Thermodynamic structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean during pre-INDOEX and INDOEX-FFP campaigns

Spatial and temporal variability of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) height for the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) study period are examined using the data collected through Cross-chained LORAN (Long-Range Aid to Navigation) Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) launchings during the Northern Hemispheric winter monsoon period. This paper reports the results of the analyses of the data collected during the pre-INDOEX (1997) and the INDOEX-First Field Phase (FFP; 1998) in the latitude range 14°N to 20°S over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Mixed layer heights are derived from thermodynamic profiles and they indicated the variability of heights ranging from 400m to 1100m during daytime depending upon the location. Mixed layer heights over the Indian Ocean are slightly higher during the INDOEX-FFP than the pre-INDOEX due to anomalous conditions prevailing during the INDOEX-FFP. The trade wind inversion height varied from 2.3km to 4.5km during the pre-INDOEX and from 0.4km to 2.5km during the INDOEX-FFP. Elevated plumes of polluted air (lofted aerosol plumes) above the marine boundary layer are observed from thermodynamic profiles of the lower troposphere during the INDOEX-FFP. These elevated plumes are examined using 5-day back trajectory analysis and show that one group of air mass travelled a long way from Saudi Arabia and Iran/Iraq through India before reaching the location of measurement, while the other air mass originates from India and the Bay of Bengal

Antiproliferative effects of total alkaloid extract of roots of Chassalia curviflora (Wall.) Thwaites on cancer cell lines

389-395Chassalia curviflora is used in folklore medicines for treating several ailments and infections owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. Though the plant has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory antihepatotoxic and analgesic activities, its anticancer potential has not been studied so far. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative effects of the total alkaloids isolated from the roots of C. curviflora. The total alkaloid was validated by MTT assay in three cancer cell lines, such as liver cancer cell line-A549, breast cancer cell line-MCF-7 and ovarian cancer cell line -HeLa. Significant antiproliferative effect (IC50 value 3.59±0.14*** µg/mL) was observed in A549 cells, and was taken for further studies. Cell cycle analysis showed that the cells got arrested in sub G0 phase and annexin V-FITC assay revealed that 27.4% cells were in early apoptosis and 7% cells in late apoptosis. The study revealed that the total alkaloids of Chassalia curviflora roots possess significant antiproliferative and apoptotic activity

Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India)

Concentrations and distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surficial sediments of the Cochin backwaters were studied during both monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Spatial variations were in accordance with textural charaterstics and organic matter content. A principal component analysis distinguished three zones with different metal accumulation capacity: (i) highest levels in north estuary, (ii) moderate levels in central zone, and (iii) lowest levels in southern part. Trace metal enrichments are mainly due to anthropogenic contribution of industrial, domestic, and agricultural effluents, whose effect is enhanced by settling of metals due to organic flocculation and inorganic precipitation associated with salinity changes. Enrichments factors using Fe as a normalizer showed that metal contamination was the product of anthropogenic activities. An assessment of degree of pollution-categorized sediments as moderately polluted with Cu and Pb, moderately-to-heavily polluted with Zn, and heavily-to-extremely polluted with Cd. Concentrations at many sites largely exceed NOAA ERL (e.g., Cu, Cr, and Pb) or ERM (e.g., Cd, Ni, and Zn). This means that adverse effects for benthic organisms are possible or even highly probable

Effect of Plant Preservative Mixture Ppmtm on the Shoot Regeneration of Watercress (Nasturtium Officinale)

Plant Preservative Mixture™ (PPM), a relatively new broad-spectrum preservative and biocide for use in plant tissue culture, was evaluated as an alternative to the use of conventional antibiotics and fungicides in plant tissue culture. Culture inoculated in MS media supplemented with PPM (1.5 ml/l) was the effective concentration which gave the best values. The top values were recorded for all studied characters using apical buds compared with lateral buds. The combination between apical buds and (1.5 ml/l ) PPM concentration showed the superior values of all studied parameters( 33.25%,19.40%, 14.46%,20.53% and 79.46%)(60.55%,39.80%,20.97%,45.33% and 54.44%) and (31.20%, 20. 06%, 12.33%, 35.13% and 81.06 %) for contamination, %bacterial contamination, % offungi contamination, dead explants% and survival explants% respectively.  Different concentrations of PPM (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 ml/l) were tested using single node and apex explants of watercress (Nasturtium officinale). PPM at (1.5ml/l)  had significant effect on the studied characters; shoots height, shoots number, leaf pairs number, fresh and dry weight which they reaches (4.16, 4.62, 42.00,0.524 and 0.063 g, respectively ). Apex bud explants showed the greatest effect on shoots height shoots number, leaf pairs number, fresh and dry weight and their values were 3.52, 32.02, 3.38, 0.405 and 0.036 g, respectively. The best parameter were recorded on MS media supplemented with PPM at (1.5ml/l) with apex buds explant  (4.55, 5.34, 46.28, 0.570 and 0.085, respectively) for shoots height, shoots  number, leaf pair number, fresh and dry weight. Current study aimed to determine the best concentration of PPM for limiting the contamination of watercress and micro shoot regeneration

Antiproliferative effects of total alkaloid extract of roots of Chassaliacurviflora (Wall.) Thwaites on cancer cell lines

Chassaliacurviflora is used in folklore medicines for treating several ailments and infections owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. Though the plant has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory antihepatotoxic and analgesic activities, its anticancer potential has not been studied so far. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative effects of the total alkaloids isolated from the roots of C. curviflora.The total alkaloid was validated by MTT assay in three cancer cell lines, such as liver cancer cell line-A549, breast cancer cell line-MCF-7 and ovarian cancer cell line -HeLa. Significant antiproliferative effect (IC50 value 3.59±0.14*** µg/mL) was observed in A549 cells, and was taken for further studies. Cell cycle analysis showed that the cells got arrested in sub G0 phase and annexin V-FITC assay revealed that 27.4% cells were in early apoptosis and 7% cells in late apoptosis. The study revealed that the total alkaloids of Chassaliacurvifloraroots possess significant antiproliferative and apoptotic activit

Good Environment Management of cage farming using a coupled 3D hydrodynamic particle tracking model - A case study from Pizhala, Cochin, India

Hydrographic conditions such as water level, velocity, adequate water circulation and stratifications have a strong influence on the management of fish cage culture in the estuarine environment. In this study, a 3D hydrodynamic model was used to identify the areas of the mixed and stratified water column and to use this in conjunction with particle tracking models for appropriate site selection for cage culture. A Lagrangian method was used to simulate the instantaneous release of "particles" emulating discharge from fish cages to show the behaviour of waste in terms of water circulation and water exchange. Model simulation at Pizhala cage farm revealed that desirable water exchange is experienced in the monsoon and pre-monsoon period. There have existed strong spring-neap variability in the water level with an average range of 0.7 m with a speed of < 0.12 m/s in pre-monsoon and < 0.24 m/s in monsoon. This consistent flow patterns in the Pizhala region helps in the replenishment of oxygenated water and removal of waste produced beneath the cages, and it is corroborated by the Lagrangian particle transport model experiment coupled with Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) in the study