Domestic Purposes Research Articles

Experimental study on a novel waterless solar collector

This study is an endeavour to introduce a novel approach to enhance the performance of solar collectors. The sun emits sufficient power of solar radiation to meet the demand of en-ergy. Harvesting the renewable solar energy needs advanced technologies and requirements. Solar ponds including salinity gradient solar ponds (SGSPs) are common solar collectors. These ponds are one of the solar energy applications used for many industrial and domestic purposes. However, challenges of the conventional SGSPs such as evaporation, salt diffusion, temperature discrepancy, and layer mixing profoundly and significantly affected their expan-sion globally. A novel experimental solar collector configuration to overcome the challenges of the conventional solar ponds (solar collectors) is investigated, there is no water body and no salinity gradient to build; it is entirely a collector with no water body. The experimental unit was constructed in an arid area. It is basically a cylindrical tank with a total depth of 1.4 m with three zones or layers to store heat namely, paraffin wax layer (10 cm thickness). The paraffin layer was covered with a layer of coal with a thickness of 30 cm. On the top of coal layer, an air gap with a thickness of 80 cm was left. A clear plastic cover with a thickness of 0.2 cm was utilized to cover the constructed layers and making the air gap. The experimental unit was monitored, and temperature measurements were collected for the period of 17/7/2021- 30/9/2021. The results demonstrated that temperature of the paraffin wax layer reached more than 48 °C in a short period and with a small day and night discrepancy (1 °C). Temperature of the paraffin layer remained constant around 43 °C even in night-time during the period of the study. Furthermore, the results showed that temperatures of coal layer and air gap reached the maximum at the daytime of 53 °C and 71 °C respectively with a clear discrepancy between day and night. The results of the present study are encouraging for more investigations in this new direction of solar collectors.

Investigating the quality of groundwater in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos State

ABSTRACT This study assessed the groundwater quality in the rapidly urbanizing peri-urban region of the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria, during the rainy season. This study employed a two-stage sampling technique to select representative sampling locations, including boreholes and hand-dug wells. Seven towns in Ibeju-Lekki were sampled for this study. A total of 14 sampling points were chosen for the analysis of 15 water parameters, which included five physical parameters (NTU, TCU, E.C. TDS and TSS), eight (8) chemical parameters (pH, T.H. Ca, Mg, Cl-, NO3-, SO42- and Fe), and two (2) microbial parameters (E.Coli count and BOD) after standard procedures. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Python to assess correlations between the physicochemical parameters. The results were compared with water quality standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). In addition, a water quality index (WQI) was calculated to provide a single numerical expression of the overall water quality. The findings revealed variations in the quality of borehole and well water, with some parameters exceeding the recommended standards, such as magnesium and iron concentrations. The presence of elevated turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (E.C.) in well water indicated potential contamination sources. The study also demonstrated the significance of understanding physicochemical parameter correlations in groundwater quality assessment. The WQI results emphasized that groundwater is suitable for various purposes, including animals and other domestic and agricultural purposes. However, the paper recommended routine monitoring and thorough treatment to address the high magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) levels in both borehole and well water sources.

Exploring climate change impacts on rural livelihoods and adaptation strategies: Reflections from marginalized communities in India

Climate change and variability affect virtually everyone and every region of the world but the effects are nowhere more prominent than among rural marginalized communities that rely heavily on agriculture and fishing for a living and they face numerous livelihood challenges including risk posed by variability of climate. Using phenomenological research methods, interviews with key-informants, focus group discussions (FGD), household survey with standardised questionnaires and case study approach, the present study analyzes the perceptions of climate change and its impacts on livelihoods and well-being of rural marginalized communities in rural Dakshin Dinajpur district of the state of West Bengal, India and coping mechanisms adopted by these communities were also examined using participatory social research techniques. The research is primarily based on primary data which have been collected at household level using multistage purposive sampling methods and total sample size is 154. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed for data analysis. The results were discussed in the context of the sustainable livelihoods approach and findings depicts that there is a decreasing trend in the availability of water for domestic purposes, crop failure and low agricultural production, reduction in human health, poor livestock health and a range of other problems due to climate change which subsequently impacted on their livelihood. Indigenous and local knowledge were widely used in dealing with the effects of climate change, while modern technologies were underutilized among marginalized communities. Farmers and fisherman's used multiple adaptation strategies to combat climate change effects such as modifications in farm management, migration, selling labour to neighbourhoods, measures related to financial resources and risk reduction, borrowing funds from local money lender as well as family and neighbours, credit programmes and assistance from NGOs and reducing household food consumption. Large-scale education, training programmes, development interventions and policies targeted at enhancing resource endowment are needed. The findings from this study can help policymakers and other stack holders about ongoing adaptation measures as well as the needs of households, bring out the gap between farm households and policymakers and also to develop suitable policies and effective adaptation strategies to enhance the livelihoods within this context of local marginalized communities context.

Mini-Kilns for Charcoal-Making: An Eco-Friendly Solution for Small-Scale Production of Charcoal and Wood Vinegar

Charcoal is one of the most essential energy sources in the world and is used mainly for domestic and industrial purposes. Brazilian charcoal production occurs in rudimentary masonry kilns without concern for process safety or energy waste. This work aimed to develop a mini carbonization system of three kilns coupled to a vertical smoke burner for optimized and environmentally correct charcoal and wood vinegar (WV) production on small farms. The project was divided into three parts for dimensioning: the three-kiln set, the WV condensing device, and the smoke burner. The condenser was designed following the procedures from the standards of TEMA (Tubular Exchangers Manufacturers Association); ASME (Society of Mechanical Engineers of the United States) Section VIII, Division 1; and the NR-13 (Regulatory Standard) of ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards). In contrast to the current scenario, in which primitive carbonization technologies are still employed, bringing about low charcoal yields and significant pollution release, the use of a mini-kiln that allows charcoal production and wood vinegar recovery combined with pollutant smoke burning is an interesting eco-friendly solution. Thus, the mini-kiln model presented here brings a low cost and environmental safety to the charcoal production chain, reaching sustainability parameters and offering higher income opportunities to small producers.

Pollution Source Identification and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Drinking Purposes in Semi-Arid Regions of the Southern Part of India

The quality of groundwater plays an important role in human health, and it majorly influences the agricultural process in the southern part of India. The present study mainly focused on evaluating the quality of groundwater used for domestic purpose in semi-arid regions of the southern part of India. The samples were collected in 36 locations, covering the entire investigation zone. The collected samples were analyzed for various physical and chemical characteristics of groundwater and compared with the world health organization standards. The entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) of the groundwater revealed that 16.67% of the samples required primary-level treatment before they could be used for drinking purposes. About 72.23% of the samples were in the good-to-medium category for drinking purposes, as was identified through weighted overlay analysis. The ionic relationship plot was used to identify the source of contamination and it revealed that carbonate weathering and anthropogenic activities are the primary sources of groundwater contamination. The present results show the contaminated zones and offer more helpful solutions to strengthen the water management policy in the study region.

Spatial distribution of radon concentration and risk evaluation through consumption of groundwater in the District of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Radon (222Rn) is naturally readily water-soluble, posing a cancer risk to the exposed community. Human exposure in the community may occur via 222Rn intake in drinking water. Groundwater is used for drinking and other domestic purposes in the region. Higher concentrations of 222Rn in groundwater have been reported near Kotli district, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir. This investigation aimed to measure 222Rn concentrations in groundwater and evaluate the associated risk assessment for children and adults in the Kotli district. 222Rn concentrations were measured in randomly collected groundwater samples of Kotli (n = 25) and Sehnsa (n = 15) towns in the Kotli district using the portable Radon Detector (RAD7, Durridge Company, United States of America). Among the studied areas, the Sehnsa showed a higher average 222Rn concentration (7.6 ± 0.2 Bq/L) in groundwater compared to Kotli (6.0 ± 1.9 Bq/L). The average concentrations of 222Rn were found within the recommended limit (11.1 Bq/L) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), except for 10% of sampling sites. 222Rn concentrations were used for the calculation of total effective dose for ingestion and inhalation pathways (EwTotal) values for infants (24.5 ± 7.5 and 30.7 ± 0.9 μSv/a), children (18.1 ± 5.5 and 23.5 ± 0.7 μSv/a), and adults (18.1 ± 5.5 and 22.7 ± 0.3 μSv/a) in the Kotli and Sehnsa, respectively. This study noted that EwTotal and estimated lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values were found within the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Commission (EU) acceptable limits (<100 μ Sv/a and 0.1 × 10−3).

Understanding the Deep Structure of the Essaouira Basin Using Gravity Data: Hydrogeological Inferences for a Semiarid Region in Central-Western Morocco

The Essaouira Basin, located in central western Morocco, faces a significant threat of water shortage due to both the substantially reduced rainfall caused by climate change and the continuously increasing demand for this essential resource. Groundwater resources are being increasingly exploited to meet the needs of the population, whether for agricultural or domestic purposes. Therefore, it has become necessary to intensify investigations across the entire basin, particularly through indirect methods such as geophysical techniques, to accurately delineate the productive zones. In this context, the present study was undertaken to investigate the deep structure of this basin with the aim of comprehending the functioning of its aquifer system. This study is based on the interpretation of gravity data covering the Essaouira Basin. In addition to their qualitative analysis, these data underwent a methodological approach involving transformations to extract meaningful insights. The observed anomalies were interpreted in terms of (i) thickness variations within the slightly folded sedimentary series of the basin; (ii) Paleozoic basement topography; and (iii) the presence of salt deposits. In fact, among the negative anomalies, some coincide with evaporitic deposits that are known either from the geological outcrops or the seismic surveys carried out in the Essaouira Basin within the framework of petroleum exploration programs, while others coincide with areas of increased thickness of sedimentary sequences. The latter include synclines and basement depressions, where the accumulation of groundwater tends to occur; as a result, they constitute suitable zones for the drilling of water extraction wells. Groundwater flows observed in some existing wells are consistent with this hypothesis. The results of the contact analysis approach implemented within the framework of the study reveals the Essaouira Basin is affected by a fault network whose main direction is parallel to the Atlantic margin (i.e., NNE–SSW). This implies that the extensional tectonic phase responsible for initiating the rifting of the Central Atlantic in the Triassic era has primarily impacted the structural configuration of this basin. This study demonstrates the strong potential of the gravity method as a tool to delineate the deep structure of sedimentary basins and to identify potentially productive groundwater zones. The final results will provide important support to decision makers in sustainable groundwater management, especially in vulnerable areas.

Assessment of the Suitability of Groundwater in Kigamboni, Tanzania for Domestic and Irrigation Purposes Using Multivariate and Water Quality Index Analyses

Assessment of the Suitability of Groundwater in Kigamboni, Tanzania for Domestic and Irrigation Purposes Using Multivariate and Water Quality Index Analyses

Application of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) for the Determination of Water-Bearing Zone in Karaworo, Lokoja Kogi State, Nigeria

The importance of water in our various communities and the difficulties faced so far to get good and clean water for both domestic consumption and industrial purposes can never be overemphasized. For these purposes to be accomplished, it is necessary to survey the area of study to know more about the geology of the area, which is characterized by the Lokoja Formation, Patti Formation, and Agbaja Ironstone and the possible reasons why there is a lack of water in the area. The geoelectric survey was conducted at Karaworo with the objective of determining the sedimentary formation's geoelectrical features and analyzing the potential of the groundwater in the study area. The most frequently used type of array for Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) is the Schlumberger array, which needs a lot of space at both ends to yield deeper subsurface information. The Schlumberger configuration was used for data acquisition. About fifteen (15) VES points were acquired at different locations within the study area. For the different VES positions, the maximum AB/2 is within 100m to 180m. Partial curve matching was used to determine the layer parameters as part of the quantitative interpretation of the VES curves. The IP2WIN software was used in the final data analysis. The depth sounding interpretation revealed subsurface layers which comprises of topsoil/clay with a resistivity range between 1.42 ohm-m to 81.0ohm-m and a thickness of 0.253 m to 70.4 m, lateritic clay with a resistivity range between 01.06ohm-m to 1730 ohm-m and a thickness of 0.236 m to 19.2 m, siltstone with resistivity range between 0.423 ohm-m to 5069 ohm-m and a thickness of 4.09 m to 28 m and sandstone with resistivity range between 0.664 ohm-m to 137 ohm-m with the thickness at infinity. Sandstone constituted the aquiferous zone. In conclusion, different types of curves which include HA-type, H-type, KH-type, QH-type and HAK-type characterize the area and hence it is suggested that boreholes be placed in low resistivity zones and considerable depth and thickness as revealed in VES 4 and VES 8 but those with low resistivity without considerable depth, for example, VES 2, VES 5, VES 6, VES 7, etc. can be developed into a hand dug well.

Manganese mobilization from sediment to groundwater in alluvial-lacustrine aquifer system along the lower reaches of Han River

Geogenic contaminants in groundwater limit the drinking water safety and sustainable water supply for domestic purposes throughout the world. Elevated concentrations of manganese (Mn) in groundwater have been one of the major concerns since its adverse health effects to humans, whereas the underlying enrichment mechanism within aquifers is poorly understood. This research aims to connect the spatial distributions of groundwater Mn in different units of the aquifer and the variations of sediment geochemistry to provide comprehensive understanding of Mn provenance and its mobilization through sediment pore-networks into groundwater. Along the lower reaches of Han River within the central Yangtze River Basin, significant heterogenous Mn distribution has been observed with over 60 % of groundwater exceeding the World Health Organization drinking water guideline. Groundwater chemistry and sequential extraction results indicated that the oxidation of organic matter and reduction of Mn oxides and Fe (hydr)oxides in sediments could drive groundwater Mn enrichment. Herein, we propose a burial-dissolution type as the major hydrogeochemical process of Mn mobilization in the region. These findings are of great importance in understanding the geogenic sources of Mn and the controlling processes for its spatial heterogeneity in alluvial-lacustrine aquifer system, which might be applicable to similar Mn-affected geological settings.

Genetic diversity of bonytongue fish Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829) in Cameroon, Central Africa

The African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) fish is the only species of the Osteoglossidae family in Africa. The characterization of this fish was carried out from January to June 2020 in Cameroon where this fish is distributed in native zones. This study aimed at contributing to the genetic characterization of Heterotis niloticus population in Cameroon. A total of 96 Heterotis niloticus were sampled from five regions namely Centre, South, Littoral, North and Far North. Caudal fins where randomly collected for genomic DNA (gDNA) extraction. Following standard procedures for simple sequence repeat markers available for this species, seven microsatellites were used for genotyping through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis. Genetic parameters were scored using the GenAlex 6.503 software and the population structure of Heterotis niloticus was assessed under STRUCTURE Version 2.3.4 software. The results showed that the local population of Heterotis niloticus in North-Cameroon has a higher number of allele (Na=6.00) and effective number of allele (Ne=3.66) while the highest Observed Heterozygosity (Ho) was observed for the population of Heterotis niloticus in the Far-North. The highest genetic distance is observed between the population of Far North and Centre, Far-North and South, Far-North and North. In general, similarity within the sub-population of Heterotis niloticus is higher than 65%. Genetically, the population of Heterotis niloticus in Cameroon was grouped into three genetic sub-populations based on microsatellites appraisal. Further investigations are suggested for analysis concerning productive traits for domestication and aquaculture purposes.

Assessment of rainwater harvesting potential for urban area under climate and land use changes using geo-informatics technology

Globally climate and land use change have put stress on the natural water resources which are depleting rapidly. This study's goal is to explore the rainwater harvesting (RWH) potential for Lahore city. Average annual rainfall records were used along with future projections of precipitation by global climate model GCM (MPI-ESM1–2-HR) under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2 and SSP5) to find the potential of rainwater harvesting. Land use land cover (LULC) maps of past (2010), present (2022) and future time periods (2035 and 2050) and built-up area for Lahore city was calculated in Arc Map using a geometry dialogue box that was estimated to be 1299.86 km2 of land in the year 2050. By the middle of the twenty-first century, rainfall in the Lahore district is predicted to increase by 12% and 16%, from 698.0 mm in the baseline time period (1990–2015) to 781.7 mm and 809.6 mm, respectively. This increased precipitation over the extent of built-up area could be harvested and utilized for different domestic, industrial, recreational and environment protection purposes. The study also concluded that RWH not only save the Lahore from urban flooding due to rain but also have potential to realize about 39.8% of water deficit of total water demand for Lahore. The daily supply capacity from Ravi River and WASA is 632 million gallon which is equal to only 54% of total water demand. The shortage of 487.2 million gallon per day could be succeed by using rainwater which have potential to realize about 19% of water shortage. In a similar manner, it is indicated based on outcomes of this study that method of RWH is very appropriate for major cities like Lahore in order to address present climate and land use change concerns, particularly in water-stressed nations like Pakistan.

Acaricides Application Rates and Residue Levels in Homemade Sprays, Soil and Water from the Southern Ewaso Nyiro River in Kajiado West Sub County, Kajiado County, Kenya

Acaricides used in controlling ectoparasites (ticks) is the most preferred and economical sound conventional mode of tick eradication. The study aimed at determining acaricide application rates and residue levels in the homemade cattle sprays, soils within the spraying sites and water from the nearby southern Ewaso Nyiro River. The livestock drink river water which is used for domestic purposes. Acaricide residues levels analyzed were those used by farmers in for homemade cattle sprays. The cattle sprays and soil samples were collected from ten selected homes spraying sites randomly from 138 willing farmers in the May and November representing wet and dry seasons respectively in 2018. The sprays were collected after farmers prepared them in the usual way before spraying their animals. The livestock farmers’ ways of mixing and application of acaricides after normal preparation was assessed. The different acaricides identified were analysed for active ingredient levels after preparation using Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. Water samples were collected from six sites adjacent to the homes where the sprays were prepared since some homes were found to share the same water drawing area. Solvents used were triple distilled for samples extractions. The homemade sprays and water samples were extracted using dichloromethane while Soxhlet method for soil in a mixture of acetone and hexane in the ratio of 1:3. Samples were concentrated using a rotary evaporator and the clean-up through aluminium oxide chromatographic glass column. Refrigerator was used for sample storage while a Hewlett-Packard Agilent Gas chromatography system equipped with a mass selective detector was used for quantification of acaricide residues levels. Out of the nine acaricides reported by farmers through the questionnaire, three namely amitraz, cypermethrin and deltamethrin were detected in the homemade cattle sprays and soil samples. Amitraz levels ranged from 884±25.3 to 12,236±14.54 µg/L, Cypermethrin was at 3,834±80.2 to 11,972±74.0 µg/L with Deltamethrin at 3,879±33.2 to 12,298 ±82.1 µg/L in the dry while amitraz was at 5,430±96.10 to 11,634±107.2 µg/, 8,975± 103.7 to 10,383±562 µg/L for Cypermethrin while Deltamethrin was only used by home 3 at concentration of 4,781± 125.8 µg/L in the wet seasons in homemade cattle sprays. In the soil, acaricides were in the range of 3,129±98.7 to 10,641±144.2 µg/kg for amitraz, 3,041±33.15 to 8,654±141.2 µg/kg, Cypermethrin and 1,341±58.06 to 8,167±16.4 µg/kg Deltamethrin in dry and 3,875±97.3 to 7,905±184.2 µg/kg amitraz, 4,832±86.7 to 8,694±146.9 µg/kg Cypermethrin. Deltamethrin was only used by home 3 at a level of 2,367±76.9 µg/kg in the wet season. The analysis revealed that homemade cattle sprays in the sub-county had low levels of amitraz, cypermethrin and deltamethrin than those recommended by the manufacturers of 50,000-400,000 µg/L, indicating that the acaricides were over diluted leading to the observed tick re-occurrence in Kajiado West Sub County.

Water source and its handling, knowledge and preventive practices of water borne diseases among different communities in Manipur

Background: Most of the ill health affecting humanity especially in developing countries can be traced to lack of safe and wholesome water supply. This study was conducted to assess the various sources of water, to estimate the knowledge and preventive practices of water borne diseases and to determine association of preventive practices with some socio-demographic variables. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among residents aged ≥18 years of Kshetrigao, New Checkon and Mantripukhri of Imphal East District. A pretested, semi structured interview schedule was used. Descriptive and analytical statistics like Chi square test were generated taking a p&lt;0.05 as level of significance. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: Out of 446 participants, majority buy water for drinking (343, 76.9%) and domestic (244, 54.7%) purposes. Most of the participants (377, 84.5%) knew that water quality can affect health. Almost all participants (439, 98.4%) used soap and water for handwashing. Residents of Mantripukhri perform significantly higher safe preventive practices. Conclusions: Buying was main source of water for both drinking and domestic purposes across all the communities. Increased public health activity like awareness campaigns regarding water borne diseases and its prevention needs to be organised.

COMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON CRYOGELS

Two methods for the transition of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) from the liquid state of aggregation to the solid state are considered. Freezing an aqueous solution of PVA at a negative temperature and subsequent thawing at a positive temperature result in the formation of rubber-like cryogels. Another way is chemical crosslinking of kinetically individual PVA macromolecules to spatial networks having elastic properties. Sodium tetraborate was used to structure aqueous PVA solutions. The rheological properties of a two-component aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol were studied. The study shows that the polymer solution exhibits the properties characteristic of non-Newtonian liquids. The kinetics of gelation of the products of chemical structuring of aqueous PVA solutions with an aqueous sodium tetraborate solution was studied. It is shown that viscosity increases with time as a consequence of chemical interaction. The mechanical properties of carbon-containing composite materials obtained by various methods have been investigated. It has been determined that the most durable materials are those formed by the cryotropic method and those chemically structured after cryogenic treatments. The stress-strain and moisture-resistant properties of carbon materials enable their use as fuel briquettes with a minimum amount of a binder. They can also serve as high-energy fuels for domestic and industrial purposes. The chemical method of structuring a PVA solution can be used for dust control in coal mines.

Balık kafesi su ürünleri yetiştiriciliği için hidroelektrik rezervuarların fizibilitesi: Kenya'daki kuraklık riski olan bölgelerde balık yetiştiriciliğine yönelik bir strateji

A significant portion of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands rural population in Kenya suffers from social challenges linked to hunger, starvation, and malnutrition. The existing hydropower dams in these areas can be leveraged upon for fish production through the adoption of cage culture. This study sought to assess the suitability and feasibility of these dams for cage culture as a strategy for socio-economic and nutritional empowerment of the rural communities. In this study, a survey was conducted including fish farmers, fishermen, and communities who use the dam waters for domestic and agricultural purposes. The main research approaches were semi-structured questionnaires for in-depth, one-on-one interviews with participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the data sets on socio-demographic indicators, such as age, economic status, education, and economic activities. The Majority of the respondents 49.6% cited fishing from the dam as the most important benefit accrued although the dams have been overfished and the harvests are dwindling from the observation. In the survey, 26.8% of the respondents identified water level fluctuation as the main challenge to cage establishment, followed by theft (25%) and wild animal menace (16.07%). Water quality analysis revealed both in situ parameters (Dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH) and nutrient concentrations as within levels acceptable for fish farming.

Non-Timber Forest Products of Koppal District, Karnataka: Indigenous Use

The purpose of this study is to evaluate non-timber forest products in the Koppal districts of Karnataka. The report found the involvement of the local inhabitants in the collection of various NTFPs and the result is structured on a survey conducted from 2020 to 2023, resulting in the documentation of a total 114 species under 48 families and 94 genera identified as NTFPs, Among these trees were dominated with 50(44.24%), followed by shrubs 19(16.18%), herbs 30(27%), and climbers 14(12.38%), which were used in different categories by the locals, such as medicinal, wild edible fruit and vegetables, fodder, and domestic purposes. In different category of utility leaf were used most with 48(48%), followed by fruits 37(33%), seed 11(10%), whole plant 9(8%), stem 8(7%), shoot &amp; flower 7(4%), root 6(5.3%) &amp; dye &amp; latex 1(0.88%).

Tailoring the gas sensing parameters of pure ZnO sensor with addition of Ni

Methane (CH4) is a widely used gas in daily life for domestic and industrial purposes, but its inherent danger stems from a low explosive limit of 4.9 %. Without knowledge of its concentration, working with methane in confined spaces is dangerous. However, creating a methane sensor with a low detection limit is challenging due to its tetrahedral structure and limited chemical reactivity. To address this, we have synthesized pure and Ni-doped ZnO sensors using co-precipitation. These sensors are energy-efficient, operating within a voltage range of −5V to 5 V, with a rapid 16-second response time that demonstrated a maximum 39 % response for CH4. Our study introduces efficient methane sensors with significant potential in sensing technology, primed for future optimization.

Unbundling water and land rights in Kilifi County, Kenya: a gender perspective

Feminist scholars and activists have drawn attention to the importance of women's land rights, and studies focused on irrigation have explored the gendered relationships between land and water rights. Yet little of this work has focused on the relationship between land and water rights for domestic and productive purposes more broadly. Within rural communities, women and men have different rights to both land and water. We explore these interconnected relationships using community profiles, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews from two communities as well as survey data collected from multiple adult members of rural households in Kilifi County, Kenya. Using a bundle of rights framework, we find that few individuals hold the complete bundle of rights over water, and the extent to which the rights are acknowledged by others and enforceable varies by the land-water tenure system. The full bundle of rights to water is most likely to be complete and most robust for men who have private water points on household land they hold. Even then, other people may assert claims to water at the water point, although these claims may involve negotiation or payment. Many water rights across the land-tenure systems are shared with others rather than being held by one individual. As such, the ability to negotiate water access is particularly important. The duration of the rights, or the length of time for which the rights are held, is embedded in social relations and exchange, particularly on others' household land. Women more than men seem to maintain a complicated set of social networks that allow them to negotiate for water from other women who manage the water transactions. The process of negotiation needs to be re-articulated each time. Thus, the duration of these rights to water depends on the ongoing relationships.

Hydrochemical investigation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigational purposes from industrial belt of Jharkhand, India

AbstractGroundwater (GW) is a key water resource for domestic and agricultural activities. Industrial activities often affect GW chemistry. Therefore, assessment of GW quality for drinking and irrigation purposes is required to be assessed to ensure its suitability in and around industrial setups. Present study was planned to investigate the GW suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes around Bokaro Industrial Area, Jharkhand, India. Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), and percentage sodium (% Na) were evaluated for irrigation purposes, while pH, total hardness (TH), and electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolve solid (TDS), F−, SO42−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ for domestic usage. Results showed wide variation in the physicochemical characteristics as major cations were found in the order: Ca2+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; Na+ &gt; K+, while major anions were in the order of HCO3−&gt; Cl−&gt; SO42−&gt; NO3−&gt; F−. The range of pH 6.15–7.73 and EC was 230–1676 μS cm−1, while TH, Cl−, HCO3−, SO4−, NO3‐, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ was varied from 66–743, 3.3–289.9, 61–392, 5.5–148.5, 1.2–61.4, 0.66–4.38, 14.5–170.3, 4.9–80.2, 12.3–102.7, and 0.37–5.7 mg/L, respectively. It was found that GW quality at most of the sites was suitable for irrigation and domestic purpose except at few locations. Further, results revealed that industrial activity has noticeable impact on the groundwater quality but, the overall suitability indicates a potential recharge system for the aquifers in the area which maintains the GW chemistry. Albeit alarming values of some of the GW parameters, namely, pH, total hardness, F−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ at some locations require attention to design and execute effective water management plans to avoid possible irrigation and human health risks in future.