Enter records

ID: 60870
Title: Ecological and health risk assessment of metal in resuspended particles of urban street dust from an industrial city in China
Author: Xue Xu, Xin Wei Lu, Xiufeng Han and Ni Zhao
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (1) 72-79 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Environmental health, metal contamination, risk assessment, street assessment.
Abstract: Concentration and ecological and health risks of metals in the resuspended particles of urban street dust collected from an industrial city, Baotou, China were studied. The results show that the average concentrations of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in the studied samples are 990.1, 56.2, 247.8, 31.5, 566.3, 26.1, 59.9, 82.2 and 77.5 mg kg-1 respectively, which are higher than the background values of Inner Mongolia soil, especially Co, Cr and Pb. The results of potential ecological risk analysis demonstrate that Ba, Mn, V, Zn and Ni in the samples are in low ecological risk levels whereas Cr, Cu and Pb are in low to moderate ecological risk levels. Co reveals moderate to considerable ecological risk. The aggregate ecological risk of metals in the resuspended particles of street dust from Baotou is in the moderate level. Human health risk assessment shows that ingestion is the main exposure pathway of metals in dust to the local habitants. The upper limit of the 95 % confidence interval of hazard indices for non-cancer risks of all analysed metals in the resuspended particles of street dust is within the safe level, while the maximum hazard index of Cr for children due to dust exposure is a matter of concern. The cancer risk of Co, Cr and Ni to local habitants, considering only inhalation, is within the currently acceptable range.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Ferreira-Baptista, L. and De Miguel, E., Geochemistry and risk assessment of street dust in Luanda, Angola: a tropical urban environment.Atmos.Environ., 2005, 39, 4501-4512. Hu, X., Zhang, Y., Luo, J., Wang, T.J., Lian, H.Z and Ding, Z.H., Bioaccessibility and health risk of arsenic, mercury and other metals in urban street dusts from a mega-city, Nanjing, China. Environ. Pollut., 2011, 159, 1215-1221.
Literature cited 2: Bilos, C., Colomobo, J.C., Skorupka, C.N. and Presa,M.J.R., Source, distribution and variability of airborne trace metals in La Plata city area, Argentina,Environ.Pollut., 20011, 111, 149-158. Lu, X.W., Wang, L.J., Lei, K., Huang, J. and Zhai, Y.X., Contamination assessment of cooper, lead, zinc, manganese and nickel in street dust of Baoji, NW China. J. Hazard. Mater., 2009, 161, 1058-1062.

ID: 60869
Title: Scientific endeavours for natural resource management in India.
Author: N.K. Lenka, Sangeeta Lenka and A.K. Biswas.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (1) 39-44 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Land degradation, natural resources, soil and water conservation, watershed management.
Abstract: Natural resource management (NRM) based on scientific principles plays a crucial role for an inclusive and sustainable growth in India. The shrinking per capita natural resources leads to intensive land use and results in further environmental degradation. This calls for developing agroecoregion-specific land-use plans based on homogeneity in soil, water and climatic features in a particular region and managing a particular land unit on watershed basis involving the local community. This article consolidates information on the science-based efforts made by the government of India through various scientific establishments and science-led development schemes for NRM over time. Despite the existence of a number of institutions for NRM research, there is hardly any coordination across the Departments and Ministries. The missing links in NRM research are discussed in this article keeping in view the emphasis of the government and the importance of natural resources in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in India.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Khoshoo, T.N., Biodiversity in the Indian Himalayas: conservation and utilization. In Banking on Biodiversity (ed. Sheggi, P.), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, 1996. India ' s looming freshwater crisis. The Financial Express, 18 January 2007.
Literature cited 2: ICAR, Degraded and wastelands of India-status and spatial distribution by ICAR and NAAS. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 2010. Dhruvanarayana, V.V. and Rambabau, Estimation of soil erosion in India.J.Irrig.Drain.Eng., 1983, 109, 419-434.

ID: 60868
Title: Prevention of malaria through forecast-based precision vector sanitation and exposure advisory: a conceptual and feasibility analysis.
Author: P. Goswami.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (1) 19-21 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Prevention, Malaria, forecast-based precision vector, sanitation and exposure advisory, conceptual, feasibility, analysis.
Abstract: Response to outbreaks of malaria is still mostly reactive, based on general schedule or post-outbreak decision. However, abundance of mosquito vector that leads to outbreaks of malaria can vary significantly depending upon the environmental conditions, making a general schedule less effective. Further, exposure of the [incidental] human host to bites also determines the intensity of the epidemic. Identification of potential sites and time of vector genesis can, therefore, enable proactive vector sanitation and reduction of encounters between mosquito and human through exposure advisories. Validated quantitative relations between weather variables and malaria vector, along with recent advances in meterological monitoring and mesoscale weather forecasting, integrating other critical components like GIS and communication now make such a platform feasible. Such an approach and methodology would lead to a paradigm shift through ensuring wellness rather than treatment; the applicability of the approach to some other diseases is discussed.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Kiszewski, A.E. and Teklehaimanot, A., Am.J.Trop.Med.Hyg., 2004, 71, 128-135. The maIERA consultative group on drugs.PLoS Med, 2011, 8 (1), e1000402.
Literature cited 2: Mohapatra, P.K., Narain, K., Prakash, A., Bhattacharyya, D.R. and Mahanta, J., Natl.Med.J.India, 2001, 14 (3), 139-142. Sharma, S.K., Tyagi, P.K., Padhan, K., Adak, T. and Subbarao, S.K., Ann.Trop. Med.Parasitol., 2004, 98, 459-568.

ID: 60867
Title: Drainage development in Achankovil Shear Zone, South India.
Author: V.Dhanya and G.Renoy
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1151-1156 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Antecedent river, palaeo strand lines, shear zone, structural valley.
Abstract: The WNW-ESE trending Achankovil Shear Zone (ASZ) in southern India is a major crustal discontinuity of Proterozoic age which separates Kerala Khondalite Belt (KKB) in the south from the Charnockite massif in the north. The Achankovil river drains this structural valley. Although the river bears imprints of various geologic events, including neotectonic activities, it could maintain a straight course even in the lowland indicating its antecedent nature. The present communication is an attempt to study structural controls on drainage development and evolution within ASZ based mostly on geomorphological evidences and also on some geological indicators.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Fryirs, K. and Brierley, G.J., Antecedent controls on river character and behaviour in partly confined valley settings, Upper Hunter catchment, NSW, Australia, Geomorphology, 2010, 117, 106-120. Soman, K., Geology of Kerala, Geological Society of India, Bangalore, 2002.
Literature cited 2: Drury, S.A., Harris, N.B.W., Holt, R. W., Revees-Smith, G.J. and Wightman, R.T., Precambrian tectonics and crustal evolution in south India. J. Geology, 1984, 92, 3-20. Sacks, P.E., Nambiar, C.G. and Walters, L.J., Dextral Pan-African shear along the south-western edge of the Achankovil shear belt, south India: constraints on Gondwana reconstructions. J.Geol., 1997, 105, 275-284.

ID: 60866
Title: Observations of rainfall in Garhwal Himalaya, India during 2008-2013 and its correlation with TRMM data.
Author: D.D. Khandelwal, Anil K. Gupta and Vishal Chauhan.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1146-1150 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Extreme rainfall events, rain gauge, monsoon season, seasonal and diurnal variations.
Abstract: Rainfall variations in the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttara-khand were studied for a period of six years from 2008 to 2013. The rainfall data were obtained through a dense network of rain gauges installed by India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi, are spreaded over seven districts of Uttarakhand, combined with the data from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) rain gauge located at Ghuttu, Garhwal Himalaya. The rainfall data of WIHG have a sampling interval of 15 min, while IMD provides district-wise rainfall measurements with monthly temporal resolution. Therefore, extreme events of rainfall which occurred in a short duration of time were observed using the rainfall data of WIHG. Similarly, daily diurnal variations of rainfall were also observed in these data. The seasonal variations and distribution of rainfall in different districts of the Garhwal region were seen in both WIHG and IMD datasets. An increasing trend of rainfall activity was seen from 2008 to 2013. Meteorological observations suggest that the isohyets has shifted towards end-September in recent years. Two events of extreme rainfall in the Garhwal Himalaya in 2012 and 2013 caused a major loss of life and property in the region. The rain gauge of WIHG recorded heavy rainfall during both the events. In 2012, ~70 mm rainfall was recorded in 1h and in 2013 the rain gauge data showed about 250 mm rainfall in 52 h. The daily diurnal records of rainfall show a minimum between 0700 and 1300 h local time (local time= UT + 5.30 h) and diurnal maximum between 2200 and 0300 h local time for all the years. The seasonal variation of rainfall reveals that the peak season of monsoon ranges from June to September in the Garhwal region, which contributes about 50-90 % to the annual rainfall. We also compared the observed results of rain gauges with TRMM-derived rainfall data and found a good correlation ranging from 0.6 to 0.9.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Rozalis, S., Morin, E., Yair, Y. and Price, C., Flash flood prediction using an uncalibrated hydrological model and radar rainfall data in a Mediterranean watershed under changing hydrological conditions.J. Hydrol., 2010, 394, 245-255. Almazroui, M., Calibration of TRMM rainfall climatology over Saudi Arabia.Atmos.Res., 2011, 99, 400-414.
Literature cited 2: Varikoden, H., Preethi, B., Samah, A. A. and Babu, C.A., Seasonal variation of rainfall characteristics indifferent classes over peninsular Malaysia.J.Hydrol., 2011, 404, 99-108. Mishra, A. Siderius, C., Aberson, K., Ploeg, M.V.D.and Froe-brich, J., Short-term rainfall forecasts as a soft adaptation to climate change in irrigation management in North-East India.Agric. Water Manage, 2013, 127, 97-106.

ID: 60865
Title: The combination of principal component analysis and geostatistics as a technique in assessment of groundwater hydrochemistry in arid environment.
Author: Yousef Nazzal, Faisal K. Zaidi, Izzar Ahmed, Habes Ghrefat, Muhammad Naeem, Nassir S.N.Al-Arifi, Saeed A. Al-Shaltoni and Khaled M. Al-Kahtany.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1138-1145 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Arid region, geostatistics, groundwater quality, kriging, principal component analysis.
Abstract: Central Saudi Arabia is one of the most arid regions of the world with very little precipitation and extreme climatic conditions. In the absence of available surface water supplies, the non-renewable groundwater resources stored in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary formations form the most important source for irrigation and domestic water requirements. The present study deals with 97 groundwater samples collected from Saq aquifer, which is the major aquifer in the region. The study involves the use of principal component analysis (PCA) and variogram analysis for groundwater quality mapping. PCA helped in establishing a series of factorial variables that summarize all the hydrochemical information. Efforts have been made to identify the spatial development of the principal process acting on groundwater quality by mapping it using factorial variables and ordinary kriging techniques. Two principal components (PCs) were extracted revealing that the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the region were acquired through rock-water interactions and anthropogenic influences. Finally, by applying kriging interpolation technique on the factor distribution values for the two PCs in the area under investigation, the factor distribution maps were prepared. The results concluded that both natural and anthropogenic processes contribute to the groundwater quality, but anthropogenic impacts are more important and may result in further deterioration of groundwater quality if relevant protection methodologies are not adopted.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Soumaya, H., Kolsi, S., Bouri, W., Hachicha, H. and Ben, D., Implementation and evaluation of multivariate analysed for ground-water hydrochemistry assessment in arid environment: a case study of Hajeb Elyoun-jelam, Central T Unisia.Environ.Earth Sci., 2013, 70, 2215-2224. Zekai, C. (ed), Wadi hydrology, In Groundwater Management Methods for Arid Regions, Taylor and Francis, London, 2008, pp. 243-301.
Literature cited 2: Webster, R. and Oliver, M.A., Statistics to support soil research and their presentation. Eur .J. Soil Sci., 2001, 52 (2), 331-340. Espinosa, R.J., Sousa, A.J. and Chica-Olmo, M., Identification of geochemical anomalies using principal components analysis factorial kriging analysis.J. Geochem.Explor., 1993, 46, 245-256.

ID: 60864
Title: Evaluation of a regional climate model for impact assessment of climate change on crop productivity in the tropics.
Author: Manju Zacharias, S. Naresh Kumar, S.D. Singh, D.N.Swaroopa Rani and P.K. Aggarwal.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1119-1126 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Climate change, crop yield, impact assessment, regional climate models.
Abstract: Regional climate models (RCMs) are considered to be more useful than general circulation models for assessing impacts of climate change scenarios in agriculture. In this communication, the climatic outputs of an RCM-PRECIS (providing regional climates for impact studies) model were analysed by comparing its baseline simulation daily weather data on temperature and precipitation patterns with the observed weather for the corresponding period (1960-1990) in order to find out the bias in the model. Results showed that model could simulate the mean weather parameters on an aggregated scale, but could not satisfactorily represent spatio-temporal variations. There exists a bias towards higher precipitation along with more intense warm and cold events in the baseline simulation. In order to quantify the impacts of the PRECIS model biasness in baseline simulations on crop performance, rice (kharif season) and wheat (rabi season) yields were simulated using the observed weather and the PRECIS baseline weather for several locations representing the Indo-Gangetic Plains. With more extreme weather parameters in the baseline simulated data, the grain yields of rice and wheat were reduced, even causing wheat crop failure in several years as against none observed. The results indicated that using PRECIS baseline daily weather may cause bias in crop performance assessments. Since the bias in base-line will be carried forward in the assessment of future climatic impacts, there is a need to develop more reliable regional climate scenarios for the Indian region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Aggarwal, P.K., Global change and Indian agriculture: impacts, adaptation and mitigation.Indian.J.Agric.Sci., 2008, 78 (10), 3-11. Cline, W.R., Global warming and agriculture: impact estimates by country. Center for Global Development, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington DC, 2007.
Literature cited 2: Stern, N., The economics of climate change.Am.Econ.Rev.Pap.Proc., 2007, 98, 2-37. Luo, Q., Bellotti, W., Williams, M. and Wang, E., Adaptation to climate change of wheat growing in South Australia: analysis of management and breeding strategies.Agric.Ecosyst.Environ., 2009, 129 (1-3), 261-267.

ID: 60863
Title: Shear sense analysis of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Belt and tectonics of the South Tibetan Detachment System, Alaknanada-Dhauli Ganga valleys, Uttarakhand Himalaya.
Author: M.Shreshtha, A.K.Jain and Sandeep Singh.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1107-1118 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Higher Himalayan Crystalline Belt, shear structures, tectonic models.
Abstract: In the central parts of Uttarakhand Himalaya, more than 20 km thick homoclinally NE-dipping Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) Belt is thrust over the Lesser Himalaya Sedimentary Belt along the Main Central Thrust (MCT), and is almost continuously exposed between Helang and Malari along the Alaknanada and Dhauli Ganga valleys. The upper contact of this belt with the Martoli Formation of the Tethyan Himalayan Sequence is demarcated by the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). The belt is ubiquitously marked by small-scale asymmetrical structure like S-C and S-C ' foliation, porphyroclasts and porphyroblasts, mineral fishes, inrtrafolial folds, duplex structures, ductile-brittle shear zones, and asymmetric shear boudins. Sense of ductile to brittle-ductile shearing has been determined from these structures across the whole belt, the MCT and the STDS, and reveals two phases of shear deformation: (a) an older top-to-SW upwads phase throughout the HHC, having an overall thrust geometry (DS1), and (b) a younger superposed top-to-NE downwards phase with normal fault sense from the middle to upper parts (DS2). These shear senses provide provide invaluable constraints on various tectonic models currently in use for the evolution of the Himalayan metamorphic.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Valdiya, K.S., Geology of the Kumaon Lesser Himalaya,Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun, India, p. 249. Thakur, V.C., geology of Western Himalaya, Pergamon Press, New York, 1993, p. 363.
Literature cited 2: Srikantia, S.V. and Bhargava, O.N., Geology of Himachal Pradesh, Geological Society of India, Text Book Series 9, 1998, p.416. Hodges, K.V., Tectonics of the Himalaya and southern Tibet from two perspective. Geol.Soc.Am.Bull., 2000, 112, 324-350.

ID: 60862
Title: Molecular modelling approaches for designing inhibitors of L-amino acid oxidase from Crotalus adamanteus venom
Author: Jyotirmoy Mitra, Kanika Sharma and Debasish Bhattacharyya
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1086-1096 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Docking, molecular modeling, snake venom toxins, suicide substrate, L-amino acid oxidase.
Abstract: L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) from snake venom induces diverse toxicity into the victims, which is attributed to H2O2 generated during the catalytic conversion of L-amino acids. In this study, homology model of LAAO from Crotalus adamanteus has been compared with the crystal structure of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma. The root mean square deviations obtained from superposition of the FAD-binding, substrate-binding and helical domains of LAAO from Crotalus adamanteus with those of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma crystal structure confirmed a high degree of structural similarity between them. Based on the interactions of the substrate, L-Phenylalanine and the reversible inhibitor, o-aminobenzoic acid with the catalytic residues of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma, five probable inhibitors were designed. AutoDock Vina program was employed to perform automated molecular docking of these probable inhibitors. Two of them emerged as reversible inhibitors with IC50 values of 1.6 and 3.3 ?M respectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Vaiyapuri, S., Wagstaff, S.C., Watson, K.A., Harrison, R.A., Gibbins, J.M.and Hutchinson, E.G., Purification and characterization of rhiminopeptidase A., a novel aminopeptidase from the venom of Bitis gabonica.PLoS Neg.Dis, 2010, 4, e796. Curti, B., Ronchi, S. and Simonetta, M.P., D - and L-amino acid oxidases. In Chemistry and Biochemistry of Flavoenzymes (ed. Muller, F.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1992, vol. 3, pp. 69-94.
Literature cited 2: Du, X, Y. and Clemetson, K.J., Snake venom L-amino acid oxidases.Toxicon, 2002, 40, 659-665. Suhr, S.M. and Kim, D.S., Identification of snake venom substrate that induces apoptosis. Biochem.Biophys.Res.Commun., 1996, 224, 134-139.

ID: 60861
Title: Viability of solar rooftop photovoltaic systems in grouphousing schemes.
Author: K.R.Shanmugavalli and Ranee Vedamuthu.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1080-1085 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Group housing schemes, rooftop solar photovoltaic, RTPV Indian scenario, solar energy.
Abstract: With conventional energy sources being limited in their availability, the search for alternative renewable energy sources inevitable. Solar energy, an inexhaustible renewable energy is considered a vital source for developing country like India, where there is a major deficit between the demand and supply of electricity. Crowded urban structures have all the updated electrical appliances, but there is a deficit of power supply during peak hour demand. In a tropical country like India, airconditioning for cooling has become the norm during daytime due to IT facilities and allied support services. The Sun shines for 8-9 h during daytime, which coincide with the time of peak energy demand. The crowded rooftop of cities can be converted to solar electricity generators through rooftop photovoltaic systems. We have done a field study of the energy consumption of post-occupancy medium-rise (G+4) group housing and high-rise (G+10) group housing schemes in two different cities in India. The feasibility study for solar photovoltaic systems, along with the scrutiny of various schemes that are available to the building owners are discussed for post-occupancy owners as well as yet-to-be owners of such group development schemes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012; http://www.teda.in/pdf/tamilnadu_solar_energy_policy_2012.pdf. Gupta, J.P., The untapped Gigantic potential of solar rooftop projects in India, 2011; www.interpv.net.
Literature cited 2: Srikanth, R., Chennai consumes one fifth of the power of the state. The Hindu, 22 April 2014. Gambir, A.Dixit, S. and Toro, V., ?Solar rooftop PV in India ' November 2012; http://www.prayaspune.org/peg/publications/item/186-solar-rooftop-pv-in-india.html.

ID: 60860
Title: Transforming plant biology to translational research applications-National Botanical Research Institute.
Author: K.N.Nair, Aradhana Mishra, M.R. Suseela, Prabodh K.Trivedi, Samir V. Sawant and C.S. Nautiyal
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1066-1071 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Arsenic transport, gold nano-particles, Osteoporosis, Trichoderma sp.
Abstract: Understanding the structural and functional fabric of plant life is a major facet of plant science research. In the face of several unprecedented challenges, including the impending issues of climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, genetic erosion, malnutrition and diseases, plant science demands a synthetic and systems approach to find affordable solutions to the above challenges. The challenge before plant biologists is, therefore, not limited only to discovering and documenting the diversity in plants, fungi and microbes, but also in identifying the useful properties in them. A premier plant science research centre under the patronage of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Lucknow-based National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) is known for its excellence in enriching the knowledge base on plant diversity of India and its systematic documentation, conservation and sustainable utilization through traditional and advanced biotechnological approaches. CSIR-NBRI has a wholesome expertise in plant biodiversity, biotechnology and bioinformatics. The Institute has developed technologies and knowhow for the preparation of a number of value-added herbal products as well as microbial technologies for the development of biofertilizers, bioinoculants and bio-pesticides. Its translational research on microbial consortia-based bio-inoculants, executed along with the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Govt of Uttar Pradesh won the prestigious CSIR &T Award for Rural Development for the year 2011.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Mandotra, S.K., Kumar, P., Suseela, M.R. and Ramteke, P.W., Freshwater green microalgae Scenedesmus abundans: a potential feedstock for high quality biodiesel production. Bioresour.Technol., 2014, 156, 42-47. Griffiths, M.J. and Harrison, S.T.L., Lipid productivity as a key characteristic for choosing algal species for biodiesel production.J.Appl.Phycol., 2009, 21, 493-507.
Literature cited 2: Mishra, A., Kumari, M., Pandey, S., Chaudhary, V., Gupta, K.C. and Nautiyal, C.S., Biocatalytic and antimicrobial activities of gold nanoparticles synthesized by Trichoderma sp. Bioresour.Technol., 2014, 166, 235-242. Misra, P. et al., Modulation of transcriptome and metabolome of tobacco by Arabidopsis transcription factor, AtMYB12, leads to insect resistance. Plant Physiol., 2010, 152, 2258-2268.

ID: 60859
Title: Echolocation calls of four species of leaf-nosed bats (genus Hipposideros) from central peninsular India.
Author: Bhargavi Srinivasulu, C. Srinivasalu, Harpreet Kaur.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1055-1057 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: None
Abstract: Bats comprise nearly a quarter of the total mammalian fauna in India. They are threatened with extinction due to human apathy, myths and superstitions, loss and degradation of habitat and loss of foraging habitats. Bats provide essential economically significant ecosystem services such as pollinating the night-blooming flowers, keeping in check the populations of insect pests of agriculture and human importance, and also forest regeneration due to seed dispersal.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Srinivasalu, C. and Srinivasalu, B., South Asian Mammals: their Diversity, Distribution and Status, Springer, New York, 2012, pp. xii + 467. Kunz, T.H., de Torrez, E.B., Bauer, D., Lobova, T. and Fleming, T.H., Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci., 2011, 1223, 1-38.
Literature cited 2: Altringham, J.D., Bats: Biology and Behaviour, Oxford University Press, New York, 1996, p. 262. Simmons, J.A., Fenton, M.B. and O ' Farrell, M.J., Science, 1979, 203, 16-21.

ID: 60858
Title: Structural analysis of solar panel cleaning robotic arm
Author: Amit Kumar Mondal and Kamal Bansal
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1047-1052 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: None
Abstract: The efficiency of solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels depends upon the amount of solar irradiance and spectral content. SPV panels are being widely used because of their economic and environmental merits. The performance of SPV panels are being widely used because of their economic and environmental merits. The performance of SPV panels gets degraded due to factors like air pollution, bird droppings, dust, snow accumulation, etc. An automatic and integrated solar panel cleaning robotic arm (SPCRA) with four-degrees of freedom has been designed to overcome the above factors. The arm has two prismatic and two revolute joints. SPCRA has a unique end effector with a water sprinkler, air blower and a wiper installed as a single unit on it. Few traits like anti-interloped design, automated grid cleaning mechanism, efficient algorithm, all-weather cleaning support, and plug-n-play strategy with optimum costs make it a versatile system for cleaning the SPV panels.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: Ibrahim, A., J. Basic Appl. Sci. Res., 2011, 1 (3), 222-230 Goossens, D., Offer, Z.Y. and Zangvil, A., Sol. Energy, 1993, 50, 75-84.
Literature cited 2: Smits, K. and Goossens, D., Appl. Sol. Energy, 1995, 30, 75-89. El-Shobokshy, M.S. and Hussein, F.M., Renew. Energy, 1993, 3, 585-590.

ID: 60857
Title: Human-wildlife interactions and management of invasive alien species.
Author: Monica Kaushik and Ninad Mungi.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1039-1040 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Human, Wildlife, Interactions, Management, Alien, Species.
Abstract: Human-wildlife interactions turning into conflict and invasions of exotic flora and fauna are considered as the two biggest threats to wildlife conservation globally. In India, about 400 people are killed annually by elephants, many by carnivores, thousands of livestock are killed by big cats and hectares of agriculture areas are damaged by herbivores. Annually huge funds are allocated for preventing the entry of wild animals into the villages around protected areas (PA) and for compensation of conflicts. Simultaneously, biological invasions in the recent years have emerged as one of the major threats to the environment and has resulted in the loss of valuable ecosystem services. These problems are severe in developing countries such as India where most of the rural population depends on forests for their sustenance. Furthermore, increasing human population exerts pressure on the natural ecosystems; thereby increasing human population exerts pressure on the natural ecosystems, thereby increasing the frequency of these threats in future.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None

ID: 60856
Title: Human-wildlife conflict or coexistence: What do we want?
Author: Palatty Allesh Sinu and M. Nagarajan.
Editor: R. Srinivasan.
Year: 2015
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 108 (6) 1036-1038 (2015)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Human, Wildlife, Conflict, Coexistence.
Abstract: In recent times, human-wildlife conflict has received much attention in scientific, popular and social media as it poses major threats to the wildlife populations, man and his crops in forest fringes and also in the urban areas. Some of the pertinent questions raised by human-wildlife conflict are: Is this conflict in an increasing mode? If so, what are the plausible reasons? And how can we reduce the conflict and facilitate coexistence? To brainstorm some of these volatile issues, the Central University of Kerala (CU-Kerala), Kasaragod, organized a national-level symposium. Participants from all sectors of the community, including farmers, forest officials, wild-Board and Biodiversity Board members, behavioural ecologists, media persons, researchers, post-graduate and secondary-level students of local schools, colleges and universities attended this symposium.
Location: T E 15 New Biology Building.
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None