Research Papers

Congruence of ribosomal DNA sequencing, fatty acid methyl ester profiles and morphology for characterization of genera rhizophagus (arbuscular mycorhiza fungus)

Kumar S, Beri S, Adholeya A
| 2013

Difficulties in obtaining sterile axenic cultures and heterogeneity in nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA (n-rDNA) sequences within a single arbuscular mycorrhizal spore make genetic analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) a complicated task, and currently available methods of genotyping are inadequate for identification to the species level. Therefore, we applied a multipronged approach on different isolates grown in root organ culture (ROC) belonging to the genus Rhizophagus which were not characterized at species level.

Cloud Computing and Virtualization Technologies in Libraries

Alam Nihal, Karmakar Ranjan
| 2013

Information and communication technologies are developing very fast and providing us opportunities due to their benefits such as reduced cost, anytime, anywhere availability, as well as its elasticity and flexibility. Cloud computing is one of the newly emerged models for technology that provide us the facility of central remoting of servers to maintain data, software, and application through the use of the Internet. Nowadays it is widely applicable in many areas such as libraries, information centres, in-house, applications and digital library services.

Climate Variability and Rural Livelihood Systems: A Case Study of Three Coastal Villages in India

Nayak B P and Maharjan K L
| 2013

The paper examined the trends of climate variability and local environmental changes and their implications on the livelihood of the people at local level in two Coastal districts in the state of Odisha in India. A trend analysis of the climatic variables has been made based on the Indian Meteorological Department database and the perception of local communities on the implications of these as well as other local environmental changes on livelihood has been discussed through a case study in three coastal villages.

Carrier mounted bacterial consortium facilitates oil remediation in the marine environment

Simons K L, Sheppard P J, Adetutu E M, Kadali K, Juhasz A L, Manefield M, Sarma P M, Lal B, Ball A S
| 2013

Marine oil pollution can result in the persistent presence of weathered oil. Currently, removal of weathered oil is reliant on chemical dispersants and physical removal, causing further disruption. In contrast few studies have examined the potential of an environmentally sustainable method using a hydrocarbon degrading microbial community attached to a carrier. Here, we used a tank mesocosm system (50 I) to follow the degradation of weathered oil (10 g I-1) using a bacterial consortium mobilised onto different carrier materials (alginate or shell grit).

Carbon stock estimation for tree species of Sem Mukhem sacred forest in Garhwal Himalaya, India

Pala Nazir A, Negi A K, Gokhale Yogesh, Showkat Aziem, Vikrant K K, Todaria N P
| 2013

Carbon stock estimation was conducted in tree species of Sem Mukhem sacred forest in district Tehri of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. This forest is dedicated to Nagraj Devta and is dominated by tree species, including Quercus floribunda, Quercus semecarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. The highest values of below ground biomass density, total biomass density and total carbon density were (34.81+-1.68) Mg.ha-1, (168.26+-9.04) Mg.ha-1 and (84.13+-4.18) Mg.ha-1 for Pinus wallichiana.

Can a "Blue Sky" Return to Indian Megacities

Kumar P, Jain S, Gurjar B R, Sharma P, Khare MLidia Morawska, Rex Britter
| 2013

Deterioration of air quality in Indian megacities (Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata) is much more significant than that observed in the megacities of developed countries. Densely packed high-rise buildings restrict the self-cleaning capabilities of Indian megacities. Also, the ever growing number of on-road vehicles, resuspension of the dust, and anthropogenic activities exacerbate the levels of ambient air pollution, which is in turn breathed by urban dwellers. Pollution levels exceeding the standards on a regular basis often result in a notable increase in morbidity and mortality.

Bacterial Biosynthesis of Indole-3-Acetic Acid: Signal Bacterial Biosynthesis of Indole-3-Acetic Acid: Signal Messenger Service

Kochar M, Vaishnavi A, Upadhyay A, Srivastava S
| 2013

Plant health and soil quality are continuously challenged by increasing environmental stresses and phytopathogen attack. They are often, however, provided a helping hand by unseen microbial inhabitants in the rhizosphere. In this context bacterial biosynthesis of the auxin phytohormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is well established, as it can positively regulate developmental processes of plant roots.

Assessment of Volume Change in East Rathong Glacier, Eastern Himalaya

Agrawal A, Tayal S
| 2013

An estimate of change in volume of East Rathong glacier in Eastern Himalayas has been made, vis-a-vis changes in its surface area over the period 1962-2011. The change in the area and volume of the glacier has been estimated using remote sensing (CORONA and Landsat images) and GIS techniques, field methods and certain empirical relationships and scaling laws. Bruckl's thickness-area relationship and volume-area scaling methods are used to estimate the volume and change in the volume of the glacier from 1962 to 2011.

Assessing biome boundary shifts under climate change scenarios in India

Chakraborty A, Joshi P K, Ghosh A, Areendran G
| 2013

Climate change and its cascading impacts are being increasingly recognized as a major challenge across the globe. Climate is one of the most critical factors affecting biomes and their distribution. The present study assessed shifts in biome types of India using the conceptual framework of Holdridge life zone (HLZ) model, minimum distance classifier and climatic datasets to assess the distribution pattern of potential biomes under climate change scenarios in India.

Application of appropriate technologies in TERI Library and Information Centre: an exploratory study

Sharma Reeta, Sankar T P
| 2013

National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) makes available the information and data on resources devoted to R&D activities in the country through its regular and occasional publications for evidence based S&T planning. Digitization of all the publications brought out under NSTMIS scheme since its inception in 1973 and developing web-based digital repository for quick access and retrieval purposes was the mission.