ID: 66169
Title: Agrivoltaics – a potential solution for sustainable energy use from a global perspective
Author: Vedavalli Rohitha Lakshmi , K. Uma, S. Selvanayaki and R. Gangai Selvi
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 (4) 344-352 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Agrivoltaics – a potential solution for sustainable energy use from a global perspective
Keywords: Agrivoltaics, economic feasibility, global initiatives, integrated production, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture.
Abstract: Agrivoltaics, the amalgamation of solar panels with
farming methods, has been steadily gaining traction as
an innovative remedy for managing the conflicting
needs of land in both food cultivation and energy generation. This concept emerged in the 1980s and has since
gained momentum as a viable solution to optimise land
usage for sustainable agriculture and renewable energy
production. This integrated production model seeks to
synergize food, energy and water resources, offering a
sustainable alternative to traditional land division
practices. The co-location of solar panels with crops
demonstrates promising results, indicating increased
agricultural outputs and energy yields. While global
leaders like Japan, France, Germany and China have
embraced agrivoltaics, challenges in regulatory frameworks and societal acceptance persist, particularly in
European nations. Economic feasibility studies, conducted through simulations, highlight promising electrical
and agricultural benefits. Comparative assessments
against conventional photovoltaic systems reveal potential advantages, including increased electric yield and
positive impacts on crop yields. Integration of agrivoltaics into diverse farming practices, from aquaculture
to horticulture, offers a holistic approach to sustainable land use, promising secondary income and enhanced
crop yields. By addressing farmers’ distress, agrivoltaics emerges as a unique solution, providing additional
income sources and reducing reliance on traditional
farming. As the world pivots towards sustainable agriculture, agrivoltaics presents a beacon of promise,
poised to play a pivotal role in the world’s transition
towards integrated and resilient agriculture.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Market and industry trends. Renewables 2007 Global Status Report, REN21 Secretariat, Paris, France, 2017, pp. 63–65.
Goetzberger, A. and Zastrow, A., On the coexistence of solar energy conversion and plant cultivation. Int. J. Sol. Energy, 1982,
1, 55–69.
Literature cited 2: Escobar, J. C. et al., Biofuels: environment, technology and food
security. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2009, 13, 1275–1287.
Ceccon, E., Production of bioenergy on small farms: a two-year agroforestry experiment using Eucalyptus urophylla intercropped
with rice and beans in Minas Gerais, Brazil. New For., 2008, 35, 285
ID: 66168
Title: GDP and population baseline ranking and benchmarking of Indian university systems
Author: Gangan Prathap
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 (4) 339-343 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: GDP and population baseline ranking and benchmarking of Indian university systems
Keywords: GDP baseline, intensity indicators, Lorenz curve, population baseline, science of science, size-dependent indicators
Abstract: We use an approach based on gross domestic product baselines and curated data from three ranking
agencies to rate and benchmark Indian universities relative to their counterparts in other countries.
Various scientific impact measures are used, considering both size-dependent and composite indicators. The relative position changes dramatically depending on the extent to which the intensity or
quality of research is factored in.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Docampo, D. and Cram, L., On the effects of institutional size in
university classifications: the case of the Shanghai ranking. Scientometrics, 2015, 102(2), 1325–1346; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-
014-1488-z.
Pietrucha, J., Country-specific determinants of world university rankings. Scientometrics, 2018, 114, 1129–1139; https://doi.org/10.
1007/s11192-017-2634-1.
Literature cited 2: Li, M., Shankar, S. and Tang, K. K., Why does the USA dominate
university league tables? Stud. High. Educ., 2011, 36(8), 923–937;
https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2010.482981.
ID: 66167
Title: India’s participation in the 6th BRICS meeting on research infrastructures and mega science projects
Author: Shivaprasad Amaravayal, Pratishtha Pandey, Gaurav Aggarwal and Arindam Bhattacharyya
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 (4) 337-338 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: India’s participation in the 6th BRICS meeting on research infrastructures and mega science projects
Keywords: None
Abstract: BRICS member states, in spite of their
unique developmental strategies, need to
address common concerns like better quality
of life, inclusive economic growth, employment and a sustainable development pathway. Research and development (R&D)
has emerged as a primary growth engine
for driving scientific know- how, technological breakthroughs and innovative strategies towards facing these challenges. A
collaborative BRICS effort utilizing its
combined strength in science, technology
and innovation (STI) can facilitate a platform for sustained growth for BRICS; an
effective BRICS synergy can achieve what
a single nation may find arduous, or take
ages to achieve. Several past collaborative
engagements have regularly demonstrated
that BRICS has this potential.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: World Population Prospects, the 2019 Revision. United Nations Department of Economic
and Social Affairs, Population Division,
Population Estimates and Projections Section, June 2019.
BRICS Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation between the Governments of the Federal Republic of Brazil, The
Russian Federation, The Republic of India,
The People’s Republic of China and The Republic of South Africa
Literature cited 2: BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation;
https://brics2021.gov.in/sti.
ID: 66166
Title: National conference on urban biodiversity
Author: S. Sandilyan, R. Sugantha Sakthivel, B. Balaji and C. Achalender Reddy
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 (4) 331-332 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: National conference on urban biodiversity
Keywords: None
Abstract: Urban biodiversity refers to the wide variety
of life forms, plants, animals, fungi and
microorganisms that inhabit urban environments. However, the rapid expansion of
cities in recent decades has led to significant habitat fragmentation, pollution, climate
change and the loss of natural areas, all of
which threaten the survival of many species.
Urbanisation has become a major driver of
ecological and biodiversity loss globally,
as unchecked city growth contributes to
land degradation, increased resource consumption, higher greenhouse gas emissions,
and greater waste generation. Predictions
indicate that by 2050, 70% of the global
population will live in urban areas, intensifying the pressure on urban biodiversity
and exacerbating these negative impacts.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 66165
Title: Observations on Erythrina resupinata Roxb. – an endangered fire-adapted species in the Terai Grasslands of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, India
Author: Praveen Kumar Verma, Krishna Giri Lovepreet Singh Anup Chandra
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 (4) 325-326 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Observations on Erythrina resupinata Roxb. – an endangered fire-adapted species in the Terai Grasslands of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, India
Keywords: None
Abstract: The grasslands are a pyrophytic biome developed over the last 4 million years due to
natural fires1 and at least 4000 years due to
man-made fires2
. Fire plays an important
role in promoting the flowering of many
grassland species3
. Lamont and Downes4
reported that 345 species of Australia and
South Africa have fire-stimulated flowering through resprouting. Resprouting after
fire is a widespread trait in all fire-prone
environments and plant lineages5
. Usually,
dormant buds that survived the fire and
were shielded by the insulating soil sprout
again at the root crown of the burned plants.
In India, no such studies have been carried
out that elaborate on the necessity of fire
for plant phenology.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Simon, M. F., Grether, R., de Queiroz, L. P.,
Skema, C., Pennington, R. T. and Hughes, C.
E., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2009, 106, 20359–
20364.
Pivello, V., Fire Ecol., 2011, 7(1), 24–39.
Literature cited 2: Crisp, M. D., Burrows, G. E., Cook, L. G.,
Thornhill, A. H. and Bowman, D. M. J. S.,
Nat. Commun., 2011, 2, 193.
Lamont, B. B. and Downes, K. S., Plant
Ecol., 2011, 212, 2111–2125.
ID: 66164
Title: A call for an Environmental Health Regulatory Agency in India: bridging silos for a healthier future
Author: Soumya Swaminathan Kalpana Balakrishnan Vijay Shankar Balakrishnan
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 (4) 323-324 25 Feb. (2025)
Subject: A call for an Environmental Health Regulatory Agency in India: bridging silos for a healthier future
Keywords: None
Abstract: The study of Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), injuries and
risk factors since 1996 has systematically estimated exposure
to specific risk factors and the attributable disease burden
measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) that represents the sum of years of life lost due to premature mortality
and years lived with disability – that can be attributed to a
particular risk factor or combination of risk factors (Lancet,
1997, 349, 1436–1442). In the latest round of assessment,
GBD (2021), an estimated 103 million DALYs were attributable to environmental and occupational risks in India, accounting for nearly a third of the total disease burden in the
country attributable to all risk factors (Lancet, 2024,
403(10440), 2162–2203). Air pollution in the household and
ambient environment is ranked as the highest risk factor in
India, contributing to nearly 62 million DALYs and 2 million
premature deaths in 2021. The estimates provided by the
GBD are just the tip of the iceberg, as data on exposure to a
multitude of chemicals, and epidemiological studies examining their association are lacking, making it impossible to accurately quantify the health burden. The latest Annual State
of the Environment Report (https://www.cseindia.org/stateof-india-s-environment-2024-12071) provides a grim picture
of the state of air, water, solid-waste management and biodiversity loss across Indian states which indicates the
potential for multiple disease impacts over the life-span and
impacting all age groups.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 66163
Title: A report of house rat (Rattus rattus L.) damage on phylloclades of dragon plants (Hylocereus spp.)
Author: K. V. Saroj , M. Lekha, P. I. Poornima Yadav , C. R. Manu , R. V. Sindhu , P. R. Nithya , A. H. Shamsiya , Bindu Podikunju , S. J. Joy and Bini Sam
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 (3) 309-311 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: A report of house rat (Rattus rattus L.) damage on phylloclades of dragon plants (Hylocereus spp.)
Keywords: Dragon plant, pests, phylloclade damage, Rattus rattus, rodent.
Abstract: The dragon plant is an exotic fruit crop gaining importance in urban and peri-urban rooftop cultivation for
its nutritional and commercial value. It requires minimal inputs for crop husbandry. Of late an unusual
feeding pattern was observed in the phylloclades of
dragon plants in the experimental unit of ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kollam. A motion-triggered camera
was installed to monitor the pest, which was identified
as Rattus rattus L. It badly damaged the phylloclades
leaving the central core resulting in reduced photosynthetic activity and yield. This clearly highlights the infestation of rats on the phylloclades of dragon plants
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Abirami, K., Swain, S. and Baskaran, V., Distinguishing three
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) species grown in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands of India using morphological, biochemical and molecular traits. Sci. Rep., 2021, 11, 2894.
Barthlott, W. and Hunt, D. R., In Cactaceae (eds Kubitzki, K.,
Rohwer, J. G. and Bittrich, V.), Springer Verlag, Berlin, Germany,
1993, pp. 161–197.
Literature cited 2: Wakchaure, G. C., Satish Kumar, Meena, K. K., Rane, J. and
Pathak, H., Dragon fruit cultivation in India: scope, marketing,
constraints and policy issues. Technical Bulletin, ICAR-National
Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Pune, 2020, vol. 46, p. 54.
Alalade, O. A., Matanmi, B. M., Adegoke, B. J., Olaoye, I. J. and
Olaitan, T. R., Assessment of Pest control methods and its perceived on agricultural output in Kwara state, Nigeria. J. Trop. Agric.
Food Environ. Ext., 2017, 16(1), 42–47
ID: 66162
Title: Seismicity in Karnataka: an assessment of earthquake activity, geological controls and hazard implications
Author: R. Sajeev
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 (3) 304-305 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Seismicity in Karnataka: an assessment of earthquake activity, geological controls and hazard implications
Keywords: Earthquake, fault reactivation, hazard assessment, reservoir-induced seismicity, tectonic structures
Abstract: Karnataka, traditionally considered a low to moderate
seismicity zone, has shown increased activity over the
past two decades, with low- to moderate-magnitude
earthquakes clustered in certain districts. This article
presents a comprehensive analysis of Karnataka’s
seismicity from 2003 to 2023, drawing on seismic data,
geological mapping and case studies to assess the role
of tectonic structures, fault reactivation, and reservoirinduced seismicity. The study highlights critical geological features like the Peninsular Lineament, Mercara
Shear Zone and Chitradurga Boundary Shear, evaluating their influence on local seismicity. Findings underscore the need for advanced monitoring, improved
fault mapping, and community awareness to mitigate
seismic risks and build resilience.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: BIS, Indian Standard Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of
Structures, Part 1 – General Provisions and Buildings (IS 1893-
2002), Bureau of Indian Standards, 2002.
Reeves, C., Gondwana breakup and the alignment of the Peninsular
Lineament: Insights from the Indian subcontinent. J. Afr. Earth
Sci., 2014, 94, 45–57.
Literature cited 2: Sajeev, R., Geological cues from frequent earth tremors in northern
Karnataka, India. Curr. Sci., 2022, 122(12), 1371–1373.
Ravi Kumar, M., Rao, C. V. and Kumar, A., Seismotectonic
framework of Peninsular India with implications for Karnataka. J.
Geol. Soc. India, 2011, 77(2), 91–98
ID: 66161
Title: Distribution and phylogeny of bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia in the wild populations of Bactrocera and Zeugodacus sp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) from India
Author: Ashok B. Hadapad , Chandra S. Prabhakar , Arpit Prashar , Uttam Sahane , Vilas M. Jadhav and Ramesh S. Hire
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 (3) 297-303 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Distribution and phylogeny of bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia in the wild populations of Bactrocera and Zeugodacus sp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) from India
Keywords: Bactrocera, endosymbionts, tephritids, Wolbachia, Zeugodacus
Abstract: Tephritid fruit flies are the serious insect pest of fruits,
vegetables and flower crops. Various control strategies
have been used for the control of fruit fly. Wolbachia is
a group of obligatory, intracellular and maternally inherited bacteria widely present in insects and has
significance as an incompatible insect technique for
pest control. In the present study, the wild populations
of Bactrocera and Zeugodacus sp. were collected from
13 locations in India by using pheromone traps. Total
genomic DNA of individual male fruit fly samples was
extracted and Wolbachia prevalence was assessed
through Wolbachia specific 16S rRNA gene analysis.
The variable Wolbachia infection rates were observed
in six different species of tephritid fruit fly samples obtained from different regions. The average Wolbachia
infection was 62.9% (Zeugodacus tau), 57.1% (Bactrocera dorsalis), 52.07% (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) followed by 47.8% and 8.5% in Bactrocera correcta and
Bactrocera zonata populations respectively. While, no
infection was observed in Zeugodacus caudatus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed supergroup-A of Wolbachia is
present in wild Bactrocera and Zeugodacus sp. The
prevalence of Wolbachia and identifying strains in fruit
fly species could facilitate in designing suitable pest
management strategies
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Doorenweerd, C., Leblanc, L., Norrbom, A. L., San Jose, M. and
Rubinoff, D., A global checklist of the 932 fruit fly species in the
tribe Dacini (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys, 2018, 730, 19.
Verghese, A., Tandon, P. L. and Stonehouse, J. M., Economic
evaluation of the integrated management of the oriental fruit fly
Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango in India. Crop
Prot., 2004, 23(1), 61–63.
Literature cited 2: Dhillon, M. K., Singh, R., Naresh, J. S. and Sharma, H. C., The
melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae: a review of its biology and
management. J. Insect Sci., 2005, 5(1), 40.
Prabhakar, C. S., Mehta, P. K., Sood, P., Singh, S. K., Sharma, P.
and Sharma, P. N., Population genetic structure of the melon fly,
Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) based on
mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene sequences. Genetica,
2012, 140(1–3), 83–91.
ID: 66160
Title: Assessment of vegetable crop diversity and its determinants in special agricultural zones for vegetables in Kerala
Author: Navitha Raj, Allan Thomas , Sreeram Vishnu and A. Muhsina
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 (3) 290-296 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Assessment of vegetable crop diversity and its determinants in special agricultural zones for vegetables in Kerala
Keywords: ANOVA, crop biodiversity, Kendalls tau-b, risk propensity, step-wise multiple regression.
Abstract: The vegetable crop diversity index and its contributing
factors among vegetable growers in the special agricultural zones (SAZs) of Kerala are examined in the present study. A total of 270 farmers from five SAZ
blocks – Chitoor–Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Pazhayannur, Vattavada and Devikulam were surveyed. Vegetable crop diversity was measured using the Shannon–
Wiener diversity index, with the highest diversity recorded in Kollengode (H = 1.118) and Kanjikuzhy
(H = 1.108) panchayats, while the lowest diversity was
found in Chelakkara panchayats (H = 0.740). Results
revealed significant differences in crop diversity
among panchayats P < 0.05, with pairwise comparisons
showing that Kollengode, Kanjikuzhy, Devikulam and
Vattavada had similar diversity levels. Further, findings signalled that farmers with a high-risk propensity
are willing to diversify their vegetable cultivation (r =
0.362, P < 0.01). Key personal socio-economic factors
affecting crop diversity, irrigation potential, vegetable
farming experience and credit orientation, as indicated
by stepwise regression analysis, explained 19% of the
variance in crop diversity. The study highlights the
importance of understanding the socio-economic traits
and risk aversiveness of vegetable farmers in designing
strategies to promote vegetable crop diversity, which is
essential for improving agricultural resilience and
farmer livelihoods in Kerala’s SAZs
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Heal, G., Nature and the Marketplace: Capturing the Value of
Ecosystem Services, Island Press, Chicago, 2012, p. 224.
Thrupp, L., Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security: the
valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture. Int.
Aff., 2000, 76, 283–297.
Literature cited 2: Elia, A. and Santamaria, P., Biodiversity in vegetable crops: a heritage to save. The case of the Puglia region. Ital. J. Agron., 2013,
8(1), 21–34.
Altieri, M. A., Nicholls, C. I., Henao, A. and Lana, M. A., Agroecology and the design of climate change-resilient farming systems.
Agron. Sustain. Dev., 2015, 35, 869–890
ID: 66159
Title: Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using CLIMEX
Author: Anusha Nitta, Sridhar Vaddi, Balasubramani Venkatasamy , Murugan Marimuthu , Y. S. Johnson Thangaraj Edward , N. K. Satyamoorthy , M. Kavitha and P. D. Sreekanth
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 (3) 283-289 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Predicting the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using CLIMEX
Keywords: CLIMEX, global, Phthorimaea absoluta, potential distribution, validation
Abstract: The South American tomato moth, Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is native to South
America, but is a major invasive and quarantine pest
and spread to other parts of the world due to global
trade in agricultural products. To evaluate the potential distribution of P. absoluta in the world, we used
CLIMEX ver. 4.0, a bioclimatic software for modelling
the pest distribution of P. absoluta under present and
future climate change scenarios. Here the results
showed that Southeast and Southwest of North America,
Central and South Americas, East, Central, Southern
and some Western Africa, North Europe, South and
Southeast Asia and a major portion of Australia were
highly suitable areas for P. absoluta in current and
future climates. Regions with high latitude areas will
be flatter and more ideal for the P. absoluta in future
due to a significant rise in temperatures (RCP 8.5 scenario). The predictions by our model suggest that the
total geographic distribution range of P. absoluta in the
world is to increase slightly with future climate changes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Desneux, N., Wajnberg, E., Wyckhuys, K. A. G., Burgio, G.,
Arpaia, S. and Narváez-Vasquez, C. A., Biological invasion of
European tomato crops by Tuta absoluta: ecology, geographic
expansion and prospects for biological control. J. Pest Sci., 2010,
83, 197–215.
Miranda, M. M. M., Picanço, M., Zanuncio, J. C. and Guedes, R.
N. C., Ecological life table of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiid
Literature cited 2: Sridhar, V., Chakravarthy, A. K., Asokan, R., Vinesh, L. S., Rebijith,
K. B. and Vennila, S., New record of the invasive South American
tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India. Pest Manage. Horti. Ecosyst., 2014, 20, 148–154.
Kanle Satishchandra, N., Chakravarthy, A. K, Özgökçe, M. S. and
Atlihan, R., Population growth potential of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)
(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on tomato, potato and eggplant. J. Appl.
Ento., 2019, 143(5), 518–526.
ID: 66158
Title: Correlation analysis of offshore wind and wave power potential at Indian exclusive economic zone during 2014–23 using deep learning model
Author: S. Vasavi, M. Sobhana and Bittu Singha
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 (3) 269-282 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Correlation analysis of offshore wind and wave power potential at Indian exclusive economic zone during 2014–23 using deep learning model
Keywords: Exclusive economic zone, Kalman filter, U-net model, wave energy potential, wave power density hotspots
Abstract: Climate change is increasingly influencing energy
resources across the globe, and its effects on renewable
energy sources like offshore wind and wave power are
becoming crucial topics of study. India, with its extensive coastline and vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ),
has significant potential for harnessing these oceans based renewable energies. By analysing the localised
nature of offshore winds and their sensitivity to climate variations, we can improve predictions of future
wind power output. Therefore, to sustain wind energy
development within India’s EEZ, it’s essential to evaluate the region’s wave energy potential and its vulnerability to climate change. This paper investigates the
potential for offshore wind energy within the Indian
EEZ and assesses its vulnerability to climate change.
Spatial and temporal wave data such as wave period
and wave height are collected from Copernicus Marine
Data Store to generate the wave power layer and validate the proposed U-Net model. For improvement
of data quality, assimilation techniques such as the
Kalman filter and Bilateral filter are used. For finding
the wave power density hotspot region, the semantic
segmentation is performed using an enhanced U-Net
model. The model archives an impressive IoU score of
82.66%, conforming its accuracy to identify the wave
power density hotspots. To analyse the impact of climate change on wave power potentials, the Pearson
correlation technique is used to correlate between
ocean surface salinity and ocean surface temperature.
The r value of correlation between ocean surface temperature and ocean surface salinity ranges from –0.59
to –0.0 and indicates a weak, moderate inverse relationship, the positive range varies from 0.01 to 0.62,
suggest that a weak to strong positive correlation,
where both temperature and salinity tend to increase
together. In the case of temperature and wave power
density, there is a negative correlation from June to
October, influenced by seasonal temperature variation
due to rainfall and it effects to correlate with wave
power density
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: MNRE, Offshore wind, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Government of India (accessed on 27 September 2024).
Lefèvre, J.-M. and Aouf, L., Latest developments in wave data assimilation, ECM
Literature cited 2: BP Economics. BP energy outlook. BP plc, 2018.
Foster, E. et al., The unstudied barriers to widespread renewable
energy deployment: fossil fuel price responses. Energy Policy,
2017, 103, 258–264; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.12.050
ID: 66157
Title: Multi-source photographic evidence to assess corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour and body injuries in Asian elephants
Author: N. R. Anoop, P. K. Muneer , M. Madhavan , Anikethan Hathwar and T. Ganesh
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 (3) 262-268 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Multi-source photographic evidence to assess corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour and body injuries in Asian elephants
Keywords: Asian elephant, corridor use, human-inflicted injuries, landscape connectivity, multi-source photos.
Abstract: The use of multi-sourced photographs, such as those
from social media, camera traps, and field surveys, for
individual identification of male Asian elephants to
study their corridor use, crop-raiding behaviour,
occurrence of musth, ranging and external body injuries in the Thirunelli-Kudrakote elephant corridor in
India’s Western Ghats is investigated in the present
study. A total of 330 images and videos were analysed
over 11 years (January 2014 to March 2024), leading to
the identification of 27 male elephants from the corridor. Eleven individuals were observed across multiple
years, demonstrating their fidelity to the area. Ten elephants were observed engaging in crop-raiding, with
four consistently raiding crops within the corridor.
The study also assessed the home range of six individuals in the corridor and adjacent landscapes based on
individual identification. Overall, the study shows that
identifying individual elephants across different locations and times provides valuable data and is a practical, cost-effective method for investigating a wide
range of questions concerning the ecology and behaviour of Asian elephants. The findings underscore the
potential of citizen science initiatives to enhance elephant research across elephant-range countries.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Menon, V., Tiwari, S. K., Ramkumar, K., Kyarong, S., Ganguly, U.
and Sukumar, R., Right of Passage: Elephant Corridors of India
(Conservation Reference Series No. 3), Wildlife Trust of India,
New Delhi, 2017, p. 826.
Kanagaraj, R., Araujo, M. B., Barman, R., Davidar, P., De, R.,
Digal, D. K. and Goyal, S. P., Predicting range shifts of Asian elephants under global change. Divers. Distrib., 2019, 25, 822–838;
https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12898.
Literature cited 2: Jayadevan, A., Nayak, R., Karanth, K. K., Krishnaswamy, J., DeFries, R., Karanth, U. K. and Vaidyanathan, S., Navigating paved
paradise: evaluating landscape permeability to movement for large
mammals in two conservation priority landscapes in India. Biol.
Conserv., 2020, 247, 108613; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.
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India. The Report of the Elephant Task Force. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Gov
ID: 66156
Title: Biodegradable vegetable oil as an alternative insulation for transformers
Author: R. Manikandan , S. Sumathi, and R. Rajesh
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 (3) 255-261 10 Feb. (2025)
Subject: Biodegradable vegetable oil as an alternative insulation for transformers
Keywords: Breakdown voltage, chemical properties, nanofluid, physical properties, transformers, vegetable oil.
Abstract: In high-voltage transformers, liquid insulation serves
as both an insulator and a cooling agent. For many
decades, transformer oil has been the traditional
choice for this purpose. Despite its high quality insulating properties, mineral oil poses several environmental
drawbacks. Researchers are exploring alternative insulating fluids for high-voltage applications, considering
both environmental impact and insulating properties.
With the increasing demands for better electro, physical and chemical properties of vegetable insulating oils
used in high-voltage power transformers, enhancing
these oils with nanoparticles has become a prominent
area of research. The present study investigates groundnut oil (GO) and mustard oil (MO) as base fluids for
insulation oil by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. It analyses the effect of varying concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles on the electro-physical and
chemical properties of the oils. The analysis reveals
several significant enhancements in the properties of
the oils when incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles.
The result shows that the enhancement of the dielectric
strength of the oil can withstand electrical stress without breaking down. Further, the impulse breakdown
voltage, which evaluates the oil’s ability to withstand
high-voltage pulses, has significantly improved. The
study observed a decrease in dissipation factors, representing reduced energy losses as heat within the oil,
and a decrease in viscosities at high temperatures, implying improved fluidity and efficiency in high-temperature
conditions. The interfacial tension improves, indicating
better interfacial tension between the oil and water
molecules. The findings suggest that vegetable oil-based
nanofluids, with finer characteristics, have a high potential to replace traditional mineral oils.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Adekunle, A. and Oparanti, S., A review on physicochemical and
electrical performance of vegetable oil-based nanofluids for high
voltage equipment. Electr. Power Syst. Res., 2023, 214, 108873.
Raj, R. A., Samikannu, R., Yahya, A. and Mosalaosi, M., Enhancement of dielectric properties of baobab oil and mongongo oil using
cost-effective additive for power transformer insulating fluids. Environ. Technol. I
Literature cited 2: Raeisian, L., Niazmand, H., Ebrahimnia-Bajestan, E. and Werle, P.,
Feasibility study of waste vegetable oil as an alternative cooling
medium in transformers. Appl. Thermal Eng., 2019, 151, 308–317.
Rafiq, M., Shafique, M., Azam, A. and Ateeq, M., The impacts of
nanotechnology on the improvement of liquid insulation of transformers: emerging trends and challenges. J. Mol. Liq., 2020, 302,
112482
ID: 66155
Title: Monoterpenes of aromatic lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) repel the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), a serious pest of stored legumes
Author: Akki Suma , M. Rajadurai, P. D. Kamala Jayanthi and Saravan Kumar Parepely
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 (3) 245 -254 (2025)
Subject: Monoterpenes of aromatic lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) repel the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), a serious pest of stored legumes
Keywords: Headspace volatiles, gas chromatographyelectroantennography detection, gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry, olfactometer assays, repellents.
Abstract: Pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) is a significant
pest in tropical climates that affects stored legumes.
Our objective was to study the repellent effect of the
selected aromatic plant volatiles, namely Azadirachta
indica (neem), Mentha spicata (spear mint), Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass), Ocimum basilicum (sweet
basil) and Manihot esculenta (tapioca) to pulse beetle,
C. chinensis. Both single-, dual- and multiple-choice olfactometer assays to investigate the way C. chinensis
reacts behaviourally to headspace volatiles revealed a
significant repellent response to lemongrass and sweet
basil headspace volatiles. Gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 42 and
50 volatile organic compounds in lemongrass and
sweet basil respectively. Further, electrophysiological
studies involving gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (EAD)-revealed eight EAD active
compounds each in lemongrass (4 nonanone, linalool,
citronellal, β-citral, citral, β-elemene, cis-muurola4(15), 5-diene and β-dihydroagarofuran) and sweet
basil (linalool, estragole, 2-methyl-1-decanol, α-guaiene,
allo aromadendrene, germacrene D, δ-guaiene and
taucadinol). Of these, when the behavioural studies
were performed on synthetic EAD active compounds,
C. chinensis showed significant repulsion behaviour to
monoterpenes, namely citronellal and linalool, indicating the potential of these compounds for the management of C. chinensis.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Tuda, M., Habitat-related mtDNA polymorphism in the stored-bean
pest Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Bull. Entomol. Res., 2004, 94, 75–80.
Khalequzzaman, M., Efficacy of edible oils in the control of pulse
beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. in stored pigeonpea. Univ. J.
Zool. Rajshahi Univ., 2007, 26, 89–92.
Literature cited 2: Southgate, B., Biology of the Bruchidae. Annu. Rev. Entomol.,
1979, 24, 449–473.
Talekar, N. S., Biology, damage and control of bruchid pests of
mungbean. In Mungbean: Proceedings of the Second International
Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand, 1987, pp. 329–342.