Biofilm Formation by Microorganisms Isolated from Paper Mill Effluent and its Public Health Implications

The microbiological assessment of biofilm formation from paper mill effluent discharged through a pipeline revealed a maximum microbial count for Pseudomonas (5·10⁶ cfu/mL) followed by Staphylococcus (4·10⁶ cfu/mL), Bacillus (8.2·10⁵ cfu/mL), Burkholderia (7.2·10⁵ cfu/mL), Enterobacter (5.3·10⁴ cfu/mL), Acinetobacter (4.1·10³ cfu/mL), Alcaligenes (1.2·10² cfu/mL) and Klebsiella (0.8·10² cfu/mL) species. Among these species, the maximum biofilm formation was observed after 24 h of incubation by Pseudomonas sp. using a crystal violet (CV) assay. This isolate was later identified by 16S rRNA amplification to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa PME1. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of P. aeruginosa PME1 in the biofilm showed a reduction in total carbohydrate content (42%) with increased protein (9.0%), hexosamine (3.0%) and uronic acid (1.7%) content as compared to its planktonic form. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that P. aeruginosa PME1 biofilms were 17, 24, 27, 30, and 32 times more resistant to cefotaxime, imipenem, ceftazidime, tazobactam and piperacillin, respectively, than their free flowing counterparts.     

Generation and hydrocarbon entrapment within Gondwanan sediments of the Mandapeta area, Krishna-Godavari Basin, India

The discovery of hydrocarbons (mainly gas) in commercial quantities from Gondwanan sediments in the Mandapeta field of Krishna-Godavari Basin, India, provided impetus for intensified exploration in Mandapeta and the adjoining Kommugudem, Draksharama and Endamuru fields. Both oil and gas have been found in the reservoirs of Mandapeta (Triassic) and Golapalli (Early Cretaceous) formations. Mature, localised, basal shales (1.0–1.1% Ro) in the Mandapeta formation have sourced the oils from the Mandapeta Sandstone reservoir (Triassic). The oils being produced from Golapalli Sandstone reservoir (Early Cretaceous) are relatively less mature and have been sourced by the underlying shales in the Mandapeta Formation at a maturity level of 0.80–0.85% Ro. The source and maturity data preclude liquid hydrocarbon sourcing from the Kommugudem (Permian) sequence. Permian coals and shales of the Kommugudem Formation are the major source rocks for gaseous hydrocarbons in this area. The hydrocarbon generation started in Early Cretaceous in the Kommugudem Formation, but the intermittent tectonic activity (with associated structural developments) has resulted in reorientation and redistribution of the then existing trap configurations. The present day maturity level of the Permian sediments in the Mandapeta field is 1.2% Ro or greater, capable of generating gas dominantly. The Raghavapuram shale in the Mandapeta area is adequately mature and has good hydrocarbon potential for oil generation. The probability of finding hydrocarbon reserves in the sands of Raghavapuram shales and other suitable traps is high. Modern seismic information together with geologic models can give new exploration leads.     

LATE PLEISTOCENE—HOLOCENE RAPID UPLIFT AND EROSION IN TIBET: CONSTRAINTS FROM COSMOGENIC EXPOSURE AGE DATA

LATE PLEISTOCENE—HOLOCENE RAPID UPLIFT AND EROSION IN TIBET: CONSTRAINTS FROM COSMOGENIC EXPOSURE AGE DATA1　CopelandP ,HarrisonTM ,KiddWSF ,etal.RapidearlyMioceneaccelerationofupliftintheGangdeseBelt,Xizang(southernTibet) ,anditsbearingonaccommodationmechanismsoftheIndian Asiacollision[J].EarthPlanetSciLett,1987,86 :2 40～ 2 5 2 . 2　FieldingEJ .Tibetupliftanderosion[J].Tectonophysics,1994,2 6 0 :5 5～ 84. 3　HarrisonTM ,CopelandP ,Ki…     

Morphological Features of Co-Rich Manganese Deposits and Their Relation to Seabed Slopes

The morphological features associated with Co-rich manganese deposits, the size variations of nodules, and the occurrence of different substrates have been analyzed, to evaluate the influence of various seabed slope angles on the distribution of these features. The coverage and size of the crusts depend on their surface morphology and seabed topography, resulting in cobble-type, lineated, or step-like outcrops. Small nodules (1 - 4 cm in diameter) dominate all seabed slopes, with a few locations having nodules ranging from 1 to 8 or 1 to 10 cm. Sediments invariably occur as substrates for nodules and as cover for crusts, their coverage being inversely proportional to that of the nodules and crust outcrops. Steeper seafloor areas have large crust outcrops exposed with no or few nodules and sediments associated with them. The intermediate slopes have a combination of nodules, sediments, and crusts in various proportions, depending on topography and gradient. Large-scale nodule occurrences, followed by sediment fields and crust outcrops on seabed slopes of greater than 3 degrees, 3 - 7 degreees, and less than 15 degrees, respectively, represent typical morphological distribution zones of the Co-rich manganese deposits on a seamount in the central Pacific Ocean. A transition zone between nodule-dominated fields and large crust outcrops occurs for slopes from 7 degrees to 15 degrees. This detailed study on distribution of Co-rich deposits gives a better understanding for purposes of their exploitation.     

Assessment of man-made and natural hazards in the surroundings of hydropower projects under construction in the beas valley of northwestern Himalaya

Mountain ecosystem,on the earth,has plenty of natural resources. In Himachal Pradesh all the rivers are snowfed and therefore rich in water resources. These resources have been supporting enough for the generation of electricity through introducing hydropower projects since the last decade. However,every developmental activity has its own negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Due to the fragile nature of topography and delicacy of ecology of the Himalaya,it results in lot of disturbances because of high degree of human interferences like construction of major hydropower projects. The increased extent of geological hazards,such as landslides,rock fall and soil erosion,have mainly due to alike developmental interventions in the natural ecosystem. So understanding and analysing such impacts of the hydropower projects have mainly been on the environment in various forms but natural hazards have been frequent ones. The present study,therefore,focuses mainly on the Parbati Stage Ⅱ (800 MW) and the Parbati Stage Ⅲ (520 MW) hydropower projects; both of which fall within the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Based on the perception survey of the local communities,the existing land use pattern,status of total acquired land of the residents by hydropower projects,frequent natural hazards and resultant loss to the local communities due to upcoming construction of hydropower projects surrounding to the Parbati Stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ have been analysed in the paper. Also,the preventive measures to mitigate these adverse impacts have been suggested to strengthen these projects in eco-friendly manner in the mountain context.     

Saraca indica leaf powder for decontamination of Pb: removal, recovery, adsorbent characterization and equilibrium modeling

The present study explores the effectiveness of Saraca indica leaf powder, a surplus low value agricultural waste, in removing Pb ions from aqueous solution. The influence of pH, biomass dosage, contact time, particle size and metal concentration on the removal process were investigated. Batch studies indicated that maximum biosorption capacity for Pb was 95.37% at the pH 6.5. The sorption process followed the first order rate kinetics. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted best to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Morphological changes observed in scanning electron micrographs of untreated and metal treated biomass confirmed the phenomenon of biosorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of native and exhausted leaf powder confirmed lead biomass interactions responsible for sorption. Acid regeneration was tried for several cycles with a view to recover the sorbed metal ion and also to restore the sorbent to its original state. The findings showed that Saraca indica leaf powder can easily be envisaged as a new, vibrant, low cost biosorbent for metal clean up operations.     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 in Delhi,India

This study presents the chemical composition (carbonaceous and nitrogenous components) of aerosols (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) along with stable isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) collected during winter and the summer months of 2015–16 to explore the possible sources of aerosols in megacity Delhi, India. The mean concentrations (mean?±?standard deviation at 1σ) of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 223?±?69 µg m^?3 and 328?±?65 µg m^?3, respectively during winter season whereas the mean concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 147?±?22 µg m^?3 and 236?±?61 µg m^?3, respectively during summer season. The mean value of δ¹³C (range: ??26.4 to ??23.4‰) and δ¹⁵N (range: 3.3 to 14.4‰) of PM_2.5 were ??25.3?±?0.5‰ and 8.9?±?2.1‰, respectively during winter season whereas the mean value of δ¹³C (range: ??26.7 to ??25.3‰) and δ¹⁵N (range: 2.8 to 11.5‰) of PM_2.5 were ??26.1?±?0.4‰ and 6.4?±?2.5‰, respectively during the summer season. Comparison of stable C and N isotopic fingerprints of major identical sources suggested that major portion of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ at Delhi were mainly from fossil fuel combustion (FFC), biomass burning (BB) (C-3 and C-4 type vegitation), secondary aerosols (SAs) and road dust (SD). The correlation analysis of δ¹³C with other C (OC, TC, OC/EC and OC/WSOC) components and δ¹⁵N with other N components (TN, NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) are also support the source identification of isotopic signatures.

     

On radiative forcing of sulphate aerosol produced from ion-promoted nucleation mechanisms in an atmospheric global model

A significant fraction of the total number of particles present in the atmosphere is formed by nucleation in the gas phase. Nucleation and the subsequent growth process influence both number concentration of particles and their size distribution besides chemical and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols. Sulphate aerosol nucleation mechanisms promoted by ions have been evaluated here in a tropospheric interactive chemistry-aerosol module for mass and number concentration in a global atmospheric model. The indirect radiative forcing of sulphate particles is assessed in this model; indirect radiative forcing is different for ion-induced (IIN) and ion-mediated (IMN) mechanisms. The indirect radiative forcing in 10-year simulation runs has been calculated as ?1.42?W/m² (IIN) and ?1.54?W/m² (IMN). The 5% emission of primary sulphate particles in simulations changes the indirect radiative forcing from ?1.42 to ?1.44?W/m² for IIN case, and from ?1.54 to ?1.55 W/m² for the IMN case. More precisely, owing to greater nucleation rates, IMN mechanisms produces greater cooling than the IIN mechanisms in the backdrop that both mechanisms produce almost identical distribution of CDNC in their pre-industrial runs. The inclusion of primary particles in simulations with IIN and IMN mechanisms increases both CDNC and the indirect radiative forcing.     

Glauconites from the Late Palaeocene — Early Eocene Naredi Formation,western Kutch and their genetic implications

Glauconitic minerals are considered as one of the valuable input parameters in sequence stratigraphic analysis of a basin. In the present study glauconitic minerals are reported from subtidal green shale facies in the lower part of the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene Naredi Formation of western Kutch. On the basis of the foraminiferal assemblage the glauconite bearing beds are interpreted to have formed in a mid shelf depositional settings of an unstable marine conditions. XRD studies confirm the glauconite mineralogy of the green pellets and provide an estimation of glauconite maturity. Textural attributes of the glauconites confirm their derivation by different degrees of alteration of precursor feldspar grains. Because of the authigenic origin and autochthonous nature, these glauconites hold promise for understanding sequence stratigraphy of the Palaeogene succession of the western Kutch.