Enter records

ID: 65521
Title: Development and Sensitivity Analysis of Groundwater using Water Quality Index – A Case Study
Author: M. Avinash, I. Sudhakara Rao, S. Raminaidu and H. Ramamohan
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 80-87 2022.
Subject: Development and Sensitivity Analysis of Groundwater using Water Quality Index – A Case Study
Keywords: Groundwater, Water quality parameters, Water quality index, Water quality assessment, GPS receiver
Abstract: Monitoring and managing groundwater quality is of major environmental distress. Inadequate availability of surface water makes people dependent on groundwater to accomplish their needs. Hence, it cannot be optimally used and sustained unless the quality is assessed. Quality assessment, can be done using water quality index (WQI), is a mathematical expression applied to transform large quantity of data into a single number which indicates the level of water quality. The present study is intended to evaluate the quality and suitability of groundwater for potable use during 2019–2020. The study evaluates the physico-chemical parameters, such as EC, TDS, pH, alkalinity, Ca, Fe, NH4, NO2, NO3, Cl and PO4 remained used for the assessment. Geographical coordinates were obtained using GPS receiver for continuous monitoring. The results revealed that the WQI of groundwater at the focused area is 28.84 and stipulates that the water is good for drinking purpose as comes under excellent category. The study delivers comprehensive depiction which is easily interpretable in lieu of the decision makers for better planning and management of water resources along with their development methods are elaborated.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: IS 10500. 2012. Specification for drinking water (second revision). Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi. Ramamohan, H., et al. 2016. Assessment and substantiation of groundwater quality to ascertain WQI in some selected areas of northeast coast of Srikakulam district, A.P., India. 6(5): 867-882.
Literature cited 2: Kumar, M. and R. Kumar. 2013. Assessment of physico-chemical properties of groundwater in granite mining area in Goramachia, Jhansi, U.P., India. Int. Res. J. Env. Sci., 2(1): 19-24. Ramamohan, H., I. Sudhakar and S.V.M. Prasad. 2019. Groundwater quality and its role in endemic kidney diseases- A case study at northeast coast (Uddanam) of Srikakulam district. Indian J. Env. Prot., (39)8: 719-727.

ID: 65520
Title: Seismic Protection with Different Isolation Materials
Author: J. Cici Jennifer Raj and M. Vinod Kumar
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 71-79 2022
Subject: Seismic Protection with Different Isolation Materials
Keywords: Seismic isolation, Materials, Ancient applications, Recent applications, Reusable, Codes, Cost
Abstract: The concept of seismic isolation is that the structure is protected from seismic forces by which the energy is dissipated away at the base of the structure itself. Different types of locally available materials, for instance, sand, sawdust, talk, wood, coir and other materials are widely in use for the application of seismic isolation since ancient days. Interestingly, these materials are reusable and acquired with less cost and effort. The significant advantage of seismic isolation is that precious lives and property worth millions of dollars are saved. In the present study, different structures/facilities isolated for seismic forces adopting cost-effective materials, such as waste tires and other materials are presented. The historical perspective of the seismic isolation technique is to be studied widely to understand the type of materials used, benefits, drawbacks, cost in modern seismic isolation and for the comparison with the materials adopted by older civilizations. The number of seismically isolated structures worldwide is to be recognized and studied to understand the behaviour of structures with various damping elements during multiple earthquakes with the implementation of different damping elements. For instance, the statistical increase in the number of isolated buildings over years is reviewed to identify if the concept of seismic isolation is adopted enormously or not. Subsequently, the utilization of seismic codes and specifically, seismic isolation codes is to be deliberately viewed for its implementation for the design and application of the seismic isolation elements in the structure.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Durgai, C. 2000. Future trends in earthquake-resistant design of structures. Current Sci., 79(9): 1291-1300. Rai, A.K. and B. Mishra. 2017. A critical review on base isolation techniques for its application as earthquake resistant buildings with particular need adherence in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Int. Res. J. Eng. Tech., 6(2): 234-245.
Literature cited 2: Carpani, B. 2017. Base isolation from a historic perspective. 16th World Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Santiago, Chile. 4934: 1-12. Warn, G.P. and K.L. Ryan. 2012. A review of seismic isolation for buildings: Historical development and research needs. Buildings. 2(3): 300-325.

ID: 65519
Title: Screening of Blood Cholinesterase Level in Farmers to Evaluate the Level of Exposure to Pesticide Monocrotophos
Author: N. Ramya, Sathish Shankar Bhat and P.K. Maheshwar
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 65-70 2022.
Subject: Screening of Blood Cholinesterase Level in Farmers to Evaluate the Level of Exposure to Pesticide Monocrotophos
Keywords: Monocrotophos, Blood sampling, Acetylcholinesterase, Cholinesterase, Pesticide
Abstract: Farmers handling pesticides without following the instructions or spraying them without any personal protective equipment are more prone to pesticide exposure. Monocrotophos is one of the extensively used as well as highly hazardous organophosphorus insecticides. It is known to inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, which plays an important role in the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the cholinergic synapses. This research aims to calculate the cholinesterase level as a biomarker to compare the pesticide exposure level in the blood of farmers and a comparative variation in cholinesterase level before and after six months of pesticide exposure. The results indicated a considerable decrease in the cholinesterase levels in the blood serum of farmers after exposure to monocrotophos insecticide as compared to the non-exposure time. Percentage depression of cholinesterase is found to be high in young spray farmers. Statistical evaluation results (t=33.231) also confirmed depression in the cholinesterase level is highly significant. The p-value for the decrease in cholinesterase was found to be less than α=0.05, that is 0.009<0.05.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Wilson, C. 1999. Cost and policy implications of agricultural pollution with special reference to pesticides. Ph.D. Thesis. Department of Economics, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK. Vega, S.S. 1994. Note on the toxicity of pesticides used in tropical crops. Ciencias Ambientales. 11: 181.
Literature cited 2: Moreno-Banda, et al. 2009. Maternal exposure to floricultural work during pregnancy, PON1 Q192R polymorphisms and the risk of low birth weight. Sci. Total Env., 407(21): 5478-5485. Pilkington, A., et al. 2001. An epidemiological study of the relations between exposure to organophosphate pesticides and indices of chronic peripheral neuropathy and neuropsychological abnormalities in sheep farmers and dippers. Occup. Env. Med., 58(11): 702-710.

ID: 65518
Title: An Economic Analysis of Household Energy Consumption in India
Author: K.S. Shoba Jasmin
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 59-64 2022.
Subject: An Economic Analysis of Household Energy Consumption in India
Keywords: Energy, Household consumption, Electricity, Fuel, Expenditure on energy
Abstract: Indian per-capita energy consumption is low when it is compared with developed countries. Household energy consumption is often related to development of economy and growth of income in society. Indian households consuming nearly one-fourth of energy consumption at national level. So, consumption pattern of energy in households also noteworthy for taking important policy decisions related to energy sector. In this context, this paper attempted to analyse economics of household energy consumption in India. This paper is based on primary data collected from 325 sample respondents randomly selected from all over India. The primary data was collected through a well-structured questionnaire including questions related to income and size of family, expenditure on electricity and fuel, measures taken to reduce consumption of electricity and fuel, awareness about emissions associated with use of household appliances and their behaviour towards energy consumption. It is concluded that though per-capita energy consumption of Indian households is much lower than developed countries, efforts are taken by people to reduce their consumption of fossil fuel-based energy. The awareness level on associated emissions of household appliances and openness to accept new technological solutions to reduce use of fossil fuel-based energy among public will help India to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based energy in near future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ekholm, T., et al. 2010. Determinants of household energy consumption in India. Energy Policy. 38: 5696-5707. Rather, N.U.R. 2018. Introduction to renewable energy technologies in India. Educreation Publishing.
Literature cited 2: Gambhir, A., et al. 2012. Solar rooftop PV in India- Need to prioritize in-situ generation for self-consumption with a net-metering approach. Discussion Paper. pp 1-20. Pachauri, S. 2004. An analysis of cross-sectional variations in total household energy requirements in India using micro survey data. Energy Policy. 32: 1723-1735.

ID: 65517
Title: Study of Agricultural Analysis of Soil using Random Forest Classification in Tirunelveli District
Author: K. Karthigadevi and G. Srinivasagan
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 52-58 2022.
Subject: Study of Agricultural Analysis of Soil using Random Forest Classification in Tirunelveli District
Keywords: Attribute selection, Agriculture, Essential nutrient, Soil fertility, Random forest method
Abstract: In India, there are most of the people get their incomes through agriculture. Plants require various mineral elements for their normal growth and development. The most important elements needed are C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mn, Zn, Mo and Cl. These elements are very essential for plants’ growth. Currently there are lot of mobile applications, software and technologies available in agriculture to get rapid information. But the lack of awareness about these kinds of technologies the farmers suffer a lot and still they are applying traditional methods in agriculture. Nowadays use of natural and chemical fertilizers on crops are the important issues in agriculture. The farmers find it hard to identify the deficiencies in the soil, pH value, EC, soil type and soil texture, choose the correct crops to increase the production. This paper, uses random forest classification algorithm to identify the soil fertility and crop selection in Tirunelveli district. Compared to existing methods, the proposed experimental results show that the random forest classification algorithm for agricultural data analysis produces high accuracy and less processing time.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Navarro, H.H., et al. 2016. A decision support system for managing irrigation in agriculture. Computers Electronics Agric., 124: 121-131. Antonopoulou, E., et al. 2010. Web and mobile technologies in a prototype DSS for major field crops. Computers Electronics Agric., 70: 292-301.
Literature cited 2: Bhargavi, P. and S. Jyothi. 2011. Soil classification using data mining techniques: A comparative study. Int. J. Eng. Trends Tech., 2: 55-58. Veenadhari, S., B. Misra and C.D. Singh. 2011. Data mining techniques for predicting crop productivity – A review article. Int. J. Computer Sci. Tech., 2(1): 98-100.

ID: 65516
Title: Phosphate Removal from Aqueous Solution by Batch Adsorption onto Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles
Author: Mohammed Habeeb Ahmed, Vitthal Metangale, Geethalakshmi Ramakrishnan, Renganathan Sahadevan and Sangeetha Subramanian
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 45-51 2022.
Subject: Phosphate Removal from Aqueous Solution by Batch Adsorption onto Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles
Keywords: Phosphate, Manganese oxide nanoparticles, Freundlich isotherm model, Pseudo-second order kinetic model, Thermodynamics study
Abstract: Increased industrial and human activities lead to release of pollutants in a hasty manner. Phosphate is one of the extensively released pollutants causing severe damage to water ecosystem. Current study is focused on the removal of phosphate by manganese oxide nanoparticles. Process influential parameters, like pH, concentration of phosphate, contact time, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength and temperature were optimized to enhance the process. Optimal phosphate removal upto 76% was achieved at pH 4 with phosphate concentration of 50 ppm within 30 min of contact time (adsorbent dosage- 1 g/L). Adsorption kinetics and isotherms studies were established. Pseudo-second order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R2>0.99) were found to fit very well with adsorption experimental data. Thermodynamics studies revealed that overall reaction was spontaneous and exothermic in nature.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Barca, C., et al. 2012. Phosphate removal from synthetic and real wastewater using steel slags produced in Europe. Water Res., 46(7): 2376-2384. Fadiran, A.O., S.C. Dlamini and A. Mavuso. 2008. A comparative study of the phosphate levels in some surface and groundwater bodies of Swaziland. Bulletin Chem. Soc. Ethiopia. 22(2):197-206.
Literature cited 2: Bennett, E.M., S.R. Carpenter and N.F. Caraco. 2001. Human impact on erodable phosphorus and eutrophication: A global perspective: Increasing accumulation of phosphorus in soil threatens rivers, lakes and coastal oceans with eutrophication. BioSci., 51(3): 227-234. Bouwman, A.F., A.H. Beusen and G. Billen. 2009. Human alteration of the global nitrogen and phosphorus soil balances for the period 1970-2050. Global Biogeochem. Cycles. 23(4).

ID: 65515
Title: Status of Biomedical Waste Management: A Case from a South Indian Tertiary Care Charitable Hospital
Author: Sharad Chand, C.S. Shastry, Shivakumar Hiremath, Juno J. Joel and C.H. Krishna Bhat
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 39-44 2022.
Subject: Status of Biomedical Waste Management: A Case from a South Indian Tertiary Care Charitable Hospital
Keywords: Hospital waste, Medical waste, Hazardous waste, Biomedical waste, Biomedical waste disposal
Abstract: Efficient and effective biomedical waste management system is of great importance as lack of it can lead to serious health and environmental hazards. The aim of study is to carry out the qualitative assessment of biomedical waste management processes and to estimate the quantity of biomedical waste generated in the hospital. A descriptive observational study was conducted for six months after obtaining permission from the institutional ethics committee. A suitable data collection form was used to collect the quantitative data and was then analyzed using SPSS (version 20.0). The qualitative data were collected by interviewing the concerned staff using a questionnaire and also by onsite observation of biomedical handling procedures. The collected data were compared with Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2016 and Amendment Rules, 2018, for identifying the deviations, if any. The quantity of biomedical waste with average bed occupancy of 80% was 394.4 gm/bed/day. The red category of biomedical waste was the highest (25102.277 kg, 43.27%), followed by yellow (20326.901 kg, 35.04%). There were proper methods and practices of onsite segregation, storage, transportation and disposal. Few poor practices of biomedical waste management, including underreporting of the quantity of BMW generated and restricted use of personal protective equipment by the workers, were also identified. The average amount of biomedical waste generated in the hospital was 394.4 gm/bed/day. All the processes were complying with the Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2016 and Amendment Rules 2018. Few recommendations were made for the better practice of biomedical waste management in the hospital.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Farzadkia, M., et al. 2009. Hospital waste management status in Iran: A case study in the teaching hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences. Waste Manage. Res., 27(4): 384-389. Chand, S., et al. 2020. Water, sanitation, hygiene and biomedical waste disposal in the healthcare system: A review. Biomedicine. 40(1): 14-19.
Literature cited 2: Sengodan, V.C. 2014. Segregation of biomedical waste in a South Indian tertiary care hospital. J. Nat. Sci. Biol. Med., 5(2): 378-382. Nepal, S., et al. 2020. Outdated and unused medicines disposal practice among the undergraduate paramedical students – A pharmacist’s intervention. Pharmacien Hospitalier Clinicien. 55(4):327-333.

ID: 65514
Title: Impact of Composted Rice Straw on Solanum lycopersicum Growth Stimulation
Author: Sheetal Barapatre and Meenakshi Nandal
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 33-38 2022
Subject: Impact of Composted Rice Straw on Solanum lycopersicum Growth Stimulation
Keywords: Compost, Solanum lycopersicum, Phytotoxicity, Plant bioassays, Rice straw
Abstract: Burning of rice straw by farmers is a great concern with respect to harmful emissions that are produced. Co-composting rice straw with poultry litter and inoculating with fungi produces stable and mature compost. It offers an acceptable solution for disposal of both poultry litter and rice straw thus providing many environmental and economic advantages. This paper aims to examine the effect of compost produced from rice straw on growth of Solanum lycopersicum plants as plant bioassays present realistic and apposite details about compost quality. The pots were set-up as completely randomized design and mature compost collected at end of 90 days was supplemented with potting media. The plants were harvested on 30th and 60th day after sowing and their physical parameters were analyzed. Substantial increase in plant height, plant weight, number of leaves, root length and leaf area were observed in pots amended with compost which confirms that compost samples were free from phytotoxicity. Maximum growth was observed in treatment 4 which indicated that rice straw when supplemented with poultry manure to modify its initial carbon and nitrogen ratio to 34 produces mature compost which can be rendered fit for agricultural application.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Li, X., R. Zhang and Y. Pang. 2008. Characteristics of dairy manure composting with rice straw. Bioresour. Tech., 99(2): 359-367. Rady, M.M., et al. 2016. The effect of compost on growth and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown under saline soil. Int. J. Recycling Organic Waste Agric., 5(4): 311-321.
Literature cited 2: Araújo, A.S.F. and E.T.R. Monteiro. 2005. Plant bioassays to assess toxicity of textile sludge compost. Sci. Agric., 62(3): 286-290. Kapanen, A. and M. Itävaara. 2001. Ecotoxicity tests for compost applications. Ecotoxicol. Env. Safety. 49(1): 1-16.

ID: 65513
Title: Isolation of Stenotrophomonas pavanii DSM 25135(T) from Textile Effluent and Bioremediation of Carcinogenic Dye Basic Fuchsin in Free Cell vs Immobilized Cell System
Author: Pallavi Yuvraj Babar, Sharvari Amol Samant and Mansee Kapil Thakur
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 25-32 2022.
Subject: Isolation of Stenotrophomonas pavanii DSM 25135(T) from Textile Effluent and Bioremediation of Carcinogenic Dye Basic Fuchsin in Free Cell vs Immobilized Cell System
Keywords: Bioremediation, Biodegradation, Textile effluent, Water pollution, Decolourization, Basic Fuchsin, Immobilization, Calcium-alginate beads
Abstract: The study focuses on the ability of bacterial strain Stenotrophomonas pavanii DSM 25135(T) isolated from textile effluent to decolourize one of the commonly used textile colourants, Basic Fuchsin, which is a carcinogen. The isolated bacterial strain was screened for its biodegrading capability at high dye concentrations (0.05% and 0.1% w/v) and at different time intervals (24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr, 96 hr and 120 hr). The experimental results showed that Stenotrophomonas pavanii has a high capability for decolourizing this triphenylmethane dye at a dye concentration of 0.1% w/v. The capability of this bacterial strain to degrade the dye was tested in the free cell system as well as in the immobilized cell system. The isolate showed enhanced degradation of the dye (90.4%) in the immobilized state within 120 hr. The isolated microbe can, therefore, be utilized as a pre-treatment tool in the decolourization step adopted by various textile industries.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Nigam, P., et al. 1996. Microbial process for the decolourization of textile effluent containing azo, diazo and reactive dyes. Process Biochem., 31(5): 435-442. Shrivastava, J.N., N. Raghav and A. Singh 2012. Laboratory scale bioremediation of the Yamuna water with effective microbes (EM) technology and nanotechno-logy. J. Bioremed. Biodegrad., 3(8).
Literature cited 2: Gita, S., A. Hussan and T.G. Choudhury. 2017. Impact of textile dyes waste on aquatic environments and its treatment. Env. Ecol., 35(3C): 2349-2353. Krížová, H. 2015. Natural dyes: Their past, present, future and sustainability. In Recent development in fibrous material science. Prague: Kosmas Publishing.

ID: 65512
Title: Quality Assessment of Drinking Water, Sanitation Practices and Associated Health Hazards: Case Study in Rural Districts of West Bengal, India
Author: Misha Roy, Farzana Shamim and Pratik Dey
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 15-24 2022.
Subject: Quality Assessment of Drinking Water, Sanitation Practices and Associated Health Hazards: Case Study in Rural Districts of West Bengal, India
Keywords: Water quality, Water contamination, Physico-chemical analysis, Sanitation, Water-borne diseases
Abstract: The contamination of water is a serious problem nowadays. The objective of this study is to analyze the water quality, sanitation index and prevalence of water-borne diseases in five districts of West Bengal, India. In Kulti town, turbidity (816.80 mg/L) and alkalinity (552.50 mg/L) values were found above the permissible limit in bore well water. In the Bajkul area, the Fe content is reported to be a little high (0.37 mg/L). The Tamluk area reports high values of conductivity (943 NTU) and hardness (597.9 mg/L). The alkalinity (447.3 mg/L) is also found much higher than desirable limit. TC content (14/100 mL) is reported to be very high in some villages of Purba Midnapur, where the prevalence of diarrhoea is high. Sanitation problems are mainly found in rural areas, like Belpahari and Jhargram in East Midnapore. The WQI reveals extremely polluted water quality in some locations. The study reports that in some areas the water quality is unsatisfactory and contaminated and should not be used for direct drinking without any treatment. Consequently, the study recommends regular monitoring of water quality to avoid contamination.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: IS 10500. 2012. Drinking water [FAD 25: Drinking water]. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi. Montgomery, M.A. and M. Elimelech. 2007. Water and sanitation in developing countries including health in the equation. Env. Sci. Tech., 41 (1):17-24
Literature cited 2: Cohen, B. 2006. Urbanization in developing countries: Current trends, future projections and key challenges for sustainability. Tech. Soc., 28(1): 63-80. Chan, C.L., M.K. Zalifah and A.S. Norrakiah. 2007. Microbiological and physico-chemical quality of drinking water. Malaysian J. Anal. Sci., 11(2): 414-420.

ID: 65511
Title: Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Lead from Contaminated Water with the Leaves of Edible, Medicinal Herb Alternanthera sessilis – Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
Author: Sobha Kota, Swathi Kiran Mandava, Vijaya Lakshmi Kambala, Naveena Sanagapalli, Yadagiri Premsai, Sai Vivek Kota and Ratna Kumari Anantha
Editor: Dr. Jyoti Verma
Year: 2022
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Indian Journal of Environmental Protection Vol 42 (1) Jan. 22 page 3-14 2022.
Subject: Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Lead from Contaminated Water with the Leaves of Edible, Medicinal Herb Alternanthera sessilis – Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
Keywords: Contaminated water, Lead, Health hazard, Alternan-thera sessilis, Medicinal herb
Abstract: Powdered leaves of Alternanthera sessilis used for the adsorption studies of lead with contact time, pH, initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage and temperature as influencing parameters, revealed a very rapid uptake of metal during the first 30 min and the best fit kinetic and isotherm models were pseudo second order and Langmuir, respectively. The optimum contact time, initial pH and adsorbent dosage were 120 min, 5.0 and 1 g/L, respectively with the maximum uptake capacity for lead as 32.25 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies revealed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption. Optimization of parameters was attempted with response surface methodology and differential evolutionary algorithms. The adsorbent characterization, before and after adsorption, by SEM-EDS, FTIR and XRD suggests the adsorption of lead ions through chemisorption, ion-exchange and complexation. The results reveal the potential of Alternanthera sessilis as an adsorbent for the removal of lead from contaminated water.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bergeson, L. L. 2008. The proposed lead NAAQS: Is consideration of cost in the clean air act‘s future? Env. Quality Manage., 18: 79-84. Nazir, R., et al. 2015. Accumulation of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Fe) in the soil, water and plants and analysis of physico-chemical parameters of soil and water collected from Tanda dam Kohat. J. Pharm. Sci. Res., 7(3): 89-97.
Literature cited 2: WHO. 2008. Guidelines for drinking water quality, (vol.1, 3rd edn) incorporating 1st and 2nd addenda. World Health Organization, Geneva. WHO. 1984. Guidelines for drinking water quality (vol. 1 and 2). World Helath Organization, Geneva.

ID: 65510
Title: Machine Learning for Neuroscience: A Systematic Approach.
Author: Chuck Easttom (Reviewed by Zilong Zhong , Hui Guo )
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 126 (3) 395-396 10 Feb (2024)
Subject: Machine Learning for Neuroscience: A Systematic Approach.
Keywords: None
Abstract: Neuroscience, the intricate study of the nervous system and the brain, has made phenomenal strides in the past decades. With the sheer amount of data generated from neuroscientific studies, there is a growing need for sophisticated techniques to analyse, interpret and derive meaningful patterns from them . Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, focuses on developing algorithms and statistical models that allow computers to perform tasks without explicit instructions . The convergence of machine learning and neuroscience promises breakthroughs in our understanding of the brain and its disorders, as well as the development of novel treatments. This book is a tour de force in the intersection of two rapidly advancing fields, viz. machine learning and neuroscience. In a landscape where interdisciplinary knowledge is becoming increasingly invaluable, this book seamlessly bridges the chasm between the intricate world of neural systems and the analytical might of machine learning.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Vu, M. A. T. et al., J. Neurosci., 2018, 38(7), 1601–1607. Richards, B. A. et al., Nature Neurosci., 2019, 22(11), 1761–1770.
Literature cited 2: Davatzikos, C., NeuroImage, 2019, 197(15), 652–656. Glaser, J. I., Benjamin, A. S., Farhoodi, R. and Kording, K. P., Prog. Neurobiol., 2019, 175, 126–137.

ID: 65509
Title: Method to assess the accessibility of essential amenities in Tripura, North East India
Author: Mukti Advani and Partha Pratim Sarkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 126 (3) 388-394 10 Feb (2024)
Subject: Method to assess the accessibility of essential amenities in Tripura, North East India
Keywords: Accessibility level, essential amenities, hilly regions, road connectivity, self-sufficient score.
Abstract: Ease of access to a service or an amenity is measured by its accessibility level. In urban/rural areas, the key parameter used to measure accessibility is road connectivity. This is usually measured by the distance and/or time from the origin to the location of various amenities providing health, education, banking, shopping and other services. In addition to distance/time, for hilly regions like Tripura, North East India, road safety also plays a major role in accessibility to various amenities. This study first measures the level of amenities within a village and represents this with a score, viz. self-sufficient score (3S score). This score is further upgraded considering the amenities available outside that village but in nearby larger villages/cities. Unsignalized intersections being the most dangerous locations in hilly regions, the level of road safety has been measured based on road geometry information, i.e. the number of intersections, sharpness of the road curve coupled with altitude of the roads between the subject village and amenities in other villages/cities. This is known as the safety score of intersections. The value of the upgraded 3S score coupled with the safety score for intersections is considered in ranking the villages for their access to various amenities. The villages with minimum scores have been identified for further decision-making process.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: World Bank, Measuring rural access using new technologies. The World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA, 2016; http://www. worldbank.org/transport. GoI, Road accidents in India, Transport Research Wing, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, 2020; https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/RA_2020.pdf (accessed on 16 January 2022).
Literature cited 2: Kanuganti, S., Sarkar, A. K. and Singh, A. P., Evaluation of access to health care in rural areas using enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method. J. Trans. Geogr., 2016, 56(C), 45–52. Zhang, T., Liu, C. and Ni, Z., Association of access to healthcare with self-assessed health and quality of life among old adults with chronic disease in China: urban versus rural populations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2019, 16(14), 2592; https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijerph16142592.

ID: 65508
Title: Efficacy of short-term cognitive group treatment to reduce obesity among overweight Indian women: a randomized control trial
Author: F. Muskan, S. Jain and K. Bains
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 126 (3) 381-387 10 Feb (2024)
Subject: Efficacy of short-term cognitive group treatment to reduce obesity among overweight Indian women: a randomized control trial
Keywords: Anthropometry, body composition, diet, obesity, women.
Abstract: This present study aims to assess the impact of a 10-week cognitive group treatment on dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometry and body composition parameters among a group of 66 volunteer Indian working women. The need to combat the rising prevalence of obesity and its associated health risks among working women by exploring the potential benefits. The results revealed a significant reduction in body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, waist–hip ratio, waist–height ratio and conicity index among participants of the cognitive group treatment. Overall, the cognitive group treatment showed promising results in helping Indian working women cope with eating disorders, and improve their anthropometry and body composition parameters. These findings emphasize the potential of cognitive group interventions in promoting healthier lifestyles among this population.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: James, P. T., Obesity: the worldwide epidemic. Clin. Dermatol., 2004, 22, 276–280. WHO, Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of the joint WHO/FAO expert consultation, World Health Organization Technical Report Series, No. 916 (TRS 916), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2017
Literature cited 2: . National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2021, Overweight and obesity statistics; https://www.niddk.nih. gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity (accessed on 4 October 2022). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India state fact sheets. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. 2019; http://rchiips.org/nfhs/factsheet_NFHS-5.shtml (accessed on 2 January 2023)

ID: 65507
Title: Natural rubber: a renewable industrial raw material with negative carbon footprint
Author: K. Annamalainathan and James Jacob
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 126 (3) 374-380 10 Feb (2024)
Subject: Natural rubber: a renewable industrial raw material with negative carbon footprint
Keywords: Carbon dioxide emission, industrial raw material, lifecycle emissions, natural rubber, negative carbon footprint
Abstract: Using the lifecycle assessment method, we estimated the carbon footprint of natural rubber (NR) produced from 1 ha NR plantation with an economic lifecycle of 27 years and productivity of 1.5 MT dry rubber per ha per year. Lifecycle emissions due to farming operations added up to 26.5 MT of carbon dioxide per ha, most of which resulted from chemical fertilizers. Processing latex into ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) rubber and technically specified rubber (TSR) emitted more CO2 due to higher energy requirements for drying compared to making concentrated latex (cenex). Thus, lifecycle emissions were the highest for processing RSS (27.8–41.6 MT CO2) and TSR (13.3–22.9 MT CO2) and the lowest for cenex (2.7–3.9 MT CO2). However, the total amount of CO2 sequestered during the entire lifecycle of the plantation was as high as 500 MT CO2. This resulted in a negative carbon footprint of approximately –15, irrespective of the type of processed NR. This should make NR a much more preferred raw material for the rubber industry than synthetic rubber which has a much higher carbon footprint. Promoting production and consumption of NR will help decarbonize the global rubber industry and benefit millions of small and marginal NR growers around the world.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bilanovic, D., Carbon footprint – an environmental sustainability indicator of large-scale CO2 sequestration. In Environmental Indicators (eds Arnon, R. H. and Hamninen, O.), Springer, Dordrecht, 2014, pp. 51–66. Wiedmann, T. and Minx, J., A definition of carbon footprint. In Ecological Economics Research Trends (ed. Pertsova, C. C.), Nova Science Publishers, USA, 2008, vol. 2, pp. 55–65
Literature cited 2: Jose, I., Furtado, T. D. R., Belt, T. and Ramachandra. J., Economic development and environmental sustainability. World Bank Institute Resources, 2013; https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213 4573-7. Joseph, J. and Jacob, J., Over-dependence of Indian rubber industry on imported natural rubber: the question of long-term sustainability. Rubber Sci., 2018, 31(1), 1–9.