The effectiveness of Tiger Conservation Landscapes in decreasing deforestation in South Asia: a remote sensing-based study

Sabu Minu Merin,Pasha S. Vazeed,Reddy C. Sudhakar,Singh Randeep,Jaishanker R. 대한공간정보학회 2022 Spatial Information Research Vol.30 No.1

The alarming loss of tiger (Panthera tigris) populations due to degrading habitat called for an international commitment to double the wild tiger population by 2022 (‘‘Tx2’’ goal). In the present study, eighteen Priority Tiger Conservation Landscapes (PTCLs) distributed in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar were identified to investigate the trends in deforestation and fragmentation in core forest area. We used multi-decadal remote sensingbased maps to assess the rate of deforestation from 1975 to 2016. The time-series analysis revealed that there is a low to moderate level of deforestation reported in PTCLs from1975 to 2016. The Northern Forest Complex-Namdapha-Royal Manas and Tenasserims are the geographically larger landscapes of the eighteen PTCLs that show the relatively high annual rate of deforestation from 2005 to 2016 due to the practice of shifting cultivation. The Mann Kendall trend test has indicated a statistically significant decreasing trend in deforestation across the 18 PTCLs. Overall, a low level of forest fragmentation was found in core forest habitat in the landscapes from 1995 to 2016. The results indicate management has been effective in minimizing habitat loss. The study outcomes would lead to a holistic understanding at the landscape level for long-term conservation planning in PTCLs.

The effectiveness of Tiger Conservation Landscapes in decreasing deforestation in South Asia: a remote sensing-based study

Sabu Minu Merin,Pasha S. Vazeed,Reddy C. Sudhakar,Singh Randeep,Jaishanker R. 대한공간정보학회 2022 Spatial Information Research Vol.30 No.2

The alarming loss of tiger (Panthera tigris) populations due to degrading habitat called for an international commitment to double the wild tiger population by 2022 (‘‘Tx2’’ goal). In the present study, eighteen Priority Tiger Conservation Landscapes (PTCLs) distributed in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar were identified to investigate the trends in deforestation and fragmentation in core forest area. We used multi-decadal remote sensingbased maps to assess the rate of deforestation from 1975 to 2016. The time-series analysis revealed that there is a low to moderate level of deforestation reported in PTCLs from1975 to 2016. The Northern Forest Complex-Namdapha-Royal Manas and Tenasserims are the geographically larger landscapes of the eighteen PTCLs that show the relatively high annual rate of deforestation from 2005 to 2016 due to the practice of shifting cultivation. The Mann Kendall trend test has indicated a statistically significant decreasing trend in deforestation across the 18 PTCLs. Overall, a low level of forest fragmentation was found in core forest habitat in the landscapes from 1995 to 2016. The results indicate management has been effective in minimizing habitat loss. The study outcomes would lead to a holistic understanding at the landscape level for long-term conservation planning in PTCLs.

Hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging activities of Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract

Thambi, Priya,Sabu, Mandumpal Chacko,Chungath, Jolly Kyung Hee Oriental Medicine Research Center 2009 Oriental pharmacy and experimental medicine Vol.9 No.3

The present study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of $CCl_4$ (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of $CCl_4$, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of $O_2{\cdot}-$, $HO_2{\cdot}$, and ${\cdot}OH$. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc.

An In vitro Method for the Determination of Microbial Barrier Property (MBP) of Porous Polymeric Membranes for Skin Substitute and Wound Dressing Applications

Robin Augustine,Sabu Thomas,Nandakumar Kalarikkal 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2015 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.12 No.1

Barrier property of materials to microbes is an important aspect in many applications like wound dressingsand skin substitutes. Lack of a standard method for the evaluation of microbial barrier property limits the considerationof this important aspect by many bioengineers and biomaterial scientists. Thus, in this study we areintended to develop a standard method for the quantitative assessment of Microbial Barrier Property (MBP) andexpress this in terms of percentage in comparison with a control which resembles a bare wound or a standard existingwound coverage material. In this study, we have evaluated the microbial barrier property of electrospun materialswith different pore spaces and our study showed that this method can be successfully used for the assessment of bacterialbarrier property of materials intended for wound dressing and skin substitute applications. Further, the resultsshowed that the MBP will vary with the test conditions. This methodology can be used to measure the microbialbarrier property of wide range of materials like skin substitute materials, wound dressings, medical textiles and manyother materials where microbial prevention is important. This methodology can also be extended to the specificdetermination of bacterial, fungal or viral barrier property with minor modifications.

Hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging activities of Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract

Priya Thambi,Mandumpal Chacko Sabu,Jolly Chungath 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2009 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.9 No.3

The presrent study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of CCl4 (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of CCl4, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of CCl4 to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of O2· -, HO2· , and ·OH. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc. The presrent study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of CCl4 (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of CCl4, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of CCl4 to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of O2· -, HO2· , and ·OH. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc.

Dung preference and trophic association of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the moist forests of the South-western Ghats of the Indian subcontinent

Sathiandran Nithya,Vineesh P.J.,Thomas Sabu K. 한국응용곤충학회 2021 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.24 No.3

First quantitative dung beetle-feeding trophic network analysis for the Oriental region is carried out by inves tigating trophic network interaction between dung beetles and mammal dung types in the moist forests of the Western Ghats a global biodiversity hot spot in south-western India. Dung-beetle assemblage associated with the dung of the prominent mammals, such as the macaque, boar, gaur, elephant and deer, showed differences in richness, abundance and composition among different dung types. Most dung beetles were generalists with low resource specificity and community-wide generalist feeding on herbivore and omnivore dung types. Dung beetles in the region displayed high species richness and abundance in boar dung. The high attraction and specificity of dung beetles towards the odoriferous boar dung indicate that the omnivore mammal Sus scrofa has a major role in maintaining the dung beetle community in the forests of the Western Ghats. Network interaction analysis shows that the vast majority in the assemblage are generalist species, and the few specialist species were all with low abundance. Low overall specialisation and low resource partitioning with high species richness is recorded in the assemblage. The assemblage’s trophic level preference is reflected in the high dung specificity recorded in the omnivore and herbivore dung types.

Natural Polymer/Inorganic Material Based Hybrid Scaffolds for Skin Wound Healing

Ninan, Neethu,Muthiah, Muthunarayanan,Park, In-Kyu,Wong, Tin Wui,Thomas, Sabu,Grohens, Yves Taylor Francis 2015 Polymer reviews Vol.55 No.3

Soft, self-assembled liquid-crystalline nanocomposite for superior switching

Kaushik Pal,Sami Sajjadifar,Mohamed Abd Elkodous,Yakubu Adekunle Alli,Fernando Gomes,Jaison Jeevanandam,Sabu Thomas,Alexander Sigov 대한금속·재료학회 2019 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.15 No.1

Liquid crystal (LC) has long been a feature in Materials Science and Nanotechnology, have recently been extended into theappealing domain of complex hybrid materials. The crystalline structural eff ects of alkoxy chain lengths and the mesogenproperties of hydrogen-bonded (n-OBASA) complexes (n = 5,6,7) have been investigated in recent studies. The LC-basedhybrid nanocomposite materials–obtained by the homogeneous dispersion of zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) as a dopantinto hydrogen-bonded liquid-crystalline compounds—seem to be particularly promising in this article. Optimizing thegeometry of surface stabilizing electro-optic, LC cell reveals the typical intermolecular hydrogen bond (H-bond) formation. Here, we explore molecular-colloidal hybrid composite matrix formed from LCs and dilute dispersions of orientation-orderedZnO NWs, for eventual potential application in smart switchable display devices. In addition, we investigated the structural,dielectric and optical properties of the nanocomposite, and electro-optical studies which were performed by exploiting thepotential during the conditions before the opening of spectrum acquisition. Our novel fi ndings confi rm that the electric fi eldinduces a charge transfer of the LC molecules to the nanomaterial, which acts as a trap for ionic charges. This eff ect maybe utilized to achieve superior switching operation that is electro-optically tunable. Such dynamic novel switching could beharnessed in smart LCD technology and pave the way towards innovative display modulation techniques.