Abstract: Mapping of groundwater flow directions from twenty one (21) exploratory boreholes were undertaken for the Ekintae East proposed limestone quarry phase II sites, near Mfamosing village. The elevations of the borehole sites were accurately measured using GPS (Garmin Oregon 550) and the depths to the static water level were determined using dipmeter. The hydraulic head for each of the boreholes was computed as the difference between the elevation and the static water level. The results indicate that hydraulic heads ranges from 8.98-61.98m, borehole depth ranges from 53.40-100.57m, static water level ranges from 1.01-22.02m. The hydraulic heads, static water levels, borehole depths, and 3D surface elevation data of the study area were contoured using ArcGIS software. The flow directions measured perpendicular to contoured hydraulic heads were noted. The resulted topographical and hydraulic head contoured maps of the area reveal that the flow direction is controlled by the geomorphology and the flow of Ekintae river systems particularly towards the North - Western and South – Eastern parts of the study area. Thus the proposed quarry phase II design and planning should take into cognizance the North – Western and South – Eastern axes  of the study area as control points during mines development, groundwater and dumpsites managements should be sited within these regions while domestic boreholes for portable water should be sited at the centre and South – Western parts of the study area. 

Abstract: The present study revealed the organophosphorus insecticide (Monocrotophos and Chloropyriphos) induced changes in  biochemical parameters related to photosynthetic pigments and protein content of two cyanobacteria  (Nostoc commune and Anabaena variabilis) isolated from local rice fields of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha and grown under laboratory conditions at Department of Biotechnology, North Orissa University,Baripada,Odisha. Differential response on growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) and protein content was observed on both the test species to selected concentration (EC25, EC50 and sublethal at which 25 and 50 percent growth was reduced and at sublethal dose the growth of the organism was least as compared to control) of two organophosphorus insecticide treatment at different days of incubation (4,8,12 and 16 days).The experimental result infers that the toxic effect of both the insecticides was found only after 8days of incubation in both the species. The deleterious effect of chloropyriphos was significant  as compared to monocrotophos in both the species at different days of incubation. Among both the species Nostoc commune was found to be more resistant to both the insecticides. The toxic effect of both the insecticides at EC25 and EC50 dose was more pronounced on 16 days old culture showing decrease in growth, pigment and protein content on both the test species. However the toxic effect of sublethal dose of both the insecticides inhibited growth on 12 and 16 days old culture. Among both the insecticides Monocrotophos was found to have more deleterious effect on both the species than that of Chloropyriphos and this trend was observed to be more pronounced on long period of incubation as compared to short period of incubation.The results so obtained concludes that the toxic effect of insecticides became harmful to the nontargeted cynobacteria in rice fields if retained for a longer time. On the other hand the deleterious effect can be minimized if the rice fields are flooded or irrigated after application of insecticides so that the pest were killed on immediate exposure without any adverse effect on cyanobacteria of the same habitat. 

Abstract: Packaging is considered today to be very important, as it leads to attracting consumer attention. The functions of the packaging that are widely accepted are the function of container preservation and protection of products, the function that facilitate handling, transportation, storage and sale of products; and the function of products information and promotion. Measuring the first impressions of packaging allows to detect any preceding negative emotions and rational assessments that will have to remove them. In this sense, we conducted a quantitative marketing research in order to identify consumer opinion from Sibiu county, on the influence on purchasing foods packaging. The results of the study will highlight both possible changes to the packaging and reasons leading to purchase products without reading the packaging. All these can become prerequisites for the development of packaging for the future, given the tendencies to purchase food. 

Abstract: The agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to evaluate the tropic status of the mangrove water quality of Okoro River Estuary, Southeastern Nigeria. Cluster analysis using the ward method with squared Euclidean distance measure was performed, which indicated the distribution of parameters and depicted different hydrochemical facies. The results yielded a dendrogram with four statistically significant clusters of similar behavour with the biggest cluster of seven (7) parameters. The water parameters were classified into mutually exclusive unknown groups that share similar characteristics and properties. Dendrogram clearly distinguished parameter bahaviours and interprets the description of the hierarchical clustering in a graphical format. The dendrogram showed a moderate cophentic correlation coefficient (C = 0.72) among physicochemical parameters of mangrove water quality. The behavioural pattern of parameters and the agglomeration of nearest neighbour cluster indicated that the process of salinization, organic decomposition, mineralization, metal accumulation and surface runoff characterized the mangrove water quality of the area. The Euclidean distance revealed the extent of similarity and dissimilarity between water quality characteristics. The result of month-wise hierarchical cluster analysis showed discrimination of the months with similar environmental and physicochemical behaviour. This study illustrates the benefit of agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis for the characterization, evaluation and interpretation of complex dynamism in the mangrove dominated area of southeastern Nigeria and recommends regular monitoring and assessment of mangrove water quality. 

Abstract: Water quality parameters ( pH, salinity, DO, BOD, total suspended solid (TSS), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Total hydrocarbon (THC), water temperature, heavy metals and rainfall) were analyzed from surface water samples collected at Okoro River estuary, Southeastern Nigeria between April 2011 to March 2013. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used in the ordination of physicochemical parameters. The results of the  scree plot and eigenvalue decomposition, revealed five significant factors that explained > 75% of the total variance in the complex data set with their eigenvalues >1. The structural resonance of the factor loadings (eigenvectors) followed a decreasing order of hydrological factors (35.30%), oil pollution (16.90%), dissolved salts (12.39%), natural mineralization (8.69%) climatic factors (6.89%) as the major factors responsible for the modification of the surface water quality of the area. This study recommended that PCA is a useful tool for identification, characterization and evaluation of water quality. 

Abstract: The study of variations in rainfall north western Algeria in North Africa along the Mediterranean Sea showed that there is a clear trend in increasing precipitations. We went from a semi-arid climate period early in the 80s to a sub-humid climate period starting from the late 90s. The increase is due to an amplification of the evaporation phenomena which is the direct consequence of the rising ocean temperatures. This excess of humidity would spill over areas that received less water before. Nevertheless the trend is fairly recent from the geological point of view, and other future studies could confirm or not these results. 

Abstract: In order to clarify how fluvial sediment behaves in a forested catchment accompanied by slope failure, hourly time series of suspended sediment concentration C (mg L^-1), discharge Q (m³ s^-1) and suspended sediment load L (g s^-1) (= C·Q) of river were obtained in the forested (88.3 % of 62.46 km² in area) Oikamanai River catchment, Hokkaido, Japan. Catchment geology is early Miocene to Pliocene sedimentary bedrock, accompanied by currently active faults, and forest-slope soils contain two permeable sandy tephra layers, Tarumae Ta-b (1667) at ca. 40 cm depth and Shikotsu Spfa-1 (ca. 40000 yr ago) at more depth. The geology and tephra layers tend to frequently produce slope failure such as landslide and bank collapse under rainfall. River runoff events with maximum Q >2.0 m³ s^-1 were recorded 28 times in the rainfall season (April to November) of 2011 - 2012, of which ten runoff events received the extra sediment supply from slope failure. Relations between diurnal sediment yield (g m^-2 d^-1) and diurnal runoff rate (mm d^-1) during each event period were explored for all the events. As a result, the runoff events with slope failure exhibited the sediment yield  2.2 times as high as that for the runoff events without slope failure. Total sediment yield (g m^-2) for all the events in 2012 was 2.6  times as large as that in 2011. This is due to high sediment yield (157.6 g m^-2) in the largest runoff event (total rainfall 221.0 mm per 47 h) in early May 2012, accompanied by slope failure.