Otolith microchemistry of freshwater indigenous minor carp (Bangana dero) as a biomonitoring tool to trace heavy metals in River Sutlej, Ropar Wetland (Ramsar site), Punjab, India.

The elemental composition of the fish otolith may represent a permanent record of the environmental condition the fish inhabited. Fish otolith grows incrementally from the core to a marginal region that acts as a repository of trace metal signatures. The present study explores the potential application of otolith microchemistry of the benthopelagic indigenous minor carp Bangana dero sampled from the Ropar wetland on River Sutlej, Punjab. The concentration of sixteen metals was evaluated in the otolith (n = 42) and water (n = 48) for the post-monsoon and pre-monsoon season from 2020 to 2022 using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) followed by element detection in the core and marginal region of whole otolith, using energy-dispersive mass spectroscopy (EDS). All the heavy metals exhibited an increase in metal concentrations in fish otolith than water during the post-monsoon season. By indices approach, the otolith was found to have a high bioaccumulation factor for Se in the post-monsoon and Hg in the pre-monsoon. Certain trace metals like As and Hg exhibited fluctuations in their core and marginal region. Thus, trace metal patterns in the otolith could act as a potential tool for monitoring the seasonal changes of metals in water bodies. The EFHg, EFSe and EFAs in the fish otolith predicted its anthropogenic source, while the remaining studied elements showed ambient water origin. Thus, using the otoliths of Bangana dero as a long-term monitoring tool in the future may be helpful for environmental assessments and the reconstruction of historical exposure for safeguarding of water bodies.

Study on the utilization of by-products of wheat milling industry for the development of biodegradable plates.

The present study aims at utilizing wheat bran and resultant atta to produce biodegradable-edible plates as an alternative to plastic plates. The edible plates were prepared using different combinations of wheat bran and resultant atta in different ratios viz., WB, 90:10 (WR10); 80:20 (WR20), 70:30 (WR30). Using farinograph, it was observed that the higher the bran higher the water absorption. The doughs from the blends were prepared with water at two different temperatures (100 °C and 27 °C), sheeted, moulded and baked. Plates produced from WR10, 20, 30 were analysed further and based on break test, leak test and sensory WR30 was chosen as the best. WR 30 was found to leak at 23.01 ± 0.24 min with hot water and 85.42 ± 0.11 min with water at room temperature. Moisture, ash, fat, protein, and total dietary fibre content was 4.3 ± 0.016, 4.90 ± 0.08, 3.86 ± 0.075, 16.06 ± 0.082 and 26.92 ± 0.166 respectively. Shelf-life predicted for plate was 250-285 days based on MSI studies done.

Correction: Study on the utilization of by-products of wheat milling industry for the development of biodegradable plates.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13197-023-05738-8.].

Materno-fetal outcome with PlGF above or below cutoff during second half of pregnancy in high-risk women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the materno-fetal outcome of high-risk women using placental growth factor (PlGF). METHODS: This prospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary care hospital from September 2019 to April 2022. Women having clinically major or minor high risk factors of pre-eclampsia were included after consent. The placental growth factor (PlGF) was evaluated among high-risk women at 20-22, 28-30, and 34-36 weeks of gestation. They were followed throughout pregnancy until delivery. Materno-fetal outcome was evaluated based on PlGF levels at three different time points. The gestational age specific cutoff was derived. Those with levels below cutoff were taken as cases and those with values above cutoff were considered as controls. The odds of having complications if the PlGF was below cutoff were determined. RESULTS: Out of 287 high-risk women, 46 (16%) had pre-eclampsia (PE). The derived cutoff of PlGF was 224, 211, and 176 pg/mL at 20-22, 28-30, and 34-36 weeks, respectively. With PlGF below the cutoff at 20-22 weeks the odds of having HELLP syndrome was 15.8, with low PlGF at 28-30 weeks the odds for developing early onset PE was 11.3. Low PlGF was also significantly associated with preterm delivery (P < 0.001) and early onset FGR (P < 0.001). The sensitivity (91.7%) and specificity (78.5%) of PlGF for PE prediction was highest at 28-30 weeks. CONCLUSION: Low PlGF at 28-30 weeks was associated with high likelihood of developing early onset PE, and the PlGF cutoff should be gestational age specific.