Enter records

ID: 61477
Title: Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in a Community in Malaysia.
Author: Anita Devi K, Surfan A.Saharuddin, Jack Z. Tan, Wai Mai Linn and Shazneen F.Bokhari.
Editor: Professor V. Subramanian
Year: 2015
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.vol.12 (4). 11-15 (2015).
Subject: Water, Environment and Pollution.
Keywords: Potable, drinking water, water monitoring kit, indicators, coliform count, pH, phosphate, awareness.
Abstract: Potable water is important for the sustenance and survival of human beings and other living organisms. The present study deals with the evaluation of the drinking water quality in activity of Selangor, Malaysia and to compare the quality of drinking water from various households and restaurants by measuring the various physical and chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, bio chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, pH, coliform, turbidity and phosphate using the water monitoring kit. All samples showed no abnormal values for dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity and nitrate. The results showed that the contents of total coliform, phosphate and pH exceeded the standard. It was seen that out of 100 drinking water samples, 38 samples had E. coli count exceeding the acceptable limit and hence are considered contaminated.69 samples collected from the restaurants, 10 samples (37 %) were contaminated. The results revealed that there there was no significant difference in the quality of drinking water collected from houses as compared to the restaurants (P value=0.56).The pH levels for 99 % of the samples were within the acceptable range. 1% of the drinking water samples had phosphate level that slightly exceeded the standards.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Craun, G. and R. Calderon (2001).Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Caused by Distribution System Deficiencies.AWWA,93 (9): 64-75. Fawell, J. and M.J. Nieuwenhuiisen (2003).Contaminants in drinking water. British Medical Bulletin, 68 (1): 199-208 doi: 10.1093/bmb/Idg027.
Literature cited 2: Gauthier, V., Besner, M-C., Trepanier, M., Millette, R. and M. Prevost (2001).Tracking the Source for Microbial Contamination in Distribution Systems Using an Integrated Approach.AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference. Lee, S., Levy, D., Craun, G., Beach, M. and R. Calderon (2002).Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries, 51(8): 1-47.

ID: 61476
Title: The Challenges of Water Resource Management from Top to Bottom: A case Study in Chi River Basin, Thailand.
Author: Pechladda Pechpakdee and David Jan Cowan.
Editor: Professor V. Subramanian
Year: 2015
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.vol.12 (4). 1-10 (2015).
Subject: Water, Environment and Pollution.
Keywords: Integrated water resource management (IWRM), territorialisation, cooperation (sahakan), local authority organization, Chi River basin.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the challenges of employing the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach in the Chi River basin in Northeast Thailand to determine its effectiveness and pitfalls. At the macro level, the problems of IWRM were found to be related to the fragmentation of the ministries associated with water issues and the poor coordination of political parties. Therefore, to address this challenge of IWRM, cooperation (sahakan) through deterritorialization and deregulation of both bureaucratic structures at the state level and the local authority ' s recommendations needed to manage these water resources. Observation and interviewing methods were employed in the three villages to explore the conditions of IWRM. Gaps in cooperation between the institutions at the state and local levels were found from limited roles and budgets to manage water resources in each administration area. This paper discusses recommendations at both the state and local level. At the state level, there are structural and non-structural measurements to consider. These measurements must be addressed by the facilitators of the institutions in order to bridge gaps in cooperation and in order to plan and address the larger scheme of water issues at both national and regional levels. At the local level, deregulation and deterritorialization were found to be the key concerns of IWRM between the different local authorities.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Adorno, T.W., Frenkel-Brunswik, E., Levinson, D.J. and R.N. Sanford (1982). The Authoritarian Personality (Abridged Edition).W.W.Norton & Company, New York. Arghiros, D. (2002) .Political reform and civil society at the local level: Thailand ' s local government reforms. In: Duncan McCargo (ed), Reforming Thai Politics. Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (Nias).Copenhagen, Denmark.
Literature cited 2: Biswas, A.K.(2008).Water Resources Development, 24 (1): 5-22. Blake, D.J.H. (2013). Irrigationalism: The Politics and ideology of Irrigation Development in the Nam SongkhramBasin, Northeast, Thailand. PhD .School of International Development, Faculty of Social Science. University of East Anglia, Norwich.

ID: 61475
Title: Linking critical patches of sloth bear Melursus ursinus for their conservation in Meghamalai hills, Western Ghats, India.
Author: Santhanakrishnan Babu, Tamilarasu Karthik, Gopalakrishnan Srinivas and Honnavalli Nagaraj Kumara.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1492-1498 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Conservation, critical patches, sloth bear, surrogate species.
Abstract: The study examines the distribution and factors regulating the slothbear in a fragmented hill of Meghamalai in Western Ghats through occupancy framework. Indirect evidences were sought over 133 grids of 4sq.km size between December 2011 and December 2012.Indirect evidences were recorded in 58 of 133 sampled grids that estimated na?ve occupancy of 0.43 (p=0.3180). Understorey cover negatively affected the detection of indirect evidences. The parsimonious model contained three covariates, viz. tree height, grass cover and anthropogenic disturbance. Overall occupancy of bear was 0.54, which is 25 % higher than the na?ve occupancy estimate. The study predicted higher proportion of evergreen forests with intermediate grass cover and less extent of disturbance determines the occupancy of bear in these hills. The ' critical link ' connecting Periyar-Agastiyamalai hills and Anamalai hills is still active and supports high suitable sites for bears. It is suggested that Ammagajam-Upper Manalar Contiguity and Critical Link needs to be protected by appending with Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Johnsingh, A.J.T., Bear conservation in India.J.BomabyNat.Hist.Soc. 2003, 100, 190-201. Yoganand, K., Rice, C.G., Johnsingh, A.J.T. and Seidensticker, J. Is the sloth bear in India secure? A preliminary report on distribution, threats and conservation requirements.J.Bombay Nat.Hist.Soc. 2006, 103, 57-66.
Literature cited 2: Chauhan, N.S., The status of sloth bears in India. In Understanding Asian Bears to Secure their Future, Japan Bear Network, Ibaraki, Japan, 2006, pp.26-34. Chauhan, N.P.S., Brgali, H.S. and Akhtar, N., Activity patterns of sloth bear in fragmented and disturbed areas of Bilaspur Forest Division, Chattisgarh, India. In proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Bear Research and Management, San Diego, California, USA, 2004.

ID: 61474
Title: Biogeochemistry of shallow lake sediments: a case study from Verlorenvlei, South Africa.
Author: Supriyo Kumar Das, Joyanto Routh and Alakendra N. Roychoudhury.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1486-1491 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Carbon, cyanobacteria, nitrogen, organic phosphorus, shallow lake, stable isotopes.
Abstract: Studying the biochemistry of sallow lake sediments, especially the source of sedimentary organic matter (OM), is challenging because of the low preservation of OM in shallow lake sediments. Here we report the source of sedimentary OM in a shallow freshwater lake, Verlorenvlei, in South Africa using a number of biogeochemical proxies. Elemental carbon and nitrogen ratio (C/N) and stable C and N isotopes (?13C and ?15N) indicate algal source of sedimentary OM. Total organic and inorganic C, different phosphorus fractions, ?13C and ?15N values indicate repetitive presence of non-N-fixing cyanobacteria under moderate N-limited conditions. Cyanobacterial population in Verlorenvlei is likely influenced by the availability of dissolved inorganic C. Cyanobacterial proliferation in the lake has ceased with accelerated N input as recorded at the top of the core.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Wetzel, R.G., In Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, Academic Press, SanDiego, 2001, 3rd edn. Das, S.K., Routh, J., Roychoudhury, A.N. and Klump, J.V., Elemental (C,N, H and P) and stable isotope (?15N and ?13C) signatures in sediments from Zeekoevlei, South Africa: a record of human intervention in the lake.J.Palaeolimnol., 2008, 39, 349-360.
Literature cited 2: Liu, E., Shen, J., Zhang, E., Wu, Y.and Yang, L., A geochemical record of recent anthropogenic nutrient loading and enhanced productivity in Lake Nansihu, China.J.Palaeolimnol., 2010,44, 15-24. Meyers, P.A., Applications of organic geochemistry to paleolimnological reconstructions: a summary of examples from the Laurentian Great Lakes.Org.Geochem., 2003, 34, 261-289.

ID: 61473
Title: Aromatic fruits as baits for the management of fruit-piercing moths in pomegranate: exploiting olfaction.
Author: P.D.Kamala Jayanthi, Ravindra M. Aurade, Vivek Kempraj and Abraham Verghese.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1476-1479 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Aromatic fruits, baits, fruit-piercing moths, olfaction, pomegranate.
Abstract: ' Baits ' are substances that attract, trap and kill pests. In horticultural practice, baits are used to trap insect pests, thereby diverting them from cultivated crops. An important insect pest that can be managed using baits is the fruit-piercing moth (FPM), Eudocima species. These frugivorous moths are distributed throughout India and inflict serious damage to a wide range of cultivated fruits. In southern India, pomegranate cultivation is escalating and so is the fruit damage caused by FPM. The damage by FPM alone sums up to 40 % of the production, thus causing heavy loss to farmers. However, existing control measures are ineffective in reducing damage caused by the moths. In the present communication, we study the feeding preference of FPM to banana, guava, tomato and molasses in multiple and limited-choice field experiments. The results indicate that the moths are attracted to bait fruits, viz. banana, guava compared to the main crop, pomegranate. We conclude that using these aromatic fruits as baits, we can divert the moths from the main crop, which will serve as an economically viable control measure.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Leong, S.C.T.and Kuech, R.J.H., Seasonal abundance and suppression fruit-piercing moth Eudocima phalonia (L.) in a citrus orchard in Sarawak .Sci.World J., 2011, 11, 2330-2338. Kamala Jayanthi, P.D., Verghese, A., Nagaraju, D.K. and Jhansi Rani, B., Feeding attractants a component for integrated management of fruit piercing moth, Eudocima (Othreis) maternal (L.) Entomon, 2010, 35, 1-6.
Literature cited 2: Atachi, P., Desmidts, M. and Durnex, C., Fruit-piercing moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as citruspests in Benin: a description of their damage and morphology.FAO Plant. Bull., 1989, 37, 111-120 Mote, U.N., Tambe, A.B. and Patil, C.S.,Observationon incidence and extent of damage of fruit sucking moths on pomegranate fruits.J.Maharashtra Agric.Univ., 1991, 16 (3), 438-439.

ID: 61472
Title: Molecular analysis of genetic stability in in vitro regenerated plants of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var.italica)
Author: Pankaj Kumar, Geetika Gambhir, Ayesh Gaur and D.K. Srivastava.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1470-1476 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Broccoli, genetic fidelity, leaf and petiole explants, plant regeneration, RAPD-PCR.
Abstract: Genetic integrity of tissue culture-raised plantlets of broccoli cv. Solan green head from India was assessed using RAPD. First, highly efficient, reliable and high-frequency shoot regeneration was achieved in leaf (62.96 %) and petiole (91.11 %) explants on MS medium containing 4.5 mg/l BAP + 0.019 mg/l NAA, and 4.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA respectively. Maximum rooting ability (93.99 %) with healthy and vigorous roots was observed on MS medium containing 0.20 mg/l NAA. The regenerated plantlets with well-developed shoot and root system were acclimatized successfully. For genetic stability studies, a total of 66 amplicons were amplified using 15 informative primers with a high degree of monomorphism (88.45 %) across the mother plant and 20 randomly selected in vitro regenerated plantlets.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Chaudhary, B., Vegetables, NBT, New Delhi, 1996, 9th edn. Zhang, Y., Tallay, P., Chlo, C.G. and Posner, G.H., Major inducer of anticarcinogenic protective enzyme from broccoli isolation and elucidation of structure.Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 1992, 89, 2399-2408
Literature cited 2: Larkin, P.J. and Scowcroft, W.R., Somaclonal variation: novel source of variability from cell cultures for plant improvement.Theor.Appl.Genet. 1981, 60, 197-214. Phillips, R.L., Kaeppler, S.M. and Olhoft, P., Genetic instability of plant tissue cultures: breakdown of normal controls.Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 1994, 91, 5222-5226.

ID: 61471
Title: Geochemical and petrogenetic study of Proterozoic Sewariya and Govindgarh granitoids from South Delhi Fold Belt.
Author: Soumya Ray, Kumar Batuk Joshi, S. Sundarraman, Deepak Joshi and Talat Ahmad.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1458-1465 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Geochemistry, granitoid magmatism, petrography, peraluminous leucogranites.
Abstract: The present study reports the geochemical composition of Sewariya two-mica granites (SG) and Govindgarh granites (GG) intruding rocks of Delhi Supergroup along the western margin of South Delhi Fold Belt in Rajasthan, India. Both granite varieties are highly evolved possessing high SiO2, Al2O3, low MgO, CaO, Fe2O3, Ni, Cr and V and are calc-alkaline in nature. In chondrite normalized REE diagrams, SG are characterized by highly fractioned REE patterns (avg LaN/YbN = 21.45) and sharp negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.25), where as GG do not show significant REE fractioned patterns (avg LaN/YbN =3.31) and have variable Eu anomalies. From primitive mantle normalized multi-element diagrams, crustal signatures (low Nb, Ti and high Pb, U, Th) can be inferred for both the granitoid varieties. Also, strong peraluminous nature, high A/CNK, normative corundum and abundant mica content point towards a (meta) sedimentary protolith for them. An arc setting is indicated by their calc-alkaline nature; volcanic arc or syn-colliosional affinities in tectonic discriminant diagrams (Nb versus Y; Rb versus Nb +Y).They are peraluminous leucogranites derived from crustal melts with little mantle contribution as is evident from their mineralogy and geochemical characteristics. The anatectic conditions prevalent during the formation of these granites differed with SG being formed under dehydration conditions, while the formation of GG involved fluid-present melting reactions.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Frost, B.R., Barnes, C.G., Collins, W.J., Arculus, R.J., Ellis, D. J.and Frost, C.D., A geochemical classification for granitic rocks. J.Petrol, 2001, 42, 2033-2048. Patino Douce, A.E.and Harris, N. Experimental constraints on Himalayan anatexis. J.Petrol, 1998, 39, 689-710.
Literature cited 2: Bateman, P.C. and Chappell, B.W., Crystallization, fractionation, and solidification of the Tuolumne intrusive series, Yosemite National Park, California.Geol.Soc.Am.Bull. 1979, 90,465-482. Price, R.C., Geochemistry of a peraluminous granitoid suite from Northeastern Victoria, Southeastern Australia.Geochim.Cosmochim.Acta, 1983, 47, 31-42.

ID: 61470
Title: Dynamic pricing model of medical services in public hospitals in China.
Author: Yabin Li, Xiaohui Xing and Congdong Li.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1437-1444 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Dynamic pricing model, medical services, public hospitals, system dynamics.
Abstract: For improving the current pricing mode of medical services, the present study seeks to explore the pricing elements and processes, and establish the dynamic pricing model of involving both the government and hospitals. The pricing process and mathematical model show the logical relationships between medical prices and pricing elements. The causal relationship model reveals how to accomplish dynamic equilibrium between elements. The simulation model has been built based on system dynamics theory. Results of the simulation and sensitivity tests how that different grade of hospitals while applying the pricing model may better perform their respective responsibilities and continuously improve core strengths.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Li, Y.B., Lu, H. and Xing, X.H., Research on the pricing model of china ' s medical service.J.Converg.Inf.Technol. 2013, 8 (9), 61-68. Chen, Y., Zhu, X.L.and Xio, L.H., The theoretical and practical analysis on the finance compensation mechanism of public hospitals in China.Med.Soc, 2010, 12, 36-39.
Literature cited 2: Shen, Q.H., A study on the current mechanism of pricing and compensation in medical service. China Soft Sci., 2009, 3, 53-61. Liang, G.Q.and Sheng, H.Y., Simulation and evolution on the dynamic performance of China healthcare reform.Int.J.Digit.Content Technol.Appl. 2011, 5 (1), 150-161.

ID: 61469
Title: Measuring ecosystem patterns and processes through fractals.
Author: S.K.Tripathi, C.P.Kushwaha, Arijit Roy and S.K.Basu.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1418-1426 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Ecosystem complexity, ecosystem patterns, fractal dimension, landscape change, soil processes.
Abstract: Changes in ecosystems are highly complex, heterogeneous and are extremely difficult to measure through single scale. Fractal geometry has been used to quantitatively estimate the extent of irregularity in ecosystem changes. However, in some cases it has been overly used giving misleading results. To avoid this, other metrics are also being used in studying changes in forest ecosystems. In this article, we review use of fractal geometry in measuring ecosystem components in a range of ecological conditions. Further, case studies from forest fragmentations and soil aggregates stability in different Indian tropical ecosystems with respect to management practices and environmental change have been described using fractal dimension. We have tried to point out some instances where ecosystems properties and where it could not be successfully used. Characterization of ecological situations where fractals can effectively be used in general remains an important issue.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Pianka, E.R., Evolutionary Ecology, Harperand Row, New York, 1998. Levin, S.A.., The problem of pattern and scale in ecology. Ecology, 1992, 73, 1943-1967.
Literature cited 2: Jiang, B., The fractal nature of maps and mapping.Int.J.Georga.Inf.Sci. 2015, 29, 159-174. Rahbek, C. and Graves, G.R., Multiscale assessment of patterns of avian species richness.Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 2001, 98, 4534-4539.

ID: 61468
Title: Coconut inflorescence sap and its value addition as sugar-collection techniques, yield, properties and market perspective.
Author: K.B.Hebbar, M.Arivalagan, M.R.Manikantan, A.C.Mathew, C.Thamban, George V.Thomas and P.Chowdappa.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1411-1417 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Coconut sap, health drink, market prospectus, sugar content, tapping.
Abstract: Fresh coconut sap (Neera), if kept at room temperature for a couple of hours, undergoes fermentation. Fresh sap is golden in colour, with pH>7 and has no foul odour. The traditional way of tapping, i.e. collecting the sap in a mud pot kept at the top of the palm under atmospheric temperature for 8-12 h, ferments the sap before collection itself. The colour turns whitish; pH drops to below 6 and odour of toddy (fermented smell) slowly develops. Hence the only way to avoid fermentation of sap is either keeping collection boxes at low temperature or to collect the sap every hour and store chilled. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute has developed ' coco-sap chiller ' with ice cubes inside, which maintains the temperature at 2-3?C for 10-12 h, and also keeps the sap fresh and unfermented. The sap collected is sweet, non-alcoholic and also free from contaminants like ants, insects, pollen, dust, etc. The fresh, hygienic an unfermented sap is called Kalparasa. It can be sold as a ready-to-serve health drink under refrigerated condition or can be processed into value-added natural products like sugar, jaggery, honey, syrup, etc. without the addition of chemicals.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Redhead, J., Utilization of tropical foods: trees. In FAO Food and Nutrition, FAO, Rome, 1989, vol. 47 (3), p.52. Rangaswami, G., Palm tree crops inIndia.Outlook-on-Agriculture (UK).1977, 9 (4), 167-173.
Literature cited 2: Fox, J.F, Harvest of the Palm, Ecological Change in Eastern Indonesia, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1977,p.290. Dissanayake, B.W., Use of Caryota urens in Srilanka. In first InternationalSago Symposium. The equatorial Swamp as a Natural Resource (ed Sarawak, T.K.), Kaula Lumpur, 1977, pp.84-90.

ID: 61467
Title: Mafic and ultramafic dykes of Singhbhum craton from Chaibasa district, Jharkhand, Eastern India: geochemical constraints for their magma sources.
Author: L.S.R. Reddy, M.Saibaba, Yamuna Singh, K.V.G. Krishna.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1397-1399 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Mega crystals, uraninite, euxenite, mica pegmatite, mine-dumps, Talupura, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh.
Abstract: Fine sized uraninite has been reported earlier from the Sankara mine within the Nellore Schist Belt (NSB), Andhra Pradesh (AP), India. Here, we report the occurrence of euhedral megauraninite (UO2) crystals and euxenite (niobate and titanate of yttrium, heavy rare earths and uranium) from the mica mine-dumps of mica pegmatites located near Talupura (Survey of India toposheet No. 57 N/11; lat 14? 18` 24?N: long.79? 40 ' 55?E in NSB. The Archaean NSB, with an overall N-S trend and westerly arcuate disposition, extends over 200 km in Nellore and Prakasam districts of AP.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Bhola, K.L., Radioactive deposits in India, Reprint o the paper presented at Symposium on Uranium Prospecting and Mining in India, 7-9 October 1964, pp.1-45; Published in Golden Jubilee (1949-99) Volume of Atomic Mineral Division, Hyderabad, 1999, pp.17-59. Raman, P.K. and Murthy, V.N., Geology of Andhra Pradesh, Geological Society of India, 1997, p.56.
Literature cited 2: Dahlkamp, F.J., Uranium Ore Deposits, Sringer Verlag, 1993, p.19. Krishnan, K.V.G. and Thirupathi, P.V., Explor.Res.At.Miner. 1999, 12, 150.

ID: 61466
Title: Generating higher ploidies (7x and 11x) in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) utilizing reproductive diversity and uncoupled apomixes components.
Author: P.Kaushal, Sharmishtha Paul, Saurabh Saxena, K.K. Dwivedi, Mridul Chakraborti, A. Radhakrishna, A.K.Roy, D.R. Malaviya.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1392-1395 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Ploidies (7x and 11x), guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq), reproductive diversity, uncoupled apomixes components.
Abstract: Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq), a high-yielding, perennial, multicut forage grass, is widely grown in tropical and subtropical countries. Tetraploid cytotypes (2n =4x=32) with obligate apomictic mode of reproduction are predominant in this crop, though plants with variant ploidies and sexual mode of reproduction have been rarely reported. These features make guinea grass a model crop for polyploidy and apomixes research. Apomixis, a mode of clonal reproduction through seeds is widespread among grasses. Studies are underway to harness ' genes ' for apomixis for their potential use in the fixation of hybrid vigour.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Savidan, Y., Theor.Appl.Genet. 1980, 57, 153-156. Jain, A., Zadoo, S.N., Roy, A.K., Kaushal, P. and Malaviya, D.R., Cytologia, 2003, 68, 7-13.
Literature cited 2: Kaushal, P., Agrawal, A., Malaviya, D. R., Siddiqui, S.A. and Roy, A.K., Plant Breed, 2009, 128, 295-303. Ozias Akins, P., Crit.Rev.Plant.Sci. 2006, 25, 199-214.

ID: 61465
Title: The oxygen paradox in microbial fuel cells.
Author: A.S. Vishwanathan, S. Siva Sankara Sai and Govind Rao.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1390-1391 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Oxygen, Paradox, Microbial, Fuel cells.
Abstract: Microbial fuel cells harness electrons from bacterial oxidation of substrates and have the potential to address two of the major sustainability issues that confront the globe-production of clean energy and waste-water treatment. Relentless multi-disciplinary efforts have opened up possibilities of enhancing efficiency of these systems in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness. Detailed studies on individual components provide fundamental insights for performance assessment. Oxygen, an integral component of bioelectro-chemical systems, assumes contrasting inhibitory and supportive roles at the anode and cathode respectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Prescott, L.M., Klein, D.A. and Harley, J.P., Microbiology, Mc-Graw Hill, New York, 2002. Fredrickson, J.K. et al., Towards environmental systems biology of Shewanella.Nature Rev.Microbiol., 2008, 6,592-603.
Literature cited 2: Torres, C.I., Curr.Opin.Biotechnol. 2014, 27, 107-114. Pant D., Van Bogaert, G., Diels, L. and Vanbroekhoven, K., Bioresour.Technol. 2010, 101, 1533-1543.

ID: 61464
Title: Grains for ecosystem carbon management in North East India.
Author: Arun Jyoti Nath, Rattan Lal and Ashesh Kumar Das.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (8) 1387-1389 (2015)
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Grains, Eco-system, Carbon management, North East, India.
Abstract: North East India (NEI) comprises of eight states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura) and covers 26.3 million hectare (M ha) or ~8 % of total geographical area (TGA) of India (329 M ha).However, it has 17.2 M ha under forest cover, which is ~25 %of India ' s total forest area. Of the total forest cover, 1.5 M ha is currently managed by shifting cultivation in NEI. Shifting cultivation, an integral part of culture and tradition of tribes of NEI, is presently unsustainable because of the population driven reduction in the duration of the fallow cycle (3-5 years).Reduction in the fallow cycle has accelerated soil erosion and other ecosystem disservices across NEI.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: FSI, India State of Forest Report, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, 2013. Roy, P.S. et al, Biodiversity characterization at landscape level: National assessment, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, 2012, p.140.
Literature cited 2: Ramakrishnan, P.S., Man and the Biosphere Series 10, Parthenon Publications, Park Ridge, 1992. Singh, N.P., Singh, O.P. and Jamir, N.S., Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategy for North Eastern Hill Region of India, Mittal Publication, New Delhi,1996.

ID: 61463
Title: BOD Approximation for Common Effluent Treatment Plant Using ANN.
Author: Monika Vyas, Bharat Modhera and Anil Sharma.
Editor: Professor V. Subramanian
Year: 2015
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.vol.12 (1). 81-89 (2015).
Subject: Water, Environment and Pollution.
Keywords: BOD, common effluent treatment plants, ANN
Abstract: In developing countries like India, common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) are often suggested as cost-effective options for centralized treatment of effluents emerging from separate waste-streams. The treatment/ operation cost of CETPs is met by individual waste generators in proportion to the strength of the waste generated by them. This necessitates the regular determination of parameters such as BOD, which often is cost intensive, requires specialized lab personnel, and is time consuming (3-5 days minimum).Approximation of BOD, therefore, presents a relevant strategy which can save upon cost, effort, time. This paper presents a framework that employs Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique to approximate influent and effluent BOD for common effluent treatment process. The framework is applied to the case of a CETP at Bhopal city, India. In the present work, a three-layered fed forward ANN that compares two differential learning algorithms has been applied, and suitable architecture of the neural network models has been ascertained after several steps of training and testing of the models. The results indicate accuracy above 90 %, thereby ANN proves to be promising tool in the field of modeling.
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