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.     

The Indus-Tsangpo suture zone in Ladakh, northwest Himalaya: Further palaeomagnetic data and implications

A total of 81 samples (244 specimens) from Upper Cretaceous Indus Molasse and Middle to Upper Cretaceous Dras Flyschoids of the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone in Ladakh (northwest Himalaya) has been studied by thermal demagnetization methods.Both formations showed a characteristic magnetization component indicative for equatorial to low northern palaeolatitudes of acquisition. Similar palaeolatitudes have been obtained before from secondary magnetization components of Early Tertiary age in the Ladakh Intrusives and in the Tibetan Sedimentary Series of central Nepal. The present characteristic components are interpreted likewise as secondary magnetizations which stabilized between 50 and 60 m.y. ago, during Greater India's collision with Asia's southern margin.The Dras Flyschoids show another magnetic component which, in case of primary origin, indicates acquisition at a low southern palaeolatitude. If correct, this interpretation supports recent suggestions for Late Cretaceous obduction of an island arc on Greater India's northern margin.     

Preferential solution of234U from recoil tracks and234U/238U radioactive disequilibrium in natural waters

A mathematical model to calculate the²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio (AR) in an aqueous phase in contact with rock/soil is presented. The model relies on the supply of²³⁸U by dissolution and that of²³⁴U by dissolution and preferential release from radiation damaged regions (recoil tracks). The model predicts that values of²³⁴U/²³⁸U AR>1 in the aqueous phase can be obtained only from weathering “virgin” surfaces. Thus, to account for the observed steady-state supply of²³⁴U excess to the oceans by the preferential leaching model, ‘virgin’ rock/soil surfaces would have to be continually exposed and weathered. The²³⁸U concentration and²³⁴U/²³⁸U AR in continental waters allow us to estimate the exposure rates of “virgin” rock/soil surfaces.     

Role of selected riparian herbs in reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss under simulated rainfall

The native riparian herbs such as Leonotis nepetaefolia (L.) R. Br., Cassia tora L., Ageratum conyzoides L., Parthenium hysterophorus L. and Sida acuta burm f., dominant on the bank of River Damodar in Eastern Jharia Area, Dhanbad (India), were selected to assess experimentally their quantitative role in conserving the soil and reducing water runoff and nutrient (N and P) losses. A total of 42.5 mm simulated rainfall were applied at 30 cm h⁻¹ rain intensity on both vegetated and bare plots. The collected runoff water and eroded soil from each plot were determined in terms of soil, water and nutrient conservation value (CV). Among the vegetated plots, soil CV ranged from 30 to 85% and water CV from 20 to 48%. Nutrient (N and P) CV varied from 22 to 65% for total-N, 48 to 80% for ammonia-N and 50 to 86% for nitrate-N. CV for total-P varied from 40 to 62%, inorganic-P from 42 to 60% and organic-P from 20 to 58%. In a stepwise multiple regression equation comprising four independent variables (canopy cover, litter mass, soil moisture and plant biomass), canopy cover explained 70–88% (P < 0.01) of variability in conserving soil, water and nutrient. The losses through runoff water and eroded soil from vegetated plots were found to be minimized to a great extent as compared to bare plots. The role of these species in maintaining the texture and fertility status of riparian soil is discussed.     

3He, 20,21,22Ne, 14C, 10Be, 26Al,and 36Cl in magnetic fractions of cosmic dust from Greenland and Antarctica

Abstract— We report on studies of the concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides in the magnetic fraction of cosmic dust particles recovered from the South Pole Water Well (SPWW) and from Greenland. Our results confirm that cosmic dust material from these locations contains measurable amounts of cosmogenic nuclides. The Antarctic particles (and possibly those from Greenland as well) also contain minor amounts of solar Ne. Concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides are consistent with irradiation of this material as small objects in space, with exposure ages similar to the expected Poynting‐Robertson (P‐R) lifetimes of 50–200 kyr for particles 25–100 μm in size.     

Approximate solutions for isothermal flows behind strong spherical shocks with variable energy

Self-similar unsteady flows with zero temperature gradient behind strong spherical shocks propagating in non-uniform perfect gas at rest are investigated. The total energy of the flow is assumed to be varying with the shock radius obeying a power law. Approximate solutions in a closed analytical form are obtained using the integral method. Also these solutions are shown to be useful to calculate easily and quickly the shock temperature, X-ray surface brightness and luminosity which are important in astrophysical problems. It is found that these approximate solutions are in close agreement with numerical solutions.     

On the Use of Roche Equipotentials in Analysing the Problems of Binary and Rotating Stars

Kopal (Adv. Astron. Astrophys., 9, 1, 1972) introduced the concept of Roche equipotentials to analyse the effects of rotational and tidal distortions in case of stars in binary systems. In this approach a mathematical expression for the potential of a star in a binary system is obtained by approximating its inner structure with Roche model. This expression for the potential has been used in subsequent analysis by various authors to analyse the problems of structures and oscillations of synchronous and nonsynchronus binary stars as well as single rotating stars. Occasionally, doubts have been expressed regarding the validity of the use of this approach for analysing nonsynchronous binaries and rotationally and tidally distorted single stars. In this paper we have tried to clarify these doubts.