Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Growth trends and forecasting of fish production in Assam, India using ARIMA model
Get PDFFish is an essential component of the diet of the most populace in Assam and fish farming has been one of the sources of livelihood in rural areas. Assam ranks first in fish production among North-eastern states of India. However, fish production is not sufficient to meet the demand despite having vast aquatic resources in the state. The present study was undertaken to determine the decadal growth of fish production in the state using the compound growth rate. The study also attempted modeling and forecasting of fish production in Assam using Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) methodology. For the present study, time-series data on fish production in Assam from 1980-81 to 2018-19 was obtained from the Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Assam. Data for the period 1980-81 to 2014-15 was utilized to build an ARIMA model and validated through the remaining data from 2015-16 to 2018-19. The best suitable model for the state’s fish production was ARIMA (1,1,0) based on the values of the model selection criterion. The actual fish production and forecast values using a fitted model were in close agreement. The out-of-sample forecast values of fish production in the state for the subsequent years 2019-20 to 2022-23 showed an increasing trend from 336.97 to 358.21 thousand metric tonnes. Considering the vast aquatic resources in the state, the study calls for serious attention by policymakers, researchers, and developmental agencies for harnessing the potential of fisheries resources for making the North-east region self-sufficient in fish production as a whole and Assam in particular.
A study on landuse and landcover classification using microwave data in Joida taluk of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka
Get PDFThe study has been conducted for land use and land cover classification by using SAR data. The study included examining of ALOS 2 PALSAR L- band quad pol (HH, HV, VH and VV) SAR data for LULC classification. The SAR data was pre-processed first which included multilook, radiometric calibration, geometric correction, speckle filtering, SAR Polarimetry and decomposition. For land use land cover classification of ALOS-2-PALSAR data sets, the supervised Random forest classifier was used. Training samples were selected with the help of ground truth data. The area was classified under 7 different classes such as dense forest, moderate dense forest, scrub/sparse forest, plantation, agriculture, water body, and settlements. Among them the highest area was covered by dense forest (108647ha) followed by horticulture plantation (57822 ha) and scrub/Sparse forest (49238 ha) and lowest area was covered by moderate dense forest (11589 ha). Accuracy assessment was performed after classification. The overall accuracy of SAR data was 80.36% and Kappa Coefficient was 0.76. Based on SAR backscatter reflectance such as single, double, and volumetric scattering mechanism different land use classes were identified
Optimization of in vitro rooting protocol for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.) varieties
Get PDFIn vitro rooting of micropropagated shoots were carried out with the aim of evaluating the root induction responses of two tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL) varieties (Gelilema and Chali) using Indole -3- butyric acid (IBA). Seven levels of IBA (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 mg L-1) were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) in factorial combinations (seven level of IBA*two varieties) with three replications. After the plantlets were kept in the rooting media for three weeks, data on rooting percentage, number of roots/shoots and root length in cm were collected. The analysis of variance showed that the interaction of IBA*Var was highly significantly different for rooting percentage, a number of roots/shoot and root length at p<0.01. The highest rooting percentage (100.00±0.00), number of roots/shoot (14.20±0.35) and root length (10.7±0.29) were received from Chali on free Murashige and Skoog medium (MS). At the same time, the lowest percentage of rooting (11.11±0.00), number of roots/shoot (0.887±0.19) and root length (1.00±0.00 cm) were obtained from Gelilema on MS+1.5mg/l IBA. For acclimatization, the in vitro rooted shoots were transplanted into plastic pots containing a mixture of oven sterilized soil and sand at a ratio of 2:1. After three weeks, a survival rate of 67.7% for Chali and 58.1% for Gelilema was obtained. From the above result, it can be concluded that free MS medium was the best for in vitro rooting of the two tomato varieties. The optimized protocol will be useful for rapid in vitro multiplication of the two tomato varieties
An overview of the unexplored underutilized fruit crops of Assam, India
Get PDFAssam is the largest state of North-East India. This state is considered as one of the most extravagant biodiversity hotspots of the world because of its different geography, atmosphere and agro-environmental conditions. Various plant species that incorporate natural products have their starting point in this locale. A considerable number of these are yet to be developed in wild or semi-wild states. Regardless of the huge hereditary decent variety of these natural products, just a couple have been grown as business crops for their monetary, social and strict significance. Some of the explored fruit crops of Assam that have many potentials of being used not only in culinary purpose but also in much Ayurvedic medicine which is still underutilized Some of the underutilized fruit (UUF) crops of Assam are Kordoi/Carambola (Averrhoa Carambola), Leteku/Burmese grape (Baccurea sapida), Amra/Hog plum (Spondius mangifera), Jalphai/Olive (Olea europaea), Bael/Stone apple (Aegle marmelos), Imli/Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Jamun/Wild Jamun (Sygium cuminii), Thekera/Garcinia spp., Poniol/Govorners plum (Falcourita jangomas), Outenga/Elephant fruit (Delinia indica ) and Amlokhi/ Indian Goose berry (Phyllanthus emblica) etc. Fruits have multipurpose utilisations and consequently assume critical job, particularly, for the prosperity of country individuals by giving sustenance, family pay and business. Huge numbers of these natural fruits have been utilised as customary restorative plants and some have discovered a significant spot in the Indian arrangement of Ayurvedic medicine and Unani since days of yore. Regardless of their latent capacity, these indigenous fruit crops are less known both at scientific and farmers level particularly in our region and some of them like wild jackfruit (Artocarpus hirsutus), Rattan (Calamus rotang) , Naga tenga (Myrica esculenta) etc. which are nearer to extinction
Extraction of natural dye from the leaves of Wild Himalayan pear (Pyruspashia) and optimization of the dyeing parameters using Box-Behnken Design (RSM)
Get PDFToday universe is inclined towards eco-friendly and sustainable products. Its interest is shifting from synthetic products to natural once. The present study involves the optimization of extraction pH of natural dye and optimization of dyeing parameters for dyeing of silk fabric using response surface methodology (RSM). The extraction of dye from the leaves of Pyrus pashia (Wild Himalayan pear) was carried out in acidic, neutral and alkaline pH. The neutral pH exhibited the highest colour strength than alkaline and acidic pH. Box-Behnken Design (RSM) was used for optimization of dyeing variables. The effect of independent variables i.e. dye material concentration, dyeing time and temperature were assessed on dependent variable i.e colour strength of the dyed silk fabric sample. The optimized dyeing variables obtained for application of P. pashia leaf dye on silk fabric were 5% (w/v) dye material concentration, 70°C dyeing temperature and 45 minutes dyeing time. It not only creates a source for a natural dye but can also lead to creating employment amongst the rural people. P. pashia has a potential to colour silk fabric and can be used to dye other natural fibres such as cotton and wool which can be a step towards sustainable development. dyeing with its leaf extract can be helpful in promoting eco-friendly processing of textiles
Antidandruff activity of Cassia auriculata and Cassia alata through fatty acids mediated inhibition of Malassezia furfur
Get PDFSusceptibility of Malassezia furfur to certain medium chain fatty acids shed light onto novel strategies to control dandruff. This study explored antidandruff activity of the fatty acids and other bioactive compounds from flowers of Cassia auriculata and Cassia alata. The idea was supplementing the growth medium with fatty acids which are inhibitory to Malassezia so that plant-based antidandruff formulations could be developed based on the results. Chloroform and ethanolic flower extracts were tested there in vitro efficacy against M. furfur and the potential antidandruff compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for both the extracts and IC50 values of 50 and 88 µM for chloroform extract of C. auriculata and C. alata were recorded. For ethanol extract, IC50 values of 75 and 70 µM were exhibited by C. auriculata and C. alata, respectively. Inhibition of M. furfur through fatty acids from Cassia is the first report, and it is possible to include specific fatty acids in the growth media to inhibit the growth of Malassezia which could be later served as lead molecules in antidandruff formulations. Further, the presence of citronellol, pinitol, anthracenedione and chrysine in Cassia flower extracts and their antidandruff activity reported in this study needed further research on those compounds to formulate effective treatment of Malassezia associated diseases
Solid waste management in rural areas nearby river Ganga at Haridwar in Uttarakhand, India
Get PDFThe solid waste found in rural areas can be used as a soil conditioner providing essential nutrients to crops and enhancing agricultural productivity. It is an eco-friendly and economic preference for Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSW). This study investigates the solid waste management scenario in rural areas along the river Ganga and proposes a sustainable waste management solution. Waste quantification and composition were determined in the five villages (rural areas) viz. Sajanpur, Shyampur, Kangri, Bhogpur and Dummanpuri of district Haridwar in Uttarakhand and their waste management and disposal systems were evaluated. Findings revealed that the average daily waste generation was 0.665 kg/day and per capita generation of household waste was around 0.16 kg/person/day. Major fraction of household waste was bio-degradable (74.14%) and remaining fraction comprised of paper (6.62%), polythene (2.82%), textile (2.52%), plastic (1.15%), glass (0.61%), metal (0.60%), rubber (0.35%), and inert (5.01%). The average bulk density of household waste was 460 kg/m3, whereas cattle waste bulk density was 834 kg/m3. Other waste characteristics included moisture content (60%), organic carbon (40%), nitrogen (1.7%), phosphorus (0.9%) and ash (31%). The calorific value of household waste (biodegradable) was 937.6 kcal/kg (dry basis). Since most of the waste was biodegradable, hence co-composting with cattle waste is recommended. The dry waste can be separated and stored for further processing and transported to nearby waste to energy-producing plants. The main hurdle to the program of waste recycling was the unsegregated collection of waste in rural areas. Hence, separation at the source comprised biodegradable waste, dried waste (paper, plastic, and metal) and other components are essential for the future solid waste management program
Generation of a fusion protein containing the two functional coiled-coil domain of t- SNARE, SNAP-23 and a transmembrane domain for mast cell
Get PDFSNAREs (Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Fusion Protein Attachment Protein Receptor) are a class of membrane proteins that mediate membrane-membrane fusion in eukaryotic cells. SNAP-23 is a t-SNARE which is a component of cellular machinery is required for membrane fusion. SNAP-23 lacks transmembrane domain. Cysteines in the linker region of SNAP-23 are involved in targeting of SNAP-23 to the membrane. In the present work, a portion of MDR3 gene (MDR3 1-145) and CLP24 (CLP134-195) was subcloned into a plasmid encoding EGFP-SNAP-23 Cys- mutant for the generation of a fusion protein containing the two functional coiled-coil domain of t-SNARE, SNAP 23 and a transmembrane domain of MDR3 gene and CLP24 for mast cell. This fusion protein will be important to study the membrane targeting and raft association of the chimeric SNAP23 protein, which plays an important role in mast cell exocytosis in the mammalian system. A novel bioinformatics approach has been applied to identify the specific transmembrane domain. This novel approach can be used to construct other fusion proteins
Correlation analysis for adoption studies of rice growers in district Baramulla of Kashmir Division, India
Get PDFThis study about the correlation analysis for adoption and knowledge of rice growers was carried in 12 randomly selected villages of 3 tehsils prominently growing rice of district Baramulla of J&K state. After multi-stage random 10 rice growers from each village were selected randomly and systematic sampling technique a sample of 120 rice farmers was drawn. It was found that Knowledge were found positively correlated with Education (0.449) Occupation (0.356), Social participation (0.205), annual income (0.229), Mass media exposure (0.375), Extension contacts (0.219) and Scientific orientation (0.341) and Adoption were also found positively correlated with Education (0.447) Occupation (0.348), Social participation (0.301), Annual income (0.243), Mass media exposure (0.309), Extension contacts (0.243) and Scientific orientation (0.338) whereas Age, Family size, Land holding and Farming experience have no significance with knowledge and adoption level of famers. The significance at 0.01 level of variables like Education, Occupation, Social Participation, Annual income, Mass Media Exposure, Extension contacts and Scientific Orientation with dependent variable Knowledge and adoption level of rice growers. The results of the study indicated that these selected variables might play a very important role in increasing the Knowledge and adoption level of the package of practices by rice growers of Kashmir Division
Biology of Blastopsylla occidentalis (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Aphalaridae), a pest of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) in Yaounde, Cameroon
Get PDFEucalyptus spp belong to the family of Myrtaceae and grow all over the world and are adapted to different climates and soils. In Cameroon, these plants are very important for their medicinal and ecological virtues. Eucalyptus globulus has economically and ornamentally values. Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor (Psylloidea: Aphalaridae) is one of the insects feeding on this plant and its causes severe damages to their host plants. Significant damage occurred in nurseries and in a very young plantations of Eucalyptus spp. The biology of B. occidentalis was studied from July 2010 to June 2011 at Yaounde. The parameters mating process, choice of the egg-laying site by the females, fecundity of the females, longevity of the adults, embryonic and larval development, life cycle and sex ratio were studied. The results showed that males emerged before females, and the mating process lasted about 42 minutes. The longevity of adults was 11 days on average and egg-laying began 8 days after emergence. The average fertility was 38 eggs per female. The eggs were laid on the buds, bracts, young leaves and twigs of its host plant. The life cycle, from egg to egg, required 32 days on average. The sex ratio was close to 1.03. This species fed and developed on Eucalyptus spp. has never been observed on other plants species in the study area, suggesting a specificity of this psyllid to its host plant. These results can be considered as an important step for the establishment of integrated pest control against Eucalyptus psyllid pest species in Cameroon