Informatics Publishing Limited

B. B. S. Singhal ¹, R. P. Mathur ², D. C. Singhal ³, B. S. Mathur ³, V. K. Minocha ¹, A. K. Seth ¹, S. K. Sinha ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee, IN
3 Department of Hydrology, University of Roorkee, IN

Abstract

To assess quantitatively the effect of organic load from the Star Paper Mill on the quality of Hindon water, a dissolved oxygen sag model is developed by using Streeter-Phelps equation for a stretch of 7 km down-stream of the paper mill effluent and Hindon confluence. The critical DO deficit and critical time for minimum dissolved oxygen have been computed. The study reveals that severe anaerobic condition prevails in the river between a distance of 2.2 km to 3.6 km from the confluence of Paper Mill effluent with the Hindon river. The sag in dissolved oxygen curve is not fully apparent in the observed model; though the occurrence of reducing condition is correlated by field observations.

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S. K. Sinha ¹, Pankaj Kumar Agarwal ²

Affiliations
1 Deptt. of Financial Studies, VBS Purvanchal University, Jaunpur(UP), IN
2 XLRI, Jamshedpur, IN

Abstract

For a country like India, poverty remains to be one of the biggest policy concerns. Amongst various measures to eradicate it, Microfinance, of late, has provided a ray of hope. The Task Force on Supportive Policy and Regulatory Framework for Microfinance constituted by NABARD defined microfinance as "the provision of thrift, saving, credit, and financial services and products of very small amount to the poor in rural, semi-urban, and urban areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve their standard of living".

In numerous studies done across the world, it is generally believed that various microfinance initiatives have been able to make a difference in the target population's lives. However, increasingly, doubts have been raised over the financial sustainability of microfinance institutions. MFIs need to be economically viable and sustainable in the long run but economic implications of long term sustainability are not being considered.

At least in India, there does not seem to be any working model of analyzing the financial performance and thereby sustainability of microfinance institutions. This problem is compounded by the absence of a dedicated legislation on working and management of microfinance institutions. The lack of a regulatory mechanism for financial disclosures by microfinance institutions also abets the problem.

The present study is an attempt to analyze the financial performance of various microfinance institutions operating in India. Since currently the level of financial disclosure made by these firms is not guided by any dedicated legislation and therefore is mostly voluntary, the study seeks to study the difference in financial performance between institutions practicing differing levels of disclosure policy.

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D. V. Reddy ¹, P. Nagabhushanam ¹, M. R. Rao ², D. S. Mitra ³, B. M. Tripati ³, S. K. Sinha ³, B. Bhadu ³

Affiliations
1 National Geophysical Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 606, IN
2 Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd., 9 Kaulagarh Road, Dehra Dune- 248 195, IN
3 Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd., 9 Kaulagarh Road, Dehra Dune - 248 195, IN

Abstract

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), India, embarked upon exploration and exploitation of deep groundwater under the project named as "Saraswati" in arid Thar desert, Rajasthan, with a societal mission of providing water to the local people and cattle. A 555 m deep well drilled by the ONGC near Jaisalmer town in 2006 encountered a potential aquifer at a depth of 450-500 m. Radiocarbon dating of this well water indicated paleorecharge to be >40,000 yr BP (uncorrected) (Before Present with respect to 1950 AD), while the medium depth (∼200 m) well waters around that area showed an age range of ∼9,000 to 17,000 yr BP (uncorrected). These waters represent pre-Saraswati era recharge, because the mighty Saraswati flowed in this region between 7000-4000 yr BP. The stable isotope (δD and δ¹⁸O) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) data of these waters clearly indicated absence of communication between the two aquifers (deep and medium depth). However, the extension of this deep aquifer needs to be determined.

Keywords

Groundwater, Paleo-Recharge, Radiocarbon, Aquifer, Rajasthan.

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L. K. Tiwari ¹, S. K. Sinha ¹, S. Saran ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Rae Bareli, IN
2 Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organization, Dehradun, IN

Abstract

Prior to the year 1978, issues related to forest encroachment in Andaman&Nicobar Islands, India have been resolved under the observation of Indian courts. However, forest encroachment continued post-1978 in various parts of the islands for several reasons. The paper discusses land use and land cover change detection analysis with reference to forest encroachment in Baratang Island of Andaman&Nicobar Islands. Careful selection of satellite imageries based on various attributes including radiometric resolution, spatial resolution, cloud-free coverage and time lapse among others, is warranted for change detection analysis. The study deals with the on-screen visual interpretation of multitemporal remotely sensed images of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) with spatial resolution of 30 m, IRS-1D LISS-III (23.5 m) and Resourcesat-2 LISS-III (23.5 m) for the years 1989, 2003 and 2013 for studying forest encroachment post-1978. The geocoded data has been interpreted on the scale of 1:50,000. Ground truthing and delineation of the forest encroachment pockets were achieved with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) readings combined with the remotely sensed images, in addition to the knowledge-base of forest encroachment in the area provided by the Forest Department of Andaman&Nicobar Islands. The study successfully detected forest encroachment area of 21.3 ha., 197.5 ha. and 201.3 ha. for the years 1989, 2003 and 2013, respectively.

Keywords

Land Use/Land Cover, Change Detection, Remote Sensing, On-Screen Visual Interpretation.

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S. K. Sinha ¹, R. P. Mondal ²

Affiliations
1 Medical Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Sonamukhi College, Bankura, 722 207, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Zoology, Sammilani College Bankura, 722102, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The dung breeding muscid fly Musca (Byomya) emdeni (Nandi & Sinha, 2004) are found extensively in the open pastures, near the cow sheds and in the manure pit. The adult fly is usually found on freshly deposited cow dung (Fig. 1). Cattle dung pats naturally dropped in pastures are the microhabitat for an abundant and diversified arthropod fauna (Merrit & Anderson 1977, Anderson et. al., 1984, Blume 1985, Cervenka & Moon 1991).

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S. K. Sinha ¹, V. B. Chaturvedi ¹, Putan Singh ¹, L. C. Chaudhary ¹, Mayukh Ghosh ², Swati Shivani ³

Affiliations
1 Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly-243122, Uttar Pradesh, IN
2 Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Ranchi Veterinary College, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi-834006, Jharkhand, IN
3 Division of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Aim: A comparative study was conducted on crossbred cattle and buffaloes to investigate the effect of feeding high and low roughage total mixed ration (TMR) diets on rumen metabolites and enzymatic profiles.
Materials and Methods: Three rumen-fistulated crossbred cattle and buffalo were randomly assigned as per 3×3 switch over design for 21-days. Three TMR diets consisting of concentrate mixture, wheat straw and green maize fodder in the ratios of (T₁) 60:20:20, (T₂) 40:30:30, and (T₃) 20:40:40, respectively, were fed to the animals ad libitum. Rumen liquor samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post feeding for the estimation of rumen biochemical parameters on 2 consecutive days in each trial.
Results: The lactic acid concentration and pH value were comparable in both species and treatments. Feed intake (99.77±2.51 g/kg body weight), ruminal ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen were significantly (p<0.05) higher in buffalo and in treatment group fed with high concentrate diet. Production of total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was non-significant (p>0.05) among treatments and significantly (p<0.05) greater in crossbred cattle than buffaloes. Molar proportions of individual VFAs propionate (C3), propionate:butyrate (C3:C4), and (acetate+butyrate):propionate ([C2+C4]:C3) ratio in both crossbred cattle and buffalo were not affected by high or low roughage diet, but percentage of acetate and butyrate varied significantly (p<0.05) among treatment groups. Activities of microbial enzymes were comparable among species and different treatment groups. A total number of rumen protozoa were significantly (p<0.05) higher in crossbred cattle than buffaloes along with significantly (p<0.05) higher population in animal fed with high concentrate diet (T₁).
Conclusion: Rumen microbial population and fermentation depend on constituents of the treatment diet. However, microbial enzyme activity remains similar among species and different treatments. High concentrate diet increases number of rumen protozoa, and the number is higher in crossbred cattle than buffaloes.

Keywords

Buffalo, Crossbred Cattle, Rumen Ecology, Rumen Metabolites.

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S. K. Sinha ¹, B. S. Choudhary ¹, R. K. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Mining Engineering, IIT/ISM-Dhanbad, IN
2 NMDC Ltd, IN

Abstract

A resource estimate (calculation of total tonnes and grade within a deposit) is generally underpinned by a clear understanding of the geometry, orientation and control of mineralization and set of assays with assigned 3D spatial locations. The proper interpretation and handling of outliers in a data set is crucial to estimating a mineral resource that is representative of the deposit. Without a firm understanding of the distribution of metal in a deposit, mine planning, scheduling, process planning and economic analysis will likely be flawed. Three of the most important issues in the mineral resource estimation process are the recognition of outlier values in a data set, the source of the outlier values, and the subsequent handling of these high values. Treatment of outliers in mineral resource estimations is a perplexing problem for which there is no generally accepted solution. Each deposit may have a unique distribution of outlier values which may require multiple methods of treatment to fully understand the issues and their effect on the mineral resource estimate.

Keywords

Exploration, Resource Estimation, Ore, Outliers, Block Model.

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Deep Shikha ¹, S. K. Sinha ², S. Murugesan ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi – 835215, Jharkhand, IN
2 Department of Physics, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi – 835215, Jharkhand, IN
3 Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam – 603102, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

In recent years, synthesis and characterization of Ag-based materials has become an active area of research due to its application in medical area for having antimicrobial properties useful for prosthetic replacement. Pure HydroxyAPatite (HAP) and 1.5wt% Ag-doped HydroxyAPatite (AgHAP) were prepared by sol-gel process and characterized. Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O was used as source of Ca precursor, P₂O₅ was used as a source of P precursor, and AgNO₃ has been used as a source of Ag precursor. Pellets of HAP and AgHAP were made after precipitates were consolidated, dried in oven, grounded and sintered in a muffle furnace. Functional groups were determined using FTIR, and compound formations were investigated using XRD. Microstructural analysis was done using SEM and AFM. Wettability was studied using OCA in distilled water, and corrosion resistance and impedance analyses were carried out using ECA in Ringer solution. It was observed from AFM and XRD that grain size decreased from 7.05 μm to 1.25 μm. Improvement in corrosion resistance was observed in AgHAP. Wettability studies showed that AgHAP is more hydrophilic in comparison with pure HAP. A correlation between microstructures and properties of hydroxyapetites are discussed in this paper.

Keywords

Ag-Doped HydroxyAPatite (AgHAP), Corrosion Resistance, HydroxyAPatite (HAP), Microstructure, Wettability.

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