Ecophysiological response of Nerita oryzarum (Recluz), a gastropod, to variations in temperature, pH and salinity

During ecophysiological investigations on an intertidal gastropod, Nerita oryzarum (Recluz), of Mumbai shore, various biochemical changes could be recorded. Glycogen and lipid contents of N. oryzarum were found to decrease, whereas, water content increased with decreasing salinity. The rate of oxygen consumption declined with the decrease in salinity and also in highly acidic (pH 2) as well as highly alkaline (pH 10) sea water. The observed variations in the rate of oxygen consumption and changes in biochemical composition in the animal with changes in salinity, pH and temperature are probably the process of physiological and biochemical adjustments to the fluctuating environmental conditions in the intertidal region

Acute toxicity of copper, zinc and mercury on intertidal gastropods of Mumbai coast

The acute toxicity test conducted by static bioassay techniques have revealed that among selected heavy metals, copper is more toxic than zinc and mercury to Planaxis sulcatus and Trochus radiatus. The natural availability of heavy metals in the surrounding environment of these organisms is found to be deciding factor for their toxicity. Natural habitat of the animal also contributes to the sensitivity of a particular animal to the heavy metals tested. In addition the tendency of the animal to overcome the adverse conditions in their surrounding also plays a significant role in toxicity of pollutants

Impact of Faculty Student Rapport on Classroom Environment

Rapport-building is a well-known construct and so is Classroom Environment (CRE). Faculty-student rapport (FSR) in higher education is perceived to enhance motivational level, comfort level, communication and eventually learning. Connecting with students also leads to better student engagement in the learning process. A lot has been said about faculty-student rapport by theoreticians however research needs to measure its impact empirically. This research paper measures impact of FSR on CRE in the institutions imparting management and engineering education in NCR, India. Objective of this paper is to establish whether a positive correlation exists between FSR and CRE. Other objectives of this paper are to evaluate if stream of education (engineering/management) and gender of teacher have significant impact on FSR. Data was collected from 800 students from private institutions of National Capital Region (NCR), India using Professor-Student Rapport Scale and The College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI) questionnaire. The impact of FSR on CRE has been measured through Pearson Correlation. The impact of stream of education (engineering/management) and gender of teacher on FSR have been measured through T-test. This research paper primarily measures student perception. Pearson correlation on this data size of 800 affirmed that there exists a positive correlation between Faculty-student rapport and Classroom Environment. T-tests determined that stream of education does not impact FSR whereas gender of the teacher impacts FSR. Previous research has shown mixed results that FSR impacts student achievement. This does not mean that FSR should be neglected or given less importance. Faculty-student rapport impacts Classroom Environment and hence should be considered and maintained in higher education

Study on the Crystal Structure and Microstructure Evolution of Shock-processed Titanium Powder

Titanium powder was rapidly solidified by using shock-wave consolidation technique. The critical parameters were controlled by intrumented detonics and pin-oscillography. The compacted specimens were investigated for crystal structure and microstructural strengthening by using standard diagnostic techniques. The density of the final product was found to be greater than 96% of the theoretical value. X-ray diffraction pattern reveals intact crystalline structure without the presence of any undesired phases. The particle size reduction indicated by XRD was supported by laser diffraction based particle size analyzer. Results from energy dispersive spectroscopy ruled out the possibility of any segregation within the compacts. Scanning electron microscopy showed crack-free, voids-free, melt-free, fracture-less compacts of titanium with a unidirectional dendrite orientation without any grain-growth

Phyto-adsorption treatment of paper mill effluent using leaf powder of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms

In this present study, an experiment was performed to find the potential of leaf powder of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in treating paper mill effluent. During the study the value of different parameters viz., pH (5.80±0.10), TDS (980.22±12.52 mgL-1), EC (6.52±0.11 dS m-1), BOD (86.42±4.61 mgL-1), COD (281.01±8.66 mgL-1), PO43- (71.46±6.00 mgL-1), TKN (84.99±3.92 mgL-1), Na (136.94±6.66 mgL-1), K (95.01±3.48 mgL-1) and total hardness (442.39±3.78 mgL-1) of paper mill effluent were recorded higher before bio-adsorption treatment using leaf powder of E. crassipes. The leaf powder of E. crassipes significantly (P<0.05/P<0.01) removed TDS, EC, BOD, COD, TKN, Na, K and total hardness of the paper mill effluent. The result of the present study on the  bio-adsorption treatment using leaf powder of E. crassipes of paper mill effluent showed maximum reduction in the effluent characteristics viz., pH (6.62±0.08), TDS (848.42±7.67 mgL-1), EC (4.08±0.17 dS m-1), BOD (62.56±3.39 mgL-1), COD (218.11±8.59 mgL-1), PO43- (50.13±4.33 mgL-1), TKN (63.04±6.47 mgL-1), Na (100.06±6.99 mgL-1), K (66.00±7.38 mgL-1) and total hardness (347±9.86 mgL-1) of paper mill effluent after bio-adsorption treatment using leaf powder of E. crassipes. The maximum removal of TDS (13.45%), EC (37.43%), BOD (25.89%), COD (22.38%), PO43- (29.85%), TKN (25.83%), Na (26.94%), K (30.54%) and Total hardness (21.56%) in the paper mill effluent were recovered after phyto-adsorption treatment using leaf powder of E. crassipes. The decrease of paper mill effluent parameter is likely due to that the leaf powder of water hyacinth absorbs the nutrient from the effluent. Therefore, the leaf powder of can be used as phyto-adsorbent for the removal of various pollution parameters

Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2-xSex (x = 0.5 and 1.0), a non-U material with Tc < TFM

We have carried out detailed magnetic and transport studies of the new Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2-xSex (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) superconductors derived by doping Se in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2. Se–doping produces several effects: it suppresses semiconducting–like behavior observed in the undoped Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2, the ferromagnetic ordering temperature, TFM, decreases considerably from 7.5 K (in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2) to 3.5 K and the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, gets enhanced slightly to 2.9–3.3 K. Thus in these Se–doped materials, TFM is marginally higher than Tc. Magnetization studies provide evidence of bulk superconductivity in Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2-xSex at x ≥ 0.5 in contrast to the undoped Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2 (x = 0) where magnetization measurements indicate a small superconducting volume fraction. Quite remarkably, as compared with the effective paramagnetic Ce–moment (~2.2 μB), the ferromagnetically ordered Ce–moment in the superconducting state is rather small (~0.1 μB) suggesting itinerant ferromagnetism. To the best of our knowledge, Sr0.5Ce0.5FBiS2-x Sex (x = 0.5 and 1.0) are distinctive Ce–based bulk superconducting itinerant ferromagnetic materials with Tc < TFM. Furthermore, a novel feature of these materials is that they exhibit a dual and quite unusual hysteresis loop corresponding to both the ferromagnetism and the coexisting bulk superconductivity

Comparative assessment of phytoremediation feasibility of water caltrop (Trapa natans L.) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes Solms.) using pulp and paper mill effluent

Experiments for the comparative assessment of phytoremediation feasibility of water caltrop (Trapa natans&nbsp;L.) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes&nbsp;Solms.) using paper mill effluent were carried out for 60 days. The results revealed that the pulp and paper mill effluent was varied in characteristics and highly loaded with TDS, EC, BOD5, COD, TKN, PO4 3- , Na+ , K+ , Ca2+, Mg2+, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, SPC and MPN. It was observed that and both the plant species&nbsp;T. natansand&nbsp;E. crassipes&nbsp;significantly (P&lt;0.05/P&lt;0.01/P&lt;0.001) reduced the contents of TDS, EC, BOD, COD, TKN, PO4 3- , Na+ , K+ , Ca2+, Mg2+, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, SPC and MPN of pulp and paper mill effluent after phytoremediation experiments. Albeit, the maximum removal of these parameters were obtained at 60 days of the phytoremediation experiments but the removal rate of these parameters were gradually increased from 15 days to 45 days and it was decreased at 60 days. The most contents of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn was translocated in the leaves of&nbsp;T. natans&nbsp;and&nbsp;E. crassipes&nbsp;during the phytoremediation experiments whereas, the least contents of Cr, Ni and Pb was translocated in the leaves of&nbsp;T. natans&nbsp;and&nbsp;E. crassipes. Among both the macrophytic species (i.e.&nbsp;T. natans&nbsp;and&nbsp;E. crassipes) used for the phytoremediation,&nbsp;E. crassipes&nbsp;was found to be more effective for the removal of different parameters of pulp and paper mill effluent in comparison to&nbsp;T. natans. Therefore,&nbsp;T. natans&nbsp;and&nbsp;E. crassipes&nbsp;can be used effectively to reduce the pollution load of pulp and paper mill effluent

Effects of Bt-cotton on biological properties of Vertisols in central India

Growing areas under transgenic crops have created a concern over their possible adverse impact on the soil ecosystem. This study evaluated the effect of Bt-cotton based cropping systems on soil microbial and biochemical activities and their functional relationships with active soil carbon pools in Vertisols of central India (Nagpur, Maharastra, during 2012–2013). Culturable groups of soil microflora, enzymatic activities and active pools of soil carbon were measured under different Bt-cotton based cropping systems (e.g. cotton-soybean, cotton-redgram, cotton-wheat, cotton-vegetables and cotton-fallow). Significantly higher counts of soil heterotrophs (5.7–7.9 log cfu g−1soil), aerobic N-fixer (3.9–5.4 log cfu g−1soil) and P-solubilizer (2.5−3.0 log cfu g−1soil) were recorded in Bt-cotton soils. Similarly, soil enzymatic activities, viz. dehydrogenase (16.6–22.67 µg TPF g−1 h−1), alkaline phosphatase (240–253 µg PNP g−1 h−1) and fluorescein di-acetate hydrolysis (14.6–18.0 µg fluorescein g−1 h−1), were significantly higher under Bt-cotton-soybean system than other Bt- and non-Bt-cotton based systems in all crop growth stages. The growth stage-wise order of soil microbiological activities were: boll development > harvest > vegetative stage. Significant correlations were observed between microbiological activities and active carbon pools in the rhizosphere soil. The findings indicated no adverse effect of Bt-cotton on soil biological properties

Impact of genetically modified crops on rhizosphere microorganisms and processes:A review focusing on Bt cotton

In recent years, the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops has become a topic of great interest, due in part to the considerable public controversy, which exists concerning their potential benefits or adverse effects. Since the development of the first GM crop about 25 years ago, a diverse range of new cultivars have been released into the environment which were developed by employing advanced molecular techniques to introduce new beneficial genes from a wide variety of sources. While GM crops have great potential for enhancing agricultural production, their potential impacts on soil biota are only partially understood and information on their long-term impact on soil biota is scant. Several recent studies have indicated that GM crops may cause changes in both the invertebrate and microorganism soil biota associated with these crops, with some laboratory-based experiments even revealing transfer of genes from GM plants to native soil bacteria. However, processes such as gene transfer and stable inheritance to subsequent generations remain unproven in natural soil systems. In addition, although significant research efforts have recently been directed towards understanding the effects of GM crops on soil biota, the wide variation in the scientific observations has often hindered an accurate understanding of the issues. Thus, this review collated and synthesized all available information on the microbiological and biochemical effects of GM crops on soil biota with a special focus on GM Bt-cotton. The review also addressed the key issues associated with the use of GM crops including herbicide resistance, transgene flow and explored the plausibility of horizontal gene transfer in soil

Progress in interfacial solar steam generation using low-dimensional and biomass-derived materials

The pressing concern of escalating water scarcity has spurred the creation of advanced technologies, such as interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), to tackle the challenge. ISSG employs solar energy for efficient water desalination and purification. This comprehensive review delves into various aspects of ISSG, primarily focusing on elucidating its mechanisms, optimizing substrate materials, implementing thermal management strategies, and exploring applications. The study dissects the intricate mechanism of ISSG, highlighting photothermal behaviors across different materials, including the significant role of nanoparticles in vapor generation. The impact of substrate composition and shape on solar evaporation efficiency is investigated, with multi-surface evaporators considered for environmental energy harnessing. To enhance performance, thermal management strategies, including innovative water transport paths for improved heat distribution, are assessed. Addressing key challenges like salt accumulation, biofouling, corrosion, and oil fouling, the review offers insights for issue mitigation. Practically, ISSG is spotlighted for its role in seawater desalination, wastewater treatment (e.g., dye and heavy metal removal), oil-water separation, and sterilization, extending its relevance across industries and healthcare. By comprehensively examining ISSG's mechanisms, substrate considerations, thermal strategies, and applications, this review advances its implementation as a transformative solution for global water challenges