Science Vision

197–203

Authors: C. Malsawmtluangi, B. Lalzamliana, Klaudi K. Vaiphei

Sundried and smoked vegetables constitute major parts of the Mizo cuisine. Heavy metals and pesticides can be present in vegetables and cause many diseases including cancer. The objective of this study is to determine the concentration of heavy metal and pesticide residues in commonly consumed sundried and smoked vegetables from Aizawl market. Since cancer is prevailing at a high rate in Mizoram, it also aims to study whether there is any link between cancer and these vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy and pesticide residues levels were analyzed using gas chromatography. This study reveals that the levels of heavy metals tested were within the permissible limits in all the vegetable samples, except for cadmium. Since cadmium exceeds the permissible limit, it can pose health risk for the consumers. The pesticide residues found in the tested samples were all within permissible limits. However, the amount and duration of consumption need to be considered as this can be a predisposing factor for cancer and other diseases.

217-221

Authors: Lalhruaitluangi, C. Khawlhring

The present experiment was carried out to standardize suitable drying techniques for hybrid tea rose variety ‘Valencia”. Two types of desiccants viz., silica gel and boric acid were used as embedding materials for drying, and the flowers were dried in hot air oven with different temperature and time combinations such as 40°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 45°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 50°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 55°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 60°C for 24 hours and 48 hours. Different observations were taken such as fresh and dry weight of flowers and hence moisture loss percentage calculated, petal diameter before and after drying were taken and hence petal shrinkage was determined. Sensory evaluations such as flower colour, shape, texture and overall acceptability was also determined. Results show that maximum moisture loss percentage (86.44%) was obtained in flowers embedded with silica gel and dried at 60°C for 48 hours; largest difference between petal diameter of fresh and dry flowers, and also maximum petal shrinkage of 14.27% occurred in those embedded with silica gel and dried at 60°C for 48 hours, whereas best score in sensory evaluations in terms of flower colour, flower shape, flower texture and overall acceptability were obtained with rose flowers embedded in silica gel and drying at 50°C for 48 hours.

228-237

Authors: V. Ralte

Mining causes massive damage to landscape and biological components of an ecosystem. Due to extensive and unmanaged coal mining in the southern part of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Meghalaya, the area has been turned into degraded land since nutrient deficient sandy spoils are hostile for the growth and regeneration of plant communities. Soil is sandy to sandy loam and red, brown to dark brown in colour. The physico-chemical properties of the soil were greatly affected due to coal mining. There is an increased acidity i.e. from 6.00 in the undisturbed forest (control site) to 3.50 in the coal mine spoil since abandoned mine spoil discharge acidic water that are enriched with iron and other metals and metalloids. Apart from this, soil nutrients are greatly depleted. The core zone soils are rich in organic matter and nutrients whereas coalmine spoils show sign of degradation especially in the nutrient content.

250-259

Authors: K. Lalchhandama

Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the order Rickettsiales such as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia, and Orientia are the causative agents of infectious diseases collectively known as rickettsioses. Of the different rickettsial diseases, spotted fever and scrub typhus have ravaged India for the past couple of centuries. Specifically called the Indian tick typhus, spotted fever was discovered in India in the latter half of the 19th century. After several decades of dormancy, the disease re-emerged in several parts of India. Scrub typhus, originally discovered in Japan, has been recognised to be endemic to a so-called Tsutsugamushi Triangle, extending from Russian Far East and Korea in the north to northern Australia in the south and Afghanistan in the west, but the geographical description has now been breached. Not only in India, scrub typhus has emerged as the leading infectious disease in all endemic areas. Almost all Indian states have records of recurrent outbreaks. Infection can be of dire consequences, as multi-organ dysfunction and neurological disorder (meningocephalitis) are the common complications. This article discusses the historical background and scientific reports of rickettsioses in India.