IMPACT : International Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences

1-6

Authors: UCHE I. ONWUACHU, UJU A. ABOH & GODSON IWUOHA

Today, as a result of environmental pollution as well as the global economic chrunch, there became a growing need to utilize indigenous natural resources as materials in the laboratory due to there environmental friendliness, easy availability, and lower price compared to the synthetic standard indicators. The study was therefore carried out to investigate the indicator properties of ethanolic extracts of different parts of four local plants; hibiscus rosasinesis, mangifera indica, zingiber officinale and cola accuminata. A comparative study of these plants extracts with available standard indicators-methyl orange and phenolphthalein was carried out to evaluate the accuracy and workability of local plant dyes as acid-base indicators. The results which were similar to that of the standard indicators indicated that plant extracts can be used as acid-base indicators in titration of strong acid with a strong base, and also weak acid with strong base.

15-20

Authors: ABDUL SAMAD MANGSI, MUHAMMAD KHASKHELI, AIJAZ HUSSAIN SOOMRO & MUHAMMAD GHIASUDDIN SHAH

The study was carried out to detect the antibiotic residues in raw beef meat sold for human consumption at the vicinities of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana and Karachi divisions of Sindh. A total 300 samples collected 60 samples from the vicinity of each Division i.e. Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana, and Karachi of Sindh province were examined for the occurrence of antibiotic residues. It was observed that the presence of antibiotic residues in beef samples was found to be higher at Karachi (48.33%) followed by Sukkur (41.67%), Hyderabad (36.67%), Mirpurkhas (33.34%) and Larkana (31.67%) divisions. Out of total beef samples obtained from study area overall 38.33 percent were observed as contaminated with the antibiotic residues. The average zone size in diameter of beef samples of Karachi division was found to be significantly (P<0.05) high followed by Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana and Mirpurkhas. The results of present study showed that a considerable contamination of antibiotic residues in beef meat was found at all divisions of Sindh province. It could be concluded that withdrawal periods of antibiotics were seems to be not followed by livestock farmers or butchers.

29-34

Authors: RUMMANA ZAHEER, SANAM WAGMA KHATTAK, HUMA ASHAR & KHANZAIB

Pakistan is a developing country. It can only increase its economic growth by exporting more and more goods to foreign countries in order to earn foreign exchange reserves which can than be used to import those items which are relatively scarce in Pakistan. The result indicated that both variables exports and imports have significant relationship with growth rate so government should move towards more exchange rate liberalization policy in order to increase its economic growth.

47-52

Authors: MRADULA TIWARI, RITU CHAKRAVARTY & JAYANT GOYAL

Rapid growth of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the introduction of ICT-enabled information services provide ways to improve information dissemination to the knowledge intensive agricultural sector and also help to bridge the information gap existing among the group of farmers. The study was conducted to assess the opportunity for using ICT, infrastructure availability, utilization and accessibility of ICT among the dairy farmers, of both plain and hilly regions, for agricultural purposes. This study is based on primary data collected from a sample of 160 respondents (80 respondents each from plain and hilly region), using random sampling, to assess the accessibility of ICT and secondary data collected from various sites to assess the availability of ICT. Digital Opportunity Index (DOI) was used to find out the availability of ICT in the state. Frequency, cumulative square root frequency and Percentage were used to analyze the accessibility of ICT among the dairy farmers. Findings reveal that availability of ICT in the state based on DOI was 0.12 and Uttarakhand lies in category of economies with low DOI scores. Majority of respondents in plains (61.25%) had medium accessibility to ICT whereas in hills, 50% had low accessibility to ICT.

61-66

Authors: N. V. N. LAKSHMI

Anantapur district is having less forest area but with rich medicinal flora. Native people are having good expertise in effective use of medicinal plants. A survey was conducted to document the ethnobotanical knowledge of plants used in the treatment of kidney stones or urolithiasis. Valuable information about potential crude drug yielding plants was collected from local people, tribal people, herbalists, bare foot doctors and healers. Thirty one popular medicinal plant remedies used in the treatment of renal calculi are presented along with their botanical and local names, part or parts used, mode of drug preparation and administration. Most reliable crude drug remedies were enumerated.

77-94

Authors: A. HAMIL & S. SAM SANTHOSH

In ancient India the sources of drugs were of vegetable, animal and mineral origin. They were prepared empirically by few experienced persons. Knowledge of that medical system was usually kept secret within a family. There were no scientific methods of standardization of drugs. But now-a-days, pharmacy field developed to an extent and improved in many ways. The researcher researched the problems faced by the retail medical stores in many ways and suggested some points to recover from the problems.

107-112

Authors: N. N. BANDELA & S. M. KOSEY

Water is one of the most important and basic natural resources. Water resources globally are gradually getting contaminated by the addition of foreign materials from the surroundings. These include organic matter of plant and animal origin, land surface washings besides industrial and sewage effluents. The addition of these materials not only influences the micro fauna of fresh water but also favours the development of a variety of new biota, rendering it unfit for human consumption. Unpolluted safe drinking water is one of the primary requisites for healthy human life. This paper deals with mathematical modelling for water quality of Nathsagar Reservoir located at Aurangabad district, Maharashtra. Three sampling stations were selected and water samples were collected for a period of one year continuously i.e. June 2009 to May 2010. Monthly changed in physico-chemical parameters were recorded such as Temperature, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen Demand respectively. During investigation these parameters were shown some variations with respect to DO concentration. These variations were represented as mathematical models by using multiple linear regression analysis. These models were found to be fit for DO variable in combination with four parameters. Results showed that there is significant relation between DO and other four selected parameter which explains between 45% to 74%.

121-132

Authors: NANDHINI L, BELA. R. BHAGAT & MALLIGA P

Marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya sp. was selected to check its bioremediation ability in textile dye effluent. Ground nut shell was used as an adsorbent in the current study. The biochemical parameters like Nitrate, Nitrite, EC, TDS, Ammonia, Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium were studied. The parameter analysis was carried at end of 60th day of incubation for the future application of degraded products on plants. 77.55% decolourisation was attained in the treatment of textile effluent with Lyngbya sp. The heavy metals like Zinc, Mercury, Nickel, Cadmium, Chromium and Iron present in textile Effluent was found to be decreased as it was adsorbed on the filament surface of Lyngbya sp. The presence of metabolites released during degradation was also analyzed by FTIR.

141-144

Authors: R. O AYENI, T. O OLUYO & A. M OKEDOYE

We modify existing mathematical models for HIV that account for observation from haemodialysis. Of particular interest are the criteria under which the disease infected equilibrium could be stable we indicate treatment that is adequate to significantly lower gp 120 levels and help T cells to recover to normal level.

151-160

Authors: UKAGWU, J. I, ONUOHA G. U. C, IHEKE R. O, ASONYE N. C & NNODIM, P. O

The study was carried out to examine the profitability of aquacultural practice in Ikeduru Local government area of Imo state and made use of both primary and secondary data. The main instrument for collecting the primary data was structured questionnaire. The population of the study was forty five registered fish farmers in Ikeduru L.G.A and a sample of twenty five fish farmers were drawn out from the population. A random sampling technique was employed. Data collected include socio economic characteristics (Age, sex, marital status, educational qualification and years of experience), total revenue, total variable cost, net income and total fixed cost. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics. The descriptive analysis showed that a large proportion of fish farm was age 31 – 50 years, 60% had formal education (secondary education), 80% are married, 60% male farmers, 40% with year of experience between 5 – 10 years and 34% trained formally in fish farming and financed their fish production through personal savings. Equally evident from the result is that the average net income of fish farmers was N155, 868 while the profitability index was 0.33, which implies that for every one naira invested in fish production by farmers, a return of N1.33 and a profit of N0.33 were obtained. The multiple regression result revealed that fish output was significantly determined by size, farming experience, educational attainment and training in fish farming. The coefficient of determination R2 value of 0.6805 indicates that 68.05% of the variation in the value of fish output was explained by the socioeconomic characteristics listed. Multiple regression also revealed that fish output was significantly determined by feed, capital, labour and other variable costs. The coefficient of determination R2 value of 0.7520 indicates that 72.50% of the variation in the value of fish output was explained by feed, capital, labor and other variable costs (fingerlings, medication, maintenance, etc). The study concluded that fish production in the study area is economically rewarding and profitable. It is capable of improving the standard of living of the people by creating employment and augmenting income. Therefore it is recommended that fish farmers there should be encouraged with grants, credits and subsidy from the government financial institutions so as to boost their startup capital.

167-174

Authors: S. T. SHIRSATH & JITENDRA WASNIK

This paper is an attempt to underscore the pattern of grassroots democracy and governance in India and the role of Panhayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the development of rural areas. The paper is concerned with the evolutionary perspective of the Panchayati Raj as well as the role of Panchayati Raj in socio-economic growth, socio-political awareness of rural people and the role of local leadership for strengthening the roots of democracy in India. The 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution (1992) unequivocally prescribes that the Panchayats should be institutions of self–government through which powers are devolved to the people as to the participation in the process of planning for economic development and social justice, and implementation of schemes and programmes for these purposes. To strengthen and enhance the efficiency of local governance, PRIs were structured and designed as three tier system. The bedrock of this pyramidal structure is the gram sabha (or village assembly), composed of all citizens eligible to vote, and so the foundation of grassroots democracy. Whatever the case, the grass roots level institutions are important instruments in the process of development to lower levels and these processes are accelerated as and when common people identify themselves as active partners. There are so many facets to the issue of grassroots governance and development in India and it is very important because of more than 65 percent of India’s population is rural and its fate and future are determined by these PRIs.