Visibility degradation during foggy period due to anthropogenic urban aerosol at Delhi, India

Fog which is defined as an obscurity near the surface layer of the atmosphere and is caused by a suspension of water droplets associated with visibility and its frequencies dominate in urban areas other than rural areas. It may occur due to increased air pollutant concentrations emanating from variety of sources in the urban areas. The increased pollution levels may lead to the atmospheric reactions resulting into the formation of secondary pollutants that may also lead to the needed cloud condensation nuclei. Northern part of India experience severe fog conditions (warm fog) during the winter period (November-January) every year. In this study, we have simultaneously measured the particulate mass concentration (0.23 mum to 20 mum in 16 size channels), meteorological parameters and atmospheric visibility in mega city Delhi during winter months of the years 2007-2008 in order to have an improved understanding of their role in fog formation. The effects of aerosols on fog formation are discussed through an analysis of trends in fog frequency and comparison with meteorological parameters especially visibility which is an indicator of aerosol loading in the lower atmosphere. The existing dataset is used to find linear regression amongst various parameters with due consideration of significance value. This satisfies the precondition for using these relations even in limited data set. The association between the meteorological parameter (visibility, depression temperature) and air pollutants are examined. The Windows software SPSS (version 17.0) is used to fit a linear regression model. The model explained the variation in visibility due to depression temperature and aerosols loading

Avifauna de las zonas costeras adyacentes del distrito de Purba Medinipur, sur de Bengala Occidental, India: registros adicionales y lista actualizada

El presente estudio se llevó a cabo en la región del estuario Digha-Shankarpur del distrito Purba Medinipur, Bengala Occidental, India, durante diciembre de 2018 a agosto de 2020. Durante el período de estudio, se registraron un total de 178 especies de aves, incluidas 29 especies no reportadas previamente de la costa de Purba Medinipur. Con la compilación de registros publicados previamente y registros actuales, el número de avifauna conocida de la zona costera del distrito de Purba Medinipur asciende a 225. El estudio también revela la presencia de nueve aves casi amenazadas y una vulnerable en la zona costera de Purba Medinipur. Se detallan algunos registros nuevos y notables.The present study was carried out in Digha-Shankarpur estuary region of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India, during December 2018 to August 2020. During survey period, a total of 178 species of birds were recorded from the area including 29 previously unreported species from Purba Medinipur coast. With the compilation of previously published records and present records, the number of known avifauna of the coastal area of Purba Medinipur district goes to 225. Study also reveals the presence of nine near threatened and one vulnerable bird in the Purba Medinipur coastal area. Some of the new and noteworthy records are given in detail

Transforming Abandoned Sand Pits into Sustainable Aquaculture Ponds in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India

The present study was based on aquaculture possibilities in abandoned sand pits through scientific pond preparation and management. The research work was conducted at Depal, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal. In the district of Purba Medinipur sand mining activity were primarily carried out for the purpose of house construction and for land filling. In this district about 100 ha abandoned sand mining pits are present. Generally, ponds are manmade impoundments mainly used for water harvesting and for aquaculture. Pond preparation is the basic and utmost important step in freshwater aquaculture to enhance the fish production. After sand mining activity abandoned low laying pits are filled by rain water and creates pond environment. Following APHA (American Public Health Association) guideline, the physico-chemical parameters of soil and water were analysed every 30 days interval to ascertain how the parameters change with change with the season. Here scientific managements and higher percentage of organic manures like cow dung and mohua oil cakes were applied to increase the water holding capacity and fish production of the pond. This treatment helps to increase the average values of NPK from 16.52 mg/100gm, 1.93 mg/100gm and 1.50 mg/100gm to 28.69 mg/100gm, 5.61 mg/100gm and 11.92 mg/100gm respectively. Organic Carbon (%) and Specific Conductivity (µS/cm) was also increased. Lime was also applied in higher amount to correct the pH of both soil and water and to kill parasites. Soil pH and Free Calcium Carbonate (%) was corrected and become ideal for aquaculture

A Study on the Availability of Finfish and Shellfish of Junput Mangrove, East Midnapore, West Bengal, India

The fish species diversity is the most important indicator of health of aquatic environment. A good piscina ecosystem diversity illustrates the equable environment. The present study deals with the variety of fishes in the Junput mangrove area (Biramput to Haripur), East Midnapore district. The Junput mangrove area is located at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal (Latitude- 21°94\u2704.5"N Longitude- 87°26\u2759.5"E), West Bengal. The field study was taken for a season of two years and data are collected monthly basis were made from May 2022 to April 2024. The study results of the actual inquiry express the occurrence of 93 species (51 finfishes and 42 shellfishes). 51 finfishes belonging to 44 genera, 34 different family and 18 orders and 42 shellfishes belonging to 26 different genera, 15 different family and 03 orders. Among the rerecorded finfish species, 2 species were Vulnerable (VU), 01 species were Near Threatened (NT), 35 species were Least Concern (LC) while 06 species were Not Evaluated (NE), 07 species were Data Deficient (DD) with 44 genus, 18 orders and 34 families. In the case of recorded shellfish species, 33 species were Not Evaluated (NE), 06 species were Least Concern (LC) and 03 species were Data Deficient (DD) with 26 genus, 03 orders and 15 families. The number  of species richness in the order Decapoda were dominated by 39 species followed by Perciformes with 08 species; Clupeiformes with 07 species; Tetradontiformes with 05 species; both Gobiformes and Anguilliformes with 04 species; both Acanthuriformes and Carangiformes with 03 species; Siluriformes, Spariformes, Pleuronectiformes, Mugilliformes, Scombriformes, Aulopiformes and Xiphosurida with 02 species; Myliobactiformes, Cypriniformes, Carcharniformes, Elopiformes, Beloniformes and Stomatopoda with 01 species. Out of 93 finfish and shellfish, 50 were carnivores, 39 were omnivores, and 02 were each herbivores and detritivores

Recent Advances on Design and Synthesis of Chiral Imidazolium Ionic Liquids and their Applications in Green Asymmetric Synthesis

Over the past decade, catalysis by ionic liquids (ILs) has experienced a tremendous growth in the context of “Green Chemistryâ€, and there are numerous examples of a variety of catalytic reactions that have been successfully carried out in such neoteric media.The great enthusiasm for catalysis in ILs is not only driven by the curiosity of chemists, but also due to the growing awareness of developing greener reactions or process media in catalytic science and greener catalytic technologies due their advantages of unique physical and chemical properties as compared to traditional volatile organic solvents.Recently, development of chiral ionic liquids and their applications in asymmetric synthesis have attracted much attention as these reactions have widespread applications in the synthesis of chiral drugs and pharmaceutical industries. Asymmetric induction is mainly achieved by the use of chiral substrates or reagents, chiral catalysts or enzymes. Owing to the vast number of structurally different room temperature ILS that have been synthesized, this review focuses on imidazolium ionic liquids that possess chirality either in the imidazolium moiety or in the anion moiety. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent breakthrough of Chiral ILs in chirality transfer or chiral recognition when used as solvent or co-solvent: the case of task specific ionic liquids is beyond the scope of this review. In the first part, the synthesis of of CILs has been presented and the second part of the review has been devoted on the applications of such CILs in green asymmetric synthesis as well as various pharmaceutical industries

Impact of Dietary Duckweed (Lemna minor) on Growth Performance of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844) Fingerlings

An attempt was made to assess the impact of duckweed (Lemna minor) on the growth parameters of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). A 60-day trial was conducted using one control group (C) and three experimental groups with varying duckweed inclusion levels:  5 percent (T1), 10 percent (T2), and 20 percent (T3). Two hundred fingerlings were stocked in four pond and fed at the rate of 5 percent of body weight twice a day (10:00 am and 17:00 pm hours) for 60 days. The weight gain (g), per cent weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly higher in treatment T2 (79.00 and 0.70) followed by T3. Significantly, the improved feed conversion ratio was also observed in T2 and T3, which showed a similar trend. Present study use of the duckweed (L. minor) in basal diet promotes growth, with the highest growth enhancement in treatment T2. It is concluded that duckweed can be used as a feed supplement to grass carp (C. idella) for superior growth performance

Purple Bush-Bean Macroptilium atropurpureum (Fabaceae): a new larval host plant for Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Asia

Purple Bush-Bean Macroptilium atropurpureum, an introduced perennial legume, native to the Americas, is recorded here as a new host plant for the common South Asian Lycaenid Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) in India. Butterflies were observed laying eggs on the new flower buds, and caterpillars feeding on flower buds and leaves of Macroptilium atropurpureum.  To cite: Payra, A.,Philip, J.G., Bhatt, C. & Koparde, P. 2025. Purple Bush-Bean Macroptilium atropurpureum (Fabaceae): a new larval host plant for Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in South Asia. Israel Journal of Entomology 54: 1–4. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14690423urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:04A01AAB-8C6D-4F85-BB6D-D4B0B233A36

Review on the Role of Microbiota in Successful Fish Breeding and Reproduction

Fish reproduction is intricately linked to microbiota-diverse microbial communities residing in the gut, skin, and reproductive tracts. Beyond their roles in digestion, immunity, and pathogen defense, microbiota actively regulate gonadal development, gametogenesis, hormone balance, and mate selection, directly influencing breeding success. The gut microbiota ensures optimal nutrient assimilation and energy availability, essential for gamete production and embryonic development. Meanwhile, the skin and reproductive tract microbiota contribute to reproductive success by forming protective barriers against infections, ensuring a stable and healthy reproductive environment. These microbial communities are shaped by environmental factors such as water quality, diet, and stressors, which in turn affect reproductive performance. In aquaculture, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation has emerged as a promising approach to optimize microbial communities, leading to improved reproductive outcomes, enhanced disease resistance, and higher larval survival rates. However, challenges persist in fully deciphering the complex interactions between fish, their microbiota, and environmental variables. This review consolidates current knowledge on the role of microbiota in fish reproduction, emphasizing the potential applications of microbiota manipulation in aquaculture to enhance breeding success and overall fish health

Exploitation of Unique Properties of Zeolites in the Development of Gas Sensors

The unique properties of microporous zeolites, including ion-exchange properties, adsorption, molecular sieving, catalysis, conductivity have been exploited in improving the performance of gas sensors. Zeolites have been employed as physical and chemical filters to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of gas sensors. In addition, direct interaction of gas molecules with the extraframework cations in the nanoconfined space of zeolites has been explored as a basis for developing new impedance-type gas/vapor sensors. In this review, we summarize how these properties of zeolites have been used to develop new sensing paradigms. There is a considerable breadth of transduction processes that have been used for zeolite incorporated sensors, including frequency measurements, optical and the entire gamut of electrochemical measurements. It is clear from the published literature that zeolites provide a route to enhance sensor performance, and it is expected that commercial manifestation of some of the approaches discussed here will take place. The future of zeolite-based sensors will continue to exploit its unique properties and use of other microporous frameworks, including metal organic frameworks. Zeolite composites with electronic materials, including metals will lead to new paradigms in sensing. Use of nano-sized zeolite crystals and zeolite membranes will enhance sensor properties and make possible new routes of miniaturized sensors