Transforming Steel Domain Green through Innovative Waste Management - A Jindal Approach

The paper summarises the various innovative approaches taken at the COREX process based integrated steel plant of M/s Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Limited. The economics of res-ource recyling has also been described

Localized bioconvection of Euglena caused by phototaxis in the lateral direction

Euglena, a swimming micro-organism, exhibited a characteristic bioconvection that was localized at the center of a sealed chamber under bright illumination to induce negative phototaxis. This localized pattern consisted of high-density spots, in which convection was found. These observations were reproduced by a mathematical model that was based on the phototaxis of individual cells in both the vertical and lateral directions. Our results indicate that this convection is maintained by upward swimming, as with general bioconvection, and the localization originates from lateral phototaxis

A marine biogenic source of atmospheric ice nucleating particles

The amount of ice present in clouds can affect cloud lifetime, precipitation and radiative properties1,2. The formation of ice in clouds is facilitated by the presence of airborne ice nucleating particles1,2. Sea spray is one of the major global sources of atmospheric particles, but it is unclear to what extent these particles are capable of nucleating ice3-11. Sea spray aerosol contains large amounts of organic material that is ejected into the atmosphere during bubble bursting at the organically enriched sea-air interface or sea surface microlayer12-19. Here we show that organic material in the sea surface microlayer nucleates ice under conditions relevant for mixed-phase cloud and high-altitude ice cloud formation. The ice nucleating material is likely biogenic and less than ~0.2 μm in size. We find that exudates separated from cells of the marine diatom T. Pseudonana nucleate ice and propose that organic material associated with phytoplankton cell exudates is a likely candidate for the observed ice nucleating ability of the microlayer samples. Global model simulations of marine organic aerosol in combination with our measurements suggest that marine organic material may be an important source of ice nucleating particles in remote marine environments such as the Southern Ocean, North Pacific and North Atlantic

Activity and diversity of bacteria in inceptisol

Not AvailableAim: Soil microorganisms play an important role in sustaining soil health and long term productivity by performing major soil functions like decomposition of organic matter, nutrient cycling and formation of soil aggregate etc. The main objective of the present investigation was to study the long term (42 years) effect of different management practices on the activity and diversity of bacteria isolated from a New Gangetic alluvial soil with rice-wheat-jute cropping system. Methodology: Soil samples were collected from five different management practices viz., fallow, control, 100% recommended dose of NPK, 150% of recommended dose of NPK and 100% recommended dose of NPK plus farmyard manure under 42 years old long term fertilizer experiment with rice-wheat-jute cropping system at Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, West Bengal. Soil samples were analysed for microbial populations using various media, microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, FDA hydrolase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity of soil. Bacterial diversity was analysed by PCR-RFLP of genomic DNA of isolates using Hae III restriction enzyme. Results: Enumeration of soil microbes was done by standard method of serial dilution and spread plate technique using different media. Highest bacterial population was found with 100% NPK+FYM treatment on nutrient agar media Microbial biomass carbon content under different management practices varied from 221 to 447 mg kg⁻¹ soil and highest was found with 100% NPK+FYM treatment. For all the four enzyme activities, highest value was found with integrated treatment and lowest was with control treatment. Dendrogram derived from the distance matrix by UPGMA, a total of 35 clusters were recorded for 59 bacterial isolates. Interpretation: Integrated management practices with balanced use of mineral fertilizers and organic manures sustain the microbial activity and diversity and maintain soil health.Not Availabl