Isolation of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria from bilge oil contaminated water

Two bacterial strains, i.e. Pseudomonas mendocina and Ochrobactrum sp. were isolated from bilge oil contaminated water of Mormugao harbour, Goa, India and grown in a culture medium with hexadecane as the sole carbon source. Pseudomonas mendocina was used in further studies as it was the dominant strain. This strain effectively degraded tetradecane, hexadecane and octadecane leaving a residual concentration of about 73 %, 54 % and 40 % respectively in 120 h. Sequence analysis of the dominant bands from the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles revealed the differences between the genera of bilge oil contaminated sea water and its enrichment culture on hexadecane indicating a shift in community structure based on the type of substrate available. Pseudomonas mendocina amplified for the following catabolic genes namely C23O, nid and ndo. Based on the catabolic gene study the potential of the bacterial strain isolated, i.e. Pseudomonas mendocina seems to be interesting as it will be able to degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well. Physicochemical properties of Pseudomonas mendocina indicates production of exopolysaccharides based on the value of its isoelectric point.     

Rare earth diffusion kinetics in garnet: Experimental studies and applications

We determined the diffusion coefficient of Sm in almandine garnet as function of temperature at 1 bar and fO₂ corresponding to that of wüstite-iron buffer, and to a limited extent, that of a few other selected rare earth elements in almandine and pyrope garnets. Both garnets were demonstrated to have metastably survived the diffusion annealing at conditions beyond their stability fields. The experimental diffusion profiles were analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry, and in addition, by Rutherford back scattering spectroscopy for two samples. Transmission electron microscopic study of an almandine crystal that was diffusion-annealed did not reveal any near-surface fast diffusion path. Using reasonable approximations and theoretical analysis of vacancy diffusion, the experimental data were used to develop an expression of rare earth element (REE) diffusion coefficient in garnet as a function of temperature, pressure, fO₂, ionic radius, and matrix composition. Calculation of the closure temperature for the Sm-Nd decay system in almandine garnet in a metamorphic terrain shows very good agreement with that constrained independently. Modeling of the REE evolution in melt and residual garnet suggests that for dry melting condition, the REE pattern in the melt should commonly conform closely to that expected for equilibrium melting. However, for much lower solidus temperatures that would prevail in the presence of a H₂O-CO₂ fluid, the concentration of light REE in the melt could be significantly lower than that under equilibrium melting condition. A reported core and rim differences in the REE content of a garnet crystal in a mantle xenolith in kimberlite have been reproduced by assuming that the REE zoning was a consequence of entrapment in a magma derived from an external source for ∼32,000 yr before the eruption.     

Geothermal reservoirs — A brief review

A brief discussion and review of the geothermal reservoir systems, geothermal energy and modeling and simulation of the geothermal reservoirs has been presented here. Different types of geothermal reservoirs and their governing equations have been discussed first. The conceptual and numerical modeling along with the representation of flow though fractured media, some issues related to non isothermal flow through fractured media, the efficiency of the geothermal reservoir, structure of the numerical models, boundary conditions and calibration procedures have been illustrated. A brief picture of the Indian scenario and some barriers related with geothermal power are discussed and presented thereafter. Finally some gaps of the existing knowledge and recent focuses of research are discussed.     

Hydrometeorological processes in semi-arid western India: insights from long term isotope record of daily precipitation

Long term (2005–2016) daily precipitation isotope data (δ18O, δD and d-excess) from Ahmedabad in semi-arid Western India are examined in light of various meteorological parameters and air parcel trajectories to identify prominent patterns in the isotopic character and discern the underlying hydrometeorological processes. One of the most prominent and systematic annual patterns is the isotopic depletion (average δ18O: − 2.5‰ in Jun–Jul; − 5.2‰ in Aug–Sept) in the second half of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), which is observed in the 11 out of the 12 years of this study. Four geographically feasible causal factors have been examined if they contribute to observed late monsoon isotopic depletion. These factors are: (1) increased contribution of terrestrially recycled vapor; (2) intra-seasonal change in sea-surface, surface-air and cloud base temperatures; (3) increased rain-out fraction from marine vapor parcel; and (4) increase in relative proportion of convective rain. It is inferred from the present study that isotopic depletion in the second half of ISM is associated with: (1) increased contribution (45% from 36%) of terrestrially recycled moisture; (2) 1.9° C lower cloud base temperature; (3) increased rainout fraction due to decreased wind velocity (6.9 m/s from 8.8 m/s); and (4) an increase of 22.3% in the proportion of convective rain. Daily rain events with atypical isotopic composition (20‰ < d-excess < 0‰) are ascribed mainly to local weather perturbations causing sudden updraft of moist air facilitating terrestrial recycling of water vapor.     

Greenstone belts and their mineral endowment:Preface

The granite-greenstone terranes nested in Archean cratonic nuclei of continents over the world are composed of variably metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary remnants of ancient ocean basins.These rocks preserve distinct geological and geochemical imprints of mantle evolution and differentiation of primordial crust,varying     

Are Majhgawan-Hinota pipe rocks truly group-I Kimberlite?

The diamond bearing pipe rocks in Majhgawan-Hinota (more than four pipes) occur as intrusives in sandstones of Kaimur Group. These Proterozoic (974 ±30-1170 ±20 Ma) intrusive rocks, occupying the southeastern margin of Aravalli craton, were called as ‘micaceous kimberlite’ in tune with the reported kimberlite occurrences from other parts of the world. Judging from the definition of kimberlite, as approved by the IUGS Subcommission on Systematics of Igneous Rocks, it is not justified to call these rocks as ‘micaceous kimberlite’. Rather the mineralogical assemblages such as absence of typomorphic mineral monticellite (primary), abundance of phlogopite cognate, frequent presence of barite and primary carbonate mostly as calcite coupled with ultrapotassic and volatile-rich (dominantly H₂O) nature and high concentration of incompatible elements (such as Ba, Zr, Th, U), low Th/U ratios, low REE and no Eu-anomaly clearly indicate a close similarity with that of South African orangeites. Thus orangeites of Proterozoic age occur outside the Kaapvaal craton of South Africa which are much younger (200 Ma to 110 Ma) in age.     

Inverted metamorphic sequence in the Sikkim Himalayas: crystallization history, P–T gradient and implications

The metapelitic rocks of the Sikkim Himalayas show an inverted metamorphic sequence (IMS) of the complete Barrovian zones from chlorite to sillimanite + K‐feldspar, with the higher grade rocks appearing at progressively higher structural levels. Within the IMS, four groups of major planar structures, S₁, S₂ and S₃ were recognised. The S₂ structures are pervasive throughout the Barrovian sequence, and are sub‐parallel to the metamorphic isograds. The mineral growth in all zones is dominantly syn‐S₂. The disposition of the metamorphic zones and structural features show that the zones were folded as a northerly plunging antiform. Significant bulk compositional variation, with consequent changes of mineralogy, occurs even at the scale of a thin section in some garnet zone rocks. The results of detailed petrographic and thermobarometric studies of the metapelites along a roughly E–W transect show progressive increase of both pressure and temperature with increasing structural levels in the entire IMS. This is contrary to all models that call for thermal inversion as a possible reason for the origin of the IMS. Also, the observation of the temporal relation between crystallization and S₂ structures is problematic for models of post‐/late‐metamorphic tectonic inversion by recumbent folding or thrusting. A successful model of the IMS should explain the petrological coherence of the Barrovian zones and the close relationship of crystallization in each zone with S₂ planar structures along with the observed trend(s) of P–T variation in Sikkim and in other sections. A discussion is presented of some of the available models that, with some modifications, seem to be capable of explaining these observations.     

Explosive and Radio-Selected Transients: Transient Astronomy with Square Kilometre Array and its Precursors

With the high sensitivity and wide-field coverage of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), large samples of explosive transients are expected to be discovered. Radio wavelengths, especially in commensal survey mode, are particularly well-suited for uncovering the complex transient phenomena. This is because observations at radio wavelengths may suffer less obscuration than in other bands (e.g. optical/IR or X-rays) due to dust absorption. At the same time, multiwaveband information often provides critical source classification rapidly than possible with only radio band data. Therefore, multiwaveband observational efforts with wide fields of view will be the key to progress of transients astronomy from the middle 2020s offering unprecedented deep images and high spatial and spectral resolutions. Radio observations of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) with SKA will uncover not only much fainter bursts and verifying claims of sensitivity-limited population versus intrinsically dim GRBs, they will also unravel the enigmatic population of orphan afterglows. The supernova rate problem caused by dust extinction in optical bands is expected to be lifted in the SKA era. In addition, the debate of single degenerate scenario versus double degenerate scenario will be put to rest for the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae, since highly sensitive measurements will lead to very accurate mass loss estimation in these supernovae. One also expects to detect gravitationally lensed supernovae in far away Universe in the SKA bands. Radio counterparts of the gravitational waves are likely to become a reality once SKA comes online. In addition, SKA is likely to discover various new kinds of transients.     

Optical observations of GRB 050401 afterglow : a case for double-jet model

The afterglow of GRB 050401 presents several novel and interesting features. (i) An initially faster decay in optical band than in X-rays. (ii) A break in the X-ray light curve after ∼0.06 d with an unusual slope after the break. (iii)The X-ray afterglow does not show any spectral evolution across the break while the R -band light curve does not show any break. We have modelled the observed multiband evolution of the afterglow of GRB 050401 as originating in a two-component jet, and interpreting the break in X-ray light curve as due to lateral expansion of a narrow collimated outflow which dominates the X-ray emission. The optical emission is attributed to a wider jet component. Our model reproduces all the observed features of multiband afterglow of GRB 050401. We present optical observations of GRB 050401 using the 104-cm Sampurnanand Telescope at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital. Results of the analysis of multiband data are presented and compared with GRB 030329, the first reported case of double jet.