ID: 57142
Title: Study on the antimicrobial acitvity of Aspergillus sp isolated from Justicia adathoda
Author: D Prabavathy and C Valli Nachiyar
Editor: Prof Natarajan Gajendra
Year: 2012
Publisher: Indian Society for Education and Environment, Vol 5, Issue 9, September 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Indian Journal of Science and Technology
Keywords: Endophytic fungi, Justicia adathoda, Agar well diffusion, Aspergillus sp
Abstract: A number of new bioactive compounds from endophytes have been recognised as potential sources of antimicrobial substances. In the present study, the leaf samples of Justicia adathoda was screened for endophytic fungi. The isolated fungi was identified as Aspergillus sp. based on morphological features. Fungal metabolites of the mycelia and the culture broth were extracted with ethyl acetate. The antimicrobial activity of the mycelia extracts and crude culture broth were evaluated by agar well diffusion method against few representative strains. Crude mycelial extract inhibited all the strains significantly, with a mean strongest zone of inhibition of 12.0 +1 mm against E. coli. Crude culture both inhibited the strains of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella alone and had a mean stronger zone of inhibition of 13 +1 mm and 14 +1 mm than crude mycelia extract. Further FTIR analysis indicated the nature of the antimicrobial compound.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57141
Title: Genetic resources and traditional knowledge: Case studied and conflicting interests
Author: None
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57140
Title: Ethnobotany of the Kondh, Poraja, Gadaba and Bonda of the Koraput region of Odisha, India
Author: None
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57139
Title: Biological characterization of lead-resistant bacteria to explore role of bacterial metallothionein in lead resistance
Author: Milind Mohan Naik, Kashif Shamim and Santosh Kumar Dubey
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Bacteria, bioaccumulation, lead, metallothionein
Abstract: Lead-resistant bacterial isolates Salmonella choleraesuis strain 4A, Proteus penneri strain GM10, Bacillus subtillis strain GM02, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 4EA, Proteus penneri strain GM03 and Providentia rettgeri strain GM04 were isolated from soil contaminated with car battery waste from Goa, India. All the isolates except Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 4EA showed presence of plasmids. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of 507 bp internal fragment of smtAB genes encoding bacterial metallothionein and intracellular bioaccumulation of 19 and 22 mg lead per gram dry weight in Salmonella choleraesuis strain 4A and Proteus penneri strain GM10 respectively revealed presence of metal-binding metallothionein (SmtA) being responsible for lead resistance encoded by genomic DNA. These lead-resistant and lead-bioaccumulating bacterial isolates can be employed for bioremediation of lead present in contaminated environmental sites.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57138
Title: Staminal variation and its possible significance in Commelina benghalensis L and Commelina caroliniana Walter
Author: Veenu Kaul and A K Koul
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Androecium, Commelina benghalensis L, Commelina caroliniana Walter, heteranthery, staminode
Abstract: Flowers of Commelina benghalensis L. and Commelina caroliniana Walter are odourless and nectar-less. Therefore, they rely on visual characteristics for attracting pollinators and offer pollen as the only reward. Androecium, the focus of an insect ' s attention in these species, consists of three fertile and three sterile stamens. The three fertile stamens have two types of anthers. The central one has a bright yellow, long, inwardly curved, versatile anther with a massive connective. The other two are lateral, cryptic, with smaller ovate, straight and basifixed anthers, light grey in C. benghalensis and yellow iwht a brown streak in C. caroliniana. The sterile stamens or staminodes are bright yellow, variously shaped and borne on slender filaments. They contrast sharply with the blue corolla and attract insects by appearing filled with abundant pollen. To determine the possible significance of this diversity, morphologica and functional aspects of the male reproductive organs were worked out and, between and within species comparisons were also made.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57137
Title: Amplitude variation with offset responses for gas hydrate/free gas models: a case study
Author: Uma Shankar and Kalachand Sain
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Amplitude versus offset, bottom simulating reflector, elastic impedance, gas hydrate
Abstract: Gas hydrate is considered as a potential major energy resource for India. The presence of gas hydrate is inferred mainly by identifying an anomalous reflector, known as the bottom simulating reflector (BSR) on seismic sections. Understanding the properties of gas hydrate/free gas-bearing sediments and studying the amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) or amplitude versus incidence angle (AVA) characteristic from a BSR are important. The objective of the present work is to study the behaviour of reflection coefficient iwth angle of incidence for gas sand/shale and gas hydrate/free gas models. The amplitudes of reflected seismic waves are directly proportional to seismic reflection coefficients at an interface between different geological strata. The variation of AVO or AVA can be used in arriving at petrophysical/lithological models. The study shows variation in the reflection coefficient obtained by elastic impedence method and from Zoeppritz equations. Different gas hydrate saturations pritz equations. Different gas hydrate saturations show a positive, negative or no AVO anomalies in BSR.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57136
Title: Discoveryof hornfels from the Arunachal lesser Himalaya: evidence for the pre-Himalayan contact metamorphism in the Himalaya
Author: R K Bikramaditya Singh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Arunachal Himalaya, contact metamorphism, granitoids, hornfels
Abstract: Hornfelses have been discovered from the Arunachal Lesser Himalaya in Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh. Field observations and petrographic study with electron microprobe analysis have confirmed the presence of hornfels associated with granitoids. These rocks are grey to dark grey in colour and fine to medium-grained. Three types of hornfels having different mineral assemblages are recognized and are referred to as Type-I (andalusite-bearing hornfels), Type-II (andalusite-garnet-bearing hornfels) and Type - III (garnet-sillimanite + andalusite -bearing hornfels). They have different bult rock composition that supports the presence of different mineral assemblages and high FeO/MgO ratio ranging from 1.21 to 4.12 is responsible for the absence of cordierite in aureole rocks. Abundance of hornfels records from the Arunachal Lesser Himalaya confirms the pre-Himalayan contact metamorphism and suggests that the Lesser Himalayan Granitoids are intrusives as these were intruded as granite into the Lesser Himalayan rocks during the Palaeoproterozoic and later deformed into gneisses during the Himalayan orogeny.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57135
Title: Evaluation of sand-based stormwater filtration system for groundwater recharge wells
Author: Satyendra Kumar, S K Kamra, R K Yadav and J P Sharma
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Groundwater recharge, sand-based filter, storm-water filtration, wells
Abstract: Groundwater recharge wells have proven effective in augmenting and improving the quality of groundwater, but clogging remains a serious constraint in the absence of properly designed recharge filters. A loaboratory study was undertaken in a PVC column of 22.5 cm diameter and 120 cm length to evaluate the efficiency of coarse sand (CS) of three particle sizes ranging between 0.35 and 1.0 mm as the top layer of a recharge filter for seven influent sediment concentrations of 250-3,000 mg/l. The performance was evaluated in terms of spatial movement of sediments, removal efficiency, recharge rates and clogging time. The results indicated that more than 60% suspended solids were entrapped in the upper 10 cm layer of CS, the removal efficiency improved with increasing thickness of the CS layer and the recharge rates declined sharply for infuent concentrations of more than 1,000 mg/l. The study suggests use of larger particle size CS and reducing sediment load of inflow water. Field adaptation of these findings involves use of CS beds of 0.7-1.0 mm particle size and minimum 70 cm thickness as the top layer in recharge filters and providing a sediment tank or biological filters near the recharge structures to reduce sediment load of run-off water before entering the filter bed.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57134
Title: Functional characterization of the zebrafish gadd45alpha b gene promoter and its application as a biosensor
Author: P Gireesh - Babu, Nilambari Pawar, P Krishnan, A Pavan Kumar, S G S Zaidi, Deepa Bhartiya, Neeraj Kumar, Sridhar Sivasubbu, K V Rajendran and Aparna Chaudhari
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Biosensor, gadd45alpha, genotoxicity, minimal promoter, zebrafish
Abstract: We report characterization of zebrafish gadd45alpha b (growth arrest and DNA damage gene) minimal promoter and its application as biosensor tool for genotoxicity studies in zebrafish. Variably sized fragments of the 5 ' flanking region were generated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These were cloned upstream of gfp gene in pEGFP1 vector, transfected into human foetal fibroblasts and induced with DNA damaging agents, ultraviolet radiation (UV) and methyl methane sulphonate (MMS). The region -1064/+593 bp showed maximum activity after treatment with 1.5 mM MMS for 2 h or 80 mJ/cm2 UV. The endogenous gadd45alpha expression in human fibroblast cells and zebrafish embryos in the presence of UV and MMS was confirmed by real-time PCR. When the minimal promoter linked to dsRed2 gene was microinjected into zebrafish embryos, red fluorescence was observed in response to sub-lethal dose of UV, confirming its application as transgenic zebrafish biosensor for genotoxicity.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57133
Title: Stone fortress of Chitledroog: visualizing old landscape of Chitradurga by integrating spatial information from multiple sources
Author: N S Nalini and M B Rajani
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Chitradurga hill fort, old map, old painting, 3D visualization, spatial data integration
Abstract: The city of Chitradurga, known for its seven-tiered stone fort, is situated in Chitradurga District, Central Karnataka. This city consists of many ancient temples and monuments interspersed between the strong sone layers of the hill fort. Enormous amount of information is available about these historical structures in the form of literary texts, old paintings, old photographs and old maps. This article discusses the methods of integrating the information from different sources using the GIS platform, thereby studying the change in the landscpae over a period of time. In this study, an old surveyed map prepared by a British officer in AD 1800 is used. This mpa is georeferenced and the required information is extracted by digitizing the necessary layers of information. Three-dimensional perspective views of the hill fort similar to old paintings were simulated using digital elevation model, thereby analysing the changes in land use and modern development in the vicinity of the hill fort.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57132
Title: How participatory irrigation management reform influences agricultural performance
Author: Souvik Ghosh and Ashwani Kumar
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Irrigation management, government, farmers
Abstract: The effect of participatory irrigation management on agricultural performance reveals an increase in irrigation intensity, cropping intensity and yield with spatial and temporal variations. However, it is debated that the shift from government-managed to farmers-managed irrigation system may be one of the contributing, but not the only factor responsible for better agriculture performance. Non-rice producing irrigation systems can be more productive than the rice producing irrigation systems. The effect is found to be varied between sources of irrigation as well as across the commond areas of different irrigation systems in the world.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57131
Title: Indian flying fox in Hamirsir lake, Bhuj city needs conservation attention
Author: Arun Kumar Roy Mahato, V Vijay Kumar, Nainesh Patel
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57130
Title: Indicators for occurrence of groundwater in the rocks of Eastern Ghats
Author: N Subba Rao
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 103, No 4, 25 August 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57129
Title: Effect of kiln dust from a cement factory on growth of Vicia faba L.
Author: Ismet Uysal, Hasan Goksel Ozdilek, Munir Ozturk
Editor: Dr R C Dalela
Year: 2012
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises, Vol 33, No 2 (Supplement), April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Journal of Environmental Biology
Keywords: Cement kiln dust, Vicia faba, Plant growth, air and soil pollution
Abstract: This study was undertaken to study the effects of different amounts of kiln dust mixed with soil on the seed germination, plant growth, leaf area and water content of Vicia faba cv. Eresen. The reason for this was that cement kiln dust generated as a by-product from the cement factories is rich in potassium, sulfate and other compounds. This product becomes a serious problem when it comes in contact with water. The dust was collected from a cement factory located in Canakkale. Various elements such as Al, Co, Mo, Ca, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Se and Zn were determined both in soil as well as kiln dust. Kiln dust was mixed with soil in pots ( 20 cm diameter) to make seven different treatments varying from 15 to 105 g kiln dust kg-1 of soil. The experiment lasted for 4 months. Seeds of V. faba were sown in the pots filled with mixtures of preanalysed kiln dust and soil. Germination was high in the pots with a lower treatment of cement kiln dust. However, lower germination rates were observed in the pots mixed with the highest and the medium amounts of cement kiln dust. Plants growing in the soil including 15 g kiln dust showed better preformance in length as compared to control. Leaf area increased with incrase in cement kiln dust content up to 60 g kiln dust kg-1 of soil, but declined after 75 g kg-1. Water content of leaves (mg cm2 leaf area) was found to be constantly decreasing with respect to increasing cement kiln content in the pots. Differences between the averages were evaluated by Tukey test and results were found to be significant.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 57128
Title: Tbilisi ' s climatic-landscape peculiarities and their dynamics
Author: Elene Salukvadze, Dali Mumladze, Tamila Chaladze, Nino Lomidze, Maia Khechikashvili, Nino Chikharadze, Zurab Janelidze
Editor: Dr R C Dalela
Year: 2012
Publisher: Triveni Enterprises, Vol 33, No 2 (Supplement), April 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Journal of Environmental Biology
Keywords: Climatic landscape, Transformation, Tbilisi
Abstract: The current condition and development tendencies of natural environment of capital of Georgia-Tbilisi are directly connected with the anthropogenesis. Analyze of changing of environment peculiarities of rapid expansion of Tbilisi city and according to its revealing its landscape-climatic changes is the aim of the research paper. The diverse landscape of Tbilisi suburbs is represented by forests, forest-steppes, steppes, shrubs, etc. The variety can be attributed to complex relief ' s geological structure, diversity of climate, flora and fauna, and to the location between two different geostructural areas- the mountain system (Trialeti, Saguramo-lalno) and intermountain valleys (Marneuli and Gardabani lowlands). Natural landscapes have been partly preserved in the city suburbs, but even they are gradually being replaced by new anthropogneic landscapes: new roads and residential and industrial zones. According to the data prior to 2007, the city territory totaled 372 km2, while presently, under the modified municipal decree, it is 504 km2. Transformation of natural landscape of territory of Tbilisi into the anthropogenic one, has changed the physical condition of underlying surface. Especially, heat balance of the city was changed, which was followed by increase in air mean temperature (0.4-0.50C) and precipitation and reduction of wind speed.
Location: TE 15, New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None