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ID: 59737
Title: Accurate location and focal mechanism of small earthquakes near Idukki Reservoir, Kerala: implication for earthquake genesis.
Author: Utpal saikia, S.S. Rai, M.Subrahmanyam, Satyajit Dutta, Somasish Bose, Kajaljyoti Borah and Rishikesh Meena.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1885-1891(2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Earthquake location, fault plane solution, reservoir, tectonics.
Abstract: Earthquake waveform from a new temporary network of 21 seismic stations in South India has been used to significantly improve the detection threshold and parameters of small earthquakes near Idukki Reservoir, Kerala. We present here precise location of 16 earthquakes in this region with a local magnitude of 1.5-3.6 and focal depth 7.2-9.9 km. Fault plane solutions of the selected best six earthquakes show strike-slip faulting and right lateral movement. Reservoir loading usually leads to generation of stress and there -fore earthquakes in the shallow depth (<5 km), that are absent in the region of Idukki Reservoir. Recorded earthquakes are confined to a NW-SE trending fault close to Karur-Kamabam-Painavu-Trichur (KKPT) shear zone. These observations suggest that the earth-quakes in Idukki region are tectonic in nature and have no linkage with the reservoir.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Rai, S.S. et al., South India Precambrian crust and shallow lithospheric mantle: initial result from the India Deep Earth Imaging Experiment (INDEX). J.Earth Syst.Sci., 2013, 122, 1435-1453. Paul, J. et al., Stability of Peninsular India 1864-1994.Proc. Indian Acad.Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.,), 1995, 104, 131-146.
Literature cited 2: Rajendran, K., Rajendran, C.P., Kesavan, S. and Naveen, R.,Recent micro tremors near the Idukki Reservoir, Kerala,South India.Curr.Sci., 2012, 102, 1446-1451. Padale, J.G. and Das, P.B., A note on the recent seismic activity in the Idukki District, Kerala. Report, Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, 1988, p. 12.

ID: 59736
Title: Biogeophysical signatures of microbial natural gas accumulation.
Author: Kushal P.Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1880-1884 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biophysical techniques, electrical potential, methanogenesis, natural gas.
Abstract: Natural gas is produced by subsurface thermogenic and biogenic processes. Although the contribution of microbial processes in the formation of methane gas accounts for more than 20 % of the global natural gas resources, microbial contribution to natural gas accumulation is rarely considered n geophysical exploration .Thus, a laboratory study has been under-taken to investigate the possibility of monitoring and detecting the microbial formation of methane by electrical potential (EP) technique. Distinct EP observed from acetoclastic and hydrotropic methanogenesis suggests that the detection and monitoring of biogenic formation of methane is possible by employing biogeophysical techniques.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Bhattacharya, P.K. and Patra, H.P., Direct Current Geoelectric Sounding, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1968. Telford, W.M. et al., Applied Geophysics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990.
Literature cited 2: Reynolds, J., An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, John Wiley, Chichester, 1997. Revil, A., et al., Applications of the self-potential method to hydrological problems. In Applied Hydrogeophysics, NATO Science Series: Earth and Environmental Science (eds Vereecken, H. et al)., Springer, The Netherlands, 2006, pp.255-292.

ID: 59735
Title: Evaluation of weather-based crop insurance products for kharif groundnut.
Author: S. Kokilavani, V. Geethalakshmi, K.Bhuvaneswari and A.Lakhsmanan.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1866-1870 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Insurance companies, payout, product design, strike events.
Abstract: Weather-based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS) products proposed by four insurance providers was compared and evaluated using historical weather data for piloting WBCIS on kharif groundnut in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Theni, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu. Water deficits during the vegetative phases of groundnut crop generally delay flowering and maturity thereby reducing the crop growth and yield. The study revealed that the deficit rainfall risk was more pronounced in all the above-mentioned districts, whereas the risk of excess rainfall impact could be clearly observed in Theni district. Though the occurrence of strike events was for phase-1 of deficit rainfall cover, the rate per mm of rainfall fixed by IFFCO-TOKYO was quit low. The product designed for HDFC-ERGO and MS-Cholamandalam was similar, whereas the product for AIC and IFFCO-TOKYO was designed with little variation in context rainfall cover and consecutive dry days. The compensation benefit realized by the farmers of Virudhunagar and Dharmapuri districts was higher followed by Theni because the compensation rate per mm of rainfall fixed by the company was higher, which favours the farmers.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Baweja, P.K., Rainfall variability and probability for crop planning in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. J. Farm Sci., 2011, 1 (1), 75-88. Report of the working Group on Risk Management in Agriculture for Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), Planning Commission, Government of India.
Literature cited 2: Reddy, T.Y., Reddy, V.R. and Anbumozhi, V., Physiological responses of groundnut (Arachis hypogeal L) to drought stress and its amelioration: a critical review. Plant Growth Regul., 2003, 41, 75-88. Mahul, O., Verma, N. and Clarke, D.J., Improving famer ' s access to agricultural insurance in India, World Bank, Mimeo, 2011.

ID: 59734
Title: Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L) enhances iron dialysability and uptake in in vitro models.
Author: Padma Venkatasubramanian, Indu Bala Koul, Reeja Kochuthekil Varghese, Srividya Koyyala and Arun Shivakumar.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1859-1866 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Anaemia, amla, iron bioavailability, in vitro digestion model.
Abstract: Phyllanthus emblica L. (Indian gooseberry or amla) is a well-known dietary supplement (Rasayana) in Ayurveda used in the management of iron deficiency anaemia (Pandu). Amla is said to act by regulating the ' metabolic fire ' (agni), which is important for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. In the present study standard cell-free and cell-based models that are employed in biomedical sciences to study digestion and bioavailability of nutrients were used to examine the influence of amla fruit juice on iron dialystability and uptake. Amla juice contained 0.35 % ascorbic acid (AA), 0.33 % tannins (gallic acid equivalent), 0.13 % gallic acid, 0.58 % total organic acid and 0.002 % iron on a w/w basis. Amla juice exhibited a dose response to iron dialysability with an optimum at 1: 0.25 molar ratio of Fe: amla juice (AA equivalent) in the cell-free digestion model and 1: 0.5 in both Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines. Amla juice increased the dialyzable iron three times more than the FeSO4 alone control in the cell-free digestion model. Ion uptake in Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines increased 17.18 and 18.71 times more than the control respectively, in the presence of amla juice. AA, a known Fe bioavailability enhancer, at the same molar ratios showed an enhancement only by 1.45 times in the soil-free model and 13.01 and 12.48 times in the Caco-2 and HepG2 models respectively. As a dietary supplement that enhances iron dialysability and uptake, amla fruits can be explored further as a low-cost intervention in the management of iron deficiency anaemia.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: WHO, Nutrition for health and development: a global agenda for combating malnutrition. Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2000, pp. 16-17. Benito, P. and Miller, D., Iron absorption and bioavailability: an updated review. Nutr. Res., 1998, 18, 581-603.
Literature cited 2: Dreosti, I.E., Recommended dietary intakes of iron, zinc and other inorganic nutrients and their chemical form and bioavailability.Nutrition, 1993, 9, 542-545. Allen, L.H. and Ahluwalia, N., Improving Iron Status through Diet. The Application of knowledge Concerning Dietary Iron Bioavailability inhuman Populations. John Snow, Inc/OMNI, United Startes Agency for International Development (USAID), 1997, pp.13-22; pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnacb908.pdf (accessed 0n 7 November 2013).

ID: 59733
Title: Entropy application to evaluate the stability of landscape in Kunur River Basin, West Bengal, India.
Author: Sujay Bandopadhyay, Subhajit Sinha, N.C.Jana and Debasis Ghosh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1842-1853 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Dynamic equilibrium, landscape stability, longitudinal profile, potential energy, thermodynamic entropy.
Abstract: The river network analysis using thermodynamic entropy approach has been studied over the past several decades to decipher the behaviour of streams and landscape stability. The entropy-based study has been taken up in Kunnur River Basin of eastern India to verify the level of adjustment for its present longitudinal profile to the calculated and equilibrium longitudinal profiles adopting Yang ' s (1971) theory of average river fall. The verification reveals that the fall ratio is less than 1, which indicates the basin has not yet reached the dynamic equilibrium phase and the whole process-response system sustains tremendous human pressure. It is inferred from the thermodynamic river profiles that there is poor agreement between observed data and the law of average stream fall, and the concave river profile emerging from several scales of process-form interaction is characterized by human interference. The present analyses also demonstrate that the lithological control, gain size and channel morphology influence the gradient in short term and climate induced hydrological changes control the long-term stability of the total landscape.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Leopold, L.B. and Langbein, W.B., The concept of entropy in landscape evolution. US Geol. Surv.Prof.Pap.Ser.A., 1962, 500, A1-A20. Scheidegger, A.E., A complete thermodynamic analog for land-scape evolution. Int. Assoc.Sci.Hydrol., Bull, 1967, 12 (4), 57-62.
Literature cited 2: Yang, C.T., Potential energy and stream morphology. Water Resour.Res., 1971, 7 (2), 311-322. Fiorentino, M., Claps, P. and Singh, V.P., An entropy-based morphological analysis of river basin networks. Water Resour.Res., 1993, 29 (4), 1215-1224.

ID: 59732
Title: Membrane lipid peroxidation and its conflict of interest: the two faces of oxidative stress.
Author: Soumen Bhattacharjee.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1811-1823 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Adaptive response, cell signaling, membrane lipid peroxidation, oxidative damage, reactive lipid species.
Abstract: Membranes are the most vital structure for all organisms which not only molecular trafficking but also perceive environmental cues and transducer it in response. Membrane lipid peroxidation, which is normally associated with natural course of ageing, senescence and environmental stresses, is mechanistically important as it is on e of the very few examples of carbon-centered radical production in cell. Chemically, it involves the formation and propagation of lipid radicals, the uptake of molecular oxygen and arrangement of double bonds in the unsaturated lipids and eventually their destruction, with subsequent production of variety of breakdown products, with subsequent production of a variety of breakdown products, including alcohol, ketones, alkanes, aldehydes and ethers. The process is considered as the main event involved in oxidative damage to cell, which may eventually cause cell death. A significant proportion of oxidized lipids are electrophillic in nature. Recent studies suggest that reactive lipid species formed through lipid peroxidation can benefit cells in a number of ways. There are strong evidences in support of the view that reactive lipid species-mediated signaling participates in several physiological pathways including apoptosis, induction of antioxidative defence, membrane repair, proteosomal pahway, etc. The activation of cell signaling pathways by reactive lipid species is hierarchical and largely depends on intrinsic chemical reactivity of electrophiles, thiol-containing signaling domains and the subsequent signaling cascades. An effort has been made to provide an update on membrane lipid peroxidation while addressing the conflicting roles of membrane lipid peroxidation in deteriorative oxidative damage and adaptive cell signaling.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Feussner, I and Wasternack, C., The lipoxygenase pathway. Annu.Rev.Plant Biol., 2004, 53, 275-297. Spiteler, G., Lipid peroxidation in aging and age dependent disease.Exp.Gerantol., 2001, 36, 1425-1456.
Literature cited 2: Dianzani, M.and Barrera, G., Pathology and physiology of lipid peroxidation and its carbonyl products. In Free Radical Pathophysiology (eds Alvarez, S. and Evelson, P.), Transworld Research Network, Kerala. India, 2008, pp. 19-38; ISBN: 978-81-7895-311-3. Farooqui, T. and Farooqui, A., Lipid-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation n the pathogenesis of Parkinson ' s disease. Parkinson ' s disease, 2011, 01-09; doi: 10.4061/2011/247467.

ID: 59731
Title: Distribution functions to describe the variation of the present per capita electricity consumption in India and future needs with respect to the population.
Author: S.P. Sukhatme.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1806-1810 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Distribution function, equitable distribution, future electricity needs per capita electricity consumption.
Abstract: The present mean annual per capita consumption of electricity in India is only around 800 to 900 kWh. This is a low value and it is accepted that it will have to increase in the future to a mean value which could range from 1840 to 4000 kWh. This article is concerned with an aspect which has not received attention so far, viz. the nature of distribution of the consumption around the mean with respect to the population. Since no direct data are available, an attempt is made to deduce the present distribution in India from data available for the world as a whole. It is shown that the present variation can be approximated to be a Poisson-like Weibull distribution which is highly inequitable. The study also suggests a distribution for the future in which not only is the mean annual per capita value higher, but the variation can be approximated by a Gaussian-like Weibull distribution which is more equitable.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Goldemberg, J., Johansson,T.B., Reddy, A.K.N. and Williams , R. H., Basic needs and much more with one kilowatt per capita. Ambio, 1985, 14, 190-200. Goldemberg, J., Johansson, T.B., Reddy, A.K.N. and Williams, R. H., Energy for a sustainable World, Wiley Eastern Ltd, New Delhi, 1988.
Literature cited 2: Pasternak, A.D., Global energy futures and human development: a framework for analysis. Report No. UCRL-ID-140773, Lawrence Livemore National Laboratory, USA, 2000; https:// e-reportsext.11nl.gov/pdf239193.pdf Sukhatme, S.P., Can India ' s future needs of electricity be met by renewable energy sources? A revised assessment. Curr. Sci, 2012, 103, 1153-1161.

ID: 59730
Title: The biotechnology pyramid: basic science to application of science
Author: Seshagiri Raghulkumar.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1789-1791 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biotechnology, Pyramid, basic science to application of science.
Abstract: Biotechnology is the buzzword in biology, and not without reason. The apparently endless opportunities that biotechnology offers in terms o new products, processes, improved health and comfort, as well as job opportunities, are drawing present-day research students, who consider this to be the most important topic o biology. This leads to debate about what research topic would be important and what would not, which ph D topics are to be selected and which are to be discarded and which laboratories and research supervisors are to be sought after and which are not. There often seems to be some confusion about what actually leads to good biotechnology research, an issue not only with research students but with senior scientists as well. Biotechnology is an important branch of science that aims to benefit human society.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Padnaban, G., Curr. Sci., 2003, 85, 712-719. Tsien, R.Y., Annu. Rev. Biochem., 1998, 67, 509-544.
Literature cited 2: Chudakov, D.M., Lukyanov, S. and Lukyanov, K.A., Trends Biotechnol., 2005, 23, 605-613. Zimmer, M., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 2823-2832.

ID: 59729
Title: Seasonal variation and climate change influence coral bleaching in Pirotan Island, Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gujarat.
Author: D.Adhavan, R.D.Kamboj, N.Marimuthu, M.M.Bhalodi.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (11) 1780-1781 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Seasonal variation, climate change influence, coral bleaching, Pirotan Island, Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gujarat.
Abstract: The Gulf of Kachchh occupies an area of 7300 sq.km with 42 islands with various groups of flora and fauna. Pirotan Island is a part of the Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, located at 22? 35`03.0`` N, 069 ?57 ' 26.2`` E with rich coral reef ecosystem. A rapid survey during low tide 0n 14 September 2014 to assess the inter-tidal diversity of the Island showed bleached coral colonies, including new recruitments in the intertidal zone. The bleached coral colonies include Favia favus, Favia lacuna, Favia speciosa, Favites halicora, Favites flexuosa, Porites compressa and Porites lichens.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Nair, V.R., http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/87 (accessed on 25 September 2013). Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Coral bleach alert system, Technical document, 2011, p. 10
Literature cited 2: Marimuthu, N., Wilson, J., Vinithkumar, N.V. and Kirubagaran, R., J. Ocean Univ. China, 2013, 12 (1), 91-96. NOAA, 2014; http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/ocean/sst/anomaly/index.html.

ID: 59728
Title: Early Eocene Annona fossils from vastan Lignite Mine, Surat district, Gujarat, India: age, origin and palaeogeographic significance.
Author: M. Prasad, H. Singh and S.K. Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1730-1734 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Annona, fossil leaf, fruit and pollen, lignite mine, phytogeography.
Abstract: The family Annonaceae has Gondwana affinity and is being reported from the Cambay Shale of Vastan Lignite Mine on the basis of well-preserved fruit (in counterpart), leaf and pollen grains. This finding is significant because it serves as yet another example of an angiosperm family found in South America and Africa that may have boarded the Indian raft when India was attached to Madagascar, reported on the basis of pollen from Kutch. The vastan occurrences represent a continuous record from the Indian latest Cretaceous, through the palaeocene, based on multiple vegetative entities. The well-preserved fruit is morphologically similar to Annona palustris L. At present the dispersal history of the family into India represents an origin in the Lower Cretaceous of North America with later dispersal to South America and Africa and then onto India, as it is recorded from the sedimentary beds associated with the Deccan Volcanics. Another angiosperm family, Dipterocarpaceae, is also found in Vastan, with a similar phytogeographic distribution.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Rana, R.S., Kumar, K. and Singh, H., Vetebrate fauna from the subsurface Cambay Shale (Lower Eocene), Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, India. Curr. Sci., 2004, 87, 726-733. Rana, R.S., Singh, H., Sahni, A., Rose, K.D. and Saraswati, P.K., Early Eocene chiropterans from a new mammalian assemblage (Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, Western Peninsular margin): oldest known bats from Asia. J. Palaeontol. Soc. India, 2005, 50, 93-100.
Literature cited 2: Bajpai, S., Kapur, V.V., Das, D.P., Tiwari, B.N., Saravanan, N. and Sharma, R., Early Eocene land mammals from Vastan Lignite Mine, District Surat, (Gujarat), western India. J. Paleontol. Soc. India, 2005, 50, 101-113. Bajpai, S., Kapur, V.V., Thewissen, J.G.M., Tiwari, B.N. and Das, D.P., First fossil marsupials from India: Early Eocene Indo-delphis n.gen. and Jaegeria n. gen. from Vastan Lignite Mine, District Surat, Gujarat. J. Palaeontol. Soc. India, 2005, 50 (1), 147-151.

ID: 59727
Title: Measuring the impacts of land use on water quality influences by non-point sources.
Author: Ranen Sen, Sharadindra Chakrabarti and Somdatta Chakravortty
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1719-1724 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Land use, non-point source, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus, water quality.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to (a) test the proposition that the variance of water quality from undefined sources is a function of land use within the watershed, and (b) examine the premise that the impact of land use near the stream is more important than that far away from the stream is more important than that far away from the stream in affecting the water quality from non-point sources. Results obtained using this approach support both these hypotheses. Moreover, these tests suggest the importance of considering the means by which chemical elements are delivered to the streams. Nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus can be intercepted by removal of fast-growing floodplain crops and phosphorus by sediment barriers at sites outside the floodplain. Further evidences suggest that reservoir trap-efficiency is considerably important in improving the downstream water quality as the former entraps clay nanominerals (with adsorbed particulates of phosphorus) that are found to be responsible for the fate and transport of phosphorus. The methodology of analysis of stream loads is ordinary least square regression analysis. Stream loads of nitrate-nitrogen and total phosphorus have been studied as a function of land use.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Wilkin, D.C. and Jackson, R.W., Nonpoint water quality contributions from land use. J. Environ. Syst., 1983-84, 13 (2), 127-136. Wilkin, D. C and Flemal, R.C., Feasibility of water quality improvement in three llinois rivers. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed., 1980, 52 (2), 293-298.
Literature cited 2: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/brochures/five.html. http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/global/recordisplay.cfm?deid=2569112.

ID: 59726
Title: Economically viable mass production of lignocellulolytic fungal inoculums for rapid degradation of agrowaste.
Author: Livleen Shukla, Ansuman Senapati, S.P. Tyagi and Anil Kumar Saxena.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1701-1704 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Compost production, fungal production, fungal mats, jaggery, lignocellulolytic enzyme, spores.
Abstract: A consortium of four hypercellulolytic fungal cultures, namely Aspergillus awamori, Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus nidulans and Phanerochaete chrysosporium was optimized for compost production potential. The consortium has been effectively used for composting of diverse agricultural wastes such as paddy straw, soybean trash, pearl millet, maize residues and mustard stover. The inoculum of four fungi needs to be produced in bulk for talc-based consortium formulation. Routinely fungus is grown on potato dextrose agar medium, malt extract agar medium or Martin ' s Rose Bengal agar medium, which escalates the cost of production because of relatively expensive ingredients. Further, harvesting of fungal biomass from solid surface adds additional cost to the production schedule.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Singh, R., DARE/ICAR Annual Report, 2012-2013. Ravindranath, N.H. and Hall, D.O., Biomass, Energy and Environment: A Developing Country Perspective from India, Oxford University Press, 1995.
Literature cited 2: Dincer, I., Energy and environmental impacts: present and future perspectives. Energy Sources, 1998, 20 (4-5), 427-453. Rickson, R., Can control of soil erosion mitigate water pollution by sediments? Sci. Total Environ., 2014, 468, 1187-1197.

ID: 59725
Title: Development of desalination unit using solar still coupled with evacuated tubes for domestic use in rural areas.
Author: Praveen T. Hunashikatti, K.R. Suresh, B.Prathima and Gulshan Sachdeva.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1683-1693 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Chemical analysis, coupled system, distillation yield, energy efficiency, solar thermal desalination.
Abstract: Potable water and energy are two main priorities of mankind. The rural communities, especially of developing and under-developed countries are facing acute shortage of both. A sustainable, domestic water desalination process for rural India to meet the demand for potable water is the need of the hour and solar thermal desalination proves to be a promising alternative. In this article, experimental studies of single-slope, single-basin solar still integrated with evacuated tubes in natural mode (coupled system) are carried out for the climatic conditions of Bangalore (12. 96 ? N, 77.56 ? E), Karnataka, India. For solar still basin are of 0.51 m2 , the distillate yields obtained from the coupled system for water depths of 0.06, 0.04 and 0.02 m are 3.289, 4.652 and 5.534 kg respectively, from 7: 00 h to 19: 00 h. The variation of instantaneous energy efficiency for the coupled system is found to be in the range 0.33-73.18 % between 9.00 and 17: 00 h for water depth of 0.02 m, which decreases with increase in water depth in the solar still. Chemical analysis of inlet water sample and outlet distillate was carried out and compared with Indian drinking water standards, IS-10500:2012. It is observed that the values for chemical composition of distillate are well below the limits of drinking water standards. The total cost of the developed coupled system was estimated to be Rs 6980 (US$ 1=Rs 60.25 as on 15 April 2014). This eco-friendly system does not depend on any conventional source of energy for its operation and is easy to build and maintain.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Gude, V.G. and Nirmalakhandan, N., Desalination at low temperatures and low pressures. Desalination, 2009, 244, 239-247. Reddy, K.S., Ravi Kumar, K., O ' Donovan, T.S. and Mallick, T.K., Performance analysis of an evacuated multi-stage solar water desalination system. Desalination, 2012, 288, 80-92.
Literature cited 2: Labhasetwar, P. et al., Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation-Govt of India and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 2011, p.2. Water Research Laboratory, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 2011, p.2.

ID: 59724
Title: Biochar production from agro-food industry residues: a sustainable approach for soil and environmental management.
Author: Aditya Parmar, Prabhat K. Nema and Tripti Agarwal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1673-1682 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Agro-food Industry, biochar production, biomass residues, hydrothermal carbonization.
Abstract: Advance biochar production technique, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC, wet pyroluysis) offers an option to tap the benefits of biomass residues of food industry characterized by high moisture and low calorific value. HTC is more energy efficient due to its low temperature operations and higher biochar recovery rates (up to 90 %).Biochar offers multitude of benefits in terms of agronomical and environmental management. It can contribute to climate change mitigation, increase plant productivity and crop yield and remediation of contaminated sites. Limitations and knowledge gaps in the current understanding of biochar along with its properties have been identified. Major hurdles recognized in commercialization of biochar application are permanency, diversity and economic viability.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Lehmann, J., Rilling, M.C., Thies, J., Masiello, C.A., Hockaday, W.C. and Crowley, D., Biochar effects on soil biota-a review. Soil Biol. Biochem, 2001, 43, 1812-1836. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAOSTAT database, 2010; http://faostat.fao.org/site/362/Desktop-Default.aspx?PageID=362.
Literature cited 2: Lin, Y., Munroe, P., Joseph, S., Handerson, R. and Ziolkowski, A., Water extractable organic carbon in untreated and chemical treated biochars. Chemosphere, 2012, 87 (2), 151-157. Sharma, R.K., Wooten, J.B., Baliga, V.L., Lin, X., Geoffrey Chan, W. and Hajaligol, M.R., Characterization of chars from pyrolysis of lignin .Fuel, 2004, 83 (11-12), 1469-1482.

ID: 59723
Title: The dynamics of Indian FDI in Europe and its impact on Romanian-Indian relations.
Author: Teodora Roman, Adriana Manolica and Liviu-George Maha.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 107 (10) 1666-1672 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Emerging single markets, FDI, globalization, Multinationals.
Abstract: The present aims to analyse the presence of Indian companies in the European market and identify the barriers they encounter, offering highlights concerning the fields with investment potential, as well as solutions for the reduction of entry barriers. It has also made a foray into the history of Romanian-Indian relations, an important issue in the context of the new strategy of the Indian companies that turn towards Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, Romanian companies will face an increased competition, because multinationals from emerging countries are much more aggressive competitors than the traditional ones from Western Europe.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: http:// unctad.org/en/Publications Library /webdiaeia 2013d1_en.pdf (last accessed on 20 January 2014) Athukorala, P.-C, Outward foreign direct investment from India. Asian Dev. Rev., 2009, 26 (2), 131-153.
Literature cited 2: Khan, H.R., Outward Indian FDI-Recent trends and emerging issues, 2012; http: rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_Speeches View.aspx? Id=674 (last accessed during September 2013). Nayyar, D., The internationalization of firms from India: investment. In Mergers and Acquisitions, Oxford Development Studies, 2008, vol. 36, pp. 111-131.