GABAA and GABAI Receptor Subunits Gene Expression and their Functional Role in Pilocarpine Induced Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The research work which was carried out to characterization of wastes from natural rubber and rubber wood processing industries and their utilization for biomethanation. Environmental contamination is an inevitable consequence of human activity. The liquid and solid wastes from natural rubber based industries were: characterized and their use for the production of biogas investigated with a view to conserve conventional energy, and to mitigate environmental degradation.Rubber tree (flevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.), is the most important commercial source of natural rubber and in india. Recently, pollution from the rubber processing factories has become very serious due to the introduction of modern methods and centralized group processing practices.The possibility of the use of spent slurry as organic manure is discussed.l0 percent level of PSD, the activity of cellulolytic, acid producing,proteolytic, lipolytic and methanogenic bacteria were more in the middle stage of methanogenesis.the liquid wastes from rubber processing used as diluents in combination with PSD, SPE promoted more biogas production with high methane content in the gas.The factors that favour methane production like TS, VS, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation were favoured in this treatment which led to higher methane biogenesis.The results further highlight ways and means to use agricultural wastes as alternative sources of energy.

Biochemical and Biotechnological investigations on the water-fern Salvinia molesta Mitchell

The present work is focussed mainly on the utilization of this weed-biomass on a biochemical and biotechnological basis. Before designing scientific and systematic utilization of any given biomass, the detailed analysis of its chemical componets is essential. Hence, as the preliminary part of the experimental works, samples of Salvinia were analysed for its chemical constituents.Before designing scientific and systematic utilization of any given biomass, the detailed analysis of its chemical componets is essential .The composition of the substrate contributes much to the nutritive value of mushrooms. Hence, alterations in the nutritive value of mushrooms (in terms of total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and minerals) in response to Salvinia as substrate were analyzed.Substrate after mushroom harvest (spent substrate) can be utilized for various purposes such as cattle feed, as a source of degradative enzymes, as a substrate for other mushrooms and as garden manure. But studies are limited with regard to the utilization of Pleurotus spent substrate as garden manure. So the value of spent substrate as an organic supplement and its multidimensional impacts on soil chemical status, soil microbial population dynamics and plant growth (Amhurium andreanum) were carried out.Major findings of this work have got much relevance in designing measures to utilize different types of plant biomass, especially aquatic weeds, with the aid of a powerful biological tool, the lignocellulolytic fungus, Pleurorus

Activated packed bed bioreactor for rapid nitrification in brackish water hatchery systems

A packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) was developed for rapid establishment of nitrification in brackish water hatchery systems in the tropics. The reactors were activated by immobilizing ammonia-oxidizing (AMONPCU- 1) and nitrite-oxidizing (NIONPCU-1) bacterial consortia on polystyrene and low-density polyethylene beads, respectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of autotrophic nitrifiers belong to Nitrosococcus mobilis, lineage of b ammonia oxidizers and nitrite oxidizer Nitrobacter sp. in the consortia. The activated reactors upon integration to the hatchery system resulted in significant ammonia removal (P\0.01) culminating to its undetectable levels. Consequently, a significantly higher percent survival of larvae was observed in the larval production systems. With spent water the reactors could establish nitrification with high percentage removal of ammonia (78%), nitrite (79%) and BOD (56%) within 7 days of initiation of the process. PBBR is configured in such a way to minimize the energy requirements for continuous operation by limiting the energy inputs to a single stage pumping of water and aeration to the aeration cells. The PBBR shall enable hatchery systems to operate under closed recirculating mode and pave the way for better water management in the aquaculture industry.

Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Nanocrystalline Ceria Modified With Zirconia

The use of catalysts in chemical and refining processes has increased rapidly since 1945, when oil began to replace coal as the most important industrial raw material. Catalysis has a major impact on the quality of human life as well as economic development. The demand for catalysts is still increasing since catalysis is looked up as a solution to eliminate or replace polluting processes. Metal oxides represent one of the most important and widely employed classes of solid catalysts. Much effort has been spent in the preparation, characterization and application of metal oxides. Recently, great interest has been devoted to the cerium dioxide (CeO2) containing materials due to their broad range of applications in various fields, ranging from catalysis to ceramics, fuel cell technologies, gas sensors, solid state electrolytes, ceramic biomaterials, etc., in addition to the classical application of CeO2 as an additive in the so-called three way catalysts (TWC) for automotive exhaust treatment. Moreover, it can promote water gas shift and steam reforming reactions, favours catalytic activity at the interfacial metal-support sites. The solid solutions of ceria with Group IV transitional-metals deserve particular attention for their applicability in various technologically important catalytic processes. Mesoporous CeO2−ZrO2 solid solutions have been reported to be employed in various reactions which include CO oxidation, soot oxidation, water-gas shift reaction, and so on. Inspired by the unique and promising characteristics of ceria based mixed oxides and solid solutions for various applications, we have selected ceria-zirconia oxides for our studies. The focus of the work is the synthesis and investigation of the structural and catalytic properties of modified and pure ceria-zirconia mixed oxide.