ID: 66049
Title: Ultrasonic bund detection system for header of combine harvester
Author: Davinder Singh, Ritu Dogra , Baldev Dogra , Derminder Singh and Rashmi Arora
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 940-949 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Ultrasonic bund detection system for header of combine harvester
Keywords: Combine harvester, header height, linear actuator, soil bund detection, ultrasonic sensor.
Abstract: There are appreciable physical losses to the header of a
combine harvester operating in the fields during harvesting. To reduce these losses, it is desirable to effectively
control the header height of the combine harvester. In
the present study, a soil bund detection system has
been developed for the header of the combine harvester
using an ultrasonic sensor and tested under field conditions. In the laboratory, the best among five ultrasonic
sensors (HC-SR04, US-100, JSN-SR04T, GY-US42 and
MB-7092) was selected based on accuracy and response
of the sensor operated for 27 treatments of soil bund
height, sensor height and stubble density. Consequently, the soil bund detection system was developed using
the US-100 sensor, Arduino UNO R3 microcontroller
and two relays to control the actuator on prototype.
The results showed that during sensor selection, the
US-100 sensor had a maximum accuracy of 84.83% in
BH3SH1SD1 treatment and a maximum response of
91.38 readings/sec in BH2SH2SD3 treatment. Furthermore, the developed system showed a maximum accuracy of 88.89% and 85.58% without the actuator in the
field and with the actuator under laboratory conditions respectively. The highest response of 64.68 and
62.70 readings/sec was recorded for systems without
the actuator in the field and with the actuator under
laboratory conditions respectively. The study reveals
that the increase in stubble density and sensor height
causes a decrease in the accuracy, while the increase in
bund height significantly increases the accuracy of the
system. Moreover, an increase in vehicle speed causes
a decrease in the response of the system, whereas with
increasing bund height and stubble density, there is an
increase in the response.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: O’Neill, A., India – Total Population 2016–2026; https://www.
statista.com/statistics/263766/total-population-of-india (accessed on
16 May 2021).
Mehta, C. R., Chandel, N. S., Jena, P. C. and Jha, A., Indian agriculture counting on farm mechanization. AMA-Agric. Mech. Asia
Af., 2019, 50(1), 84–89.
Literature cited 2: Mehta, C. R., Chandel, N. S. and Senthilkumar, T., Status, challenges and strategies for farm mechanization in India. AMA, 2021,
45(4), 43–50.
Singh, M. K., Singh, S. P., Kushwaha, H. L., Singh, M. K. and Utpal, E., Combine harvester: opportunities and prospects as resource
conservation technology. RASSA J. Sci. Soc., 2020, 2(1), 53–57.
ID: 66048
Title: Building resilience to floods in India: human development, income, inequality and forest cover
Author: Chandra Sekhar Bahinipati, Unmesh Patnaik and Asis Kumar Senapati
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 931-937 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Building resilience to floods in India: human development, income, inequality and forest cover
Keywords: Floods, forest cover, human development, income, Indian states, inequality, resilience
Abstract: Enhancing the resilience of disaster-affected communities is always a prime concern for policymakers. Empirical evidence reveals that many socio-economic
indicators determine the resilience capacity of an entity.
Although several studies in India have investigated the
role of socio-economic and generic adaptation measures
in reducing impact, there is a lack of studies concerning human development, inequality, and forest cover in
reducing vulnerability to extreme events like floods. By
considering data related to state-wise losses and damages from floods between 1980 and 2011, we study
them in enhancing the resilience capacity of Indian
states. Employing Poisson fixed effects with a clustered
standard error model, we find: First, human development matters for reducing mortality, but it enhances
people affected and houses damaged, and the relationship is expected to have an inverted-U shape for later
outcomes. Second, in contrast to the anticipation, variables like inequality are negatively associated with
houses damaged and human fatalities, i.e. the latter declines with increasing former. Third, the confounder,
like forest cover, is found to be negative for all loss and
damage indicators. Fourth, most of these variables are
found to be statistically insignificant. Given that developing resilient infrastructure is the need of the hour,
this study suggests the inclusion of climate risks in development planning to address the adaptation deficit
and avoid possible maladaptation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Government of India, Disaster Management in India. Ministry of
Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, 2011.
Bahinipati, C. S., Patnaik, U. and Viswanathan, P. K., What causes
economic losses from natural disasters in India? In Handbook of
Research on Climate Change Impact on Health and Environmental
Sustainability, IGI Global, Hershey PA, USA, 2016, pp. 157–175.
Literature cited 2: . Chowdhury, J. R., Parida, Y. and Goel, P. A., Does inequality adjusted human development reduce the impact of natural disasters? a gendered perspective. World Dev., 2021, 141, 105394;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105394
Parida, Y., Dash, D. P., Bhardwaj, P. and Chowdhury, J. R., Effects
of drought and flood on farmer suicides in Indian states: an empirical analysis. Econ.
ID: 66047
Title: Analysing the synthesis and characterization of semi-organic compound tartaric acid ammonium chloride by slow evaporation method
Author: T. L. Berlin Beno, M. Maria Lenin and R. S. Abina Shiny
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 923-930 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Analysing the synthesis and characterization of semi-organic compound tartaric acid ammonium chloride by slow evaporation method
Keywords: Antifungal and antibacterial activity, nonlinear optics, semi-organic compounds, single crystal, slow evaporation method
Abstract: Single crystal synthesis, growth and characterization
pose challenges such as impurities, temperature control
issues and mechanical stress. The present study aims to
address these issues by synthesizing and exploring the
physico-chemical properties of a nonlinear semi-organic
crystal, tartaric acid and ammonium chloride (TAAC).
The crystal growth occurred via the slow evaporation
method at ambient temperature using double-deionized
water as a solvent. Physico-chemical properties were
tested, and characterization included X-ray diffraction,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence to analyse structure, purity and morphology.
Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,
UV-visible spectra and micro hardness methods were
employed to analyse the optical properties and determine band-gap energy. Antifungal and antibacterial
activities against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated using the
agar-well diffusion method. TAAC demonstrated superior structure and characteristics compared to potassium
dihydrogen phosphate crystals across all parameters.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Ravindran, B., Shiny, R. A., Beno, T. B. and Lavanya, N., Studies
on the growth and characterization of L-Arginine potassium iodide
crystals by slow evaporation solution growth method. Mater. Today:
Proc., 2023, 80, 3634–3637.
Gounden, D., Nombona, N. and Van Zyl, W. E., Recent advances
in phthalocyanines for chemical sensor, non-linear optics (NLO)
and energy storage applications. Coord. Chem. Rev., 2020, 420,
213359.
Literature cited 2: Shanmugan, S., Saravanan, N., Chithambaram, V., Deepanraj, B.
and Palani, G., Investigation on single crystal by tartaric acid–
barium chloride: growth and characterization of novel NLO materials. Bull. Mater. Sci., 2020, 43(1), 202.
Zang, D., Tarafdar, S., Tarasevich, Y. Y., Choudhury, M. D. and
Dutta, T., Evaporation of a droplet: from physics to applications.
Phys. Rep., 2019, 804, 1–56.
ID: 66046
Title: Rooted resilience: harnessing rootstock diversity in cucurbit prosperity
Author: Yogajanma Sahoo, C. Indu Rani, R. Neelavathi, M. Kavitha , A. Subramanian and M. Sudha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 916-922 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Rooted resilience: harnessing rootstock diversity in cucurbit prosperity
Keywords: Cucurbits, grafting, quality, rootstock diversity, stress
Abstract: Cucurbits, vital for global economy, confront myriad
stresses impacting yield and quality. Rootstocks offer
vital stress tolerance, enhancing crop performance.
The present review explores rootstock diversity in cucurbit cultivation, different grafting methods and various
rootstock–scion combinations, assessing their roles in
stress mitigation and quality improvement across cucurbits. Assessing diverse stressors like drought and diseases reveals rootstocks with genetic variability,
providing viable solutions. Crucial for sustainable production, these rootstocks improve crop vigour, yield
stability and fruit quality. Future research should delve
into rootstock-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms
to optimize agricultural benefits.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lutaladio, N., Burlingame, B. and Crews, J., Horticulture, biodiversity and nutrition. J. Food Compos. Anal., 2010, 23(6), 481.
Brewster, J. L., Onions and Other Vegetable Alliums, CABI, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK, 2008, p. 22.
Literature cited 2: Olarewaju, O. O., Fajinmi, O. O., Arthur, G. D., Coopoosamy, R.
M. and Naidoo, K., Effect of climate change on the production of
Cucurbitaceae species in North African countries. J. Agric. Food
Res., 2023, 14, 100742.
Garg, S., Kaul, S. C. and Wadhwa, R., Cucurbitacin B and cancer
intervention: chemistry, biology and mechanisms. Int. J. Oncol.,
2018, 52(1), 19–37.
ID: 66045
Title: Ayurveda pulse monitoring and diagnostic systems: a systematic review
Author: Monika Shah, Anuja Nair, Aryan Yashu, Deep Patel, Madhav Kanakhara and Nishi Patel
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 904-915 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Ayurveda pulse monitoring and diagnostic systems: a systematic review
Keywords: Ayurveda, diagnostics, innovation, Kapha, Pitta, pulse, sensor, Vata.
Abstract: The traditional pulse diagnostics of Ayurveda and its
importance of medical heritage in India are explored
in the present study. We discuss the challenges of traditional methods and show how integrating modern technologies like sensor-based systems and artificial intelligence
can improve diagnostic precision and efficiency. This
fusion aims to sustain and advance Ayurveda, aligning
it with contemporary scientific standards. The review
identifies research gaps and suggests future directions,
emphasizing the need for standardized validation and
integrated diagnostic systems. By examining current
advancements and future possibilities, our work highlights the value of combining ancient wisdom with
modern innovation for the global recognition and scientific validation of Ayurveda.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mishra, L. C., Singh, B. B. and Dagenais, S., Ayurveda: a historical
perspective and principles of the traditional healthcare system in
India. Altern. Ther. Health Med., 2001, 7(2), 36–43.
Payyappallimana, U. and Venkatasubramanian, P., Exploring ayurvedic knowledge on food and health for providing innovative solutions to contemporary healthcare. Front. Public Health, 2016, 4, 57.
Literature cited 2: Hankey, A., A test of the systems analysis underlying the scientific
theory of Ayurveda’s tridosha. J. Altern. Complement. Med., 2005,
11(3), 385–390.
Chaudhari, S. and Mudhalwadkar, R., Nadi pariksha system for
health diagnosis. In International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Control (I2C2), IEEE, Coimbatore, India, 2017, pp. 1–4.
ID: 66044
Title: Design and performance assessment of a low-cost rain collector for stable isotope samples
Author: Yama Dixit, Jonathan A. Holmes Anubhav Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 900-903 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Design and performance assessment of a low-cost rain collector for stable isotope samples
Keywords: None
Abstract: Oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of
precipitation encode valuable hydroclimatic
information. The collection of rainwater
samples destined for stable-isotope analyses must minimize fractionation due to
evaporation to preserve the isotopic signature. Commercially available rainwater
collectors are expensive, justifying the
need for cheaper designs. We present a
low-cost rain collector capable of limiting
post-collection fractionation, confirmed by
control experiments. Moreover, precipitation collected in Delhi during the 2023
summer monsoon has stable-isotope values
close to the 40-year means. Our rain collector can thus be used to establish dense
sampling networks for rainfall isotopes at
low cost.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rozanski, K., Araguás-Araguás, L. and
Gonfiantini, R., In Climate Change in
Continental Isotopic Records, Geophysical
Monograph Series, American Geophysical
Union, Washington, DC, USA, 1993, vol.
78, pp. 1–36.
Dansgaard, W., Tellus, 1964, 16, 436–468
Literature cited 2: Han, T. et al., Water, 2020, 12, 1–15.
Vystavna, Y., Matiatos, I. and Wassenaar,
L. I., Sci. Rep., 2021, 11, 18503
ID: 66043
Title: Mpox outbreak: global public health emergency for the second time in two years
Author: Muhammed Muhsin Varikkodan, Akbar Sadiq Bukhari, Mohamed Hussain Syed and Mohammad Abdulkader Akbarsha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 898-899 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Mpox outbreak: global public health emergency for the second time in two years
Keywords: None
Abstract: On 14 August 2024, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a public
health emergency of international concern
under the International Health Regulations
(IHR 2005) after the recent outbreak of
monkeypox disease (mpox) in the major
countries of the African continent. Mpox is
a zoonotic viral disease endemic in Central
and West Africa, originating from the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The rapid spread of the mpox virus in the
neighboring countries such as Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, where it had
not been previously reported, prompted the
WHO to declare mpox a global public
emergency for the second time in two
years. By the end of the third week of August 2024, a total of more than 18,000 confirmed cases and 591 deaths were reported
from 17 countries worldwide1
. Mpox with
no fatalities has been confirmed in Pakistan,
the Philippines, Sweden and Taiwan, which
are all non-African countries. An alarming
number of cases have been confirmed from
the DRC (16,700 infected/ 584 deaths), followed by the Central African Republic
(213/0), Burundi (173/0), Republic of the
Congo (146/1), Nigeria (400/0), Cameroon
(35/2), Kenya (31/0), South Africa (24/3),
Ivory Coast (70/1), Ghana (40/0), Rwanda
(40/0), Uganda (20/0), Pakistan (4/0), Thailand (1/0), Taiwan (3/0), Sweden (1/0) and
the Philippines (1/0).
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bariyo, N., The Wall Street J., 2024.
Alcamí, A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2023,
120, e2301662120.
Literature cited 2: WHO, Monkeypox – United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, World
Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland,
16 May 2022.
WHO, First meeting of the International
Health Regulations (2005) Emergency
Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox
2024, World Health Organization, Geneva,
Switzerland, 19 August 2024
ID: 66042
Title: Is carbon neutrality a reality for India?
Author: Subhashree Banerjee and Yash Tayal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 895-897 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Is carbon neutrality a reality for India?
Keywords: None
Abstract: India, the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, aims to achieve zero emissions by 2070. India is
committed to its ‘Panchamrit’ and has launched various initiatives such as green bonds, carbon credits, carbon
market, investing in green hydrogen, etc. However, given the present scenario with respect to the dependency on
coal-based power generation and lack of green financing, the present article assesses the different solutions and
their practicality in achieving carbon neutrality.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Global Carbon Atlas, Fossil Fuel Emissions
(Dataset), 2022; https://globalcarbonatlas.
org/emissions/carbon-emissions/ (accessed
on 1 January 2024).
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India’s stand at COP-26, 3
February 2022; https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795071
Literature cited 2: RBI, Report on Currency and Finance
2022–23: Towards a Greener Cleaner India,
2023; https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/RCF03052023395FAF371-
81E40188BAD3AFA59BF3907.PDF
Mackenzie, W. (ed.), India needs radical
transformation to reach net zero emissions
by 2070, 27 July 2023; https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/india-needs-radicaltransformation-to-reach-net-zero-emissionsby-2070/
ID: 66041
Title: Learning from the past: collaborating across times for landscape management for conservation
Author: Meghna Agarwala, P. Ramya Bala, Charuta Kulkarni, R Sukumar, M. F. Quamar, Balasubramanian Karthick, Swati Tripathi, K Anupama
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 893-894 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Learning from the past: collaborating across times for landscape management for conservation
Keywords: None
Abstract: In this UN decade on ecosystem restoration, multinational agencies and countries
prioritize restoration but often limit their
conceptualization to managing landscapes
as static and untouched by disturbance or
human action. This includes strategies
such as maintaining high tree cover, preventing fires, and banning livestock grazing
and human extraction. Simultaneously,
conservationists prioritize safeguarding
‘pristine’ habitats for wildlife, yet many
‘natural’ habitats today have a long history
of human habitation and have been cocreated by human actions1
. It is essential to
understand the underlying dynamism in
ecosystems and create meaningful baselines
for effective conservation. Ecological data
that informs management is available at
short time scales (<200 years in the Global
North and <40 years in India, at best),
whereas ecological processes often occur
at much longer time scales2
. Given the
long-term transformation of ecosystems by
humans through fire and other activities,
and the colonial and post-colonial legacies
of altering forest composition, we organized a symposium at the Indian Wildlife
Ecology Conference (IWEC), 2024, held
at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru. This symposium provided a platform for studies from palaeoecology, ecological history and long-term
ecology to create ecosystem models where
palaeo-data could be translated meaningfully to create management strategies
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ellis, E. C. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.,
2021, 118, e2023483118.
Willis, K. J. and Birks, H. J. B., Science,
2006, 314, 1261–1265.
Literature cited 2: Quamar, M. F., Banerji, U. S., Thakur, B.
and Kar, R., Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol.
Palaeoecol., 2024, 633, 111844.
Thacker, M. and Karthick, B., Diversity,
2022, 14, 202.
ID: 66040
Title: Characterization of radioactive organic matter from Kaimur Group, Vindhyan Supergroup, India
Author: Sikta Patnaik, Amit Kumar Jain, Subhajit Pandey, Sanku Usha Kiran and K. K. Pandey
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 862-866 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Characterization of radioactive organic matter from Kaimur Group, Vindhyan Supergroup, India
Keywords: Amorphous carbon, organic matter, radioactivity, sediments, uranium minerals.
Abstract: The Vindhyan sediments overlying the Bundelkhand
granite complex have conducive attributes for hosting
unconformity-type uranium mineralization. In the Kaimur sandstones of the Vindhyan Supergroup overlying
the basement Bundelkhand granites, uranium mineralization hosted by subfeldspathic arenite intercalated
with shale has been observed. Uranium minerals are
associated with organic matter and pyrite present in
arenite. Globular organic matter disseminated in the
sediments shows moderate reflectance under reflected
light. The average total organic carbon content in organic
matter-rich rock samples is 1.1%. It has undergone excessive thermal maturation and high dehydrogenation
reflected from a low H/C ratio. Raman spectral analysis
indicates that the organic matter contains amorphous
carbon.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chakraborty, C., Proterozoic intracontinental basin: the Vindhyan
example. J. Earth Syst. Sci., 2006, 115, 3–22.
Chakraborty, P. P., Dey, S. and Mohanty, S. P., Proterozoic platform
sequences of peninsular India: implications towards basin evolution
and supercontinent assembly. J. Asian Earth Sci., 2010, 39(6), 589–
607
Literature cited 2: Rawat, T. P. S., Usha Kiran, S., Patnaik, S., Pandey, S., Sinha, D.
K., Pandey, K. K. and Mamallam, R., Organic matter associated uranium mineralisation in Kaimur Group of Vindhyan Supergroup
near Maha-Rampura, Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, India. J.
Geol. Soc. India, 2022, 98, 1131–1136.
Strauss, H., David, J. D. M., Hayes, J. M. and Summons, R. E.,
Proterozoic organic carbon – its preservation and isotopic record.
In Early Organic Evolution: Implications for Minerals and Energy
Resources (ed. Schidlowski, M.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany,
1992, pp. 203–211
ID: 66039
Title: Live sighting of Blainville’s beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris (de Blainville, 1817) in the Indian seawaters
Author: P. R. Arshad , M. Nashad , S. Ramachandran, H. D. Pradeep , Venkatesh Saroj and R. Jeyabaskaran
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 860-862 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Live sighting of Blainville’s beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris (de Blainville, 1817) in the Indian seawaters
Keywords: Beaked whale, live sighting, marine mammal survey
Abstract: Two individuals belonging to the species Mesoplodon
densirostris (de Blainville, 1817) were sighted in the
Indian waters during a marine mammal survey conducted on-board the vessel MFV Yellowfin associated
with the Mormugao Zonal Base of the Fishery Survey
of India. This survey was part of the project titled
‘Marine mammal stock assessment in India’. Among
the sighted individuals, one was a female based on its
morphological characters while the sex of the other
was unknown. To the best of our knowledge, there are
no previous sightings of this rare beaked whale from
the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Jefferson, T. A., Webber, M. A. and Pitman, R. L., Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification,
Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2015, 2nd edn, p. 608.
Vivekanandan, E. and Jeyabaskaran, R., Marine Mammal Species
of India, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, 2018,
p. 228.
Literature cited 2: Pitman, R., Mesoplodont beaked whales. In Encyclopaedia of Marine Mammals (eds Würsig, B., Thewissen, J. G. M. and Kovacs,
K. M.), Academic Press, London, UK, 2018, 3rd edn, pp. 595–601;
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12499.
Allen, B. M., Mead, J. G. and Brownell, R. L., Species review of
Blainville’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris. IWC Scientific Committee documents SC/63/SM16, 2011, p. 18 (accessed on
10 May 2016)
ID: 66038
Title: Status of the red-breasted merganser in India based on two historical occurrences and recent sightings
Author: Anindya Naskar, Amitava Majumder and Gopinathan Maheswaran
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 856-859 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Status of the red-breasted merganser in India based on two historical occurrences and recent sightings
Keywords: Distribution, Mergus serrator, museum specimens, red-breasted merganser
Abstract: The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator has a
widespread global distribution with a stable population
and is considered a winter vagrant in South Asia. Since
2016, this species has been recorded six times from
many states in India, prompting us to analyse the specimens of the species deposited in the Zoological Survey
of India’s National Zoological Collections. From historical collection records and present sighting trends, it
can be assumed that the species might be regularly visiting wetlands in India but in scarce numbers, thereby
either escaping from the attention of birders or misidentifying the individuals as common merganser in the
Himalayan terai. The implication of the present study
is an update to the checklist of birds in India.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: BirdLife International, Species factsheet: Mergus serrator, 2023;
http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-breasted-mergansermergus-serrator (accessed on 12 October 2023).
Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D., Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan
Together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka,
Oxford University Press, Delhi, India, 2001, 2nd edn, p. 384.
Literature cited 2: Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T., Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Oxford University Press and Christopher Helm, London,
UK, 2011, 2nd edn, pp. 1–528.
Praveen, J., Jayapal, R. and Pittie, A., Notes on Indian rarities –
2: Waterfowl, diving waterbirds, and gulls and terns. Indian Birds,
2014, 9(5&6), 113–136
ID: 66037
Title: Pan-genome analysis of invasive Streptococcus mutans strains
Author: Srinivasan Sujitha , Paramasamy Gunasekaran and Jeyaprakash Rajendhran
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 849-855 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Pan-genome analysis of invasive Streptococcus mutans strains
Keywords: Adhesion, invasive strains, pan-genome, Streptococcus mutans, virulent genes/proteins.
Abstract: Streptococcus mutans is responsible for dental problems
and is associated with cardiovascular co-morbidities.
Only a few selected strains can adhere to and invade
endothelial cells. To ascertain which strains have the
capability to invade cardiovascular cells, in silico PCR
was performed on all the 193 available strains. The
genome sequences were screened for collagen-binding
genes cnm and cbm. Among the 193 strains tested, only
4 showed the presence of collagen-binding gene. BPGA
tool was used for pan-genome analysis of invasive strains.
Results indicated an almost closed pan-genome for S.
mutans comprising 45,654 core genes, 29,452 accessory
genes and 232 unique genes. Most of the unique genes
belonged to only 5 genomes amongst the 42 invasive genomes analysed. These five genomes were screened for
the presence of virulence genes using the MP3 software.
Protein–protein interactions between the pathogenic proteins and extracellular matrix components were analysed
using HPIDB. Surface-localized proteins were predicted
to interact with the human tumour suppressor gene.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Maoyang, L., Songyu, X. and Zhao, W., Oral microbiota: a new
view of body health. Food Sci. Hum. Wellness, 2019, 8, 8–15.
Kaspar, J., Underhill, S., Shields, R. C., Reyes, A., Rosenzweig, S.,
Hagen, S. J. and Burne, R. A., Intercellular communication via the
comX-inducing peptide (XIP) of Streptococcus mutans. J. Bacteriol.,
2017, 199, e00404-17.
Literature cited 2: Meng, P., Lu, C., Zhang, Q., Lin, J. and Chen, F., Exploring the
genomic diversity and cariogenic differences of Streptococcus mutans strains through pan-genome and comparative genome analysis.
Curr. Microbiol., 2017, 74, 1200–1209.
Argimón, S., Konganti, K., Chen, H., Alekseyenko, A. V., Brown,
S. and Caufield, P. W., Comparative genomics of oral isolates of
Streptococcus mutans by in silico genome subtraction does not reveal accessory DNA associated with severe early childhood caries.
Infect. Genet. Evol., 2014, 21, 269–278; doi:10.1016/j.meegid.
2013.11.003.
ID: 66036
Title: Comparative analysis of diet and prey preference of yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783)
Author: Prateek , Himanshu Mishra , Vikas Kumar and Ashish Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 841-848 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Comparative analysis of diet and prey preference of yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783)
Keywords: Diet, faecal analysis, habitat, Jacob index, prey abundance, Vanellus malabaricus.
Abstract: The results of faecal analysis in the present study indicated no significant difference in prey items and prey
occurrence between breeding and non-breeding seasons
in yellow-wattled lapwings. However, Coleoptera and
Araneae represented the highest and lowest prey items
and prey occurrences respectively. Prey abundance
significantly varied between breeding and non-breeding
seasons. Uncultivated and cultivated habitat types had
the highest and lowest prey abundances respectively.
Jacob’s index reflected that they primarily consumed
arthropod larvae. Additionally, there was a positive selection for adult insects in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera
and Blattodea and a negative selection for Oligochaeta,
Diplopoda and Araneae. Thus, the yellow-wattled lapwings are flexible feeders, particularly in the breeding
season; however, they favour uncultivated areas where
food is abundant.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mukherjee, S., Nath, P. and Aditya, G., Observations on yellow wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) in southwest Bengal, India. Proc. Zool. Soc., 2015, 68, 222–226.
Kazmierczak, K., Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus.
In A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Om Book
International, Noida, 2000, p. 114.
Literature cited 2: Sethi, V. K., Bhatt, D. and Kumar, A., Hatching success in yellowwattled lapwing Vanellus malabaricus. Indian Birds, 2010, 5(5),
139–142.
Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D., Yellow-wattled lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan
vol. 2 (Megapodes to Crab Plover), Oxford University Press, New
Delhi, 1980, p. 218
ID: 66035
Title: Strategic perspectives for human resource requirements in agriculture and horticulture sectors in India
Author: Hema Tripathi, Rakesh Chandra Agrawal and Himanshu Pathak
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (7) 834-840 10 Oct (2024)
Subject: Strategic perspectives for human resource requirements in agriculture and horticulture sectors in India
Keywords: Agricultural education, horticulture, human resource needs, skill requirements, strategic outlook.
Abstract: This study regarding the strategic outlook for human
resource needs in India’s agriculture and horticulture
sectors for the next 20 years addresses the evolving
economy’s competitive skill requirements. Supply projections were made considering factors like historical
growth, seat availability, graduation delays, placement
rates, replacement needs, adjusted stock, etc. Demand
projections were made considering historical growth of
the sector, attrition rate, vacancies, contractual employment, new job roles, etc.
In 2020, the available stock of agriculture graduates
was 301,295 against a demand of 414,592, and horticulture graduates were 34,300 against a demand of 119,635.
By 2040, the supply-demand gap is expected to narrow
to 8% for agriculture and 21% for horticulture. The
study’s insights will help shape higher education, support evidence-based policy-making, and assist in implementing the National Education Policy 2020
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Jain, V., Pandey, P. S., Choubey, A. K., Malhotra, K. S. and Murthy,
G. R. K., Pattern of human resource development in Indian Agricultural Universities. Indian J. Agric. Sci., 2022, 92(9), 1101–1106
Literature cited 2: Agrawal, R., Nanda, S. K., Rao, D. R. and Rao, B. V. L. N., Integrated
approach to human resource forecasting: an exercise in agricultural
sector. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 2013, 26(2), 173–184