Enter records

ID: 63232
Title: Chipping bucket – a new and feasible approach for fragmentation of oil palm trunk
Author: P. Preethi , T. V. Singh M. V. Prasad , D. Ramajayam, N. V. Ganesh, R. K. Mathur and A. P. Pandirwar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 1003-1008 (2019)
Subject: Chipping bucket – a new and feasible approach for fragmentation of oil palm trunk
Keywords: Oil palm trunk, chipping bucket, cost effective, fragmentation, land clearance
Abstract: The disposal of oil palm trunk (OPT) congregated from old and senile plantations has been pointed out as one of the major constraints during land clearing process with respect to cost and drudgery involved. Traditionally, the existing practice followed by farmers includes excavation using crawler type excavator (JCB), followed by dragging and dumping in the peripherals of the plantation. Realizing the nutrient status of OPT, their disposal difficulties and to devoid other environmental issues, a chipping bucket attachment was fabricated for the same model excavator to enhance easy fragmentation and rapid in situ decomposition of the congregated OPT. The chipping bucket method effectively minimized the cost of land clearance by 24% compared to the existing practice followed by farmers. To estimate the cost of clearance per unit palm, an equation was derived using palm height and chipping time. The equation obtained was validated for significant R2 value (0.923). The equation thus derived would help farmers as well as excavator operators in estimating land clearance cost for the standing oil palm plantations. This machine effectively reduced the trunk disposal cost from 1.54 to 1 time compared to the existing land clearance method.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Abdullah, N. and Sulaiman, F., The oil palm wastes in Malaysia. In Biomass Now – Sustainable Growth and Use (ed Matovic, M. D.), IntechOpen, Malaysia, 2003, pp. 75–100; http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/ 55302. Basiron, Y. and Weng, C. K., The oil palm and its sustainability. J. Oil Palm Res., 2004, 16, 1–10.
Literature cited 2: Chan, K. W., Watson, I. and Lim, K. C., Use of oil palm waste material for increased production. Planter, 1981, 57(658), 14–37. Kee, K. K., Nutrient reserves and recycling from oil palm trunks at replanting. Changes, 2004, 32(5.4), 27–28.

ID: 63231
Title: Development and characterization of commercial biodegradable films using blown film extrusion technology
Author: S. Mangaraj, S. Mohanty, S. Swain and A. Yadav
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 997-1002 (2019)
Subject: Development and characterization of commercial biodegradable films using blown film extrusion technology
Keywords: Biodegradable film, characterization, extrusion blown film, PBAT, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to develop commercial polylactic acid (PLA), PLA + polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PLA + polybutylene adipate terephthalate. (PBAT)-based biodegradable films using blown film extrusion technology. The films produced were characterized for morphological, structural, optical, mechanical and thermal properties. The haze %, tensile strength, oxygen transmission rate (OTR), water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) parameters were varied from 10.65% to 28%, 48.3 to 56.49 MPa, 194.55 to 318.25 cc/m2/day and 175 to 318.18 (gm/m2/day) respectively for developed films. The study showed that better haze properties in biofilm are achieved by compatibilizing with PEG. Thermal degradation of virgin PLA takes place in a single weight loss step with degradation peak at 349.77°C compared to PLA + PBAT blended that took two weight loss step. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study was used to monitor the absorption peak shifts in specific regions to determine the known functional group interactions of the PLA with various types of materials. In all the films the absorption peaks appeared at 1451.2–1451.7 and 2921.2–2944.3 cm–1 corresponding to symmetrical deformation of C–H bond. The stretching of C=O band vibration appeared at 1745.2–1745.7 cm–1 in PLA, PLA + PEG and PLA + PBAT film. From the fracture scanning electron microscope micrographs, there was smooth surface texture for films, and no interfacial differences were visible indicating the presence of a single phase and structural integrity of the films. The developed packaging films were subjected to MA packaging study with capsicum and found to be at par with low-density polyethylene + linear low-density polyethylene in maintaining the texture, colour and overall market quality.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Anon., European Bioplastics. Bioplastics facts and figures 2016. Available at: http://www.european-bioplastics.org/ (accessed on 1 March 2017). Anon., FICCI, Potential of plastics industry in Northern India with special focus on plasticulture and food processing. A report on plastics industry, 2014
Literature cited 2: Anon., Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference. India Petrochemicals Industry Outlook to 2015, New Delhi. Anon., Central Pollution Control Board. Website Material on Plastic Waste Management, India, 2013.

ID: 63230
Title: Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and temperature on rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) populations in India
Author: Sunil Vailla , Sampathkumar Muthusamy, Chiranjeevi Konijeti , Chitra Shanker and Jhansi Lakshmi Vattikuti
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 988-996 (2019)
Subject: Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and temperature on rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) populations in India
Keywords: Climate variables, fecundity, honeydew excretion, Nilaparvata lugens, nymphal duration.
Abstract: Two populations of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) were collected from two hotspot locations of India – Ludhiana (Punjab) in the north and West Godavari (Andhra Pradesh) in the south, and their biological parameters were studied under ambient conditions. Results showed that the above two populations were notably different in three out of five biological parameters recorded. The response of these two populations to climate variables, viz. elevated temperature and increased levels of CO2 was assessed. These conditions prolonged the nymphal duration (14.2 days) and lowered female longevity (9.6 days), fecundity (155.5 eggs/♀) and nymphal feeding rate (14.3 mm2 ) compared to ambient CO2 and temperature across the populations. Honeydew excretion by adults was significantly higher at elevated CO2 than at ambient level. At elevated CO2 and higher temperature, the Ludhiana population recorded significantly longer nymphal duration (15.9 days) and decreased amount of honeydew excretion by nymphs (13.8 mm2) compared to the parameters recorded at elevated CO2 and ambient temperature (12.8 days and 32.8 mm2 respectively). In contrast, West Godavari population recorded significantly reduced female longevity and fecundity under elevated CO2 and higher temperature. Elevated CO2 per se did not adversely affect BPH biology across populations but with the concomitant increase in temperature, populations showed varying response. Location-specific mitigation strategies for management of hoppers will be required to address the varying responses of populations to climate variables.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: IPCC, Observed changes in climate and their effects. In Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report (ed. Pachauri, P. K. and Reisinger, A.), Cambridge University Press, UK, 2007, pp. 8–15. Baoju, W., Hong-Xing, X.U., Xu-Song, Z., Qiang, F. U. and Zhong-xian, L. U., High temperature modifies resistance performances of rice varieties to brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). Rice Sci., 2010, 17, 334−338.
Literature cited 2: Coakley, S. M., Scherm, H. and Chakraborty, S., Climate change and plant disease management. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol., 1999, 37, 399–426. Bezemer, T. M. and Jones, T. H., Plant-insect herbivore interactions in elevated atmospheric CO2: quantitative analyses and guild effects. Oikos, 1998, 82, 212–222.

ID: 63229
Title: Benthic communities of mesophotic coral ecosystem off Puducherry, east coast of India
Author: P. Laxmilatha,, S. Jasmine , Miriam Paul Sreeram and Periasamy Rengaiya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 982-987 (2019)
Subject: Benthic communities of mesophotic coral ecosystem off Puducherry, east coast of India
Keywords: Benthic communities, gorgonian forest, mesophotic coral ecosystems, reef habitats.
Abstract: The shallow coral reef ecosystems along the Indian coast are being threatened by anthropogenic global ocean warming and increased frequency of coral bleaching in the recent past. Identification and conservation of deeper reef habitats are essential as they serve as a source of larvae and livestock to replenish the shallow reef habitats. Information on the location and spatial extent of the mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) and their biodiversity is poorly known in the continental shelf of the east coast of India. In this study, we have documented the species diversity of MCEs at a depth of 30–40 m off Puducherry along the east coast of India. In total, 12 species of corals, including 5 black corals and 16 octocorals, 4 species of sponges and 31 species of coral-associated benthopelagic fish species were recorded. Subergorgia sp. was the most dominant species of octocorals and found extensively as gorgonian forests. The MCEs reported in this study raise important questions about the origin and connectivity of the coral populations in this region to the other major coral reef ecosystems along the east coast. Understanding the physical processes and hydrographic features around the MCEs, off Puducherry will reveal more information about the distribution and colonization of coral communities and their vulnerability to changes in future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lesser, M. P., Slattery, M. and Leichter, J. J., Ecology of mesophotic coral reefs. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 2009, 375, 1–8. Kahng, S. E. et al., Community ecology of mesophotic coral reef ecosystems. Coral Reefs, 2010, 29(2), 255–275.
Literature cited 2: Kleypas, J. A., McManus, J. W. and Meñez, L. A., Environmental limits to coral reef development: where do we draw the line?. Am. Zool., 1999, 39, 146–159. Hinderstein, L. M. et al., Mesophotic coral ecosystems: characterization, ecology, and management. Coral Reefs, 2010, 29, 247–251.

ID: 63228
Title: Dynamic soil–structure interaction effects on 3D integral railway bridge under high-speed moving loads
Author: Anand M. Gharad and Ranjan S. Sonparote
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 972-981 (2019)
Subject: Dynamic soil–structure interaction effects on 3D integral railway bridge under high-speed moving loads
Keywords: Finite element analysis, integral railway bridge, moving loads, soil–structure interaction.
Abstract: Here, we have studied a ballastless double-track five span integral bridge subjected to China Railway High-speed train loading. Soil–structure interaction (SSI) is considered to assess the resonant response of each span of this bridge. Finite element method is used to analyse the 3D bridge model. Four soil conditions, viz. fixed base, hard soil, medium soil and soft soil are considered to examine the dynamic response of the bridge. For each soil condition and for all the spans, it is observed that the resonant speeds correspond to higher modal frequencies. This study reveals the occurrence of resonance phenomenon for all the spans of an integral bridge, suggesting the importance of moving load analysis. Finally, the vertical resonant responses of the central span of an integral bridge and a continuous bridge are compared.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Marx, S. and Seidl, G., Integral railway bridges in Germany. Struct. Eng. Int., 2011, 3, 332–340. Faraji, S., Ting, J. M., Crovo, D. S. and Helmut, E., Nonlinear analysis of integral bridges: finite-element model. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 2001, 127, 454–461.
Literature cited 2: Shoukry, S. N., William, G. W. and Riad, M. Y., Response of an integral abutment bridge to temperature variations. In Proceedings of Structures Congress: Crossing Borders, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2008, pp. 1–10. Javier, R., Francisco, M. and Joaquin, M., Integral bridge for highspeed railway. Struct. Eng. Int., 2011,

ID: 63227
Title: Mineralogical transformations under fire in the montane grassland systems of the southern Western Ghats, India
Author: S. Sandeep, J. M. Ninu and K. A. Sreejith
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 966-971 (2019)
Subject: Mineralogical transformations under fire in the montane grassland systems of the southern Western Ghats, India
Keywords: Clay minerals, forest fire, montane grassland systems, thermodynamics.
Abstract: Forest systems in the Western Ghats region have undergone significant transformations over the past century and wild fires are considered as a major factor for such modifications. Apart from natural fires, prescribed fire is also adopted as a management strategy in some of the forest types in the region. The present study evaluated the impact of prescribed fires on soil components in the high-altitude montane grassland systems of the southern Western Ghats. Fire induced mineral transformations were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermogravimetry (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermodynamic parameters. Organic carbon content which determines key soil functions was found to reduce from 1.96% before fire and stabilize at 1.48% in soils following fire. XRD and TGA–DTA analyses indicated that major changes in soil during fire occurred between 70°C and 110°C, 250°C and 320°C as well as 430°C and 500°C, corresponding to loss of interlayer water from phyllosilicate minerals, modification of gibbsite to amorphous minerals and goethite to hematite, and transformation of kaolinite to metakaolinite respectively. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS and ΔG) estimated from the DSC curves showed that such transformation had positive enthalpy (ΔH) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) values; hence they are not spontaneous or reversible by themselves.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Pausas, J. G. and Keeley, J. E., A burning story: the role of fire in the history of life. Bioscience, 2009, 59, 593–601. Bento-Gonçalves, A., Vieira, A., Úbeda, X. and Martin, D., Fire and soils: key concepts and recent advances. Geoderma, 2012, 191, 3–13.
Literature cited 2: Brooks, M. and Lusk, M., Fire Management and Invasive Plants: A Handbook, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington Virginia, USA, 2009, p. 27. Parker, T. J., Karen, M. C. and Mathiasen, R. L., Interactions among fire, insects and pathogens in coniferous forests of the interior western United States and Canada. Agric. For. Entomol., 2006, 8, 167–189

ID: 63226
Title: Limonene attenuates oxidative stress and extends longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author: Pooja Shukla, Aakanksha Pant and Rakesh Pandey
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 959-965 (2019)
Subject: Limonene attenuates oxidative stress and extends longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Keywords: Ageing, Caenorhabditis elegans, limonene, oxidative stress.
Abstract: In traditional systems of medicine, plants belonging to the family Rutaceae have been used against ageing and associated debilitating changes. Considering the therapeutic potential of limonene (C10H16), the principal component of the Rutaceae family plants, the present study was designed to decipher lifespan and stress-modulating potential of monocyclic terpene limonene (LM) employing genetically tractable model system Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, we tested oxidative stress tolerance and in vivo reactive oxygen species build-up, which was monitored with or without exposure to LM. Additionally, involvement of transcription factor DAF-16 was examined in terms of nuclear localization. Overall, this study has implications for developing future anti-ageing pharmacological strategies in the future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Gems, D., Tragedy and delight: the ethics of decelerated ageing. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. B, 2011, 366(1561), 108–112. Li, A. N., Li, S., Zhang, Y. J., Xu, X. R., Chen, Y. M. and Li, H. B., Resources and biological activities of natural polyphenols. Nutrients, 2014, 6(12), 6020–6047.
Literature cited 2: Singh, P. et al., Chemical profile, antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity of Citrus maxima Burm. and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck essential oils and their cyclic monoterpene, DLlimonene. Food Chem. Toxicol., 2010, 48(6), 1734–1740. Brenner, S., The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics,1974, 77(1), 71–94.

ID: 63225
Title: Effect of deoxycholate capped silver nanoparticles in seed dormancy breaking of Withania somnifera
Author: Raja Muthuramalingam Thangavelu, Bupesh Munisamy and Kathiravan Krishnan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 952-958 (2019)
Subject: Effect of deoxycholate capped silver nanoparticles in seed dormancy breaking of Withania somnifera
Keywords: Germination enhancer, nano-agriculture, sodium deoxycholate, seed dormancy breaking, silver nanoparticles.
Abstract: Plant population growth and persistence are strongly influenced by germination and recruitment, which can be dramatically affected by seed dormancy. Generally, pre-sowing weakens physical dormancy and initiates seed germination, but Withania somnifera seeds are an exception in this case. The basic objective of this study was to develop an alternate protocol to break the physical dormancy in W. somnifera seeds using deoxycholic acid capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For this, high surface reactive silver nanoparticles were synthesized using sodium deoxycholic acid (NaDC) as a reducing agent (NaDC–AgNPs). Seed sets were concurrently soaked with NaDC–AgNPs (20 ppm), and sodium deoxycholate (20 ppm), gibberellic acid (GA3; 20 ppm) and water as control for different durations (20, 30, 60 and 90 min). Germination was initiated under tissue culture conditions. NaDC–AgNPs-treated seeds showed uniform germination quality of the highest order and increased total germination percentage (TGP) in short time; it was about 93.3% on the fifth day of culture. GA3 and NaDC-treated seeds showed TGP of 36.6 and 63.33 at the 15th day of culture respectively. NaDC–AgNPs-treated seedlings showed enhanced growth by fresh weight (31.33 mg), radicle length (16.88 mm) and cotyledon length (8.21 mm) compared to control. SEM analysis of seeds showed clear evidence of scarification effects over NaDC–AgNPs-treated seeds. Thus NaDC–AgNPs initiated early germination response in Withania seeds by breaking the physical dormancy with the highest TGP.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Raja Muthuramalingam, T., Mohammed Riyaz, S. U., Dharanivasan, G., Jesse, M. I. and Krishanan, K., Effective ex situ conservation of endangered species Beloperone plumbaginifolia nees: a medicinal plant. Int. J. Plant, Anim. Environ. Sci., 2014, 4(2), 97–102. BalKrishna, G., Bimal Kumar, G. and Kweon, H., Seed characteristics of Withania somnifera (Solanaceae). Korean J. Plant Taxon., 2011, 41(2), 103–107.
Literature cited 2: Marie Winters, N. D., Ancient medicine, modern use: W. somnifera and its potential role in integrative oncology. Altern. Med. Rev.,2006, 11(4), 269–272. Vakeswaran, V. and Krishnasamy, V., Improvement in storability of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal) seeds through prestorage treatments by triggering their physiological and biochemical properties. Seed Techno

ID: 63224
Title: Efficacy of ascorbic acid treatments in the production of green raisins
Author: Prerna Nath, S. J. Kale and A. K. Sharma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 943-951 (2019)
Subject: Efficacy of ascorbic acid treatments in the production of green raisins
Keywords: Ascorbic acid, dipping and spraying, green raisins, polyphenol oxidase.
Abstract: The quality of raisins is mainly perceived by their colour. Green-coloured raisins are considered as the best quality raisins whereas brown/dark-coloured raisins possess poor quality. Raisin colour is affected by different factors like grape variety, pre-treatments to grape berries, drying method, drying conditions, etc. The present study was conducted to produce greencoloured raisins through two different treatments of ascorbic acid – dipping and spraying. These treatments were applied to Thompson Seedless grapes independently with different doses (100–500 ppm) of ascorbic acid. Results indicated that lesser darkening of raisins was observed when ascorbic acid was sprayed on bunches during drying than the dipping treatment. In all the samples, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity decreased with drying duration. Lower PPO content was noted in dipped and sprayed grapes than control. However, application of ascorbic acid influenced the other parameters. The present study revealed that ascorbic acid spray is suitable for retaining green colour in raisins with faster drying. Overall, 200 ppm ascorbic acid spray was found appropriate in the production of green raisins.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Skowron, M. J., Grzeskowiak, A. Z., Stanisz, E. and Waskiewicz, A., Potential health benefits and quality of dried fruits: goji fruits, cranberries and raisins. Food Chem., 2017, 221, 228–236. Williamson, G. and Carughi, A., Polyphenol content and health benefits of raisins. Nutr. Res., 2010, 30, 511–519.
Literature cited 2: Ghrairia, F., Lahouar, L., El Arem, A., Brahmi, F., Ferchichi, A.,Achour, L. and Said, S., Physicochemical composition of different varieties of raisins (Vitis vinifera L.) from Tunisia. Ind. Crops Prod., 2012, 43, 73–77. Aguilera, J. M., Oppermann, K. and Sanch, F., Kinetics of browning of sultana grapes. J. Food Sci., 1987, 52(4), 990–993.

ID: 63223
Title: Green protocol for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridines by Hantzsch condensation using citric acid as organocatalyst
Author: Monika Patil, Shrikrishna Karhale , Ananada Kudale , Arjun Kumbhar, Sagar More and Vasant Helavi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 936-942 (2019)
Subject: Green protocol for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridines by Hantzsch condensation using citric acid as organocatalyst
Keywords: Acridines, citric acid, organocatalysts, green protocol, multi-component reactions.
Abstract: Herein we describe a clean and sustainable, one-pot, multi-component protocol for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridines by Hantzsch condensation of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compound and NH4OAc with diverse aryl aldehydes using citric acid as an inexpensive green additive in ecological safe solvent. Utilization of cheaper and safer catalyst, cleaner reaction profile, straightforward work-up procedure and good to excellent yields of the desired product are the noteworthy aspects of this method.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Liu, P., Hao, J. W., Mo, L. P. and Zhang, Z. H., Recent advances in the application of deep eutectic solvents as sustainable media as well as catalysts in organic reactions. RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 48675–48704. Vladu, M. I., ‘Green’ electronics: biodegradable and biocompatible materials and devices for sustainable future. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2014, 43, 588–610.
Literature cited 2: Khedkar, S. A. and Auti, P. B., 1, 4-Dihydropyridines: a class of pharmacologically important molecules. Mini. Rev. Med. Chem., 2014, 14, 282–290. Huang, C., Yan, S. J., Li, Y. M., Huang, R. and Lin, J., Synthesis of polyhalo acridones as pH-sensitive fluorescence probes. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2010, 20, 46

ID: 63222
Title: Alternative equity financing instruments for entrepreneurial ventures: a bibliometric analysis of research in the last three decades
Author: Carmelo Reverte and Rosa Badillo
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 926-935 (2019)
Subject: Alternative equity financing instruments for entrepreneurial ventures: a bibliometric analysis of research in the last three decades
Keywords: Bibliometrics, business angels, citation analysis, equity crowdfunding, entrepreneurship, venture capital
Abstract: This study aims to review scientific research in business economics related to entrepreneurial equity financing carried out in the last three decades (1984–2017) using a bibliometric analysis. To this end, 1321 documents on this topic were extracted from the Web of Science database and sorted according to the following perspectives: number of publications per year, the most cited articles, most eminent authors, journals with the highest citation per article, and countries with the highest productivity. Our research also provides clusters based on a co-occurrence analysis of keywords in order to identify the major themes investigated. Our results can be used to improve our understanding of the entrepreneurial equity financing field and identify promising research areas to further explore in the future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Criscuolo, C., Gal, P. N. and Menon, C., The Dynamics of Employment Growth: New Evidence from 18 Countries, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers No. 14, OECD Publishing, Paris. 2014. Binks, M. R., Ennew, C. T. and Reed, G. V., Information asymmetries and the provision of finance to small firms. Int. Small Bus. J., 1992, 11(1), 35–46.
Literature cited 2: Carpenter, R. E. and Petersen, B. C., Capital market imperfections, high-tech investment, and new equity financing. Econ. J., 2002, 112, F54–F72. Drover, W., Busenitz, L., Matusik, S., Townsend, D., Anglin, A. and Dushnitsky, G., Venture capital, corporate venture capital, angel investment, crowdfunding and accelerators: a review and roadmap of entrepreneurial equity financing research. J. Manage., 2017, 43(6), 1820–1853.

ID: 63221
Title: Spatio-temporal analysis of drought and aridity in Gomti basin
Author: R. Sarma and D. K. Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 919-925 (2019)
Subject: Spatio-temporal analysis of drought and aridity in Gomti basin
Keywords: de Martonne aridity index, Gomti basin, Kriging interpolation, spatial and temporal drought analysis, standardized precipitation index.
Abstract: This study analyses the drought events for the Gomti basin in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at the spatial and temporal scales. Daily precipitation data for 14 districts in the Gomti basin for 41 years (1971–2011) were used to calculate the SPI for 1-month, 4-month, 6-month and 12-month time scales. Results for the 6-month (June–November) and 12-month time scales were similar and drought years were observed in 1972, 1979, 1987, 1993, 1994, 2002 and 2010. The 4-month SPI was analysed for the main monsoon months in the Gomti basin, i.e. from June to September. Results showed that significant drought occurred during the monsoon months of 1979, 1987, 1993, 2002, 2009 and 2010. For drought analysis at the spatial scale, the Kriging interpolation method available in ArcMap was used. The 12-month SPI showed that the frequency of severe and extreme drought was more in the upper regions of the basin during 1971–2000 whereas drought frequency was more in the central and lower regions of the basin during 2001–2011. Further, the de Martonne aridity index was calculated for the period 1971–2007 and its correlation with the 1-month SPI for the period 1971–2007 was evaluated.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Roy, R. and Ahmad, H., State Agricultural Profile of Uttar Pradesh (2011–12). Agro-Economic Research Centre, University of Allahabad, 2013. Abeysingha, N. S., Singh, M., Sehgal, V. K., Khanna, M., Pathak,H., Jayakody, P. and Srinivasan, R., Assessment of water yield and evapotranspiration over 1985 to 2010 in the Gomti River basin in India using the SWAT Model. Curr. Sci., 2015, 108(12), 2202–2212
Literature cited 2: Wilhite, D. A. and Glantz, M. H., Understanding the drought phenomenon: the role of definitions. Water Int., 1985, 10(3), 111–120. India Meteorological Department, Forecaster’s Guide. India Meteorogical Department, Pune, 2008.

ID: 63220
Title: Role of technology in responding to disasters: insights from the great deluge in Kerala
Author: Anamika Ajay
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 913-918 (2019)
Subject: Role of technology in responding to disasters: insights from the great deluge in Kerala
Keywords: Affected communities, crowdsourcing, deluge, disaster management, technology.
Abstract: Community action and voluntary initiatives have always played an important role in responding to disasters. However, the sheer scale and pace at which affected communities are now able to mobilize resources and social support reveal the role of communication technology in crisis management. Using the case study of the great deluge in Kerala, this article describes the stages of crowdsourcing that unfolded during the rescue and relief phases, and analyses how technology facilitated this process. The article also demonstrates how simple technologies that are aligned with the local specificities of the context are often more effective in disaster management than technologically advanced equipments.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ludwig, T., Kotthaus, C., Reuter, C., van Dongen, S. and Pipek, V., Situated crowdsourcing during disasters: Managing the task of spontaneous volunteers through public displays. Int. J. Hum.–Comput. Stud., 2016, 102, 103–121. Reuter, C., Heger, O. and Pipek, V., Combining real and virtual volunteers through social media. In Proceedings of the Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM), Baden-Baden, Germany, 2013, pp. 1–10.
Literature cited 2: Mandhani, N., How Indians are using social media to help floodhit Kerala. BBC News, 20 August 2018; https://www.bbc.com/ news/world-asia-india-45218556 (last accessed on 30 August 2018). Paul, A. and Pillai, R., On the road to digitization: the case of Kerala, IIMK Case Study, IIMK/CS/41/ITS/2017/06, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode; https://www.iimk.ac.in/ websiteadmin/FacultyPublications/Cases/41abs.pdf (last accessed on 1 October 2018).

ID: 63219
Title: Invasion of living fossil bivalve, Dosinia japonica (Reeve, 1850) along the Indian coast
Author: S.Yambem Tenjing, Rupavath Rajendar Kumar, N.Narasimhaih, Durga Prasad Behera
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 894-897 (2019)
Subject: Invasion of living fossil bivalve, Dosinia japonica (Reeve, 1850) along the Indian coast
Keywords: Invasion, living fossil bivalve, Dosinia japonica,Indian coast
Abstract: Phylum Mollusca is the second largest group of invertebrates and comprises soft-bodied animals. They occur in diverse habitats such as freshwater, estuarine, marine, terrestrial and arboreal. Benthic organisms are living on or in the substratum of water bodies. Many organisms are permanently attached to the bottom. Among molluscan species, bivalves are larger and thus more visible. They exhibit a variety of body shapes, reproductive modes and feeding styles . Bivalves are filter-feeding organisms and can purify silted marine waters; they form an important link between the con sumers and primary detritus and thus play significant role in nutrient recycling.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Anbuchezhian, R. M., Rameshkumar, G. and Ravichandran, S., Global J. Environ. Res., 2009, 3, 68–75. Picardal, R. M. and Dolorosa, R. G., J. Entomol. Zool. Stud., 2014, 2, 72–90.
Literature cited 2: Ivin, V. V., Zvyagintsev, A. and Kashin, I. A., Russ. J. Biol. Invas., 2014, 5, 156– 175; https://doi.org/10.1134/S2075111- 714030060 Cınar, M. E., Bilecenoglu, M., Ozturk, B., Katagan, T. and Aysel, V., Mediterr. Mar. Sci., 2005, 6, 119–146; doi:http:// dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.187

ID: 63218
Title: Carbon storage potential of mangroves – are we missing the boat?
Author: P. Ragavan, K. Sivakumar, R. S. C. Jayaraj, P. M. Mohan and T. S. Rana
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2019
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 116 (6) 889-891 (2019)
Subject: Carbon storage potential of mangroves – are we missing the boat?
Keywords: Carbon storage potential, mangroves
Abstract: Increasing soil carbon stocks and protecting carbon-rich soils are crucial for achieving the Paris climate targets. Mangrove forests are the potential carbon sinks for mitigating the growing greenhouse gas emissions due to their highest carbon storage capacity per unit area compared to terrestrial forests. Furthermore, restricted global distribution of mangroves testifies their role in climate change mitigation as most effective at the national level rather than on a global scale. Nevertheless, lack of reliable estimates, insufficient data, discrepancy in the available data, increasing degradation rates and failure of conservation endeavors signify that we are missing the carbon storage potential of mangrove soil. So, here we emphasize the imperative need of country-wise site-specific precise estimates and an understanding of the spatial distribution of mangrove soil carbon stocks to recognize the actual climate mitigation potential of the mangroves as well as strengthen the conservation measures for the sustainability of mangroves.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Donato, D. C., Kauffman, J. B., Murdiyarso, D., Kurnianto, S., Stidham, M.and Kanninen, M., Nature Geosci., 2011, 4, 293–297. Alongi, D. M. (ed.), In Blue Carbon, Springer, Switzerland, 2018, pp. 23–36
Literature cited 2: Twilley, R. R., Chen, R. H. and Hargis, T., Water Air Soil Pollut., 1992, 64, 265–288. Alongi, D. M., Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci., 2014, 6, 195–219.