http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/67438 2026-10-09T15:25:56Z http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/67450 Title: Optimization of Chayote–Mandarin Blended Beverage Authors: Pandharinath Said, Prashant; Jena, Sujata Abstract: Chayote is an underutilized fruit with bland flavour and is available abundantly in Sikkim. To minimize post–harvest losses through value addition, an investigation was conducted to produce refreshing RTS beverage. The blending of mandarin juice was done to make it flavourful and one of the healthy alternatives for the consumers. The full factorial experimental design was followed to optimize chayote juice to mandarin juice and level of juice contents. The optimum composition from 15 experiments were decided based on quality of the juice i.e., colour, TSS, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and sensory attributes. An ANOVA results confirmed that the process variables produced significant changes in TSS, pH, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid. However, the highest values of dependent variables like TSS (16.27°Brix) were found for treatment T4, pH (4.40) for treatment T4, titratable acidity (1.08%) for treatment T12, ascorbic acid (14.91mg/100g) for treatment T9. The DMRT analysis also showed that treatments with different letters are significantly different. The sensory indices and ranking proved that the likeliness of beverage prepared in different treatment were different and no specific treatment had overall highest rating. Therefore, treatment with consistent perception for all attributes and high on ranking was considered the better. The treatment T2, was therefore considered as optimum and was also confirmed with colour, TSS, pH, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid values as well. Treatment T2 was prepared by blending chayote with mandarin at 1:1 ratio and 10% juice content Page(s): 1139-1146 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/67449 Title: Application of Bacillus sp. and its Keratinolytic Enzyme to Recover Plastic and Silver from Waste X-Ray Films Authors: Dabas, Pooja; Garg, Neelam Abstract: The global adoption of microbial enzymes in various industrial processes has surged, driven by a desire to mitigate the adverse effects of chemicals, with proteases being the most prominent. In the same direction, the present study was dedicated for developing an efficient and eco-friendly way for hydrolyzing this gelatinous layer to leave behind a clean polyester film using isolated bacterial species Bacillus sp. ND6D and by the keratinolytic enzyme produced by it. The isolate tolerated up to 0.07 M silver nitrate and 0.2–0.3% (w/v) pure silver in its growth medium, indicating its potential for direct use in bioleaching. It could hydrolyze the gelatinous layer from X-ray films over a broad temperature range, from 20– 70°C, with an optimum temperature of 50°C. The concentration of X-ray films causes variation in the time required, not in the efficiency of the isolate to hydrolyze silver halide embedded-gelatinous layers. Keratinase produced by Bacillus sp. ND6D is more efficient in this process; however, the enzyme is active under broad temperature, pH, and agitation conditions. The optimum conditions were found to be 7.4 pH, 45°C, and 40 rpm, and it is highly stable, allowing for repeated use until exhausted. At optimum conditions, 100% removal of the emulsion layer from the X-ray film was achieved in 40–50 sec with 0.5 U/ml of keratinase. Ultimately, both bioleaching by Bacillus sp. ND6D and enzymatic hydrolysis of silver halides embedded in a gelatinous layer from X-ray films were successful for the recovery of silver and plastic from radiographic films. Page(s): 1145-1155 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/67448 Title: Isolation of Thermotolerant Inulinase-producing Bacteria from Compost using Enrichment and Baiting Techniques Authors: Prasad, Suman; J, Lakshmi; K V, Ramesh; D E, Salamun Abstract: Despite the growing demand for thermostable inulinases, only a limited number of microorganisms have been identified as producers of inulinase. While fungi and yeasts are known to produce large amounts of inulinase, bacterial inulinases exhibit greater thermostability, making them ideal for diverse industrial applications. This investigation aims to isolate thermotolerant bacteria from compost using two isolation methods - enrichment and baiting. The two techniques are compared in terms of the population of bacteria isolated and the mean enzyme activity across different temperatures. Both methods yielded a comparable number of isolates, but their performance differed in terms of enzyme activity and optimum temperature. The enrichment technique exhibited an optimal temperature of 46.3°C with an enzyme activity of 2.96 U/mL, whereas the baiting method showed 44.4°C and 1.56 U/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that enrichment is a more effective strategy than baiting for isolating thermotolerant bacterial producers of inulinase. The investigation resulted in the isolation of Bacillus sonorensis and a novel thermophilic strain, Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus, both capable of producing the inulinase enzyme. Page(s): 1156-1167 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z http://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/67447 Title: Determining Optimal Road Widths in Zoning Plans using the LSM: Evidence from Elazığ, Türkiye Authors: Taşkaya, Selim; Xu, Jiajun Abstract: Zoning plans encompass areas where people reside and fulfill their essential functions. The formulation of these plans is governed by various criteria, encompassing population, topography, land slope, aspect, climatic conditions, transportation, and opportunities for health and education. In Türkiye, the zoning plan governed by Law No. 3194 is developed around zoning islands, incorporating various criteria during its formulation. Within such plans, transportation networks are established through primary and intermediate roads, which are designed not according to private property boundaries but in response to the configuration of zoning islands and site-specific land conditions. Consequently, this study investigates the necessity of determining road widths with varying characteristics—such as population, precedent, height, and construction coefficient—to optimize both traffic flow and pedestrian safety. By utilizing the Least Squares Method (LSM), main road widths are treated as correction coefficients; the constant width lengths, length coefficients, and all relevant criteria of zoning blocks are expressed separately as constants and unknowns, with their relations examined. The results provide an evaluation of road network design, emphasizing that the determination of ideal road width is a critical factor in enhancing the performance of zoning plans, offering place- and evidence-based guidance to strengthen long-term functional efficacy and urban resilience. Page(s): 1168-1178 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z