Reuse of poor-quality water for sustainable crop production in the changing scenario of climate.

The availability of freshwater is limited for agriculture systems across the globe. A fast-growing population demands need to enhance the food grain production from a limited natural resources. Therefore, researchers and policymakers have been emphasized on the production potential of agricultural crops in a sustainable manner. On the challenging side, freshwater bodies are shrinking with the pace of time further limiting crop production. Poor-quality water may be a good alternative for fresh water in water scarce areas. It should not contain toxic pollutants beyond certain critical levels. Unfortunately, such critical limits for different pollutants as well as permissible quality parameters for different wastewater types are lacking or poorly addressed. Marginal quality water and industrial effluent used in crop production should be treated prior to application in crop field. Hence, safe reuse of wastewater for cultivation of food material is necessary to fulfil the demands of growing population across the globe in the changing scenario of climate.

Effect of microwave pre-treatment on quality parameters in Indian mustard.

Demand for edible oil from crops like groundnut, mustard and soybean, is increasing and likely to increase further. In this regard, Indian mustard seeds were treated with microwaves (MW), to investigate the possibility of enhancing oil yield and nutritional content. MW pre-treatment was given to the seeds of two Indian mustard varieties i.e. PM21 (V1) and PDZ1 (V2) for 0, 2, 4 and 6 min (H0, H2, H4 and H6 min respectively). MW treatment with increasing exposure time showed a linear reduction in the glucosinolate and erucic acid content with concomitant increase in oil yield and moisture loss in both the varieties, as evident from correlation and principal component analysis. Antioxidant capacity has increased with the reduction in phytic acid content (1.82) in V2 at 6 min exposure time with respect to untreated control. Free radical scavenging activity was improved with increasing MW treatment in both the varieties. Therefore, from the obtained results, it is advisable to treat mustard seeds with MW before extraction of oil, because it gives a relatively good oil yield, with enhanced nutritional factors. Moreover, microwaving was effective in reducing glucosinolates and erucic acid also.

Rapid analysis of pharmaceutical drugs using LIBS coupled with multivariate analysis.

Type 2 diabetes drug tablets containing voglibose having dose strengths of 0.2 and 0.3 mg of various brands have been examined, using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. The statistical methods such as the principal component analysis (PCA) and the partial least square regression analysis (PLSR) have been employed on LIBS spectral data for classifying and developing the calibration models of drug samples. We have developed the ratio-based calibration model applying PLSR in which relative spectral intensity ratios H/C, H/N and O/N are used. Further, the developed model has been employed to predict the relative concentration of element in unknown drug samples. The experiment has been performed in air and argon atmosphere, respectively, and the obtained results have been compared. The present model provides rapid spectroscopic method for drug analysis with high statistical significance for online control and measurement process in a wide variety of pharmaceutical industrial applications.

Zero valent metal loaded silica nanoparticles for the removal of TNT from water.

Silica nanoparticles with a surface area of 673.60 m2/g and particle size of 8-12 nm were prepared using aerogel process (AP) followed by super critical drying. Zero valent Fe, Co, Pt, and bimetallic Fe/Pt and Fe/Co were loaded using an incipient wetness impregnation technique and subsequent reduction. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (TEM-EDX) characterizations indicated fine dispersion of iron on AP-SiO2 +Fe system. Prepared nanoparticles were evaluated for the adsorptive removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from water. Surface area normalized rate constant values indicated the adsorptive removal potential of prepared nanoparticles to be: AP-SiO2 + Fe/Co > AP-SiO2 + Fe > CM (commercial) SiO2 + Fe > AP-SiO2 + Co > AP-SiO2 + Fe/Pt > AP-SiO2 + Pt. Lower pH helped in accelerating the reactive removal of TNT on zero valent iron loaded silica. AP-SiO2 + Fe/Co system showed the maximum adsorption potential (74 mg/g) after five cycles.

Potential compounds for the treatment of mitochondrial disease.

INTRODUCTION: Mitochondrial diseases are a group of heterogeneous disorders for which no curative therapy is currently available. Several drugs are currently being pursued as candidates to correct the underlying biochemistry that causes mitochondrial dysfunction. SOURCES OF DATA: A systematic review of pharmacological therapeutics tested using in vitro, in vivo models and clinical trials. Results presented from database searches undertaken to ascertain compounds currently being pioneered to treat mitochondrial disease. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Previous clinical research has been hindered by poorly designed trials that have shown some evidence in enhancing mitochondrial function but without significant results. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: Several compounds under investigation display poor pharmacokinetic profiles or numerous off target effects. GROWING POINTS: Drug development teams should continue to screen existing and novel compound libraries for therapeutics that can enhance mitochondrial function. Therapies for mitochondrial disorders could hold potential cures for a myriad of other ailments associated with mitochondrial dysfunction such as neurodegenerative diseases.

Alterations in lipid and fatty acid composition of the cyanobacterium Scytonema geitleri bharadwaja under water stress.

The composition of the glycerolipids [monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG)] and alterations in their saturation and unsaturation levels in response to osmotic and matric water potential have been investigated in the cyanobacterium Scytonema geitleri Bharadwaja. The level of MGDG in S. geitleri was high followed by PG, DGDG and SQDG. Whereas, the amount of fatty acids namely palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid were high, arachidic and behenic acid were, however, present in traces in the four glycerolipids. A significant reduction in the level of total lipid as well as individual class lipid was observed in S. geitleri in response to matric water potential to that of its total lipid and individual class lipid in response to osmotic water potential. The levels of polyunsaturated and unsaturated fatty acids also increased in response to matric water potential to that of osmotic water potential.

Management of plant nutrient dynamics under alkaline soils through graded application of pressmud and gypsum.

An incubation experiment was conducted to monitor the effect of different organic matter inputs with the graded application of gypsum at different time intervals on soil pH, sodium (Na) content and available plant nutrients like nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in alkaline soil. The experiment was formulated with nine treatments, i.e. control (T1), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (T2), RDF+Gyp1 (T3), RDF+FYM5+Gyp2 (T4), RDF+FYM10+Gyp1 (T5), RDF+PM5+Gyp2 (T6), RDF+PM10+Gyp1 (T7), RDF+FYM2.5+PM2.5+Gyp2 (T8), RDF+FYM5+PM5+Gyp1 (T9) with three replications. Periodical soil samples were taken at six and twelve months intervals. Results showed that the addition of organic matter reduced the pH and Na content in the soil. More reduction was observed at one year period as compared to six months. The addition of farmyard manure (FYM) and pressmud (PM) at 10 t/ha with gypsum (1 t/ha) improved available N and available S content as compared to organic inputs (5 t/ha) with gypsum (2 t/ha) in soil. Pressmud application with FYM showed better availability of plant nutrients and a reduction of soil pH (8.39 to 7.79) and Na content from 626 to 391 mEq/L in the soil during the incubation period. During the study, the application of treatment T9 (FYM and PM in equal ratio with 1 t/ha gypsum) showed a better availability of available N (175 to 235 kg/ha) and S (15.44 to 23.24 kg/ha) and reduced the active ion concentration of Na. This study is very useful for the management of sodium toxicity, improving soil health and the mineralization rate of organic matter through the application of organic inputs for sustainable crop production.

Role of aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon in prevention of carbofuran- induced oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in rat brain.

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorating effect of aqueous extract of C. dactylon on carbofuran induced oxidative stress (OS) and alterations in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain of rats. Vitamin C was used as a positive control. Wistar rats were administered with single sub-acute oral dose (1.6 mgkg-1 b.wt.) of carbofuran for 24 h. The OS parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes including super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and that of AChE were studied in brain. Carbofuran treatment significantly increased the activities of SOD and CAT by 75 and 60%, respectively. It also induced the level of LPO by 113%. In contrast, the activities of GST and AChE were recorded to be diminished by 25 and 33%, respectively. Pretreatment of the rats with aqueous extract of C. dactylon (oral; 500mgkg-1) restored SOD activity completely but CAT activity only partially (7%). Carbofuran induced LPO was moderated by 95% in the brain of C. dactylon treated rats. The observed changes in OS parameters in C. dactylon treated group were comparable to that observed in vitamin C (200 mg-kg-1 b. wt.) treated group. Surprisingly, C. dactylon treatment significantly recovered the activity of AChE to a similar level as observed in the brain of control group. In contrast vitamin C treatment did not cause significant change in the activity of AChE in carbofuran treated group. There were no noticeable changes in the aforementioned study parameters in the brain of rats receiving C. dactylon and vitamin C, only. The results suggest that the study is extremely important in the context of development of new anticholinestesterase and antioxidant antidotes against carbofuran from C. dactylon.

First Report of Fusarium Wilt in the Broomrape Parasite Growing on Brassica spp. in India.

Broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.), an important obligate root parasitic weed in India, has a wide host range including several members of the Solanaceae, Leguminaceae, and Brassicaceae families, among others. Orobanche plants produce thousands of tiny seeds (250 × 300 µm), which can remain viable in the soil for as long as 13 years (3). Rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.) is one of the major oilseed crops in India, cultivated on 5.77 million ha with 6.59 million t produced during 2009-2010. Broomrape has been observed in India as a major angiospermic parasitic plant on rapeseed-mustard, tobacco, tomato, and potato. During a field visit to an experimental farm at the Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur (27°12'N, 77°27'E) in the winter of 2009-2010, symptoms of wilt disease were observed on Orobanche plants, 32.6% of which had wilted completely following root infection. Initial symptoms appeared as a browning of the flowering stalk with wilting. Direct observation of below ground plant parasite tissues revealed a necrosis starting at the radical and advancing to the collar region that shredded later on. Tissue fragments, excised from the internal portions of the diseased tissue, were surface sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2, plated on 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA) adjusted to pH 7.0, and incubated at 22 ± 2°C for 7 days. The colonies that grew on PDA plates produced a bright purple color. Single-spore culturing of the fungus yielded Fusarium solani on the basis of morphological characteristics (2). The Fungal Identification Service, Mycology and Plant Pathology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India (Accession No. 2156) confirmed the identity. The pathogenicity of the fungus was tested by inoculating five healthy Orobanche plants that were parasitizing Brassica spp. at the radicle region with 10-ml spore suspensions (2 × 105 conidia/ml of sterile distilled water) derived from 7-day-old cultures of the fungus. Control plants were treated with sterile distilled water. F. solani-inoculated radicles developed typical wilting symptoms within 2 weeks of treatment, while the control as well as the Brassica spp. plants remained healthy. F. solani was reisolated from inoculated wilted plants, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, on the basis of the literature, this is the first report from India showing that F. solani infects O. aegyptica on Brassica spp. There are reports of fungi (50 different species) infecting different hosts in Southern Italy, including F. oxysporum and F. solani, which have been found to be pathogenic to O. ramose. The most pathogenic Fusarium isolates significantly increased the number of dead spikes of broomrape (1). Control of Orobanche spp. poses a challenge because of the lack of effective and economic control measures. F. solani thus offers a potentially promising management strategy that should be explored in the future for the control of O. aegyptiaca. References: (1) A. Boari et al. Biol. Control 30:212, 2004. (2) P. E. Nelson et al. Fusarium Species: An Illustrated Manual for Identification. 1st ed. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, 1983. (3) M.C. Press et al. Parasitic Plants. Chapman and Hall, London, UK, 1995.

Sustainability, productivity, profitability and soil health with conservation agriculture based sustainable intensification of oilseed brassica production system.

Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are getting space world-wide to answer many emerging challenges like; declining factor productivity, deteriorating soil health, water scarcity, climate change, and farm profitability and sustainability. Oilseed brassica (Indian mustard, Brassica juncea L.), a winter oilseed grown under rainfed agro-ecosystem is vulnerable to low yields, high production cost, degrading soil and water quality, and climatic vagaries. The present study was undertaken on CA-based sustainable intensification of Indian mustard for enhancing inputs efficiencies, farm profitability and sustainability. Permanent beds with residue retention (PB + R) improved mustard equivalent yield (11.4%) and system grain yield (10.6%) compared with conventional tillage without residue (CT - R). Maize-mustard rotation (Mz-M) increased system grain yield (142.9%) as well as mustard equivalent yield (60.7%) compared with fallow-mustard (F-M). Mz-M system under PB + R increased sustainable yield index (376.5%), production efficiency (177.2%), economic efficiency (94%) and irrigation water productivity (66%) compared with F-M under CT - R. PB + R increased soil organic carbon (SOC) stock at 0-15 cm (17.7%) and 15-30 cm (29.5%) soil depth compared with CT - R. Addition of green gram in rotation with mustard improved SOC at 0-15 cm (27.4%) and 15-30 cm (20.5%) compared with F-M system. CA-based cluster bean-mustard/GG-M system increased N productivity, whereas, P and K productivity improved with Mz-M system compared with F-M under CT - R. Thus, CA-based Mz-M system should be out-scaled in the traditional rainfed fallow-mustard system to improve the farm production and income on holistic basis to make the country self-sufficient in edible oils.

Maturity indices as an index to evaluate the quality of sulphur enriched municipal solid waste compost using variable byproduct of sulphur.

The aim of this study was to assess the maturity indicators of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) enrichment with different byproduct of (sugar and fertilizer industry) sulphur (S). The concentration of total S (TS), water-soluble S (WSS), HCl extractable S and available S were significantly different in composts prepared through different byproduct of S with MSW. WSS varied from 4.6 to 5.9% of TS after 120 days of the composting period, whereas, available S varied from 14.5 - 8.6% of TS. S enriched MSW compost had lower C/N, C/S ratio and higher nitrification index as well as lower phyto-toxicity, demonstrating that composts are properly matured and stabilised. Highest compost quality index (0.97) was recorded with S1 compost. Arylsulphatase activity significantly increased with compost maturity. Results stated that all S enriched products maintained a superior amount of plant nutrients and quality indices, indicating that S enriched compost could be a possible substitute for expensive fertilizers.

Effect of Curcuma longa freeze dried rhizome powder with milk in STZ induced diabetic rats.

This study deals with the effects of freeze dried rhizome powder of Curcuma longa (C. longa) dissolved in milk on normal as well as diabetic models. Diabetes of type II and type I was within 3 days of a single administration of doses of 45 and 65 mg kg(-1) of streptozotocin respectively. Various parameters such as blood glucose levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, hemoglobin, urine protein and urine sugar in addition to body weight were taken in to consideration and were analyzed after administration of variable doses of rhizome powder. The dose of 200 mg kg(-1) was identified as the most effective dose as it increased HDL, Hb and bw (P<0.05) with significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, lipid profile and hepatoprotective enzymes (P<0.001).

Confirmation of Induced Tolerance to Alternaria Blight Disease in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.).

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an important edible oilseed crop in India. Low productivity is the major concern which is adversely affected by biotic stresses. Alternaria blight (Alternaria brassicae) is one among major diseases that has no resistant cultivar until now. Keeping in view, an experiment was conducted for isolation of Alternaria blight-tolerant mutants in Indian mustard using gamma radiation and EMS mutagens during four consecutive years in Rabi (winter season). Furthermore, the morphologically and economically superior mutants of Brassica juncea were screened artificially at cotyledonary and adult stage against Alternaria blight. Tolerance to Alternaria blight is observed in DRMR-M-163 (11.7%), DRMR-M-158 (13.1%), DRMR-M-174 (13.8%) and DRMR-M-177 (18.6%) with minimum conidia in infected cotyledons. Mutant DRMR-M-178 (19.8%) had the highest radical scavenging activity, while DRMR-M-162 (104.9 mg/g AAE), DRMR-M-169 (96.9) and DRMR-M-161 (96.9) had higher antioxidant capacity that appears to act as defence to pathogen. DRMR-M-168 (8.4%), DRMR-M-173 (8.3), DRMR-M-171 (7.9), DRMR-M-165 (7.4), DRMR-M-175 (7.2) and DRMR-M-172 (6.9) had higher phenol content which may be responsive for resistance, although DRMR-M-161 (192.7 mg/g), DRMR-M-163 (187.7 mg/g), DRMR-M-164 (132.7 mg/g), DRMR-M-167 (149.3 mg/g), DRMR-M-173 (196.0 mg/g) and DRMR-M-178 (192.7 mg/g) mutants are found to contain low levels of total soluble sugar compared with susceptible Rohini (379.3). Based on biochemical parameter's similarity, mutants are grouped in 4 major clusters. Cluster 4 contained significantly different mutant DRMR-M-172. Relative expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) gene was found highest in DRMR-M-177, DRMR-M-174, DRMR-M-175, DRMR-M-178, DRMR-M-170, DRMR-M-176, DRMR-M-172 and DRMR-M-173 which resulted the better response to AB stress. Based on biochemical analysis, realtime PCR and cluster analysis, DRMR-M-172 mutant appears more tolerant to Alternaria. DRMR-M-178, DRMR-M-167 and DRMR-M-177 mutants seem tolerant and could be utilized for further breeding programme.

The Adverse Effect of COVID Pandemic on the Care of Patients With Kidney Diseases in India.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the care of patients with noncommunicable diseases, including those suffering from kidney-related ailments. Many parts of the world, including India, adopted lockdown to curb community transmission of disease. The lockdown affected transportation, access to health care facilities, and availability of medicines and consumables as well as outpatient and inpatient services. We aimed to analyze the effect of lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of patients with kidney diseases in India. METHODS: We surveyed 19 major hospitals (8 in the public and 11 in the private sector) to determine the effect of lockdown on the care of patients with kidney disease, including those on dialysis after the first 3 weeks of lockdown. RESULTS: The total number of dialysis patients in these centers came down from 2517 to 2404. Approximately 710 (28.2%) patients missed 1 or more dialysis sessions, 69 (2.74%) required emergency dialysis sessions, 104 (4.13%) stopped reporting for dialysis, and 9 (0.36%) were confirmed to have died. Outpatient attendance in the surveyed hospital came down by 92.3%, and inpatient service reduced by 61%. Tele-consultation was started but was accessed by only a small number of patients. CONCLUSION: Lack of preparedness before lockdown resulted in an interruption in health care services and posed an immediate adverse effect on the outcome of dialysis patients and patients with kidney disease in India. The long-term impact on the health of patients with less severe forms of kidney disease remains unknown.

Cross-sectional study of kidney stones by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

We performed laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the in situ quantitative estimation of elemental constituents distributed in different parts of kidney stones obtained directly from patients by surgery. We did this by focusing the laser light directly on the center, shell, and surface of the stones to find the spatial distribution of the elements inside the stone. The elements detected in the stones were calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, strontium, sodium, potassium, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine (Cl), etc. We optimized the LIBS signals by varying the laser energy from 10 mJ to 40 mJ to obtain the best signal-to-background and signal-to-noise ratios. We estimated the quantities of different elements in the stones by drawing calibration curves, plotting graphs of the analyte signal versus the absolute concentration of the elements in standard samples. The detection limits of the calibration curves were discussed. The concentrations of the different elements were found to be widely different in different stones found in different age groups of patients. It was observed that stones containing higher amounts of copper also possessed higher amounts of zinc. In general, the concentrations of trace elements present in the kidney stones decreased as we moved from center to shell and surface. Our results also revealed that the concentrations of elements present in the stones increased with the age of the patients. The results obtained from the calibration curves were compared with results from inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We also used the intensity ratios of different elemental lines to find the spatial distribution of different elements inside the kidney stones.

Investigation of common Indian edible salts suitable for kidney disease by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Salt is an essential and important dietary mineral for maintaining life. Currently, the issue of the potential benefit or damage from salt intake in chronic kidney disease patients is controversial. The attempt of this article is to bring into focus the potential role of elements particularly sodium, Na, and potassium, K, which are the main constituents of dietary salts, in kidney patients by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS spectra of different salt samples have been recorded in the spectral region 200-500 nm with spectral resolution 0.1 nm and in the spectral region 200-900 nm with spectral resolution 0.75 nm. Quantitative elemental study was carried out to determine the constituents of different types of common Indian edible salts by using the calibration-free LIBS method. Our experimental results demonstrate that Saindha salt (commonly known as rock salt) is more beneficial than other edible salts for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. The results of the quantitative elemental analysis of the salts obtained from LIBS measurements are also compared to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).

Municipal solid waste (MSW): Strategies to improve salt affected soil sustainability: A review.

Salt-induced soil degradation is a serious threat to global agriculture which is responsible for diminished productivity of agro-ecosystems. Irrigation with poor quality water and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers to increase crop productivity creates salt accumulation in soil profile thereby reducing crop sustainability. High concentration of salts in soil inhibits plant growth due to low osmotic potential of the soil solution, ion toxicity and imbalance reduces nutrient uptake, crop yields. Low productivity of saline soils is not only due to salt toxicity or excess amounts of soluble salts but also lack of available mineral nutrients especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil organic matter. Hence, sustainable management of salt-affected soils are paramount importance to meet the demands of food grain production for an ever-rising population in the world. Recently, municipal solid waste has gained importance as an organic amendment for restoring soil fertility and finally contributing to productivity of salt-affected soils. This paper compares extant waste generation, their properties and standards pertinent to municipal solid waste in different countries and explores the unique recent history in some countries that shows high environmental regard and rapid changes and also suggests policy experiencing from high environmental regard and rapid changes from other countries, so that policy makers can propose new or revise current municipal solid waste standards for salt affected soils. Municipal solid waste compost improves soil biological, physical and chemical properties because of high soil organic matter and lower concentration of pollutants. Therefore, the use of municipal solid waste in salt-affected soils could be an alternative to costly chemical amendments as well as reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for increasing productivity of salt-affected soil. The municipal solid wastes significantly improve crop yields. However, further long-term experimental investigations are needed to re-validate the application of municipal solid waste compost in improving physical, chemical and biological properties and to step up organic fertilization use in a wide range of both saline and sodic soils. In future, research should be directed to address these issues globally to minimise ecological disturbances and to set environmental standards, and evaluate the feasibility of the policies in different countries and their impact on socio-economic conditions of local people.

Glycaemic evaluation of Psidium guajava in rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Many plant polysaccharides exhibit hypoglycaemic effect. Though the fruit of Psidium guajava is known to contain free sugars, the fruit extract showed hypoglycaemic effect in alloxan treated mice and human subjects. The present study was aimed to determine the glycaemic potential of P. guajava fruit peel extract on blood glucose level (BGL) of normal and streptozotocininduced sub-diabetic rats during fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glucose tolerance test (GTT). METHODS: Female albino Wistar rats (n=42) were divided into seven equal groups, and were given different doses of fruit peel extract. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (ip) at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight. Blood glucose levels were measured after collecting the blood from tail veins. RESULTS: The diabetic and sub-diabetic models showed hyperglycaemic effect from a single oral administration of variable doses of P. guajava fruit peel extract. The maximum rise of 26.51 per cent was observed in BGL from a dose of 400 mg/kg bw exactly after 8 h of administration in normal rats whereas the maximum rise of 90.7 per cent was observed with the same dose of 400 mg/kg bw after 2 h of glucose administration in sub-diabetic rats. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The hyperglycaemic effect of P. guajava fruit peel suggests that the diabetic patients should peel off the guava fruits before consuming. However, it can also be useful in controlling hypoglycaemia occasionally caused due to excess of insulin and other hypoglycaemic drugs.

SPME-HPLC: a new approach to the analysis of explosives.

Methods developed for the analysis of explosives by SPME coupled to HPLC are reviewed with special emphasis on determination and monitoring in environmental samples such as soil and water. Analysis of explosives by using SPME-HPLC as analytical technique is comparatively a new method on which a special attention is focused nowadays. It saves time, avoid use of hazardous extraction solvents, disposal costs and consequently improve the detection limits. The application of SPME is also widened for explosives by using modified 10-port interface and a C-8 refocusing unit combined with two pumps. Several parameters have been optimized to ensure quantitative results such as high concentration of salt and less acetonitrile:water ratio. CW/PDMS/DVB coatings were found to be superior over PA in terms of sensitivity.

Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions using carbon aerogel as an adsorbent.

The removal of Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Zn(II) by carbon aerogel has been found to be concentration, pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and temperature dependent. The adsorption parameters were determined using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Surface complexation and ion exchange are the major removal mechanisms involved. The adsorption isotherm studies clearly indicated that the adsorptive behaviour of metal ions on carbon aerogel satisfies not only the Langmuir assumptions but also the Freundlich assumptions, i.e. multilayer formation on the surface of the adsorbent with an exponential distribution of site energy. The applicability of the Lagergren kinetic model has also been investigated. Thermodynamic constant (K(ad)), standard free energy (DeltaG(0)), enthalpy (DeltaH(0)) and entropy (DeltaS(0)) were calculated for predicting the nature of adsorption. The results indicate the potential application of this method for effluent treatment in industries and also provide strong evidence to support the adsorption mechanism proposed.