Hydrous Ferric Oxide (HFO)—a Scavenger for Fluoride from Contaminated Water

Groundwaters contaminated with excess fluoride (above 1.5 mg/L) posed some risks to the public health in India. Methods available for fluoride contaminated water treatment are cogaulation–filtration using alum + lime + bleaching powder (Nalgonda technique) and adsorption using activated alumina. Use of aluminium compounds for water treatment purpose needs replacement on neurological health problem. Objective to this, the synthesis and fluoride adsorption behavior of hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) are reported here. It is seen that fluoride adsorption density varies as a function of pH, contact time, aging time, drying temperature and particle size of HFO. Highest adsorption density for fluoride is found to be at pH 4.0. Effects of competing anions in removing fluoride from solution were tested. Arsenite, arsenate, phosphate and sulfate show strong interfering effect at high anions to fluoride molar ratio in solution. Adsorption of fluoride on HFO follows the Freundlich isotherm and the Lagergren first-order kinetic model. It was also determined that HFO is a better adsorbent in removing fluoride from high fluoride groundwater than some other adsorbents. Regeneration of fluoride-rich HFO results showed that 1.0 M NaOH solution could be used up to a maximum of 75% regeneration.     

Observations on feeding of young grass carp on mosquito larvae

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.) is well known for its efficacy as a biological weed control agent. The young of the species were observed to feed avidly on mosquito larvae in the present set of experiments. The fish 98–185 mm in length appeared to be comparatively more voracious in feeding than the larger ones (220 mm). The larger grass carp (252 mm), common carp (95–105 mm) and silver carp (97–115 mm) did not feed on the larvae at all. Thus, the small grass carp are expected to exercise some control over the population of mosquitoes in a water body. The propensity of the fish to feed on vegetation is likely to ensure better access to the shallow areas where mosquitoes generally breed. The grass carp can be listed among the larvivorous fishes along with other cyprinids.     

Trace elemental characterization of some food crustacean tissue samples by EDXRF technique

The trace elemental analysis of two species of mud crab and three species of prawn samples from Chilika lagoon, Orissa, India has been carried out by using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique available at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar. Elements namely K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Sr and Pb have been measured in the present investigation. The study indicates the effectiveness of the technique in analyzing biological materials like tissue samples and opens a door for easy analysis of seafood items with a easy, fast, sensitive, simultaneous multi-elemental technique with a simple sample preparation procedure without any chemical treatment. Though all the specimens were collected from the same environment of the lagoon the elemental variation might be due to the differential migration pattern and metabolism or other biological factors.     

Disturbance of oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium disturbance has already been reported in trypanosome infections by several authors. The present study was aimed to explore the possible oxidant/antioxidant disturbance in surra of naturally infected horses before and after treatment. Fifteen naturally infected horses were chosen to analyse erythrocytic indices, platelet counts, lipid peroxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) while six healthy animals acted as control. There was a highly significant (P<0.001) reduction in red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and platelet levels and a significant reduction in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P<0.05) was noticed. A highly significant increase in NO (P<0.001), a significant increase in LPO (P<0.05) and a significant decrease in GSH, SOD and CAT (P<0.05) were found. A negative correlation of RBC count with LPO (r=-0.844) and nitrate (r=-0.702) while a positive correlation with GSH (r=0.489), SOD (r=0.580) and CAT (r=0.689) was observed. All the animals were treated with Quinapyramine sulphate (3mg/kg s.c.) only once. Nine animals recovered completely without any side effects. The recovered animals were monitored and samples were collected every seven days for up to 21 days and parameters were analysed. After treatment, a significant increase in haematological parameters was noticed whereas the oxidative indices varied without any statistical significance. To conclude, the increase in oxidant parameters and decrease in antioxidant enzymes in infected horses indicates the disturbance of oxidant/antioxidant indices. There was a significant increase in post therapy haematological values, while the oxidant/antioxidant indices changed insignificantly indicating that antioxidants might be supplemented in the therapeutic regimen.     

Spatial pattern corrections and sample sizes for forest density estimates of historical tree surveys

The U.S. General Land Office land surveys document trees present during European settlement. However, use of these surveys for calculating historical forest density and other derived metrics is limited by uncertainty about the performance of plotless density estimators under a range of conditions. Therefore, we tested two plotless density estimators, developed by Morisita and Pollard, for two, three, and four trees per survey point under simulated ranges of tree densities, non-uniform densities, and different tree spatial distributions. Based on these results, we developed estimator corrections and determined number of survey points needed for reliable density estimates. The Morisita estimator was accurate for densities ranging from 5 to 1,000 trees per unit area, non-uniform densities, random and regular spatial distribution, and outperformed the Pollard estimator. Estimators using points with two or three trees did need a simple correction to account for overestimation. Likewise, for clustered distributions, depending on the number of trees per survey point and the amount of clustering, there should be adjustment for a range of under and overestimation. Sample sizes for survey points with three or four trees should be at least 200 survey points, and 1,000 survey points will have density estimates within ±10% tolerance range of actual density. For survey points with two trees, the minimum sample size should be 600 survey points, and 2,000 survey points should be the target value. These results provide guidelines for researchers to improve density estimates of historical forests.     

Canine histiocytic ulcerative colitis

Objective To assess prevalence, breed predilection, response to therapy and prognosis of canine histiocytic ulcerative colitis (CHUC).
Design A retrospective study of cases of CHUC seen at Sydney University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (SUVTH) over a 20-year period (1975 -1994).
Procedure Case records of all dogs in which colitis was suspected were reviewed. Dogs were diagnosed with CHUC based on colonorectal biopsy and histopathological examination.
Results CHUC was diagnosed in 8 of 57 dogs presented for colitis. All affected dogs were Boxers and six were female. Dogs with milder clinical signs showed moderately good response to therapy. Four dogs were still alive 1 to 7 years after diagnosis. Three dogs were euthanased, one for reasons other than CHUC, and one was lost to follow-up.
Conclusions Young boxer dogs with relatively mild signs of CHUC may respond moderately well to medical and dietary therapy with fair prognosis. Euthanasia early in the course of the disease may be unwarranted. Prevalence may be increasing within the SUVTH referral population.     

Soil boron status: impact of lime and fertilizers in an Indian long-term field experiment on a Typic Paleustalf

In Indian agriculture, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers are predominantly used by the farmers, often ignoring secondary and micronutrients. Significance of boron (B) in nutrient management studies has been increasingly underlined under intensive cropping systems particularly in acid soils. In order to understand the distribution of soil native B in different fractions and their contribution to plant B uptake as influenced by nutrient management, soil samples collected after wheat (2009–2010) from a long-term experiment (LTE) continuing since 1972–1973 on Typic Paleustalf of Ranchi were subjected to sequential fractionation of soil B. Treatments included N alone, NP, NPK, 150% of recommended NPK, NPK + farmyard manure (FYM), NPK + lime, and an unfertilized-control. Five soil B fractions were determined along with hot CaCl₂-extractable (available) B. Averaged across the treatments, the soil had low organic carbon (C), pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC), and high free sesquioxides. Total B content was 21.7 mg kg^?1. Among different B fractions, residual B was the major contributor to total B and other fractions collectively shared 7% of total B only. Application of N alone depleted readily soluble, specifically adsorbed and organically bound B bringing the contents even below unfertilized-control. Conjoint use of lime or FYM with NPK increased significantly these fractions, whereas a decrease in oxide bound B was noticed under these treatments. Available B was positively correlated with these fractions indicating their significance in controlling B availability in the soil. The study revealed that use of lime or FYM helped modifying the distribution of soil B in different fractions by way of changing soil pH and organic C content, resulting in enrichment of plant available pool. A drastically low available B content in different treatments receiving fertilizers alone, however, suggested the necessity of B fertilization at prescribed rates for maintaining soil B fertility as also high crop yields.     

Forest structure and woody plant species composition after a wildfire in beech forests in the north of Iran

Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forest covers about 565,000 ha of land in Guilan province, north of Iran and forms a major carbon pool. It is an important economic, soil protection and recreation resource. We studied long-term effects of fire on the structure and composition 37 years after fire occurrence in these forests. To do this research, we selected 85 ha burned and 85 ha unburned beech forests). The results indicated that the fire had not changed the overall uneven-aged structure, but it changed forest composition from pure stands to mixed stands that now include species such as Carpinus betulus, Acer cappadocicum and Alnus subcordata. The density of trees and regeneration was significantly increased, while the density of shrubs significantly decreased. The main reasons for increased tree regeneration were attributed to (1) reduction of litter depth, and (2) increase in available light from opening of the canopy and reduction in shrub competition. It is apparent that the forest is on a path to return to its natural state before the fire after 37 years.     

Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Carbon Budgets in Polyculture Ponds of Indian Major Carps and Giant Freshwater Prawn in Orissa State,India

A nutrient budget was quantified for six polyculture ponds of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and Indian major carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala). The initial stocking size of prawn postlarva was 16.50 ± 0.54 mm with a body weight of 0.05 ± 0.001 g. Body weight of major carps was 9.0 ± 0.89 g. The duration of culture was 280 days. Feed accounted for 82% of total nitrogen (N), 93% of total phosphorus (P), and 95% of organic carbon (OC) inputs. Harvest of prawn and carps recovered 44% N, 1% P, and 19% OC. N, P, and OC accumulated in sediment were 47%, 73%, and 69%, respectively. Nutrient load in the harvest water was 0.67 ± 0.21 kg inorganic N, 0.15 ± 0.01 kg P, and 7.72 ± 0.62 kg OC per ton of Indian major carps and prawn.     

FISH CONSUMPTION AND FOOD SECURITY: A DISAGGREGATED ANALYSIS BY TYPES OF FISH AND CLASSES OF CONSUMERS IN SELECTED ASIAN COUNTRIES

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses fish consumption and preference patterns for fish species by income groups, and by urban/rural divide in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The analysis is based on primary data collected by the WorldFish Center and its partner institutes by means of a survey of 5,931 households in the selected countries. The FAO database and other published materials were also used to analyze trends in fish consumption. Freshwater fish species constitute a major share in total per capita fish consumption in most of these countries. Pelagic and demersal marine fish are the main contributor to per capita total fish consumption in the countries with longer coastal boundaries (such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand), and in the coastal regions within each country. Results suggest that fish contributes between 15% and 53% of the total animal protein intake in these countries. Fish consumption varies widely with economic position of the households, in terms of both per capita consumption and type of fish species. Per capita fish consumption increases with increase in income. The share of fish protein in total animal protein expenditure is higher for lower income groups, demonstrating their dependence on fish as a source of animal protein. Poor people consume mostly low-price fish and rich people spend a significant portion of their fish budget on expensive fish. Per capita fish consumption is substantially higher in rural areas than in urban areas.