Impacts of vehicle exhaust black soot on germination of gram seed (Cicer arietinum L.)

An investigation was initiated to examine the effects of carbon soot collected from exhaust tube of 15 years old petrol and diesel operated vehicles on gram seed germination and biochemical changes of seedling. In view of the widespread cultivation of gram seed in India and long-term impact of black carbon is the warming of the atmosphere as per the recommendation of IPCC (2007). Black soot were separately treated with different doses and the effects of these treatment had on seed germination, seedling vigor, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, root and shoot growth, protein, sugar, phenol and proline estimation were studied. The treatment T6 significantly affected on seed germination (84%) as well as seedling vigor and chlorophyll content. But other treatment promoted both seed germination and seedling vigor along with enhancement of other biochemical constituents. On the other hand micrograph study revealed that treatments T1 and T4 both showed negative effects on stomata rather than the ultra-structure of xylem and phloem

Determinants of smoking and chewing habits among rural school children in Bankura district of West Bengal, India

Objectives The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of smoking and chewing habits and causes of addiction among the school children of rural areas.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools from rural areas of Bankura District, West Bengal during August 2012 to September 2012. Total 1674 students studying in 5th to 10th standard (age group of 10-15 years) were enrolled in the present study. A self-administered questionnaire was applied for data collection.Results The study showed that 18.45%, 27.95% and 67.56% of the students were smokers, chewer and non-addicted, respectively. Considerable number of boys were addicted with smoking (boys 32.3% vs. 4.33girls %) and chewing habits (boys 43.53% vs 12.15girls %). In case of boys, these habits were increased with advancement of ages. Students were more attracted to bidi and tobacco with pan-masala among different types of smoking and chewing agents. The most familiar reasons for tobacco user were: influenced by friends (22.88%), influenced by family members (16.32%) and stress relief (10.88%). Conclusion This study indicated that smoking and chewing habits among school children in rural areas is looming public health issue. Adverse health effect of tobacco use may be incorporated in school secondary curriculum to change the attraction with tobacco among the young generation

Seasonal variation of soil enzymes in areas of fluoride stress in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

AbstractSoil enzyme activities provide a unique biochemical means for assessing soil function as an indicator of soil fertility, which can be altered by a profusion of fluoride in the soil and seasonal changes. Seven sites were chosen in the fluoride-affected area of Nasipur, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India, to compare seasonal changes in enzymes (urease, amylase, cellulase and invertase), fluoride content, physicochemical characteristics and the availability of microbes in the soil with a control. The activity of all the enzymes varied with season. Urease had greater activity in the summer, followed by winter; it showed marginal differences from the control area during the winter (p<0.002) and summer (p<0.110) but a significant (p<0.000) difference during the rainy season. Soil pH had a negative impact on urease activity during both winter and summer. Cellulase activity was accelerated by the organic matter and organic carbon content of the soil. Fluoride therefore had the greatest activity against urease activity during the rainy, summer and winter seasons. The microbial population of the soil also showed a negative impact of fluoride, which may in turn affect the soil enzymes and characteristics

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Determinants of smoking and chewing habits among rural school children in Bankura district of West Bengal, India

Objectives The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of smoking and chewing habits and causes of addiction among the school children of rural areas. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools from rural areas of Bankura District, West Bengal during August 2012 to September 2012. Total 1674 students studying in 5th to 10th standard (age group of 10-15 years) were enrolled in the present study. A self-administered questionnaire was applied for data collection. Results Thestudyshowedthat18.45%,27.95%and67.56%ofthestudentswere smokers, chewer and non-addicted, respectively. Considerable number of boys were addicted with smoking (boys 32.3% vs 4.33girls %) and chewing habits (boys 43.53% vs 12.15girls %). In case of boys, these habits were increased with advancement of ages. Students were more attracted to bidi and tobacco with pan- masala among different types of smoking and chewing agents. The most familiar reasons for tobacco user were: influenced by friends (22.88%), influenced by family members (16.32%) and stress relief (10.88%). Conclusion This study indicated that smoking and chewing habits among school children in rural areas is looming public health issue. Adverse health effect of tobacco use may be incorporated in school secondary curriculum to change the attraction with tobacco among the young generation

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT INDUSTRIES CENTRE LISTED ENTREPRENEURS OF ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO JORHAT DISTRICT

<p>This study aims to examine the trend of assorted DIC registered business enterprise in Jorhat district of Assam. Data of six financial year i.e. 2010-11 to 2015-16 are taken into consideration to measures the various aspects which are related to entrepreneurial growth and employment generation. By comprising four objectives, this study attempts to focus on various areas such as engagement of male and female entrepreneurs in manufacturing and service sector, share of various of agro and non-agro based enterprises, employment generation scenario and impact of investment in plant and machinery in annual turnover. In the study it was found that in the initial three years share of male entrepreneurs was more and from the financial year 2014-15 to 2015-16, share of female entrepreneurs increased drastically. The weightage of non-agro based business is much higher than agro-based business and ratio of annual turnover to investment in plant and machinery marginal except in the year 2012-13 which was 17:1.</p

Decontamination and optimization study of hexavalent chromium on modified chicken feather using response surface methodology

Abstract Present research highlighted the efficacy of alkali-treated (1% NaOH) chicken feather toward removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution through batch study. Box–Behnken design (BBD) by response surface methodology was used to optimize the adsorption process. Kinetics and sorption isotherms have been determined considering the effect of initial metal concentration, adsorbent dose, contract time, and temperature. Batch sorbent data were fitted to various sorption models, and results indicate that Cr(VI) sorption process using alkali-treated chicken feathers followed the pseudo-second-order rate model, while sorption isotherms were described properly by both Langmuir (R 2: 0.997) and Freundlich isotherms (R 2: 0.979). Based on BBD design, the quadratic models were developed co-relating the adsorption variables to removal efficiency. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was incorporated to judge the adequacy of model (F:3484.72). Model predicted optimized conditions are initial concentration 5.64 mg/L, adsorption dose 0.15 g, contract time 29.60 min, pH 1.06 gave 88.9% removal efficiency. Sorption isotherms show that the experimental maximum sorption capacity of Cr(VI) was found to be 90.91 mg/g at 40 °C and pH 2. Therefore, present results demonstrate that alkali-treated chicken features should be regarded as a low-cost alternative for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution