Quantification of surface runoff in Patiala-Ki-Rao watersheds using modified NRCS model: a case study

Quantification of the surface runoff in a watershed is of vital importance for solution of many water resource problems. It can be quantified by employing large number of estimation approaches. Of these, SCS-CN approach is quite simple effective and requires less number of parameters. Thus, the objective of the study was to employ soil conservation service-curve number (SCS-CN) approach and their modifications to estimate surface runoff for Patiala-Ki-Rao watershed, district SAS, Nagar, Punjab and to choose the best model of the 8-different employed models. Soil moisture retention parameter was characterised and optimised by using the descriptive statistics and later used in the models. The mean and median valueof soil moisture retention parameter was 47.2 mm and 35.9 mm for June to September months and 35.4 to 30.8 mm for October to March months. The models were evaluated on the basis of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Nash- Scutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Coefficient of Determination (R2) and Per cent Bias (PB). Of the evaluated and tested models, NRCS model (M5) performed best with the highest score of 32 and 31 by employing mean andmedian values of soil moisture retention parameter in Patiala-Ki-Rao watersheds over the other models. Further, the results of the study suggested in evaluating the performance of NRCS model (M5) in other treated micro-watersheds at Patiala-Ki-Rao, Punjab, over the control

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND POLYPHENOLIC CONTENT OF SUCCESSIVE EXTRACTS OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS LINN.

Objective: Present work comprehensively evaluates the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of four successive extracts of various parts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. at different concentrations using spectrophotometric assays. Methods: TPC and TFC were measured using Folin–Ciocalteu's and aluminium trichloride method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Relationship between free radical scavenging assays and phenolic compounds was deduced using correlation matrix between various study parameters. TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity was higher in methanolic extracts followed by aqueous, petroleum benzene and chloroform extracts. Results: Methanolic and aqueous extracts were found to have higher phenolic and flavonoid content. Antioxidant capacity of methanolic and aqueous extracts were greater than petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. Conclusion: The study suggests that to a certain extent, all extracts act as radical scavengers possibly due to presence of polyphenolic compounds. It was concluded that Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. exhibit strong antioxidant activity and could serve as potential therapeutic plant for various diseases

A comparative study of two doses of intrathecal dexmedetomidine 10 mcg and 15 mcg as adjuvants to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for abdominal hysterectomy: a randomized, prospective, double blind study

Background: Neuraxial adjuvants have been used with local anaesthetics to avoid intraoperative pain, prolong the duration of anaesthesia, and avoid side effects and to provide adequate postoperative analgesia. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-agonist drug, is being routinely used nowadays as a neuraxial adjuvant. The aim of this study was to compare two doses of dexmedetomidine in terms of efficacy in prolonging the subarachnoid block as well as safety.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study on 90 ASA I/II patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy patients were randomly allocated to one of the three groups of 30 each, to receive subarachnoid block with 3.4 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine along with either normal saline (S) or dexmedetomidine 10 µg (D 10) or dexmedetomidine 15 µg (D 15) and onset and duration of motor and sensory block were monitored along with two segment regression times, postoperative VAS scores and analgesic requirements and occurrence of any untoward effects.Results: Dexmedetomidine significantly decreased the onset times of sensory and motor blocks, prolonged time to two segment regressions, prolonged regression of motor and sensory blocks and time to first rescue analgesic in postoperative period. There was reduction in requirement of analgesics in both the dexmedetomidine groups. Effects were more pronounced in D 15 group than D 10 group. All three group patients were stable haemodynamically with only an insignificant number of patients having bradycardia and hypotension in the D 15 group.Conclusions: Thus dexmedetomidine prolongs the 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia duration. Prolongation of anaesthesia is in a dose dependent manner and groups are comparable in terms of safety profiles

GitLab: work where you want, when you want

GitLab is a software company that works “all remote” at the scale of more than 1000 employees located in more than 60 countries. GitLab has no physical office and its employees can work from anywhere they choose. Any step of the organizational life of a GitLab employee (e.g., hiring, onboarding and firing) is performed remotely, except for a yearly companywide gathering. GitLab strongly relies on asynchronous coordination, allowing employees to work anytime they want. After highlighting some of the main practices implemented by GitLab to effectively work all remotely and asynchronously, I asked renowned organizational scientists their thoughts on this interesting case and to question the generalizability of the all remote asynchronous model. Understanding whether and under what conditions this model can succeed can be of guidance for organizational designers that are now considering different remote models in response of the COVID-19 shock and its aftermath

Time Series Study of Rhino Habitat and its Impact on Rhino Population in Gorumara National Park through Remote Sensing Technology

Gorumara National Park located within the flood plains of Jaldhaka and Murty river in the Dooars area of Northern West Bengal has a mosaic of natural vegetation consisting of tall grasslands, woodlands, tropical semi-evergreen forests and tropical moist deciduous forests, part of which get inundated in recurring floods. The Greater Indian One Horned Rhinoceros which is the flagship specie of this National Park has positively responded to the regular Wild Life Habitat Management regime introduced since 1995 showing trends of steady increase in its population as the habitat manipulation resulted in the increase of the Rhino habitat. This review tries to establish the Rhino population dynamics vis a vis increase in Rhino habitat using Remote sensing technology over the years since the area comes under purview of Protected Area network management

Peralkaline felsic magmatism at the Nemrut volcano, Turkey: impact of volcanism on the evolution of Lake Van (Anatolia) IV

Nemrut volcano, adjacent to Lake Van (Turkey), is one of the most important peralkaline silicic centres in the world, where magmatism for ~570,000 years has been dominated by peralkaline trachytes and rhyolites. Using onshore and Lake Van drill site tephra samples, we document the phenocryst and glass matrix compositions, confirming a complete spectrum from very rare mafic to dominantly silicic magmas. Magma mixing has been common and, along with the multi-lineage nature of the magmas, indicates that Nemrut has been a very open system where, nevertheless, compositionally zoned caps developed during periods of relative eruptive quiescence. Geothermometry suggests that the intermediate-silicic magmas evolved in an upper crustal magma reservoir at temperatures between 1100 and 750 °C, at fO2 close to the FMQ buffer. The silicic magmas either were halogen poor or exsolved a halogen-rich phase prior to or during eruption. An unusual Pb-rich phase, with up to 98.78 wt% PbO, is interpreted as having exsolved from the intermediate-rhyolitic magmas

Analysis of mechanism of sand deposition inside a fishing port using BG model

A large amount of sand deposited in the wave-shelter zone of Ohtsu fishing port located in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, resulting in a difficulty in navigation at the pot entrance. The BG model (a three-dimensional model for predicting beach changes based on Bagnold's concept) ws used to solve this problem. Measures against sand deposition inside the port were investigated and the most appropriate measure found for preventing sand deposition was the extension of a jetty by 100 m at the tip of the west breakwater. The applicability of the BG model to such prediction was confirmed

The influence of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour in captive Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus)

The effect of enclosure design on diurnal activity and stereotypic behaviour was assessed in 17 adult Malayan Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), kept either in barren indoor enclosures or relatively enriched outdoor enclosures. Locomotion was the most frequent activity observed in the indoor bears, followed by resting. In contrast, conspecifics housed outdoors spent most of the time resting. Eleven forms of stereotypic behaviours were recorded in the bears, with pacing being the most common. The frequency and repertoire of stereotypies were significantly higher in the indoor bears irrespective of enclosure size. Novel forms of locomotor (forward-reverse pacing) and oral (allo-sucking) stereotypies were recorded. Oral stereotypies were predominant in the bears housed indoors, while patrolling was confined to the outdoor bears. Enclosure complexity significantly influences activity budget and occurrence of stereotypic behaviours, highlighting the importance of appropriate enclosure design and enrichment for the welfare of captive bears