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.     

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...     

Influence of the dwarfing gene dw on egg production and viability under summer heat stress

1. Dwarf egg layer (Narmada XL) dwarf broiler (DB) and normal bodied sib (NB) hens were studied under cyclic summer hot and dry heat stress of 21.1 to 45.5 degrees C for a period of 50 d. The genotype effect for egg production was significant (P less than 0.01). 2. N-XL and DB genotypes laid 12.1% more eggs than NB. Egg production declined by 3.17, 1.27 and 3.25% for a rise in temperature (maximum) of 1 degree C for N-XL, DB and NB genotypes respectively. 3. Egg production in Narmada XL declined by 42% compared to 25% in the dwarf broilers. The regression coefficients differed significantly. 4. For polygenically identical DB and NB broiler breeder hens the heat stressor significantly reduced egg production 1.98% more in the NB genotype compared with DB with a 1 degree C rise in temperature. 5. Mortality was less in the N-XL as compared to DB, but NB hens showed 11.7% more mortality than dwarfs.     

Folacin and cyanocobalamin in relation to naturalTrypanosoma evansi Infection in buffaloes

Summary The haematological values of haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and vitamin levels of folacin (folic acid), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) of buffaloes, in a surra endemic area of Eastern Haryana, India, were determined. Surra-positive buffaloes had significantly low levels of Hb, PCV, folic acid and vitamin B₁₂. These low levels of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ may have enhanced the clinical signs of chronic trypanosomosis, caused byTrypanosoma evansi.

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Folacina Y Cianocobalamina En Relacion Con La Infeccion Natural De Bufalos ConTrypanosoma Evansi

Resumen Se determinaron los valores hematológicos de hemoglobina (Hb), volumen corpuscular celular (PCV) y los niveles vitamínicos de ácido fólico y cianocobalamina (vitamina B₁₂) de búfalos, en un área endémica de surra en Haryana Oriental, India. Los búfalos positivos a surra tuvieron niveles bajos de Hb, PCV, ácido fólico y vitamina B₁₂. Los niveles bajos de ácido fólico y cianocobalamina, pudieron haber exacerbado los sintomas clinicos de tripanosomiasis crónica, causada porTrypanosoma evansi.

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Folacine Et Cyanocobalamine En Relation Avec La Trypanosomose ATrypanosoma Evansi Chez Des Buffles

Résumé Les valeurs hématologiques de l'hémoglobine (Hb), l'hématocrite (PCV) et les taux de la folacine (acide folique) et de la cyanocobalamine (vitamine B₁₂) chez des buffles ont été déterminés dans une région de l'Est Haryana, Inde, où sévit le surra à l'état endémique. Les buffles positifs vis-à-vis du surra présentaient des taux significativement faibles de Hb, PCV, d'acide folique et de vitamine B₁₂. Les taux peu élevés de ces deux derniers éléments peuvent renforcer les siqnes cliniques de la trypanosomose chronique, due àT. evansi.