ID: 56362
Title: Isolation and identification of pesticide resistant bacteria from agricultural soil
Author: Swati R Bipte, Padmini S Parmar and M Musaddiq
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Pesticide resistant bacteria, fipronil, imidacloprid, agricultural soil
Abstract: The present study reports the identification of pesticide resistant isolates i.e., E. coli, Azotobacter sp., Rhizobium sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, which are capable of utilizing the pesticides Fipronil and Imidacloprid as a sources of carbon. Utilization of these harmful chemical compounds by soil microorganisms is a crucial phenomenon by which these compounds are removed from the environment, thus preventing environmental pollution. Results from the present study showed that the isolates such as P. aeruginosa, E. coli, B. subtilis, Azotobacter sp. and Rhizobium species are able of growing in a medium in presence of added pesticides and may, therefore, be used for bioremediation of pesticide contaminated soil.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56361
Title: An epidemiological survey of occupationally exposed beedi workers to tobacco dust
Author: K Rudrama Devi and Jithender Kumar Naik
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Epidemiological survey, beedi workers, tobacco dust, reproductive end points
Abstract: Subjects occupationally exposed to potential mutagens/carcinogens represent the most suitable groups for epidemiological studies aimed at assessing the risk for the individual or the offspring. Several cancer risks to humans have been detected by epidemological studies performed in occupational settings. The epidemiology studies have been able (a) to identify specific occupations or agents associated with the risk; (b) to verify the results of experimental studies; and (c) to test the effectiveness of changes in production or preventive measures in decreasing risks Reproductive epidemiology has suggested a risk of spontaneous abortions or of malformation in the offspring of workers exposed to some chemicals or occupations, but data are often conflicting due to methodological problems. With the aim of early assessment of risk in mind, the epidemiological use of indicators of exposure or of the early effect of exposure to genotoxic agents is increasingly applied to occupational groups. Data on the fertility and other reproductive end points in 128 women beedi rollers exposed to tobacco dust were recorded by using standard questionnaire. The exposed group were further categorized based on duration of exposure, life style, smoking and non-smoking and socio-economic status. The statistical analysis shows that the differences in the reproductive end points between the control and exposed groups were significant (P<0.05).
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56360
Title: Morphometric analysis of Nanjangud taluk, Mysore district, Karnataka, India using GIS techniques
Author: G Mahadevaswamy, D Nagaraju, C Papanna, P C Nagesh and Krishna Rao
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Morphometric analysis, drainage characteristics, Nanjanagud taluk, sub-basins, GIS
Abstract: An attempt has been made to study drainage morphometry and its influence on hydrology of Nanjanagud taluk. For detailed study, data for preparing DEM, aspect grid and slope maps, geographic information system (GIS) was used in evaluation of linear, areal and relief aspects of morphometric parameters. The study reveals that the elongated shape of the area is mainly due to guiding effect of thrusting and faulting. In all 41 sub-basins in Nanjangud taluk have been selected for the study. Quantitative morphometric analysis has been carried out for linear, relief and aerial aspects for all sub-basins. The streams up to fourth order can be seen in all the sub-basins. The morphometric analysis reveals that Hullahalli sub-basin has lower value of drainage density, stream frequency, elongation ratio, relief ratio and infiltration number indicating highly permeable sub-soil materials under dense vegetation cover. Except Hullahalli sub-basin, all the other sub-basins show fractured, resistant, permeable rocks and drainage network seems to be not affected by tectonic disturbances.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56359
Title: A comparative study of some chemical and biological characteristics of coastal and estuarine waters of three regions along Coastal Maharashtra
Author: Chetan Ponkshe
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Coastal waters, Coastal Maharashtra, Chemical characteristics, biological characteristics
Abstract: The 720 km long indeted coastline of Maharashtra, that comprises the coastal districts of Thane, Raigad, Greater Bombay, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, is marked by the presence of major estuarine and narrow creeks. These coastal waters receive huge volumes of treated and untreated industrial waste, sewage, etc. thus depleting the water quality along the stretches.In the present study carried out at Mumbai, Dharamtar and Guhagar coast, it was observed that the Mumbai coast is highly affected showing low values of dissolved oxygen and high total dissolved content thereby affecting the productivity of the region.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56358
Title: Effect of wood waste ash on the strength characteristics of concrete
Author: Vaishali G. Ghorpade
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Wood waste ash, concrete, Pozzolanic activity
Abstract: The present paper describes the effect of addition of wood waste ash (0 - 30%) in concrete. Wood ash is an admixture: a pozzolana. Wood ash is generated as a by-product of combustion in wood - fired power plants, paper mills, and other wood burning industries. Wood ash has been added to the concrete in varying percentages ranging from 0 to 30%. The compressive strength and tensile strengths of wood ash concrete was evaluated by conducting laboratory experimentation. The results obtained were compared with reference to M30 grade concrete. The paper presents the various details of experimentation and analysis of results to come up with useful conclusion about the utilization of wood waste ash as analysis of results to come up with useful conclusion about the utilization of wood waste ash as an admixture in the concrete.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56357
Title: Physico-chemical studies on water quality characteristics of Bahuda estuary, Bay of Bengal
Author: Prabhat Kumar Behera and S N Padhy
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Bahuda estuary, water quality, productivity, anthropogenic influence
Abstract: The study relates to the observation of various physico-chemical characteristics of the Bahuda estuary. The annual variation recorded was for temperature (22.84 0C - 30.480C), salinity (14.42 - 30.8 ppt), BOD (0.84 - 2.15 mg/L), DO (4.88 - 6.99 mg/L), pH (7.48 -8.44), nitrate (1.866-3.991 mg/L), ammonium (1.295 - 3.816 ?
g/L), phosphate (0.245 - 0.773 ?g/L) and silicate (20.005 - 37.180 ?g/L). The water temperature and salinity influence the hydro-chemical processes, which control the other parameters like pH, DO, BOD and nutrient levels in estuarine water. Temperature is positively correlated with salinity and negtively correlated with other water quality parameters of the estuarine water. The limits of water quality parameters were very less than the tolerance limits of fish growth. The BOD values in the estuarine water were relatively higher than other similar studies of the coast, which indicate the high productivity of the coastal water.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56356
Title: Adsorptive treatment of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution using Moringa oleifera as an adsorbent
Author: Bhanupriya Mordhiya, Kailash Daga, Suresh Chandra and Sonia Aggarwarl
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Methylene blue adsorption, activated carbon, Moringa oleifera, adsorption isotherms
Abstract: The adsorption of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution on low cost adsorbent, prepared from barks of Moringa oleifera, was studied. The adsorption equilibrium isotherms have been reported. The effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial dye concentration on adsorption process was investigated. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equally well. Experiment was done using batch process.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56355
Title: Status of Sea cow, Dugong (Dugong dugon) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Author: C. Raghunathan, K Venkataraman and P T Rajan
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Dugong dugong, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Extinction
Abstract: Sea cow (Dugong dugon) is the only extant species in the Family Dugongidae and true herbivorous marine mammal. It is listed as vulnerable to extinction at a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The present paper documents the status of dugong in Andaman and Nicobar Islands by collating the published data as well as investigation through underseas surveys in selected places of this archipelago. Based on the existing data on dugong in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is observed that over the period of 51 years since 1959, a total of 76 dugongs were recorded either in the form of live or dead. Among them 47 dugongs were from Andaman Islands, wereas 29 encountered from Nicobar Islands. The distribution of this mammal is comparatively high in north Andaman, Ritchie ' s Archipelago and Great Nicobar Island. Potential threats and managerial strategies for the effective conservation of dugongs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have also been discussed in the paper.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56354
Title: Bacterial population dynamics in fly ash amended soil with and without amelioration by earthworms
Author: Sitara Jabeen and M P Sinha
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Fly ash amended soil, earthworm, Drawida willsi, Bacterial population
Abstract: The experiment was conducted to study the bacterial population in fly ash amended soil with and without earthworm inoculation in laboratory by dilution plate method. It was found that in presence of Drawida willsi at 5% fly ash (FA) amendment showed maximum population of 43.2 + 1.15 x 109 cfu/g soil from initial population. At 10% and 15% FA amendment gradual decline to 14.3 + 0.4 x 109 and 7.63 + 0.6 x 109 cfu/g soil from 21.7 + 0.36 x 109 and 15.33 + 1.1 x 109 cfu/g soil over 90 days of experiment at an interval of 15 days was observed. In absence of earthworms gradual decline in population was seen in the three concentrations of fly ash amendment to 22.7 + 0.5 x 109, 11.6 + 0.7 x 109 and 3.43 + 0.7 x 109 cfu/g soil respectively. ANOVA test showed that with earthworms the effect of concentration of FA on the bacterial population was significant (F = 69.9, df = 6,2, p< 0.05) and in the absence of earthworm both concentration and time interval played a significant role (F = 155.1, df = 6, 2, p< 0.1; F= 10.5, df = 6, 2,p < 0.001). Lower dose of 5% fly ash in soil proved to be optimum for the bacterial activity in the presence of earthworms. Morphological details of different bacterial colonies were assessed and found to be of punctiform, irregular, circular and filamentous shapes with punctiform dominating the culture.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56353
Title: Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of Euphorbia hirta Linn. and Tiliacora acuminata Miers
Author: C J Kamya, A R Raju and M P Subin
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Phytochemical analysis, antibacterial activity, pathogenic bacteria, plant extracts
Abstract: Methanol and water extracts of leaf, stem and root of Euphorbia hirta Linn. and Tiliacora acuminata Miers. were screened for their phytochemical compounds and in vitro antibacterial activity against two medically important pathogenic bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of several phytoconstituents in both the plants species and many of these have been investigated scientifically for antimicrobial activity. In vitro antibacterial study was done using Agar Well Diffusion method, and the study reveals the methanol leaf extracts of E. hirta and methanol root extracts of T. acuminata recorded highest activity against both the test organisms.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56352
Title: Morphometric analysis of sub-basins in and around Malur taluk, Kolar district, Karnataka using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques
Author: S N Ramaiah, G S Gopalakrishna, S Srinivasa Vittala and K. Md. Najeeb
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Kanamanahalli sub-basin, Devaraguttahalli sub-basin, Morphometric analysis, Remote sensing, GIS technique
Abstract: The study reveals that remote sensing and GIS technique proved to be the competent tool in analysing various morphometric parameters. The drainage network of Kanamanahalli and Devaraguttahalli sub-basins were delineated using false colour composite (FCC) of IRS-1C/1D merged satellite data on 1:50,000 scale. SOI toposheets were used as reference with limited field work. The study area falls in Ponnaiyar river basin covering an area of 686 sq.km comparising two sub-basins namely Kanamanahalli and Devaraguttahalli having an area of 439 sq.km and 247 sq.km respectively in and around Malur taluk of Kolar district. The morphometric analysis of these two sub-basins shows that the terrain exhibits dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage pattern. Stream order ranges from first to sixth order. Drainage density varies between 1.57 and 1.88 km/km2 and has coarse to find drainage texture. The relief ratio ranges from 0.0111 to 0.0117. The mean bifurcation ratio varies from 3.51 to 4.86 which fall under normal basin category. The elongation ratio shows that these sub-basins are associated with high relief and steep ground slopes.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56351
Title: Biology of Cyprinus carpio communis from Dal lake, Kashmir with reference to food and feeding habits, length-weight relationship, and fecundity
Author: Shaheena Shafi, F A Bhat, A R Yousuf and Muni Parveen
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Cyprinus carpio communis, food and feeding habits, length-weight relationship, fecundity, gastrosomatic index, gonadosomatic index
Abstract: A total of 143 specimens of Cypirnus carpio communis were collected from Dal lake, ranging in length from 144 mm to 414 mm, and in weight from 40 g to 4450 g. The length-weight relationship of the two sexes exhibited significant differences in growth co-efficient (b) and showed deviations from cube law (Male ' n ' = 3.15 and Female ' n ' = 2.80). Gut contents of the fish revealed that on an average, decayed organic matter (detritus) formed 45% of total food, while the remaining food cosisted of both plant and animal matter. Arthropods and macrophytes formed the main or basic food, whereas, oligochaetes, protozoa, rotifers and algae constituted its secondary food. The molluscan and fish remains formed the incidental food. On the basis of gut content analysis, the fish was designated as detri-omnivore. Gastrosomatic index (Ga. S. I) recorded highest value in July, while lower values were recorded in February. Condition factor (Kn) recorded highest value during March in both the sexes. Condition factor as well as gastrosomatic index exhibited a decreasing trend from higher length groups to smaller ones. Absolute fecundity of the fish varied from 3173 to 629230 and the relative fecundity fluctuated in the range of 21-230 with a mean value of 91.17. The largest length group exhibited higher fecundity than smaller ones, and its Go. S. I indicated the fish to be spring breeder.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56350
Title: Characterisation of groundwater quality and its suitability study in parts of lower Vellar watershed, Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu
Author: K Karthikeyan and S Poongothai
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Groundwater quality, Geo-chemical parameters, piper trilinear diagram, Gibb ' s diagram, USSL diagram
Abstract: Groundwater quality from a part of lower Vellar watershed has been examined to characterize the geochemical conditions and its suitability for domestic and agricultural uses. The water samples were collected from shallow bore wells at different locations of the study ara. The physico-chemical attributes such as pH, electrical conductivity, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrate were analysed using standard laboratory tests. The other determinants such as sodium adsorption ratio, percent sodium (Na%), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) were calculated from the observed data. The pH and electrical conductivity varied from 4.47 to 9.46 and 500 ?mhos/cm to 6710 ?mhos/cm respectively. The TDS and total hardness ranged from 323.0 mg/L to 4363.0 mg/L and 18.2 mg/L to 964.0 mg/L respectively. The range of chemical concentration of cations such as Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+ was traced to 62.2 mg/L, 19.4 to 196.9 mg/L, 6.3 to 333.90 mg/L , 0.08 to 167.70 mg/L, while that of anions HCO3-, Cl- and SO42- was traces to 6.0 mg/L, 38.0 to 1392.0 mg/L and 5.0 to 80.0 mg/L respectively. Nitrate varied from traces to 1.0 mg/L. The graphical interpretation of modified Piper trilinear, USSL and Gibb ' s diagrams represent Ca2+ > Na+ and Cl- > SO42- facies, C1S1 field and rock-water interaction respectively. The result shows that most of the samples were not exceeded the maximum permissible limit of prescribed standard for drinking by ISI and hence, it is suitable for drinking, industrial and irrigational purposes. The level of precipitation, interaction with formation and discharge nature of the study area could have considerable contribution.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56349
Title: Optimization of photo-fenton treatment of mature landfill leachate
Author: Gan Chin Heng, Emad Soliman Elmolla and Malay Chaudhuri
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Photo-fenton, mature landfill leachate, response surface methodology (RSM)
Abstract: Photo-Fenton treatment of a mature landfill leachate was optimized by using the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum operating variables to achieve 70% removal of COD, 80% removal of colour and 80% removal of NH3-N were : H2O2 / COD molar ratio 3.75, H2O2/Fe2+ molar ratio 10.5 and irradiation time 1.5 h. There was good agreement (<2% error) between experimental removal efficiency and model prediction. The characteristics of the photo-Fenton treated leachate were: NH3-N 112 mg/L, colour 108 Pt-Co Unit, COD 350 mg/L, BOD5 116 mg/L and BOD5/COD ratio 0.33, indicating that the treated leachate was amenable to biological treatment. The study has revealed that RSM is an effective tool to optimize the treatment process and photo-Fenton is an effective pretreatment of mature landfill leachate for biological treatment.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56348
Title: Phytochemical screening and antibacterial properties of Croton hirtus L ' Her. plant against some important pathogenic bacteria
Author: M P Subin and Navya Reghu
Editor: Prof K P Sharma
Year: 2012
Publisher: Technoscience Publications, Vol 11, No (1), March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Nature Enviornment and Pollution Technology
Keywords: Croton hirtus extracts, pathogenic bacteria, antibacterial activity, phytoconstituents
Abstract: The present study is aimed at evaluating the in vitro antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of Croton hirtus L ' Her. against ten medically important bacterial strains namely Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtili, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Proteus sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial properties of shoot, root and whole plant extracts of C. hirtus were investigated separately in methanol, ethanol, chloroform, acetone and water. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, anthroquinone, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The methanol extract exhibited higher and wider range of activity against majority of the test organisms. The shoot methanol extracts recorded highest activity against Bacillus thuringiensis (13.67 mm ZOI and MIC of 600 ?g/mL), Bacillus subtili (13.83 mm ZOI and MIC of 600 ?g/mL) and Salmonella paratyphi (12.5 mm ZOI and MIC of 800 ?g/mL). The methanol whole plant extracts demonstrated highest activity against Salmonella typhi (13.33 mm ZOI and MIC of 700 ?g/mL) whereas methanol root extracts demonstrated highest against Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.33 mm ZOI and MIC of 800 ?g/mL) and Enterococcus sp. (10.5 mm ZOI and MIC of 1000 ?g/mL). The performance of methanol extracts was followed by chloroform extracts. The chloroform whole plant extracts showed the highest activity against Escherichia coli (14.67 mm ZOI and MIC of 400 ?g/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (12.67 mm ZOI and MIC of 800 ?g/mL), whereas chloroform shoots extracts against Pseudomonas fluorescens (12.33 mm ZOI and MIC of 900 ?g/mL). The highest activity against Proteus sp. was recorded in shoot acetone extracts (10.67 mm ZOI and MIC of 1000 ?g/mL). Water and ethanol extracts demonstrated the least activity against the test bacteria.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None