Enter records

ID: 61570
Title: Real-time performance of a multi-model ensemble-based extended range forecast system in predicting the 2014 monsoon season based on NCEP-CFSv2.
Author: A.K.Sahai, R.Chattopadhyay, S.Joseph, R.Mandal, A.Dey, S.Abhilash, R.P.M.Krishna and N.Borah
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1802-1813 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Monsoon forecast, multi-model ensemble, pentad, lead time.
Abstract: The real-time validation of any strategy to forecast the Indian summer monsoon rainfall requires comprehensive assessment of performance of the model on sub-seasonal scale. The CFSv2-ased grand multi-model ensemble (CGMME) approach based on the NCEP-CFS version 2 models, as developed and reported earlier, has been employed to forecast the 2014 monsoon season on the extended range scale with 3-4 pentad lead time (where a pentad corresponds to five-day average). The present study reports the broad performance of the CGMME employed on experimental basis to forecast the salient features of the real-time evolution of the 2014 monsoon season during June to September. The CGMME is successful in predicting both these features well in advance. The assessment of the model performance at pentad scale lead time shows that the weak monsoon conditions that are evident in precipitation and lower level wind anomalies are well captured as a whole up to four pentad advance lead time. The subseasonal propagation during onset and withdrawal is also evident in the forecast. Finally, the region-wise performance shows that the spatial extent of the skillfull forecast encompasses central India as well as the monsoon zone for the 2014 monsoon season. Considering the natural variation in the forecast itself as reported in earlier studies, the 2014 monsoon forecast seems to be skillful for operational purposes. For other regions (e.g. North East India), the forecast could be skillful at times, but it still requires further research on how to improve the same.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Vitart, F., Monthly forecast at ECMWF.Mon.Weather Rev., 2004, 132, 2761-2779. Vitart, F., Woolnough, S., Balmaseda, M.A. and Tompkins, A.M., Monthly forecast of the Madden-Julian oscillation using a coupled GCM.Mon.Weather Rev., 2007, 135, 2700-2715.
Literature cited 2: Seo, K.-H.et al., Evaluation of MJO forecast skill from several statistical and dynamical forecast models.J.Climate, 2009, 22, 2372-2388. Rashid, H.A., Hendon, H.H., Wheeler, M.C. and Alves, O., Prediction of the Madden-Julian oscillation with the POAMA dynamical prediction system. Climate Dyn. 2010, 36, 649-661.

ID: 61569
Title: Phytomedicinal importance of Saraca asoca (Ashoka): an exciting past, an emerging present and a promising future.
Author: Satpal Singh, T.H.Anantha Krishna, Subban Kamalraj, Gini C.Kuriakose, Jinu Mathew Valayil and Chelliah Jayabaskaran.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1790-1801 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Drug discovery, herbal medicine, Saraca asoca, natural products, plant extracts.
Abstract: Since the dawn of civilization, natural resources have remained the mainstay of various remedial approaches of human vis-?-vis a large number of illnesses. Saraca asoca (Roxb). de Wilde (Saraca indica L) belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae has been regarded as a universal panacea in old Indian Ayurvedic texts and has especially been used to manage gynecological complications and infections besides treating haemmorhagic dysentery, uterine pain, bacterial infections, skin problems, tumours, worm infestations, cardiac and circulatory problems. Almost all parts of the plant are considered pharmacologically valuable. Extensive folkloric practices and ethno botanical applications of this plant have even lead to the availability of several commercial S.asoca formulations recommended for different indications though adulteration of these remains a pressing concern. Though a wealth of knowledge on this plant is available in both the classical and modern literature, extensive research on its phytomedicinal worth using state-of-the art tools and methodologies is lacking. Recent reports on bioprospecting of S.asoca endophytic fungi for industrial bioproducts and useful pharmacologically relevant metabolites provide a silver lining to uncover single molecular bio-effectors from its endophytes. Here, we describe socio-ethnobotanical usage, present the current pharmacological status and discuss potential bottlenecks in harnessing the proclaimed phytomedicinal worth of this prescribed Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Finally, we also look into the possible future of the drug discovery and pharmaceutical R & D efforts directed at exploring its pharma legacy.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Raskin, I., et al., Plants and human health in the twenty-first century. Trends Biotechnol. 2002, 12, 522-531. Koehn, F.E. and Carter, G.T., The evolving role of natural products in drug discovery. Nature Rev.Drug Discov., 2005, 4, 206-220.
Literature cited 2: Kusari, S.Singh, S. and Jayabaskaran, C., Rethinking production of Taxol? (paclitaxel) by fusarium solani isolated from Taxus celebica.J.Biosci., 2008, 33, 259-267.

ID: 61568
Title: Accounting for gender research performance differences in ranking universities.
Author: Giovanni Abramo and Ciriaco Andrea D ' Angelo.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1783-1789 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bibliometrics, gender differences, ranking universities, research productivity.
Abstract: The literature on the theme of gender differences in research performance indicates a gap in favour of men over women. Beyond the understanding of the factors that could be at the basis of this phenomenon, it is worthwhile understanding if it would be appropriate to conduct the evaluation per population in a manner distinguished by gender. In fact, if there is some factor that structurally determines a penalization of performance by women researchers compared to men, then the comparative evaluation in the performance of organizations ' that do not take gender into account will lead to an advantage for those that employ more men, under parity in the capacities of their staff. In this work we measure the differences in the performance and the rank of research institutions as observed when gender is taken into account compared to when it is ignored. The study population consists of all Italian universities and the performance measured in the hard sciences for the period2006-2010.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators. OECD Science, Technology and R & D Statistics (database), 2015; DOI: 10.1787/data-00182-en.Retrieved on-line from http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=MSTI_PUB (last accessed 6 November 2015). Mauleon, E.and Bordons, M., Productivity, impact and publication habits by gender in the area of material science. Scientometrics, 2006, 66 (1) 199-218.
Literature cited 2: Lee, S.and Bozeman B., The impact of research collaboration on scientific productivity.Soc.Stud.Sci, 2005, 35 (5), 673-702. Xie, Y.and Shauman, K.A., Sex differences in research productivity: new evidence about an old puzzle.Am.Social.Rev. 1998, 63 (6), 847-870.

ID: 61567
Title: Consequences of western disturbance-triggered cooling on the flowering of tree species in the Himalayan Terai region.
Author: Omesh Bajpai, Jitendra Pandey, Lal Babu Chaudhary.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1781-1782 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Consequences, western disturbance-triggered cooling on the flowering of tree species in the Himalayan Terai region.
Abstract: Currently, the study of plant phenology under the light of different climatic parameters is an impressive tool for climate change assessment studies. Thus, a number of studies have been performed globally to understand the interrelationship between these biotic (phenophases) an abiotic (temperature, precipitation, etc.) indices. These studies clearly indicate that different phonological events (flowering, fruiting, etc.) are triggered by temperature and precipitation. These climatic factors distinctly affect different phenophases at different geo-climatic regions. Therefore the regional-temporal phonological studies along with climatic variability have their own importance. Keeping these in mind, phonological observations were started in the tropical moist deciduous forest of the Himalayan Terai region from late 2009 to record the temporal behaviour of some selected tree species to complete the knowledge lacunae on phonological information from this eco-region.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Corlett, R.T.and Lafrankie, J.V., Climate Change, 1998, 39, 439-453. Mezel, A., Climate Change, 2002, 54, 379-385.
Literature cited 2: Moza, M.K. and Bhatnagar, A.K., Curr.Sci, 2005, 89 (2), 243-244. Opler, P.A., Frankie, G.W.and Baker, H.G., J.Biogeogr, 1976, 3, 231-236

ID: 61566
Title: Determinants of ' water fleas ' (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Cladocera) diversity across seasonal and environmental gradients of a polluted river.
Author: Sameer M.Padhye, Neelesh Dahanukar.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1777-1780 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Determinants, Water fleas, Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Cladocera, diversity, seasonal and environmental gradients, polluted river.
Abstract: Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda), commonly known as water fleas, consist of small, primarily freshwater crustaceans, which form a significant component of zooplankton in different aquatic ecosystems. Currently, about 720 species are known across the globe, out of which 130 are reported from Indian waters. Although studies are available on the diversity of cladocera in the riverine systems focusing on their interactions with the environment and subsequent application as bio-indicators of eutrophication, relatively less information on their ecology is known from the Indian subcontinent.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Dumount, H.J.and Negrea, S.V., In Guides to the Identification of the Micro Invertebrates of the Continental Waters of the World (ed.Dumount, H.J.), Back-huys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2002, p.398. Kotov, A.A., Forro, L., Korovchinsky, N.M. and Petrusek, A., World checklist of freshwater Cladocera species. http: //fada.biodiversity.be/group/show/17 (accessed on 25 December 2014).
Literature cited 2: Chatterjee, T., Kotov, A.A., Van Damme, K., Chandrasekhar, S.V.A. and Padhye, S., Zootaxa, 2013, 3667, 1-89. Saunders, J.F.and Lewis Jr, W., Biotropica, 1988, 20 (3), 206-214.

ID: 61565
Title: Watershed-scale runoff-erosion-carbon flux dynamics: current scope and future direction of research.
Author: S.Patra, D.Mandal, P.K.Mishra, P.R.Ojasvi, P.K.Mishra, J.P.Patra, G.Kumar, R.Kaushal and N.M.Alam.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1773-1774 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Watershed-scale, runoff-erosion-carbon flux dynamics, current scope, future direction of research.
Abstract: Soil plays an important role in the ecosystem with regard to plant growth, soil biota functioning, reduction of greenhouse gases, modification of pollutants and maintenance of soil quality. The great importance of C stocks emphasizes the need to understand the role of soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and quantitative changes as affected by natural conditions and site-specific management. Soil carbon inventories and turnover rates are influenced by climate, vegetation, parent material, topography and time. Studies attempting to understand the influence of a specific factor (e.g. temperature or moisture) on soil properties have found it useful to identify a group of soils for which the factor in question varies. Nevertheless, soils are the largest pool of terrestrial carbon containing 1550 Pg of soil organic carbon (SOC).This vast carbon pool is subjected to perturbation as a result of anthropogenic activities (land-use change) and natural reasons (climate change, soil erosion, etc).The maintenance and enhancement of this terrestrial carbon can occur only through better land-management practices.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Lal, R., Energy Environ.Sci, 2008, 1 (1), 86-100. Houghton, J.T. et al., Climate Change 2001: The scientific Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the IPCC Third Assessment Report, Cambridge, UK, 2001, p.892.
Literature cited 2: Melillo, J.M., Aber, J.D.and Muratore, J.F., Ecology, 1982, 63, 621-626. Balesdent, J., Wagner, G.H. and Mariotti, A., Soil Sci.Soc.Am.J. 1988, 52, 118-124.

ID: 61564
Title: India ' s climate pledge and the global goal of limiting warming below 2?C.
Author: Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1769-1772 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: India, Climate pledge, global goal, limiting, warming, 2? C
Abstract: In this note we have compared India ' s pledges (also called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with that of other major economies of the world. We find that despite being the most populous country in the world in 2030, India ' s greenhouse gas emissions under its INDC scenario will still be about a third compared to China. Further, we test India ' s INDC on the two well-regarded, but divergent approaches of emission reductions sharing between the nations and conclude it is consistent with more than 50 % probability of limiting warming below 2? C under both the approaches, provided that other world regions adhere to their required emission reductions.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Baumert, K.A., Herzog, T. and Pershing, J., Navigating the Numbers Greenhouse Gas and International Climate Policy. World Resources Institute, London, 2005. MoEF, GoI, Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2007.Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India, 2010.
Literature cited 2: UNFCCC, Synthesis report on the aggregate effect of intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2015. Matthews, H.D., Solomon, S. and Pierrehumbert, R., Philos.Trans.R.Soc. 2012, 370, 4365-4379.

ID: 61563
Title: Indian Solar Radiation Atlas is launched.
Author: Anup Kumar Das.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1765-1765 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Indian, Solar Radiation, Atlas, Launched.
Abstract: On 3 June 2015, the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai has launched the Indian Solar Radiation Atlas-an on-line GIS-based information portal to facilitate expansion of the solar energy sector in the country. NIWE is a research institute under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India (GoI).The Solar Radiation Resource Assessment (SRRA) wing of the NIWE is responsible for setting up and maintaining ground stations at different States and Union Territories in the country. The Solar Radiation Measuring Network, now with strength of 121 ground stations, was initially started with the Solar Mapping and Monitoring (SolMap) Project, supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, under the International Climate Initiative. These ground stations are located mostly at technological universities and engineering colleges across the states. SolMap Project facilitated setting up the Solar Radiation Measuring Network and later the development of this Atlas. SRRA has technically collaborated with the German International Cooperation (GIZ), under the Indo-German Energy Programme, and also received technical assistance from Germany-based Suntrace.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Kumar, A., Gomathinayagam, S., Giridhar, G., Mitra, I., Vashistha, R., Meyer, R. and Chhatbar, K., Energy Procedia, 2014, 49, 2351-2361. Mitra, I., Chhatbar, K., Kumar, A, Giridhar, G, Vashistha, R., Meyer, R.and Schwandt, M., Int.J.Renew.Energy Dev., 2014, 3 (3), 207-216.
Literature cited 2: Press Information Bureau, Revision of cumulative targets under National Solar Mission from 20, 000 MW by 2021-22 to 1, 00, 000 MW, 2015; http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=122566.

ID: 61562
Title: A need to revive research on sea cucumbers in India.
Author: R.S.Daniel
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (10) 1763-1764 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Need, revive, Research, Sea cucumbers, India.
Abstract: More than 1400 species of sea cucumber are known from global seas with nearly 200 species around Indian waters of which 75 are within 20 m depth, but just 15 are of commercial value. Holothuroids are the second most diverse echinoderm class, with some 200 described genera containing about 1600 extant species.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: James, D.B., Naga ICLARM Quart, 2001, 24, 4-8. James, D.B., In Glimpses of Aquatic Biodiversity, Rajiv Gandhi Chair Spl.Publ, 2008, 7, 120-132.
Literature cited 2: Smiley, S., In Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates (eds Harrison, F.W. and Chia, Fu-Shiang) 14, Echinodermata, Wiley-Liss, New York, 1994, pp.401-471. James, D.B., Technical Bulletin, The Fisheries Technocrats Forum, March 2004, Chennai, vol.2, pp.1-24.

ID: 61561
Title: Bioresources of the Eastern Ghats:Their Conservation and Management
Author: K.V.Krishnamurthy,R.Murugan and K.Ravikumar (reviewed by Anantanarayanan Raman)
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1733-1734 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bioresources, Eastern Ghats, Conservation, Management
Abstract: Bioresources of the Eastern Ghats reminded me of M.S.Mani ' s Ecology and Biogeography inIndia.Remembering Mani-that remarkable and wholesome Inidan biologist,whose understanding and vision of Indian animals and plants andtheir geography remain unchallenged even today-was pleasant and I pay my homage to this stalwart.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Mani, M.S. (ed)., Ecology an Biogeography in India, W.Junk Publishers, The Hague, 1974, P.773. Thurston,E., The Madras Presidency with Mysore, Coorg, and the Associated States, The University Press, Cambridge, 1913,p.293.
Literature cited 2: Rajagopalan,C.,Proc.IndianAcad.Sci.,Sect.A., 1947,26,237-260.

ID: 61560
Title: Detection of glacier lakes buried under snow by RISAT-1 SAR in the Himalayan terrain.
Author: S.K.Singh, A.S.Rajawat, B.P.Rathore, I.M.Bahuguna and M.Chakraborty.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1728-1732 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Backscattering coefficient, glacier lakes, snow and cloud, synthetic aperture radar.
Abstract: Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals penetrate through the dry snow and cloud providing crucial data over the Himalayan temperate glaciers and complement the optical images. In the present study, RISAT-1 C band and AWiFS images of winter/ablation period over Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath moraine dammed lakes (MDLs) in Himachal Pradesh have been analysed. Backscattering coefficient of the lake was observed to be low throughout the year. Penetration depth of SAR into dry snowpack was calculated to vary from 4 to 22 m for a range of snow density (0.1-0.5 g/cm3), whereas it was estimated to be 1.20-2.01 m based on ground observations for 30 January and 24 February 2013.The present study provides results of RISAT-1 C-band penetration up to ~2 m through the snowpack to detect MDLs using in the Himalayan terrain. The detection of MDLs using the back-scattering images of winter season was validated with synchronous A WiFS sensor images.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Ulaby, F.T., Moore,R.K. and Fung, A.K., Microwave Remote Sensing Active and Passive,II & III, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1986, p.2162. Joseph, G., Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, Universities Press (India) Private Limited, Hyderabad, 2003, p.431.
Literature cited 2: Rees, G.W.,Remote Sensing of Snow and Ice, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2006, p.284. Shi, J., Active microwave remote sensing systems and applications to snow monitoring. In Advances in Land Remote Sensing 9ed.Liang, S.), Springer Science + Business Media B.V.college Park, MD, 2008, pp.19-49.

ID: 61559
Title: Borehole radar for delineation of unapproachable underground coal-mine galleries below Grand Chord railway lines.
Author: K.K.K.Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1722-1727 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Abandoned mines, borehole radar, coal-mine galleries, railway lines.
Abstract: There are chances of railway lines being unsafe and thus directly affecting the safety of persons and goods due to presence of old, abandoned and inaccessible mine workings below them. In the past, about 21 galleries in the leasehold of Kunstoria and Satgram areas of the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), West Bengal and 33 galleries in the leasehold of Mugma area of ECL were driven below the Eastern Railway on the Grand Chord Howrah-Delhi railway line between Andal and Dhanbad. The abandoned mine plans of most of these galleries are not available and as such the exact locations of the galleries were not known. Keeping the above points in view, the present study was taken up for delineating the inaccessible and unknown mine galleries using borehole radar near Ratibati Colliery, Satgram area. A borehole radar survey has been conducted using an antenna frequency of 100 MHz along the six proposed railway sites. Six mine galleries were delineated in a radial distance varying from 4.5 to 5.0 m from the investigation boreholes and at the depths of 24, 27.5, 36.5, 51.5, 53.5 and 54.5 m respectively, from the surface. These mine galleries have been confirmed using direct non-coring drilling. It is also suggested that all mine galleries should be filled up with sand for the safety of the Grand Chord railway tracks in future.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Anon., Safety Action Plan 2000-01, Kuardi Colliery, Satgram Area, Unit-13 &14 Pits, Eastern Coalfields Limited, West Bengal, 2001. Rossaert, F., Fenning, P.J.Giannopoulos, A., McCann, D.M. and McForde, Identifying mineshaft near railroads, School of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh, 2003.
Literature cited 2: James, P., Conroy, M.S. and Erich, D.G., Borehole Tomography and Surface 3D Radar for Coal Mine Subsidence Detection, Springfield, Virginia, USA, 2005. Cook, J.C., Borehole-radar exploration in a coal seam. Geophysics, 1977, 42, 1254-1257.

ID: 61558
Title: Application of neural network based on genetic algorithm in predicting magnitude of earthquake in North Tabriz Fault.
Author: Negar Sadat Soleimani Zakeri and Saeid Pashazadeh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1715-1722 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Artificial neural network, earthquake magnitude, genetic algorithm, temporal seismicity features.
Abstract: Here we present an application of a supervised feed forward artificial neural network (ANN) that is trained on the basis of genetic algorithm (GA). The network is model is used for predicting the magnitude of earthquakes in the North Tabriz Fault (NTF) North-west Iran. The earthquake database was derived from the catalogues of both the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismicity of Iran and the Iranian Seismological Center. For this purpose, three temporal seismicity parameters were calculated using the ZMAP MATLAB toolbox. The performance of the artificial neural network (ANN) model was measured in terms of accuracy by a ten-fold cross validation as 99.11%.Another evaluation method was predicting as 99.11 %.Another evaluation method was predicting a case event that occurred on 11 August 2012 I n Ahar- Varzeghan in Iran. Results showed that the ANN optimized with GA (ANNGA) learning optimization model is suitable and may be useful for predicting future earthquakes, especially in active seismologic regions.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Hessami, K., Pantosti, D., Tabassi, H., Shabanian, E., Abbassi, M.R., Feghni, K.and Solaymani, S., Paleoearthquakes and slip rates of the North Tabriz Fault, NW Iran: preliminary results.Ann.Geophys. 2003, 46, 903-915. Gheitanchi, M.R., Mirzaei, N. and Bayramnejad, E., Pattern of seismicity in Northwest Iran, revealed from local seismic network.Geoscience, 2004, 11, 104-111.
Literature cited 2: Karimzadeha, S., Cakirb, Z., Osmano gluc, B., Schmalzled, G., Miyajimaa, M., Amiraslanzadeha, R.and Djamoure, Y., Interseismic strain accumulation across the North Tabriz Fault (NW Iran) deduced from InSAR time series.J.Geodyn., 2013, 66, 53-58. Djamour, Y., Vernanat, P., Nankali, H.R. and Tavakoli, F., NW Iran-eastern Turkey present-day kinematics: results from the Iranian permanent GPS network. Earth Planet.Sci.Lett. 2011, 307, 27-34.

ID: 61557
Title: Effect of diet quality and associated metabolic changes in adult stress response and life-history traits in Drosophila ananassae.
Author: Seema Sisodia, Puja Verma and Bashisth Narayan Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1687-1696 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Drosophila ananassae, environmental stress, Malpighian tubules, nutritional regimes, physiology.
Abstract: While investigating the role of larval nutrition in adult stress tolerance in Drosophilla ananassae during the course of the previous study, we have assumed certain hypothesis behind the mechanisms underlying ecological adaptation of this species. Keeping this in view, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the mechanistic role of diets during stress response at cellular and metabolic level in D.ananassae. To gain insight into the molecular and physiological basis of variation in stress tolerance in files developed on different nutritional regimes, we identified a novel factor that depositions of uric acid crystals in Malpighian tubules of flies has a regulatory role in tolerance to desiccation. To assess the role of diet in variation in the physiological process by immunostaining method, we checked (Na+/K+) ion-pump in Malpighian tubules. Results suggest that physiological activities of files fed on carbohydrate food are higher as indicated by the elevated level of (Na+/K+) -ATPase ion transport. We also found significant dietary effects on egg production and egg-to-adult viability, suggesting a possible trade-off between the traits investigated. Expression of Hsp60 was also modulated bydiet.Hsp60 was highly expressed in carbohydrate and protein-enriched medium compared to normal food.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
Literature cited 1: Hoffmann, A.A. and Parsons, P.A., Evolutionary Genetics and Environmental Stress, Oxford University Press, New York, 1991. Rion, S. and Kawecki, T.J., Evolutionary biology of starvation resistance: what we have learned from Drosophila.J.Evol.Biol. 2007, 20, 1655-1664.
Literature cited 2: Lee, K.P., Simpson, S.J. and Wilson, K., Dietary protein-quality influences melanization and immune function in an insect.Funct.Ecol. 2008, 22, 1052-1061. Karasov, W.H., Energetics, physiology and vertebrate ecology. Trends Ecol.Evol. 1986, 1, 101-104.

ID: 61556
Title: Effect of ambient heat on all-cause mortality in the coastal city of Surat, India.
Author: Vikas K.Desai, ShaileshWagle, Suresh Kumar Rathi, Urvi Patel, Hemant S. Desai and Kaplesh Khatri.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 109 (9) 1680-1686 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Ambient heat, mortality, temperature, humidity, urban population.
Abstract: A wealth of information is available on extreme heat and humidity associated with mortality for cities of the developed world, but there is a dearth of in the literature for coastal cities of the developing world. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of ambient heat on all-cause mortality on the urban population of Surat, a coastal city in India. Retrospective analysis of all cause mortality data with temperature and humidity was performed for the summer months (March-May) for the period 2001-12.Student ' s t- test and correlation coefficient were used to study the relationship between ambient heat and mortality. A total of 36, 167 deaths for 961 summer days (2001-12) were analysed. Mean daily mortality was estimated at 37.6 ? 9.4 for the study period. There is an increase of 11 % mortality when the temperature crosses 40?C.However, there is an increase of 3 (95) deaths per day during danger-level heat-risk days and 6 (18%) deaths per day during high-risk heat days (extreme danger) respectively. Mortality seems to be well correlated with the high temperature (P< 0.001) and high heat index (HI) values (P<0.001).The effect of extreme heat on mortality is at a peak on day-2 of the maximum temperature. The study concludes that the impact of ambient heat in the increase of all cause mortality is clearly evident and HI is more important than maximum temperature (18 % deaths/day versus 11 % deaths/day).Therefore, emphasis should be given to develop measures of adaptation towards ambient heat. This analysis may fulfil the needs of policy makers and apply strategies like integrated coastal zone management. Extreme heat-related mortality merits further analysis in order to reduce harmful health effects among Surat ' s most vulnerable urban population.
Location: TE15, EWRG, CES, IISc.
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