ID: 61235
Title: Karnataka State Women ' s University to be an energy-surplus campus by harnessing renewable energies.
Author: Lenin Babu Kamepalli
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 699-702 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bio-diesel, photovoltaic plant, renewable energies, university campus.
Abstract: Assurance of quality energy is the most important input for development. Though India is the fifth largest producer of electricity globally, it remains a power-deficit state. It is poorly endowed with traditional fuel resources such as hydrocarbons, but blessed reasonably with renewable energy sources. Every step in harnessing them will make India self-sufficient. An attempt is made in this article to illustrate the initiatives of Karnataka State Women ' s University to reduce load on national grid.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Central Electricity Authority, Load Generation Balance Report 2014-15, Ministry of Power, Government of India, 2014.
ADB, Asian Development Outlook: Economic trends and prospects in developing Asia, Routes for Asia ' s Trades, Asian Development Bank, 2006.
Literature cited 2: TERI Energy Data Directory & Yearbook, 2011-12.
Chandel, M., Agrawal, G.D. and Mathur, A., Techno-economic analysis of solar parabolic trough type energy system for garment zone of Jaipur city.Renew.Sustain.Energy Rev., 2013, 17, 104-109.
ID: 61234
Title: The existential crisis in Indian Brachystelma (Apocynaceae).
Author: P.Venu, K.Prasad
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 680-682 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Existential crisis, Indian Brachystelma (Apocynaceae)
Abstract: We intend to express through this correspondence the concerns on the existence and very survival of members of Brachystelma (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). The genus was described by Robert Brown in 1822 based on Meerburgh ' s Stapelia tuberose from the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. It shares commonalities with Ceropegia L. (erect/twining leafy herbs with terete stems) than with Frerea Dalzell (pendulous, succulent leafy herbs with terete stems) or Caralluma R.Br. (leafless herbs with fleshy four-angled stems) of the same tribe Ceropegieae.Brachystelma has distinctive features from others with slender stems (stout in Cerpegias, an stout and fleshy in Frerea), corollas being rotate (tubular in Ceropegias) and the lobes relatively narrow (compared to Ceropegias).The genus ranks second in the tribe Ceropegieae and is represented by about 160 species distributed chiefly in sub-Saharan Africa, India ,Sri Lanka, southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: The Plant List, version 1, published online, 2010; http://www.theplantlist.org/(accessed on 10 April 2013).
Meve, U., In Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae (eds Albers, F. and Meve, U.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002, pp.20-46.
Literature cited 2: Hooker, J.D. (ed), Flora of British India, vol4, L.Reeve & Co, London, 1883, pp.64-66.
Gamble, J.S., In Flora of the Presidency of Madras, Vol.2, Adlard & Son, London, 1921, pp.850-852.
ID: 61233
Title: Clean development mechanism-an opportunity to mitigate carbon footprint from the energy sector of India
Author: K.Ranganathan and Manish Kumar Goyal
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 672-679 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: None
Abstract: Clean development mechanism (CDM) was included in the Kyoto protocol to support sustainable development in developing countries through technology transfer from developed countries along with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. More than 1000 projects which were registered under CDM from India in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been reviewed. Through a CDM project, India as a developing country has enhanced the development of renewable energy projects with financial support through the sale of carbon credit. This note discusses the status and progress of CDM in India; the main finding is that CDM has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the Indian energy sector.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Dagoumas, A.S., Papagiannis, G.K. and Dokopoulos, P.S., Energy Policy, 2006, 34 (1), 26-39.
Bilis, R., Energy Sustain.Dev. 2006, 10 (4), 74-87.
Literature cited 2: Winkelman, A.G.and Moore, M.R., Energy Policy, 2011, 39 (3), 1132-1143.
Schneider, M., Hendrichs, H.and Hoffmann, V.H., Energy Policy, 2010, 38 (1), 277-287.
ID: 61232
Title: Seismogenic active fault zone between 2005 Kashmir and 1905 Kangra earthquake meizoseismal regions and earthquake hazard in eastern Kashmir seismic gap.
Author: V.C.Thakur and R.Jayangondaperumal
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 610-617 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Active fault, earthquake hazard, seismic gap, slip deficit.
Abstract: The 2005 Kashmir earthquake of magnitude Mw 7.6 produced 75 km surface rupture showing 3-7 m vertical offset. The surfaces rupture nearly coinciding with the bedrock geology-defined Balakot-Bagh Fault (BBF) indicates reactivation of the adult. The BBF extends SE with right-step to the Reasi Thrust in Jammu region. Further extension of the Reasi Thrust has been mapped with different nomenclature to the 1905 Kangra earthquake meizoseismal region, suggesting linkage between the earthquake and the active fault. There is no historical record of a large magnitude Mw >7 event for the last ~1000 years in the eastern segment of the Kashmir seismic gap, may imply ~12 m slip deficit in the region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Thakur, V.C., Active tectonics of the Himalaya.J.Geol.Soc.India, 2008, 66, 227-258.
Kumahara, Y. and Nakata, T., Active faults in the epicentral area of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. Hiroshima University Research Center for Regional Geography, Special Publication No.41.Hiroshima, 2006, p.54.
Literature cited 2: Keneda, H.et al., Surface rupture of the 2005 Kashmir, Pakistan, earthquake and its active tectonics.Bull.Seismol.Soc.Am., 2008, 98, 521-557.
Sapkota, S.N., Bollinger, L.,Klinger, L., Tapponnier, P., Gudemer, Y.and Tewari, D.,Primary surface ruptures of the great Himalayan earthquakes in 1934 and 1255.Nature Geosci., 2013, 6, 71-76.
ID: 61231
Title: in vitro embryo production in buffalo: effects of culture system on pre-implantation development and gene expression pattern.
Author: Sadeesh E.M.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 603-607 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Buffalo, culture media, embryo, gene expression, in vitro production.
Abstract: Expression profile of developmentally important genes can be used to optimize the in vitro culture system to produce superior quality buffalo embryos. In nearly all the studies on in vitro embryo production of buffaloes, the presumptive zygotes are subjected to an in vitro culture system which involves use of TCM-199 or simple media like Charles rosenkrans and synthetic oviductal fluid with or without serum; however, these media do not fully mimic the in vivo conditions. The inhibitory or stimulatory effects of culture conditions on the expression of candidate genes involved in buffalo embryo development, quality and stress response will help identify the post-fertilization culture environment effects on in vitro development characteristics of embryo. Further, identification of genes whose expression profiles are frequently abnormal in in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryo derived from different culture systems will help provide markers for the diagnosis of IVF embryo viability prior to embryo transfer, and thus negate the time and money-consuming transfer of non-viable embryos to recipient animals. The studies reported here explore the possibility of establishing a suitable culture system which provides greater in vitro-development of embryos in buffalo.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Khurana, N.K. and Niemann, H., Effects of oocyte quality, oxygen tension, embryo density, cumulus cells and energy substrates on cleavage and morula/blastocyst formation of bovine embryos. Theriogenology, 2000, 54, 741-756.
Takahashi, M., Keicho, K., Takahashi, H., Ogawa, H., Schultz, R.M.and Okano, A., Effect of oxidative stress on development and DNA damage in in vitro cultured bovine embryos by comet assay.Theriogenology, 2000, 54, 741-756.
Literature cited 2: Lonergan, P.,Rizos, D., Gutierrez-Adan, A., Moreira, P.M., Pintado, B.and Dela, F.J., Temporal divergence in the pattern of messenger RNA expression in bovine embryos cultured from the zygote to blastocyst stage in vitro or in vivo.Biol.Reprod., 2003, 69, 1424-1431.
Viuff, D., Greve, T., Avery B., Hyttel, P., Brockhoff, P.B. and Thomsen, P., Chromosome aberrations in vitro produced bovine embryos at days 2-5 post-insemination.Biol.Reprod., 2000, 64, 1143-1148.
ID: 61230
Title: M-score: a context-specific score to assess scientific productivity with OEVGSI grading
Author: Madhu S.Nair.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 596-600 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bibliometrics, mock h-index, M-score, scientometrics.
Abstract: In this communication, a new context-specific score, named M-score is being proposed. This score is able to complement the mock h-index (hm-index) and at the same time overcome some limitations of other popular indices such as h-index,g-index, etc. The proposed M-score is computed not only on the basis of an individual ' s performance in scientific productivity, but also on the basis of the performance of other individuals in the field. This means that the M-score of an individual is an indicator towards his/her research performance relative to others in the field. Finally, based on the M-score of an individual, his/her research contributions are graded using the OEVGSI (Outstanding, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Sufficient and Insufficient) grading system. The significance of context-specific M-score has been proved with the help of a sample dataset taken from Google Scholar.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Hirsch, J.E., An index to quantify an individual ' s scientific research output.Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 2005, 102 (46), 16569-16572.
Prathap, G., Is there a place for a mock h- index.Scientometrics, 2006, 69 (1), 131-152.
Literature cited 2: Ramasesha, S.and Sen, D., Misuse of scientometry for individual assessment.Curr.Sci, 2011, 100 (4), 446.
Egghe, L., Theory and practise of the g-index.Scientometrics, 2006, 69 (1), 131-152.
ID: 61229
Title: Ketan D.Rathod and Vasant Natarajan
Author: Kamaljit Ray, S.C. Bhan and B.K.Bandopadhyay.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 592-595 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Magnetometry, oscillatory fields, precession frequency, ytterbium atoms.
Abstract: We use the Ramsey separated oscillatory fields technique in a 400? C thermal beam of ytterbium (Yb) atoms to measure the Larmor precession frequency (and hence the magnetic field) with high precision. For the experiment, we use the strongly allowed 1S0?1P1transition at 399 nm, an choose the odd isotope 171Yb with nuclear spin I= ?, so that the ground state has only two magnetic sublevels mF = ? ?.With a magnetic field of 22.2 G and a separation of about 400 mm between the oscillatory fields, the central Ramsey fringe is at 16.64 kHz and has a width of 350 Hz. The technique can be readily adapted to a cold atomic beam, which is expected to give more than an order-of-magnitude improvement in precision. The signal-to-noise ratio is comparable to other techniques of magnometry; therefore it should be useful for all kinds of precision measurements such as searching for a permanent electric dipole moment in atoms.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Schuh, B., Kanorsky, S.I., Weis, A. and Hansch, T.W., Observation of Ramsey fringes in nonlinear Faraday rotation.Opt.Commun, 1993, 100, 451-455.
Natarajan, V., Proposed search for an electric-dipole moment using laser-cooled 171Yb atoms.Eur.Phys.J.D, 2005, 32, 33-38.
Literature cited 2: Ramsey, N.F., A molecular beam resonance method with separated oscillating fields .Phys.Rev, 1950, 78, 695.
Ravishankar, H., Chanu, S.R. and Natarajan, V., Chopped nonlinear magneto-optic rotation: a technique for precision measurements.Europhys.Lett, 2011, 94, 53002.
ID: 61228
Title: The catastrophe over Jammu and Kashmir in September 2014: a meteorological observational analysis.
Author: Kamaljit Ray, S.C. Bhan and B.K.Bandopadhyay.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 580-591 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Accumulated rainfall, low pressure area, observational analysis, rainstorm.
Abstract: An observational analysis of the catastrophic rain-storm during 4-6 September 2014 over Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) presented in this study shows that the event was unprecedented in terms of the 24, 48 and 72 h accumulated rainfall. The 24 h accumulated rainfall exceeded the previously determined one-day severe rainstorm limits of 20 cm for a number of stations on 5 and 6 September 2014.Weekly cumulative rainfall (4-10 September 2014) exceeded the average rainfall of the entire monsoon season (June-September) in 6 out 18 districts of the state. A number of stations recorded all-time highest 24, 48 and 72 h accumulated rainfall during the week. Analysis of short-duration intensity of rainfall shows that the heaviest rain-rate (35 mm/h) was recorded over Kawa (Udhampur district). The rain-rate remained less than 20 mm/h at other stations. As Kawa is on the windward side of the Pir Panjal Range, orography seems to have played a significant role. The analysis of synoptic conditions leading to unprecedented rainfall shows that the rains were caused by the interaction of the westward moving monsoon low pressure area cross central and northwest India and a east-ward moving deep trough in the mid-tropospheric westerlies. The additional low pressure areas that formed over Saurashtra and Kutch on 3 September 2014 and over head Bay of Bengal on 5 September 2014, ensured the vigour of the event was maintained through strong wind and moisture flux in J & K. NWP models could capture heavy rains over J&K only in day 1 forecast.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Gadgil, S., The Indian monsoon and its variability.Annu.Rev.Earth Planet.Sci, 2003, 31, 429-467.
Pant G.B. and Kolli, R.K, Characteristics features of South Asian summer monsoon. In Climate of South Asia, John Wiley, 1997, p. 17.
Literature cited 2: Dhar, O.N. and Nandargi, S., On some characteristics of severe rainstorms of India.Theor.Appl.Climatol, 1995, 50, 205-212.
Nandargi, S.S. and Dhar, O.N., Extreme rainstorm events over the Northwest Himalayas during 1875-2010.J.Hydrometeorol., 2012; doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-12-08.1, 1383-1388.
ID: 61227
Title: Ethnoentomological values of Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius)
Author: V.V.Vidhu and D.A.Evans
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 572-579 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, ethnoentomological values, medicated oils, Oecophylla smaragdina.
Abstract: Adult worker ants and brood of Oecophylla smaragdina are a delicacy in the food of tribal groups residing in the forests of Wayanadu and Kasaragod districts of Kerala, India. These tribes use the crushed body of worker ants to make a sauce which is sour. Adult worker ants possess high formic acid (FA) content in their abdominal poison gland reservoir. Oecophylla brood has no traces of FA, but possesses all the essential amino acids, especially tryptophan, leucine, threonine, methionine and lysine in high concentration. Brood also has high carbohydrate content and very low lipid content. Carbohydrate, protein and lipid exist in a ratio 5: 2.5:1 on wet weight basis. Brood is a rich source of retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin, which are present at several times higher concentration than that of the egg of domestic fowl. Among various minerals tested, Na, P, Ca and Mg were present in very high concentration. The tribes made medicated oil using hot extraction of crushed worker ants to treat inflammation of joints and skin infections. Whole-body aqueous extract of worker ants has been shown to have significant antioxidant and anti-arthritic properties. Abdominal gland secretion showed anti-microbial activity against six bacterial and two fungal strains. GC-MS analysis of abdominal glands (Dufour ' s gland and poison gland) revealed the presence of 39 chemical compounds.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Way, M.J. and Khoo, K.C., Role of ants in pest management.Annu.Rev.Entomol, 1992, 37, 479.
Soumya Misra, S. and Rehman, H., Disposal of endosulfan begins. Down to Earth, 1-15 July 2012, p. 14.
Literature cited 2: Manjanaik, C. and Chakravarthy, A.K, Sustainable management practices for tea mosquito bug Helopeltis antonii on cashew. Karnataka J.Agric.Sci., 2013, 26, 54-57.
De Foliart, G.R., The human use of insects as a food resource: a bibliographic account in progress; www.foodinsects.com (22 August 2008).
ID: 61226
Title: Andaman accretionary prism: a probable locale for different mineral deposit types.
Author: Saju Verghese, A.C.Dinesh, M.Karthikeyan, G.Drishya and N.M.Shareef
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 529-535 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Accretionary prism, fluid migration, hydrothermal conduits, mineral deposits.
Abstract: Crustal growth and stabilization in the Andaman accretionary prism (AAP) occur via accretion of allochthnous crust, fragments of oceanic plateaus, and dismembered juvenile arc and ophiolite sequences. Multiple sutures developed in the AAP, as evidenced from multibeam, magnetic and seismic studies, are envisaged as the first-order structures that determine its distinct metallogenic signature. Furthermore, development of Andaman Back Arc Spreading Centre (ABSC) is attributed to a change from compression to more transgression stress regime as the AAP evolves. This stress regime change generates the first-order conduits for episodes of extensive metalliferous fluid flow via the pathways created by significant lateral displacements along the terrane-bounding multiple sutures. Hence, like many other accretionary orogens, complex association between subduction of the Indian plate and associated accretion, deformation, crustal thickening and melting, metamorphism, burial and exhumation may result in a wide variety of magma types, metal source regions and hydrothermal conduits. In conclusion, the expected deposit types in the AAP are volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, sea-floor massive sulphide deposits, rare earth elements and yittrium deposits and podiform chormite deposits.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Kerrich, R., Goldfarb, R.J. and Richards, j., Metallogenic provinces in an evolving geodynamic framework. In Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume (eds Hedenquist, J.W. et al.), Society of Economic Geologists, Colorado, USA, 2005, pp.1097-1136.
Bierlein, F.P., Groves, D.I. and Cawood, P.A., Metallogeny of accretionary orogens, the connection between lithospheric processes and merta endowment. Ore Geol.Rev, 2009, 36, 282-292.
Literature cited 2: Goldfarb, R.J., Groves, D.I. and Gardoll, S., Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global synthesis. Ore Geol.Rev, 2001, 18, 1-75.
Solomon, M. and Groves, D.I., The Geology and Origin of Australia ' s Mineral Deposits: Oxford Monographs in Geology and Geophysics, 24, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1994, p.1002.
ID: 61225
Title: Rehabilitation of degraded community land in Western Himalaya: linking environmental conservation with livelihood.
Author: Vikram S.Negi, I.D.Bhatt, P.C.Phondani and B.P.Kothyari.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 520-528 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Degraded land, environmental conservation, fodder, livelihood, rehabilitation
Abstract: Considering the situation of resource degradation and associated livelihoods in Western Himalaya, a scientific framework for rehabilitation of degraded and waste lands was developed and executed through people ' s participation. The objective of the present study was to restore degraded village lands, improve local livelihoods and strengthen ecosystem services. Twelve ecologically adapted and socially valued tree species having economic potential were planted at two different sites. Survival of the planted tree species after five years was found to be excellent (53.6-87.2 %) and did not show any mortality after four years. Statistical analysis revealed no significant influence of the sites on the height and circumference of common species in them; however, a year of plantation significantly (P <0.01) influenced increase in the growth of the species. A slight increase was observed in organic carbon whereas exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium and total nitrogen increased significantly (P <0.01) during successive years. Capacity building and active people ' s participation were the most crucial aspects of the rehabilitation programme in the present study. The outcome of the present study would be helpful for developing appropriate strategies and action plans for the management of natural resources and rehabilitation of wastelands in the Himalayan region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Semwal, R.L., Nautiyal, S., Maikhuri, R.K., Rao, K.S. and Saxena, K.G., Growth and carbon stocks of multipurpose tree species plantations in degraded lands in Central Himalaya, India.For.Ecol.Manage., 2013, 310, 450-459
Prabhakar, r., Somanathan, E. and Mehta Singh, B., How degraded are Himalayan forests? Curr.Sci, 2006, 91 (1), 61-67.
Literature cited 2: Saxena, K.G., Maikhuri, R.K. and Rao, K.S., Changes in agricultural biodiversity: implications for sustainable livelihood in the Himalaya.J.Mt.Sci, 2005, 2 (1), 23-31.
Maikhuri, R.K., Semwal, R.L., Rao, K.S. and Saxena, K.G., Rehabilitation of degraded community lands for sustainable development in Himalaya: a case study in Garhwal Himalaya, India.Int.J.Sustain.Dev.World Ecol., 1997, 4, 192-203.
ID: 61224
Title: A scientometric analysis of worldwide soil carbon stocks research from 2000 to 2014.
Author: Huimin Xiang, Jiaen Zhang and Qiandong Zhu
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 513-519 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Research output, scientometrics, soil carbonstocks, visualization analysis
Abstract: To understand the history and research status of soil carbon stocks, we collected soil carbon stocks citation data from the Science Citation Index Expanded during the period from 2000 to 2014.Next, we used HistCite to analyse the yearly output, country, institution, citation impact and citation relationships in the field. Results suggested that the research of soil carbon stocks has been steadily increasing during the studied 15-year period. The country with the highest research output was USA, and the institution with the highest research output was the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Majority of articles and the highest total location citation score (TLCS) values came from developed countries. The top three outputs journals were Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Global Change Biology, and Geoderma, whereas the top three TLCS journals were Global Change Biology, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, and Soil Science Society of America Journal. Articles published with higher TLCS values had a greater impact in the field of soil carbon stocks and played an important role in research trends.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: IPCC, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis (eds Houghton, J.T. et al), Contribution of Working Group 1 to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Matos, E.S. et al., Organic-carbon and nitrogen stocks and organic-carbon fractions in soil under mixed pine an oak forest stands of different ages in N E Germany.J.Plant Nutr.Soil Sci., 2010, 173, 654-661.
Literature cited 2: Zhang, L.and Feng, Y., Bibliometrics and visualization analysis of artificial blood vessel research.Curr.Sci., 2014, 106 (6), 816-822.
Hua, W., Li, Y. and Yuan, S. A quantitative analysis of Antarctic related articles in humanities and social sciences appearing in the world core journals.Scientometrics, 2014, 100, 273-286.
ID: 61223
Title: Birth and growth of M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Author: G.N.Hariharan and P.C.Kesavan.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 502-512 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biovillages, evergreen revolution, MSSRF, natural resources management, sustainable rural livelihoods, Villages Knowledge Centres.
Abstract: The M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) set up as a not-for-profit scientific trust with M.S.Swaminathan as the Founder-Chairman in 1988 is dedicated to sustainable agriculture, natural resources management and rural development. Relevant science and ecotechnologies are harnessed for fostering human livelihood and conservation of nature. MSSRF has developed biovillages and modern ICT-based Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) for skill and knowledge empowerment respectively of the rural communities. Ecotechnologies are the resultant of lending frontier technologies with traditional knowledge and ecological prudence of the indigenous communities. These have pro-nature, pro-poor and pro-women orientation. The evergreen revolution of MSSRF is designed to fight both the famines of food and rural livelihoods. As against the bureaucratic ' top-down ' approach, MSSRF practices ' bottom-up ' and participatory approach. The VKCs with lab to land and land to lab linkages provide solutions almost instantaneously to the problems of the small and marginal farming, fishing and landless rural families. These are briefly discussed in the paper.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Bourne Jr, J.K., The end of plenty: the global good Crisis.Nat.Geogr, 2009, 38-59.
Swaminathan, M.S., The age of Algeny, genetic destruction of yield barriers and agricultural transformations, Presidential Address, Agricultural Sciences Section, 55th Session of the Indian Science Congress, Varanasi, India, January 1968, pp.236-248.
Literature cited 2: Dhillon, B.S., Kataria, P.and Dhillon, P.K., National food security vis-?-vis sustainability of agriculture in high crop productivity regions.Curr.Sci. 2010, 98 (1), 33-36.
Swaminathan, M.S., The Future We Want-Journey of MSSRF, Chennai, 2013; https://mssrf.org/sites/default/files/MSSRF% 2025%20 years%20Book-Final%20to %20Press.compressed.pdf
ID: 61222
Title: Shaping science as the prime mover of sustainable agriculture for food and nutrition security in an era of environmental degradation and climate change.
Author: P.C.Kesavan
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 488-501 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Climate change, food and nutrition security, science for sustainable agriculture.
Abstract: At the time of India ' s independence in 1947, India ' s food production for national food security was highly insufficient. Malthusian scourge in the backdrop of Bengal famine of 1943 was looming. It was at a time of critical food shortage in the 1960s, commodity-centric exploitative agriculture, miscalled as Green Revolution, was ushered in by Swaminathan-Borlaug partnership. It changed India ' s image then as then as begging bowl to bread basket! As had been foreseen and forewarned, the Green Revolution resulted in environmental degradation, enhanced social inequities and had little to do with sustainable agriculture and rural development. With the lessons learnt, Swaminathan developed systems approach-based evergreen revolution to achieve productivity in perpetuity without accompanying environmental and social harm. It is also designed to fight both the famines of food and rural livelihoods with the help of ecotechnologies having pro-nature, pro-poor, pro-women and pro-livelihood orientation. The present article elaborates these aspects.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Crutzen, P.J., Geology of mankind. Nature, 2002, 415, 23.
Goodall, J.The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior, 1986, Belknap Press, p.673; http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/822658.The_Chimpanzees_of_Gombe
Literature cited 2: De Fries, R., The Big Ratchet: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis.A Biography of an Ingenious Species, Basic Books, New York, 2014, p.273.
Pal, B.P., Foreword to the book, A History of Agriculture in India, M.S.Randhawa, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 1980, vol.I, p.541.
ID: 61221
Title: Community agro biodiversity conservation continuum: an integrated approach to achieve food and nutrition security.
Author: N.Anil Kumar, V.Arivudai Nambi, M.Geetha Rani, E.D.Israel Oliver King, Susanta Sekar Chaudhary and Smita Mishra.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (3) 474-487 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agrobiodiversity, community partnership, conservation, consumption and commerce, cultivation, food and nutrition security.
Abstract: Agrobiodiversity is a confluence of the past, present and future and both a tangible and intangible resource critical for both rural and urban food and nutrition security. Transformation in agricultural technologies, land and water use and urbanization has been largely responsible for its rapid erosion. In-situ conservation of crops and varieties within the context of communities is being increasingly recognized an important pathway for sustainable use of agrobiodiversity. The present article describes a C4 Approach that pay concurrent attention to conservation, cultivation, consumption and commerce of agrobiodiversity resources, conceptualized and operationalized by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in three agrobiodiversity hotspots of India. The C4 Approach consists of a series of village level interventions like establishment of gene-seed-grain banks, participatory conservation systems, participatory varietal selection, seed purification, promotion of farmer to farmer seed exchange, promotion of good agronomic and planting practices, use of small machinery for processing rice and millets at local level, product diversification and linking to markets for strengthening livelihoods as well as mainstreaming use of agrobiodiversity among urban consumers. Training and capacity development and institutionalization of the efforts through formation of grassroots institutions dovetailed with science-based interventions were important components aimed at sustaining the efforts.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
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