Impact of juice factory spent wash on the growth and pigment content of Lablab purpures Sweet. (L.)

Juice factory spent wash effluent discharged as wastewater, contains various toxic chemicals that contaminate water and soil. It may affect the common crops if it is used for agricultural irrigation. Toxic nature of juice factory effluent is due to the presence of high amounts of organic and inorganic chemical loads and its high acidic in nature. The paper deals with the effects of untreated juice factory spent wash, on growth and pigments content of Lablab purpures Sweet. (L.). The Lablab purpures Sweet. (L.) is a commonly used legume crop in Tamil Nadu. Seeds were selected and surface-sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 for 2 minutes and washed with distilled water thoroughly. They were treated with different concentrations (5-100%) of effluent. The germination percentage growth (shoot and root length), fresh weight, dry weight and pigment content of the plants were investigated. The results revealed that the germination characters, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight and pigment content increased upto 5% concentration and there after decline in higher concentrations of spent wash effluent

Studies on The Growth and Biochemical Activity of Coleus aromaticus Benth. as Influenced by AM Fungi and Azospirillum

Mycorrhizal fungi are obligated symbiotic soil fungi which colonize the roots of the majority of plants. These fungi help to ensure an opportunity for the utilization of the symbiosis and contribute to the success of sustainable medicinal plants. To a large degree, mycorrhizas seems to be symbiotic relationships, in which the fungus obtains at least some of its sugars from the plant, while the plant benefits from the efficient uptake of mineral nutrients by the fungal hyphae. Coleus aromaticus Benth. (Lamiaceae), commonly called Indian Borage, is a medicinal plant and several medicinal properties are attributed to this plant in the Indian system of medicine. The study was conduct to evaluate the morphological parameters such as root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, total leaf area and root nodules was measured. The biochemical viz., chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’ total chlorophyll, protein, starch and amino acid contents were tabulated. The higher growth and biochemical content was observed the inoculation of AM fungi + Azospirillum applied plants when compared with control plants

Promoting Social Participation for Adolescents with Burn Injury: A Guideline for Occupational Therapy Practice

Adolescents with burn injury are vulnerable to psychosocial dysfunction because of the complex nature of their neurobiological, cognitive, and interpersonal changes that occur during this developmental stage. Physical differences in appearance also make these adolescents prone to peer bullying and at further risk for social functioning challenges. These social functioning challenges may involve underlying difficulties with cognitive functions needed to support adaptive social functioning and can present as social isolation, inappropriate social behaviors, or social anxiety. Promoting social participation is a recognized intervention to support positive mental health and is necessary for identity formation during transition into adulthood. This guideline describes assessment and intervention for adolescents with burn injury to improve adaptive capacities and facilitate social participation. Assessment of social-cognitive skills, resilience, and behavioral indicators of adaptive social functioning are discussed. A cognitive-approach to intervention is also described. The goal of this guideline is to enable occupational therapists to provide psychosocial assessment and intervention to adolescents with burn injury. We hope that this guideline is an impetus for evidence-based practice on the role occupational therapists can contribute to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and provide more comprehensive patient care for this population

Functional Cognition in Critically Ill Children: Asserting the Role of Occupational Therapy

In this Opinions in the Profession article, we aim to highlight the distinct importance of functional cognition as an assessment and intervention priority in children. In this paper, we use the population of critically-ill children as a specific case example. Functional cognition is the ability of individuals to use and integrate their thinking and processing skills to accomplish desired tasks in their everyday lives in meaningful contexts. We propose three themes through which occupational therapists can assume a more active role in understanding and addressing functional cognition and its impact on occupational performance in critically ill children. Supported by literature, we assert that occupational therapists should: (a) reframe and use the language of functional cognition with a pediatric perspective, (b) use and develop specific assessments to address functional cognition with critically ill children, and (c) include a functional cognition lens during occupation-focused interventions with critically ill children. As the profession of occupational therapy continues to prioritize the practice area of functional cognition, assessment and intervention guidelines will need to be further established and more evidence developed for pediatric specific populations. We urge occupational therapists working with critically ill children to begin to consistently use functional cognition as an essential element in all assessment and intervention planning

Effect of Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium on the Growth of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can increase the capability of the root systems to absorb and translocate phosphorus (P) and minor elements through an extensive network of mycelium.  AM fungi are commonly associated with legumes and can increase nutrient uptake of plants growing in high phosphate fixing soils.  The present study the efforts of AM fungi Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium on groundnut Arachis hypogaea L. The AM fungi Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium inoculation plants resulted in production of highest biomass such as plant, shoot length, root length, number of leaves, total number of root nodules, fresh and dry weight of plants and the biochemical content such as chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’, total sugar, starch content, proline, carbohydrates and protein contents. The inoculation of Glomus intraradices + Rhizobium showed an enhanced biomass when compared to other treatments. Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002  Please Cite This Article As:  K. Ramakrishnan and M. Lenin. 2010. Effect of Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium on the Growth of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). J. Ecobiotechnol. 2(5):01-08.Â

Hybridization of Self Adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm with Biogeography-Based Algorithm for Solving Reactive Power Problem

In this paper, Self-adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm (SaDE) Hybridized with Biogeography-Based Algorithm (BBO) to solve reactive power problem. In this proposed algorithm Iteration-level hybridization is done, in which Self-adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm and Biogeography-Based Algorithm (DEBA) is executed in sequence. Self-adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm acts independently and then exchanges information from Biogeography-Based algorithm. The proposed DEBA has been tested in IEEE 30,118 bus test systems and simulation results show clearly the better performance of the proposed algorithm in reducing the real power loss. Keywords: Evolutionary computation, Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithm, Biogeography-Based optimization, optimal reactive power, Transmission loss

Sugar Mill Effluent Toxicity In Crop Plants

The laboratory experiments were conducted to know the effect of different concentrations of sugar mill effluent on seed germination, biochemical content of crops. The experiment was conducted with the both crops at different concentrations of sugar mill effluent. The growth parameters such as germination percentage, seedling length, lateral roots, dry weight, were measured at 7th DAS. After sowing (DAS) the pigment content viz., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotene, sugar, starch, amino acid, protein contents were analysed at      7th day. All morphological growth parameters, biochemical contents, were found to increase at 5% effluent concentration and it decreased from 10% effluent concentration onwards. So these results reflect  that the sugar mill effluent is toxic to crop and it can be used for irrigation purpose after a proper treatment with appropriate dilution

Reduction of Real Power Loss and Safeguarding of Voltage Constancy by Artificial Immune System Algorithm

In this paper, Artificial Immune System (AIS) algorithm is used for solving reactive power problem. Artificial Immune System Algorithm, also termed as the machine learning approach to Artificial Intelligence, are powerful stochastic optimization techniques with potential features of random search, hill climbing, statistical sampling and competition. Artificial immune system algorithmic approach to power system optimization these ideas are embedded into proposed algorithm for solving reactive dispatch problem. In order to evaluate the proposed algorithm, it has been tested in standard IEEE 30,118 bus systems and compared to other specified algorithms. Simulation results show better performance of the proposed AIS algorithm in reducing the real power loss and preservation of voltage stability

Enriched Firefly Algorithm for Solving Reactive Power Problem

In this paper, Enriched Firefly Algorithm (EFA) is planned to solve optimal reactive power dispatch problem. This algorithm is a kind of swarm intelligence algorithm based on the response of a firefly to the light of other fireflies. In this paper, we plan an augmentation on the original firefly algorithm. The proposed algorithm extends the single population FA to the interacting multi-swarms by cooperative Models. The proposed EFA has been tested on standard IEEE 30 bus test system and simulation results show clearly the better performance of the proposed algorithm in reducing the real power loss

Multi-objective optimization in single-row layout design using a genetic algorithm

This paper presents the development of a genetic algorithm for determining a common linear machine sequence for multi-products with different operation sequences and facilities with a limited number of duplicate machine types available for a job. This work aims to minimize the total flow distance travelled by products, reduce the number of machines arranged in the final linear sequence, and decrease the total investment cost of the machines used in the final sequence. We assume that product flow runs only in the forward direction, either via in-sequence or bypass movement. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by solving a typical layout design problem taken from literature, and several randomly generated problems. Results indicate that the proposed algorithm serves as a practical decision support tool for resolving layout problems in manufacturing facilities