Rotifer communities of religious water bodies of Haryana (India): Biodiversity, distribution and ecology

The rotifer communities of eight religious water bodies of Haryana characterized by different trophic status reveal 44 species belonging to 15 genera and 12 families, represent the richest biodiversity of rotifers. Brachionus, Asplanchna and Keratella genus were found to be pollution tolerant species and common at all the selected water bodies viz., Brahmsarovar and Jyotisar at Kurukshetra; Saraswati tirth, Pehowa; Kapalmochan, Yamunanagar; Phalgu tirth, Kaithal; Banganga tirth , Dayalpur; Pandu Pindara, Jind and Kultarn Tirth, Kirmach. whereas Gastropus, Testudinella, Monostyla clasterocerca, Lecane arcula, Filina terminalis were found to be specific at Brahmsarovar (site 1); Filinia longiseta at Phalgu (site 2); Lecane ploenensis, Euchlanis dilata at Pehowa (site 3); B. budapestinensis, B. nilsoni, Asplanchna brightwelli, Asplanchna sieboldii, Polyurthera were specific to Kirmach (site 4); Monostyla decipiens, Anauraepsis nevicula at Jyotisar (site 5); Trichocera porcellus at Kapal mochan (site 7); Keratella cochlearis, Trichocera capucina were found to be specific at the BanGanga (site 8,). However, no specific species appeared at Pandu Pindara (site 6). Seasonal variations were also observed at all the sites during spring, monsoon, post monsoon and in winters. A positive correlation of rotifer abundance was observed with temperature (r = 0.356, P < 0.05), BOD (r = 0.413, P < 0.05) and Ammonia (r = 0.378, P < 0.05) whereas a negative correlation was observed with DO (r = -0.385, P < 0.05) showing that these were the main factors affecting the richness, diversity and density of rotifers. The rotifer communities of each site can be reconstructed from the tables and figures making this inventory an important benchmark for evaluating future regional environment change

Impact of Mass Bathing and Religious Activities on Water Quality Index of Prominent Water Bodies: A Multilocation Study in Haryana, India

The present study was designed to assess the impact of mass bathing and religious activities on water quality index (WQI) of prominent water bodies (eight) in Haryana, India. Water quality characteristics revealed significant increase in the values of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, total hardness, total alkalinity, and MPN count after the religious activities. The computed WQI at all the eight selected sites varied from 47.55 to 211.42. The results revealed that there was a significant increase in the value of WQI after mass bathing or any other ritual performed. Out of eight water bodies studied three (sites 3, 4, and 5) were found under good water quality status; four sites (1, 2, 6, and 7) depicted medium water quality but site 8 was found under poor water quality after the religious activities. The good water quality status of water bodies was correlated with larger size of the water bodies and less number of pilgrims; however, the poor WQI values may be attributed to smaller size of the water body and heavy load of pilgrims on such sites. Therefore, water of these religious water bodies needed to be regularly changed after mass bathing to protect the aquatic component from different contaminations

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF BIPHENYL-2,6-DIETHANONE DERIVATIVES

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of biphenyl-2,6-diethanone derivatives against Cryptococcus neoformans.Methods: Antifungal activity of biphenyl derivatives were evaluated against C. neoformans. Zone of inhibition by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using micro-broth dilution method was performed as per clinical and laboratory standard institute (CLSI). Melanin was extracted using 1M KOH, purified using 6M HCL and its reduction was assayed spectrophotometrically at 530 nm. Laccase activity was measured using L-DOPA as substrate and was assayed spectrophotometrically at 480 nm. Time kill assay was also performed to compare the antifungal potency of the test compound against azole drug.Results: Zone of inhibition of 12 mm diameter was estimated against C. neoformans. MIC80 of compound 1e was calculated as 50µg/ml. 63.67% decrease in melanization and 57.44% laccase activity reduction was determined. The Time-kill assay illustrated that the compound 1e inhibited the growth of C. neoformans cells in almost the same duration as observed in fluconazole.Conclusion: The outcome of in vitro antifungal studies indicated that compound 1e demonstrated maximum reduction of melanin and laccase activity in C. neoformans. In conclusion, biphenyl-2,6-diethanone derivatives possess significant antifungal property which can be explored further for lead generation.Â

Quantitative estimation of serum 25(OH) D and associated risk factors of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Introduction: Insufficiency of vitamin D is now known globally and is exceptionally common in temperate and tropical countries. Due to its several negative maternal and fetal health consequences, vitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy is a growing concern worldwide. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary medical hospital for one year. A sample of 280 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) were enrolled using a random sampling technique. A standard questionnaire was designed to collect socio-demographic details and the sun exposure of participants. To analyse dietary habits and consumption of vitamin D-rich foods, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. Serum samples were obtained and analyzed for and calcium levels. Results: High prevalence of maternal vitamin D insufficiency 122 (43.57%) and deficiency 92 (32.85%) observed. Most 263 (94%) participants had adequate serum calcium levels (> 8.5 mg/dL). Younger participants (< 25 yrs.) had low mean vitamin D (17.61±13.89 ng/mL), adequate calcium (9.52±0.70 mg/dL) levels. Rural residence, multigravida, advanced trimester, poor education, joint family, unemployment, and lower socioeconomic status were found associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusion: In the present study a high prevalence of maternal vitamin D deficiency was observed. The burden of Vitamin D inadequacy (76.39%) reflects poor nutritional status and health risks for mothers and fetuses. Sociodemographic factors (Residence, Education, Family, and Socioeconomic status) were linked to this micronutrient deficiency. There is a need for further community-based nutritional research on sociodemographic, biological, and nutritional determinants for in-depth understanding

Recent advances and viability in sustainable thermochemical conversion of sludge to bio-fuel production

Thermochemical methods are regarded as promising approach for managing sludge, that can achieve resources and energy recovery, volume reduction followed by efficient elimination of microorganisms. This review highlights an extensive description of the implementation of thermochemical technologies involving pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction for valorisation of sludge into bio-fuel thus reducing the issues related to surplus generation and accumulation of sludge in environment affecting human health followed by rapid depletion of energy resources. The paper addresses working mechanism of thermochemical processes, their implementation for sludge conversion to bio-fuel and common factors affecting the process efficiency. Various studies have proved possible potential of thermochemical techniques for conversion of sludge to bio-fuel obtaining a high yield of bio-fuel and syngas. However, few technical challenges are still there that requires further studies and understanding for a better commercialization on industrial-scale and subsequently the future perspectives have also been analysed. Data collected from existing studies revealed that hydrothermal liquefaction has the efficiency to be proved better than other thermochemical technologies for proper valorisation of sludge resulting in high bio-fuel yield

Biotechnological advances for combating Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in crops

Aflatoxins are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive byproducts of Aspergillus spp. that contaminate a wide range of crops such as maize, peanut, and cotton. Aflatoxin not only affects crop production but renders the produce unfit for consumption and harmful to human and livestock health, with stringent threshold limits of acceptability. In many crops, breeding for resistance is not a reliable option because of the limited availability of genotypes with durable resistance to Aspergillus. Understanding the fungal/crop/environment interactions involved in aflatoxin contamination is therefore essential in designing measures for its prevention and control. For a sustainable solution to aflatoxin contamination, research must be focused on identifying and improving knowledge of host–plant resistance factors to aflatoxin accumulation. Current advances in genetic transformation, proteomics, RNAi technology, and marker-assisted selection offer great potential in minimizing preharvest aflatoxin contamination in cultivated crop species. Moreover, developing effective phenotyping strategies for transgenic as well as precision breeding of resistance genes into commercial varieties is critical. While appropriate storage practices can generally minimize post-harvest aflatoxin contamination in crops, the use of biotechnology to interrupt the probability of pre-harvest infection and contamination has the potential to provide sustainable solutio

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good