ID: 58938
Title: Light transmission through and its complete stoppage in an ultra slow wave optical medium.
Author: V Ranjith, N Kumar.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 962-964 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Continuity equation, light transmission, slow wave medium, stopped light, ultra slow light.
Abstract: Light wave transmission - its compression, amplification, and the optical energy storage - in an ultra slow wave medium (USWM) is studied analytically. Our phenomenological treatment is based entirely on the continuity equation for the optical energy flux, and the well-known distribution-product property of Dirac delta-function. The results so obtained provide a clear understanding of some recent experiments on light transmission and its complete stoppage in an USWM.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58937
Title: Trend analysis of weather variables in Sagar Island, West Bengal, India: a long-term perspective (1982-2010)
Author: S Mandal, B U Choudhury, M Mondal, S Bej.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 947-953 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Climate change, trend analysis, water balance, weather variables.
Abstract: Sagar Island, a gargantuan low-lying archipelago setting on the continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal is one of the most vulnerable deltas to climate change. Extreme climate-driven multifarious threats, including tidal gushes, deluge with sea water, permanent submergence of land, occurence of droughts and water scarcity have taken a toll on food and environmental security of the island. Knowing the trend of long-term weather variables responsible for the climate of the island holds importance in adaptation and mitigation strategies to sustain food production. In the present article, weather variables of the island (1982-2010) have been analysed to detect the changes in trend using Mann-Kendall non-parametric test and the magnitudes of such trends have been estimated using Sen ' s slope. The island recieves an annual average rainfall of 1735 352 mm, with an inter-annual deviation exceeding 40% and exhibits a decreasing trend (-5.79 mm year-1). Significant (P<0.05) anomalies in inter- as well intra-annual rainfall distributions (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon months) were observed. Contribution of monsoon and post-monsoon months showed a decreasing trend (-3.84 to -4.42 mm year-1), while pre-monsoon rainfall showed an increasing trend (+0.98 mm year-1). Wide variability in interannual rainy days (76-139 days) and a decreasing trend (-0.24 days year-1) may further complicate the existing anomalies. The island is experiencing a significant (P<0.05) rising trend of inter-annual mean (+0.021? C year-1) and maximum temperatures (+0.060?C year-1), with a reverse trend (decline) in minimum temperature (-0.031?C year-1). Other weather variables like sunshine duration, wind speed, atmospheric evaporative demand, etc, also manifested a complex interaction and significant (P<0.05) decreasing trend over the study periods (1982-2010). Implications of these changes were manifested on water balance front: rising trend of water scarcity during post-monsoon months (December-February) in the island.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58936
Title: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering : overview of a versatile technique used in electrochemistry and nanoscience.
Author: Ujjal Kumar Sur, Joydeep Chowdhury.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 923-939 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Electrochemistry, nanoscience, pyridine molecule, surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
Abstract: This article describes recent developments in the field of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) research. It begins with the early history of SERS as the first SERS spectrum was obtained from an electrochemical system of pyridine molecule adsorbed on roughened silver electrode, which led to the discovery of the SERS effect in the mid-1970s. The article also illustrates the various aspects of SERS research which includes SERS-active substrates, mechanism of SERS and its various applications. Special emphasis is given to the important features of electrochemical SERS, a special branch of SERS.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58935
Title: Carbon Capture and storage: an effective way to mitigate global warming.
Author: Udayan Singh.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 914-922 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Carbon capture and storage, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases.
Abstract: Ever since industrialization occured, there has been an increase in the burning of fossil fuels to meet the high energy demands. The use of such fuels causes emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases which lead to global warming. Such a warming may have a highly injurious impact of life on Earth. One way to alleviate this is to reduce the use of such fuels. An alternative method is to capture and store the emitted CO2 to stop it from polluting the atmosphere. This is known as carbon capture and storage. This study discusses the methods and economics associated with the same.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58934
Title: Diversity of the science ecosystem.
Author: Sunil Mukhi.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 895-896 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diversity, science ecosystem.
Abstract: The book Frontiers of Illusion by Daniel Sarewitz, an earth-scientist-turned-science-policy-advisor in the US Congress, opens with these lines: ' The age of Physics came to and end on 21 October 1993 when the US Congress cancelled funding for the Superconducting Super Collider ' .. This is a remarkably grandiose claim. Could a subject with such deep roots be brought to an end by a parliamentary decision? The book was written in 1996 and today it is clear that the US Congress decision had a rather different impact: it shifted the focus of high energy physics outside the US. As a result, the Higgs particle was discovered at a laboratory based in Europe rather than America.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58933
Title: The Gangetic Dolphins plead for mercy.
Author: Arti Garg, R Kr, Singh, S L Gupta, Vineet Singh, Y A Siddiqui.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 887-888 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Gangetic river dolphins, freshwater cetacean species, India.
Abstract: The Ganges river dolphins (Platinista gangetica Roxb, subsp. gangetica) are endangered, obligate freshwater cetacean species, endemic to Ganges-Brahmaputra-Megna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. There were about 4000-5000 individuals in 1982, but in a short span of 15 years, their number has declined abysmally by 50% and further to less than 2000 with annual mortality of 130-160 individuals. This resulted in the declaration of their IUCN status from vulnerable to endangered.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58932
Title: Streamflow data-sharing policy for the Ganga Basin.
Author: Sharad Kumar Jain.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 885-885 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Streamflow, data-sharing policy, Ganga Basin. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh.
Abstract: Hilly regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a spell of widespread torrential rainfall from 15 to 17 june 2013. India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted on 14 June that rainfall in Uttarakhand will exceed 100 mm/day in many mountainous areas during 16 and 17 June. This prediction was not followed up and the floods caused a huge loss of life and property. Apparently, no satisfactory early flood warning system was in place for the affected areas and no studies have been completed to set up a flood forecasting model on the catchments in the Upper Ganga Basin.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58931
Title: Peak water and demand side management.
Author: Prabir Kumar Naik.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 7), pp. 884-885 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Peak water, fresh water, demand side management.
Abstract: Freshwater resources are fundamental for maintaining human health, agricultural production, economic activity and critical ecosystem functions. As populations and economies grow, new constraints on water resources are appearing, raising questions about limits to water availability.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58930
Title: Urban and Regional Planning in India - A Handbook for Professional Practice.
Author: Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 709-709 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Urban and Regional Planning, India, Professional planning.
Abstract: Urban and Regional Planning is a fascinating subject. It has always intrigued many planners, engineers, scientists, managers, practitioners, etc. as to how humans have used their intellect and wisdom to plan and manage the various cities and regions around the world. The subject of urban and regional planning in India is not new, as there are sufficient reference as regards the older, well planned cities that flourished as successful civilizations. For instance, the Indus (or Harappa) Valley Civilization that dates back to the Vedic era encompassed an area of more than one million square kilometers, and was planned and designed based on the Vedic scripts. Thus, India has been a leader and a role model for the other global civilizations in the urban and regional planning arena during the past.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58929
Title: Diversity, representativeness and biotic pressure on plant species along alpine timberline of western Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalaya, India.q
Author: Pijush Kumar Dutta, B K Dutta, R C Sundriyal, Ashes Kumar Das.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 701-708 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Biodiversity hotspot, ecotone, endemic, grazing.
Abstract: The timberline being an ecotone area is considered to be among the most prominent vegetation zones in high mountain areas. However, the timberline in the Eastern Himalaya timberline compared to Western Himalaya provide a more conducive environment for tree growth and as a result the upper limit of timberline in this sector goes up to 4570 m, which is much higher in comparison to timberline limit of 3600 m in the Western Himalayan region. We recorded a total of 122 plant species from timberline zone belonging to 29 families with 56 species being common to areas above and below the timberline zone. It is interesting to note that 77% of the total recorded plants was found distributed within the Himalayan region, while 28% was confined to Eastern Himalayan region only. Eleven species required significant conservation measures. Collection of firewood by headers and unregulated grazing by local communities were found to be the most common threats in the study sites. Considering most of these areas are under traditional control of local communities, pro-community approach for conservation of biodiversity of these areas has also been discussed.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58928
Title: Time-lapse tracing of biological events in an endophytic schizophoran fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae)
Author: A Kalaisekar, J V Patil, G Shyam Prasad, V R Bhagwat, P G Padmaja, B Subbarayudu, K Srinivasa Babu, Zeenat Rahman.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 695-701 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Atherigona soccata, endophytic pest, sorghum, time-lapse imaging.
Abstract: Atherigona soccata Rondani known as shoot fly is an endophytic pest of cultivated sorghum in the Old World. In our study, we demonstrate all critical biological events of the fly on a real-time basis using time-lapse imaging, including the endophytic larval and puparial stages. The mosts critical biological events in A. soccata are egg-hatching, first instar larva, pupariation, eclosion and post-eclosion phases. All these stages are critical because of their time-boundedness from initiation to completion. Any kind of lapse of life and eventually proved fatal. After hatching from egg, first instar larva took a mean time of 34 min to enter the plant through the gap between leaf sheath and growing central shoot. From this moment of larval entry into the plant until total extrication of adult fly during eclosion, A. soccata passed its life endophytically. After larval entry, it took a mean time of 33.7 h for the plant to show first visible symptoms of withering of central growing leaf whorl. From larval hatching to first take-off of adult fly required an average of 309.6h (12.9 days). The critical periods in the life cycle of A.soccata are less resilient to changes and therefore more vulnerable to external influences. Such phases in the life history can be targeted for managing A.soccata in sorghum.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58927
Title: Tropical grasslands supporting the endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) population in the Bardia National Park, Nepal.
Author: Promod Tandan, Bhuwan Dhakal, Kabita Karki, Achyut Aryal.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 691-694 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Conservation, hispid hare, pellet density, tropical grasslands.
Abstract: The presence of the endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus) has been confirmed in the seven grasslands (approx. 900 ha) of the Babai valley, Bardia National Park (BNP), Nepal. We conducted a presence-absence survey, studied the diet of hispid hare and evaluated vegetation composition in hispid hare habitat of the park. The pellet density was 4.07/ha before the burning season and 8.71/ha after it. The diet of the hispid hare consisted of 23 plants species, of which Saccharum spp., Imperata cylindrica, Desmostachya bipinnata and Cynodon dactylon were most preferred. These plant species were also more abundant in the hispid hare habitat. Our results showed that composition of plant species in the diet was available proportional to the hispid hare habitat. We recommend that the management authorities should prepare a species-focused management plan to conserve and monitor the hispid hare population and other small mammals of the region.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58926
Title: Seasonal variation of surface ozone and its association with meteorological parameters, UV-radiation, rainfall and cloud cover over Chennai, India.
Author: R Samuel Selvaraj, K Padma, B Milton Boaz.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 676-684 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diurnal cycle, meteorological parameters, radiative forcing, seasonal variation, surface ozone.
Abstract: A study was done to measure the surface ozone (O3) level during the period between June 2011 and September 2012 at Chennai, a tropical site on the south-east coast of India situated at 1304 ' N 807 ' E. Surface ozone and its variation with meteorological parameters in urban area of Chennai were analysed through temporal pattern. The seasonal ozone showed a unique pattern attaining peak levels in summer and weakening in winter. Higher surface ozone concentrations observed during the summer months of the present study can be attributed to the high intensity of solar radiation and high temperature levels which promote the photochemical generation of O3, The destruction of O3 is increased during the winter season as a result of scavenging of higher nitrogen oxides. Correlations were observed and analysed to understand as to which meteorological variables influence the formation of ozone the most. Finally, hourly instantaneous values measured during daytime varied from 10 to 40 ppbv and its day average varied from 13 to 30 ppbv.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58925
Title: Importance of socio-economic and institutional factors in the use of veterinary services by smallholder diary farmers in India.
Author: Shiv Raj Singh, K K Datta.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 580-586 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diary farmers, land holdings, organizational change, public institutions, veterinary services.
Abstract: The present study establishes the determinate of likelihood of using veterinary services in small holder dairy farming systems in India. Secondary data were used for analysis purpose with the sample size of 29,020 dairy households at the all-India level. The proportional relationship between veterinary services available within the village and use of these services reveals that, distance of availability of veterinary service positively influences the farmer ' s decision to use the same. There was a positive relationship between large land holdings, herd size and milk prices with the use of veterinary services. Secondly, the educational status of the head of a household, formal training in agricultural practices and continuation of agriculture as a profession had a positive influence on the use of veterinary services. The public institutions like the farm science by the diary farmers. The institutions which support veterinary services could become more effective if they undertake suitable organizational changes to disseminate the latest animal healthcare technologies to the marginalized dairy farmers.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58924
Title: Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill 2013.
Author: K V Soumya.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no 5), pp. 572-572 (2013)
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Wild life protection, amendment bill.
Abstract: The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2013 was introduced by Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Government of India in the Rajya Sabha for strict enforcement of law to protect wildlife. The bill provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their hahbitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the poducts derived from them. The Bill has the provisions for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The Bill also proposes stricter deterrents for crimes related to sale, purchase and transfer of animals, their parts or products listed in various schedules.
Location: TE 12 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None