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Rastrelliger kanagurta(Cuvier, 1817), commonly known as the Indian mackerel, is found widely across the coastlines of the Indian Ocean. This study explores the applicability of the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) for predicting the habitat preferences of the Indian mackerel. Data on Indian mackerel catch and oceanographic parameters were collected from January 2017 to April 2019. Parameters such as Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL), Sea Surface Height (SSH), Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), Mixed Layer Depth (MLD), and Ocean Currents (OC) were sourced from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) satellites. Initial ggpairs plot analysis showed positive correlations between Indian mackerel abundance and SSH (p< 0.01, r= 0.19), and negative correlations with SSS (p< 0.01, r= -0.23) and OC (p< 0.05, r= -0.15). GAM results indicated that CHL (p< 0.001), SSS (p< 0.001), SSH (p< 0.001), SST (p< 0.001), and MLD (p< 0.05) significantly influence Indian mackerel catch along the Northwest coast of India. The distribution map revealed high abundance in the coastal waters of Mumbai and Raigad. GAM outputs were employed to generate a spatial prediction map, suggesting the potential for increased catches beyond 50 m depth compared to coastal areas. This study highlights the usefulness of multispectral satellite images in identifying potential fishing grounds. The findings from this research can aid decision-making, reduce fuel costs related to search and fishing operations, and enhance understanding of climate change effects on Indian mackerel distribution. more...

The introduction of social distancing norms and lockdown steps countries has taken to curb the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a rise in the usage of mobile payment apps that support the Digital India initiative. Primary data was collected from the opinion shared by the digital payments application users through a questionnaire to grasp the assorted apprehensions concerning the payments apps. The user-generated data were analysed to investigate the dormant sentiments and to spot major domains wherever interference is needed to create the payment applications more user friendly and acceptable. A structural equation model of extended technology acceptance model (TAM) has been developed using Warp PLS. It is observed that consumer behaviour, process satisfaction, and customer service have a significant relationship with perceived usefulness. Security concern and customer support have a significant relationship with perceived ease of use. more...

ABSTRACTRemote Sensing-based multi-time point imagery helps incorporate the potentiality of time series analysis in crop classification studies. Single timepoint imagery has limitations in this aspect due to a comparatively similar spectral signature of crops. Even in multi-time point imagery, the viability of optical datasets is thwarted by clouds in crop growing seasons. Hence, researchers have used the all-weather imaging capabilities of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for crop classification. This all-weather capability of SAR and the multispectral capability of Optical datasets combined with their time series data hold great potential in remote sensing-based crop classification. Nevertheless, the underlying patterns of the combined SAR and optical time series haven’t been meticulously explored, especially for socio-economically important crops like sugarcane. Therefore, this study proposes using the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 time-series datasets and crop phenology information to develop a Neural Network capable of identifying sugarcane crops in the sugar belts of Western-Uttar Pradesh. Studies are done for the year 2020 using a Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network obtaining high accuracies in classifying sugarcane and non-sugarcane classes using optical and SAR time-series analysis datasets. The synthetic dataset has also been developed to enhance the convergence of the deep learning model, producing higher accuracy than utilizing the original dataset. Consequently, the study contributes to remote sensing-based crop classification and sets a foundation for further advancements in this domain. more...

The provision for quality healthcare do not hit the doorsteps of the vulnerable. Today, the most based model is physical consultation. They want to establish other service delivery models in healthcare, as diseases are also growing with the rising population. This paper discusses the possibilities for the healthcare industry to introduce a digital service delivery model. Telemedicine is a digital health delivery system that deals with the technique of the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using telecommunication and information technology. The emphasis is on introducing a telemedicine network in a multi-specialty hospital with 1,900 bedded, creating increased potential for patient registration and profits. This will allow the rural community to boost efficiency and affordability of quality healthcare services. An attempt is made to construct from the available telemedicine patient database a prediction model, queuing model, revenue model, and scheduling model. more...

Differential evolution (DE) is a simple and robust evolutionary algorithm. Incorporation of parameter control mechanisms to DE is one thriving research area to improve its performance. Evolving the parameters along with the candidate solutions is a popular parameter control strategy. This paper proposes to investigate different parameter evolution strategies for two of its control parameters - mutation step size (F) and crossover probability (CR), using a well-defined set of four benchmarking problems with diverse characteristics and two performance metrics. This study discusses the influence of F and CR on the performance of DE, implements 25 difference instances of self-adaptive strategy for F and CR, analyses the performance to select the best strategy and validates the superiority of the proposed strategy on solving the RFID reader placement problem. The study found that the proposed strategy could solve the benchmarking functions and the chosen real-world problem faster than classical DE algorithm. more...

A new disease has recently been observed in small cardamom grown in various parts of Cardamom Hill Reserves in Idukki district, Kerala, India. The disease is characterized by the development of longitudinal sunken lesions of varying length and colour on tillers as well as subsequent splitting and separation of sheaths. Lesions may occasionally appear on leaf sheaths and later spread along the tiller. Lesions on tillers as well as leaf sheaths turn cream in colour with reddish brown margin as the infection progresses. Symptoms develop on leaves as elongated brown lesions with a greyish brown centre. Based on the morphological and molecular studies, the pathogen was identified as Phomasp. This is the first report of Phomainfection in small cardamom from Western Ghats of India. more...

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a successful quality improvement program. However, many pieces of literature have reported that companies have struggled with LSS projects and Indian manufacturing firms are no exception to this scenario. Therefore, this article describes LSS implementation at a manufacturing company. The company manufactures power take off (PTO) shafts for tractors. Nevertheless, the company was receiving high non-conformance resulting in part rejection. Therefore, the study deals with the defect reduction through LSS implementation. Using the DMAIC approach with suitable tools, statistical analyses were performed to identify the bottleneck in the operations, and the corrective measure was taken to improve the quality of PTO. In addition, the researchers proposed preventive methods for reoccurring issues and developed a plan to sustain the project to find the required results. At the end of the project, the researchers yielded considerable cost saving and defect reduction. The study concludes with the managerial implications and contribution to the society with the limitations of the study. more...

The study aims to provide a prevalent and systematised understanding into the contemporary publications on humanitarian logistics to observe trends and to propose an agenda for future exploration, based on gaps detected through the systematic analysis. A thorough review of scholarly articles from conference proceeding and peer-reviewed journal articles addressing humanitarian logistics (HLs) was attained. The content analysis (CA) approach comprising of four-step put forward by Mayring (2004) was used to conduct the review of the literature. In conducting the study, the researchers understood the core of logistics in humanitarian operations and proposed a MAPA model, to manage challenges and to address the precise needs of relief measures. The reliability of the study could be further enlarged by testing the CSF and challenges of HL. Humanitarian logistics is a subject that formerly has been discussed qualitatively in the study. This work bestows researchers with a new model to address the challenges faced in HL. more...

The aim of this research work is to improve the efficiency of differential evolution (DE)algorithm, at the cases of its unsuccessful searches. Initially, this work discusses and compares different methods to measure the population diversity of DEalgorithm implemented for DE/rand/1/binvariant for a set of benchmarking functions. A method which well demonstrates difference in population diversity evolution at successful and unsuccessful cases of DEsearch is identified based on comparison. This work is then extended to detect unsuccessful searches in advance using the evolution of population diversity measured by the identified method. On detecting a search as unsuccessful, a parameter adaptation strategy to adapt the mutation step size (F) is added to DEalgorithm to recover from it. The improved DEalgorithm, which comprises of the logic of adapting Fvalue based on the population diversity, is compared with its classical version and found outperforming. The comparison results are reported in this paper. more...

We report the first observational evidence for the transport of the solar wind protons scattered from the lunar magnetic anomaly (LMA) into the near wake region from SWIM/Sub‐keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) aboard Chandrayaan‐1. These protons with high angular spread are observed in the near wake region for specific orientations of interplanetary magnetic field. The typical energy range is 600–1,000 eV, which is either smaller or comparable to that of solar wind. Using our backtracing model, the source region of these protons is found to be the large LMA at South Pole‐Aitken basin on the dayside, suggesting that these are solar wind protons forward scattered from LMA at the South Pole‐Aitken. The flux of these protons is ∼5 × 10−4of the solar wind proton flux, which is comparable to the proton population in near wake due to other known processes. Such protons can significantly affect the electromagnetic environment in near wake region. The understanding of solar wind interaction with the Moon and the ensuing plasma dynamics are still evolving. The near lunar wake refilling by solar wind protons are a recent discovery, and a few processes are now known to play a role. The small‐scale crustal magnetic fields on the Moon can also cause scattering of the impinging solar wind protons back to space. This paper shows for the first time that solar wind protons scattered from lunar magnetic regions on dayside can get transported to the nightside of the Moon, thereby contributing an additional process of plasma refilling in the near wake region. The results have direct applications to near lunar plasma environment and to any atmosphere‐less body with no global magnetic field, such as asteroids and several planetary satellites. The findings have impact on space plasma physics, as well as lunar and planetary science communities. First observation on transport of solar wind protons scattered from lunar magnetic anomaly into the near wake regionForward scattering by magnetic anomaly at South Pole‐Aitken basin for high solar zenith angleThe flux is estimated to be ∼5 × 10‐4of the solar wind proton flux more...

We report a new population of suprathermal H+(∼1.5–3 times the solar wind energy) around the Moon observed by Solar Wind Monitor (SWIM)/Sub‐keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) on Chandrayaan‐1. These ions have large initial velocity (>100 km s−1) and are observed on the dayside, near the terminator, and in the near‐wake region (100–200 km above the surface), when the Moon is located outside Earth's bow shock. Backtracing suggests that the source is located >500 km above the dayside lunar surface. Possible sources considered for these ions are ionization of backscattered lunar energetic neutral hydrogen atoms, ionization of lunar exospheric hydrogen, inner source pickup ions, interstellar pickup ions, ionization of neutral solar wind, and solar wind H+reflected from Earth's bow shock. The comparison of the observed flux (density) with that expected from these sources and the velocity distribution suggests that an additional source is required to explain the population. Observation of a new population of suprathermal (1.5–3 times the solar wind energy) H+around the MoonSource located above the lunar surface (>500 km) in the sunward directionPossible source mechanisms are considered, but an additional mechanism is required to fully explain the new population more...

The altitude profiles of argon‐40 (Ar) in the Martian exosphere are reported using Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser aboard Indian Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) from four orbits during December 2014 (Ls = 250°–257°), when MOM's periapsis altitude was the lowest. The upper limit of Ar number density corresponding to this period is ∼5 × 105cm−3(∼250 km), and the typical scale height is ∼16 km, corresponding to an exospheric temperature of ∼275 K. However, on two orbits, the scale height over this altitude region is found to increase significantly making the effective temperature >400 K. Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer observations on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission also indicate that the change in slope in Ar density occurs near the upper exosphere (around 230–260 km). These observations indicate significant suprathermal CO2and Ar populations in the Martian exosphere. Significant wave‐like perturbations are observed but only on certain days when suprathermal population is seen. Pickup ion‐induced heating is discussed as the other viable source. MENCA observations of argon in the Martian exosphere suggest significant variabilityScale height for Ar in the 250–300 km region is higher on certain days, indicating the presence of suprathermal atomsNGIMS‐MAVEN observations also suggest the presence of suprathermal Ar population in the Martian exosphere more...

The Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA) aboard the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is a quadrupole mass spectrometer which provides in situ measurement of the composition of the low‐latitude Martian neutral exosphere. The altitude profiles of the three major constituents, i.e., amu 44 (CO2), amu 28 (N2+ CO), and amu 16 (O) in the Martian exosphere during evening (close to sunset terminator) hours are reported using MENCA observations from four orbits of MOM during late December 2014, when MOM's periapsis altitude was the lowest. The altitude range of the observation encompasses the diffusively separated region much above the well‐mixed atmosphere. The transition from CO2to O‐dominated region is observed near 270 km. The mean exospheric temperature derived using these three mass numbers is 271 ± 5 K. These first observations corresponding to the Martian evening hours would help to provide constraints to the thermal escape models. MENCA observations of the exospheric densities of amu 44, amu 28, and amu 16Measurements during evening hours, close to sunset, when the solar EUV forcing is smallThe exospheric temperature derived from MENCA is consistent with previous observations more...

Since the Moon is not shielded by a global magnetic field or by an atmosphere, solar wind plasma impinges onto the lunar surface almost unhindered. Until recently, it was assumed that almost all of the impinging solar wind ions are absorbed by the surface. However, recent Interstellar Boundary Explorer, Chandrayaan‐1, and Kaguya observations showed that the interaction process between the solar wind ions and the lunar surface is more complex than previously assumed. In contrast to previous assumptions, a large fraction of the impinging solar wind ions is backscattered as energetic neutral atoms. Using the complete Chandrayaan‐1 Energetic Neutral Analyzer data set, we compute a global solar wind reflection ratio of 0.16 ± 0.05 from the lunar surface. Since these backscattered neutral particles are not affected by any electric or magnetic fields, each particle's point of origin on the lunar surface can be determined in a straight‐forward manner allowing us to create energetic neutral atom maps of the lunar surface. The energetic neutral atom measurements recorded by the Chandrayaan‐1 Energetic Neutral Analyzer cover ∼89%of the lunar surface, whereby the lunar farside is almost completely covered. We analyzed all available energetic neutral atom measurements recorded by the Chandrayaan‐1 Energetic Neutral Analyzer to create the first global energetic neutral hydrogen maps of the lunar surface. From the Chandrayaan-1/CENA data we compute a global ENA albedo of 0.16+/-0.05We present the first global energetic hydrogen map of the lunar surfaceThe high energy ENA map correlates well with magnetic field surface maps more...

We report the first observation of Argon‐40 (Ar‐40) in the mid latitude regions (−60°to +60°) of the lunar exosphere from CHandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer‐2 (CHACE‐2) experiment aboard Chandrayaan‐2 orbiter. The number density of Ar‐40 shows pre‐sunrise, sunrise and sunset peaks as well as nightside minima, typical of a condensable gas, which is similar to the features seen at the low latitudes in previous observations. The CHACE‐2 observed number densities of Ar‐40 and its diurnal variation at low latitudes (−30°to +30°) is consistent with LACE/Apollo observations. CHACE‐2 observations show Ar‐40 enhancements over certain longitude sectors. In addition to KREEP region, Ar‐40 bulges are observed at other longitudes, including the South Pole Aitken (SPA) terrain. The global distribution of Ar‐40 shows that the sunrise peak is observed at the same local time over highlands and mare regions. These observations call for a deeper understanding of the surface‐exosphere interactions and source distribution. The Moon is known to possess a tenuous atmosphere, known as surface bound exosphere. Lunar exosphere exists as a result of a dynamic equilibrium between several sources and sink processes. Noble gases serves as important tracers to understand such processes. Though, Argon‐40 (Ar‐40) is known to exist in lunar exosphere, the knowledge on its distribution at higher latitudes is lacking. For the first time, CHandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer‐2 (CHACE‐2) experiment aboard Chandrayaan‐2 orbiter has continuously observed Ar‐40 in latitude range of −60°to +60°. It is found that the Ar‐40 density variation with local solar time shows the behavior of a condensable gas, which is similar to that observed earlier at low latitudes. The distribution of Ar‐40 shows spatial heterogeneity with localized enhancements over KREEP and South Pole Aitken terrain. This suggests that there may be other regions with lower activation energy as the source of Ar‐40. The observed global distribution indicates that the interaction of Ar‐40 with the surface are similar in low and mid latitude regions. The CHACE‐2 observations hint at requirement for improvement in our understanding of the surface‐exosphere interactions and source distributions of Ar‐40. First observation of Argon‐40 in the mid latitude exosphere of the MoonObserved nightside minimum and sunrise and sunset peaks in Ar‐40 abundance is similar to that at low latitudesEnhanced Ar‐40 number density is observed at few longitudes, including South Pole Aitken terrain, in addition to KREEP First observation of Argon‐40 in the mid latitude exosphere of the Moon Observed nightside minimum and sunrise and sunset peaks in Ar‐40 abundance is similar to that at low latitudes Enhanced Ar‐40 number density is observed at few longitudes, including South Pole Aitken terrain, in addition to KREEP more...

The proportion of blue carbon contribution by benthic fauna with regard to climate change issue is a relevant topic recent times. The present study is focusing on the carbon potential and blue carbon contribution of meiobenthic nematodes in the intermediate zone of Arctic Kongsfjord during 2015–2017 and the study is the first of its kind from this region. Foraminifera and Nematoda were the dominant fauna in 2015; whereas it was Foraminifera in 2016 and Tintinnida and Nematoda in 2017. Significant difference was noticed in the community structure of meiofauna in this three consecutive years. Twenty six nematodes were identified from the intermediate zone and their individual carbon potential and total blue carbon during the above-mentioned period is estimated. Parasphaerolaimus paradoxus(7.14 ± 0.05 μg/mg) recorded the highest carbon potential and the lowest value was recorded in Terschellingia longicaudata(0.11 ± 0.3 μg/mg). The sediment factors such as sediment granulometric composition, salinity, pH, Eh and total organic carbon (TOC) were the leading factors influencing the meiofaunal distribution as well as the distribution of nematodes based on carbon potential in the intermediate zone. Investigation of blue carbon deposition by nematodes turned out to be relevant in mitigating the climatic change as the fjord has a tranquil nature. more...

We present first measurements of energetic neutral atoms that originate from solar wind plasma having interacted with the lunar nightside surface. We observe two distinct energetic neutral atom (ENA) distributions parallel to the terminator, the spectral shape, and the intensity of both of which indicate that the particles originate from the bulk solar wind flow. The first distribution modifies the dayside ENA flux to reach ∼6° into the nightside and is well explained by the kinetic temperature of the solar wind protons. The second distribution, which was not predicted, reaches from the terminator to up to 30° beyond the terminator, with a maximum at ∼102° in solar zenith angle. As most likely wake transport processes for this second distribution we identify acceleration by the ambipolar electric field and by the negatively charged lunar nightside surface. In addition, our data provide the first observation indicative of a global solar zenith angle dependence of positive dayside surface potentials. We present first measurements of solar wind plasma having interacted with the lunar nightside surfaceWe observe two energetic neutral terminator cocentric rings, both of which originate in the solar wind bulk flowOur data provide the first observation indicative of a global solar zenith angle dependence of positive surface potentials more...

The origin of the Moon's ionosphere has been explored using Chandrayaan‐1 radio occultation (RO) measurements and a photochemical model. The electron density near the Moon's surface, obtained on 31 July 2009 (∼300 cm−3), is compared with results from a model which includes production and recombination of 16 ions, solar wind proton charge exchange, and the electron impact ionization. The model calculations suggest that in the absence of transport, inert ions, namely Ar+, Ne+, and He+, dominate lunar ionosphere (density ∼5 × 104cm−3). Interaction with solar wind, however, leads to their complete removal (∼2–3 cm−3). Assuming the Moon's exosphere to have CO2, H2O, O, OH, H2, CH4, and CO molecules in addition to the inert gases, the model calculations suggest that the lunar ionosphere is dominated by molecular ions, namely H2O+, CO 2+, and H3O+, with near‐surface density ∼250 cm−3. We surmise that lunar ionosphere can be molecular in nature. Electron density of ∼300 cm−3near the lunar surface observed by Chandrayaan‐1 RO measurementsDeveloped a theoretical model to explain observationsModel results suggest that the lunar ionosphere can be molecular in nature more...