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The present study investigates the ability of the microalgal strain Scenedesmus sp. ISTGA1 for the treatment of municipal wastewater along with biodiesel production. This strain was cultured in different concentrations of sterilized wastewater (25, 50 and 100%) with BG-11 medium for 14 days in different flasks. The physicochemical properties of wastewater were analyzed before and after algal treatment. Scenedesmus sp. ISTGA1 was able to enhance the pH (6.3 ± 0.5 to 8.3 ± 0.2) and DO (2.7 fold) of wastewater. After treatment with the algal strain ISTGA1, there was a significant removal of heavy metals and organic contaminants as analyzed by ICP-AES and GC-MS respectively. The maximum biomass and lipid production of 1.81 g/L and 452 mg/L respectively, were attained, when strain ISTGA1 was grown in 100% wastewater. A balanced mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids mainly (C16 and C18) indicated an appropriate quality of biodiesel produced by the alga. The results indicated that Scenedesmus sp. ISTGA1 can be applied for phycoremediation of wastewater along with biodiesel production.

Groundwater samples via tubewells were collected from the district Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh (India). The study aimed to analyse groundwater quality and potential sources of trace metal contamination using the multivariate statistical tool, and the level of contamination by applying contamination index (Cd) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). The groundwater was found to be enriched with Fe and contaminated with the trace and toxic elements like Al, As, B, Cu, Mn and Pb having mean values of 2786, 152, 9, 1033, 107, 199 and 15 µL respectively. Arsenic exceeded the WHO (2011) guidelines and BIS (2012) standard (10 µg/L) for 30% of the groundwater samples. For B, 46% of the samples were found having concentration higher than BIS (2012) permissible limit (1000 µg/L) and 3% to WHO (2011) guideline values (2400 µL). Lead level exceeded the BIS (2012) standard value and WHO (2011) guideline value in 46% of the samples. Multivariate analysis identified three factors responsible for data composition explaining 81% of the total variance in groundwater samples. Factor analysis (PCA and CA) allowed grouping of parameters according to the common features; Fe, Mn and Pb were associated with PC1 and controlled by the mixed origin such as geogenic sources as well as anthropogenic activities. Boron and Cu (PC2) were controlled by anthropogenic activities while As (PC3) was derived from the geogenic sources. The northern part of study area has higher Pb and Mn concentration than the southern part associated with small industrial activities. Degree of contamination and heavy metal pollution index supported the results and higher contamination was found to be in the vicinity of industrial setups. The overall quality (estimated using HPI values) of groundwater in the northern area is poor, and may cause potential health risk from the analyzed tubewells to the local population if the water is consumed for longer time.

We examine and integrate last two decades of research on euthanasia from a cultural perspective. After an exhaustive search from Scopus and Web of Science, 40 studies matching our criteria are included in the review. We qualitatively summarize the literature country-wise and use text map of co-occurring terms in the titles, keywords, and abstracts of these articles to determine the similarities and differences among sub-themes in continental clusters. Research done in Asian, European, North American, and multi-cultural studies suggests that attributes unique to each culture are instrumental in shaping public attitudes towards euthanasia. We also find that some cultures, despite the prevalence of euthanasia, are underrepresented in empirical research. This review of literature on the cultural nuances in end-of-life decisions such as euthanasia is pertinent to social scientists, healthcare professionals and social workers in any given time, but more so during such critical events as worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

The Present study investigates the carbon sequestration potential and biodiesel production ability of a microalga isolated from a marble mining site. The microalgal isolates were grown in BG-11 medium supplemented with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as a carbon source. The growth behavior of the isolates and rates of NaH14CO3 uptake were considered as screening parameters to determine the most capable microalgal strain. The most efficient microalga was identified as Scenedesmus sp. ISTGA1 by 18S rDNA sequencing method. The growth of the isolate was studied under different concentrations of gaseous CO2 (5–15% v/v) and NaHCO3 (10–200 mM). Results revealed that the isolate attained maximum growth at 100 mM NaHCO3 and 15% CO2. In the case of 100 mM NaHCO3, chlorophyll content, biomass production and lipid content were 9 μg/L, 1508 mg/L and 301 mg/L respectively. At 15% of CO2 these characteristics were 12.1 μg/L, 1490 mg/L and 268 mg/L respectively. Lipids were transesterified and FAMEs were analyzed via GC-MS. The FAMEs consisted of saturated (33–35.8%) and unsaturated fatty acids (54–55%) in both the cases of inorganic carbon supplementation, dominated by C16 or C18 fatty acids (>80%), which are appropriate for the production of biodiesel.

The present investigation evaluates the potential of an endolithic cyanobacterium isolated from marble rock to utilize sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) as carbon source for prospective recycling of CO₂ into biodiesel. Microalgae thriving on marble were cultured and subjected to increasing NaHCO₃ concentration. The most competent isolate was identified and characterized in terms of growth, lipid content and fatty acid profile. A semicontinuous mesh incubator was designed for biofilm development. Isolate ISTCY101 was identified as Leptolyngbya sp. by 16S rRNA sequencing. Leptolyngbya ISTCY101 efficiently used BG-11 (50 mM NaHCO₃) and artificial seawater medium (25 gL(-1) NaCl) with biomass productivity 78.9 and 75.74 mg L(-1)d(-1), respectively. Maximum areal biomass productivity of 2.01 gm(-2)d(-1) was recorded in the mesh incubator, with complete exclusion of centrifugation for harvesting. Lipid content varied from 16% to 21%, consisting predominantly of C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1 fatty acids (>60%) making promising feedstock for biodiesel production.

National cultural differences pose major obstacles to global business expansion. Managers, therefore, seek to learn more about cultures. Conventional managerial learning mostly draws from descriptive scientific models which have potential drawbacks such as unidimensionality, decontextualisation, and culture-level information. Explanatory models of cultural psychology can help overcome these limitations. Further, insights from a cross-culturally fluent authority provide reflective learnings. Toward this end, I engage in a conversation with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living organization, on issues related to cultural identity in the global workplace in the Indian context.

Jatropha curcas L., a multipurpose, drought resistant, perennial plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family has gained lot of importance for the production of biodiesel. The properties of the crop and its oil have persuaded investors, policy makers and clean development mechanism (CDM) project developers to consider Jatropha as a substitute for fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, basic agronomic properties of Jatropha are not thoroughly understood and the environmental effects have not been investigated yet. Grey literature reports are very optimistic on simultaneous wasteland reclamation capability and oil yields. Studies were undertaken at Solar Energy Centre, Gurgaon, India to evaluate the plant performance under different agro-practices with special reference to irrigation scheduling, VAM and biofertilizers' applications, plant spacing, pruning trials for maximizing tree architecture and higher biomass. Parallel experiments were undertaken to understand the scope of J. curcas for intercropping practices in the under storey of dominating monoculture tree stands (Prosopis, Acacia and Neem).

We explored the possibility that persons from two cultures, Indian and American, might be similar in overall levels of motivational strength yet differ significantly in their experience and expression of achievement motivation. We anticipated that Indian, more than American, corporate professionals would incorporate not only self-based but also other-oriented concerns (e.g., for the welfare of co-workers and community members) into their experience of achievement motivation in the workplace. American and Indian corporate professionals responded to an online survey that included a novel measure tapping interpersonal concerns in achievement motivation. Despite the groups being equivalent on multiple demographic indicators and on traditional indices of both motivational strength and motivational orientation, Americans and Indians differed substantially in motivational concerns, with Indians grounding their sense of achievement motivation more strongly in concerns for extended family, co-workers and community. Implications for the study of cultural variations in personality processes are discussed.