IOSR-JESTFT   Volume-9 ~ Issue-2 ~ February 2015

Abstract: Groundwater serves as the main sources of water in the urban environment, which is used for drinking, industrial and domestic purposes and often, it is over exploited. Now a days, the groundwater is facing threats due to anthropogenic activities. In this study, groundwater samples were collected in four different seasons from 100 predetermined bore wells and open wells representing four blocks of Karur district. The water samples were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters like TDS, TH, TA Chloride, Fluoride and WQI using standard techniques in the laboratory. Also, geographic information system-based groundwater quality mapping in the form of visually communicating contour maps was developed using ArcGIS-version 9.0 software to delineate spatial distribution in physicochemical characteristics of groundwater samples. The final integrated map shows three priority classes such as Excellent, Good and Poor groundwater quality zones of the study area and provides a guideline for the suitability of groundwater for domestic purposes Keywords: GIS, Groundwater, Spatial variation, groundwater quality.

[1]. National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) (2005). Status of Water Supply, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management in Urban Areas, New Delhi, URL: http://urbanindia.nic.in/moud/what'snew/main.htm.
[2]. A. Mahmood and A. Kundu A (2005). India's demography in 2050: size, structure and habitat. Discussion Paper, IWMI-TATA partners meet - 2005, Anand, Gujarat.
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Summary: Both young ones and adults of Anabas, Heteropneustes and Amphipnous could survive 72h of exposure to temperature of 400, 36.50 and 360C for acclimation tried, i.e. 250, 300 and 350C respectively. None of the fishes survived at 150C in low lethal testis. The thermal tolerance area was estimated to be 7000C2, 5010C2 and 4660C2 for young ones and adult of three species respectively.

[1]. Ananthakrishnan, K.R. and Kulty, M.N Temperature tolerance of the air-breathing fish. Ophiocephalus punctatus. Comp. Physiol. Ecol ,1976, 1,18-22.

[2]. Srinivasan, K. Effect of dilutions of sea water on the upper lethal temperature of the cihlid fish, Tilapia mossambica (Peters). Ibid., 1977, 2,154-159.

[3]. Brett, J.R, Temperature tolerance of young pacific salmon genus, Oncohynchus. J. Fish, Res. Bd. Can., 1952, 9, 265-307. [4]. Fry, F.E.J. Effects of environment on animal activity. Univ. Toronto Studies, Biol. Ser. 55; Publ. Ontario Fisheries Res. Lab, 1948,68,5-62.

[5]. Hart, H.S. and Walker, J.S. Lethal temperature relations for a sample of young specked trout. Salvelinus fontinalis. Ibid, 1946.54.1-47.

[6]. Pal A. Parida, SP Swain MM(2008) Haematological and plasma biochemistry in fan throated lizard sitana panticeriana (Sauria Aganidae), Rus. J. Herp 15(2); 110-116.

[7]. Patra, A.K. and Datta Munshi, J.S. Studies on the temperature tolerance of two freshwater air-breathing teleosts, Channa punctatus (Bloch.) and Clorias batrachus (Linn.). Proc. Symp. Environ. Trivandrum 1980. pp. 125-138.

[8]. Tripathi G. Harsh S (2002) Fenvelerate-induced macromolecular changes in the Cat fish, Clarias battrachus , J. Environ, Biol, 23; 143-146.

Summary: TrypanBlue,adiazo dye and synthetic organic colourant, is commonly used in several textile and printing industries. A substantial portion of such dyes are recalcitrant and carcinogenic which are disposed ofuntreated in the environment. In this investigation, water sample in which such textile effluents are disposed of was used as a source of isolating a unique bacterium in vitro which was characterized and 16S rDNA gene sequencing was carried out. It was identified to be similar to Aeromonasaquariorum strain N2 based on nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis. This Gram negative short rod bacterium was seen to be degrading the dye to non-hazardous compounds including simpler hydrocarbons. Spectrophotometric analysis and SDS-PAGE techniques were performed to give conclusive evidence for the presence of the enzymes responsible for this. Characterization of the effluent with Gas Chromatographic technique indicated the degradation of the active component. The enzymatic profile revealed the enhanced expression of Azoreductase, Alkane Hydroxylase and Catechol 1, 2-dioxygenase in the presence of the dye. This paper narrates the detailed action of the above mentioned bacterium responsible for enzymatic degradation of a foreign pollutant which paves way for safe treatment of colouring agents.

Keywords:Aeromonasaquariorum, azodye, dye degradation, enzymatic profile, Trypan blue.

[1]. Harrington John M., Widener Justin, Stephens Natalie, Johnson Thomas, Francia Maria, Capewell Paul, Macleod Annette and Hajduk Stephen L. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. ISSN 0021-9258.
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[3]. Naiem H. Nadaf and Jai S. Ghosh; ResearchJournal of Environmental and Earth Sciences 3(5): 608-613, 2011 [4]. Bishop, D.F. et.al. "Hydrogen Peroxide Catalytic Oxidation of Refractory Organics in Municipal Waste Waters", in Ind. Eng. Chem., Process Design & Development, vol.7, pp. 1110-117 (1968).
[5]. Anantha N. Subbarao and Venkatesha T. Venkatarangaiah; J. Electrochem. Sci. Eng. 3(4)(2013) 167-184

Summary: Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad-spectrum anti spectrum agent. It shows an excellent anthelmintic effect in veterinary and human medicine. The objective of this study was the evaluation of potential cytogenicity of IVM on Mus musculus in vivo.This was achieved through chromosomal aberration assay (CAA) and micronucleus test (MNT) in bone marrow cells.For CAA & MNT, animals received single and/or double doses of 200ug/kg b.w. IVM. The sampling times were 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 days after the last injection.The maximum values of the chromosomal aberrations percent (excluding gap) attained after 3 days, when including gap, the readings obtained after 1, 2, 3 and 7 days of single treatment were approached to each other, then decreased after 14 days. The chromosomal aberrations percent obtained after repeated injection showed elevation through the first 3 days and reduction after 7 and 14 days.

[1]. M Hokelek, B.A. Deger, E. Deger, E. Tutar, and M. Sunbul, Ivermectin used in percutaneous drug injection method for the treatment of liver hydatid disease in sheep. Gastroenterology122(4), 2002, 957-962.
[2]. M Areskog, B. Ljungstrom, and J. Hoglund, Limited efficacy of pour-on anthelmintic treatment of cattle under Swedish field conditions. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 3,2013, 129-134.
[3]. G Monsel, and O. Chosidow, Management of scabies. Skin Therapy Lett. 17(3), 2012, 1-4.
[4]. E Kutzer, Treatment of oestriasis and hypodermosis in red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus c. capreolus) with ivermectin (Ivomec). Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 113(4),2000, 149-151.
[5]. JM Sheele, J.F. Anderson, T.D. Tran, Y.A. Teng, P.A. Byers, B.S. Ravi, and D.E. Sonenshine, Ivermectin causes Cimex lectularius (bedbug) morbidity and mortality. J. Emerg Med. 45(3), 2013, 433-440.
[6]. SH Pooda, K. Mouline, T. De Meeus, Z. Bengaly, and P. Solano, Decrease in survival and fecundity of Glossina palpalis gambiensis vanderplank 1949 (Diptera: Glossinidae) fed on cattle treated with single doses of ivermectin. Parasit Vectors 6, 2013, 165.
[7]. KM Deus, K. Saavedra-Rodriguez, M.P. Butters, W.C.4th Black, and B.D. Foy, The effect of ivermectin in seven strains of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) including a genetically diverse laboratory strain and three permethrin resistant strains. J Med Entomol. 49(2), 2012, 356-363.

Summary: soil plays a very vital role as it produces food for human beings and animals. The organic matter in soil as decomposed by a host of micro organism, due to human activities, soil is the receptor of many pollutants including pesticides, fertilizers etc., Soil quality is one of the serious environmental problems. Soil contaminations influence the geochemical reactions and may change environmental behavior. The fertility of soils is dependent upon the amount of organic matter, types of clay, water holding capacity in also dependent upon the nature (texture) of soil. The study area is known for granite rocks, granite mining and granite polishing centers. Ilakal urbanized town of Bagalkot district is famous for silk saris; sugar cane is the main crop in the District. Bagalkot District is known to be second Punjab and the district is regularly affecting by flood, where the cultivated lands were completely merged in huge water table. The present study aim was to evaluate some Physico-Chemical properties, assessment of Nutrients and the variation in soil samples due to heavy irrigation of cultivated lands. The study reveals the seasonal effect on soil fertility by irrigation, fertilizers effect and agriculture practices. The effect may cause positive and negative variation of nutrients status on soil properties. For this work 18 soil samples from six villages (seasonally 3 samples each village) were collected and analyzed the Physico-chemical parameters, presence of nutrients were analyzed using respective instruments such as Nitrogen analyzer, Flame photometer, Visible spectrophotometer and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer as per the standard methods.

Key Words: soil, Nutrient status, fertilizers, recommendations, organic matter.

[1]. Laboratory Manual for Environmental Chemistry, Dr. Sunits Hooda, Dr. Sumanjeet Kaur. S. Chand and Company ltd. Ramnagar, New Delhi, 2001. Jamie Bartram and Richard Balance, UNEP / WHO, 1996. S. Rangaraj, T. Elamapooraam, KP. Elango and V. Ramalingam, India Poll. Res., 1996, 15: 325.
[2]. Vogel's Text Book of Quantitative Chemical analysis, Jeffery GH, Basset J, Mendham J and Denny RC, 5th Ed., ELBS, 1989. D. Fatta, A. Papado Poulos and M. Loizidou, Environ. Geochem, Health, 1999, 21:175. Kalshetty BM, Giraddi TP, Sheth RC and Kalashetti MB, "River Krishna Flood Effect on Soil Properties of Cultivated Areas in Bagalkot District, Karnataka State", Global Journals Inc. (USA), Volume 12 Issue 6 Version 1.0 Year 2012.
[3]. Environmental Chemistry, Sharma BK and Kour H, Goel Publishing house, Merrut, 2004. Dr BM. Kalshetty, Sheth RC, Shobha N and MB. Kalashetti, " Assessment of Nutrients and Load of Organic Carbon in Soil and Sediments due to Flood and Heavy Irrigation of River Krishna in the Bagalkot District:, IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Technology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) Volume 8, Issue 10 Ver. III (Oct. 2014), PP 37-44.
[4]. Environmental Chemistry, De AK, Wiley Eastern ltd, 2003. Bsavaraj M. Kalshetty, Shobha N., TP. Giraddi and MB. Kalashetti,"Statistical Analysis of Heavy Metals in Water, Soils and Sediments due to Municipal Solid Waste Disposal in to Water

Summary: Biosurfactants are produced mainly by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. They have a surface active property which is mediated by amphiphilic nature of molecules. Biosurfactants have hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions which allowing them to act assurfactants. This action of surfactant is mediated at the interfaces between aqueous and non-aqueous components in a complex system and at the liquid gas interface. Recently biosurfactants gained importance in various fields because of their low toxicity, high biodegradability and powerful surfactant properties. The present study was aimed to improve production of biosurfactants from Pseudomonas species which mainly produce Rhamnolipid biosurfactant which provide significant opportunities to replace chemical surfactants with sustainable biologically produced surfactants. In continuation of these studies, the present work intended to purify characterize the biosurfactant produced by the bacterial species Pseudomonas.

Keywords: Biosurfactants, Amphiphilic, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic regions, Rhamnolipid, Pseudomonas species.

[1]. Abalos A., Vinas M., Sabate J., Manresa M.A., &Solanas A.M. (2004).Enhanced biodegradation of casablanca crude oil by a microbial consortium in presence of rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa AT10. Biodegradation, 15, 249-260.
[2]. Benincasa M., Abalos A., & Oliveria I. (2004). Chemical structure, surface properties and biological activities of the biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI from soapstock. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 85, 1‑8. [3]. Bushnell L. D.&HaasH. F. (1941).The Utilization of Certain Hydrocarbons by Microorganisms. Journal of Bacteriology, 41, 653-673.
[4]. Desai J., & Banat I.M. (1997). Microbial production of surfactants and their commercial potential. Microbiology Molecular Biology Reviews, 61, 47-64.
[5]. Deziel E., Pauette G., Villemur R., Francois L., & Bisaillon J.G. (1996). Biosurfactant Production by a Soil Pseudomonas Strain Growing on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 62, 1908-1912.

Summary: Bullet pear (Canariumschweinfurthii) was analyzed to determine its nutrient composition and anti-nutritional factors. Proximate composition on dry weight basis revealed the following values: moisture 7.12%; fat 40.26%; crude protein 17.52%; crude fibre 11.44%; ash 3.16% and carbohydrate 20.50%. The vitamin C content was 13.78mg/100g, while the mineral content stood at, calcium 557mg/100g; sodium 55mg/100g, magnesium 200mg/100g and iron 550mg/100g. Anti-nutritional factors showed the following low values: tannin 0.65mg/g; saponin 0.47mg/g; phytate 0.62 mg/g; oxalate 0.68mg and alkaloid 0.78mg/g.

Keyword: antinutritional factors, bullet pear, nutritional properties, extracts,quality

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[2]. Anon, E.B. (1972). FPRI technical note no.122.The Philippines Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission. Manilla.
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Summary:Extensive literature has explored the link between natural resources and conflicts. Nevertheless, scholars have rarely reached a univocal agreement and a common theoretical understanding on this interrelation. In this thematic paper, I reconsider the connections between natural resources and global conflict. Aimed at producing a state of the art review of the research on the connections between natural resources and conflict, the paper outlines and discusses the mainstream theories and policy initiatives that have been created to address this issue. The paper underlines in line with Rosser (2006) and Wennmann (2007) that whilst there is, as the general consensus of scholarship suggests, considerable evidence that natural abundance is associated with various negative development outcomes, this evidence is by no means conclusive. Whilst recognizing the value of existing ideas and practices, in highlighting the lack of consensus, gaps and weaknesses of current theoretical and practical approaches, the paper suggests that other complementary approaches need be
developed.

[1]. Evans, A., (2010). Resource Scarcity, Climate Change and the Risk of Violent Conflict. World Development Report Background Paper. Washington, DC. World Bank.
[2]. Fadul, A.A. (2007). "Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Peace in Darfur‟ in
[3]. University for Peace, Conference Proceedings: Environmental Degradation as a Cause of Conflict in Darfur. Accessed January 2012 from https://upeace.org/library/documents/darfur_cp.pdf.
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[4]. Hanson, T., Brooks, T.M., da Fonseca, G.A.B., M. Hoffman, M., Lamoreaux, J.F.,
[5]. Machlis, G.E., Mittermeier, C.G., Mittermeier, R.A., and Pilgrim, J.D. (2009). "Warfare in Biodiversity Hotspots‟. Conservation Biology, 23(3), pp. 578-587.
[6]. Homer-Dixon,T. F. (2011). Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. USA. Princeton University Pres

Summary: Pasta is a popular, nutritious and low glycaemic food having global appeal as nutrition supplement. Fortifications of pasta with a variety of proteins increase the nutritional significance of pasta and improve the health condition of the immense majority of health conscious peoples. In present study we developed five samples (C, C1, C2, C3 and C4) of pasta using refined wheat flour and different proportions of pulses (chickpea flour (Cicer arietinum), red lentil flour (Lens culinaris), white lentil flour (Vigna mungo), green gram flour (Vigna radiata) and soy flour (Glycine max). Sample C was prepared as control containing only refined wheat flour (100%), while sample C1 (refined wheat flour 90% and pulses 10%), C2 (refined wheat flour 80% and pulses 20%), C3 (refined wheat flour 70% and pulses 30%) and C4 (refined wheat flour 60% and pulses 40%) were prepared by changing the concentration of refined wheat flour and different pulses. All the five samples were evaluated for the physicochemical properties (moisture content, ash value and texture analysis) nutritional properties (carbohydrate, protein, fiber and fat), cooking time and sensory qualities. A Pulses fortified pasta product was successfully produced and it was observed as the concentration of pulses was increased the cooking time also increased. On the basis of physicochemical & nutritional properties cooking time and sensory qualities, pasta containing refined wheat flour (70%) and pulses (30%) resulted in better quality having more nutritional elements and highest overall acceptability.

Keywords: Pasta, fortification, protein supplementation, nutrition, health conscious peoples.

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Summary: Azadirachta indica used as avenue trees are facing combined local fungus and termites attacks as the trees lifetime progresses in University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Nigeria. Studies of the co-occupancy of these wood degrading pests on ornamental woody trees are rare in Nigeria. Therefore, Ganoderma lucidum fungus and termites infestations on the 36-year old A. indica trees were surveyed along the Delta major road main gate to the Ofrima/senate roundabout of UNIPORT between January and December, 2014. G. lucidum was considered as the principal primary occupant pest found in all the 212 trees while termites mainly Amitermes evuncifer was recognized as the secondary occupant pest found in only 62 trees. Their co-occupancy indicated that they were not antagonists of each other but their co-infesting activities were greatly inimical to the trees survival resulting in average annual loss of 4 trees. The results demonstrated that G. lucidum and Amitermes evuncifer actively contributed to the decline of the tree species. Significance of trees in the landscape was recognized in the University as a whole but strategies to guide the trees management and ensure their protection for future generation were inadequate. Selections of trees should consider first the reputed tolerance ability of the species to the peculiar environmental conditions.

Keywords: Avenue trees, co-occupancy, institutions, suitability study, wood protection

[1]. Ludtke, K. Moser, I, Santiago-Alarcon, D, Fischer, M, Kalko, E. K. V., Schaefer, H. M., Suarez-Rubio, M. Tschapka, M. and Renmer, S. C. 2013. Associations of Forest Type, Parasitism and Body Condition of Two European Passerines, Fringilla coelebs and Sylvia atricapilla. PLoS One 8(12): 1-9
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[3]. Adedeji, G. A., A. A. Aiyeloja, and G. E. Omokhua, 2014. Occurrence and severity of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst. on Azadirachta indica trees in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Implications for sustainable harvesting and replacement. Nature and Science, 12(8): 123-128
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