Current Science

Ayesh Gaur ¹, Gaurav Aggarwal ¹, Pankaj Kumar ¹, D. K. Srivastava ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan 173 230, IN

Abstract

Genomic assessment of the in vitro raised variations is necessary to protect the useful characteristics of the elite cultivars. Populus ciliata has significant potential among the commercially propagated tree species such as teak, Eucalyptus, red wood and radiata pine. Himalayan poplar occupies a unique and important position in the rural economy of India as it is a rare forest species ideal for successful intercultivation with agronomically important crops. Populus ciliata is a deciduous tree with sexually differentiated male and female plants, grown at an altitude of 1200-3500 m and largely distributed in temperate and subtemperate regions of the Himalaya.

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Mayank N. Vahia ¹, Pankaj Kumar ², Abhijeet Bhogale ³, D. C. Kothari ⁴, Sundeep Chopra ², Vasant Shinde ⁵, Nilesh Jadhav ⁵, Ranvir Shastri ⁶

Affiliations
1 Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400 005, IN
2 Inter University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Near Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110 067, IN
3 National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Mumbai 400 098, IN
4 Department of Physics, National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Mumbai 400 098
5 Deccan College, Yerawada, Pune 411 006, IN
6 Haryana Department of Archaeology and Museums, Sector 12A, Panchkula 160 016, IN

Abstract

Carbon dating is one of the most accurate methods to determine the age of any archaeological site. Here we present an analysis of seven samples from Rakhigarhi site, Haryana taken at different depths. We have used the recently acquired accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) system at the Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi.

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Pankaj Kumar ¹, Geetika Gambhir ¹, Ayesh Gaur ¹, D. K. Srivastava ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan 173 230, IN

Abstract

Genetic integrity of tissue culture-raised plantlets of broccoli cv. Solan green head from India was assessed using RAPD. First, highly efficient, reliable and highfrequency shoot regeneration was achieved in leaf (62.96%) and petiole (91.11%) explants on MS medium containing 4.5 mg/l BAP + 0.019 mg/l NAA, and 4.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA respectively. Maximum ischolar_maining ability (93.99%) with healthy and vigorous ischolar_mains was observed on MS medium containing 0.20 mg/l NAA. The regenerated plantlets with welldeveloped shoot and ischolar_main system were acclimatized successfully. For genetic stability studies, a total of 66 amplicons were amplified using 15 informative primers with a high degree of monomorphism (88.45%) across the mother plant and 20 randomly selected in vitro regenerated plantlets.

Keywords

Broccoli, Genetic Fidelity, Leaf and Petiole Explants, Plant Regeneration, Rapd–PCR.

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Manish Kumar ¹, R. B. Singh ², Ram Pravesh ³, Pankaj Kumar ², Dinesh Kumar Tripathi ⁴, Netrananda Sahu ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Geography, Kalindi College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 008, IN
2 Delhi School of Economics, Department of Geography, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 008, IN
3 Department of Geography, Kumaun University, SSJ Campus, Almora 263 601, IN
4 Department of Geography, Kamla Nehru Institute of Physical and Social Sciences, Sultanpur 228 118, IN

Abstract

In this article, sprawl area of impervious surfaces and their spatial and temporal variability have been studied for Pune city over a period of 19 years, i.e. 1992–2011. Statistical techniques and image classification approach have been adopted to quantify the urban sprawl and its spatial and temporal characteristics. For this purpose, satellite images were obtained from various sensors, viz. Landsat Thematic Mapper and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus. To establish the relationship between urban sprawl and its causative factors, multivariate statistical technique has been used. The determinants of causal factors of urban sprawl such as population, α-population density, β-population density, workforce engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors, road density, and gender gap in literacy collectively explain the 93.09% variation in urban growth. The result also depicts that incessant growth in the built-up area in Pune city has surpassed the rate of population growth. From 1992 to 2011, population in the region grew by 75.40% while the amount of built-up land grew by 227.3%, i.e. more than three times the rate of population growth. To understand the future urban growth of Pune city, a foresight approach is being developed that allows long-term projections. This depicts that by the year 2051, the built-up area in the municipal limits would rise to 212.27 sq. km, which may be nearly 50.0% more than that in 2011 (141.50 sq. km). The vegetative areas, open spaces and areas around the highways are expected to become major targets for urban sprawl due to further increase in the pressure on land.

Keywords

Remote Sensing, Statistical Techniques, Spatial and Temporal Variability, Urban Sprawl.

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Soumya Prakash Dhal ¹, S. Balakrishnan ², Pankaj Kumar ³, Pramod Singh ², Alok Sharan ¹, Sundeep Chopra ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Physics, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605 014, IN
2 Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605 014, IN
3 Inter University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IN

Abstract

Present and past denudation rates (D) of the Cauvery river catchment determined using meteoric ¹⁰Be/⁹Be on drill-core sediment samples from Uttarangudi and Valangaiman sites in the delta vary from 18.7 ± 1.6 to 48.1 ± 8.3 t/km²/a. The present day denudation rates of 37.7 ± 4.9 t/km²/a and 36.9 ± 5.2 t/km²/a estimated for these sites are higher by a factor of two than that based on solute and suspended load of the Cauvery river. Denudation rates estimated using ¹⁰Be/⁹Be (reactive) is more accurate as it is not affected by damming of rivers. Based on ⁹Be fraction (reactive + dissolved) and previous studies, we infer that sediments for Valangaiman site were mainly sourced from Western Ghats and Mysore plateau, whereas highlands bordering southwestern margin of the delta mostly supplied sediments to the Uttarangudi site. The Western Ghats and the delta received rainfall mainly during summer monsoon and NE monsoon respectively. Comparison of palaeo-denudation rates with various proxies of the Indian summer monsoon shows inverse relationship between them. Lower denudation rates are estimated for Early to Mid-Holocene period which is characterized by intense rainfall. Drier conditions after 4.5 ka BP caused increase in denudation rates after 2.5 ka BP for the Valangaiman core, consistent with a response time of 2 ka required to change ¹⁰Be/⁹Be in sediments of the Cauvery basin.

Keywords

Cauvery Delta, Denudation Rate, Holocene, Meteoric ¹⁰Be/⁹Be, Sediment Cores, Summer Monsoon.

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Pankaj Kumar ¹, Pawan Sharma ², Tilak Ranjan Kumar ¹, H. C. Sharma ², R. C. Dubey ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture Chunnikalan, Fatehgarh Sahib 140 307, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chandigarh 160 019, IN
3 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar 249 404, IN

Abstract

To study the effects of storage conditions on vermicompost, an experiment was conducted with freshly prepared, un-dried fresh vermicompost (60% moisture), and pre-air dried vermicompost (30% moisture) stored in polythene bags for a period of four weeks under different moisture and aeration conditions. Three different storage conditions were tested by placing fresh and pre-dried vermicompost in: (1) open bags, (2) holed bags and (3) sealed bags. Vermicompost properties were analysed weekly for four weeks after storage. The moisture content declined in both fresh and pre-dried vermicompost, with a maximum decline under open bag condition, followed by holed and sealed bags. In the sealed airtight bags with fresh vermicompost, a rapid decline in total organic carbon, nitrogen and electrical conductivity was observed during the first and second week of storage, possibly due to microbially-triggered volatilization losses. However, such decline was lacking in pre-dried vermicompost. In open and holed bags, the carbon and nitrogen were retained and rather increased during storage, possibly due to ongoing aerobic decomposition and no volatilization losses. The highest nutrient quality was observed under predried holed bag conditions, possibly due to optimal microbial activity releasing nutrients, combined with no volatilization losses. It was concluded that fresh vermicompost must be air-dried before its storage in bags. Storage of air-dried vermicompost under aerobic conditions using open/ holed bags appears to be the best option for retaining nutrients and quality of vermicompost.

Keywords

Carbon, Electrical Conductivity, Nitrogen, Quality, Storage Conditions, Vermicompost.

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Deepa Agashe ¹, Sugandha Maheshwary ², Jitendra Kumar Pattanaik ³, Jai Prakash ⁴, Pragya Bhatt ⁵, S. S. Arya ⁶, Sriparna Chatterjee ⁷, Pankaj Kumar ⁵, Paramdeep Singh ⁸, Nazia Abbas ⁹, Chandra Shekhar Sharma ¹⁰, Chirasree Roy Chaudhuri ¹¹, Pooja Devi ¹²

Affiliations
1 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bengaluru 560 065, IN
2 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Mohali 140 306, IN
3 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151 401, IN
4 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, IN
5 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi 110 067, IN
6 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Institute of Chemical Technology, NM Parikh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019, IN
7 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751 013, IN
8 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda 151 001, IN
9 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Kashmir 190 015, IN
10 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad 502 284, IN
11 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur 711 103, IN
12 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh 160 030, IN

Abstract

The scientific enterprise in India has grown dramatically in the past few decades, with research emerging as a viable and important career option for students of science. The country thus has a large population of young scientists in the early stages of establishing their independent research careers. While this demographic is arguably the most important group that will determine the future of scientific research in India, their status and concerns are poorly understood. The Indian National Young Academy of Sciences conducted a national survey to better understand and present the challenges faced by them. Through a structured questionnaire, we sought the views of researchers below 45 years of age. Here, we summarize the responses from 854 participants across multiple early career stages. We highlight key challenges faced by these scientists in establishing an independent research career, and suggest steps to address them.

Keywords

Academia, Career Opportunities, Challenges, Scientific Enterprise, STEM, Young Researchers.

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Deepika Tripathi ¹, Anil Kumar Pokharia ¹, Narender Parmar ², Pankaj Kumar ³, Alka Srivastava ⁴, Rinku Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
2 Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh 123 031, IN
3 Inter University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Near Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110 067, IN
4 Department of Botany, DG (PG) College, Kanpur 208 001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No keywords

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