Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Seasonal variation in thyroid activity of turtle Lissemys punctata with respect to annual cycle of reproduction
The objective of the present investigation was to study the relationship between thyroid activity and reproductive cycle in turtle Lissemys punctata. The animals were studied in the annual seasonal cycle of reproduction for two consecutive years, which is distinguished into three separate periods namely regenerative, reproductive and recrudescent. The thyroid in L. punctata was observed to be a single pyramid shaped gland, creamy white to reddish-brown in color with lenticular profile. The diameter of the follicle was lowest in regenerative period, whichgradually increased in reproductive period attaining maximum size in recrudescent, where as epithelial height was highest in regenerative period, which gradually decreased in reproductive period reaching minimum in recrudescent period. Thyroid activity varies annually in relation to different phases of reproductive periods
Monitoring of air pollution and assessment of its risk on traffic policemen
The ambient air quality was monitored at five selected sites in proper Rohtak City. The parameters i.e. sulphur dioxide (SO2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were monitored for eight hours from 9 am to 5 pm once in a week at each of the five sites. Two sites out of five were found to have low pollution, while the other three sites had high level of pollutants, which exceeded the safety limits as per National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The levels of SO2 , NO2 and SPM were lowest at polluted site 2 (University Gate NO. 2) in the City, which ranged between 4.12 µg/m 3 and 40.37 µg/m 3 , 25.37 µg/m 3 and 73.80 µg/m 3 , 138.0 µg/m 3 and 530.7 µg/m 3 of the air respectively. Highest levels of SO2, NO2 and SPM were observed at site 5 ( Hisar Road ) which ranged between 5.30 µg/m 3 and 120.0 µg/m 3 , 68.01 µg/m 3 and 197.84 µg/m3, 730.5 µg/m 3 and 3319.0 µg/m 3 respectively. The concentrations of lead and cadmium were very much below the safety limits at all the sampling sites Health surveillance studies of the traffic policemen revealed that there is a significant excess risk of respiratory problems for traffic policemen as they are exposed to heavy loads of vehicular pollution
Biocomposting of extracted peppermint plant residue (Mentha piperita) using red worm, Eisenia fetida and its effect on the growth of Vigna mungo (Urad)
The study on biocomposting of extracted peppermint plant residue, Mentha piperita using red worms, Eisenia fetida on the growth of Vigna mungo (Urad) showed that the worms transformed 1:3 waste: dung medium into bio-compost one week earlier from 1:1 and two weeks earlier from 3:1 media. Rate of reproduction of worms was recorded 2.5 times faster in 1:3 medium than that of 3:1 and the number of earthworms was counted 2.09 times more in 1:3 waste: dung medium than that of 3:1. It was noticed that the bio-compost transformed from 1:3waste: dung medium when mixed with soil in 1:3 ratio and used as growing medium, showed the maximum shoot length of V. mungo (28.2 cm) and the minimum (24.3 cm) when it was transformed from 3:1 (waste: dung) medium and used in 1:1 ratio of vermicompost and soil. Results were discussed in the light of known data
Priority queueing model with balking and reneging
This investigation deals with two levels, single server preemptive priority queueing model with discouragement behaviour (balking and reneging) of customers. Arrivals to each level are assumed to follow a Poisson process and service times are exponentially distributed. The decision to balk / renege is made on the basis of queue length only. Two specific forms of balking behaviour are considered. The system under consideration is solved by using a finite difference equation approach for solving the governing balance equations of the queueing model, with infinite population of level 1 customer. The steady state probability distribution of the number of customers in the system is obtained
Statistical modeling of wet and dry spell frequencies over North-East India
In this paper an attempt has been made to develop a discrete precipitation model for the daily series of precipitation occurrences over North East India. The point of approach is to model the duration of consecutive dry and wet days i.e. spell, instead of individual wet and dry days. Various distributions viz. uniform, geometric, logarithmic, negative binomial, Poisson and Markov chain of order one and two, Eggenberger-Polya distribution have been fitted to describe the wet and dry spell frequencies of occurrences. The models are fitted to the observed data of seven stations namely Imphal, Mohanbari, Guwahati, Cherrapunji, Silcoorie, North Bank and Tocklai (Jorhat) of North-East India with pronounced attention to summer monsoon season. The goodness of fit of the proposed model has been tested using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. It is observed that Eggenberger-Polya distribution fairly fits wet and dry spell frequencies and can be used in the future for an estimation of the wet and dry spells in the area under study
In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil of Craniotome furcata
The aim of present study was, to investigate the essential oil of Craniotome furcata for its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation of the flowering aerial parts of C. furcata. The oil was tested for its antimicrobial activity in vitro against four Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria and three fungi, by using disk diffusion and tube dilution methods. The antioxidant potential of the essential oil was investigated by two different models DPPH free radical and ABTS free radical cation scavenging. The essential oil was effective against all the tested microorganisms, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 4.11±1.44 to 0.30±0.10 mg/ml. The oil showed antioxidant activity in DPPH free radical and ABTS free radical cation scavenging model. The results of this study revealed that the essential oil of C. furcata possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant activities
Scurvy induced changes and ascorbate defense in albino rats, Rattus norvegicus
An attempt has been made to find out effectiveness of scorbutogenic diet in albino rats, Rattus norvegicus. These animals received 50 and 80 gm cakes of scorbutogenic diet for 15 and 30 days respectively. No scurvy like symptoms were observed rather boils got appeared on their hind limbs, below ear and neck region. Steroid producing glands indicated enhanced steroidogenesis as evidenced by decreased concentrations of adrenal ascorbate and cholesterol. The results suggested that scorbutogenic diet was ineffective to cause scurvy in this species
Evaluation of the extent of wetland birds in District Kaithal, Haryana, India
Kaithal District is comprised of 2317 Km² Sq. Km area having six blocks Viz.:Kaithal, Kalayat, Pundri, Rajound, Ghula and Siwan located at a distance of 150 Kms from New Delhi toward North West. Its geographical position lies between 29° 48\u27 0 N latitude and between 76° 22\u27 60 E longitude.The present studies were carried between 2005-2008 with the help of Zenith Camera and telelens. In all, 63 species of Wetland birds belonging to 10 Orders, 38 genera and 16 families were observed in various village ponds in Kaithal District. Out of 63 species of wetland birds, 31 are winter migratory, 9 local migratory, 3 summers migratory and 20 species are resident birds. Considering IUCN categories, Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) which belongs to Biome Restricted Species (BRS) was observed in three blocks viz. Kaithal, Pundri and Rajound of Kaithal district. In addition, Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer) which has been placed in endangered category of IUCN was observed as single individual. But Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) was observed in a group of three to seven. Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), which is reportedly coming from Central Russia and Caspian Siberia has been observed in very large groups of 200-250 and virtually spotted in each and every pond in Northern Haryana. Similarly, Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha), Lesser-whistling Teal (Dendrocygna javanica) were also seen in relatively large groups. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) is always observed in pure groups floating in the centre of relatively big ponds. In contrast, Gadwall (Anas strepera), Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) and Common Teal (Anas crecca), share close proximity with each other in water and are found in mixed groups. Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Bar- headed Goose (Anser indicus) and Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) stay between Octobers to April. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) stays in winter for shortest period between December and January. Maximum wetland birds observed in Kaithal District belong to Order Charadriiformes and to family Anatidae of Order Anseriformes. Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer) is the peculiar to Pundri block only, in Kaithal District
Molecular approach to evaluate the genotoxicity of glyphosate (roundup) using mosquito genome
Glyphosate, an active ingredient in Roundup is a broad spectrum, systemic and non -selective herbicide which is commonly used for eliminating weeds in agriculture and forest landscapes. The present studies deal with the evaluation of the genotoxic potential of Glyphosate with two different dose concentration of LD20 and LD40 on a mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus taken as an experimental model. For this, polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) was used for detecting DNA damage by amplifying ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS 2) region. The amplified products were sequenced and the results of treated and non-treated controls were compared by using Clustal W software programme. The results were studied in the form of transitions, transversions, deletions and additions of bases. The DNA band amplified from control stocks consisted of 440 bases while thosefrom LD20 and LD40 treated individuals were comprised of 423 and 468 bases respectively. The total number of mutations caused in LD20 treated stock was 205 out of which 68 were transitions, 90 transversions, 32 deletions and 15 additions. In case of LD40 treated individuals, as many as 221 bases had suffered mutations, out of which 66 were transitions, 90 transversions , 12 deletions and 41 additions. In both the cases the rate of transversions was higher than transitions. From these results it was evident that glyphosate has a potential to promote gene mutations in the individuals exposed to its semilethal doses
Retraction: A review of the use of composted municipal solid waste in agriculture
Upon thorough investigation, it was very evident and clear that the manuscript titled: "A review of the use of composted municipal solid waste in agriculture" was plagiarized from a manuscript published in another journal with the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2007.07.004
The Editor-in-Chief recommended immediate retraction of the said manuscript on 28/12/2021 on the grounds of plagiarism