Four bacterial strains were isolated from a former industrial site contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants for decades. The isolation was done using naphthalene as sole source of carbon and energy during the enrichment. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of the four isolates (OC1, OC2, OC3, and OC4) assigned the strains to the genus, Enterobacter (OC1) and Pseudomonas (OC2, OC3, and OC4). The degradation and growth behavior of the four isolates was investigated on naphthalene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene. All the strains utilized naphthalene, fluoranthene, chrysene but pyrene partially, as sole sources of carbon and energy. The time course studies using relative concentration > 100ppm, >115ppm, > 89ppm and > 12 ppm for naphthalene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene respectively, resulted in rapid exponential increases in cell numbers and concomitant disappearance of the test substrates. Naphthalene was degraded between the range of 25 % and 99%, while chrysene degradation ranged between of 35 and 69%, pyrene 4 - 21% and fluoranthene 7 -19 %. Our results suggest that contaminated, former industrial sites contain a capable microbial community that may be used for bioremediation of the site.

The present study was performed to test the effectiveness of the aqueous extracts of Commiphora myrrha and Commiphora molmol in inhibition of four types of pathogenic bacteria; Micrococcus luteus, Neisseria siccca, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results showed that the aqueous extracts of C. myrrha and C. molmol have an inhibitive effect on the growth of each bacterium tested. The inhibition of bacterial growth decreased as the storage period of the myrrha was increased. Commiphora myrrha lost its inhibitive effect on Proteus mirabilis and Micrococcus luteus when myrrha was stored for one month, sex months and one year. The aqueous extract of Commiphora molmol lost its effect against Proteus mirabilis after one year of storage. C. molmol was seen when used as 50% of the concentration and stored only for a month as the inhibitive area decreased to 2.47 cm2 for Micrococcus luteus, 2.43 cm2 for Neisseria sicca, 2.17 cm2 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 1.78 cm2 for Proteus mirabilis. Chemical analysis of myrrha showed that it contains three components, 2-fluorodiphenylmethane, Tribenzo-1,2,3,4,5,6anthracene and 2- bromo-1-(4-bromophenyl)-Ethanone, known for their microbial inhibitive effect. In addition, antimicrobial activities of 12 pharmaceutical bacterial antibiotics were tested against the four bacterial strains used in the experiment. It was found that Micrococcus luteus is the most resistant, as it was only inhibited by five of the 12 antibiotics tested followed by Proteus mirabilis that was inhibited by six antibiotics. The growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inhibited by eight antibiotics and Neisseria sicca was the one most sensitive to the common antibiotics as it was inhibited by nine antibiotics.

The species of genus Hieroglyphus are a voracious and destructive pest of cash crops in Pakistan in order to decline their population three species of Hieroglyphus were treated with some strains of the entomopathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions. During the present study three pathogenic fungi species i-e Metarthizium flavoviride Gams and Roszypal, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) and Aspergillus sp. Micheliwere isolated and identified with infection the following incidence rates: (53%), (35%)and ( 12%) respectively on Hieroglyphus species. The proportional cumulative survival of Hieroglyphus in the different treatments of fungi is showed that insects treated with the pathogen began to die with full signs of mycosis on day 5th. All treated insects died by day 6th by application of M. flavoviride while other replicates of the B. bassiana and Aspergillus spp. all dying by day 7th. In contrast, control mortality was extremely low with only (6, 3, & 8) deaths of H. perpolita, H. oryzivouous and H. nigrorepletus respectively and with no signs of mycosis. This study recommended that M.flavoviride, B. bassiana and Aspergillus spp. among all the isolated entomopathogenic fungi are major factors of mortality in Hieroglyphus population and it might be used as bio-control agent to suppress the grasshopper’s population in field.

In this study, a simple, economic and selective HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of Metronidazole (MET) and Diclofenac potassium (DIC-K). Reversed-Phase chromatography (RV-HPLC) was performed on a C18 column with methanol-Buffer 70:30%(V/V) as a mobile phase at a flow rate at 1ml/min. Metronidazole and Diclofenac Potassium have a maximum absorption at 254nm. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of both drugs in one dosage form. Statistical analysis proved the method was precise, selective, specific and accurate for simultaneous analysis of Metronidazole and Diclofenac potassium.

This study was carried out to determine the antibacterial potency of Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina against isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecalis using sensitivity disc diffusion assay. Extraction was achieved by drying and blending into powdery form, which was separately mixed with distilled water and 70% ethanol in respective flasks. This was properly sieved and stored. The antibacterial properties of extracts of both samples were separately determined against the test isolates. The phytochemical test conducted revealed that the extracts of both samples possessed different biologically active constituents, namely: tannins, flavonoids, saponins, anthocyanins and phlobatannins, while betacyanins were found absent in both extracts. Physicochemical analyses of both extracts showed that a pH range of between 6.0 and 7.5 provided a broad spectrum of activities against a wide range of bacterial infections. Results of antibacterial screenings revealed that the water extracts of both samples were more efficacious than the ethanol extracts. However, both were found to be very active against the test organisms. It was further observed that water extracts were more active against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and least against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On the other hand, ethanol extracts were more efficacious against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis. It has been concluded in this study that O. gratissimum and V. amygdalina can be extensively used tradomedically in the Nigerian folk medicine to treat several bacterial infections, and are thus, recommended as a source of natural product for future use in the management and cure of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections in African continent and the world at large.

Studies were undertaken in the Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) during 2010 and 2011 to record the species of mammals, their main habitats and distribution in this area. A total of 33 species of mammals were recorded and 22 main habitats of mammals were identified. The occurrence of 11 key species of the mammals was recorded in the different components of the KPAC. These species included Sind Ibex or Sind Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus), Urial (Ovis vignei), Chinkara (Gazella bennettii), Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), Caracal (Felis caracal), Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), Indian or Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus), Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Desert Cat (Felis silvestris) and the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus). During the study, 1200 Sind Ibex, 1000 Urial and 150 Chinkara were sighted. Disturbance, human and wildlife conflicts, and degradation of habitats are the main threats to the wild animals particularly to Chinkara. These adverse environmental impacts need to be mitigated.

Green leafy vegetables have been reported as sources of nutrients and folklore remedy for the treatment of infections in West Africa. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant, antibacterial and phytochemical components of the methanol extracts from five selected green leafy vegetables (Telfaria occidentalis, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus hybridus, Lactuca taraxicofolia and Solanium aethiopium). The in vitro antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the antibacterial activities were evaluated using the well agar diffusion assay. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts of the selected vegetables revealed that the EC50 ranged from 1.8 to 9.0?g/ml. The EC50 values for free radical scavenging activity of T. Occidentalis, L. taraxicofolia and A. viridis extracts were significantly superior over the standard, gallic acid. The extracts also exhibited inhibitory effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus at the concentration of 100?g/ml. The present study scientifically validated the traditional use of the vegetables as possible therapeutic agents.

In this study, an ecological survey of the impacts on Marsh Crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in Chotiari Wetland Complex Sanghar was carried out during the month of January to December 2008. In order to assess, the microbial contamination, detection of pollutant indicator organisms in the water samples, using different physico-chemical parameters were performed. The level of different physico-chemical parameters like as temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, bi carbonate, chloride, sodium, potassium, sulphur, carbonate, biological oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen were monitored in water samples collected from Chotiari Wetland Complex to assess the impact of toxic pollutants. Toxic chemical contaminants were estimated below the detection limit, while another several chemicals were found within the range set by World Health Organization. The degree of contamination, proximity to pollution source and the metabolic ability of Marsh Crocodile suggest that the species are at threatened from the environmental contamination by the study of heavy metals. Marsh Crocodiles are considered endangered around the world due to the increase pollution and alteration of their habitat.

Combating malaria globally, especially among women and infants, has become a public health, environmental and economic priority, as such special focus has been given to it in the millennium development goal. This has also led to the initiation of programmes such as the Roll Back Malaria Programme (RBMP). In view of this, this paper assessed the adoption of RBMP among women in Ikorodu local government area of Lagos state. Data were obtained from 150 women farmers who were purposively selected. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive and logit regression analysis. About 62% of the respondents were between 31 and 50 years of age and 52% had more than 6 persons in their household, 60% had at least secondary education, 74% earned less than N20, 000 (122.6 USD) per month, 72% were full-time farmers, 82% had access to Primary Health Care (PHC), 55% were aware of the RBMP but only 46% have adopted the use of Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN). Furthermore, respondents’ awareness of RBMP, income level, educational status, membership of cooperative association, frequency of malaria attack and patronage of the PHC centres positively influenced their adoption of RBMP and consequent use of ITN while age had negative influence on adoption of RBMP among respondents. To accelerate adoption of RBMP, there is yet the need to focus policy on collaborative efforts of health personnel, cooperatives, media houses and government agency in fashioning out awareness programmes that incorporate socio-economic characteristics of the audience especially at the local government level.

The length-weight and width-weight relationship study assumes an important prerequisite in fishery biological investigations. In this study, Carapace width weight relationship of both sexes of Mud Crab (Scylla serrata) were estimated. A total of 938 samples ranging from 40 to 200mm in width and weighing between 22g and 450g were collected during January 2009 to December 2010, and analyzed. The value of the regression coefficient for male (2.481), female (2.632) and combined sexes (2.571) in the present analysis are very much close to 3 and therefore Scylla serrata does follow the cube law.

The main goal of this study was to examine the effects of bacterial activity on soil health. Fabricated soils (FS) have been used in the study of AMD damaged soils in Pennsylvania, USA. This study was also evaluated the bacterial activity in soil as the indicator of soil health.

In this study, ripe and mature females Labeo rohita (Hamilton) were sampled from Punjab University Research Fish Farms Lahore, in June and July 2009. Mean body weight and mean total length of fish was 559.20±175.31g and 35.04±3.27cm respectively. The mean ovary weight was 88.76±30.71grams. The ovaries were extracted, dried and weighed individually. Mean number of eggs/g ovary and number of eggs/g fish were 891.50±126.32 and 142.47±37.22 respectively. The mean absolute fecundity was 80290±32955 and mean relative fecundity was 142466±37226. These values were higher in June than in July sample. Two ovaries from fishes of same body weight (460g) contained different number of eggs (78876 and 75850). The highest value of gonadosomatic index (22.68) was recorded in June, indicating breeding and spawning period of L. rohita. Fish weight was significantly correlated to total length (r = 0.780) and ovary weight (r = 0.710). The relationship between fecundity and fish total length, fish weight, ovary length and ovary weight showed positive linear correlation and the correlation coefficient values for these relationships were 0.543; 0.698; 0.536 and 0.914 respectively. The fecundity of L. rohita of present stock was significantly correlated to fish total length and body weight; ovary length and ovary weight. However, the ovary weight is the most reliable and better index of fecundity than total length and weight of the fish.

Neem biodiesel is being developed as a future biofuel. Accompanying the growing global production of biofuels is the looming threat of environmental pollution. Such pollution can originate in two ways: firstly, combustion of biofuels containing elevated levels of toxic elements could contribute to atmospheric pollution; and secondly, poor quality biofuel (and waste products) that is returned to the environment could contaminate soil and aquatic resources. In this study the potential environmental toxicity of neem biodiesel was examined and compared with alternative fuels (B20/B100) using high performance ICP-MS. The neem biodiesel was prepared in our laboratory from neem feedstock (kernels and fruit) harvested in 2012. A dual acid-base catalyzed esterification process was employed to produce the biodiesel fraction. Prior to high resolution instrumental analysis all samples were digested in mild acidic media. The basic physical properties of the neem biodiesel were in agreement with those of regular petroleum diesel. Twelve elements (ranging from beryllium to uranium) considered to be environmentally toxic were detected in the neem biofuel and their levels displayed lower profiles of elemental toxicity compared to the B100 samples. B20, on the other hand, displayed reduced levels of toxicity in general. The study is of particular interest to environmental toxicology and sustainable development.

Within the Data Based Mechanistic (DBM) Transfer Function rainfall to riverflow modelling approach a mathematical model in the form of a transfer function rainfall to riverflow is obtained by extracting information from the available time series data. The DBM methodology is able to use the data to identify the model structure in an objective statistical manner using the simplified recursive instrumental variable algorithm (SRIV). The approach requires few spatiallydistributed data for the estimation of the models and is, therefore, suitable for data limited regions like West Africa. Within this paper we present a review of the application of the model in hydrological studies in different climatic conditions. The application of the approach to large nested catchments in the humid rainforest zone in Ghana have also been presented. The approach revealed an exponential form of non-linear behaviour for the catchments. The estimated model parameters and the associated dynamic response characteristics (DRCs) of time constant (TC) and steady state gain (SSG) indicates that riverflow generation within the catchments are not flashy. The model identified mathematical relationships which could be used to simulate flows in the catchments.

The aim of this study is the numerical simulation of non-Newtonian fluid in an eccentric annulus with rotation of the inner cylinder. To evaluate the modeling accuracy, the computational domain has been defined such that the results of this study can be compared with experimental results of Nouri et al. (1997). At first the governing equations were selected according to the follow physics. Then by selecting the appropriate network, the physical equations were solved using CFD technique and finite volume method. The turbulent flow modeling has been performed using K-?, K-? and K- ?RNG methods. The obtained results of the study showed that the K-? method is compatible with experimental data of Nouri et al. (1997) and thus is a more appropriate method for numerical analysis of this type of flow.

The focus of the field study reported here are the water quality issues of twenty four natural springs located in Karachi, Thatta, Jamshoro and Tharparkar districts of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. The samples collected from these springs were analyzed for water temperature, electrical conductance, TDS, salinity and pH and major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+) and anions (Cl-, HCO3 -, SO4 2-) by electric probe, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, uv/visible spectrometric and volumetric methods. A paired t-test was used to assess 24 pre- and post-sampling data during the period 2000 - 2001. The order of relative abundance was detected for major cations was Na+> Ca2+> Mg2+>K+ and anions Cl->HCO3->SO4 2-. The values of positive correlation in the number of pairs showed the origin of transport from same lithology. The factor analysis (FA) was applied to water quality and the first two factors identified were responsible for approximately 80% of total variance. The hierarchical cluster analysis was made using the ward method for group relationship and Pearson correlation coefficient derived for parametric relationship, percent sodium (% Sodium), Langelier saturation index (LSI), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and permeability index (PI) were made for quality of data and identifying the suitability of water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. The residual sodium carbonate and sodium adsorption ratio indicated for more than 75% springs, were suitable for irrigation purposes. The spring water showed spatial variations among physico-chemical parameters and results were compared with WHO guidelines for drinking water.

The bulk transfer coefficients of momentum (CD) and sensible heat (CH) were determined from the field observation carried out on Nigerian Micrometeorological Experimental (Nimex_1) field, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Direct determination of the transfer coefficients was done using the eddy correlation method. Analytical method was also used to compute the transfer coefficients with the use of bulk transfer algorithms. The CD and CH values obtained from eddy covariance method were higher than those from analytical method. Usage of the transfer coefficients obtained from analytical method will lead to slight underestimation of the fluxes. The atmospheric stability parameter z/L values were positive at nights (stability) but negative during the day (instability). The CD and CH values were higher during the day (instability) and lower at nights (stability). Whenever z/L was positive the sensible heat flux was negative.

This short paper has the purpose to discuss different coupling mechanisms that can be revealed in the coefficient of the magnetoelectromechanical coupling (CMEMC). Concerning the propagation problems of the shear-horizontal acoustic waves in the piezoelectromagnetics such as bulk homogeneous materials, inhomogeneous composites, and homogeneous plates, these CMEMC coupling mechanisms must be accounted to obtain wave characteristics in various configurations exploiting the smart piezoelectromagnetic materials. Indeed, many wave characteristics are already known for the shearhorizontal waves such as the surface, interfacial, and plate acoustic waves. It is obvious that they can have potential applications in the physical, biological, and chemical sensors, non-destructive testing and evaluation, etc. PACS: 51.40.+p, 62.65.+k, 68.35.Gy, 68.35.Iv, 68.60.Bs, 74.25.Ld, 74.25.Ha, 75.20.En, 75.80.+q, 81.70.Cv