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ID: 59617
Title: CLIMEX simulated predictions of Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) geographical distribution under climate change situations in India.
Author: V. Sridhar, A. Verghese, L.S. Vinesh, M. Jayashankar and P.D. Kamala Jayanthi
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1702-1710 (2014)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bactrocera dorsalis, climate change, geographical distribution, Oriental fruit fly.
Abstract: An attempt was made to understand the influence of climate change on future potential distribution of Oriental fruit fly (OFF), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), a polyphagous pest on a wide variety of fruit crops in India. Prediction of the potential distribution of OFF was done for different time-frames (2030, 2050, 2070, and 2090) under the A1B climate change scenario (CSIRO-Mk3.0, a global climate model) using CLIMEX software. The model predicted an overall gradual decrease in terms of area suitability for OFF in India by 2090 due to increase in various stress factors to the pest. In temperate regions of the north and northeastern parts, incidence of the pest may increase due to rise in temperature coupled with decrease in cold stress. In North India, the model predicts the regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Punjab to be more climatically suitable for OFF by 2030 and there is an expected steady increase in suitability by 2050, 2070 and 2090. The CSIRO model for North East indicated that by 2090, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur would become highly suitable for the pest. The projected range expansion in terms of area suitability was recorded up to 100 km in temperate regions. Central and western India are projected to become progressively less suitable by 2030, 2050 and totally unsuitable by 2090. In South India, there was slight reduction in climatic suitability for OFF in terms of ecoclimatic index over time-frames 2030, 2050, 2070, 2090 as highly suitable, optimal, suitable and marginally suitable respectively. Regression analysis was carried out using growth index obtained from CLIMEX and pest trap counts. Additionally, field level validation of the model was carried out for selected locations.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Jianhong, L., Zhen, X. X., Yongzhi, P., Zhongping, X. Zhongjian, D. and Liying, Y., Predicting potential distribution of Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis in Jiangxi province, South China based on maximum entropy model.Sci.Res. Essays, 2011, 6, 2888-2894. CABI, Bactrocera dorsalis. In Invasive species compendium, CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2013; www.cabi.org/isc
Literature cited 2: Verghese, A., Madhura, H.S., Kamala Jayanthi, P.D. and Stone-house, J.M., Fruit flies of economic significance in India, with special reference to Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). In proceedings of 6th International Fruit Symposium, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2002. Stonehouse, J.M., An overview of fruit fly research knowledge and needs in the Indian Ocean region. In Proceedings of the Second National Symposium on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Horticulture crops. New Molecules, Biopesticides and Environment, Bangalore, 2001.

ID: 59616
Title: Damming rivers in the tectonically resurgent Uttarakhand Himalaya.
Author: K.S. Valdiya.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1658-1668 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Hydroelectric projects, dams, landslides, seismicity.
Abstract: In the fault-ridden, seismically and tectonically active belts recurrently ravaged by excessive rains and resultant landslides in the Uttarakhand, a very large number of big and small dams are being constructed and planned. Quite many of these projects suffered crippling damages during the 2013 disaster as mountain slopes slid down and floodwater severely eroded stream banks and dumped huge volumes of sediments on critical facilities. If the idea is to have environment-friendly power projects, then the planners and dam builders must not ignore the geological reality of the geodynamically sensitive region. Better sites for dams can be explored far upstream of the Main Central Thrust Zone.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Valdiya, K.S., Geology of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 1980, p.291. Thakkar, H., Uttarakhand ke baandh, Samayaantar, 9-19 August 2013.
Literature cited 2: Valdiya, K.S., Paul, S.K., Chandra, T., Bhakuni, S.S. and Upadhyay, R.C., Tectonic and lithological characterization of Himadri (Great Himalaya) between Kali and Yamuna rivers, Central Himalaya. Himalayan Geol., 1999, 20, 1-17. Valdiya, K.S., Tectonic evolution of the central sector of the Himalaya. Philos.Trans.R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 1988, 326, 151-175.

ID: 59615
Title: Evaluation of Asian university rankings: position and perspective of leading Indian higher education institutions.
Author: Veljko Jeremic and Marina Jovanovic-Milenkovic
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1647-1653 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Higher education, I-distance method, university rankings, methodologies and indicators.
Abstract: Although the subject of ranking higher education institutions is frequently elaborated in many research papers, consensus about a leading ranking methodology has not been reached yet. Consequently, different methodologies are based on rather conflicting indicators and therefore often provide highly diverse rankings of the world ' s best universities. For instance, SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) methodology is exclusively based on indicators of scientific output, while Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) and Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS) take into account the teaching dimension of the university performance to a large degree. To explore the impact of different methodologies further, we first obtained data on Asian best-ranked universities according to SIR, THE and QS methodologies. The aim of this article is to explore possibilities to enhance ranking methodologies using I-distance method. The result was manifold: first, by employing our I-distance approach we were able to point out potential weaknesses of subjectively chosen weighting factors of THE and QS ranking methodologies. Secondly, we were able to provide detailed information on how each QS and THE indicator contributes to the final rank and emphasize the crucial indicators in the process of ranking. Thirdly, SIR does not provide the total score and its appropriate rank; and using our approach not only did we provide the total score but also determined the relative significance of each compounding SIR indicator. One of the contributions lies in the use of the I-distance method, which can easily integrate variables with different measurement units into one composite indicator. Moreover, our approach could be a foundation for impartial framework of universities ' assessment, independent of subjectively formed weighting factors. Finally, a special overview of university performances of leading Indian universities is provided.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Paruolo, P. Saisana, M. and Saltelli, A., Ratings and rankings: voodoo or science? J. R. Stat. Soc. Ser. A, Stat. Soc., 2013, 176 (3), 609-634. Saisana, M. and D ' Hombres, B., Higher education rankings: Robustness issues and critical assessment. EUR 23487, Joint Research Centre, Publications Office of the European Union, Italy, 2008.
Literature cited 2: Hazelkorn, E., Rankings and the Reshaping of Higher Education, The Battle for World-Class Excellence, Palgrave MacMillan, 2011. Altbach, Ph., The International Imperative in Higher Education, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, 2013.

ID: 59614
Title: Proboscia alata (Brightwell) Sandstrom bloom in the coastal waters off Bekal, southwest India.
Author: ANIT M. THOMAS, M.G. SANILKUMAR, K.C. VIJAYALAKSHMI, A.A. MOHAMED HATHA, A.V. SARAMMA.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1643-1646 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Proboscia alata, (Brightwell), coastal waters, Bekal, Southwest India.
Abstract: The habitual increase in the phenomenon of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the coastal waters in its consequences on the economy, impact on the environment and human health are particularly being noticed worldwide. The seasonal reversal of monsoon, upwelling and eutrophication make the west coast of India highly productive, leaving the Malabar coast highly vulnerable to HABs.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Nagayama, et al., Aquaculture, 2003, 218, 601-611. Sanilkumar, et al., Curr. Sci., 2012, 103 (6), 624-626.
Literature cited 2: Takahashi, et al., Diatom Res., 1994, 9 (2), 411-428. Yun, S.M. and Lee, J.H., Algae, 2011, 26 (4), 299-315.

ID: 59613
Title: Significance of clastic injectites in the syn-rift Terani Clay Member, Sivaganga Formation, Cauvery Basin, Tamil Nadu, India.
Author: AMRUTA R.PARANJAPE, ANAND S. KALE, KANTIMATI G. KULKARNI.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1641-1643 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Significance of clastic injectites, syn-rift Terani Clay Member, Cauvery Basin, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract: Rifting between India, Antarctica and Africa during break-up of the eastern Gondwanaland, led to the generation of many basins along the Eastern Continental Margin of India, with Cauvery Basin, Tamil Nadu being the southernmost of all basins. Sivaganga Formation, directly overlying the Archean basement, represents the first episode of Cretaceous sedimentation in the Cauvery Basin. It has been noted that the sedimentation in the Early Cretaceous Sivaganga Formation commenced with the deposition of fluvial coarse clastics (conglomerates and sandstones) in the early rift stage; and as the rifting progressed, marine influence increased and the deposition of finer clastics (sandy clays and clay-stones ) took place. These syn-rift sediments are overlain by thick, post-rift, Middle to Late Cretaceous marine mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sequence.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Paranjape, A.R., Kulkarni, K.G. and Kale, A.S., In Abstract Volume of the 23rd Indian Colloquium on Micropalaeontology and Stratigraphy and International Bioevents in Earth ' s History, Bangalore University, Bangalore, 2011, pp. 4-5. Marschalko, R., In The Encyclopedia of Sedimentology (eds Fairbridge, R. W. and Bourgeois, J.), Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Pennslyvania, USA, 1978, pp. 125-126
Literature cited 2: Levi, T., Weinberger, R., Eyal, Y., Lyakhovsky, V. and Heifetz, E., Geophys. J. Int., 2008, 175, 1095-1107. Song, S.R., Lo, H.J. and Chen, W.S., J. Geol.Soc.China, 1994, 37, 407-424.

ID: 59612
Title: Integrating aboveground-belowground responses to climate change.
Author: P.C. Abhilash and Rama Kant Dubey.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (12) 1637-1638 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Integrating aboveground-belowground responses, climate change.
Abstract: A growing body of evidence clearly indicates that climate change is a major driver of ecosystem change and alter the structural and functional attributes of various systems. However, it is unclear that how above-and belowground parts will respond to climate change. Therefore, majority of the ecosystem models could not consider key variables modulating above-and belowground responses while modelling ecosystem response to climate change. Here we discuss the integrating above-and below ground responses to climate change so that it would be helpful for ecosystem modelling and predicting their response to climate change.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Krishnaswamy, J., John, R. and Joseph, S., Global Change Biol., 2014, 20, 203-215. Stein, B.A. et al., Front. Ecol. Environ., 2013, 11, 502-510.
Literature cited 2: Grimm, N.B. et al., Front. Ecol. Environ., 2013, 11, 474-482 Grimm, N.B. and Jacobs, K., L., Front. Ecol. Environ., 2013, 11, 455.

ID: 59611
Title: Efficacy of two dominant marker systems, ISSR and TE-AFLP for assessment of genetic diversity in biodiesel species Pongamia Pinnata.
Author: Shyam Sundar Sharma, Keshaw Aadil, Madan Singh Negi and Shashi Bhushan Tripathi
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1576-1580 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Dominant markers, genetic diversity, Pongamia accessions.
Abstract: The extent of genetic diversity was assessed in 12 Pongamia accession from different regions of Delhi and surrounding areas using two dominant markers, namely ISSR and three endonuclease AFLP (TE-AFLP). Five ISSR primers and two TE-AFLP primer combinations generated a total of 12 and 48 polymorphic bands respectively. The Jaccard ' s dissimilarity coefficient ranged from 0 to 0.90 for ISSR and from 0 to 0.67 for TE-AFLP markers. The polymorphic information content of both markers was equal. However, TE-AFLP had much higher values of marker index and resolving power compared to those obtained for ISSR markers. This study demonstrates the usefulness of dominant markers like ISSR and TE-AFLP for assessment of genetic diversity in Pongamia for which microsatellites markers are still not available. However, high multiplex ratio, easy scorability and other high band attributes of TE-AFLP markers make them more suitable compared to ISSR for genetic diversity analysis.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Tewari, D.N., Report of the Committee on Development of Biofuel. Planning Commission, Government of India, 2003. Kaushik, N., Kumar, S., Kumar, K., Beniwal, R., Kaushik, N. and Roy, S., Genetic variability and association studies in pod and seed traits of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre in Haryana, India, Genet. Res. Crop Evol., 2007, 54, 1827-1832.
Literature cited 2: Sharma, S.S. Negi, M.S., Sinha, P., Kumar, K. and Tripathi, S. B., Assessment of genetic diversity of biodiesel species Pongamia Pinnata accessions using AFLP and three endonuclease- AFLP. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep., 2011, 29, 12-18. Williams, J.G., Kubelik, A.R., Livak, K.J., Rafalski, J.A. and Tingey, S.V., DNA polymorphisms amplified by arbitrary primers are useful as genetic markers. Nucleic Acids Res., 1990, 18, 6531-6535.

ID: 59610
Title: Climatic response of various tree ring parameters of fir (Abies Pindrow) from Chandanwadi in Jammu and Kashmir, western Himalaya, India.
Author: Somaru Ram and H. P. Borgaonkar
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1568-1576 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Abies pindrow, climate variability, early-wood width, latewood width.
Abstract: Total ring width (TRW) and earlywood width (ERW) of fir (Abies Pindrow) compared to latewood width (LRW) are strongly correlated with Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) during summer season (March to October). Correlation coefficients for the period 1876-1948 between PDSI and TRW as well as ERW are 0.43 and 0.50 respectively, which is found to be significant at 0.01% level. Thereafter, their relationship weakened as temperature changed over the region, whereas maximum latewood density (MXD) reveals significant negative association with PDSI during summer season. Moreover, monthly mean, maximum and minimum temperatures during August to September of the region indicate significant positive response with mean, maximum and minimum temperatures are 0.60, 0.61 and 0.51 respectively, which is significant at 0.01% level. There is also high temporal stability in the relationship between MXD and temperature from 1916 onwards over the region.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Borgaonkar, H.P., Pant, G.B. and Rupa Kumar, K., Ring-width variations in cedrus deodara and its climatic response over the western Himalaya. Int. J. Climatol., 1996, 16, 1409-1422. Borgaonkar, H.P., Pant, G.B. and Rupa Kumar, K., Tree-ring chronologies from western Himalaya and their dendroclimatic potential. IAWA, 1999, 20(3), 295-309.
Literature cited 2: Pant, G.B., Borgaonkar, H.P. and Rupa Kumar, K., Climatic signals from tree-rings: A dendroclimatic investigation of Himalayan spruce (Picea smithiana). Himalayan Geol., 1998, 19(2), 65-73. Yadav, R. R., Park, W.K. and Bhattacharyya, A., Spring temperature fluctuations in the western Himalayan region as reconstructed from tree-rings: AD 1390-1988. Holocene, 1999, 9, 185-190.

ID: 59609
Title: Kalman filtered GPS accelerometer-based accident detection and location system: a low-cost approach.
Author: Md. Syedul Amin, Mamun Bin Ibne Reaz, Mohammad Arif Sobhan Bhuiyan and Salwa Sheikh Nasir.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1548-1554 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Accelerometer, accident detection, GPS recovers, Kalman filter.
Abstract: A low-cost accident detection system utilizing cheap ADXL345 accelerometers and GPS receiver is proposed in this communication. The accident detection algorithm was developed based on sudden deceleration. The double integration of the acceleration and heading from the tilt angles of accelerometers were used to determine the location. Kalman filter was utilized to correct the accumulated double integration errors with the trusted GPS data. The field tests demonstrated the correct functioning of the accident detection algorithm and location. The proposed low-cost system can save many lives by the automated accident detection and accurate location even during GPS outage.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Surgailis, T., Valinevicius, A., Markevicius, V., Navikas, D. and Andriukaitis, D., Avoiding forward car collision using stereo vision system. Electron. Electr. Eng., 2012, 18(8), 37-40. Annual Global Road Crash Statistics, 2013; http://www.asirt. org/KnowBeforeyouGo/RoadSafetyFacts/RoadCrashStatistics/tabid/213/Dafault.aspx (accessed on 20 March 2013)
Literature cited 2: Rauscher, S. et al., Enhanced automatic collision notification system-improved rescue care due to injury prediction-first field experience. In Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, Stuttgart, Germany, 2009. Chuan-zhi, L., Ru-fu, H. and Hong-wu, Y.E., Method of freeway incident detection using wireless positioning. In IEEE International Conference on Automation and Logistics, Qingdao, China, 2008.

ID: 59608
Title: Mechanical properties of fly ash concrete composite reinforced with nano-SiO? and steel fibre.
Author: Peng Zhang, Ya-Nan Zhao, Qing-Fu Li, Tian-Hang Zhang and Peng Wang
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1529-1537 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Fly ash, concrete composite, mechanical property, nano-SiO?, steel fibre.
Abstract: A parametric experimental study has been conducted to study the effect of nano-SiO? particles and steel fibres on the mechanical properties of the concrete composite containing fly ash. Five different nano-SiO? contents (1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 9%) and five different steel fibre contents (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%) were used. The results indicate that addition of nano-SiO? and steel fibres decreases the slump and slump flow of the fresh concrete composite containing fly ash, and both the slump and slump flow decrease gradually with the increase in nano-SiO? improves the mechanical properties of concrete composites containing fly ash. There is an increase in the compressive strength and compressive modulus of elasticity with increase of nano-SiO? content when it is below 5%, while they begin to decrease after the nano-SiO? content is beyond 5%. Steel fibres help improve the mechanical properties of concrete composite containing fly ash and nano-particles. With the appropriate fibre content, the reinforcement of steel fibres on the compressive strength and compressive modulus of elasticity of the concrete composite becomes more obvious as the fibre content increases.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Nassar, R. U.D., Soroushian, P. and Ghebrab, T., Field investigation of high-volume fly ash pavement concrete. Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 2013, 73, 78-85. Yang, K. h., Song, J.K. and Song, K.I., Assessment of CO? reduction of alkali-activated concrete. J. Clean. Prod., 2013, 39, 265-272.
Literature cited 2: Cazacliu, B. and Ventura, A., Technical and environmental effects of concrete production: dry batch versus central mixed plant. J. Clean. Prod., 2010, 18, 1320-1327. Bilodeau, A. and Malhotra, V. M., High-volume fly ash system: concrete solution for sustainable development. ACI Mater. J., 2000, 97, 41-48.

ID: 59607
Title: Academic performance evaluation using soft computing techniques.
Author: Ramjeet Singh Yadav, P. Ahmed, A. K. Soni and Saurabh Pal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1505-1517 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Academic performance evaluation, clustering algorithms, fuzzy logic, soft computing techniques.
Abstract: This article presents a study of academic performance evaluation using soft computing techniques inspired by the successful application of K-means, fuzzy C-means (FCM), subtractive clustering (SC), hybrid subtractive clustering -adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (SC-ANFIS) methods for solving academic performance evaluation problems. Modelling of students ' academic performance is a difficult optimization problem. We explore the applicability of K-means and FCM, SC, hybrid SC-FCM and SC-ANFIS clustering methods to the new student ' s allocation problem, which allocates new students into some classes that consist of similar students and the number of the students in each class not exceeding its maximum capacity. The models were combined with fuzzy logic techniques to analyse the students ' results. In this article, we have conducted clustering based computational experiments to analyse the effects of the different clustering algorithms like K-means, FCM, SC, hybrid SC-FCM and hybrid SC-ANFIS clustering methods for modeling students ' academic performance evaluation. Based on the comparison of the results, it is found that the hybrid SC-ANFIS clustering is better than the other methods.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Sansgiry, S. S., Bhosle, M. and Sail, K., Factors that affect academic performance among pharmacy students. AM. J. Pharm. Educ., 2006, 70(5), 231-243. Oyelade, O.J., Oladipupo, O.O. and Obagbua, I.C., Application of K-means clustering algorithm for prediction of students ' academic performance. Int. J. Comput. Sci. Inf. Security, 2010, 7(1), 292-295.
Literature cited 2: Zukhri, Z. and Omar, K., Solving new student allocation problem with genetic algorithm: a hard problem for partition based approach. Int. J. Soft Comput. Appl., 2008, 2, 6-15. Mankad, K., Sajja, P.S. and Akerkar, R., Evolving rules using genetic fuzzy approach: an educational case study. Int. J. Soft Comput., 2011, 2(1), 35-46.

ID: 59606
Title: Global research output of nanobiotechnology research: a scienctometrics study.
Author: R. Karpagam
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1490-1499 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bibliometric study, global research output, nanobiotechnology, p-index, scientometrics.
Abstract: An effective scientometric analysis based on SCOPUS database was conducted to evaluate nano-biotechnology research from a different perspective for the period 2003-2012. Nanobiotechnology has been intensively investigated by bibliometric methods due to its technological importance and expected impacts on economic activity. The present study analyses nanobiotechnology research output during 2003-2012 on different parameters, including the growth, global publications share and citation impact, share of International collaborative papers and contributions of major collaborative partner countries. A total of 114,684 papers were published during 10 years, which received 2,503,795 citations with an average of 21.83 citations per paper. It has been observed that during 2003-2012, USA held the first position by number of publications (34,736), h-index (349), g-index (541), hg-index (434.52) and p-index (326.47). Developing countries such as India, China, South Korea and Canada showed increasing trends in their publications and their activity index also showed increasing trends. Top 10 Institutions contributed 7.16% share of total publications. Masssachusetts Institute of Technology, USA received the highest h-index (1200 among the top 10 institutions. Biomaterials (1631) was the top journal of publication output; Nano Letters had the highest impact with an average citation per paper (73.86) and American Chemical Society received the highest h-index (158) among the top 10 journals.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Meyer, M., Patent citation analysis in a novel field of technology: an exploration of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Scientometrics, 2001, 51(1), 163-183. Noyons, E. C., Mapping excellence in science and technology across Europe. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., 2003, EC, EC-PPN, CT 2002-0001.
Literature cited 2: Pouris, A., Nanoscale research in South Africa: a mapping exercise based on scientometrics. Scientometrics, 2007, 60, 541-553. Schummer, J., The global institutionalization of nanotechnology research: a bibliometric approach to the assessment of science policy. Scientometrics, 2007, 70, 669-692.

ID: 59605
Title: Is irrigation water causing degradation in black soils?
Author: D.G. PADEKAR, T. BHATTACHARYYA, P.D. DESHMUKH, S.K. RAY, P.CHANDRAN, P. TIWARY.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1487-1489 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: irrigation water, degradation in black soils?
Abstract: Groundwater is the major or the only source of supplemental irrigation in the arid, semi-arid and coastal regions. Poor quality irrigation water shrink-swell soils (i.e. Vertisols or black cotton soils) causes poor drainage (due to low saturated hydraulic conductivity (sHC), increase in pH (due to soil reaction), high exchangeable sodium/magnesium percentage and increase in bulk density of soil. Therefore, quality of irrigation water is key issue in irrigated agriculture, particularly in black soils where due to high clay content of the shrink-swell type of soil, the drainage problem is more likely. In India, shrink-swell soils (Vertisols) developed in the alluvium derived from the weathering of Deccan basalt, are found mostly in the Peninsular region extending from 8? 45` to 26 ? ' N lat. and 68?0 ' E to 83?45`E long. Majority of shrink-swell soils (Vertisols) covering nearly 76.4 mha (ref.3) in India occur in the lower piedmont plains or valleys, or in microdepressions.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Yadav, J. S. P., Bandyopadhyay, A. K. and Bandyopadhyay, B. K., Extent of coastal saline soils of India. Indian Society of Coastal Agriculture Research, 1983, 1, pp. 1-6. Murthy, R. S., Hirekerur, L. R., Deshpande, S. B. and Venkat Rao, B. V., Benchmark Soils of India. National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Nagpur, 1982, p. 308.
Literature cited 2: Mandal, C. et al., In Proceedings of National Seminar on Geospatial Solutions for Resource Conservation and Management, 18-20 January 2012 (eds Prabhuraj, D.K. et al ), Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Bangalore, 2012, pp. 43-55. Pal, D. K. and Deshpande, S. D., Pedologie (Ghent), 1987, 37, 259-275.

ID: 59604
Title: Chemical weathering of biotite in the Ganga Alluvial Plain.
Author: DHARMENDRA KUMAR JIGYASU, ROHIT KUVAR, SHAHINA, PRIYANKA SINGH, SANDEEP SINGH, INDRA BIR SINGH, MUNENDRA SINGH.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1484-1486 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Chemical weathering, biotite, Ganga Alluvial Plain.
Abstract: It is conceived that the physical and chemical weathering processes of the Himalaya release huge amounts of sediment and dissolved load, which are transported to the Indian Ocean. This has affected the character of sea water during the last 40 million years. The sediment eroded in the Himalaya comes to the Ganga Alluvial Plain, where it is stored over a reasonable length of time. Part of this sediment is preserved to make alluvial deposits of the plain, and part is moved to the Bay of Bengal. Sediments of the Ganga Alluvial Plain show much higher weathering indices than the sediments coming from the Himalayan source. Recently, chemical weathering of the sediments of Ganga Alluvial Plain has been highlighted. In the present study, we describe the chemical weathering of biotite grains of the Gomati River sediments and release of various elements in dissolved load.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Plamer, M. R. and Edmond, J.M., Geochim, Cosmochim. Acta, 1986, 92, 11-26. Singh, I.B., J. Geol. Soc. India, 2004, 64, 431-454.
Literature cited 2: Rai, S. K., Singh, S. K. and Krishna-swami, S., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2010, 74, 2340-2355. Lupker, M. et al., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2012, 84, 410-432.

ID: 59603
Title: Livelihood security through Litchi (Litchi chinensis L.)-based agri-horticulture models for resource-poor communities of Indian Sub-Himalaya.
Author: AVINASH CHANDRA RATHORE, H. LAL, N.K. SHARMA, HARSH MEHTA, J. JAYAPRAKASH, O. P. CHATURVEDI.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106 (11) 1481-1484 (2014).
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Livelihood security through Litchi (Litchi chinensis L.), agri-horticulture models, resource-poor communities of Indian sub-Himalaya.
Abstract: Horticulture sector has played a major role in ensuring livelihood security of marginal and resource-poor farmers of India. The diminishing land resources, water-induced land degradation and steep topography are major concerns for sustainable production and livelihood and soil health security in the Indian Sub-Himalayas, leading to low productivity. Horticulture enterprises face more challenges for maintaining their profitability and livelihood security under the changing scenario of climate and complex market forces. Approximately 35.2%, 71.7% and 29.0% area of Doon valley, Uttarakhand and India respectively is degraded due to water erosion. Such lands known as boulder riverbed lands, are either underutilized or under thin vegetation due to undulating topography, shallow soil depth, high gravel content (70.0% ), soil (30.0%), poor soil organic carbon (SOC) content, low water-holding capacity, etc. In spite of receiving an average rainfall 1600 mm/yr, soil remains dry during April to June due to erratic nature of the rains. Judicial use of land and water, integrated with other production resources, will improve the resource base and convert such rainfed degraded riverbed land for sustainable production for livelihood security. The rainfed areas contribute more than 65% of food production and 80% of horticultural production. In such areas, diversification into fruit-based models with a wider range of preferably legume/vegetable/flower crops is the need of the hour for livelihood security of resource-poor farmers and rehabilitation of degraded lands. Studies have shown that fruit-based models are the most suitable to harvest solar energy in a stratified manner, for the conservation of moisture, reduction of soil erosion, addition of organic carbon leading to increased biological activity and maintenance of sustainable income for poor communities and also creation of off-season employment. In this context, litchi (Litchi chinensis L) holds immense potential in the foothills of the lower Himalaya to utilize, conserve and restore degraded land for securing livelihood of resource-poor farmers. It also improves soil health by diversification with preferably legume intercrops. In the foothills of the Himalaya, the soils originated from limestone rich in calcium under humid subtropical climate, are essential for proper growth and production of litchi fruit in Uttarakhand. The state contributes 12% (about 9,000 ha) of total area and 4% (about 19,000 tonnes) of litchi production in India. Intercropping with litchi gives higher economic returns per unit area compared to other farming systems. Most of the research on litchi-based models has been carried out on arable land with assured input supply, but limited information is available on utilization of degraded lands with resource conservation. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the performance of litchi-based agri-horticulture models for livelihood security on degraded lands of the Indian Sub-Himalaya.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: Suri, V.K., Sidhu, G.K and Kumar, A., In Climate Change and its Ecological Implications for the Western Himalaya (ed. Chopra, V. L.,), Scientific Publication, Jodhpur, 2013, pp. 1-48. Sharma, P. D., J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2004, 52 (4), 314-331.
Literature cited 2: Kumar, P. and Mittal, A. K., Economics of Soil Erosion, Issues and Imperatives from India, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, 2004, p. 41. Kumar, K. N. K., In Climate Change and Sustainable Food Security (eds Shetty, P. K., Ayyappan, S. and Srivastava, H. S.), National Institute of Advanced Studies & ICAR, New Delhi, p. 321.