Uncertainty Characterization in the Design of Hydraulic Structures Profiles Using Genetic Algorithm And Fuzzy Logic

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

IMPACT ON PROLINE CONTENT OF JATROPHA CURCAS IN FLY ASH AMENDED SOIL WITH RESPECT TO HEAVY METALS

Objective: To reveal the property of Jatropha curcas, to retain itself under the heavy metal stress of high concentration of fly ash through the increase in proline content in plants.Methods: A pot culture experiment was conducted to investigate growth performance, biochemical and physiological responses of the Jatropha curcas (n=15) in fly ash amended the soil. The present study was performed as an attempt to determine the growth performance of Jatropha curcas using various concentrations of fly ash and soil [100% soil (T1), 25% fly ash+75% soil (T2), 50% fly ash+50% soil (T3) and 75% fly ash+25% soil (T4) and 100% fly ash (T5)]. The elemental composition (Zn, Ca, Mg, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Cd) was studied by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in base material at the beginning and at the end of the study. The three years response was reported and observed that the proline content in Jatropha curcas leaves increased as the fly ash concentration increased (as proline is a stress protein which is formed according to the defensive capability of plants).Results: After three years of complete plant growth the elemental (heavy metals) uptake increased with respect to the availability. The overall proline content increased as 2.48 µg/ml, 3.97 µg/ml, 4.78 µg/ml, 5.25 µg/ml and 5.60 µg/ml in T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. After evaluating the correlation between heavy metal uptake and proline content, all the results showed positive significance at 0.05% and 0.01% significance level.Conclusion: According to the results it has been proved that when heavy metal uptake by Jatropha curcas increases through fly ash, the proline content increases according to its capability to defence itself in stress conditions. This research motivated to waste utilization, sustainable development, and environment protection.Keywords: Soil, Fly ash, Jatropha curcas, Proline, Growth performanc

Management of Pollution in Groundwater Systems Using Neuro-Fuzzy Model

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Validation of body fat measurement by skinfolds and two bioelectric impedance methods with DEXA - the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study [CURES-3]

Background and Objective: Although Asian Indians have been shown to have increased body fat compared to Europeans, there have been very few studies in Asian Indians validating the various methods available for body fat measurement. The aim of this study was to test the validity of body fat measured by two commercial impedance analyzers (leg-to-leg and hand-held) as well as by skinfolds with Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DEXA) as the reference method in a population based study in southern India. Methods: Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured in 162 South Indian urban men (n=76) and women (n=86) randomly selected from the "Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study" (CURES), an ongoing population based study of a representative population of Chennai. The mean age of the subjects was 45.1 ± 9.0 years and the body mass index ranged from 16.4 - 34.4 kg/m2. Percentage body fat was measured using DEXA, segmental impedance (leg-to-leg: BF%IMP-LEG; and hand-held BF%IMP-HAND) using the manufacturer's software and skinfolds using the prediction equation from the literature (BF%SKFD). Results: Body fat (%) determined by the leg-to-leg method (BF%IMP-LEG 35.10 ± 7.26) and the skinfolds (BF%SKFD 35.77 ± 6.06) did not differ significantly from the reference method DEXA (BF%DEXA 35.82 ± 8.33), but the hand-held impedance method (BF%IMP-HAND 31.38 ±6.24) showed significant difference (p < 0.001). The bias for estimation of body fat (%) for the bioimpedance leg-to-leg, hand-held and skinfolds were 0.73 ± 5.70, 4.45 ± 4.83 and 0.06 ± 5.86 respectively. All the three methods showed a fairly good correlation with DEXA (BF%IMP-LEG : r = 0.741, p<0.001; BF%IMP-HAND : r = 0.817, p< 0.001; BF%SKFD : r = 0.710, p< 0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that in urban south Indians, measurement of body fat by the leg-to-leg impedance and the skinfold method have better agreement (lower bias) with DEXA than the hand-held impedance. However, all three methods (skinfolds, the leg-to-leg bioelectric impedance and hand-held impedance) show a fairly good correlation with DEXA