Northeastern Part Of India Research Articles

Optimization of drilling parameters using improved play-back methodology

Drilling is one of the expensive operations in oil and gas production. The cost of drilling exponentially increases with an increase in non-productive time (NPT). Extending the drill bit life, reducing the NPT (minimizing downhole complications, round trips or bit trips, circulation time, etc.), and the total expended specific energy would reduce drilling costs. It can be achieved by increasing the rate of penetration (ROP) and optimizing drilling efficiency. This paper presents a novel approach for optimum drilling parameters based on real-time optimization of drilling rates, drilling efficiency, and bit hydraulics. And this can be visually substantiated by the play-back methodology employed on an exploratory well. To determine the inefficient drilling zones for different lithology, drilling specific energy (DSE), mechanical specific energy (MSE) was estimated at all operating conditions. The result shows that utilization of optimal drilling parameters reduces input power by nearly 75%. Further, in this study, a new metric termed hydraulic drilling impact (HDI) is introduced to optimize the drilling performance during real-time rotary drilling operations. Monitoring the HDI in actual field conditions can help the driller evaluate the ongoing drilling operation's reliability. Fallouts from the comparison disclose that the excessive energy spent for the low ROP was due to inappropriate drilling parameters chosen for a particular formation. This work can contribute to the effective and accurate evaluation of operating parameters and conditions by utilizing surface readings alone where no downhole sensors/equipment were employed. The proposed model was validated in a directional well that was drilled in the north-eastern parts of India. • The reverse-engineering technique and the input energy module are utilized to determine the optimal drilling parameters. • Surface measurements are adequate, avoiding the costly downhole sensors and equipment. • The hydraulic drilling impact (HDI) is proposed for real-time drilling evaluation. • The holistic approach can be implemented in directional wells that are driven by the potential of cost reduction.

English

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the common medical emergencies throughout the world that may require hospital admission and results in high patient morbidity and mortality. The presentation of UGI bleeding depends on the amount and location of haemorrhage. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) is the preferred investigative procedure for UGIB because of its accuracy, low rate of complication, and its potential for therapeutic interventions. The present study has been carried out to evaluate the different aetiological causes of UGIB in a tertiary care centre in the North Eastern part of India and compare the same with other studies done globally. METHODS This was a hospital based observational study with cross sectional design carried out in the Department of Medicine at Tripura Medical College & DR BRAM Teaching Hospital, Agartala. Total 376 patients were selected for this study for over a period of 2 years from January 2017 to December 2018. Upper GI endoscopy was performed in all patients after hemodynamic stabilisation. Rockall scoring system was used in non-variceal cases to predict the mortality in patients with upper GI bleeding. RESULTS A total of 376 patients had endoscopy for UGIB which included 260 (69.1 %) males and 116 (30.9 %) females, and the mean age was 47.9 (± 17.0) years. The most common cause of UGIB was peptic ulcer disease (duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer) consisting of 31.38 %, followed by erosive gastritis (23.94 %), oesophageal varix (11.17 %), portal hypertensive gastropathy (10.64 %), duodenitis (8.51 %). Gastrointestinal malignancy (gastric and oesophageal cancers) was reported in 3.98 % and rare causes of UGIB were Mallory-Weiss syndrome (1.86 %), and esophagitis (1.60 %). Among them 4.26 % of the patients had normal endoscopy findings. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, peptic ulcer disease was the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, followed by erosive gastritis. Rockall score of more than 4 was numerically associated with increased incidence of mortality. KEYWORDS Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGIB), Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (UGIE

Antimicrobial activity of bacterial endophytes from Chirata (Swertia chirata Wall.) and Datura (Datura stramonium L.)

BackgroundExploration of biocides in microbial system becomes increasingly interesting. Among the different microbial systems, the study of endophytes becomes an important field of research because of their agricultural as well as pharmaceutical importance. Bacterial endophytes from two medicinal plants from North Easter states of India had been studied for their potential antibacterial and antifungal properties.ResultsBacterial endophytes from two medicinal plant species abundantly available in North Eastern states of India, Chirata (Swertia chirata) and Datura (Datura stramonium), had been isolated and studied for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Six bacterial endophytes were isolated from Chirata and 5 from Datura. All these bacterial isolates were initially isolated by observing their colony morphology, and then 9 morphologically distinct bacterial isolates were identified at molecular level by their 16s rRNA sequencing. Among the identified isolates, 5 were found to be belonged to genus Staphylococcus, 2 Bacillus, and one each belonged to Rhodococcus and Cupriavidus. Antibacterial study was carried out against 2 plant pathogenic bacteria, viz., Xanthomonas oryzae and Ralstonia solanacearum. Antifungal study was carried out against 2 plant pathogenic fungi, viz., Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. Out of 6 bacterial isolates from Chirata, one showed antibacterial as well as antifungal properties, and another one showed antifungal properties only. Likewise, out of 5 bacterial isolates from Datura, one found to have both antibacterial and antifungal properties, and another one has only antifungal properties.ConclusionFew bacterial endophytes isolated from S. chirata and D. stramonium L., abundantly available in North Eastern part of India, had potential antibacterial as well as antifungal properties. This could be considered as the baseline information on potential antibacterial and antifungal agents from bacterial endophytes. Further investigations are required to assess their efficacy against several other bacterial and fungal diseases of economic importance.

A Multifunctional Peptide From Bacillus Fermented Soybean for Effective Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 S1 Receptor Binding Domain and Modulation of Toll Like Receptor 4: A Molecular Docking Study.

Fermented soybean products are traditionally consumed and popular in many Asian countries and the northeastern part of India. To search for potential agents for the interruption of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike glycoprotein 1 (S1) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor interactions, the in silico antiviral prospective of peptides identified from the proteome of kinema was investigated. Soybean was fermented using Bacillus licheniformis KN1G, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KN2G and two different strains of Bacillus subtilis (KN2B and KN2M). The peptides were screened in silico for possible antiviral activity using two different web servers (AVPpred and meta-iAVP), and binding interactions of selected 44 peptides were further explored against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S1 protein (PDB ID: 6M0J) by molecular docking using ZDOCK. The results showed that a peptide ALPEEVIQHTFNLKSQ (P13) belonging to B. licheniformis KN1G fermented kinema was able to make contacts with the binding motif of RBD by blocking specific residues designated as critical (GLN493, ASN501) in the binding of human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell receptor. The selected peptide was also observed to have a significant affinity towards human toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Myeloid Differentiation factor 2 (MD2) (PDB ID: 3FXI) complex known for its essential role in cytokine storm. The energy properties of the docked complexes were analyzed through the Generalized Born model and Solvent Accessibility method (MM/GBSA) using HawkDock server. The results showed peptidyl amino acids GLU5, GLN8, PHE11, and LEU13 contributed most to P13-RBD binding. Similarly, ARG90, PHE121, LEU61, PHE126, and ILE94 were appeared to be significant in P13-TLR4/MD2 complex. The findings of the study suggest that the peptides from fermented soy prepared using B. licheniformis KN1G have better potential to be used as antiviral agents. The specific peptide ALPEEVIQHTFNLKSQ could be synthesized and used in combination with experimental studies to validate its effect on SARS-CoV-2-hACE2 interaction and modulation of TLR4 activity. Subsequently, the protein hydrolysate comprising these peptides could be used as prophylaxis against viral diseases, including COVID-19.

Deciphering Legal Safeguards for Child Soldiers in North East India Vis-À-Vis International Standards

With more than a third of its population below the age of 18, India has the largest child population in the world. However, India is no paradise for a child to live in irrespective of whether he or she is inside or outside the house. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, has been ratified by India. Since the Convention is a set of international standards and measures intended to protect and promote the well being of children in society, the Indian legislature has also passed several legislations to give effect to them. However, a quarter century after the adoption of the Convention and its ratification by India it cannot be said that the Indian state has successfully provided protection to its children. The North Eastern parts of India are no different and children in these areas are prone to a host of protection concerns. A prominent but no so popular malady is that of child soldiers. Instead of carving out a bright future in school, children are being taught to operate lethal weapons. However, the issue is not quite in focus as there is lack of actual documentation of cases of child soldiers. This is quite evident in the reply given by the Indian delegation in response to a question posed by an expert member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child during presentation of the combined third and fourth periodic report of India on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the initial reports of India on how the country is implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention on children involved in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. In response to a question on recruitment of children by non-State armed groups, the Indian delegation said that the Indian Government was aware from various non-governmental organization and media reports that non-state groups had resorted to the recruitment of children from the age of six years old and that there was no way to ascertain the number of children recruited due to the clandestine nature of the activities of those groups. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that there is no government programme providing for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers into the mainstream. Armed with lethal weapons, addicted to alcohol and drugs, dependent on their recruiters, and unable to get away from their clutches, child soldiers are a classic case of being the victims as well as potential perpetrators. There is a huge body of international humanitarian law and international human rights laws, which provides for a plethora of protections against recruitment of children as child soldiers. Nationally, India also has its fair share of laws governing the same. The point of focus of this paper is to decipher the adequacy and effectiveness of the same vis-a-vis international standards.

A Comprehensive Review of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. and its Therapeutic Potential.

Garcinia pedunculata Roxb.(GP) belongs to the family of Clusiaceae and is an evergreen tree that grows in semi-wild conditions and is widely distributed throughout the Northeastern part of India. Traditionally, this plant is believed to be of immense medicinal importance and is used for the treatment of various ailments. In Assam, the acidic fruit of GP is effectively used in folklore medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders and is an integral part of ethnic Assamese cuisine. The ripe fruit, seldom consumed fresh or raw, is cut into thin slices, sun-dried for preservation as it is believed that the medicinal property of the fruit increases as it ages. With much traditional claims and beliefs regarding the medicinal properties of this plant, many therapeutic potentials of GP have been explored through research till now, including its antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Moreover, the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids along with bioactive components like hydroxycitric acid, garcinol, and cambogin have also been reported from this plant, thereby increasing its research avenues. Even with the available knowledge, there is a huge lacking in the understanding of its underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the therapeutic properties, pharmacological mode of action, and its effect in different pathological conditions, along with detailed information about its chemical composition. This review mainly aims to summarise the potentially beneficial properties of GP that have already been reported, along with identifying the new avenues that still need to be addressed, thereby increasing the future prospect for in-depth research on this plant, along with its distribution and conservation status.

Demographic and clinical profile of oral lichen planus in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in North East India

Introduction: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a common, chronic condition involving the oral mucosa. The clinical presentations of OLP range from severe painful erosions and ulcerations to mild painless white, keratotic lesions. The buccal mucosa is the most commonly affected site and the involvement is usually bilateral. It is comparatively more common and persistent than the cutaneous form, resulting in considerable morbidity and discomfort for the patient. One of the most serious complications relating to the progression and prognosis of OLP is the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which resulted in the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying OLP as a potentially malignant disorder. Objective: To study the demographic distribution and clinical profile of 50 OLP patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in the north-eastern part of India. Materials and Methods: A group of 50 patients, comprising of 35 females and 15 males, diagnosed with OLP as per the clinical criteria of the WHO clinical definition of OLP were included in this study. Results: Among the 50 patients, M:F ratio was 0.42:1. Buccal mucosa was the most common site of OLP occurrence (96%), whereas, the reticular variant of OLP was the most common form (78%), followed by the erosive variant (16%) and the atrophic variant (6%). The incidence of systemic diseases included Hypertension (15%), Diabetes Mellitus (4%) and Hypothyroidism (2%). Histopathologically, epithelial dysplasia was seen in 2 cases. Conclusion: Most of the results of this study have been found to be in concordance with previous findings, with differences in a few. Since Lichen Planus is a chronic disease, treatment protocols are mainly directed at regulating the symptoms. Long-term follow up is usually very successful in detecting symptomatic aggravation and possible progression into malignancy. Keywords: Clinical features, Diagnosis, Lichen Planus, Oral Mucosa.

Present status of distribution, utilization and commercialization of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. - a socio economically potential species in Arunachal Pradesh, India

The utilization of wild plants for livelihood and income generation is a traditional practice adopted by various indigenous communities worldwide. Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is one of the most preferred species harvested from wild and used extensively by the local indigenous communities in the northeastern part of India as well as in the neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Nepal. This species has been widely used by the local tribes as a spice in flavouring various foodstuffs and also for the treatment of numerous health ailments. We studied the distribution, population, ethnobotanical uses and marketing potentials of Zanthoxylum armatum in 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh during 2018-2019. The study revealed its occurrence in the subtropical and temperate forest of the state with maximum population in forest edges and open forests around agricultural lands of West Kameng and Lower Subansiri districts. The analysis of the population in Shergaon area revealed its good representation with 1.04 /m2 density contributing 0.051 m2/ha. basal cover and 20.011 IVI. Even after its various uses, no cultivation of the species was practised by the local people. The dried fruits that are marketed @Rs. 800-1200/kg in the state are entirely collected from the wild. As the population of the species is limited in most of the area and the supply of fruits is only from the wild, extensive plantation and management practices will serve both the conservation as well the economic gain to the local communities.

A study of Human Epidermal Growth factor receptor-2 [HER-2] in Carcinoma Oesophagus [Single Institutional Tertiary cancer centre study from North-East part of India

Oesophageal cancer both squamous cell [SCC] and adenocarcinoma have poor outcomes with high morbidity and mortality. Our hospital-based registry for year 2017-2018 showed that oesophageal cancer constituted 22.7% of annual case load. The main objective of this study was to determine the presence of HER-2 receptors in patients with oesophageal carcinoma in our region. From September 2018 to September 2019, data regarding expression of HER-2 receptors was analysed in 133 patients of oesophageal carcinoma. Data were statistically described as frequencies (number of cases) and percentages where appropriate. Chi-square and Fischer's exact test was used to find out the association between categorical variables. A P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significant at 95% confidence interval. The statistical analysis was performed using SSPS [statistical package for the social sciences] software version 17.0. A total of 133 patients were taken into study. Majority of patients were males (96) with mean age of 52 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was predominant histology. HER-2 receptor positivity was seen in 6.01% of patients. Patients with HER-2 receptor positivity presented in advanced stage with poor functional status and poor grades of differentiation. Statistically significant correlation of Her-2 expression was seen with stage (p = 0.001) and pathology of tumour (p = 0.0001). Squamous cell carcinoma of oesophagus still predominates in North-eastern part of India. For studying the role of effective targeted therapies knowledge of frequency of HER-2 receptor positivity is of utmost importance in our population, and our study aims to answer this question. The present study shows low prevalence of HER-2 neu overexpression in our community, probably due to disproportionately high incidence of SCC compared to adenocarcinoma. Patients with HER-2 receptor positivity presented in advanced stage with poor functional status and poor grades of differentiation.

Nowhere to Live: Squeezing Habitat and Human-leopard Conflicts in Maligaon, Guwahati, Assam

Guwahati, a city of 2 million residents is the largest city in northeastern part of India. Situated by the side of River Brahmaputra, the city is of an undulated topography with some hillocks and wetlands. The considerable area of the city is still forested and seven reserve forests are located within the city. The forested topography of the city offers a good habitat for the Common Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), a Scheduled 1 species under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Over the years, there have been growing casualties on human-leopard conflicts in the region. Indian common leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), is a highly adaptive species and do inhabit in human proximity, which creates conflicts resulting in a loss on both sides. The present study has found that there is a rise in the incidence of human-leopard conflict in Maligaon Gaushala farmland, located in 26º08′48.5″N and 91°41′39.2″E, covering land areas of 34.82 Hectare. The study has been conducted in this area from the last five years i.e. 2015-2019 and recorded 16 number of human-leopard conflicts. It is also found that the area is used for feeding and breeding ground of cattle, for keeping old unproductive cows and dumping ground for dead cattle’s carcass. The area is covered with thick elephant grasses (Pennisetum purpureum), and it is used as chief fodder for cows inside the Gaushala farmland, which is a good foraging for high yielding of milk production from Gaushala farmland and optimum hiding ground for leopard. Due to expansion and high escalations of encroachment to the habitat of leopard a total of 90 incidences of human-leopard conflicts occurs since 1995, which include 13 human causalities, 3 leopards’ mortality and 29 livestock predation. The present study investigates detail movements of the species, their habitat based on camera trapping, Scat analysis, GPS records and field interviews. The data thus gathered not only helped to record the nature of conflicts in the area but also to design a conservation plan for the species. The suggestions recorded in the study are intended to reduce the incidences human-leopard conflicts in the area.

Spatial mapping of COVID-19 for Indian states using Principal Component Analysis

Spatial mapping of COVID-19 for Indian states using Principal Component Analysis

VLF radio signal anomaly associated with geomagnetic storm followed by an earthquake at a subtropical low latitude station in northeastern part of India

This paper presents a case study of very low frequency (VLF) radio signal anomaly during a moderate geomagnetic storm (Kp = 6, Ap = 80 and Dst = − 60 nT) on September 10, 2018 followed by a moderate earthquake (M = 5.3) on September 12, 2018 which occurred near to (~ 80 km) a subtropical low latitude station Cooch Behar (CHB), India (26.345°N, 89.448°E). Signal amplitudes from the two transmitters, VTX (18.2 kHz) and NWC (19.8 kHz), are analyzed for this study. Seven VLF parameters, such as nighttime amplitude fluctuation (dAn), amplitude difference between pre-sunrise signal and sunrise minimum signal (dAm), amplitude difference between sunset minimum signal and post-sunset signal (dAe), time (Tm) and amplitude (Am) during sunrise minimum, time (Te) and amplitude (Ae) during sunset minimum have been examined. Anomalous behaviors of all the parameters have been observed during September 10–12, 2018. D-region electron density is estimated using the long wave propagation capability code which revealed a maximum increment of ~ 20 electron/cm3 at altitude 85 km over the VTX-CHB path ~ 2 days before the earthquake event. The anomalous behaviors of the VLF signals ~ 1–2 days before the earthquake are identified as possible precursor of the earthquake which could be linked with various pre-earthquake seismo-electromagnetic processes.

Effects of Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency on the Newborn: A Cohort Study

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency occurs during pregnancy all over the world because of lifestyle modifications, less sun exposure, sunscreen application and reduced amount of vitamin D in diet. At present, there are very limited number of studies regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and its effects in the newborns in the North Eastern region of India. Aim: To estimate serum vitamin D levels in pregnant women and newborn and correlation between maternal and newborn hypovitaminosis D. The study also assess the association of maternal vitamin D levels with the outcomes of early neonatal period. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh, Assam, India, in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department over a period of one year (1st July 2019 to 30th June 2020). Seventy pregnant women attending antenatal ward, labour room of AMCH were recruited. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was assessed in the maternal and cord blood. Delivery details and foetal parameters were recorded. Primary outcome was to assess the correlation between maternal and cord blood vitamin D level and secondary outcome was to assess the association of maternal vitamin D level with demographic characteristics, economic and obstetrical characteristics, newborn characteristics and perinatal outcome. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), chi-square test and Fischer’s- exact test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) were used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 70 participants, majority of the pregnant women (61.43%) were vitamin D deficient, 22.86% were vitamin D insufficient and 15.71% had sufficient vitamin D levels. Maternal vitamin D level was significantly associated with maternal age (p=0.0043) and socio-economic status (p=0.0417). There was a significant positive association between the vitamin D level of the mother with the birth weight (p<0.001), birth length (p=0.0001), head circumference (p=0.0003) and chest circumference (p=0.001) of the newborns and also a positive correlation was found between the vitamin D level of the mother and the cord blood (r=0.984). There was a significant association between the vitamin D level of the mother and perinatal outcomes such as Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission (p=0.0169) and Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) (p=0.0029). Conclusion: The study shows that there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy in North Eastern part of India and it has a significant role in foetal development and perinatal outcomes.

Evaluation of Wood Quality of Underutilized Indigenous Timber Species for Reducing Timber Scarcity: A Case of Mizoram, North-East India

Timber demand and supply gap has widened over the last few decades across different regions of the world. Indian scenario is no different. In the last decade though India’s forest cover has increased at a very slow pace, in north eastern part of India, there is a loss of forest cover at an alarming rate. This is a cause of concern for this region which is already depending only on handful of quality timbers for the structural and commercial purposes. Under this scenario, few alternative options should be looked at like exploring promising indigenous fast-growing species, or exploring some lesser-known timber species available naturally in the forest. Therefore, wood quality parameters of such timber species should be tested so as to know the specific utility of these timbers. In this study of Mizoram, wood quality parameters of five underutilized timber species were assessed and three out of five species have shown considerable quality as compared to Teak and many other mainstream species. Few selected properties are highlighted in this paper to indicate possible utility of selected species to reduce the gap in demand and supply of wood as raw material. We focused mainly on anatomical properties, gross features and cell constituents of these species in this paper. The properties observed for lesser-known species are compared with twenty Indian mainstream timbers. The results have indicated that there is a need for further expanding the scope for exploring more such species so that timber requirement of the region is meted out.

Ethnic food beverages with heavy metal contents: Parameters for associated risk to human health, North-East India.

Food beverage consumption is a worldwide age-old practice. It is also a common run-through habit among the tribes of North Eastern parts of India. The food beverage group Jou is a traditionally fermented rice-based beverage by Bodo community of Assam, the largest plain tribe. It is not only consumed by Bodos on regular basis but also widely used in their socio-cultural activities. Joubidwi (JB, fermented product), Joufinai (JF, preserved product) and Jougwran (JG, distilled) are the three varieties of Jou. Herewith, it had been reported; the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in the three varieties of Jou to make people aware about the possible health benefits as well as the risks associated with the consumption of Jou. The metal contents were estimated using ICP-OES after digesting the samples with 10:1 mixture of concentrated nitric and concentrated sulfuric acid. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of metals from consumption of JB, JF and JG were also within the recommended daily allowances (RDA). From the estimated target hazard quotient (THQ) values, it was observed no health risk associated with the consumption of Jou; whereas total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) of Joufinai were associated with more health risks. Metal concentrations of all metals in Bodo beverages was lower in comparison with barely based and wheat based beverages.

Characterization and in-vitro screening of probiotic potential of novel Weissella confusa strain GCC_19R1 isolated from fermented sour rice

Abstract Fermented sour rice is a unique traditional sour food of Indian subcontinent, particularly in the eastern and north-eastern part of India, which according to traditional belief, may have therapeutic and prophylactic applications against various disorders. The study aims to characterize the potential fermentative-bacteria from traditional sour rice, followed by in-vitro assessment for safety and security for human consumption. Fermented sour rice samples were collected from 23 households of Cachar district of Assam, India, which was prepared by soaking the cooked rice in water for an overnight period of 12–16 h. Isolation and enumeration of bacteria from fermented sour rice samples was carried on MRS agar plates. The isolates were identified by biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. In-vitro tests were performed to assess the probiotic properties, colonization properties, haemolytic activity and antagonistic activity against other pathogens. The predominant fermentative-bacteria was identified as Weissella confusa strain GCC_19R1 (GenBank: MN394112). The isolate showed significant growth in the presence of artificial gastric-juice, bile and pancreatin. A moderate percentage of hydrophobicity (35.8% for n-hexadecane and 32.56% for toluene) and autoaggregation (38.7%) was also recorded. The strain survived well at acidic pH, 12.5% NaCl, and able to ferment glucose, arabinose and sucrose. The strain fulfilled the safety criteria concerning haemolytic activity, inhibits the growth of other bacteria, and found to be resistant towards antibiotics that are commonly used for GI-tract infections. From the gathered data, it could be concluded that the novel strain of W. confusa is responsible for rice fermentation. The strain can be used as a starter culture for the production of sour rice. Further in-vivo studies are needed to better explicate their safety aspects, nutritional parameters and health benefits.

In vitro digestive activity and stability study of Rhus chinensis Mill. fruit and its value-added products

Rhus chinensis Mill. belonging to the family Anacardiaceae is a highly acidic fruit-bearing tree abundantly grown in the North-Eastern part of India. Due to its high medicinal values, the local medical practitioners of this region have widely used the fruit in various treatments like indigestion, dysentery, and gastrointestinal disturbances since ancient times. However, because of its ‘underutilized status’, there is an acute shortage of scientific literature thereby undermining its high potential use in developing many commercial functional foods or food ingredients. Therefore, this study was undertaken to address the same by formulating natural digestive tablets, R. chinensis tablets and R. chinensis candy from the fruit with minimal expenses. R. chinensis fruit and its products’ efficacy for the digestive property was determined in vitro by amylolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic activity and compared other commercial samples of the herbal digestive, Gasex and allopathic digestive, Unienzyme. The formulation was evaluated for a period of zero to 90 days. Physical parameters viz. extractive values, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, pH, and reducing sugar were determined. The fruit and its products showed significant amylolytic, proteolytic, and lipolytic activities in comparison with other commercial samples. Interestingly in all the samples, no significant changes in digestive activities were observed during the storage period. The formulations were found to possess the property of breaking down starch, protein, lipid into simpler units hence, substantiating the traditional practice of digestive activity. This is the first scientific record in terms of in vitro digestive property of R. chinensis fruit.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Aqueous Extract of Elsoltzia stachyodes on Experimental Models of Inflammation in Rats

Aim: Elsholtzia stachyodes is being used as a folk medicine to suppress the pain in various inflammation-related disorders in the North-eastern part of India. However, there is a lacking of evidence-based data on it. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous extract of Elsoltzia stachyodes (AEES) on experimental models of inflammation in rats. Materials and Methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis tests were performed to check the presence of alkaloids, glycoside, flavonoids, saponin, tannin, and triterpenoids. Wistar (150–175 g) rats were used to evaluate anti-inflammatory property by carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granulation tissue formation models. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) and AEES were administered at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg in both the models. In case of carrageenan-induced paw edema model, the change in paw volume was estimated using plethysmometer. However, wounds weights of cotton pellet were measured in cotton pellet-induced granulation tissue formation model. Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: The phytochemical analysis of AEES showed the presence of flavonoids, saponin, tannin, and triterpenoids. AEES showed a significant decrease in paw edema and weight of the cotton pellets in a dose-dependent manner in both the inflammatory models. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that AEES exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity and may have the potential of usefulness as an adjuvant therapy in inflammatory-related disorders.

Emerging threat of bluetongue in Eastern and North-Eastern Indian states

Albeit bluetongue (BT) in India is endemic to southern and western parts, eastern and north-eastern parts of the country didn't experience any outbreak or reported active disease. However, sero-epidemiology indicates bluetongue virus (BTV) is in circulation in animals and vectors of eastern and north-eastern states of India. Moreover, in recent years BTV has been isolated from sheep, Culicoides midges and goat from this region that substantiate the notion. All the epidemiological components of BT, viz. susceptible hosts, suitable climatic conditions for propagation of vectors, competent vectors are present that pose emerging disease threat in eastern and north-eastern parts of India. Hence, further surveillance and preparedness are recommended to avoid future BT outbreak, if any.

Performance evaluation of multi-parametric synthetic aperture radar data for geological lineament extraction

ABSTRACT The demarcation of linear geomorphological features due to fracture systems, underlying or exposed faults, drainage lines etc. from satellite images has been one of the most widely used applications in geological studies. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data has been recognized as an effective tool for lineament extraction due to its unique sensitivity to subtle topography, soil moisture and texture. However, the typical SAR sensor parameters such as frequency, polarization and look direction plays a vital role in enhancing the performance for a specific application. Therefore, the study aims to analyse the multi-frequency (C- and L-band), multi-polarization (like and cross) and multi-look direction SAR data for geological lineaments extraction. In this paper, Sentinel-1 and Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS)-2 Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR)-2 datasets acquired over a part of the Indo-Burma ranges of Manipur region (northeastern part of India) are considered for analysis. The lineaments extracted from SAR datasets are compared with reference to lineaments provided by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) through their portal. The study observes that the like-polarization C-band SAR data provide optimal results for this application. It is also observed that the integration of lineaments extracted from multi-look SAR data can significantly improve the performance than that derived from single-look data. Overall, the study also focuses on the spatial distribution of lineaments with respect to the local structural regime for a better understanding of the regional tectonic setup.