Effects of change in orientation and surface roughness of terrain oil thermally induced up slope flows in western Ghats: A numerical study

ABSTRACT. The effect of change in orientation and surface roughness of terrain on the daytime up slope flow is investigated using a 2-dimensional mesoscale model. A realistic orography profile of western ghat is chosen for the purpose. Twelve hour of integrations are performed starting from sunrise. The numerical simulation have shown that the intensity of up slope flows remained practically unaffected by change of orientation of terrain. However, increase in roughness length decreases the intensity of developed flows. For comparison purposes, the results of previous investigators are verified with a change in slope angles.

Momentum flux, energy flux and pressure drag associated with mountain wave across western ghat

An attempt has been made to parameterize the wave momentum flux wave energy flux and pressure drag associated with mountain wave across the Mumbai-Pune section of western ghat mountain in India. A two dimensional frictionless, adiabatic, hydrostatic, Boussinesq flow with constant basic flow (U) and constant Brunt Vaisala frequency (N) across a mesoscale mountain with infinite extension in the Cross wind direction, has been considered here. It has been shown that for a vertically propagating (or decaying) waves the wave momentum flux is downward (or upward) and the wave energy flux is upward (or downward). It has also been shown that both the fluxes are independent of the half width of the bell shaped part of the western ghat. The analytically derived formula have been used to compute the pressure drag and to find out the vertical profile of wave momentum flux and wave energy flux for different cases of mountain wave across western ghat, as reported by earlier workers.

Comparative Analysis of Iron content of Momordica charantia L. and Cucumis sativus L. collected from the various Agro Climatic Zones of Maharashtra.

Momordica charantia L. and Cucumis sativus L. are excellent fruit vegetables in nature having iron content, as an essential constituent required for good health of humans. The iron content of the vegetables may vary from place to place depending on the soil, rainfall and other climatic conditions prevailing in that place. It was thought necessary to find out whether the environmental conditions in the nine agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra have any impact on the iron content of these fruit vegetables. The fruit vegetables were collected from various places from nine agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra classified based on rainfall, soil type and the vegetation. It was found that fruits of Momordica charantia L. showed comparatively more nutraceutical content than the fruits of Cucumis sativus L. collected in same season. It was also observed that in the nine agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra studied, the fruits of Momordica charantia L collected from Karjat of North Konkan Coastal Zone showed maximum Iron content, while fruits collected from Igatpuri of Western Ghat Zone and Nashik of Western Maharashtra Plain (Transaction 2) zone showed minimum iron content. In case of Cucumis sativus L., fruits collected from Wardha of Central Vidarbha (Moderate rainfall) zone region showed maximum iron content, while fruits collected from Surgana of Sub-montane (Transition 1) Zone showed minimum iron content. Keywords: Nutraceuticals, Momordica charantia L., Cucumis sativus L. Environmental factors, Iron content, Agroclimatic zones of Maharashtra.

Spondias pinnata bark extract- an ameliorator of inflammatory derangement in etoposide induced mucositis: An experimental approach

Background and Aim: Mucositis, one of the vulnerabilities of chemotherapy, affects the physiological activities and therapeutic strategies of patients because it can affect the normal cell population. Etoposide is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for cancers such as oral, lung, and gastrointestinal. In addition to the abnormal metabolic processes in the body caused by tumorigenesis, new metabolic alterations can occur, such as oxidative stress, antioxidant imbalance, and inflammatory reactions, all of which can contribute to existing patient vulnerability. Therapeutic adjuvants can help overcome these toxic effects. Spondias pinnata is a tropical tree omnipresent in the coastal and Western Ghat section of India that is used for culinary purposes and as a local analgesic. Therefore, we aimed to study the anti-inflammatory effects of S. pinnata in an etoposide-induced mucositis rat model. Materials and Methods: Small intestinal tissue homogenates from albino Wistar rats were used to estimate the levels of glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO), and activities of total antioxidant (TAO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+ ATPase. The animals were grouped into: (1) normal control, (2) etoposide-induced mucositis (65 mg/kg bodyweight, single IP dose), (3) S. pinnata control group, and (4) etoposide followed by S. pinnata bark extract (200 mg/kg bodyweight, once in a day). Animals were sacrificed after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h and compared with that of the normal control group (n=6). Statistical analysis was performed using EZR software. Results: We observed a significant decrease in the TAO and GSH levels with a marked increase in NO, MPO, and Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the mucositis group. A tendency to recover from the decreased TAO and GSH levels existed in the treated group, showing the protective effects of S. pinnata bark extract against mucositis. In addition, this extract also showed anti-inflammatory effects as reflected by the recovery in MPO levels at the end of 96 h. Maintenance of Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the treated group demonstrates the protective effects of the extract against the increased levels observed in the etoposide-induced mucositis group. Conclusion: This study revealed the protective effects of S. pinnata bark extract against the oxidative and inflammatory changes that occurred during the development of mucositis. This would decrease the pathological burden during chemotherapy and prevent any hurdles in therapeutic modalities.

GIS Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis of Riverine Flooding: A Case Study of Maharashtra Deluge 2019

Riverine flooding is frequent catastrophic event for Indian subcontinent and prevalent in western ghat region. The south-western monsoonal precipitation escalates the situation to detrimental level in the populous regions along the rivers. The previous studies suggest that the settlements in the vicinity of seasonal rivers are mostly affected during heavy precipitation due to unpredicted event and lack of preventive infrastructure along the bank. Such devastation can be reduced with detailed analysis of river basin and flood recurrence trends. Present study focuses on the flood frequency and settlement patterns in the Krishna River basin of Maharashtra state. The region has cotton soil (clay to loamy dark grey soil) cover, which encourages the agricultural practices. The agriculture being major occupation of the state engaged more than 64% population contributing largely in cotton and cereal production of the country. The discrete pattern of rainfall causes flooding at places, which not only distresses the settlement but also adversely affects the rate of soil erosion resulting elimination of the most fertile layer of surface. The study mainly emphases on the Shirindwad, Kurundwad, Rajapur villages of Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district, where Koyna, Warna, Panchaganga, Tarli, Urmodi, Dudhganga and Hiranyakeshi rivers of Krishna River basin overflowed decade’s water level in August 2019 flooding event. The event put an eternal scar to the inhabitants with pile of flood water over their cotton soil. The devastation of the event would be predicted if spatio-temporal analyses of rainfall and settlement pattern have been done. So, the present study aims to evaluate the impacts of future flooding by the analysis of rainfall pattern and demarcation of settlement clusters under threat. This can be done by scrutinizing ancillary data in GIS (geographical information system) environment with the help of temporal satellite data. The GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis can provide result as demarcation of potential flood risk zones and this can be resourceful for disaster management and town planning practices.

Evacuation shelter suitability modeling under combined geo-hydrological hazards in Western Ghat region, India

<p>Geo-hydrological hazards like floods and landslides are common in mountain regions. During a disaster, evacuation shelters become a primary need of people. We develop a model to find suitable locations for emergency shelters in flood and landslide strikes in a rural mountain setting of the Western Ghat region, India. Firstly, susceptibility maps for flood and landslide hazards are prepared using a machine learning (Random forest) algorithm. Then location suitability modeling is done in GIS using the entropy method. The following entropy evolution factors are considered- flood susceptibility, landslide susceptibility, land use, distance from the road, distance from the hospital, distance from the market, distance from the fire station, distance from safe water sources, and the population of settlement cluster area. Model constraining factors like steep slope, high landslide, flood susceptible area, and protected area are accounted for using a cost matrix. The model is compared with community-based suitability mapping and evacuation centers during the past disaster of 2005. The study will contribute towards better disaster-resilient planning of rural mountainous settlements.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Evacuation shelter, landslide, flood, random forest, entropy method, GIS</p>