Current Science

Swapna Parvathi ¹, Mallikarjun Rao ¹, Vinod Kumar ², Govindhaswamy Umapathy ²

Affiliations
1 Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad 500 064, IN
2 Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, IN

Abstract

The study reports some observations on reproductive biology of mouse deer (Moschiola indica) maintained under the conservation breeding programme at the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad. The conservation breeding programme was initiated with 6 individuals that bred in captivity reaching a total of 36 individuals within a three-year period. A total of 50 oestrus episodes were recorded from 11 females that resulted in 31 births. Females first gave birth at age of 304 days (mean = 318.6 ± 15.3 days, n = 5) and had an average gestation period of 154.1 ± 3.7 days. Females showed post-partum oestrus within 6 h of fawning, which resulted in successful mating. The present observations would help in enhancing knowledge on biology and behaviour of the species that can form the basis for its effective management.

Keywords

Breeding Characteristics, Captive Breeding, Mouse Deer, Post-Partum Oestrus.

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Munish Shorie ¹, Vinod Kumar ¹, Priyanka Sabherwal ¹, A. K. Ganguli ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali 160 062, IN

Abstract

We report here fluorescence based assay using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for the detection of cardiac marker myoglobin (Mb). CQDs with high fluorescence properties are synthesized and functionalized with generated anti-Mb-Aptamer to develop a sensitive assay platform with a detection limit of ∼1 ng/ml and a wide detection range from 1 to 10⁵ ng/ml.

Keywords

Carbon Quantum Dots, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fluorescence Assay, Myoglobin.

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S. K. Tahajjul Taufique ¹, Neelu Anand Jha ¹, Vinod Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, IN

Abstract

Corvids show an episodic memory with the temporal information on 'when' an event has actually occurred. We propose that crows keep the time and duration of an event by involving the endogenous circadian clocks, reliably measured in behavioural rhythms. The aim of the present study is to find out if circadian rhythms were involved in the organization of daily behavioural patterns in Indian house crows, Corvus splendens. We monitored the activity, ingestive (feeding: eating and drinking) and grooming (preening) behaviours in crows sequentially exposed to 12 h light : 12 h darkness (12 L : 12 D) and dim constant light (LL_dim) for one and three weeks respectively. The behavioural patterns were synchronized and diurnal was under 12 L : 12 D, while freeran had a circadian period under the LL_dim. In general, eating and drinking, not grooming, patterns were more closely related to the activity - rest cycle. These results show the persistence of circadian rhythms in behavioural patterns, and extend the idea that endogenous circadian clocks determine daily timing of the physiology and behaviour in Indian house crows, in particular, and birds, in general.

Keywords

Activity, Behaviour, Bird, Circadian Rhythms, Crow, Synchronization.

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Neelu Anand Jha ¹, Vinod Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Indo-US Center for Biological Timing, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, IN

Abstract

This study investigated whether short-term protein supplement to the seed-only diet during adulthood would impact the production and song features in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). In singly housed adult male zebra finches provided daily with seeds as food without or with 1 g of egg white protein supplement (equivalent to ~0.11 g egg proteins) under 12 h light : 12 h dark condition for 8 weeks, we recorded singing pattern at the beginning and end over 2 days when a female conspecific shared his cage. We found no effect of the egg protein supplement on daily song production, song bout duration and motifs per bout as well as the spectral features of the song, viz. motif duration, amplitude, pitch, goodness, mean frequency, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation or entropy. Perhaps, as sexually selected trait, song quality is not directly related to body metabolism. It is likely that seeds provided met energy requirement for vocalization (song production), and so additional egg white protein supplement did not affect the singing behaviour in adult zebra finches.

Keywords

Bird, Food, Protein, Singing, Song, Zebra Finch.

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Mewa Singh ¹, Vinod Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Biopsychology Laboratory, University of Mysore, Mysuru 570 006, IN
2 Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110 007, IN

Abstract

Vijay Kumar Sharma, a familiar face in the community of biological sciences, passed away in Bengaluru on the morning of 24 October 2016 at a young age of 49 years. He has left a deep footprint in the area of research on biological rhythms. The scientific community has lost a young, energetic and affable colleague.

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Chinmoy Sarkar ¹, Vinod Kumar ¹, Vinayak Sinha ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO, Mohali 140 306, IN

Abstract

Benzenoids are organic pollutants emitted mainly by traffic and industrial sources. Here, using a combination of on-line in situ PTR-MS measurements of several benzenoids and methyl cyanide (a biomassburning tracer), satellite remote sensing data of fire counts and back trajectory of air masses at a site in Mohali, we show that massive amounts of benzenoids are released from post-harvest paddy residue burning. Two periods, one that was not influenced by paddy residue burning (period 1, 18 : 00-03 : 30 IST; 5-6 October 2012) and another which was strongly influenced by paddy residue burning (period 2, 18 : 00- 03 : 30 IST; 3-4 November 2012) were chosen to assess normal and perturbed levels. Peak values of 3830 ppb CO, 100 ppb NO_x, 40 ppb toluene, 16 ppb benzene, 24 ppb for sum of all C-8 benzenoids and 13 ppb for sum of all C-9 benzenoids were observed during period 2 (number of measurements in period 2 = 570) with the average enhancements in benzenoid levels being more than 300%. The ozone formation potential of benzenoids matched that of CO, with both contributing 5 ppb/h each. Such high levels of benzenoids for 1-2 months in a year aggravate smog events and can enhance cancer risks in northwestern India.

Keywords

Atmospheric Chemistry, Benzene, Cancer, Methyl Cyanide.

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Vinod Kumar ¹, Anket Sharma ¹, Ashwani Kumar Thukral ¹, Renu Bhardwaj ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143 005, IN

Abstract

This article is a review of the pollution status of River Beas, India as analysed by different workers over a period of time. River-water pollution is an important environmental problem because it is the main source of water for consumption by humans as well as aquatic species living in the river. Water quality index was determined using nine standard water quality parameters for River Beas and was found to be 60.93. The mean values of dissolved oxygen (DO) (8.82 mg/l), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (0.87 mg/l) and total coliform (1451.60 MPN/100 ml) were found for River Beas in Himachal Pradesh. The mean values of DO (7.29 mg/l), BOD (3.75 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (48.89 mg/l) and total coliforms (562.88 MPN/100 ml) were also found for River Beas in Punjab. DO, COD, BOD and total coliforms ranges of the river were found above permissible limits of BIS for drinking water.

Keywords

Drinking Water Guidelines, Pollution, River Water, Water Quality Index.

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Nagendra Ramarao Hongasandra ¹, Pooja More ², Vinod Kumar ², Aarti Jagannathan ³, Nagarathna Raghuram ¹

Affiliations
1 Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Vivekananda Road, Kalluballu Post, Anekal Tq, Jigani 560 105, IN
2 NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560 029, IN
3 Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560 029, IN

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder which requires lifestyle interventions for its management. A number of controlled yoga trials in last few years have observed lifestyle interventions especially yoga to be efficacious in the management of diabetes. The aim of this study is to systematically review the research conducted in the field to understand the effectiveness of yoga on diabetes mellitus. A systematic search was done using search engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CAMbase, PsycINFO and IndMED. A total of 212 articles were selected, of which 166 were excluded and 46 controlled trials (CTs) were included in the review. Among the 46 CTs, 31 studies were categorized based on the primary outcome variables, 10 were based on the secondary outcome variables and 5 studies were control studies. Risk of bias assessment was conducted on all the studies. The review demonstrates significant improvement due to yoga practice in the primary outcome measures such as blood glucose levels along with secondary outcome measures such as cardiac autonomic variables, lipid profile, liver enzymes, respiratory variables, quality of life, anxiety and depression. Thus yoga has not only been found to be beneficial for improved glycaemic control, but also for the wide variety of symptoms associated with the diabetes. Despite this evidence, it is worth mentioning that further gold standard randomized controlled trials are warranted with more specific sets of practice, to prescribe yoga especially as an alternative treatment for the management of diabetes.

Keywords

Controlled Trials, Diabetes Mellitus, Primary and Secondary Outcome Variables, Yoga.

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Vinod Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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Poonam Chandel ¹, Ritesh Kumar ¹, Promila Bishnoi ¹, Vinod Kumar ², K. E. Mothi Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Haryana Space Applications Centre, Citizen Resources Information Department, Haryana, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Campus, Hisar 125 004, IN
2 Haryana Forest Department, Panchkula 134 116, IN

Abstract

Remote sensing and GIS play an important role in wildlife species conservation through their applicability to study spatial distribution, landscape pattern and also factors that affect the distribution, density and movement of wild fauna. The present study deals with the distribution of blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India, and to determine their habitat suitability which is shrinking due to the spread of settlements (urban and rural). For habitat suitability analysis of blackbuck, data from WorldClim, 19 bioclimatic variable layers such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc. were utilized to calculate the maximum entropy using MaxEnt version 3.2. Satellite data from Landsat 8 were used to generate land use and land cover for analysing habitat suitability. An area of 330.71 ha was found to be suitable for blackbuck habitat within the 10 km buffer area, against the present area of 28.32 ha. The growth of Prosopis juliflora which causes damage to the skin of blackbuck during movement was found to be another factor responsible for confining its niche within the Sanctuary. The present study will help in the effective safeguarding of blackbuck species by the Wildlife Wing of the Haryana Forest Department.

Keywords

Bioclimatic variables, blackbuck, habitat suitability, remote sensing, spatial distribution.

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