Current Science

M. K. Tripathi ¹, S. Mangaraj ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, L. K. Sinha ¹, S. K. Giri ¹, N. Ali ¹

Affiliations
1 Agro Produce Processing Division, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038, IN

Abstract

Soymilk is a water extract of soybean and contains good-quality proteins, fat, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular use of soymilk enhances and protects human health. However, soymilk prepared by traditional method of cold-water grinding has a characteristic beany flavour which may not be acceptable to all consumers. This flavour could be minimized using appropriate processing technology. The present study shows that soymilk with almost negligible flavour could be produced using hot-water grinding and deodorization. Shelf-life of soymilk is about a week when it is pasteurized and stored in a refrigerator. The sensory quality parameters such as appearance, flavour, taste and overall acceptance of soymilk prepared by hot-water grinding followed by deodorization were good, indicating high consumer acceptance.

Keywords

Beany flavour, deodorization, lipoxygenase, phytochemicals, soymilk

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Ramesh Chand ¹, Chhattar Pal ¹, Vineeta Singh ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, Vinay Kumar Singh ², Chowdappa Pallem ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, IN
2 Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, IN
3 ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kudlu, P.O. Kasargod 671 124, IN

Abstract

Cercospora canescens (Ellis and Martin) is a hemibiotrophic pathogen causing leaf spot disease on mungbean (Vigna radiata L). Genome sequence (∼33.97 Mb) assembled in 8239 contigs with 10627 protein coding genes. A total of 2842 proteins were identified as homologous of 223 predicted and 7562 putative uncharacterized involved in biological processes, molecular functions. The identified proteins are mainly involved in infection process used to compromise nutrients or destroy host tissues gycosidases, transposases, cytochrome P450s, genes codes to signal transduction, cell wall breakdown, transporters, host stomata perception, adhesion, polyketide synthase and cercosporin. A total of 528 simple sequence repeats were also identified from the genome sequence assembly of C. canescens. This study provides insights into pathogenic mechanism and a better understanding of virulence differentiation of C. canescens. It will also help in identification of similarity and differences in regions among the genomes of different species of Cercospora.

Keywords

Cercospora canescens, Functional Annotation, Gene Prediction, Sequencing and Assembly, Vigna radiata.

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Abhishek Kumar Dwivedy ¹, Akash Kedia ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, N. K. Dubey ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, IN

Abstract

This commentary deals with recommendation of essential oils of selected traditionally used aromatic plants as shelf life enhancer of herbal raw materials in view of their efficacy to protect them from microbial and mycotoxin contaminations and oxidative deteriorations during post-harvest processing. Such documentation of pharmacological efficacy of traditionally used aromatic plants would be also helpful in bioprospection of plant diversity against the act of biopiracy.

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R. P. Singh ¹, Somya S. Sarkar ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, Anish Saxena ¹, U. S. H. Rao ¹, Arun Bhardwaj ¹, Jalshri Desai ¹, Jitendra Sharma ¹, Amul Patel ¹, Yogesh Shinde ¹, Hemant Arora ¹, A. R. Srinivas ¹, Jaya Rathi ¹, Hitesh Patel ¹, Meenakshi Sarkar ¹, Arpita Gajaria ¹, S. Manthira Moorthi ¹, Mehul R. Pandya ¹, Ashwin Gujrati ¹, Prakash Chauhan ¹, Kuriakose A. Saji ¹, D. R. M. Samudraiah ¹, A. S. Kiran Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad 380 058, IN
2 Indian Space Research Organisation, Bengaluru 560 231, IN

Abstract

Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), which operates in the infrared spectral region (7-13 μm), is one of the five instruments on-board the Mars Orbiting Mission (MOM). TIS was designed to detect emitted thermal infrared radiation from the Martian environment, which would enable the estimation of ground temperature of the surface of Mars and also map its surface composition. TIS instrument is a grating-based spectrometer which has spatial resolution of 258 m at periapsis (372 km). TIS hardware was realized with light-weight miniaturized components (total weight 3.2 kg) with power requirement of 6 W. Observations from TIS instrument were carried out during Earth-bound manoeuvres and cruise phase operations of MOM and the results were found to be in agreement with the laboratory measurements.

Keywords

Aerosol Optical Thickness, Mars Orbiter, Minerals Detection, Thermal Infrared Spectroscopy.

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M. C. Ramadevi ¹, S. Seetha ², Dipankar Bhattacharya ³, B. T. Ravishankar ¹, N. Sitaramamurthy ¹, G. Meena ¹, M. Ramakrishna Sharma ¹, Ravi Kulkarni ¹, V. Chandra Babu ¹, Kumar ¹, Brajpal Singh ¹, Anand Jain ¹, Reena Yadav ¹, S. Vaishali ¹, B. N. Ashoka ¹, Anil Agarwal ¹, K. Balaji ⁴, Manoj Kumar ⁵, Prashanth Kulshresta ⁵, Pankaj Agarwal ⁶, Mathew Sebastian ⁶

Affiliations
1 Space Astronomy Group, SSIF, ISITE Campus, Karthik Nagar, Outer Ring Road, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 037, IN
2 Indian Space Research Organisation Headquarters, Department of Space, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bengaluru 560 231, IN
3 Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Post Bag 4, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, IN
4 Spacecraft Mechanisms Group, ISAC, Old Airport Road, Vimanapura Post, Bengaluru 560 017, IN
5 Control and Digital Electronics Group, ISAC, Old Airport Road, Vimanapura Post, Bengaluru 560 017, IN
6 Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, IN

Abstract

Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) on-board AstroSat is a wide-field imager to monitor the X-ray sky in the energy band 2.5-10 keV. The primary science objective of SSM is to detect and locate transient X-ray sources in the sky. Once detected the information is to be provided to the astronomical community for follow-up observations to do a more detailed study of the source. Long-term monitoring of known X-ray transient sources is also one of the science objectives of SSM. The instrument constitutes three units of 1D positionsensitive propotional counters with coded masks on each, all three mounted on a platform capable of rotation to scan about 50% of the sky in one full rotation. The angular resolution of each unit in SSM is 12' x 2.5°. Sensitivity of SSM is ~30 milliCrab at 3 sigma in 10 min integration time. This article briefly discusses the instrument and a few early results since the launch of AstroSat.

Keywords

AstroSat, Crab, Scanning Sky Monitor, X-Ray Transient Sources.

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V. Masilamani ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, S. Sankar Narayan ¹, N. Raghu ¹, M. N. Namboodiripad ¹, T. Mookiah ¹

Affiliations
1 Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, IN

Abstract

An electrohydraulic control actuation system for actuating eight aerodynamic control surfaces of the two-stage technology demonstrator of the Indian reusable launch vehicle (RLV-TD) was developed, validated by extensive testing in various test beds, simulation runs and flight proven in the RLV-TD HEX-01 mission flight on 23 May 2016. A centralized hydraulic power generating unit (HPU) was used for powering the eight actuators located in two stages. The network of plumbings and control components of this actuation system were required to be laid out over the entire length and breadth of the vehicle measuring 17 m in length, to distribute the hydraulic power to all the actuators. The hydraulic actuation system had to work for the longest ever duration of 833 s for an Indian launch vehicle. Many challenges arose due to a single HPU for two stages, long complex network of plumbings, longest ever operating duration, thermal issues, second-stage structure resembling an aircraft, limited occupancy for operations at the launch pad, limited power source, etc. Necessary provisions were incorporated in the design to successfully overcome them. This article describes the development of the control actuation system.

Keywords

Aerodynamic Control Surfaces, Control Electronics, Electrohydraulic Actuation System, Hydraulic Power Unit, Servo Design.

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U. N. Sinha ¹, Srinivas Bhogle ¹, M. D. Deshpande ², Rangachari Kidambi ², Manoj Kumar ³, Katepalli R. Sreenivasan ⁴

Affiliations
1 CSIR-Fourth Paradigm Institute, Bengaluru 560 027, IN
2 Computational and Theoretical Fluid Dynamics Division, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bengaluru 560 017, IN
3 Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540 and New York, NY 10003, US
4 New York University, New York, US

Abstract

We were dismayed to learn that our dear colleague and friend, P. N. Shankar, passed away on 15 April 2019. Shankar had been unwell for some time, and unable to be his usual effervescent self.

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Manoj Kumar ¹, Naveen Kalra ², N. H. Ravindranath ³

Affiliations
1 GIS Centre, IT&GIS Discipline, Forest Research Institute, PO: New Forest, Dehradun 248 006, IN
2 Division of Agriculture Physics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
3 Centre for Sustainable Technology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

Forest ecosystems form an intricate nonlinear relationship with their surroundings. Therefore, the underlying processes are difficult to quantify. As a result, it makes the task quite challenging to evaluate the response of vegetation to their surrounding environment¹. Predicting responses of vegetation dynamics requires a clear understanding of how different physiological and ecological processes are influenced by environmental drivers. A clear causality between the types and levels of stresses and corresponding responses of forests is necessary for making any rational inferences². Significant progress in scientific understanding of plant–environment relationship, supplemented with the historical sequence of discoveries, is gradually improving the knowledge about the underlying functional relationship of plants with the environment. On the other hand, improved computational capabilities to handle multiple complex equations representing various functional relationships have made it possible to upscale the eco-physiological processes from an individual leaf to a global forest cover through computer-based programs, usually termed as a ‘Model’.

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P. K. Muhammed Jaslam ¹, Manoj Kumar ¹, Anurag ², Manjeet ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004, IN
2 Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004,, IN

Abstract

The present study was carried out to develop im-proved crop yield estimates for rice and wheat crops through the Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predic-tion (EBLUP) procedure via the Fay–Herriot area level model at sub-district level in Hisar district. Village-wise crop cutting data and auxiliary remote sensing data (satellite imaginaries) derived from the MODIS Vegetation Indices (MOD13Q1) version 6 were used for model construction. It is noteworthy that the coef-ficient of variation of the developed EBLUP estimates was below 10% for almost all sub-districts. The study revealed a significant enhancement in the efficiency of the yield estimator in comparison to the direct estima-tor, which recommended that with the use of remote sensing data together with crop cutting experiment data, crop yield estimates can be obtained on a small-er scale than the district using existing crop cutting experiments in the district.

Keywords

Crop Yield Estimation, Fay–herriot Area Level Model, MODIS/terra, NDVI, Small Area Estimation.

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Manoj Kumar ¹, M. B. Tamhankar ², Sandip Mandal ³, V. Bhushana Babu ¹, Bikram Jyoti ¹

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Mechanization Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, IN
2 Technology Transfer Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, IN
3 Agricultural Energy and Power Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, IN

Abstract

The objective of this study is to estimate technical efficiency of farm machinery manufacturers in Central India. The statistical test for the presence of technical inefficiency has been performed using stochastic frontier production model. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been used to identify existing returns to scale in farm machinery manufacturing units. The slacks-based DEA has been used to estimate input excess and output shortfall in the manufacturing system. Results indicate that out of the total variation, 69% was due to technical inefficiency in the manufacturing system, whereas 31% was due to stochastic errors. The estimated radius of stability was varied from 0 to 1.74 and the classification (efficient and inefficient manufacturers) was found robust against data alteration within the estimated radius of stability. The results showed that a manufacturer has to increase annual turnover by INR 40.7 million to become efficient.

Keywords

Data Envelopment Analysis, Farm Machinery, Frontier Intervention, Manufacturers, Technical Efficiency.

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Manoj Kumar ¹, U. C. Dubey ¹, Bikram Jyoti ¹, Ajay Kumar Roul ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India

Abstract

The study investigates the trend and spatial distribution of the draught animal population in Madhya Pradesh, situated at lat. 21.6°N to 26.30°N and long. 74°90¢E to 82°48¢E. Draught animals dominated around 20% (3 million hectares) of the net sown area of Madhya Pradesh, with power availability of more than 0.37 kW/ha. A 1% increase in tractor density reduces the draught animals by 0.89%, and a 1% increase in percentage forest area increases the draught animals by more than 0.5%. The spherical form of the semivariogram model with an estimate of nugget, sill and range as 0, 500 and 1.6 respectively, was used in kriging. The neighbour search radius and the minimum number of neighbours were taken as 3° and 20 respectively.

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Manisha Jagadale ¹, K. N. Agrawal ², C. R. Mehta ³, R. R. Potdar ³, Manoj Kumar ³, Mahesh Jadhav ⁴

Affiliations
1 Mechanical Processing Division, ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata 700 040, India., IN
2 All India Coordinated Research Project-ESA Scheme, ICAR-Central Institute of Agriculture Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India., IN
3 ICAR-Central Institute of Agriculture Engineering, Bhopal 462 038, India., IN
4 Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli 415 712, India., IN

Abstract

In India, the contribution of women workers in agriculture is steadily increasing daily, which governs a major share of the Indian agriculture sector. Hence farm tools and equipment must be designed by considering region-specific anthropometric data of women workers. However, measuring and recording anthropometric dimensions is time-consuming and economically taxable. In the present study, regression models have been developed to predict different anthropometric dimensions using anthropometric data of 79 body dimensions of 720 women workers in central India aged between 25 and 55 years. Principal component and factorial analysis techniques were employed to extract significant body dimensions. The major objective of this study was to predict various anthropometric dimensions by regression models so that the time and effort required for several body dimension measurements would be reduced.

Keywords

Agriculture, Correlation, Factor Analysis, Prin-Cipal Component Analysis, Women Workers.

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