Submergence Analysis Using Geo-Informatics Technology for Proposed Dam Reservoirs of Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project, Gujarat State, India

The Par-Tapi-Narmada river link envisages transfer of surplus water from west flowing rivers between Par and Tapi in Gujarat State, India to water deficit areas in North Gujarat. The scheme is located mainly in southern Gujarat but it also covers part of the areas of Maharashtra, North of Mumbai on the Western Ghats of India. The main aim of Par-Tapi-Narmada link is to transfer the surplus waters of Par, Auranga, Ambica and Purna River basins to take over part of Narmada Canal command (Miyagam branch) after providing enroute irrigation. It is proposed that water saved in Sardar Sarovar Project, as a result of this transfer, would be taken further northwards to benefit water scarce areas of north Gujarat and also westwards in Saurashtra and Kutch regions. The construction of seven reservoirs on Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project would affect land use/land cover, settlements and infrastructure facilities within and around reservoir area. Thus, the submergence impact analysis of all the seven reservoirs of this project have been carried out by using remote sensing and GIS techniques for planning and designing of the structures. Out of the seven reservoirs, the paper discusses submergence analysis of Kelwan Dam reservoir which is located in geologically complex region of the Dangs district. The study attempts to assess the present problems of submergence of land, forest, agriculture, settlements and infrastructure facilities by using GIS techniques for taking alternative remedial measures prior and during construction of the dams.

A novel large animal model of recurrent migraine established by repeated administration of inflammatory soup into the dura mater of the rhesus monkey

Several animal models of migraine have been established, and those based on trigeminovascular system activation are widely accepted. However, most of these models have been established on lower animals, such as rodents, and involve only a single administration of a noxious stimulus. In this study, an inflammatory soup(10 μL), consisting of prostaglandin E2(0.2 mM), serotonin(2 mM), bradykinin(2 mM) and histamine(2 mM), was injected into the dura mater of conscious rhesus monkeys through an indwelling catheter. The infusion started on day 8 and was repeated every 3 days, for a total of six administrations, to induce neurogenic inflammation. We performed behavioral assessments and measured the expression of the oncogene c-fos, neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) and calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP) in the trigeminal system and in multiple brain regions involved in pain processing by immunohistochemical staining. Compared with monkeys in the control group, three of the four animals in the inflammatory soup group displayed decreased motor behaviors, and two showed increased ipsilateral nose and mouth secretions during the stimulus period. Higher expression levels of c-fos, nNOS and CGRP were found in various brain areas of experimental animals compared with controls, including the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons and other areas involved in pain perception. These results suggest that repeated inflammatory soup stimulation of the dura activates the trigeminovascular system and produces migraine-like pathological changes and abnormal behaviors in conscious rhesus monkeys.

Urban Growth Monitoring using Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics: Case Study of Gandhinagar, Gujarat State (India)

The Gandhinagar town has undergone unprecedented urban growth after assuming the status of a capital of Gujarat state, India in 1971. The Gandhinagar city lies on the western bank of river Sabarmati and city is also known as the “Tree capital of India” because of greenery with 54% green cover. The urban sprawl in Gandhinagar town was analyzed using multi-temporal Landsat TM data from 1981 to 2015. Spectral indices namely Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Built-up Index (BUI) were generated from the Landsat TM bands covering visible Red (R), Near Infrared (NIR) and Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) wavelength regions. Spectral variations in built-up, open spaces, urban vegetation and water areas were studied by generating two-dimensional spectral plots of NDBI and BUI. The spectral response of built up areas like Urban-dense and urban-sparse classes are quite distinct from other cover types like open spaces, urban vegetation and water. The results indicate that the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) and Built-up Index (BUI) were very useful for mapping urban built-up areas in Gandhinagar town using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data. The built-up area in Gandhinagar increased from 1100.1 ha during Jan 1989 to 1907.3 ha during Jan 2015 which indicates about 73 per cent increase in the built-up area during the period of 26 years. The urban vegetation which includes parks and gardens in the city has also shown increasing trend during the period of 1989 to 2015. However, the area under open spaces has decreased as the development of built-up area has increased as per development plan of the Gandhinagar town.

Urban Heat Island Characterization and Isotherm Mapping Using Geo-Informatics Technology in Ahmedabad City, Gujarat State, India

India has witnessed tremendous industrialization in the last five decades. This has led to migration of masses from rural areas towards cities for jobs and businesses. With increase in the population, the demand for residences has also increased which has escalated growth of slum areas and haphazard planning in suburbs. City of Ahmedabad is one such urban metropolis in the state of Gujarat, India. Being the financial capital of Gujarat, population of the city has increased many folds since 1980s. Congested and unsustainable planning and increasing in the emissions from industries and vehicles in certain areas of the city have given birth to many climatic issues. One of these major problems is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomena. This has increased the temperature by four to five degrees and has also severely affected air quality. Satellite based Remote sensing data can provide temperature information of various land use classes. Remote Sensing data along with in-situ surface measurements can help to identify urban heat island intensities and hotspots in the cities. A study on heat island characterization and isotherm mapping was taken up in Ahmedabad City. In the present study, Surface Heat Island (SHI) effect is studied using satellite data along with field measurements. Thermal infrared data from Landsat ETM band-6 have been effectively used for monitoring temperature differences of various land use classes in urban areas. The study aims to identify and study the urban hot spots using the data from LANDSAT-5 and field data collected using IR Gun in various zones of Ahmedabad City. The results of this study indicated that the surface temperature near industrial areas and dense urban areas was higher as compared to other suburban areas in the Ahmedabad City.

Increase Renaturation Yield of Reteplase Using the Recombinant Human Protein Disulfide Isomerase

Reteplase, the recombinant type of novel tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) variant, is a promising thrombolytics in clinics. Expressed in the form of an inclusion body, reteplase consists of about 40 % of the total intracellular proteins of Escherichia coli. The recombinant human protein disulfide isomerase (rhPDI) is used to increase the chance for the correct matching of the 18 hydrosulfide groups of the reteplase molecule in the renaturation process and it increase is the reteplase renaturation yield from 1%～2% to 15%～20% with a the purity aboue 99% and the specific activity of 5(105 IU/mg is reached. This novel method can reduce significantly the cost of production.

Soil Resources Information System for Improving Productivity Using Geo-Informatics Technology

Soil surveying and mapping is an important operation, since it plays a key role in the knowledge about soil nutrients, properties and how it can be used for agriculture. This study was carried out in order to map soil chemical properties and macronutrients status in North, Center and South districts zones of Gujarat state. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used in this study to present the secondary data of the soil which were obtained from Anand Agriculture University (AAU), Gujarat. The major objective of this study was to analyze & visualize the secondary data of soil through IDW, spatial interpolation techniques for suitable mapping in a selected North, Central and South districts of Gujarat state. Various maps showing spatial distribution of micronutrients and chemical properties for North, Center and South districts zones of Gujarat state were prepared. These digital maps can be used in precision farming studies with the application of fertilizers and micro-nutrients as per the requirement and the recommendations. This approach is proposed as a method for the evaluation of sustainable soil management practices such as variable rate of fertilization. This study demonstrates the usefulness of geo-informatics technology in soil survey as well as applications of various micronutrients to specific areas based on recommendations.

Mangrove Restoration and Regeneration Monitoring in Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat State, India, Using Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics

Indian coast harbors richly diverse and critical coastal habitats like coral reefs and mangroves. Mangroves form one of the most important ecosystems of coastal and marine areas. It safeguards the ecology of the coastal areas and provides livelihood opportunities to the fishermen and pastoral families living in these areas. In real sense, mangrove is the Kalpvriksh (divine tree which fulfills all the desires) for the coastal communities. The restoration and plantation of mangroves have received a lot of attentions worldwide. To assess the impact of mangrove plantation activities and to monitor the mangrove regeneration and restoration in various villages, a joint study under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) was taken up by Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) and Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG) in the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat State.?The major objective of this study was to monitor the increase in mangrove cover in coastal areas of Gulf of Kachchh using the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data of 2005, 2011 and 2014. The mangrove regeneration was monitored using multi-temporal Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) LISS-III and LISS-IV digital data covering Gulf of Kachchh region. The multi-temporal IRS LISS-III data covering Gulf of Kachchh of October-2005, November-2011 and LISS-IV data of April-2014 was analyzed. The mangrove density and mangrove area in different talukas was estimated based on the analysis of IRS LISS-III digital data. The mangroves have been delineated based on the pink colour observed on satellite images and the area was estimated in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The taluka or block-level mangrove areas were estimated and changes in the areas were monitored during the period of six years from 2005 to 2011. It was observed that the areas where mangrove regeneration activities were carried out with active participation of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), mangrove density as well as mangrove area have substantially increased in the Gulf of Kachchh region.

Areal Extent of Erosion and Accretion in and around the Gahirmatha Coast, NW of Bay of Bengal by Remote Sensing and GIS Analysis of Multi-Temporal Satellite Imagery

The shoreline morphology change due to erosion and deposition is a major concern for coastal zone management. In the present study, a highly dynamic coast of Gahirmatha on Bay of Bengal? in northeast India is experiencing active erosion, which is mainly wave and tide erosion related hazard threat ending human habitation and sustainability of the coast. In our study, high resolution satellite imagery of time series provided detailed sequence of coastal morphology and their changes in all respects. Comparison study of relative shoreline positions on time series satellite data spanning?three decades from 1973 to 2004 covering for the years of 1973, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2000 and 2004, provided regional changes with accelerated erosion and accretion. The result of the studies?have revealed that the areas of severe erosion found along the coast are confined to the promontories of the present day mouths itself of the Baitrani at Dhamra and Brahmani at Maipura inlets. In this background, it is significant to understand the magnitude of factors that are responsible for prograding or retrograding of coast. The present study is an attempt in this direction.

Spin-Magnetic Moment of Dirac Electron, and Role of Zitterbewegung

The spin-magnetic moment of the electron is revisited. In the form of the relativistic quantum mechanics, we calculate the magnetic moment of Dirac electron with no orbital angular-momentum. It is inferred that obtained magnetic moment may be the spin-magnetic moment, because it is never due to orbital motion. A transition current flowing from a positive energy state to a negative energy state in Dirac Sea is found. Application to the band structure of semiconductor is suggested.

Monitoring Land Use and Infrastructure Changes in Industrial Complex Using Geo-Informatics Technology in Gujarat State, India

In the present study, detailed investigations have been carried out in Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) area in Vygra and Bharuch Talukas in Bharuch district of Gujarat State. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-P6) LISS-III, LISS-IV and CARTOSAT digital data covering PCPIR area in Bharuch district for the period of January & February of 2011, 2012 and 2013 was analyzed for land use/land cover mapping and monitoring the changes in land use. Various thematic land use/land cover maps were prepared and GIS database for various thematic layers have been generated using satellite and ground based information. The results indicate that the major land use in the PCPIR area is agriculture with crop lands ranging from 61 to 63 per cent of the total area. Crop land has decreased from 64.7% during 2011 to 62.7% during 2013 in the PCPIR region. Area under plantations in PCPIR area has also decreased from 5.5% during 2011 to 5.2% during 2012. The industrial area has increased from 6.0% to 7.6% of the total area of the PCPIR region. The total built-up area (industries & village area) has increased from 7.1% during 2011 to 8.7% during 2013. Tree plantations in the area of around 42 ha were carried out by GIDC during 2012 and 2013 to increase the green cover in the PCPIR area.

Comparison between Differently Synthesized Hydroxyapatite Composites for Orthopedic Applications

Study carried to find out chemical and structural suitability of newly synthesized Eppawala hydroxyapatite composite varieties as bone cement, by comparing and contrasting them with human bone as well as commercially available bone cement, which is currently used in orthopedic surgeries. Commercially available methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer used to reinforce solid state sintered and sol gel synthesized hydroxyapatite ceramic to prepare its composites as bone cements and their physical and chemical properties including composition, crystallinity, presence of functional groups, thermal stability, surface morphology, and microstructural features were examined compared to human bone. Results show there is a close similarity between synthesized products and human bone while credenting high thermal stability, good crystalline, and porous properties than the commercial product. Finally, study concluded newly synthesized composites can be applied directly as a substitution for commercial bone cement while having different properties from each other.

COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS FOR DENSE GAS-SOLID FLUIDIZED BEDS: A MULTI-SCALE MODELING STRATEGY

Dense gas-particle flows are encountered in a variety of industrially important processes for large scale production of fuels, fertilizers and base chemicals. The scale-up of these processes is often problematic and is related to the intrinsic complexities of these flows which are unfortunately not yet fully understood despite significant efforts made in both academic and industrial research laboratories. In dense gas-particle flows both (effective) fluid-particle and (dissi-pative) particle-particle interactions need to be accounted for because these phenomena to a large extent govern the prevailing flow phenomena, i.e. the formation and evolution of heterogeneous structures. These structures have significant impact on the quality of the gas-solid contact and as a direct consequence thereof strongly affect the performance of the process. Due to the inherent complexity of dense gas-particles flows, we have adopted a multi-scale modeling approach in which both fluid-particle and particle-particle interactions can be properly accounted for. The idea is essentially that fundamental models, taking into account the relevant details of fluid-particle (lattice Boltzmann model) and particle-particle (discrete particle model) interactions, are used to develop closure laws to feed continuum models which can be used to compute the flow structures on a much larger (industrial) scale. Our multi-scale approach (see Fig. 1) involves the lattice Boltzmann model, the discrete particle model, the continuum model based on the kinetic theory of granular flow, and the discrete bubble model. In this paper we give an overview of the multi-scale modeling strategy, accompanied by illustrative computational results for bubble formation. In addition, areas which need substantial further attention will be highlighted.

China's participation in and contribution to IPCC

In 1988, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) jointly launched the In tergovern me ntal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to bring together scientists recommended by governments to assess the impacts of global climate change based on published literature. Five assessment reports have been released so far. In 2018, it marks the 30th anniversary of IPCC. Its previous reports, which are a collection of the up-to-date findings in climate change science at global level, have undergone rigorous expert and government reviews, hence recognized as an important source of scientific input to the international community in its understanding the climate change issue and devising a mechanism in response to it.