Multiresidue analysis of neonicotinoids by solid-phase extraction technique using high-performance liquid chromatography

For routine monitoring of pesticides, a multiresidue analysis through solid-phase extraction technique and using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in cotton seed cake (CSC) has been developed. Extraction of fortified samples was carried out with aqueous acetone under vacuum. The concentrated extract was loaded onto the solid-phase extraction units, preconditioned with acetonitrile. The extraction units were then washed with hexane and finally eluted with acetonitrile. The pesticide residues were determined using a multiresidue method by reversed-phase HPLC. The average percentage recoveries were found to range between 65.47% and 110% at spiking levels of 10 to 40 mg/kg. The method developed shows a healthy rate of recovery and can successfully be utilized for the extraction and screening of neonicotinoid residues in CSC. The detection limits for imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid using this method were found to be 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively.     

A statistical evaluation of non-ergodic variogram estimators

Geostatistics is a set of statistical techniques that is increasingly used to characterize spatial dependence in spatially referenced ecological data. A common feature of geostatistics is predicting values at unsampled locations from nearby samples using the kriging algorithm. Modeling spatial dependence in sampled data is necessary before kriging and is usually accomplished with the variogram and its traditional estimator. Other types of estimators, known as non-ergodic estimators, have been used in ecological applications. Non-ergodic estimators were originally suggested as a method of choice when sampled data are preferentially located and exhibit a skewed frequency distribution. Preferentially located samples can occur, for example, when areas with high values are sampled more intensely than other areas. In earlier studies the visual appearance of variograms from traditional and non-ergodic estimators were compared. Here we evaluate the estimators' relative performance in prediction. We also show algebraically that a non-ergodic version of the variogram is equivalent to the traditional variogram estimator. Simulations, designed to investigate the effects of data skewness and preferential sampling on variogram estimation and kriging, showed the traditional variogram estimator outperforms the non-ergodic estimators under these conditions. We also analyzed data on carabid beetle abundance, which exhibited large-scale spatial variability (trend) and a skewed frequency distribution. Detrending data followed by robust estimation of the residual variogram is demonstrated to be a successful alternative to the non-ergodic approach.     

Performance of photocatalytic reactors using immobilized TiO2 film for the degradation of phenol and methylene blue dye present in water stream

TiO2 thin film photocatalyst was successfully synthesized and immobilized on glass reactor tube using sol-gel method. The synthesized TiO2 coating was transparent, which enabled the penetration of ultra-violet (UV) light to the catalyst surface. Two photocatalytic reactors with different operating modes were tested: (a) tubular photocatalytic reactor with re-circulation mode and (b) batch photocatalytic reactor. A new proposed TiO2 synthesized film formulation of 1 titanium isopropoxide: 8 isopropanol: 3 acetyl acetone: 1.1 H2O: 0.05 acetic acid (in molar ratio) gave excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of phenol and methylene blue dye present in the water. The half-life time, t1/2 of photocatalytic degradation of phenol was 56 min at the initial phenol concentration of 1000 microM in the batch reactor. In the tubular photocatalytic reactor, 5 re-circulation passes with residence time of 2.2 min (single pass) degraded 50% of 40-microM methylene blue dye. Initial phenol concentration, presence of hydrogen peroxide, presence of air bubbling and stirring speed as the process variables were studied in the batch reactor. Initial methylene blue concentration, pH value, light intensity and reaction temperature were studied as the process variables in the tubular reactor. The synthesized TiO2 thin film was characterized using SEM, XRD and EDX analysis. A comparative performance between the synthesized TiO2 thin film and commercial TiO2 particles (99% anatase) was evaluated under the same experimental conditions. The TiO2 film was equally active as the TiO2 powder catalyst.     

Sampling variability and estimates of density dependence: a composite-likelihood approach

It is well known that sampling variability, if not properly taken into account, affects various ecologically important analyses. Statistical inference for stochastic population dynamics models is difficult when, in addition to the process error, there is also sampling error. The standard maximum-likelihood approach suffers from large computational burden. In this paper, I discuss an application of the composite-likelihood method for estimation of the parameters of the Gompertz model in the presence of sampling variability. The main advantage of the method of composite likelihood is that it reduces the computational burden substantially with little loss of statistical efficiency. Missing observations are a common problem with many ecological time series. The method of composite likelihood can accommodate missing observations in a straightforward fashion. Environmental conditions also affect the parameters of stochastic population dynamics models. This method is shown to handle such nonstationary population dynamics processes as well. Many ecological time series are short, and statistical inferences based on such short time series tend to be less precise. However, spatial replications of short time series provide an opportunity to increase the effective sample size. Application of likelihood-based methods for spatial time-series data for population dynamics models is computationally prohibitive. The method of composite likelihood is shown to have significantly less computational burden, making it possible to analyze large spatial time-series data. After discussing the methodology in general terms, I illustrate its use by analyzing a time series of counts of American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) from the Breeding Bird Survey data, San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) population abundance data, and spatial time series of Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) redds count data.     

Butyltins in the sediments of Kochi and Mumbai harbours, west coast of India

Surface sediment samples were collected from various locations in the Mumbai and Kochi harbours, west coast of India, to assess the presence of butyltin compounds. Tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) varied from 16 to 16,816 ng/g dry wt. and from undetected to 469 ng/g dry wt., respectively, of the sediment in Kochi harbour. In Mumbai harbour, the values of TBT and DBT ranged between 4.5 and 1193 ng/g dry wt. and from undetected to 131 ng/g dry wt. of the sediments, respectively. The concentrations of both TBT and DBT showed strong seasonal variation probably due to the effect of tides and currents. Nevertheless, the levels of butyltin compounds were generally higher at sites influenced by shipping activities such as navigation, dry dock and ship-building activities. The presence of DBT indicates the abiotic or microbiological degradation of TBT. Compared to TBT, DBT was relatively less abundant, suggesting either fresh inputs of TBT and/or less degradation of TBT. The concentrations of TBT showed significant positive relationships with organic carbon and lipid, implying that both lipophilic and ionic interactions were probably involved in controlling the abundance of TBT at these sediments. The observed levels of butyltin compounds are much higher than those required to induce toxic effects on marine organisms, suggesting that these sediments were contaminated with butyltin compounds.     

SEQUENTIAL GENERATION OF STREAMFLOW1

ABSTRACT: An auto-regressive model has been developed for hydrologic data simulation. The model is computationally easier, parsimonious in number of model parameters and more stable in statistical characteristics than the existing auto-regressive model. The proposed model was used for synthesizing 10 sequences, each of 100 year length, of monthly flows for the river Beas. The statistical parameters were calculated using 49-year historical record for the river. The data was also synthesized using existing auot-regressive model. The synthesized sequences have been compared. The results indicate that the proposed model is as good as the existing auto-regressive model in preserving the mean and standard deviation of historical record. It is further shown that the proposed model requires less parameters than the auto-regressive model for simulation of long-term dependence.     

Spatial analysis of soil resources in the Mewat district in the semiarid regions of Haryana,India

The soil characteristics are critical for crop health and its yield and therefore for agriculture. The soil properties are spatially variable and therefore soil resources should be managed as per location-specific requirements. An integrated spatial analysis of the soil resources of Mewat district was conducted to identify the soil resource management zones to develop site-specific soil management plan which might lead to sustained and enhanced crop yield. Spatial analysis of soil resources was conducted by modeling soil fertility and erosion which determines the crop productivity in the region. Soil fertility of the region was modeled using weighted overlay approach using 10 soil parameters, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and pH. Each parameter was assigned weights based on their relative importance to agricultural productivity. The modeled soil fertility was classified into three fertility zones, low, medium, and high. Soil fertility was found to be low to moderate in 65% of the area, largely because of the low nitrogen, soil organic carbon, phosphorus concentration, and excessive salinity. Soil erosion was modeled using the universal soil loss equation (USLE) model by estimating rainfall erosivity factor (R), the soil erodibility factor (K), the topographic factors (L and S), cropping factor (C), and the conservation practice factor (P). Soil erosion problems were limited to areas having high elevation with barren land and areas with minimal management practices. The severity of soil erosion was found high in 15% of the region, while the remaining 85% showed low to moderate erosion. Soil fertility and erosion were integrated using the multivariate clustering method to identify soil management zones. The region was delineated into three soil management zones. Zone I (29%) which covers majorly Tarou block, was characterized by high soil fertility and low soil erosion. Zone II (18%) with medium soil fertility and high erosion covers villages of Taoru, Nuh, Nagina, FP Jhirka, and Punhana, which are located in the foothills of Aravalli ranges. Zone III represents the major part of the region, covering Nuh, Nagina, and FP Jhirka blocks (54%) with low soil fertility and erosion conditions. Thus, within the study area, the soil management domains are spatially variable in terms of fertility and soil erosion, and thus zone-specific soil management measures are required to improve the soil condition in order to sustain and improve agriculture production. The study would help the policy makers to design site-specific planning for identified soil resource management zones.     

Physiological changes and molluscicidal effects of crude latex and Milin on Biomphalaria glabrata

Euphorbian latex is commonly used as molluscicides and the Euphorbia milii latex was reported as most powerful molluscicidal agents. The physiological and lethal effects of the latex components of Euphorbia milii, on the intermediate host Biomphalaria spp., of the human liver parasite Schistosoma mansoni were described in this study. The standard methodologies for testing plant derived molluscicides formulated by World Health Organisation (WHO) were followed with some modifications. The young specimen of fresh water snails showed altered physiological and physical response towards latex components. The working concentration of non-proteinaceous fraction (up to 0.1%) of the latex reduced the active physiological behaviour but was non-lethal to young specimen of snails. However, proteinaceous fractions (0.1mg/l) of the latex were found lethal to snail population, and lethality was enhanced with small amount of the non-proteinaceous fraction (0.01%) of the latex. Milin, a serine protease(up to 0.1mg/l), isolated from the latex of Euphorbia milii significantly reduced the growth and feeding activity but was not lethal to young specimen of snails. With an addition of 0.01% of non-proteinaceous fractions to Milin, lethality result was similar to that of crude latex. Milin is likely to be responsible for alteration of normal physiological functions and lethality of snails, thus it may be used as a molluscicide to control transmission of the endemic disease schistosomiasis.     

Livestock excreta management through vermicomposting using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida

In India, millions of tones of livestock excreta are produced. Our study explores the potential of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida to compost different livestock excreta (cow, buffalo, horse, donkey, sheep, goat and camel) into value added product (vermicompost) at the laboratory scale. Vermicomposting resulted in lowering of pH, electrical conductivity, potassium and C:N ratio and increase in nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Total K was lower in the final cast than in the initial feed. C:N ratios of the vermicomposts ranged from 16.2 ± 2.17 to 75.4 ± 6.84. Microbial activity measured as dehydrogenase activity in buffalo, donkey and camel wastes increased with time up to day 90. But in sheep and goat wastes, maximum dehydrogenase activity was recorded on day 60 and decreased thereafter. The cocoons and hatchlings production by Eisenia foetida in different excreta were also investigated. The greatest number and biomass of hatchlings was recorded in horse excreta followed by cow, goat and sheep excreta. Thus, cow, horse, sheep and goat excreta show potential as good substrates in vermicomposting using Eisenia foetida, although further research is required to explore the feasibility of use of buffalo, donkey and camel excreta in combination with cow/sheep/goat excreta.