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Here we discuss various coastal and ocean science applications of the Earth Observation Satellite-04 (EOS04) mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Automated oil spill detection using EOS-04, Medium Resolution ScanSAR data is carried out that involves segmenting of dark regions and classification of oil spills from look-alikes using a rank based algorithm. Lagrangian forecasting model is then used to predict the oil spill track. Genetic algorithm is employed to convert backscatter from EOS-04 into Significant Wave Height and wave spectra. The wavelength and propagation direction of ocean internal solitary waves are estimated using EOS-04 data. High resolution data in Fine Resolution Stripmap mode is used to estimate coastal bathymetry based on wave shoaling effect. The unique ability of EOS-04, with a range of spatial resolutions and various modes of operation form an essential ocean observation dataset that enables the scientific community to improve the understanding of complex coastal ocean processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudbanks, a unique coastal oceanographic phenomenon occurring along the southwest (SW) coast of India during the SW monsoon season, are synonymous with the fishery of this region. Here we examine the validity of the popular notion that mudbanks directly support rich fisheries, using a high temporal resolution water column data collected from the Alappuzha mudbank region in Kerala during April to September 2014, in conjunction with fisheries data. Our study reveals that the upwelling which occurs during the SW monsoon season along this coast brings oxygendeficient subsurface water to the upper water column. Escaping the oxygen-depleted waters, the fish aggregate within a thin upper layer allowing easy visual identification and capture of fish shoals. This process occurs throughout the coast and is not confined just to the mudbanks. Mudbank being a calm region, traditional fishermen using non-motorized country craft were able to carry out fishing within this region only during the SW monsoon. With the induction of motorized and mechanized fishing, the link between mudbanks and fisheries is becoming less prominent, although the former still continue to be important fish landing centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of 17,344 papers published by Indian scientists and indexed by Web of Science in the discipline of organic chemistry during 2004-2013 indicates that collaborative coefficient has increased during the later years (2011-2013). Of the total published papers, 6312 (36.4%) were due to domestic and international collaboration. The share of papers in domestic collaboration was 77.3% (4882) and international collaboration was 22.7% (1430). Among the international collaborating countries, India had published highest number of papers with the USA followed by Germany. Academic institutions followed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) contributed the highest number of papers in domestic as well as in international collaboration. However, the value of domestic collaborative index and international collaborative index was less than 100 for both the sectors. The labs funded by CSIR also topped the list of institutions having domestic and international collaborative papers. The compound annual growth rate in domestic and international collaborative papers was 4.7 and 5.3 respectively. The value of domestic collaborative index was highest for CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow and international collaborative index for Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of threatened plants are declining rapidly in natural habitats due to various anthropogenic activities. Reinforcement of the dwindling populations through reintroduction is a promising aspect for conservation of threatened plants. However, due to lack of standardized propagation methods of such plants, mass production of planting materials has become a challenge, thereby constraining the replenishment process. Identification of factors constraining the seed germination of threatened plants and addressing it effectively, are among the most cost-effective strategies for large-scale multiplication and subsequent conservation of the threatened species. Similarly, conventional low-cost vegetative propagation techniques such as grafting, air layering, and regenerating plantlets from root-suckers, apical meristems, and stem cuttings often prove more successful for multiplication than relatively costly micropropagation techniques. In this article, we present a few case studies on low-cost mass propagation techniques of threatened plant species of India through seed, stem/apical shoot cutting and airlayering, that helped in the restoration of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight micro-samples from mural paintings of Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temples in Tamil Nadu, India were studied using binocular microscopy, thin film crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy to understand the original constituent materials of the pigments, binders and the methods of painting. Red paint had a mixture of cinnabar and hematite. The yellow colour resulted from orpiment. Orange hues were produced a mixture of orpiment and hematite. Grey colour was produced by a mixture of calcium carbonate and manganese dioxide. Black tones were prepared primarily using lamp black. The minerals used in both the temples were nearly identical. The appearance of proteinaceous materials/oils as a binding medium in all samples indicated the use of a tempera wall painting technique. These findings help improve our understanding of the methods and materials used in mural arts and serve as a guide for their future restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop developmental process and in turn its growth phases (vegetative and reproductive) are influenced by environmental factors, i.e. temperature and photoperiod in field crops like sorghum. Crop growth and biomass production is a function of genotype by environment interaction, which is optimized through management strategies. Crop grain yield is determined as a product of its yield components like the grain numbers per plant and the average kernel weight at maturity. Grain numbers set at the panicle initiation phase can be enhanced by best matching the supply of nitrogen with its demand in the crop. Grain growth dynamics, a function of genotype by environment by management interaction is an important feature that enhances sorghum productivity. Rabi sorghum growing environment presents a challenge through a receding soil moisture front which decreases its response to applied external inputs like nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Deep placement of top dressed nitrogen fertilizer treatments increased rabi sorghum grain yield by about 630-930 kg ha-1 over farmers, practice of no fertilizer application. A management strategy helped enhance the agronomic nitrogen use efficiency to 16 kg grain per kg applied N, and the rain water use efficiency to 15 kg ha-1 mm. Thus, the hypothesis of increased rabi sorghum productivity per rain drop through improved management intervention in vertisols was validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers have several applications and concrete is one of the materials that can be produced with geopolymer as binder. Since industrial byproducts/wastes such as fly ash, iron slag, micronized biomass silica, silica fume, red mud, etc. can be used as a binder instead of Portland cement, geopolymer concrete (GPC) has generated lot of interest among the scientific and engineering community. This has also resulted in reduced carbon footprint of concrete and an effective method of disposing industrial waste. In this study GPC with a blend of class-f fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag as binder has been developed, and its flexural and fracture characteristics have been studied. The GPC developed has a 28-day compressive strength in the range 40-50 MPa. Incorporation of steel fibres resulted in increased flexural strength, enhanced fracture properties and ductility. The residual strength of steel fibre reinforced GPC was also determined in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation strategies that can minimize the negative effects of climatic risk were implemented in over 2000 farms in 12 villages of Mewat district in Haryana, India. Detailed household (HH) level data from 120 farm families for two periods (prior to intervention and end of project period) indicated: (i) agricultural profit of adapted farmers was more than that of non-adapted farmers in all strata according to the difference in difference model; (ii) non-adapted farmers in <4 acre groups have to either alter the existing agricultural practices to reduce management cost and increase profit or incur additional cost for adaptation; (iii) large farmers may have to rationalize their management investments for gaining more profits; (iv) the profit is not directly proportional to the cost of adaptation, if any, among different strata of farmers; (v) agricultural income alone cannot sustain small and marginal farm (<4 acre) families, however with adaptation a self-sustaining agriculture could be achieved; (vi) suitable adaptation can reduce the cost of farm operations, and increase agricultural profits as well as adaptive capacity to climatic risks; (vii) additional cost is not always required for adaptation, and rationalizing agricultural expenditure is essential to adapt to climatic risks. At community level differential costs of adaptation and profits are likely. Policies for incentivizing these 'responsive adaptation' costs for small and marginal farmers would be required. However, investments may be required for establishing permanent agricultural-infrastructure for managing water and agricultural produce in order to sustain agricultural profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of 17,344 papers published by Indian scientists and indexed by Web of Science in the discipline of organic chemistry and its sub-disciplines during 2004-2013 indicates that the Indian output has increased significantly in the later period. Academic institutions contributed about 46% of the total output followed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with 26% of the total output. The most prolific institutions among them mainly belonging to academic institutions and CSIR contributed about 60% of the total output. The value of citation per paper for most of the prolific institutions was higher than the Indian average. Similar trend was observed for the relative citation impact. Indian researchers in the discipline of organic chemistry published their papers in international journals with impact factor greater than 1. About 11% of the papers published by Indian scientists in the discipline of organic chemistry during 2004-2013 remained uncited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional climate models (RCMs) are considered to be more useful than general circulation models for assessing impacts of climate change scenarios in agriculture. In this communication, the climatic outputs of an RCM-PRECIS (providing regional climates for impact studies) model were analysed by comparing its baseline simulation daily weather data on temperature and precipitation patterns with the observed weather for the corresponding period (1960-1990) in order to find out the bias in the model. Results showed that model could simulate the mean weather parameters on an aggregated scale, but could not satisfactorily represent spatio-temporal variations. There exists a bias towards higher precipitation along with more intense warm and cold events in the baseline simulation. In order to quantify the impacts of the PRECIS model biasness in baseline simulations on crop performance, rice (kharif season) and wheat (rabi season) yields were simulated using the observed weather and the PRECIS baseline weather for several locations representing the Indo-Gangetic Plains. With more extreme weather parameters in the baseline simulated data, the grain yields of rice and wheat were reduced, even causing wheat crop failure in several years as against none observed. The results indicated that using PRECIS baseline daily weather may cause bias in crop performance assessments. Since the bias in baseline will be carried forward in the assessment of future climatic impacts, there is a need to develop more reliable regional climate scenarios for the Indian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of 35,640 papers published by Indian scientists as journal articles and reviews in journals indexed by Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-E) in 2008 revealed that 6231 (17.5%) papers remained uncited during 2008-2013. Most of the uncited papers were published by State Agricultural Universities and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The highest proportion of uncited papers was in the discipline of agricultural sciences followed by multidisciplinary and mathematical sciences. These uncited papers appeared in journals published from India, Singapore, Romania and Japan with low impact factor (IF). Lowest number of uncited papers was published by the Department of Biotechnology. It was also found that a small fraction of papers published in journals with IF more than 5 also remained uncited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus (G. macrorhynchus) which displays mass stranding. It states that these whales migrate seasonally inshore and offshore in response to the dispersal of their prey. It mentions that mass stranding of G. macrorhynchus was first reported in salt lakes near Kolkata, India in 1852 followed by the second mass stranding of this species in Manapad coast, Gulf of Mannar on 14 January 1973 in which 147 pilot whales died.

Phylogenetic relationships within and among three genera of the family Acroporidae, namely Acropora, Montipora and Astreopora were examined based on mitochondrial cytochrome b (690 bp) gene sequences with special emphasis on Indian scleractinian corals. Analyses using mitochondrial DNA sequences highlight the usefulness of a molecular approach for examining the phylogenetics, evolution and diversity of corals. The analysis based on various algorithms, including neighbour joining and maximum parsimony along with network analysis clearly establishes the monophyly of Acropora and Montipora. The average number of pairwise differences within the three genera revealed maximum intragenus variability in Acropora, followed by Montipora and Astreopora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment on impact of climate change on major crops in ecologically sensitive areas, viz. the Western Ghats (WG), coastal districts and northeastern (NE) states of India, using InfoCrop simulation model, projected varying impacts depending on location, climate, projected climate scenario, type of crop and its management. Irrigated rice and potato in the NE region, rice in the eastern coastal region and coconut in the WG are likely to gain. Irrigated maize, wheat and mustard in the NE and coastal regions, and rice, sorghum and maize in the WG may lose. Adaptation strategies such as change in variety and altered agronomy can, however, offset the impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal variability of phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea, though a well researched topic, its inter-annual variability is less explored and understood. Analysis of the satellite-derived chlorophyll pigment concentration in the Arabian Sea during 1997-2007 showed a weak increasing trend. Contrary to the earlier hypothesis, our analysis showed that this increased phytoplankton biomass was not driven by the strengthening winds during summer monsoon. In fact, the basin-averaged chlorophyll concentrations during summer monsoon tend to decline, whereas those in September-October and during the winter monsoon showed an increasing trend. Based on the analysis of wind and aerosol optical thickness data, we attribute the increased phytoplankton biomass during September-October to dust-induced iron fertilization when there is sufficient buildup of nitrate in the upper ocean. During winter, the enhanced evaporative cooling under the strengthening winds led to the increased convective mixing. Subsequent supply of subsurface nutrients to the euphotic zone coupled with the increased dust delivery support the observed increase in phytoplankton biomass during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent measurements of chlorophyll, primary productivity (PP) and nutrients along the central Bay of Bengal (BOB) during summer, fall and spring intermonsoons showed that the northern bay becomes less productive compared to the south in summer and fall intermonsoon, in spite of the nutrient input to the upper ocean by way of river influx as well as eddypumping. Along the western boundary also, highest PP in the northern bay did not occur during summer or in the fall intermonsoon, but occurred in the spring intermonsoon. The reason for this was explored using diffuse attenuation (Kd(490)) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) which indicates the influence of the river flux in curtailing the downward penetration of solar radiation and cloud cover respectively. During summer and fall intermonsoon, biological productivity in the northern BOB is severely limited by the reduced downward penetration of solar radiation due to the large quantities of sediment brought by the adjoining rivers. Though the cloud cover reduces PAR in the northern BOB, this has only a secondary effect in comparison to the light limitation due to turbidity, which showed an order of magnitude increase in the northern Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study records the discovery of megaplant fossils from the middle part of the Ediacaran Jodhpur Sandstone, exposed in the mines around Sursagar area (GPS location 26°20′03₺N; 72°59′72₺E), Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This is the first record of the giant size noncarbonaceous plant fossils from the Precambrian sequences. The fossils show well-developed thallus, branching pattern, development of possible oogonia and zoospores, and antheridea. Showing morphological similarity with the extant Vaucheriacean plant, the thallus is about 140 times bigger in size. Preserved on the top of the bed, these are also associated with welldeveloped microbial mats. The same horizon has also yielded poorly preserved circular structures with medusoidal affinity which can be compared with the Aspidella sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new design and construction of a highpower, white light seeded double-pass non-collinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) in the visible wavelength using a single amplifier crystal. For its successful implementation, many important practical considerations are discussed in detail. Tunable femtosecond pulses were obtained with pulse widths less than 20 fs and characterized using frequency-resolved optical gating technique. The generated visible pulse, tunable from 490 to 740 nm from the NOPA, was further optimized by second harmonic and four-wave mixing signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand supply from the riverbeds to Bangalore is not able to meet the demand of the booming construction sector. Enterprising farmers have taken up extraction of sand by washing surface soils of agricultural fields. Nearly 25% of the sand supplied is from this source. A field investigation and laboratory analysis was undertaken to understand the ecological and economic consequences of sand extraction. The study revealed that significant employment and economic gains are realized at an ecological cost. Loss of surface soils, nutrient losses, crop yield losses, siltation of tanks, excessive groundwater exploitation and soil erosion are taking place due to sand extraction. There are no quality differences between riverbed sand and soil extracted sand. A comprehensive policy is needed to make the enterprise ecologically tolerable and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A good assemblage of organic-walled microfossils has been discovered from the petrographic thin sections of the black-bedded chert of the Balwan Limestone, the youngest carbonate horizon of the Bhander Group (Upper Vindhyans) exposed at about 3 km ENE of Lakheri township, Bundi District, Rajasthan. The assemblage is made up of the following forms: Siphonophycus septatum, Siphonophycus robustum, Myxococcoides chlorelloidea, Eoentophysalis sp., Gloeodiniopsis lamellosa and Gloeodiniopsis sp. All the forms show cyanobacterial affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communication records the development of wrinkle structures and desiccation cracks in the fine-grained Bundi Hill Sandstone belonging to the Neoproterozoic Bhander Group of the Vindhyan Supergroup. The presence of wrinkle structures in the sandstone suggests the role of microbial mats in binding sandy sediments and providing cohesion to the upper surface, which could produce the wrinkle structures and on drying could also produce the mat-related cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser pulses with desired complex shapes have been exploited to 'steer' the dynamics of various light--matter interaction processes, ranging from second-harmonic generation to control of the products in various chemical reactions. This has been achieved by modulating many parameters within the pulses both in time domain as well as in frequency domain, the latter being done using a pulse-shaper. Here we report the construction of a simple pulse-shaper with 4f zero-dispersion geometry. We used a thin glass plate (and a neutral density filter) to give a phase delay (and intensity attenuation) to various spectral components of a pulse centred at 1560 nm produced by a fibre-laser. The cross-correlation traces of this pulse with another pulse centred at 780 nm from the same laser were studied under different phase (and amplitude)-modulating conditions of the former pulse. The pulse-shaping results in complex shapes in the cross-correlation traces, which can be exploited in the study of coherent light-matter interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative study of the molecular dynamics of two xanthene dye derivatives (Rhodamine-6G and Fluorescein- 548) is reported using spectrally resolved three-pulse photon echo spectroscopy. An appreciable change in the coherence and population dynamics was observed between the two xanthene derivatives due to the presence of different functional groups. Solution of Rhodamine-6G in methanol behaves in a more coherent fashion compared to that of Fluorescein-548 dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development and implementation of a real-time flood forecasting and spatial decision support system for Chennai, India. The system aims to mitigate the extensive damage caused by floods in the region. It utilizes ensemble rainfall forecasts and integrates meteorological, hydrological, and hydraulic models to provide accurate flood predictions. The system has been piloted and operationalized for the Northeast Monsoon seasons of 2021, 2022, and 2023, and has shown promising results in terms of forecast accuracy. The system also includes modules for short-term weather forecasting, inflow forecasting to reservoirs, lake operational guidance, hydraulic modeling, real-time data acquisition, and web-based decision support. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports the discovery of a fossil, which is considered to be of phylum Echinodermata, from the ediacaran sandstone of the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India. As stated, Jodhpur sandstone has contained well-preserved microfossils and plant fossils during its development in years. The article informs that the body fossil has been found on the bedding surface of the Jodhpur sandstone and characterized by the presence of five unequal wavy arms emerging from a central disc.

The article offers information on the presence of nodules, which are sedimentary structures in the Jodhpur sandstone at Sursagar area in Jodhpur district, India. It highlights that the nodules are spherical with diameter between 2-6 meters (m) and have smooth surface. It states that these sandstones have development of parallel, cross and wave beddings. It mentions that except hardness, there is no lithologic difference between the lithology of the nodule and the host rock.

The article focuses on the poor citation of Indian science journals. It says that only 46 out of 1000 Indian science periodicals were indexed by multidisciplinary database Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). It states that 39% of 5317 articles and reviews found in 46 Indian science periodicals were cited in January 2006 to June 2009. It adds that poor citation is caused by poor circulation, reduced frequency of publication, and non-availability of said periodicals in the Open Access mode.

We have recently reported the development of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We have observed that Chlamydomonas cells could be transformed without the addition of acetosyringone. Here we report the ability of Chlamydomonas cells to induce Agrobacterium processes - vir gene induction and bacterial attachment, which are essential for T-DNA transfer. These results indicate that Chlamydomonas and the related algal species may be in the natural host range of Agrobacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean zoning through marine spatial planning (MSP) is an important component of the blue economy and has become an essential step towards realizing ecosystembased sea-use management. The concept was primarily initiated by the need to create marine protected areas, particularly in the European countries. An even more recent concern has focused on the need to conserve nature, especially ecologically and biologically sensitive areas in the context of multi-use planning of ocean space. To understand the value of MSP in India, a framework was created as part of the Indo-Norway International Ocean Management and Research Initiative. This study provides a framework for MSP in India for sustainable development in an ecologically sensitive area, namely the Lakshadweep group of islands on the west coast of the country. The findings of this study may serve as a reference for better management of maritime regions under various spatial jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new occurrence of Neoarchean stromatolite, older than 2600 Ma, has been found in the dolomite beds of Aleshpur Formation of the Chitradurga Group in the Shimoga Schist Belt, western Dharwar Craton. The occurrence is near Shanti Sagara lake (Sulekere) in the Davangere district of Karnataka. Stratiform, laminated, columnar with some showing branching forms indicate an advanced stage of evolution of stromatolites. The newly found stromatolite occurrence is an important addition to the inventory of Archaean stromatolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the Global Programme on Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF).

Stone column (SC) or granular column is widely used as a soil improvement method for flexible foundations such as oil storage tanks, embankments and rigid foundations. The confining pressure exerted by the surrounding soil allows the SC to develop its bearing capacity. The soft soil surrounding a SC may not provide sufficient lateral confinement. So, the design bearing carrying capacity may not be achieved. In such soils, a pervious concrete column (PCC) may be applied which deals with reinforcement as well as drainage. PCC can be constructed up to the full depth of soft soil or on the upper portion of a stone column up to which bulging is predominant. This study presents a parametric analysis of the performance of SCs, PCCs and composite columns (CCs) using three-dimensional numerical analyses. The parameters consider are: PCC diameter, PCC length in CCs surrounding soft clay cohesion, and full PCC length. Furthermore, the load transfer mechanism of pervious concrete is compared to that of a SC. In comparison to ordinary SCs, the findings of this study show that pervious concrete columns have a substantially better load carrying capacity and experience less lateral displacement. Furthermore, in a CC, the length of pervious concrete up to four times the column diameter may be sufficient to enhance the load carrying capacity of an ordinary SC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system has been developed at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, for assessing the climate change impacts on crops. In the FACE system, the supply and monitoring of CO2 is regulated by the computer-based SCADA system. Carbon dioxide concentration recorded at 5 min intervals varied from 507 to 559 ppm in an hourly period. Monthly mean values of CO2 concentration inside the ring ranged from 525 to 553 ppm from July to April. Crops grown inside the FACE ring showed increased yield over ambient CO2 condition. The operating cost of the system is US$ 100 m-2 yr-1, which is much less compared to similar set-ups in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, current fertilizer recommendations are very old and developed based on agro-climatic zones. The assumption is that agro-climatic zones are homogenous units. However, analyses of agro-climatic zones reveal variability in soil within each zone. Current agro-climatic zonal fertilizer recommendations are generalized for entire zone and not addressed to specific soil types. To know the soil variability within the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) agro-climate zone and suitability of current fertilizer recommendations, sugarcane in northern dry zone of Karnataka was studied as a test crop. The results indicated that agro-climatic zones vary widely in soils and in their potentials, behaviour and response to management. It was also observed that fertilizer application efficiency varied within each zone and within the management units. These differences contributed to errors of both excess and insufficient applications. Besides, there is a continuous removal of secondary and micronutrients by crops in all farming situations resulting in inappropriate management practices. All these suggest that soil-based fertilizer recommendations should be preferred to achieve precision in farming and to maximize crop production, maintain soil health and minimize fertilizer misapplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the clouds and their properties has remained unexplored, especially during the southwest (SW) monsoon season due to the unavailability of reliable data sets. Here we made an attempt to study the cloud base height (CBH) and its characteristics during the SW monsoon period of 2007 using CBH data obtained by a Vaisala Laser Ceilometer (VLC). The VLC was made operational at Thiruvananthapuram since July 2006 to monitor the CBH every 15 s. The relation of CBH with meteorological parameters is studied using the radiosonde observations. We found that clouds during the SW monsoon season have mainly concentrated below 2500 m. A layer with relatively void clouds was present between 2500 and 4000 m. We call this region as cloud-free zone. The amplitude of variability of CBH was less compared to the variability of the cloud frequency. Active monsoon is when the cloud frequency exceeds 70% and break phase is when it is less than 40%. The cloud frequency increases when the wind shear increases in the lower levels. Similarly, temperature is more during break phase of monsoon however, the relative humidity shows an increase during active phase of monsoon. Multiple clouds were also noticed during active phase, but it was negligible during break phases of monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind energy is gaining significance around the world as the most suitable source of renewable energy. India, blessed with 7500 km of coastline has already announced the offshore wind energy policy based on feasibility studies for offshore wind potential. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) and M/s Suzlon Energy Limited have installed first LiDAR-based offshore measurement platform with the technical expertise of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), MoES in the Gulf of Khambhat and the Gulf of Kachchh. This article illustrates the analysis, design methodology and various innovative strategies involved in the installation of LiDAR-based measurement platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity Studies (ILSA) is a science payload with the objective of studying seismic activities at the landing site of Vikram, the Lander of Chandrayaan-2. ILSA will be deployed to the lunar surface by a specially built mechanism. It is an indigenously developed instrument based on microelectro mechanical systems technology. High sensitivity silicon micro-machined accelerometer is the heart of the instrument that measures ground acceleration due to lunar quakes. The instrument has the capability of resolving acceleration better than 100 nano-g Hz-1/2 up to a range of 0.5 g over bandwidth of 40 Hz. This paper presents the basic concepts in the design, realization, characterization and the performance test results of the space qualified strong motion seismic sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SCATSAT-1 is the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) newest Ku-band scatterometer which was launched on 26 September 2016 from ISRO's space-port Sriharikota on-board the PSLV C35 mission. It is an advanced follow-on of OSCAT, ISRO's first Scatterometer in space on-board the Oceansat-2 satellite, which ceased to operate in April 2014. OSCAT had been a globally acclaimed sensor during its lifetime. The data from SCATSAT-1 exhibit superior quality, and will not only serve the operational wind and weather prediction community in the years to come, but also hold the promise of securing a place in the long-term climate data records. SCATSAT-1 is a standalone scatterometer mission atop the Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-2) bus. The scatterometer payload is a two-beam, dual-polarized, conically scanning, pencil beam, real-aperture radar which measures near-surface wind vectors over ocean exploiting Bragg scattering resonance at Ku-band. It has been developed in ISRO's Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad in less than two and half years to replace OSCAT. Although it inherits the instrument specifications from OSCAT, several enhancements have been made in its hardware as well as in the payload characterization from the purview of miniaturization and performance improvement over OSCAT. This article highlights the hardware improvements, the payload characterization methods devised, and the performance enhancements of SCATSAT-1 over OSCAT. The in-orbit performance of SCATSAT-1 is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural forests and managed plantations constitute the largest land-use systems in the humid tropics of southwestern parts of Peninsular India comprising the Western Ghats and coastal plain. Soils therein are naturally acidic and the acidity is enhanced in managed land-use systems through inputs of chemical fertilizers. Plant nutrient deficiencies and mineral toxicities constrain crop production in acid soils. Surface soil and subsoil acidity in forest, coffee, rubber and coconut land-use systems was evaluated. The spatial pattern of surface soil and subsoil acidity pointed to low intensity of acidification in Malnad region of Karnataka, moderate acidity in northern Kerala and strong acidity in southern Kerala. Among the land-use systems studied, soils under natural forests and coffee plantations were only slightly acidic in surface soil and subsoil, whereas rubber- and coconut-growing soils were strongly acidic. Both natural and managed land-use systems, however, had strongly acid reaction in surface soil and subsoil in southern Kerala. Biomass production and crop yield are constrained in strongly acid soil by toxic levels of aluminium (Al) on soil exchange complex (>0.5 cmol (+) kg-1 soil) and depletion of basic cations of calcium, magnesium and potassium (base saturation less than 50% or Al saturation more than 50%). Surface soil acidity can be ameliorated by incorporating liming materials into surface soils. In case of subsoil acidity gypsum too should be incorporated. Under humid climate partial solubility of gypsum permits movement of calcium into the subsoil layers, wherein calcium replaces the aluminium on exchange complex and sulphate radical precipitates the aluminium by formation of aluminium sulphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the hydrological and religious significance of the Ganga River and the Manasarovar Lake in India, the present study has been devised to investigate the data related to the place of origin of the Ganges and to investigate the likely connection between waters of the two systems. Satellite data was employed to develop maps and find out the possibility of surface connectivity, whereas isotopic and chemical data, obtained from the field samplings and the published research literatures were used to investigate the possibility of subsurface connectivity of the Gangotri Glacier water with that of the Manasarovar Lake. Topographically, both the water systems are located in different catchment zones, separated by high mountain ridges; rejecting any possibility for the surface connectivity. Similarly, there are significant variations in isotopic and physiochemical properties of the water, suggesting no possibility of surface or sub-surface connectivity between water of the two systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipid complexes have become promising delivery systems for delivery of drugs with poor bioavailability like asenapine maleate. To improve the bioavailability of asenapine maleate, phospholipid complex was chosen for the drug with Phospholipon 90 G (phosphatidylcholine). The automated molecular docking calculation for asenapine and maleate individually with phospholipid was performed by AutoGrid 4.2.6, a docking program. The van der Waals hydrogen bond, electrostatic potential energy and desolvation free energy grid maps were calculated by AutoDock parameter set- and distance-dependent dielectric functions respectively. The change in free energy was specifically seen for the complex between asenapine and phospholipid which exhibited least binding docking energy of –3.86 kcal/mol among the summary of 25 poses. Finally, molecular docking studies confirmed that the asenapine is able to make a complex with phosphatidylcholine, plausibly on account of its structural similarity with phospholipid in its physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was intended to screen the wild shrimps of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) against infectious diseases. A total of 175 shrimp samples (35 pools) consisting of Fenneropenaeus indicus, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus merguiensis and Metapenaeus monoceros were collected from different landing centres across ANI. Out of 35 pools of samples analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a total of 10 pools of Penaeus monodon collected from Betapur (1 pool), Lohabarrack (4 pools) and Campbell Bay (5 pools) were found positive for Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV). Nucleotide sequence of IHHNV isolated from ANI showed 100% identity to the sequences of IHHNV reported from Vietnam, Taiwan, Australia, China, Egypt, USA, Ecuador, 99% identity to IHHNV reported from Brazil, Venezuela, Korea, 96% identity to IHHNV reported from Thailand and 95% identity to IHHNV reported from India. Based on phylogenetic tree analysis, IHHNV of ANI is closely related to IHHNV of Vietnam. Histopathological analysis revealed typical eosinophilic intranuclear cowdry type A inclusion bodies in gill lamellae which further confirmed the IHHNV infection. The present study provides a definitive evidence for the first report of infectious IHHNV in wild P. monodon from ANI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind provides a scalable alternative to conventional energy resources. It can be a potential source to meet the increasing energy demand in developing countries like India, for which an attractive policy framework is required. The aim of this study is to provide an insight for evolving onshore wind policy in India and suggest suitable strategies for development of offshore wind sector. Various wind resource maps were reviewed and potential sites identified as Rameswaram and Kanyakumari along Tamil Nadu coast. Suitability analysis was conducted to identify the type of wind turbine recommended at potential sites to achieve high plant load factor, considering the uncertainty in wind speeds. Commercial viability studies were carried out to identify appropriate incentives for development of offshore wind sector in India. Results indicate a levelized cost of energy of Rs 10.8 and Rs 9.6/Kwh at Rameswaram and Kanyakumari for an internal rate of return of 14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study an airborne ground penetrating radar (GPR) is used to estimate spatial distribution of snow accumulation in the Samudra Tapu glacier (the Great Himalayan Range), Western Himalaya, India. An impulse radar system with 350 MHz antenna was mounted on a helicopter for the estimation of snow depth. The dielectric properties of snow were measured at a representative site (Patseo Observatory) using a snow fork to calibrate GPR data. The snow depths estimated from GPR signal were found to be in good agreement with those measured on ground with an absolute error of 0.04 m. The GPR survey was conducted over Samudra Tapu glacier in March 2009 and 2010. A kriging-based geostatistical interpolation method was used to generate a spatial snow accumulation map of the glacier with the GPR-collected data. The average accumulated snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) for a part of the glacier were found to be 2.23 m and 0.624 m for 2009 and 2.06 m and 0.496 m for 2010 respectively. Further, the snow accumulation data were analysed with various topographical parameters such as altitude, aspect and slope. The accumulated snow depth showed good correlation with altitude, having correlation coefficient varying between 0.57 and 0.84 for different parts of the glacier. Higher snow accumulation was observed in the north- and east-facing regions, and decrease in snow accumulation was found with an increase in the slope of the glacier. Thus, in this study we generate snow accumulation/SWE information using airborne GPR in the Himalayan terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on bubbling Baratang mud volcano in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. It is stated that mud volcanoes are found in tectonic subduction zones and are geological formations created through geo-excreted gases and liquids. It also discusses the emitting of methane and slurry through small cylindrical outlets. It is also stated that large number of eco-tourists from different parts of the world are attracted to the bubbling Baratang mud volcano.

Twenty-four polymorphic and ubiquitously distributed microsatellite loci were utilized to genotype four populations of indigenous Mallard ducks in India using Khaki campbell as an out-group. The data was used to establish population parameters and genetic relationship among the populations. All the selected loci exhibited high polymorphic information content and gene diversity. F-statistics revealed population structure in four indigenous duck populations. There was not much differentiation among the duck populations along coastline, while land birds were found to be distinct from coastline ducks. The data presented here will be useful for undertaking duck improvement programmes in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of Rainwater harvesting using the plastic-lined doba technology for the orchard establishment in eastern plateau and hill region of India. The results of study done in Jharkand, India are presented and use of soil moisture conservation techniques for the ground water recharge are mentioned.

The article offers information on the personal and professional profile of Indian mycologist Chirayathumadom Venkatachalier Subramanian (CVS) born in Ernakulam, Cochin State, India on August 1, 1924. Topics discussed include dissertation work done by CVS on the physiological anatomy of Acanthus ilicifolius, research work done by CVS on soil conditions and wilt diseases in plants, and hierarchical system of classification of hyphomycetes proposed by CVS.