Life Sciences

Six protein rich artificial diets were formulated & tested on Apis mellifera colonies during dearth periods. The main components of these diets were Defatted Soy Floor, Parched Gram, Brewer’s Yeast, Skimmed Milk Powder, Protein Hydrolysate Powder, Spirulina, Natural Pollen, Sugar & Glucose Powder. Physico-chemical analysis of diet formulations was carried out to know the exact concentration of various nutrients.

A study was carried out to investigate farmers’ perceptions on the impact of Mushandike dam on livestock dynamics in an initial resettlement scheme, located in a drought prone area. The study focused on farmers resettled in Mushandike resettlement scheme who depend on a dam located upstream in Mushandike Sanctuary, Masvingo. Data were collected through focal group interviews and structured questionnaires that were administered to local farmers and agricultural extension workers. Farmers were selected from the 9 villages in Mushandike resettlement scheme.

Studies were conducted at Regional Research Station, College of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST-K, to evaluate the quality of municipal and agricultural waste under aerobic and anaerobic composting. Composting methods with enrichment techniques were adopted with 2 methods (Aerobic & Anaerobic) and 7 treatments in each method. The samples of the aerobic were drawn after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after composting and in anaerobic compost samples were drawn after 150 days of compost.

Ground water is the only source for irrigation, drinking and domestic purposes in Batticaloa District. This study focused on the characterization of an independent aquifer in three selected GN divisions namely Koduwamadu, Pankudaweli and Veppaweduwan in EravurPattu DS division for its suitability for drinking. Groundwater samples were collected from wells to represent public and individual wells including dug and tube wells in the period of November 2013 to May 2014.

The thermal stability of beta-glucosidase from the land crab digestive juice (Cardisoma armatum) was investigated by studying the effect of heat treatment over a range of 60 to 75 °C. Thermal inactivation of this enzyme, evaluated by loss in activity, was apparently followed by first-order kinetics with k-values comprised between 0.0049 to 0.0391 min-1. D and k-values decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing temperature, indicating faster inactivation of beta-glucosidase at higher temperatures. Ea and Z-values were estimated to 172.98 kJ mol-1 and 12.80 °C respectively.

The different types of seaweeds viz., Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa scalpelliformis, Ulva fasciata, Padina tetrastromatica, Stoechospermum polypodioides, Sargassum wightii, Cheilosporum spectabile and Gracillaria edulis were collected and processed for the extraction. The effect of methanol extract of different seaweeds was studied on the larvae of Meloidogyne javanica at different exposure of time (24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs). The test seaweed extract were taken into two different concentrations (2 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml).

The present study provides the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index of the study area. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the vegetation index using Lands at image. NDVI map prepared by using ENVI Image processing software. The study area NDVI map gives the Maximum value of 0.7 and Minimum Value of-0.06. The result depicts following types of vegetation index like Water bodies, Barren and Rocks, Shrub and Grass land, Moderate Green, Very green area, dense forests, Temperature and Tropical Rainforests.

Nanomaterials are well suited for water purification, disinfection and wastewater treatment applications. Antimicrobial nanoparticles can disinfect polluted water without formation of harmful disinfection by-products. Hence the present study is focused on the comparison of Zeolite loaded Copper oxide and Iron oxide nanoparticles and its effect on antibacterial and antifungal activity against bacteria and fungi isolated from secondary effluent.

Plantain (Musa Paradisiaca AAB var. Corne 1), okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus var. Tomi) and bell pepper (Capsicum Annuum var. PM17/04A) contribute to food security in developing countries such as Côte d'Ivoire. These foods, which have high moisture content, can be kept only within a few days after harvest. Processing these products by drying and changing into flour is one solution for easy handling and long-term storage. Moisture adsorption isotherm information is clearly needed for processing of plantain, okra and bell pepper flour.

Use of microorganisms in synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is coast effective and eco-friendly and easily scaled up for large scale synthesis. The present investigation reports a simple and environmental friendly method for biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) by Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain AUMC b-160 which was isolated from soil sample treated with manure and showed ability to utilize wheat and rice straws as a sole carbon source.