INVESTIGATION AND MODELING OF TRANSPORT NOISE DEPENDENCE ON TRAFFIC SPEED AND IMPACT ON POPULATION ANNOYANCE

Transport noise is a serious problem in cities and has a negative impact on both health and economics. In addition to the aforementioned unnoticed health effects, traffic noise has also been identified as one of the leading causes of sleep disorders, annoyance and negative cardiovascular effects. This research consists of three parts: part one involves onsite measurements of traffic noise in Trakai town; part two simulates traffic noise at different average vehicle speeds; part three assesses the number of people affected by traffic noise. The carried-out simulation has demonstrated that the noise level changes very slightly at different average vehicle speeds. It should be noticed that more noise is generated at average vehicle speed of 30 km/h rather than at 50 km/h. The assessment of the annoyance level has disclosed that an average vehicle speed of 30 km/h should cause the highest level of annoyance (highest – 26.8%).

NITRATE REMOVAL IN WOODCHIP DENITRIFICATION BIOREACTOR – AN APPROACH COMBINING MATHEMATICAL MODELLING AND PI CONTROL

A mathematical model of nitrate removal in woodchip denitrification bioreactor based on field experiment measurements was developed in this study. The approach of solving inverse problem for nonlinear system of differential convection-reaction equations was applied to optimize the efficiency of nitrate removal depending on bioreactor’s length and flow rate. The approach was realized through the developed algorithm containing a nonlocal condition with an incorporated PI controller. This allowed to adjust flow rate for varying inflow nitrate concentrations by using PI controller. The proposed model can serve as a useful tool for bioreactor design. The main outcome of the model is a mathematical relationship intended for bioreactor length selection when nitrate concentration at the inlet and the flow rate are known. Custom software was developed to solve the system of differential equations aiming to ensure the required nitrate removal efficiency.

SIMULATION RESEARCH ON CARBON EMISSIONS TRADING BASED ON BLOCKCHAIN

Global warming caused by greenhouse gases is one of the problems that need to be solved urgently. Blockchain technology can achieve automatic quota certification and settlement, providing a new direction for carbon emissions trading. This paper provides a quantitative analysis of blockchain-based carbon emissions trading through the Repast simulation platform. Firstly, it designs the blockchain-based carbon emissions trading simulation framework from a macro perspective, including identity and quota certification, quota trading, risk prevention and smart contracts management. Then, it establishes a blockchain-based carbon emissions trading simulation model and formulates the behavior rules of the government, investors and company agents and market transaction processes. Finally, it simulates the carbon emissions trading based on public chain and private chain on the Repast platform, and analyzes the simulation results.

TOXICITY MEDIATED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ITS MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN CROP PLANTS

Oxidative stress occurs in plant due to various environmental stressors like drought, high temperature, pathogen invasion, heavy metals, pesticides etc. when plant faces these conditions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the chloroplast, mitochondria, plasma membrane, peroxisomes, ER and cell wall due to the leakage of electrons. Depending upon its concentration the role of ROS is decided if less then it will act as a signaling molecule but if in excess it will damage the cellular machinery of plants as the production of species like free radicals would take place. Though to combat these stress plants have antioxidant defense machinery which include enzymatic and non- enzymatic which lower down the level of ROS. Through genetic engineering more tolerant plants are produced which include modification of key genes like transcription factors. In this review article the molecular physiology of plants is discussed where in the factors contributing to stress including biotic and abiotic factors and various mitigation strategies.

ZINC CONTAMINATION IS AN UNDERESTIMATED RISK TO AMPHIBIANS: TOXICITY EVALUATION IN TADPOLES OF FEJERVARYA LIMNOCHARIS

Aquatic environments are often contaminated with zinc. Amphibian tadpoles are likely to be exposed to high concentrations of zinc present in these environments. We determined the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of ZnCl2 on Fejervarya limnocharis tadpoles under laboratory conditions. The LC50 values of ZnCl2 were found to be 5.81, 4.32, 3.79 and 3.61 mg/L at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure respectively. Long-term exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of ZnCl2 induced significant mortality in concentration and time dependent manner. Sub-lethal ZnCl2 exposure significantly altered survival, body length and body weight at metamorphosis. Micronucleus test and comet assay indicated the genotoxic potential of ZnCl2. Significant increase in DNA strand break was observed following ZnCl2 exposure equivalent to 1% of the of 24 h LC50 value. The findings indicate possible adverse to tadpoles inhabiting aquatic environments contaminated with zinc. In addition, the findings may be extrapolated to aquatic organisms of similar torphic status.

COPING THE ARSENIC TOXICITY IN RICE PLANT WITH MAGNESIUM ADDENDUM FOR ALLUVIAL SOIL OF INDO-GANGETIC BENGAL, INDIA

Arsenic (As3+) is a toxic metalloid found in the earth’s crust, its elevated concentration is a concern for human health because rice is the staple grain in eastern part of India and the waterlogged rice field environment provides opportunity for more As3+ uptake. Magnesium (Mg2+) is an important plant nutrient. Present work is a search for reducing As3+ toxicity in plants through Mg2+ application. The findings are quite impressive, the root to shoot biomass ratio showed more than 1.5 times increase compared to the control. Total protein content increased 2 folds. Carbohydrate and chlorophyll content increased two to three times compared to control. On the other hand, Malondialdehyde content showed a decline with the application of increased Mg2+ dose. The in-silico study shows a better interaction with As3+ in presence of Mg2+ but interestingly without stress symptoms. These findings from the research indicate that Mg2+ application can be effective in reducing As3+ induced stress in plants.

BIOREMEDIATION: THE ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION TO THE HAZARDOUS PROBLEM OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Bioremediation is a technique to enhance natural biological processes to rectify polluted groundwater, soil, and even entire habitats. Bioremediation techniques use biological agents to act upon hazardous, toxic materials and subsequently convert them into less toxic substances. Microbes are organisms ubiquitously present in the biosphere. These microorganisms are the main agents that remediate toxic and polluted environmental conditions. Highly polluted areas can be rectified using proper bioremediation procedures and interventions. In this review we have studied the different bioremediation techniques which can be utilized to correct the harmful effects of environmental pollution. In this study we have also emphasized on the benefits of adopting bioremediation as an efficient alternative technique in comparison to the traditional physical and chemical methods to restore the healthy environmental conditions.

IN SITU AND EX SITU BIOREMEDIATION OF HEAVY METALS: THE PRESENT SCENARIO

Enhanced population growth, rapid industrialization, urbanization and hazardous industrial practices have resulted in the development of environmental pollution in the past few decades. Heavy metals are one of those pollutants that are related to environmental and public health concerns based on their toxicity. Effective bioremediation may be accomplished through “ex situ” and “in situ” processes, based on the type and concentration of pollutants, characteristics of the site but is not limited to cost. The recent developments in artificial neural network and microbial gene editing help to improve “in situ” bioremediation of heavy metals from the polluted sites. Multi-omics approaches are adopted for the effective removal of heavy metals by various indigenous microbes. This overview introspects two major bioremediation techniques, their principles, limitations and advantages, and the new aspects of nanobiotechnology, computational biology and DNA technology to improve the scenario.

BIOSORPTION OF CU(II) IONS FROM INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS BY RICE HUSK: EXPERIMENT, STATISTICAL, AND ANN MODELING

Heavy metal removal from wastewater is a significant research area and recommends sustainable development. The heavy metals cause harmful health effects, increase environmental toxicity. Adsorption is a very effective method for heavy metal removal. A fixed bed for Cu(II) removal using rice hush, an agricultural waste, is reported in this paper. The study was carried out to determine the breakthrough curves with varying operating variables like influent concentration (10–30 mg/L), flow rate (10–40 ml/min), and bed height (4–10 cm) at pH 6. The variation of the process variables like influent concentration, flow rate, and bed height were investigated. The experimental data shows that adsorption capacity increases with the rise of influent concentration. The maximum value of adsorption capacity is 10.93 mg/g at a flow rate of 10 ml/min, bed height 4 cm, and influent concentration 30 mg/L. The applicability of the MLR and ANN modeling has also been successfully carried out. ANN has better predictability than MLR. The findings revealed that rice husk could be used to treat copper-containing industrial effluents.

ROLE OF PLANT SECONDARY METABOLITES IN COMBATING PEST INDUCED STRESS IN BRINJAL (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.)

Brinjal or eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is known as a vegetable of diet because it contains high moisture and low calorific value. It is also a good source of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Brinjal is widely grown in the South and South-East Asian countries and is the second most important vegetable in India. It belongs to the Solanaceae family. Shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) pest of brinjal is the most widespread one and it has the ability to affect any of the developmental stages of brinjal. Plants and their insect herbivores have had a long and intimate evolutionary association that has resulted in many complex interactions mediated by specialized plant metabolites like phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids, cyanogenic glycosides etc. Frequent and excessive use of insecticides has become a common practice now which only increases the probability of resistance development and resurgence of pest. Hence to develop an effective approach to combat this pest understanding of its feeding mechanism and chemistry of its interaction with the fruit is necessary. The importance of the secondary metabolites in the field of chemical biology and in pest management is discussed in this study.