International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 40

Abstract: The present study is undertaken to determine baseline levels of blood electrolytes for the fish, N.notopterus collected from three different aquatic bodies situated at different locations around Gulbarga region. The electrolytes such as sodium and potassium levels are having some difference in the fish collected from the three aquatic bodies. The data for blood Sodium 88.49 ± 16.68 mmol/l. in the fish from Bheema River, 101.32 ± 4.17 mmol/l. in the fish from Kagina River, and 87.5 ± 3.41, mmol/l. in the fish from Saradgi Stream., Potassium 14.48 ± 1.14 mmol/l. in the fish from Bheema River, 14.63 ± 1.15 mmol/l. in the fish from Kagina River, 13.19 ± 0.70 mmol/l. in the fish from Saradgi Stream. The blood calcium data are 9.00 ± 0.30 mg/dl. in the fish from Bheema River, 8.69 ± 0.50 mg/dl. in the fish from Kagina River, and 8.39 ± 0.45 mg/dl. in the fish from Saradgi Stream. Based on the results obtained for blood electrolytes, the fish N.notopterus from three aquatic bodies are although healthy and thriving well, the Bheema River provides better environmental conditions.

Abstract: Increasing intensity and frequency of rainfall coupled with gradual retreating of glaciers due to climate change in Himalayan region likely to increase the risk of floods. A better understanding of risk zones which are vulnerable to flood disasters can be evolved from the detailed studies on slope, geomorphology and land use/ land cover pattern. Information of these parameters is an important input for the identification of vulnerable areas. Flood risk maps provide useful information about places that may be at risk from flooding. It offers a cost-effective solution for planning, management and mitigation strategies in risky areas. Traditional methods of flood risk mapping are based on ground surveys and aerial observations, but when the phenomenon is widespread, such methods are time consuming and expensive. The possible combination of DEM and other maps of area using an overlay operation method within the Geographical Information System (GIS) platform can lead to derivation and the understanding of spatial association between various parameters which could be used to predict flood risk zones. The study area i.e. Satluj River Basin has been broadly divided into five risk zones viz., very low, low, moderate, high and very high which helped to differentiate between areas that are at risk of different intensities of flood. The very high flood risk zone covers only 3.25 % of total study area, while the very low risk zone covers 13.63 %. The area falls within the very high and high risk constitutes 9.52 % of total basin area. Domain of moderate risk covers an area of 30.66 %. But the maximum area of river basin is constituted by low risk zone i.e. 46.19 %. Identification of such zones will help in timely adopting of mitigation and adaptation measures. Preparation of flood risk zoning maps also helps in regulating indiscriminate and unplanned land use practices in risky areas.

Abstract: Nigrospora sphaerica collected on living leaves of Celtis australis L. (Cannabaceae) from Himachal Pradesh, India is a new host record. Symptoms of the disease on leaves appeared in the form of small, circular to irregular, brown - coloured spots surrounded by a yellow zone. The fungus isolated was identified as Nigrospora sphaerica (Sacc.) E.W. Mason, on the basis of cultural and morphological characters. The fungus is described and illustrated.

Abstract: Hematological and some biochemical contents of the blood in relation to physico-chemical characteristics of the water have been studied in the fresh water fish, Notopterus notopterus. The results indicated that normal values have been found in comparison to the studies carried out in other fishes. Hence, the fish Notopterus notopterus is having favorable environmental temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen required for the fish to survive and regulate breeding activities.

Abstract: Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is one of basic steps in life cycle assessment methodology (LCA). This paper presents the application of approach LCA for the rejections of drugs company SAIDAL, in order to determine the environmental impacts relative to this industrial activity, since it is classified among industry leader in the pharmaceutical field in Algeria, and that it takes part largely in the environmental disturbance by generating various categories of impacts. For this purpose, an eco-balance was establish by the collection of the theoretical data to the meadows of the company and of the practical data, resulting from the assay of pharmaceutical liquid.

Abstract: A survey on the utilization potentials of Moringa oleifera in Nigeria was conducted in 2011. The survey involved 14 states (including the Federal Capital Territory) across the five agroecological zones. The 14 States were Borno, Kano, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nassarawa, Abuja (F.C.T), Kogi, Benue, Kwara, Oyo, Enugu and Anambra. A semi-structured questionnaire and field visits were adopted in this study while a multistage random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents. The survey found more than 25 local names of Moringa oleifera in Nigeria. Widespread utilization of Moringa as food was observed with its use as vegetable in soup, as salad or herbal tea having particularly high scores. There was low awareness of Moringa oleifera as a domestic cleansing agent although about 30% of respondents used it in domestic water clarification. The species has high ethno-medicinal value, addressing close to 20 conditions including typhoid and malaria fever (78.7%), ear infection (71.8%), eye infection (66.9%), lowering of blood sugar (diabetes mellitus) (65.2%) and blood pressure (64.7%). It is evident that this important species is still underutilized in Nigeria and more efforts are required for a fuller exploitation of its rich potentials.

Abstract: A experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of different plant derivatives against the development of the green gram pest Callosobruchus chinensis (L). fed on green gram seeds Vigna radiate for one month period. The leaf extracts of lemon (Citrus lemon), mint (Mentha arvensis) and black pepper seed (Piper nigram) powders were evaluated for their growth, adult mortality and oviposition inhibition of Callosobruhus chinensis. The results revealed that the extracts of all the three plant products caused a considerable reduction in the number of bruchids. Among the treatments Piper nigram were found to be effective in destroying the pest.

Abstract: The area around the Ilokun dumpsite, Ado-Ekiti was investigated with the aim of establishing the possible impact the contaminant plumes emanating from the dumpsite have on the subsurface aquifers. The Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) field technique of the electrical resistivity method was adopted for the study, and the half-electrode spacing AB/2 varied from 1 to 65 m. A total of eight VES stations were occupied and a control VES point was located on the refuse dump. The VES data were interpreted quantitatively by partial curve matching and computer iteration, after which the geoelectric parameters were used to evolve a 2-Dimensional geoelectric section beneath the study area.The weathered layer beneath the control VES point was identified to be the aquifer unit, but the anomalously low resistivity of 18 ohm-m within the unit was interpreted as an evidence of pollution from conductive contaminant plume. The geoelectric section beneath VES 1 to 7 delineated four layers, these include the topsoil; the weathered layer; the fractured basement and the fresh basement. The resistivity and thickness range of the layers are 177 – 399 ohm-m and 0.7 – 1.2 m; 29 – 842 ohm-m and 1.0 – 3.4 m; 16 – 446 ohm-m and 4.5 – 45.5 m; and 289 – 2144 ohm-m respectively. The fractured layer constitutes the main aquifer unit beneath the seven VES points, but the anomalously low resistivity of 16 – 47 ohm-m within the fractured layer beneath VES 4, 5, 6 and 7 is suspected to be as a result of pollution from conductive contaminant plume emanating from the dumpsite. The fractured layer beneath VES 2 and 3 which does not show any evidence of pollution yet is at a risk of being contaminated, due to its interconnection with the polluted zone.

Abstract: Momordica charactia lin ( Bitter melon) has been the interest of many studies by researchers for a long time due to its very interesting human beneficial properties. It belongs to cucurbitacea family and momordica genus. It is used by human consumption all over the world in different forms such as a vegetable and /or medicine. The researchers have concentrated on the studies on its fruits and some times on its seeds and leaves. The present study is an extensive investigation of the quantitative elements such as Ca, Cd ,Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Zn, K, N, and P of the fruit-skin, fruit-flesh, fruit-seed, tissue skin, leaf and root of the momordica charantia lin using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The result shows a quite good variation of the concentration of the elements in different part of the plant.

Abstract: The objective of the present investigation was to study the chemical composition of stem of Pongamia pinnata is a species of tree native to India growing in semi-arid region of Kachchh district, Gujarat, India. The stem of Pongamia pinnata were subjected to Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and were analyzed for different mineral composition. As the X-ray Fluorescence is one of the most reliable and accurate, as well as it is also a consistent and non-destructive method for analysis of major and trace elements using a single pressed pellet. During the study it was found that Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Silicon, Sulfur, Aluminum, Phosphorus were noted in higher amounts, compared to that of other elements like Manganese, Iron, Nickel, Copper, Zink, Bromide, Rubidium, Strontium, Stannous, whereas the elements which were not detected in stem of Pongamia pinnata are Titanium, Cobalt, Hafnium and Tantalum.