor will help strengthening conservation efforts for these species.
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Forensic STR profile of two endogamous populations of Madhya Pradesh, India(Legal Medicine (Tokyo))
(Dubey, B., Meganathan, P. R., Eaaswarkhanth, M., Vasulu, T. S., Haque. I.
,,,41- 44,Year : 2009)
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Genotypic polymorphism studies at 15 highly polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) loci were carried out in two populations belonging to one caste and one tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, in central region of India. These include 110 individuals from Brahmin caste (Kanyakubj) and 89 from Gond tribe (Ojha). The 15 loci studied are: 13 CODIS STR core markers, i.e., D8S1179, D3S1358, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, THO1, D13S317, D16S539, D5S818, FGA and 2 other loci D19S433 and D2S1338. The results show departure from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with respect to two loci, viz., D3S1358 and FGA in Gond tribe and at seven loci, viz., D21S11, D19S433, TPOX, D18S51, THO1, D5S818, and FGA in Brahmin caste. Population differentiation tests between the two studied populations and with seven neighboring populations (4 tribes and 3 castes - two middle castes and one Deshasth Brahmin) revealed significant differences at several loci. The power of discrimination of the microsatellite markers used was found to be high for both the populations. The data thereof is of immense significance for forensic result interpretation and is an addition to the existing autosomal STR database on Indian population.
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Diverse genetic origin of Indian Muslims: evidence from autosomal STR loci. (Journal of Human Genetics)
(Eaaswarkhanth, M., Dubey, B., Meganathan, P. R., Ravesh, Z., Khan, F. A., Singh, L., Thangaraj, K., Haque.I
,,,340-348,Year : 2009)
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The origin and relationships of Indian Muslims is still dubious and are not yet genetically well studied. In the light of historically attested movements into Indian subcontinent during the demic expansion of Islam, the present study aims to substantiate whether it had been accompanied by any gene flow or only a cultural transformation phenomenon. An array of 13 autosomal STR markers that are common in the worldwide data sets was used to explore the genetic diversity of Indian Muslims. The austere endogamy being practiced for several generations was confirmed by the genetic demarcation of each of the six Indian Muslim communities in the phylogenetic assessments for the markers examined. The analyses were further refined by comparison with geographically closest neighboring Hindu religious groups (including several caste and tribal populations) and the populations from Middle East, East Asia and Europe. We found that some of the Muslim populations displayed high level of regional genetic affinity rather than religious affinity. Interestingly, in Dawoodi Bohras (TN and GUJ) and Iranian Shia significant genetic contribution from West Asia, especially Iran (49, 47 and 46%, respectively) was observed. This divulges the existence of Middle Eastern genetic signatures in some of the contemporary Indian Muslim populations. Our study reveals that the spread of Islamic faith in the Indian subcontinent was predominantly cultural transformation associated with minor gene flow from West Asia.
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Microsatellite diversity delineates genetic relationships of Shia and Sunni Muslim Populations of Uttar Pradesh, India(Human Biology)
(Eaaswarkhanth, M., Dubey, B., Meganathan, P. R., Noor, S., Haque.I
,,,427- 445,Year : 2009)
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In this study we characterize the genetic diversity and relationships between the Shia and Sunni Muslim populations of North India and geographically targeted neighboring and global populations. We examined a number of parameters of population genetic and forensic interest based on the allele frequencies from 15 autosomal STR loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D3S1358, THO1, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D5S818, and FGA). All the studied loci were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except loci D18S51 and FGA for both Muslim populations, even after applying the Bonferroni correction. The combined power of exclusion and combined power of discrimination values for all 15 STR loci were 0.9999 and >0.99999, respectively, in both Muslim populations. Gene diversity values ranged from 0.6784 (TPOX) to 0.9027 (FGA) for Shia Muslims and from 0.7152 (CSF1PO) to 0.9120 (D18S51) for Sunni Muslims. The observed heterozygosity (H(o)) ranged from 0.5833 (D18S51) to 0.8595 (VWA) in Shia Muslims and from 0.6818 (CSF1PO) to 0.8333 (D21S11) in Sunni Muslims and was lower than the expected heterozygosity (H(e)) for 11 out of the 15 STRs typed. We analyzed the genetic affinities of the Shia and Sunni Muslim populations with their geographically closest neighboring North Indian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and European populations using distance-based methods, including neighbor-joining trees and multidimensional scaling. In addition, we estimated the genetic contribution of the putative parental populations included in the analysis to the Shia and Sunni Muslim gene pool using admixture analysis. Although we observed a certain degree of genetic contribution from Iran to both Muslim populations, the results of the phylogenetic analyses based on autosomal STRs suggest genetic relatedness with some of the geographically closest neighboring Hindu religious populations.
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Molecular identification of crocodile species using novel primers for forensic analysis(Conservation Genetics)
(Meganathan, P. R., Dubey, B., Haque.I
,,,767–770,Year : 2009)
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All crocodilians are under varying degrees of threat due to over exploitation and these species have been listed in Appendix I or II of CITES. The lack of molecular techniques for the identification of confiscated samples makes it difficult to enforce the law. Conclusive forensic identification of species requires a complete gene sequence which is difficult in case of degraded samples. We have developed two novel sets of primers to amplify two partial cytochrome b gene sequences of six crocodile species i.e. Crocodylus palustris, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus siamensis, Crocodylus niloticus, Gavialis gangeticus and Caiman crocodilus. These partial sequences were edited to give a complete cyt b gene sequence, which can be used as an effective tool for forensic authentication of crocodile species. A phylogeny of crocodile species was reconstructed using these sequences. The described primers hold great promise in forensic identification of crocodile species, which can aid in the effective enforcement of law and conservation of these ancient species.
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