Informatics Publishing Limited

Govind Pal , M. L. Bhagat , A. Bhattacharya

Abstract

The present paper is based on the analysis of survey data of 500 lac growers of Ranchi and West Singhbhum districts in the year 2003-04 and 2004-05. Primary data has been collected from the lac growers. The analysis of survey data shows that contribution of lac in total income and farm income was 18.5% and 26.4% respectively for untrained, while 24.0% and 32.0% respectively for trained lac growers. Cost of cultivation and net return per host on Palas (Butea monosperma) worked out to Rs. 51.30 and Rs. 97.70 respectively for untrained and Rs. 70.70 and Rs.163.40 respectively for trained lac growers. Cost of cultivation and net return per host on Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) worked out to Rs. 93.50 and Rs. 195.40 respectively for untrained and Rs. 159.20 and Rs.418.30 respectively for trained lac growers. Cost of cultivation and net return per host on Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) worked out to be Rs. 688.10 and Rs. 1,628.40 respectively for untrained and Rs. 1,104.20 and Rs. 3,312.90 respectively for trained lac growers. Due to very low investment in fixed cost, break even production was very low in comparison to existing production for both untrained and trained lac growers. Low break even prices show that risk in lac cultivation is very low and it will be a profitable enterprise even in low lac prices. Risk bearing ability was more in case of trained lac growers in comparison to untrained lac growers.

Keywords

Lac Cultivation, Risk-coping Strategy, Agriculture, Jharkhand

Full Text

     

S. Ghoshal Chaudhuri , Y.D. Mishra , A. Bhattacharya , M. L. Bhagat , A. H. Naqvi

Abstract

No abstract

Full Text

     

Y. D. Mishra , A. Bhattacharya , A. H. Naqvi

Abstract

No abstract

Full Text

     

P. K. Saha , A. Bhattacharya , S. N. Ganguly

Abstract

Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. (Sal) seeds remain viable only for 10-days from the date of harvest under natural conditions. The non-viability is due to loss of moisture from the seed coat followed by cotyledon and embryo. Hairs present in the viable seed coat are lost in the non-viable ones. It is possible to store the seeds in, viable condition for two months after harvest at a temperature between l0-12°C. The seeds have been classified into four categoris on the basis of morphological characters. Absorption of water during germination is an important marker in identifying the seed viahility. Gibberellic acids (GA₁, GA₃, GA₅,. GA₁₃,) and indole acetic acid (IAA) in both free and conjugated forms which are present in viable seeds disappear in non-viable ones. The carbohydrates, proteins and acid phosphates which are also present in the viable seeds decline in the non-viable ones along with the denaturation of proteins In the non-viable seeds phenolics as well as fatty acids are formed which act as inhibitors of germination. The loss of moisture from the seed coat causes the loss of membrane integrity and this can be overcome by storing the seeds at cool temperature (10-12°C). Kinetin (0.01 mg/1 treatment is also effective.

Full Text

     

A. Bhattacharya , U. N. Prasad

Abstract

No abstract

Full Text

     

S. K. Bhattacharya , A. Bhattacharya , K. Das , A. V. Muruganandam , K. Sairam

Abstract

Objective : To extend the investigations on the reported antioxidant activity of Ocimum sanctum. Materials and methods : The oxidative stress parameters used in rats were the isolated heart ischaemia-reperfusion injury, chronic (28 days) exposure to cigarette smoke, chronic footshock stress (21 days) and iron-overload hepatotoxicity. The parameters of oxidative stress included the estimation of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). A standardized extract of O. Sanctum (OS) and vitamin E (VE), a standard antioxidant agent, were used as the test drugs. Results : OS (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and VE (200 mg/kg, p.o.) administered for 5 days prior to induction of ischaemia-reperfusion reversed the depletion of SOD, CAT and GPX, and the increase in LPO induced in heart by this model of oxidative stress. Likewise, both OS (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and VE (200 mg/kg, p.o.), administered for 28 days, concomitant with exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) reversed the changes induced by CS in rat heart and lung SOD, CAT, GPX and LPO. A similar effect was noted when these doses of OS and VE were administered for 21 days along with exposure to chronic stress induced oxidative stress in rat brain frontal cortex and striatum. Iron overload induced increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation was attenuated by these doses of OS and VE, administered for 5 days prior to iron overload. Conclusion : OS exhibited significant antioxidant activity against several paradigms of oxidative stress induced by a variety of techniques in different rat tissues, which was comparable to that induced by VE. The results confirm the antioxidant activity of OS and indicate that, like VE, it is not tissue specific. It also provides a basis for the clinical use of OS in several clinical conditions involving oxidative stress.

Keywords

Ocimum Sanctum, Vitamin E, Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Action

Full Text

   

Govind Pal ¹, A. Bhattacharya ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums (ICAR) Namkum, Ranchi -834010, Jharkhand, IN

Abstract

The study was carried out with a view to examine India's export and import status of natural resins and gums, major destinations of export and major countries exporting to India. The study is based on secondary data collected for 10 years spanning from 1998-99 to 2007-08. The data were analyzed by using exponential function and instability index. The average annual exported quantity of all natural resins and gums during last 10 years was 1,49,652.96 tons valued 89,901.10 lakh while average annual imported quantity was 39,009.51 tons valued 15,682.70 lakh. The compound annual growth rate of natural resins and gums export during the reported period was positive for both quantity (7.85 per cent per annum) and value (6.96 per cent). The growth rate was also positive in natural resins and gums import and it was 20.77 and 30.05 per cent in quantity and value, respectively. The major export destination of Indian natural resins and gums were USA, China and Germany while major countries exporting to India were Afghanistan, Indonesia and China.

Keywords

Natural Resins, Gums, Export, Import, Growth

Full Text

     

A. Bhattacharya ¹, A. C. Mazumdar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, IN

Abstract

A geobarometer based on the equilibrium Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ + 2Al₂SiO₅ (sillimanite) = 3MgAl₂O₄+5SiO₂ has been proposed. The geobarometric expression can be stated as P(bar)=9.68 T - 7106 + 10.307 T In (a^garnet_Mg3Al2Si3O12)^1/3/(a^spinel_MgAl2O4). Application of the proposed geobarometric formulation to some metapelites indicates that it registers reasonable pressure values which are in good agreement with the recommended pressure values for different terranes.

Full Text

     

G. Philip ¹, R. P. Gupta ¹, A. Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IN
2 National Remote Sensing Agency. Balanagar. Hyderabad 500037, IN

Abstract

An area in the Middle Ganga Basin, lying around Monghyr, Bihar, has been selected for delineation of fluvial palaeofeatures. The investigation is based on aerial photographs LANDSAT MSS and TM data products and ground data. Digital enhancement of LANDSAT MSS and TM data by linear contrast stretching and ratioing has been found to be highly powerful in identification and mapping of subtle fluvial palaeofeatures. Based on the above interpretation, a summary of the fluvial palaeo-history is presented.

Keywords

LANDSAT, Ganga Basin, Geomorphology, Bihar.

Full Text

     

S. S. Bhat ¹, A. Bhattacharya ², H. C. Dasgupta ², D. Dasgupta ²

Affiliations
1 Geological Cell, GM Ofice, Barkakana Area, PO: NTS Barkakana-829103, Bihar, IN
2 Geology and Geophysics Department, IIT, Kharagpur-721302, IN

Abstract

Petrology and mineral chemistry of garnetiferrous chlorite schists belonging to Deogiri formation in the Sandur schist belt have been studied. Mineral assemblages and chemical data on muscovite, biotite, chlorite, garnet from the Deogiri chlorite schists indicate low grade regional metamorphism under greenschist facies condition. Mineralogy of the metabasics associated with Deogiri chlorite schists and with the overlying Donimalai formation in this region, except near the peripheral contacts, also suggest greenschist facies metamorphism for the schist belt. Mineralogy and chemistry of Deogiri metabasalts indicated ocean floor type of alteration/metamorphisrn for the Deogiri metabasalts. Rocks close to the granite contact have seemingly undergone an episode of thermal metamorphism which is distinct from the regional metamorphism of the entire schist belt and possibly isolated both in space and time.

Keywords

Mineral Chemistry, Metamorphism, Sandur Schist Belt, Karnataka.

Full Text

     

A. Bhattacharya ¹, S. Kumar ¹, A. K. Jaiswal ¹

Affiliations
1 Transfer of Technology Division, Indian Lac Research Institute, Namkum, Ranchi-834010, Jharkhand, IN

Abstract

The lepidopteran predator, Eublemma amabilis Moore, is a major pest of lac and causes colossal losses to the lac crop to the magnitude of about 40 per cent. Three species of trichogrammatid egg parasitoids, namely, Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti, T. exiguum Pinto and Platner and T. ostriniae Pang et Chen were evaluated in the present study on lac crop raised on the bushy host plant, Flemingia macrophylla O. Kytze and were found extremely useful as a substitute for chemical pesticides. All the three egg parasitoids were able to suppress the population of E. amabilis. The reduction in the population of E. amabilis was 77 to 86 per cent in case of rangeeni crop and 52 to 72 per cent in case of kusmi crop with a dose of 20 egg parasitoids per bush. In general, trichogrammatids were found more effective in ease of rangeeni lac than kusmi. All the three parasitoids were found equally effective in suppressing the population of E. amabilis.

Keywords

Egg Parasitoids, Eublemma amabilis, Kusmi, Rangeeni, Trichogramma.

Full Text

   

V. M. Katoch ¹, P. P. Majumder ², A. Bhattacharya ³

Affiliations
1 NASI-ICMR Chair on Public Health Research at RUHS, Jaipur, IN
2 National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani 741 251, IN
3 School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, IN

Abstract

A large number of diseases have been grouped together as 'rare diseases', because we do not know much about them. There is no consensus on the definition of a rare disease. This is because, obtaining reliable statistical estimates of the frequency of occurrence of a rare event, such as prevalence of a rare disease, requires an inordinately large sample size, collection of which costs prohibitively large amount of money. Recognizing this limitation and the somewhat arbitrary nature of definition of a rare disease, we can use the definition adopted by the World Health Organization: A rare disease is a disease whose prevalence in a given country or a region is lower than 1 in 10,000 persons.

Full Text

   

A. Bhattacharya ¹, A. K. Sadhukhan ², A. Ganguly ³, P. K. Chatterjee ³

Affiliations
1 1Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur – 713209, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur – 713209, West Bengal, IN
3 Thermal Engineering Division, CSIR Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur – 713209, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The present study was conducted on Water Hyacinth Biomass (WHB) to understand its anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, tomography and the response of dilute acid pretreatment under different parametric conditions on these aspects. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Leaves and Stems (petioles) of WHB were grinded to make a fresh paste. 8g of paste is soaked in 1, 3 and 5% of H2SO4 solution for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h under agitation of 130, 160 and 190 rpm at temperature of 30 oC, 40 oC, 50 oC and 60 oC and boiled for 15 and 30 min. Untreated and treated biomass were then dried and preserved. Findings: It has been observed under the microscope that there has been a prominent lysis in the cell wall, vascular bundles and several other tissues when the transverse section of young, middle and old aged ischolar_main, stem and leaf are soaked in 1-5% acid with agitation of 130-160 rpm for 1-4 h at 30-60 oC. To justify the reason behind obtaining higher yield of xylose sugar by acid hydrolysis, fresh WHB paste was treated with dilute acid with same parametric conditions which gave higher xylose yield. Treated biomass was investigated under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and it was observed that the pretreatment alters the structural and chemical composition of complex structure of lignocellulose in WHB for rapid hydrolysis to fermentable sugars. Applications/Improvements: This paper represents the effect of hydrolysis on the WHB which is clearly evident from the anatomical studies in microscope and SEM. The biomass can be efficiently utilized for bioconversion into value added products after acid hydrolysis.

Keywords

Anatomy, Hydrolysis, Lignocellulose, Physiology, Tomography, Water Hyacinth Biomass

Full Text

   

A. Bhattacharya ¹, S. Tripathy ¹

Affiliations
1 KIIT School of Management, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, IN

Abstract

The Challenges faced by today's growing Economy and Population are Employability and Education. And the convergence of these two parallel paths can only begin through positive incremental human capital development thoughts converted into output. And for this the Central Government of India, State Governments and the people in private sector, academics, and citizens at large are jointly responsible. In this Volatile and Competitive Era, it is the clarion call for us to understand the dynamics of sustainability through productive Employment- which incidentally is also ischolar_mained back to Education as its node. So we need to discuss the bottlenecks in the path of 21st century demography based appropriate education from childhood to adulthood, into employability. And to avoid disguised unemployment we need to identify the relevant skill-sets for the right opportunities in employability as well. This paper is an analysis about the differences in mind-sets of the "to do&to act" types given our current socioeconomic conditions in this modern era of Information Highway.

Keywords

Economy, Population, Education, Employability, Sustainability.

Full Text

   

Durdana Lateef ¹, A. Bhattacharya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mathematics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032, IN

Abstract

In this paper common fixed point theorem for the pair of mapping satisfying different contractive condition in Hilbert space has been proved.

Keywords

Fixed Point, Hilbert Space, Contraction Mapping, Banach Space.

Full Text

   

Vipin K. Sharma ¹, A. Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sci., Gurukul Kangadi Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar (U.A.), IN
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh (Assam), IN

Abstract

Psyllium husk forms the viscous gel by absorbing water. In the present study glipizide was used as a model drug. Swelling behavior study of psyllium was analyzed in 0.1N HCl, phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and distilled water. Similar medium were used for reconstituted xerogel. Different formulations to analyze the release behavior of glipizide were prepared by using capsule shell ‘1’ and psyllium husk as matrixing agent. The dissolution study of different formulation was performed in six stage dissolution apparatus in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 0.1NHCl for 10 hours. The drug-polymer network thus obtained was characterized for drug polymer interaction by FTIR study. It has been observed that in distilled water could maintain its gel consistency for prolonged time than 0.1N HCl and phosphate buffer (p<0.05). It was investigated that 70% of the dispersed drug was released within 10 hours in phosphate buffer. The amount released in 0.1N HCl was significantly different than phosphate buffer (p<0.05). Sustaining effect of formulation was obtained very high when large amount of psyllium husk was used. FTIR study revealed that the dispersed drug was unaffected after matrix formation.

Keywords

Isabgol Husk, Hydrophilic Matrix, Xerogel, Glipizide.

Full Text