Everyman’s ScienceEVERYMAN’S Vol. XLVII No. 5, Dec ’12 — Jan ’13 SCIENCE Vol. XLVII No. 5 (Dec ’12 – Jan ’13)

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD EDITORIAL BOARD

Prof. D. Balasubramanian (Hyderabad) Editor-in-Chief Prof. Damodar Acharya (Kharagpur) Prof. S. S. Katiyar

Dr. G. B. Nair (Kolkata) Area Editors

Prof. K. N. Ganesh (Pune) Prof. Anil Kumar Prof. M. Vijayan (Bangalore) (Physical Sciences)

Prof. Nirupama Agrawal (Lucknow) Prof. Akhilesh Kumar Tyagi (Biological Sciences) Prof. R. Ramamurthi (Tirupati) Prof. R. C. Mahajan Prof. R. S. Tripathi (Lucknow) (Medical and Animal Sciences including Physiology)

Prof. Sankar Pal (Kolkata) Prof. Narinder Kumar Gupta (Earth Sciences, Engineering & Material Sciences) Prof. Sayeed. E. Hasnain (Hyderabad) Prof. A. K. Sharma Dr. Vishwa Mohan Katoch (New Delhi) (Social Sciences)

Dr. V. P. Dimri (Hyderabad) General Secretary (Membership Affairs) Dr. Manoj Kumar Chakrabarti Dr. V. S. Chauhan (New Delhi) General Secretary (Scientific Activities) Dr. (Mrs.) Vijay Laxmi Saxena COVER PHOTOGRAPHS Past General Presidents of ISCA Editorial Secretary Dr. Amit Krishna De 1. Prof. R. S. Mishra (1974) 2. Prof. (Mrs.) Asima Chatterjee (1975) Printed and published by Prof. S. S. Katiyar on behalf of Indian Science Congress Association 3. Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (1976) and printed at Seva Mudran, 43, Kailash Bose 4. Dr. H. N. Sethna (1977) Street, Kolkata-700 006 and published at Indian 5. Dr. S. M. Sircar (1978) Science Congress Association, 14, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata-700 017, with Prof. S. S. Katiyar as 6. Prof. R. C. Mehrotra (1979) Editor.

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CONTENTS

EDITORIAL :

Engineering Sciences, Education and Role of Science History N. K. Gupta 263

ARTICLES : Presidential Address : Science Education and Rural Development S. M. Sircar 266

The Deadly Metals : Some Removal Technologies from Drinking Water Amrita Singh 285

CO2 Sequestration and Earth Processes Malti Goel 289

An Understanding of Pain & Functional Impairment and Management Issues in Knee Osteoarthritis Meenakshi Batra 296

Laccases : The Blue Oxidases with Immense Scope for Biotechnological Exploitation Vidya Pradeep & Manpal Sridhar 299

LIST OF ISCA AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013 306

YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013 308

BEST POSTER AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013 310

KNOW THY INSTITUTIONS 315

CONFERENCES / MEETINGS / SYMPOSIA / SEMINARS 320

S & T ACROSS THE WORLD 324

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EDITORIAL

ENGINEERING SCIENCES, EDUCATION AND ROLE OF SCIENCE HISTORY

In last few decades, globally, we have seen technology is becoming a continuous process, and incredible and rapid technological advancement and the role of engineering sciences in societal and information and communication boom has brought economical development is continuously becoming about a revolution. Advances in computational more and more challenging. capabilities have provided unprecedented Challenges for the Engineering Scientists stem possibilities. Engineering Sciences have played an from defining the engineering task, which when important role in the development of technology achieved should meet the desired objective based on the recent scientific discoveries, effectively. For finding most efficient ways of understanding of the fundamental principles of meeting such actual or perceived “NEED”, it is science and engineering, available analytical and important for the Engineering Scientist to be well numerical tools as well as the constraints such as acquainted with the available scientific knowledge, those of societal, economic and political nature. As recently developed existing technology, and tools a consequence, in recent times we have seen great of analysis, as well as social, economic and engineering achievements which have contributed political constraints. The extent of his imagination in improving our lives in several ways. With the and creativity adds to the quality of the solution. advancements in technology, continuous The pace of new discoveries and development of developments in transport, infrastructure, new technologies seems to be quite high. In global communication, devices of various kinds, health context, it becomes necessary for the engineers to care, safe food, safe drinking water, production of be involved in developing new technologies, get various gadgets, development of sophisticated abreast with the available new technologies and machines, more efficient processes of production, methodologies and use them in best way soon advances in materials and understanding of their after these become available. Their own experience behaviour under various applications, and safety in and researches are important component. However, unintended natural or man made disasters, and so the researches need to be motivated for getting the on, have become so commonplace that at times we results faster and engineers need to employ these take them mostly for granted. results in developing new technologies at a pace With increasing efficiency and availability of relatively faster than elsewhere. Scientific tools, like experimental devices, measuring EDUCATION OF FUTURE ENGINEERS instruments and characterization devices, available mathematical and computational tools, the pace in The rapid pace of technological development scientific researches is continuously increasing. and discoveries makes the Job and education of the International co-operations in major important areas future Engineering Scientists very exciting, and in science and engineering are becoming important has been subject of serious thought and discussions and are steadily increasing. In fact, the boundaries internationally. It is of course necessary for the between science and engineering in several areas Universities and Engineering Institutes to impart to seem to be vanishing. With such rapid developments the students a thorough grounding in fundamentals in science and engineering, development of necessary for the profession and in several

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interdisciplinary and basic subjects. In addition, it interest in mathematics and association with is important that engineering students be provided Bernoullis. His life in St. Petersburg and Berlin, with an environment conducive not only for and his contributing so much even after his problems continuous learning habits, hard work and of loosing one eye at the age of 28, and the other perseverance, but also for developing vision, in his later years speaks volumes of his dedication imagination, well founded objectives, curiosity, and motivation. Some of the equations like that of dedication and incentive for creative adventures. the buckling formula, are so simple and elegant examples of modeling a given phenomenon. ROLE OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE BENJAMIN ROBINS (1707–1751) AND To my mind, it also necessary that the history of LEONARD EULER (1707–1785) great scientists be the part of education process of the engineering students. A familiarity with the In text books on engineering mechanics and scientists, and to know how the human beings like physics, students are introduced to Ballistic themselves worked, to achieve great scientific Pendulum as an example of the application of the success with their dedication and passion, is principles of momentum. Robins developed the certainly motivating in several ways. ballistic pendulum in 1742 for measuring musket – ball speed. This device was quickly adopted Over the last five decades my interests in the internationally and remained in use for a century. area of “Impact Mechanics” (which finds application I really wonder if the students of engineering and in design for crash worthiness of road and air those working in impact mechanics would be vehicles and other sensitive structures and safety in familiar with the name of Benjamin Robins, known defense), I have been fascinated by the simplicity as father of “Gunnery”, who is credited with the of approach and dedication of several scientists, discovery of the Ballistic Pendulum ( Fig. 1), and who have been able to make significant and far known as founder of experimental aerodynamics. reaching scientific contributions in basic and applied By firing musket balls on the heavy pendulum aspects of mechanics. There are several names like metal backed wooden block and recording its swing, Archimedes, Newton and Euler, who are known to and using equations of momentum, velocity of the the engineering students perhaps because of the ball was determined. Generally the results obtained theorems, principles and laws named after them. were within 2%. However, knowing about their background, circumstances, training, motivation, and the manner in which they devoted themselves to the scientific findings does open up vistas useful in motivating creative work. 15th April 2013 marked the 306th birth anniversary of the most prolific writer and one of the most creative mathematician of all times Leonard Euler. Euler’s contributions are enormous, and his dedication exemplary. All engineering scientists/ students must have come across one of the Euler theorems or Euler equations in diverse applications. His publications number is phenomenal. It is indeed Fig. 1 Robins’ Ballistic Pendulum as sketched in fascinating to know about his initial training, his “The New principles of Gunnery”

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He was born in Bath (UK) and received very based on mathematical considerations. This of little early formal education. His genius brought course is an experience of great value in the learning him to work in London. Known also for his work processes in motivation for discovery, modeling, on Newton’s Treatise on Quadratures, he was analysis and creativity. elected as Fellow of the Royal Society when he TO CONCLUDE : was 20 years of age. His book “the New Principles of Gunnery” was in two respects epoch-making in In last few decades there have been that (1) for the first time the magnitude and great unprecedented advancements in technologies and importance of air resistance on swift moving bodies discoveries in science. The demands on the was recognized, and (ii) by the introduction of his engineering scientists are becoming more ballistic pendulum the accurate measurement of challenging with time. The education contents and projectile speed was also for the first time made methodologies need to change and adopt to the possible. It is a great contribution to impact needs of the present state of the profession. Apart mechanics and design of guns. The quality of work from providing the students opportunity to learn and its importance in those times stimulated basics and fundamentals, environment to develop Leonard Euler to reproduce Robins’ book in vision, creativity, problem formulation and solving German language, and adding such a vast amount abilities, including the history of science in their of commentary that its length turned out to be curriculum will expose them to the real life several times that of Robins’ original monograph. examples of the human beings, like themselves, in This magnified the importance of Robins’ book, as motivation and dedication in pursuing the chosen Euler was much celebrated scientist himself. scientific activity. My aim in referring to this great discovery of Prof. N. K. Gupta Benjamin Robins and his encounters with Leonard The Supercomputer Education and Euler is to motivate engineering students to look at Research Centre, the simple solutions achieved through mostly Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore experiments (by Robins) and get acquainted with (Formerly at Department of Applied the comments (of Leonard Euler) which were mostly Mechanics, IIT Delhi)

Science does not know its debt to imagination. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

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PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Dr. S. M. Sircar

express my deep gratitude to the scientists years of independence what progress we have been I of India for the unique honour they have able to put Gandhiji’s idea in action is a big conferred on me by electing me as the General question. Rural economics and the sufferings of the President of the Indian Science Congress. This year villagers are still the same, if not worse. Whether the congress with the intent of taking Science to Gandhiji’s action, participation and guidance in the the village is holding the Session in this historic village uplift work have been rigidly followed, if so state of Gujrat from where the messages of Mahatma what is the net result? To what extent the basic Gandhi on Civil Disobedience, Non-cooperation education and its relation with rural economy have and Non-violence led the country to attain improved? independence. Gandhiji’s conception of purna It is a great privilege that the Prime Minister, swaraj was basically from the appalling poverty Shri Morarji Desai has been pleased to grace and and sufferings of the millions of the people living inaugurate the congress session. The Prime Minister, in rural India, “their economic and social in his broadcast to the nation after assuming the resuscitation was a sine qua non for freedom from office of the new Janata Government, reiterated the foreign rule”. Exploitation of the village in the Gandhian philosophy and principles for rural interest of the town was considered by Gandhiji as economy and development based on household and a species of violence. The growing disparity in small industry which could generate wealth and economic standard and social amenities between harness the productive capacity of millions. He has the village and the town was to be bridged. This he suggested could be done by volunteers from town pledged to the nation the way his Government is to to help in the revival of dying rural industries, shape the progress of the nation in which rural improved standard of nutrition, education and economy and prosperity will have equal partnership sanitation. He insisted on Swadeshi Cult and the with progress in urban areas. In integrated approach use of articles made in villages. With this idea the to bridge the gap of social culture and economic All India Village Industries Association was formed inequalities of town and village, rich and poor, he in 1934 to work for the revival and encouragement has appealed to all people for a helping hand in of the village industries and the moral and physical achieving all round progress on a countrywide advancement of the village. What Gandhiji could scale. I can assure him that the scientists in India do in his own way against heavy odds without any will assist in all possible ways for attaining this state help was very impressive. Today after 30 objective.

* General President, 65th Indian Science Congress held during The Indian Science Congress Association has January, 1978 at Ahmedabad. been taking a great deal of interest in current

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Science problems by having inter-disciplinary SCIENCE EDUCATION AND DEVELOP- discussions of academic and practical importance. MENT IN SOCIALIST COUNTRIES In fulfilling its objective the association has made During the three quarters of this century India a significant impact which has its repercussions in has made significant contributions in Science and the welfare of people in direct or indirect way, Technology the impact of which on benefits in the Since 1975 the congress initiated a programme of life and economic condition of the people have multi-disciplinary discussion on problems that have been large. We are living in the twentieth century bearing to our attitude to rural development. The scientific and industrial revolutions which have session in 1976 initiated the first theme “Science been followed by unprecedented socialist revolution. and Integrated Rural Development” followed by The world based on economic and political “Survey, Conservation and Utilisation of Resources” consideration is now divided into capitalist and in 1977. In view of the declared policy and action socialist states. In between, the third sector of of the new Government the focal theme for this politically neutral countries exists, which before year on “Science Education and Rural Development” the evolution of socialism was free world for the will be appropriate for the scientists at the Congress exploitation of raw materials for the monopoly session to express their views and recommendations industrialists and capitalists with open market for based on scientific knowledge and technology. the industrial production. India and many other under-developed countries belong to this sector India has been the spear head of the changed which have not yet developed their independent political situation in the world. In her transition economy without foreign aid and are trying hard to from colonial and imperialistic domination to be socialist states. The sharp distinction between progress for independent development on socialistic capitalist system which was established more than ideology she is flanked by social and scientific three centuries ago and the socialist system was industrial revolutions. These have led to growing noticeable only after the great October Russian awakening among the masses who are demanding revolution in 1917 and further intensified after education, equality of opportunity and higher Chinese revolution in 1949. The progress of Science standard of living. The demand for education is and the scientific achievements have been tagged to now an integral part of political movement and the political and economic power of a country. working class is very much concerned for the right Scientific research in capitalist countries has made kind of education that will fit the children in the very remarkable progress mainly due to industry investing large sums of money for utilizing skill and Science of agriculture and industry. If we manpower and talent in Science and Technology. as a democratic nation want to function effectively, To this was added the fund and scope for expansion our basis of democracy is to be elevated by mass of military research during the two great wars, to education, S. Radhakrishnan in defining the aim of lead to very outstanding achievements in Science education remarked that “Democracy depends for and Technology — one speaks of the dawn of its very life on a high standard of general, vocational space age as man began to walk on the moon. and professional education”. We are talking of total There was however class discrimination of higher revolution which will imply uplift of rural people science education and scientific research which and make them conscious of their rights and appeared to be confined to heriditary educated privileges and democratic methods of solving class, so called intelligensia with a few brilliant national problems. This is feasible through universal exceptions who were mostly employed as scientists, education; every individual should have a scientific engineers and administrators (J.D. Bernal, Science background in understanding life and environment. in History, 1969).

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Whereas Science development in the socialist technology was announced when joint test project countries has been different. In the Soviet Union involving the docking in orbit of the Soviet science education before revolution was stifled and spaceship Soyez 19 and the U.S. Appollo Space limited to those who were well off and could get Craft and mutual crew transfer which was high higher education. This is apparent from the fact precision point in the history of international that up to the first two decades of this century cooperation in space research. Science and Technology have not made so much The impressive spectacular achievements in spectacular headway as in the capitalist countries. agriculture, industry, space programme and social Since the establishment of the Soviet Republic science that have been made in the socialist country there has been deliberate and conscious drive for during the short period of 3 to 4 decades are mainly the most fruitful intrinsic growth of Science due to enormous drive for universal education, education, Science and Technology and the particularly Science education. The Soviet Union maximum of help that can be given to the full felt that in view of increasing demand for trained utilization of natural and human resources. It has scientists scientific education had to be increased now been recognised all over the world that the several fold for use in agriculture, industry and Soviet Russia from a very poor beginning with health services. There was also a need for much inadequate education and scientific manpower greater balance of interest between the Sciences became in the course of thirty years the second notably Geology, Biology and Medicine. A very industrial country in the world. In heavy industry remarkable event in the education system is the Soviet Russia made greatest contribution the entry of large number of women in Science. It is planning for which necessitated the reform in said that instead of one woman to six men in agricultural methods from the primitive wooden British Science there are more women than men plough system in the isolated fragmentary entering Science in the socialist education. The landholding in the Czarist time to the setting up of collective mechanised farming. The remarkable Czarist Government gave people little chance to feature is the rapid industrialisation in a widespread develop their abilities and there had been definite manner in order to raise the standard of industrial impediment by the military officials of the production equally in all areas and to develop government for keeping the people of Central Russia agriculture in industrial sectors and industries in with less than 1 percent literacy subdued forever as agricultural areas. This involved the active and shepherds and nomads and never to allow them to planned use of Science and Technology in both learn how to take to farming or acquire any industry and agriculture at the same time to provide knowledge of Science. Prior to 1917 about 75 enough food for all the population engaged in percent of the population of Russia could neither nation-building projects. The cities were rebuilt, write nor read, only 20 percent of the children factories equipped with modern implements, health received elementary education and 1 percent services increased and the most remarkable of all received higher education which were confined to was that education system was extended and thrown boys of upper class. Within 10 years after liberation open to all. The Soviet Russia ushered in the era of education was free and open to all 90 percent space research by launching the world’s first villagers were studying in local schools in their artificial satellite in October 1957 within 4 decades regional language. The campaign of universal after liberation. This was followed by first education was at its height within 15 years after spaceflight by a Soviet citizen in 1961 and lately in liberation when the main aim was to provide July 1975 further advance in space research and schooling for the entire adult population. In order

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to assist the campaign for removal of illiteracy been achieved on the basis of utilisation of large among the adult population it was necessary to human as well as natural resources of mineral ores, introduce universal primary education which was coal and oil. She has also been able to absorb the followed by seven years of compulsory schooling entire labour force in the productive work in the for the entire population. Higher education was for rural areas. The changes that have taken place since every occupational group without any class liberation are far greater than that have occurred distinction. After the adoption of the policy of elsewhere in the world. The first requirement for universal higher education and a comprehensive this was considered literacy which has been tackled programme of science education from primary with such great strides that more than 80 percent school stage to secondary school Soviet Russia has illiteracy in the preliberation years has been removed reached a very high standard of scientific and and within a few years 90 percent of Chinese technical education and the whole population knows population have learned to read and write and enough about Science to cooperate actively among within a generation the majority have secondary themselves. J.D. Bernal writes that “Already, both education. in the United States and Britain, the recognition The object of presenting in this address a brief that the Soviet Union is turning out from twice to narration of achievements in Socialist countries four times the number of scientists per head of irrespective of any political or personal bias is to population is causing alarm and belated efforts to focus our attention on performance in Science and emulate it”. Technology in India which has been enshrined as a People’s Republic of China, an enormous country democratic republic of socialism after independence with largest population in the world had a very low in 1947. It would show our weakness, deficiency, standard of living comparable to that of India and negligence and lack of proper perspective planning a typical under-developed country; but in course of in fostering Science and technology and creation of five years after liberation in 1949 started well with effective manpower for which the basis is Science plan of development. China has shown remarkable education. Very recently it was stated in the success in solving two basic economic problems of Parliament by the Union Home Minister “About 40 food and employment. Rise in food production to 60 percent people in India are still illiterate and during the last two decades has been 1-7 percent on the economic front she had plunged from no 51 per annum which has kept pace with the growth to 105 in the list; even extremely backward countries rate of population of 1-8 percent. Scientists in a in Africa which won freedom after India, have short time became self reliant in building powerful gone ahead of us — all in the name of socialism”. hydroelectric power schemes and fabricating their After 30 years of freedom we have achieved and own sophisticated scientific equipments; very progressed very much less in comparison to what seldom they use imported ones for research and the USSR did in less than 4 decades after liberation advance technology. The birth of new China could from the Czarist rule. During these years show the transformation of oil poor China to be improvement of the living condition of the people very rich in oil resources. The rapid building of of India and progress to prosperity compare very road and railways are ending the curse of poor unfavourably with that of People’s Republic of transport and communication, great water works China which was liberated later than us in 1949. and completed irrigation projects are putting an The thesis is that the world history at the present end to the danger of drought and flood. The miracles time will very precisely indicate that wealth and of reconstruction of china within a short time have prosperity of a nation no longer lies in the machines

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or raw materials or uneducated labour force but in proper understanding of the main facts, concepts, having educated and technological manpower; principles and processes in the physical and education has been the real wealth of the new age biological environment, some generalisations in of scientific industrial revolution. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth sciences and Astronomy are also visualised as useful and SCIENCE EDUCATION interesting to students to the secondary school Science is the determining factor in our economic stage. There has also been a tendency in some and cultural life. Every phase in the productive states to teach Sciences as composite courses like processes in agriculture and industry and practical Physical Science including Physics, Chemistry, Life aspects of our household affair needs intelligent Science with Botany, Zoology and Physiology and approach in experimentation, improvement and Earth Science as Geology and Geography. With the innovation. Science education is the principal means increasing knowledge in science it is felt that our of conveying scientific literacy to our population as curriculum should be periodically reviewed and well as for creating the scientific and technical modified in order to give students modern manpower indispensable for economic and social knowledge which will infuse their curiosity and advancement. It should be viewed as an integral develop their method of enquiry how the additional part of the national education development policy. knowledge could be of use to living condition and In a developing country like India with increasing general welfare of the people. The emphasis should population the problem of Science education needs be given for developing scientific outlook rather a massive approach for the very fact that quite a than memorisation of facts. It should be broad- large proportion, more than 40 percent of population, based and centred on direct experience of the is illiterate and teaching Science will be a formidable pupils and related to their environment, particular task whereas at the same time there is no other way attention being given to those related to conservation for rural development without giving them working of natural resources, nutrition and health. The knowledge in science so that they can find solutions students are to be trained in such a way that they to their day-to-day problems and also become can make their own discoveries. The laboratories meaningful participants in the execution of the should be kept in such way that the students can developmental plans. learn the fundamentals of scientific approach and The Government of India for universal free develop the qualities of self-reliance in the compulsory elementary education have initiated a application of Science and Technology for national programme for reorganisation and expansion of development. While emphasizing the new approach Science teaching at the school stage from the Fourth in Science education we are also to recognise the Plan period with UNICEF assistance. The emphasis fact that too rapid and 169 frequent changes in the has been given on primary school stage and syllabi or methods of experimentation may carry application of Science to the children’s living the risk of confusing the students or diverting them condition. The National Council of Education and from the career of a scientific worker. In addition Research Training (NCERT) with the expertise the changes also involve cost which may be often advice from different educational institutions has prohibitive unless low cost materials and equipments framed exhaustive curriculum for general education are made available for the school. One of the most with Mathematics and Sciences as the integral part urgent needs is publication of Science books of school education up to class X. In the primary including textbooks in regional languages which school stage up to class VIII broad principles in will create interest in Science amongst the students.

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While considering all these basic requirements education opportunities to choose courses and our efforts should be directed to improve the quality programme of studies in a wider field of education of Science education. We should know to what keeping in view their fitness for the type of training extent new devices for learning and teaching adopted that will provide them suitable employment. The in developed countries could be fitted in the existing other feature of the secondary education is to system of imparting education to our student provide flexible facilities for the students to go on population. In adopting a new approach which academic studies according to aptitude, interest and envisages changes in Science education emphasis ability. This category of students can go for higher is to be placed on solving varied problems that education provided a minimum standard of challenge the students. There has been criticism performance is maintained. At the higher secondary against the syllabi for Science teaching in our stage for 2 years flexibility in the choosing of secondary courses being very heavy and not course has been laid down with the basic idea of appropriate for the children of the age group. It transferring from academic to vocational courses or seems specialists in different disciplines have tried vice versa as needed according to the aptitude of to emphasise the importance of the discovery in the the students and social needs. This will avoid the respective disciplines without taking into unnecessary crowding of students to higher consideration the capacity of the young students to education with restricted scope of employment. assimilate and retain the basic facts of the scientific The curriculum courses have been prepared in knowledge which is increasing at a very fast rate. accordance with the need and future set up in the It should be our aim not to confuse and confront education plan of the country. The question arises the students with so much of sciences accumulated whether this system of education particularly in the for years together. Modern Science Teaching in rural areas will be in conformity with the social developed countries aims to drop the rigidities of implication of the people in relation to material traditional disciplines like Physics, Chemistry and welfare, tradition and cultural value. Biology and make a unified integrated and multi- Thus the present system of a 12 year study up disciplinary curriculum which is oriented toward to higher secondary courses plus 4 to 5 years in the solving the problems of living and studying man university for completion of higher education has and his response to different problems of now been open to reconsideration when we are to environment and society known as Human Sciences increase the technical manpower and to increase Our approach towards Science teaching in India the efficiency and speed of our developmental should be oriented to understand not only the value plans. One would feel to consider the possibility of of Science but its uses in improving the human reducing the total period of education by four to relations and quality of life. Mere imparting five years in schooling from primary school through knowledge of tight scientific facts and high sounding university as in the new China experiments have terminology irrelevant to students understanding been made to complete the primary school course the facts of life and his culture will fail to fulfill the in five years, middle school in four to five years objective for creation of scientific literacy amongst and the university course in two to three years. In the Indian people. this period the students are given more practical After 10 years of school education, a programme and theoretical knowledge than in the past, for higher secondary with diversification in several superflous subjects and redundant or useless vocational studies has been laid down. The objective teaching materials are being discarded. More has been to provide the students after general important is that the ideological education of

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students is strengthened and book learning closely in Great Britain more attention should be focussed integrated with practical production. School on the condition of Science teaching in schools; education is no longer confined to the class room accordingly it sponsored in April, 1958 a conference as primary and secondary middle schools in town of industrialists, scientists and educationists to and country have established close links with nearby discuss the need of scientists in industry and factories and People’s communes. The university shortage of Science teachers and inadequate education system has also been altered. Universities equipments. It was established that since the school no longer take senior middle school students in population after high birth rate rose by one million their graduation year but instead select them from in 10 years the corresponding rise would be to among outstanding young workers, peasants and provide 30,000 extra teachers to cope with the rise soldiers with two or more years of practical work in population. On this assumption the requirement behind them on the recommendation by the masses in India, a country much larger than Great Britain and approval by the leadership of the locality. This and having higher population growth will be several system does away with the book knowledge, first fold for which an estimation is to be made. The criterion which uniformly barred the labouring salient features of the trend of discussion and people and their sons and daughters from higher recommendations in the conference are that as education in the universities. output of scientists and technologists should be increased, to meet this increasing demand the The teaching of Science in a vast majority of proportionate increase in science teachers at different schools in India is rather of very poor quality and school levels are to be maintained. This would fails to create any scientific attitude in the mind of enlarge the scope of teaching Science in graduate the young student. For implementation of Science level in the university as minimum qualification for education shortage of Science teachers and teachers is considered Science graduate. The inadequate laboratory accommodation and question then arises how to attract the students equipments are serious problems in India. It has before they could finish their final degree been estimated that we have 90 million students examination. Regular visit of the people from the studying under 2.5 million not qualified Science industry is to contact the promising students with teachers in 0.5 million poorly equipped schools. inducement for joining the service in the industry. This would work out a teacher to student ratio at 1 One of the important suggestions is the earlier to 36, while in the USSR it is 1 to 18. It has not yet entry in the university after finishing school been properly spelled out how we are going to education at 17 instead 18 years. This has raised meet this challenge or shortcomings in our Science some controversy as to its effect on the standard of education. Teachers training colleges spread over Science education which may not be beneficial for different regions will not meet the rising demand of improving the quality of Science teaching and education in Science which needs a special scientific outturn of scientist in the competitive field for attitude and constant review of appropriate methods development of sophisticated industry in the country, of teaching by prominent scientists and specialists. but at the same time a group of experts think this The situation of shortages of Science teachers will hasten the output of Science teachers badly and equipments was felt quite early in the fifties in needed for the nation. The salary of teachers before most of the western countries. The British the war was comparable with that paid by other Association for the Advancement of Science, well- professions open to them such as universities, known for deliberation of the progress of Science scientific civil services and industries etc. But later to the notice of a wide public was convinced that after the war the scale in industry rose very high,

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and thereby a large proportion of good quality children in the Soviet Union. The teachers are Science graduates joined the industry. In order to provided with additional incentives like paid annual attract the science graduates to teaching measures extended vacation with extra pay and allowances suggested were to increase salary from prewar and rural area teachers could enjoy rent free £500 to £1400/£1600 a year, and raise the age of apartments with heating and electricity. In order to retirement from 65 to 70 thus enabling Science improve the quality of education and to raise the teachers to continue for five years more. The first scientific level of teaching the educational and second class honours degree holders in science institutions carry out their work of profession in going to teach Science were also deferred from teaching in close cooperation with prominent compulsory national service. It was tentatively scientists and specialists. Soviet educationists and estimated that to increase the annual output of teachers are seeking more effective teaching methods scientists and technologists from 10,300 in 1955 to and ways of making teaching process more rational. 19,700 in 1970 in U.K. there will be required about Russian schools have now established 10 years 1000 more Science teachers who will be able to schooling for every child within the Union; for this teach the necessary number of students to enter there is no teacher problem throughout the whole graduate courses in university and technical colleges. Union. This claim was made at a conference of the In order to meet acute shortage of Science teachers International Bureau of Education conference at neighbouring schools have been encouraged to share Geneva in 1956. The planning was made according Science teaching. This is particularly desirable in a to the need coming for such teachers. The result of vast country like India when we are to meet the the planning was that in 1955, 80 percent of the increasing demand of scientists and technologists graduates from the universities in the Soviet Union in the rural area where the scope for full-time were directed into teaching. The question is whether teachers is largely limited due to paucity of qualified the Russian policy of directing people into teaching teachers and adequate funds. A large number of and other professions could be adopted in India graduates from agricultural universities are expected which is facing acute shortage of qualified teachers to join the development work in the villages. They for our forthcoming Science education in the village may be induced to take part in teaching Science to along with rural industries. This may be a simple the school students. It may be noted that in U.K. a solution but not favoured in many western countries system of hiring Science teachers from the industries because of the fact that if an unwilling person is has been followed with good success. Sometimes directed to take the profession of teaching the army and navy officers after retirement before 50 whole spirit of teaching within the school may be are inducted to teaching Science and Mathematics ruined. in U.K. In addition to qualified teachers there is great It is relevant here to consider the situation of need of laboratory accommodation and equipments Science teachers in Russia. Since cultural revolution for the programme of Science teaching. A Science teachers became the special concern of the Soviet teacher will live in an atmosphere of frustration if Government because of the reorganisation of the he is not provided with facilities for equipment and school system and process of education depend on technical assistance, in absence of these teaching them. The idea has been that the school teacher becomes entirely theoretical. Scientists cannot be should be raised to a standard he has never achieved produced by mere theoretical knowledge or theory and can not achieve in a bourgeois society. In 1976 alone but it needs the practical work for solving there are 2.74 million teachers for 50 million school problems or use of correct technique. When a boy

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enters the Science stream with overwhelming interest 515 per head in U.K., Rs. 378 in USSR; Rs. 244 in and inquisitiveness it becomes a challenge to the Japan Rs. 119 in France and Rs. 1175 in U.S.A. teacher to meet his queries and accentuate his This large difference is due to highly industrialised interest by actual experimentation of the theoretical countries spending a large fund directly or indirectly principles and also giving scope to the boy to do on education and scientific researches. The cost of experiments by himself, to make use of his skills laboratory expenses for Science education in U.K and brains in formulating results. This will lead to in fifties was found varying between £3 to 28s per a systematic approach for future guidance in the year for each pupil with a total capital of £4000/- formulation of new principles of scientific value. per Science unit of a school. These figures are The technical assistants for laboratory are essential quite inadequate in the present rising cost of for the maintenance of the laboratory and for the materials. The estimated figures are likely to be best possible use of the Science teachers. The useful in our planning for extending Science school authorities often assign these duties to education to rural areas. Industries in U.K. have Science teachers. It will be rather uneconomic in come forward by establishing the Industrial Fund the sense if the teacher is given dual responsibility for Advancement of Scientific Education in Schools of teaching as well as the proper upkeep of the with a view to extending help in teaching Science laboratory and instruments. Provision of laboratory as the output of scientists and technologists for the technicians would be great step forward in raising competitive sophisticated industry will depend on the status of science teachers as well as the students proper and adequate Science teaching the students will be in a position to spend more time in the receive in the schools. This step of the industrialists workshops with the technicians to devise or fabricate has helped to impart good quality of Science instruments. An example may be cited that in the education in U.K. The schools receiving such help Imperial College, London, it was possible for me to are known as independent and direct grant schools. device and fabricate a new precision instrument for While the maintained schools are run by the research work only with the help of the experienced Government, the Industrial Fund Association has laboratory technician of the workshop. been helping the schools by way of capital grants for building, expansion, modernising and equipping It has not been worked out separately what Science laboratories. These schools do not receive additional cost would be involved for the any grant from the Government or local educational introduction of Science education at all stages of authorities. The total amount of grant provided by schooling in India. The expenditures that will be the fund to 187 schools in fifties in about £3.5 needed for Science teaching particularly in rural million for the purchase of apparatus etc., This areas are to be ascertained so as to enable the example should be emulated by the industrialists in planners of rural projects to a portion a suitable lndia. It would be realised that the scientists and fund for initiating science teaching in schools. The technicians the industries need will come from the estimated cost of education according to Kothari Science training we can give them on the basis of report for the period up to 1985 is Rs. 54/- per head which the proper technology of industries in India of population on the basis of 6 percent G.N.P. could be built up. I believe the industrialists while invested in education. This evidently includes the setting up new industries in rural areas will give cost of proposed science teaching at all stages of due consideration to this work of national education which is inadequate in view of the most importance as well as for their own industrial gain. of the developed countries spending atleast 10-12 While speaking at the British Association on the percent of G.N.P. for education. This comes to Rs. financial implication of science education the

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reputed scientist Dame Kathleen Lonsdale suggested percentage of total enrolment to population in the that the large sum of money needed for it could be age group for higher education (18–23) was found by cutting the expenditure in defence and estimated to rise from 1.2 (1950–51) to 2.1 (1965– military research. Her estimate is that out of every 66). These figures indicate that higher education in £ 1 spent on research 15s comes out of the tax general has been making satisfactory progress; but payer’s pocket but out of this 15s, 12s is spent on the question has arisen as to the employment so-called defence research. This rather causes two potentials of the graduates from arts and commerce fold obsessions in the minds of the people; firstly courses. The commission report suggests the need many parents and young men look at modern for reducing the rate of expansion at the Science as very powerful but essentially devilish, undergraduate stage in the courses of arts and they are repelled by it. Secondly, Science for commerce. In regard to the situation in Science the peaceful constructive purpose is hampered and figures available from 1950 to 1963 show that the starved of support. She went further to mention total number of degrees awarded rose from 13600 that the most important role of the universities of in 1950 to 51602 in 1963 with an average of all nations is to produce thinking men and women compounded rate of growth per year of 9.6 p.c. in who will no longer tolerate their anachronistic and B.Sc to 16.6 p.c. in M.Sc and in bachelors degree suicidal prostitution of world wealth and scientific in technology 14.1 p.c. and in agriculture veterinary talent. It is heartening to note the press report that sciences 12.1 p.c. The doctorate degree in Science the Prime Minister, Sri Morarji Dessai has reduced and technology is about 14 p.c. These achievements the defence budget of the first Janata Government in higher education in Science is not altogether and provided additional Rs. 40/- crores for unsatisfactory but is to be considerably improved education. This will no doubt be good incentive to as our output in comparison to USA or USSR is follow in future years to gear up the deficiency in rather small. It has been estimated that in USA the the budget for our educational plan. number of Science doctorates is doubled every twelve years with a current output of graduates in HIGHER SCIENCE EDUCATION Science and technology of about 4 percent of the I have discussed at length the position and relevant age group and is equally divided between problem of Science education for students before the engineers and scientists; in USSR the percentage joining the University or technical course. Since is about the same but the proportion of engineers is the publication of the reports of the university far more than scientists, Kothari Commission education by Radhakrishnan in 1948–49 and Kothari envisaged the expansion of science education to Commission on education, 1964–66 attempts have meet the demand rapidly increasing for scientists been made to extend and intensify higher education; and technologists due to developing research several universities and technological institutes have activities and industries. An estimate of annual rate been established in states so as to make available of increase of about 10-15 per cent was visualised advance learning in Science & technology to a which at the end of two decades would be about 10 large cross-section of people. A perusal of the times the enrolment early in sixties. Presumably on figures of the Government of India, Ministry of this basis we are now told that India has been Education and Social Welfare and Kothari report placed in third position in scientific and will indicate that higher education in the last 10 technological manpower in the world; but this large years rose from 10.94 lakhs (1965–66) to 24.26 manpower is not commensurate with the lakhs (1975–76) and this is projected to rise further achievements in Science and technology in the to 41.60 lakhs (1985-86). On this assumption the context of the developed countries. It would possibly

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lead one to conclude that such large scientific and training in agro-industries. The objective behind technological personnel has failed to make any this should be to establish a balance between the significant impact on the scientific and technological tendency on the one hand to impart education very achievements for the country. Is it we are having closely to the practical training of farmers and on quantity in place of quality? What might be the the other hand to relate to the technical and industrial reasons for this discrepancy; the answer presumably training with emphasis on Science and Technology. would have to be sought from the unrestricted The establishment of a close link between higher education in Science that has been made agriculture and industry will also lead to exchange available to the students after secondary education. of ideas and give chances to transfer from one type Our higher education should accordingly be very of education to another. precise and restrictive to those who will be suitably In India separate universities of agriculture and qualified and benefited by the system of advance Science faculties have been established in which study. The question was not often very seriously agricultural Sciences are divorced from pure basic thought of in the past presumably due to the absence Sciences. Most of the advanced and developed of opening to young students to any vocational countries have an integration of Pure Sciences with training or suitable employment; this state of affairs agriculture faculties, both these are in the same should be removed, Higher Science education should university campus. It is to be seen to what extent be given to the rural people who will be profitably the separate university of agriculture in India will employed in the industries of the village or benefit the basic research in plant sciences. Kothari neighbouring areas. Commission while recommending the establishment AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION of separate agricultural universities discouraged the tendency in resisting the admission of students of The pattern of agricultural education and research other faculties to postgraduate study in agricultural should be the greatest concern in India which is faculty. Inspite of the definite recommendation of basically an agricultural country. Agricultural the commission and the ICAR objective for production and rural economy play the major role integrating the agricultural sciences the practice of in our social and cultural life, employ a large admitting agricultural graduates only is understood population and contribute a large part of national to have been imposed on the university authority income and earn foreign exchange, a major portion from outside influence with possibility of reduction of which is used for amenities in our civic life. The in the general standard of education in agriculture rural population are to be made aware of the as an integrated science more appropriately needed implication of Science and technology for the for tropical environment. This shortsighted policy development of agricultural productivity. The is also likely to discourage the employment of Pure executive officers and technicians who administer Science specialists in the agricultural universities the public services in villages should have which in the long run will hinder the prospect of knowledge in the technical and scientific basis of original contribution in Agricultural Sciences in the agricultural practices in order to be able to apply country. new methods and innovations discarding the techniques that became absolete and not The personnel that will be needed for the rural remunerative in the changed conditions. For development in the agriculture sector has not been developing rural economy, continued progress and properly estimated. We need three categories of better employment potential, it is necessary to trained manpower; firstly diploma holders or persons increase the specialised technical personnel with having short training course in appropriate

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agricultural operations; secondly agricultural farm managers, craftsmen, technicians in agro- graduates largely needed for developmental projects industries, assistants in extension services, field in the villages as well as for teaching in secondary representatives of fertiliser and pesticide industries. schools; thirdly postgraduates for teaching and These polytechnics could be fitted in with the research. According to the estimation of Kothari vocational institutions in the general higher commission the total number of agricultural secondary educational set up of the states. graduates for a period of 15 years ending 1985-86 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH will be 3.05 lakhs including one lakh postgraduates with specialised training which will be distributed India where more than 75 per cent people live as 10000 for research; 35000 for education; and on agricultural occupation should develop export 55000 for agricultural and agro-industrial trade on cereals and other farm products in addition development work. The total number of the to her normal requirements. Instead she was graduates will be about one-third of the number of importing more than Rs. 143/- million worth of estimated requirements of graduate engineers for food grains alone prior to independence. After the same period or in other words 5 percent freedom it was expected that the situation should agricultural graduates to total output of all graduates improve and the country would be self-sufficient in is not excessive in view of the rising need of food; unfortunately she continued to be dependent development in the rural areas. There are about 6 on supplies of essential food grains from abroad. It lakh villages in India for which on average one was stated recently that more than Rs. 600/- million agricultural graduate and one diploma holder in worth of wheat alone was imported with U.S. PL agricultural training per village will have to be 480 loan. The Planning Commission from the provided for all developmental work in the rural begining of the first plan wanted to boost industrial sectors. In addition agricultural graduates will also production to increase the wealth of the nation. The be needed for teaching in the secondary schools. industrial wealth thus created would increase the When we are to take all these into consideration credit in the world market to pay for all the imports our requirement of trained agricultural personnel for national development including food. Apparently will be fairly large. This is to be provided in future this would only enhance the prospect of about one- plan periods. The question will be whether we have fourth non-agricultural population depending on got the required facilities and equipments to give industry. This proposition unfortunately did not training to such large personnel without sacrificing work satisfactorily and the country was plunged the quality of teaching. It has been brought to into debts for supplies of essential food grains notice that some of the existing institutes in India which resulted in scarcity, rising prices and inflation. do not have proper facilities and staff for teaching The policy for industrial production was pursued in graduate or postgraduate levels. The Indian with greater emphasis and agricultural improvement Council Agricultural Research (ICAR) has taken was not seriously thought of assuming that allocation the responsibility for having uniformly high standard of more funds in the plan budgets would boom of training in agricultural universities so that the agricultural productivity. The net outcome of the graduates coming out can take up advanced level of policy adopted was only marginal increase in teaching and research in the country. The need for production but not commensurate with the need of agricultural polytechnics can not be over emphasised the country. This is evident from the estimates in rural development projects when several agrobase made in the ICAR Agricultural year book . Taking industries are to be set up in the villages; these the base production of 90 million tonnes of total technicians will be essential as farm mechanics, food grains at the begining of the fourth plan the

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production with intensive cultivation and use of considerably increased; the country is in the way of traditional varieties would be additional 19 million self-sufficiency and the scope for export is tonnes making a total of 109 million tonnes by the visualised; this is all due to supply of irrigation, end of the fourth plan period. As against this the essential inputs including pesticides and application estimated demand by the end of the fourth plan of modern farm technology. In the productivity of according to planning commission would be 120 rice we are still far from attaining self-sufficiency. million tonnes. This would mean that with the According to the estimation of National Commission existing technology such an increase was not of Agriculture average yield of rice is 1.8 tonnes possible. The average yield of rice rose by 20 per while in Japan and Taiwan it is 5 to 6 tonnes per cent and wheat 13 percent from the first plan to the hectare. We are to take the effective steps; what end of the third plan, while population rose by 37 scientific knowledge is needed to improve the per cent during the period. Thus our strategy for productivity? Assuming that proper land agricultural productivity was not adequate enough managements, adequate fertilisers, pesticides, timely to cope with the rising demand for food grains and water resources are available how we can act on the other products. Research programme in the initial relation of climatic factors that greatly affect the plan periods after independence did not create yield potentials of the crop. Because of peculiar much enthusiasm as there was no innovation in the situations rice growing regions in India face very application of scientific technology. Breeding of diverse climate from abundance of rain and low varieties was continued without new Science and temperature to periodic drought and high lacked coordination with other disciplines; as a temperature prevailing during grain formation. result there were large number of varieties but Depending on the climatic influence photosynthetic seldom reaching the desired goal of higher yield process, flowering and filling of grains are crucial potential or resistance against pest and adverse in the yield of rice. The analysis of climatic factors environments. It may be mentioned that rice research indicates greater yields are obtained not due to use is in progress in this country for more than 5 of fertilisers alone or varieties but in warm temperate decades; but suitable high-yielding varieties were regions having temperature below 15°C and longer evolved after 1960 when different disciplines of days with bright sunlight. Rice growing kharif Agricultural Sciences collaborated at the season in most parts of India generally lacks the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. ideal conditions; higher temperature and absence of The major contributing factors for high yield bright sunlight due to cloudy sky affect potentials are optimum utilisation of solar energy, photosynthesis; consequently yield is reduced inspite high photosynthetic efficiency ensured from the of monsoon rains. position and shape of leaf, leaf age, dwarf habit The approach for the utilisation of solar energy resisting lodging and deep penetrating root system, for the productivity of crop plants in India is very This gave the Indian rice breeding the guideline to meagre. The survey in the photosynthetic evolve high-yielding varieties which are now being productivity in different parts of Japan have adduced bred in the country. One would expect that this lead evidence for the marked effects of climatic variations should have come from India which is traditionally on growth and economic yield. The regional a rice-growing region with a strong research differences in productivity have been made clear by organisation. prevailing temperature and solar radiation specific Since the introduction of high-yielding varieties to each locality. The variations in the grain yield from 1960 onward wheat production has with years and regions could be explained by a

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regression equation composed of two factors; one, most active photosynthetic period is when the plant the total dry weight at ear emergence which in turn produces tillering and initiates flowering. In dwarf is determined by the summation of mean varieties such differences between the dry and wet temperature and solar radiation from transplanting seasons vary from 16 to 36 per cent in the wet to ear emergence and the other, the average radiation season. This results lower assimilation rate with during the grain filling period. This was also reduced grain yield in monsoon. indicated from the fact that the net utilisation of In order to increase the productivity it is essential solar energy is variable between different growth to enlarge the availability and more effective use of stages, years as well as varieties. The maximum solar energy after flowering. This can be achieved value of solar energy utilisation is noticed with by adjusting the flowering time so that grain maximum leaf area index at the vegetative growth formation takes place within the period of optimum stages while with net assimilation rate in solar radiation. The significance of photosensitivity reproductive stage. In general the dry matter of winter rice flowering twice a year according to production in the vegetative phase is mostly affected available day length is largely felt on the by the summation of maximum temperature and productivity and higher yield potentials of rice. In the period of grain filling by solar radiation. Thus addition to higher photosynthetic efficiency rice the crux of Japanese rice production programme cultivation in Rabi or dry season is more conducive has centered around the climatic influence at to greater yield prospect, because the photosensitive different locations with varietal reactions with winter rice has a shorter growth duration with optimum agronomic techniques. flowering in the first week of April making the land Informations on the lines of the survey carried available for double cropping while the photosyn- out by the Japanese International Biological thetic dwarf varieties are thermo-sensitive and take Programme are lacking for rice cultivations in India; longer time for harvesting in the Rabi season. yet some significant results have been reported by Another aspect of photosynthetic productivity that the speaker and his associates from a comprehensive is recently brought out is the utilisation of study on the photosynthetic process of different photosynthate in the formations and filling of grains. varieties under varying levels of fertilisers and The yield potentials depend on the dry matter climatic conditions and their implications on grain production during 30 days after flowering and yield. The problem was approached by studying transport of the matter to the ripening grains. The the photosynthetic efficiency of several varieties in higher-yielding dwarf varieties transport more than wet (Kharif) and dry (Rabi) seasons and its impact 67 to 83 per cent photosynthate while tall local on the components of yield potentials of different varieties translocate 31 to 54 per cent dry matter to varieties. The difference in the wet and dry seasons the ripening grains. An important physiological is characterised by solar energy incident on the leaf peculiarity of rice is noticed in the loss of storage surface at various growth phases resulting variations carbohydrate in light by photorespiration which in the production of dry matter. The incidence of takes place in addition to normal respiration. In this sunlight on the leaf surface of the dwarf type of the process total dry matter is lost which otherwise plant is larger because of the erect leaf which could have been added to increase the grain yield. receives directly more light than tall varieties having The presence of light of different wavelengths spreading longer and broader leaves shading the induced respiratory loss of dry matter more than lower ones. Such differences in the light interruption 200 per cent from the rice seedlings in comparison varied between the different growth phases. The to normal respiration in dark, Claims have been

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made that by controlling or reducing like lysine and methionine etc. In recent breeding photorespiration the grain yield could be increased and genetical studies the possibility of increasing more than 50 per cent in cereals. This requires the contents of these amino acids have been further investigation into the problem to reduce explored. Rice protein is of good quality but the photorespiration by breeding or use of suitable average protein value is only 7 to 8 percent. At the chemicals. Rice Research Institutes in India and elsewhere the Indian population suffers to a great extent from scope for a suitable strain having 10 to 13.5 percent malnutrition due to shortage of proteins. Estimations protein have been indicated. A wide survey in by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) show North Eastern India has shown suitable varieties one out of every two takes inadequate quantities of having 15 to 17 percent but with low yield potentials. proteins, fats and vitamins. Unlike the developed This would mean that proper mutation breeding countries were most of the protein supply is met may be of particular value of having a desirable from animal products It will not be feasible to feed combination of high protein content and good the entire Indian people with required amount of milling quality with high yield potentials. Both proteins from animal sources. For the supply of these desirable characters are largely controlled by milk protein alone 10 million hectares of land will environmental factors and their influence on be needed for fodder cultivation with improved photosynthetic efficiency and nitrogen metabolism varieties and balanced fertilisers; such large tracts will have to be studied in close cooperation between of land will not be available to add for fodder different disciplines of plant science. cultivation. This brings in the question how we can Our protein is mainly obtained from pulses, increase the protein quality and quantity from plant cereals and nuts; there is enough scope to increase sources which can be grown throughout the year protein supply from pulses by researches in plant having enough sunshine and equitable temperature. sciences. We are very much in short supply of It has also been highlighted by FAO that in future pulse crops, no serious efforts were made to increase with increasing population and restricted supply of productivity of pulse crops in India. Our production protein from animal sources cereals will continue in around 23 million acres has been lying stagnant to be the larger source of proteins for human between 10-13 million tones during the last 4/5 consumption. Estimates by various experts show plan periods, not adequate enough to provide enough that the yields per acre of plant protein for direct protein to our poor people whose main supply of human consumption are 5 to 10 times more than protein is from pulses. It is to be admitted that those of animal protein. Yields of plant proteins efforts similar to wheat revolution have not been from pulses, nuts and leafy vegetables are 300 to made with impoved varieties although we know 1000 Ibs per acre against 40 to 55 Ibs per acre of that unlike other food grains pulses can not be meat protein. Protein yield from vegetables on a imported in large quantities from other countries. given piece of land can be 11 to 28 times as high The cultivation of pulse crop has an additional as for meat raised on the same piece of land. This advantage of enriching the soil nitrogen by would show that animal protein is more expensive symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. There and the conversion of plant protein to meat is enough scope to enlarge our research programme production is wasteful, time-consuming to produce in both these aspects. Biological fixation of and involves loss of vitamins. atmospheric nitrogen by legumes and other non- There is one difficulty in plant proteins lacking symbiotic processes have been the main source of in essential amino acids of high biological value nitrogen economy of many countries. This has the

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advantage that the input of nitrogen into the plant breeding by mutagens but the most promising line system by biological fixation causes less pollution is genetic engineering which involves the transfer problem than industrial fertilisers which increases of genes from one species to another. Some of the nitrate nitrogen in drainage water. Many developed important objectives of genetic engineering will be countries are now thinking in terms of having a to eliminate malnutrition by building more proteins proper balance of biological nitrogen fixation and into plants which typically do not have, and in industrial sources of fixed nitrogen. transferring the nitrogen fixing capacity of blue- green algal cells or bacteria to the chloroplast of One of the basic problems we should undertake cereals like rice, wheat etc to eliminate or reduce in our legume research programme is sorting out the use of nitrogen fertilisers. This will involve a different rhizobial strains and selecting those which large exploratory work in the culture of cells and appear to fix nitrogen most effectively in local cell free structures in suitable media. environmental conditions. The basic biochemistry of nitrogen fixation under tropical conditions should The hormonal control system in plant life be studied to gain knowledge for the control processes have been extensively studied during the mechanism of fixation which can be explored for last 50 years or so and the science of plant practical purpose. Research programme should also endocrinology has been visualised with the be directed to find out suitable plant type of legumes fundamental difference from animal hormone in combining high efficiency of nitrogen fixation and the formation of plant hormone not from a specific protein synthesis using photosynthesis of the leaves. gland but from any living cell. Evidences have Since the legumes are generally grown in Rabi been presented showing exogenous applications of season with availability of bright sunlight the chemicals similar in structure to endogenous problem will be to study mobilisation of large hormonal compounds result large stimulation of photosynthates from leaves to the pods. What are growth and development. There are many practical the factors associated with the speedy transport to applications of these phenomena, most rewarding the ripening pods? One interesting feature will be is the large number of herbicides developed on the to investigate the possibility of increasing the size selective basis of hormonal effect on growth. Control of pods and number of seeds per pod so as to of physiological processes by hormones opens a facilitate the movement of proteins and other dry vast field of study enabling us to regulate growth matters to the developing pods and increase and productivity of plants by chemicals. By such productivity. Another feature to investigate is manipulation whether we can control or induce whether it is feasible to induce formation of more early flowering and fruiting to avoid adverse weather flower buds at the axils of the branches which will conditions, accelerate and increase production. finally produce more seeds loaded with protein. Evidences are there to show useful practical An exciting field in Biology for research and application of hormone research in horticulture and development is the control system; we envisage agriculture particularly seedless large grapes, double two such systems in plant life; one mediated through cropping or biennial bearing in mangoes and genes and nucleic acids and the other is the increased output of fibre and rubber. Most of the hormonal level in different organs controlling growth hormones are synthesised in the laboratory but and reproduction. In the former a large number of gibbrellins are yet to be synthesised. While our scientists have crowded to manipulate control naturally-occurring gibbrellins particularly from and expression of plant characters for major water hyacinth have been found promising for the achievements in agriculture through genetics and increased production of fibre of jute and growth of

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leafy shoots. A promising field or research lies growth is possible. These observations in the village ahead in the rural sector on the naturally-occurring life somehow involved me in future research hormones and their implication for growth and programme on the physiology of the rice plant and productivity of tropical plants. The synthetic growth hormones for about four decades. chemicals used for regulating plant growth cause Since independence the Government have been soil pollution and are hazardous for human health taking steps to ameliorate the sufferings of the rural tiom the edible parts. Accordingly use of naturally- people by small-scale cottage industry; but not very occurring growth substances has been advocated significant improvement of the situation has been for agricultural operations in the developed made. This is presumably due to the fact that the countries. village people were allured for urban RURAL DEVELOPMENT industrialisation with employment of large labour on better wages. The big capital made available for Agriculture is the mainstay for our villagers; industries adversely affected agriculture and increase in agricultural productivity is essential for ancillary rural industries by exodus of trained labour rural economy for which research in the new from villages. In addition the people educated in perspective is all that we visualise towards self- cities did not return to villages for jobs or initiating sufficiency in food, export, of farm products and any new enterprise or business for the prosperity of agriculture-oriented jobs for the rural people. Some the rural area. The result was continued depletion of the research problems have been discussed before. of the educated intelligensia and neglect of the One may also feel that our agricultural research is village prospect. This has been made more so after generally urban-oriented in the sense researchers independence. The Prime Minister in his broadcast are confined to laboratories located in the urban to the nation stressed that “we must reverse the areas and seldom have contact with the rural people, process of villagers coming to cities in search of their problems and the peculiarities of the plants labour and employment. Instead, it is the town folk that need attention. Survey of the useful plants for who must go to the village for an open life, fodder, timber, indigenous medicinal products and combining it with service to the people and making industrial raw materials and their preservation from their contribution to economic build up and wanton destruction should be the job of the scientists prosperity of rural areas, and through it, that of the in cooperation with the villagers. By keeping contact country.” with the rural people and living in the villages our agricultural scientists will be in a better position to The village economy does not depend on advise and improve farming and village uplift work. agricultural productivity alone. According to Our farmers have long practical experience for National Commission on Agriculture at least 30 their research and development work. An important percent of the village labour will need jobs in rural event for my research career may be traced to the industries. The agro-base industries in the village rural life I spent for completing high school. While have not been given sufficient impetus to progress walking along the paddy field to attend the school along with agriculture. Handloom and small-scale 3 miles away I used to notice a few of the ears of cottage industries have languished for lack of rice remaining sterile empty and others being full modern techniques for improving the productive of ripe grains. This led me to think why this capacity and marketing facilities. The greatest discrepancy; similarly very rapid multiplication of drawback in the development of rural industries are water hyacinth without flowers and seeds in ponds absence of infrastructure in the village. It is rather or shallow water beds made us thinking how this unfortunate that even after 30 years of independence

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we have not been able to provide good drinking follow the usual path of higher education through water to all our villages; absence of required different grades of examinations at the universities irrigation in more than 50 percent cropped area and institutes while in the latter we include those leads to gambling by farmers for rains for assured who are not for any regular course of schooling but productivity; lack of good roads makes have their own training from traditional experience communication difficult for taking effective handed over from generation to generation. The measures in the uplift of villages; more than 70 skill and training thus acquired in the village life is percent people live in mud houses which are liable a great assel for development. This sort of non- to be damaged by fire and rains. The source of formal education essential for rural development energy is very limited from the local fuel supply of will do well if in their profession of rural industries cowdung and firewood which are inadequate, Not they are initially given Science education at least more than 25 per cent villages are provided with up to class VIII standard as the Govt. has assured electricity which is essential in modern times to run the prospect of universal free education to all the machines. The scheme for rural health centres citizens of the country. has not been functioning satisfactorily due to Amongst several agro-base industries silk absence of these infrastructures. The Government industry is an important one which can provide have now given special attention to remove these employment to both men in the field and women in lacuna in the villages and in improve on the living the house. It is estimated by Central Silk Board to condition of the people. Big industrial concerns provide livelihood is additional 7 lakh people of have been requested by the Government to start scheduled and backward classes and tribes which industries in rural areas to relieve exodus of villagers could hardly be covered by any other medium-or to towns for which necessary provision of funds for large-size industry. Economic footing of this industry infrastructures have been made by the Planning is much more firm than other rural industries. The Commission. It is now for the industrialists to comparative statements made by the Central Silk come forward with their plans for the villagers so Board and the Government of India show that with that both agriculture and rural industry can develop improvement of cultivation of mulberry and silk side by side. rearing practices, the net profit will lie around Rs. In order to meet the technical personnel for the 8300/- per hectare of cultivation and this combined industries that will be set up in the villages it is with silk worm rearing will reach a figure of Rs. expected that the new orientation of secondary and 18750/- against Rs. 6795/- per hectare for cultivation vocational education will equip the rural people of wheat, rice and jute. In addition the employment with adequate training for employment in the potentials show more than twice the number of industries, I have discussed at length the need for persons who could find jobs for the cultivation of basic Science education for our students in the the crop. If we are to take the full advantage of the secondary school stage so that they are qualified scope of this industry our efforts should be to for appropriate training in Industries and agriculture. increasing the productivity of silk which can be It is to be emphasised that with our efforts to done in two ways; firstly by increasing the remove illiteracy in the rural areas Science education productivity per unit area; secondly by putting up to the secondary school should be the essential more area under mulberry cultivation. It is not part of our objective for formal or non-formal possible to release more area for the cultivation; education. The distinction is focussed on the basis hence the only alternative is to increase the of which the pupil of the former category will production of silk per unit area for which there are

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several methods of improving the cultivation of carpentry, black smithy, use of tractors, pump sets plant and rearing of the silkworm free from pests and diesel engines etc. This will enable the village and diseases. Japan produces 125 kg of silk through labour to gain efficiency in modern technology for 2 crops a year while in India through 4 crops only agriculture and small-scale cottage industry. These 25 kg per hectare are produced. It is desirable that projects have been started late; it is expected that in we should aim at improving our silk technology on course of time they will considerably add to the the lines obtaining in Japan since we have enough welfare of the rural people. The Indian Council of labour to intensify our efforts to reach a dominant Agricultural Research through Krishi Vigyan Kendra position in silk production which has now declined (Farm Science Centres) and Agro-Industries from third to fifth in the world. We should practice Corporation have been taking active part in rural intensive farming, breeding better varieties, development by giving training to villagers in the improved cultivation methods, proper management use of manures, implements and good qualities of of soil and fertiliser, economic feeding of the seed. The training is for skill and craft-oriented silkworm with good supply of nutritious diet, mainly for self-employment under the auspices of marketing facilities, and rearing methods. These the rural artisans programme. are some of the important considerations for increasing the production of silk in the country; it Several other organisations like Gujrat Vidyapith, is expected that in course of time the efforts spent Gandhigram Rural Institutes and Lok Bharati have on this will increase the employment potential of been taking active interest in rural development. the rural people as well as earn large foreign The University of Bombay has recently decided to exchange as Indian Silk has a traditionally good introduce courses on this in the new 3 years degree world market. in arts, Science or commerce faculties as a set of optional papers in lieu of usual discipline-wise In 1974 the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India established a based papers. There has also been National Service separate set-up for rural development which is Scheme in the university which enables the students expected to deal with different problems of village to have experience in living in the village and industry, health, family welfare and also coordinate participation in some rural activities. Similar other the progress made in the village uplift work in 20 approaches for introducing graduate courses in districts in different parts of the country. It will also relation to environmental Biology, Chemistry or collaborate with the similar nature of work in other Physics have been planned in the universities of organisations like ICAR, CSIR, ICMR etc. Rural Bombay as well as in South Gujrat and Madras. All industry projects have also been started in 41 these would indicate our rethinking in organising backward districts. The main objective of this is to the courses of study that will be useful for rural train the agricultural labourers, village artisans in development programme.

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THE DEADLY METALS : SOME REMOVAL TECHNOLOGIES FROM DRINKING WATER

Amrita Singh

The presence of heavy metals in water has become a worldwide problem in the past decades. Many of the heavy metals are known to be poisonous even at low concentrations. Toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, arsenic etc. are among the major contaminants in drinking water. Safe drinking water is the most sensitive issue for survival of a living habitat. This article concerns the application of different technologies for heavy metals removal from drinking water.

INTRODUCTION resources and a growing numbers of its groundwater reserves are already contaminated by biological, mong the basic needs of human beings, organic and inorganic pollutants. In many cases, water is required for drinking, bathing, A these sources have been rendered unsafe for human washing, cooking, gardening, irrigation, industries consumption. The supply of safe potable water has and navigation and for body contact sports as a significant impact on the prevention of water- swimming, water skating and fishing. Among all transmissible diseases. The abundance of organic these needs, drinking gets the first priority. Normally compounds, toxic metals, radio-nuclides, nitrites if water is fit for drinking, it will be suitable for all and nitrates in potable water may cause adverse other purposes. An adult human body holds about effects on human health. Heavy metals are a key 35 to 50 liters of water, out of which 2.5 to 2.8 component of modern civilization. They play an liters is lost in the form of urine as well as sweating. important role in all branches of our life, agriculture, The human blood consists of 83 percent of water, engineering, science, architecture, and medicine. muscles contain 75 percent of water and bones The bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals in the contain 22 percent of water. Almost three-quarters food chain can be highly dangerous to human of the earth’s surface are covered with water, of health due to their persistent nature and potential which 97.2% is sea or brackish water unsuitable toxicity. They can neither be created or destroyed for human use, 2.8% is fresh water. The greatest nor can one heavy metal be transformed into another part of the fresh water is contained in ice caps or i.e. they are immutable. Heavy metals are those glaciers (2%), deep inside the earth as groundwater whose density is greater than 5g/cm3. They are (0.6%), on ground as rivers and lakes (0.017%) and normally regarded as ones having an atomic number in atmosphere as ice and water vapour (0.001%). In of 22 to 92, In excessive quantities they are India more than 225 million people have no access poisonous and cause death of living organisms. to safe drinking water. Water pollution is a serious TOXIC METALS AND HUMAN HEALTH problem in India as almost 70% of its surface water Viewed from the standpoint of environmental * Environmental Biology Laboratory, Post Graduate pollution, metals may be classified according to Department of Botany, T. M. Bhagalpur University- 812 007, Bihar, E-mail : [email protected] three criteria (a) noncritical i.e. Na, K, Mg, Ca, F,

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Al, Si etc. (b) toxic but very insoluble or very rare putty, and plaster. The word arsenic is virtually i.e. Ti, Re, Ga, Os, Ba etc. and (c) very toxic and synonymous with poison. All compounds of arsenic relatively accessible i.e. Be, Co, Zn, Sn, As, Pd, are toxic, Trivalent arsenic is 60 times more toxic Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Bi etc. Some of the heavy metals to human beings than pentavalent forms. There is such as cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, sufficient evidence from human epidemiologic selenium, molybdenum and zinc are believed to be studies linking increased mortality from liver, essential for human health. However, all are kidney, bladder and lung cancers to drinking arsenic- probably toxic if ingested in sufficient amount. contaminated water2. Manganese is a known Non-essential metals, particularly mercury, mutagen. The accumulation of Mn may cause cadmium and lead are extremely toxic at relatively hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, the chronic low concentrations. ingestion of Mn in drinking water is associated with neurologic damages3. The occupational risks Mercury is strictly a poison, having a serious due to chromium salts are well known. Hexavalent neurophysiological effect when present in the methyl chromium is 100 times more toxic than trivalent mercury form. Many salts of mercury such as forms. WHO states that 0.05mg/l drinking water mercuric chloride and organic compounds of guideline for total Cr is unlikely to cause significant mercury are acutely toxic and can even cause health risk. death. The “Minamata disease” was caused by the CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF HEAVY consumption of mercury-contaminated fish taken METALS REMOVAL FROM DRINKING by fishermen and their families from Minamata WATER Bay in Japan. The patients who had consumed fish and shellfish progressively suffered from a Coagulation, Flocculation and Filtration weakening of muscles, loss of vision, impairment Coagulation is the destabilization of colloids by of cerebral functions and eventual paralysis which neutralizing the forces that keep them apart, Cationic 1 in numerous cases resulted in coma and death . coagulants provide positive electric charges to Cadmium can cause damage to the kidneys, lungs reduce the negative charge of the colloids. As a and bones. In acute exposure, death may occur. result, the particles collide to form larger particles. During 1947 an unusual and painful disease of a Flocculation is the action of polymers to form “rheumatic nature” (itai-itai disease meaning “ouch- bridges between the larger mass particles and bind ouch”) was recorded on the banks of the Jintsu the particles into large clumps. The conventional River from Japan caused by chronic cadmium removal of inorganic Hg, Ba(II), Se(IV) Se(VI), poisoning. The toxicity of lead has been known to As(III) and As(V) from drinking water has been man from Biblical times. Plumbism, a disease reported by Fe coagulation, Al coagulation, lime caused by acute lead poisoning, has been known softening, and high lime treatment. Iron flocculation for centuries. Lead can cause brain damage, reduces the arsenic, copper and lead levels in disorders of central nervous system, anemia and drinking water. Aluminum flocculation reduces the serious behavioural problems. Lead plumbing may zinc, lead and manganese concentration in drinking become a major source of lead uptake by people water. For the arsenic removal, ferric chloride and living in soft water areas (low in calcium ferric sulphate are used as coagulants which remove concentration). Young children who live in most successfully arsenic from drinking water. dilapidated buildings are exposed to acute lead Filtration through a bed of granular media such as poisoning because of the habit of eating nonfood sand or coal is employed for removal of precipitated substances such as lead containing peeling paint, compounds from lime softened water and

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precipitated iron or magnesium in drinking water. linked polymeric network with charged functional However, the problems with this technique are the groups. At present, there are more than 30 natural safe separation, filtration, and the handling and zeolites known. They attract oppositely charged disposal of the contaminated sludge. ionic species and retain them by electrostatic forces. The relative affinity of resin for opposite charged Activated Carbon Adsorption ionic species depends upon the specific ionic charge, Activated carbon was formerly used for the hydrated ionic radius, the concentration in dechlorination purposes and removal of organic solution, the degree of resin cross-linking and the colour, taste and odour. Now it plays a large role in nature of the functional group(i.e. sulfonic, the elimination of the dissolved organic substances. phosphonic or carbonic acid groups) on the resin. It is a crude form of graphite with a random or The cation exchange resins remove divalent Ca(II) amorphous highly porous structure with a broad and Mg(II) ions and Cd(II), Zn(II), Ag(I) etc. range of pore sizes, from visible cracks and crevices, while, anion exchange resins exhibit an affinity for to crevices of molecular dimensions. Activated the common hydrogencarbonate, sulfate, chloride carbons have been prepared from coconut shells, as well as hydrogenarsenate, selenite, hydrogenchro- wood char, rice hulls, wheat straw, jute stick, tea mate. Copper, lead, mercury and nickel have also leaves, graphite etc. Physical adsorption is caused been successfully treated by cation exchange. In by Van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces arsenic removal from drinking water sulphate, between adsorbate molecules and the atoms which selenium, fluoride and nitrate compete with arsenic compose the adsorbent surface. Adsorption capacity and can affect the removal process. So the low depends on activated carbon properties, adsorbate selectivity in the presence of other competing anions chemical properties (polarity, functional groups and has made this process less attractive. Due to its solubility), temperature, pH, ionic strength etc. The higher treatment cost compared to conventional carbon contains noncarbon impurities as oxygen treatment technologies, ion exchange application is and sulfur. The oxygen and sulfur content of the limited primarily to small-to-medium-scale. carbon depend upon the temperature, impurities in Bioadsorbents the base material and upon the method of activation. Oxygen forms surface oxides and sulfur leads to Bioadsorption is a passive immobilization of the formation of sulfide groups at the carbon surface. metals by biomass. Bioadsorption is capable of Both attract heavy metals from the solution. The removing traces of heavy metals from water. Algae, carbon surface also provides nucleation sites for fungi and bacteria are examples of biomass-derived the precipitation of metals from solution. However, sorbents for several metals. The cell wall of the high prices and regeneration cost of activated microorganism mainly consists of polysaccharides, carbon limits their large scale use for the removal lipids and proteins, which have many binding sites of inorganic and organic pollutants. for metals. This process is independent of cell metabolism. They are based upon physicochemical Ion Exchange interactions between metals and functional groups Ion exchange is a physical or chemical process of the cell wall. The fungus Penicillium in which ions are held electrostatically on the purpurogenum used as bioadsorbents for cadmium, surface of a solid phase. It is a reversible interchange lead, mercury and arsenic ion in water4. Heavy where there is no permanent change in the structure metal loading capacity increased with increasing of the solid. The solid phase can be a natural pH under acidic conditions. The tea fungus, a zeolite or a synthetic resin consisting of a cross- waste produced during black tea fermentation, has

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capacity to sequester the metal ions from water. CONCLUSION Lessonia nigrescens, an alga is utilized for arsenic During the last decades, treatment of metal (V) removal from water5. Dried plants are natural contaminated water has become more and more materials widely available and used as an alternative important and today, sophisticated technology can adsorbent for different heavy metals. The proposed plant leaves efficient in removing metal ions from bring new advances in this field. Water can have water are reed for cadmium, poplar for lead and many type of contaminants and the quality of water copper, cinchona for copper and lead, pine for varies from place to place. Therefore, there is no cadmium and nickel. Jute stick and leaf powder, universal water treatment technology or process lily leaf powder and water hyacinth powder also which is the best and can take care of all metal mitigate the arsenic from drinking water6. Chitosan removal from water. The solution depends upon the is produced from chitin used as bioadsorbent for quality of the water available which tends to vary heavy metal. It is found in the exoskeleton of from location to location. The low-cost adsorbents Crustacea shellfish, shrimp, crabs, insects etc7. It is and at the same time natural adsorbents can be most widely occurring natural carbohydrate polymer viable alternatives for the removal of heavy metals next to cellulose. Chitosan is an excellent natural from drinking water. adsorbent for all heavy metals. REFERENCES Low-cost Adsorbents 1. M Fujiki, VI Int. Conf. Water Pollut, Res. Numerous low-cost adsorbents have so far been Paper No. 12, 1972. studied for the removal of heavy metals from water. Clay minerals are hydrous aluminum, silicates, 2. N. Saha and M. R. Zaman, Curr. Sci., 101, sometimes with minor amounts of iron, magnesium 427-431, 2011. and other cations. The typical clay minerals are 3. X. G. Kondakis, N. Makris, M. Leotsinidis, kaolinite, illite and montmorillionite. They adsorb M. Prino and T. Papapetropoulos, Arch. the cationic, anionic and neutral metal species. Environ. Health., 44, 175-178, 1989. They can also take part in the cation and anion exchange processes. Maple wood ash without any 4. S. Ridvan, Y.Nalan and D. Adil, Sep. Sci. chemical treatment is utilized to remediate arsenite Technol, 38, 2039-2053, 2003. and arsenate from contaminated water. A low-cost 5. H. K. Hansen, A. Ribeiro and E. Mateus, ferruginous manganese ore can remove both As Miner. Eng., 19, 486-490, 2006. (III) and As (V) from groundwater without any pretreatment in the pH range of 2-8. Biochar by- 6. M. J. Islam, M. R. Hossain, A. Yousuf and products from fast wood and bark (oak and pine) M. A. Subhan, Proc. Pakistan Acad. Sci., pyrolysis are used to remove the As (III), Cd (II) 44, 157-164, 2007. and Pb (II) from water. Red mud is a ferric 7. B. Amit and S. Mika, Adv. ColloidInterf. hydroxide material used to develop effective Sci, 152, 26-38, 2009. adsorbents to remove arsenic from water. It is pH dependent adsorption. Arsenate removal at pH 4 8. E. Diamadopoulos, S. Loannidis, and G. P. was reported higher than that at pH 7 or 10 by Sakellaropoulos, Water Res., 27, 1773-1777, using fly ash collected from coal power stations8. 1993.

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CO2 SEQUESTRATION AND EARTH PROCESSES

Malti Goel

This article deals with the emerging topic of CO2 Sequestration, which is among the advanced energy technologies. CO2 Sequestration is being discussed in national and international forum and is of particular importance to coal based economies. Various earth processes for perma-

nent fixation of CO2 away from atmosphere are discussed in details.

1. INTRODUCTION and the underground fixation sites are not near to apturing carbon dioxide is an end-of-pipe each other, transport of CO2 in liquid form over C solution for pollution mitigation in fossil longer distances is required. To achieve a carbon fuel based energy systems. Significant strides are balance in the atmosphere in an enhanced CO2 being made in understanding carbon capture and scenario, Science & Technology gaps exist in CO2 storage CO2 Sequestration in fossil fuel based capture processes and materials as well as site 2,3 economies. The CO2 Sequestration involves capture specific models for its fixation . of excess CO from its point sources and its 2 2. EARTH PROCESSES permanent fixation away from the atmosphere. The various techniques of CO2 capture are derived from Development of technologies for quantifying gas separation techniques, which include chemical carbon stored in a given ecosystem and manipulation absorption, membrane separation, physical of ecosystem to increase the carbon sequestration adsorption, and cryogenic separation at source1. rate beyond current conditions requires modeling 4 Captured CO2 is then sequestrated by means of research . Whereas, earth processes in surface and surface processes, by sub surface storage and/or by subsurface for CO2 Sequestration can be understood recovery of energy fuels & minerals. If the source as follows : CO Sequestration 2 2.1 CO2 Fixation in Terrestrial Ecosystems Options The terrestrial sequestration approach is having Surface Sub Surface Energy Fuel significant potential for terrestrial sequestration i.e., Sequestration Sequestration Recovery plant & soil sequestration, microbial and micro- Earth Processes algae fixation to stabilize atmospheric concentration

* Terrestrial CO2 Sequestration of CO2. * Geo-engineering-Stimulated Weathering 2.1.1 Plants and Soil * CO2 Utilization into Chemical Products * CO fixation in Underground Traps 2 The terrestrial biosphere is capable of * CO2 Utilization in Enhanced Fuel Recovery sequestering large amount of carbon dioxide. Plants Fig. 1. The CO2 Sequestration options absorb CO2 in the photosynthesis process. Carbon * CSIR Emeritus Scientist, Centre for Studies in Science assimilation occurs in forests, trees, crops and soil Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110 067, India. E-mail : [email protected] and these are CO2 sinks. Terrestrial CO2 storage

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can lead to afforestation in forest areas and can methods using photo bio reactors are under enhance crop productivity in rural areas. Advanced development as biofixation option of CO2. Solar crop species and cultivation practices could be bioreactors have been proposed for warm and sunny designed to increase the uptake of CO2 through an climatic regions. Bio-mimetic approaches using enhanced photosynthesis rate. immobilized carbonic anhydrase are being studied in bioreactors for assessing CO sequestration The primary ways that carbon is stored in plants 2 potential. or in the soil as soil organic matter (SOM), which is a complex mixture of carbon compounds, Further studies of carbon concentrating consisting of decomposing plant and animal tissue, mechanisms in photoautotrophic organisms and non- microbes (protozoa, nematodes, fungi, and bacteria) photosynthetic organisms, standardization and and carbon associated with soil minerals. Soils creation of data bank can potentially lead to the contain three times more carbon than the amount development of cost-effective large scale operation 7 stored in living plants and animals. of CO2 sequestration . It is estimated that increasing the soil organic 2.2 Geo-engineering - Stimulated Weathering carbon (SOC) by 0.01 per cent could nullify the Mafic and Ultramafic rock minerals, olivine, annual increase in atmospheric carbon due to pyroxene and anorthite are present in large quantities anthropogenic CO emissions. The soil carbon pool 2 in the subsurface environment. These minerals play and emissions of CO are also influenced by 2 an important role in the natural carbon cycle. vegetation types and local environmental factors5, 6. Natural weathering occurs over geological time Enhanced CO2 absorption rate in vegetation and scales. Accelerating the natural process of CO2 cropland can lead to active storage whereas in absorption by enhanced mineralization of olivine/ wetlands, mined or un-mined forest sites and silicate rocks offers another potentially low cost highway construction sites it can be a form of 8 solution for CO2 sequestration . The effects of CO2 passive storage. Development of techniques for fugacity and salinity on the kinetics of diffusion of enhanced absorption of CO2 while using least forest CO2 into olivine have been investigated. Several area and to understand the feedback mechanisms studies have been made to study mineral reactivity, with a view to undertake agro-forestry modeling energy balance, intense grinding in presence of are needed. gaseous CO2 and dynamics of CO2 in pores. 2.1.2 Bio Sequestration Accelerated rate of precipitation of mineral carbonate with industrial wastewater as a cation A further biological route can be to capture CO2 source has been demonstrated9 in presence of a from the flue gas using an algae pond in the catalyst. vicinity of a thermal power plant. Development of algal strains with high productivity appears to be Silicates and compounds of magnesium and the most cost-effective solution with value addition. iron are present in small quantities in mineral But the greatest challenge is to isolate algae and industry waste. By using the geo-engineering genetically improve algal strain for both higher oil approach for stimulated weathering of mining and content and overall productivity. Marine algae forms industrial wastes, it is possible to sequester excess a possible solution for thermal power plants situated CO2 from the atmosphere. Large scale sequestration along the sea coast. Enhanced biological CO2 by such means requires further and more detailed capture has become possible by designing photo- modeling research and understanding of field bio reactors. Controlled micro organism activation processes.

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2.3 CO2 Utilization and Value Added Products to secondary Carbonates. Under suitable conditions of pressure and temperatures, minerals trapping The CO2 has low chemical activity but it is capacity is high. Sequestration potential is high. On possible to activate it towards chemical reactions the whole, the nature of dissolution, mixing and by application of temperature or pressure or by use segregation of CO is dependent on reservoir of catalysts. A variety of chemicals can be produced 2 characteristics and required scientific understanding from CO . These can be subdivided into a number 2 of local geology11. of important areas; (i) Synthetic fuel products from

CO2 could be regarded as energy vectors or energy The US Department of Energy has classified stores, utilizing renewable energy sources at off- eleven major types of reservoirs for knowledge peak hours with temporarily stored local CO2. (ii) development pathways for CO2 Sequestration. Each By hydrogenation of CO2 over a wide range of has unique characteristics and requires considerable catalysts, synthetic hydrocarbons as transportation research on their performance analysis12. In the fuel can be produced. Hydrogen is required in sub-surface CO2 is normally stored in the considerable quantity and selectively to produce a supercritical phase, which is attained at the single fraction of commercially vehicular fuels. temperature of 304.1K and pressure 73.8 bars. (iii) Synthesis gas can be produced by reforming Injection of CO2 into deep saline aquifers, depleted reactions, sometimes in multiple steps. One of the oil & gas reservoirs, un-mineable coal seams and in benefits of reforming reactions is the simplicity of basalts has been conceptualized. Physical trapping the catalysts used, including nickel and cobalt is expected to occur where there is a good cap rock catalysts. (iv) The synthesis gas produced can then with a low permeability. Engineered geological be used in the transition metal catalyzed Fischer- traps are also expected to provide a permanent Tropsch (F-T) synthesis. storage for CO2. Both active and passive underground trapping mechanisms have been studied Challenge exists to develop not only the F-T extensively. process conditions, but also to design new effective and selective catalysts. Use of enzyme carbonic 2.4.1 Underground Solution Trapping anhydrase has been suggested as most efficient CO2 fixation in deep saline aquifers, both on catalyst in CO2 reaction with water. A pilot plant shore and offshore and are expected to provide the for multi-fuel generation has been designed and largest storage capacity at below 800m depth. At fabricated at Rajiv Gandhi Prodiyiki Vidyalaya, this depth, CO2 is in liquid or supercritical state Bhopal10. and has density less than water. The buoyant forces tend to drive upwards and therefore good cap rock 2.4 CO2 Fixation in Underground Traps is essential, in a manner similar to a soda water Permanence of storage and no risk from leakage bottle where CO2 occupies the space by partially are main safety criteria for sub-surface storage. As displacing the fluid. In Saline formations, estimates a CO2 plume migrates, some of it may react with of potential storage volume are low up to 30% of formation minerals to precipitate carbonates. When the total rock volume. The storage efficiency would CO2 reacts with in-situ fluids and gels dissolved depend on its structure as well as storage strategies geo chemical trapping occurs. The CO laden water 2 and purity of captured CO2. becomes denser and sinks to bottom. Chemical 2.4.2 Large Scale Stratigraphic Trapping reactions with rock minerals can lead to formation of solid carbonates minerals. Mineral trapping is Upward migration of CO2 is blocked by the more permanent as Silicate minerals are converted Stratigraphic structure of clay rocks above the

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storage formation. Lateral migration of CO2 can residual - droplets in the pore or gets dissolved in also take place beneath the cap rock isolated within the formation water. This is how oil was held for anticline structures bound by the shale cap and millions of years. capillary forces may also retain CO2 in the pore 2.5 CO2 Utilization in Recovery of Energy Fuels spaces of the formation. An important aspect of carbon sequestration is 2.4.3 Mineralogical Trapping recovery of value added products. Active

Basalt formations are attractive storage media as underground storage of CO2 in oil, gas or coal ancient hot lava sites. Pacific Northwest National fields for enhanced fuel recovery can provide an

Laboratory (PNNL), USA has identified carbon economic synergy to CO2 sequestration process. dioxide sequestration research priorities in flood 2.5.1 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) basalts in the Columbia River region13. Field research carried out in these formations suggests The CO2 has been injected in depleting oil that lateral dispersions and vertical transport of fields for enhanced recovery of oil. Scientific

CO2 to overlaying basalt flows are expected to be research for testing of storage of anthropogenic important limiting factors controlling in-situ CO2 in EOR has also been carried out depending processes. on the pressure of injection gas into the reservoir. Will clay and calcium carbonate precipitation The CO2 in an oil well can either be in miscible or clog the available pore space at the injection site? in immiscible phase. In the miscible phase, injected Considerable further research is needed to CO2 mixes with the viscous crude causing it to understand the kinetics of rapid mineralization swell. It reduces its viscosity in the reservoir causing reaction rates that may occur in different basalts a flow to produce more oil. In the immiscible phase across the world. The area of Deccan flood basalts CO2 does not dissolve in the crude. It raises the in India is estimated to be 0.5 million km2. pressure and helps to sweep the oil towards the Consisting of the thick Mesozoic sediments, its production well. A combination of both miscible thickness varies from a few hundred m to 1.5 km, and immiscible phases normally occurs. How much it could show accelerated reaction with CO2 and its oil is displaced depends on various parameters such conversion into mineral carbonates possibly below as; oil swelling, viscosity reduction, miscibility sediments. It comprises of reactive Fe-Mg-Ca and generation and reduction in residual oil saturation. Na rich silicon minerals. A preliminary feasibly Relative contribution of various parameters depends study in Deccan Volcanic Province has been on the reservoir conditions as well as crude oil conducted at National Geophysical Research quantity. Dynamic modeling tools are needed to Laboratory, Hyderabad to study nature of secondary study migration, flow / behavior of stored CO2 and carbonation that takes place upon reaction with actual performance prediction for enhanced oil 14 CO2 in supercritical conditions . recovery. 2.4.4 Residual Gas trapping 2.5.2 Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery Residual gas trapping can occur in a sub-surface (ECBM) reservoir. When free-phase CO2 migrates, it forms Coal beds have absorption capacity for CO2 a plume, the CO2 concentration towards the tail of which is two to three times that of methane. Like the plume can get trapped by capillary pressure oil fields, an un-mineable coal seam can also prove from the water in the pore spaces between the to be a potential reservoir for enhanced coal bed rocks. Similar to solution trapping CO2 either forms methane recovery (ECBM). Physical adsorption of

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CO2 occurs on the internal surface and micro pores In Salah in Algeria is another international project in coal beds and replacing methane. The CO2 of CO2 Sequestration in depleted gas fields. It is remains trapped as long as pressure and temperature expected that 17Mt of CO2 could be injected in the remain stable. The absorption isotherms for CO2 gas leg of the reservoir till the project completion are important. Sorption capacity of coal decreases in 2020. Since 2004 about 1 Mt of CO2 has been significantly with increasing temperature. Normally sequestered per year at a depth of 1800 m in the temperature in the range of 12° to 26°C is preferred. Krechba reservoir, a geological formation with low High moisture content in coal also decreases permeability sandstone. Scientific monitoring of sorption capacity. Model predictions suggest that CO2 plume inside the well has been developed. injection of CO2 can achieve 70-90 percent recovery Using satellite based Interferometric Synthetic of CBM as against 40 percent without it. CO2 Aperture Radar (InSAR) remote sensing imagery storage in coal beds takes place at shallower depth techniques. CO2 ground movement is being than in Saline and oil reservoirs. tracked.

The key parameters which need to be monitored The earliest CO2 storage project has been are moisture, ash content of coal, Vitrinite Sleipner West in Norway, began in 1996 in Norway. reflectance, temperature and pressure15. Mineral The Sleipner reservoir is situated in the Utsira matter acts an inert diluting agent in the coal and formation comprises a 200-250m thick fluid contributes to gas desorption, therefore the areas of saturated sandstone formation at a depth of 1,000 coal having relative low ash yield are more favorable metres beneath the seabed. More than 15 million of to CO2 sequestration. Presence of large-scale faults CO2 has been injected and images of the CO2 can be harmful as the gas may escape or remain plume at Sleipner from the time-lapse 3D seismic trapped. Further studies are needed for assessing data have been obtained16. The changes in seismic

CO2 Sequestration potential in coal beds are : (i) impedance have been monitored from new seismic Coal quality, (ii) Sorption capacity, (iii) Intra- data produced at regular intervals. molecular structure of coal, (iv) Hydrodynamics The CO2 sequestration project at Reykjavik, (v) dynamics of CO flow. 2 Iceland aims to study feasibility of permanent

3. IMPORTANT LARGE SCALE SEQUESTRA- storage of CO2 captured from geothermal waters TION INITIATIVES into basaltic rocks. Located in the vicinity of a geothermal power plant, geochemical modeling Global field experimentation is being pursued to of the CO in waters as a natural analogue in determine benchmarks. Among the large scale 2 CarbFix pilot is expected to throw some light on its demonstration noteworthy is Weyburn oil fields in feasibility despite limited pores that are present in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada for enhanced oil basalts. recovery. By injecting about 6000 tons of CO2 per day, a total of 20Mt of CO2 is expected to be Medium to large-scale field tests for enhanced sequestered16. During its life, such an operation coal bed methane recovery have been reported in could produce 122 million barrels of incremental San Juan field of USA, Yubari Iskari coal fields in oil, which is about 30 percent enhancement over Japan, Silesian basin in Poland and Fenn Big Valley, the recoveries so far. The emphasis is on measuring Canada. A dual porosity model based on idealization and monitoring of leakage, risks, etc, to develop a of fracture media is adopted and two phase flow of best practice manual for CO2-EOR. gas and water has been proposed.

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It is worth mentioning the CO2 Sequestration 2. M. Goel, Carbon Capture and Storage : Initiative, a unique multi-national programme at R&D Technology for Sustainable Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA aims Future, Narosa Publishing House, Delhi, pp to integrate geo-modeling and monitoring studies’18 3-14, 2008. for study of sequestration. Having two main 3. M. Goel, Current Science, 92, 1201-2, 2009. components; (i) in-situ Supercritical suite IS3 and (ii) Geological Sequestration Software suit GS3, 4. Joe Wisniewski, R. K. Dixon, J. D. Kinswan, IS3 is an investigative approach to probe R. N. Sampson, A. E. Lugo, Climate geochemical reactions under supercritical pressures Research, 3, 1-5, 1993. and temperatures to study CO2 geochemistry of the 5. P. S. Yadava, CO2 Mitigation : Issues and cap rock and injection trapping mechanisms. GS3 strategies, in CO2 Sequestration Technologies has been designed for modeling of geological sites for Clean Energy Future, eds. Qasim S. Z., for sequestration using advanced scientific Goel Malti, Daya Publishing House, Delhi, programming and benchmarking of scientific 163-170, 2010. simulators for different geo-environments. 6. A. R. Reddy, G. K. Rasineni and A. S. 4. CONCLUSIONS Raghavendra, Current Science, 99 (1), The CO2 sequestration is a large-scale 46-54, 2010. infrastructure intensive emerging energy technology 7. A. K. Puri, T. Satyanarayana, Enzyme and for mitigation of climate change. Advancements microbe mediated carbon sequestration, in made in CO sequestration in the surface or 2 CO Sequestration Technologies for Clean subsurface – be it terrestrial plantation or algae or 2 Energy Future, eds. Qasim S. Z., Goel Malti, a coal mine or oil reservoir or mineral rocks -are a Daya Publishing House, Delhi, 119-130, scientific necessity in developing the knowledge 2010. base about its disposal. CO2 sequestration in the long run can offer an opportunity to recover clean 8. R. D. Schuling and P. Kigjsman, Climate energy fuels only when technology is proven. The Change, 74, 349-354, 2006. studies so far are site specific and need to be 9. J. Zhana, R. Zhana, H. Geerlings and J. Bi, evaluated on case to case basis. Considerable Chemical Engineering and Technology, 33 additional geological investigation and modeling (7), 1177-1183, 2010. research would be needed to create a comprehensive data base for effective mapping of various reservoirs 10. V. K. Sethi et al., International Journal ICER, and test the efficacy in the long run. Further JERAD, 2010 Geological studies and geo-modeling research is 11. M. Goel, S. N. Charan, A. K. Bhandari, CO2 needed to explore and prove technological Sequestration: Recent Indian Research, IUGS sustainability. INDIAN REPORT OF INSA 2004-2008, in: REFERENCES A. K. Singhvi, A. Bhattacharya and S. Guha, eds., INSA Platinum Jublee publication, pp 1. B. Davidson Metz, H. O. Coninck, M. Meyer 56-60, 2008. Loos, L. Eds., IPCC Special Report on Carbon Capture and Storage, Working Group 12. R. Buchanan and T. R. Carr, Public III, 2005. Information Circular (PIC), 27, 2011.

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13. McGrail B. Peter, Schaef H. Todd, and Spane Potential a market based Environmental Frank A, Carbon Capture and Storage : solution in the Black warrior Basin of R&D Technology for Sustainable Energy Alabana, www.netl.doe.gov/publications Future, Narosa Publishing House, Delhi, 15- 16. K. J. Vargas, Oil & Gas Journal, 107 (44), 22, 2008, 44-49, 2009. 14. P. S. R. Prasad, D. Sarma, L. Sudhakar, U. Basavaraju, R.S. Singh, Z. Begum, K.B. 17. Bickle, M., Chadwick, A., Huppert, H., Archana, C. D. Chavan, S. N. Charan, Current Hallworth, M., Lyle S., Earth and Planetary Science, 996, 288-291, 2009. Science Letters, 2007, 255 (1-2), 164-176. 15. J. C. Pastin, R. H. Groshong and R. E. 18. E. Murphy, A. Bonneviller, M. White and K. Carroll, Enhanced Coal bed Methane recovery Rossa, Carbon Sequestration Initiative, Pacific

through CO2 sequestration of carbon dioxide: Northwest National Laboratory, USA, 2010.

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AN UNDERSTANDING OF PAIN & FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Meenakshi Batra

Knee Osteoarthritis is a degenerative & disabling condition characterized by pain, muscle dysfunction, proprioceptive impairments, neuromuscular incoordination & sensorimotor dysfunctions. It is important to understand the underlying neurophysiological & biomechanical mechanisms contributing to the disease process in order to formulate specific intervention strategy.

INTRODUCTION elderly population but may appear as early as 35 years of age affecting approximately 4 % of the steoarthritis is a slowly evolving disorder world’s current population. As per World Health of synovial joints in which a complex O Organization (WHO) estimates approximately 70 combination of degradative and reparative processes million Indians are its victims. alters the anatomy and matrix composition of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. It affects Knee pain is the most frequently reported the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing peripheral joint complaint in community-based joints, such as the hips and knees. But the knees studies worldwide and has been found to be present joints are most commonly affected. in 5–13% of adult populations in Asia conducted under the ‘Community Oriented Programme for the Osteoarthritis of the knee can affect the main Control of Rheumatic Diseases’ (COPCORD). Its surfaces of knee joint and the cartilage under estimated prevalence in India, Thailand, Malaysia kneecap (patella). It is characterized by muscle is approximately 13.2%, 12.5%, and 9.3%, dysfunction 8, proprioceptive impairments, impaired respectively. The male to female ratio is 8.5%: ability to generate force quickly during voluntary 12.3%, 2.7%: 6%, and 9.4%: 10.9% for the Indians, muscle contraction, neuromuscular incoordination Chinese and Malaysia 9. and reduced functional performance which adversely affects the quality of life. Signs & symptoms range PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES from acute pain to chronic pain typically worse The pathophysiology involves a combination of with weight-bearing, swelling, spasm, stiffness, mechanical, cellular, and biochemical changes. diminished knee range of motion, decreased muscle These changes can interfere with continued internal strength & endurance. In response to pain and remodeling, maintenance of the tissue, and loss of stiffness, patients tend to become more sedentary, cartilage. This finally results in roughening of the which further induces muscle atrophy and functional bony surface and osteophytes formation interfering 6, 7 performance limitations . It mainly affects the with normal joint movement 4. These degenerative * Occuptional Therapist, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Inst. changes ultimately culminate into abnormal stress for the Physically Handicapped, Ministry of Social justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, Delhi, loading, altered weight bearing pattern, and gait E-mail: [email protected] deviations.

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NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF KNEE PAIN IN muscle contraction to occur. The ability to generate OSTEOARTHRITIS force quickly during voluntary muscle contraction is affected in the quadriceps. This knowledge about The Knee pain is a major symptom of knee muscle dysfunction may be useful in understanding osteoarthritis and its presence & severity are the etiology of knee osteoarthritis and clinical important determinants of disability. Osteoarthritic decision making process7. pain may originate in several articular or para- articular tissues supplied by sensory nerves 9. The Postural instability and equilibrium : Severe mechanism for pain production may be irritation of pain, articular damage, and quadriceps muscle articular nerve endings by chemical substances (such weakness associated with knee osteoarthritis as inflammatory mediators) or mechanical irritation contribute to postural instability, gait deviations (mechanical overload / abnormal stress loading), and impaired proprioceptive acuity, and decreased neurogenic inflammation or raised intraosseous capacity to maintain equilibrium under static or pressure. This pain sensation is carried via partially dynamic conditions. Myelinated A delta (d) and Unmyelinated C fibres MANAGEMENT OF KNEE OSTEO- to the cerebral cortex. In addition, psychological ARTHRITIS stress, depression & sleep deprivation may amplify pain attributable to local joint condition. Management in osteoarthritis can be Nonpharmacological, pharmacological and surgical. PATHOMECHANICS OF IMPAIRED The primary goals of treatment are to improve joint PROPRIOCEPTIVE ACUITY & ITS function and quality of life. Treatment should be FUNCTIONAL CORRELATES individualized based upon severity of OA and the Proprioception plays an integral role in patient’s needs. Education regarding the natural neuromotor control of the knee joint. It relies on progression of OA is critical to establish realistic accurate sensory input & requires the integration of patient expectations regarding current treatment sensory information from peripheral proprioceptors modalities. (i.e. muscle spindles), vision and the vestibular Non-pharmacologic interventions : It includes 1, 4 apparatus thereby promoting central integration exercise, occupational therapy, physical agent Therefore factors which adversely affect muscle modalities, dietary modification, weight reduction spindle sensitivity results in impaired proprioceptive and ambulatory assistive devices. acuity & muscle dysfunction 6, 7. Pharmacological interventions : It begins with FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENTS IN KNEE analgesics (such as acetaminophen, topical creams OSTEOARTHRITIS and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Muscle dysfunction in context to knee ibuprofen, ketoprofen & naproxen) etc. Osteoarthritis : It has been observed that Surgical interventions : The Patients with neuromuscular joint protection requires osteoarthritis may develop symptoms refractory to proprioceptive input and motor output. The nonsurgical management. For these patients there quadriceps muscle group weakness or atrophy are several options available including arthroscopic reduces the amount of protective force generated at joint lavage and debridement, realignment the knee joint. In addition, however, if the speed of procedures (osteotomy), joint fusion (arthrodesis) muscle contraction is also affected and slower, then and joint replacement (arthroplasty). Current it will also take longer for protective and stabilizing researches has focused heavily on cartilage repair

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with important advances noted in stimulation of Table 1 Management of Osteoarthritis intrinsic repair mechanisms (microfracture), Nonpharmacological Pharmacological Surgical regeneration (autologous chondrocyte implantation), Patient education, Non-opiod Arthroscopic and substitution techniques (osteochondral allograft Exercise, analgesics, debridement, or autograft plugs). The objectives of these Occupational Therapy, topical ointments, Osteotomy, Physical agent Anti-inflammatory, Autologous treatments are to obtain pain relief, reduce joint modalities, drugs, Intraarticular chondrocyte inflammation, restore function and reduce disability. Dietary injections of implantation, modification, hyaluronic acid Osteochondral The management of knee osteoarthritis is quite Weight reduction products. allograft plugs, challenging in order to provide relief to the patients. Ambulatory assistive Partial or total devices, joint Presently, available intervention strategies works Neuromusculoskeletal replacement. on relief of pain, spasm, improving joint range of Multijoint Coupling motion, muscle strength and endurance via knee Dynamics (NMJCD) approach, immobilization, stretching, knee strengthening, therapeutic massage, physical agent modalities such REFERENCES as moist-heat packs, ultrasound, diathermy 1. AM Aniss, H-C Diener, J Hore, D Burke, S (thermotherapy) and electrical stimulation etc. There Gandevia, J. Neurophysiol., 64, 661-70, 1990. are different opinions regarding the best option 2. WH Jr Ettinger, RF Afable, Med. Sci. Sports available for managing functional impairments in Exerc., 26, 1435-1440, 1994. knee osteoarthritis 2, 10. The relationship between weight bearing exercise and osteoarthritis is 3. D T Felson, A Naimark, J Anderson, L Kazis, W Castelli, RF Meenan, Arthritis complex. Many experts claim that exercise provides Rheum., 30(8), 914-8, 1987. some protection against the development of osteoarthritis by reducing body weight, improving 4. S Gandevia, D Burke, Behav. Brain Sci., 15, muscle strength, and increasing flexibility. In 614-32, 1992. addition, exercise stimulates the secretion of synovial 5. Marc C Hochberg., Roy D Altman., Kenneth fluid which lubricates and nourishes the joints. D Brandt., Bruce M Clark., Non-weight-bearing exercise, especially swimming, A. Paul, Dieppe, Marie R Griffin, Roland W is often promoted as treatment for mild forms of Moskowitz, Thomas J Schnitzer, Guidelines osteoarthritis. for the Medical Management of Osteoarthritis, 38 (11), 1541-1546, 1995. The available literature emphasizes on the need 6. MV Hurley, DL Scott, The British Journal of for specially designed and individually tailored5 Rheumatology, 37, 1181-1187, 1998. intervention strategy such as Neuromusculoskeletal Multijoint Coupling Dynamics (NMJCD) Strategy 7. MV Hurley, Rheumatic Disease Clinics of which incorporates neurophysiological and North America, 25, 283-298, 1999. biomechanical principles within functional context 8. A. Chopra, M. Saluja, J. Patil, A. for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Venugopalan, Tandale HS, Wigley RD, Ann. Rheum. Dis., 63, (502), 2004. The understanding of these underlying pathophysiological & neurophysiological 9. BL Kidd, Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain, 123, mechanisms may serve as guiding tool while 6-9, 2006. formulating specific intervention strategy for patients 10. MA Minor, Arthritis Care Res., 7, 198-204, with knee osteoarthritis. 1994.

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LACCASES : THE BLUE OXIDASES WITH IMMENSE SCOPE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL EXPLOITATION

Vidya Pradeep* & Manpal Sridhar

Laccases, the blue oxidases, have received much attention from researchers in last decades due to their ability to oxidize both phenolic and nonphenolic lignin related compounds as well as highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants, which makes them very useful for their application to several biotechnological processes. Laccases have wide applications which include detoxification of industrial effluents, mostly from the paper and pulp, textile and petrochemical industries, use as a tool for medical diagnostics and as a bioremediation agent to clean up herbicides, pesticides and certain explosives in soil. Laccases are also used as cleaning agents for certain water purification systems, as catalysts for the manufacture of anti-cancer drugs and even as ingredients in cosmetics. In addition, their capacity to remove xenobiotic substances and produce polymeric products makes them a useful tool for bioremediation purposes.

INTRODUCTION diamines as well as some inorganic ions. Amongst more than 200 kinds of oxidases and oxygenases, accases are enzymes belonging to the blue only six classes of enzymes are capable of catalyzing oxidases1, which also include ascorbate L this type of oxygen reaction. They are cytochrome- oxidases and ceruloplasmins. Laccases: C-oxidase, laccases, L-ascorbate oxidase, Benzenediol : oxygen oxidoreductases, EC 1.10.3.2 ceruloplasmin, bilirubin oxidase and phenoxazinone are thus known as blue multicopper oxidases that synthase. catalyse the oxidation of an array of aromatic substrates concomitantly with the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Their characteristic blue colour is caused by a copper atom that is thought to be the primary electron acceptor. Laccase was first discovered in the sap of Japanese Lacquer tree, Rhus vernicifera2. Majority of fungal laccases are extracellular, monomeric, globular proteins of approximately 60-70 kDa with an acidic isoelectric point around pH 4.03. Laccase catalyze the direct oxidation of ortho and para biphenols, aminophenols, polyphenols, polyamines and aryl Fig 1 : The tricopper site found in laccases with * National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, each copper centre being bound to imidazole adapted Adugodi, Bangalore, Karnataka -560 030, India. E-mail : [email protected] from smoke foot, Wikipedia Commons, 2008)

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Laccases are enzymes able to oxidize indicum, Neurospora crassa, and Podospora polyphenols with oxygen as final electron acceptor. anserina has been reported, Basidiomycetes and The active site is constructed by four copper atoms. saprotrophic fungi are the most widely known The four copper ions essential for catalytic activity species that produce substantial amount of laccase4. are buried within the protein. Type 1- which drives Trametes versicolor, Chaetomium thermophilum and phenol oxidation and which gives the protein is Pleurotus eryngii are well known producers of characteristic greenish-blue color. Type 2 (one) and laccase. Laccase has also been produced by many Type 3 (two) [Total three Cu atoms], organized in edible mushrooms including the oyster mushroom cluster driving the di oxygen activation (Fig 1). Pleurotus ostreatus, the rice mushroom Lentinula Fungal laccases have higher reduction potentials edodes and Champignon agaricus bisporus. Other for the copper sites compared with those from laccase producers of wood-rotting fungi include other organisms. Halides, pseudohalides, sulphides, carbonates and heavy metals decrease the catalytic Trametes hirsuta (C. hirsutus), Trametes villosa, efficiency of laccases. Laccases usually contain Trametes gallica, Cerrena maxima, Lentinus four Cu atoms and show a UV absorption peak at tigrinus, Trametes ochracea, Pleurotus eryngii, around 600 nm. Some laccases lacking the Cul Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor, Coriolopsis characteristic absorption spectrum are called Yellow polyzona, etc. Several factors influence laccase or White laccases. Yellow laccases are formed as a production such as type of cultivation (submerged result of binding of aromatic products of lignin or solid state), carbon limitation, and nitrogen degradation to the blue laccase during fungal growth source. Effect of several inducers on the production in solid-state conditions. The first purification of of laccase showed copper sulphate had the greatest white laccase was obtained from the basidiomycete tendency to enhance the produce of laccase with P. ostreatus. production increasing 3.5 fold in the presence of SOURCES copper sulfate. Laccases are ubiquitous enzymes as they are PRODUCTION OF LACCASE IN BACTERIA found in nearly all wood rotting fungi. Laccase Laccase in bacteria is present intracellularly and activity is found in higher plants (wood and cellular as periplasmic protoplast. The first bacterial laccase walls of herbaceous species in the process of lignin was found in the plant root associated bacterium, biosynthesis), bovine rumen microflora, fungi Azospirillum lipoferum where it was shown to be (ascomycetes, basidiomycetes), bacteria, arthropods, involved in melanin formation. Laccase has been insects, yeasts and molds. discovered in a number of bacteria including PRODUCTION OF LACCASES IN FUNGI Bacillus subtilis, Bordetella compestris, Caulobacter Laccases are secreted out in the medium extra crescentus, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium cellularly by several fungi during the secondary tuberculosum, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas metabolism and not all fungal species produce aeruginosa, and Yersinia pestis. Stenotrophomonas laccase such as zygomycetes and chytridiomycetes. maltophilia strain was found to be laccase Laccase is also produced by soil as well as some producing, which was used to degrade synthetic fresh water ascomycetes species. Though laccase dyes5. Incubation temperature, incubation period, production from Gaeumannomyces graminis, agitation rate, concentrations of yeast extract, Magnaporthe grisea, Ophiostoma novoulmi, MgSO4. 7H2O, and trace elements were found to Marginella, Melanocarpus albomyces, Monocillium influence laccase production significantly.

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PRODUCTION OF LACCASE IN PLANTS brown spore pigment and in the protection afforded by the spore coat against UV light and hydrogen The plants in which the laccase enzyme has peroxide and in copper homeostasis and in insects, been detected include lacquer, mango, mung bean, sclerotization of the cuticle in the epidermis. peach, pine, prune, and sycamore5. Techniques have Collectively, laccases exploit a disparate range of also been developed to express laccase in the crop natural substrates. Individually, substrate usage plants. Laccase has been expressed in the embryo varies between species, as do their constituent of maize (Zea mays) seeds. laccases. Synthesis and secretion of laccases are PRODUCTION OF LACCASE IN INSECTS strictly influenced by nutritional levels, cultural Laccase enzyme has also been characterized in conditions and developmental strategies as well as different insects e.g., Bombyx, Calliphora, the addition of different inducers in culture media. Diploptera, Drosophila, Lucilia, Manduca, Musca, MECHANISM OF ACTION Orycetes, Papilio, Phormia, Rhodnius, Sarcophaga, The catalysis of laccase occurs with the reduction Schistocerca, and Tenebrio5. In insects, laccases of one molecule of oxygen to water along with one have been suggested to be active in cuticle electron oxidation of a range of aromatic compounds sclerotization. like aromatic amines, polyphenols and methoxy Submerged and Solid State modes of substituted monophenols. In this oxidation Type 1 fermentation are used intensively for the production Cu extracts one electron from the substrate. The of laccases. Submerged fermentation involves the electron is then transferred to the T2/T3 centre at a nurturing of microorganisms in high oxygen distant of about 12.5A. After complete reduction of concentrated liquid nutrient medium. Solid State the trinuclear center, the molecular oxygen reduction Fermentation is suitable for the production of occurs. Laccase mediated catalysis can be extended enzymes by using natural substrates such as to nonphenolic substrates also by the help of agricultural residues because they mimic the mediators (Fig 2). conditions under which the fungi grow naturally. Laccase Phenolic substrate Oxidized phenolic Furthermore, agro-wastes have been shown to substrate produce higher laccase activities than inert supports for the same fungal strain and culture O2 H O conditions. 2 Non-phenolic substrate Oxidized Non- PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLES phenolic substrate Laccases play diverse roles in nature. Fungal laccases have been associated with lignification, Oxidized Mediator Mediator delignification, fruiting body formation, pigment formation during asexual development, O2 pathogenesis, competitor interactions, soil organic Laccase matter cycling, oxidative plant stress management, fungal morphogenesis and virulence, H2O depolymerization of lignin/coal and humic acids, polymerization and coupling two different Mediator molecules. In bacteria, laccases appear to have a Fig 2 : Mechanism of laccase action for both 6 role in morphogenesis, in the biosynthesis of the phenolic and nonphenolic substrates .

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STRUCTURAL FEATURES proteins, are important components of various foods and beverages. Their modification by laccase may A majority of the fungal laccases are extracellular lead to new functionality, quality improvement, or monomeric globular proteins of approximately 60- cost reduction. Laccases can be applied to certain 70 kDa with an acidic isoelectric point around pH processes that enhance or modify the color 4.0. They are generally glycosylated. There are appearance of food or beverage. In this way, an four ungapped sequence regions which distinguish interesting application of laccases involves the them from other multi copper oxidases. These 12 elimination of undesirable phenolics, responsible amino acid residues act as copper ligands. One for the browning, haze formation and turbidity substrate molecule transforms into several reactive development in clear fruit juice, beer and wine. products of oxidation. The structure of Laccases are currently of interest in baking due to basidiomycete laccase is stabilized by two disulfide their ability to cross-link biopolymers. The potential bridges. The reduction of Cul is the rate limiting applications of laccase in different aspects of the step in the catalytic process. The Cul is the primary food industry such as bioremediation, beverage electron acceptor site in a laccase catalyzed reaction, processing, ascorbic acid determination, sugar beet where four single electron oxidation of a reducing pectin gelation, baking and as a biosensor has been substrate occur. The three Cu2/Cu3 ions are arranged described7. However, it has been suggested that in a triangular fashion, as consistently observed in more studies of laccase production and MCO’s and coordinated to a strongly conserved immobilization techniques at lower costs are needed pattern of four His -X-His motifs. to improve the industrial application of this enzyme. SUBSTRATE RANGE Pulp and Paper Industry Laccase have very broad substrate specificity In the industrial preparation of paper, the with respect to the electron donor. These enzymes separation and degradation of lignin in wood pulp catalyse the one electron oxidation of a wide variety are conventionally obtained using chlorine- or of organic and inorganic substrates, including oxygen-based chemical oxidants. Non-chlorine mono-, di-, and polyphenols, aminophenols, bleaching of pulp with laccase was first patented in methoxyphenols (sinapinic acid, ferulic acid, 1994 using an enzyme treatment to obtain a brighter guaiacol, hydroquinone, catechol, gallic acid, pulp with low lignin content. The capability of vanillic acid, syringic acid, hydroxylated biphenyls, laccases to form reactive radicals in lignin can also 2,6 dimethoxy phenol, 4-OH TEMPO, tannic acid, be used in targeted modification of wood fibers. ABTS), aromatic amines and ascorbate with the Laccases have been proposed to activate the fiber concomitant four-electron reduction of oxygen to bound lignin during manufacturing of the water. These enzymes are being increasingly composites, thus, resulting in boards with good evaluated for a variety of biotechnological mechanical properties without toxic synthetic applications, due to their broad substrate range. adhesives. Another possibility is to functionalize POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL AND lignocellulosic fibers by laccases in order to improve BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF the chemical or physical properties of the fiber LACCASE ENZYME products. Preliminary results have shown that Laccases find innumerable applications within laccases are able to graft various phenolics acid the below discussed fields : derivatives onto kraft pulp fibers. This ability could be used in the future to attach chemically versatile Food Industry compounds to the fiber surfaces, possibly resulting Many laccase substrates, such as carbohydrates, in fiber materials with completely novel properties unsaturated fatty acids, phenols, and thiol-containing such as hydrophobicity or charge.

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Textile Industry of an osmium redox polymer and a laccase from T. versicolor on glassy carbon electrodes was applied The textile industry accounts for two-thirds of to ultrasensitive amperometric detection of the the total dyestuff market and consumes large catecholamine, neurotransmitters, dopamine, volumes of water and chemicals for wet processing epinephrine and nor epinephrine, attaining of textiles. The chemical reagents used are very nanomolar detection limits. diverse in chemical composition, ranging from inorganic compounds to polymers and organic Laccase can also be immobilized on the cathode products. Several dyes are made from known of bio fuel cells that could provide power, for carcinogens such as benzidine and other aromatic example, for small transmitter systems10,11. Biofuel compounds. Most currently existing processes to cells are extremely attractive from an environmental treat dye wastewater are ineffective and not point of view because electrical energy is generated economical. Laccase is used in commercial textile without combusting fuel, thus, providing a cleaner applications to improve the whiteness in source of energy. conventional bleaching of cotton and recently bio DELIGNIFICATION OF LIGNOCELLULOSICS stoning by decolorizing textile effluents. Lignin is the most common aromatic natural The development of processes based on laccases material on earth and also one of the most resistant seem an attractive solution due to their potential in natural polymers. It is a complex, three-dimensional, degrading dyes of diverse chemical structure, non-stereo regular aromatic polymer composed of including synthetic dyes currently employed in the phenyl-propanoid units linked through several major industry. The use of laccase in the textile industry types of carbon and ether bonds, encrusting the is growing very fast, since besides decolorization cellulosic micro fibril of plants which is chemically of textile effluents laccase is used to bleach textiles bounded to the hemicelluloses. In recent years, 8 and even to synthesize dyes . much interest has been evidence in new bio Nanobiotechnology techniques to improve the nutritive value of lingo- cellulosics. Biologically delignifying crop residues During the past two decades, bioelectrochemistry to improve the utilization of lingo celluloses by has received increased attention. As laccases are ruminants appears to be positive insight into adding able to catalyze electron transfer reactions without nutritive value. Lignocellulosics are mostly known additional cofactors, their use has been studied in in the form of wood and straw consisting of three biosensors to detect various phenolic compounds, main components, cellulose, hemicellulose and oxygen or azides. Immobilization has an important lignin. Lignocellulosic residues are not high value influence on the biosensor sensitivity. Micro feeds. They are classified instead as low quality patterning is an efficient method for the roughage, due to its high content of fiber, low immobilization of laccases on a solid surface in protein, vitamins and minerals. order to develop a multi-functional biosensor. Cross- linked enzyme crystals (CLEC) of laccase from Delignification is an essential step in utilization Trametes versicolor could be used in biosensor of lignocellulosic materials by pulping or enzymatic applications with great advantage over the soluble hydrolysis. The biodegradation of lignin occupies a enzyme. Laccase from Coriolus versicolor on significant position in the global carbon cycle since N-hydroxysuccinimide-terminated self-assembled lignin constitutes the second largest sink for fixed monolayers on gold, a procedure useful for the carbon after cellulose. further development of biosensors. In addition, an Separation of lignin from cellulose fibers is an enzyme electrode based on the co-immobilization important step in processing of wood for

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manufacturing of paper pulp. Conventional methods OTHER APPLICATIONS OF LACCASES involve chlorine-, sulfite-, or oxygen based chemical Bio remediation oxidants which impose serious drawbacks of disposal of chlorinated and sulfide by-products or Laccases have many possible applications in loss of cellulose fiber strength. To overcome these bioremediation and are used to degrade various drawbacks, microbial or enzyme-based substances such as undesirable contaminants, by- products, or discarded materials7. Polycyclic delignification systems can be used. Laccase is Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) together with other capable of degrading natural or synthetic lignin xenobiotics are a major source of contamination in polymers. Oxidation by laccase results in breakage soil, therefore, their degradation is of great of aromatic and aliphatic C–C bonds and importance for the environment. The catalytic depolymerixalion of lignin. Fermentation of properties of laccases can also be used to degrade lignocellulosics to generate fuels such as ethanol or such compounds. Thus, laccases were able to butanediol also requires delignification. mediate the coupling of reduced 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene Lignocellulosic hydrolysates such as furan (TNT) metabolites to an organic soil matrix, which derivatives and organic acids may inhibit the resulted in detoxification of the munitions residue. microbial fermentation of agricultural residues to PAHs, which arise from natural oil deposits and desirable fuel products. Purified laccase from utilization of fossil fuels, were also found to be Trametes versicolor has also been used for such degraded by laccases. delignification, resulting in better productivity. Pharmaceutical sector SIGNIFICANCE OF LACCASES IN ANIMAL Many products generated by laccases are FEED antimicrobial, detoxifying, or active personal-care A vast energy potential for animal feed is locked agents. Due to their specificity and bio-based nature, in the lingo-cellulosic materials (crop-residues and potential applications of laccases in the field are forages etc.) in the form of celluloses and hemi- attracting active research efforts. Laccase can be cellulose. However this is not available on account used in the synthesis of complex medical compounds of the lignin with which these are bound and to as anesthetics, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, improve the access of hydrolytic enzymes to sedatives, etc., including triazolo (benzo) cycloalkyl cellulose and hemicelluloses, it is necessary to thiadiazines, vinblastine, mitomycin, penicillin X disrupt the organization of the lingo-cellulosic or dimer, cephalosporins, and dimerized vindoline. lingo-hemicellulosic bonds of plant cell walls. Bio- Laccase based biocatalysts delignification of such agricultural lignocellulosics not only enhances the digestibility of the feed but The ability to use enzymes in non aqueous also improves their nutritional value. The use of solvents greatly expands the potential scope and fungi and other organisms on straws has been used economic impact of biocatalysis. When biological catalysts are placed in this unnatural environment as an alternative to chemical and physical treatments they exhibit a number of remarkable novel properties to enhance straw quality for animal feed5. Lignolytic such as altered stereo-selectivity, enhanced stability enzymes like laccase can be produced economically and increased rigidity. in bulk quantities from white rot fungi using immobilization on cheap inert matrices or even by Synthetic chemistry recombination. Pretreatment of the crop residues Laccases replace H2O2 as an oxidizing agent in with these laccases would aid in lignin degradation. the dye formulation. Laccases also find potential

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applications for analytical purposes, environmental laccases requires a large amount of low priced friendly synthesis of fine chemicals, derivatization enzyme. Therefore, it is of great benefit to identify of biologically active compounds- antibiotics, amino a high laccase output organism and to develop an acids, antioxidants, cytostatics; production of efficient system for the heterologous expression of polymers with anti oxidative properties, co- laccases. polymerization of lignin components with low REFERENCES molecular mass compounds, coating of cellulosic cotton fibers or wool, coloring of hair and leathers, 1. A. Messerschmidt, Advances in Inorganic cross linking and oligomerization of peptides, juice Chemistry, 40, 121-185, 1994. and wine clarification, detoxification and 2. H. Yoshida. Chemistry of lacquer (Urishi) decolouration of sewage, to create antimicrobial part 1. J. Chem. Soc. (Tokyo), 43, 472-486, compositions, production of wood fiber plates, 1883. production of detergents, purification of colored waste waters etc. These applications stimulate new 3. De Souza C.G.M. & R. M. Peralta, Journal waves of fundamental research concerning this of Basic Microbiology, 43, 278-286, 2003. enzyme. In the future, laccases may also be of great 4. A. Hatakka, Biodegradation of lignin. In: interest in synthetic chemistry, where they have Hofrichter M, Steinbuchel A, editors. Lignin, been proposed to be applicable for oxidative de Humic Substances and Coal. Germany: protection and production of complex polymers Wiley-VCH, Weinheim; pp. 129-179, 2001. and medical agents. Laccase provides an 5. D. S. Arora, & R. K. Sharma, Applied environmentally benign process of polymer Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 160 (6), production in air without the use of H O . 2 2 1760-1788, 2010. CONCLUSION 6. Khushal Brijwani, Anne Rigdon and Praveen Laccases are ancient enzymes with a promising V. Vadlani, Fungal Laccases : Production, future. The most important obstacles to commercial Function, and Applications in Food application of laccases are the lack of sufficient Processing Enzyme Research, 2010, Article enzyme stocks and the cost of redox mediators. ID 149748, 10 pages doi : 10.4061/2010/ Use of enzymes is considered a promising method 149748, 2010. to increase milk production, animal performance and feed digestion. Efforts have to be made in 7. R.C. Minussi, G.M. Pastore, N. Duran, order to achieve cheap over production of this Trends Food Sci. Technol., 13, 205-216, 2002. biocatalyst in heterologous hosts and also their 8. L. Setti, S. Giuliani, G. Spinozzi, P.G. Pifferi, modification by chemical means or protein Enzyme Microb. Tech., 25, 285-289,1999. engineering to obtain more robust and active 9. J.F. Cabrita, L.M. Abrantes, A.S. Viana, enzymes. Electrochim. Acta., 50, 2117-24, 2005. For the potential of designer laccases to be 10. T. Chen, S.C. Barton, G. Binyamin, Z. Gao, realized, effective, low-cost, efficient and green Y. Zhang, H. H. Kim et al., J. Am. Chem. production systems are required in which over Soc., 123, 8630-1,2001. expression of laccase can be induced. Filamentous fungi are best producers of recombinant laccases 11. B.S. Calabrese, M. Pickard, R. A. Vazquez- with protein yields ranging from 70-230 mg/1. Duhalt Heller, Biosens Bioelectron, 17, 1071- The industrial and environmental application of 4, 2002.

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100TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS LIST OF ISCA AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU BIRTH CENTENARY PRAN VOHRA AWARD AWARD Dr. Gyan Prakash Mishra Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research Former Speaker, Lok Sabha Leh, Ladakh, J & K Kolkata UMAKANT SINHA MEMORIAL AWARD MILLENNIUM PLAQUES OF HONOUR Dr. Durai Sundar Dr. Devi Shetty Department of Biochemical Engineering & Chairman, Narayana, Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hrudayalaya, Bangalore New Delhi

C. V. RAMAN BIRTH CENTENARY AWARD DR. B.C. DEB MEMORIAL AWARD FOR SOIL/ Prof. S. Rajarajan PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY Dept. of Microbiology and Biotechnology Presidency College, Chennai Dr. Alok Krishna Sinha Staff Scientist V, National Institute of Plant Genome BIRBAL SAHANI BIRTH CENTENARY AWARD Research, New Delhi Dr. Ashok Kumar Singhvi DR. B. C. DEB MEMORIAL AWARD FOR Outstanding Scientist, Physical Research Laboratory, POPULARISATION OF SCIENCE Ahmedabad Dr. Debasish Mandal M. K. SINGHAL MEMORIAL AWARD Senior Scientist, Central Soil & Water Conservation Prof. Shrikrishna Gopalrao Dani Research & Training Institute, Dehradun Distinguished Professor, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai PROF. R. C. MEHROTRA COMMEMORATION LECTURE G. P. CHATTERJEE MEMORIAL AWARD Prof. Sandeep Verma Prof. Amalendu Bandyopadhyay Shri Deva Raj Chair Professor, Birla Planetarium, Kolkata Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur

HIRA LAL CHAKRAVARTY AWARD PROF. (MRS.) ANIMA SEN MEMORIAL LECTURE Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav Prof. Giridhar Prasad Thakur Senior Scientist, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Chairman, Manjushree Mental Health Care & Cure Bioresource Technology, Palampur Society, New Delhi

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DR. (MRS.) GOURI GANGULY MEMORIAL PROF. R. C. SHAH MEMORIAL LECTURE AWARD Dr. J. Mathiyarasu Senior Scientist, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Dr. Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi Research Institute, Karaikudi Scientist, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, PROF. ARCHANA SHARMA MEMORIAL AWARD Lucknow Prof. Awatar Kishen Koul School of Biosciences & Biotechnology, BGSB PROF. S. S. KATIYAR ENDOWMENT LECTURE University, Rajkot

Prof. Jitendra Paul Khurana DR. V. PURI MEMORIAL AWARD Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University Dr. R. Raghvendra Rao of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi INSA Honorary Scientist, Yelahanka, Bangalore

307 Everyman’s Science Vol. XLVII No. 5, Dec ’12 — Jan ’13

100TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013

Sl. No. Name Title of paper 1. Dr. K. Chakraborty, Differential Expression Genes Involved in Plant Physiology, Osmolyte Biosynthesis Play of Major Role in Directorate of Groundnut Research (ICAR) Salinity Tolerance of Brassica spp. Junagadh – 362 001

2. Mr. A. K. Verma, Changes in Glutathione and Glutathione-related Department of Zoology, Enzymes Induces Mitochondrial Stress and Cell & Tumor Biology Lab., Apoptosis in the Anticancer Activities of North-Eastern Hill University, Cantharidin Isolated from Red-headed Blister Shillong – 793 022 Beetles, Epicauta hirticornis and its Mechanism of Action.

3. Ms. Madhumati Chatterjee, On the Variation of Primate Hair : Approach to Department of Anthropology, Evolutionary Biology. Univ. College of Science, Tech. and Agriculture, University of Calcutta, Kolkata – 700 074

4. Dr. Rubel Chakravarty, Combination of Nano-Ceria-Polyacrylonitrile Radiopharmaceuticals Division Based 68Ge/68Ga Generator and NOTA as Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Bifunctional Chelator Makes 68Ga- Trombay, Mumbai – 400 085 Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry more Practical.

5. Mr. Parijat Roy, PGE Geochemistry of Kimberlites from ICP-MS Lab., Geochemistry Division, Anantapur Area, Southern India : Implicatons National Geophysical Research Institute, for Nature of Mantle below Dharwar and Hyderabad – 700 005 Diamond Potentiality.

6. Mr. Abhilash, Bioreactor Processing of Low Grade Indian Waste Recycling and Utilisation Group, Uranium Ores : Improvisation in Leaching Metal Extraction and Forming Division, Kinetics Vis-à-vis Resource Utilisation CSIR–National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur – 831007

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7. Dr. Divya Sharma, Microbial Degradation of Bifenthrin by Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Consortium in Broth and Soil. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110012

8. Ms. Mallamma V. Reddy, Indic Language Machine Translation Tool for Dept. of Computer Science and Applications, NLP. Bangalore University, Bangalore

9. Mr. Arvinder Singh, Graphite Oxide Based Composites : Promising Department of Physics and Meteorology, Candidates for Applications in Energy Storage Indian Institute of Technology, Devices. Kharagpur – 721 302

10. Mr. Pratibhamoy Das A Priori and a Posteriori Error Estimates for Dept. of Mathematics, IIT, Guwahati, Singularly Perturbed General System of Reaction- Guwahati Diffusion Boundary-Value Problems using Grid Adaptation.

11. Ms. Poulami Karmakar, Involvement of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase in the Division of Pathophysiology, Downregulation of Cell Proliferation on Colon National Instt. of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Carcinoma Cell Line by Thermostable Direct Kolkata – 700 010 Hemolysin Secreted by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

12. Dr. Amit Kumar Mishra, Association of E6-AP Ubiquitin Ligase with Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Lab., SOD1 Aggresomes Promotes their Proteasomal MBM Engineering College Degradation and Suppresses Mutant SOD1- Jodhpur – 342 011 Mediated Toxicity.

13. Ms. Richa Srivastava, Experimental Investigation on Manufacturing of Department of Physics, Excellent Moisture Sensor at Room Temperature. University of Lucknow, Locknow – 226 007

14. Dr. Ranjan Singh Optimization of Physico-chemical and Nutritional Department of Microbiology, Parameters for Pullulan Production by a Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Thermotolerant Strain of Aureobasidium pullulan Faizabad–224 001 in Non-stirred Feb Batch Fermentation Process.

309 Everyman’s Science Vol. XLVII No. 5, Dec ’12 — Jan ’13

100TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS BEST POSTER AWARDEES FOR 2012-2013

Sl. Section Name Title of paper No 1. Agriculture and Forestry (a) Angira Das Evaluation of Effect of Storage on in-vitro Sciences University of Calcutta, Anti oxidative Capacities of Honeys Kolkata Collected from Sundarban. (b) Paromita Ghosh Spatial and Temporal Distribution of G.B.P.I.H.E. & D, Nitrifying Bacteria and N Transformation Garhwal Rates in Tropical Rain-fed Rice Soil.

2. Animal, Veterinary and (a) Swapan Kumar Maiti Canine Mammary Cancer : Incidence, Fishery Sciences IVRI, Bareilly Therapeutic Management and Prognostic Tumour Marker Study. (b) Seema Jain Application of Immunostimulants for RGPG College, Modulation of the Non-Specific Defense Meerut Mechanisms in Indian Snake Head Channa punctatus (Bloch.).

3. Anthropological and (a) Prerna Bhasin Filialties in Cardio-metabolic Risks Among Behavioural Sciences University of Delhi, Children at 9-11 years of Age. (including Archaeology and Delhi Psychology & Educational (b) Joydeep Chowdhury Markovian Combat and Duel Modeling on Sciences and Military Indian Statistical Stochastic Modeling of Combat, Duel and Sciences) Institute, Kolkata Fencing.

4. Chemical Sciences (a) Prabha Singh A New Method for Microgram DAV PG College, Determination of 3, 5-dimethylaniline. Muzaffarnagar (b) Ritu Yadav Synthesis of S-(substituted arylidenes)-2- H. S. Gour (substituted aryl)-3-(4-nitrophenoxy University, Sagar acetamido)-4-oxo-thiazolidines Derivatives and Investigation of their Biological Activity.

5. Earth System Sciences (a) Nahida Ali Futuristic Land Cover Projections in University of Kashmir Valley Using CLUE Model. Kashmir, Srinagar (b) Rimjhim Bhatnagar Albedo Based Characterization of Martian Singh Features. Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad

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Sl. Section Name Title of paper No 6. Engineering Sciences (a) Surashree Sengupta Development of Nanocapsules of lipid University of Calcutta, Based Nutraceuticals. Kolkata

7. Environmental Sciences (a) Sourav Bhattacharyya Ex situ Bioremediation of Congo Red Jain University, Dye by Filamentous Fungi. Bangalore (b) Priya Banerjee Comparative Analysis of Toxicity and CGCRI, Kolkata Antioxidant Responses in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) Exposed to Untreated and Ultrafiltration Membrane Bioreactor Treated Textile Effluent.

8. Information and (a) K. Jyotimani EDS-FI : Efficient Data Structure for Communication Science & NGM College, Mining Frequent Item Sets. Technology (including Tamilnadu Computer Sciences) (b) Maumita Maiti Design of Reversible Circuits Using QCA Bengal Engineering for Low Power Nano-Scale computing : College, Howrah Challenges and Future.

9. Materials Science (a) Inderjeet Singh Application of Activated Carbon IIT, Kharagpur Supported MnO2 Nanorods as a Cathode Material for Achieving High Power Densities in Microbial Fuel Cells. (b) K. K. Samanta Application of Plasma Technology in IIT, Delhi Textile Chemical Processing to Reduce Water Pollution.

10. Mathematical Sciences (a) Kabita Sarkar Identifying Space-time Metric of Distant (including Statistics) Salesian College, Compact Objects. Siliguri (b) Sumanta Kumar Das Statistical Estimation of Attrition Rate ISSA, DRDO, Metcalfe Coefficients for Fitting Lanchester Model. House, Delhi

11. Medical Sciences (a) A. R. Goswami Effects of Vitamin C on the (including Physiology) Univ. College of Neurotransmitter Levels of the Different Science, Kolkata Brain Areas in Male Rats Exposed to Simulated Hypobaric Hypoxia. (b) Anvitha Mikkilineni Detection of Presence or Absence of GITAM University, Bacterial Endotoxin by Lal Testing Visakhapatnam Method.

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Sl. Section Name Title of paper No 12. New Biology (including (a) Moitri Basu A Novel Fibroblast Growth Factor, is Biochemistry, Biophysics & IICB, Kolkata Regulated Synergistically By Pitx2 Molecular Biology and Transcription Factor and Wnt Pathway in Biotechnology) Ovarian Carcinoma Cells, SKOV-3 (b) Parvathi M. V. S. Micro RNA mediated Regulation of BM11 IIBT, Tamilnadu Polycomb Gene expresssion and its Correlation with Hormone Receptor Status in Invasive Ductal Carcinomas of Breast.

13. Physical Sciences (a) Nishant T. Tayade Synthesis and Study of Iron Oxide Institute of Science, Ultrafine Particles. Nagpur (b) S. K. Biswas Structure and Thermal Behavior of PET University of Calcutta, Granule and Fibers. Kolkata

14. Plant Sciences (a) Arunava Mandal Transcriptional Regulation of a Cell Bose Institute, Kolkata Expansion Gene upon Tomato Leaf Curl Virus Infection. (b) Santosh Kumar Rai DNA marker, ITS nrDNA Sequence and CIMAP, Lucknow Karyomorphology Based Characterization of Oleferous and Non-oil Species of Vetiveria L.

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THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS ASSOCIATION 14, DR. BIRESH GUHA STREET, KOLKATA–700 017 ISCA BEST POSTER AWARDS : 2013-2014

To encourage Scientists, The Indian Science Congress Association has instituted two Best Poster Awards in each Sections. These awards carry a sum of 5,000/- besides a Certificate of Merit. 1. Applications are invited from members (Life, Annual & Student) of the Association who have paid their subscription on or before July 15, 2013. 2. Four copies of full length paper along with four copies of the abstract (not exceeding 100 words) must reach the office of the General Secretary (Membership Affairs) not later than September 15, 2013. At the top of each copy of the paper and its abstract, the name of the Section under which the paper is to be considered should be indicated. For details of Sections see http://www.sciencecongress.nic.in 3. Along with the Four copies of paper, Four copies of the Application Form (to be downloaded from ISCA website http://www.sciencecongres.nic.in) with brief bio-data of the candidate (not exceeding 2 pages), full length paper, abstract in the form of a CD must also be sent simultaneously along with the hard copies. 4. The number of authors of each poster submitted for the award shall be limited to two only. The first author of the poster shall be presenting author. 5. The research work should have been carried out in India and this has to be certified by the Head of the Institution from where the candidate is applying. 6. The candidate should give an undertaking that the paper being submitted has not been published in any journal or presented in any other Conference/ Seminar/ Symposium or submitted for consideration of any award. 7. A scientist shall submit only one poster in any one Section (and not a second poster on the same or any other topic in any other Section) for consideration for poster presentation award. 8. A person who has already received ISCA Best Poster Award in any section once will not be eligible to apply for the above Award in the same or any other section. 9. Incomplete Application will not be considered. 10. Full length papers will be evaluated by experts and twenty posters in each section will be selected for presentation during 101st Indian Science Congress. 11. The final selection for the Awards will be made by a duly constituted committee and the awards will be given during the Valedictory Session of 101st Indian Science Congress session. 12. Applications submitted for the above award will not be returned. 13. The last date for receiving applications for the above award at ISCA Headquarters is September 15, 2013. All correspondences should be made to : The General Secretary (Membership Affairs), The Indian Science Congress Association, 14, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata-700 017. Tel. Nos. (033) 2287-4530/2281-5323 Fax No. 91-33-2287-2551, E-mail : [email protected], Website : http://www.sciencecongress.nic.in

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THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS ASSOCIATION 14, DR. BIRESH GUHA STREET, KOLKATA – 700 017

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AWARDS : 2013–2014

Nominations/applications in prescribed forms are invited from Indian Scientists for following Awards :

● Professor Umakant Sinha Memorial Award—New Biology

● Dr. B. C. Deb Memorial Award for Soil/Physical Chemistry—Chemical Sciences

● Dr. B. C. Deb Memorial Award for Popularisation of Science

● Professor K. P. Rode Memorial Lecture—Earth System Sciences

● Dr. (Mrs.) Gouri Ganguly Memorial Award for Young Scientist—Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences.

● Prof Sushil Kr. Mukherjee Commemoration Lecture—Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

● Prof. S. S. Katiyar Endowment Lecture—New Biology/Chemical Sciences

● Prof. R. C. Shah Memorial Lecture—Chemical Sciences

● Prof. Archana Sharma Memorial Award—Plant Sciences

● Dr. V. Puri Memorial Award—Plant Sciences

● Prof. G. K. Manna Memorial Award—Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences.

Last date on submitting application is July 31, 2013

For proforma of application forms and necessary information, please write to the General Secretary (Membership Affairs), The Indian Science Congress Association, 14, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata – 700 017, E-mail : es.sciencecongress.nic.in/[email protected], Fax No. 91-33-2287 2551. The forms can also be downloaded from http://www.sciencecongress.nic.in

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KNOW THY INSTITUTIONS

CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR SUBTROPICAL HORTICULTURE, LUCKNOW

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE km away from the city and the other (13.2 ha) at Rai Bareli (R.B.) Road, in the city of ● The Central Institute for Subtropical Lucknow Horticulture (CISH) was started as Central Mango Research Station on September 4, ● Has scientific nursery facilities, well 1972 under the aegis of the Indian Institute established orchards, fully equipped of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. laboratories; trainees hostel-cum-guest house located at R.B. Road Campus ● The Research Station was upgraded to a full- fledged Institute and named as Central ● Has in place MOU to facilitate capacity Institute of Horticulture for Northern Plains building with Allahabad Agricultural Institute on June 1, 1984. (Deemed University), Allahabad, APS University, Rewa, Babasaheb Bhimrao ● Renamed as Central Institute for Subtropical Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Bundelkhand Horticulture (CISH) on June 14, 1995, is University, Jhansi, and Lucknow University, serving the nation on different aspects of Lucknow; trains students for acquiring M.Sc research on mandated subtropical fruits. and Ph.D degrees ● Has two experimental farms, one at ● Recognized by IGNOU, New Delhi as one Rehmankhera (132.5 ha) approximately 25 of the study centres for offering one year

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Diploma Course on value added products using modern propagation techniques and from fruits and vegetables rootstocks, precision farming practices including mechanization and management of ● National Horticulture Mission has identified biotic and abiotic stresses the Institute as nodal centre for imparting training on rejuvenation of old and senile ● Reduction in post-harvest losses through mango orchards and meadow orcharding in improved post-harvest management practices, guava value addition and diversification of products ● A fully equipped pesticide residue analysis ● Human resource development, transfer of and bio-control laboratories are other features technology and evaluation of its socio- economic impact ● Modern facility to address issues of post- ● harvest management is available Transfer of Data storage and retrieval on all aspects of mandated crops Technology initiatives and Kisan Call Centre. DIVISIONS MANDATE Division of Crop Improvement The institute is presently functioning with the following mandates : ● Micropropagation technology using shoot bud culture has been developed in guava, aonla, ● To undertake basic and applied research to bael and jamun. enhance productivity and develop value chain for major and minor subtropical fruits ● Somatic embryogenesis protocols have been developed in guava and papaya. ● To function as national repository of above ● fruit crops Genetic transformation system has been developed in papaya and guava ● To act as a centre for human resource ● development and provide consultancy to the Five putative transgenic papaya plants containing Cp gene of PRSV have been stake holders developed and these are being evaluated in ● To develop linkage with national and the transgenic glass house. international agencies to accomplish the above ● Two hundred cultivars of mango from eastern mandates and northern parts of India were characterized OBJECTIVES with 30 STMS primers and data is used for The institute pursues its mandate through the genotyping. following objectives: ● In preliminary marker-association studies in mango, four markers have been found to be ● Management of genetic resources of associated with traits, fruit length and fruit mandated fruit crops and their conventional weight. and molecular characterization ● Clones of Dashehari, Chausa and Himsagar ● Crop improvement through breeding and were characterized with 8 STMS primers genetic engineering and variability was detected among clones of ● Enhancing productivity through improving Dashehari and Himsagar. Chausa clones quality and quantity of planting materials showed no variation.

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● 19 cultivars/accessions of guava were ● Model nursery having a separate Nucleous characterized with 8 microsatellite primers, scion bank, poly and net house facilities which were able to discriminate cultivars. have been established for the multiplication ● 24 litchi cultivars have been characterized of elite clones of mango, guava, aonla and using 20 RAPD primers and 6 SSR primers. bael. ● ● Laboratory is also providing hands-on training Cow dung pasting in rejuvenated mango trees and facilities for projects to students is found most effective for the control of (graduation and post graduation) of different gummosis. universities in tissue culture, transgenics and ● Mango based cropping system has been molecular markers. developed and recommended by the Institute. Crop Production Cowpea-potato system has been found to give high monetary returns up to 10 years of ● Technologies to rejuvenate old and senile plantation. orchards have been standardized for mango, guava and aonla. ● Soil application of 4g per tree of paclobutrazol (3.2 ml/metre of canopy diameter) has been ● High density planting for mango cv. found effective to induce regular flowering Dashehari with 400 plants ha -1 spaced at and fruiting and in controlling irregular 5.0 × 5.0 m and guava cv. Allahabad Safeda bearing in mango cultivar Dashehari. with 555 plants ha -1 spaced at 3.0 × 6.0m were standardized. ● Soil application of 1 kg N, 1 kg P 2 O 5 and 1 kg K 2 O per tree during July to 10 years ● Drip irrigation from September to second old (grown-up) Dashehari mango tree week of May followed by fertigation with P increased the yield. and K of 25 per cent of the recommended dose in split doses at flowering and fruit ● 250g Azospyrillum with 40 kg FYM has setting have given highest fruit yield (59.74 been found effective in increasing yield of kg tree -1 ) in comparison to conventional 15 years old mango cv. Dashehari. (basin system 18.71 kg tree -1) irrigation and ● Farm waste utilization through NADEP, fertilizer use. Vermi, micro mediated and Biodynamic (BD) ● Institute developed meadow orchard system compost have enhanced beneficial for guava, which accommodates 5000 plants microorganisms in soil. ha-1 (1.0m × 2.0m) coupled with regular Crop Protection topping and hedging. An average yield of 12.5 tonnes ha-1 was obtained after first year ● Bio-ecological studies of important insect and it reached to 50 tonnes ha-1 after 3rd pests of mango have been carried out and year. forecasting models for fruit fly and hopper of mango have been developed. ● Institute developed a technique of rapid multiplication (Wedge grafting), which has a ● Methyl eugenol wooden block traps were tremendous potential for multiplying guava found highly efficient in trapping male mango plants rapidly throughout the year in fruit flies to reduce the population of this greenhouse as well as in open conditions. important pest.

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● A forecasting model for the prediction of ● Inoculation technique (stem hole inoculation) powdery mildew was developed. A for reproduction of wilt in guava has been temperature regime of 7.80–14.40 0 C (Min.) standardized. Gliocladium roseum has been and 28.10–36.40 0 C (Max.) prevailed during found most potent causal pathogen for guava February and March was found congenial wilt, as it produces symptoms in grown up for the appearance of powdery mildew. plants in field within 2 months of inoculation. ● Five antagonists, isolated from mango ● Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) has been phylloplane (Bacillus coagulans), fruit surface identified as the most important viral disease (LSF-8) and organic liquid pesticides (BDB- of papaya, which causes considerable loss to I, II & III) when applied against mango the crop. Aphid vectors for the transmission bacterial canker under field conditions (5.50- of this virus have been identified. 10.55 & 21.11- 26.34) was almost found ● Major nematode pests of papaya have been comparable with antibiotic (9.98-18.70 & identified and synergistic interaction of root- 20.0-21.33) in checking the disease incidence knot nematode with PRSV has been its and intensity, respectively. These antagonists established. were identified as species of Bacillus , Postharvest Management Pseudomonas and Acenetobacter. ● To reduce cost of production, post harvest ● Four distinct bacterial isolates have been losses and increasing profitability through found to exhibit nemato-antagonistic improved post harvest management practices. potential. Out of four, two (Flavobacterium sp. & Sphingomonas terrae) appears to be ● To develop protocols for value addition of new nematode antagonists. fruits, waste utilization organic farming biosafety models against toxic pesticides. ● Chemical control measures of important ● insect pests and diseases of mango have To evaluate the technologies for marketing been standardized and spray schedules have and market intelligence studies. been developed for their commercial LIBRARY adoption. The CISH library is an integral part of the ● Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module Institute, is well furnished and equipped with for mango insect pests and diseases have computers and internet facility. It has rich collection been developed and standardized. The of publication on subtropical fruit crops and on technology is being demonstrated in six other Institute’s mandate crops. A large number of districts of Uttar Pradesh. National and International journal fulfill the need of Scientist, Research Associates, Senior Research ● Efficient pollinators for mango, guava and Fellows, Junior Research Fellows and students. aonla have been identified. The library has 3112 scientific and technical books ● A simple technique for control of postharvest and 7,458 back volumes of periodicals. It subscribes diseases is developed which involves covering 111 National and International journals. Out of fruits on trees with paper bags one month which 49 are foreign journals and 62 Indian. Besides prior harvest, which eliminates all postharvest this, there are 42 Masters and Ph. D. thesis on the diseases in eco-friendly manner. subject related to Institute’s mandate.

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The library is also providing reprography services Contact and internet surfing, exploring literature search Director through CD ROMs like Agris-CD ROM and Hort. Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture CD ROM. (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Rehmankhera, P.O.Kakori, Lucknow UP, INDIA, 227107 Fax: 91-0522-2841025, Phone : 91-0522- 2841022, 23 Email : [email protected]

THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS ASSOCIATION 14, DR. BIRESH GUHA STREET, KOLKATA – 700 017 ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AWARDS : 2013-2014

1. Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Award : Nominations applications in prescribed forms are invited from Indian Scientists, below 40 years of age as on December 31, 2012 with Ph. D. degree from any University or Institution in India, having significant contributions in any branch of Plant Sciences. The award is given on original independent published work carried out in India within three years prior to the award. The award carries a cash amount of 4,000/- and a Certificate. Awardee will be required to deliver a lecture on the topic of his/her specialization during annual session of the Indian Science Congress in the Section of Plant Sciences. Last date of submitting application is July 31, 2013. 2. Pran Vohra Award : Nominations applications in prescribed forms are invited from Indian Scientists, below 35 years of age as on December 31, 2012 with Ph. D. degree from any University or Institution in India, having significant contributions in any branch of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. The award is given on original independent published work carried out in India within three years prior to the award. The award carries a cash amount of 10,000/- and a Certificate. Awardee will be required to deliver a lecture on the topic of his/her specialization in the Section of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences during the Indian Science Congress Session. Last date of submitting application is July 31, 2013. For proforma of application forms and necessary information, please write to the General Secretary (Membership Affairs), The Indian Science Congress Association, 14, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata – 700 017, E-mail : [email protected]/[email protected] Fax No. 91-33-2287 2551. The forms can also be downloaded from http://www.sciencecongress.nic.in

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Conferences / Meetings / Symposia / Seminars

Sixth International Conference on Contemporary Computing (IC3-2013), August 8-10, 2013. Noida, New Delhi. Theme : ● Algorithms ● Systems (Hardware & Software) ● Applications ● Education Contact : Dr. Divakar Yadav, Phone : 0120-2594141 E-mail : [email protected]

National Seminar to Commemorate the Sesquicentennial Birth Anniversary of Sir Asutosh Mookerjee (1864-1924), September 6-8, 2013, Kolkata Theme : ● Electromagnetic theory of light ● Elastic Vibration ● Green and Fresnel’s Dynamical theory of reflection ● Airy and MacCullagh, Stokes’ Dynamical theory of diffraction ● Theory of Electric oscillations ● Maxwell’s dynamical theory of Electromagnetic field ● Hydrokinetics and the theory of Potential ● Green’s theorem and its Applications ● Equations of motion ● Equations of Continuity; Vortex motion ● Cauchy’s Integrals of Lagrange’s equations ● Stokes’ theorem ● Waves and wave motion in liquids ● Surface integrals ● Definite integrals ● Fourier’s theorem and its applications in Physics ● Theories of elastic solids ● Astronomy, Relativity and Cosmology

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● Statistics and Probability ● Analytical Geometry ● Boole’s theorems on linear transformations ● General Cartesian equations of lines of the second order in relation to their foci, asymptotes and eccentricity ● Theorems on central conies and Non-Central conies and its applications ● Theory of analytic functions ● Integration of algebraic functions ● Hyperbolic functions ● Abel’s theorem ● Dirichlet’s theorem ● Gamma functions ● Differential geometry (surfaces and curves) ● Differential equation and its applications ● Education and Social Sciences Contact : Dr. Balai Chaki, Convener, Calcutta Mathematical Society, Austosh Bhavan, AE-374 Sector-1, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700 064, West Bengal, India, Phone : +91-9830494816 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected]

18th Annual cum International Conference of Gwalior Academy of Mathematical Science (GAMS), September 22-23, 2013, Bhopal. Theme : Mathematical, computational and Intergrative Sciences. Contact : Dr. Neeru Adlakha, Organizing Secretary, Department of Mathematics, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal-462 051, Madhya Pradesh, INDIA. Mob : +91-8989110218, +91-8989110219 Phone : +91 - 755 - 4051000, 4052000 Fax : +91-755-2670562, E-mail : [email protected]

7th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials, 23-26 October 2013, New Delhi. Theme : ● Polymer waste management around the world - holistic view ● Polymeric waste availability and conversion methods - statistics and strategies ● Mechanical recycling of waste plastics ● Metal recovery from polymeric wastes ● E-waste treatment techniques ● Thermo-chemical routes (pyrolysis, gasification, combustion etc.) for industrial, municipal plastic wastes and biomass.

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● Novel materials / catalysts for conversion process ● Energy from waste polymeric materials ● Biological routes for industrial, municipal plastic wastes and biomass ● Novel analytical techniques (separation and analysis) ● Sustainability - LCA studies ● Going global - Opportunities and challenges Contact : Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, Senior Scientist & Head, Biomass Thermocatalytic Processes Area (TPA) Bio-Fuels Division (BFD), CSIR - Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dehradun - 248 005, Uttarakhand, India, Website : http://www.iip.res.in/ thalladabhaskar.php, www.isfr2013.org

International Symposium on Role of Earth System Sciences & Human Prosperity, 23-25th October, 2013, Hyderabad.

Theme : ● Earth Hazards ● Geochemical Exploration of ferrous & non-ferrous minerals atomic minerals, PGE, Gold and Diamonds (Kimberlites) ● Petroleum & Coal Geochemistry and Exploration ● Climate changes in the Geological history : impact on Earth ● Sustainable development and renewable energy resources ● Environmental Pollution - remedial measures ● Analytical geochemistry & instrumental methods of analysis ● Hard Rock Geochemistry, Modelling and Petrogenesis Contact : Prof. K. Surya Prakash Rao, Hon. Secretary, Indian Society of Applied Geochemists (ISAG), P. B. No. 706, Osmania University, 1-2-7/1, “Roja”, Kakatiyanagar, Habsiguda, Hyderabad - 500 007, Andhra Pradesh, India, Telefax : 040-27176020 (O), 040-27170246 (R), Mobile : 9848880980, E-mail : [email protected], [email protected]

Fourth Biopesticide International Conference (BIOCICON2013), November 28-30, 2013, Tamil Nadu. Theme : ● Microbes-basic and applied aspects ● Botanicals-basic and applied aspects ● Natural enemies ● Other Arthropod management

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● Bionano materials in Pest and Disease Management ● Other aspects of Biopesticides ● Biopesticides for forest pest and disease management Contact : Dr. K. Sahayaraj, Organizing Secretary, BIOCICON 2013, Crop Protection Research Centre, Department of Zoology, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai 627 002, Tamil Nadu, India. Phone No. +91- 462-4264376 (Off.); +91-462-2542303 (Res.) Mobile : 09443497192; Fax : +91 - 462-2561765, E-mail : [email protected].

5th Asian Conference on Colloid and Interface Science (ACCIS 2013), November 20-23, 2013, Darjeeling. Theme : ● Adsorption ● Colloids and Dispersions ● Surfaces and Interfaces ● Nanomaterials, Biomaterials ● Molecular Assemblies ● Gels ● Thin Flims, Membranes ● Devices and Applications Contact : Dr. Amiya Kumar Panda, Working President, ACCIS 2013, Department of Chemistry, University of North Bengal, Darjeeling 734 013, West Bengal, INDIA, Phone : +919433347210, Fax : +913532699001, Web : www.nbu.ac.in/notice/circular, E-mail : [email protected]

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non-depressed people, patterns were pretty S & T ACROSS THE WORLD predictable; some genes’ activity consistently peaked at sunrise, others at midday, Li says. But in the BODY’S CLOCK LINKED TO DEPRESSION depressed brains, gene activity seemed uncoupled from time of day. Their patterns of activity also The disruption of sleep and other bodily rhythms weren’t as predictable. that often accompanies clinical depression may leave a mark on the brain. A study of gene activity The research doesn’t demonstrate whether in the brains of people who suffered from depression depression causes the circadian disruption or vice reveals that their daily clocks were probably out of versa, but it confirms a link and might lead to whack. The results appear May 13 in the investigations of the physiological processes that Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. are affected, says Ying-Hui Fu a molecular biologist and geneticist at the University of California, San “This is really important work, amazing work,” Francisco. says Noga Kronfeld-Schor, a physiologist who specializes in circadian rhythms at Tel Aviv Each brain analyzed in the study shows gene University. “There’s been indirect evidence, but activity at only one point, the time of death. this clearly shows a connection between disrupted Circadian rhythm researchers typically take circadian cycles and depression.” measurements from a person over the course of 24 hours. That strategy works for sampling blood In mammals, daily rhythms such as sleep, cells, for example, but not brains. The brain data, hormone cycles and eating patterns are guided by which were collected with the help of collaborators a master clock in the brain whose rhythms are at several universities including the brain bank at maintained in part by genes and patterns of light the University of California, Irvine, isn’t perfect and darkness. The master clock can get out of sync but is impressive, Fu says. with clocks elsewhere in the brain and body. This discord, for example, produces the out-of-sorts “The data set is very solid,” Fu says. “And to feeling of jet lag, says Jun Li, a statistical geneticist collect 30 to 50 brains? Just getting blood or cheek at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. cells is hard enough. People with depression also often have off- MENTAL PUZZLES UNDERLIE MUSIC’S kilter body rhythms. But the molecular and cellular DELIGHT mechanisms behind these disrupted cycles have Whether you’re rocking out to Britney Spears or been hard to pin down. Li and his colleagues took soaking up Beethoven’s classics, you may be an ambitious approach with an unusual set of enjoying music because it stimulates a guessing samples: the brains, removed just after death, of game in your brain. 34 people with depression and 55 people who didn’t suffer from depression. All of the people had This mental puzzling explains why humans like died suddenly, from heart attacks or suicide, for music, a new study suggests. By looking at activity example, and each brain was immediately put on in just one part of the brain, researchers could ice, Li says. predict roughly how much volunteers dug a new song. After determining how long after sunrise each person’s death was, the team looked at what genes When people hear a new tune they like, a clump were turned on in six brain regions, gathering a of neurons deep within their brains bursts into total of 12,000 records of gene activity. Among excited activity, researchers report April 12 in

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Science. The blueberry-sized cluster of cells, called In the study, the researchers examined the brain the nucleus accumbens, helps make predictions and activity of 19 people as they listened to short clips sits smack-dab in the “reward center” of the brain of new music in an MRI machine. At the end of — the part that floods with feel-good chemicals each clip, volunteers could choose to buy songs when people eat chocolate or have sex. they liked, using their own money. The researchers asked them how much they would be willing to The berry-sized bit acts with three other regions pay, $0.99, $1.29 or $2, in a system similar to in the brain to judge new jams, MRI scans showed. iTunes. If volunteers did not like a song, they could One region looks for patterns, another compares choose not to buy it. new songs to sounds heard before, and the third Then researchers compared brain scans of checks for emotional ties. participants who bid different amounts on songs. As our ears pick up the first strains of a new Amid the bustle of activity in the brain, the nucleus song, our brains hustle to make sense of the music accumbens leapt to life when people heard songs and figure out what’s coming next, explains coauthor they wanted to purchase. The more money people Valorie Salimpoor, who is now at the Bay crest chose to spend, the livelier their nucleus accumbens Rotman Research Institute in Toronto. And when was while listening. the brain’s predictions are right (or pleasantly Teaming neuroimaging with the iTunes-like surprising), people get a little jolt of pleasure. system for buying music was “a very clever idea,” All four brain regions work overtime when says cognitive neuroscientist Aniruddh Patel of Tufts University in Medford, Mass. “It’s a nice people listen to new songs they like, report the application of new technology to address an old researchers, including Robert Zatorre of the theory in music cognition,” he says. “In fact, the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University new findings seem to fit well with the old theory,” The links between the brain’s reward center and he says. the three other areas explain how simple sounds “The results tap into the fundamental ways our strung together in complex patterns can give humans brains deal with sound,” says auditory neuroscientist so much joy, Salimpoor says. Music theorists have Nina Kraus of Northwestern University in Evanston, speculated that new music might tickle people’s I11. “The implications are rather enormous,” she pleasure centers by engaging their minds in play. says. The work could help scientists better But until now, no one had matched up the theory to understand how humans decipher other complex the neurobiology. sounds, such as speech.

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