Enter records

ID: 66450
Title: Response of Melia dubia and Dalbergia sissoo to sandy loam soil amended with water absorbent polymer in establishment phase
Author: Ashok Kumar Dhakad,Rajesh Kumar ,Avtar Singh and Nirmaljit Kaur
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 675-682 (2025)
Subject: Response of Melia dubia and Dalbergia sissoo to sandy loam soil amended with water absorbent polymer in establishment phase
Keywords: Melia dubia,Dalbergia sissoo,Hydrogel application, growth, Biomass, Physiology
Abstract: The present study aimed to assess the effect of water absorbent polymers application on the survival, growth performance, biomass and leaf physiological characteristics of short rotation i.e., Melia dubia and long rotation tree species i.e., Dalbergia sissoo. The hydrogel was applied in powdered form before planting the seedlings in soil pits of 50x50x50 cm2 volume at concentrations of 0,25,30,35, 40, 45, and 50 g/pit. A significant increase was recorded with increasing the amount of hydro gel for both species. In M.dubia, treatment T2 (30 gm/pit) was found best for growth and biomass parameters and lowest was in control. The nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and physiological parameters such as relative water content (RWC) and membrane stability index (MSI) were also recorded higher in T2 (30gm/pit), while phosphorus (P) was in T3 (35gm/pit) treatment. Total carotenoid was recorded maximum for both T2 (30 gm/pit) and T3 (35 gm/pit).Chlorophyll content increased with increasing dose of hydro gel application and the maximum was in T6 (50 gm/pit), while TSS showed a reverse pattern and the maximum was in T1 (25 gm/pit).In case of long rotation tree species i.e., D. sissoo, growth and biomass was in general higher in treatment T3 (35 gm/pit) and minimum in control.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Agaba H., Orikiriza I.J.B.Esegu J.F.O. Obua J., Kabasa J.D. and Huttermann A. (2010).Effects of hydrogel amendment to different soils on plant available water and survival of trees under drought conditions. Clean Soil Air Water , 38: 328-335. Agaba H., Orikriza L.J.B., Obua J., Kabasa J.D., Worbes M. and Huttermann A. (2011).Hydrogel amendment to sandy soil reduces irrigation frequency and improves the biomass of Agrostis stolonifera. Agricultural Sciences, 2:544-550.
Literature cited 2: Anand B., Devagiri G.M., Maruti G., Vasudev H.S. and Khaple A.K. (2012).Effects of pre-sowing seed treatments on germination and seedling growth performance of Melia dubia Cav: an important multipurpose Tree. Journal of Life Science, 1: 59-63. Anderson J.M. and Boardman N.K. (1964). Studies on the greening of dark-grown bean plants II. Development of photochemical activity. Australian Journal of Biological Science, 17:93-101.

ID: 66449
Title: IUCN Red List Assessment of Dryopteris austro-indica: Conservation status of an endangered fern from Western Ghats of India
Author: A.Benniamin ,Rajat Mondal and Sakshi
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 670-674 (2025)
Subject: IUCN Red List Assessment of Dryopteris austro-indica: Conservation status of an endangered fern from Western Ghats of India
Keywords: Dryopteridaceae,Endemic ,Karnataka, Nilgiris, Pteridophyte
Abstract: The Dryopteris austro-indica Fraser-Jenk, a threatened endemic fern of the Western Ghats, has been evaluated for its IUCN Red list category through comprehensive field surveys and herbarium consultations. It has been classified as 'Endangered' (EN) under the B2ab (i,ii,iii,iv,v) criteria, primarily due to its restricted distribution, deteriorating habitat quality , and declining population trends. The major threats to this species include habitat loss resulting from human activities and the impacts of climate change. Immediate conservation efforts are crucial to avert its potential extinction. This study provides detailed taxonomic information and a concise assessment based on the IUCN Red List Guidelines and necessary photographs to support a thorough Red List assessment of the species.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Antony R. and Mohanan N. (2012).Dryopteris austro-indica Fraser-Jenkins (Pteridophyta: (Dryopteridaceae), a new distributional record for Kerala. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 19(1):79-80. Bachman S., Moat J., Hill A.W., Torre J. and Scott B. (2011). Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. In Smith, V &L.Penev (eds) e-Infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. Zookeys, 150:117-126.
Literature cited 2: Beddome R.H. (1863-64). The Ferns of Southern India. Gantz Brothers, Madras. Benniamin A. and Sundari S.M. (2020). Pteridophytes of Western Ghats-Pictorial guide. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

ID: 66448
Title: Poisonous plants phenology: A case study of Belpahari forest region of Jhargram district, West Bengal
Author: Bingshati Singha Mahapatra, Susanta Jana and Shyamal Kanti Mallick
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 665-669 (2025)
Subject: Poisonous plants phenology: A case study of Belpahari forest region of Jhargram district, West Bengal
Keywords: Flowering, Fruiting, Phenology, Poisonous plants
Abstract: The present study deals with the taxonomic exploration and phenology of some poisonous plants found in the different forest patches of Belaphari forest region of Jhargram district, West Bengal. Phenology is the morphological expression of physiological activities of the plants. Plant phenological study has significance because it not only provides knowledge about plant pattern but also provides the idea on the effects of environmental and selective pressure on flowering and fruiting behaviour. The phenological study of selected poisonous plants depends on the observation, interpretation and recording of the timing of their life history events. During this time different phenophases such as vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting time, seed germination, ripening of fruits and leaf senescence were observed timely in every month. Among six plants maximum plant species showed germination during June to July. Maximum flowering and fruiting times are September and October to December.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Butola J.S. and Malik A.R. (2012).Phenology and Survival of some Himalayan medicinal plants domesticated at different altitudes. Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, 2(4):683-687. Chambers L.E. and Keatley M.R. (2010).Phenology and climate-early Australian botanical records. Australian Journal of Botany, 58 (6):473-484.
Literature cited 2: Chhetri R., Kumar P. and Megha M.S (2020).Phenological trend of tree species at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India. Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences,8 (2): 1-8. French K. (1992).Phenology of fleshy fruits in a wet sclerophyll forest in southeastern Australia: Are birds in important influence?Oecologia, 90:366-373.

ID: 66447
Title: Effect of sewage Sludge application on growth parameters and uptake of Macronutrients by Poplar Nursery
Author: Samanpreet Kaur, Baljit Singh and Dhanwinder Singh
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 658-664 (2025)
Subject: Effect of sewage Sludge application on growth parameters and uptake of Macronutrients by Poplar Nursery
Keywords: Concentration, Biomass, Growth parameters, Litterfall, Sewage Sludge
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of sewage sludge application and its combination with chemical fertilizers on growth and uptake of macronutrients by poplar nursery. Sixteen treatments namely control, 50%RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers), 75% RDF, 100 % RDF, 5 t/ha ss (sewage sludge), 10 t/ha SS, 15 t/ha SS, 50% RDF+5 t/ha SS, 50%RDF+10 t/ha SS,75%RDF+5t/haSS,75%RDF+10t/ha SS,75%RDF+15 t/ha SS were applied in three replications.The RDF for poplar nursery was 125, 150 and 75 kg/ha N,P705 and K201 respectively .Plant height and collar diameter were the highest at 100 % RDF+10 t/ha SS (409.1 cm and 27.88 mm, respectively) which were statistically similar with 50%RDF+15 t/ha SS, 75% RDF+10 t/ha SS and 75%RDF +15 t/ha SS.Dry weight of soot, root and litterfall, and concentration and uptake of macronutrients (N,P,K, Ca, Mg and S) were significantly higher at 50% RDF +15 t/ha SS and 75%RDF +10 t/ha SS than other treatments. Build-up of macronutrients in the soil was highest at 100 % RDF +15 t/ha SS. It is suggested to apply 50% RDF +15 t/ha SS or 75%RDF +10 t/ha SS for getting good growth of poplar nursery and for saving of fertilizers to the tune of Rs, 7041/ha or Rs 3520/ha, respectively from Rs 14082/ha at 100%RDF.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Anon (2018). Package of Practices for Forest Trees, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 28 p. Akdeniz H. Yilmaz I., Bozkurt M.A. and Kesin B (2006).The effects of sewage sludge and nitrogen application on grain sorghum grown (Sorghum vulgare L.) in Van-Turkey. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 15:19-26.
Literature cited 2: Cheema H.S. and Singh B (1991). Software Statistical Package CPCS-1. Department of Statistics, PAU Ludhiana, India. Chu S., Jacobs D.F., Liao D, Liang L.L, Wu D., Chen P, Lai C., Zhong F and Zeng S (2017).Effects of landscape plant species and concentration of sewage sludge compost on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and heavy metal removal. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25:25184-35199

ID: 66446
Title: Variation in Soil physicochemical property of Oak forests in Garhwal Himalaya
Author: Subhasis Mahato, Sabyasachi Dasgupta and N.P. Todaria
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 651-657 (2025)
Subject: Variation in Soil physicochemical property of Oak forests in Garhwal Himalaya
Keywords: Garhwal Himalya soil, Quercus leucotrichophora, Reserve forest, Community-managed forest, Soil physical properties, Soil carbon
Abstract: Quercus leucotrichophora (bank oak) predominates the mid-altitude temperate forests of the western Himalayas, serving as keystone species meticulously examines the impact of forest size and managemetn practices on the physicochemical properties of soil within oak-dominated forests of the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Four sites-comprising two large reserve forests, one diminutive reserve forest, and one small community managed forest-were meticulously selected across the Pauri and Rudraprayag districts. Soil samples were taken from five distinct depths (0-100 cm) and subjected to analyses for moisture content, bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC), texture, water holding capacity (WHC), and pH, Rigorous statistical analyses, including ANOVA, Turkeys 's HSD, correlation matrices, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), unveiled significant disparities in soil parameters across both sites and depths. These findings illuminate the significance of forest size and management in regulating soil health, hydrological balance, and carbon sequestration, thereby offering critical insights for sustainable forest conservation and climate resilience within Himalayan ecosystems. The present study illustrates that reserve forests are more effective in regulating soil organic carbon as ecosystem service than their smaller community-managed counterparts.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Black C.A. (1965). Methods of soil analysis, Part 2, Chemical and microbial properties, Amer. Soc. Agron, Madison Wis, 771-512. Chakraborty A. (2018). Ecological and socio-economic benefits of oak forests in the Central Himalaya. Ecosystem Services, 34.104-112.
Literature cited 2: Chakraborty A., Joshi P.K. and Sachdeva K (2018). Capturing forest dependency in the central Himalayan region: Variations between Oak (Quercus spp). and Pine (Pinus Spp.) dominated forest landscape. Ambio.,47:504-522. Dhyani A., Jain R. and Pandey A (2019) Contribution of root associated microbial communities on soil quality of Oak and Pine forests in the Himalayan ecosystem. Trop Ecol., 60:271-280.

ID: 66445
Title: Variation in forest structure, Carbon stock and regeneration status along an altitudinal gradient in Jaunpur range, Mussoorie Forest Division, Uttarakhand
Author: Manisha Pandey, S.P. Joshi and Sachin Sharma
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 642-650 (2025)
Subject: Variation in forest structure, Carbon stock and regeneration status along an altitudinal gradient in Jaunpur range, Mussoorie Forest Division, Uttarakhand
Keywords: Altitudinal gradient, carbon, Mussoorie, Phytosociology, Regeneration
Abstract: The management of forests is essential for the conservation of biodiversity and climate change. The present study aimed to anticipate how forest composition, regeneration, biomass production, and carbon storage vary in altitudinal gradient in the Jaunpur Range, Mussoorie Forest Division of Garhwal Himalaya. It lies between 30°25.00’-30°33.00’N 8°3.00’-078°15.00’E and represents a temperate forest. A total of 0.1 ha. size 50 sample plots were laid down randomly at each site. Authors recorded 5 different types of forest along the altitudinal gradient. The results reveal that the maximum total Biomass for the pine stand is 198.84 Mgha-1 followed by Oak Stand 70.796 Mgha-1 for Cupressus stand. All the tree species,48% showed poor regeneration, 33 % showed no regeneration, 5 % exhibited new regeneration, 9 % represented good regeneration, and the remaining 5 % indicated fair regeneration at the study site. Quercus leucotrichophora emerged as the dominant tree species at 1, 800-2,000 masl, co-dominant at 1,300-1,500 masl after Pinus roxburghii, showcasing its ability to withstand biotic pressure and exhibit a wider ecological range. The highest tree diversity (H=1.37) was observed at 2000-2200 masl.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Billings W.D. (1952). The environmental complex in relation to plant growth and distribution. The quarterly Review of Biology, 27 (3):251-265. Burman P.K.D, Launiainen S., Mukherjee S, Chakraborty S. Gogoi N., Murkute C. and Kumar K. (2021.Ecosystem -atmosphere carbon and water exchanges of subtropical evergreen and deciduous forest s in India, Forest Ecology and Management, 495:119371.
Literature cited 2: Curtis J.T. and McIntosh R.P (1950).The Interrelations of certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters, Ecology, 31 (3):434-455. Ellenberg D and Mueller-Dombois D.(1974).Aims and methods of vegetation ecology and (Vol.547)., John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1-547 pp.

ID: 66444
Title: Adaptive object-oriented and spectral -based Geo-processing for Tree species mapping using Sentinel-2A and EO-1 Hyperion Hyperspectral Satellite Imagery in FRI Campus
Author: Krishnendu Banerjee, Surajit Panda, Manish Kumar Jain and Neelima Shah
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July . Pg No. 631-641 (2025)
Subject: Adaptive object-oriented and spectral -based Geo-processing for Tree species mapping using Sentinel-2A and EO-1 Hyperion Hyperspectral Satellite Imagery in FRI Campus
Keywords: Tree species, Spectral anlysis, Spectral angle mapper, Spectral information divergence, Object-oriented image analysis
Abstract: Accurate mapping of tree species is essential for effective forest management and conservation. This paper explores various methods for tree species mapping, focusing on the Forest Research Institute (FRI)Authors evaluate GIS and remote sensing techniques through a case study within the FRI campus, presenting an innovative approach that integrates adaptive object-oriented and spectral-based methods. Utilizing moderate resolution Sentinel-2A and hyperspectral EO-1 Hyperion data enhances forest type classification precision. The methodology segments satellite imagery into meaningful objects and applies spectral analysis, achieving an overall classification accuracy of 92.5 % and a Kappa coefficient of 0.89.The finding of the study demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach over traditional methods, providing valuable insights for future forest monitoring and management strategies.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ballanti L, Biesius L., Hines E. and Kruse B (2016).Trees species classification using hyperspectral Imagery: A comparison of two classifiers. Remote Sensing, 8(6):445. Blaschke T. (2010). Object-based Image analysis for remote sensing ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 65 (1):2-16.
Literature cited 2: Blaschke T., Hay G.J. Kelly M, Lang S., Hoffmann P., Addink E. and Tiede D. (2014).Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis-Towards a new paradigm, ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 87:180-191. Chang C-1 (2020). Hyperspectral Data Processing: Algorithm Design and Analysis. John Wiley & Sons.

ID: 66443
Title: Wild crime and prosecution effectiveness in the state of Uttarakhand
Author: Surender Mehra and Sandeep Kumar Gupta
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July. Pg No. 622-630 (2025)
Subject: Wild crime and prosecution effectiveness in the state of Uttarakhand
Keywords: Wildlife crime, Illegal wildlife trades, Poaching, Wildlife (Protection) Act, Uttarakhand
Abstract: The authors present the analysis of wildlife offense records for the state of Uttarakhand with especial reference to the frequent victim species and prosecution success. Based on data collected from different forest divisions and police departments they observed variable duration of investigations. Of the 563 wildlife offence cases, 471 were reported by forest department and 92 by Police department of Uttarakhand. Among 333(54%) cases were of Schedule-1, 12 (2%) were of schedule-II, 161 (26%) were of Schedules-III and 11 (2%) were of Schedule-IV species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.It was also observed that 66 (11%) wildlife samples were inconclusive,14 (2%) unschedules and 8 (1%) were found to be fake and remaining8 (1%) cases are still pending with wildlife forensics lab, WII, Dehradun in Uttarakhand, conviction rate in respect of arrested offenders was 50%.In Rajaji Tiger Reserve, only 10 offenders were convicted out of 80 got arrested. In cases of police department only 4 offenders got convicted out of 86 being arrested in wildlife seizure cases. The Kumaon zone has demonstrated a stronger performance in wildlife prosecution, where 66 out of 79 cases have resulted in convictions. The wildlife zone demonstrated robust conviction record, where 60 out of the 162 registered wildlife cases have been decided by trial courts with favourable outcomes for the prosecution in 52 cases. The presented data will be useful in understanding the gaps in law enforcement and streaming the follow-up mechanism in the logical conclusion of the associated cases.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Gorr W. and Harries R. (2003).Introduction to crime forecasting .19:551-555. Gorr W., Olligschlaeger A. and Thompson Y (2003). Short-term forecasting of crime .International Journal of Forecasting.19:579-594.
Literature cited 2: Groff E.R and La Vigne N.G (2002). Forecasting the Future of Predictive Crime Mapping. Crime Prevention Studies.3.29-57. Gupta S.K, Thangaraj K and Singh L (2011a). Identification of the source of ivory idol by DNA analysis. Journal of Forensic Science, 56.1343-1345.

ID: 66442
Title: Struggles in Leveraging and commercializing Non-timber Forest products for sustainable livelihoods: A study of the Baiga and Gond Tribal communities in Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh
Author: Ajoy Kumar Bhattacharya, Anjali, Anup Prakash Upadhyay and CVRS Vijay Kumar
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2025
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 151 (7) July . Pg No. 611-621 (2025)
Subject: Struggles in Leveraging and commercializing Non-timber Forest products for sustainable livelihoods: A study of the Baiga and Gond Tribal communities in Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh
Keywords: Non-timber forest products, Baiga, Sustanbale liveihoods, NTFP commercialization, Socioeconomic development, Traditional knowledge
Abstract: Forests are Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), such a fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, and resins, play a significant role in the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. This study examines the socioeconomic dynamics and challenges faced by the Baiga and Gond tribes in Madhya Pradesh, India, with a focus on NTFP commercialization. The study was conducted in ten villages within the Bhimlat Block of Balaghat District. The research utilized qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and particularly approaches. A total of 168 respondents, comprising both Balga and Gond tribes, were surveyed. The findings highlight that 88 % of the Baiga and Gond tribes, were surveyed. The findings highlight that 88 % of the Biga population relies heavily on NTFPs. The study reveals that while NTFPs are integral to the local economy, commercialization efforts are impeded by poor market conditions, low pricing, post have losses, and access restrictions in proacted areas. The regression analysis examining income through NTFPs in relation to gender, education and age reveals significant disparities and insights. Modern interventions, such as government housing schemes, often fail to align with the cultural needs of the Baiga and Gond tribes, underscoring the need for culturally informed approaches. NGOs and forest departments address these challenges by improving market access, supporting quality maintenance, and providing institutional support. However, a comprehensive strategy is essential, incorporating better market infrastructure, preserving traditional knowledge and integrating gender equity and education. Enhancing NTFP commercialization reseillience and ecological sustainability in forest-dependent communities.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Baghel Y.A. and Patil G. (2022).Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve: Development and traditional knowledge of Baiga. Indian. J. Tradit. Knowl., 21 (3):704-710. Costanza R., d' Arge R., de Groot R., Farber S., Grasso M. and Bannon B. (1997). The value of the world's ecosytem services and natural capital, Nature, 387:253-260.
Literature cited 2: Derebe B. and Alemu A. (2023).Non-timber forest product types and its income contribution to rural households in the Horn of Africa: A systematic review. For. Sci.Technol, 19(3):210-220.https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2023.2231963 FAO and UNEP (2020).The state of the world's Forest 2020.In brief .Forets, biodiversity and people.Rome.https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8985en

ID: 66441
Title: Field test campaign of Chandrayaan-3 radar altimeter
Author: BSVGR Jogeswara Rao , Priyanka Mehrotra, Sunita Khokhar, Ayush Jha, Vetal Akshay Pandit, Pankaj Kanti Nath and Ch. V. Narasimha Rao
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 267-275 10 August (2025)
Subject: Field test campaign of Chandrayaan-3 radar altimeter
Keywords: Aircraft test, crane test, field test, FMCW radar, helicopter test, KaRA.
Abstract: Chandrayaan-3 is the third mission in the series of lunar exploration missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The mission demonstrates an end-to-end capability for safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The lander was equipped with many sensors for a safe landing. One of the prime sensors for precise altitude estimation was the Ka-band radar altimeter (KaRA). The KaRA is designed to cover a large altitude range of 10 km to 10 m. To ensure its reliability, the KaRA go through an extensive verification and validation process, including a series of field tests designed to mimic the lander’s expected descent trajectory. These tests used different platforms, such as a crane, a helicopter, and an aircraft, to simulate various flight profiles. In addition to field experiments, KaRA was subjected to hardware-in-loop simulations and laboratory testing. KaRA performed exceptionally well across all forms of evaluation. The present study discusses the comprehensive field test campaign, the challenges encountered, the outcomes achieved, and innovative strategies employed to enhance the robustness of the algorithms integral to KaRA operation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Patrick, R. and Cunningham, A. R., Apollo experience report: Lunar module landing radar and rendezvous radar, No. MSC-S-311, 1972. Batterson, S. A. et al., Surveyor 1 mission report: Part 2-Scientific data and results, No. NASA-CR-97898, 1968
Literature cited 2: Ingoldby, R. N., Guidance and control system design of the Viking planetary lander. J. Guid. Control, 1978, 1(3), 189-196. Spencer, D. A. et al., Mars pathfinder atmospheric entry reconstruction. NASA Techn

ID: 66440
Title: Efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in type 2 diabetes initiating insulin therapy for the first time
Author: Ling Wang , Huixiang Xia,Yimin Shen, Li Shen and Zhenxing Shen
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 260-266 10 August (2025)
Subject: Efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy in type 2 diabetes initiating insulin therapy for the first time
Keywords: Anxiety, depression, insulin, medication compliance, type 2 diabetes mellitus
Abstract: To measure the impact of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) on blood glucose regulation, negative emotional states, and medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients initiating insulin therapy. Patients diagnosed with T2DM, hospitalised in the Department of Endocrinology from January 2022 to June 2023 and scheduled to commence long-term insulin therapy, were randomised into a control group that received standard insulin therapy and a combined treatment group that received additional CBT (n = 50). Parameters such as fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2- hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting C-peptide (F-CP) levels were monitored before and after the intervention. Assessment of changes in anxiety, depression, and medication adherence was achieved via the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the 5-item version of medication adherence report scale (MARS-5I). Among 95 patients, 48 were included in the control group and 47 in the combined treatment group, with both demonstrating remarkably improved FBG, PBG and HbA1c (P < 0.05); however, the enhancements were more significant in the combined treatment group (P < 0.05). F-CP levels did not show an obvious variation in either group (P > 0.05). The combined treatment group presented lower HADS scores post-intervention (P < 0.05), and both the individual and total scores of MARS-5I increased (P < 0.05). Comparatively, the control group exhibited no obvious improvement in HADS scores (P > 0.05). However, the score for item 1 of the MARS-5I improved (P < 0.05); other individual scores and the total score showed no improvement (P > 0.05). CBT, when combined with conventional therapy, effectively enhances blood glucose control and improves anxiety, depression scores, and medication adherence among T2DM patients beginning insulin therapy for the first time
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ji, L. et al., Initiation of insulin therapy in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control on oral antidiabetic drugs. Chin. J. Diabetes, 2011, 10, 746–751. Wang, C. and Xiong, J. F., Influencing factors and correlation of insulin treatment attitude, satisfaction and compliance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chin. Mod. Doct., 2020, 58, 88-91+95
Literature cited 2: Zimmermann-Schlegel, V., Wild, B., Nawroth, P., Kopf, S., Herzog, W. and Hartmann, M., Impact of depression and psychosocial treatment on heart rate variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an exploratory analysis based on the HEIDIS trial. Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes, 2018, 127, 367–376. Chaturvedi, S. K. et al., More anxious than depressed: prevalence and correlates in a 15-nation study of anxiety disorders in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Gen. Psychiatry, 2019, 32, e100076

ID: 66439
Title: Detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer in Pap smear cell images using hybrid CNN
Author: E. K. Arulkarthick and P. Sukumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 251-259 10 August (2025)
Subject: Detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer in Pap smear cell images using hybrid CNN
Keywords: CNN, data augmentation, enhancement, morphological features, Pap smear.
Abstract: Cervical cancer is screened in women patients using either Pap smear cell testing or the Cervigram analysis method. The most dominant accuracy has been obtained for the cervical cancer earlier detection system through the analysis of Pap smear cell images. In this article, they are automatically classified using the proposed hybrid convolutional neural networks (HCNN) structure. This classification system consists of enhancement, along with data augmentation and classification with the nucleus segmentation. The adaptive histogram equalisation enhancement algorithm enhances the image as a preprocessing method, and the imaging count is increased using the data augmentation method for obtaining a higher classification rate. The data-augmented images are further classified into four cases (normal, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CiS) and superficial) using the proposed hybrid CNN structure. Then, the dilation–erosion method was used to obtain the abnormal pixels in classified Pap smear cell images. Further, the morphological features are computed from the segmented nucleus region and are classified into either ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ based on the computed features. The average diagnosis rate for dysplasia cell images is 90.4%. The average diagnosis rate for dysplasia cell images is 94.2%, and the average diagnosis rate for dysplasia cell images is 89.6%. From these extensive experimental results, the proposed methods are more suitable for a fully automated cervical cancer detection system.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Fekri-Ershad, S., Pap smear classification using combination of global significant value, texture statistical features and time series features. Multimed. Tools Appl., 2019, 78(22), 31121–31136. Khamparia, A., Gupta, D., de Albuquerque, V. H., Sangaiah, A. K. and Jhaveri, R. H., Internet of health things-driven deep learning system for detection and classification of cervical cells using transfer learning. J. Supercomput., 2020, 76, 8590–8608
Literature cited 2: Jia, A. D., Li, B. Z. and Zhang, C. C., Detection of cervical cancer cells based on strong feature CNN-SVM network. Neurocomputing, 2020, 411, 112–127. Ghoneim, A., Muhammad, G. and Hossain, M. S., Cervical cancer classification using convolutional neural networks and extreme learning machines. Future Gener. Comput. Syst., 2020, 102, 643–649.

ID: 66438
Title: Assessing drought trends and predicting future patterns using SARIMA and ANN models across meteorological stations in the north dry zone (Bidar district) of India
Author: Mallikarjun Reddy, Ambrish Ganachari, Rahul Patil , Prem Kumara , Umarfarooque Momin and Megharani Patil
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 240-250 10 August (2025)
Subject: Assessing drought trends and predicting future patterns using SARIMA and ANN models across meteorological stations in the north dry zone (Bidar district) of India
Keywords: ANN, ARIMA, drought, Mann-Kendall, SARIMA, SPI.
Abstract: Drought poses a significant environmental challenge, especially in semi-arid regions, where comprehending its temporal dynamics and developing predictive models are crucial for effective water resource management. The present study investigates drought trends and forecasts standardised precipitation index (SPI) values at multiple timescales across five stations in the north dry zone of India (Bidar district: Aurad, Bhalki, Humnabad, Bidar and Basavakalyan). The MannKendall test was employed for trend analysis, while auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used for SPI prediction. The results revealed no statistically significant trends across all stations and timescales, though marginally significant positive trends were observed at longer timescales in Basavakalyan and Bhalki, suggesting a potential improvement in drought conditions. The seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model effectively captured seasonality and autocorrelation, with varying autoregressive and seasonal moving average components across stations. The ANN model, structured with a ‘25-13-1’ architecture, demonstrated superior performance during model training by capturing non-linearities, outperforming SARIMA across all statistical metrics. However, during model testing, SARIMA exhibited superior predictive accuracy with lower root mean squared error and higher Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency values compared to ANN, indicating its robustness in real-time drought forecasting. These findings underscore the importance of integrating statistical and machine learning approaches for drought prediction. While the ANN model effectively captures complex patterns, the SARIMA model remains more reliable for modelling temporal drought dynamics. The results provide valuable insights into drought dynamics, supporting informed water resource management and proactive drought mitigation strategies in the Bidar district.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sheffield, J. and Wood, E. F., Projected changes in drought occurrence under future global warming from multi-model, multi-scenario, IPCC AR4 simulations. Clim. Dyn., 2008, 31, 79–105. Mekonnen, Y. and Gökçeku¸s, H., Causes and effects of drought in northern parts of Ethiopia. Civ. Environ. Res., 2020, 12(3), 29–38
Literature cited 2: Shahfahad, et al., Monitoring drought pattern for pre- and post-monsoon seasons in a semi-arid region of the western part of India. Environ. Monit. Assess., 2022, 194(396); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10028-5. Zinat, M. R. M., Salam, R., Badhan, M. A. and Islam, A. R. M. T., Appraising drought hazard during Boro rice growing period in western Bangladesh. Int. J. Biometeorol., 2020, 64, 1687–1697

ID: 66437
Title: Evaluation of rainfall datasets from CHIRPS and WorldClim in Meghalaya, India
Author: Pratibha T. Das , Dimpul Sonowal, Ranjit Das and S. P. Aggarwal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 232-239 10 August (2025)
Subject: Evaluation of rainfall datasets from CHIRPS and WorldClim in Meghalaya, India
Keywords: CHIRPS, IMD, Meghalaya, rainfall, World Cl
Abstract: Limited ground-based rainfall information has posed significant obstacles to hydrological, agricultural and related studies in Meghalaya, India. In this study, rainfall products were validated against ground-based rain gauge data from the India Meteorological Department, over three seasons. Both qualitative categorical metrics – probability of detection, false alarm rate, critical success index and frequency bias index, as well as quantitative statistical measures including Pearson correlation coefficient (r), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, relative bias, RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio, were computed to evaluate rainfall from CHIRPS and WorldClim. The quantitative statistics showed that the total rainfall estimated by CHIRPS provided better estimates than WorldClim during pre-monsoon (February–May) and post-monsoon (October–January). Neither dataset could provide good estimates of rainfall during the monsoon season (June–September). From this study, we found that CHIRPS is a reliable alternate source of rainfall data for Meghalaya with a limited rain gauge network.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Maggioni, V., Meyers, P. C. and Robinson, M. D., A review of merged high resolution satellite precipitation product accuracy during the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) - Era. J. Hydrometeorol., 2016, 17(4), 1101–1117. Moges, D. M., Kmoch, A. and Uuemaa, E., Application of satellite and reanalysis precipitation products for hydrological modeling in the data-scarce Porijogi. J. Hydrol., 2022, 41, 101070
Literature cited 2: Amorim, J. d., Viola, M. R., Junqueira, R., Oliveira, V. A. and Mello, C. R., Evaluation of satellite precipitation products for hydrological modeling in the Brazilian Cerrado Biome. Water, 2020, 12(9), 18. Zhang, L. et al., Evaluation and integration of the top-down and bottom-up satellite precipitation products over mainland China. J. Hydrol., 2020, 5

ID: 66436
Title: Calibrated voxel data from fMRI for the detection of developmental dyslexia using hybrid CNN-SVM model
Author: Adarsh Pradhan, Mirzanur Rahman , Shikhar Kumar Sarma , Achintam Kalita , Abbash Ali and Punasmita Ghosh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 129 (3) 223-231 10 August (2025)
Subject: Calibrated voxel data from fMRI for the detection of developmental dyslexia using hybrid CNN-SVM model
Keywords: ANN, CNN, dyslexia, fMRI, SVM, voxel
Abstract: Dyslexia, one of the most prevalent learning disabilities among children, is a neurological syndrome that impacts children’s literary proficiencies. In the present study, we calibrate the complex voxel information present in functional magnetic resonance imaging using normalising, reducing and flattening techniques, employ dimensionality reduction over the flattened voxel data using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, and then apply artificial neural network and support vector machine (SVM) for classifying into dyslexic and non-dyslexic. In the second methodology, we directly hand over the normalised voxel data to our hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN) and SVM model and acquire an accuracy of 94.44% an average precision of 95%, an average recall of 94.5%, and an F1-score of 94.5%. The CNN-SVM model continues to perform robustly when validated on an independent dataset
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Shaywitz, S. E., Dyslexia. N. Engl. J. Med., 1998, 338, 307-312. Zahia, S., Garcia-Zapirain, B., Saralegui, I. and Fernandez-Ruanova, B., Dyslexia detection using 3D convolutional neural networks and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Comput. Methods Programs Biomed., 2020, 197, 105726.
Literature cited 2: Usman, O. L., Muniyandi, R. C., Omar, K. and Mohamad, M., Advance machine learning methods for dyslexia biomarker detection: a review of implementation details and challenges. IEEE Access, 2021, 9, 36879-36897. Da Silva, L. T., Esper, N. B., Ruiz, D. D., Meneguzzi, F. and Buchweitz, A., Visual explanation for identification of the brain bases for developmental dyslexia on fMRI data. Front. Comput. Neurosci., 2021, 15; https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2021.594659.