http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/3630 2026-04-03T13:34:13Z http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/7126 Title: Bacterial Community in Naturally Fermented Milk Products of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim of India Analysed by High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Authors: Shangpliang, H. Nakibapher Jones; Rai, Ranjita; Keisam, Santosh; Kumaraswamy, Jeyaram; Tamang, Jyoti Prakash Abstract: Naturally fermented milk (NFM) products are popular ethnic fermented foods in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim states of India. The present study is the frst to have documented the bacterial community in 54 samples of NFM products viz. chhurpi, churkam, dahi and gheu/mar by high-throughput Illumina amplicon sequencing. Metagenomic investigation showed that Firmicutes (Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae) and Proteobacteria (Acetobacteraceae) were the two predominant members of the bacterial communities in these products. Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus helveticus were the predominant lactic acid bacteria while Acetobacter spp. and Gluconobacter spp. were the predominant acetic acid bacteria present in these products. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/7125 Title: Attenuation Character of Seismic Waves in Sikkim Himalaya Authors: Hazarika, Pinki; Kumar, M. Ravi; Kumar, Dinesh Abstract: In this study, we investigate the seismic wave attenuation beneath Sikkim Himalaya using P, S and coda waves from 68 local earthquakes registered by eight broad-band stations of the SIKKIM network. The attenuation quality factor (Q) depends on frequency as well as lapse time and depth. The value of Q varies from (i) 141 to 639 for P waves, (ii) 143 to 1108 for S waves and (iii) 274 to 1678 for coda waves, at central frequencies of 1.5 Hz and 9 Hz, respectively. The relations that govern the attenuation versus frequency dependence are Qα = (96 ± 0.9) f (0.94 ± 0.01), Qβ = (100 ± 1.4) f (1.16 ± 0.01) and Qc = (189 ± 1.5) f (1.2 ± 0.01) for P, S and coda waves, respectively. The ratio between Qβ and Qα is larger than unity, implying larger attenuation of P compared to S waves. Also, the values of Qc are higher than Qβ . Estimation of the relative contribution of intrinsic (Qi) and scattering (Qs) attenuation reveals that the former mechanism is dominant in Sikkim Himalaya. We note that the estimates of Qc lie in between Qi and Qs and are very close to Qi at lower frequencies. This is in agreement with the theoretical and laboratory experiments. The strong frequency and depth dependence of the attenuation quality factor suggests a highly heterogeneous crust in the Sikkim Himalaya. Also, the high Q values estimated for this region compared to the other segments of Himalaya can be reconciled in terms of moderate seismic activity, unlike rest of the Himalaya, which is seismically more active. 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/7106 Title: A Cost–Benefit Analysis of Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Sikkim Himalaya, India Authors: Mishra, Prabuddh Kumar; Rai, Suresh Chand Abstract: Soil and water conservation (SWC) measures are needed to control erosion and sustain agricultural production in mountain regions. This study assessed the costs and benefits of indigenous SWC measures in a predominantly rural watershed in Sikkim Himalaya, India, from 2009 to 2010. Physical data were obtained through field measurements of soil erosion and runoff in plots with and without SWC measures; further information was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 150 farm households. Major costs and benefits of various measures implemented in the study area were quantified using net present value, internal rate of return, time horizon, discount rate, payback period, and sensitivity analysis. For a 10-year period and with a 6% discount rate, all the practices were found to have a positive net present value and to help ensure economic and environmental sustainability. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most widespread SWC practices are worth implementing. Some practices not only prevented nutrient loss and retained soil moisture but also provided additional income and increased crop yield. Our findings suggest that agroforestry and vegetative barriers are the most favorable practices. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/6525 Title: Metapopulation modelling of threatened plants to assess conservation status and determine minimum viable population size Authors: Lyngdoh, Mark K.; Chettri, Arun; Adhikari, D.; Barik, S. K. Abstract: Use of metapopulation modelling in conservation of threatened plants has been demonstrated in this article taking Paris polyphylla Smith as an example. The metapopulation data collected from Sikkim Himalaya over a period of four years were analysed using RAMAS Metapop 5.0 software. Demographic projection, assessment of extinction probability, popu-lation viability analysis, and analysis of impact of dis-turbance on the metapopulation were undertaken. The metapopulation had 11 populations of which sev-en were in continuous forest (CF) and four were in forest fragments (FF). All the analyses were done in two model scenarios, viz. base-model (M1) represent-ing the disturbed condition, and alternate model (M2) representing the undisturbed condition for three dis-tinct layers of P. polyphylla populations, i.e. CF, FF in isolation, and collectively as metapopulation. The out-puts of the deterministic population models in respect of CF and FF populations revealed that both the populations had contribution of growth and survival of plants to such decline was greater than the fecun-dity in both the models. Stochastic simulations re-vealed an extinction risk of >10% in 100 years in M1 scenario, which put the species under vulnerable cate-gory. The extinction risk of metapopulation signifi-cantly varied between the two models (M1=0.85; M2=0.42), conforming the hypothesis that dis-turbance and forest fragmentation have detrimental effect on the persistence of P. polyphylla. Recovery of species was most promising when reproductive indi-viduals were introduced to the M2 model. Thus, both in-troduction of individuals in the field and protection of the populations with emphasis on the reproductive sub-set would result in achieving minimum viable popula-tion size or low threat status of the species. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z