Statistical analysis of long GRBs' prompt emission and X-ray flares: multivariate clustering and correlations

The extensive observations done by the X-ray telescope onboard Neil Gehrels Swift observatory has revealed the presence of late time flares concurrent with the decaying afterglow emission. However, the origin of these flares are elusive. In this work, we made use of the large database of Swift observations (2005 - 2020) of long GRBs to conduct a systematic statistical study between the prompt gamma ray emission and X-ray flares by characterising their temporal and spectral properties in terms of duration, quiescent period, peak flux, fluence, minimum variability timescale and spectral power-law index. The multi-dimensional database of parameters, thereby, generated was investigated by the principal component analysis which revealed there is no evident correlation between the different parameters of the prompt emission and X-ray flares. Furthermore, the correlation studies reveal that while there is a trend of positive correlation between the minimum variability timescale of flare and its duration, and a strong negative correlation with its peak flux, there are no such correlations observed in the prompt emission. Similarly, we find a positive correlation between the quiescent period and flare duration, and a negative correlation with the flare peak flux, while no such correlations are observed for the prompt emission of GRBs. Finally, among the X-ray flares, we find two dominant classes whose variations are driven by the minimum variability timescale, peak flux and fluences of the flares. A catalog of these different parameters characterising the prompt and flare emissions is presented.Comment: 18 Pages, 8 Figures, 2 Tables, Accepted for publication in ApJ

Assessing the Impact of Collective Marketing of Paddy Rice in Innovation Platforms by Smallholder Producers in Benin

Market access is a major constraint of smallholder rice producers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is increasing evidence that acting collectively offers one way for smallholders to participate more efficiently in the market. This chapter aimed to identify the determinants of participation in collective marketing of rice in innovation platforms in Benin and quantify its impact on household income and food security. Unlike previous studies, we used the local average treatment effect parameter to assess the impact of collective marketing of rice. Data were collected from a random sample of 257 smallholder rice producers. Results showed that participation in collective marketing increased the income of rice farmers on average by USD 148/ha. Main determinants of participation in collective marketing of rice were membership in a farmer group, training, and agreement on price. This chapter concludes that better training and well-functioning farmer groups sustain the impact of collective marketing of rice on food security

Biochemical and nutritional characteristics of some commercial banana (Musa spp.) cultivars of Kerala

Biochemical and nutritional traits of 6 banana (Musa spp.) cultivars commercially cultivated in Kerala, belonging to different genomic groups viz. Pisang Lilin (AA), Grand Naine (ABB), Nendran (AAB), Karpooravalli (ABB), Njalipoovan (AB) and Yangambi (KM-5) (AAA) were evaluated. Biochemical and nutritional characters on variables such as titratable acidity (%), total soluble solids (oBrix) (TSS), total protein (g), total carbohydrates (g), total fat (%), total ash (%), crude fibre (%), vitamin C (mg), calcium (mg), potassium (mg), total phenols (mg) and total carotenoid (µg) content were laid out in a completely randomized design and subjected to one way ANOVA to determine the significance (p=.05). The cultivar Nendran (AAB) exhibited desirable biochemical and nutritional traits, particularly for titratable acidity (0.34%), TSS (23.90oB), total carbohydrates (37.51g/100g), total ash (14.89%) and crude fibre (0.90%) content. Yangambi (KM-5) (AAA) exhibited the highest values for major minerals of banana, especially calcium (168.90 mg/100g) and potassium (406.60 mg/100g). The current study reveals biochemical and nutritional variation among banana cultivars from different genomic groups, with similarities and differences overlapping even among banana cultivars from the same genomic group

Morphological and horticultural characteristics of some commercial banana (Musa spp.) cultivars of Kerala

Morphological and horticultural characteristics of six cultivars of banana fruits (Musa spp.) that are commercially grown in Kerala, belonging to different genomic groups viz. Nendran (AAB), Pisang Lilin (AA), Karpooravalli (ABB), Njalipoovan (AB), Grand Naine (ABB) and Yangambi (KM-5) (AAA) were evaluated. The morphological traits were characterized using Banana Descriptors established by IPGRI (1996), from which 9 characters were selected for quantitative analysis. Horticultural characters on variables such as number of fruits per bunch, fruit length (cm), fruit pedicel length (mm), fruit pedicel width (mm), peel thickness (mm), pulp weight (g), fruit to peel ratio, fruit flesh firmness (cm2kg-1) were analysed and subjected to one way ANOVA to determine the significance (p=.05). The cultivar Nendran (AAB) exhibited large morphological and horticultural traits, particularly for the fruit length (22.07cm), pulp weight (89.20g) and peel weight (49.30g). The cultivar Karpooravalli (ABB) was smaller in terms of the fruit length (10.67 cm) and peel weight (9.65g), but had a large (4.81) fruit: pulp ratio compared to other cultivars studied. The present work reveals substantial morphological and horticultural variation among banana cultivars of different genomic groups, with an overlap of similarities and differences even in banana cultivars having the same genomic group

Shelf life and quality of banana cultivar Nendran as influenced by shrink–wrap packaging and storage temperature

Banana is the most widely cultivated fruit crop in Kerala. Nendran, a dual purpose cultivar is grown for consumption as vegetable in the unripe stage and also as fruit, upon ripening. An experiment was conducted during 2019-20 to extend the shelf life of this fruit through shrink wrapping, followed by storage under ambient and cool chamber conditions, after sanitizing with chlorine (100 ppm) followed by treatment with alum (1 %) and subsequently dipping in the fungicide, Carbendazim 50 WP (0.1 %). Initial titratable acidity and ascorbic acid contents of Nendran banana were 0.16 % and 6.06 mg 100g-1 respectively. Total phenols and starch content of freshly harvested green Nendran banana were 145 mg 100g-1 and 84.0 % respectively. Shelf life of shrink wrapped fruits held in cool chamber could be extended to 45 days whereas the unwrapped fruits under ambient storage (control) became unmarketable after 7 days. The findings of the study revealed that physiological loss in weight and rate of respiration recorded an upward trend during storage while fruit firmness recorded a downward trend. Total soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid rose with advancement of storage duration whereas total phenols and starch content declined. . The developed protocol could be used for long distance transportation to distant markets for internal trade as well as for shipment to foreign markets

Evaluation of surface coating and shrink- wrap packaging on shelf life and quality of mango cultivar ‘Neelum’

Kerala, the Indian state has the distinction of producing the earliest mangoes in the country, in February and the season extends up to May, coinciding with South West monsoon. Mango cultivar ‘Neelum’, the last commercial variety to attain maturity in the State is hampered by the incidence of fruit fly and anthracnose disease. An attempt was made during 2019-20 to extend the availability of the fruits of this cultivar by giving a surface coating with ‘Nipro Fresh’ wax containing the fungicide, Carbendazim, followed by shrink-wrap packaging in trays made of areca nut leaf sheath, before sanitizing with chlorine (100 ppm) and alum solution (1%). Surface coating with ‘Nipro Fresh’, followed by shrink-wrap packaging of trays containing mangoes, and their subsequent storage in cool chamber at 12-13 °C and 85-90 % relative humidity, extended the shelf life by 54 days, compared to the uncoated and unwrapped samples which had a shelf life of 9 days under ambient conditions. Respiration rate, physiological loss in weight, total soluble solids and carotenoids showed a steady rise while titratable acidity, total phenols and ascorbic acid recorded a declining trend

Paralarva of the sharpear enope squid Ancistrocheirus lesueurii (Oegopsida: Ancistrocheiridae) in the southeastern Arabian Sea

First morphological description of an early stage paralarva of the sharpear enope squid Ancistrocheirus lesueurii from southeastern Arabian Sea is presented. The paralarva was collected at dusk by using surface tows of zooplankton nets in February 2012. The presence of paralarva A. lesueurii indicates that this species completes its life cycle in this sea. A comparison of the arm formula of paralarva and adult stages shows a major change in the formula during metamorphosis to adult

Closing the sea surface mixed layer temperature budget from in situ observations alone: Operation Advection during BoBBLE

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a fundamental driver of tropical weather systems such as monsoon rainfall and tropical cyclones. However, understanding of the factors that control SST variability is lacking, especially during the monsoons when in situ observations are sparse. Here we use a ground-breaking observational approach to determine the controls on the SST variability in the southern Bay of Bengal. We achieve this through the first full closure of the ocean mixed layer energy budget derived entirely from in situ observations during the Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment (BoBBLE). Locally measured horizontal advection and entrainment contribute more significantly than expected to SST evolution and thus oceanic variability during the observation period. These processes are poorly resolved by state-of-the-art climate models, which may contribute to poor representation of monsoon rainfall variability. The novel techniques presented here provide a blueprint for future observational experiments to quantify the mixed layer heat budget on longer time scales and to evaluate these processes in models