ID: 66057
Title: Rhodophytes (seaweed): a promising alternative source of potash fertilizer
Author: N. D. Yogendra, Arup Ghosh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1007-1008
10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Rhodophytes (seaweed): a promising alternative source of potash fertilizer
Keywords: None
Abstract: Potassium plays a vital role in the complete
life cycle of all plants and animals, supporting a range of essential biological processes.
Ranking as the seventh most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, potassium is essential for a wide range of ecological and
physiological processes. In soils, potassium
concentrations typically range from 0.04%
to 3%, reflecting its varying availability in different soil types and conditions. In the
top 20 cm of most agricultural soils, potassium concentrations typically range from
1% to 2% . This variability underscores the importance of monitoring and
managing potassium levels to ensure optimal growth and productivity in agricultural
practices. The distribution of potassium
(total) in the soil is as follows, available K
(1–2%), fixed K (1–10%) and mineral K
(over 90–98%). In terms of plant availability, the order is solution K > exchangeable
K > fixed K > mineral K .
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Swarup, A. and Ganeshmurthy, A. N., Fert.
News, 1998, 43(7), 37–50.
Sparks, D. L., Adv. Soil Sci., 1987, 6, 1–63.
Literature cited 2: Kirkman, J. H. et al., N. Z. J. Agric. Res.,
1994, 37, 207–227.
Kumar, M. et al., J. Appl. Phycol., 2011,
23(5), 797–810.
ID: 66056
Title: Recurrence of branch albinism in Tabernaemontana divaricate
Author: R. Lekshmi Rajesh Panduranga Gunaga, N. S. Thakur S. A. Huse H. T. Hegde
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 895-897 10 Nov (2024)
Subject: Recurrence of branch albinism in Tabernaemontana divaricate
Keywords: None
Abstract: In plants, chloroplast is responsible for producing pigments that captures solar energy
and generates various metabolites for
growth and development. Mutation whether
natural or that occur through tissue culture
multiplication/propagation may cause poor
or cease differentiation of proplastids to
chloroplast and result in the formation of
albinos. Mostly, genetic change in plants
result in leaf colour mutants and are of different types: total chlorophyll increased
type and chlorophyll deficient types – total a
and b (ref. 1). Albinos are leaf colour mutant having reduced chlorophyll content.
Mutation of any of 15 enzymes of chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway can result in
chlorophyll deficiency. These mutation
can result in complete albino and partial
albino, generally known as chimeras. Chimeras are the results of chloroplast DNA
mutation, generating heteroplastidic cell
containing both albino or mutant and normal plastids. U
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Falbel, T. G. and Staehelin, L. A., Physiol.
Plant., 1996, 97, 311–320.
Gunaga, R. P. and Vasudeva, R., J. NTFPs,
2011, 18, 337–340
Literature cited 2: Peirce, G. J., Studies on the Coast Redwood,
Sequoia sempervirens, University of Michigan Library, Michigan, 1901, pp. 83–106.
Pittermann, J., Cowan, J., Kaufman, N., Baer,
A., Zhang, E. and Kuty, D., PLoS ONE, 2018,
13, e0191836
ID: 66055
Title: Influence of climate on the distribution of slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Author: Talo Biju, Apoli Misaya and Daniel Mize
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 982-987 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Influence of climate on the distribution of slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Keywords: Climate change, conservation, endangered species, slender-billed vulture, spatial distribution.
Abstract: The slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) is a critically endangered species found in South and Southeast
Asia, experiencing drastic population declines in recent
decades. This study examines the impact of climate on
its spatial distribution in Arunachal Pradesh, North East
India. Conducted between 2016 and 2020, the study
combined field surveys, GIS analysis (QGIS) of environmental data and satellite imagery to understand
how climate affects G. tenuirostris distribution in the
region. The findings demonstrate a positive correlation
between vulture occurrence and both temperature
(rs = 0.61) and rainfall (rs = 0.29). Conversely, there is a
negative correlation with relative humidity (rs = –0.49).
This indicates that G. tenuirostris favours areas with
higher temperature and rainfall, while avoiding regions
with high relative humidity. These results shed crucial
light on the role of climate in shaping the distribution
of this vulture in Arunachal Pradesh. Understanding
these factors is critical for assessing the potential impacts of climate change on vulture populations in the
region and, ultimately, for guiding and enhancing conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding this critically
endangered species.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Thakur, M. L., Kataria, R. C. and Chauhan, K., Population decline
of vultures and their conservation: scenario in India and Himanchal
Pradesh. Int. J. Sci. Nat., 2012, 3, 241–250.
Ogada, D. L., Keesing, F. and Virani, M. Z., Dropping dead: causes
and consequences of vulture population declines worldwide. Ann.
N. Y. Acad. Sci., 2012, 1249, 57–71.
Literature cited 2: Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D., Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Nepal and Ceylon, Compact Edition,
Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1983.
Mawdsley, J. R., O’Malley, R. and Ojima, D. S., A review of climate-change adaptation strategies for wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. Conserv. Biol., 2009
ID: 66054
Title: Variation in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content during degradation of Saccharum officinarum L. litter
Author: Shivangi Pandey, Tirthesh K. Sharma and Sippy Dassani
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 979-981 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Variation in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content during degradation of Saccharum officinarum L. litter
Keywords: Cellulose, degradation, hemicellulose, lignin, litter, Saccharum officinarum.
Abstract: Biodegradation has always been an important phenomenon in the functioning of every ecosystem. The present study was undertaken to assess the variations in
cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of Saccharum
officinarum L. cultivated around Sonagir area, Datia
district, Madhya Pradesh, India during degradation. It
was observed that a large number of fungal genera had
colonized over leaf litter during its biodegradation.
When the same was analysed for loss in dry weight of
litter in terms of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin
content per gram of dry weight, it was found that there
was significant reduction in the cellulose, hemicellulose
and lignin content. When the samples were analysed, it
was found that initially, there was 0.603, 0.382 and
0.412 g/g dry weight in terms of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content respectively. At the end of the
study, i.e. after 300 days of incubation in 2 × 2 × 2 ft
pits, it reduced to 0.026, 0.012 and 0.008 mg/g of dry
weight, i.e. 98.6%, 96.8% and 92.4% respectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Masarin, F. et al., Chemical composition and enzymatic digestibility of
sugarcane clones selected for varied lignin content. Biotechnol.
Biofuel., 2011, 4, 55.
Sanjuan, R., Anzaldo, J., Varagus, J., Turrado, J. and Patt, R., Morphological and chemical composition of pith and fibers from Mexican
sugarcane bagasse. Eur. J. Wood. Wood. Prod., 2011, 59, 447–450.
Literature cited 2: Fengel, D. and Wegener, G., Wood – chemistry, ultra structure, reaction. J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Lett. Ed., 1985, 23(11), 601–602.
Albersheim, P. and Dravill, A. G., Oligosaccharins. Sci. Am., 1985,
253, 58–65.
ID: 66053
Title: Identification and quantification of risks associated with rice-based production system: an empirical evidence from Odisha, India
Author: Saddam Hossen Majumder, Nivedita Deka and Biswajit Mondal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 970-978 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Identification and quantification of risks associated with rice-based production system: an empirical evidence from Odisha, India
Keywords: Farm-gate price, minimum support price, rice production, risk.
Abstract: In this study, we identify and quantify various types of
risks associated with the rice-based production system
in Odisha using both secondary and primary data. The
data was collected from 240 farmers selected from East
and South Eastern Coastal Plains zones of Odisha,
where rice cultivation and climatic-related hazards are
widespread. Results showed that farmers faced many
adverse climatic environments, such as floods, drought,
cyclones, and infestation of pests and diseases, which
pose severe threats to crop cultivation practices and
farmers’ income levels in the study area.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Hardaker, J., Huirne, R. B. M., Anderson, J. and Lien, G., Coping
with risk in agriculture, 2004; 10.1079/9780851998312.0000.
Shashikiran, A. S. and Umesh, K. B., Willingness to pay for crop
insurance premium: a study on maize farmers in India. In Conference
of International Association of Agricultural Economists, Milan, Italy,
9–14 August 2015 (No. 1008-2016-80222), 2015, pp. 1–13
Literature cited 2: Birthal, P. S., Negi, D. S., Khan, M. T. and Agarwal, S., Is Indian
agriculture becoming resilient to droughts? Evidence from rice
production systems. Food Pol., 2015, 56, 1–12.
Birari, K. S., Nawadkar, D. S. and Kasar, D. V., Crop insurance
scheme as a livelihood security in rainfed agriculture in western
Maharashtra. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 2002, 15 (Conference Issue),
63–69.
ID: 66052
Title: Behavioural and electroantennographic responses of female fall armyworm moth, Spodoptera frugiperda to maize plant volatiles
Author: C. Gargi, J. S. Kennedy , P. D. Kamalajayanthi , T. D. Jayabal and M. Muthukumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 963-969 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Behavioural and electroantennographic responses of female fall armyworm moth, Spodoptera frugiperda to maize plant volatiles
Keywords: Antennal response, fall armyworm, host plant volatiles, insect–plant interaction, maize cultivation.
Abstract: The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a devastating invasive pest
recently introduced in India in 2018. The fall armyworm infestation has significantly impacted maize cultivation in the country. Identifying the host plant volatiles
(kairomones) that are attractive to S. frugiperda from
its highly preferred host plant, i.e. maize will help developing eco-friendly management strategies against
this nefarious pest. Gas chromatography electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) analysis revealed that a total
of 18 compounds in maize headspace volatiles and 17 in
maize leaf extract elicited an antennal response in female moths of S. frugiperda. Olfactometer bioassays of
GC-EAD active plant volatile compounds revealed that
heptanoic acid, 2,5-ditert butyl-1,4-benzoquinone and
n-hexadecane were the most preferred plant volatile
compounds and 50 : 50 ratio blend of heptanoic acid
and 2,5-ditert butyl-1,4-benzoquinone was found to be
the most attractive kairomone blend for S. frugiperda.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ganiger, P. C., Yeshwanth, H. M., Muralimohan, K., Vinay, N.,
Kumar, A. R. V. and Chandrashekara, K., Occurrence of the new
invasive pest, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the maize fields of Karnataka, India.
Curr. Sci., 2018, 115(4), 621–623.
Sharanabasappa et al., First report of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Manage. Hortic. Ecosyst., 2018,
24(1), 23–29.
Literature cited 2: Chormule, A., Shejawal, N., Sharanabasappa, C. M., Asokan, R.
and Swamy, H. M. M., First report of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) on sugarcane
and other crops from Maharashtra, India. J. Entomol. Zool. Stud.,
2019, 7(1), 114–117.
Montezano, D. G. et al., Host plants of Spodoptera frugiperda
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Americas. Afr. Entomol., 2018,
26(2), 286–300.
ID: 66051
Title: Engineering considerations for designing processing machinery for Asparagus racemosus roots
Author: Ambrish Ganachari, Rekha , P. F. Mathad , Udaykumar Nidoni , Sunil Shirwal and Mallikarjun Reddy
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 957-962 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Engineering considerations for designing processing machinery for Asparagus racemosus roots
Keywords: Asparagus racemosus, design considerations, engineering properties, physical characteristics, processing machinery.
Abstract: The present study explores the engineering considerations for designing processing machinery for Asparagus
racemosus roots, important medicinal plant known for
its therapeutic potential thus aligning with achieving
the sustainable development goal (SDG) 3 of the United
Nations (good health and well-being). Physical, frictional
and textural characteristics essential for the design and
operation of processing machinery were determined
for technological advancements in processing and value
addition. The length, width and thickness of whole roots
were determined to be 351 ± 56, 5.14 ± 3.95 and 4.93 ±
3.76 respectively, and 253.94 ± 117.30, 6.893 ± 3.705
and 6.39 ± 3.62 mm for trimmed roots. The aspect ratio
and sphericity were found to be 35.51 ± 1.12 and
0.093 ± 0.003 respectively, describing an oblong shape.
The determined weight variability (8.613–17.432 g), surface area (1529.08–2140.28 mm2
) and projected area
(890–3340 mm2
) of the roots influence the ease of peeling and drying process. Bulk density and true density
were estimated to be 298.64 and 604.48 kg/m3 respectively,
with porosity of 50.50%. The angle of repose and internal friction coefficient were 33.25 ± 0.303° and 1.03 respectively, whereas external friction against mild steel
(0.92) and stainless steel (0.61) helped enhance the understanding of handling characteristics of the roots. The
texture of this tuber was found to be softer compared to
other tubers, with firmness ranging from 22.43 to
39.34 N and cutting force from 36.18 to 54.79 N. These
findings aid in designing efficient processing machinery
in alignment with achieving the various SDGs to promote sustainable development and well-being.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bopana, N. and Saxena, S., Asparagus racemosus – ethnopharmacological evaluation and conservation needs. J. Ethnopharmacol.,
2007, 110(1), 1–15; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.01.001.
Alok, S., Jain, S. K., Verma, A., Kumar, M., Mahor, A. and Sabharwal,
M., Plant profile, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Asparagus
racemosus (Shatavari): a review. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Dis., 2013,
3(3), 242–251.
Literature cited 2: Kohli, D., Champawat, P. S., Mudgal, V. D. and Rautela, I., Engineering and bio‐chemical properties of asparagus roots (Asparagus
racemosus L.). J. Food Process Eng., 2023, 103(5), 2239–2250;
https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12358.
Negi, J. S., Singh, P., Joshi, G. P., Rawat, M. S. and Bisht, S. K.,
Chemical constituents of asparagus. Pharmacogn. Rev., 2010, 4(8),
215–220; https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.70921
ID: 66050
Title: Potentiation of entomopathogenic fungi with low doses of insecticides for managing Himalayan white grubs
Author: Suman Sanjta, Pawan Kumar Mehta, Ravinder Singh Chandel and Kuldeep Singh Verma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 950-956 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Potentiation of entomopathogenic fungi with low doses of insecticides for managing Himalayan white grubs
Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, Brahmina coriacea, chemicals, Holotrichia longipennis, interaction, Metarhizium anisopliae.
Abstract: The potential of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria
bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae was studied in
combination with the commonly used insecticides, viz.
clothianidin 50 WDG, imidacloprid 17.8 SL and chlorpyriphos 20 EC, against grubs of Brahmina coriacea
(Hope) and Holotrichia longipennis (Blanchard). Clothianidin, imidacloprid and chlorpyriphos were applied at
50, 75 and 100 ppm respectively, and both the fungi were
applied at 107 conidia/ml. Synergistic interactions were
consistent across all the combinations and calculated
values of χ2 ranged from 4.2 to 5.73 in both the species
of white grubs. The grubs of H. longipennis exhibited a
higher degree of synergism than B. coriacea as observed from the mortality data. Among entomopathogenic
fungi, M. anisopliae showed more synergism than B. bassiana against both species. This study will also help reduce insecticidal pollution and the cost of interventions
for the management of white grubs in a sense that application rates of chemical insecticides and synergists will
be reduced. This practice may be incorporated in integrated pest management, and further study of the synergistic interactions will guide how entomopathogenic
fungi and insecticides can be combined to combat environmental pollution effectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chandel, R. S., Pathania, M., Verma, K. S., Bhatacharyya, B.,
Vashisth, S. and Kumar, V., The ecology and control of potato
whitegrubs of India. Potato Res., 2015, 58, 147–164.
2. Pathania, M. and Chandel, R. S., Life history strategy and behaviour of
white grub, Brahmina coriacea (Hope) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae:
Melolonthinae) an invasive pest of potato and apple agro-ecosystem in northwestern India. Orient. Insects, 2017, 51(1), 46–
69.
Literature cited 2: Pathania, M., Chandel, R. S., Verma, K. S. and Mehta, P. K., Diversity and population dynamics of phytophagous Scarabaeid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in different landscapes of Himachal
Pradesh, India. Arthropods, 2015, 4(2), 46–68.
Sreedevi, K., Chandel, R. S., Pathania, M. and Stanley, J., Species
distribution and larval diagnostic characters of white grub species,
Holotrichia longipennis (Blanchard), H. sikkimensis (Brenske) and
H. rosettae Frey. Current Biotica., 2014, 8(2), 151–156.
ID: 66049
Title: Ultrasonic bund detection system for header of combine harvester
Author: Davinder Singh, Ritu Dogra , Baldev Dogra , Derminder Singh and Rashmi Arora
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 940-949 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Ultrasonic bund detection system for header of combine harvester
Keywords: Combine harvester, header height, linear actuator, soil bund detection, ultrasonic sensor.
Abstract: There are appreciable physical losses to the header of a
combine harvester operating in the fields during harvesting. To reduce these losses, it is desirable to effectively
control the header height of the combine harvester. In
the present study, a soil bund detection system has
been developed for the header of the combine harvester
using an ultrasonic sensor and tested under field conditions. In the laboratory, the best among five ultrasonic
sensors (HC-SR04, US-100, JSN-SR04T, GY-US42 and
MB-7092) was selected based on accuracy and response
of the sensor operated for 27 treatments of soil bund
height, sensor height and stubble density. Consequently, the soil bund detection system was developed using
the US-100 sensor, Arduino UNO R3 microcontroller
and two relays to control the actuator on prototype.
The results showed that during sensor selection, the
US-100 sensor had a maximum accuracy of 84.83% in
BH3SH1SD1 treatment and a maximum response of
91.38 readings/sec in BH2SH2SD3 treatment. Furthermore, the developed system showed a maximum accuracy of 88.89% and 85.58% without the actuator in the
field and with the actuator under laboratory conditions respectively. The highest response of 64.68 and
62.70 readings/sec was recorded for systems without
the actuator in the field and with the actuator under
laboratory conditions respectively. The study reveals
that the increase in stubble density and sensor height
causes a decrease in the accuracy, while the increase in
bund height significantly increases the accuracy of the
system. Moreover, an increase in vehicle speed causes
a decrease in the response of the system, whereas with
increasing bund height and stubble density, there is an
increase in the response.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: O’Neill, A., India – Total Population 2016–2026; https://www.
statista.com/statistics/263766/total-population-of-india (accessed on
16 May 2021).
Mehta, C. R., Chandel, N. S., Jena, P. C. and Jha, A., Indian agriculture counting on farm mechanization. AMA-Agric. Mech. Asia
Af., 2019, 50(1), 84–89.
Literature cited 2: Mehta, C. R., Chandel, N. S. and Senthilkumar, T., Status, challenges and strategies for farm mechanization in India. AMA, 2021,
45(4), 43–50.
Singh, M. K., Singh, S. P., Kushwaha, H. L., Singh, M. K. and Utpal, E., Combine harvester: opportunities and prospects as resource
conservation technology. RASSA J. Sci. Soc., 2020, 2(1), 53–57.
ID: 66048
Title: Building resilience to floods in India: human development, income, inequality and forest cover
Author: Chandra Sekhar Bahinipati, Unmesh Patnaik and Asis Kumar Senapati
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 931-937 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Building resilience to floods in India: human development, income, inequality and forest cover
Keywords: Floods, forest cover, human development, income, Indian states, inequality, resilience
Abstract: Enhancing the resilience of disaster-affected communities is always a prime concern for policymakers. Empirical evidence reveals that many socio-economic
indicators determine the resilience capacity of an entity.
Although several studies in India have investigated the
role of socio-economic and generic adaptation measures
in reducing impact, there is a lack of studies concerning human development, inequality, and forest cover in
reducing vulnerability to extreme events like floods. By
considering data related to state-wise losses and damages from floods between 1980 and 2011, we study
them in enhancing the resilience capacity of Indian
states. Employing Poisson fixed effects with a clustered
standard error model, we find: First, human development matters for reducing mortality, but it enhances
people affected and houses damaged, and the relationship is expected to have an inverted-U shape for later
outcomes. Second, in contrast to the anticipation, variables like inequality are negatively associated with
houses damaged and human fatalities, i.e. the latter declines with increasing former. Third, the confounder,
like forest cover, is found to be negative for all loss and
damage indicators. Fourth, most of these variables are
found to be statistically insignificant. Given that developing resilient infrastructure is the need of the hour,
this study suggests the inclusion of climate risks in development planning to address the adaptation deficit
and avoid possible maladaptation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Government of India, Disaster Management in India. Ministry of
Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, 2011.
Bahinipati, C. S., Patnaik, U. and Viswanathan, P. K., What causes
economic losses from natural disasters in India? In Handbook of
Research on Climate Change Impact on Health and Environmental
Sustainability, IGI Global, Hershey PA, USA, 2016, pp. 157–175.
Literature cited 2: . Chowdhury, J. R., Parida, Y. and Goel, P. A., Does inequality adjusted human development reduce the impact of natural disasters? a gendered perspective. World Dev., 2021, 141, 105394;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105394
Parida, Y., Dash, D. P., Bhardwaj, P. and Chowdhury, J. R., Effects
of drought and flood on farmer suicides in Indian states: an empirical analysis. Econ.
ID: 66047
Title: Analysing the synthesis and characterization of semi-organic compound tartaric acid ammonium chloride by slow evaporation method
Author: T. L. Berlin Beno, M. Maria Lenin and R. S. Abina Shiny
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 923-930 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Analysing the synthesis and characterization of semi-organic compound tartaric acid ammonium chloride by slow evaporation method
Keywords: Antifungal and antibacterial activity, nonlinear optics, semi-organic compounds, single crystal, slow evaporation method
Abstract: Single crystal synthesis, growth and characterization
pose challenges such as impurities, temperature control
issues and mechanical stress. The present study aims to
address these issues by synthesizing and exploring the
physico-chemical properties of a nonlinear semi-organic
crystal, tartaric acid and ammonium chloride (TAAC).
The crystal growth occurred via the slow evaporation
method at ambient temperature using double-deionized
water as a solvent. Physico-chemical properties were
tested, and characterization included X-ray diffraction,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence to analyse structure, purity and morphology.
Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,
UV-visible spectra and micro hardness methods were
employed to analyse the optical properties and determine band-gap energy. Antifungal and antibacterial
activities against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated using the
agar-well diffusion method. TAAC demonstrated superior structure and characteristics compared to potassium
dihydrogen phosphate crystals across all parameters.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Ravindran, B., Shiny, R. A., Beno, T. B. and Lavanya, N., Studies
on the growth and characterization of L-Arginine potassium iodide
crystals by slow evaporation solution growth method. Mater. Today:
Proc., 2023, 80, 3634–3637.
Gounden, D., Nombona, N. and Van Zyl, W. E., Recent advances
in phthalocyanines for chemical sensor, non-linear optics (NLO)
and energy storage applications. Coord. Chem. Rev., 2020, 420,
213359.
Literature cited 2: Shanmugan, S., Saravanan, N., Chithambaram, V., Deepanraj, B.
and Palani, G., Investigation on single crystal by tartaric acid–
barium chloride: growth and characterization of novel NLO materials. Bull. Mater. Sci., 2020, 43(1), 202.
Zang, D., Tarafdar, S., Tarasevich, Y. Y., Choudhury, M. D. and
Dutta, T., Evaporation of a droplet: from physics to applications.
Phys. Rep., 2019, 804, 1–56.
ID: 66046
Title: Rooted resilience: harnessing rootstock diversity in cucurbit prosperity
Author: Yogajanma Sahoo, C. Indu Rani, R. Neelavathi, M. Kavitha , A. Subramanian and M. Sudha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 916-922 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Rooted resilience: harnessing rootstock diversity in cucurbit prosperity
Keywords: Cucurbits, grafting, quality, rootstock diversity, stress
Abstract: Cucurbits, vital for global economy, confront myriad
stresses impacting yield and quality. Rootstocks offer
vital stress tolerance, enhancing crop performance.
The present review explores rootstock diversity in cucurbit cultivation, different grafting methods and various
rootstock–scion combinations, assessing their roles in
stress mitigation and quality improvement across cucurbits. Assessing diverse stressors like drought and diseases reveals rootstocks with genetic variability,
providing viable solutions. Crucial for sustainable production, these rootstocks improve crop vigour, yield
stability and fruit quality. Future research should delve
into rootstock-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms
to optimize agricultural benefits.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lutaladio, N., Burlingame, B. and Crews, J., Horticulture, biodiversity and nutrition. J. Food Compos. Anal., 2010, 23(6), 481.
Brewster, J. L., Onions and Other Vegetable Alliums, CABI, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK, 2008, p. 22.
Literature cited 2: Olarewaju, O. O., Fajinmi, O. O., Arthur, G. D., Coopoosamy, R.
M. and Naidoo, K., Effect of climate change on the production of
Cucurbitaceae species in North African countries. J. Agric. Food
Res., 2023, 14, 100742.
Garg, S., Kaul, S. C. and Wadhwa, R., Cucurbitacin B and cancer
intervention: chemistry, biology and mechanisms. Int. J. Oncol.,
2018, 52(1), 19–37.
ID: 66045
Title: Ayurveda pulse monitoring and diagnostic systems: a systematic review
Author: Monika Shah, Anuja Nair, Aryan Yashu, Deep Patel, Madhav Kanakhara and Nishi Patel
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 904-915 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Ayurveda pulse monitoring and diagnostic systems: a systematic review
Keywords: Ayurveda, diagnostics, innovation, Kapha, Pitta, pulse, sensor, Vata.
Abstract: The traditional pulse diagnostics of Ayurveda and its
importance of medical heritage in India are explored
in the present study. We discuss the challenges of traditional methods and show how integrating modern technologies like sensor-based systems and artificial intelligence
can improve diagnostic precision and efficiency. This
fusion aims to sustain and advance Ayurveda, aligning
it with contemporary scientific standards. The review
identifies research gaps and suggests future directions,
emphasizing the need for standardized validation and
integrated diagnostic systems. By examining current
advancements and future possibilities, our work highlights the value of combining ancient wisdom with
modern innovation for the global recognition and scientific validation of Ayurveda.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mishra, L. C., Singh, B. B. and Dagenais, S., Ayurveda: a historical
perspective and principles of the traditional healthcare system in
India. Altern. Ther. Health Med., 2001, 7(2), 36–43.
Payyappallimana, U. and Venkatasubramanian, P., Exploring ayurvedic knowledge on food and health for providing innovative solutions to contemporary healthcare. Front. Public Health, 2016, 4, 57.
Literature cited 2: Hankey, A., A test of the systems analysis underlying the scientific
theory of Ayurveda’s tridosha. J. Altern. Complement. Med., 2005,
11(3), 385–390.
Chaudhari, S. and Mudhalwadkar, R., Nadi pariksha system for
health diagnosis. In International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Control (I2C2), IEEE, Coimbatore, India, 2017, pp. 1–4.
ID: 66044
Title: Design and performance assessment of a low-cost rain collector for stable isotope samples
Author: Yama Dixit, Jonathan A. Holmes Anubhav Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 900-903 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Design and performance assessment of a low-cost rain collector for stable isotope samples
Keywords: None
Abstract: Oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of
precipitation encode valuable hydroclimatic
information. The collection of rainwater
samples destined for stable-isotope analyses must minimize fractionation due to
evaporation to preserve the isotopic signature. Commercially available rainwater
collectors are expensive, justifying the
need for cheaper designs. We present a
low-cost rain collector capable of limiting
post-collection fractionation, confirmed by
control experiments. Moreover, precipitation collected in Delhi during the 2023
summer monsoon has stable-isotope values
close to the 40-year means. Our rain collector can thus be used to establish dense
sampling networks for rainfall isotopes at
low cost.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rozanski, K., Araguás-Araguás, L. and
Gonfiantini, R., In Climate Change in
Continental Isotopic Records, Geophysical
Monograph Series, American Geophysical
Union, Washington, DC, USA, 1993, vol.
78, pp. 1–36.
Dansgaard, W., Tellus, 1964, 16, 436–468
Literature cited 2: Han, T. et al., Water, 2020, 12, 1–15.
Vystavna, Y., Matiatos, I. and Wassenaar,
L. I., Sci. Rep., 2021, 11, 18503
ID: 66043
Title: Mpox outbreak: global public health emergency for the second time in two years
Author: Muhammed Muhsin Varikkodan, Akbar Sadiq Bukhari, Mohamed Hussain Syed and Mohammad Abdulkader Akbarsha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (8) 898-899 25 Oct (2024)
Subject: Mpox outbreak: global public health emergency for the second time in two years
Keywords: None
Abstract: On 14 August 2024, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a public
health emergency of international concern
under the International Health Regulations
(IHR 2005) after the recent outbreak of
monkeypox disease (mpox) in the major
countries of the African continent. Mpox is
a zoonotic viral disease endemic in Central
and West Africa, originating from the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The rapid spread of the mpox virus in the
neighboring countries such as Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, where it had
not been previously reported, prompted the
WHO to declare mpox a global public
emergency for the second time in two
years. By the end of the third week of August 2024, a total of more than 18,000 confirmed cases and 591 deaths were reported
from 17 countries worldwide1
. Mpox with
no fatalities has been confirmed in Pakistan,
the Philippines, Sweden and Taiwan, which
are all non-African countries. An alarming
number of cases have been confirmed from
the DRC (16,700 infected/ 584 deaths), followed by the Central African Republic
(213/0), Burundi (173/0), Republic of the
Congo (146/1), Nigeria (400/0), Cameroon
(35/2), Kenya (31/0), South Africa (24/3),
Ivory Coast (70/1), Ghana (40/0), Rwanda
(40/0), Uganda (20/0), Pakistan (4/0), Thailand (1/0), Taiwan (3/0), Sweden (1/0) and
the Philippines (1/0).
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bariyo, N., The Wall Street J., 2024.
Alcamí, A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2023,
120, e2301662120.
Literature cited 2: WHO, Monkeypox – United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, World
Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland,
16 May 2022.
WHO, First meeting of the International
Health Regulations (2005) Emergency
Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox
2024, World Health Organization, Geneva,
Switzerland, 19 August 2024