ID: 66011
Title: Glacial lake outburst floods in the Indian Himalayan region: causes, modelling and mitigation
Author: Sharad K. Jain, R. Srinivasan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (6) 647-648 25 Sep (2024)
Subject: Glacial lake outburst floods in the Indian Himalayan region: causes, modelling and mitigation
Keywords: None
Abstract: A glacier is a large accumulation of ice, snow, sediment
and liquid water that originates on land and moves
downslope under the influence of its own weight and gravity
(https://www.usgs.gov). With global warming, glaciers are
receiving less snow, discharging more melt water, thereby
losing mass, and are retreating. Retreating glaciers abandon
moraine deposits on the sides and downstream of snout and
vacate the land they occupied earlier. Meltwater begins to
collect on this land, giving rise to a glacial lake (GL) downstream of the snout. Moraines act as natural dams/embankments of GLs. Moraine dams, are deposits of glacial till,
rock boulders and ice which are not sorted and properly
compacted. They are weak and breach easily because the
moraine dams do not have internal structure of a welldesigned earthen dam which has an impervious core and
successively coarser sediments that prevent piping and layers
of boulders that form rip rap
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 66010
Title: Conservational significance of the Upper Hanthana secondary forest in the Central Province of Sri Lanka based on avifaunal diversity and endemism
Author: Sandun Bandara and Chaminda S. Wijesundara
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 624-628 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Conservational significance of the Upper Hanthana secondary forest in the Central Province of Sri Lanka based on avifaunal diversity and endemism
Keywords: Avifaunal diversity, biodiversity, conservational significance, endemism, secondary f
Abstract: As a habitat option for the rapidly declining old-growth
forests, secondary forest patches will serve as refugia
for forest species in the tropics. The present study was
carried out to determine the conservational significance
of the Upper Hanthana secondary forest patch in Sri
Lanka, based on its avifaunal diversity and endemism.
The field survey was conducted from March–November
2019. Data were collected using line transects along
with point counts. Peak observation hours were during
0700–1000 h and 1500–1800 h in the sites selected by
systematic random sampling. Results were compared
with those of a nearby village area. According to statistical analysis, the Upper Hanthana secondary forest patch
harbours a comparatively higher avifaunal diversity with 87 bird species and remarkable endemism of 17
endemic bird species out of total 34 endemic bird species
in Sri Lanka. The present study highlights the significance of the Upper Hanthana forest patch for biodiversity conservation. Further studies are required to
evaluate the total biodiversity of this secondary forest
patch and assess better conservational measures.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dent, D. H. and Wright, S. J., The future of tropical species in secondary forests: a quantitative review. Biol. Conserv., 2009, 142,
2833–2843.
Wright, S. J. and Muller-Landau, H. C., The future of tropical forest species. Biotropic
Literature cited 2: Chazdon, R. L. et al., The potential for species conservation in
tropical secondary forests. Conserv. Biol., 2009, 23(6), 1406–1417
Legg, C. and Jewell, N., A 1 : 50 000 scale forest map of Sri
Lanka: the basis for a National Forest Geographic Information System. Sri Lanka For., 1995
ID: 66009
Title: Relict Neoarchean silico-carbonatite from Elagiri alkaline complex, Southern Granulite Terrane, India
Author: Jyotisankar Ray, Qiong-Yan Yang, Liangshu Shu , M. Santosh, Anindita Dey, Biswajit Ghosh , Payel Dey, Sohini Ganguly and Sarmistha Mukhopadhyay
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 617-624 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Relict Neoarchean silico-carbonatite from Elagiri alkaline complex, Southern Granulite Terrane, India
Keywords: Leucosyenite, magmatic crystallization, mantle melting, proto-plate subduction, relict silico-carbonatite
Abstract: Here, we report the occurrence of relict Neoarchean
silico-carbonatites from the Elagiri complex (12°31′N:
78°35′E), Southern Granulite Terrane, Indian Shield,
where they occur within leucosyenites as enclaves. Trace
elements suggest that the silico-carbonatites and leucosyenite are related through melting–crystallization episodes. U–Pb zircon ages from the silico-carbonatites yield
two statistical peaks at ~2539 ± 9 Ma (~emplacement age)
and ~2490 ± 15 Ma (~younger overprinting age). High
Th/U ratios of zircon are consistent with magmatic
crystallization. We suggest that silico-carbonatite generation was favoured by proto-plate subduction during
the Neoarchean in this terrane.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Halama, R., McDonough, W. F., Rudnick, R. L. and Bell, K.,
Tracking the lithium isotopic evolution of the mantle using carbonatites. Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 2008, 265, 726–742.
Bédard, L. P. and Chown, E. H., The Dolodau dykes, Canada: an
example of an Archean carbonatite. Mineral. Petrol., 1992, 46,
109–121.
Literature cited 2: Faure, S., Godey, S., Fallara, F. and Trépanier, S., Seismic architecture
of the Archean North American mantle and its relationship to diamondiferous kimberlite fields. Econ. Geol., 2011, 106, 223–240.
Rukhlov, A. S. and Bell, K., Geochronology of carbonatites from
the Canadian and Baltic Shields, and the Canadian Cordillera: clues
to mantle evolution. Mineral. Petrol., 2010, 98, 11–54.
ID: 66008
Title: Hydrological response of two adjoining subtropical catchments – Iril and Thoubal of the Manipur river basin in the Indian Himalayan Region
Author: Victoria Ningthoujam and Ngangbam Romeji
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 605-616 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Hydrological response of two adjoining subtropical catchments – Iril and Thoubal of the Manipur river basin in the Indian Himalayan Region
Keywords: Calibration, hydroclimatic model, hydrological response, river catchments, validation.
Abstract: The Thoubal river catchment (TRB) and Iril river
catchment (IRB), which are two major adjoining subbasins of the Manipur river basin in India, were selected
for this study. A GIS-based semi-distributed hydrological model soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) was
used to derive the hydroclimatic parameters such as
surface run-off, evapotranspiration. The present study
aims to calibrate and validate the SWAT model using
streamflow and satellite soil moisture data, as well as
to examine the hydroclimatological responses in the
two adjacent basins, and compare the relative changes
in treating the Iril–Thoubal river basin jointly and as
two separate entities. The model was calibrated and
validated using the SUFI-2 tool. During calibration
and validation, both IRB and TRB showed good model
performance. This study shows that in a poorly gauged
river basin with scarce data, remotely sensed soil moisture data may be effectively applied for the calibration
and validation of hydrological models. The novel aspect
of this study is the efficient calibration and validation
of a hydroclimatic model for subtropical river sub-basins
with limited hydrological ground data reinforced with
open-source satellite-derived soil moisture datasets
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Carrillo, G. et al., Catchment classification: hydrological analysis
of catchment behavior through process-based modeling along a
climate gradient. J. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 2011, 15, 3411–
3430.
Sivapalan, M. et al., IAHS decade on predictions in ungauged basins
(PUB), 2003–2012: shaping an exciting future for the hydrological
sciences. Hydrol. Sci. J., 2010, 48, 857–880
Literature cited 2: Gleick, P. H., Climate change, exponential curves, water resources,
and unprecedented threats to humanity. Clim. Change, 2010, 100,
125–129.
Arnold, J. G. et al., Large area hydrologic modeling and assessment
part I: model development. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 1998, 34(1).
ID: 66007
Title: Comparative study of QuEChERS methods for monitoring pesticides in milk using GC-MS/MS
Author: Naresh Kumar , Nancy Talwar , Rajan Sharma, H. V. Raghu , Prashant Goel and Namita Ashish Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 598-604 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Comparative study of QuEChERS methods for monitoring pesticides in milk using GC-MS/MS
Keywords: Acetate method, dairy sector, human health, milk, pesticide residue.
Abstract: The presence of pesticides in milk is a serious concern
at the global level, which can threaten human health.
Detection of pesticides in milk is a challenge due to
their small concentration and large amounts of other
interfering substances that can be co-extracted along
with the pesticides. In this study, we have compared
two variants (original and acetate) of quick, cheap, effective and safe (QuEChERS) method to evaluate the efficiency and suitability of these methods for the extraction
of organochlorine and organophosphorous residues
from milk using GC-MS/MS. The acetate method was
found to be more efficient in terms of recovery of all
the studied pesticides, except monocrotophos. It resulted
in good linearity (R2 > 0.9928% in matrix and >0.9940%
in solvent), recovery (71.69%–99.38%) over the range
10–250 ng/ml and precision of RSD% < 20%. This
method can be easily applied for the extraction of pesticide residues in milk and its products, and further
quantification using GC-MS/MS in the dairy sector.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Pirsaheb, M., Limoee, M., Namdari, F. and Khamutian. R., Organo chlorine pesticides residue in breast milk: a systematic review.
Med. J. Islam. Repub. Iran, 2015, 29(1), 288.
Sulaiman, N. S., Rovina, K. and Joseph, V. M., Classification, extraction and current analytical approaches for detection of pesticides in
various food products. J. Consum. Prot. Food Safety, 2019, 14,
209–221; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01242-4
Literature cited 2: 209–221; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01242-4
3. Nag, S. K. and Raikwar, M. K., Organochlorine pesticide residues
in bovine milk. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 2008, 80(1), 5–9.
Hem, L., Khay, S., Choi, J. H., Morgan, E. D., El-Aty, A. A. and
Shim, J. H., Determination of trichlorfon pesticide residues in milk
via gas chromatography with µ-electron capture detection and GCMS. Toxicol. Res., 2010, 26(2), 149.
ID: 66006
Title: Mechanisms of agricultural scale affecting greenhouse gas emissions
Author: Y. Yin, F. M. Xi, L. F. Bing and J. Y. Wang
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 591-597 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Mechanisms of agricultural scale affecting greenhouse gas emissions
Keywords: Agricultural development phases, climate change mitigation, global warming, greenhouse gas emission, productivity factors.
Abstract: Agriculture is a significant contributor to anthropogenic
global warming. In recent years, agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China, which is the largest
emitter, has been decreasing. In order to identify whether
or not Chinese agricultural development has affected
GHG emission, we used the logarithmic mean Divisia
index (LMDI) factor decomposition model to study the
effect of productivity factors on GHG emission and
their characteristics in four phases of Chinese agricultural development. The results indicate that land productivity is the most significantly promotion factor which
contributes 1.12 Gt CO2e GHG emission growth. On
the contrary, technological input intensity exerts an
obvious mitigating effect with 1.57 Gt CO2e GHG
emission reduction. The effects of productivity factors
on GHG emission differ between household-based
farming systems and large-scale management systems.
A more nuanced perspective on the significant role of
agricultural large-scale management in GHG emission
could aid climate change mitigation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mbow, C. et al., Food security. In Climate Change and Land: An
IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land
Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and
Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems (eds Shukla, P.
R. et al.), 2019; https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl (accessed on 1 January
2022).
Lynch, J., Cain, M., Frame, D. and Pierrehumbert, R., Agriculture’s
contribution to climate change and role in mitigation is distinct
from predominantly fossil CO2-emitting sectors. Front. Sustain.
Food Syst., 2021, 4, 1–9.
Literature cited 2: Zhu, Y. et al., Large-scale farming operations are win–win for
grain production, soil carbon storage and mitigation of greenhouse
gases. J. Clean. Prod., 2018, 172, 2143–2152.
NBS, Main Data Bulletin of the Third National Agricultural Census, National
ID: 66005
Title: Aerobic granular sludge with granular activated carbon for enhanced biological phosphate removal from domestic wastewater
Author: M. Sarvajith, and Y. V. Nancharaiah
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 581-590 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Aerobic granular sludge with granular activated carbon for enhanced biological phosphate removal from domestic wastewater
Keywords: Aerobic granulation, biological nutrient removal, microbial community assembly, phosphate removal, sewage treatment.
Abstract: Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is an emerging replacement for activated sludge for advanced and sustainable
wastewater treatment. This study examined the beneficial effect of granular activated carbon (GAC) addition
on AGS formation and sewage treatment in tropical
climates. GAC shortened the start-up period for granulation by minimizing sludge washout. Ammonium
was removed effectively through partial nitrification
and denitritation. Enhanced biological phosphate removal was established with ~98% removal efficiencies.
Improved granulation, enrichment of polyphosphateaccumulating organisms, and establishment of enhanced
biological phosphate removal pathways in tropical
climates recommend GAC addition as a simple and
potential start-up strategy for AGS-based biological
wastewater treatment.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Nancharaiah, Y. V. and Sarvajith, M., Aerobic granular sludge process: a fast growingbiological treatment for sustainable wastewater
treatment. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sci. Health., 2019, 12, 57–65;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2019.09.011.
Morgenroth, E. et al., Aerobic granular sludge in a sequencing
batch reactor. Water Res., 1997, 31, 3191–3194; https://doi.org/
10.1016/S0043-1354(97)00216-9.
Literature cited 2: Nancharaiah, Y. V. and Reddy, G. K., Aerobic granular sludge
technology: mechanisms of granulation and biotechnological applications. Bioresour. Technol., 2018, 247, 1128–1143; https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.131
Sarvajith, M. and Nancharaiah, Y. V., De novo granulation of sewage-borne microorganisms: a proof of concept on cultivating aerobic granular sludge without activated sludge and effective enhanced
biological phosphorus removal. Environ. Res., 2023, 224, 115500;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115500.
ID: 66004
Title: Framework for eForest fire management in the shifting cultivation-dominated landscape of Meghalaya, North East India, using remote sensing and GIS
Author: Kasturi Chakraborty, Dhruval Bhavsar , Suraj Kumar Swain , Siddharth Bhuyan , Harish Chaudhary , Jakesh Mohapatra , Praveen Kumar , Balajied Lyngdoh , Joydeep Dey , Brandon Rynjah , Nilay Nishant and K. K. Sarma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 572-580 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Framework for eForest fire management in the shifting cultivation-dominated landscape of Meghalaya, North East India, using remote sensing and GIS
Keywords: Forest fire, mitigation measures, remote sensing, shifting cultivation, vulnerability maps.
Abstract: Meghalaya, ‘the abode of clouds’ is one of the states of
North East India. The state witnesses several forest fire
incidents every year. In this study, MODIS-based forest fire counts from 2003 to 2023 have been used for
the generation of forest fire-prone and vulnerability
maps. The forest fire vulnerability map has been generated at 1 : 10 k for the entire state and at 1 : 5 k for
Reserve Forests, Community Reserve Forests and other
Protected Areas. Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts
witness high forest fire incidents compared to all the
other districts. Maximum number of forest fire occurs
in moderately dense and very dense forests. The eForest
Fire Information System, viz. ‘Meghalaya Forest Fire
Information System’ has a dashboard with geospatial
forest fire information and a forest fire incident reporting android based app developed for fire managers
both at Government and community level. Shifting cultivation (jhum) is a predominant land-use pattern;
therefore the framework has embedded jhum area information for improving forest fire management strategies to match the local scenario.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bond, W. J. and Keeley, J. E., Fire as a global ‘herbivore’: the
ecology and evolution of flammable ecosystems. Trends Ecol.
Evol., 2005, 20(7), 387–394.
Certini, G., Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review.
Oecologia, 2005, 143, 1–10
Literature cited 2: Kutiel, H., Weather conditions and forest fire propagation – the
case of the carmel fire, December 2010. Isr. J. Ecol. Evol., 2012,
58(2–3), 113–122.
Arshad, A., Azhar, Ali, A. and Anjali, K. S., Impact of forest fire
on forest ecosystem. J. Agric. Technol., 2022, 9(1 and 2), 18–29
ID: 66003
Title: Perspective forward enhancement in boundaries of satellite image via BO-TDyWT for precise delineation and accurate measurement
Author: M. Prabu, N. R. Shanker and K. Srinivasan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 560-571 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Perspective forward enhancement in boundaries of satellite image via BO-TDyWT for precise delineation and accurate measurement
Keywords: Dyadic wavelet transform, geometric distortion, mixed pixels, satellite imag
Abstract: Delineation of vegetation and water body regions on
the earth’s surface plays a vital role in the development and planning of an area. For delineation, traditional algorithms and classifiers require more training
datasets and interpretation time. For accurate delineation, geometric distortion and mixed pixels in satellite
images need to be removed. Geometric distortion is
due to various factors such as relief displacement, variations in the satellite altitude and attitude, and curvature of the earth’s surface. Mixed pixels arise due to
different types of land cover in an area. In this study,
the Bayesian optimized transverse dyadic wavelet
transform (BO-TDyWT) algorithm enhances the edges
and curvatures of a region in an image. BO-TDyWT
classifies the vegetation and water bodies in LANDSAT
image, which consists of different terrains such as hilly,
land and coastal regions. BO-TDyWT removes the geometric distortion and mixed pixels in the hill area water
body. Performance of proposed BO-TDyWT algorithm
is compared with dyadic wavelet transform and TDyWT.
From the results, BO-TDyWT accurately delineates
hill areas, vegetation and water body areas than dyadic
wavelet transforms and TDyWT. BO-TDyWT results
are ground truth verified. The BO-TDyWT algorithm
accurately delineates vegetation and water bodies for
precise measurement with an accuracy of 96%, which
is higher than TDyWT.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chuvieco, E. et al., Historical background and current developments for mapping burned areas from satellite Earth observation.
Remote Sensing Environ., 2019, 225, 45–64.
Li, Y. and Zhu, D., The geometric-distortion correction algorithm
for circular-scanning SAR imaging. IEEE Geosci. Remote Sensing
Lett., 2010, 7(2), 376–380.
Literature cited 2: .Gupta, N., Ari, S. and Panigrahi, N., Change detection in LANDSAT
images using unsupervised learning and RBF-based clustering.
IEEE Trans. Emerg. Topics Comput. Intell., 2021, 5(2), 284–297.
Lv, Z., Liu, T., Shi, C., Benediktsson, J. A. and Du, H., Novel land
cover change detection method based on k-means clustering and
adaptive majority voting using bitemporal remote sensing images.
IEEE Access, 2019, 7, 34425–34437.
ID: 66002
Title: Lactobacillus plantarum for improving the symptoms of type-2 diabetic neuropathy
Author: Yuan Chen, Fei Feng, Tailin Xu, Qian Zhao, Qi Kang, Yalin Lan, Meng Yu and Chengyan Jiang
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 552-559 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Lactobacillus plantarum for improving the symptoms of type-2 diabetic neuropathy
Keywords: Immune system, intestinal microecology, Lactobacillus plantarum, neuropathy, type-2 diabetes.
Abstract: This study investigated the beneficial effects and
mechanisms of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) on neuropathy in type-2 diabetic mice. Twenty db/db mice were
randomly assigned to either a control group (group C)
or a treated group (group LP). Weekly blood glucose
levels were measured using a glucose meter. Neuropathy
was assessed through thermal sensation, Von Frey responses and sensory nerve conduction velocity. Tight
junction protein expression in colorectal tissues was
analysed via immunofluorescence. ELISA measured
serum inflammatory factors, while faecal samples at
the intervention’s end assessed gut microbiota changes.
Western blot analysed the JAK-STAT signalling pathway in mouse brain tissue.
Group LP showed significantly lower blood glucose
levels and improved thermal nociceptive sensitivity in
db/db mice compared to group C. Additionally, LP intervention increased the expression of the intestinal
tight junction protein occludin and enhanced intestinal
flora diversity, including higher levels of probiotics
like Akkermansia muciniphila. In group LP, serum levels
of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased significantly, while pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6,
IL-17A and LPS decreased. Additionally, the JAKSTAT signalling pathway was notably inhibited in the
brain tissue of these mice.
LP may potentially alleviate neuropathy in type-2
diabetic mice by modulating the immune system, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, and balancing
the gut microbiome
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Feldman, E. L. et al., Diabetic neuropathy. Nature Rev. Dis. Primers, 2019, 5(1), 41.
Alam, U., Diabetic neuropathy collection: treatment of diabetic
neuropathy. Diabetes Ther., 2020, 11(4), 765–772
Literature cited 2: Zakin, E., Abrams, R. and Simpson, D. M., Diabetic neuropathy.
Semin. Neurol., 2019, 39(5), 560–569.
Pang, L., Lian, X., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., Li, Q., Cai, Y., Ma, H. and
Yu, X., Understanding diabetic neuropathy: focus on oxidative
stress. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev., 2020, 2020, 9524635.
ID: 66001
Title: Chronic exposure to sodium arsenite alters the expression of renin–angiotensin system, apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in Wistar rat
Author: Astha Mathur, Navneet Kumar, Suresh Kumar Bunker and Placheril J. John
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 544-551 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Chronic exposure to sodium arsenite alters the expression of renin–angiotensin system, apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in Wistar rat
Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes, apoptosis, arsenic, kidney, nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress
Abstract: The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) of the kidney is
responsible for renal regulation and homeostasis, and
patients with chronic kidney disease frequently receive
RAS blockades. The purpose of this study was to determine the connection between the stimulation of arsenic
in rats and changes in transcription levels of RAS
hormones, biochemical parameters and antioxidant
enzymes. Twenty-five Wistar rats were divided into
five groups (control, low, middle, high dose and high
dose + α-tocopherol groups) and given oral doses of
8.2, 12.3 and 16.4 mg/kg sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and
50 mg/kg α-tocopherol for two months. RT-PCR analysis in nephrocytes revealed that mRNA expression of
p53, p21, p27, caspases (3, 7 and 9), ACE, AGT, AT1R,
CYP1A1 and Bax was found to be upregulated by ~1.9,
~1.6, ~1.5, ~2.3, ~3.3, ~3, ~2, ~1.9, ~2.4, ~1.7 and ~3.3-
fold, whereas that of cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin E1,
CDK 1, CDK 2, Bcl-2, CAT, SOD, GPx, GR and GST
was downregulated consistently in renal tissues of arsenic-exposed groups by ~0.6, ~0.5, ~0.4, ~0.5, ~0.6, ~0.5,
~0.6, ~0.4, ~0.6, ~0.5 and ~0.6-fold respectively. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and
antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced by 63%,
71%, 40%, 37% and 44% respectively, upon treatment
with NaAsO2. Through this study, we can gain knowledge
about the potential function of RAS enzymes and antioxidant enzymes against the detrimental effects of arsenic-induced oxidative stress due to altered transcription
levels of RAS enzymes in Wistar rats
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: arsenic, metals, fibres and dusts. In A Review of Human Carcinogens, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2012, p. 100.
ATSDR, ATSDR’s substance priority list. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Georgia, 2017; https://www.atsdr.cdc.
gov/SPL/
Literature cited 2: . Leslie, E. M., Deeley, R. G. and Cole, S. P., Multidrug resistance
proteins: role of P-glycoprotein, MRP1, MRP2, and BCRP (ABCG2)
in tissue defense. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 2005, 3, 216; doi:
10.1016/j.taap.2004.10.012.
Betti, M. et al., Antiproliferative effects of tocopherols (vitamin E)
on murine glioma C6 cells: homologue-specific control of PKC/
ERK and cyclin signaling. Free Radic. Biol. Med., 2006, 3, 464
ID: 66000
Title: Municipal solid waste – transforming waste to wealth in a sustainable manner
Author: Suvendu Kumar Dash, Artatrana Mishra and Himanshu Bhusan Sahu
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 527-536 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Municipal solid waste – transforming waste to wealth in a sustainable manner
Keywords: Disposal methods, municipal solid waste, pollution, regulatory framework, sustainable approach.
Abstract: In the urban areas of India, solid waste generated by
human activities due to increasing urbanization and
economic growth is a major concern as we aspire to
become a 5 trillion economy by 2025. Millions of tonnes
of solid waste is generated in various forms, with the
most commonly used disposal methods are open dump,
open-air incineration, land filling and disposal to water
bodies. Irregular management of municipal solid waste
leads to water and air pollution, land degradation and
emission of gases like methane and carbon dioxide.
The concepts of 5R, viz. reducing, reusing, recycling,
recovering and residual management, are the main
aspects that address this global issue. To meet these
challenges, the Government of India must develop a
regulatory framework to address the issue in a sustainable manner.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Al-Ghouti, M. A., Maria, K., Mustafa, S. N., Khalid, A. and Oonn,
E. H., Recent advances and applications of municipal solid wastes
bottom and fly ashes: insights into sustainable management and
conservation of resources. Environ. Technol. Innov., 2021, 21, 1–30.
Dash, S. K. and Dash, A. K., Assessment of ambient air quality
with reference to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and gaseous
pollutants (SO2 and NO2) near Bileipada, Joda area of Keonjhar,
Odisha, India. Pollut. Res., 2015, 34(4), 181–188.
Literature cited 2: Kumar, D. S., Bhushan, S. H. and Kishore, D. A., Atmospheric
dispersion model to predict the impact of gaseous pollutant in an
industrial and mining cluster. Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage.,
2018, 4(3), 351–358.
Kumar, S. D. and Dash, A., Seasonal variation of air quality index
and assessment. Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage., 2018, 4(4), 483–
492.
ID: 65999
Title: Rapid urbanization – need for retaining gomalas as green spaces in the urban environment
Author: H. Paramesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 523-526 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Rapid urbanization – need for retaining gomalas as green spaces in the urban environment
Keywords: Biodiversity, green spaces, global environment, gomalas, urbanization
Abstract: The global human population was 8 billion in 2022 and it is projected to reach 9 billion by 2031,
leading to a significant shift in environmental issues with a decline in biodiversity. We need to develop people-centred cities by 2050, since two-thirds of the total population is going to live in urban
areas. Cities grow by urbanization of villages. As the cities grow, biodiversity is challenged. India is
the second country in the world, next only to Brazil, where green cover is being significantly lost due
to deforestation. Gomalas are the lands in the villages reserved for grazing by animals and serve as
a lung space for humans when the villages are urbanized. It is time to act to maintain greenery of the
gomalas for sustenance of lives in the urban environment. Maintenance of green cover with biodiversity is essential for sustenance of life. We have nearly 1.75 million species on our planet and
many more are yet to be discovered. Biodiversity has continued to decline during the past two decades.
Nearly 58% of vertebrates and 51% of freshwater species are now extinct and acceleration of extinction of 1,000–10,000 species is predicted during the next decade due to anthropogenic activities. The
World Environmental Day theme for 2024 is to ‘Protect, preserve and prosper for a greener future’
for all on the planet with living and non-living systems in our environment.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: WHO Sustainable Development Goals, 2015; https://sdgs.un.
org./goals
United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs Economic Analysis, 2018
Literature cited 2: Paramesh, H. and Sankam, J., Unearthing the nexus: population
growth’s impact on planetary resources and health – with a focus
on Bangalore city. Environmental Chapter of Indian Academy of
Pediatrics. Bull. Environ. Child Health, 2023,
https://www.unep.org/ietc/events/un-day/world-environment-day2024
ID: 65998
Title: From combined stress to climate resilience: harnessing the power of a knowledge resource
Author: Bharat Maitraya, Prachi Pandey and Muthappa Senthil-Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 520-522 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: From combined stress to climate resilience: harnessing the power of a knowledge resource
Keywords: None
Abstract: Understanding the intricate dynamic impact of combined stresses on plant growth and productivity amidst escalating climate change is one of the most prevalent challenges for today’s plant stress biologists. This commentary
emphasizes the necessity of employing a centralized resource to collect and analyse scattered data on combined
and individual abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. Introducing the Stress Combinations and their Interactions
in Plants Database, we underscore its role in consolidating and comprehending diverse omics datasets and
facilitating interdisciplinary research efforts to advance agricultural research.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Fingueiredo, M. S. N. and Pereira, A. M.,
Proc. Manufact., 2017, 12, 166–173.
Ghadge, S. P. and Pasalkar, J., Data Sci.
Agric., 2021, 8, 1397–1401
Literature cited 2: Priya, P., Patil, M., Pandey, P., Singh, A.,
Babu, V. S. and Senthil-Kumar, M., Plant J.,
2023, 116, 1097–1117.
Seneviratne, S. I. et al., In Climate Change
2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (eds Masson-Delmotte,
V. et al.), Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK, 2021, pp. 1513–1766
ID: 65997
Title: Drinking water quality standards and implementation
Author: Mohit Nangia
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (5) 518-519 10 Sep (2024)
Subject: Drinking water quality standards and implementation
Keywords: None
Abstract: Safe drinking water is a human right. The
United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 6 aims to ensure the availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Inadequate management of urban, industrial and agricultural
wastewater has resulted in the drinking
water of hundreds of millions of people
being dangerously contaminated or chemically polluted. The natural presence of chemicals, particularly in groundwater, can
also be of significance for health. Reuse of
wastewater to recover water, nutrients and
energy is becoming an important strategy.
A report prepared by the Ministry of Jal
Shakti and the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India (GoI) mentions
that the country is home to 17% of the
world’s population but has only 4% of the
world’s freshwater resources.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: IS:10500 Drinking water specification;
https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S06/is.10
500.2012.pdf
WHO Drinking-Water Quality (GDWQ),
2022, 4th edn; https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549950
Literature cited 2: WHO; https://www.who.int/publications/i/
item/9789240088740
National Human Rights Commission; https://
nhrc.nic.in/sites/default/files/Right%20to%-
20water.pdf