Sulphur management in onion (Allium cepa) cultivation in hills of Himachal Pradesh

Field experiment were conducted at CSK HPKV Research Farm, Palampur during Rabi seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02, to study the response of onion (Allium cepa var Patna red) at four sulphur levels (0, 15, 30 and 60 kg ha(-1)) applied through Gypsum and S95. The analysis was done to allocate the limited availability of sulphur for maximizing net profit over fertilizer cost. The results show that the dose of sulphur under its full availability is 43.02 kg ha(-1). But under its scarce availability the maximum benefit would occur when it is applied up to 32.11 kg ha(-1) followed by even distribution of fertilizer i.e. 20 kg ha(-1). The returns following sulphur application at these rates, would be Rs 69340, 73092 and 68700 ha(-1) respectively.     

Blood lead level in the children of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead levels (blls) of children under an age of 5 years living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead contamination. Blood levels in the range of 30–116?µg?L^?1 were observed at Kazipur village. The levels of lead in water samples were reported to be in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at up to 9.5 times the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between blls and water lead levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with lead up to 12 times higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?mg?kg^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. The cottage lead battery industry, industrial effluents, and lead paints were identified as possible factors for lead incidence in the study area. Lead may be associated with increased antisocial activities of the children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated blls had poorer nutritional status than those with normal levels, and parents did not know that lead causes health problems. A national population-based study is recommended to determine the prevalence of elevated blls.     

Risk assessment of children's blood lead level in some rural habitations of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead level (BLL) of children aged under 5 living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination. BLL was observed in the range of 3–11.58?µg?dL^?1 with a maximal level of 11.58?±?0.05?µg?dL^?1 in Kazipur village. Lead in water samples was detected in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at upto 9.5-fold higher than the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between BLL and water Pb levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with Pb upto 12-fold higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?µg?g^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. Untreated industrial effluents were identified as the responsible factors for Pb occurrence in the study area. The presence of lead may be associated with the increased antisocial activities of children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated BLL had poorer nutritional status than those with background Pb levels. There is an urgent need for a national campaign to monitor the BLL of children in India.     

Organophosphorous compounds and oxidative stress: a review

Organophosphorous compounds (OP) have largely been used as pesticides globally. These chemicals induce oxidative stress as a possible mechanism of action, which has been a focus of toxicological research for the last decade. This review evaluated the presence of oxidative stress, balance between total antioxidant capacity, and oxygen free radicals associated with OP compound exposure. Oxidative stress induced by OP leads to disturbances in function of different organs and tissues. Evidence indicates that stimulation of free radical production, induction of lipid peroxidation, and disturbance of the total antioxidant capacity are mechanisms of toxicity induced by most OP. Thus, use of antioxidants may be beneficial in treatment of OP poisoning, which remains to be elucidated with further clinical trials.     

Enhancing transverse mixing in streams with submerged vanes

In order to maintain the water quality of moving streams, it is essential to know the process of pollutant mixing. The transverse mixing is very important which is needed to be modeled to understand mixing phenomenon. It was observed that transverse mixing is a strong function of secondary currents, thus, submerged vanes, which are aerofoil skewed at angle of 10°–40° with respect to flow, generate transverse circulations that can be utilized to induce secondary currents in the flow to enhance transverse mixing. Present study is an attempt to utilize submerged vanes as an instrument to enhance the transverse mixing by incorporating various vane configurations. In order to study the effect of vane generated circulations on transverse mixing, experimentations were conducted on three vane sizes and for various row arrangements of vanes attached to bed. An attempt is made to investigate the effect of submerged vane size and rows on transverse velocity, concentration profile and transverse mixing coefficient. It was observed by measurement of concentration profile that transverse mixing was more enhanced for submerged vanes of higher height. It was also observed that as the number of rows is proportional to the transverse mixing. By measuring the transverse velocity profile, it was observed that more and more fluid was advected in transverse direction for higher rows of vanes. By utilizing the observed transverse mixing coefficients, number of vane rows and relative height of vane, a predictor was derived to predict transverse mixing coefficient in the presence of submerged vane rows. It was observed that the derived predictor shows a fair amount of agreement in the result predicted.     

Studies on the family hemiuridae (Trematoda: Digenea), with a description of a new genus from marine fish of Indian waters

A new digenetic trematode, collected 1969–1970 at Ratnagiri (India) from the marine eel Leptocephalus conger, is described as Indostomachicola kinnei n. g., n. sp. The new genus differs from Stomachicola Yamaguti, 1934 and Allostomachicola Yamaguti, 1958 in many characteristics. The new species is characterized by an unlobed ovary, absence of receptaculum seminis, and presence of post-acetabular seminal vesicle and a ventral pit.     

Are rainy season environmental stresses responsible for higher mortality in pashmina goats?

Summary A study was conducted to analyse the causes of death during the period January 1985 to December 1989, in pashmina kids and goats thought to be acclimatised to a medium altitude climate. In general, mortality was higher during the rainy season (up to 62 percent) than in the winter (17 percent) and summer seasons (21 percent). An exception was the year 1987 when mortality was lowest in the rainy season, presumably due to the effects of a drought. During the rainy season the majority of 6–12 month-old kids became dull, off-feed, weak, emaciated and anaemic. Occasionally these animals showed nasal discharge and diarrhoea. Haematological examination of randomly selected animals during rainy, post-rainy and early-winter seasons in 1985, 1986 and 1989 showed very low red blood cell counts (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV); with elevated erythrocytic sedimentation rates (ESR), neutrophilia, relative lymphopaenia, eosinopaenia, hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, hypogamaglobinaemia, increased A:G ratio and hypoglycemia. Red blood cells showed piokilocytosis, anisocytosis, punched out or ring shapes, presence of erythroblasts, basophilic stippling and Anaplasma marginale.Post-mortem examination revealed lesions of parasites either singly or in combination. These included lice, coccidia, Moniezia expansa, Haemonchus contortus,and Trichuris ovis.Poor or slightly improved health state, anaemic blood picture and moderated mortality were witnessed 45 days post-treatment or during the post-rainy season. Early-winter studies indicated that the goats were in an excellent health condition with normal blood picture and negligible mortality. It was concluded that the higher mortality in pashmina goats during the rainy season was association with high rainfall, humidity, partial or zero grazing, confinement of goats in sheds (all environmental stresses) and parasitism. This was supported in 1987, when the lowest mortality occurred during the rainy season due to the effect of drought and the absence of environmental stresses.Dr R. Somvanshi is a veterinary pathologist and is in charge of the Clinical Pathology and Medicine Section of Livestock Production Research. Dr J.C. Biswas works in the Animal Genetics and Breeding Laboratory. Dr B. Sharma is a biochemist in the Division of virology and currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Virology at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, S-10521, Sweden. Dr G.L. Koul works in the Animal Genetics and Breeding Laboratory as Principal Scientist. All are based at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute.     

Upgrading of distillery effluent by Nitrosococcus oceanus for its use as a low-cost fertilizer

Distillery effluent can be converted into biogas and the residue can be utilized as a fertilizer if it is detoxified. Several nitrifying bacteria were screened for detoxification of distillery effluent rich in chloride, nitrogen compounds, free ammonia and monovalent cations. Nitrosococcus oceanus collected from a brackish water lake (Chilka, Orrisa) was noticed to be a potential candidate for detoxification of distillery effluent. The detoxified distillery effluent was used in rice plant culture. The growth and development of rice plants was examined in terms of DCPIP—Hill activity, total carbohydrate, total protein and biomass of rice plants. The detoxified effluent-treated rice plants showed better growth and development as compared with control plant grown in full nutrient solution (Hoagland solution).     

Detection of chlorophenolics in effluents from bleaching processes of rice-straw pulp

A number of chlorinated derivatives of phenols, catechols, guaiacols, syringaldehydes, have been detected and their concentrations estimated, using gas chromatography in the chlorination (C) and extraction (E) stage of spent bleach liquor generated in the laboratory by bleaching rice-straw soda pulp. The concentration of various compounds detected have also been compared with their reported 96LC50 values.     

Flocculants—an Ecofriendly Approach

Although water-soluble synthetic polymers find wide applications as flocculants, the potential problem associated with their use is lack of biodegradability and high cost. Polysaccharides owing to their distinctive features like ability to undergo different chemical reactions, biodegradability and sustainability inspire hope to obtain effective, economical viable and safe substitute of the synthetic flocculants. In this regard, chemical modification of Cassia tora and guar gum was carried out through different substitution and grafting reactions. The modified products were tested against kaolin under laboratory conditions vis-a-vis polyacrylamide based synthetic flocculant.