ID: 62976
Title: The Making of India: Geodynamic Evolution, 2nd edn
Author: K.S.Valdiya reviewed by Dhrubajyoti Mukhopadhyay
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 347-350 (2018)
Subject: The Making of India: Geodynamic Evolution, 2nd edn
Keywords: Making India
Abstract: The Indian subcontinent is geologically a
fascinating terrain preserving a record of
4 billion years of earth’s history. It is a
treasure house of diverse rocks, minerals
and fossils. However, there are only a
few books that cover the entire spectrum
of geological records, particularly the
modern advances. Of course, there are
the classics by D. N. Wadia, M. S.
Krishnan and E. H. Pascoe, but all of
them belong to the pre-plate tectonic era.
About a decade ago, R. Vaidyanadhan
and M. Ramakrishnan brought out a two-volume work with a comprehensive coverage and written with a modern perspective. K. S. Valdiya’s encyclopedic work belongs to this genre and is an invaluable addition to the geological literature on India. Valdiya took up the Herculean task of distilling a vast amount of information and presenting it in an easily digestible form, conveyed through lucid
language
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 62975
Title: Integrated assessment of drought vulnerability using indicators for Dhasan basin in Bundelkhand region, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author: Saswat Kumar Kar, T. Thomas, R. M. Singh and Lokesh Patel
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 338-346 (2018)
Subject: Integrated assessment of drought vulnerability using indicators for Dhasan basin in Bundelkhand region, Madhya Pradesh, India
Keywords: Integrated assessment,drought vulnerability,Dhasan basin, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh
Abstract: The present study has integrated both spatially and temporally varying drought vulnerability factors to develop an integrated drought vulnerability map for
Dhasan basin. A drought vulnerability index is used to classify the study area into different vulnerability zones. From the drought vulnerability assessment for the study area during July 2002, it was observed that the northeast, northwest and extreme southern part of the basin (20% area) was under critical vulnerability condition whereas the southwest and central part of the basin (79.9% area) was under high vulnerability condition. The critical drought vulnerability condition existed in Dhamoni, Pidaruwa, Sagar, Patharia Hat, Chhapri, Baroda Sagar and
Singtoni region, whereas high vulnerability condition existed in the remaining parts of the study area. The integrated drought vulnerability approach gives superior result for drought assessment as compared to
vulnerability assessment by considering the individual factors for the study area.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dracup, J. A., Lee, K. S. and Paulson, E. G., On the definition of droughts. Water Resour. Res., 1980, 16(2), 297–302.
Sun, Y., Solomon, S., Dai, A. and Portmann, R. W., How often does it rain? J. Clim., 2006, 19(6), 916–934.
Literature cited 2: Wilhite, D. A., Drought as a natural hazard: concept and definition. In Drought: a Global Assessment (ed. Wilhite, D. A.), Natural Hazards and Disaster Series, Routledge, UK, 2006, vol. 1, pp. 3–18.
Tigkas, D., Vangelis, H. and Tsakiris, G., The drought indices calculator (DrinC). In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of EWRA: Water Resources Management in an Interdisciplinary and Changing Context, Porto, Portugal,
ID: 62974
Title: Status of desertification in South India – assessment, mapping and change detection analysis
Author: S. Dharumarajan, M. Lalitha , Rajendra Hegde , N. Janani , A. S. Rajawat , K. L. N. Sastry and S. K. Singh
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 331-338 (2018)
Subject: Status of desertification in South India – assessment, mapping and change detection analysis
Keywords: Change detection analysis, desertification, salinization, vegetal degradation, waterlogging.
Abstract: Desertification is the transformation of productive land into a non-productive one due to poor resource management, and unfavorable biophysical and economical factors. Periodical assessment of desertification status is imperative for a suitable comprehensive and combating plan. In the present study, desertification status maps of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Karnataka and Telangana in South India have been prepared using remote sensing data for two time-frames (2003–2005 and 2011–2013) and change detection analysis
has been carried out. The results reveal that 14.35%, 36.24% and 31.40% of the total geographical area in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana were affected by desertification processes respectively, in
2011–2013. Among the desertification processes, vegetal degradation contributes 7.27% of total area in AP, followed by water erosion (4.93%) and waterlogging (0.83%), whereas in Karnataka water erosion
(26.29%) is dominant followed by vegetal degradation (8.93%) and salinization (0.45%). Change detection analysis shows that desertification processes of AP
and Karnataka have increased by 0.19% and 0.05% respectively, whereas in Telangana it has decreased by about 0.52% from 2003 to 2005 data. The present database will help the scientists, planners and stakeholders to prepare appropriate land reclamation
measures to control the increasing trend of desertification.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dharumarajan, S., Bishop, T. F. A., Hegde, R. and Singh, S. K., Desertification vulnerability index – an effective approach to assess desertification processes: a case study in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Land Degra. Dev., 2018, 29, 150–161;
doi:10.1002/ldr.2850.
Middleton, L. and Thomas, D. (eds), World Atlas of Desertification, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Arnold,
London, 1997, 2nd edn, p. 182.
Literature cited 2: United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification (UNCCD), Desertification, the invisible frontline, 2014; http://
www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/Publications
Reynolds, J. F., Smith, D. M. S. and Lambin, E. F., Global desertification: building a science for dryland development. Science, 2007, 316, 847–851; doi:10.1126/science.1131634
ID: 62973
Title: Advances in sea surface layer temperature measurements with fast responding thermistor arrays on drifting buoys
Author: R. Srinivasan, V. Rajendran , Shijo Zacharia and Tata Sudhakar
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 325-330 (2018)
Subject: Advances in sea surface layer temperature measurements with fast responding thermistor arrays on drifting buoys
Keywords: Drifting buoy, NTC thermistor sensor, sensor array, Steinhart–Hart coefficient
Abstract: A precise and accurate ocean temperature measurement system is essential for better understanding and knowledge of the spatial and temporal variability of thermal stratification of the upper-ocean layers is
fundamental. The National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai has indigenously developed a novel
negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor-based sensor array with RS232 digital output for drifting buoy (Pradyu) (DB) wherein, it is mainly used
in ocean observation applications. The DB is built with Indian satellite (INSAT) for real time data telemetry. The NTC sensing element is used in developing the
temperature sensor for the measurement of sea surface layer temperature. The Steinhart–Hart equation and coefficients are applied on each sampling to zero
down the error components involved in temperature measurements which corresponds to the nonlinear functionality of the NTC element. In-house developed
SST sensor and sensor array are calibrated and extensively tested in laboratory conditions. The results of the SST and sensor array laboratory calibrations and
field validations are briefly presented here with significant data sets collected in the Bay of Bengal warm pool regions.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kent, E., Ball, G., Berry, D., Fletcher, J., North, S. and Woodruff,S., The Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Scheme. In Proceedings of OceanObs’09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information
for Society Conference, Venice, Italy, 2009, ESA Publication WPP-306, doi: 10.5270/OceanObs09.cwp.48.
Tabata, S., An evaluation of the quality of sea surface temperatures and salinities measured at station P and line P in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. J. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 1968, 8, 970–986
Literature cited 2: Bjerknes, J., Atmospheric teleconnections from the equatorial Pacific. J. Am. Meteorol. Soc, 1969, 97, 163–172.
Shenoi, S. S. C., Shankar, D. and Shetye, S. R., Differences in heat budgets of the near surface Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal:
Implications for the summer monsoon. J. Geophys. Res., 2002, 107(C6), 5-1–5-14.
ID: 62972
Title: Enhanced fire severity in modern Indian dwellings
Author: Nasar Ahmad Khan and Gaurav Srivastava
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 320-325 (2018)
Subject: Enhanced fire severity in modern Indian dwellings
Keywords: Design fire, enhanced fire risk, fire load energy density, fire load survey.
Abstract: The present study focuses on assessment and probabilistic characterization of fire load, a key input to performance-based fire design, in office and dormitory buildings in India. A survey using combined inventory-weighing method was conducted and the results analysed with respect to several parameters such as room use, type of combustibles, etc. Probabilistic models based on the generalized extreme value and gamma probability density functions have been proposed for fire load energy density. It has been found that, on an average, the fire load present in modern
buildings is about three times greater than what is reported by earlier studies and prescribed by building codes. Thus, the severity of potential fires that can
occur in a compartment has increased considerably. Parametric fire curves have been developed and compared with standard fire curves to assess the
increase in severity. The developed fire curves possess a greater growth rate and predict a greater temperature within the first one hour, when compared to the standard curves, showing that there is a greater fire risk.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Joseph, S. and Singh, V., Changing lifestyles influencing Indian consumers: conceptualizing and indentifying future directions. Glob. J. Manage. Bus. Stud., 2013, 3(8), 2248–9878.
Ljungberg, Y. L., Materials selection and design for development of sustainable products. Mater. Design, 2007, 28(2), 466–479.
Literature cited 2: Baldwin, R., Law, M., Allen, G. and Griffiths, L. G., Survey of fire loads in modern office buildings – some preliminary results.
Fire Safety Sci., 1970, 808, 1.
Culver, C., Survey results for fire loads and live loads in office buildings. US Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards,
1976, no. 85
ID: 62971
Title: Enhanced fire severity in modern Indian dwellings
Author: Nasar Ahmad Khan and Gaurav Srivastava
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 315-319 (2018)
Subject: Enhanced fire severity in modern Indian dwellings
Keywords: Design fire, enhanced fire risk, fire load energy density, fire load survey.
Abstract: The present study focuses on assessment and probabilistic characterization of fire load, a key input to performance-based fire design, in office and dormitory buildings in India. A survey using combined inventory-weighing method was conducted and the results analysed with respect to several parameters such as room use, type of combustibles, etc. Probabilistic models based on the generalized extreme value and gamma probability density functions have been proposed for fire load energy density. It has been found that, on an average, the fire load present in modern
buildings is about three times greater than what is reported by earlier studies and prescribed by building codes. Thus, the severity of potential fires that can
occur in a compartment has increased considerably. Parametric fire curves have been developed and compared with standard fire curves to assess the increase in severity. The developed fire curves possess a greater growth rate and predict a greater temperature within the first one hour, when compared to the standard curves, showing that there is a greater
fire risk.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Joseph, S. and Singh, V., Changing lifestyles influencing Indian consumers: conceptualizing and indentifying future directions. Glob. J. Manage. Bus. Stud., 2013, 3(8), 2248–9878.
Ljungberg, Y. L., Materials selection and design for development of sustainable products. Mater. Design, 2007, 28(2), 466–479.
Literature cited 2: Baldwin, R., Law, M., Allen, G. and Griffiths, L. G., Survey of fire loads in modern office buildings – some preliminary results.
Fire Safety Sci., 1970, 808, 1.
Culver, C., Survey results for fire loads and live loads in office buildings. US Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards,
1976, no. 85.
ID: 62970
Title: Synthesis, heterocyclization and anti-tumour activity evaluation of some benzimidazole derivatives
Author: M. F. El-Ahwany and Mohamed H. M. Abd El-Azim
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 310-314 (2018)
Subject: Synthesis, heterocyclization and anti-tumour activity evaluation of some benzimidazole derivatives
Keywords: Active methylene, benzimidazoles, cytotoxicity activity, hydrazines, lactambenzimidazole.
Abstract: Methylbenzimidazole 1 is converted to imidazole acrylic acid 3 via cyclo condensation with chloral followed by hydrolysis. Compound 3 also obtained from
the reaction of o-phenylenediamine with maleic anhydride. Treatment of 1 with SeO2 yielded the oxidized product 4 (Aldehyde 4) which undergoes Wittig reaction using ester and Ph3P to furnish the acrylates 5. Compound 5 is also obtained by cyclocondensation of phenylenediamine and the corresponding maleate.
Cyclization of 3 using Ac2O provides pyrroloimidazole 6. Imidazole 6 undergoes several transformations using HCl, ammonium hydroxide in neutral medium,
o-phenylene diamine/HCl to provide acrylic acid 3, amide 7 and/or bicompound 8 respectively. Anilide 9 is obtained as a result of condensation of 3 with amines. Ester 5 undergoes 1,4-addition to benzimidazole
ring to give the corresponding anilino derivative 10.Pyridazine cyclization is acheived by treatment of 5 with NH2OH in acidic medium. In vitro cytotoxicity is
evaluated using SRB (sulphorhodamine-B) assay against two human cell lines, breast and liver carcinoma cell lines. The results show that compound 11 has strong activity against all cell lines tested.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Gharib, A., Khorasani, H., Jahangir, B. R., Roshani, M., Bakhtiari, L. and Mohadeszadeh, S., Synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted-1H-imidazole derivatives and or 2,4,5-
triaryloxazoles using of silica-supported Preyssler nanoparticles. Bulg. Chem. Commun., 2014, 46, 165–174.
Trujillo, I. et al., 2-(6-Phenyl-1H-indazol-3-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles: design and synthesis of a potent and isoform selective
PKC-zeta inhibitor. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2009, 19, 908– 911.
Literature cited 2: Palkowitz, A. D. et al., Structural evolution and pharmacology of a novel series of Triacid Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists.
J. Med Chem., 1994, 37, 4508–4521.
Chang, L. L. et al., Substituted imidazoles as glucagon receptor antagonist. Bioorg. Med Chem Lett., 2001, 11, 2549–2553.
ID: 62969
Title: Analysis of agricultural substrates for nutritive values and biomethane potential
Author: Shehbaz Ali, Tawaf Ali Shah, Asifa Afzal and Romana Tabassum
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 292-299 (2018)
Subject: Analysis of agricultural substrates for nutritive values and biomethane potential
Keywords: Acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, anaerobic digestion, neutral detergent fibre, volatile fatty acids.
Abstract: Bio-methane from agricultural waste has enough potential to compete with other sources of energy. This study aims to examine the bio-methane potential
of numerous agricultural wastes, including cotton waste, wheat bran, lentil straw, barley straw, rice bran and peanut peels straw with the aim to produce renewable energy and solve waste disposal issues. The
proximate, ultimate and chemical composition analyses were performed to predict the theoretical biomethane potentials in silico. However, the potential
was experimentally assayed at mesophilic conditions. Moreover, elemental and lignin-based biodegradability of substrates have also been determined. The methane contents in biogas are in the range 57–64%
and the yield varied from 216.3 (barley straw) to 317.6 (cotton waste) ml/g volatile solids. These results indicate that higher biodegradability of substrates resulted in higher methane production. The prediction
of bio-methane potential from chemical composition, elemental composition and organic fraction were not as fit accurately as being assessed for methane potential. It merely provided the extent of biodegradability. During digestion, volatile fatty acids were produced, viz. acetic acid (58–63%), butyric acid (28–32%), propionic acid (6–13%) and converted into methane but limited concentrations of intermediate acids indicated similar microbial consortium in all digestions. Hence, it was also concluded that the lignin and hemicellulose content played a limiting role in digestion and posed negative impact on biogas production.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Wall, D. M., O’Kiely, P. and Murphy, J. D., The potential for biomethane from grass and slurry to satisfy renewable energy targets. Bioresour. Technol., 2013, 149, 425–431.
Bernet, N. and Béline, F., Challenges and innovations on biological treatment of livestock effluents. Bioresour. Technol., 2009,
100, 5431–5436
Literature cited 2: Murphy, J. D. and Power, N. M., An argument for using biomethane generated from grass as a biofuel in Ireland. Biomass.
Bioenergy, 2009, 33, 504–512.
Nizami, A. S. and Murphy, J. D., Optimizing the operation of a two-phase anaerobic digestion system digesting grass silage.
Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 45, 7561–7569.
ID: 62968
Title: Variation in carbon storage among tree species in the planted forest of Kathmandu, Central Nepal
Author: S. P. Bhatta, K. P. Sharma and S. Balami
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 274-282 (2018)
Subject: Variation in carbon storage among tree species in the planted forest of Kathmandu, Central Nepal
Keywords: Allometric equation, carbon sequestration rate, Coronation garden, importance value index, species specific.
Abstract: Carbon stock variation among trees of planted forest, was estimated in a 41-year-old Coronation Garden of Kathmandu, Central Nepal. Forty-one square quadrates of 20 m × 20 m were selected by applying stratified systematic sampling method in three horizontal strata of the forest. The biomass of trees was estimated using an allometric equation which was later converted to the carbon stock by using carbon fraction. The study site stored 196.4 Mg C ha–1 (carbon sequestration rate: 4.78 Mg ha–1 yr–1) equivalent to 720.7 Mg CO2 ha–1 (CO2 assimilation rate: 17.58 Mg
ha–1 yr–1). Eucalyptus citriodora had the highest carbon storage (54.6 Mg ha–1, 27.8%) and sequestration rate (1.33 Mg ha–1 yr–1). Cinnamomum camphora and Salix babylonica were the dominant tree species, while Salicaceae and Lauraceae were the dominant families growing in the forest. Myrtaceae was the dominant
family in terms of carbon storage and carbon sequestration rate. The study suggests that E. citriodora, C. camphora, S. babylonica and P. roxburghii would be
the best species to select for forest plantation which would yield large impacts on landscape-level carbon
stocks and could also mitigate climate change.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Stern, N., The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2007.
IPCC, Climate change 2014: Synthesis report. Contribution of working groups I, II and III to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (eds Core writing team, Pachauri, R. K. and Meyer, L. A.), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, 2014.
Literature cited 2: IPCC, Good practice guidance for land use, Land use change and Forestry (eds Penman, J. et al.), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Kanagawa, Japan, 2003.
IPCC, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of
Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (eds Core writing team, Pachauri, R. K. and Reisinger, A.), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007.
ID: 62967
Title: Classification of SDSS photometric data using machine learning on a cloud
Author: Vishwanath Acharya, Piyush Singh Bora, Karri Navin, Anisha Nazareth, P. S. Anusha and Shrisha Rao
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 249-257 (2018)
Subject: Classification of SDSS photometric data using machine learning on a cloud
Keywords: Astronomical data, classification, cloud computing, distributed algorithms, machine learning.
Abstract: Astronomical datasets are typically very large, and manually classifying the data in them is effectively impossible. We use machine learning algorithms to provide classifications (as stars, quasars and galaxies) for more than one billion objects given photometrically in the Third Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III). We have used kNN, SVM
and random forest algorithms in a distributed environment over the cloud to classify 1,183,850,913 unclassified photometric objects present in the SDSSIII catalog. This catalog contains photometric data for all objects viewed through a telescope and spectroscopic data for a small part of these. Although it is
possible to classify all the objects using spectroscopic data, it is impractical to obtain such data for each one of them. To classify such a big dataset on a single
machine would be impractically slow, so we have used the Spark cluster computing framework to implement a distributed computing environment over the cloud.
We found that writing results (dozens of gigabytes) to the cloud storage is very slow while using kNN. Though writing the results with SVM is faster as it is done in parallel, its accuracy is only around 87%, due
to lack of a kernel implementation of it in Spark. We then used the random forest algorithm to classify the entire set of 1,183,850,913 objects with an accuracy of
94% in about 17 hours of processing time. The result set is significant as even collecting spectroscopic data for these many objects would take decades, and our
classifications can help astronomers and astrophysicists carry out further studies.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Eisenstein, D. J. et al., SDSS-III: massive spectroscopic surveys of the distant universe, the Milky Way, and extra-solar planetary
systems. Astron. J., 2011, 142, 72.
Dawson, D. J. S. K. S. et al., The Baryon oscillation spectroscopic
survey of SDSS-III. Astron. J., 2013, 145, 10.
Literature cited 2: https://spark.apache.org/docs/1.2.0/cluster-overview.html
Witten, I. H., Frank, E., Hall, M. A. and Pal, C. J., Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools and Techniques, Morgan Kaufmann, 2016.
ID: 62966
Title: Prospects of customized fertilizers in Indian agriculture
Author: Sabyasachi Majumdar and Nagabovanalli B. Prakash
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 242-248 (2018)
Subject: Prospects of customized fertilizers in Indian agriculture
Keywords: Customized fertilizer, fertilizer policy, fertilizer grades, fertilizer subsidy, micronutrient deficiency
Abstract: In many countries, blanket fertilizer recommendations for different crops have caused poor nutrient supply, low nutrient use efficiency and limited crop response. In contrast, soil and area specific, customized fertilizers may help to sustain soil health by
ensuring appropriate fertilization. Hence, specific customized fertilizers should be promoted to counteract the problem of expanding multi-nutrient deficiencies
in Indian soils. This article discusses the manufacturing methodologies, eligibility criteria, success in Indian fertilizer industry, adoption of fertilizer recommendations and problems in marketing of customized fertilizer.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2012 revision,Methodology of the United Nations and projections, estimates and projection, Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP. 235, 2014.
Government of India, 2014, Census_Data_2001/Project population/Projected_Population.Pdf (accessed on 15 April
Literature cited 2: United States, Census Bureau, 2014; http://www.census.gov/population/international (accessed on 11 April 2016).
Ganesh Kumar, Mehta, R., Pullabhotla, H., Prasad, S. K., Ganguly, K. and Gulati, A., Demand and supply of cereals in India:
2010–2025, IFPRI Discussion Paper 01158, Environment and Production Technology, IFPRI, New Delhi, 2012.
ID: 62965
Title: Exopolysaccharides from cyanobacteria and microalgae and their commercial application
Author: Dhanesh Kumar, Petr Kaštánek and Siba P. Adhikary
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 234-241 (2018)
Subject: Exopolysaccharides from cyanobacteria and microalgae and their commercial application
Keywords: Cyanobacteria, carbohydrate, exopolysaccharides, green algae
Abstract: Cyanobacteria and green algae are phototrophic microorganisms showing high diversity in their cellular structure in response to the environmental conditions of the niche where they occur. Production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in response to adverse conditions is one of the important features of these organisms. EPS are present mainly around their cells/
filaments as an enveloped layer and released outside. EPS play protective functions and are important for their survival in stressed habitats exposed to radiation, desiccation and elevated temperatures. This review discusses the production, extraction and possible commercial applications of EPS produced by cyanobacteria and green algae.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Drews, G. and Weckesser, J., Function, structure and composition
of cell walls and external layers. In The Biology of Cyanobacteria (eds Carr, N. G. and Whitton, B. W.), Blackwell, Oxford, 1982, pp. 333–357.
Adhikary, S. P., Weckesser, J., Jürgens, U. J., Golekei, J. R. and Borowiak, D., Isolation and chemical characterization of the
sheath from the cyanobacterium Chroococcus minutus SAG B
41.79. J. Gen. Microbiol., 1986, 132, 2595–2599.
Literature cited 2: De Philippis, R. and Vincenzini, M., Exocellular polysaccharides from cyanobacteria and their possible applications. FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 1998, 22, 151–175.
De Philippis, R. and Vincenzini, M., Outermost polysaccharidic investments of cyanobacteria: nature, significance and possible applications. Recent Res. Dev. Microbiol., 2003, 7, 13–22.
ID: 62964
Title: The bio-incubation boom in India
Author: Satya Prakash Dash and Gayatri Saberwal
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 228-233 (2018)
Subject: The bio-incubation boom in India
Keywords: BIRAC, entrepreneurship, incubation, start-ups, tech-transfer.
Abstract: There are already 30 biotech or medtech incubators that have incubated 397 companies (listed). Another 50 are planned. Most are under 10 years old, located in three southern cities and funded by the Government of India. Some have outstanding instrument facilities, others access to a large number of students. Over half can host foreign companies. Rentals and grants are their largest sources of funds; sustainable funding is their biggest challenge. At least one start-up per incubator has achieved Rs 1 crore in annual turnover. We outline an assessment framework for the incubators which form a crucial part of the rapidly evolving entrepreneurship landscape.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Al-Mubaraki, H. M. and Busler, M., The effect of business incubation in developing countries. Eur. J. Business Innovat. Res., 2013, 1,
19–25.
Grens, K., Incubator boom. The Scientist, 1 March 2014
Literature cited 2: Anony., Action Plan. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India, 2016; ttp://startupindia.gov.in/actionplan.php.
Saberwal, G., India’s intellectual property-based biomedical startups. Curr. Sci., 2016, 110, 167–171.
ID: 62963
Title: Concentrated solar power in India: current status, challenges and future outlook
Author: Suhas Bannur
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (2) 217-221 (2018)
Subject: Concentrated solar power in India: current status, challenges and future outlook
Keywords: Concentrated solar power, levelized cost of electricity and poly-generation, photovoltaic cells,
Abstract: India is blessed with good solar resources and many regions of the country receive above-average sunshine compared to other regions of the world. The primary technology used for harnessing and
converting solar energy into electrical energy in India is based on photovoltaic (PV) cells. Concentrated solar power (CSP) has hardly contributed to the overall installed solar power capacity in the country. In this article, some of the challenges that have inhibited the growth of CSP are identified and possible solutions suggested. The critical challenges for CSP are related to the lack of reliable direct normal irradiance database, indigenous manufacturing and competition from PV. The results
of a case study carried out to assess the impact of indigenous manufacturing and economies of scale on capital costs and levelized cost of electricity are presented. This study shows that even with indigenous manufacturing and considering economies of scale, the capital cost per MW (Megawatt)
of installed capacity is higher than the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission benchmark costs. To initiate larger adoption of CSP in India, we may have to consider alternative configurations, such as coupling desalination or thermal cooling systems to a CSP power plant. The merits of such configurations, called poly-generation plants, are presented for the Indian scenario.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: NASA, Global Climate Change Website, 2016; https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
International Energy Agency (IEA), World Energy Outlook –2014, 2014; http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/world-energy-outlook-2014.html.
Literature cited 2: Photovoltaics Report, Fraunhofer ISE, Germany, 2016;
https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/de/documents/publi
cations/studies/Photovoltaics-Report.pdf.
NREL Website, Cell Efficiencies Chart, NREL, 2016;https://www.nrel.gov/pv/assets/images/efficiency-chart.png
ID: 62962
Title: Re-envisioning engineering education in India: IIT Gandhinagar’s Foundation Programme
Author: Srinivas Reddy and Sudhir K. Jain
Editor: R. Srinivasan
Year: 2018
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 115 (1) 217-221 (2018)
Subject: Re-envisioning engineering education in India: IIT Gandhinagar’s Foundation Programme
Keywords: Engineering education, induction programme, orientation programme, reenvision, student feedback.
Abstract: The Foundation Programme (FP) of the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) is a dynamic five-week event that strives to nurture every new batch of undergraduate B Tech students in a holistic and engaging manner. During the first five weeks after joining the institute, students
participate in an engaging series of activities designed to address five major themes: (1) values and ethics, (2) creativity, (3) teamwork, (4) social awareness and (5) physical fitness. The intensive programme is thus designed to inspire students to build their sense of self-confidence, explore their
creative passions and develop their minds and bodies as well-rounded global citizens. There are no formal classes during this time and students are expected to immerse themselves in this transformative programme. The IITGN FP began at IITGN in 2011 and has been successfully conducted every year since then. Over the years, student feedback regarding the programme has been tremendous, and many have expressed that it is a powerfully engaging and transformative experience. In addition, FP functions as an active and participatory introduction to the institute’s core belief that students must strive to know themselves and the world around them.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sarkar, N. R., An interim report of the committee appointed to consider the development of higher technical institutions in India (N.R. Sarkar Committee Report). Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, 1945, Part IV, Appendix 1.
Mehrotra, S. P. and Sah, P. P., The Fourth IIT: History of IIT Kanpur, Penguin Books, 2015.
Literature cited 2: Kirby, W. C. and van der Wende, M. C., Experiences in Liberal Arts and Science Education from America, Europe, and Asia: A Dialogue Across Continents, Springer, 2016.
Pushkar. Why it’s time for the IITs to look beyond engineering. The Wire, 20 August 2015; https://thewire.in/8856/why-its-timefor-the-iits-to-look-beyond-engineering/