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Of the goals and targets specified by the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Target 3, often referred to as "30 × 30," has garnered widespread attention globally. In this paper, we critique India's potential to meet this target. We find that with its vast network of ecosystems that are under some form of protection and through the recognition of other effective area‐based conservation measures sites, India has the potential to meet the quantitative target of conserving and managing at least 30% of its area by 2030. However, the qualitative attributes of the target might be more difficult to realize owing to several challenges, such as inadequate landscape connectivity, insufficient representation of habitats in the current protected area model, and the exacerbation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities of resource‐dependent communities. To achieve strategic, inclusive, and equitable conservation, we suggest a four‐pronged approach involving landscape‐level biodiversity conservation, socially just and collaborative safeguarding of biodiversity, and relevant policy (re)formulation, informed and underlain by long‐term research and impact monitoring. Although we focus on India, the issues we discuss are of broader relevance, especially for countries across the Global South that are also likely to be significantly impacted by the implementation of the target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods of groundwater targeting often result in failures due to improper selection of sites as a result of the lack of scientific database. Satellite-based mapping using geographic information system (GIS) has brought a paradigm shift in the mapping of the natural resources including groundwater. Remote sensing is a cost effective technique to carry out the groundwater prospects mapping which otherwise is difficult to achieve at national scale. A comprehensive database could be created on groundwater resource mapping and assessment using IRS LISS III satellite data from IRS-1C and its follow-on missions like IRS-1D and Resourcesat-1 for the entire India which was first of its kind. A national mission called National Rural Drinking Water Program was launched in the year 1999 to carry out groundwater prospects mapping at 1:50,000 scale for the entire country using 23.5 m resolution IRS LISS III satellite data. The objective of the project was to generate groundwater prospects maps on 1:50,000 scale in GIS format showing (a) different prospective zones in terms of yield and depth of aquifer and (b) tentative sites of different recharge structures suitable in the area. It is imperative that the mammoth task of preparing 4898 groundwater prospects maps on 1:50,000 scale for the entire country has become a reality due to the timely and continuous availability of LISS III satellite images from IRS-1C sensor and its follow-on missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-paddy agriculture is widely expanding, particularly in Asia. Rice-paddy fields are stagnated with water and insecticides are applied to control pests. Expansion of agriculture and pesticide are known drivers of declining amphibian populations globally. Yet, several amphibians persist in such temporary wetlands. How amphibians persist in this landscape matrix is not clearly understood. We document amphibian diversity in rice-paddy fields in south India and examine trophic interactions of the two most abundant species. From 60 rice paddy fields, we recorded six species of anurans among which, Minervarya caperata and Microhyla ornata were most abundant. The stomach contents of 57 individuals of the two species were extracted. They consumed prey items belonging to eight orders and 56 taxonomically distinct units dominated by Diptera and Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Although individuals of M. ornata were smaller in body size compared to M. caperata, both species consumed a similar number of arthropods. The dietary niche breadth of M. caperata was wider than M. ornata and the diets of the two species did not overlap greatly. We discuss our findings in the context of prey availability, foraging strategies, and highlight the role of anurans in pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on observing and documenting a predation event where a frog, identified as Raorchestes nerostagona (Kalpatta Yellow Bush Frog), was caught and consumed by a snake of the genus Dendrelaphis in Kadanoor, Coorg, Karnataka, India.

In this paper, we have analysed active and passive earth observation data for identifying the different geomorphic sub-provinces associated with coastal and fluvial geomorphic processes in the south-western part of Bengal Basin. For this purpose, variations in the spectral response of these sub-provinces in IRS P6 LISS III data are enhanced using principal component (PC) and independent component (IC) methods to spatially delineate the geomorphic sub-provinces and associated Quaternary sediments. It has been observed that the false colour composite derived using IC (first, second and third ICs) are effective in enhancing fluvial sub-provinces, while IC band 4, band 3 and band 2 are suitable to delineate coastal sub-provinces. On the other hand, PC composite derived using band 4, band 3 and band 1 are suitable to delineate different Quaternary sediments deposited within the spatial extent of geomorphic sub-provinces. Fused image enhanced products of IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite) LISS III band and ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) PALSAR (Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) polarisation bands are used to supplement and complement the variations observed for each geomorphic province in optical data as radar interactions are sensitive to variation in moisture and surface cover. Although there is a strong synergy between the spatial extent of geomorphic sub-provinces and the Quaternary units in terms of spatial disposition, different Quaternary units are also found within the same geomorphic province. Therefore, we have segmented each geomorphic sub-provinces based on the spatial extent of the different Quaternary deposits to identify few geoenvironmental (termed here as geomorpho-environmental) zones. In this regard, eleven zones are identified. Each zone has been characterised based on geomorphic stability, potentiality for agriculture practice, scope for urban development and reclamation. These geoenvironmental zones may provide important input to planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, several new species of amphibians have been described from India. Many of these discoveries are from biodiversity hotspots or from within protected areas. We undertook amphibian surveys in human dominated landscapes outside of protected areas in south western region of India between years 2013–2015. We encountered a new species of Microhyla which is described here as Microhyla laterite sp. nov. It was delimited using molecular, morphometric and bioacoustics comparisons. Microhyla laterite sp. nov. appears to be restricted to areas of the West coast of India dominated by laterite rock formations. The laterite rock formations date as far back as the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and are considered to be wastelands in-spite of their intriguing geological history. We identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genus Microhyla from the Indian subcontinent and suggest ways to bridge them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressurized heavy water reactors which are used for power production make use of heavy water in moderator and in primary heat transport system. The cationic fission products produced during the reactor operation such as cesium, strontium, cobalt, palladium, ruthenium and anions iodide, iodate, ruthenate, etc. contaminate the heavy water and hence the need for purification of the moderator and primary heat transport system to nuclear grade to achieve the desired efficiency arises. Columns containing ion exchange resins in online are used for purification. Also ion exchange resins are used in purification of fuel storage pond water. In this purification process, the resins pick up activity and ionic impurities. The activity-loaded resin so formed is called spent resin. It is imperative to treat the spent resin into innocuous form, highly inert towards exchange with any external radioactivity. Hence, an attempt has been made to convert the Cs-containing spent resin into ferric form and to study the role of temperature in the exchange reactions. Results show that the spent resin of Cs form could be completely converted into ferric form in batch study. Also the extent of exchange to ferric form was found to come down with temperature resulting in the release of -59.46 KJ/mole with cesium form of resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vast areas of tropical evergreen forests have been selectively logged in the past, and many areas continue to be logged. The impacts of such logging on amphibians are poorly understood. I examined the response of anuran communities to historical selective logging in a wet evergreen forest in south India. Anuran assemblages in unlogged forest were compared with assemblages in selectively logged forest. Forty 10 m × 10 m quadrats in forest, riparian zones, and streams of unlogged and selectively logged forests were searched at night for anurans. Species richness did not appear to be affected by logging. However, anuran density varied significantly and was 42 percent lower in selectively logged forests compared to unlogged forests. Anuran densities also varied significantly across microhabitats, with highest densities in streams of both selectively logged and unlogged forests. Patterns of niche overlap varied with selective logging as niche breadth either expanded, contracted, or remained neutral for different species. Ordination analysis explained 95 percent of the variation in species assemblage across selectively logged and unlogged forests. The assemblage in selectively logged forest was nested within unlogged forest. Among the habitat characteristics, litter thickness and water depth had the highest influence on the assemblage. This was followed by litter/water temperature, air temperature, and lastly relative humidity. It appears that species richness and composition of anurans in selectively logged forests is converging with unlogged forests, but the effects of historical logging seem to persist on anuran densities and their niche characteristics even ca 40 yr since logging ceased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi-arid districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu consist of numerous wetlands in the form of irrigation tanks, interconnected by an ancient network of canals, and fed by the rivers originating from the Western Ghats. While these irrigation tanks have socio-economic and cultural significance, very little is known of their ecological importance. These tanks have the potential to harbor good populations of resident and wintering waterbirds but no studies have been done to confirm this. A survey was carried out in 230 irrigation tanks of various sizes in the two districts from November 2008 to January 2011. A total of 83 waterbird species were recorded. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii occurred in most of the surveyed tanks. Large concentrations of wintering waterfowl such as Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Garganey Anas querquedula were recorded in tanks closer to the coast. Based on our survey, six sites with large waterbird concentrations have been identified, one of which is Vagaikulam, an active heronry currently under threat from tree felling. These sites along with associated wetlands are important for the long term conservation of waterbirds in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rigorous analytical thermal model has been formulated for the analysis of self-heating effects in FinFETs, under both steady-state and transient stress conditions. 3-D self-consistent electrothermal simulations, tuned with experimentally measured electrical characteristics, were used to understand the nature of self-heating in FinFETs and calibrate the proposed model. The accuracy of the model has been demonstrated for a wide range of multifin devices by comparing it against finite element simulations. The model has been applied to carry out a detailed sensitivity analysis of self-heating with respect to various FinFET parameters and structures, which are critical for improving circuit performance and electrical overstress/electrostatic discharge (ESD) reliability. The transient model has been used to estimate the thermal time constants of these devices and predict the sensitivity of power-to-failure to various device parameters, for both long and short pulse ESD situations. Suitable modifications to the model are also proposed for evaluating the thermal characteristics of production level FinFET (or Tri-gate FET) structures involving metal-gates, body-tied bulk FinFETs, and trench contacts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutrient utilization ability of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) budded on five rootstocks (viz., Sathgudi, Rangpur lime, Cleopatra mandarin, Troyer citrange, and Trifoliate orange) in Alfisols at the experimental farm of the Citrus Improvement Project, S. V. Agricultural College Farm, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Results of the study revealed that all the five rootstocks showed differential behaviors in terms of nutrient absorption from the soil. Rootstocks exhibited significant variation in the leaf content of potassium (K), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and boron (B) at all the three stages of sampling. Concentrations of the following key nutrient elements significantly varied: phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and Cu at stage 1; K, Ca, Mg, Zn, iron (Fe), and Mn at stage 2; and nitrogen (N), P, Zn, Fe, and B at stage 3. The performances of rootstocks in terms of relative nutrient accumulation indices (RNAIs) were in the order of Sathgudi (1.00) > Rangpur lime (0.98) > Cleopatra mandarin (0.96) > Trifoliate orange (0.76) > Troyer citrange (0.69). The present study clearly demonstrated that citrus rootstocks employed had differential nutritional behavior and different abilities to utilize plant nutrient elements. Thus, the findings of the present study and the methodology adopted can help the horticultural breeders and nutritionists choose the best rootstock/scion combination having the desirable traits of nutrient utilization ability and also to plan effective fertilizer schedule programs for achieving greater yields. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

India has the largest population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The conventional agents used to treat type 2 diabetes frequently exhibit reduced efficacy over time leading to inadequate glycaemic control and are also associated with adverse effects. Hence, there is a need for alternative therapies that can overcome the limitations associated with conventional antidiabetic agents. This review focuses on Gliptins, which have become a research area of intense focus and present an alternative therapeutic strategy for patients with type 2 diabetes. Gliptins show significant improvements in glycaemic control and are well tolerated, particularly with regard to weight change and hypoglycemia. Hence, gliptins are considered as useful agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An activation-energy asymptotic theory is developed that predicts autoignition of condensed hydrocarbon fuels in non-premixed flows. Steady, laminar, stagnation-point flow of an oxidizer stream, toward the vaporizing surface of a liquid fuel is considered. The analysis is restricted to the case where the temperature of the oxidizer stream, T2, is greater than the normal boiling point of the liquid fuel. The gas-phase chemical reaction is described by a one-step overall process. The chemical-kinetic rate parameters are the activation temperature, Ta, and the frequency factor, B. A Zel'dovich number, β, is constructed that is proportional to the ratio Ta/T2. The analysis is performed in the asymptotic limit of large values of β. It predicts the value of the Damkohler number, at autoignition. The Damkohler number is defined as the ratio of a characteristic flow time to a characteristic chemical reaction time. The flow time is the reciprocal of the strain-rate, and the chemical time depends on the chemical-kinetic rate parameters. To illustrate the application of the results of the analysis, experiments are conducted in the counterflow configuration. Fuels tested are n-heptane, n-octane, n-decane, n-dodecane, n-hexadecane, iso-octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, o-xylene, JP-10, JP-8, and diesel. The temperature of the oxidizer stream at autoignition is measured for various values of the strain-rate. The strain-rate, and the value of the Damkohler number at autoignition, obtained from the analysis, are used to obtain the chemical-kinetic rate parameters, for the fuels tested here. Critical conditions of extinction of flames burning these liquid fuels are also measured. A key finding of this work is that for the straight-chain alkanes tested here, at a given value of the strain-rate, n-heptane is the most difficult to ignite, followed by n-octane, n-decane, n-dodecane, and n-hexadecane. The order is reversed for extinction; here it is found that flames burning n-heptane and n-octane are the most difficult to extinguish followed by n-decane, n-dodecane, and n-hexadecane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study on the cementation of the regenerated activity (from spent resin using ferric as regenerant) containing ferric in cement matrix showed that compressive strength and leaching behaviour are better when the ferric strength was < 5 N. The diffusion coefficient of Cs from the cement matrix was found to be in the range 2·4 x 10-5 cm²/day and 5·9 x 10-5 cm²/day with ferric solutions of strength in the range 0·5-3 N. When bentonite and vermiculite were included in the cement matrix, the diffusion coefficient of Cs was found to be in the range 6·2 x 10-7 cm²/day to 1·26 x 10-5 cm²/day with ferric strength in the same range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental, numerical, and analytical studies are carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of inhibition of nonpremixed methane flames by bromotrifluoromethane (CF 3 Br). Experiments are performed in the counterflow configuration. In this configuration the reactants are injected into a mixing layer from two ducts. A fuel stream made up of methane and nitrogen (N 2 ) is injected from one duct, and an oxidizer stream of oxygen and N 2 is injected from the other duct. The inhibitor CF 3 Br is either added to the oxidizer stream or the fuel stream. A key objective of this study is to compare chemical inhibition of methane flames when CF 3 Br is added to the oxidizer stream with that when this inhibitor is added to the fuel stream. Critical conditions of extinction are measured. The concentrations of reactants at the boundaries are so chosen that the values of stoichiometric mixture, ? st , and adiabatic temperature, T st , are the same. Numerical calculations are performed using a detailed chemical-kinetic mechanism. A reduced chemical-kinetic mechanism made up of eight global steps is derived from this detailed mechanism. Rate-ratio asymptotic analysis is carried out using this reduced mechanism. Experimental data, numerical calculations, and results of asymptotic analysis show that CF 3 Br is more effective in inhibiting methane flames when it is added to the oxidizer stream when compared with its effectiveness when it is added to the fuel stream. The elementary reaction H + Br 2 ? HBr + Br plays a central role in the inhibition when CF 3 Br is added to the oxidizer stream. This reaction, however, has negligible influence on critical conditions of extinction when CF 3 Br is added to the fuel stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diesel community has used one-equation models for ignition delay in engines for decades. The inverse Arrhenius forms characterizing many of these expressions thus lump together liquid fuel evaporation, mixing of the vapour with the charge and the chemical delay. As a result, correlations apply only to the injector, engine and operating conditions tested. Additionally, they typically exhibit energies or temperatures of activation that can be as much as ten times lower than those obtained in well-mixed, controlled systems that isolate and study the chemical delay. Here the latter system is modelled first, using classical analysis techniques. The result is then extended to the relatively straightforward fluid mechanic environment of a laminar counterflow burner to clarify how both chemistry and mixing can be included in a more general one-equation model. This new model is validated with ignition limit data for ethane or ethene with O2/N2 either premixed or unmixed in the counterflow arrangement and liquid diesel fuel in a pool configuration. Since the overall mixing time in this burner is known a priori, the data can be manipulated to yield global chemical ignition delay activation temperatures for these fuels. As expected, the results are equivalent to those measured in shock tubes and combustion tunnels where reactants are premixed before ignition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rate-ratio asymptotic analysis of nonpremixed n -heptane (C 7 H 16 ) flames stabilized in the counterflow configuration is carried out. A reduced chemical-kinetic mechanism made up of three global reactions is employed in the analysis. In the first global step, fuel reacts with radicals to form the intermediate compounds hydrogen (H 2 ) and carbon monoxide (CO). The second and third global steps describe oxidation of these intermediate compounds to water vapor (H 2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The number of moles of radicals, α, that react with one mole of n -heptane in the first global step depends on the principal path of oxidation of the fuel in the detailed mechanism from which the reduced mechanism is deduced. The value of α obtained from different detailed chemical-kinetic mechanisms is not the same. In view of this uncertainty, the present study is focused on obtaining an improved understanding of the influence of α on the critical conditions of extinction. The asymptotic flame structure is presumed to comprise outer transport zones and a thin reaction zone. The outer transport zones are inert. Improvements in the present asymptotic analysis over previous asymptotic analyses are that in the transport zones the Lewis number of reactants and products is not presumed to be equal to unity, and heat losses by radiation are included. The Lewis number of any species i is defined as the ratio of thermal diffusivity to the coefficient of diffusion of species i . All chemical reactions are presumed to take place in the reaction zone. The reaction zone is presumed to be made up of an inner layer and an oxidation layer. The structure of the inner layer is obtained by introducing the approximation that only the first global reaction takes place in this layer. The second and third global reactions are presumed to take place in the oxidation layer. Analysis of the outer transport zones and the reaction zone gives the scalar dissipation rate at extinction χ f,q . For a given value of α, radiative extinction is observed when the scalar dissipation rate, χ f , is decreased below a critical value and diffusive extinction is observed when χ f is increased above a critical value. A flame cannot be stabilized for values of α larger than a critical value. The existence of flammable boundaries is a key finding of the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental and numerical study was performed to characterize the structure of diffusion flames stabilized in the mixing layer formed between counterflowing streams of hydrogen diluted with nitrogen and air diluted with nitrogen. Measurements were made with 15% to 30% hydrogen by volume in the fuel stream. The concentration of the reactants in the counterflowing streams as a function of their velocity at flame extinction was recorded over a wide parametric range. Using a UV Raman scattering system, the profiles of the mass fraction of the species H2, O2, H2O and N2 and the temperature profiles were measured at two conditions, one close to and the other far from the critical conditions of extinction. Numerical calculations using detailed chemistry were performed to predict the flame structure and the results were found to agree well with the measurements. It is found that the chemical-kinetic mechanism employed here can accurately describe the combustion of hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

‐The asymptotic structure of counterflow, nonpremixed methane–air flames are analyzed using a reduced four step chemical–kinetic mechanism. The rates of these four steps are related to the rates of elementary reactions appearing in the C1–chain mechanism for oxidation of methane. The outer structure of the flame is the classical Burke–Schumann structure governed by the overall one–step reaction CH4 + 202 1; CO2 + 2H20. The inner structure consists of an inner layer and an oxidation layer. Analysisof theinner layer is similar to that performed previously for premixed, methane–air flames and includes the influence of a number of additional reactions which were neglected in a previous analysis of the structure of diffusion flames. Attempts are made to provide a nearly complete description of the structure of the oxidation layer, by removing a number of assumptions introduced in previous analyses. Solutions are shown in the limit ω 1; ∝ and ω 1; 0, where w is the ratio of the thickness of the fuel consumption layer to the radical nonequilibrium layer. Results are obtained for the quantity Xq which is proportional to the strain rate at extinction, for various levels of dilution of the reactant streams. The values of Xq predicted in the limits ω 1; 0 and ω bracket the value of this quantity calculated from previous detailed numerical integrations. Although, the activation energy characterizing the rate of the elementary reactions is not large. the value of an effective overall activation energy describing the variation of Xf with dilutionof the reactant stream, deduced from this analysis is large and agrees reasonably well with the overall rate parameters deduced from experimental measurements of critical conditions of flame extinction. This observation provides a link between the present analysis and previous large activation energy asymptotic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A mixing rule is developed to predict extinction of a diffusion flame burning a multicomponent fuel. The chemical reaction is approximated as a one-step process between each component of the fuel and the oxidizer, and the activation energy characterizing the reaction is presumed to be large. The mixing rule predicts the overall chemical kinetic rate parameters characterizing the gas phase oxidation of the multicomponent fuel, if the rate parameters for its components are known. To test the validity of the predictions, extinction experiments were performed on diffusion flames stabilized above heptane, toluene, methanol, and a number of homogeneous solutions (with different proportions of the components) of these fuels. Experimental and theoretical values for the overall activation energy for the solutions were found to agree to better than 5 percent, and the preexponential factors were found to agree to better than a factor of three. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

By use of heteronuclear (13c, 1H) NMR methods, the threedimensional structure and dynamia of the glycoconjugate estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G) uniformly 13c enriched in the glucuronic acid moiety has been probed both in free solution and in association with an anti-E3G antibody singlechain Fv fragment. The glycan is found to exist in multiple conformations in free solution, with particularly large torsional fluctuations about the glycosidic linkage ψ. Resonance assignments and distance restraints for the glycococonjugate in the bound state were obtained from heteronuclear protonarbon-carbon-proton-COSY and isotopeedited NOESY techniques, respectively. Quantitation of the NOE data with a full-relaxation matrix approach showed that the antibody selects a conformation from the solution repertoire which does not correspond with either of the two lowest energy conformations of the free glycan, and the internal energy of the glycan in the bound state is estimated to be at most ∽15 kcal/mol higher than the global minimum energy conformation. The glucuronide moiety undergoes a stacking interaction with an aromatic ring in the binding site, and both ring-current shifts and nuclear Overhauser effects computed from the predicted boundstate conformation are in good agreement with experiment. The bound-state conformation is also in goad agreement with preliminary x-ray data on a related complex. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The structure of nonpremixed CH4/N02 flames is investigated for various values of the strain rate and pressure. Numerical calculations are performed using a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism comprising 137 reactions among 33 species, a skeletal chemical kinetic mechanism comprising 92 reactions among 25 species and reduced chemical-kinetic mechanism comprising 10 and 7 overall reactions. The skeletal mechanism is derived from the detailed mechanism, and the reduced mechanisms are derived from the skeletal mechanism. Chemical reactions in the flame are found to take place in three regions-a fuel-consumption region, a N03 - consumption region and a product-formation region. In the fuel-consumption region the predominant reactions taking place are those between the fuel and the radicals to form the intermediate compounds H2 and CO. In the N02 - consumption region the predominant reactions are between the N02 and radicals to form the intermediate compounds NO and 02. In the product-formation region the products C02, H20 and N2 are formed from the intermediate species. The radicals are also formed in the product-formation region. The flame structure and critical conditions of extinction calculated using the various mechanisms are found to agree with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reciprocal salt-pair system 2KC1 + MgSO ⇌ KSO + MgCl has been studied at 35° C to eliminate the discrepancies reported by different workers and for correlating the experimental data with natural evaporation of brine (without NaCl) so as to recover potash salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]