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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 217-224
Sustainability and
the Global Commons
John Cairns,
Jr.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
Abstract : The first picture of Earth from space showed a
tiny, fragile, blue sphere. Above all, the planet was obviously finite.
Despite this evidence, the restricted view of Earth from Earth is that
sustained development (i.e., growth) is possible on a finite
planet. However, to live sustainably,
humankind must determine Earth’s carrying capacity and live within that
limit. The ecologically acceptable number of inhabitants will depend
upon the quality of life people seek and the size of the safety factor
that will be accepted as necessary to avoid exceeding Earth’s carrying
capacity. Nature exacts severe penalties on those individuals and
societies that exceed carrying capacity (i.e., overuse of natural
resources). The central but inadequately discussed assumption of
sustainable use of the planet is that humankind can reduce the suffering
resulting from natural selection and also develop a
mutualistic relationship with the biospheric life support system
and with members of its own species. Scientific evidence, reason, and
compassion for all forms of life may well create sustainability. Of
course, biological evolutionary processes will sustain life on Earth
despite prodigious loss of individuals and species. Over 4 billion years
of evidence indicate that this process works. On the other hand, no
robust evidence is available that sustainable use of the planet by
Homo sapiens is even possible, but social evolution of human society
may make it so. A key component is managing the global commons for
sustainable use without abuse.
Key
words : Biological evolution, Social evolution,
Sustainability, Resource wars, Carrying capacity, Scientific evidence,
Global commons.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 225-232
The
Diseconomies of Environmental Catastrophes
John Cairns,
Jr.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
Abstract : Four factors are almost certain to lead to
one or more catastrophes unless major remedial measures are taken.
(1) China has replaced the
United States as the world’s leading consumer of resources, except for
oil (Brown, 2006a), but China is already a major factor in the world
market in this area also. Together, China and the United States consume
approximately half the world’s resources and the global population is
still increasing on a finite planet.
(2) The over 20% global
ecological overshoot is simply too large to persist without catastrophic
effects.
(3) Natural law does not
function on human intent. Talk about sustainable development continues,
but minor evidence of living sustainably
will not alter evolutionary selective processes.
(4) Increased evidence
indicates that global warming, with rises in sea levels, may already be
irreversible.
(5) Peak oil will be followed
by a decline in cheap energy, which has made Homo sapiens a
dominant species.
Key
words : Diseconomies, Environmental catastrophes,
Ecological overshoot, Global warming, Peak oil, Resource wars.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 233-242
Controlling Landfill
Emissions for Environmental Protection : Mid
Auchencarroch Experimental Project
Telemachus C.
Koliopoulos1 and
D.M. Georgia
Koliopoulou2
1. Environmental Consultancy,
Centre for Environmental Management Research,
University of Strathclyde, Greece.
2. Department of
Experimental Physiology,
Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
Abstract :
This paper assesses the long term behaviour of Mid
Auchencarroch experimental landfill site in Scotland, based on
characteristic landfill biodegration
parameters, making useful conclusions. and
analyzes the effects of waste pretreatment
and landfill management techniques on landfill emissions and waste
biodegradation processes. The biodegradation of Mid
Auchencarroch Experimental Landfill Project is studied in four
different cells with different waste input materials. The Mid
Auchencarroch’s experimental design confirm
that waste pretreatment and
leachate recirculation are sustainable and
accelerate the waste biodegradation, protecting public health from
associated hazards. The variations of characteristic indexes of landfill
emissions are presented and analyzed for different bioreactor’s
conditions. Landfill emissions’ environmental contamination control has
to be improved based on the presented evaluations, taking into account
different landfill conditions. The experimental results showed that the
use of the anaerobic landfill batch bioreactor design is sustainable and
it should be used by landfill operators.
Key
words : Landfill gas; leachates;
landfill design; waste biodegradation; solid waste management; public
health.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 243-252
Determination of
Am-Be Neutron Source used on Landmine Detection
D.
Rezaei Ochbelagh*, H.
Miri Hakimabad
and R. Izadi Najafabadi
Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences,
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,
Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran
Abstract : For
plastic landmine detection
252Cf,
D-D and D-T neutron sources are used. Present study indicates that Am-Be
neutron source can also be used for this purpose. In order to apply this
source, it is necessary to design suitable shield. In this work firstly
we have experimentally shown that the gamma ray emitted from neutron
source has no effect on BF3 detector counts. Secondly we have
theoretically investigated the shield of Am-Be neutron source used on
landmine detection then accomplished experiment to determine
polyethylene(PE) shield thickness.
Keywords :
Landmine, Am-Be Source, MCNP code, BF3
Detector, Polyethylene, TNT.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 253-259
Wastewater
Influencing Pathogenic Bacterial Population and Biochemical Alterations
in Fish
J. N.
Bhakta* and B. B. Jana
Aquaculture and Applied Limnology Research Unit,
Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani,
Kalyani-741 235, West Bengal, India,
Abstract :
Experiment was conducted in sewage-fed ponds to ascertain the responses
of bacterial populations and biochemical alterations in fish cultured
under different stress conditions of two sewage strengths.
Rohu (Labio
rohita, 60
±
12 g) was introduced in facultative pond-1 and stocking pond-4 at the
rate of 10,000 fish ha-1 and
reared for 120 days. Water surface sediment and fish samples were
collected for examination of bacterial population; biochemical and water
quality analysis were made at biweekly intervals. Growth of fish
was recorded at regular intervals. Load of pathogenic bacteria (Coliform
and Vibrio sp.) was higher in
facultative pond-1 than that of stocking pond-4. 41 to 100%, 43 to 96%
and 25 to 105% greater value of protein, DNA and RNA were observed,
respectively, in the fish of stocking pond-4 than those of the
facultative pond-1. It clearly implies that fishes of facultative pond-1
must expend more energy, which is used to synthesize structural or
functional proteins and biotransformer to
resist the stressor’s effects on homeostasis that presents in more
quantity in facultative pond-1 than that of the stocking pond-4.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the concentration of DNA and RNA and
DNA/RNA ratio may be considered as indicators of fish growth, which is
influenced by various stressors of sewage water.
Key
words : Strength of sewage, stressor, fish, bacterial
population, biochemical changes.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 261-268
Effect of VAM soil Containing Glomus
fasciculatum on Growth of
Withania
somnifera Dun
S. Halder1 and M.B.Ray2
1. Department of Botany,
Burdwan
Raj
College,
Burdwan, India
2. Department of Botany,
Burdwan
University,
Burdwan, India
Abstract : Withania
somnifera is an important medicinal and
endangered plant growing as weed. The present sets of experiment have
been designed to establish Glomus
fasciculatum with the root system of
W. somnifera and to analyze the
effectiveness of this mycorrhiza on
vegetative growth and absorption of nutrients from the soil. Plants were
grown in plastic pots under aseptic conditions. The VAM soil containing
Glomus
fasciculatum was applied once after 30 days of transplanting
in one set of plants, and twice after 30 days and 75 days of
transplanting in another set of experiment. The establishment of the
fungus within the root in the form of vesicle was observed. Formation of
vesicles within the root indicated the affinity of the fungus with the
plant. Mycorrhizal treatment showed better
vegetative growth in comparison to untreated plants. Significant
increase in height, number of branches and number of leaves over
non-treated plants were found. Further observation showed the increase
of fresh weight and dry weight of stem, leaf and root. The
mycorrhiza like
Glomus fasciculatum also
enhanced the levels of phosphorus in different parts of treated plants,
but nitrogen levels were higher in different parts of the plant when VAM
soil applied once such results pointed out that
Glomus fasciculatum has an
effective role as bio-fertilizer on Withania
somnifera.
Key
words : VAM, medicinal plant, growth, phosphorus,
nitrogen, mycorrization.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 269-273
Genistein Against
Radiation Damage : A Study on Swiss Albino Mice
Ajay Gaur*,
Avadhesh Sharma and A.L. Bhatia
Radiation Biology Laboratory,
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan, India
*L.B.S. College of Pharmacy, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Abstract :
Radiation has harmful effects on biological systems. The
radioprotective effects of an acute
administration of the isoflavone, Genistein
(4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) a product of Soya
foods is a solid substance and its molecular formula is C15H10O5 and
its molecular weight is 270.24 Daltons. It is also classified as a
phytoestrogen. Mice were administered with
different doses (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of Genistein
before 8 Gy gamma
radiation and the dose of genistein
at which maximum survivability is obtained was selected as optimum dose
(200 mg/kg). The 0.5 ml dose of Genistein (200 mg/kg) was administered
intraperitoneally (I.P.) to mice before
gamma irradiation. In mice treated with Genistein (200 mg/kg) 24 hr
before irradiation a significant increase in 30 day survival has been
recorded in contrast to mice treated with Genistein 15 minutes before
irradiation. This observation indicates the
radioprotective efficacy with longer retention with the possible
minimum toxicity.
Key
words : Genistein, Radioprotectant,
Soya foods and Radiation.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 275-280
Morphological
Differentiation and Effect of Seed Inoculum
on the Production of Cephalosporin-C by
Acremonium chrysogenum
Ruchi
Verma
1,
Vinod
kumar Nigam1*,
Subir
Kundu
2 and P.
Ghosh
1
1.
Birla Institute of Scientific Research,
Statue Circle, Jaipur- 302 001
2. School of Biochemical
Engineering,
Institute of Technoloy, B.H.U.,
Varanasi, 221 005
Abstract:
Cephalosporins, more resistant to
b-lactamases
are usually produced semi-synthetically from cephalosporin-C, which is
produced by fermentation using mold
Acremonium
chrysogenum. The morphological differentiation of
mold during the submerged cultivation was
investigated and co-related with the production of CPC. It has been
found that the biosynthesis of CPC was more during the
idiophase when the number of swollen
hyphae and the number of
arthrospores are high. The production of CPC
was higher when the seed of early stage was used as an
inoculum source. The yield of CPC was almost
1.3 times higher than the late stage seed as
inoculum source.
Key words:
Cephalosporin-C fermentation, stirred tank bioreactor,
arthrospores, morphology, and batch
fermentation
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Asian J. Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006,
281-288
Zinc-Induced Changes
on Chromosomes of a Fresh Water Teleost,
Heteropneustes
fossilis (Bloch)
Neelima
Gupta1*,
D.K. Gupta
2, V.K. Verma
1 and Gopal
Krishna
3
1. Department of Animal
Science,
M.J.P. Rohilkhand University,
Bareilly (U.P.), India
2. Department of Zoology,
Bareilly College,
Bareilly (U.P.), India
3. Department of Fish
Genetics and Biotechnology,
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
Abstract :The
genotoxicity of heavy metal zinc to an
Indian catfish Heteropneustes
fossilis was determined by different
exposed concentrations (1.00 ppm, 3.00
ppm and 5.00 ppm)
during various time intervals (24 hrs., 48 hrs. and 72 hrs.). The
exposure of zinc induced Total Metaphase spreads with Chromosomal
Aberration (TMCA) and different types of abnormalities like ring
chromosomes being (maximum 71.4% 1.0 ppm :
24 hrs.) and a minimum of 21% (1.00 ppm : 72
hrs.). The chromosomal breakage was 40.8% (1.00
ppm : 24
hrs.). The percentage of dicentric
chromosomes was significantly higher 42.2% (1.00
ppm : 72
hours). The chromosomes of the exposed fish also become fragmented. The
maximum fragmentation of chromosomes was 35.0% (5.00
ppm: 72 hours) and the minimum was 7.4%
(1.00 ppm: 48 hours).The present studies are
an expression of the mutagenic and clastogenic
characteristics of the impact of sublethal
concentration of the heavy metal, zinc in
H.fossilis.
Key
words : Zinc, Chromosomes,
Heteropneustes fossilis.
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Asian J.
Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, 289-296
Environment Impact
of Idol Immersion Activity Lakes of Bhopal, India
Anju
Vyas1*,
D. D. Mishra
2, A.
Bajapai3,
S. Dixit
4 and N.
Verma
5
1. Department of Chemistry,
Govt. Geetanjali Girls P.G. College, Bhopal
and Chitransh A.D.P.G. College, Bhopal, MP,
India 462016
2. Department of Chemistry,
Govt. College Udaipura, Bhopal, M.P, India
3. LCA
(EPCO) Bhopal, M.P., India
4. Applied Chemistry
Department, Maulana
Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal - 462007, (M.P.),
India
5. Applied Chemistry
Department, MANIT & Govt.
Geetanjali Girls P.G. College, Bhopal -
462016, M.P., India.
Abstract : The immersion of idol of Lord
Ganesh and Durga during
Ganesh Ustav and
Navratris festival is a major source of
contamination and sedimentation to the lake water. Environmental impact
due to idol immersion in Upper and Lower Lakes, it is situated in
Bhopal, the capital city of M.P. The lakes constructed respectively in
the 11th and
18th century
is typical Example of urban water bodies. While the Upper Lake has been
one major source of potable water for the people of Bhopal for ever a
century, the Lower lake remains a source of raw water for the urban
development which mushroomed around it as well as on the north eastern
fringe of Upper lake during the last few decades. Idol immersion is a
cause of water pollution peculiar to India with its large number of
adherent to the Hindu religion. Idol are made of clay but
non–biodegradable thermocol and paints
containing heavy metals are also used .The immersion practices leads to
degradation of water quality and siltration
.The parameters like Turbidity, Total Hardness, Dissolved Oxygen (DO),
Biochemical Demand, (BOD) Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Oil and Grease
have been studie to Upper and Lower lakes,
Bhopal. Parameter Turbidity, Dissolved
Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
become higher on immersion idols have grown in number and size over the
years and urban water bodies are facing on increasing nutrient load.
Key
wards :
Contamination, Idol Immersion, Lake ecosystem, Water quality parameter.
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Asian J. Exp. Sci., Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006,
297-302
Seasonal Variations
in Physico-chemical Characteristics in Upper
Lake of Bhopal
Charu
Parashar*1,
Savita Dixit2 and
Rajnish Shrivastava1
1. Department of Civil Engineering
MANIT, Bhopal,
M.P., India
2. Chemistry
Department
MANIT, Bhopal,
M.P., India
Abstract :
Water intended for
human consumption should be “safe” and “wholesome” i.e. free from
pathogenic agent and harmful chemicals, pleasant to taste and usable for
domestic purpose. The study area selected was Upper
lake of
Bhopal, the city of lakes, Madhya Pradesh. It is a life line of Bhopal
created by Raja Bhoj in eleventh century. The
physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, DO, total
hardness, total alkalinity and turbidity were studied to analyse the
potable water quality of the lake. Better water quality was found in
winter season than summer. Extent of pollution that has occurred due to
urbanization, anthropogenic activities; increased human interventions in
the water bodies have been ascertained.
Key
words :
lake, physico-chemical parameters,
seasonal variations.
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