On the warm pool dynamics in the southeastern Arabian Sea during April - May 2005 based on the satellite remote sensing and ARGO float data

Observational data from the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX-Phase IIA) in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) showed intense warming with the SST up to 31.5°C during April-May 2005. Analysis of 5-day repeat cycles of temperature and salinity profiles from an ARGO float (ID No. 2900345) in a 3°x1° box closer to ARMEX-II buoy (8.3°N, 72.68°E) in the SEAS during January-September 2005 revealed evolution of warm pool (SST>28°C) in spring 2005. The Argo data derived D20 (depth of 20°C isotherm) showed the influence of remote forcing during January-May, and local wind forcing during southwest monsoon. Low salinity waters (<34.0) occupied the top 30 m during January-February followed by temperature inversions (up to 0.5°C) in the 30-60 m depth range. From the peak spring warming, the SST dropped gradually by 3.5°C by end-July with the advent of southwest monsoon followed by a decrease in net heat gain upto 100 W/m^2. The merged weekly products of sea surface height anomalies and the NLOM simulated surface currents showed complex surface circulation consisting of seasonal Lakshadweep High/Low in winter/summer. The examined oceanic and atmospheric variables showed an intraseasonal variability with 41 to 63 day period, coinciding with the Madden-Julian Oscillatio

Evaluation of behavioural and antioxidant activity of Cytisus scoparius Link in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Various human diseases have oxidative stress as one of their component. Many herbs have been reported to exhibit properties that combat oxidative stress through their active constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds etc. <it>Cytisus scoparius </it>(CS) Link, (Family: Leguminosae), also called <it>Sarothamnus scoparius</it>, has been shown in <it>invitro </it>experiments to be endowed with anti-diabetic, hypnotic and sedative and antioxidant activity. Therefore this study was carried out to evaluate CS for its anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-oxidant activity in stressed rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>60% methanolic extract of CS was quantified for phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteau's method. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS) was employed to induce stress in rats. CS (125 and 250 mg/kg, p.o) and diazepam (DZM) (2 mg/kg, p.o) was administered during the 21 day stress exposure period. Anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of CS were assessed in open field exploratory and behavioural despair paradigms, respectively. Plasma glucose and total lipids; endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT); non-enzymic-ascorbic acid and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were measured in brain, kidneys and adrenals using standard protocols to assess the effect of CS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Total phenolic content of CS was found to be 8.54 ± 0.16% w/w. CMS produced anxiogenic and depressive behaviour in experimental rats with metabolic disturbance. Significant decrease in SOD, CAT levels and increase in lipid peroxidation level was observed in stressed rats. CS administration for 21 days during stress exposure significantly increased the ambulatory behaviour and decreased the freezing time in open field behaviour. In behavioural despair test no significant alteration in the immobility period was observed. CS also improved SOD, CAT, and ascorbic acid level and controlled the lipid peroxidation in different tissues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CS possesses anti-stress and moderate anxiolytic activity which may be due, in part, to its antioxidant effect that might warrant further studies.</p

Phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites: Eco-environmental concerns, field studies, sustainability issues and future prospects

Environmental contamination due to heavy metals (HMs) is of serious ecotoxicological concern worldwide because of their increasing use at industries. Due to non-biodegradable and persistent nature, HMs cause serious soil/water pollution and severe health hazards in living beings upon exposure. HMs can be genotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic in nature even at low concentration. They may also act as endocrine disruptors and induce developmental as well as neurological disorders and thus, their removal from our natural environment is crucial for the rehabilitation of contaminated sites. To cope with HM pollution, phytoremediation has emerged as a low-cost and eco-sustainable solution to conventional physico-chemical cleanup methods that require high capital investment and labor alter soil properties and disturb soil microflora. Phytoremediation is a green technology wherein plants and associated microbes are used to remediate HM-contaminated sites to safeguard the environment and protect public health. Hence, in view of the above, the present paper aims to examine the feasibility of phytoremediation as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of metals-contaminated sites. Therefore, this paper provides an in-depth review on both the conventional and novel phytoremediation approaches, evaluate their efficacy to remove toxic metals from our natural environment, explore current scientific progresses, field experiences and sustainability issues and revise world over trends in phytoremediation research for its wider recognition and public acceptance as a sustainable remediation technology for the management of contaminated sites in 21st century

Effects of hydrophobic yarns on liquid migration in woven fabrics

Liquid migration in woven fabrics was investigated by measuring the wicking coefficients of hydrophilic cotton and hydrophobic PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) monofilament fabrics and some other fabrics. The coefficients of fabrics with cotton warp yarns were essentially equal along the weft direction but differed along the warp because of variations in the warp yarn crimps. Then factors affecting the liquid migration along the weft direction were investigated, especially the effect of hydrophobic weft yarns, by using three different warp weave densities for fabrics with both cotton and PVDF weft yarns. The results showed that in the warp direction, liquid moved along longitudinal yarns and migrated to hydrophilic but not hydrophobic transverse yarns. In the weft direction, similar results were obtained for fabrics with cotton weft yarns. Fabrics with PVDF weft yarns, however, showed no migration through the longitudinal yarns, although liquid did move along the transverse direction of connected cotton warp yarns. The largest wicking coefficient was associated with the highest warp weave density. Liquid did not move through transverse yarns separated from one another. It is apparent that liquids can migrate along transverse, adjacent, in-contact hydrophilic yarns of fabrics incorporating longitudinal hydrophobic yarns.ArticleTEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL. 85(5):479-486 (2015)journal articl

A new thermocouple technique for the precise measurement of in-plane capillary water flow within fabrics

A new method was proposed for the measurement of in-plane capillary water flow within fabrics automatically. The method was based on the use of thermocouples to measure temperature changes as the fabric absorbed water. The wicking length of three different woven fabrics and two knitted fabrics in the warp, weft and 45 degrees bias directions was measured using this technique. The wicking length was found to have a linear relationship with the square root of time, in agreement with the Washburn equation. Comparing the results with the data acquired using the horizontal Byreck method, the thermocouple technique was found to be suitable for the precise measurement of in-plane capillary water flow through fabrics automatically. Moreover, based on this method, the feasibility of estimating the water contents of fabrics from temperature differences generated during the flow process was also investigated. We found that it was possible to estimate the water content of a fabric, provided the moisture level is below the critical water content at equilibrium. This can be used to estimate the water content of fabric when it is worn.ArticleTEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL. 84(5):513-526 (2014)journal articl