Investigation on fixed bed column performance of fluoride adsorption by sugarcane charcoal.

The present study explores the potentiality of sugarcane charcoal for fluoride removal from synthetic fluoride solution. Column adsorption experiments with respect to variation of flow rate, pH, initial concentration, and column depths were carried out. Sugarcane charcoal exhibited almost consistent scavenging capacity at various bed depths with a flow rate 4.34 ml min(-1). Maximum adsorption capacity of sugarcane charcoal was recorded 7.33 mg g(-1). The adsorption studies were simulated using Thomas and Bed depth service time model. Both the models consistently predict its characteristic parameters and describe the breakthrough profiles in the whole range of sorption process.

Assessment of indoor pollutants generated from bio and synthetic fuels in selected villages of Burdwan, West Bengal.

The objective of the present study was to access the pollutant generated from bio-fuels like bamboo sticks, cow dung, paddy straw, carbon dust cake, gobar gas, jute stick, and mustard stick and synthetic fuel like LPG during cooking in rural villages of Burdwan, West Bengal, India and its fluctuation in living room. The average SO2 released from the fuels was found in the following order: bamboo stick > cow dung > paddy straw > carbon cake > gobar gas > jute stick > LPG > mustard stick; NO2 emission was in the following order : mustard stick > carbon dust cake > paddy straw > cow dung cake > LPG, jute stick > gobar gas > bamboo stick > and SPM was obtained in the following sequence: cow dung cake > bamboo stick > carbon dust cake > gobar gas > LPG > mustard stick > paddy straw > jute stick, respectively. The highest living room to kitchen room (L/K) ratio of SO2, NO, and SPM was found in LPG, gobar gas, jute stick respectively in 2009 and followed by bamboo stick > paddy straw > jute stick > cow dung cake, respectively in 2010. Results of this study suggest that different fuels released different amount of air pollutants, but more extensive study is needed to confirm the relationship between fuels and released air pollutants.

Impact of combined exposure of chemical, fertilizer, bio-fertilizer and compost on growth, physiology and productivity of Brassica campestries in old alluvial soil.

Field experiment was carried out during November 2006 to February 2007 under old alluvial soil to evaluate the impact of combined dose of chemical fertilizer, biofertilizer in combination with compost for the yellow sarson (Brassica campestries cv. B9) in a randomized block design replicated thrice. Various morpho-physiological parameters viz., plant population, length of shoot and root, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), yield attributes viz., number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds/siliquae, 1000 seed weight (test weight), seed yield, stover yield and physiological and biochemical parameters viz., pigment content, sugar, amino acid, protein, ascorbic acid content in physiologically active leaf were performed. The treatment T1 i.e., 40% less N fertilizer 25% less P fertilizer K fertilizer constant + 12 kg ha(-1) biofertilizer (Azophos) and organic manure (compost) @ 5Mt ha(-1), showed the maximum chlorophyll accumulation (10. 231 mg g(-1) freshweight), highest seed/siliquae (25.143), test weight of seeds (4. 861g) and highest seed yield (10.661 tha(-1)). A comparison between all the morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical parameters due to application of chemical fertilizer; bio-fertilizer and compost alone and in combination and their impact on soil microorganism, flora and fauna will throw a sound environmental information.

Screening of wheat varieties and associated bacterial population in old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal.

In order to screen out the best variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum) out of eight varieties (viz., HP 1633, BW 11, NW 1014, Sonalika, HUW 468, K 9107, HP 1731 and HUW 234), a field experiment was conducted (from Dec. 2002 to April 2003) in a randomized block design replicated thrice at Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm, Burdwan University, West Bengal, India. Various morpho physiological parameters viz., plant population, length of shoot and root, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf area duration (LAD), net assimilation rate (NAR), yield attributes viz., length of panicles, number of grains per panicle, grain yield, straw yield, pigment content in flag leaf (chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll and carotenoid content) were estimated and analyzed statistically Soil bacterial populations were also estimated in the fallow land before sowing of seeds and after harvesting of crop. The HUW 468 variety records higher grain yield, maximum panicle length and maximum chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content.

Assessment of noise level in Burdwan town, West Bengal.

Cities and towns of the world are now facing enormous rise of noise pollution problem due to very high population rise, transport congestion and associated commercial and industrial activities. Burdwan, a district headquarter (100 km away from Kolkata) is one such town where noise pollution is very frequent. In order to assess noise level, noise data were collected from various places of the town by sound level meter with a duration of 30 minutes/location during specified time like 6.00 am, 10.00 am, 1.00 pm, 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm. Most of the monitoring places either belongs to silence category or commercial category areas. From the tabulated data, it was found that sound level lies within the range of 64-85 dB or above in different time at different places. The locations that belong to the silence zone have the noise level up to 90 dB. Statistically noise level in all these zones differ significantly at their peak hours. Noise pollution adversely affects our environment as well as human beings. Sound causes both pathological and psychological disorders in human beings. Implementation of rules and regulations under section 20, 21J, 41, 68(I), 70, 90, 111A of Environment Protection Act, 1986 and of course various technological methods and public awareness are very essential to check noise pollution in Burdwan town.

Effect of clomiphene on the ponderal, histological and biochemical changes induced by stilbestrol and testosterone in the uterus of rats.

A comparative study on the effects of clomiphene on the stilbestrol- and testosterone-induced changes in the weight, histology and biochemical constituents of the uterus was undertaken. Clomiphene counteracted the stilbestrol-induced increase in the weight, and the absolute contents of the glycogen, protein and RNA of the uterus, possibly by competitive inhibition. It failed to prevent such changes induced by testosterone: on the contrary, there were some additive effects. The results of the present study indicate that the binding sites for the estrogen and the androgen in the uterus are different.

Changes in the levels of protein and steroid hormones in the plasma and steroid hormone receptors in the uterus of normal cycling guinea pigs.

This study deals with the estrous cycle of guinea pigs in relation to sexual behavior, uterine weight, levels of gonadotropins, steroid hormones, and steroid hormone receptors in the uterus. The guinea pigs in this study showed cyclic changes in various reproductive functions broadly similar to other laboratory species studied. The increase in the uterine weight coincided with high concentration of steroid hormones (estradiol and progesterone) secreted during proestrus and estrus. The elevated levels of steroid hormone receptor concentrations in the uterus during these periods also confirm the role of these hormones. The rise in progesterone level from day 14 of the cycle was associated with lordosis and its related behavior. It was noted that the "estrus behavior" is the most accurate external marker for ovulation and sexual receptivity to males. It was also observed that there is an association between follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during the preovulatory period that was not demonstrated in previous studies.

Nature of estrogenic and anti-estrogenic actions of centchroman on rat uterus.

PIP: The uterine effects of centchroman, 3,4-trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenyl- 4-(p(beta-pyrrolidioethoxy)-phenyl)-7-methoxy chroman hydrochloride in ovariectomized rats, with or without estrogen treatment, were studied. Centchroman had a very weak estrogenic action in the absence of exogenous estrogen. However, it did have a relatively strong antiestrogenic action when estradiol benzoate was administered. The results indicate a competitive inhibition of estrogen action at the receptor site. It is suggested that the action of centchroman is similar to that of clomiphene.^ieng

Contraceptive efficacy of tamoxifen in female hamsters.

Systemic administration of tamoxifen (trans-1-(4-B-dimethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenyl-but-1-ene), an antiestrogen, at a dose level of 2 mg/kg body weight on days 1, 2 and 3 post-coitum (p.c.) intercepts pregnancy during the peri-implantation period in 70-80% of hamsters. Significant alterations in the circulating levels of estradiol and progesterone were accompanied by the abolition of peak activities of various uterine lysosomal enzymes in the treated animals. The present study, therefore, suggests that estrogen plays a crucial role during the process of ovum-implantation in hamsters, and tamoxifen displays an interceptive role in this species.

Effects of centchroman, a synthetic estrogen antagonist on the fertility of female hamsters.

Centchroman (3, 4-trans-2, 2-dimethyl-3-phenyl-4-p-beta-pyrrolidinoethoxy-phenyl-7-methoxy-chroman) , a non-steroidal, estrogen antagonist, injected subcutaneously (2 mg/kg body wt) on days 1, 2 and 3 post-coitum in hamsters, prevented implantation in 70% of the animals. A significant decrease in the circulating levels of estradiol and progesterone was observed on day 4 post-coitum as compared to control animals following the treatment of centchroman. The activities of various lysosomal enzymes were also found diminished in the treated animals. This study shows that centchroman may act as an anti-implantation agent in hamsters indicating that estrogen plays a key role during the process of ovum implantation in this species.

Assessment of air pollution stress on some commonly grown tree species in industrial zone of Durgapur, West Bengal, India.

The present study deals with the biochemical responses of some selected tree species with respect to increased air pollution in Durgapur industrial city in India. Areas in vicinity to industries possess very high concentrations of suspended particulate matter (571 microg/m3), SOx (132 microg/m3) and NOx (97 microg/m3) which shows significant correlations (p < 0.05) with the biochemical constituents of stressed plants. Plants growing in industrial zone exhibit a considerable decline in total chlorophyll (34.97-59.81%), soluble sugars (23.85-33.16%) and protein content (21.59-47.13%) and increase in ascorbic acid (81.87-238.53%) and proline content (123.47-284.91%). Of the studied tree species, Shorea robusta (9.78 +/- 0.095), Alstonia scholaris (8.76 +/- 0.084), Peltophorum pterocarpum (8.99 +/- 0.13) and Albizia lebbeck (7.71 +/- 0.012) were found to be more tolerant with higher Air Pollution Toblerance Index (APTI) and Tectona grandis (6.13 +/- 0.276), Lagerstroemia speciosa (7.075 +/- 0.18) and Delonix regia (6.87 +/- 0.079) were sensitive with lower APTI values. Therefore, plant species with higher APTI value, being more resistant, can be used as pollutant absorbent to reduce the pollution level and are suitable for plantations in industrial areas.