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

Floristic diversity of Kashmir Himalayan grasslands in relation to their functioning

N

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 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

In Vitro Micropropagation of Anisochilus carnosus (L) Wall

The present study describes a protocol for the in vitro mass propagation of Anisochilus carnosus (L) Wall – an anticancer ethnomedicinal herb. Young and healthy leaf segments were inoculated on to the solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different auxins and cytokinins individually and in combination. Maximum callusing percentage (97) was achieved in MS medium fortified with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at 5 mg/l. Multiple shoots were achieved in benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) combination with maximum of 14±0.23 shoots per culture at 7 mg/l BAP + 3.5 mg/l IAA concentration. For in vitro rhizogenesis, elongated micro shoots were aseptically excised and transferred to the half strength MS liquid medium enriched with different auxins. Out of the different auxins tested, indole butyric acid (IBA) was found to be the best for rhizogenesis at 2 mg/l with maximum of 11±0.45 roots per shoot. The well established rooted plantlets were hardened under laboratory conditions for two weeks by transferring to the poly cups containing vermicompost and sterile soil in the ratio of 1:1. The hardened plantlets were transferred to the green house for two weeks and finally to the filed with 90 survivability

Azolla cristata in the Kashmir Himalaya

Volume: 102Start Page: 224End Page: 22

Evaluation of antibacterial potential of leaf and leaf derived callus extracts of Orthosiphon Aristatus (Blume) Miq.

Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of chloroform, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts of leaf and leaf derived callus of Orthosiphon aristatus against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtiltis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterobater aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebseilla pneumoniae. Methods: The leaf segments were cut into small pieces of size 1-2 sq. cm and were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium supplemented with different auxins alone and in combination. Antibacterial efficacy was performed by disc diffusion method followed my MIC determination by two fold serial dilution method. Leaf and leaf callus extracts were subjected to the qualitative phytochemical analysis. Results: Maximum callus formation percentage was obtained from the leaf segments cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D (2 mg/l). Ethanolic leaf extract showed maximum inhibition activity with 28 mm zone of inhibition against P. mirabilis with MIC value of 0.32 mg/ml. Out of the callus extracts, ethanolic callus extract showed the maximum bio-efficacy against S. aureus with 26 mm zone of inhibition and MIC value of 0.64 mg/ml. Results revealed that both leaf and leaf derived callus are effective against Gram positive and Gram negative test bacteria. Conclusion: The bioefficacy study confirms the strong antibacterial potential of leaf and leaf derived callus of O. aristatus

Not Available

Not AvailableNutritional status of growing calves in district Kupwara of Kashmir valleyNot Availabl

Design and Development of Walnut Dehuller-cum-washer

Traditional manual practices of walnut dehulling and washing are tedious, laborious, and time consuming. Power-operated and manual-operated walnut dehuller-cum-washers were designed, developed, and evaluated in comparison to existing manual methods. The performance parameters evaluated in the present study differed significantly (p<0.05) in all three tested methods. Highest throughput capacity (340 kg.h-1) was observed for power-operated walnut dehuller-cum-washer (M1), followed by 16.25 kg.h-1 by manual-operated walnut dehuller-cum-washer (M2), and12.54 kg.h-1 by manual dehulling and washing (M3). Labour requirement was lowest in M1 (2.94 man.h.t-1), followed by M2 (61.53 man.h.t-1), and M3 (79.74 man.h.t-1). Highest dehulling and washing efficiency was in case of M1 (96.82%), followed by M3 (85.17%), and M2 (82.60%). Furthermore, M1, M2, and M3 yielded fully dehulled walnut percentages of 97.20, 81.20, and 94.56; partially dehulled walnut percentages of 1.87, 7.80, and 4.74%; and un-hulled walnut percentages of 0.9, 9.5, and 0.5%, respectively. Broken walnut percentage was least (0.02%) in case of M1, followed by M3 (0.20%), and M2 (0.50%). Hardness of walnut was highest with M1, and lowest for M3. Peroxide value and free fatty acid content were lowest in case of walnut processed by M1, followed by M2, and M3. Brightness (L*) of un-shelled walnut as well as kernel were highest for M1; whereas redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) were minimum in walnut processed by M1. Adoption of the developed prototypes in walnut dehulling and washing can significantly enhance the throughput capacity with drastic reduction of labour requirement, besides improving the quality of whole walnut as well as its kernel