Clay Pots Research Articles

Production of Bioflocculant through Fermentation of Spoilt Orange Juice with Bacillus spp Isolated from Sediment of Local Clay Pot

The biodegradable and non-toxic Bioflocculants have attracted considerable interest as alternative to non-biodegradable chemical flocculants. However, the cost of fermentation media for bioflocculant production and low flocculation efficiency is a major challenge. In this study, we grow Bacillus spp isolated from sediment of local clay pot on spoilt orange juice to produce bioflocculant. The culture supernatant of the bacilli grown on spoilt orange juice were screen for bioflocculant production using Jar test method and Kaolin clay suspension as model wastewater. The effect of pH and temperature on the bioflocculant production were also studied. The effect of cations on bioflocculation rate of the bioflocculant produced were tested via hybridization of the bioflocculant with the cations. The bioflocculation efficiency of the bioflocculant on sample wastewaters were also determined. The bacilli isolated initially had flocculation rate between 31.1±1.6 % to 76.4±1.2% when cultured on screening media. Bioflocculation rate peaked to 77.9% at 40 oC while the lowest flocculation rate (55.41%) was obtained at 25 oC. The optimum bioflocculant production (about 78%) was recorded at pH 6 – 7 while the highest bioflocculant production (84.2%) was achieved at 96th hour of incubation. Na+ and Fe3+ had serious inhibitory effect on the bioflocculant while K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Al3+ had less or no effect on the bioflocculant. The bioflocculant had up to 77.7% and 64.5 % on Kitchen wastewater and aquaculture wastewater. This study reveals the potential for utilization of spoilt orange juice as fermentable substrate for bioflocculant production especially if the fermentation conditions and flocculation parameters are well optimized.

Optimization of preparation parameters of ceramic pot water filters for potential application of microbial and fluoride removal from groundwater

The need to make clean water accessible and affordable for low-income countries is crucial. This study examines the suitability of various clays for Ceramic Pot Water Filters production and groundwater treatment for effective microbe and fluoride removal. For this study, three clays were collected from different geographical locations in Ethiopia,i.e., Hosaenna Clay, Babawuha Clay, and Leku Clay. Organic additives such as sawdust and eragrostis tef husks were used to increase the porosity of the Ceramic Pot Water Filters. The Atterberg limit and particle size distribution tests revealed that BC and HC have moderate to high plasticity and mouldability, making them suitable for CPWF production. The clay chemical composition, phase analysis, and thermal properties were determined using XRF, XRD, and TGA/DTA. The turbidity, fluoride level, total dissolved solids, and pH of the groundwater decreases, from 13 to 0.45 NTU, from 3.4 to 0.053 mg/100 mL, from 1245 to 360 mg/l, and from 8.4 to 7.3, respectively; all of which are within the acceptable range of WHO drinking water standards. Microbial removal tests show that the CPWFs removed 99.3%–100% of total coliform bacteria and 98.48%–100% of fecal coliform bacteria from groundwater. Therefore, this work paves the way to fabricate a clay-based ceramic water filter for low-income countries to provide affordable household groundwater treatment technology for microbial and excess fluoride removal.

The Influence of the Material used for Writing on the Transformation of the Sinhala Letters in Sri Lanka

It is important to look into the factors that have influenced the change of the Sinhala script through archeological and historical research. In the past, the Sinhala alphabet was composed of letters that had the shape of Asoka Brahmi script and some independently generated letters. The earliest Brahmi alphabet in Sri Lanka has evolved gradually up to now. Various factors were influenced when the Brahmi script transformed into the Sinhala alphabet. Among them, technological, political, environmental, socio-cultural, economic, and legal factors are the foremost. At present, Sri Lanka has also entered into the global economy and simultaneously, the attention has been focused on handling the language efficiently in a simple manner. In the process of evolving from the inscriptions to the computer in the present, the Sinhala script has achieved the status of being handled easily and simply with beautifully shaped letters, and further development can be expected with future technological achievements. Moreover, the number of letters has changed from time to time depending on the respective alphabet. When considering the Brahmi script that has developed in such a manner, some letters can be seen as gradually developed from their early shape, while some letters do not have any similarities with their present shape. Letters have acquired an angular shape when written on clay pots and in inscriptions, semi-circular shapes on metal plates, semi-circular and cursive shapes on Ola leaf, and a more circular shape when used in printing presses and computers.

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

In a context of global desertification, direct seeding of native species is emerging as a hopeful technique to achieve large‐scale arid land restoration. Although low percentages of establishment have been reported for direct seeding in arid lands, it has been more cost‐effective than outplantings for some species. Therefore, in order to determine the most suitable species for direct seeding we evaluated potential germination in laboratory trials (ex situ), and seedling emergence and establishment in the field (in situ) for five shrub species from the most arid region of Argentina called “Monte.” Direct seeding was performed in three alternative environmental conditions: (1) abandoned oil‐drilling platforms, (2) bare soil patches, and (3) under the canopy of shrubs patches in cattle ranching areas. In the three cases, four soil treatments were applied: hydrogel, soil enrichment with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and clay pot irrigation. Seedling emergence and establishment after the first period of extreme weather conditions (summer) were higher in severely degraded sites (oil‐drilling platforms). In this particular condition, seedling emergence and establishment presented the highest values for Ephedra ochreata (64.8–82.8% and 26.8–46.4%, respectively) and the lowest values for Larrea divaricata (6.78–24.8% and 2.8–6.4%, respectively). These results show that direct seeding offers potential possibilities to restart processes of assisted succession in arid lands and that species selection is a key stage/phase in direct seeding success.

Assessing Opportunities and Difficulties in Hydroponic Farming

Background: Hydroponics or water-culture-based agricultural systems are devoted to a reasonable prospect for future farming agriculture production. Especially in that region where the fertility of agricultural land is continuously going to there is a decline in groundwater level for irrigation. Hydroponics-based agriculture system realizes an admiring action towards an eco-friendly system and innovative technique to overcome challenges concerning food safety. Hydroponics is an advanced agriculture technique in which the plants grow without soil and without any pesticide use. It is used to grow plants, vegetables and shrubs on vertical as well as horizontal basis in the series and parallel. It could be applied via glass pots, clay pots, PVC pipes and useless plastic buckets and bottles. Methods: In the present study vegetables, flowering plants and shrubs were grown successfully by the use of mainly three techniques of hydroponics namely Kratky, Wick and DFT methods. This study was continued for two and half years (4th July 2020 to 21st March 2021 and December 2019 to April 2020) with controlled pH and TDS of the nutrient solution and conducted at different Indian climatic, weather and seasonal conditions at Markanda National College,Shahabad Markanda and at the researcher’s home. Several vegetables and plants were grown from Kratky, Wick and DFT hydroponics methods under continuous monitoring of pH and TDS of nutrient solutions. Result: During the conduction of this study of the growth of mustard, ladyfinger, spinach, marigold, daisy basil (Tulsi), cucumber, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, peppermint, coriander leaves plants in different sessions; some challenges and opportunities were discussed. The main objective of this research study is to spread awareness about novel types of advanced future agricultural techniques or farming among the farmers and masses, who have an interest in agriculture but cannot fulfill their ambitions towards agriculture farming due to scarcity of agricultural land. The results obtained from the growth of vegetable and plant through hydroponics methods province us to follow an idea to use of such agricultural techniques. We have grown several below said crops/vegetables two or three times and face several problems. It is an opportunity to overcome the world’s food scarcity at a large scale, if adopted by a large population all over the world.

URBAN GARDENING IN BHARATPUR METROPOLITAN, NEPAL

Urban gardening consists of various organic productions, environmental protection, and medicinal supply as well, in a limited space. This study was done to know the status of production from such gardening in Bharatpur Metropolitan-10, Nepal. First-hand data from 101 respondents using random sampling was piloted to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of various aspects related to urban gardening. It is observed that a large number of urban householders have created small gardens for ornamental, medicinal, fruits, and vegetables in their households. Maximum householders have 155 to 190 m2 areas for their home gardens, where the presence of seasonal flowers as outdoor flowers, aloe vera as an indoor plant, lime as a fruit, and holy basil as a medicinal plant are found at their maximum. Farmyard manure as fertilizer and inorganic pesticides are used most often where people invest NRs. 2000 to 3000 for fertilizer and less than NRs. 1000 for pesticides per year. The majorities of people buy or use old home seeds and use clay pots for cultivation. It was identified that most people grow 40 to 60% of the required vegetables in their own home gardens, where most of them spend about 1 hour per day on garden work.

ТЕМА ВІЙНИ В ОБРАЗОТВОРЧОМУ МИСТЕЦТВІ: СПЕЦИФІКА ІСТОРИКО-КУЛЬТУРНИХ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙ

The article analyzes the cultural and historical transformations of the nature of the depiction of the theme of war in fine art. It is noted that art has always responded to changes in worldview paradigms and reflected core value principles of various historical periods of human development. The emphasis of depicting the essence of the war changed from the fixation of specific events that took place in real life to the depiction of generalized metaphorical images with the participation of mythological characters that had no relation to reality and vice versa. In addition, fine art also served as a channel for the sublimation of the psychological experiences of artists who expressed their experiences related to the war through their own works. Thanks to this, powerful ingenious works of art, the relevance of which does not decrease even after several centuries, were created. The article provides a comparative analysis of the nature of the depiction of war in the art of ancient civilizations, antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, baroque, rococo, classicism, romanticism, avant-garde art of the beginning of the 20th century, Soviet totalitarian practice as well as in modern Ukrainian art. Thanks to the research conducted, the essence and nature of the transformations, that took place in these periods, are visualized, and the direct correlation of these changes with the state and nature of culture is highlighted. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the visualization of the theme of war in the Ukrainian fine art of the totalitarian era as well as in modern art. It is noted that Ukrainian artists had creative resistance to totalitarian ideology. This was manifested in the demonstration of the tragic side of war, existential experiences, awareness of the irreversibility of death and the suffering associated with it. Attention is focused on the fact that the topic of the relationship between art and war in the context of cultural studies is rather understudied but in the context of recent occurrences in Ukraine and the world it is gaining more and more popularity, drawing attention of researchers to the analysis of these mutual influences.

Addressing Challenges in Insulin Storage: An Ethical Dilemma among Physicians.

Insulin is a temperature-sensitive protein; hence, its potency is highly dependent on appropriate storage. Ideally, insulin should be stored in the refrigerator, but when in use it can be stored at room temperature for up to four weeks. However, room temperatures vary widely across regions and countries, and all rural areas of developing countries like India are not electrified. This study explored physicians' perception of alternative methods for appropriate storage of insulin, such as indigenous storage methods like clay pots. A Study was conducted among 188 Indian physicians attending a diabetes conference in December 2018 to evaluate the feasibility of indigenous storage methods. It was observed that although the use of alternate indigenous methods like clay pots was recommended by them, the proportion was low. The awareness of literature on these methods for insulin storage validation was also less than 50%. Owing to the lack of validation studies on indigenous methods, nearly 80% of the physicians felt that they were not confident to recommend them. Besides, the study results highlighted the necessity of conducting an adequate number of validation studies on indigenous methods in the Indian setting, considering their scarcity. This is the first time we highlight ethical dilemmas through a study among physicians when they advise non-refrigerator methods for insulin storage, in the event of a lack of electricity supply. It is hoped that results from these studies would highlight ethical dilemmas among physicians and would motivate researchers in this field to conduct studies to validate alternative methods of insulin storage.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF STORAGE VESSEL’S IMPACT ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BOREHOLE WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND DOMESTIC USE SUITABILITY

The impact of storage vessels on stored water quality changes and how it can influence plant growth, and human health through irrigation and domestic uses has been evaluated. The water was collected from the same borehole source at Ebonyi State University and stored in vessels made of plastic, metal, calabash, and clay pot. The samples were tested in the laboratory to ascertain the physiochemical quality of the water. The following ions Cd, Pb, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+, and Cl- were identified in each of the storage vessels which vary from the values of the controlled sample and were below their respective WHO permissible limits, except Cd which is significantly higher than WHO limit (>0.0003mg/l). The variation in qualities (odour, taste, colour, and metal concentration) of stored samples implies a significant influence of storage vessels on water quality. The pH range changed to slight alkali and hardness ranges from 160 to 330 mg/l after storage. The non-uniformity of each of the tested parameters among the samples indicated that each vessel had a different degree of impact on water quality during storage. The irrigation parameter and domestic use assessment showed some level of the potential risk to crops and humans mostly indicated by the MAR of calabash and Cd concentration respectively. The significant decrease in Cl- after storage suggests Cl decay, this enhances quality deterioration as microbial growth can be accelerated. The research conclusively noted that water quality deterioration is not an isotropic result of storage vessel influence but an integral impact of storage culture and geogenic factors’ influence on the water before and during storage and varying environmental constraints.

Elaboration of Ceramic Pot Filter from Kaolinite (Cameroon Clay) for the Elimination of Suspended Particles from Domestic Drinking Water

Elaboration of Ceramic Pot Filter from Kaolinite (Cameroon Clay) for the Elimination of Suspended Particles from Domestic Drinking Water

MYCOTECHNOLOGY FOR VALORISATION OF FRUIT TREE WASTES AS ECO-FRIENDLY AND USEFUL PRODUCTS

The main aim of this work was to set up the optimal mycotechnology for valorisation of fruit tree wastes by using them as growing sources for Basidiomycetes mushrooms, in order to get eco-friendly and useful products. In vitro experiments were carried out through controlled cultivation of two mushroom species, Ganoderma applanatum and Ganoderma lucidum, on substrates made of fruit tree wastes. There were set up three variants of substrates consisting of lignocellulosic wastes belonging to apple, plum and cherry trees, mixed with cereal grain wastes, such as wheat and barley bran, which were placed in ceramic trays and metal pots. After thermal sterilization and inoculation with the pure mushroom cultures, the substrates were placed inside growth chambers at the temperature of 23 °, the air flow volume exchanges 3-5 m3/h and the relative humidity content 90-95%, RU. The mushroom growth inside the substrates made of lignocellulosic wastes has followed the controlled biotechnological aiming to minimize the duration of cultivation and maximize the final production eco-friendly materials and biodegradable products.

BATI KARADENİZ'DE TARİHÖNCESİ DÖNEME AİT YENİ BULGULAR: HADRİANOPOLİS (KARABÜK-ESKİPAZAR) ANTİK KENTİNDE BULUNAN TARİHÖNCESİ DÖNEM ÇANAK ÇÖMLEKLERİ

Hadrianopolis was first settled during the Roman period. Many know it as an archaeological treasure trove, both for late antiquity and–more recently–pre-history. For the latter, a series of handmade red clay pots found in a pit at its necropolis proves this. Moreover, archaeologists have also uncovered walls bearing prehistoric, mortar-free stone masonry techniques that pre-date Hadrianopolis itself. Both findings hints at the existence of prior settlement, albeit brief. Hadrianopolis’s settlers most likely destroyed much of what remained upon digging up the bedrock to build necropolis’s burial pit. Nevertheless, what has survived into the present day–whilst rare-dates back at least five thousand years. Despite limited evidence, research is still on-going–meaning that we have much more to learn.

Ancient metalworking at Yodhawewa site, Sri Lanka: tracing the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing soil and slags

The Yodhawewa archaeometallurgical site was the latest discovery in Sri Lanka in 2018. This study aimed to trace the archaeological and geochemical relationship by analyzing the soil and slags of the site dating back to the c. first to eighth centuries AD. The analysis was mainly based on the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. The soil chemistry resulted in some clues to special metal processing zones in the excavation-1 area. The cultural layers of that area (profiles 1 and 2) showed relatively high copper composition (max. 470 ppm), and crucible fragments containing copper particles were also detected in the same layers. The vertical distribution of soil elements and their correlations with TiO2 suggested that long-term metal activity may have affected changes in environmental soil chemistry. Relatively high phosphorus was indicated in the soil-related furnace wall, suggesting the artificial addition of organic matter to the clay body during the furnace wall construction to withstand the high temperatures. High iron slag (HIS) varies from 12.96 to 49.63 wt% of Fe2O3 and shows high MnO, P2O5, and V. Lightweight amorphous/glassy slags (LIS) associated with secondary refining have low iron content and a high CaO and Sr composition.

IAG/USP Test Site: A Near Surface Geophysics Teaching and Research Laboratory

This work shows the construction project of the Geophysical Test Site (Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa, SCGR-I) of the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG), of the University of São Paulo (USP) and its impact on teaching and research in Geophysics. The IAG/USP test site (SCGR-I) has 1500 m2, being characterized by 7 studies lines with 30 m length in the NS direction. Targets, such as metallic pipes and tanks, plastic pipes and tanks, concrete tubes, ceramic pots, among others, with different geometries and physical properties were buried at depths from 0.5 to 2 m in relation to the surface. A metallic guide pipe of 3.8 cm diameter was buried at the 15 m position along the EW direction, crossing all 7 lines. Targets simulate objects found in archaeological studies, geotechnical and urban planning studies and environmental studies. In this work, comparative analyzes between real and synthetic GPR results on metallic and plastic tanks are shown, as well as EM38 results on metallic tanks. The SCGR-I proved to be an important tool for teaching and research related to the applications of geophysical methods for near surface investigations and could be a motivation to build more test sites.

Low-cost, highly-performance fired clay bodies incorporating natural stone sludge: Microstructure and engineering properties

The industry of ornamental stones results in an accumulation of huge amounts in millions of tons of low-cost stone wastes in a very fine state. These stone wastes, particularly granite wastes, are considered a source of feldspar and quartz minerals, that are the essential components for ceramic bodies industry. The current study aims at studying the potential use of granite stone wastes (GSW), as a source of quartz, feldspars, in addition to some clay minerals, in preparing low cost, highly performance fired clay bodies in regard with engineering properties and microstructure investigation. To achieve this goal, the chemical, mineralogical, thermal, and physical characterization of the raw materials using XRF, XRD, TG/DSC, and BET were carried out. Six formulated batches (B0, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5) using different proportions of granite waste (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) were prepared and fired at different temperatures (1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250 ºC). The green and fired granite – modified clay bodies were measured for linear shrinkage (DLS, FLS), density, absorption, porosity, compressive strength, and microstructure features (SEM/EDAX). The results showed that the granite wastes are composed mainly of feldspar (albite) and quartz and revealed high percentages of fluxing oxides (CaO, Fe 2 O 3 , Na 2 O, K 2 O). An improvement in the engineering properties of the fired granite - modified clay bodies up to 50% replacement and 1200 ºC firing temperature. The maximum compressive strength and density values were achieved at 40% granite addition for (B4) by 311.92 MPa and 2.48 g/cm 3 ; respectively, with 1.7% water absorption and 8.68% firing linear shrinkage values. The fired clay bodies incorporating granite sludge wastes fulfilled the acceptable ranges for the medium water absorption values (3-10%) as recommended by the international standard (ISO 13006) for use as ceramic tiles. • Manufacturing of low- cost fired clay bodies using granite sludge wastes. • An observable reduction in drying linear shrinkage up to 50% granite sludge wastes • A remarkable enhancement in engineering properties using up to 50% granite sludge wastes replacement. • A significant reduction in the firing linear shrinkage up to 50% wastes addition and 1200 ºC firing temperature • A remarkable increase in compressive strength up to 1200 ºC firing temperature and 40% waste addition

Employment of cisco metal slag in fly ash bricks for a progressive sustainable solution for reusing waste from manufacture of creation materials

The metal-production industry creates a wide exhibit of strong waste, fluid effluents, and vaporous squanders. The stable wastes include slag, powdery materials, sludge, and scrap. So feasibility have a look at of metal slag recycling in fly ash bricks applied laboratory assessments and commercial trials on three exceptional styles of wastes and clay bodies. Crucial necessities consist of slag grinding at 90micron in size, in addition to magnetic separation. In an effort to replace everyday conventional bricks with Cisco metallic ash CSA) and Fly Ash (FA), lime is used as a binder cloth and whereas gypsum as a stabilizer. A huge variety of houses became examined, which includes unit weight and workability of fresh concrete, compressive strength, dihydrogen monoxide (water absorption), efflorescence of hardened concrete. In keeping with Indian codal provision three types were taken in account (Type1, Type2, Type3) with alternative of composition like [Type I - Fly ash: lime: M-sand: gypsum, Type II-Fly ash: cisco steel: M-sand: gypsum, Type III- - Fly ash: cisco steel: lime: M-sand: gypsum] to test the energy properties. While doing the test with metallic ash composition, it effects in higher electricity in lieu of metallic performs a tension position at some stage in loading. Although this addition of metal slag consequences in the discount of shrinkage which ends up in financial and better nice bricks.

Spectacle of Grief: Public Funerals and Memory in the Civil War Era by Sarah J. Purcell

Reviewed by: Spectacle of Grief: Public Funerals and Memory in the Civil War Era by Sarah J. Purcell Stephanie K. Lawton (bio) Spectacle of Grief: Public Funerals and Memory in the Civil War Era. By Sarah J. Purcell. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2022. Pp. 321. $95.00 cloth; $34.95 paper; $26.99 ebook) Historians of Civil War memory have eagerly anticipated Purcell's project, and it does not disappoint. Americans in the nineteenth century took death seriously and produced an astonishing amount of material about public funerals. Purcell is up to this challenge and incorporates a remarkable number of primary sources, including over three hundred newspapers, surveying the funeral rites and memorial politics for nine prominent Americans, ranging from well-known individuals like Henry Clay, Robert E. Lee, and Frederick Douglass, to nearly forgotten people like Elmer Ellsworth, George Peabody, and Winnie Davis. Purcell states that although public funerals have long been cast as rites of "unity and consensus," they are in fact contested sites of memory creation as participants "advocate for alternative visions of the past" and project "conflicting ideas about the nation onto famous figures whom they mourned" (pp. 5–6). Through such debates about the past, "Public funerals … helped define American national identities" as post-bellum Americans worked to "'reconstitute' the … nation in ways compatible with rival political interests" (pp. 3–4). But rather than a singular memorial tradition, Purcell shows that multiple, often conflicting, strands were combined in the same commemorative events. [End Page 84] Each chapter contains real gems. Purcell's discussion of how Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" oration was a rebuttal of the eulogies for Henry Clay in July 1852 is eyeopening. The diplomatic wrangling between the British and American governments over who would transport George Peabody's remains back to the U.S. in the wake of the CSS Alabama dispute shows that the political significance of memory is often international in scope. Purcell's attention to the racial lines of division in these ceremonies is superb, but there could be more attention to the less obvious ways gender and class were used to exclude or marginalize lower-class men, immigrants, and women. For example, while white women joined crowds welcoming Henry Clay's body to their cities and female family members sometimes appeared in the processions, women did not march, deliver the eulogies, or sit on the civic committees that planned these events. Only in the South after the Civil War did ladies' memorial associations start to take a role in hosting mourning rites, but they still did not participate in all aspects of public mourning equally with men. Even lower-class white men, such as firemen in New York City, usually walked near the end of funeral processions, not in the chief places of honor, which highlights the fractures of class and whiteness that became more prominent as America entered its Gilded Age. Spectacle of Grief opens promising avenues for future exploration, especially the possibility of further integrating disability studies into Civil War memory. Throughout the book, undertakers tried to prevent corpses from decaying while on public view while eulogists praised their past physical attributes and ignored often lengthy and disabling illnesses. These attempts to hide mortality, even after death, invites collaboration with disability scholars who have argued that illness and disability have never been welcome in the American community. Scholars of Civil War memory or of death and funeral traditions will find this a valuable addition to their bibliographies. History [End Page 85] instructors who teach about any of the book's nine central subjects would benefit from this additional context, and the chapters on Henry Clay and Frederick Douglass/Winnie Davis would work well as a set to assign to upper-division history classes talking about U.S. slavery, race, gender, and politics. Stephanie K. Lawton STEPHANIE K. LAWTON is an assistant professor of history at the University of the Cumberlands. Her research focuses on Greco-Roman influences on presidential funerals in the nineteenth-century United States. Copyright © 2022 Kentucky Historical Society

Eron, Sarah. Mind over Matter: Memory Fiction from Daniel Defoe to Jane Austen

Eron, Sarah. <i>Mind over Matter: Memory Fiction from Daniel Defoe to Jane Austen</i>

PITCHER IRRIGATION PRACTICES PERAMBALUR REGION IN TAMILNADU

Water is the primary input for crop production and increasingly becomes scarce due to its high demand in agricultural sector. Quality of water is assuming great importance with the increasing demand in industries, agriculture and rise in standard of living. Agriculture is the major user (89%) of India’s water resources. Pitcher irrigation is an ancient and very effectual irrigation system employed in many arid and semiarid counties. Among traditional irrigation systems, pitcher irrigation is one among the foremost efficient and compatible for little farmers in many areas of the planet. Small pitchers are often used because they are less expensive than large ones. Water seeps out of a buried pitcher due to the pressure head gradient across the wall of the pitcher directly into the root zone of the irrigated crop. Pitcher irrigation entails burying an unglazed, porous clay pot with in soil before seedling. Water poured into pot seeps slowly into the soil, feeding the seedling's roots with a gentle supply of moisture. It also helps to improve soil physical properties particularly the structural status in soil and also enhances the water use efficiency of the crop, soil organic carbon and builds up soil fertility.

Effect of pH on the Leaching of Potentially Toxic Metals from Different Types of Used Cooking Pots

Humans are exposed to Potentially Toxic Metals (PTMs) through many routes. Cooking foods in cookwares which are prone to material leaching can be an exposure route to PTMs. This study assessed the effect of pH on the leaching of some PTMs from used cooking pots into deionized water. Series of deionized waters were prepared from pH 3 to 7. Each water was brought to boil in clay, non-stick, stainless steel, cast aluminum, pressed aluminum and glass pots respectively. The PTMs leached from each sample pot were determined by Inductively Couple Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) (Agilent nu7m technologies 700 series). The deionized water from the aluminum cast pot and nonstick pot gave the highest concentration of aluminum (2273 µg/L) and Zinc (24.39 µg/L) respectively. While that from the clay pot gave the highest concentrations of Chromium and Nickel, (7.27 and 22.63 µg/L) and that from the stainless-steel pot gave the highest concentration of iron (237 µg/L) and lead (24.39 µg/L). No PTM was found in the deionized water from the glass pot. The results from this study showed more leaching of PTMs into deionized water occurred more at lower pHs (pH 3 to 5) than at neutral pH for almost all the pots. Thus, cooking of acidic foods in pots except when glass pots are used should be avoided. The results of this study therefore reveal the health implications associated with using metal pots for cooking slightly acidic foods as metals can be easily leached from the pots into the foods.