Current Science

Pallavi Shah ¹, S. P. Singh ², Anil Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, US Nagar 263 145, IN
2 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, G.b. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, US Nagar 263 145,, IN

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to determine the combined hepatoprotective potential of hydroethanolic leaf extracts of Murraya koenigii and Phyllanthus niruri against paracetamol (PCM) and ethanolinduced toxicity in human hepatoma HepG2 cell line. Toxicity in cells was induced by treatment with 15 mM PCM and 50 mM ethanol for 24 h as manifested by a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in cell viability, increase in the leakage of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate in culture medium, increase in lipid peroxidation and reduction in reduced glutathione in cell lysate. These alterations were significantly ameliorated when cells were treated with a combination of hydroethanolic leaf extracts of M. koenigii and P. niruri, and silymarin during both prophylactic and curative studies. Both post-treatment (curative) and pre-treatment (prophylactic) with the combination of plant extracts were able show effective hepatoprotection. This was also evident during morphological studies. The combination of plant extracts thus holds immense potential for future use as a hepatoprotectant.

Keywords

Ethanol, Hepatoprotection, HepG2 Cell Line, Murraya Koenigii, Paracetamol, Phyllanthus Niruri.

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Ravi Shankar ¹, B. Vijayagopal ², Anil Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN
2 CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN

Abstract

The Singhbhum craton in eastern India hosts a number of mafic dyke swarms popularly called 'newer dolerites'. Previous attempts to obtain emplacement ages of these rocks were limited to a few poor-precision K-Ar whole-rock and Rb-Sr isochron ages. Here, two prominent dykes from the WNW-ESE trending swarm in the south central region of the craton were dated using Pb-Pb baddeleyite thermal extraction-thermal ionization mass spectrometer method. These dykes yielded identical baddeleyite Pb-Pb ages of 1766.2 ± 1.1 Ma (SKJ-10) and 1764.5 ± 0.9 Ma (SKJ-15) respectively, which are interpreted as the time of emplacement of the WNW-ESE trending 'newer dolerite' dyke swarm. The predominantly parallel dyke trend in this swarm for over 100 km along strike indicates these dyke fractures were formed due to horizontal compressive stresses in a region that may have been associated with a palaeo compressional system.

Coeval ∼1770 Ma magmatism in the Singhbhum craton and in China, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay confirms this event was globally widely dispersed. The timing of this event also coincides with orogenic activity in majority of continents that may have formed during the assembly of supercontinent Columbia.

Keywords

Baddeleyite Ages, Coeval Magmatism, Cratons, Dyke Swarms.

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Y. J. Bhaskar Rao ¹, Shakeel Ahmed ¹, Vineet Gahalaut ¹, Anil Kumar ¹, M. Ravi Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 CSIR–National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN

Abstract

The National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, continued its scientific pursuit in many important areas of basic and applied earth sciences research encompassing geophysics, geology, geochemistry, geochronology and geodesy during the year 2014. The Institute is credited with 167 research publications and has accomplished several national and international projects. We give in this article an overview of three select scientific achievements.

Keywords

Aquifer Systems, Earth Sciences Research, Mafic Magmatism, Seismic Hazard.

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Anil Kumar ¹, Rahul Paliwal ¹

Affiliations
1 High Altitude Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Solan 173 211, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Bishnupriya Basak ¹, Pradeep Srivastava ², Sujit Dasgupta ³, Anil Kumar ², S. N. Rajaguru ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Archaeology, Calcutta University, Kolkata 700 073, IN
2 Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun 248 001, IN
3 Formerly at Geological Survey of India, Kolkata 700 016, IN
4 Formerly at Deccan College, Yerwada, Pune 411 006, IN

Abstract

Microlithic industries, a technology associated with modern humans, as defined by the production of microblades have been found in different parts of the Indian subcontinent with the earliest date being 48 ka. The present communication reports on recent archaeological excavations of these industries from a colluvial context located in the pediment surface of Precambrian hills in Purulia, West Bengal. These are dated to 34-25 ka by optically stimulated luminescence dating and are the earliest dates for microlithic industries in eastern India. To our knowledge such dating does not exist for any prehistoric site in Bengal. The context of the sites - hill-slope colluvium - is also unique and a rarity in the subcontinent. These findings add additional inputs to the knowledge of these industries, providing supporting evidence to their antiquity.

Keywords

Colluvium, Excavation, Microlihic Industries, Modern Humans.

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Yashpal ¹, D. R. Rathod ¹, Jyoti Devi ², Anil Kumar ¹, Keya Mukherjee ¹, Deepika Cheruku ¹, Subhash Chandra ¹, S. K. Lal ¹, Akshay Talukdar ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Vegetable Research Institute, Varanasi 221 005, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Ritika Verma ¹, Anil Kumar ¹, Sudhir Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan 173 234, IN

Abstract

Existing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration at 400 ppm is worrisome. One major reason for this is, dwindling CO₂ sinks. We are losing our natural capital, e.g. one of the available CO₂ sinks - coral reef - 'the underwater forests' which provide us the services by burial of CO₂ in their skeletons along with their photosynthetic symbiotic inhabitants (zooxanthellae).

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Anil Kumar ¹, Harish Kumar ¹, V. N. Ojha ¹, Shakti Singh ², Girija Moona ¹, Satish ¹, P. K. Dubey ¹, H. K. Singh ¹, Goutam Mandal ¹, D. K. Aswal ¹

Affiliations
1 CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 Amity University, Gurugram 122 413, IN

Abstract

Mass is the only base unit, which is represented as a primary standard in the form of artifact for more than 125 years. International prototype of kilogram (IPK) is kept at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), Paris and serves as the international standard of kilogram. It is made of 90% platinum and 10% iridium and as a cylinder of 39 mm diameter and 39 mm height. Replicas of the IPK are made of the same material and used at BIPM as reference or working standards and national prototype of kilogram (NPK), kept at different National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). NPK-57, kept at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, is sent periodically to BIPM for calibration.

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Pradeep Srivastava ¹, Anil Kumar ¹, Randheer Singh ², Oshin Deepak ³, Arjit M. Kumar ³, Yogesh Ray ⁴, R. Jayangondaperumal ¹, Binita Phartiyal ², Poonam Chahal ¹, Pankaj Sharma ¹, Rupa Ghosh ¹, Naresh Kumar ⁵, Rajesh Agnihotri ²

Affiliations
1 Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun 248 001, IN
2 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow 226 007, IN
3 Department of Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow 226 007, IN
4 National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa 403 802, IN
5 Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar 249 161, IN

Abstract

Pangong Tso is a brackish water lake that lies along Pangong strand of the Karakoram strike–slip fault in arid Trans Himalayan region. The geomorphic mapping along the periphery of the lake suggested the presence of four palaeolake level strands located at 6, 4.8, 3.8 and 1.25 m above the present lake level. The gullied periphery expose relict deltaic sediments where sedimentological study enabled us to identify four deltaic lobes that make a classic Gilbert-type delta with well-developed top-set, fore-set and bottom-set. The top-set of the stratigraphically oldest delta lobe that corresponds to the highest lake level shows the presence of freshwater molluscs identified as Radix and a burnt sediment layer (hearth). The charcoal derived from this layer yielded 14C date as 1.7 ka BP and six luminescence ages from different delta lobes suggested that delta evolution and lake level fall of ~6 m took place between ~2–1 ka. Review of palaeoclimate record available from NW Himalaya and Pangong Tso suggests that late Holocene aridity might be responsible for this rapid lake level fall. Sclerochronological analysis carried out on 54 subsamples from three Radix specimens suggested that the modern type of seasonal conditions may have prevailed at ~1.7 ka BP.

Keywords

Ladakh Himalaya, Lake-Delta, Late Holocene Aridity, Pangong Tso, Sclerochronological Analysis.

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Arun Kumar ¹, Balkrishna S. Bhople ², Anil Kumar ³

Affiliations
1 Faculty of Science and Technology, SRM-Institute of Science and Technology, Ramapuram, Chennai 600 089, IN
2 Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 144 521, IN
3 Farm Science Centre, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Booh, Tarn Taran 143 412, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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Sarita Rani ¹, Satyavan ¹, Anil Kumar ¹, Ram Prakash ¹, Sunil Beniwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, IN

Abstract

The burgeoning shortage of freshwater resources coerced Indian farmers to use poor-quality water for crop production in order to meet the growing and diversified food demands. Such conditions are likely to become more alarming in the future. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to identify the ideal crop combinations and agronomic practices which might give good yield under stressed conditions. An on-field experiment was conducted for two years to determine the suitable combinations of organic manure (farmyard manure @ 10 t/ha, vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha and biogas slurry @ 2.5 t/ha), chemical fertilizers (75%, 100% and 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF)) and microbial inoculants (Azotobacter chroococcum and Biomix) for enhancing productivity of the pearl millet–wheat cropping system irrigated with saline water. A significant improvement in the yield of pearl millet and wheat crops was obtained by integrated application of nutrients compared with untreated control and RDF treatments. Furthermore, a decrease in soil EC and pH, and an increase in organic carbon were noticed. A marked improvement in the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium status in the soil and reduction in sodium content resulted as an outcome. The T10 combination (RDF + VC + Biomix) was found to be the most suitable for profitable production of pearl millet and wheat crops under saline conditions of northwestern India.

Keywords

Crop Production, Integrated Nutrient Management, Pearl Millet, Saline Water, Wheat.

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Anil Kumar ¹, Manoj Kumar Kushwaha ²

Affiliations
1 I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar 144 603, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, S.B.S. State Technical Campus, Ferozepur 152 004, IN

Abstract

Surface modification of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) has been performed by anodic oxidation method within various concentration ranges of sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) electrolyte. It describes the oxidation kinetics of the anodizing process and critical analysis of process parameters like concentration of electrolyte, voltage, time and anodic current density, was performed to obtain homogenized nano-sized porous structure on the titanium substrate. XRD (X-ray diffraction technique) and FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) were utilized for phase analysis as well as for morphological survey. XRD report revealed that porous structure appeared at 0.4 M concentration of the electrolyte and at anodic voltage of 20 V. Anatase to rutile phase transformation was observed at 0.5 M of H₂SO₄. Tribological test of anodized as well as nonanodized surface performed on pin-on-disc type tribometer suggested that anodized surface possessed high wear resisting strength compared to bare metal surface. The present study tries to enhance the biocompatible features especially bone cell attachment or cell proliferation of titanium alloy by improved surface characteristics.

Keywords

Anodic Oxidation, FE-SEM, Tribometer, X-ray Diffraction.

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Anil Kumar ¹, Himanshu ², Prakhar Rawal ³

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Northern Regional Centre, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun 248 195, IN
2 Forest Research Institute, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun 248 195, IN
3 Department of Biology, University of Turuku, Fl-20014, Turuku, FI

Abstract

Passerines exhibit considerable variations in song characteristics, with crucial ecological, behavioural and conservation implications. We documented the individual variations and level of distinctness in the song characteristics of white-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus. Bioacoustic analysis revealed that songs were composed of repeated strophes (2–5 types per individual) with occasional whistles/trills or orphan syllables, made up of 3–13 elements, with dissimilar structures. Data analysis using 373 strophes from 22 males showed that all 8 variables (minimum, maximum, dominant and range of frequency, strophe duration, song rate, number of elements per strophe and type of element per strophe) differed significantly (P < 0.001). Song variations were higher among individuals compared to within individuals. The principal component analysis explained 56.87% variance. Discriminant function analysis exhibited 69.41% cumulative variance with 40.37% classification accuracy. The present study may be useful for further research on some other attributes of a song such as repertoire size, microstructure and seasonal/diurnal variations.

Keywords

Bioacoustic Analysis, Copsychus malabaricus, Discriminate Function Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Song Distinctness.

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