Spatial Distribution of Surface Soil Acidity,Electrical Conductivity,Soil Organic Carbon Content and Exchangeable Potassium,Calcium and Magnesium in Some Cropped Acid Soils of India

Land degradation is a global problem. Best management of degraded land can be done by evaluating the spatial variability of soil properties including chemical properties of degraded land and mapping such variations. Since, a significant portion of arable land in India is chemically degraded due to soil acidity; the present study was conducted to study the spatial variability of soil acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (OC) content, exchangeable potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) contents in some cropped acid soils of India. A total of four hundred (one hundred from each series) representative surface (0–0.15 m depth) soil samples were collected from arable soils representing four soil series namely Hariharapur, Debatoli, Rajpora and Neeleswaram situated in Orissa, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala states of India, respectively, and were analyzed. Soil acidity (pH between 3.90 and 6.45) showed a low variability, in contrast to other soil properties, which showed moderate variability. The coefficients of variation varied from 32.4 to 74.3, 31.2 to 50.9, 45.6 to 100, 71.9 to 93.0 and 59.0 to 79.8% for EC (mean between 0.05 and 0.09 dS m⁻¹), OC (mean between 0.29 to 1.86%), exchangeable K⁺ (mean between 39.1 and 77.7 mg kg⁻¹), Ca²⁺ (mean between 148 and 293 mg kg⁻¹) and Mg²⁺ (mean between 111 and 191 mg kg⁻¹), respectively. Soil pH and OC content were positively and significantly correlated with exchangeable K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ content. Geostatistical analysis revealed that the best fit models were gaussian, exponential and spherical for different soil properties with moderate to strong spatial dependency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pre-Treatment of Currency Printing Ink Wastewater through Coagulation-Flocculation Process

Attempt has been made to study the treatability of printing ink wastewatergenerated from an Indian currency printing press using coagulation-flocculation process. Coagulant agents, viz. ferrous sulphate, ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate and polyaluminium chloride were studied to select the most suitablecoagulant for effective treatment, and attain the optimum coagulant concentration. Cationic polyeletrolyte in conjunction with the most effective coagulant was also studied to assess its effect on floc settleability. Polyaluminium chloride (PAC) was found to be the most efficient coagulant, achieving removals of colour, suspended solids (SS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 95.9–96.5%, 96.5–97.0%, 61.3–65.8%and 54.8–61.8%, respectively at an optimum concentration of 1500 mg L^-1. Other coagulants, viz. ferrous sulphate, ferric chloride and aluminium sulphate did not show substantial removals of colour, BOD and COD, except suspended solids in comparison to the performance of PAC. Cationic ploylectrolyte in combination with PAC at an optimum concentration of 1500 mg L^-1 of PAC and 1.0 mg L^-1 of polyelectrolyte further improved the removal efficiency of various parameters studied, in addition to improving the floc settling rate, and reduction in quantity of sludge generation.Effect of rapid mixing intensity expressed as mean temporal velocity gradient (G), and mixing time (t) on flocculation was also investigated. Rapid mixing at an impeller rotational speed (n) of 300 rpm and mixing time (t) of 60 sec indicated good floc formation, which resulted in achieving velocity gradient of 821 s^-1, and was found to be an optimum combination. This was also indicated by relatively high settling velocity of sludge formed and low residual colour in the supernatant. However, slow mixing beyond 5 min, adopted after initial optimum rapid mixing, indicated negligible effect on flocculation.     

Explaining the latitudinal distribution of sunspots with deep meridional flow

Sunspots, dark magnetic regions occurring at low latitudes on the Sun's surface, are tracers of the magnetic field generated by the dynamo mechanism. Recent solar dynamo models, which use the helioseismically determined solar rotation, indicate that sunspots should form at high latitudes, contrary to observations. We present a dynamo model with the correct latitudinal distribution of sunspots and demonstrate that this requires a meridional flow of material that penetrates deeper than hitherto believed, into the stable layers below the convection zone. Such a deep material flow may have important implications for turbulent convection and elemental abundance in the Sun and similar stars.     

Heat shock protein 70 expression in different tissues of Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) following heat stress

Members of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) are highly conserved proteins of about 70 kDa and play important roles in protein folding. Levels of these proteins increase when cells are under stress. Environmental temperature influences both the basal and induced levels of HSPs. However, studies on HSPs in fishes from a tropical country such as India are lacking. In the present study, Indian major carp (IMC) Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) acclimatized at 25±2°C had high levels of HSP70, viz., 1.2–1.3 ng μg^?1 total protein in kidney and gill and 4.2–5.3 ng μg^?1 total protein in liver and brain tissues, indicating the presence of biochemically significant levels of stress. However, maintenance of acclimatized fish at 17°C for up to 48 h did not lead to a significant decrease in stress protein levels. A heat shock at 37°C for up to 48 h resulted in only two to threefold increase in HSP70 levels in these organs. Although the increase in HSP70 levels was apparent from the first hour of heat stress in all these tissues, the increase was significant from the second hour in the brain, the sixth hour in liver and kidney and the 20th hour in the gills.     

Economic feasibility of goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) recirculating aquaculture system

Economic analysis of a goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with rearing tank capacity of 5 m³ (RT5) has been evaluated based on two culture period in 2009 and 2010. The stocking density of goldfish was kept at 100 numbers per m³ of rearing water volume. Furthermore, based on the data obtained from RT5, four more hypothetical RASs of rearing tank capacities of 10 m³ (RT10), 20 m³ (RT20), 50 m³ (RT50) and 100 m³ (RT100) were conceptualized for economic analysis that assess and compare the effects of economies of scale on profitability. The payback period, accounting rate of return (ARR), net present value (NPV), profitability index (PI) and modified internal rate of return (MIRR) were evaluated for the different water volumes (up to 100 m³) assuming project life to be 10 years. The economic analysis revealed that a goldfish RAS with rearing tank capacity 20 m³ onwards can be feasible with a payback period less than 4 years, accounting rate of return 54%, net present value of Rs 241820 and modified internal rate of return of 23%. Sensitivity analyses revealed that market price of fish was most sensitive followed by survival rate, labour, maintenance, FCR, initial investment, discount rate, electricity cost and feed cost respectively. Interestingly, feed cost was found to be the least sensitive one.     

Design Characteristics of Spiral Aerator

In this study, the performance of a spiral aerator, a modified design of the paddlewheel aerator, was evaluated to determine its applicability in aquaculture ponds. The aeration characteristics of the spiral aerator were determined by conducting aeration experiments in a cement concrete tank of dimension 5 × 5 × 1.5 m. Nondimensional numbers related to oxygen transfer (E) and power consumption (Ne) were proposed and expressed as functions of geometric (number of handles per shaft, n) and dynamic (Froude and Reynolds number) parameters. Simulation equations for oxygen transfer and power consumption based on the Froude criterion were developed. The maximum brake power standard aeration efficiency was achieved at n = 13. Finally, an economic analysis was performed assuming a typical Indian major carp culture pond to determine the optimum rotational speed of the aerator at different pond volumes and dissolved oxygen concentration present in the pond at which the aeration cost is minimized. The results showed that the least aeration cost is achievable when rotational speed of the spiral aerator is only 70 rpm for pond volumes up to 700 m³ and from 120 to 220 rpm for pond volumes exceeding 700 m³.     

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Industry Wastewater Treatment using UASB Reactor System with Recourse to Energy Recovery

The investigation was carried out on laboratory scale to assess the feasibility of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor system as a pretreatment for hydrogenated vegetable oil industry wastewater with recourse to energy recovery. The reactor system operated at 35°C, resulted in COD removal efficiency in the range 98.9–80.1% at organic loading varying in the range 1.33–10 kgCOD/m³ day. The specific methane yield varied from 0.295–0.345 m³CH₄/kgCOD_r. Hydraulic retention time, substrate concentrations, pH, and temperature were also varied to study the influence of operating parameters on reactor performance. The methane content decreased with increase in substrate loading rate, and varied from 53–66.7% under varying operating conditions. Impulse loading studies in terms of hydraulic, organic, and pH though resulted in destabilization of the reactor; however, the reactor rapidly achieved stable performance after steady operation.     

墨西哥野生马铃薯Solanum pinnatisectum抗晚疫病及抗马铃薯甲虫新基因的遗传分析与分子标记(英文)

马铃薯晚疫病(Phytophthora infestans)和科罗拉多马铃薯甲虫(CPB)是马铃薯生产中最为严重的病虫害。培育高抗晚疫病和甲虫的马铃薯品种是加拿大马铃薯育种工作的重要组成部分。目前,我们实验室在二倍体1EBN墨西哥野生种中已鉴定出抗马铃薯晚疫病和甲虫的新基因,并利用原生质体融合技术成功的将其转移到栽培品种中。但是,培育出抗晚疫病和抗甲虫的马铃薯新品种仍然是一项艰难而繁杂的工作。为了加快分离抗性基因,建立与抗性基因紧密关联的DNA分子标记至关重要。本研究以感病的二倍体马铃薯品种S.cardiophyllum作为父本,与带有抗性基因的墨西哥野生种S.pinnatisectum杂交。用叶片离体鉴定的方法测试F1和BC1代群体的抗病性,从而筛选抗晚疫病和抗甲虫的植株。US-8/A2交配型病菌测试显示所有的F1代植株都表现出抗晚疫病,而在BC1群体中抗病与感病植株的比例为1:1。这个结果证明,在墨西哥野生种S.pinnatisectum中存在一个抗晚疫病的单显性基因Rpi1。马铃薯甲虫抗性检测中,BC1群体的抗虫性分离比例为1:3.这表明其对甲虫的抗性是由多基因遗传控制的。在F1和BC1群体中利用分子标记结合集团分离分析法(BSA)对S.pinnatisectum中的晚疫病抗性基因Rpi1进行精细作图。根据马铃薯第7条染色体上RFLP标记TG20A和CP56之间的EST和STS标记的序列信息,合成了27对特异性PCR引物。获得一些与抗晚疫病基因Rpi1相关联的新的DNA标记。对BC1群体中大量的个体植株进行的分析表明,在马铃薯第7条染色体上位于抗晚疫病基因Rpi1两侧的两个标记S1c9和GP127-300,它们与Rpi1基因的遗传距离分别为1.17cM和3.89cM。这些标记被用来筛选两个细菌人工染色体(BAC)文库,并分离出与晚疫病抗性相关的90-125kb的BAC克隆,这些克隆将在后续的工作中通过图位克隆的方法而用于分离晚疫病抗性基因。同时分离与甲虫抗性紧密相关的分子标记的工作正在进行中。     

Prediction of aeration performance of paddle wheel aerators

Aeration experiments were conducted in brick masonry rectangular tanks of dimensions 2.9×2.9×1.6 and 5.9×2.9×1.6 m to study the effect of geometric and dynamic variables on aeration process based on dimension analysis. Non-dimensional numbers relating to standard aeration efficiency (SAE), effective power (P) and theoretical power per unit volume (P/V) termed as SAE′, Ne and X, respectively, are proposed. An optimal geometric similarity of various linear dimensions was established. It has been established that neither the Reynolds criterion nor the Froude criterion is singularly valid to simulate either SAE′ or Ne, simultaneously for different sizes of aerators, even though they are geometrically similar. Occurrence of scale effects due to the Reynolds and the Froude laws of similitude on both SAE′ and Ne are also evaluated. Simulation equations uniquely correlating SAE′, Ne and X were developed which can predict the aeration performance of paddle wheel aerators having the optimised geometric dimensions as established.     

Genetic Analysis of Growth Traits in Muzaffarnagari sheep

Data on 4112 Muzaffarnagari sheep, maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, and recorded between 1976 and 1999, were analysed to study the growth-related traits and their genetic control. The average weights at birth, and at 12 months of age were 3.1±0.2 and 28.0±0.6 kg, respectively. The pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains were 127.8±3.3 g and 49.4±1.6 g, and the associated growth efficiencies were 3.59±0.08 and 0.95±0.03. Significant differences associated with the year of lambing were observed in body weight, weight gain and efficiency in weight gain at different stages of growth. The lambs born in the dam's second parity were generally of heavier weight and higher daily weight gain than those born in other parities. Males were heavier and had a higher weight gain than females at almost all stages of growth and the differences tended to increase with age. Single-born lambs had a distinct advantage over those born in multiple births at all stages of growth. The heritabilities of all body weights, weight gains and efficiency in weight gains at different stages of growth were moderate (0.18–0.26), except for birth weight, which was of low heritability (0.068±0.01). The phenotypic and genetic correlations among the different body weights were positive and high, except for birth weight. The genetic correlation of the pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains with body weights were high and positive.