The study was conducted to investigate the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in guava, sold in the local markets of Patna. A total of twenty five fresh samples of guava were collected from five different market places in Patna city. Several microbiological tests were performed to assess the growth and type of bacteria. The colonies were isolated and identified as isolate 1 and 3 (identical to Staphylococcus spp.), isolate 2 (identical to Escherichia spp.) and isolate 4 and 5 (identical to Bacillus spp.) based on their cultural, morphological, Gram’s staining and biochemical characteristics. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted to detect their actual resistance capability. In the present study, S1 and S3 were found resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ofloxacin and intermediate to gentamycin while S2 was found resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, cephalexin and intermediate to ofloxacin. The isolates S4 and S5 were found sensitive to gentamycin, intermediate to chloramphenicol and resistant to ciprofloxacin. Results of this study showed that the guava samples obtained from different markets of Patna possess multidrug resistant bacteria.

This paper explores the macroscopic permeability characteristics, pore distribution, mineral composition, and microstructure changes in remoulded silty clay under different concentrations and different back pressures through flexible-wall triaxial permeability tests, nuclear magnetic resonance tests, X-ray diffraction tests, and scanning electron microscope tests. The results of the flexible-wall triaxial permeability tests indicate that the hydraulic conductivity of the landfill leachate with different concentrations increases to the peak value in 108-132 h period and then decreases to a stable value in 252–264 h period under the action of different back pressures. The nuclear magnetic resonance tests show that the pore distribution of the remoulded silty clay is macropore after it is corroded by the leachate. Increasing the concentration of landfill leachate and reducing the back pressures can reduce the overall development effect of pores. The X-ray diffraction tests show that the weakly acidic corrosive environment provided by remoulded silty clay and landfill leachate reduce respectively the contents of montmorillonite, muscovite, and illite by 33.52 %, 23.57 % and 63.51 %, while kaolinite and albite increase by 283.40 % and 188.64 %. Finally, scanning electron microscope tests show that the corrosion of landfill leachate and the plugging of organic pollutants in the infiltration process reduce the apparent pore ratio of the microstructure of remoulded silty clay and the hydraulic conductivity gradually decreases.

Silver nanoparticles of 22-40 nm size were synthesized using goat, cow and buffalo urine. These nanoparticles are conjugated with a fungicide (Mancozeb). The antifungal activity of these conjugated nanoparticles (Mc-AgNPs) was tested against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides which causes anthracnose disease in various fruits and vegetables. This fungus infects during pre and post-harvesting seasons causing a significant decrease in the quantity and quality of the product. The fungicide conjugated AgNPs were characterized by UV-Visible, FTIR, SEM and XRD analysis. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by the UV-visible spectroscopy. The shape of AgNPs was found to be spherical. The Mc-AgNPs from goat, cow and buffalo urine exhibited 146.15%, 133.33% and 114.28% more antifungal activity than the fungicides alone respectively. The results indicate that the Mc-AgNPs from goat urine showed more efficacy than cow and buffalo urine. The fungicide-conjugated AgNPs drastically reduce the amount of fungicide to be applied against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which in turn reduce the hazardous effect caused by fungicides. Further, these can be tested to control other pathogenic fungi also.

The purpose of this study was to obtain the removal efficiency values from glucose, ammonium and formaldehyde based on toxicity units. The nitrification process is applied using nitrifying bacteria and the process of plants using water hyacinth. The toxicity tests used were bacterial respiration test and test with batch reactor system for plants. The results show that the EC50 value of formaldehyde was smaller than ammonium and glucose. Formaldehyde was the most toxic substance among these substances, but its detoxification efficiency was high; this may be due to an antagonistic effect (from toxic to less toxic) mixture of substances.

This study deals with the adsorption capacity of the powder of Aspergillus versicolor (Ascomycota) as a bioadsorbent for the removal of manganese ion from polluted water samples. The effect of various experimental parameters such as the effect of pH, quantity of the fungus powder, contact time with the manganese (II) ion solution and its concentration on the biosorption capacity was conducted to optimize them. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates amended with 100 ppm of Mn(II) ions were used for growing the fungus isolates and standard spread plate method was applied. The plates were incubated at 27°C for 4 to 7 days, then the grown fungi were killed by adding 0.5 N NaOH, washed with doubly distilled water, dried out in hot air oven and finally ground into a very fine powder. The results verify that the optimum pH value for manganese biosorption was 6. The rate of adsorption of manganese by Aspergillus versicolor was very fast reaching a maximum within 15 min at 31°C. Maximum removal efficiency occurred on the use of 0.3 g A. versicolor powder. The maximum metal uptake was relatively observed at 90 ppm manganese concentration. Manganese removal process decreased with increasing metal concentration. The desorption study showed that manganese was recovered up to 81.53% using 0.1 N HCl rendering the possibility of the adsorbent regeneration. Experimental results have been analysed using a Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Surface morphology study of A. versicolor powder using SEM analysis, assured its irregular surface nature.

Functional ionic liquid [Bmim]CoCl3 was prepared with potassium monopersulfate compound (PMS) to form extraction catalytic oxidative desulfurization system for benzothiophene (BT) removal. The best reaction conditions for removing BT were as follows: m (ionic liquid) = 2 g, m(PMS) = 1.5 g, C (initial sulphur) = 500 ppm, T = 40°C ~ 50°C. The desulfurization rate could be reached at 92.4 %. The ionic liquid still had higher activity after 5 cycles of reuse which exhibited that there was only a slight difference in the amount of the oxidant. It was proved that [Bmim]CoCl3 ionic liquid combined with oxidant PMS has an excellent desulfurization performance.

Temporal and spatial analysis of air particulates sampling collection from the in and outside the Al-Tuwaitha, south of Baghdad, was carried out to measure daily gross alpha and beta activity concentrations (AAC and BAC) during the period from January to April of 2017. The results show that most frequencies are within the interval 1-1.49 Bq/m3 for AAC and 3-3.49 Bq/m3 for BAC. Also, the radioactivity levels within the site for both AAC and BAC were found to be higher than those around the outside. Across all air samples at the studied site, the monthly arithmetic means were 3.0 ± 0.5 and 6.7 ± 0.9 Bq/m3 for both AAC and BAC. It was found that a hotspot for both AAC and BAC in air layer with values of 4.0 and 8.5 Bq/m3 respectively situated at ITR-5000 reactor northwest of the site, which is a major source of radioactive contamination, but with wind action. This contamination disperses according to its prevailing direction that is southeast. 6.7 ± 0.9

The present study investigated the pathological effects of trace metals in organs of Wistar rats fed with extracts of grasses collected from areas surrounding mining industries. The rats were examined for clinical signs during the experimental period and the concentration of trace metals in organs was examined using ICP-MS. The kidneys were analysed for pathological changes under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Generally, trace metal concentration in the organs of the rats followed the order Zn > Cu > Mn > As. These trace metals were bio-accumulated more in the spleen than kidneys and livers. Clinical signs such as hair loss, reduced fluid intake, pale ears and feet and skin irritation were observed. TEM investigation of kidney glomeruli showed pathology such as the presence of mesangial deposits, as well as the villous formation and effaced foot processes of the podocytes. Trace metals were bioaccumulated in the organs of the rats and spleen had a higher concentration, which might have negative effects on the organs. It was concluded from the study that plants harvested from polluted sites might be harmful when consumed as they have the potential to induce organ dysfunction.

This paper presents a summary of PM2.5, PM10 and gaseous pollutant concentrations measured during each season of the year from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019 in Visakhapatnam city (17.6868°N, 83.2185°E) located on the east coast of India. The city is studded with 14 major industries and surrounded on three sides by mountains and the Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. The monthly variations of mass concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and gaseous pollutants SO2, NO2 and CO recorded revealed the impact of atmospheric pollutants originating from industry, urbanization and increased automobile traffic. The seasonal variability of PM concentrations, highest in winter and lowest in summer, is observed. The annual averages for 2018 in Visakhapatnam are 103.5 ± 55.1 ?g/m3 and 111.5 ± 29.1 ?g/m3 for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. To establish the causal relationship between PM2.5, PM10 and the gaseous pollutants we used Pearson correlation and regression statistical methods. The Pearson correlation coefficients between PMs and gaseous pollutants were either high or moderate. Regression results further confirmed that NO2 and SO2 significantly impacted PM2.5 and PM10 in Visakhapatnam city.

The removal kinetics and mechanism of active black removal by zero-valent iron were investigated. The experimental results showed that the rate of reactive black removal by zero-valent iron increased with the decreasing of pH and initial dye concentration, and increased with the increasing of temperature and ZVI dosage. SO42- promoted the removal rate of reactive black. Ca2+ had an inhibitory effect on the removal of reactive black in the early stage by zero-valent iron and promoted it in the later stage, while Mg2+, CO32-, ClO4-, NO3-, PO43- and HCO3- all inhibited the removal rate of reactive black by zero-valent iron. The activation energy was 26.38 KJ mol-1 by using the Arrhenius formula, indicating that this reaction was easy to occur. The degradation process was further analysed by UV-Vis, SEM and XRD, and the main reaction product was Fe2O3.