Ecological Status and Conservation Strategies of Lakes-A Case Study on Bangalore South

The environmental condition of any lake system depends upon the nature of the wetland and its exposure to various environmental factors. These fragile ecosystems must maintain the state of environmental equilibrium with the existing condition of the surroundings. For the present study Physico-chemical analysis was carried out using APHA, 2005. Physical Examination of the lakes exposed major threats to the lakes viz Sewage entry, Encroachment, Exploitation of lake water, climate change and developmental activities. The Physico-chemical results reveal that five lakes namely Bandematta Hosakere, Odegerahalli Dobasipalyakere, Manganahalli haranakatte, Kannahalli, and Ramasandra Chikkakere were marginally polluted. Stakeholders, Localities, NGO’s and Environmental Educationalists are significant for conservation of lakes and Lake Biodiversity021FDDF[CE

Water Quality Studies of Bellandur Lake, Urban Bangalore, Karnataka, India

The pace of urbanization is increasing globally, putting more pressure on local water quality. In addition to discharges of urban and industrial wastewater, urban areas add to poor water quality in a number of ways. The study was conducted to assess the water quality values of Bellandur Lake which is a major tank in Varthur of Bangalore SouthTaluk.Samples were collected in clean and sterilized plastic bottles of 2 litercapacity. The samples were collected to examine the water quality in the month of February 2013 of Bellandur Lake, 30 cm below the surface of water and brought to the laboratory for Physico-chemical parameters analysis.Selected parameters were analyzed by following standard methods APHA, (2005).The obtained results were subjected to Statistical Analysisusing Microsoft offices excel 2010.The water quality of Bellandurlakehas exaggerated due by the consequent changes and urbanization, which indicated the physico-chemical concentrations of lakes found in high levels. Despite of some conservation efforts made by the authorities this lake is threatening immeasurably. Continuous monitoring of lakes should be enacted properly as from the origin point at the end to overcome these situations.ÿÿÿÿÿÿ

Temporal Variation in Water Quality Parameters of Bandematta Hosakere Lake-Peri Urban Area of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Lakes have played an important role in the history of Bengaluru; these were the primary sources of drinking water and irrigation in the last two decades. Due to the boom in the IT and related sectors in the silicon valley of India, has created an acute stress on the natural resources and infrastructure of the city of Bangalore with exponential growth in population. Bandematta is located in southern part Bangalore metropolitan. An attempt has been made to ascertain the Temporal Variation of water quality parameters; present study was carried-out for one year for four seasons (January 2013 to December 2013) as prescribed by Indian Meteorological Department. Seasonally the water samples were collected to analyse different physical and chemical parameters by following the standard methods of APHA (2005). Temporal variations were recorded, analysed and compared with standards and the pollution status was investigated. High levels of EC, TDS, BOD, Nitrate-Nitrogen and Total Hardness was recorded at an average of 1387.50 µS/cm, 912.43 mg/L, 4.45 mg/L, 12.73 mg/L and 342.93 mg/L respectively. Sodium and potassium were also in excess concentrations and that reflects on the agriculture. The results revealed that there is heavy organic load in Bandematta Lake. High levels of variations in various physico – chemical parameters were recorded due to anthropogenic activity and discharge of wastewater. The Temporal Variation of water quality parameters recorded is alarming and if it is going to continues for the Bandematta Lake, it will be difficult to sustain

Policy Framework for Conservation of Water Bodies in Bangalore

Over the past two decades there has been a serious decline in the quality and number of lakes in the Bangalore urban region.This has resulted in a serious decline in access to water and has also affected food security, livelihoods and biodiversity potential of these wetland ecosystems. The Need for revival of conservation of water bodies was discussed. The interpretation of existing trends and scenarios in the process of conservation of lakes is based on interactions with limited key players namely government stakeholders, developers involved in similar projects and personnel involved in the field work. The state government is taking an initiative to conserve several large waterbodies in and around the city and it is in the process of identifying these areas. Legislations/ Acts directly or indirectly linked with the conservation of waterbodies but the Legislations / Act were not managed in present conditions. Several measures which the Government intended to explore the possibility towork in close partnership with the private sector in protection, conservation and sustainablemanagement of lakes.Legal framework should be properly endorsed in conserving the urban water bodies

Temporal rhythms in physico-chemical characteristics of Gangondanahalli Lake, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Water bodies in urban Bangalore cover about 5% of the land. These lakes form a unique, irreplaceable system. The present study was carried out from January 2014 to December 2014 in Gangondanahalli Lake and the water samples were collected seasonally and analysed for physico chemical factors following standard methods (APHA 2005). It was observed that the Lake is under tremendous anthropogenic pressures pumping heavy loads of domestic sewage and dumping of solid material leading to rapid tropic evolution in the form of eutrophication

Automatic Driver Drowsiness Detection System

The proposed system aims to lessen the number of accidents that occur due to drivers’ drowsiness and fatigue, which will in turn increase transportation safety. This has become a common reason for accidents in recent times. Several facial and body gestures are considered signs of drowsiness and fatigue in drivers, including tiredness in the eyes and yawning. These features are an indication that the driver’s condition is improper. EAR (Eye Aspect Ratio) computes the ratio of distances between the horizontal and vertical eye landmarks, which is required for the detection of drowsiness. For the purpose of yawn detection, a YAWN value is calculated using the distance between the lower lip and the upper lip, and the distance will be compared against a threshold value. We have deployed an eSpeak module (text-to-speech synthesiser), which is used for giving appropriate voice alerts when the driver is feeling drowsy or is yawning. The proposed system is designed to decrease the rate of accidents and contribute to technology with the goal of preventing fatalities caused by road accidents. Over the past ten years, advances in artificial intelligence and computing technologies have improved driver monitoring systems. Several experimental studies have gathered data on actual driver fatigue using different artificial intelligence systems. In order to dramatically improve these systems' real-time performance, feature combinations are used. An updated evaluation of the driver sleepiness detection technologies put in place during the previous ten years is presented in this research. The paper discusses and displays current systems that track and identify drowsiness using various metrics. Based on the information used, each system can be categorised into one of four groups. Each system in this paper comes with a thorough discussion of the features, classification rules, and datasets it employs.&nbsp

Ethics Dumping – How not to do research in resource-poor settings

Ethics dumping is a global phenomenon involving the ‘off-shoring’of research. Research that would be prohibited, severely restrictedor regarded as highly patronizing in high-income regions is instead conducted inresource-poor settings. Twenty-eight case studies of ethics dumping were examined through inductive thematic analysis to reveal predisposing factors from the perspective of researchers from high-income regions. Six categories were agreed and further illuminated: Patronizing conduct, unfair distribution of benefits and/or burdens, culturally inappropriate conduct, double standards, lack of due diligence and lack of transparency. The ultimate aim of the paper is to deepen understanding of thesehighly unethical practicesamongst academics who stand against poverty, leading to theirfurther reduction

A different approach to soil analysis: Indicative studies

Soil analysis is a tool that has been employed with the primary goal of providing recommendations for soil rectification, crop productivity and for soil health management. Time tested methods like ammonium acetate extraction and diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) are commonly used for analysis of bioavailable nutrients. However, there are some limitations to these methods as both extraction fluids are buffered to neutral or near-neutral pH. Hence extracted nutrients represent a “potential or ideal-case” fertility status of soil instead of an “actual” field status. In the ‘Regular methods’, we are overlooking the role of pH, the master variable, in determining the availability of nutrients. Hence, in ‘Modified methods’, the extraction fluid is buffered to actual soil pH. Results obtained with over 150 random samples representing a range of pH, have indicated a difference in values between regular and modified extraction methods. The modified methods (MM) of ammonium acetate and DTPA extraction adjusted to soil pH were found to be better than regular method (RM) for estimation of calcium, magnesium with ammonium acetate and iron and manganese with DTPA in alkaline soils above pH 8.0. For a complete picture of soil health, productivity and fertility, microbiological and enzymatic analysis of soils were included in the present study. Soil solution equivalent medium (SSE) was found to be the appropriate culture medium for microbial counts. A linear relationship was found between urease activity and available nitrogen of soil

"Harnessing genomics to improve health in India" – an executive course to support genomics policy

BACKGROUND: The benefits of scientific medicine have eluded millions in developing countries and the genomics revolution threatens to increase health inequities between North and South. India, as a developing yet also industrialized country, is uniquely positioned to pioneer science policy innovations to narrow the genomics divide. Recognizing this, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics conducted a Genomics Policy Executive Course in January 2003 in Kerala, India. The course provided a forum for stakeholders to discuss the relevance of genomics for health in India. This article presents the course findings and recommendations formulated by the participants for genomics policy in India. METHODS: The course goals were to familiarize participants with the implications of genomics for health in India; analyze and debate policy and ethical issues; and develop a multi-sectoral opinion leaders' network to share perspectives. To achieve these goals, the course brought together representatives of academic research centres, biotechnology companies, regulatory bodies, media, voluntary, and legal organizations to engage in discussion. Topics included scientific advances in genomics, followed by innovations in business models, public sector perspectives, ethics, legal issues and national innovation systems. RESULTS: Seven main recommendations emerged: increase funding for healthcare research with appropriate emphasis on genomics; leverage India's assets such as traditional knowledge and genomic diversity in consultation with knowledge-holders; prioritize strategic entry points for India; improve industry-academic interface with appropriate incentives to improve public health and the nation's wealth; develop independent, accountable, transparent regulatory systems to ensure that ethical, legal and social issues are addressed for a single entry, smart and effective system; engage the public and ensure broad-based input into policy setting; ensure equitable access of poor to genomics products and services; deliver knowledge, products and services for public health. A key outcome of the course was the internet-based opinion leaders' network – the Indian Genome Policy Forum – a multi-stakeholder forum to foster further discussion on policy. CONCLUSION: We expect that the process that has led to this network will serve as a model to establish similar Science and Technology policy networks on regional levels and eventually on a global level

Understanding The Role Of Health Literacy In Self-Medication: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Study In West Godavari District Of Andhra Pradesh

Background: Self-medication is the practice of treating any ailment or symptom that a person diagnoses for themselves without first visiting a physician. Different communities display different behaviours; hence the purpose of this study is to statistically investigate the patterns and prevalence of self-medication usage. Although health literacy practices have been increasingly recommended in public health literature, there is a lack of studies that examine the relationships between health literacy and self-medication. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, community-based research approach was used in a sample of 316 participants. Health literacy was measured by Single Item Literacy Screener. Data was analysed using SPSS 29.0 version. Results:  A total of 316 participants agreed to participate (63.9% were females). The results showed that more than half, 53.4% had adequate health literacy. The prevalence of self-medication was 74%, in these 52% had used medicines by previous prescription and 8% used alternative medicine. There was a significant relationship between the overall health literacy level and practice of self-medication. Conclusion: Improving the health literacy level of the public can reduce inappropriate self-medication Therefore, the design and implementation of training programs are necessary to increase the perception on the risk of self-medication. Appropriate reading skills are important for accessing health information, using health care services, and achieving desirable health outcomes