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The Himalayan region has several freshwater resources, such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands. These freshwater resources have been adversely affected by environmental factors. Freshwater biological systems are defenseless against outcomes of environmental changes that might prompt the irreversible disintegration of these natural surroundings. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the Benthic macro-invertebrate assemblages of the Asan wetland, Dehradun in Garhwal Himalaya. A determination of the physico-chemical health status of the Asan wetland viz., electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and nutrients parameters like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus were investigated during this study. Three sampling sites (Site 1, Site 2 and Site 3) of wetland were selected and the water samples were collected seasonally, i.e., summer, winter, and monsoon from April 2021-March 2022. Maximum values of EC(163.75 µS/cm), TDS (232.78 (mg/l), alkalinity (141.20 mg/l) and pH(7.8) were recorded in the monsoon season (June-September) and minimum values of EC( 135.80µS/cm), TDS (196.80 (mg/l), alkalinity (119.80mg/l) and pH(7.2) were recorded in the winter season (November–February). An overall total of 18 macrobenthos genera belonging to four classes was identified. Maximum communities of macrobenthos were observed during the winter and minimum communities during the monsoon season. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to determine whether microbenthic genera and habitat ecological parameters and showed a positive or negative correlation. Thus, the present study contributed to the status of various factors and their impacts on the Benthic macro-invertebrate structure of the Asan wetland.

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of alternative litter treatments on litter quality, growth, carcass traits and welfare of broiler chicks. Day old, commercial broiler chicks (180) having similar body weight range were randomly allocated to two different types of litter treatments, viz. treated litter at the rate of 120°C (T1) and litter treated with sodium bisulfate 25 g/sq. ft. (T2) along with the control group without any litter treatment (T0). Birds of all the treated groups performed better in terms of growth, feed intake and FCR, etc. Cake formation was frequent, highest in T0 followed by T1 and T2 groups which in turn affected the frequency of undesirably poor sanitary outlook of the birds. Significantly lower EPG (E. coli count per gram) count while a numerically lower microbial load of the faecal samples was noted in the T2 than T1 and control. This implied the change in the pH and acidification of litter materials prevented the growth of coccidia and microbial load in the litter, thus making the litter more suitable for bird welfare. It was concluded that chemical litter amendments had a beneficial effect on overall growth performance, carcass characteristics, health and welfare of broiler chicks.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the maize particle size on the performance of layers. Five maize-soybean based diets were formulated with maize particle size of 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0 and 12.0 mm sieve size with five treatments (T1: 4.0 mm mash diet; T2: 6.0 mm mash diet; T3: 8.0 mm mash diet; T4: 10.0 mm mash diet; T5: 12.0 mm mash diet) fed from 20 to 28 weeks of age. Each treatment was replicated three times, with 10 birds in each replicate. The results showed no significant difference in average daily feed intake, live weight, hen day egg production percentage, egg mass and egg indices except for haugh unit, which was highest for the 4 mm screen size and lowest for the 12 mm screen size in layers from 20 to 28 weeks of age. FCR (g/g egg mass) was highest for T3 as compared to the average of other treatments not affected by either of the feeds. In conclusion, the size of the screen used to mill the grain had no impact on hen production within the range of the study. Furthermore, the decision to grind grains more coarsely than is already customary would be favourable for the environment and the economy because it would reduce the amount of energy, labour, and time utilised in feed mills.

Macrobenthos is the best water quality indicator for ecosystem health assessment. The present study aimed to examine the interrelationship between macrobenthos and different water quality parameters of the river Alaknanda at Garhwal Himalaya. Four demarcated sampling zones viz. zone-A (Chamoli to Nandprayag), zone-B (Karanprayag to Rudraprayag), zone-C (Rudraprayag to Srinagar) and zone-D (Srinagar to Devprayag) were taken from its approximately 170 km long stretch during 2016-2018. River water characteristics were analyzed for the important parameters viz. substratum, water temperature (WT), water velocity, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) using standard methods. The results indicated that the river water velocity was the highest 1.02 m/s at zone-C, TDS of 114.19 mgl-1 was maximum at zone-A ; and Ca and Mg were recorded highest 23.17 mgl-1 and 5.44 mgl-1 at zone-A and zone-B, respectively. All abiotic parameters (pH, EC, TDS, DO, Ca and Mg) were recorded to be below BIS/WHO limits. A total of 27 macrobenthos taxa belonging to the five orders such as Coleoptera (6 ind./m2), Diptera (5 ind./m2), Ephemeroptera (8 ind./m2), Hemiptera (4 ind./m2), and Odonata (4 ind./m2) were recorded. Macrobenthos represented an important relationship between the water current and water temperature. The lowest number was reported at zone-C due to the river's high water velocity (1.02 m/s). The changes like biota loss, presence of some pollution indicator species (Cloeon sp., Bateis sp., Emphemera sp.) at zone-C, in sediment structure of habitat were due to the anthropogenic activities on the riverbank of different zones. The study will help in the conservation of macrobenthos diversity of the river Alaknanda.

Hydrocele of canal of Nuck in adult females is exceptionally rare.The canal of Nuck is the portion of processus vaginalis in the inguinal canal in women. This is homologous to the processus vaginalis of male anatomy .Although canal of Nuck normally disappears without a trace in the first year of life but if it remains patent, then it can lead to development of indirect inguinal hernia or hydrocele of canal of Nuck. Ultrasonography is the preferred investigation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done to confirm the diagnosis preoperatively .The treatment remains the excision of hydrocele of canal of nuck. We are presenting two cases of hydrocele of canal of Nuck in adult female, one Bilateral and another unilateral which were treated by laparoscopic excision of hydrocele with mesh repair .

Despite heavy investments and a number of government schemes, deterioration in water quality of river Ganga and its tributaries is an issue of serious concern. Among all the cities, thriving on Ganga, Kanpur is considered to add maximum pollution in the river. In the present study, water samples were collected seasonally from nine selected sites within the middle stretch of river Ganga from Haridwar to Kanpur. The velocity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed during winter (November–January), summer (March–June) and monsoon (July–September) season from November 2016 to September 2017 along with heavy metal analysis of water and sediment samples of the winter season. The levels of Cr, Cu, Cd and Pb were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Water quality was evaluated by water quality index (WQI) using BIS and WHO standards. The WQI values showed good water quality at Haridwar site ( 100) which renders it highly unfit for human consumption and survival of some fish species because of low DO value (4.65 ± 1.08 mg L−1) and high values of pH (8.82 ± 0.10), alkalinity (187.88 ± 8.88 mg L−1), BOD (66.64 ± 2.19 mg L−1) and COD (240.00 ± 17.33 mg L−1). WQI showed highly unsuitable water quality at all sites except control site, of which S9 (Siddhanath Ghat) was highly polluted. Lead concentration was higher at Kannauj sites while high Cr was observed at Siddhanath Ghat (S9), Kanpur. The examined metals, such as Cr, Cu, and Pb, were far above the prescribed limits of various standards.

Depletion of stratospheric ozone layer is resulting into increase in solar UV-B on earth surface. Ultra violet radiation is well known to cause many detrimental effects in aquatic organisms. The present study was performed to study the effect of solar ultraviolet radiation on fish fingerlings of Tor tor and Schizothorax richardsonii as a model system on laboratory scale. The effect of different intensities of natural solar and artificial UV-B radiation on fish larvae of T. tor and S. richardsonii in a presence of retene was investigated. Solar ultraviolet intensity showed seasonal and altitudinal variations in Garhwal region. Solar UV radiation level was lower (0.390 mw/cm2) in the month of January- February at lower altitude and highest (1.192 mw/cm2) in the month of July-August 2018 at higher altitude. Fish larvae exposed to artificial UV-B (average wavelength 312 nm and intensity of 750 mw/cm2) with retene (50µg/l) showed increase in gills malandialdehyde level and caused larvae mortality as indicating that enhanced solar UV-B exposure could be lethal to fish fauna in aquatic ecosystem. Artificial UV-B had a stronger damaging effect on fish larvae than solar radiation exhibited highly toxic in presence of retene. The larvae of S. richardsonii was found more sensitive than T. tor as indicated by high mortality rate (30%) and high pigmented characteristics on dorsal side. The solar and ultraviolet radiation showed a positive effect on high pigmentation. These results suggest that on a short time scale, UV-B radiation causing developmental stress on fish larvae may contribute to assess the phototoxic behaviour of cold water fishes.

Exponential industrialization and anthropogenic activities have resulted in water contamination by various heavy metals in Kanpur city, India. Heavy metal pollution, an issue of great concern, is not only affecting river water, but contamination of groundwater is creating health issues and worries. In the present investigation, blood samples were collected from selected volunteers, water and sediment samples from four sites of river Ganga and drinking groundwater samples from 23 locations of Kanpur city. Heavy metals analysis in river water, sediment, and human blood, was done by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used for groundwater samples. Human blood showed a high concentration of arsenic (As) (66.6 ± 0.00 and 76.9 ± 0.01 μg L

The present study investigated the potential changes in hematologic parameters and histology of fish Heteropneustes fossilis when exposed to industrial waste water of different concentrations. The ...

Despite heavy investments and a number of government schemes, deterioration in water quality of river Ganga and its tributaries is an issue of serious concern. Among all the cities, thriving on Ganga, Kanpur is considered to add maximum pollution in the river. In the present study, water samples were collected seasonally from nine selected sites within the middle stretch of river Ganga from Haridwar to Kanpur. The velocity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed during winter (November-January), summer (March-June) and monsoon (July-September) season from November 2016 to September 2017 along with heavy metal analysis of water and sediment samples of the winter season. The levels of Cr, Cu, Cd and Pb were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Water quality was evaluated by water quality index (WQI) using BIS and WHO standards. The WQI values showed good water quality at Haridwar site ( 100) while it was very poor at other sites and Kanpur ( 100) which renders it highly unfit for human consumption and survival of some fish species because of low DO value (4.65 ± 1.08 mg L

The present study focused on distribution pattern of persistent organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides residues found in water, sediments and fish tissues from the Kali River. The total 10 pesticides were observed viz., monochrotophos, parathione, phorete, malathion, α- BHC, β- BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC, endrine and endosulfon using gas chromatography electron capture detector technique. The concentrations of dominant pesticides were recorded as endosulfon (15.21 ng/L) and γ-BHC (15.54 ng/L) in water samples and γ-BHC (21.23 µg/kg) and parathion (19.14 µg/kg) in sediment samples and malathion (22.72 µg/kg) in liver of H. fossilis and monocrotophos (9.15 µg/g) in liver of Puntius ticto respectively in Kali river. High concentration of all selected pesticides dominant specially (malathion, phorate, monocrotophose, endrin and BHC) observed in all selected component riverin media are an indication of the current illegal use of banned pesticides for agricultural activities in the bank of river. The concentration exceeds to desirable limits indicators that there is a potential cancer risk for the local residents with life time consumption of pesticide contaminated fishes. The biomagnifications pattern of pesticides in Kali River is a major concern with present food web of river ecosystem and ultimately will be caused health hazards in dependent human community of catchment basin of River Kali in western U.P. India. Key words: Pesticide, water, sediments, fish tissues, Kali River.

Heavy metal pollution is a major problems in the environment. The impact of toxic metal ions can be minimized by different technologies, viz., chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, oxidation, reverse osmosis, flotation and adsorption. But among them, adsorption was found to be very efficient and common due to the low concentration of metal uptake and economically feasible properties. Cellulosic materials are of low cost and widely used, and very promising for the future. These are available in abundant quantity, are cheap and have low or little economic value. Different forms of cellulosic materials are used as adsorbents such as fibers, leaves, roots, shells, barks, husks, stems and seed as well as other parts also. Natural and modified types of cellulosic materials are used in different metal detoxifications in water and wastewater. In this review paper, the most common and recent materials are reviewed as cellulosic low-cost adsorbents. The elemental properties of cellulosic materials are also discussed along with their cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin contents.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • Different pollution degrees have been evaluated to check the pollution level in the River. • The concentration of all studied heavy metals in all fish samples were in the order of liver > gill > muscle. • The liver and gills of C. catla and C. mrigala were found to have high concentration of Cu and Zn. • There is no potential health risk due to the consumption of studied fish species as the THQ value is less than 1. • Need special measures must be taken to decrease the health effects of human being near the catchment basin of river., This paper assesses the potential human health risks posed by five heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Cr) found in seven most consumable fish species (Cirrhinus mrigala, Cirrhinus reba, Catla catla, Lebio rohita, Crossocheilus latius, Clupisoma garua, and Mystus tengara) collected from local markets of Varanasi, Allahabad, Mirzapur, and Kanpur of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Cu concentration was found at Varanasi (4.58 mg/l), Allahabad (2.54 mg/l), and Mirzapur (2.54 mg/l). Pb was recorded 0.54, 0.62, 0.85, and 0.24 mg/l at Kanpur, Allahabad, Mirzapur, and Varanasi, respectively. The Cd concentration was recorded 0.54, 0.68, 0.78, and 0.85 mg/l at Kanpur, Allahabad, Mirzapur, and Varanasi, respectively. The Cr, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the river water were observed over the prescribed safe limits at all sampling sites, while Cu concentration was higher than the standards at all sites except Kanpur. However, Zn was observed under the permissible limits (15 mg/l) at all sampling sites. In case of fish tissues, WHO reported the concentration of Pb, Cd, and Cr higher than the prescribed safe limits. The results determined that the highest heavy metals accumulation was found settled in the liver of all selected fish species. Zn ranked the highest quantity, which was found in fish tissues with the concentration of 32.41 ± 2.55 μg/g in the gill of C. catla and 4.77 ± 0.34 μg/g in the gill C. Reba. The metals followed the magnitude order of Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Cr in selected fish tissues.

The river Kali has been one of the major recipients of industrial effluents in the Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh. The present studies revealed the occurrence and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn) in riverine water, sediment, and muscles of two fish species, Heteropneustis fossilis and Puntius ticto. Data showed that the order of occurrence of heavy metals was Pb > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cd in river water, Mn > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cd in sediment, Zn > Mn > Cr > Cd > Pb in Puntius ticto and Cr > Zn > Mn > Cd > Pb in Heteropneustis fossilis. Results indicate that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in river water, Pb, Zn, and Mn in sediment, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn concentration in muscles of Puntius ticto and Cr, Pb, and Zn concentration in in muscles of Heteropneustis fossilis are higher than the permissible standard limits. The presence of heavy metals contributed to toxicity in different organs of fish in River Kali. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in different biotic organisms in...

Posterior transversus abdominis plane blocks have been reported to be an effective method of providing analgesia after lower abdominal surgery. We compared the efficacy of a novel technique of providing continuous transversus abdominis plane analgesia with epidural analgesia in patients on an enhanced recovery programme following laparoscopic colorectal surgery. A non-inferiority comparison was used. Adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery were randomly assigned to receive continuous transversus abdominis plane analgesia (n = 35) vs epidural analgesia (n = 35), in addition to a postoperative analgesic regimen comprising regular paracetamol, regular diclofenac and tramadol as required. Sixty-one patients completed the study. The transversus group received four-quadrant transversus abdominis plane blocks and bilateral posterior transversus abdominis plane catheters that were infused with levobupivacaine 0.25% for 48 h. The epidural group received an infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl. The primary outcome measure was visual analogue scale pain score on coughing at 24 h after surgery. We found no significant difference in median (IQR [range]) visual analogue scores during coughing at 24 h between the transversus group 2.5 (1.0-3.0 [0-5.5]) and the epidural group 2.5 (1.0-5.0 [0-6.0]). The one-sided 97.5% CI was a 0.0 (∞-1.0) difference in means, establishing non-inferiority. There were no significant differences between the groups for tramadol consumption. Success rate was 28/30 (93%) in the transversus group vs 27/31 (87%) in the epidural group. Continuous transversus abdominis plane infusion was non-inferior to epidural infusion in providing analgesia after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

The present contribution encompasses on plankton and biological productivity as ecological indicator for identifying the ecological quality of Sahastradhara stream (between 27 km stream stretches), located in the Doon Valley of Garhwal region in India. Monthly sampling from all the sampling sites was made for a period of 12 months (May 2009 – April 2010) at 9:00-11: 00 AM. A total of 40 taxa from different classes of plankton and zooplankton were reported. The phytoplankton (32 sp.) was found being the most abundant taxa than zooplankton (9 sp.) inSahastradhara stream. Fluctuation in the phytoplankton density was recorded highest (1536 unit/l) during winter and lowest (20 unit/l) during monsoon. Zooplanktons were reported to be maximum (147 unit/l) during summer and minimum (3 unit/l) during monsoon. The total diatoms were reported highest (1022unit/l) during starting the winter and lowest (4 unit/l) during monsoon. Green algae and blue green algae were reported to be maximum during winter and minimum during summer. The Shannon-wiener diversity index calculated for the density ofBacillariophyceae (0.2180-0.366), Chlorophyceae (0.208-0.367) and Cyanophyceae (0.391-0.366) and correlation was made between Plankton biomass and physico-chemical parameters to analyses the relative features of the both variables. The density of plankton and biological productivity were influenced by disturbances in the photic zone and indiscriminate anthropogenic activities for tourist development resulted aquatic habitat degradation in stream ecosystem.