Role of Higher Education Institutions in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development: A case study of Shivaji University, Maharashtra, India.

The ever increasing population and changing lifestyles are making the environmental problems more critical. Higher educational institutions can be the best solution to solve this situation. Higher education can play a crucial role in sustainable development of any nation. As environmental sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue for the world, the role of higher educational institutions in relation to environmental sustainability is more prevalent. Universities are the apex bodies in higher education system and can provide environmental education through its curricular design, research and collaborative efforts with NGO’s working in those areas. They can provide trained manpower and knowledgeable expertise to solve critical environmental problems. They can also act as a good networking system and data collector. Shivaji University is one of the significant higher education institution located in heart of Western Ghats working with the same goal of environmental sustainability through various activities. The paper examines the efforts taken by higher education in environmental development in the areas of creating healthy environment and conservation of resources. Key words: Role of Higher education, Environmental protection, Universities, sustainable developmen

Isolation, Screening and Characterization of Exopolysaccharide Producing Pseudomonas Sp. from The Soil Sample

  Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are vital metabolites that specific environmental microorganisms produce and expel. The goal of the current investigation is to identify bacteria that produce exopolysaccharides in soil samples from the Buttenath Dam region, At. Chanai, Tq. Ambajogai, Dist. Beed situated in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. Two methods, such as gravimetric analysis of exopolysaccharide dry weight and quantification as, instance, for total carbohydrate content using phenol sulphuric acid technique, were used to screen the EPS-producing capacities of the chosen isolates. Post preliminary screening by selecting thick, ropy-like colony formers on agar medium, the results showed that thirteen (13) distinct colonies were marked to manufacture EPS. Tentative identification of these isolates was done based on morphological and biochemical tests. Three (03) isolates, VJ001, VJ003 and VJ010, were identified through secondary screening as the most effective EPS producers (producing precipitates over 1.46 mg/L of total dry weight and 8). This was in comparison to other bacterial colonies that were also isolated. Out of these screened isolates, VJ003 was the isolate with the highest exopolysaccharide produced and this isolated bacterium was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogeny study as Pseudomonas aeruginosa VJ003 with NCBI GeneBank accession no. OR196093. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa VJ003 strain can be used in biotechnological sectors because of the ability it has to create significant levels of exopolysaccharides, according to the results of the current study

Coordinated analysis of two graphite grains from the CO3.0 LAP 031117 meteorite: First identification of a CO Nova graphite and a presolar iron sulfide subgrain

Presolar grains constitute remnants of stars that existed before the formation of the solar system. In addition to providing direct information on the materials from which the solar system formed, these grains provide ground-truth information for models of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. Here we report the in-situ identification of two unique presolar graphite grains from the primitive meteorite LaPaz Icefield 031117. Based on these two graphite grains, we estimate a bulk presolar graphite abundance of 5-3+7 ppm in this meteorite. One of the grains (LAP-141) is characterized by an enrichment in 12C and depletions in 33,34S, and contains a small iron sulfide subgrain, representing the first unambiguous identification of presolar iron sulfide. The other grain (LAP-149) is extremely 13C-rich and 15N-poor, with one of the lowest 12C/13C ratios observed among presolar grains. Comparison of its isotopic compositions with new stellar nucleosynthesis and dust condensation models indicates an origin in the ejecta of a low-mass CO nova. Grain LAP-149 is the first putative nova grain that quantitatively best matches nova model predictions, providing the first strong evidence for graphite condensation in nova ejecta. Our discovery confirms that CO nova graphite and presolar iron sulfide contributed to the original building blocks of the solar system.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Synthesis of active electrocatalysts using glycine–nitrate chemistry

Due to sluggish oxygen reduction reactions, development in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) field is stagnant. Two solutions, increasing the active surface or use of precious materials, can stimulate the oxygen reduction kinetics on electrodes. Thus, to gain both these benefits, the present article addressed the synthesis of high surface-area mixed oxide ionic–electronic conductor La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (LSCF) using chemistry of the propellant glycine–nitrate reaction. In this study, different fuel to oxidant ratios (ψ), 2.0, 2.6, and 3.0 were used to control the exothermicity of reaction and powder properties. The maximum reaction temperature of 1337 K at ψ = 3.0 resulted in coarsened powder. In contrast, comparatively less exothermicity of reaction at ψ = 2.0 resulted in powder with substantial Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 10.97 m2 g−1, with maximum powder compaction achieved at sintering of 1273 K. With optimal direct current in-plane electrical conductivity of 341 S cm−1, H2-temperature-programmed reduction showed excellent catalytic activity for the sample obtained at ψ = 2.0. The electrochemical performance comparisons of electrodes in two different cell geometries – with and without a gold catalytic current collecting layer (Au–CCCL) – revealed the least polarization and cell resistance in the cell with Au–CCCL. The electrode area specific resistance and cell conductivity using Au–CCCL were 0.097 Ω cm−2 and 0.15 S cm−1, respectively.publishe

INFLUENCE OF METAL NITRATE TO FUEL RATIO ON THE MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF NIFE2O4

Objective: Nickel ferrite nanoparticles with dimensions below 30 nm have been synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion process. The nitrate-citrate gels were prepared from metal nitrates and citric acid solutions under various molar ratios of the metal nitrate to citric acid of 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 by sol-gel process. The results showed that nitrate citrate gels exhibit a self propagating behaviour after ignition in air at room temperature. The ratio of nitrates to citric acid also affects the combustion process. The as-prepared powder was annealed at 5000C for 6 hrs. The phase composition and structural properties of the obtained samples are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Analysis of the XRD patterns showed the presence of α-Fe2O3 phase and other refractions corresponding to cubic spinel structure. The lattice constant obtained from XRD data increases with metal nitrate to fuel (citric acid) ratio. PACS No: 75.50.Gg, 74.25.Ld, 43.35.C

Antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potential of methanolic extract of bark of mimusops elengi l. In mice

Ayurveda refers Mimusops elengi L. for the treatment of the diabetes. Considering the traditional claim of M. elengi in management of diabetes and the possible involvement of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of diabetes, the present study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antihyperglycemic property of methanolic extract of bark of M. elengi (MEMeOH). In vitro antioxidant activity of MEMeOH was evaluated using reducing power assay, DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. MEMeOH offered significant in vitro reducing power capacity and radical scavenging activity. In acute study in alloxan induced diabetes, MEMeOH exhibited significant (p< 0.001) antihyperglycemic effect. The onset of antihyperglycemic effect was observed at 2nd hr; peak activity was demonstrated at 6th hr. The antihyperglycemic effect of MEMeOH 400mg/kg, p.o. was persistent up to 24th hr after drug administration. MEMeOH produced significant (p < 0.01) reduction in elevated glucose levels in glucose loaded non diabetic animals. The onset of action in non diabetic oral glucose tolerance test was found to be at 60th min and peak activity was observed at 120th min after oral glucose load. MEMeOH demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) reduction in elevated glucose levels 2hr before glucose administration and 6 hr after glucose load in oral glucose tolerance test in diabetic animals. MEMeOH has demonstrated antihyperglycemic activity in diabetic as well as non diabetic glucose loaded mice. MEMeOH should be further explored against diabetes and related complications.Keywords: Mimusops elengi; antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, DPPH, diabetic OGT

Study of early perinatal outcome in lower segment caesarean section in severe foetal distress at tertiary care centre

Background: For asphyxia, the fetus reacts with a series of responses. First there is redistribution of blood flow to vital centres to limit the deleterious effects of oxygen limitation in the brain, heart and adrenal glands. A further compensatory response is that overall fetal oxygen consumption declines to values as low as 50% of the control.Methods: This was a prospective study. Early perinatal outcome of newborns delivered through Caesarean section due to clinical foetal distress in labour was compared with a group of newborns similarly delivered via Caesarean section without a diagnosis of clinical foetal distress. Data collected and analysed using appropriate standard statistical methods i.e. Chi-square (X2) test and ‘Z’ - test.Results: Most common indication for NICU admission in study group was MAS (Meconium Aspiration Syndrome 14%) followed by MAS with perinatal asphyxia (5.33%), MAS with Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) - stage III (3.33%) paerintal asphyxia (2.66%), severe PNA with HIE - III (0.66%) and TTN (0.66%) meconium gastritis (0.66%) respectively.Conclusions: Clinical foetal distress (study group) was found to be significantly associated with low 1 min and 5 min. Apgar score. There was no significant difference in immediate NICU admission whether D-D (i.e. detection fetal detection to delivery interval) time interval 30 minutes. But rate of mortality was high when D-D (i.e. detection fetal detection to delivery interval) was >30 minutes

DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MUCOADHESIVE GASTRO SPHERES OF CARVEDILOL

Objective: The purpose of this study was to design mucoadhesive gastro spheres of carvedilol targeting to upper GIT, and optimize it in terms of its entrapment efficiency and drug release. A 32 full factorial design was employed to study the effect of independent variables like sodium alginate and sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose on entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. Methods: Mucoadhesive gastro spheres were prepared by Orifice-Ionic gelation method, in which drug is uniformly distributed in the polymer solution so drug can be loaded easily in the polymer.32 full factorial designs were used to study the effect of process variables on formulation characteristics by applying statistical analysis. Results: FTIR, XRD and DSC analyses apparently did not indicate any interaction of the drug with the polymers. However, the drug content, drug entrapment efficiency and morphology of the gastro spheres were found to be influenced by the method of preparation, composition of gastro spheres as well as exposure to the cross linking agent. In vitro drug release study showed that drug release can be modified by varying drug to polymer ratio. The release rate was found to be decreased in accordance with the increase in the ratio of polymer used. Conclusion: From the study, we successfully developed carvedilol gastro spheres by using mucoadhesive polymer like SCMC and rate retardant sodium alginate polymer

Bioactive Components of Magical Velvet Beans

The plant Mucuna is an annual climbing shrub with long vines that can reach over fifteen meters in length. About 100–150 Mucuna species are found in the tropic and subtropic regions of both hemispheres of the earth. The genus Mucuna belongs to the family Leguminosae. It is commonly known as Kewanch, velvet bean, cowhage and kappikachhu and is found widely in India as a hardy, herbaceous, vigorous, twining annual plant. The size and dimension of the Mucuna seeds, pods, platelets and leaves change from species to species. The hair present on pods is anthelmintic, which causes itching. People are seeking great attention towards Mucuna due to its several medicinal properties, including L-DOPA (L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) along with supplementary antioxidants that are used for treating Parkinson’s disease and many neurodegenerative diseases. Thus it is being used in about 200 medicinal formulations. The current chapter outlines the work that determines the influence of different nutritional, anti-nutritional and medicinal values and bioactive agents from different parts of the Mucuna species present in India and its importance in medicine