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The performance of hybrid composites in automotive applications has been improved using natural filler. Numerous researchers are analyzing to create the substitute hybrid materials for ecological sustainability and responsibility in environment. Hybrid composites are made by combining natural filler (CD—Cordia dichotoma) with reinforced polymer (PLA—polylactic acid) resin matrix composites which offer unique mechanical qualities because they contain more renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable materials than synthetic fillers. The objective of this research is to evaluate the dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal property of the addition of natural filler (CD) on the PLA resin for finding the structural effect in hybrid composites. CD natural filler loading on the PLA composites are fabricated by 3D printing. The experimental results demonstrate that composites containing 15 vol% of CD natural filler/PLA have a tensile strength of 14.2 MPa, a flexural strength of 29 MPa, and an impact strength of 1304 J/m2 compared to other hybrid composites and the outcomes of the other tests are fully described in this paper. The composite material's highest modulus of storage and temperature of glass transition are found in the 20 vol% filler CD component. The dielectric strength of the composite made with CD natural filler and PLA at a 20 vol% concentration is 4.73 KV/mm which is higher than that of the other composites. The lowest measurement for water absorption of 15 vol% of CD natural filler/PLA composite has been found the value of 6.5% lower than other composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather patterns and unsustainable development dynamics have substantially increased disaster risks compelling widespread demand for community resilience worldwide. This study aims to develop and measure Risk-integrated Resilience (RiR) index of flood-affected downstream communities in West Rapti Basin (WRB) of the Nepal Himalaya. The evidence-based RiR framework being developed here links risk factor with capital-based resilience characteristics. Three levels of risk zones were categorized based on the flood inundation level considering the latest highest river discharge (7643 m3/s) that the community experienced in 2014. The low-risk zone (≤ 1 foot), moderate-risk zone (> 1 foot to < 5 feet) and high-risk zone (≥ 5 feet) were integrated with five capital domains of resilience characteristics: human, social, economic, physical and natural. Data were acquired through the questionnaire survey from 156 residents, and 61 indicators were finalized for the resilience assessment (r > 0.80; α = 0.85). Shannon entropy-based quantitative method was adopted to assign weight for each indicator. The resilience index was estimated in each capital domain, and finally the composite resilience index was determined in all three risk zones: low-risk zone = 0.358; moderate-risk zone = 0.365; and high-risk zone = 0.295. The result suggests that disaster risk reduction interventions in WRB should focus on improving the lower level of resilience, while low-risk zone should not be neglected. The study highlights that resilience assessment linking risk factors in basin scale is significant approach to reduce the negative impact of flood disasters. The new perspective, evidence-based RiR framework, value adds to effectively and efficiently address the disaster challenges in river basin scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common and severe natural hazards, flood has been intensified by anthropogenic climate change in many mountain regions affecting socioeconomic conditions during the twenty-first century. The study synthesized the past 50 years (1971–2020) flood loss data; then generated district-wise flood loss spatial maps and explored flood loss mitigation gaps in diverse topography of Nepal Himalaya through literature reviews. Over the past 50 years, on an average, all disasters together caused two deaths per day while more than 300 families got affected daily in Nepal. The proportion of flood disaster alone found 11.43% flood occurrences, 9.33% fatalities, 38.42% missing, 0.75% injury, 61.60% family suffering, and 10.16% property damages. Compared to the 1970s, the number of flood occurrence has increased to more than six folds causing four times human fatalities in the post 2000s. While acknowledging the population growth, the flood loss still shows increasing trend, but the incremental rate is found reduced to almost half. District-wise flood loss spatial maps depict the highest number of flood occurrences in Jhapa while Sarlahi, Surkhet, Chitwan, Mahottari, Sunsari, and Bardiya districts experienced the highest number of peoples' fatalities, missing, injuries, family suffering, fully and partially damages of privately-owned houses, respectively. Although proactive legislations are promulgated, our study found no subsequent reduction in flood loss arguing no progression in holistic flood risk management in Nepal. Our synthesis and identified research gaps highlight the urgent need for adopting evidence-based basin-scale approach to develop effective and sustainable flood mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the evolution of ocean thermal parameters during the intensification of three rare cases of rapidly intensified long-duration tropical cyclones (TCs) formed over the North Indian Ocean (NIO). TCs consume energy from the underlying warm ocean for their development. The movement of TC towards warmer sea surface temperature (SST) fueled the TCs during rapid intensification (RI). Though, the ultimate storm intensities of the TCs were significantly impacted by ocean mean temperature up to 26 ºC isotherm (OMT) rather than the SST. This is an important factor to be considered in studying the impact of ocean thermal energy on TCs. The passage of TCs after RI causes cooling in SST by 1–2 °C. Though, the reduction in OMT was about 0.5 °C because more ocean thermal energy is available in the upper layers. The maximum intensification of the TC Fani to the category-4 stage was much contributed by the OMT rather than SST. The energy input to the ocean due to wind stress is higher at the lower translational speed of TCs. The total (average) of mechanical energy transferred to the ocean by TCs Fani, Luban, and Ockhi are 6019 (35.8), 3460 (16.9), and 5449 (36.3) TW, respectively, during their lifecycle. The study suggests that the interaction of TCs and OMT (upper layer ocean thermal energy) rather than SST (only ocean skin temperature) has to be understood in greater detail to address the research problem of TC prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater contains several toxic heavy metals, which causes distressing effects on the environmental, animal, and human health as well. Hence, new efficient and eco-friendly methods to remove these harmful elements from industrial wastewaters are continuously being explored. During the present study, the bioremediation of industrial wastewaters by using wood degrading white rot fungi Phlebia brevispora and Phlebia floridensis and the results were also compared with Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Industrial wastewater showed the presence of significant amounts of Pb, Cd and Ni along with trace amount of Cr. Influence of these metals on the development and growth of white rot fungal strains were evaluated to confirm the degree of metal concentration tolerance using known metal solutions. Atomic absorption spectroscopic analyses revealed a maximum removal of 99–98% for Ni, 98–97% for Cd, while 12–98% for Pb from the industrial wastewater depending upon the fungi used. Scanning electron microscopic images showed the deformation and irregular expansion of fungal mycelium in the presence of synthetic blend and industrial wastewater. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the significant presence of Cr on the mycelial surface, while trace amounts of other metal were observed after the treatment. Thus, outcomes of this study point toward the onsite use of white rot fungi as biosorbents to remove these metals from industrial wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite substantial progress in the tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecasting, the prediction of rapid intensification (RI) of TCs is still a key challenge to the operational forecasting agencies. Better understanding of the environmental processes associated with RI of TCs would essentially improve its forecasting capability. The physical processes contributing to RI are not well explored in the North Indian Ocean. In this study, the environmental and structural factors associated with RI of an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) ‘Tauktae’ over the Arabian Sea are investigated using remote-sensing satellites and Doppler weather radar observations. The TC-Tauktae underwent RI during 16–17 May, 2021, and it has wreaked havoc on India’s western coastal states as it moved parallel to the west coast with track length of about 1180 km. The TC-Tauktae exhibited 61 h of eye scenes during its lifetime, which is more than the eye scenes observed during the super cyclone ‘Amphan’ in May 2020 and double the long period (1982–2015) global average of 30 h. Remote sensing-based eye roundness value and upper tropospheric warm-core anomalies showed promising results for the prediction of TC intensity at very short time scale. In addition, several oceanic and environmental parameters, such as sea surface temperature, tropical cyclone heat potential, vertical wind shear, lower level convergence, upper level divergence, relative vorticity, and total precipitable water content, during different stages of the TC-Tauktae have been analyzed using satellite-derived products to identify their roles during RI of the TC. The findings of this study could serve as supplementary information to enhance the accuracy of operational forecasting of RI of TCs over the North Indian Ocean basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity losses can lead to global environmental crisis. Humans utilize biodiversity for a variety of ecosystem services. However, what drives biodiversity losses have become a critical question during the 21st century. Lately, the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region in Asia, one of the world's pristine habitats with the origin of majestic river systems including Brahmaputra, Indus, Mekong, and Yangtze, has witnessed rapid climatic warming. The unprecedented rates of climate warming in HKH has threatened biodiversity losses, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services, and consequently the existence of mankind in the region. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science and Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlight the risks to humanity arising from unsustainable use of natural resources and loss of biodiversity worldwide under rapid climate warming condition. In addition, the growing economic transformation in HKH can have high environmental costs and biodiversity losses. By realizing this fact, the Convention on Biological Diversity addresses the key issues of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the HKH by liaising with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, the challenges of biodiversity losses, poor ecosystem functioning followed by reduced ecosystem services posed by climate warming and anthropogenic impacts needs to be addressed urgently by countries and multilateral agencies in HKH by identifying threatened ecosystem services and by providing better sustainability solutions. Here, I have outlined the current state of Himalayan biodiversity and ecosystem function and developed a framework for resilience management with an integrated approach of science and society to advance knowledge through learning. The resilience framework offers practical solutions comprising a robust and harmonized monitoring of climatic data, the use of multi-indicator approaches and modelling, and to make collaborated efforts among policy makers, implementers, and analysts to tackle evolving losses of biological diversity and reduction in ecosystem services in the HKH region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound VBT-5445 was identified as an inhibitor to block the association of Pim and the protein Enhancer of Decapping 3 (EDC3), a Pim substrate, which normally functions to enhance the decapping of messenger RNA (mRNA). It was also shown to inhibit both the Pim and mTORC protein kinases. The activity of this compound class can be fine-tuned by structural modification. A series of VBT analogs were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. These compounds decrease the growth of multiple cancer types, including pancreas, prostate, breast, lung, and leukemia. Notably, 6-methyl (GRG-1-31, 6d), 4-chloro (GRG-1-34, 6e), 4-Bromo (GRG-1-35, 6f), and phenylthio substituted (GRG-1-104, 6n) derivatives are highly potent at inhibiting tumor growth. The ability of these compounds to block cancer growth in vitro is highly correlated with their activity as mTORC inhibitors. The toxicity of GRG 1–34 is low in mice treated with twice-daily gavage for 30 days and did not induce weight loss. Pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose demonstrated a peak concentration at 0.5 h after gavage. In summary, further development of this compound class has the potential to inhibit important signaling pathways and impact cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary cancer treatment modalities is chemotherapy. Unfortunately, traditional anti-cancer drugs are often not selective and cause damage to healthy cells, leading to serious side effects for patients. For this reason more targeted therapeutics and drug delivery methods are being developed. The effectiveness of new treatments is initially determined via in vitro cell viability assays, which determine the IC 50 of the drug. However, these assays are known to result in estimates of IC 50 that depend on the measurement time, possibly resulting in over- or under-estimation of the IC 50 . Here, we test the possibility of using cell growth curves and fitting of mathematical models to determine the IC 50 as well as the maximum efficacy of a drug ( ε max ). We measured cell growth of MCF-7 and HeLa cells in the presence of different concentrations of doxorubicin and fit the data with a logistic growth model that incorporates the effect of the drug. This method leads to measurement time-independent estimates of IC 50 and ε max , but we find that ε max is not identifiable. Further refinement of this methodology is needed to produce uniquely identifiable parameter estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodetic studies of crustal deformation using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, earlier commonly referred to as Global Positioning System, GPS) measurements at CSIR-NGRI started in 1995 with the installation of a permanent GNSS station at CSIR-NGRI Hyderabad which later became an International GNSS Service (IGS) site. The CSIR-NGRI started expanding its GNSS networks after 2003 with more focussed studies through installation in the NE India, Himalayan arc, Andaman subduction zone, stable and failed rift regions of India plate. In each instance, these measurements helped in unravelling the geodynamics of the region and seismic hazard assessment, e.g., the discovery of a plate boundary fault in the Indo-Burmese wedge, rate and mode of strain accumulation and its spatial variation in the Garhwal-Kumaun and Kashmir region of the Himalayan arc, the influence of non-tectonic deformation on tectonic deformation in the Himalayan arc, nature of crustal deformation through earthquake cycle in the Andaman Sumatra subduction zone, and localised deformation in the intraplate region and across the paleo rift regions. Besides these, GNSS measurements initiated in the Antarctica region have helped in understanding the plate motion and influence of seasonal variations on deformation. Another important by-product of the GNSS observations is the capabilities of these observations in understanding the ionospheric variations due to earthquake processes and also due to solar eclipse. We summarize these outcomes in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large rivers, including the Murray River system in southeast Australia, are disturbed by many activities. The arrival of European settlers to Australia by the mid-1800s transformed many floodplain wetlands of the lower Murray River system. River impoundment and flow regulation in the late 1800s and, from the 1930s, resulted in species invasion, and elevated nutrient concentrations causing widespread eutrophication. An integrated palaeoecology, and palaeo-and-modern food web approach, incorporating mixing models, was undertaken to reveal changes in a regulated wetland (i.e. Kings Billabong). The lack of preserved sediment suggests the wetland was naturally intermittent before 1890. After this time, when used as a water retention basin, the wetland experienced net sediment accumulation. Subfossil cladocerans, and δ13C of Daphnia, chironomid, and bulk sediment, all reflected an early productive, likely clear water state and shifts in trophic state following river regulation in the 1930s. Food web mixing models, based on δ13C and δ15N in subfossil and modern Daphnia, fish, and submerged and emergent macrophytes, also indicated a shift in the trophic relationships between fish and Daphnia. By the 1970s, a new state was established but a further significant alteration of nitrogen and carbon sources, and trophic interactions, continued through to the early 2000s. A possible switch from Daphnia as a prey of Australian Smelt could have modified the food web of the wetland by c. 2006. The timing of this change corresponded to the expansion of emergent macrophytes possibly due to landscape level disruptions. The evidence of these changes suggests a need for a broader understanding of the evolution of wetlands for the management of floodplains in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within-lake spatio-temporal variability of remains of cladocerans and diatoms were examined, using trap and surficial sediment sampling approaches in Lugu Lake, one of the deep mountain lakes in the subtropical region of southwest China, to understand the response to recent environmental change. Seasonality played a strong role in the distribution patterns of both cladocerans and diatoms, but their responses to seasonal change varied. The rich resources of food supported a cladoceran population peak during summer, while increased mixing and higher nutrient triggered diatom blooms in spring. The summer also witnessed increased grazing effects of primary consumers on diatoms when the water column was nutrient-enriched. In particular, Ceriodaphnia intensified grazing on small diatoms (Cyclotella ocellata), consequently affecting community patterns during summer, while increased wind activity during spring induced turbulence, remixing, transportation and depositional processes of remains of littoral Alona guttata and benthic diatoms. The distribution pattern of cladocerans in surface sediments was similar to that of diatoms. Seasonal community patterns and trophic interactions between cladocerans and diatoms in trap and surface sediments of differential depth gradients provide evidence that high-resolution sampling of multi-proxy biological remains in deep mountain lakes of southwest China can help reduce biases in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interaction of ionic liquids with cellular membrane becomes utterly important to comprehend the activities of these liquids in living organisms. Lipid monolayer formed at the air-water interface is employed as a model system to follow this interaction by investigating important thermodynamic parameters. The penetration kinetics of the imidazolium-based ionic liquid 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([DMIM][BF4]) into the zwitterionic 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid layer is found to follow the Boltzmann-like equation that reveals the characteristic time constant which is observed to be the function of initial surface pressure. The enthalpy and entropy calculated from temperature-dependent pressure-area isotherms of the monolayer show that the added ionic liquids bring about a disordering effect in the lipid film. The change in Gibbs free energy indicates that an ionic liquid with longer chain has a far greater disordering effect compared to an ionic liquid with shorter chain. The differential scanning calorimetric measurement on a multilamellar vesicle system shows the main phase transition temperature to shift to a lower value, which, again, indicates the disordering effect of the ionic liquid on lipid membrane. All these studies fundamentally point out that, when ionic liquids interact with lipid molecules, the self-assembled structure of a cellular membrane gets perturbed, which may be the mechanism of these molecules having adverse effects on living organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mungbean ( Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is an important pulse crop in India. A major constraint for improved productivity is the yield loss caused by mungbean yellow mosaic disease (MYMD). This disease is caused by several begomoviruses which are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). The objective of this study was to identify the predominant begomoviruses infecting mungbean and the major cryptic species of B. tabaci associated with this crop in India. The indigenous B. tabaci cryptic species Asia II 1 was found dominant in Northern India, whereas Asia II 8 was found predominant in Southern India. Repeated samplings over consecutive years indicate a stable situation with, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus strains genetically most similar to a strain from urdbean (MYMV-Urdbean) predominant in North India, strains most similar to MYMV-Vigna predominant in South India, and Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) strains predominant in Eastern India. In field studies, mungbean line NM 94 showed a high level of tolerance to the disease in the Eastern state of Odisha where MYMIV was predominant and in the Southern state of Andhra Pradesh where MYMV-Vigna was predominant, but only a moderate level of tolerance in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu. However, in Northern parts of India where there was high inoculum pressure of MYMV-Urdbean during the Kharif season, NM 94 developed severe yellow mosaic symptoms. The identification of high level of tolerance in mungbean lines such as ML 1628 and of resistance in black gram and rice bean provides hope for tackling the disease through resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In nuclear technology, the solvent extraction is an important step for recovery of rare earth materials, purification, radionuclide production, and preparation of nuclear reactor materials. Tributyl phosphate (TBP) and toluene are taken as extractant and diluent, respectively, for study of extraction efficiency for rare earth element like CeO. Methods: In the present paper, idea of ultrasonic sound theory is intensively applied to study the physicochemical property of extractants and diluent pair. Results: The experimental value of ultrasonic velocity, measured density, molar volume, and viscosity are used for computation of acoustical parameters and their excess values. The variations of physical and acoustical parameter are discussed in terms of molecular interactions. The prepared samples are treated for extraction of CeO by separating the organo-aqueous phase. The recovery of this reactor material with the help of this ultrasonic technique has been explained in terms of nature and extent of intermolecular interactions present in the binary mixture. Conclusions: The ultrasonic treatment for the recovery of this material provides an optimum value of the binary mixture for recovery of CeO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to issue an accurate warning for flood, a better or appropriate quantitative forecasting of precipitation is required. In view of this, the present study intends to validate the quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) issued during southwest monsoon season for six river catchments (basin) under the flood meteorological office, Patna region. The forecast is analysed statistically by computing various skill scores of six different precipitation ranges during the years 2011-2014. The analysis of QPF validation indicates that the multi-model ensemble (MME) based forecasting is more reliable in the precipitation ranges of 1-10 and 11-25 mm. However, the reliability decreases for higher ranges of rainfall and also for the lowest range, i.e., below 1 mm. In order to testify synoptic analogue method based MME forecasting for QPF during an extreme weather event, a case study of tropical cyclone Phailin is performed. It is realized that in case of extreme events like cyclonic storms, the MME forecasting is qualitatively useful for issue of warning for the occurrence of floods, though it may not be reliable for the QPF. However, QPF may be improved using satellite and radar products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The satellite derived meteorological parameters are quite useful for understanding the genesis of a tropical cyclone. This paper analyses some of the characteristic features of the tropical cyclone (TC) PHET using satellite derived meteorological observations, and numerical model simulations while investigating the performance of various cumulus parameterization schemes using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system. The genesis of the TC is primarily discussed using the observed meteorological parameters including the outgoing long-wave radiation, quantitative precipitation estimate (or rainfall), sea surface temperature, relative vorticity and upper tropospheric humidity. These satellite derived parameters show suitable meteorological condition for the development and propagation of the TC. The qualitative analysis of WRF simulated results indicates that Kain-Fritsch cumulus scheme (Kain and Fritsch, and ; Kain, ) performs relatively better in predicting various parameters in relation to the genesis and propagation of PHET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to elucidate on usefulness of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) for photoreductive degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a representative perfluorinated compound (PFC), in water for the first time. Bench-scale tests were conducted on oxidative and reductive (with aquated electron: e) mineralization of PFOA using low-pressure UV (LPUV) lamps and potassium iodide. Unlike with 254 nm wavelength (UVC), the reductive mineralization with VUV was very inefficient compared to the corresponding oxidative mineralization. The inefficiency is attributed to low reactivity of e with PFOA and its fluorinated products than that of 185 nm photons. Direct VUV photolysis of PFOA and its products in reductive reaction conditions was not apparent due to a very big difference in reactivity of 185 and 254 nm photons with iodide. The results demonstrated that highly energetic VUV photons are not suitable for photoreductive degradations of PFCs involving e, but they can be best used for oxidative degradations. These findings should serve as an important reference on VUV usage to decompose refractory micropollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coverage of satellite derived winds over the Indian region including Indian Ocean has improved by the operation of India's first dedicated satellite for meteorology, KALPANA-1 since 12 September 2002. Atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) are being derived at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi on a routine operational basis. The AMV is recognized as an important source of information for numerical weather prediction (NWP) and is particularly suited for tracking the low and middle level clouds mainly because of the good contrast in albedo between target and background, whereas the upper level moisture pattern can be better tracked by water vapor winds (WVW) using water vapor (WV) channel (5.7-7.1 μm). The WVWs proved to be a very useful wind product for predicting the future track position of cyclones, well marked low pressure areas or heavy rainfall warnings in advance and so, often these types of weather systems are steered by the upper level winds. In the present study, the quantitative as well as qualitative analyses of KALPANA-1 WVW have been carried out. The primary change introduced is making use of first guess (FG) forecast fields obtained from National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and Global Forecast System (GFS), at a resolution of 1° × 1° with T-382/L64 instead of forecasts of operational limited area model (LAM) of IMD. The overall results showed a consistent improvement after using improved FG wind fields from NCEP instead of LAM with a significantly increasing number of good qualities of KALPANA-1 derived WVWs. The quantitative error analysis has also been carried out for the validation of WVWs using collocated radiosonde observations for the period from May 2008 to December 2009 and the available mid-upper level winds derived from METEOSAT-7 data for the period from October to December 2008. The analysis shows that after modification, the RMSE and bias of KALPANA-1 WVWs have reduced considerably. Further, to assess the impact of these winds, a high resolution mesoscale model WRF 3DVAR system is used in the present study for the analysis of tropical cyclone 'Sidr'. The results show that the wind assimilation experiments (analysis at 200 hPa) using upper level KALPANA-1 WVW have great potential for improving the NWP analysis. The impact of additional wind data in the model is found to be positive and beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While qualitative information from meteorological satellites has long been recognized as critical for monitoring weather events such as tropical cyclone activity, quantitative data are required to improve the numerical prediction of these events. In this paper, the sea surface winds from QuikSCAT, cloud motion vectors and water vapor winds from KALPANA-1 are assimilated using three-dimensional variational assimilation technique within Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) modeling system. Further, the sensitivity experiments are also carried out using the available cumulus convective parameterizations in WRF modeling system. The model performance is evaluated using available observations, and both qualitative and quantitative analyses are carried out while analyzing the surface and upper-air characteristics over Mumbai (previously Bombay) and Goa during the occurrence of the tropical cyclone PHYAN at the west coast of Indian subcontinent. The model-predicted surface and upper-air characteristics show improvements in most of the situations with the use of the satellite-derived winds from QuikSCAT and KALPANA-1. Some of the model results are also found to be better in sensitivity experiments using cumulus convection schemes as compared to the CONTROL simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread detection of pharmaceutical compounds in water environment has been a serious concern recently, while conventional sewage treatments are ineffective for their elimination. But, advanced oxidation techniques are very promising to remove varieties of organic contaminants in water. This research aims to elucidate oxidation potentials of sixteen commonly used pharmaceutical compounds in mixed solutions by seven advanced oxidation techniques in laboratory batch experiments. The removal profiles exhibited four distinct patterns: a) easily degradable by all seven techniques, b) not easily degradable by all seven techniques, c) easily degradable by ozone-based techniques, but not by ultraviolet radiation-based techniques and d) easily degradable by ultraviolet radiation-based techniques, but not by ozone-based techniques. Ozone-based techniques rather than ultraviolet radiation-based techniques were very powerful for simultaneous removal of the compounds efficiently. Moreover, ozonation combined with ultraviolet radiation was the most appropriate technique for simultaneous removal of the tested compounds efficiently. Increased ozone dissolution and decomposition with ozone-based techniques did not always enhance the compounds' removal. Physicochemical properties of the compounds and solution pH also presumably played an important role on the removal which merits further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a methodology for selecting optimum machining parameters in multi-pass turning using particle swarm intelligence. Often, multi-pass turning operations are designed to satisfy several practical cutting constraints in order to achieve the overall objective, such as production cost or machining time. Compared with the standard handbook approach, computer-aided optimization procedures provide rapid and accurate solutions in selecting the cutting parameters. In this paper, a non-conventional optimization technique known as particle swarm optimization (PSO) is implemented to obtain the set of cutting parameters that minimize unit production cost subject to practical constraints. The dynamic objective function approach adopted in the paper resolves a complex, multi-constrained, nonlinear turning model into a single, unconstrained objective problem. The best solution in each generation is obtained by comparing the unit production cost and the total non-dimensional constraint violation among all of the particles. The methodology is illustrated with examples of bar turning and a component of continuous form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate sorption and desorption experiments were conducted with four ferruginous soils (alfisols) of Eastern India, in view of the low native phosphate concentrations in tropical Indian soils. From the P-isotherm curve, standard P requirement (SPR) of the soils was determined. Phosphate sorption data were fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich equations and mean sorption maximum values obtained for the different soil series were in the decreasing order as Matimahal > Anandapur > Mrigindih > Kashipur. The fraction of added P sorbed followed the same trend as SPR, P sorption maximum (Pmax), phosphate affinity constant ( K), maximum phosphate buffering capacity (MPBC), Freundlich constant K′ and phosphate desorption values. Phosphate sorption maximum was significantly correlated with MPBC, Freundlich 1/ n, SPR, clay and different forms of Fe and Al. The value of K (bonding energy) was significantly correlated with MPBC, Freundlich K′ and pyrophosphate extractable Fe and Al. The MPBC was significantly correlated with Freundlich K′, Freundlich constant 1/ n, clay, oxalate and dithionite extractable, amorphous and crystalline form of Fe and Al. Freundlich K′ was significantly correlated with Freundlich 1/ n, pHwater, clay, dithionite extractable and crystalline form of Fe and Al. The results suggested that the soils having higher amount of extractable and reactive Fe and Al shared higher P sorbtion capacity and such soils may need higher levels of P application [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma levels of lipids, lipoproteins and lipid peroxides and erythrocyte Na+−K+ ATPase, Mg2+ATPase and antioxidant enzymes were measured in type-2 diabetic patients. A significant decrease in Na+-K+-ATPase activity was observed in diabetic patients which was negatively correlated with blood glucose and lipid peroxides, while the Mg2+-ATPase activity was increased. In the diabetic subjects the plasma concentrations of Na+ and K+ were increased where as erythrocyte levels of Na+ were increased and K+ were decreased. Hyperlipidaemia and increased levels of lipid peroxides were observed in the diabetic subjects. There was a significant increase in erythrocyte catalase activity in diabetics which positively correlated with their lipid peroxides. There was no change in GPx activities between controls and diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the effect of solvents and temperature on the photophysical properties of 4-methyl-7-aminocoumarin (I), and 4-methyl-7-dimethylaminocoumarin (II). Change of solvent gives rise to Stokes' shift but due to specific interactions, the excited state dipole moments cannot be calculated. Experimental values of percentage polarization in different polar solvents indicate the formation of 1∶1 solute-solvent exciplexes/intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Further, it is observed that the fluorescence intensity decreases with increase in temperature for the compound II, but remains constant for compound I. This difference in behaviour is examined in terms of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) states of the coumarin molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]