Nutrient and microbial water quality of the upper Ganga river, India: identification of pollution sources

The Ganga River is facing mounting environmental pressures due to rapidly increasing human population, urbanisation, industrialisation and agricultural intensification, resulting in worsening water quality, ecological status and impacts on human health. A combined inorganic chemical, algal and bacterial survey (using flow cytometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) along the upper and middle Ganga (from the Himalayan foothills to Kanpur) was conducted under pre-monsoon conditions. The upper Ganga had total phosphorus (TP) and total dissolved nitrogen concentrations of less than 100 μg l−1 and 1.0 mg l−1, but water quality declined at Kannauj (TP = 420 μg l−1) due to major nutrient pollution inputs from human-impacted tributaries (principally the Ramganga and Kali Rivers). The phosphorus and nitrogen loads in these two tributaries and the Yamuna were dominated by soluble reactive phosphorus and ammonium, with high bacterial loads and large numbers of taxa indicative of pathogen and faecal organisms, strongly suggesting sewage pollution sources. The high nutrient concentrations, low flows, warm water and high solar radiation resulted in major algal blooms in the Kali and Ramganga, which greatly impacted the Ganga. Microbial communities were dominated by members of the Phylum Proteobacteria, Bacteriodetes and Cyanobacteria, with communities showing a clear upstream to downstream transition in community composition. To improve the water quality of the middle Ganga, and decrease ecological and human health risks, future mitigation must reduce urban wastewater inputs in the urbanised tributaries of the Ramganga, Kali and Yamuna Rivers

Shorting pin loaded microstrip antenna for dual-band operation

281-284The series and shunt inductivity introduced by the probe and shorting pin respectively, in a single-feed shorted rectangular microstrip antenna has been evaluated theoretically using transmission line method. The proposed structure provides compact dual band operation using single feed mechanism. The input impedance, VSWR, is calculated theoretically. It is found that the ratio of the resonant frequencies highly depends on the position of shorting pin

Thin Layer Drying Kinetics of Indian Blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) Pulp

Drying kinetics of fruit has importance in estimating optimum nutritional retainability, preservation requisites and process economy while processing into useful products. Drying kinetics of pulp of local variety of Indian blackberry was studied in a cabinet dryer. The drying experiment was conducted at 50 ºC, 60 ºC and 70 ºC, and moisture losses were recorded at 30-min intervals. Drying took place in two falling rate periods. Shift of first to second falling rate period was found to be irrespective of temperature, and started from 1.08 g water.g−1 dry matter. The drying data of Indian blackberry pulp was fitted into five commonly used Newton, Page, Peleg, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic thin layer drying models. The logarithmic model adequately described the drying of Indian blackberry pulp. The activation energy values in first and second falling rate periods were 42.20 kJ.mol−1 and 61.62 kJ.mol−1, respectively

Equilateral triangular microstrip antenna for circular polarization dual-band operation

293-296Experimental investigations were conducted on the equilateral triangular microstrip antenna to examine the radiation characteristic with two-layer triangular patch antenna. The two-layer triangular patch at both the frequencies 3.0 and 3.5 GHz radiate maximum power, VSWR, return loss, etc, which depended heavily on two-layer triangular microstrip patch antenna. It is shown to be possible to design two-layer equilateral triangular patch antenna for dual-band operation with reasonably good circular polarization

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This book entitled 'Processing and Value Addition of Fruits and Vegetables' comprehensively covers all the aspects of selected fruits and vegetables involved in their post-harvest operations viz. minimal processing, drying, and dehydration, processing for different value-added products, regulatory guidelines for quality and additives of processed products, machinery, and required equipment, etc. This book also gives an extensive insight into one more important aspect that is financial evaluation for the establishment of processing units for fruits and vegetables. Besides, presenting the scientific know-how for the development of various processed products from fruits and vegetables, the utilization of by-products has also been covered elaborately. Every subject is well described in a systematic manner and well-illustrated covering ts and recent updates. This book holds the promise of being highly helpful for farmers, food processors, entrepreneurs, academicians and students, and other readers working in the area of fruits and vegetable processin