Distribution and seasonal variation of concentrations of particulate carbohydrates and uronic acids in the northern Indian Ocean

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected from the surface seawaters at 31 stations, and from various depths (2 to 1000 m) at 9 locations in the northern Indian Ocean during various seasons. SPM samples were analyzed for total particulate carbohydrate (TPCHO), total particulate uronic acid (TPURA) and total particulate neutral carbohydrate (TPNCHO) concentrations and composition. Strong spatial, temporal and depth related variations were evident in the distribution of these compounds. In surface waters, concentrations of TPCHO, TPNCHO, and TPURA varied from 0.57 to 3.58 μM C, 0.11 to 2.34 μM C, and from 0.01 to 0.31 μM C, respectively, and accounted for 2.6 to 34.6%, 2 to 24.5%, and 0.2 to 6.3% of POC, respectively, whereas the TPURA accounted for 4.7 to 22.7% of TPCHO. Concentrations and yields of both TPNCHO and TPURA decreased rapidly in the upper 100 m of the water column suggesting their utilization by heterotrophic organisms. Glucose was the most abundant constituent of the TPNCHO. Glucose mole fraction decreased while that of other monosaccharides, especially galactose, arabinose, mannose, rhamnose and fucose increased in the upper 100 m water. Below this depth, mole fraction of glucose increased while that of other sugars decreased with the increasing water depth. Generally, high C:N ratios were associated with low yields of carbohydrates and uronic acids. Inverse correlation between the mole fractions of arabinose plus xylose and rhamnose plus fucose indicates the importance of biogenic and terrestrial organic matter input to the Bay of Bengal. TPURA are surface-active in nature and thus may play an important role in coagulation of particles and macromolecules. The observed spatial and seasonal variations of these compounds may be due to differences in phytoplankton biomass, nutrient status, and the influence of terrestrial material.     

Photometric study of distant open clusters in the second quadrant: NGC 7245, King 9, King 13 and IC 166

We present a UBV CCD photometric study of four open clusters, NGC 7245, King 9, IC 166 and King 13, located between   l = 90°  and 135°. All are embedded in a rich Galactic field. NGC 7245 and King 9 are close together in the sky and have similar reddenings. The distances and ages are: NGC 7245, 3.8 ± 0.35 kpc and 400 Myr; King 9 (the most distant cluster in this quadrant), 7.9 ± 1.1 kpc and 3.0 Gyr. King 13 is 3.1 ± 0.3 kpc distant and 300 Myr old. King 9 and IC 166 (4.8 ± 0.5 kpc distant and 1 Gyr old) may be metal-poor clusters  ( Z = 0.008)  , as estimated from isochrone fitting. The average value of the distance of young clusters from the Galactic plane in the above longitude range and beyond 2 kpc (−47 ± 16 pc, for 64 clusters) indicates that the young disc bends towards the southern latitudes.     

Extremely energetic 4B/X17.2 flare and associated phenomena

We observed 4B/X17.2 flare in Hα from super-active region NOAA 10486 at ARIES, Nainital. This is one of the largest flares of current solar cycle 23, which occurred near the Sun’s center and produced extremely energetic emission almost at all wavelengths from γ-ray to radio-waves. The flare is associated with a bright/fast full-halo earth directed CME, strong type II, type III and type IV radio bursts, an intense proton event and GLE. This flare is well observed by SOHO, RHESSI and TRACE. Our Hα observations show the stretching/de-twisting and eruption of helically twisted S shaped (sigmoid) filament in the south-west direction of the active region with bright shock front followed by rapid increase in intensity and area of the gigantic flare. The flare shows almost similar evolution in Hα, EUV and UV. We measure the speed of Hα ribbon separation and the mean value is ∼ 70 km s^-1. This is used together with photospheric magnetic field to infer a magnetic reconnection rate at three HXR sources at the flare maximum. In this paper, we also discuss the energetics of active region filament, flare and associated CME.     

Optimization of novel hyperthermostable β amylase production by Bacillus subtilis DJ5 using solid agroresidual substrates

Eight different low cost starchy agroresidues namely Barley (B), Wheat bran (WB), Sattu (S), Rice powder (RP), Corn flour (CF), Rice husk (RH), Yellow peas split (YPS) and arrowroot (A) were used for solid culturing of Bacillus subtilis DJ5 for production of novel hyperthermostable β amylase. Various process parameters like initial moisture content, inoculum load, medium pH and incubation temperature affecting enzyme production were optimized to ensure maximum enzyme yield. Only 10 % inoculums load and medium pH of 6.9 was found sufficient to achieve maximum enzyme production in all substrates in a decreasing order, B > WB > S > RP > CF > RH > YPS > A. Optimum β amylase production was highly dependent on initial moisture content of substrate as observed from varying requirement of moisture for different substrates. Only 50 % moisture was sufficient for maximum enzyme production of 84.29 U/gdm in CF. For B, RH, YPS, and A 60 % initial moisture resulted in higher production of 120.34, 35.19, 26.59, and 21.58 U/gdm, respectively, at 37 °C. However, for S and RP higher (70 %) moisture content allowed 113.4 and 85.56 U/gdm enzyme production, respectively. Under optimized conditions, maximum β amylase production was observed after 25 h for A, YPS, RH, RP; 41 h for B, WB, CF, and 45 h for S.