A modified nitrogen oxide-ozone photolytic cycle

Nitrogen Oxide-0₃ photolytic cycle is dependent upon the presence of NO in ambient air. From our air monitoring observations we have found that the NO concentration in the atmosphere is often zero (0 to 5 ppb). This suggests a need to modify/change the photolytic cycle. Linear regression analyses on the O₃ and NO₂ concentrations in ambient air, measured in real time were carried out. The predicted values of O₃ and NO₂ from these regression equations were close to the observed values. On the basis of these two observations a modified photolytic cycle, including some other components (such as HONO₂) is discussed.     

Determination of high molecular mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a typical Italian smoked cheese by HPLC-FL

High-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in "Diavoletto" smoked cheese. Such cheese is typically produced in the Sorrento peninsula, and it is smoked commonly with different materials of vegetable origin. The importance of the smoking generation material is proven by the attention that the EU is paying in indicating the list of wood that may be used to produce smoking flavor agents. The PAHs considered are classified as "probable human carcinogens" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for sufficient data from animal bioassays. The smoked samples contained high molecular mass PAHs with different levels ranging from 0.12 to 6.21 microg/kg. The determination was carried out also on liquid smoking flavor agents, smoke-flavored cheese, and nonsmoked cheese to measure the level of contamination before the treatment.     

Potential of Eisenia foetida for Sustainable and Efficient Vermicomposting of Fly Ash

Vermicomposting of fly ash has been attempted, using red earthworm, Eisenia foetida. Fly ash, which was obtained from thermal power station, was mixed with cowdung in different proportions (20, 40, 60 and 80%). These mixtures were used as feed for earthworms, and after 30 days, vermicast recovery, worm zoomass and numbers of juveniles produced were recorded. A total of six runs each of 30 days were conducted during the whole study. Concentrations of heavy metals in different mixtures of fly ash–cowdung, before and after vermicomposting and in the earthworms used in the study were also estimated. Results show maximum output of vermicasts and maximum number of juveniles produced was in reactors with 40% fly ash while maximum weight gain by earthworm was in 20% fly ash vermireactors. Performance of vermireactors up to 60% fly ash was more or less similar but at 80% fly ash, there is a marked reduction in overall performance of the reactors. Chemical analysis of different samples of fly ash–cowdung mixtures prior to vermicomposting revealed high concentrations of zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and copper. Chemical analysis of vermicomposted samples showed 30–50% reduction in heavy metals up to 60% fly ash and 10–30% reduction in 80% fly ash. Metal analysis of earthworms revealed considerable bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their body. The Present study indicates the feasibility of E. foetida for mitigating the toxicity of metals and up to 60% fly ash–cowdung mixtures can be used for sustainable and efficient vermicomposting.     

Heavy metal accumulation by three species of mosses in Shillong,North-Eastern India

Comparisons were made of the accumulation of cadmium, copper, manganese, lead, and zinc in Plagiothecium denticulatum, Bryum argenteum and Sphagnum sp. in Shillong, Meghalaya State, Northeastern India. Samples of P. denticulatum and B. argenteum were collected inside Shillong city (urban) and its immediately adjacent outskirts (suburban), while Sphagnum sp. was collected from a suburban site only. Lead and copper levels were higher in P. denticulatum, while Sphagnum sp. accumulated higher amounts of zinc, manganese, and cadmium. An urban-suburban gradient was evident for lead and zinc in P. denticulatum, and for cadmium in B. argenteum, while a reverse trend could be discerned for manganese in P. denticulatum. Besides vehicles and minor industries, quarry dust was likely to be an important source of manganese, copper, and zinc.     

Stress distribution over a triangular tillage tool

To simplify the analysis of stress over a cultivator shovel moving at a certain depth, it was represented by an isosceles triangular plate of uniform thickness. To simulate the boundary conditions to which a cultivator shovel is subjected, the triangular plate was assumed as clamped along one of the edges while the other two edges were assumed as free. These assumptions made it possible to apply the theory of bending of laterally loaded plates for the computation of stresses set up in the tillage tool. This theory involves fundamental equations of elasticity, namely the equations of equilibrium, equations of continuity and surface conditions. The theoretically calculated values of stresses were fairly close to experimentally observed values.     

Study of resistance against some ionophores in Eimeria tenella field isolates.

Three Eimeria tenella field isolates from Gurgaon district of Haryana (north India) were studied in a battery test for evaluating drug resistance against two currently used ionophores; maduramicin (5ppm) and salinomycin (60ppm). Broiler birds (Ross strain) were infected with 10(5) sporulated oocysts each at the age of 2 weeks and prophylactic medication commenced 2 days prior to infection. Drug resistance was assessed by calculating the global index for individual ionophore compounds based on weight gain, feed conversion ratio, oocyst index, lesion score and mortality. Present studies revealed no resistance of the ionophores in any of the field isolates. Both the drugs showed varying degree of efficacy, e.g. maduramicin exhibited limited efficacy against all the three field isolates, whereas salinomycin showed limited efficacy against Gurgaon isolate (GrI)-I, good efficacy against GrI-II and partial resistance against GrI-III.     

Lavandula gibsonii: A plant with insectistatic potential

Phytoparasitica - The plantLavandula gibsonii (fam. Lamiaceae) has been found to possess various insectistatic activities against several insect pests. Acetone extracts of the whole plant exhibit...