Estimating Land Subsidence and Gravimetric Anomaly Induced by Aquifer Overexploitation in the Chandigarh Tri-City Region, India by Coupling Remote Sensing with a Deep Learning Neural Network Model

This study utilizes surface displacement data from Persistent Scatterer SAR Interferometry (PSInSAR) of Sentinel-1 satellite and groundwater storage change data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission to understand land subsidence in the Chandigarh tri-city region. The satellite datasets are used along with the groundwater level data obtained from wells over the study area. Since the GRACE data are available at a much coarser spatial resolution of 1o by 1o, challenges remain in correlating the dataset with PSInSAR displacement that has been multi-looked at 14 m by 14 m resolution. Therefore, multiple sources of data (i.e., the monthly average of GRACE data, groundwater storage change and monthly average PSInSAR displacement per pixel, and interpolated groundwater level data from wells for 2017 to 2022) have been deployed into a deep learning multi-layer perceptron (DLMLP) model to estimate the groundwater storage change at the urban level. This has an indirect downscaling method that is carried out successfully using the DLMLP model for the estimation of groundwater storage changes at the urban level, which is usually complicated by applying direct downscaling methods on the GRACE data. Thus, the DLMLP model developed here is a distinctive approach considered for estimating the changes in groundwater storage using PSInSAR displacement, groundwater data from wells, and GRACE data. The DLMLP model gives an R2-statistics value of 0.91 and 0.89 in the training and testing phases, respectively, and has a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.23 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.87

INOVASI KELESTARIAN SERANGGA PENYERBUK SEBAGAI UPAYA PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI KELAPA SAWIT DI DESA NEGARA TULANG BAWANG KECAMATAN BUNGA MAYANG KABUPATEN LAMPUNG UTARA

The people in Negara Tulang Bawang Village have a livelihood as farmers, civil servants, TNI,POLICE and private employees, entrepreneurs and traders as big as, workers as big as and others.The partner's great desire is that the gardens in the village can become pilot gardens and agro-tourismby applying technology and innovations that are useful for the production and productivity of plantationcrops. The innovation that can be applied is the procurement of innovation or technology for thepreservation of oil palm pollinating insects. The condition of the partners has a large area of land andabundant resources, but the productivity and production of palm oil is stagnant. The results of fieldreviews and discussions with partner farmers found that the presence of pollinating insects wasminimal at the location and assistance such as counseling and additional insight were not obtained bypartner farmers. The activity proposer team has designed the method of activity that is applied bymeans of counseling, demonstration, training, consultation, and guidance, as well as evaluation. Aftercounseling, assistance is carried out by monitoring and evaluating innovation programs that are givenor applied to farmers. Increased understanding and technical manufacturing of technology by 100%,implementation by 40% and increase in oil palm production after the implementation of technologytransfer by 21.43%.Penduduk di Desa Negara Tulang Bawang memiliki mata pencaharian sebagai petani, PNS, TNI, POLISI dan karyawan swasta, pengusaha dan pedagang sebesar, buruh sebesar dan lain-lain. Keinginan besar dari mitra adalah kebun - kebun yang berada di desa dapat menjadi kebun percontohan dan agrowisata dengan menerapkan teknologi dan inovasi yang berguna bagi produksi serta produktivitas tanaman perkebunan. Inovasi yang dapat diterapkan adalah dengan pengadaan inovasi atau teknologi untuk kelestarian serangga penyerbuk kelapa sawit. Kondisi mitra memiliki lahan yang luas serta sumber daya yang melimpah akan tetapi produktivitas dan produksi kelapa sawit mengalami stagnan. Hasil tinjauan dilapangan dan diskusi dengan mitra petani didapatkan bahwa keberadaan serangga penyerbuk sangat minim dilokasi serta pendampingan seperti penyuluhan dan penambahan wawasan kurang didapatkan oleh petani mitra. Tim Pengusul kegiatan telah merancang metode kegiatan yang diterapkan dengan cara penyuluhan, demonstrasi, pelatihan, konsultasi, dan bimbingan, serta evaluasi. Setelah dilakukan penyuluhan, dilakukan pendampingan dengan memonitoring serta mengevaluasi program inovasi yang diberikan atau diterapkan di petani. Peningkatan pemahaman dan teknis pembuatan teknologi sebesar 100%, penerapan yang diberlakukan sebesar 40% dan peningkatan produksi kelapa sawit setelah diterapkannya transfer teknologi sebesar 21,43%

Nanostructured La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 compounds for effective electromagnetic interference shielding in the X-band frequency range

We report a detailed study on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) properties in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) nanomaterials. The samples were prepared by a solution chemistry (sol-gel) route at different sintering temperatures. The single-phase samples with grain sizes of 22 and 34 nm showed DC electrical conductivity variation from 0.65 to 13 S cm(-1) at room temperature. The application of a high magnetic field resulted in higher conductivity values. The electrical conductivity variation with temperature could be fitted with a variable range hopping mechanism in a limited temperature range. The variation of frequency dependent electromagnetic parameters measured at room temperature within the X-band region is consistent with the electrical conductivity behavior. The complex permittivity and permeability parameters were determined in line with the Nicolson-Ross-Weir algorithm. The LSMO nanomaterial samples showed EMI shielding effectiveness values of up to 19 dB (96.3% attenuation) over the X-band frequency range, making them suitable for microwave radiation shielding in commercial and defense appliances

Extracellular vesicles as mediators of stress response in embryo-maternal communication

Introduction: The pivotal role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in facilitating effective communication between the embryo and maternal cells during the preimplantation stage of pregnancy has been extensively explored. Nonetheless, inquiries persist regarding the alterations in EV cargo from endometrial cells under stress conditions and its potential to elicit specific stress responses in trophoblast cells. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of EV miRNA miRNAs in transmitting stress signals from maternal cells to trophoblasts. Methods: The receptive endometrial epithelium analogue RL95-2 cells were subjected to stress induction with 200 µM CoCl2 for 24 h before EV isolation. JAr trophoblast spheroids, which serve as embryos, were subjected to treatment with stressed or unstressed EVs derived from RL95-2 cells for 24 h. Transcriptomic alterations in the treated JAr spheroids as well as in the untreated group, as a negative control, were investigated by mRNA sequencing. Furthermore, the changes in EV miRNAs were assessed by sequencing EV samples. Results: A comprehensive analysis comparing the miRNA profiles between stressed and unstressed EVs revealed significant changes in 25 miRNAs. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of JAr spheroids treated with stressed RL95-2EVs versus unstressed EVs or the untreated group demonstrated 6 and 27 differentially expressed genes, respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that stressed EVs induce alterations in gene expression in trophoblast cells, which is partially mediated by EV microRNAs. Discussion: Our results suggest that EVs can transfer stress signals from endometrial cells to the embryo. These discoveries shed new light on the mechanism underlying implantation failures under stress conditions. Unraveling the role of EVs in transmitting stress signals, can extend our knowledge to pave the way for targeted interventions to manage stress-related implantation failures

Design and implementation of the European-Mediterranean Postgraduate Programme on Organ Donation and Transplantation (EMPODaT) for Middle East/North Africa countries

This prospective study reports the design and results obtained after the EMPODaT project implementation. This project was funded by the Tempus programme of the European Commission with the objective to implement a common postgraduate programme on organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in six selected universities from Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries (Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco). The consortium, coordinated by the University of Barcelona, included universities from Spain, Germany, Sweden and France. The first phase of the project was to perform an analysis of the current situation in the beneficiary countries, including existing training programmes on ODT, Internet connection, digital facilities and competences, training needs, and ODT activity and accreditation requirements. A total of 90 healthcare postgraduate students participated in the 1-year training programme (30 ECTS academic credits). The methodology was based on e-learning modules and face-to-face courses in English and French. Training activities were evaluated through pre- and post-tests, self-assessment activities and evaluation charts. Quality was assessed through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The project results on a reproducible and innovative international postgraduate programme, improvement of knowledge, satisfaction of the participants and confirms the need on professionalizing the activity as the cornerstone to ensure organ transplantation self-sufficiency in MENA countries

In vitro micropropagation of orthosiphon aristatus (blume) miq.

The present study deals with the mass propagation of Orthosiphon aristatus - a multipurpose highly valuable ethnomedicinal shrub. Stem and inflorescence explants were inoculated into the Murashige and Skoog medium (MS medium) fortified with different concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins. The maximum number of shoots achieved was 25 ± 0.78 and 17 ± 0.67 at 5 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 2.5 mg/l kinetin (kn) and 3mg/l BAP + 1.5mg/l Kn from nodal and inflorescence explants, respectively. For in vitro rhizogenesis, the elongated micro shoots were aseptically excised and were transferred to the half strength MS liquid medium supplemented with different concentrations of Indole-3 acetic acid and Indole butyric acid (IAA and IBA). The best rooting was achieved at 2 mg/l IBA giving maximum of 12 ± 0.67 roots per shoot. The well established plantlets were hardened by transferring them to the poly cups containing sterile soil and vermicompost in the ratio of 1:1. After 3 weeks of hardening, established plantlets were transferred to the field with 95% survivability

Hepatoprotective activity of leaf and leaf callus extracts of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq.

Aim: The study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of leaf and leaf callus extracts of Orthosiphon aristatus against alcohol induced toxicity using HepG2 cell line. Materials and Methods: Leaf segments were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium fortified with different auxins alone and in combination. Prior to the determination of hepatoprotective property leaf and leaf callus extracts were subjected to the toxic dose study. The degree of hepatoprotection of extracts was determined by measuring cell viability percentage by MTT assay. Leaf and leaf callus extracts were subjected to the preliminary phytochemical analysis. Results: Maximum percentage of callus formation (94%) was obtained in MS medium augmented with 2 mg/L of 2,4-D. HepG2 cells were pretreated with the different concentrations (below toxic dose) of leaf and leaf callus extracts for 72 hrs. followed by alcohol intoxication. Results revealed that aqueous leaf extract pretreated HepG2 cells show 90% cell viability compared to the standard silymarin pretreated HepG2 cells which showed 81% cell viability. Leaf callus extracts also showed significant hepatoprotective activity where ethanolic callus extract pretreated HepG2 cells showed 82% viability after intoxication with alcohol. Results revealed that HepG2 cell viability percentage is dose dependent. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of different secondary metabolites in leaf and leaf callus extracts. Conclusion: The bio-efficacy study confirms the presence of secondary metabolites of hepatoprotective nature. Callus mediated tissues show hepatoprotection which paves a way for the mass production of desired biologically active principles

In vitro regenerative potentials of the medicinal plant abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the most suitable concentration of growth regulators for callus induction and subsequent organogenesis in Abutilon indium (L.) Sweet (Malvaceae) leaf, stem and seed explants. Since the plant has a lot of medicinal importance, it was subjected to culture in vitro. Kinetin for seeds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), benzyl amino purine (BAP), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for leaf as well as BAP and kinetin for stem were the growth regulators used at different concentrations individually. Results showed that growth regulators at different combinations on subculture resulted in the regeneration of shoots. The excised shoots were transferred to liquid medium for in vitro rhizogenesis and plantlets were acclimatized in the laboratory conditions before they were transferred to garden soil. Histologically, callus sections were with active centres, embryoids and multiple shoot buds. Cytological variations such as multinucleate, chromosome bridges, polyploidy and tracheary elements were noticed in callus cells. The regenerated plants were morphologically and cytologically similar to the in vivo plants

In Vitro micropropagation of rhinacanthus nasutus (L) Kurz

The study was aimed to standardise a protocol for the in vitro mass propagation of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L) Kurz, an anticancer shrub. Leaf, node and inflorescence explants were inoculated onto the Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium enriched with different combinations and concentrations of growth regulators. Maximum callusing percentage was achieved in leaf explants in MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/l 2,4-D. Multiple shoots were achieved from leaf, node and inflorescence explants with maximum of 25±0.42 (5 mg/l BAP + 2.5 mg/l IAA), 11±0.87 (5 BAP + 2.5 mg/l IAA) and 8±0.56 (3 mg/l BAP + 1.5 mg/l IAA) shoots, respectively. For in vitro rhizogenesis, elongated micro shoots were aseptically transferred to the half strength MS liquid medium with maximum number of 8±0.89 roots per shoot achieved in 1 mg/ml IAA fortified MS medium. The in vitro rooted micro shoots were acclimatised under laboratory conditions for two weeks by transferring to polycups containing sterile soil, sand and vermiculite (1:1:1). After two weeks, hardened plantlets were transferred to the green house for two weeks and then finally to the garden with 95% survivability