Wavelet analysis of the seismograms for tsunami warning

The complexity in the tsunami phenomenon makes the available warning systems not much effective in the practical situations. The problem arises due to the time lapsed in the data transfer, processing and modeling. The modeling and simulation needs the input fault geometry and mechanism of the earthquake. The estimation of these parameters and other aprior information increases the utilized time for making any warning. Here, the wavelet analysis is used to identify the tsunamigenesis of an earthquake. The frequency content of the seismogram in time scale domain is examined using wavelet transform. The energy content in high frequencies is calculated and gives a threshold for tsunami warnings. Only first few minutes of the seismograms of the earthquake events are used for quick estimation. The results for the earthquake events of Andaman Sumatra region and other historic events are promising

SCREENING OF PHYTO-CHEMICALS, TLC PROFILING, TOTAL FLAVONOID AND PHENOLICS CONTENT, ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FICUS BENGHALENSIS LINN AND FICUS RELIGIOSA LINN LATEX

Objective: Screening for the presence of phyto-chemicals present in the plant extracts by qualitative assay along with Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) investigation followed by determining the total flavonoids and phenolics content, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effect.Methods: Qualitative phyto-chemical analysis of the active plant extracts, TLC profiling, evaluating the total flavonoids and phenolics content along with in-vitro antioxidant activities like free radical scavenging effect, reducing power and phospho-molybdenum assay by standard protocols and evaluation of anti-microbial effectiveness against five different bacteria and a fungi by agar-well diffusion method. The micro-broth dilution method was used to assess minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).Results: The solvent fractions of both the plants were examined for qualitative phytochemical analysis had shown the presence proteins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, phenolics compounds, tannins, and terpenoids, confirmed by TLC profiling. The antioxidant activity was high in methanol extract (lower Inhibitory Concentration, IC50 values) of both plants which were in accordance with the total phenolics and total flavonoids content showing that they were responsible for antioxidant activity. Microbial strains used in the study were exposed to various concentrations of four solvent plant extracts. The largest zone of inhibition was obtained with ethanol extract against E. coli (19 mm) when compared with standard antibiotic streptomycin (10 µg/ml) for bacteria and nystatin (10 µg/ml) for fungi and Dimethyl Sulfoxide-DMSO (negative control). The MIC and MBC values done in triplicates were in accordance with antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial effect was in accordance with the presence of flavonoids which is responsible for inhibition of growth of pathogenic micro organisms.Conclusion: The results suggested that the extract can be used as an effective and safe antioxidant source, as ethno-medicine on the commercial basis of drug development for the well being of human kind.Â

Kinetic studies of penicillin production during batch and repeated batch in fluidized bed bioreactor with agar immobilized <i style="">P. chrysogenum</i> cells

394-399The fermentation kinetics of penicillin production by Penicillium chrysogenum was carried out at 27°C and pH 6.0. Batch and repeated batch fermentations using agar-immobilized cells in fluidized bed bioreactor were studied for their potential application in production of penicillin from lactose, a fermentable sugar. Kinetics of immobilized cell fermentation, showed the penicillin yield of ~0.0155 g/l, with highest penicillin concentration of ~57.09 mg/l and the high reactor productivity of ~23.8 mg/l h-1. Repeated batch fermentation experiments showed that the immobilized biocatalysts could be recycled effectively for 5 cycles. Penicillin yield was 4-5-fold greater by this method of immobilization, with high productivity as compared to free cells and other immobilization methods

Vulnerability of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. Cosson) to climate variability and future adaptation strategies

A simulation study has been carried out using the InfoCrop mustard model to assess the impact of climate change and adaptation gains and to delineate the vulnerable regions for mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. Cosson) production in India. On an all India basis, climate change is projected to reduce mustard grain yield by ~2 % in 2020 (2010–2039), ~7.9 % in 2050 (2040–2069) and ~15 % in 2080 (2070–2099) climate scenarios of MIROC3.2.HI (a global climate model) and Providing Regional Climates for Impact Studies (PRECIS, a regional climate model) models, if no adaptation is followed. However, spatiotemporal variations exist for the magnitude of impacts. Yield is projected to reduce in regions with current mean seasonal temperature regimes above 25/10 °C during crop growth. Adapting to climate change through a combination of improved input efficiency, additional fertilizers and adjusting the sowing time of current varieties can increase yield by ~17 %. With improved varieties, yield can be enhanced by ~25 % in 2020 climate scenario. But, projected benefits may reduce thereafter. Development of short-duration varieties and improved crop husbandry becomes essential for sustaining mustard yield in future climates. As climatically suitable period for mustard cultivation may reduce in future, short-duration (<130 days) cultivars with 63 % pod filling period will become more adaptable. There is a need to look beyond the suggested adaptation strategy to minimize the yield reduction in net vulnerable regions

Partial Characterization of Xylanase Produced by Caldicoprobacter algeriensis, a New Thermophilic Anaerobic Bacterium Isolated from an Algerian Hot Spring

To date, xylanases have expanded their use in many processing industries, such as pulp, paper, food, and textile. This study aimed the production and partial characterization of a thermostable xylanase from a novel thermophilic anaerobic bacterium Caldicoprobacter algeriensis strain TH7C1T isolated from a northeast hot spring in Algeria. The obtained results showed that C. algeriensis xylanase seems not to be correlated with the biomass growth profile whereas the maximum enzyme production (140.0 U/ml) was recorded in stationary phase (18 h). The temperature and pH for optimal activities were 70 °C and 11.0, respectively. The enzyme was found to be stable at 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C, with a half-life of 10, 9, 8, and 4 h, respectively. Influence of metal ions on enzyme activity revealed that Ca+2 enhances greatly the relative activity to 151.3 %; whereas Hg2+ inhibited significantly the enzyme. At the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the production of xylanase by the thermophilic bacterium C. algeriensis. This thermo- and alkaline-tolerant xylanase could be used in pulp bleaching process