ID: 57862
Title: Hydrochemical characteristion of the water of outer Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh
Author: Ratan Chand Sharma, Meena Kumari and Shivani Dogra
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Outer Himalayas, Water sources, water quality index
Abstract: The present study is intended to analyse the water quality of different water sources of Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh. The physico-chemical characteristics like pH, turbidity, calcium, magnesium, total dissolved solids, total hardness, iron total residual chlorine and total alkalinity were studied and found to be deviating from the standard values. The pH, turbidity and calcium were found to be more in the study area. The physico-chemical parameters were taken for calculation of water quality index. The quality of water at some places was found to be good except for some sampling stations where quality index of water was very low.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57861
Title: Soil fertility assessment of research and teaching fram of Audu Bako College of Agriculture Danbatta, Kano State, Nigeria
Author: Sanda Ahamd R and Ismail Y M
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Soil fertility, leaching, volatilization, organic manure
Abstract: The most important variables in the soil are the plant nutrient elements. But Savannah soils are known to be low in these variables. Laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility status of Audu Bako College of Agriculture Research and Teaching Farm, aimed at assessing these variables. The results of this study shows that all the varibles tested, which includes among others exchangeable bases, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and cation exchange capacity (CEC), were low due to high leaching and excessive volatization, which could be arrested by some practices like mulching, application of more organic manure and supplementing with inorganic fertilizers.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57860
Title: Hydrochemistry of the groundwater from coastal aquifer in Amol-Ghaemshahr region, Mazandaran province, North Iran
Author: Houshang Khairy and M R Janardhana
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Hydrochemistry, Coastal aquifer, Groundwater, GIS, Mazandaran province, piper diagram, Gibb ' s plot
Abstract: Present study is an attempt to understand the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Amol-Ghaemshahr region, Mazandaran province in North Iran. Groundwater samples were randomly collected from 77 wells in Amol-Ghaemshahr plain having different depths, varying from 2.4 m to 198 m. The physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured in addition to major cation and anion concentrations. The abundance of major ions is as follows: Ca2+> Na+>Mg2+>K+ and HCO3->Cl->SO42->NO3-. Thematic maps pertaining to pH, TDS, EC, Cl-, NO3-, SO42- and Na+ were presented in Geographical Information System (GIS) based maps. Different classes in thematic maps were categorized as desirable, permissible and unpermissible based on WHO standards for drinking purposes. The chemistry of water samples from coastal aquifer was interpreted by using classical Piper diagrams. The study indicates that Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl are the dominant hydrochemical facies followed by Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-SO4 facies. Gibb ' s plot reveals that the mechanisms responsible for controlling chemical composition of the groundwater are both rock-water interaction and evaporation.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57859
Title: Effects of land use on ecosystem service function of the Songhua river basin in Harbin region
Author: Fengwen Gong, Wenyi Fan and Li Yuan
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Songhua river basin, urbanization, land use pattern change, ecosystem service value, contribution rate
Abstract: Rapid land use pattern change has taken place in Songhua River basin of old industry base in northeast region of china over the past decades in Harbin region. In this paper, changes in land use pattern in this region were analysed by using Landsat TM data in 1989 and 2007, to quantiatively explore the spatio-temporal LUCC (land use and cover change) characteristics, and based on this information, the regional ecosystem service value was estimated. Cropland and unused land decreased, while built-up land increased greatly. The greatest change rate occurred in water bodies but the least occurred in cropland. The ecoystem service value increased 4.8496 x 108yuan, with increasing range of 8.3285%, cropland truned into forestland occurred the greatest positive contribution rate, accounted for 18.9437%, while forestland turned into cropland occurred the greatest negative contribution rate, accounted for 10.2426%. The increase of built-up land impacted the ecosystem service value and ecological environment negatively, and the increase of forestland and water body and the decrease of unused land improved the ecological enviornment and its ecosystem service values. Those improving the ecological enviornment were from other types of land use to forestland and water body, however, those worsening the ecological enviornment were from forest and grasslad to cropland and build-up land.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57858
Title: Performance evaluation of improved cook stoves
Author: Ch. Someswararao, G Prasanna Kumar, Ch. V V Satyanarayana
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Improved cook stove, thermal efficiency, power rating
Abstract: Approximately 70-80% of the total energy used in villages is consumed for domestic cooking and 80-90% of the domestic energy needs are met through firewood, cow dung and agricultural crop wastes. The biofuels are being burned in low efficiency traditional cook stoves. The environment within the house is polluted by the smoke emitted from the traditional cook stoves causing ill effect on health of women and children. To alleviate this problem, a number of double pot improved cook stoves (ICSs) have been developed for rural people. Experiments were conducted on different models of cook stoves viz. traditional cook stove, Sukhad, Udairaj and improved Udairaj modles to find the thermal efficiency, power rating and specific fuel consumption by conducting water boiling test. Udairaj cook stove was found to have the highest thermal efficiency of 23.4%, whereas traditional cook stove was fouind to have lowest thermal efficiency of 15.4% among the cook stoves tested. Uadairaj and improved Udairaj cook stoves were found to have similar power rating and lowest specific fuel consumption in the range of 0.811 kw to 0.849 kw and 1.232 kg/kwh to 1.225 kg/kwh respectively whereas traditional cook stove was found to have lowest power rating of 0.559 kw adn highest specific fuel consumption of 1.799 kg/kwh.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57857
Title: Removal of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions using Pyrite and Cinder: Batch and column adsorption studies
Author: F Q Wang, Y M Zhang, J J Lian, Y B Guo, L M Wang and Y X Gao
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Mo(VI) removal, adsorption, batch and column tests, Cinder, Pyrite
Abstract: Removal of heavy metals from mine tailing effluent has been a long-standing enviromental management issue in mining industry. In this study, remvoal of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions was investigated using pyrite and cinder. Various parameters such as pH, agitation time and Mo(VI) concentration have been studied. In batch experiments for the two materials firstly. The maximum adsorption of Mo(VI) concentration have been studied in batch experiments for the two materials firstly. The maximum adsorption of MO(VI) occurred at pH 4.0 for cinder, and 3.0 for pyrite. Kinetic studies showed that Mo(VI) adsorption by the two materials generally obeyed a pseudo second-order model. Furthermore, application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to the adsorption equilibrium data showed that the adsorption behavior obeyed the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity of cinder and pyrite was found to be 3.01 and 8.35 mg Mo (VI)/g adsorbent. Subsequently, three flow-through columns (Column 1#, Vpyrite: Vcinder = 2:1; Column 2#, Vpyrite: Vcinder = 1:1;Column31#, Vpyrite: Vcinder = 1:2) were operated for the removal of Mo(VI) for six months. Results indicated the average removal efficiency of Mo(VI) by Column 1# were 47.68%, by Column 2# were 50.03%, and by Column 3# were 23.34%, respectively. Therefore, the pyrite-cinder mixture (Vpyrite: Vcinder = 1:1) proven to be a feasible and cost-efficient treatment technology for Mo(VI) removal.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57856
Title: Effect of topical treatment of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil on wound healing in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats
Author: K Umasankar, Balwin nambikkairaj and D Manley Backyavathy
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Streptozotocin, wound healing, Rosmarinus officinalis oil, Wistar rats
Abstract: A common complication of diabetes is impaired wound healing. Systematic Rosmarinus officinalis oil improves healing in diabetics, which is dose dependent and may have side effects. There is very less information regarding topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil on wound healing. Diabertes was induced in Wistar rats by using streptozotocin. The control group comprised age-matched animals not sumitted to streptozotocin injection. Diabetic state was confirmed by glycosuria and hyperglycemia. Under tribromoethanol anaesthesia, four Diabetic state was confirmed by glycosuria and hyperglycemia. Under tribromoethanol anaersthesia, four skin wounds (4 mm diameter) were performed on shaved dorsal area (2 each side of median line). Topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil was applied daily only on both wounds on right side of median line. Animals were sacrificed on day 3 and 7 after surgery and tissue samples were prepared and observed under light microscopy. Histological, hisometric and stereological methods were used for analysis. Tropical Rosamrinus officinalis oil accelerated wound closure in diabetic and non - diebetic rats and the results were found to be more active than antibiotic treated controls. Topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil could be helpful in diabetics in order to improve the wound healing process avoiding possible adverse effects from systemic medication. All the values were statistically significant.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57855
Title: Enhancing the image of urban space, promoting urban history adn cutlure: A case study of the urban design of Wangjiang avenue
Author: Yang Li
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: space image, urban culture, Wangjiang Avenue, urban design
Abstract: As regarded as people ' s main activity space in the city, urban roads are the most important part of cities ' public space environment and they are also the main ways to observe and understand the city. So the urban design of cities ' roads is no doubt the most straightforwards and effective method to display and enhance the cities ' image. Along with the improvement of people ' s living standard, people ' s requirements of the charm and quality of cities ' public space environment are becoming higher and higher. This paper takes the urban design of Wangjiang Avenue as an example to do some useful exploration on enhancing cities ' space image.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57854
Title: Evaluating environmental land use/land cover change detection in Sub urban fringe area around Madurai city usign GIS technique
Author: S Muthu Meenakshi and A Sundara
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Land use/ land cover changes, remote sensing , GIS, urbanization and sub urban, fringe area
Abstract: Urban growth is most rapid in the developing world, where cities gain an average of five million residents every month in a year. The rapid urbanization and other infrastructure development in citites made workers to substitute a greater distance between their residencies and the cities so it encroached industries and businesses to locate or relocate in suburban fringe areas which contain all facilities such as in metropolitan areas. Teh urban service area- Madurai, a metropolitan area, is currently experiencing linear to horizontal expansion and a variety of development pressrues due to the unabated scattered population growth and socio-economic status, which portrays the conversion of agricutlure lands, wet lands and number of water bodies into housing and industrial sites in a haphazard manner at the outskirts of the city known as Madurai suburban fring earea. This study evlauates the effectiveness of high-resolution satellite data and computer aided GIS techniques in assessing the land use change dynamics within the study area. Madurai city and its suburban fringe areas, from 2001 to 2008. Satellite images were used for the year 2001 and 2008 at scale 1:50000.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57853
Title: Isolation and identification of gram positive biosurfactants producing bacteria from Mighan wetland in Iran
Author: N Fazaeli, N Bahador, and A Jamalian
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Biosurfactant producing, bacteria, lipopeptide, Mighan wetland
Abstract: Biosurfactants are surface active compunds which are produced by bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Most of them have different structures including: lipopeptides, glycolipids, polysaccharides, protein complexes, fatty acids and phospholipids. Nowadays, due to their useful properties, they have attracted attention of many. Therefore, the present study was conducted to isolate Gram posoitve bacteria capable of producing biosurfactants from Mighan Wetland in Iran. According, the isolated microroganisms were evaluated using oil spreading technique with different types of oil and haemolysis tests. The selected microorganisms were detected by their ability to produce surfactants using TLC. The results indicated that out of seven different isolated genera two were Gram positive, and they were characterized as Bacilus firmus and Staphylococcus sp. On the other hand, oil spreading technique indiated that organisms are able to produce biosurfactants. In addition, extracted biosurfactant on TLC plates and applying ninhydrin reagent indicated the lipopeptide structure of the biosurfactant by producing red spot. Hence, the present study illustrated that this area of investigation could be a suitable place for isolation of microorganism with capability to produce biosurfactants and it couild be used for further study and applications.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57852
Title: Ecological effects and occupational health hazards due to coir retting: A case study from West coast of Kerala, India
Author: M Kadeeja Beevi, S Sreekumar and Hiran Nazir K
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Kayamkulam backwaters, Coir retting, biodiversity, health hazards
Abstract: The backwater of Kerala is becoming polluted due to persistent retting of coconut husk for the manufacture of coir. This paper assesses the ecological status of the retting ground and brings out the occupational health hazards due to coir retting. It is observed that the quality of water becomes deteriorated due to retting, and plankton and benthic fauna show low community diversity. The paper also highlights the occupational health hazards observed among the coir workers.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57851
Title: Towards a rapid and repeatable assessment indicator system for wetland ecosystems: Example from the Poyang lake National Nature Reserve, China
Author: Innocent Ndoh Mbue, Jiwen Ge, Mainza Sibajene and Zhaojun Wu
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Poynag lake, Rapid and repeatable, indicator system, signal to noise ratio, monitoring of wetlands
Abstract: Six wetland sites in the Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, were sampled by two observers with different levels of experience following a two-day training workshop for a suite of scientifically defensible, rapid and repeatable indicator system taht can serve as a blueprint to be used routinely in the area. A probabilistic random-stratified sampling design was used to select sites to be sampled. Field protocols consisted of different sections including scoring boundary forms, and quantitative ratings. Metric scores were assigned using the ratings for the current state of the wetland, without regard for what the wetland might have been in the past, or what it might become in the future. The variance in observer to observer scoring at each site was used to calculate pooled standard deviations, coefficients of variation, and signal-to-noise ratios for each survey. The results showed that the relationship between pairs of observer scores had little observer bias (rho=0.845, p<0.01) for all the sites in the surveyed. Training could have had a significant contribution to observer to observer repeatability. We are confident that, as developed, these indicators could be successfully applied for monitoring and assessing wetlands, recognizing that further field testing and verifications are still needed.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57850
Title: Pesticide residues monitoring in some agricultural soil samples of Taybad, Eastern Iran
Author: Mohammad Nasser Modoodi and Saleh Mahmudian Niar
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Pesticide residues, agricultural soils, pollution, Taybad district
Abstract: The main objective of this study was focussed on determining the likely presence of pesticide residues in agricultural soil samples in Taybad district, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Ten agricultural soil samples were taken from different farms were analysed using gas chromatography (GC) method consisting of electron capture detector (ECD) for anganochemichlorine pesticides (OCPs). Seven soil samples were eventually found to be positively polluted by pesticide residues (70% of the samples) including dieldrin, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, endosulfan-1, p,p ' -DDT , and o,p-DDT. Although endosulfan-1 occurred with the most frequency among the pesticide residues in the soil samples (3 times) and o,p-DDT showed the highest concentration compared to other residues (0.0014 ppm), all the detected pesticide residues were quietly in low concentrations.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57849
Title: Environmental noise pollution in IIorin metropolis, Nigeria
Author: Oyedepo, Sunday Olayinka
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: IIorin metropolis, noise map, noise pollution, traffic noise, noise descriptors
Abstract: This paper presents the results obtained from environmetnal noise measurements at selected locations in IIorin metropolis. Forty two different locations throughout IIorin were selected to establish background noise level, peak noise level and dominant noise sources at these locations. It was observed that, the A-weighted sound levels (LAeq), background noise level (L90) and peak noise level (L10) measured vary with the location and period of the day. Due to traffic characteristics, especially traffic volume, vehicle horns, which-mounted loudspeakers, unmuffled vehicles, record players and hawking, there is high LAeq, L90, and L10 at raod junctions (77 dBA, 66 dBA, 77dBA), passengers loading parks (76 dBA, 66dBA, 77 dBA), passengers loading parks (76 dBA, 66 dBA, 77 dBA) and commercial centres (73 dBA, 64 dBA, 74 dBA). Average daily noise exposure level (LAeq) in IIorin metropolis varies from 46 dBA to 86 dBA. The result of this study shows that the major source of noise in IIorin metropolis can be attributed to traffic noise. Other intrusive noise sources include noise from record players and hawking with loud speakers. Based on the recommendations of Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health (CEOH), World Health Organization (WHO) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), only 6 locations out of 42 are under normally acceptable situation while the noise levels of other areas are not acceptable. Based on the noise descriptors (LAeq, LD, LN, LDN, TNI and LNP), noise map is developed to identify locations iwth high noise exposure. THe noise map developed reveals high noise exposure at the nucleus of the metropolis where commercial activities, high traffic volume and clustered buildings with high population exist. The results of this study is useful as reference and guideline for future regulations on noise limit to be implemented for urban areas in Nigeria.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57848
Title: Phyllosphere mycoflora of Celosia Argentea L
Author: P Saritha and A Sreeramulu
Editor: Dr P K Goel
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (4) December 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Environment & Pollution Technology
Keywords: Celosia argentea L, phyllosphere, bio-control
Abstract: A total number of eight fungal species viz., Fusarium oxysporium, Fusarium equisiti, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus arrhizus, Alternaria alternata and Penicillium notatum were isolated by both dilution plate method and leaf impression method from phyllosphere of young to mature to senescent but healthy leaves of Celosia argentea L. The total population of these microorganisms showed a considerable increase from young to mature to senescent leaves. A possible role of these microorganisms as bio-control agents of the weed has been discussed.
Location: TE 15, Biologicalsciences Building, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None