ID: 66235
Title: Numerical study on submarine nose shape for drag reduction
Author: J. Suneela, Chandana Saran Venkata Amarnath Swamy , P. Sivabalan and Ashok Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 737-742 25 March (2025)
Subject: Numerical study on submarine nose shape for drag reduction
Keywords: CFD, drag, nose shape, RANS, submarine
Abstract: The configuration of submarine, is often divided into a
central body that is cylindrical and terminates with a
nose at the bow and a tail at the aft. A defence submarine must be able to perform its duties in a wider variety
of water depths. In order to conduct reconnaissance, a
submarine frequently needs to manoeuvre and snorkel
at shallow depths while remaining hidden when diving
to a greater depth. Submarines are utilised in combat,
research and underwater rescue operations. To validate the ideal geometric configuration of the submarine
drag must be studied. The present article describes the
numerical analysis of several nose forms to find the
best submarine hull for diving. The hull envelope equation was initially used to generate a reference hull,
referred to as the base model. To standardise the computational parameters, the findings of the reference
model were first compared with a model from the literature that had dimensions similar to those of the reference model. STARCCM+, a commercial CFD tool,
was then used to compare the reference hull to various
geometric configurations of the nose profiles. Since it
affected the flow entrance, the bluntness parameter
was defined to allow changes in the nose shape. The
configuration is further analysed by incorporating
changes to the submarine’s nose section, using additional parametric equations were used to optimise the
submarine design. For the sake of numerical examination, the parameters such as speed, L/D ratio and operating region were held constant. It was found that
there was about a 0.8% reduction in drag with a
change in the nose shape of the considered vessel.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Moonesun, M., Korol, Y. M., Nikrasov, V. A., Ursalov, A. and
Brajhko, A., CFD analysis of the bow shapes of submarines. J. Sci.
Eng. Res., 2016, 3(1), 1–16.
Renilson, M., Submarine Hydrodynamics, Springer Briefs in Applied Sciences and Technology, 2015, vol. 31, pp. 119–159; doi:
10.1007/978-3-319-16184-6.
Literature cited 2: Jagadeesh, P., Murali, K. and Idichandy, V. G., Experimental
investigation of hydrodynamic force coefficients over AUV hull
form. Ocean Eng., 2009, 36, 113–118.
Suman, K. N. S., Rao, D. N., Das, H. N. and Bhanu Kiran, G., Hydrodynamic performance evaluation of an ellipsoidal nose for a
high speed under water vehicle. Jordan J. Mech. Ind. Eng., 2010,
4(5), 641–652.
ID: 66234
Title: Establishment of a free electron laser-based user facility for IR-THz spectroscopy at RRCAT
Author: M. K. Chattopadhyay, Bhaskar Biswas , Shilpam Sharma , Ashish Khandelwal , Sona Chandran, L. S. Sharath Chandra , Tushar Dave , R. S. Saini , Shankar Lal, Arvind Kumar , Umesh Kale , Saket Kumar Gupta , Ravi Kumar Pandit ,
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 710-717 25 March (2025)
Subject: Establishment of a free electron laser-based user facility for IR-THz spectroscopy at RRCAT
Keywords: Free electron laser, IR-FEL, micropulse, tunability, user facility.
Abstract: A unique user facility has been established at the Raja
Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT),
Indore for the Infrared-Terahertz (IR-THz) spectroscopy of materials under low temperature and high
magnetic field sample environment. In this facility,
studies can be performed using the intense, coherent,
monochromatic and continuously tunable electromagnetic radiation from an infrared free electron laser
(IR-FEL), or with broad-band radiation from low
power laboratory sources. The IR-FEL delivers an IR
beam with a brightness of ~1013–1014 photons/s/mm2
/
mrad2
/0.1% BW in the wavelength range of 12–54 µm
at a custom–built user station, where trial experiments
using this light have been started. A custom built Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, working in conjugation with a magneto-optical cryostat system has
been commissioned at the user station where the IRFEL light can be coupled. This is the only working FEL
in the country along with its user facility. The present
study highlights the latest results from the commissioning of the IR-FEL based user facility, the first-trial
experiments performed therein, and the future developmental ideas.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bhawalkar, D. D. et al., Synchrotron radiation sources INDUS-1 and
INDUS-2. Pramana – J. Phys., 1998, 50, 467.
Vitiello, M. S. et al., Quantum cascade lasers: 20 years of challenges.
Opt. Express, 2015, 23, 5167.
Literature cited 2: Lewis, R. A., A review of terahertz sources. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.,
2014, 47, 374001.
Pant, K. K. et al., First lasing in an infrared free electron laser at
RRCAT, Indore. Curr. Sci., 2018, 114, 367.
ID: 66233
Title: Current challenges and solutions for sustainability of Farmers Producer Organisations through grassroots organisational ecosystem
Author: Anirban Mukherjee , Shubhadeep Roy , Kausik Pradhan , V. K. Yadav, Kumari Shubha, Dhiraj Kumar Singh , Shreya Anand , Sukanya Barua , Shantanu Rakshit , Rohan Kumar Raman , Ujjwal Kumar , Banda Sainath , Ajeet Kumar Pal and Anup Das
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 699-709 25 March (2025)
Subject: Current challenges and solutions for sustainability of Farmers Producer Organisations through grassroots organisational ecosystem
Keywords: Farmers producer organisation, FPO ecosystem model, one district one product, sustainable
Abstract: India’s agricultural landscape is largely dominated by
marginal and small farmers, who constitute approximately 67% and 18% of the total farming community
respectively. This translates to a staggering 92 million
marginal farmers with less than 0.40 hectares of land
and 24 million small farmers with an average landholding of 1.42 hectares. Despite their higher productivity compared to large farmers, these smallholders
face significant resource constraints and market challenges. While the formation of Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) has partially addressed these issues,
newly established FPOs continue to encounter significant sustainability challenges. These include limited
volumes, low capital, low member engagement and a
subsidy-oriented rather than market-oriented approach.
The present article identifies critical challenges such as
limited capital, low member engagement and a predominant subsidy orientation. Currently, over 8875 FPOs
are registered nationwide, but only 16–30% are sustainable. A significant issue is the inability of the majority of
FPOs to raise more sizable amount of paid-up capital,
highlighting the urgent need for a robust grassroots organisational ecosystem. This study proposes an eight component ecosystem model for FPO sustainability,
encompassing market, policy, infrastructure, services,
inputs, HRD, finance and innovation. This model aims to
create a comprehensive support structure for FPOs,
facilitating better market access, financial resources,
member participation and innovative practices. The implementation of this model, along with suggestive measures for strengthening FPOs, is crucial for their long term viability in India’s evolving agricultural sector.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. All India Report on
Number and Area of Operational Holdings. Agriculture Census
2010–11, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 2014;
http://agcensus.nic.in/document/ac1011/reports/air2010-11complete.
pdf (accessed on 30 April 2024).
Lipton, M., Can small farmers survive, prosper, or be the key channel to cut mass po
Literature cited 2: Thapa, G. and Gaiha, R., Smallholder farming in Asia and the Pacific: challenges and opportunities. Paper presented at the Conference
on New Directions for Smallholder Agriculture, International Fund
for Agricultural Development, Rome, 24–25 January 2011.
Mukherjee, A., Prioritization of problems in integrated agriculture:
a case of Rampur village in sub humid region of Eastern India.
Indian Res. J. Extn. Edu., 2016, 15(1), 53–5
ID: 66232
Title: AI-based channel infused coral identification and tracking algorithm for autonomous underwater vehicles
Author: Bala Naga Jyothi Vandavasi, Jaswanth Nidamanuri , P. S. S. Pavan Ganesh , Ramesh Raju , Vedachalam Narayanaswamy , K. Varun Teja and Ramesh Sethuraman
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 683-690 25 March (2025)
Subject: AI-based channel infused coral identification and tracking algorithm for autonomous underwater vehicles
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, autonomous underwater vehicle, coral, detection, tracking
Abstract: Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped
with in-situ artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled image
processing capability could help understand the influence
of climate change on reef ecology, and evolve well informed policy decisions for sustaining coral reefs.
The recent focus is on developing technologies to collect
images of coral reefs autonomously over larger areas
using AUVs with AI-aided image processing capabilities.
This article presents the development of a computer
vision and deep-learning-based coral identification and
tracking algorithm trained on six distinct families of
coral images acquired from the Andaman Islands using a
remotely operated vehicle PROVe500 developed by the
National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. The
YOLOv8-trained coral detection and classification
model, along with the ByteTrack, have been used to
identify and track the corals with mean average precision
and recall rates of 97.4% and 96.8% respectively. The
developed AI algorithm gives confidence in deploying
AUVs to identify and track corals of interest or anomalies in real-time over a large spatial domain
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dove, S. G., Brown, K. T., Van Den Heuvel, A., Chai, A. and
Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Ocean warming and acidification uncouple
calcification from calcifier biomass which accelerates coral reef
decline. Commun. Earth Environ., 2020, 1(1), 55; https://doi.org/
10.1038/s43247-020-00054-x.
Novi, L. and Bracco, A., Machine learning prediction of connectivity,
biodiversity and resilience in the Coral Triangle. Commun. Biol.,
2022, 5(1), 1359; https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04330-8.
Literature cited 2: Schürholz, D. and Chennu, A., Digitizing the coral reef: machine
learning of underwater spectral images enables dense taxonomic
mapping of benthic habitats. Method Ecol. Evol., 2023, 14(2), 596–
613; https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14029.
Franceschini, S., Meier, A. C., Suan, A., Stokes, K., Roy, S. and
Madin, E. M., A deep learning model for measuring coral reef
halos globally from multispectral satellite imagery. Remote Sensing
Environ., 2023, 292, 113584; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2023.
113584.
ID: 66231
Title: Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of Aegle marmelos L. water extract for managing Solanum lycopersicum L. plant diseases
Author: Kruti Dave and Hardi Prajapati
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 677-682 25 March (2025)
Subject: Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of Aegle marmelos L. water extract for managing Solanum lycopersicum L. plant diseases
Keywords: Aegle marmelos L., antifungal activity, antimicrobial activity, control experiment, plant pathogen.
Abstract: The present study targets the management of tomato
plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens through natural pesticides. The antimicrobial and
antifungal activities of water extract from Aegle marmelos L. were assessed in vitro at various concentrations. For antimicrobial activity, the zone of inhibition
(ZOI) was measured, revealing that at 100 mg/ml concentration, the plant extract exhibited a ZOI greater
than 15 mm for bacterial strains, Xanthomonas spp.
and Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis. For
antifungal activity, the percentage of inhibition was
measured at different concentrations of the plant
extract. At the highest concentration of 10 mg/ml,
complete inhibition (100%) was observed for Botrytis
cinerea, whereas 77.5% inhibition was observed for
Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica. Subsequently,
in vivo experiments were conducted where the plant
extract was used as a natural pesticide. Compared to
the control, the treated plots demonstrated a significantly higher survival rate. These findings suggest that
A. marmelos L. water extract can serve as an effective
natural pesticide, providing a viable alternative to
chemical pesticides in tomato disease management
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Waheed, K. et al., Tomato. In Medicinal Plants of South Asia.
Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2020, pp. 631–644.
Sen, Y. et al., Bacterial canker of tomato: current knowledge of
detection, management, resistance, and interactions. Plant Dis.,
99(1), 2015, 4–13
Literature cited 2: Scott, J. W., Cameron Somodi, G. and Jones, J. B., Resistance to
bacterial spot fruit infection in tomato. HortScience, 1989, 24(5),
825–827.
Benito, E. P. et al., Fungal and plant gene expression during synchronized infection of tomato leaves by Botrytis cinerea. Eur.
J. Plant Pathol., 1998, 104, 207–220.
ID: 66230
Title: Mine dump slope stability and failure behaviour analysis under geo-mining condition using hybrid numerical modelling
Author: Kapoor Chand and Radhakanta Koner
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 667-676 25 March (2025)
Subject: Mine dump slope stability and failure behaviour analysis under geo-mining condition using hybrid numerical modelling
Keywords: Geo-mining condition, hybrid numerical modelling, mine dump, progressive failure, slope stability.
Abstract: Dump slope stability and failure behaviour analysis
under actual geo-mining conditions is tedious for mining
engineers. Therefore, the present study presents a novel
hybrid numerical modelling for dump slope stability
and failure behaviour analysis, from initiation and
transport to overburden (OB) deposition. Mixed and
broken material matrix slope stability was analysed using finite discrete element method (FDEM). The present
study used absorbing boundary conditions under gravity
force. The shear strength reduction approach was used
for slope strength analysis. Newton’s second law is incorporated to simulate rock boulder kinematics accurately during the progressive failure. The results of the
present study indicate that hybrid numerical modelling
can evaluate dump stability and simulate the complete
failure process, including crack initiation, propagation
in slope, failure surface, OB transport and deposition.
Finally, the role of mixed materials (soil and rock
boulders) in the dump slope stability and failure behaviour was analysed. FDEM is a powerful visualisation
tool for solving a numerical model under real geomining conditions. This will be helpful for the safe
working distance analysis from the dump slope toe.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Vinay, L. S., Bhattacharjee, R. M., Ghosh, N., Budi, G., Kumar, J.
V. and Kumar, S., Numerical study of stability of coal pillars under
the influence of line of extraction. Geomat. Nat. Haz. Risk, 2022,
13, 1556–1570.
Dash, A. K., Analysis of accidents due to slope failure in Indian
opencast coal mines. Curr. Sci., 2019, 117, 304–308.
Literature cited 2: Yadav, D. K., Jayanthu, S., Das, S. K., Chinara, S. and Mishra, P.,
Critical review on slope monitoring systems with a vision of unifying WSN and IoT. IET Wireless Sensor Systems, Institution of Engineering and Technology, 1 August 2019, pp. 167–180.
Kumar, A., Das, S. K., Nainegali, L., Raviteja, K. V. N. S. and
Reddy, K. R., Probabilistic slope stability analysis of coal mine
waste rock dump. Geotech. Geol. Eng., 2023, 41, 4707–4724.
ID: 66229
Title: Bringing back from the brink: a new initiative to prevent the extinction of critically endangered tree species in the wild
Author: Ganesan Balachander, E. M. Muralidharan, G. Ravikanth, B. R. Ramesh, Uma Shankar and Kamal Bawa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 654-655 25 March (2025)
Subject: Bringing back from the brink: a new initiative to prevent the extinction of critically endangered tree species in the wild
Keywords: None
Abstract: We live in what many consider the Age of
Anthropocene, where Homo sapiens has
become the dominant species on Earth.
Human activities have significantly altered
ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and
ecosystem processes. The scale and speed
of these changes, largely driven by anthropogenic factors, are unprecedented. These
include: Land and sea use change; Direct
exploitation of species for food, fuel, timber
and medicines; Pollution; The introduction
of invasive alien species.
Furthermore, owing to vastly developed
supply chain logistics, what was previously
for subsistence and local use has now become a source for the global marketplace1
.
Historically, mass extinction events were
triggered by natural phenomena like asteroid impacts or volcanic eruptions. However,
for the first time in Earth’s history, human
actions are causing a mass extinction,
where species are becoming extinct significantly faster (the sixth mass extinction)
than they have for millions of years before2
.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . IPBES, Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science – Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services.
IPBES Secretariat, Bonn, 2019, p. 1148;
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3831673.
Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P. R., Barnosky, A.
D., García, A., Pringle, R. M. and Palmer,
T. M., Sci. Adv., 2015, 1(5), e1400253
Literature cited 2: Christenhusz, M. J. M. and Byng, J. W.,
Phytotaxa, 2016, 261(3), 201–217.
Rivers, M., Newton, A. C., Oldfield, S.,
and Global Tree Assessment Contributors,
Plants, People, Planet, 2023, 5(4), 466–
482.
ID: 66228
Title: Standardisation of artificial diet for fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) mass culturing to accomplish research needs of management strategies
Author: J. N. Prithiva, S. Jeyarani, J. Indhumathi, N. Sathiah, V. Baskaran, T. Srinivasan and P. S. Shanmugam
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 627-632 25 March (2025)
Subject: Standardisation of artificial diet for fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) mass culturing to accomplish research needs of management strategies
Keywords: Artificial diet, fall armyworm, mass culturing, Spodoptera frugiperda.
Abstract: Standardising artificial diets for mass-rearing insects
in laboratory is crucial for deepening our understanding
of insect biology, behaviour and nutritional needs, which
are pre-requiste for developing effective integrated
pest management strategies. The present study was focused on formulating an optimal artificial diet for the
invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda by evaluating various
diet ingredients and their impact on insect development.
Out of 32 diet compositions tested, 16 diets supported
developments to the adult stage and these 16 diets were
further evaluated to identify the best-suited diet. Among
these, a diet based on lab lab beans emerged as the
most effective for rearing fall armyworm in the laboratory. Larvae fed with a diet of lab lab beans soaked
and supplemented with maize leaf powder, excluding
Wesson’s salt, achieved the highest larval weight
(0.3807 g on the 7th day after hatching), the shortest
larval duration (14.47 days), the highest pupal weight
(0.2520 g), the shortest pupal duration (10.03 days) and
the highest adult emergence rate (94.50%). These results were comparable to the diet of soaked lab
beans without maize leaf powder and Wesson’s salt,
which recorded a larval weight of 0.2343 g, a larval
duration of 15.50 days a pupal weight of 0.2107 g, a
pupal duration of 10.25 days, and an adult emergence
rate of 93.00. The addition of Wesson’s salt did not
significantly enhance growth parameters. Although the
diet including maize leaf powder supported the highest
adult emergence, its cost and the difficulty of sourcing
pesticide-free maize leaf powder make it impractical.
Therefore, the diet without maize leaf powder has been
standardized as the most efficient and reliable method
for producing a large and continuous supply of insects
for research purposes. This optimized diet not only ensures the robust growth and development of S. frugiperda but also provides a cost-effective and practical
solution for laboratory rearing, significantly advancing
research capabilities in pest management.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kuate, A. F. et al., Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera:
Noctuidae) in Cameroon: case study on its distribution, damage,
pesticide use, genetic differentiation and host plants. PLoS ONE,
2019, 14, 0215749.
Sharanabasappa, D. et al., First report of the fall armyworm,
Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien
invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Manage. Hortic. Ecosyst.,
2018, 24(1), 23–29.
Literature cited 2: Deshmukh, S. S., Pavithra, H. B., Kalleshwaraswamy, C. M.,
Shivanna, B. K., Maruthi, M. S. and David Mota-Sanchez., Field
efficacy of insecticides for control of invasive fall armyworm,
Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on
maize in India. Florida Entomol., 2020, 103(2), 221–227;
doi:org/10.1653/024.103.0211.
Deshmukh, S. S. et al., Economic analysis of pesticide expenditure
for managing the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda
(J. E. Smith) by maize farmers in Karnataka, India. Curr. Sci.,
2021, 121(11), 1487–1492.
ID: 66227
Title: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of Cu(II) metal ions adsorption: an insight into chitosan and bentonite
Author: Sarita Joshi, Bhupender Singh and R. K. Srivastava
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 618-626 25 March (2025)
Subject: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of Cu(II) metal ions adsorption: an insight into chitosan and bentonite
Keywords: Adsorption isotherm model, adsorption kinetic model, adsorption thermodynamics, bentonite, chitosan, FTIR
Abstract: Chitosan + bentonite modified composite was synthesized to analyse its removal efficiency for Cu(II) metal
ions. FTIR analysis done for chitosan, bentonite and
the prepared biocomposite of chitosan + bentonite gave
detailed information about the active functional group
present on the site of adsorbent. SEM-EDS micrographs reflected the distribution and weight percent of
elements in the prepared bio-composite with prominent
porosity and roughness but after the adsorption of
Cu(II), the porosity and roughness of the adsorbent
decreased. Freundlich isotherm best fitted to Cu(II)
metal ions indicates that the adsorbent surface is heterogenous. The value of the regression coefficient for the
Lagergren kinetic model for the adsorption of Cu(II)
metal ions was 1 and hence, it has the highest conformity towards the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.
Adsorption thermodynamics revealed that it was a
spontaneous and exothermic adsorption.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Bhatnagar, A. and Sillanpää, M., Utilization of agro-industrial and
municipal waste materials as potential adsorbents for water treatment: a review. Chem. Eng. J., 2010, 157, 277–296.
Gupta, M., Gupta, H. and Kharat, D., Adsorption of Cu(II) by lowcost adsorbents and the cost analysis. Environ. Technol. Innov., 2018,
10, 91–101
Literature cited 2: Sari, A., Tuzen, M., Citak, D. and Soylak, M., Equilibrium, kinetic
and thermodynamic studies of adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous
solution onto Turkish kaolinite clay. J Hazard. Mater., 2007, 149,
283–291.
Septhum, A., Rattanaphani, A., Bremner, J. B. and Rattanaphani,
V., An adsorption study of Al(III) ions onto chitosan. J. Hazard.
Mater., 2007, 148, 185–19.
ID: 66226
Title: Understanding the impact of urbanisation on wetlands using random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine: a case of East Kolkata Wetlands, India
Author: Tanmay Mondal and Preeti Onkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 608-617 25 March (2025)
Subject: Understanding the impact of urbanisation on wetlands using random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine: a case of East Kolkata Wetlands, India
Keywords: Change detection, Google Earth Engine, machine learning, prediction, random forest.
Abstract: Land cover maps help in understanding the spatial and
temporal dynamics of a particular area in a given time.
The present study was done in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) and East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) in
India using the machine learning (ML) algorithm of
random forest classification and prediction in Google
Earth Engine. The ML algorithm was used to classify
the land use land cover (LULC) maps of KMA and
EKW for 2002, 2013 and 2023. The ML prediction
model further used these LULC maps to predict the future land cover map for the year 2033, both for KMA
and EKW. A correlation analysis was done between
the built-up of KMA and the built-up of EKW to assess
the impact of the urban expansion of KMA on the wetlands of EKW. The present study explored the impact
of the increase in built-up area on the wetland and it
was seen that the built-up of EKW was increasing due
to the increase in the urban expansion of KMA. As a
result, the wetland is experiencing a decrease in biodiversity and quality of water and soil.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Song, M., Ma, X., Shang, Y. and Zhao, X., Influences of land
resource assets on economic growth and fluctuation in China.
Resour. Policy, 2020, 68, 101779.
Hassan, Z. et al., Dynamics of land use and land cover change
(LULCC) using geospatial techniques: a case study of Islamabad
Pakistan. SpringerPlus, 2016, 5, 812
Literature cited 2: Assefa, W. W., Eneyew, B. G. and Wondie, A., The impacts of
land-use and land-cover change on wetland ecosystem service
values in peri-urban and urban area of Bahir Dar City, Upper Blue
Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia. Ecol. Process., 2021, 10, 39.
Davidson, N. C., How much wetland has the world lost? long-term
and recent trends in global wetland area. Mar. Freshw. Res., 2014,
65, 934–941
ID: 66225
Title: Reproductive interventions for revitalising the sustainable production of Malabar labeo, Labeo Dussumieri, an indigenous candidate for aquaculture diversification
Author: B. L. Chandana , C. P. Abhilash, K. R. Saikrishnan, Charan Ravi , Uttam Kumar Sarkar and V. S. Basheer
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 599-607 25 March (2025)
Subject: Reproductive interventions for revitalising the sustainable production of Malabar labeo, Labeo Dussumieri, an indigenous candidate for aquaculture diversification
Keywords: Indigenous fish, induced breeding, minor carp, spawning, Western Ghats.
Abstract: Malabar labeo, Labeo dussumieri is one of the cyprinids, endemic to the Western Ghats, India. The lack of
availability of proper captive production techniques
and over-exploitation has led to a decline in the population of this fish in its natural habitats. In the present
study Malabar labeo were acclimatised to captive conditions and selected brooders were introduced into
breeding pools. They were administrated with synthetic
hormones for dose optimisation as well as breeding
trial experiments. To determine the effective dose for
induced breeding, the females were injected with WOVAFH at 0.5 (T1), 0.75 (T2) and 1.0 (T3) ml/kg body
weight. The spawning fecundity was 2.2 ± 0.2 lakhs
eggs/kg during the peak spawning season. Among the
three treatments, T2 (0.75 ml/kg body wt.) showed the
best results in terms of egg fecundity (89,560 ± 592),
fertilisation rate (94.76 ± 0.57%), hatching rate (90.31 ±
0.68%) and spawn survival rate (85.25 ± 0.54%). The
fertilised eggs were round, non-sticky with a diameter
of 2.48 ± 0.1 mm, and hatching took place between 16
and 20 h after fertilisation. The newly hatched larvae
had an average total length of 4.1 ± 0.2 mm and a
weight of 2.7 ± 0.4 mg. The study revealed the potential
of producing L. dussumieri under captivity and meeting its demand for farming and conservation
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: FAO, Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 2019, p. 10; doi:10.4060/cb7874t.
Day, F., The fishes of India, being a natural history of fishes known
to habit the seas and freshwaters of India, Burma and Ceylon, Bernard Quaritech Ltd, London, 1878, p. 195; doi:10.5962/bhl.title.
55567.
Literature cited 2: Kurup, B. M. and Kuriakose, B., Labeo dussumieri (Val) an indigenous endangered carp species of Kerala. Fish. Chimes, 1991, 14,
39–42.
Talwar, P. K. and Jhingran, A. G., Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries, Volumes I and II, Oxford and IBH Publishing, New
Delhi, India, 1991, p. 1158.
ID: 66224
Title: How do marketing channel choices affect the welfare of paddy growers in Punjab and Haryana
Author: Vinita Kanwal, Bitan Mondal , Arti and Jaspal Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 590-598 25 March (2025)
Subject: How do marketing channel choices affect the welfare of paddy growers in Punjab and Haryana
Keywords: Agricultural marketing, farmer welfare, marketing channels, multinomial logit, paddy growers.
Abstract: The marketing channel choices of paddy growers and
their subsequent effect on welfare (indicated by quantity, return and prices) are empirically estimated in the
study, conducted in the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Using data from the third Situation Assessment Survey,
the study focuses on households engaged in paddy cultivation. Results reveal that the local market is still the
most prominent marketing channel in rural Punjab
and Haryana. Around 46% of produce is disposed of
through it, and more than 50% of growers opt for the
same. There are significant variations in awareness of
the minimum support price and the price realized after
selling paddy across different categories of land ownership. Government assistance is a major factor in shaping
the marketing channel choices. The findings in the study
indicate a strong link between marketing channel choices
and the welfare of paddy growers. It provides valuable
insights into the dynamics of agricultural marketing in
India and underscores the need for tailored policy interventions to improve the welfare farmers.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Durand-Morat, A. and Bairagi, S., International rice outlook: international rice baseline projections 2020–2030, AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletin, 2021.
FAO, Market Summaries, Food Outlook June 2022, Food and Agriculture Organ
Literature cited 2: Press Information Bureau, Final estimates of production of major
crops released for the year 2022–23 Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, 2023.
Berry, L. L., Bolton, R. N., Bridges, C. H., Meyer, J., Parasuraman,
A. and Seiders, K., Opportunities for innovation in the delivery of
interactive retail services. J. Interact. Mark., 2010, 24(2), 155–167
ID: 66223
Title: Prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension, diabetes and their co-occurrence, and its correlates in India using NFHS-5 data
Author: Maya Singh and Gyan Prakash Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 578-589 25 March (2025)
Subject: Prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension, diabetes and their co-occurrence, and its correlates in India using NFHS-5 data
Keywords: Diabetes, hypertension, multivariate logistic regression, odds ratio, risk factor.
Abstract: Hypertension and diabetes are the two most prevalent
non-communicable diseases in India, and their exposure is increasing fast with time. In the present study,
an attempt is made to assess its prevalence (P), diagnosis
(D), treatment (T) and control (C) in three mutually
exclusive groups of individuals aged 30–79 who are only
hypertensive (OH), individual with only diabetes (OD)
and hypertensive as well as individual with diabetes
(HD) and its correlates based on fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) with the help of
chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. The
prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control (PDTC)
rates of the disease among OH were 21.7%, 26.9%,
23% and 10.7% respectively, and it was 11.4%, 17.1%,
16.4% and 5.1% among OD, followed by 9.9%, 24.6%,
22.4% and 3.1% among HD. They also exhibited significant associations (P-value < 0.05) and risks, such that
rural (odds ratio (OR): 0.628), and female OR: 0.876)
had a lower risk of coexistence compared to urban and
male respectively. Individuals who were divorced (OR:
1.137), age group 70-79 (OR: 7.468), smokers (OR:
1.71) and consuming alcohol (OR: 1.100), as well as
those overweighed, had a higher chance of HD. In conclusion, addressing these risk factors with association
and the geographical distribution of PDTC of HD in
India could potentially enhance public health in the
region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Zhou, B. et al., Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and
progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled
analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million
participants. The Lancet, 2021, 398(10304), 957–980.
WHO, Global report on hypertension: the race against a silent killer,
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023.
Literature cited 2: Alberti, K. G. M. M. and Zimmet, P. Z., Definition, diagnosis and
classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1: diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Provisional report of
a WHO consultation. Diabet. Med., 1998, 15(7), 539–553.
Murray, C. J. et al., Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global
Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 2020, 396(10258),
1223–1249.
ID: 66222
Title: Growth dynamics analysis of cauliflower in Himachal Pradesh
Author: Lalenpuii , Ravinder Sharma , Niyati Thakur , Pinaki Roy, Anirban Mukherjee and Kumari Shubha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 570-577 25 March (2025)
Subject: Growth dynamics analysis of cauliflower in Himachal Pradesh
Keywords: ARIMA, cauliflower, decomposition analysis, forecasting, seasonal indices
Abstract: India, one of the top producers of cauliflower (Brassica
oleracea var. botrytis) has made a significant contribution to the agricultural, nutritional and commercial
value. The present study examines the growth dynamics of cauliflower production, pricing, productivity
and area in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It focuses
on the Solan district for data on pricing, productivity
and output from 2003 to 2020, and on area, production
and productivity from 1995 to 2020. The study projects
future scenarios and analyses previous trends using
statistical tools, such as seasonal indices, decomposition analysis, Cuddy–Della Valle Index (CDVI), compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and autoregressive
integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling. Results indicate that the growth rate in production
(8.77%) surpassed the growth in area (6.48%), whereas productivity growth stood at 7%. Despite fluctuations, cauliflower cultivation remains relatively stable,
with area expansion being the primary driver of production growth. The optimal ARIMA models for forecasting area, production and productivity were
identified as ARIMA (0, 2, 1), ARIMA (2, 2, 2) and
ARIMA (2, 2, 1) respectively, suggesting an increasing
trend in area and productivity, whereas production is
projected to decline. Price growth rates ranged from
4.45% to 7.51%, exhibiting low variation, and seasonal
indices revealed higher off-season variability compared
to peak season. The selected ARIMA model for price
forecasting is ARIMA (0, 0, 1) (0, 1, 2) with drift. These
insights provide valuable information for policymakers
and stakeholders in the cauliflower market.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Yousef, E. A. A., Muller, T., Borner, A. and Schmid, K. J., Comparative analysis of genetic diversity and differentiation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) accessions from two ex situ
genebanks. PLoS ONE, 2018, 13, 1–19; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.
0192062.
Bhushan, L. S. and Pathma, J., Economic importance of cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) under Indian scenario, challenges
faced in crop protection and a survey on arthropod complex on late
season varieties of cauliflower grown in Kapurthala district, Punjab. J. Gujarat Re
Literature cited 2: Kumari, R., Shekhawat, P. S. and Jain, S., An economic analysis
of production of cauliflower in Sikar district of Rajasthan. Econ.
Affair., 2021, 66(04), 535–542; doi:10.46852/0424-2513.4.2021.2.
Gupta, G., Kumar, V., Paruthi, M. and Mendiratta, P., The cauliflower dilemma. Int. J. Indian Cult. Business Manage., 2019, 18(3),
291–297.
ID: 66221
Title: Methodology for assessment of biogas technology usage in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh using CART model on survey data
Author: Rajinder Kumar , Gurpreet Singh , Kaustav Aditya, D. K. Vatsa , Vishakha Butail , Bharti , R. S. Rana and Achala Aggarwal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 562-569 25 March (2025)
Subject: Methodology for assessment of biogas technology usage in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh using CART model on survey data
Keywords: Biofuel, biogas technology, classification and regression tree, hilly regions, machine learning, renewable energy
Abstract: Renewable energy, particularly biogas, stands as a
pivotal solution amidst global energy challenges, offering sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Himachal
Pradesh, a mountainous region in North India, exemplifies this shift with a growing network of biogas
plants to alleviate energy poverty and environmental
degradation. However, the operational success of these
biogas plants remains precarious, marked by a significant non-functionality rate. The present study examines
180 biogas plants across Hamirpur and Kangra districts,
revealing that 74.81% of these plants are non-operational. Key reasons include inadequate cattle populations,
lack of interest and constructional issues. Classification
and regression tree (CART) model was used to identify
the reasons and found that inadequate cattle population, coupled with socio-economic factors like declining
interest and migration were primary barriers to sustained biogas plant functionality. These findings highlight
the urgent need for targeted interventions, including
technological upgrades and policy reforms, to enhance
biogas plant sustainability and foster rural energy resilience in hilly terrains. By addressing these challenges,
Himachal Pradesh can harness its rich agricultural resources more effectively, thereby advancing towards a
greener and more sustainable energy future and informing policymakers on enhancing biogas technology’s effectiveness in addressing energy poverty and
promoting sustainable practices in rural communities
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ighravwe, D. E. and Babatunde, M. O., Determination of a suitable
renewable energy source for mini-grid business: a risk-based multicriteria approach. J. Renew. Energy, 2018, 3, 120; https://doi.org/
10.1155/2018/2163262.
2. Sica, D., Esposito, B., Supino, S., Malandrino, O. and Sessa, M. R.,
Biogas-based systems: an opportunity towards a post-fossil and circular economy perspective in Italy. Energy Policy, 2023, 182,
113719.
Literature cited 2: Singh, G., Vatsa, D. K., Kaushal, S., Butail, V., Kumar, B. and Gupta,
R. K., Development and performance evaluation of insulated biogas plant and usage potential in hilly regions. Biomass Convers.
Biorefin., 2023, 14, 25293–25305.
Ramachandra, T. V., Krishnadas, G., Setturu, B. and Kumar, U.,
Regional bioenergy planning for sustainability in Himachal Pradesh, India. J. Ene