ID: 53767
Title: A process for organic water
Author: Vikram Soni, Ravi Mehrotra, P.S.Datta and S.Chander
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2009
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 96, No 8, 25 April 2009
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Chemical waste, green area, organic water, rainfed aquifers, yearly evacuation
Abstract: We present a local, self-sustaining, natural and economic way to secure a quality drinking water resources for a town or city. Most local rainfed aquifers in the environs of cities suffer from long-term contamination by chemical waste-either fertilizers and pesticides or urban effluents. We propose a process by which such aquifers can be restored to quality. This is accomplished by first changing the land use of the catchment area of local aquifers to forest, and then by a yearly evacuation of water in the aquifer till quality is restored. A model is used to estimate that, typically, by yearly evacuation of the aquifer, pollution in teh aquifer water is reduced to 10% of its initial value in 5-7 years. This is an organic process to purify the water in the aquifer. We also find that the area required for this falls within 10% of the total area of the city, well within the green area norm for a city.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53766
Title: Ecological and molecular analyses of the rhizospheric methanotroph community in tropical rice soil: effect of crop phenology and land-use history
Author: Pranjali Vishwakarma, M.G.Dumont, L.Bodrossy, N. Stralis-Pavese, J.C.Murrell and Suresh K. Dubey
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2009
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 96, No 8, 25 April 2009
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Crop phenology, land-use history, methanotrophs, microarray, rice rhizosphere
Abstract: To study the effect of crop phenology and cultivation practices on methanotrophic communities, two tropical rice fields located in the upper Gangetic plain of India with similar soil type and different cropping history were selected. A laboratory incubation experiment for the enumeration of methanotrophs and for the measuremetn of CH4 oxidation potential was conducted on a parallel basis. The methanotroph population size was found to be significantly higher in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi soil than the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi soil. The population size increased with the age of the plant for both the sites. The CH4 oxidation potential was higher with the BHU soil compared to the IIVR soil. The CH4 oxidation rate increased significantly from tillering to flowering to grain-filling stages, and finally there was no significant difference between the grain-filling and the grain-maturation stages. A diagnostic microarray targeting the pmoA gene and a 16S rRNA denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)-based approach were applied to assess the diversity of the methanotrophic community for the two sites. A broad diversity of methanotrophs was detected at both sites, including type I and type II methanotrophs of the genera Methylobacter, Methylomonas, Methylosarcina, Methylosphaera, Methylomicrobium and Methylocystis. Type II methanotrophs were found in higher abundance as compared to type I methanotrophs at both the sites. DGGE analysis indicated that the methanotroph community in BHU soil was more or less stable, while little variation was found in IIVR soil during crop growth.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53765
Title: The free amino acids of pollen of some angiospermic taxa as taxonomic markers for phylogenetic interrelationships
Author: Amal Kumar Mondal, Sanjukta Mondal (Parui) and Sudhendu Mandal
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2009
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 96, No 8, 25 April 2009
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Free amino acids, pairing affinity, phylogenetic interrelationship, pollen
Abstract: Cluster pairing affinity or similarity index between eight interrelated families of angiosperms, namely Acanthaceae, Bignoniaceae, Boraginaceae, Convolvulaceae, Labiatae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae and Verbenaceae was evaluated on the basis of the free amino acid composition of pollen as taxonomic markers of five members of each family, to assess the phylogenetic interrelationships and plant affinity. Considerable amount of homology was observed in the species belonging to the same family. Homology being more pronounced within species belonging to the same genus was also observed between the various families. Amino-n-butyric acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, methionine, phenylalanine and proline were the major amino acids found in the various pollen. Dendrogram constructed on the basis of free amino acid composition places the eight families in two clusters, with Verbenaceae and Labiatae being the most closely related in one group, and Scrophulariaceae and Bignoniaceae in the other. Scrophulariaceae also shows similarity with Acanthaceae and Solanaceae, with the latter being closely related to Convolvulaceae. Boraginaceae, showing a high degree of similarity with Verbenaceae and Labiatae, was also found to be related to Convolvulaceae. The present observation will open a new vista using free amino acids of pollen as taxonomic markers in the conservation of biodiversity.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53764
Title: Early events in protein folding
Author: Kalyan K. Sinha and Jayant B. Udgoankar
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2009
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 96, No 8, 25 April 2009
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Cooperativity, intermediate, polypeptide chain collapse, protein folding, specificity
Abstract: Many proteins take at least a few seconds to fold, but almost all proteins undergo major structural transitions within the first millisecond (ms) of folding. Understanding the nature of the product of the first ms of folding is important because it sets the stage for the major folding reaction that follows. The past decade has seen major advances in methodologies that have enabled temporal and structural resolution of events happening in the first ms of folding. An important very early event appears to be the collapse of the poly-peptide chain to form a compact globule. A specific structure also appears to form within the first ms, and it appears for several proteins that this happens only after the initial chain collapse reaction. Hence, when studied at the first ms of folding, the compact globule apears to be a specific folding intermediate. The accumulated kinetic data suggest that structure formation in the first ms may be highly non-cooperative and may occur in many steps. Multiple folding routes appear to be available, and the nature and extent of structure formation in the first ms may depend on the dominant route utilized under a particular folding condition. There is now evidence suggesting that the energy barrier encountered by the collapsing polypeptide chain can be as small as ~KB T, bringing out the possibility that initial chain collapse and structure formation may even be gradual transitions. Understanding how such continuous transitions can still lead to the development of a specific structure during sub-ms folding reactions poses a difficult experimental challenge.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53763
Title: Conceptualizing risk assessment framework for impacts of climate change on water resources
Author: Divya Sharma and Alka Bharat
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2009
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 96, No 8, 25 April 2009
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Anthropogenic activities, climate change, risk assessment, water resources, urban development
Abstract: This article offers an inventory of the risk of potential hazards to water resources and its implications to human and ecological receptors that may result from the climate change with special reference of India, a developing country. It is a study-based approach analysing various studies undertaken earlier in the field of risk assessment and works out afresh a framework on the basis of these studies to assess risk to water resources as an outcome of climate change. A schematic framework has been prepared for characterization of risk components and for attempting risk assessment. This article has applied value for preliminary assessment of risk factors contributing to any harm to water resources. This framework can also be applied to an assessment of risk vulnerability to smaller water bodies and to catchment - level studies. The study helps in conceptualizing an issue and leaves an open end from where this issue can be taken up for further research and applications.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53762
Title: Photothermal manipulation of reproduction in Indian major carp: a step forward for off-season breeding and seed production
Author: S.K.Sarkar, A.Saha, S.Dasgupta, S.Nandi, D.K.Verma, P.Routray, C.Devaraj, J.Mohanty, N. Sarangi, A.E.Eknath and S.Ayyappan
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Carp, off-season seed, maturity, photothermal manipulation, spawning
Abstract: We report here for the first time significant advancement of sexual maturation and off-season breeding of Indian major carp (IMC) species, rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrihinus mrigala) through photothermal manipulation during winter at least 4-5 months prior to their normal spawning season (June-August). The spent fishes were subjected to different photothermal regimes such as long photoperid in combination with above ambient water temperature (LP-AAT), simulated natural photoperiod with ambient temperature (SNP-AT) under controlled condition and natural photoperiod under pond condition (NP-AT). Both the sexes of the IMCs attained suitable gonadal maturity for induced spawning between 100 and 124 days of rearing under LP-AAT condition during winter months. However, the broods under the SNP-AT and NP-AT regimes did not show any sign of maturity of gonads. Matured females of all the species induced to spawn successfully and produced a similar quantity of eggs and spawns as reported in the case of pre-monsoon spawning in the species, except for mrigal. The spawning success of individual species ranged between 66.6% and 100%. The results clearly reveal that the photothermal manipulation does modulate physiological rhythm for altering spawning times and provides scope for off-season production of spawn, fry and fingerlings of IMC almost throughout the year to facilitate aquaculture in a most effective way.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53761
Title: Effect of season and year on azadirachtin A and oil content in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seeds and relationship of azadirachtin A and oil content with rainfall, temperature and humidity
Author: V.K.Gupta, S.P.Ahlawat, R.V.Kumar, Ajit and A. Datta
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Azadirachtin A, Coefficient of variation, neem, oil content
Abstract: In the present study, azadirachtin A and oil content on kernel basis have been estimated continuously for four years (2001-04) in 16 neem trees belonging to 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and selected from progeny and provenance trials established in 1994 at the National Research Centre for Agro-forestry, Jhansi. These two biochemical parameters were also estimated in some tress which produce fruits in November. Coefficient of variation over the years was calculated for these parameters. Correlation studies of azadirachtin A and oil content were done with atmospheric temperature, rainfall and relative humidity. Results suggested that azadirachtin A was highly influenced by environmental factors compared to oil content in seeds. Positive and significant correlation was found for azadirachtin A and oil content with relative humidity, and negative and significant correlation with atmospheric temperature. Regions with comparatively low temperature (30-350C) and high humidity (45-55%) during the period of flower initiation to fruit maturity favour high azadirachtin A and oil content in neem seeds. A one-year study on azadirachtin content in neem is not sufficient for arriving at any conclusions.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53760
Title: Delhi earthquake of 25 November 2007 (Mw 4.1): implications for seismic hazard
Author: S.K.Singh, A. Kumar, G. Suresh, M.Ordaz, J.F.Pacheco, M.L.Sharma, B.K.Bansal, R.S.Dattatrayam and E.Reinoso
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Attenuation relation, Delhi earthquake, peak ground acceleration, seismic hazard, seismotectonics
Abstract: The Delhi earthquake of 25 November 2007 (Mw 4.1) is the best recorded local event ever. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) at seven sites in the epicentral zone ranged between 7 and 118 Gal. An analysis of the earthquake leads to the following conclusions. (I) It occurred at a depth of 30 km and involved strike-slip faulting with some normal ocmponent, as against thrust faulting with minor strike-slip component previously reported for the region. (2) Observed PGA of this earthquake is poorly explained by the attenuation relation that has been used in teh seismic hazard estimation of the Delhi region. This relation is also inconsistent with data from well-recorded Himalayan are earthquakes. (3) Recordings from the 2007 earthquake reconfirm that there is a large and variable site effect in Delhi which differs significantly from that estimated from bore-hole penetration test data. These results, together with those from a previous test data. These results, together with those from a previous study of two small events in Delhi, and an examination of the seismicity of the region, lead us to conclude that our present knowledge of seismotectonics and seismic hazard of the Delhi is fraught with uncertainty, emphasizing an urgent need for improved and enlarged seismic instrumentation.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53759
Title: Piper betle Linn. a maligned Pan-Asiatic plant with an array of pharmacological activities and prospects for drug discovery
Author: Nikhil Kumar, Pragya Misra, Anuradha Dube, Shailja Bhattacharya, Madhu Dikshit and Shirish Ranade
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Chewing, drug discovery, Piper betle, pharmacological activity
Abstract: Piper betle L. is one of the important plants in the Asiatic region which ranks second to coffee and tea in terms of daily consumption. Though the plant is known for abuse, in recent years several reports have been published on the effects of the plant extract and chemica constituents on different biological activities in vitro and in vivo. The leaf extract, fractions and purified compounds are found to play a role in oral hygiene, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory/ immunomodulatory, anti-ulcer, hepato-protective and anti-infective, etc. Patents were also awarded for some of the biological activities like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunomodulatory associated with leaf extracts and purified compounds. The active compounds isolated from leaf and other parts ae hydroxychavicol, hydroxylchavicol acetate, allypyrocatechol, chavibetol, piperbetol, methylpiperbetol, piperol A and piperol B. Phenol-rich leaves of P. betle show high antioxidant activities. A number of biologically active compounds from P. betle have potential for use as medicines, neutraceuticals and industrial compounds. Since the traditional use of P. betle involves chewing, it offers possibilities of use in drug delivery through buccal mucosa bypassing the gastric route.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53758
Title: Conservation agriculture towards achieving food security in North East India
Author: P.K.Ghosh, Anup Das, Ritesh Saha, Enboklang Karkrang, A.K.Tripathi, G.C.Munda and S.V. Ngachan
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Conservation agriculture, food security, resource conserving techniques, residue management
Abstract: Productivity of rainfed monocropping farming system in North Eastern Region of India is low and it is a high economic risk activity. Intensive natural resources mining, continuous degradation of natural resources (soil, water, vegetation) and practice of monocroping under conventional agricultural practices will not ensure farm productivity and food security in the coming years. In order to keep the production system in different land situations sustainable, conservation agriculture based on no-till system is an alternative to reconcile agriculture with its environment and overcome the imposed constraints of climate change and continuous inputs cost. Studies on conservation tillage and residue management in different land situations were conducted during 2006-2009 and they are high-lighted in this article. In terrace upland, growing mustard completely on residual moisture following upland rice/maize was possible when it is practised under conservation tillage (crop residue of all crops, including weed biomass incorporated). Similarly, in valley upland, growing second crop of pea in rice fallow is possible if two-thirds or half of rice residues are retained on the soil surface under zero tillage. A long-term study (2006-2009) revealed that double no-till practice in rice-based system is cost-effective, restored soil organic carbon (70.75%), favored biological activity (46.7%), conserved water and produced yield (49%) higher than conventional tillage. Therefore, conservation and low-land situations ensured double-cropping, improved farm income and livelihood in rainfed NE India.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53757
Title: Green to evergreen revolution: ecological and evolutionary perspectives in pest management
Author: P.C.Kesavan and S. Malarvannam
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Eco-friendly approaches, green to evergreen revolution, pest managment, productivity in perpetuity
Abstract: The experience and lessons learnt from the green revolution make it imperative that sustainable productivity requires strict adherence to agricultural practices which ensure integrity of the ecological foundations of agriculture. Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, no doubt, result in enhanced productivity over short periods, but lead to degradation of soil health, freshwater and biodiversity in the long term. Evergreen revolution defined as achieving productivity in perpetuity ' without ' causing ecological harm involes less dependence on chemical and more on biological inputs. With special reference to pest management, this article brings out how in a chemical pesticide-free environment, the predators and parasites (natural enemies of pests) keep the damage caused by crop pests ' below economic injury level ' . Hence, culturing biopesticides (e.g. Trichogramma chilonis, Trathala flavo-orbitalis) and releasing them in the crop fields provide ' pro-nature ' , ' pro-poor ' and ' pro-women ' solution to reducing loss by borers in cotton, brinjal, etc. When these are done by landless women who are facilitated to undertake production of biopesticides as an ecoenterprise, the famien of rural livelihood is also tackled. Scientific, environmental and socio-economic aspects of biopesticides have been briefly presented here.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53756
Title: Spatial redistribution of Soliva anthemifolia (Juss) R. Br.-possible manifestation of changing climate
Author: Sanjay Kr. Uniyal, Om Prakash, R. D. Singh
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53755
Title: A new conservation policy needed for reintroduction of Bengal tiger-white
Author: Nicky. K. Xavier
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53754
Title: Soil responds to climate change: is soil science in India responding to ?
Author: Manoj-Kumar
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53753
Title: Nutritional security: a missing link in climate change debates
Author: Manoj-Kumar and A.K.Patra
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 7, 10 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None