Abdul Hameed

Chromium-resistant bacteria and cyanobacteria: impact on Cr(VI) reduction potential and plant growth

Two chromium-resistant bacterial strains, Bacillus cereus S-6 and Ochrobactrum intermedium CrT-1, and two cyanobacterial strains, Oscillatoria sp. and Synechocystis sp., were used in this study. At initial chromate concentrations of 300 and 600xa0μg K2CrO4xa0mL−1, and an inoculum size of 9.6×107xa0cells mL−1, B. cereus S-6 completely reduced Cr(VI), while O. intermedium CrT-1 reduced Cr(VI) by 98% and 70%, respectively after 96xa0h. At 100xa0μg K2CrO4xa0mL−1, Synechocystis sp. MK(S) and Oscillatoria sp. BJ2 reduced 62.1% and 39.9% of Cr(VI), respectively, at 30°C and pHxa08. Application of hexavalent chromate salts adversely affected wheat seedling growth and anatomical characters. However, bacterial inoculation alleviated the toxic effects, as reflected by significant improvements in growth as well as anatomical parameters. Cyanobacterial strains also led to some enhancement of various growth parameters in wheat seedlings.

Cultural characteristics of chromium resistant unicellular cyanobacteria isolated from local environment in Pakistan

Many unicellular cyanobacteria were isolated from different places: fields, ponds, polluted water, and soils from Muredkey and Kasur tannery areas, near Lahore, Pakistan. Different media like BG 11 medium, Bold Basal medium, Chus #10 medium and Gorhams medium, in standard forms and with slight variations of ingredients, and different pH, temperature and light regimes were checked for the optimum growth of the isolates. The isolation procedure was repeated with different concentrations of chromium to select the resistant strains. These selected strains grew on chromium of the range 100–200 μg/ml in BG 11 medium. Cyanobacteria were maintained in solid and liquid media with/without shaking. Cyanobacterial strains were collected from natural habitats that were accompanied by a diversified group of organisms including bacteria, protozoan, and rotifers etc. In order to eliminate these agents termed as contaminants, we used several methods including phenol treatment, use of antibiotic and careful manual picking of unicellular cyanobacteria. Resistance of these strains against different heavy metals (ZnSO4, MnSO4, NiSO4, CoCl2, Pb(NO3)3, CuSO4, HgCl2, AgNO3 and CdCl2) and antibiotics (erythromycin, streptomycin, kanamyci chloramphenicol, neomycin) was evaluated. Optimum temperature was 30°C with variable pH for the reduction of Cr6+ in to Cr3+ in majority of strains.

Library Funding in Pakistan: A Survey

The paper reports on a research study conducted to find out the funding situation of large libraries in Pakistan. It considers their funding sources, satisfaction with present funding, funding needs and the activities for which they demand more funding. The methodologies used included a literature review and a questionnaire survey. The results reveal that libraries in Pakistan have been provided funds without the use of any formula. Provincial governments are the major source of library funding in the country. Libraries also receive funds from the federal government and from their parent institutions. Some libraries also generate their own funds, which include endowments and bank profit (interest) on library security money. Most of the libraries are dissatisfied with their present funding. Among them college and university libraries are more dissatisfied. Libraries demand large increases in their budgets to fund a variety of services including the purchase of the latest materials, the use of modern technology, the improvement in professional status, the organization of materials and the improvement of the standard of library services.

Libraries in Pakistan: a systemic study

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: what are an open system and its components? How can the open system model be used to describe a library system including its objectives and functions? What is the situation of librarianship in Pakistan in terms of the elements, characteristics and features of an open system model?Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a review of the literature. The challenges which are faced by librarianship today are presented as a supra‐system of a library system. Inputs (people, knowledge, material, energy, capital and finance), processes, outputs and feedback mechanism of Pakistani librarianship are described. Characteristics of an open system such as users, controller, cycle of events, teleology, mission and negative entropy are presented with special reference to libraries in Pakistan.Findings – That the Library system in Pakistan would benefit from the application of an open systems approach, but resource and other constraints p...

Library fundraising in Pakistan

Purpose – To survey fundraising activities of government sector libraries in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey of randomly selected 100 large university, college, public and special libraries of Pakistan is conducted.Findings – The review of literature reveals that no formal survey of such activities was carried out before. However, general library literature in the country mentions the examples of donations and gifts received in libraries. Data collected through survey show that very few libraries are involved in fundraising activities. Significant donations are given by foundations, international agencies and some individuals. The reasons for non‐engagement of most of the libraries in such activities are shortage of staff and parent organizations involvement through other offices. Most of the libraries have no future plans for fundraising.Research limitations/implications – The survey only focuses on large libraries in the public sector. Small libraries, school libraries and...

Potential for fee‐based library services in Pakistan

Purpose – To identify which library services could be provided on a fee‐based model in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – Surveying experts in Pakistani libraries, a questionnaire was administered to determine both the types of library services that could generate revenue and the viability of charging for library services.Findings – Out of 32 identified information services, 12 were identified as excellent candidates for the fee‐based model. Another 16 were identified as having a better than 50 percent chance of success.Originality/value – Identifies a minimum of 28 library services that may generate funds for Pakistani libraries if they are changed to a fee‐based model.