January 2013

The textile industry is searching for innovative production techniques to improve the product quality. Nowadays, Micro fibers have set new trends in the textile industry and manmade fibers were upgraded to be superior to natural fibers both in appearance and also in the other physical and comfort properties. The blending of the micro denier polyester fibre along with cotton fibre is a popular one for research and it gives valuable performance with the main component fibre properties and additional micro polyester fibre properties. The research work shows that the part of micro polyester fibres improves the fabric properties in the aspects of better drape, softness, shrink resistance, high strength and good insulation against atmosphere conditions, good absorbency, good wicking property, good air permeability and environment friendly. This paper deals with the study of surface modification of 100% micro denier polyester, 100% cotton and 65/35 micro polyester / cotton fabrics by plasma treatment. The various properties improvement in the above fabrics was discussed and conclusion was made based on the performance of plasma treatment on the subjected fabrics.

Since the turn of the new millennium, there has been a steady increase in the use of plastic products resulting in a proportionate rise in plastic waste in the municipal solid waste streams in Ghanaian cities, including the Kumasi metropolitan area. The adoption of a more hygienic mode of packaging food, beverages, “iced water” and other products brought plastic packaging to replace the existing cultural packaging methods. However, the packaging revolution has not been correspondingly backed by appropriate plastic waste management policy, which has left many cities in Ghana littered with plastic wastes; thus, creating disgusting visual nuisances and other public health problems. Despite the environmental and health implications of plastic waste, plastic recovery and recycling has become a very lucrative activity that have the potential to lift Ghana from its current economic quagmire. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the paper reveals that plastic waste collection and recycling has generated employment and revenue. The research further revealed that plastic waste is used as raw materials by the construction and oil industries. The paper concludes that plastic waste recovery and recycling should be institutionalized and regulated so that the wealth linkage can be mainstreamed with national policies.

Allelopathic effects of two dominate weeds like wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and wild oat (Avena ludoviciana L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Var. Chamran) were investigated at Department of Botany, University of Pune (M.S.), India in 2011. The results revealed that aqueous extracts of wild mustard and wild oat had caused drastic reduction in seed germination percentage, shoot and root length as well as dry weight of wheat seedlings. Maximum reduction was recorded at highest concentration of weed extracts. The extract of wild mustard had shown highest reduction in seed germination percentage, shoot length and seedling dry weight as compare to the extracts of wild oat and combination of wild mustard and wild oat. Amongst the three different types of weeds extracts, wild oat (100%) had caused highest negative effect on root length only. Amongst the different parameters studied root length showed highest sensitivity towards the treatments of weed extracts. The present investigation had clearly shown the negative influence of both the weeds on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat.

This study was done for the aim of determining the fish species inhibiting in the Halti Beel, a famous wetland of northwest Bangladesh. A total of sixty-three fish species including 55 indigenous and 8 exotic species belonging to 8 orders, 20 families and 41 genera were recorded during the investigation period and listed with their nomenclature and systematic position. Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were the dominant order and family in terms of species composition. Puntius sophore was the most abundant fish species accounting 8.03% of total catch. Three critically endangered, eleven endangered and eight vulnerable fish species of Bangladesh were also recorded in this water body.

FMF is characterized by recurrent fever, peritonitis, arthritis, pleuritis and secondary amyloidosis. Iliopsoas bursitis due to its unspecific symptomatology is an often-underdiagnosed entity in the chronic pelvic pain. Also one of the reason of the acute pelvic pain in reproductive age is ovarian cyst rupture. A 22 year old woman with FMF disease admitted to obstetric and gynecology department with chronic right hip and pelvic pain. Transvaginal sonographic examination showed free fluid in the pouch of Douglas that was presumed ovarian cyst rupture. The patient was referred for MRI examination because of chronic hip pain which showed the iliopsoas bursitis communicating with the coxofemoral joint. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature which presented with acute pelvic pain and chronic hip pain with ovarian cyst rupture and iliopsoas bursitis in FMF patient.

Geophagic clays are consumed by human beings and other members of the animal kingdom for a number of reasons such as mineral nutrient supplementation, relief of early morning sickness in pregnancy and craving. The objective of this study was to assess major elements in geophagic clays in order to know clays that were enriched or depleted in major elements of nutritional value. The major elements were determined by means of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS). The average concentration of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2 are 42.52%, 29.20%, 12.04% and 1.26% respectively with low content of CaO (0.26%). Chemical index of alteration (CIA) values for geophagic clays ranges from 17.09 – 99.07. There are no differences in major oxides of Mg, Mn, K and P in geophagic and non-geophagic clays. Cluster analysis of the major elements showed two groups of chemical differences amongst the elements in geophagic clays, low and moderate to high degree of weathered clays. Functional analysis showed that some of the geophagic clays were enriched in SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 and depleted in CaO, K2O and MnO. Geophagic clays devoid of Al2O3, SiO2, MgO and those that are enriched in Fe2O3 and CaO are ideal for human consumption because of the potential benefits that are associated with Fe2O3 and CaO in human metabolism.

The Toxicity of Congo red to earthworm, Megascolex konkanensis was studied. The toxicity was concentration dependent and the percent survival decreased with increasing concentration in water and soil. The concentration of congored which was sub lethal under normoxic condition became lethal under hypoxic condition. In soil, with increase in water content, a decreasing trend in LC50 value was observed. The severity of behavioral and morphological changes increased with increasing concentration of congored in water and soil.

In the present study compost samples of two mushrooms namely Buttton (Agaricus bisporus) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) were collected from Directorate of Mushroom Research (DMR) ,Chambaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. After screening cellulase producing fungi a total of 45 fungal isolates were isolated from compost samples, out of which 36 fungal isolates were purified and 23 isolates showed the cellulase activity. The isolates were identified as Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Penicillium species. The optimum pH and temperature for growth and enzyme production were found to be 6.0 and 28°C respectively. The maximum fungal growth and enzyme production by Aspergillus spp. was obtained after 4 days of incubation period whereas Trichoderma, Penicillium and Rhizopus species exhibited maximum fungal growth and enzyme production after 5 days of incubation. Sucrose was found to be the best carbon source in Trichoderma spp. and Penicillium species at 1 percent concentration, whereas Glucose exhibited maximum enzyme activity in case of Rhizopus spp. and Aspergillus spp. at 1.5 percent and 1 percent concentration resspectively. One percent peptone proved to the best nitrogen source in case of Trichoderma spp. Yeast extract exhibited maximum enzyme activity in case of Rhizopus spp. at 1 percent concentration, whereas Beef extract at 1 and 1.5 percent concentration was found to be best nitrogen source in case of Aspergillus and Penicillium species respectively.

Root and tuber crops form the major subsistence staples in larger parts of sub-Saharan Africa. However, in Nigeria, root and tuber production relies mainly on smallholders that have multiple practices to choose from while considering crops to be included in their cropping systems. This study examined factors influencing the inclusion of root and tuber crops in the cropping systems among farmers in Oyo state. Data were collected from 360 farmers randomly selected using a structured interview schedule. Frequency counts, percentages and Chi-square were used for the data analysis. The study revealed that factors such as age ((χ2 = 337.600, P<0.01), high yield potential ((χ2 = 122.500, P < 0.01), availability of planting material ((χ2 = 544.150, P<0.01), compatibility with the cropping systems ((χ2 = 124.576, P<0.01), low risk involvement ((χ2 = 90.000, P<0.01) and low capital requirement ((χ2 = 168.500, P<0.01), farm size ((χ2 = 96.100, P < 0.01) and ease of management ((χ2 = 96.100, P < 0.01) significantly influenced the inclusion of root and tuber crops in the farmers’ cropping systems in the study area. The extension administrators should also intensify efforts at educating the farmers on the importance of root and tuber crops in the cropping systems.

The Municipal Sewage water are discharged into low level areas, in streams and lands which finally accumulate in the form of large ponds and affects the environment. The sewage sample was collected from Singanallur station of sanganur canal of Coimbatore.1/10th of 72 hour LC50 value was taken as sublethal concentration for sewage water. After the experimental exposure (72hours, 10days, 20days) fishes were sacrificed and organs like gill, liver, kidney used for histopathological studies. It showed degenerative changes in gills, symptoms of general necrosis, cloudy swelling in liver and dilated glomeruli, cellular hypertrophy in kidney.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is one of the parameter to assess the diabetic condition. In this study, the activities of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes were assessed and correlated with HbA1c in the red blood cells (RBCs) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Thirty diabetic patients (taking insulin and different antidiabetic drugs) from Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, between the age 40 and 70 were chosen and they were not suffering from any other illness and fifteen non-diabetic control subjects of the same age groups were also chosen for comparison. Index of glycemic control (plasma glucose, insulin, blood hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin) and the activities of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphogluco isomerase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) were measured. Diabetic patients have significantly higher plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin and lower insulin and hemoglobin. Activities of hexokinase, phosphogluco isomerase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly lower in diabetic patients when compared with non-diabetic control subjects. Statistical analysis indicated a correlation of glycated hemoglobin with hexokinase (r= -0.858, p= 0.000), phosphogluco isomerase (r= -0.546, p= 0.000), aldolase (r= -0.591, p= 0.000), pyruvate kinase (r= -0.360, p= 0.023) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (r= -0.449, p= 0.004) in non-diabetic control subjects and diabetic patients. Inspite of regular intake of antidiabetic drugs or insulin, the index of glycemic control showed significant increase implying impaired control of diabetes mellitus. Hexokinase showed a significantly strong negative correlation to glycated hemoglobin. RBCs hexokinase activity has been inversely correlated with glycation which could act as an index in evaluation of glycation in diabetic condition.

Morin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant property, is a constituent of many herbs and fruits that are used as herbal medicines. It exhibits many biological activities and possibly even has protective effects against chronic renal diseases. The present study aims to study the protective effect of morin against ethanol-induced biochemical changes in kidney. Male albino rats were divided into four groups as follow; (1): control group, (2): control rats treated with morin (3) ethanol fed rats (4) ethanol fed rats treated with morin. Administration of ethanol (6g/kg BW) daily for a period of 60 days causes significant elevation in the levels of nephrotic markers such as urea, uric acid, creatinine and also significant elevation of kidney lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, and phospholipids. Ethanol also causes the significant decreased in the activities of membrane bound ATPases. However, ethanol fed rats treated with morin (60 mg/ kg BW, post orally once daily for a period of 30 days) significantly reduced the level of nephrotic markers, the lipids levels and increased the activities of membrane bound enzyme. The results of the present study strongly indicate that morin has potent reno-protective effect against ethanol induced oxidative tissues damage in experimental animals.

Introduction: Encephalitis refers to inflammation of Parenchymal brain tissue. Acute encephalitis begins abruptly (hours to days) whereas chronic encephalitis is insidious in onset, occurring over weeks to months.1 Objective: To document etiological, clinical and laboratory features in cases of Encephalitis in general and Japanese encephalitis in particular. Methods: Fifty Indian children below 15 years of age, with encephalitic features were investigated. They were treated in Bapuji Child Health Institute and Chigateri Government Hospital, Davangere. Various methods (Hematological, Biochemical, Cytological, Microbiological, Radio imaging) were used. Serologic methods were used for detection of IgG and IgM antibody to Japanese encephalitis virus. Results: The etiological agents responsible were Japanese encephalitis virus followed by Co-existing infections, Mumps and other viral etiology where specific diagnosis could not be clinched Conclusion: Japanese encephalitis virus is more frequent viral pathogens of childhood encephalitis in Davangere and surrounding areas.

This study was undertaken to explore the job satisfaction of lecturers. Present research compared job satisfaction of 30 contractual and 35 permanent lecturers on pay, promotion, supervision, fringe benefits, coworkers, nature of work, communication, contingent & rewards and operating conditions. These aspects of working environment contribute as factors of job satisfaction. Results indicated that there is significant difference between the contractual and permanent lecturer’s job satisfaction on the pay, fringe benefits and contingent & reward aspects. As the job satisfaction of lecturers can directly affect students and classroom so it is recommended that there should be permanent lecturers in govt. higher secondary schools so that their satisfaction can produce good results.

Most of the theories in security market are based on the notion of rational investment decision behaviour from investors. But it has been observed that it is not the case always. A new area of research has come up which recognizes the psychological element in financial decision making and thus challenging the traditional models. This new area of study is known as behavioural finance and in the changing socio-economic and technological context; it is high time to study this new area of knowledge. The objective of this paper is restricted to the role of investor emotions in investment decision making and from our research it has been proved that the emotions play their role in investment decisions, but building long-term wealth requires counter-emotional investment decisions–like buying at times of maximum pessimism or resisting the euphoria around investments that have recently outperformed. Unfortunately, as the study below shows, investors as a group too often let emotions guide their investment decisions. In the end, by anticipating and understanding the series of emotions that you may experience, you’ll be better equipped to tolerate and benefit from market fluctuations. And we have also included a Para of suggestions which will help the investors to avoid emotional influence on investment decisions.

Neural networks are a new method of programming computers. They are exceptionally good at performing pattern recognition and other tasks that are very difficult to program using conventional techniques. Programs that employ neural nets are also capable of learning on their own and adapting to changing conditions. Neural nets may be the future of computing .A good way to understand them is with a puzzle that neural nets can be used to solve. Suppose that you are given 500 characters of code that you know to be C, C++, Java, or Python. Now, construct a program that identifies the code's language. One solution is to construct a neural net that learns to identify these languages. According to a simplified account, the human brain consists of about ten billion neurons -- and a neuron is, on average, connected to several thousand other neurons. By way of these connections, neurons both send and receive varying quantities of energy. One very important feature of neurons is that they don't react immediately to the reception of energy. Instead, they sum their received energies, and they send their own quantities of energy to other neurons only when this sum has reached a certain critical threshold. The brain learns by adjusting the number and strength of these connections. The brain's network of neurons forms a massively parallel information processing system. This contrasts with conventional computers, in which a single processor executes a single series of instructions.

Physico-chemical properties and bacteriological examination of spring water was done from from Markanday region of Hamirpur District in Himachal Pradesh. Physico-chemical properties such as Total Dissolved solids (TDS), Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Alkalinity, Hardness, Chloride and pH were determined and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standard. Bacteriological examination was done by isolation of microorganism from water and identification by serotyping. It was found that water was potable and free of pathogenic strain.

The present study deals with the macroscopic analysis of medicinal plants specifically betel leaf by using the techniques of Image Processing and Neural Networks. Any disturbance between the elements of human body leads to disease and the therapy lies in restoring the balance through the use of medicines of natural origin such as herbs and minerals. India is endowed with a rich variety of medicinal plants. Not only in India, but also from other parts of the world, there is a great demand for Betel Leaf which is not only used in all auspicious occasions but also has wonderful medicinal values. The results of the present research work include the macroscopic structure of Veins, Areole characteristics and Area characteristics. The results are presented and discussed.

This study is an analytical descriptive research study to assess the attainment of peak performance of the Co-operative College of Kenya. The study aimed to achieve the degree of effectiveness of the interventions in ensuring that the organization works towards the employee profiles in the areas of commitment, confidence, competence, working conditions and communication and to determine the behavioral changes among the leadership and the employees after conducting the interventions to improve the overall performance of the Co-operative College of Kenya. The theoretical framework of this study is based on Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory as expounded by Dessler (1980). The pre and post intervention instrument is a questionnaire which is an adaptation of the tool developed by Ken Hultman (2003). Fifty eight employees of Co-operative College were asked to rate themselves through the pre-intervention survey, on how well they performed on fifteen categories of the areas of commitment, confidence, competence, working conditions and communication. The results formed the basis for conducting planned interventions in June 2008. During the period May to December 2008, the researcher worked with the staff of the College on various team building and other group activities to ensure consistency in addressing the issues that emerged during the pre-intervention survey. In December 2008, a post intervention survey instrument was given again to the employees (using the same survey instrument as the pre intervention). The data from the pre intervention assessment and the post intervention evaluation were statistically treated using the means. The t-test was used for comparison of the pre and post intervention data for improvements significant at 0.05 levels. The results of the survey showed significant improvements in the obtained t-value from the difference of the pre and post assessment, which means that the intervention offered were successful. The analysis of the pre intervention assessment and post test intervention evaluation data were statically significant therefore the organization development interventions were successful in improving the workers’ performance of the Co-operative College of Kenya. The results recommend that further intervention activities will be conducted to sustain the continued improved performance of the workers to attain optimal (peak) performance.

Service quality has got increased considerable attention within the education sector. Efforts to understand and assess the service quality in higher education have been undertaken in the recent years. The conceptualization of service quality, its relationship to the satisfaction, value constructs and methods of evaluation have become a central theme of education sector. Numerous studies have done in this area with adopting generic service quality models, but little work has been concentrated on exploring the dimensions to measure service quality in higher education in the standpoint of total environment as experienced by students being the primary customers. The paper focuses on recent studies (models) developed to measure service quality in higher education and discussed various factors should be considered while developing a model for measuring the same with provided a conceptual framework.

A study was conducted to assess the magnitude of heterosis for grain yield and its components over mid parent (MP), Better parent (BP) and standard heterosis (SH) in rice hybrids (Oryza sativa L.) through line x tester analysis. The present study comprised of three lines and ten testers. The resultant thirty hybrids along with their thirteen parents were evaluated during 2009 to 2010 in a randomized block design with three replications at Plant Breeding Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. The analysis of variance indicated significant amount of variability among the genotypes for all the seven traits studied. The cross combinations IR 58025A x ASD 19, IR 62829A x ASD 16, PUSA 3A x IR 42 were found to be promising for seed yield as they had high percentage of standard heterosis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether selected physical fitness components (coordinative ability, speed, strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility) can be utilized as prediction factors of long jump performance. Measurements were observed from 50 selected long jumpers sampled from Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Delhi. Test included shuttle run, 50m dash, standing broad jump, 12 minutes walk/ run (cooper test) and sit and reach. Analysis was done using t-test and product moment correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that a significant relationship between running broad jump and cardiovascular endurance (r = 0.41), coordinative ability (r= -0.50), explosive leg strength (r= 0.43) and speed (r= -0.48) and no significant differences in arm and shoulder endurance (r= 0.17). It was conclude that performance in cardiovascular endurance, coordinative ability, explosive leg strength, speed and flexibility are related to running broad jump performance. The study recommends that training programs for long jumpers need to be systematic and scientific in developing physical fitness components.

This paper takes a keen look in network security and network security goals, why computers are insecure and type Of attack, how to improve network security . Securing your network and practical's what is Quota.

Field experiments were conducted to study the interaction of phosphorus, sulfur and zinc on growth and yield of rice in neutral and alkali soils. The treatments consisted of two levels of P2O5 (25, 50 kg/ha), two levels of S (20, 40 kg/ha) and four levels of Zn( 0,5,10, 15 kg/ha) besides an absolute control, thus totaling seventeen treatments. The results revealed significant interactions among P,S and Zn on growth and yield of rice. The growth and yield of rice was less when P, Zn and S were applied at lower rates, but improved with increasing levels of nutrients. However, the highest grain (5216, 4678 kg/ha) and straw yields (6123, 5642 kg/ha) was noticed with application of 50 kg P2O5, 20 kg S and 10 kg Zn /ha in neutral and alkali soils respectively. This was comparable with 50 kg P2O5, 40 kg S and 10 kg Zn /ha. Similar effect was noticed with respect to growth and yield attributes. It is clearly exhibited that in the absence of zinc application, growth and yield of rice is reduced in spite of addition of adequate amounts of P and S. Further, for a given level of P and S, addition of highest amount of Zn (15 kg/ha) reduced the growth and yield of rice.

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used, to characterize tropical ayous (triplochyton scleroxylon) and fraké (terminalia superba) sanded wood surface prior to gluing. As expected, O1s and C1s were the predominant species in the spectra of the two woods. C1s peak have been decomposed into several components. Earlier study reveled tree classes of carbon for frake. Unlike these result the two woods characterized in this work exhibit carbon atoms in classes C1 (carbon atoms bonded by a C-C or a C-H bond), C2 (carbon atoms bonded by C-O bond), C3 (carbon atoms bonded by C=O or by a O-C-O bond), C4 (carbon atoms bonded by O-C=O bond), C0 (carbon attributed to inhomogeous charges, and à non attributed carbon at 285,6 eV. The four principal classes were confirmed by FTIR. The oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) ratio of wood was determined. The deviation of the O/C ratios from theoretical values was interpreted as indicative of surface rich in lignin, surface hydrocarbon impurities or extractives and wood density.

Milk was analyzed for several parameters like pH, acidity, fat, protein, solids-not-fat, total solids and moisture content. The values obtained were found to be satisfactory in comparison to composition of normal cow milk. Cream was separated from milk using hand-operating cream separator. Analysis of cream showed satisfactory results in comparison to cream obtained by cream separation process. The cream was divided into three parts of which first was directly made ghee without culturing, second was cultured with dahi culture and third with yoghurt culture. Chemical analysis of all ghee samples gave satisfactory results in comparison to normal ghee composition. Sensory evaluation of the three samples were performed taking attributes like flavor, acidity, color, texture, absence of impurities and overall. Ghee prepared from dahi cultured cream showed the highest. Again, dahi cultured cream was treated to different pH (4.5, 4.0 and 3.6). Ghee was prepared and subjected to sensory evaluation. The cream cultured to pH 3.6 showed the highest score. This finding indicates that flavor is produced in ghee in greater extent by dahi cultured cream in respect to yoghurt cultured and non-cultured cream and greater the extent of culturing, more is the flavor yielding diacetyl produced.

Some metals inputs within the solid waste dump were studied through the Pollution Load Index (PLI). High levels in cadmium (4.00±0.62 mg.kg-1), lead (138.43±51.5 mg.kg-1) and zinc (266.63±42.83 mg.kg-1) and low levels in copper (40.77±11.98 mg.kg-1) were measured within the soils at five sites against a control. The total concentrations in metals were measured in soil samples collected from the surface to 1.5 m depth. The measurements showed in total metal concentration decrease from surface to depth in lead, zinc and copper. Cadmium was measured to be constant with the depth of study. The values of Pollution Load Index pointed out strong contaminations in metals of the soils surface layers at overall area of study. PLI decreased from 5.13 to 1.33 with respect to the increase in depth in that landfill. The soils clay contents were showed to be the major factor for controlling the metals distribution within those soils.

Jawadhu Hills are a range of hills. One of the largest in the Eastern Ghats in Thiruvannamalai District, in the northern part of the state of Tamil Nadu. About 80 Km wide and 32 Km long and they are bisected into Eastern and Western sections by the Cheyyar and Agaram rivers tributaries of the palar. Several medicinal plants are rich in Jawadhu hills. The herital medicines to cure a disease used by various tribes are tribal medicines. These medicines are safe, eco-friendly and bio-friendly plants based products for various diseases of tribals. The results of present study revealed that there is a wide usage of plants by tribes of jawadhu hills. The tribal knowledge of medicinal use of plant is still an unexploited area. At present tribal depend more on trained doctors of town which give them immediate relief from pain. Tribals have no ideas about the active principles of their drugs. Many medicinal plants are no longer used because of the knowledge had been passed to the present generation through the words of mouth. The role of tribals in the plant conservation is must for preserving plants for future generation.

The present investigation was attempted to focus on studies of allelopathic effect of some dominant, invasive weed species like Alternanthera tenella Colla., Croton bonplandianum Baill and Xanthium indicum Koen. from Baramati Tahsil, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra, India, on seed germination and seedling growth in mung bean. The allelopathic effects of leaf extracts of weeds not only affect the seed germination, but it also influences seedling growth in terms of root and shoot length, vigour index. The results on mung bean seed germination studies indicated that the lower concentration (10%) treatments of Alternanthera and Xanthium leaf and root extract were highly stimulatory for mung bean seed germination as well as root and shoot length. However, the treatments of Croton root and leaf extracts were highly inhibitory. The effects of leaf extract were more significant than root extract. The positive and negative influence of root and leaf extracts of selected weeds on root and shoot length might be due to specific action of secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) in them.

Heavy metals pollution to water and soils due to anthropogenic activities are threats to living organisms which needs to be tackled with a new emerging technology, referred as phytoremidiation, offers a cost-effective and environmental friendly way for clean up of contaminated areas with exploitation of green plants, which either accumulates or converts it to non toxic forms, but that incurred serious physiological and metabolic constraints in plants. This review is focused on promising aspects of physiological, biochemical and molecular level to know the mechanism of plant response towards heavy metal stress.

In this study, the effect of framed chain sawing system with optimized chain on timber size uniformity and surface roughness was analyzed and compared with the freehand chainsaw system and band saw as control. The surface roughness of sawn timber from three commonly sawn timber species (Eucalyptus saligna, Grevillea robusta and Prosopis juliflora) was determined by stylus tracer approach. Freehand chainsaw produced timber with significantly the highest size deviation and surface roughness, while framed chainsaw using an optimized felling chain produced timber with more uniform sizes and smoother surfaces which did not significantly differ from that produced by a band saw. The findings of this study concluded that, the use of the frame on the chainsaw effectively control the chain to saw timber around the pre-set size thus producing timber with more uniform sizes. Modification of the cutters on the chain help in stabilizing the sawing speed, reducing the erratic behaviour of chainsaw, thus producing timber with smooth surface close to timber sawn using band saws. These parameters make framed chainsaw a choice eco-efficient small-scale timber sawing system, appropriate for timber sawyers operating on the farms, where trees are few, scattered and small in diameter.