Penetration Indices of Hardwoods: A Quantitative Approach to Define Treatability

Fluid accessibility of various structural components of 15 hardwoods belonging to different treatability classes was studied by using water-soluble and organic solvent stains. Penetration was found to vary even among the species categorized under the same treatability class indicating large-scale variation within the existing treatability classes. A quantitative estimation of this behavior was obtained in the form of a penetration index. This approach indicates that treatability class needs a change for 5 of the 15 species studied

Partial purification and characterisation of some low molecular weight á - amylases from Dolichos biflorus

Dolichos biflorus, a commonly used legume in Uttarakhand, produces alpha amylase enzyme for conversion of starch present in its cotyledons to glucose, so that this glucose can be further utilized for the life controlling processes, glycolysis and Kreb’s cycle. Yield of this á - amylase isolated from the germinating legume comes out to be 27.7 IUml-1. Maximal amylase production occurs at pH 6.1 at 45O C. The enzyme was purified two fold, first with ultra-filtration and then with Ion-exchange chromatography. Ultra-filtration revealed size of amylase to be between 10 kDa and 30 kDa, against larger sizes of other bacterial amylases. The pH and temperature optima for purified enzyme were 6.1 and 45OC respectively. The Km for starch came out to be 1.95 mgml-1. This finding of generating one more new and low-price source of á - amylase is a great advancement in biotechnology

Treatability and Flow Path Studies in Bamboo Part I. Dendrocalamus Strictus Nees.

Bamboo is one of the strongest structural materials used in rural areas of developing countries. Because of its low durability, it often fails prematurely due to fungal, borer, and termite attack. Because of anatomical differences from both hardwoods and softwoods, difficulties in treatment have been encounterd and early failures in preservative treated bamboo often observed. The most important structures for flow of fluids are the vascular bundles. The vascular bundles occurring in the inner zone of the bamboo culm treat better than the vascular bundles at the periphery.Microscopic studies on the distribution of chemicals in Dendrocalamus strictus Nees. indicated that creosote: fuel oil penetrated more uniformly than water-soluble or organic solvent stains. The degree of penetration decreased with the increasing distance of other cells such as fibers and parenchyma tissues from the conducting vessels. At the microscopic level, treatability behavior improved from outer to inner zones along the wall thickness as well as from basal internodes to top internodes

Morphological, anatomical and preliminary phytochemical characterization of Buddleja madagascariensis Lam.

Buddleja madagascariensis Lam. is a perennial invasive shrub distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The present study was conducted on morphological, anatomical and phytochemical characterization of Buddleja madagascariensis and the results revealed that plant height varied from about 188-191 cm, and the whole plant was covered with trichome which may be glandular and eglandular and unicellular or, multicellular. Inflorescence was terminal and axillary in position, thyrsoid panicle. Anatomical and histo-chemical studies of the transverse section of various parts of the plant revealed the presence of steller tissues, starch in cortical and pith region. Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins. But alkaloids, glycosides and free amino acids were absent. Thus, characterization of plants on the basis of these parameters could be used as tools to distinguish the crude drugs of plants from adulterants, used in the preparation of traditional medicines and used as diagnostic keys. Also, it is useful in the future for revealing the importance of plants and phytochemical resources for the conservation of resources

Biodiversity and monthly density fluctuations of water mites in Khankra gad, a spring-fed tributary of river Alaknanda, Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, India

Hydrachnidia is an important group of aquatic invertebrates. They play an important role in regulating other invertebrate populations, thus influencing the composition and functionality of river ecosystems. The present study aims to assess the habitat ecology, density and diversity of aquatic mites in the Khankra gad, Rudraprayag district for a period of two year on a monthly basis, from July 2018 to June 2020. The Khankra gad is a perennial spring-fed stream originating from the Bansoun peak in district-Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya (800 m asl). A total of 2537 Hydrachnidia samples were collected, belonging to 6 families viz, Torrenticolidae, Sperchontidae, Feltriidae, Hygrobatidae, Lebertiidae and Aturidae. Sperchontidae, Torrenticolidae and Hygrobatidae were the common families recorded in both spots, whereas Feltriidae was recorded in Spot-1, Lebertiidae and Aturidae were recorded in Spot-2. The highest numbers (1842) of Hydrachnidia were collected from Spot-2.  A total of 19 aquatic mite species were recorded in Spot-1 and 25 species in Spot-2 throughout the study period. Aquatic mites showed maximum density (177 units.m-2 in Spot-1 and 274units.m-2 in Spot-2) in December and minimum (11 units.m-2 in Spot-1 and 17 units.m-2 in Spot-2) in July. Various ecological parameters of our study indicated that Khankra gad is a good habitat for aquatic mites

Age and growth analysis of the fish Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) from River Nayar, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand

The ability to age fish accurately is essential in understanding the dynamics of fish population. Age and growth determination in Mastacembelus armatus was assessed by the scale method which was verified by the length-frequency distribution method. The scales were small, elongated and the focus was shifted slightly uppish from the centre. The fish length and scale radius relationship was found linear (Scale radius = 6.974 + 0.452 Fish length; r = 0.9746) and authenticated the age analysis. Back calculation method was used to find out the size of fish at annulus formation, which confirmed four age rings in M. armatus  at the size of 14.07±0.92,  26.05±4.99,  37.96± 2.59  and  48.48±6.06 cm respectively. First two age rings were observed in the fish length group 30-40 cm, the third ring was observed in 40-50 cm and the fourth ring in 50-60 cm length group. The finding was dully validated by length-frequency distribution method. The growth annual increment (h) of M. armatus shows that the length increment was 14.07, 13.32, 11.91 and 10.52 cm during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year respectively. It shows that the fish grows continuously during its entire life period. The average growth (? h) was observed as 12.12 cm. annually. The assessment of age and growth rate of fish is a prerequisite to generate the information on recruitment, longevity and fluctuations in fishery caused by various year classes which is an important tool for rational exploitation of fish stock

Population structure and diversity of the periphyton community in the glacier-fed stream Balkhila at Siron from Garhwal Himalaya

The stream Balkhila is a glacier-fed and originates at higher altitudes from the Lal Mati glacier, flows through the famous Mandal valley of Garhwal Himalaya and finally merges with the Alaknanda River in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The present study aimed to assess the population structure, density and diversity of the periphyton community along with some detrimental ecological parameters in the glacier fed stream Balkhila for a period of two years on a monthly basis from November 2018 to October 2020. The stream Balkhila was represented by 17 periphytic genera belonging to 3 classes, namely, Bacillariophyceae, Chlorohyceae and Cyanophyceae. The class Bacillariophyceae was represented by 10 periphytic genera (Cymbella, Navicula, Fragilaria, Nitzschia, Ampohora, Diatoma, Synedra, Tabellaria, Cocconeis and  Meridion), and Chlorophyceae (green algae) was represented by 6 algal genera (Chlorella, Ulothrix, Zygnema, Oedogomium, Spirogyra and Stigeoclonium). The class Myxophyceae was represented by a single genus (Phormidium). The maximum periphytic density (individuals/cm2) was found to be 316.7±7.1 x 103 in January, and the minimum density (12.5±3.5 x 103) was recorded in August. The SIMPLER test indicated 18.58% dissimilarity of periphytic communities between the two years of study. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index values were high (2.358 and 2.388) in December and January and minimum (0.2484 and 0.3534) in July and August during the first and second years of the study, respectively. Multivariate canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) suggested that most of the periphytic genera were closely associated with the winter season (December, January and February). The various ecological parameters of our study indicated that the Balkhila stream is a conducive habitat for periphyton communities

Pressure Impregnation of Hardwoods: Treatment Schedules For Easy-To-Treat Indian Hardwoods

On the basis of penetration pattern of inorganic chemicals in the wood microstructure, penetration indices for different wood species were developed. Pressure treatment schedules have been suggested on the basis of penetration index and gross absorptions obtained with CCA salts in treatability class 'a' and 'b' hardwoods. Mango and kadam earlier placed under the 'a' treatability class have been transferred to the 'b' treatability class because of poor penetration of the fibers in these species. Similarly, white bombwe earlier classified under class 'b' has been shifted to class 'a' because of its high penetration index

A Review on isolation and molecular identification of Aeromonas Spp.

This paper reviews the isolation and identification of Aeromonas spp. through biochemical tests and molecular typing with special reference to their infection in human beings and future prospective of research related to human health