Archives-November 2013

The degradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polystyrene foam waste could be accelerated using microbes. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of biodegradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films and Polystyrene foam by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Further, chemical changes like formation of ester group was observed in PET powder when buried in soil under laboratory conditions. C = C bond stretching in PET powder inoculated in soil, sewage and cowdung was evident in this study. On inoculation of PET flakes in soil, sewage and cowdung, FTIR spectral analysis reveal C-H and C=C bond stretching. Except in PET flakes in cowdung , PET inoculation in soil and sewage elicited C=O bond stretching. PS powder inoculated in soil, sewage and cowdung underwent degradation which in reflected in the FTIR spectral analysis (C-O, bond stretching). Furthermore, PS powder on inoculation with sewage elicited C-H and C=C bond stretching, while in cowdung it resulted in O-H, C=O and C=C bond stretching. PS flakes when buried in soil, sewage and cowdung exhibited C=C bond stretching. In addition, O-H, C-H, C=O bond stretching was evident in PS flakes buried in cowdung. Thus fungal species (Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp) could be used as a biological agents to degrade PET and PS foam.

The Kenya Vision 2030 is the economic blueprint towards the achievement of development and the transformation of Kenya into a “newly industrializing, middle income country providing high quality life for all its citizens by the year 2030” (Vision 2030, pg. vii.) To achieve this long term development goals, there is need for the country to invest in training of qualified manpower to drive the wheels of development. Educational institutions and particularly Universities in Kenya have continued to play a significant role in the training of manpower to meet the demands of industry. Universities play an innovative role in tackling the problems of underdevelopment (Mosha, 1986). This paper deliberates the role of Kenyan Universities in the country’s economic development and their contribution towards the achievement of Vision 2030. The discussion will revolve around three themes which form the pillars of Vision 2030 - the Economic Pillar, Social Pillar and Political Pillar, and the role of the University in fortifying these pillars. It is imperative for Kenya to invest in the training of manpower to work on infrastructure because this is critical for accelerated rates of economic development (Bloom et al (2006). The cohesiveness of the Kenyan society is an essential factor in national development too. Higher education fosters national unity by changing people’s attitudes and developing positive mind sets towards each other and various ethnic diversities. This is focal in developing a cohesive society that is free from ethnic prejudices and other social ills buffeting Kenya today. The political pillar of vision 2030 is ‘a democratic political system that is issue-based, people –centered, result-oriented and accountable to the public.’ (Vision 2030, pg. 16). Universities contribute substantially in buttressing this pillar by providing the intellectual citadel where political discourse occurs and ideologies pertinent to policy formulation are generated. It is necessary that dysfunctional systems of the past are replaced with new value systems that will repair the emaciated social fabric. Universities can assist in this by developing individuals committed to democratic values and human rights (Botman, 2011).

Direct and rapid procedures for the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of Bi, Sb, and Cd in different biological samples using a multi-element electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer (Perkin-Elmer SIMAA 6000) are described. Two kinds of modifiers; Pd(NO3)2 + Mg(NO3)2 mixture modifier and Ir-permanent modifier were tested. For Seronorm urine, Lyphocheck urine, Bovine liver, Pig kidney, Pork liver, and Tea, the samples were diluted (1:4, v/v), (1:1, v/v), (1:9, v/v), (1:29, v/v), (1:3, v/v), (1:4, v/v), respectively, with 0.2% HNO3 which were then introduced directly into the furnace. The detection limits were 0.90-1.5 µg.l-1 for Bi, 0.79-1.3 µg.l-1 for Sb, and 0.01-0.025 µg.l-1 for Cd. The Characteristic masses were 73.3-88 pg for Bi, 46.3-67.7 pg for Sb, and 1.7-3.3 pg for Cd. The reliability of the procedures is checked by analyzing certified reference materials. A standard additions method was used to determine Bi, Sb, and Cd in the samples simultaneously. Results of analysis of standard reference materials were in agreement with certified values.

The major purpose and target of every education activity is to enhance students’ learning. The present paper is an analysis of literature available in the field of techniques that motivate students for learning. For this purpose the available related literature was reviewed. Motivation is considered a permanent tool for students’ success in learning. The sources of motivation can be influenced by external factors as well as internal. On these bases motivation may be extrinsic or intrinsic. However, the intrinsic motivation is more responsible for motivating students for learning. Educators may give heed to the arousing o intrinsic motivation and they may consider this motivation in designing their instruction by incorporating motivational techniques in their in instruction.

Partition, one of the most glaring phenomena in the history of the Indian subcontinent that led to the loss of lives and homes is the concern of many sensitive writers. The Paper attempts to analyze and compare the works of two such writers who were participant, sufferers and delineators of this event. Though written in two different languages, both these novels explore the difference made by partition in the lives of innumerable people who got uprooted or killed in the riots where law and administration failed miserably. The writers describe event from their own vantage point which help us in understanding this ghastly happening even better.

The Twentieth century has brought forth the realisation of the need to emancipate, develop and grow oneself in every area of human life. Women too have not lagged behind in this. Novelists like Shashi Deshpande and Kundanika Kapadiya have captured this dream of woman to break the shackles of tradition, custom and patriarchy and stretch the horizons to fly in the limitless skies.

The dislocation of people from familiar place and customs leads to the shattering of their feelings of belongingness and identity. Women suffer more as the patriarchal set up not only ignores their sufferings due to the dislocation but also has customs and traditions that treat woman as property and exploit, suppress and marginalize them.

Wetlands are the sites of natural succession and therefore contain all the groups of plant kingdom in a single place. The present paper encompasses the floristic account of Pteridophytes occur in wetland of Gorakhpur and adjacent districts of Uttar Pradesh. In this region, varies wetlands like Ramgarh Tal, Tura Nala, Salona Tal, Narya Tal, and Ratoi Tal and varies small water bodies. A total of 20 Pteridophytes species were recorded from the wetland.

Study on the relationship between alkaloid yield and it’s components will improve the efficiency of breeding programs to select the appropriate mutant with higher economy to fulfill the world demand for vincristine and vinblastine, with a view of it’s clinical importance. The comparative study on the morphometric variations on the mutants of C. roseus revealed that plant height and pollen diameter is positively correlated with each other through character correlation. The relative importance of each agronomical component in determining alkaloid yield in mutants of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. is achieved by partitioning into direct and indirect effects through path co-efficient analysis. The number of leaves and dry matter yield has direct effect on alkaloid yield with increased number of follicle/ plant. The increment in number of leaves/ plant resulted in increase dry matter yield with higher alkaloid yield. The vindoline, catharanthine and vincristine have direct effect but vinblastine pose indirect effect on alkaloid yield.

Zn-contaminated soils were rated for various levels of available (DTPA extractable) Zn viz. 0.42, 2.8, 4.5, 9.6 and 26.3 ppm and used to grow wheat (Tritium aestivum Linn.) plants. Effect of these soils on growth (length and dry matter production), visible symptoms of toxicity and biochemical constituents (protein, pigments and sugar contents and catalase activity) of wheat were evaluated. Plants grown at high Zn-contaminated soil (26.3 ppm) had visible symptoms of toxicity such as decreased growth, chlorosis and tip burning of young leaves and reduced leaf lamina. Length and dry matter yield of wheat were increased maximum at 4.5 ppm available Zn in soil. Pigment, sugar and protein contents were also stimulated upto 4.5 ppm of available Zn, whereas these values decreased with increase in Zn levels in soil. Antioxidative defense systems with respect to carotenoids and protein contents and catalase activity favoured the dry weight production in wheat which were grown at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil. Study revealed the tolerance of wheat found maximum at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil, where as tissue concentrations of root and shoot were 30.6 and 35.6 µg Zn g-1 of dry weight, respectively. High Zn concentrations (9.6 and 26.3 ppm) were not stimulatory to the wheat growth reduced biochemical constituents in cells and produced visible symptoms of toxicity in wheat.