Reassessing the earthquake hazard in Kerala based on the historical and current seismicity

Given the lack of proper constraints in understanding earthquake mechanisms in the cratonic interiors and the general absence of good quality database, here we reassess the seismic hazard in the province of Kerala, a part of the aEuro cent stable continental interioraEuro cent, based on an improved historical and instrumental database. The temporal pattern of the current seismicity suggests that > 60% of the microtremors in Kerala occurs with a time lag after the peak rainfall, indicating that hydroseismicity may be a plausible model to explain the low-level seismicity in this region. Further, an increment in overall seismicity rate in the region in the recent years is explained as due to increased anthropogenic activities, which includes changes in hydrological pathways as a consequence of rapid landscape changes. Our analyses of the historical database eliminate a few events that are ascribed to this region; this exercise has also led to identification of a few events, not previously noted. The improved historical database essentially suggests that the central midland region is more prone to seismic activity compared to other parts of Kerala. This region appears to have generated larger number of significant earthquakes; the most prominent being the multiple events (doublets) of 1856 and 1953, whose magnitudes are comparable to that of the 2000/2001 (central Kerala) events. Occurrences of these historical events and the recent earthquakes, and the local geology indicative of pervasive faulting as shown by widely distributed pseudotachylite veins suggest that the NNW-SSE trending faults in central midland Kerala may host discrete potentially active sources that may be capable of generating light to moderate size earthquakes. The frequency of earthquakes in central Kerala evident from the historical database requires that the seismic codes stipulated for this region are made mandatory.

Effect of defoliation interval and height on the growth and quality of Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo

The effect of defoliation on Amarillo (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo) was studied in a glasshouse and in mixed swards with 2 tropical grasses. In the glasshouse, Amarillo plants grown in pots were subjected to a 30/20°C or 25/15°C temperature regime and to defoliation at 10-, 20- or 30-day intervals for 60 days. Two field plot studies were conducted on Amarillo with either irrigated kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) in autumn and spring or dryland Pioneer rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) over summer and autumn. Treatments imposed were 3 defoliation intervals (7, 14 and 28 days) and 2 residual heights (5 and 10 cm for kikuyu; 3 and 10 cm for rhodes grass) with extra treatments (56 days to 3 cm for both grasses and 21 days to 5 cm for kikuyu). Defoliation interval had no significant effect on accumulated Amarillo leaf dry matter (DM) at either temperature regime. At the higher temperature, frequent defoliation reduced root dry weight (DW) and increased crude protein (CP) but had no effect on stolon DW or in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD). On the other hand, at the lower temperature, frequent defoliation reduced stolon DW and increased OMD but had no effect on root DW or CP. Irrespective of temperaure and defoliation, water-soluble carbohydrate levels were higher in stolons than in roots (4.70 vs 3.65%), whereas for starch the reverse occured (5.37 vs 9.44%). Defoliating the Amarillo-kikuyu sward once at 56 days to 3 cm produced the highest DM yield in autumn and sprong (582 and 7121 kg/ha DM, respectively), although the Amarillo component and OMD were substantially reduced. Highest DM yields (1726 kg/ha) were also achieved in the Amarillo-rhodes grass sward when defoliated every 56 days to 3 cm, although the Amarillo component was unaffected. In a mixed sward with either kikuyu or rhodes grass, the Amarillo component in the sward was maintained up to a 28-day defoliation interval and was higher when more severely defoliated. The results show that Amarillo can tolerate frequent defoliation and that it can co-exist with tropical grasses of differing growth habits, provided the Amarillo-tropical grass sward is subject to frequent and severe defoliation.

Phenotypic variation in natural populations of kikuyu in Australia

The quality of tropical grasses is a major limitation to animal production in tropical and subtropical areas. This is mainly associated with the lower digestibility because C4 grasses have higher fibre levels. Any improvement in quality would require a reduction in the lignin and an increase in the digestion of the neutral detergent fibre content of these plants (Clark and Wilson 1993). Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is an important grass for the dairy and beef industries of the subtropics of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (Mears 1970). Increased digestibility could substantially improve animal production in these industries. These experiments investigated the variation in agronomic and quality of natural populations selected from diverse regions within Australia. Runners of 14 kikuyu selections were collected by project staff or local agronomists from areas considered to have grown kikuyu for over 30 years while Whittet and Noonan were established by seed. Entries were established as single spaced plants on a 1.5 m grid in a randomised block with 3 replicates and evaluated under irrigation at Mutdapilly (brown podsol) and Wollongbar (red ferrosol). Foliage height, forage production and runner yield were assessed along with crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), metabolisable energy (ME), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content of the leaf in autumn, winter and spring.

Ruminal protein degradability of a range of tropical pastures

The rumen degradability parameters of the diet selected by two to four oesophageal-fistulated Brahman steers grazing a range of tropical pastures were determined by incubation of extrusa in nylon bags suspended in the rumen of rumen-fistulated (RF) Brahman steers. The effective protein degradability (Edg) was determined by measuring the rate of disappearance of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) less acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) in the incubated extrusa. Six to eight RF steers also grazed each of the pastures along with the oesophageal-fistulated steers, to allow determination of key rumen parameters and rumen particulate matter fractional outflow rates (FOR). The seven pastures studied included: native tropical grass (C4) pasture (major species Heteropogon contortus and Bothriochloa bladhii), studied in the early wet (NPEW), the wet/dry transition (NPT) and the dry (NPD) seasons; introduced tropical grass (C4) pasture (Bothriochloa insculpta), studied in the mid wet season (BB); the introduced tropical legumes (C3), Lablab purpureus (LL) and Clitoria ternatea (BP); and the temperate grass (C3) pasture, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, RG). Using the measured particle FOR values in calculations, the Edg estimates were very high for both C4 and C3 species: 0.82–0.91 and 0.95–0.98 g/g crude protein (CP), respectively. Substitution of an assumed FOR (kp = 0.02/h) for the measured values for each pasture type did not markedly affect estimates of Edg. However, C4 tropical grasses had much lower effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP) fractions (23–66 g/kg DM) than the C3 pasture species RG and LL (356 and 243 g/kg DM, respectively). This was associated with a lower potential degradability and degradation rate of organic matter (OM) in sacco, lower in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and CP concentrations in the extrusa, and lower ammonia-N and branched-chain fatty acid concentrations in rumen fluid for the tropical grasses. As tropical grass pastures senesced, there was a decline in Edg, the ERDP and rumen undegradable protein (UDP) fractions, the potential degradability and degradation rate of OM and the IVOMD. These results provide useful data for estimating protein supply to cattle grazing tropical pastures.

Uzbekistan Supplementary NGO Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Republic of Uzbekistan

[Excerpt] The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was one of the first international instruments to which the Republic of Uzbekistan acceded, and with parliamentary ratification on 9 December 1992, the Republic of Uzbekistan entered into a commitment to observe all the provisions of the CRC and to shoulder its responsibility before the international community. As a result various legislative, administrative and other steps have been taken by the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan with a view to bringing the State policy and legislation on children to be in line with the provisions as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Constitution incorporates the fundamental provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the current stage in the restructuring of the country’s social and economic development, solid foundations have been laid for the conduct of significant democratic reforms based on a recognition of the innate worth of the individual (including the child) and of the unconditional respect of his or her rights and freedoms. Until recently, the State acted as the main guarantor of the provision of all social services, however the process of the transition (political/economic) to a market economy has entailed the development of new economic relations with a reduction in the allocation of state resources for the provision of social services to children. The efforts of the government made so far to bring the state policy and legislation on the child to be in line with the provisions enshrined in the convention on the rights of the child are commendable; never the less, the implementations of all these policies and laws into practice needs a lot to desire as there are a number of ongoing child rights violations. The National Report has fundamentally overlooked a number of child rights privileges enshrined in the CRC that have not yet been realised, or those rights that have been eroded since the independence. These shortcomings need to be noted for consideration so that the state steps up its efforts to enact new laws and/or to enforce the existing rules and regulations required for the protection and implementation of these child rights, and to improve the overall situation for children in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Kinetics of interaction of Cotton Leaf Curl Kokhran Virus-Dabawali (CLCuKV-Dab) coat protein and its mutants with ssDNA

Gemini viral assembly and transport of viral DNA into nucleus for replication, ssentially involve DNA-coat protein interactions. The kinetics of interaction of Cotton LeafCtirl Kokhran Virus-Dabawali recombinant coat protein (rCP) with DNA was studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The rCP interacted with ssDNA with a K-A, of 2.6 +/- 0.29 x 10(8) M-1 in a sequence non-specific manner. The CP has a conserved C2H2 type zinc finger motif composed of residues C68, C72, H81 and H85. Mutation of these residues to alanine resulted in reduced binding to DNA probes. The H85A mutant rCP showed the least binding with approximately 756 fold loss in the association rate and a three order magnitude decrease in the binding affinity as compared to rCP. The CP-DNA interactions via the zinc finger motif could play a Crucial role ill Virus assembly and in nuclear transport. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc.

Evidence of episodic brittle faulting in the cratonic part of the Peninsular India and its implications for seismic hazard in slow deforming regions

The region around Waclakkancheri, in the province of Kerala, India, which lies in the vicinity of Palghat-Cauvery ;hear zone (within the Precambrian crystalline terrain), has been a site of microseismic activity since 1989. Earlier studies had identified a prominent WNW-ESE structure overprinting on the E-W trending lineaments associated with Palghat-Cauvery shear zone. We have mapped this structure, located in a chamockite quarry near Desamangalam, Waclakkancheri, which we identify as a ca. 30 km-long south dipping reverse fault. This article presents the characteristics of this fault zone exposed on the exhumed crystalline basement and discusses its significance in understanding the earthquake potential of the region. This brittle deformation zone consists of fracture sets with small-scale displacement and slip planes with embedded fault gouges. The macroscopic as well as the microscopic studies of this fault zone indicate that it evolved through different episodes of faulting in the presence of fluids. The distinct zones within consolidated gouge and the cross cutting relationship of fractures indicate episodic fault activity. At least four faulting episodes can be recognized based on the sequential development of different structural elements in the fault rocks. The repeated ruptures are evident along this shear zone and the cyclic behavior of this fault consists of co-seismic ruptures alternating with inter-seismic periods, which is characterized by the sealed fractures and consolidated gouge. The fault zone shows a minimum accumulated dip/oblique slip of 2.1 m in the reverse direction with a possible characteristic slip of 52 cm (for each event). The ESR dating of fault gouge indicates that the deformation zone records a major event in the Middle Quaternary. The empirical relationships between fault length and slip show that this fault may generate events M >= 6. The above factors suggest that this fault may be characterized as potentially active. Our study offers some new pointers that can be used in other slow deforming cratonic hinterlands in exploring the discrete active faults.

Tripartite Entanglement versus Tripartite Nonlocality in Three-Qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-Class States

We analyze the relationship between tripartite entanglement and genuine tripartite nonlocality for three-qubit pure states in the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger class. We consider a family of states known as the generalized Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states and derive an analytical expression relating the three-tangle, which quantifies tripartite entanglement, to the Svetlichny inequality, which is a Bell-type inequality that is violated only when all three qubits are nonlocally correlated. We show that states with three-tangle less than 1/2 do not violate the Svetlichny inequality. On the other hand, a set of states known as the maximal slice states does violate the Svetlichny inequality, and exactly analogous to the two-qubit case, the amount of violation is directly related to the degree of tripartite entanglement. We discuss further interesting properties of the generalized Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger and maximal slice states.

Preparation and catalytic studies of palladium nanoparticles stabilized by dendritic phosphine ligand-functionalized silica

Silica is a prominently utilized heterogeneous metal catalyst support. Functionalization of the silica with poly(ether imine) based dendritic phosphine ligand was conducted, in order to assess the efficacy of the dendritic phosphine in reactions facilitated by a silica supported metal catalyst. The phosphinated poly(ether imine) (PETIM) dendritic ligand was bound covalently to the functionalized silica. For this purpose, the phosphinated dendritic ligand containing an amine at the focal point was synthesized initially. Complexation of the dendritic phosphine functionalized silica with Pd(COD)Cl-2 yielded Pd(II) complex, which was reduced subsequently to Pd(0), by conditioning with EtOH. The Pd metal nanoparticle thus formed was characterized by physical methods, and the spherical nanoparticles were found to have >85% size distribution between 2 nm and 4 nm. The metal nanoparticle was tested as a hydrogenation catalyst of olefins. The catalyst could be recovered and recycled more than 10 times, without a loss in the catalytic efficiency.

Child rights as perceived by the community members in India

Attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of an individual influence their behavior as well as culture of a society. The objective of the study was to understand the attitudes and knowledge of 584 Indian community members regarding child rights and their perceptions about whether selected child rights were secured in reality. Overall attitudes of vast majority (96 – 98%) of the participants towards child rights were found to be positive i.e., children should have rights in various respects except issue like right to meet others (Article 15 of CRC). Knowledge of majority of the participants about child rights related legislations was moderate and varied across the cities while participants were unanimous about poor lived experiences of child rights in reality. So far as attitude and perception are concerned about child rights, there was a significant difference in the distribution between cities (p<0.01). Overall, the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 had the highest awareness (91.3%, n=533), followed by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (89.7%, n=523) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (89.6%, n=523). Findings of the present study speak in favor of community awareness about child rights and penalties for violation of child rights.

Phenotypic and genotypic variation within populations of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) in Australia.

Experiments at 2 sites in subtropical eastern Australia investigated the variation in agronomic attributes, quality and genetic structure existing within: naturally-occurring populations of kikuyu ( Pennisetum clandestinum) from within Australia; selections produced from the treatment of Whittet seed with mutagenic chemicals; and available cultivars. Runners were collected from coastal areas extending from Western Australia to the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland. One experiment evaluated 10 mutagenic selections and 4 cultivars in a lattice design and the other evaluated 12 ecotypes and 3 cultivars in a randomised block design. The experimental unit was single plants, which were sown on a 1.5 m grid into a weed-free seed-bed (Mutdapilly) or a killed kikuyu stand (Wollongbar), both of which were kept clear of weeds and other kikuyu plants for the duration of the experiments. Foliage height, forage production and runner yield were assessed. Leaf material was analysed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDDM) in autumn, winter and spring. DNA was extracted from each plant in the ecotype comparison and subjected to a modified DAF (DNA amplification fingerprinting) analysis to determine the level of genetic relatedness. In the first experiment, none of the mutagenic lines derived from Whittet yielded significantly more or was more digestible than commercial Whittet material, although some selections were superior to the other commercial kikuyu cultivars, Noonan and Crofts, and 'common' kikuyu. However, there were significant differences in plant height and runner expansion. In the second experiment, significant differences in plant height, foliage yield, runner development, and leaf CP, ADF, NDF and IVDDM concentrations were demonstrated between the ecotypes, mutagenic selections and cultivars. There was a 4- to 6-fold difference in plant yield and a 6- to 10-fold difference in runner production between the ecotypes at the 2 sites. Quality of the leaf ranged from 200 to 270 g/kg (CP), from 700 to 770 g/kg (IVDDM), from 170 to 250 g/kg (ADF) and from 470 to 550 g/kg (NDF). Improvements in quality and agronomic attributes were not mutually exclusive. Genetic fingerprint analysis of the kikuyu lines indicated that they formed 2 broad groupings. Most of the regional ecotypes were grouped with 'common' kikuyu as represented by the material collected from Wollongbar, and the Beechmont, Atherton Tableland and Gympie ecotypes were grouped with the registered cultivars Whittet, Noonan and Crofts. Two lines produced by mutagenesis from Whittet remained closely linked to Whittet. These results suggest that there was variation between populations of kikuyu in yield, quality and genetic diversity but that mutagenesis by treating seed with sodium azide and diethylene sulphide did not achieve a significant change in the digestibility of leaf over cv. Whittet.

ESR evidence for 2 coexisting liquid phases in deeply supercooled bulk water

Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), we measure the rotational mobility of probe molecules highly diluted in deeply supercooled bulk water and negligibly constrained by the possible ice fraction. The mobility increases above the putative glass transition temperature of water, T-g = 136 K, and smoothly connects to the thermodynamically stable region by traversing the so called "no man's land" (the range 150-235 K), where it is believed that the homogeneous nucleation of ice suppresses the liquid water. Two coexisting fractions of the probe molecules are evidenced. The 2 fractions exhibit different mobility and fragility; the slower one is thermally activated (low fragility) and is larger at low temperatures below a fragile-to-strong dynamic cross-over at approximate to 225 K. The reorientation of the probe molecules decouples from the viscosity below approximate to 225 K. The translational diffusion of water exhibits a corresponding decoupling at the same temperature [Chen S-H, et al. (2006) The violation of the Stokes-Einstein relation in supercooled water. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:12974-12978]. The present findings are consistent with key issues concerning both the statics and the dynamics of supercooled water, namely the large structural fluctuations [Poole PH, Sciortino F, Essmann U, Stanley HE (1992) Phase behavior of metastable water. Nature 360: 324-328] and the fragile-to-strong dynamic cross-over at approximate to 228 K [Ito K, Moynihan CT, Angell CA (1999) Thermodynamic determination of fragility in liquids and a fragile-tostrong liquid transition in water. Nature 398: 492-494].

Use of transverse polarization to probe R-parity violating supersymmetry at ILC

In supersymmetric theories with R-parity violation, squarks and sleptons can mediate Standard Model fermion–fermion scattering processes. These scalar exchanges in e+e− initiated reactions can give new signals at future linear colliders. We explore use of transverse beam polarization in the study of these signals in the process View the MathML source. We highlight certain asymmetries, which can be constructed due to the existence of the transverse beam polarization, which offer discrimination from the Standard Model (SM) background and provide increased sensitivity to the R-parity violating couplings.

Potato virus A as a heterologous protein expression tool in plants

Viruksien käyttö tuotekehityksen ja tutkimuksen vaatimien proteiinien tuottamiseen, syötävien rokotteiden kehittämiseen ja geeniterapiaan edustavat kasvavia biotekniikan sovellusalueita. Perunan A-virus (PVA) kuuluu potyviruksiin, joiden proteiinit tuotetaan aluksi yhtenä suurena molekyylinä, joka pilkotaan yksittäisiksi proteiineiksi viruksen itsensä tuottamilla entsyymeillä. Siten virusgenomiin lisätty vieras geeni käännetään proteiiniksi virusproteiinien mukana. Lopputuloksena kaikkia proteiineja tuotetaan kasvisoluissa samansuuruinen määrä. Lisäksi, viruksen proteiinikuoren koontimekanismi sallii perintöaineksen merkittävän lisäyksen ilman että viruksen tartutuskyky merkittävästi heikkenee. Koska virus monistuu ja leviää koko kasviin, jo melko pieni määrä kasveja riittää huomattavan proteiinimäärän tuottamiseen esimerkiksi säännösten mukaisessa kasvihuoneessa. Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli muuntaa PVA:n genomia siten, että virus soveltuisi yhden vieraan proteiinin tai useiden erilaisten proteiinien samanaikaiseen tuottamiseen kasveissa. Aluksi kokeiltiin viruksen replikaasia ja kuoriproteiinia koodaavien genomialueiden välistä kohtaa ja ihmisestä peräisi olevaa geeniä, joka tuotti S-COMT-entsyymiä (katekoli-O-metyylitransferaasi). Sen aktiivisuuden rajoittaminen auttaa Parkinsonintaudin hoidossa. Kasvissa tuotettua S-COMT:ia voitaisiin käyttää lääkekehityksessä estolääkkeiden testaukseen. Kahden viikon kuluttua tartutuksesta tupakan lehdissä oli entsymaattisesti aktiivista S-COMT:ia n. 1 % lehden liukoisista proteiineista. PVA:n P1-proteiinia koodaavalta alueelta oli paikannettu kohta, johon ehkä voitaisiin siirtää vieras geeni. Asia varmistettiin siirtämällä tähän kohtaan meduusan geeni, joka tuottaa UV-valossa vihreänä fluoresoivaa proteiinia (GFP). GFP-geeniä kantava PVA levisi kasvissa ja lisääntyi n. 30-50 %:iin viruksen normaalista pitoisuudesta. Koko kasvi fluoresoi vihreänä UV-valossa. Vieras geeni voidaan sijoittaa myös potyviruksen P1- ja HCpro-proteiineja koodaavien alueiden väliin. Samaan PVA-genomiin siirrettiin kolme geeniä, yksi kuhunkin kolmesta kloonauskohdasta: GFP-geeni P1:n sisälle, merivuokon lusiferaasigeeni P1/HCpro-kohtaan ja bakteerin beta-glukuronidaasigeeni (GUS) replikaasi/kuoriproteiini-kohtaan. Virusgenomin ja itse viruksen pituudet kasvoivat 38 %, mutta virus säilytti tartutuskykynsä. Se levisi kasveissa saavuttaen n. 15 % viruksen normaalista pitoisuudesta. Kaikki kolme vierasta proteiinia esiintyivät lehdissä aktiivisina.