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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 1 of 143
Contents
Contents..................................................................................................................... 1 GAGAN making GPS more accurate.........................................................................8 Gene from celery inside rose fights petal blight.......................................................10 Gene swapping by flu viruses................................................................................... 11 Genes involved in risk of thyroid cancer found.........................................................12 Genetic differences between African lions................................................................12 Genetic parasites and mammalian pregnancy.........................................................12 1000 Genome-Wide Association Studies lack global coverage.................................12 Gestures can change one's thoughts'......................................................................14 A new study has claimed that gesticulation clue to one's thoughts can also change one's thoughts by grounding them in action............................................14 Giant claw helps fiddler crabs stay cool...................................................................14 Global agri-business incubation for agri-preneurs....................................................14 Global climate change effects need study................................................................15 Global CO {-2} emissions reach 10 billion Tonnes...................................................15 Glory' set for March 4 launch................................................................................... 15 GM crops debate: consensual versus adversarial approaches..................................15 Good harvests do not always translate into money in the bank...............................18 GPS can detect nuclear tests.................................................................................... 19 Gradual deepening of core science ideas.................................................................20 Graphene spurs next generation chips.....................................................................21 Graphene to shape future computers.......................................................................22 Graphite and diamond.............................................................................................. 22 Greenland's melting glaciers.................................................................................... 23 Grunting affects opponent's response time..............................................................23 Gujarat RTI activist complains of police harassment................................................25 Gulf oil-spill's dead zone' biggest ever?...................................................................25 Halving battery costs of electric cars by 2018..........................................................25 Happiness has a dark side........................................................................................ 26 Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?............................................27 HbA1c diabetes blood test not as effective for children...........................................28
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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 2 of 143 Heart beat................................................................................................................ 29 Heat-resistant fungal spores found in Western Ghats..............................................30 Helping farmers solve their marketing problem.......................................................31 Helping small jackfruit farmers boost yield and income...........................................32 HIgher clock speeds for chips sans heat buildup......................................................34 Highly efficient solar product....................................................................................34 High-tech approach to scrutinise fresh produce.......................................................35 Hike in railway passenger fares in the offing............................................................36 Himalayas may become a giant rubbish dump.........................................................37 Hog waste produces power, carbon offsets..............................................................37 Hominins evolved in grasslands, not forests............................................................38 Honda unveils smarter robot.................................................................................... 39 Honey bees............................................................................................................... 40 Honey....................................................................................................................... 41 How baby mouse knows mom, siblings and home ..................................................41 How bacteria live inside cells ...................................................................................42 How do retinal neurons encode what we see'? .......................................................42 How fluttering feathers cause courtship sounds ......................................................42 How kilograms, metres, seconds keep changing .....................................................42 How native ants fight Argentine ants ......................................................................43 How pollution damages human airways ..................................................................43 How reindeer benefit from ultraviolet light ..............................................................43 How safe Kudankulam nuclear power reactors are ..................................................44 How sea turtles know east-west, north-south ..........................................................44 How silica helps plants grow, flourish ......................................................................44 How space flight impacts astronauts' eyes and vision .............................................46 How the brain knows what the nose smells .............................................................46 How the brain strings words into sentences ............................................................46 How the nuclear plant crisis happened ....................................................................46 How to determine a star's age .................................................................................49 How to stop women scientists from dropping out? ..................................................49 Hubble snaps close-up of Tarantula Nebula ............................................................49 Huge potential for turmeric in North East ................................................................49
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 3 of 143 Human activity hitting deep-sea biodiversity ..........................................................50 Human activity, threat to Antarctic ecosystem .......................................................50 Human brain's common cell cultivated in a lab .......................................................50 Human cornea gene discovered .............................................................................. 50 Human gait to power portable electronics ...............................................................50 Human skin cells turned into brain cells ..................................................................51 Humanoid robots make entry into Middle East classrooms .....................................51 Hummingbirds' beak helps them catch flying bugs .................................................52 Hwang Woo-Suk clones coyotes ..............................................................................52 Hybrid crops that breed true, from cloned seeds ....................................................53 Hydrogen fuel from sunlight .................................................................................... 53 Hydrogen production from blue-green algae ...........................................................53 IAF lays bare forward bases across border in tender documents ............................53 Iceland plans to make cigarettes prescription-only .................................................54 Impact of wrong use of a clean fuel .........................................................................55 Important, trustworthy public health research evidence .........................................56 Importing grains cannot solve food shortage problems ...........................................56 Impregnating plastics with CO {-2} .........................................................................58 Increasing ride quality of cars by 60 % ....................................................................58 Increasing vegetable intake in kids' foods ...............................................................58 India keen to develop exa-computers ......................................................................58 India to seek Iqbal Mirchi's extradition ....................................................................59 Indian scientists traverse shortest path to South Pole .............................................59 Induced pluripotent stem cells cure liver cirrhosis ..................................................59 Infants not exempt from obesity epidemic ..............................................................60 ING Vysya Bank net profit rises ............................................................................... 60 INM for maximizing sugarcane yield ........................................................................61 Innovative technique showcased at national conference ........................................61 Insect meat may help lessen climate change ..........................................................62 Insulin-releasing switch discovered .........................................................................62 Integrated management of rice leaf folder ..............................................................62 Integrated pest and disease management for mango .............................................62 Intercropping onion in cabbage ............................................................................... 62
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 4 of 143 Interface to steer a car using mind developed ........................................................63 International conference on welding .......................................................................63 Invasive plants can be beneficial to ecology ...........................................................63 Irradiation makes cow dung bio-fertilizer safer .......................................................63 Is Curiosity only an advanced science lab? ..............................................................65 Is radiation a must for cells' normal growth? ...........................................................66 Is the fertilized human egg a person? .....................................................................67 It was a bullseye' quake that hit New Zealand .......................................................69 Italy: when society scolds scientists ........................................................................70 IVF embryos: new genetic testing technology .........................................................72 Jab cuts heart attack damage by 60 per cent ..........................................................74 Jaw size linked to diet .............................................................................................. 74 Jumping gene, key step in corn domestication ........................................................75 Jupiter grew in size robbing Mars of mass ...............................................................75 Keeping away diabetes, nervous disorders .............................................................75 Key brain-heart link in disease identified .................................................................75 Key enzyme involved in aging process found ..........................................................75 Koodunkulam to add 2000 MWe to grid ...................................................................75 Kudankulam plant in the larger interests of State, says Manmohan ........................76 Lab grown human cells to obviate animal tests .......................................................77 Lab-grown blood vessels ......................................................................................... 77 Lambs provide link in understanding obesity ..........................................................78 Large Hadron Collider sets new world record ..........................................................78 Laser technology detects fake whisky .....................................................................78 Lasting evolutionary change takes about 1 million years ........................................79 Lavender oil has antifungal effect ...........................................................................80 Leaf venation study advances plant biology ............................................................80 Learning to count not as easy as 1, 2, 3 ..................................................................80 Leeches use water disturbances to find meals ........................................................81 Left-handedness is a normal variant .......................................................................82 Lens for 3D microscope ........................................................................................... 82 Leucine saves muscle, burns fat of climbers ...........................................................82 Lifelong musicians have less age-related hearing problems ...................................82
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 5 of 143 Light detects oesophageal cancer ...........................................................................83 Light on two questions of galaxy formation .............................................................84 Lighter, stronger steel making method found .........................................................84 Lighter, tougher blade for greater efficiency ...........................................................84 Lighting and nutrients in salad greens ....................................................................84 Lightning effect ....................................................................................................... 84 Lightweight device performs six types of field operations .......................................85 Lightweight machine weeds out paddy farmers' woes ............................................87 Link between moisture in soil and precipitation ......................................................88 Linking genetic changes to human diseases become easy .....................................88 Liquid turns solid under high electric field ...............................................................90 Lit-up tumour cells help ovarian surgery .................................................................90 Lizard fossil provides the missing link in snake origins ............................................90 Long, non-stop bird-flight ........................................................................................ 91 Long-term wind speed changes estimated ..............................................................92 Loss of biodiversity due to unwise prioritisation ......................................................92 Low temperatures hit corals in Florida Keys ............................................................92 Magnets help prevent heart attacks ........................................................................92 Making a bee-line for the best rewards ...................................................................93 Making a spectacle of star formation in Orion .........................................................93 Male fertility breakthrough achieved .......................................................................93 Man sailed the seas 130,000 years ago ...................................................................93 Management of charcoal rot in rabi sorghum ..........................................................94 Management of coffee berry borer ..........................................................................94 Management of mosquito bugs in tea .....................................................................94 Management of rhinoceros beetle menace in coconut ............................................94 Managing papaya mealybug through bio control ....................................................95 Map of carbon in tropical forests ............................................................................. 96 Marsupial wolf or Tasmanian tiger? .........................................................................96 Measuring radiation on journey to Mars ..................................................................96 Medical use from study of ruminants' headgear ......................................................96 Meditation for body-mind harmony .........................................................................96 Mediterranean ocean invaded by more than 900 alien species ...............................97
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 6 of 143 Meet on demystifyingcrop biotechnology ................................................................97 Meet on ready foods, market opportunities .............................................................98 Megha-Tropiques will study the global tropical weather: Narasimha .......................98 Memory in older adults boosted by exercise .........................................................100 Mental health of chimpanzees affected while in captivity .....................................100 Messing up the mosquito's morse code .................................................................100 Method to detect toxic substance in leather .........................................................102 Mice stem cells studied for hair growth revival .....................................................102 MIcrobes cleaned up most of Gulf oil slick .............................................................102 Microbes living in Mars-like conditions ..................................................................103 Microbes, nuclear waste and power ......................................................................103 Microwave oven ..................................................................................................... 103 Migrating seabirds genetically distinct ..................................................................104 Migration leads to less infectious diseases ............................................................105 Milk, soy protein linked to lower blood pressure ....................................................105 Miniature power plants for aircraft bodies .............................................................105 Mirror proves quantum superpositions of atom .....................................................105 Mixed cropping of pepper in coconut gardens .......................................................105 Models to save seabirds from becoming bycatch ..................................................106 Modified tiller rotovatoras a weeding machine ......................................................106 Monitor flicker ........................................................................................................ 106 Monitoring ocean wave behaviour precisely ..........................................................107 Monkey study leads to vaccine for trachoma ........................................................107 Monster star, with shells spotted ...........................................................................107 Moon to have no-fly zones by month end ..............................................................108 More bacterial effect on oil from Gulf current ........................................................109 More newborn neurons sharpen mouse mind ........................................................109 More potent ways to design HIV drugs found ........................................................109 Mosquito-eating spider .......................................................................................... 110 Mouse sheds light on human depression ...............................................................111 Moving the heaven to get some rare earth ...........................................................111 MRI may help detect Alzheimer's earlier ...............................................................112 Multidrug-resistant TB on the rise .........................................................................113
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 7 of 143 Multiple varieties and different cropping pattern for higher income .....................113 Mushroom training programme ............................................................................. 115 Nano solution for safe water ..................................................................................115 Nanolasers for faster microprocessors ..................................................................116 Nanoparticles deliver steroids to retina .................................................................116 Naoto Kan: What the hell is going on? ................................................................116 Narayana Murthy to mentor West Bengal IT panel ................................................118 NASA airborne sensor studies river in sky' ...........................................................118 NASA grows audience through tweetups ...............................................................118 NASA Mission to Mars, Jupiter moon ......................................................................120 NASA studies fire in space aboard the ISS .............................................................120 National awards to three Krishi Vigyan Kendras ....................................................121 National project on climate resilient agriculture launched ....................................121 National seminar on eco-friendly crop protection ..................................................122 Natural inputs, multicropping advised for Vidharbha region .................................122 NDM-1 superbugs found in seepage, tap water .....................................................124 NDM-1: 2010 results confirmed by others .............................................................126 Need for prudent forest resources management ...................................................129 Neurons and light-sensing mechanism ..................................................................129 New cancer warning on red and processed meat ..................................................129 New evidence on origin of supernovas ..................................................................130 New form of diamond lighter than ever .................................................................130 New fossil primate species discovered ..................................................................130 New horned dinosaur announced ..........................................................................130 New insight on hidden galaxies .............................................................................130 New kind of metal produced in deep Earth ............................................................130 New laser to kill viruses, improve DVDs ................................................................131 New light on human-like gait ................................................................................. 131 New light on infectious phase of cattle disease .....................................................132 New light shed on how memory is organised ........................................................132 New method to unreel silkworm cocoon found ......................................................133 New microscope reveals nanoscale details ...........................................................134 New nanoparticle could lead to vaccines ...............................................................134
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 8 of 143 New signature of first star birth .............................................................................134 New story of galaxy evolution ............................................................................... 134 New study reveals how glaciers formed valleys ....................................................134 New system to bring order to air traffic .................................................................134 New TB treatment limits infection while reducing drug resistance ........................134 New technique for artificial photosynthesis ...........................................................134 New theory explains how fishes grew into amphibians .........................................135 New training toolkit for medicinal plants ...............................................................136 A new type of polio vaccine on the cards ..............................................................136 New ultrasound tools for health care in orbit .........................................................138 New vaccine attacks breast cancer in mice ...........................................................138 New views of Saturn's moon Hyperion snapped ....................................................139 New X-ray strategy to understand molecules ........................................................139 Next generation of computing now closer .............................................................139 Nitrogen in the soil cleans the atmosphere ...........................................................139 No labour shortage problems for Dharmasthala farmers .......................................139 Northeners have bigger brains ..............................................................................140 Novel light-absorbing material .............................................................................. 141 Novel magnetic, superconducting material ...........................................................141 Now, high quality stem cells from human cells .....................................................141 Now, plastic turned into power conductor .............................................................141 Nuclear disaster response failed, says report ........................................................142
GAGAN making GPS more accurate

These days, anyone who wants to find out exactly where they are can turn to their mobile phones. Phones that pick up signals from orbiting U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are now commonplace. The phone uses that information to work out the location and display it on a map. In a similar fashion, the GPS signals can be used to assist aircraft during take off and land as well as in flying shorter routes to their destination. But, as there can be hundreds of passengers in a single aircraft, the use of GPS for such purposes in civil aviation demands higher accuracy in determining position than a mobile phone user would need as well as greater reliability in doing so. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 9 of 143 One important way to meet the demands of civil aviation has been through what is known as a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). Satellites in geostationary orbit, where they match the earth's rotation and therefore remain over the same place on the globe, are used to supplement the GPS signals. The first such SBAS was the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) that became operational in 2003. The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) began working in October 2009 but was officially declared available for aviation use only in March this year. The Japanese have a system known by the acronym MSAS. India is establishing its own system, the 'GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation' (GAGAN), a joint effort by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Airports Authority of India. The ground segment for GAGAN, which has been put up by the U.S. company Raytheon, has 15 reference stations scattered across the country. Two mission control centres, along with associated uplink stations, have been set up at Kundalahalli in Bangalore. One more control centre and uplink station are to come up at Delhi. The space component for it will become available after the GAGAN payload on the GSAT-8 communication satellite, which was launched recently, is switched on. This payload was also on the GSAT-4 satellite that was lost when the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) failed during launch in April 2010. Two more satellites carrying the same payload are to be launched in the coming years. The reference stations pick up signals from the orbiting GPS satellites. These measurements are immediately passed on to the mission control centres that then work out the necessary corrections that must be made. Messages carrying those corrections are sent via the uplink stations to the satellites in geostationary orbit that have the GAGAN payload. Those satellites then broadcast the messages. SBAS receivers are able to use those messages and apply the requisite corrections to the GPS signals that they receive, thereby establishing their position with considerable accuracy. But as with any SBAS, GAGAN needs to do more than simply provide the corrections. Not less important is ensuring the system's integrity. Integrity is a measure of trust that can be placed in the correctness of the information supplied by the total system, observed S.V. Kibe, who was at the ISRO Headquarters till his retirement. It included the ability to provide timely and valid warnings to the users when the navigation system was not performing as required, he noted in article on the GAGAN system published in a recent issue of the specialist magazineCoordinates. Currently, aircraft from must fly from one place to another along predefined air routes marked with ground-based navigation aids. Planes with SBAS receivers will, on the other hand, be able to take shorter routes, saving both time and fuel. To help pilots land their aircraft in bad weather and poor visibility, several airports in the country are equipped with ground-based Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). Such ILS equipment is expensive. Consequently, even in airports that have it, only
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 10 of 143 one runway and that too one end of a runway may have the ILS capability. An SBAS, on the other hand, can provide guidance on both ends of all runways that fall within its coverage area. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has, for instance, published the approach procedures that aircraft equipped to receive the WAAS signals can use to access 2,300 runways in over 1,200 airports in poor weather conditions. WAAS will provide an equivalent level of precision approach service to that of the Category 1 ILS when fully deployed, according to the FAA. (There are three ILS categories, with those in Category 3 being able to help aircraft land in conditions with the worst visibility.) When GAGAN becomes operational, it would provide close to Category 1 services across much of India, observed one official associated with the project. In due course, the Indian system would be upgraded and improved to meet Category 1 requirements. During the technology demonstration phase when GAGAN was tested in 2007 with just eight reference stations and a leased transponder on the Inmarsat 4F1 satellite, the position given by a stationary SBAS receiver during a 24-hour period varied by only two metres to three metres. An ordinary GPS receiver, on the other hand, varied by as much as eight metres to 20 metres during the same period. Moreover, when aircraft fitted with SBAS receivers were flown, the GAGAN was found to provide very good position accuracies. Once the GSAT-8's GAGAN payload becomes available for use, the full system can be thoroughly tested. However, certification of the system for safety-critical use in aviation will be taken up only only after the second GAGAN-equipped spacecraft becomes operational. The certification will be carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Since all augmentation systems follow common standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, aircraft with SBAS receivers can use any of those systems. India's GAGAN has a reach well beyond the country, from Africa and Middle East on one side to the Bay of Bengal and South-East Asia on the other other. It will therefore fill a gap between Europe's EGNOS and Japan's MSAS systems. Moreover, as has already happened with GPS receivers, the uses for GAGAN will no doubt go well beyond aviation. Those involved in surveying and map-making will obviously benefit from the better accuracy it provides, as can the transportation sector and marine operations, not to mention recreational applications.
Gene from celery inside rose fights petal blight

In a bid to extend the vase life' of roses, a gene from celery called mannitol dehydrogenase was inserted inside rose plants to help fight off botrytis, or petal blight, one of the rose's major post-harvest diseases.
Gene swapping by flu viruses

The H1N1 flu virus that set off the 2009 pandemic could create yet more trouble. Research from a Chinese group has indicated that if this virus were to swap genes with a bird flu virus circulating in poultry, it can produce progeny that easily infect laboratory mice and are more virulent than the two parental strains. When two strains of bird flu infect the same host, they can readily swap genes, a process known as reassortment. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus was itself a triple reassortant, with its genes drawn from bird, human and animal strains. This mix of genes created a virus that readily infected humans, was easily transmitted from one person to another, and to which most people had no immunity. The preceding three flu pandemics that occurred during the 20 {+t} {+h} century were also produced by viruses that had undergone reassortment. In research being published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a team of scientists led by Jinhua Liu of the China Agricultural University in Beijing used laboratory techniques to create viruses with various combinations of genes drawn from the avian H9N2 virus and the pandemic H1N1. Some 73 different reassortant viruses that replicated well in cultured cells were then tested on mice. Eight of those viruses were found to be more virulent than either of the parental strains, producing severe pneumonia in the animals. Pigs, a mixing vessel The worry is that such reassortment could take place in pigs, which have long been considered a mixing vessel' as they can be infected by human as well as bird flu viruses. The H1N1 virus that caused the 2009 pandemic seems to have undergone reassortment in pigs before making the leap to humans. The viruses that caused the previous three pandemics too appear to have been in some mammalian host, which may well have been the pig, before causing disease in humans. There is already evidence that the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus is infecting pigs and swapping genes with other flu viruses. In a paper published in the journal Science last year, Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran and others reported a novel reassortant virus that had been isolated from pigs in an abattoir in Hong Kong in January 2010. The reassortant virus combined genes from the H1N1 pandemic virus and a H1N2 virus. Swine infected with the new virus showed only mild illness. It was not yet possible to predict what subtype of the flu virus would cause the next pandemic, said Dr. Vijaykrishna in an email. Although more attention was paid to the H5N1 bird flu, the latest PNAS study clearly highlighted the fact that other flu subtypes that were circulating in poultry had the potential to start future pandemics. The H9N2 virus, which had become the underdog of avian influenza study, had been detected virtually in every country in Asia. Studies showed that it had become endemic in poultry in East and South-East Asia (including China), India, Pakistan and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 12 of 143 some West Asian countries, he added. Sustained transmission of avian viruses in pigs increased the possibility of mammalian adaptation, thereby increasing the risk of such a virus emerging in humans, observed Dr. Vijaykrishna. As such, it was very important to monitor the flu viruses that were circulating in pigs.
Genes involved in risk of thyroid cancer found

Three genes that increase the risk of thyroid cancer, which has the largest incidence increase in cancers among both men and women, have been discovered, raising important details relevant to diagnosis and treatment.
Genetic differences between African lions

New genetic research on lions published in the Journal of Biogeography reveals a remarkable difference between lions in West and Central Africa and lions in East and southern Africa.
Genetic parasites and mammalian pregnancy

How mammals reproduce today depends on a more than 100 million years old invasion of the mammalian genome by genetic parasites which radically changed the way mammals produce their young ones, new research suggests. The parasites known as junk DNA transformed the uterus of human ancestors and other mammals from the production of eggs to a nurturing home for developing young ones, the study has found. We used to believe that changes only took place through small mutations in our DNA that accumulated over time. But in this case, we found a huge cut-and-paste operation that altered wide areas of the genome to create large-scale morphological change, said Gunter Wagner, study lead author. The researchers found more than 1,500 genes expressed in the uterus of placental mammals, thanks to transposons, selfish pieces of genetic material that replicate within the host genome, and used to be called junk DNA. These transposons are more like prefabricated regulatory units that install themselves into a host genome, which then recycles them to carry out entirely new functions like facilitating maternal-foetal communication, said Vincent J. Lynch, Yale research scientist in ecology who led the study. IANS
1000 Genome-Wide Association Studies lack global coverage

Ever since the human genome was successfully sequenced, scientists have found over 1,000 regions on the genome that have an association with traits such as disease susceptibility and response to medication. This information alone would be of little use, without knowing why certain populations or ethnic groups are more at risk for a particular condition than another
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 13 of 143 population. Hence it is important to find the differences in the DNA sequence (genetic variations) between populations that make some groups vulnerable and some other resistant to certain diseases/conditions. Principal intent The principal intent of the 1,000 Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), which was started in 2008, was to understand these genetic variations. Three pilot projects have provided some invaluable information. The first pilot project sequenced the genomes of two parents and their child. The second one sequenced the genomes of 179 people, and the third pilot project involved a larger number 700 people. The project now plans to sequence 2,500 genomes of individuals from 27 populations. These people have consented to the release of their DNA samples and full sequence data. But will the final outcome of the 1,000 Genome-wide Association Studies be fruitful? The findings are likely to have less relevance than was previously thought for the world's population as a whole, note the authors of a Comment piece published today (July 14) in Nature . The reason? Skewed sample size that does not in any way represent the world's population. Ninety-six per cent of subjects included in the GWAS conducted so far are people of European descent, they state. African ancestry Though the genetic variations are greatest in populations of recent African ancestry, they have not been taken into account in the 1,000 Genome-Wide Association Studies. In other words, the mega project with a noble intent will stand to represent the genetic variant-disease association of just Europeans and not the entire world's population. And to make matters worse, the skewed sampling will get reflected when the entire genomes of people are sequenced. Biased picture The ramifications of such skewed data are hard to ignore. Any result arising from such a sample will tend to produce a biased picture of the genetic variants responsible for certain diseases and any drug to treat/cure such diseases will benefit only a few. But it will be incorrect to totally discount the project and conclude that it will be of no consequence to the world population. For instance, certain genetic variants are found in people from different countries and ethnic populations. And the GWAS will be looking for these common variants to find any association between them and the diseases. But even when clear associations between the common variants and the diseases have been found, the associations can at best account for 5 per cent to 50 per cent of the diseases' inheritance, they note. Many of the genetic factors thought to be responsible are still missing, they warn. The missing variants are the rare variants' that tend to play a vital role.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 14 of 143 According to them, the preliminary results indicate that it is not always possible to easily translate the findings in one population to the rest of the world. They provide one example to drive home their point. A particular variant found in Native South American ancestry is responsible for lower HDL cholesterol, obesity and type-2 diabetes. But this variant is missing in European, Asian and African populations. Hence there is an overwhelming compulsion to carry out GWAS a populationbased study on a global scale, and not just restrict it to the European population.
Gestures can change one's thoughts'

A new study has claimed that gesticulation clue to one's thoughts can also change one's thoughts by grounding them in action.
Giant claw helps fiddler crabs stay cool

A male fiddler crab's oversized claw not only looks cool to the ladies, but new research suggests it may function like a heat sink, transferring heat away from the body, and through convection, dissipating that heat into the air.
Global agri-business incubation for agri-preneurs

A two-day global agri-business incubation conference was hosted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Patancheru. Attended by over 170 participants from India and other countries, the conference helped strengthen the capacities of agri-business incubators by networking with policymakers and funding agencies for policy and financial support. Aim of the meet Co-sponsored by the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and ICRISAT, the meet aimed to create global awareness, build competencies on agribusiness incubation among entrepreneurs, and establish global partnerships. ICRISAT Director General William Dar in his inaugural address expressed the urgent need to address major challenges currently facing agriculture. Perfect storm According to him, climate change, shrinking farm holdings, rising production costs, and political turmoil in oil-producing countries are converging to create a perfect storm,' which is once again putting the world on the verge of crisis with the surge of food prices. Dr S. Ayyappan, Director General of ICAR, touched on various issues facing agriculture, and called for bringing a profit-prestige partnership' model to farming through innovation and entrepreneurship to encourage the youth to venture into agriculture. Commemoration
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 15 of 143 In commemoration of the 100th International Women's Day, a special interactive session for women agri-preneurs was also held. The session focused on success stories and entrepreneurial opportunities for women in agriculture and allied sectors. Speaking at the valedictory session, the Honourable The Business Planning and Development (BPD) unit of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU-BPD) was awarded the Best Agribusiness incubator award for successfully facilitating a research program with Bio seed Research India Pvt. Ltd. The best agribusiness incubatee award was given to Mr. Rajkumar of M/S Emral Tune Line Systems for developing a mobile-based irrigation system. This invention enables the user to operate irrigation pump using mobile phone from any part of the country.
Global climate change effects need study

Global warming is affecting plants and animals, but we should not try to tease apart the specific contribution of greenhouse gas driven change to extinctions or declines of species at local scales, biologists advise.
Global CO {-2} emissions reach 10 billion Tonnes

Global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels have increased by 49 per cent in the last two decades, according to the latest figures by an international team.
Glory' set for March 4 launch

NASA's Glory spacecraft is scheduled for launch on Friday, March 4. Technical issues with ground support equipment for the Taurus XL launch vehicle led to the scrub of the original Feb. 23 launch attempt. Those issues have been resolved. Data from the Glory mission will allow scientists to better understand how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. The Taurus XL also carries the first of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite missions. This auxiliary payload contains three small satellites called CubeSats, which were designed and created by university and college students. Our Bureau
GM crops debate: consensual versus adversarial approaches

In general, there are two ways to resolve differences in viewpoints and opinions between individuals or groups. One is the adversarial approach, as adopted in wars between nations, in courts of law between opposite parties, and in democracies, between Government and the opposition. For every winner here, there is also a loser hence making it a zero-sum game. Sport is also adversarial, but in an enjoyable way for participants and spectators alike. On the other hand, the establishment of viewpoints in science occurs not
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 16 of 143 adversarial approach but consensual. A quintessential feature of scientific research activity, which every academic scientist takes for granted, but largely unknown to the general public, is that of peer review. Peer review represents the epitome of a consensual approach in scientific discourse. Because science is human endeavour at the boundaries or frontiers of the unknown, scientists recognize that any new knowledge that is generated can only be assessed and evaluated by other practitioners at these boundaries, namely, their peers. Thus, in addition to undertaking their own research, scientists are under an unwritten moral obligation to accept the task of reviewing the work of their peers. The reviewers are critics but not adversaries, and it is only when they reach consensus with the proponents of the research can a scientific advance be published and made known to the world. Peer review does have its share of minor shortcomings in its actual practice. Unlike the zero-sum game of an adversarial approach, everyone is a winner here when scientific advances occur in this manner. Whereas adversarial arguments begin from an assumption of mistrust between the parties, consensual approach rests on an assumption of trust and all the parties are expected to self-declare conflicts of interest. Scientists, therefore, are most comfortable when they participate in consensual discussions. Consensus amongst experts is not unanimity, but at the very least it is an agreement on why they have chosen to disagree. Given this background, it is indeed a pity that several aspects of debate in this country on genetically modified (GM) crops and foods have adopted the adversarial approach rather than a consensual one. Furthermore, academic scientists have been drawn into the discussions on unfamiliar terms and territory that have been dictated by activists and the lay public; this is the experience which has emerged from the consultations on GM brinjal that were held around the country by Minister Jairam Ramesh last year. Scientists are not trained to hold placards, shout slogans, mobilize crowds, or denigrate their so-called opponents, and hence have been unable to match the activists in their strategies and actions. Indeed, the scientists of this country are being exposed for the first time to practices previously encountered by their counterparts in the developed world, for example on issues such as the debate on creationism versus Darwinism. Then again, while consensual approach calls for each party to see and to assess both sides of an argument impartially, in the adversarial approach one party may deliberately attempt to shut itself to, or deny, the viewpoints of the other. So it is that even in the legal system (whose primary purpose, as with science, is to unravel the truth), it is arguable whether adversarialism is the best approach, since one party may fail to state its case properly leading to a decision that is not consonant with the truth. The amicus curiae system, and court-appointed expert committees represent forays of the legal systems away from the classical adversarial approach. Black and white As a corollary, whereas an activist perceives the arguments for and against GM
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 17 of 143 crops in black and white, the academic scientist is unable to do so. Thus, even if a scientist, after balanced consideration, favours industrial exploitation or environmental release of a GM organism, he will not categorically state that it is absolutely safe. The best that he would say is that there is no evidence of it being unsafe. There certainly is reason in the scientist's caution. If there is one word that evokes the horror, in all its dimensions, of unforeseen adverse events arising from scientific research, it is not Frankenstein; it is thalidomide. Use of this drug in the mid-twentieth century for treatment of nausea of the first trimester of pregnancy led to the birth around the world of thousands of unfortunate children with grossly deformed limbs. No scientific advance is guaranteed to be totally free from risk. And yet it is the balanced approach that permits a scientist to see the other side of the coin as well. The discovery of the technology for creating GM organisms in the 1970's, and its exploitation since, have resulted in manufacture and use of a variety of pharmaceutical products for cancer, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, as well as of vaccines such as those against hepatitis and diarrhea. These advances have resulted in the saving of millions of lives, without any harm. Adversarialism also thrives to some extent on the deliberate muddling of issues involved, for example by confusing the health and environmental risks of GM crops with arguments on exploitation of farmers, enrichment of multinational companies, and the like. When it is pointed out that America has adopted GM foods for over two decades without adverse health consequences, that country is decried as the haven of crony capitalism and profit-greedy corporations. It is hard to imagine that the regulatory authorities of the country would have an agenda other than that of the health of its citizens in taking their decisions. Indeed, it was the caution exercised by these authorities that protected the USA from the thalidomide disaster fifty years ago. Finally, academic scientists are often exhorted to step out of their ivory towers to engage in social discourse in their capacity as experts of their domain. However, this can best be achieved only if the consensual approach is adopted in topics of controversy such as the debate on GM crops. Ivory towers exist not because scientists are callous or oblivious of their societal obligations, but because their task of pursuing knowledge at the frontiers is so intense that any diversion comes at the cost of the pursuit itself. Thus, most scientists would rather that they continue their own research instead of indulging in activities that they may perceive as frustrating or less pleasant. The consensual approach would be expected to provide the more favourable milieu for their engagement. I would therefore urge everyone involved to return to the consensual path in resolving the scientific issues in this debate. Above all else, it is also the more civilized one. ( For this column, I have taken the permission of my colleague and friend Dr J. Gowrishankar, Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 18 of 143 to reproduce his erudite and lucid analysis). D. Balasubramanian
Good harvests do not always translate into money in the bank

Tilhar lies about 300 km east of Delhi in the fertile plains of northern India. Here, acres of wheat stand sturdily in the fields, slowly changing colour from green to yellow. If all goes well the farmer can get a good harvest, but whether it will bring prosperity to their lives or not is a big question. Will the crop in the field translate into money in the bank? Unlikely, says Dr. Suman Sahai, Convener, Gene campaign, New Delhi. Important centres Western and Central Uttar Pradesh produce surplus grain like Punjab and Haryana, and since the days of the Green Revolution, these have been important centres where rice and wheat are procured for the central pool. In areas blessed by nature like the Indo-Gangetic belt where Tilhar lies, farmers know how to harvest good crops. In the early days this worked well for farmers but in the last few years, procurement has become an exercise to torment farmers rather than support them. First, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) that is announced, is never paid in full, always less. Real price If the price announced for wheat is Rs. 1.120 per quintal, as it is this year, the real price that the farmer would get could be anything from Rs. 750 to Rs. 950 per quintal. Corruption locks the farmers in a vice like grip because they lack storage facilities and must sell their produce immediately after harvest, she says. Both procurement agencies and the market are aware of this and turn the screw on price as they know the farmer is left with no choice but to sell. Other strategies that are used to pull prices down is to tell the farmer that his grain has not been dried sufficiently and cannot be bought. Trade tricks But as soon as palms get greased, the grain gets sold miraculously. Other tricks are to declare the grain as being light' in weight, not fulfilling the standards set by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI's exacting standards are equally miraculously met once the farmers' pockets have become correspondingly lighter, explains Dr. Sahai. Often there exists an unholy nexus between the FCI agents and private companies. The deal is that the procurement agency will reject much of the grain on one pretext or another, she mentions in her blog. Farmers travel to different procurement centres with their grain, for it to be inspected, weighed and lifted. If they do not own their own bullock carts, they hire or rent trucks or tractors to bring their grain to the centre. Every day, causes delay
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 19 of 143 and bleeds the farmer. It is like the way ports charge demurrage if you do not lift your goods. Each day the port holds your goods, it charges you a fee. Bullock cart, tractor-trolley and truck owners do the same. So if they need to wait around till the farmer can negotiate the deal, the cost of hiring goes up every day. This eats into the farmer's profit, she adds. Becoming desperate When the farmer's grain is held up and he is desperate to sell, the private companies step in and buy the grain at low prices. In this way the backbreaking effort put in by the farmer and the little subsidy he gets on fertilizer and diesel to irrigate goes to benefit the private companies. Despite a good harvest the farmer may not make a profit. Sometimes he cannot even recover the input cost and gets poorer. This makes many farmers desperate and forces them to abandon agriculture. This is not my version. The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) discovered this in its survey in 2007 when almost half the country's farmers said they would abandon farming if they could find another occupation, she says. This should set the alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power. If the farmer does not grow food what will we eat? Import food? But there is nothing available on the international market to buy! Droughts in Australia and Russia, floods in New Zealand and turbulent weather everywhere have ensured that the guaranteed food surpluses cannot be counted on. she says. Short supply The biofuel drive in the U.S has drawn away the American corn into ethanol production so that wheat is being diverted to animal feed and both corn and wheat are now in short supply. It is not like understanding rocket science to realise that we need to make agriculture work if we as a nation are to get anywhere, seems to be her strong conviction. The Prime Minister says internal security is the country's largest crisis. Fixing agriculture and putting money in the farmers' pocket is a dead sure way of finding our way out of this crisis. When will we achieve that? she enquires. Contact Dr. Suman Sahai, blog: sumansahai-blog.blogspot.com, email: mail@genecampaign.org, J-235/A, Lane W-15C, Sainik farms, New Delhi- 110-062, phone:011- 29556248 and 29555961.
GPS can detect nuclear tests

American researchers are unveiling a new tool for detecting illegal nuclear explosions: the Earth's global positioning system (GPS) this week. The researchers discovered that even underground nuclear tests leave their mark on the part of the upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere when they examined GPS data recorded the same day as a North Korean nuclear test in 2009. Within minutes on that day, GPS stations in nearby countries registered a change in ionospheric electron density, as a bubble of disturbed particles spread out from the For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 20 of 143 test site and across the planet. It's as if the shockwave from the underground explosion caused the earth to punch up' into the atmosphere, creating another shockwave that pushed the air away from ground zero, said Ralp von Frese, professor of earth science at Ohio State University and senior author, according to an Ohio State University press release. Presently, seismic detectors pick up shockwaves through land, and acoustic sensors monitor for shockwaves through water and the air for tests that happen above ground. Chemical sensors detect airborne radioactive gas and dust as definitive evidence of a nuclear explosion. However, these particles may be lacking if the explosion is contained deeply below ground. GPS is a complement to these other methods especially when the test was underground, so that its effect in the air is very subtle, and otherwise nearly impossible to detect. Our Bureau
Gradual deepening of core science ideas

Serving as the foundation for new K-12 science education standards, to replace those issued more than a decade ago, a report released recently by the National Research Council presents a new framework for K-12 science education that identifies the key scientific ideas and practices all students should learn by the end of high school. The National Research Council is the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering; all three are independent, nongovernmental organizations. Improvements needed The committee that wrote the report sees the need for significant improvements in how science is taught in the U.S. The new framework is designed to help students gradually deepen their knowledge of core ideas in four disciplinary areas over multiple years of school, rather than acquire shallow knowledge of many topics. And it strongly emphasizes the practices of science helping students learn to plan and carry out investigations, for example, and to engage in argumentation from evidence, according to a National Academy of Sciences press release. The overarching goal The overarching goal of the framework, the committee said, is to ensure that by the end of 12th grade, all students have some appreciation of the beauty and wonder of science, the capacity to discuss and think critically about science-related issues, and the skills to pursue careers in science or engineering if they want to do so outcomes that existing educational approaches are ill-equipped to achieve. Currently, science education in the U.S. lacks a common vision of what students should know and be able to do by the end of high school, curricula too often emphasize breadth over depth, and students are rarely given the opportunity to experience how science is actually done, said Helen Quinn, committee chair and For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 21 of 143 professor emerita of physics at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Stanford, California. The new framework is designed to address and overcome these weaknesses. It builds on what is known to work best in science education, based on research and classroom experience both in the U.S. and around the world. It provides a blueprint that will guide improvements in science education over many years. Four areas The framework specifies core ideas in four disciplinary areas life sciences; physical sciences; earth and space sciences; and engineering, technology and the applications of science that all students should understand by the time they finish high school. For example, among the core ideas in the physical sciences are matter and its interactions and energy. Students' knowledge of these ideas should deepen over time, and the framework specifies aspects of each idea that students should know by the end of grades two, five, eight, and 12. The framework also identifies seven crosscutting concepts that have explanatory value across much of science and engineering, such as cause and effect and stability and change. Our Bureau
Graphene spurs next generation chips

Graphene, the world's thinnest and toughest material, could spur the development of next generation computer chips, besides revolutionising materials science. Its amazing properties open the way to bendable touch screen phones and computers, lighter aircraft, paper thin HD TV sets and lightning-quick net connections, and more. Nobel Prize winning Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, both professors at the University of Manchester, discovered graphene, demonstrating its remarkable properties in 2004, which won them the Nobel Prize for Physics. Now the Manchester team has demonstrated for the first time how graphene inside electronic circuits will probably look like in the future, the journal Nature Physics reports. By sandwiching two sheets of graphene with another two-dimensional material, boron nitrate, the team created the graphene Big Mac' a four-layered structure which could replace silicon chip in computers, according to a Manchester statement. Leonid Ponomarenko, from Manchester, who led the study, said: Creating the multilayer structure has allowed us to isolate graphene from negative influence of the environment and control graphene's electronic properties in a way it was impossible before. Andre Geim said: Graphene encapsulated within boron nitride offers the best and most advanced platform for future graphene electronics. It solves several nasty issues about graphene's stability and quality that were hanging for long time as dark clouds over the future road for graphene electronics. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 22 of 143 Within several months It could be only a matter of several months before we encapsulate graphene transistors with characteristics better than previously demonstrated. IANS
Graphene to shape future computers

Graphene, the world's slenderest material, could help shape the next generation of computers that would make their existing counterparts seem like stone-age relics. Thanks to graphene, research institutes worldwide are already looking at ways to build better touch-screens, ultrafast transistors and photo-detectors. Graphene permits flow of electrons at much higher speeds than they do in silicon, the substance that existing computer chips rely on. The material's amazing flexibility would help scientists design smartphones and computers that could be folded into any shape or design. Graphene is also 200 times tougher than steel, according to a University of Manchester, Britain, statement. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, whose discoverers shared the 2010 Nobel Prize for physics for work on the material. They prepared extremely high-quality graphene devices by suspending the sheets of the material in a vacuum to avoid scattering electrons, engaging them to interact much more intensely. The progress has been possible due to a quantum leap in improvement of the sample quality which could be produced at the University of Manchester. IANS
Graphite and diamond

Why does graphite conduct electricity but diamond doesn't, though both are made of carbon? RAHUL THAMPAN Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Whether a substance is an electrical conductor or not is not decided by the type of atoms or the kind of element or compound alone but is by the way the atoms of an element or molecules of a compound are joined together to form a condensed matter (liquids and solids). Such a formation should allow passage of electrons from one end to the other, usually, by a relay mechanism when an external electrical source is connected to it. The electrical behaviour of condensed matter is now well understood by Band Theory' which states that atoms, in the process of becoming condensed matter, get chemically bound by interference-overlapping of their atomic electron orbitals leading to the formation of energy bands and that the electrical attributes of the material as conductor, semi-conductor and insulator, are governed by the degree, direction and means of such orbital overlap. The overlap of the peripheral (valence) electronic orbitals of atoms favouring assemblage of the atoms and that favouring isolation of atoms lead to two bands of energies, called, bonding band and anti-bonding band (and then valence band and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 23 of 143 conduction band) respectively with valence band having been filled with electrons and conduction band vacant. Stronger degree of overlap of atomic orbitals leads to a huge energy gap between the valence and conduction bands whereas moderate and weak overlap allows these two bands either to interlace into each other at their proximate edges or be energetically not-so-widely separated. Free and random flow of electrons into the conduction band can happen if the valence and conduction bands are interlaced. A mere application of electrical potential across such materials cause orderly electronic flow and hence exhibit electrical conductivity. In the case of graphite the situation is exactly like this because the carbon atoms of graphite, though linked by very effective atomic orbital overlap on one plane (say, xy plane), are bound by less effective orbital overlap along the other direction (i.e., z axis). It is by this kind of chemical connectivity of carbon atoms, graphite is soft and a good electrical and thermal conductor. However, in the case of diamond, the atomic orbitals participate in a strong overlap in all the 3-dimensions and result in energetically widely separated valence band and conduction band. Hence, a simple application of electrical potential does not succeed in promoting electrons in the valence band to the conduction band in order to leave room for the relay of electrons of the external electrical source. The dissimilar electronic orbital overlap of the carbon atoms in the two allotropic forms, graphite and diamond, is the reason why graphite conducts electricity but diamond does not. PROF. A. RAMACHANDRAIAH Department of Chemistry National Institute of Technology Warangal Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
Greenland's melting glaciers

In the last decade, two of the largest three glaciers draining Greenland have lost enough ice that, if melted, could have filled Lake Erie.
Grunting affects opponent's response time

Quiet please; thank you. There has been no ten.............................nis match, be it Grand Slam or Chennai Open, when the chair umpire has not mentioned these words several times during a match before a player serves. At times, players even wait for the spectators to take their seat before they serve, as was seen in a men's singles match in the Australian Open now being played at Melbourne. The reasons are simple: nothing should get in the way of the players' concentration while playing. After all, the ball is served at speeds even exceeding 200 km per hour (kmph), and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 24 of 143 the ball is hit by each player at nearly more than 125 kmph speed during the game, and the distance between the two players across the net is just a few metres. So can grunting, shrieking and other noises made by the players themselves while playing affect the concentration of the opponents? Especially when the decibel level of the grunt is comparable to that of a lion's roar? Maria Sharapova leads the pack of grunters with a decibel level of 101. A preliminary study published in PLoS ONE journal shows that grunting affects the concentration of the opponent. So much so, that the opponent's response time gets affected by a few milliseconds. Judging the direction Players are tuned to listen to the sound and time of the ball making contact with the racket, and this helps them judge the direction, spin, and velocity of the ball. The study involved 33 undergraduate students from the University of British Columbia who had only recreational tennis experience. These students were made to watch 384 video clips made of a professional tennis player hitting the ball (either forehand or backhand) to either the left or right of the video camera. There shorts were edited in such a way that they showed forehand shots hit both crosscourt and down the line, and backhand shots hit both crosscourt and down the line. The clips were edited for sound as well. Each video clip was played with or without accompanying sound. The researchers also edited for the length of the sound those that ended immediately on contact or 100 milliseconds after the ball makes contact with the racket. Since the decibel levels and the kind of noise made by players vary, the researchers used white noise at 60 decibel volume. 60 db is much lower than what is generally heard from the players during a match. The results clearly showed the response time of the participants in the study was compromised when the clip was accompanied by sound. The response time was also different when the white sound ended immediately after contact with the racket and when it prolonged for 100 ms after contact with the racket. The response time was slowest 33 milliseconds when sound was present, and when the video clip stopped immediately when the ball made contact with the racket. The slower response time translated to 4 per cent decision errors. On the other hand, the response time was 21 milliseconds when sound was present and when the video clip ended 100 milliseconds after the ball had made contact with the racket. What the delay means What does the delay mean, even if it is of milliseconds, at a professional level, and the court is just 78 feet long end to end (baseline to baseline)? According to the paper, even at 80 kmph speed, a delay of 21-33 milliseconds translates to the ball travelling two extra feet before the opponent can respond. Our study shows that both response time and accuracy are negatively affected when noise was present.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 25 of 143 Tennis professionals like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert aver that the grunts block the opponent's ability to hear the sound of the ball hitting the racket. Other reasons But the authors note that there could be two other reasons grunts may be drawing the auditory attention away from the sound of the ball hitting the racket and toward the sound of the grunt. And the third probability a grunt drawing the visual attention away from processing the visual event of a ball leaving the racket. So the complaints of many tennis players may indeed be genuine. For instance, during the US Open in 1988, Ivan Lendl had complained that Andre Agassi's noise had distracted him. The noise threw my mental game, Lendl said. When Agassi went for a big shot, his grunt was much louder. It threw off my timing, Lendl was quoted as saying in The Sunday Times.
Gujarat RTI activist complains of police harassment

A Vadodara-based social activist and environmentalist, Rohit Prajapati, has complained of harassment and intimidation by the police for making RTI queries regarding the State government's environment policies. He claimed that the police and the Special Operations Group were questioning him, asking for photographs and making other inquiries in the past couple of years. While the police claimed these to be routine investigations, he said the intensity of police enquiry had increased in the last few days. Mr. Prajapati said that during the last couple of years, the police visited his place about half-a-dozen times asking the same questions over and over again about his activities, resources, details of his passport and such other matters. But on October 9, the police demanded two copies of his photographs which he initially refused to provide, but later obliged on a written request from the station concerned. Mr. Prajapati recently filed an RTI application seeking details of the expenditure for Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana Mission fast for three days from September 17.
Gulf oil-spill's dead zone' biggest ever?

Researchers have examined the scope and size of this year's dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico. They measured it currently to be about 3,300 square miles. They are anticipating further growth of the dead zone.'
Halving battery costs of electric cars by 2018

Scientists are developing concrete, close-to-industry solutions for energy stores and power trains of electric vehicles, and combining them on the system level to cut their costs of manufacture by half by 2018.
Happiness has a dark side

Even happiness can have a dark side, according to the authors of a new review article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of theAssociation for Psychological Science. They say that happiness shouldn't be thought of as a universally good thing, and outline four ways in which this is the case. Indeed, not all types and degrees of happiness are equally good, and even pursuing happiness can make people feel worse. But setting a goal of happiness can backfire, says June Gruber of Yale University, who co- wrote the article with Iris Mauss of the University of Denver and Maya Tamir of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It's one of the many downsides of happiness people who strive for happiness may end up worse off than when they started. The tools The tools often suggested for making yourself happy aren't necessarily bad like taking time every day to think about things you're happy about or grateful for, or setting up situations that are likely to make you happy. But when you're doing it with the motivation or expectation that these things ought to make you happy, that can lead to disappointment and decreased happiness, Gruber says. For example, one study by Mauss and colleagues found that people who read a newspaper article extolling the value of happiness felt worse after watching a happy film than people who read a newspaper article that didn't mention happiness presumably because they were disappointed they didn't feel happier. Too much happiness can also be a problem, according to a Yale University press release. One study followed children from the 1920s to old age and found that those who died younger were rated as highly cheerful by their teachers. Researchers have found that people who are feeling extreme amounts of happiness may not think as creatively and also tend to take more risks. For example, people who have mania, such as in bipolar disorder, have an excess degree of positive emotions that can lead them to take risks, like substance abuse, driving too fast, or spending their life savings. But even for people who don't have a psychiatric disorder, too high of a degree of happiness can be bad, Gruber says. Another problem Another problem is feeling happiness inappropriately; obviously, it is not healthy to feel happy when you see someone crying over the loss of a loved one or when you hear a friend was injured in a car crash. Yet the research has found this inappropriate happiness also occurs in people with mania. Happiness also can mean being short on negative emotionswhich have their place in life as well. Fear can keep you from taking unnecessary risks; guilt can help remind you to behave well toward others. Indeed, psychological scientists have discovered what appears to really increase happiness. The strongest predictor of happiness is not money, or external recognition through success or fame, Gruber says. It's having meaningful social relationships. Our Bureau
Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?

With the steep decline in populations of many animal species, from frogs and fish to tigers, some scientists have warned that Earth is on the brink of a mass extinction like those that occurred only five times before during the past 540 million years. Each of these Big Five' saw three-quarters or more of all animal species go extinct. In a study published today (March 3) in Nature, University of California, Berkeley, paleobiologists assess where mammals and other species stand today in terms of possible extinction, compared with the past 540 million years, and they find cause for hope as well as alarm. Risk of extinction If you look only at the critically endangered mammals those where the risk of extinction is at least 50 per cent within three of their generations and assume that their time will run out, and they will be extinct in 1,000 years, that puts us clearly outside any range of normal, and tells us that we are moving into the mass extinction realm, said principal author Anthony D. Barnosky, UC Berkeley professor of integrative biology, a curator in the Museum of Paleontology and a research paleontologist in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. If currently threatened species those officially classed as critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable actually went extinct, and that rate of extinction continued, the sixth mass extinction could arrive within as little as 3 to 22 centuries, he said. Not too late Nevertheless, Barnosky added, it's not too late to save these critically endangered mammals and other such species and stop short of the tipping point. That would require dealing with a perfect storm of threats, including habitat fragmentation, invasive species, disease and global warming. So far, only 1 to 2 per cent of all species have gone extinct in the groups we can look at clearly, so by those numbers, it looks like we are not far down the road to extinction. We still have a lot of Earth's biota to save, Barnosky said. It's very important to devote resources and legislation toward species conservation if we don't want to be the species whose activity caused a mass extinction. Coauthor Charles Marshall, UC Berkeley professor of integrative biology and director of the campus's Museum of Paleontology, emphasized that the small number of recorded extinctions to date does not mean we are not in a crisis. Just because the magnitude is low compared to the biggest mass extinctions we've seen in a half a billion years doesn't mean to say that they aren't significant, he said. Even though the magnitude is fairly low, present rates are higher than during most past mass extinctions. The modern global mass extinction is a largely unaddressed hazard of climate change and human activities, said H. Richard Lane, program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences, which funded the research. Its continued progression, as this paper shows, could result in unforeseen and irreversible negative consequences to the environment and to humanity.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 28 of 143 The study originated in a graduate seminar Barnosky organized in 2009 to bring biologists and paleontologists together in an attempt to compare the extinction rate seen in the fossil record with today's extinction record. These are like comparing apples and oranges, Barnosky said. For one thing, the fossil record goes back 3.5 billion years, while the historical record goes back only a few thousand years. In addition, the fossil record has many holes, making it is impossible to count every species that evolved and subsequently disappeared, which probably amounts to 99 per cent of all species that have ever existed. A different set of data problems complicates counting modern extinctions. Dating of the fossil record also is not very precise, Marshall said. If we find a mass extinction, we have great difficulty determining whether it was a bad weekend or it occurred over a decade or 10,000 years, he said. But without the fossil record, we really have no scale to measure the significance of the impact we are having. To get around this limitation, Marshall said, This paper, instead of calculating a single death rate, estimates the range of plausible rates for the mass extinctions from the fossil record and then compares these rates to where we are now. Mammals were chosen as a starting point as they are well studied and well represented in the fossil record going back some 65 million years. Biologists estimate that within the past 500 years, at least 80 mammal species have gone extinct out of a starting total of 5,570 species. The team's estimate for the average extinction rate for mammals is less than two extinctions every million years, far lower than the current extinction rate for mammals. It looks like modern extinction rates resemble mass extinction rates, even after setting a high bar for defining mass extinction,' Barnosky said. After looking at the list of threatened species maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the team concluded that if all mammals now listed as critically endangered,' endangered' and threatened' go extinct, whether that takes several hundred years or 1,000 years, Earth will be in a true mass extinction. Obviously there are caveats, Barnosky said. What we know is based on observations from just a very few twigs plucked from the enormous number of branches that make up the tree of life. Our findings highlight how essential it is to save critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species, Barnosky added. If most of them die, even if their disappearance is stretched out over the next 1,000 years, the sixth mass extinction will have arrived. University of California, Berkeley
HbA1c diabetes blood test not as effective for children

The haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test has become the preferred way to diagnose diabetes among the millions of Americans who have diabetes but show no symptoms. The simple test measures longer-term blood sugar levels without requiring patients to fast overnight. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 29 of 143 Not best way But a study by the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital shows it's not the best way to diagnose diabetes in children. But U-M researchers say more study is needed before doctors can safely rely on using haemoglobin A1c for children. We found that haemoglobin A1c is not as reliable a test for identifying children with diabetes and pre-diabetes compared with adults," says study lead author Joyce M. Lee, a paediatric endocrinologist at Mott Children's Hospital. Using this test in children may lead to missed cases. New insight The study was published online ahead of print in Journal of Pediatrics and provides new insight on effectively diagnosing diabetes in children. In 2010, the American Diabetes Association released guidelines recommending HbA1c be exclusively used for diagnosing diabetes in children and adults. For the study, Mott researchers evaluated the testing results of 1,156 obese and overweight adolescents, ages 12-18. The ADA recommends screening only obese and overweight kids because their weight puts them at higher risk for developing diabetes. The guidelines According to the guidelines, individuals without symptoms would be classified as having diabetes if HbA1c values reach 6.5 percent and as having pre-diabetes if HbA1c values reached between 6 and 6.4 percent on two separate tests. According to a University of Michigan press release, the cut-off point may need to be lower for kids. Until more definitive studies are available, it's premature to use HbA1c for children, authors say. Our Bureau
Heart beat
When at rest why is it that athletes have only 40-60 heart beats per minute compared with non-athletes (70-100 beats per minute)? T. ANANDAN Chennai If a nursing student is asked what the normal Heart Rate (HR) is, she will answer 72 per minute. And she will be right too. As a general rule a heart rate between 60 and 100 is considered normal. The heart is a pump. It pumps blood into the system at about 72 times pm. In other words to keep the system adequately supplied with blood, the heart has to work around 72 times a minute. The heart has two sides, the right and the left. The right side pumps blood to the lungs and the left side to the various parts of the body through the aorta, the largest artery. The amount of blood pumped out of each side of the heart per beat, called the Stroke Volume (SV), is about 70 ml in a resting man of average size in the supine For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 30 of 143 position. The output of the heart per minute is called the Cardiac Output (CO). CO = SV x HR and is about 5 litres per minute in a resting man. That is, when at rest, about 5 litres of blood is necessary and enough every minute. The demand for blood will naturally rise in an exercising man. In the initial stages the heart meets this by raising the HR. Training increases the efficiency and size of the body muscles of an athlete because the muscles work more. This can be seen in body builders and manual workers. The heart is also a muscle. In an exercising man the heart beats at a higher rate, with more force and deals with more blood than in a resting man. In short it works more. As a result the heart becomes stronger and increased in efficiency. In course of time it learns to pump more blood per beat; that is the stroke volume increases. Such a heart can pump 5 litres of blood in less number of beats. Thus, in the case of an athlete the heart is able meet the target with less number of beats per minute. What a non-athlete's heart achieves with 72 beats an athlete's heart can manage with 60 beats. In comparison to a non-athlete, an athlete's heart may beat at a slower rate by virtue of his emotional stability. But as the stroke volume is more, it will not affect the blood supply to the system; there will be no circulatory embarrassment. Dr. K.U. Vinodan Irnjalakuda, Kerala
Heat-resistant fungal spores found in Western Ghats

Can the mesophilic fungal spores that normally grow at 20 degree C to 35 degree C survive higher temperatures and still be able to germinate when the conditions are right? Believe it or not, laboratory studies have shown that some species of mesophilic spores can indeed survive even when exposed to 115 degree C for two hours! The duration of survival was longer at lower temperatures. The fungi are among the most heat-resistant eukaryotes on record and are referred to as Agni's Fungi,' after the Hindu God of Fire, notes the paper published recently in the Fungal Biology journal. Serendipitous This has been a serendipitous finding of a Chennai based scientist T.S. Suryanarayanan and his team. Dr. Suryanarayanan is the Director of the Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology. We were studying the fungi for enzymes of pharmaceutical interest and discovered the heat-resistant trait accidentally, said Dr. Suryanarayanan. We were very surprised by the find. Leaf litter became the natural choice to look for new species as bacteria and fungi facilitate the degradation of the leaves. And the search was further narrowed down to endophyte fungi that normally live inside living leaves and turn into leaf-litter degrading fungi once the leaf dies. Tropical forests are one of the best habitats to search for new endophyte species. Hence the search for leaf litter naturally took him to a forest adjacent to the For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 31 of 143 Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary. As Dr. Suryanarayanan recalls, the fungi were isolated from the dead leaves and cultured for extracting the enzymes of interest. In the process, the fungi with the spores had to be heated to 115 degree C for two hours to completely remove the water content. However, after weighing the fungi along with the spores, for some inexplicable reasons, the scientists did not discard the waste material. Instead they cultured the spores of Bartalinia sp. What happened next was totally unexpected. The spores germinated and produced fungus after a few days, he said. The ability to germinate was sufficient proof that the spores had indeed survived the heat treatment. The scientists repeated the experiment several times to be sure that the phenomenon was real and not due to any contamination. Having observed this strange phenomenon in one species, the researchers studied a few more species and saw them behaving the same way. There is something more important than the spores' ability to withstand higher temperatures. The change in temperature was not gradual. There was a sudden and steep increase in temperature from 20 degree C to 115 degree C, said Dr. Suryanarayanan. But the fungal spores still survived. Another aspect is the nature of the heat. It was dry heat, and this type of heat has a very different effect on the fungal cells, he underlined. The mechanism of survival may be very different as the temperature shift was very sudden and steep, and the heat was dry in nature. The temperature inside the oven and the kind of heat that they were subjected to were very different from what even the higher temperature resistant thermophilic fungi can withstand. The optimum temperature at which thermophilic fungi grows is around 50 degree C. So how did the mesophilic fungi withstand such high temperatures? The answer lies in the original habitat from where the litter was collected. The location from where we collected the litter is often subjected to forest fires, he said. Our hypothesis is that periodical forest fires have made the spores adapt to and survive high temperatures. Dr. Suryanarayanan is leaving this month-end as a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Fellow to the Department of Biochemistry, Ohio State University to study the feasibility of using fungi to produce biofuel from plant waste.
Helping farmers solve their marketing problem

The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) through its Directorate of Extension Education's Department of Market Extension arranged a buyer seller interaction meeting in Chennai recently. About 22 two vegetable growers from four districts Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore and Villupuram were invited to participate and talk about their problems, ideas and expectations regarding marketing. A city based private vegetable and fruits company called Efarm was also invited by For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 32 of 143 the University to work out the modalities for procuring, pricing and planning for continuous supply from the farmers. Precision farming Dr.P.Murugesa Boopathy, Vice-Chancellor, in his inaugural address highlighted the benefits of precision farming system and how several farmers across the State adopted it. He stressed the need for farmers to form commodity interest groups and plan their cropping so as to market their produce efficiently in a sustained manner. Almost all the farmers said that they were aware about the several technologies available at the University but face problems in marketing their produce. Mr.Venkatasubramanian, Founder, Efarm said that quality played the foremost role while buying and insisted the farmers to maintain the same. The peak demand of every vegetable along with the preferred variety was explained so that farmers would grow the needy variety in future. He also asked the farmers to assess the actual cost of production of each commodity so as to know the minimum selling price when any buyer came for procurement. Common website A common website would be created soon in which the farmers could upload the availability of their commodities along with price and the transactions done through internet. It is similar to online auction in which farmers can themselves participate, said Mr. Venkat. Farmers were asked to provide their cultivation details for creating a database by the company after which the planning on procurement will be made. First initiative The initiative taken by TNAU in arranging the interface between the actual vegetable growers and direct buyers is first of its kind which would focus towards an memorandum of understanding between the farmers and procurement agencies in order to solve the marketing crises prevailing for a long time, said Dr. Boopathi.
Helping small jackfruit farmers boost yield and income

The farm of Mr. K. Narasimhaiah in Doddaballapur taluk in Hubli is easy to locate. Almost every person in the region seems to know him. The reason: a 300-year-old jackfruit tree that stands majestically in the midst of several mango trees in the field. The last Maharajah of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, and former Diwan of the royal palace, M. Visvesvaraya relished the fruits of this tree and loved their taste. In fact Mr. Visvesvaraya used to take some fruits back home whenever he visited my place, says the farmer proundly pointing to the tree. Taste The taste of the fruit is so famous in the State that it brings people from far during the harvest season. Mr. Narasimhaiah is a happy farmer, for the tree bears nearly 300 fruits annually, which he sells for Rs 20,000- Rs.30,000. This is not an isolated or freak case. Many farmers in the region are selling their For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 33 of 143 fruits for a premium price today as they are considered the best in terms of taste, colour, and appearance. Today people book orders through phone for reserving the fruits, says Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. Several jackfruit growers are able to get some money from their trees through a project called DBT-Rural Bio-resource complex project started by the University. Realising the potential of the fruit and the need to exploit it beneficially, the University staff advised Mr. Narasimhaiah to maintain the tree properly and also raise seedlings from the mother tree for the project. Seedlings Accordingly the farmer raised the seedlings and supplied it to the project at Rs.15 per plant. The officials handed over the seedlings free of cost to several small and marginal farmers in the area, explains Mr. K.N. Srinivasappa, program coordinator, KVK, Bangalore rural district, UAS. One advantage in planting the tree is that after some initial caring the tree does not require much further attention, and most importantly, does not need labour. Especially today, when rural India faces acute labour shortage, jackfruit farmers are quite happy as the tree generates some income at a very minimal cost, he says. The University, in a bid to encourage many people to take up this particular variety of jackfruit cultivation, started selling the seedlings at the annual Krishi melas, specially arranged jackfruit exhibitions, and other functions. Account details If you see the accounts for the last 3 years one can see that during 2007- 08, about 8,900 seedlings worth Rs.1,33,500 were sold. In 2009-10, about 7,056 seedlings worth Rs.1,05,840 were raised and sold. Farmers who used to sell the fruit for Rs.15 to Rs.60 earlier, now get a better price of Rs.50- Rs.500 per fruit depending on the size, says Dr. Gowda. A State level jackfruit mela was organized at Lalbagh. On an average, a farmer earned Rs.10,600 in five days. Nine farmers sold the fruits for Rs.2,751 in two days at another function held in the University campus for three days, he adds. The project brought benefits to about 75 villages and more than 4,000 farmers in the region. Demand The demand for the region's jackfruits and seedlings is increasing every year due to the platform, awareness and importance created under the project. Today farmers are selling their fruits at Horticultural Produce Co-operative Marketing Society (HOPCOMS), Bangalore from Rs.5 to Rs. 8 per kg. A private ice cream manufacturing company has also procured 2,000 kg of jackfruit at the rate of Rs.12 per kg, explains Dr. Gowda. Even though this fruit is totally organic in nature, more than 50 per cent of the produce goes as waste nationwide every year due to lack of awareness among consumers. A number of value added products can be prepared from the jackfruit tree. The leaves are excellent fodder for animals, fallen leaves act as natural soil mulch and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 34 of 143 manure, and its wood is useful in the manufacture of musical instruments, while its latex is useful in ayurvedic preparations, says Dr. Gowda. For more details contact Mr. K. Narasimhaiah, Kachahalli village, Tubagere hobli, Doddaballapur taluk, Bangalore rural district, mobile: 09916961666 and Mr. K.N. Srinivasappa at 09845774509.
HIgher clock speeds for chips sans heat buildup

A newly found phenomenon could yield transistors with greatly enhanced capacitance. And that, in turn, could lead to the revival of clock speed as the measure of a computer's power, by preventing heat buildup.
Highly efficient solar product

A University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 per cent of available light, and he plans to make prototypes available to consumers within the next five years. Efficiency is a problem with today's solar panels; they only collect about 20 percent of available light. The device his team has developed essentially a thin, mouldable sheet of small antennas called nantenna can harvest the heat from industrial processes and convert it into usable electricity. Their ambition is to extend this concept to a direct solar facing nantenna device capable of collecting solar irradiation in the near infrared and optical regions of the solar spectrum, according to a University of Missouri press release. Patrick Pinhero, the team leader, an associate professor in the MU Chemical Engineering Department, says energy generated using traditional photovoltaic (PV) methods of solar collection is inefficient and neglects much of the available solar electromagnetic (sunlight) spectrum. Working with his former team at the Idaho National Laboratory and Garrett Moddel, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Colorado, Pinhero and his team have now developed a way to extract electricity from the collected heat and sunlight using special high-speed electrical circuitry. This team also partners with Dennis Slafer of MicroContinuum, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., to immediately port laboratory bench-scale technologies into manufacturable devices that can be inexpensively mass-produced. Our overall goal is to collect and utilize as much solar energy as is theoretically possible and bring it to the commercial market in an inexpensive package that is accessible to everyone, Pinhero said. If successful, this product will put us orders of magnitudes ahead of the current solar energy technologies we have available to us today. The second phase The second phase features an energy-harvesting device for existing industrial infrastructure, including heat-process factories and solar farms. Within five years, the research team believes they will have a product that complements conventional PV solar panels. Because it's a flexible film, Pinhero
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 35 of 143 believes it could be incorporated into roof shingle products, or be custom-made to power vehicles. Once the funding is secure, Pinhero envisions several commercial product spin-offs, including infrared (IR) detection. These include improved contraband-identifying products for airports and the military, optical computing, and infrared line-of-sight telecommunications. Our Bureau
High-tech approach to scrutinise fresh produce

High-tech tactics to carefully examine apples and other fresh produce items as they travel along packinghouse conveyor belts will help ensure the quality and safety of these good-for-you foods. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Beltsville, Maryland, have developed and patented an experimental, cutting-edge optical scanning system that would use two different kinds of lighting, a sophisticated camera and other pieces of equipment to scrutinize produce-section favourites while they are still at the packinghouse. The system would provide, in a single image, evidence of certain kinds of defects or contaminants, according to biophysicist Moon S. Kim with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Defects could include cuts and bruises. Contaminants might include specks of fertilizer from orchard or field soil. Kim, ARS agricultural engineers Yud-Ren Chen (now retired) and Kuanglin (Kevin) Chao, and ARS biomedical engineer Alan M. Lefcourt received a patent in 2010 for their automated approach to detecting defects and contaminants on the exterior of fresh produce or other items. The scientists work in the ARS Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Research Laboratory at Beltsville. The team's system harnesses the capabilities of a type of camera known as a highspeed multispectral/hyperspectral line-scanner. Positioned above a conveyor belt, the scanner captures images of each fast-moving item, such as an apple. Each apple is exposed simultaneously to ultra-violet light from a UV fluorescent lamp and near infra-red light from a halogen lamp. The near infra-red light that bounces off the apple can be captured by an instrument known as a spectrograph and analyzed for tell-tale patterns of defects, while the UV light beamed on the apple can disclose the whereabouts of contaminants. The system combines information from both forms of illumination into a single image with contaminant and defect results. When linked to a sorting machine, the system can signal the sorter to separate the problem apples from others. At present, the system offers, at the rate of about 3 to 4 apples per second, a 180degree view of each apple's exterior, Kim reports. The scientists are working to improve the process so it will provide a 360-degree whole-surface view for thorough inspection. Preliminary findings from this work appeared in a 2008 issue of the journal Sensing and Instrumentation for Food Quality and Safety. Our Bureau For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
Hike in railway passenger fares in the offing

With the railway freight business running far from satisfactory and with little to look for to bridge the revenue gap, passenger fares are set to rise across the board and the States will have to share the burden of economically unviable projects. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, addressing a conference of Economic Editors on Wednesday, categorically refused to state either way but left little to doubt that a hike in passenger fares was in the offing and it was only a matter of finalising the pricing system. Mr. Trivedi dwelt at length on the thinking process of the Railway Board on rationalising the passenger fares, which had not been raised in the past eight years, also taking into consideration the fact that while the minimum fare was Re. 1, the platform ticket cost Rs. 3. Dynamic pricing An across-the-board rise is expected for the two crore passengers who travel daily. However, the tickets will be dynamically priced to save the poorest and will be on the basis of routes between two destinations. Mr. Trivedi said there was no reason to charge the passengers travelling from Dibrugarh to Guwahati and Surat to Mumbai similarly. He said those living in Mumbai and Surat could very well cover the journey in their cars but preferred the railways as it was more comfortable, cheap and fast. There is no reason to subsidise those travelling between Dibrugarh and Guwahati. Rationalisation of fares Rationalisation of fares is also the need of hour, given that platform tickets are costlier than the minimum passenger fare. He argued that road traffic prices were seven times higher than railway fares and felt that they would be able to afford to bear a hike in railway fares. It is also a question of doing justice to the system. There have been demands for hiking the fare, including from the employees federation because their salaries depended on it. Have patience. We raised the freight rates a few days ago without hurting anyone and we'll handle this job too scientifically. Pointing out that passenger fares had not been raised for eight years, Mr. Trivedi said the fares should have been 88 per cent higher than the 2004 levels if one went by the rise in costs and inputs. He did not rule out the fuel component linked to the rise in diesel prices. How long can we subsidise coal, iron ore and fertilizers too. Of 149 projects under way, only 14 are viable and the only way forward is for the States to share the burden for the other projects, otherwise those socially desirable. Mr. Trivedi has decided to visit each State and decide on the spot with the Chief Minister what the State could contribute. Apart from sharing the burden, the States will be asked to provide land free of cost. In a bid to build new revenue models, Mr. Trivedi intends to explore the possibility of setting up a Station Authority of India to develop the stations modelled as multiplexes equipped with food malls and libraries.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 37 of 143 Passenger fares have not been raised in the past eight years Fares should have been 88% higher than in 2004 considering rise in costs
Himalayas may become a giant rubbish dump

There's nothing like waking up to bright clear skies with spectacular views of the Lhotse and Amu Dablam ranges and a rubbish dump. This heap of beer cans, mineral water bottles and other material was just a few minutes' walk outside the village of Tengboche. It represents about a season's rubbish. The dump is not on the regular trekking trails which are, aside from the stray Fanta and instant noodle wrapper, admirably clean. And most trekkers have no idea of their impact on the remote Everest landscape, said Alton Byers, who is leading our expedition as director of the Mountain Institute. But the dump exposes the risks of Nepal's strategy of lifting itself out of poverty by expanding its tourism industry. At this altitude and in this environment, this [rubbish] will be here for 1,000 years, Byers said. The government has declared 2011 Nepal tourism year, and has sought to double the number of visitors to 1 million. But can remote communities handle those numbers? Only a fraction of tourists to Nepal make it to the Everest region about 31,000 last year. Thirty years ago Thirty years ago, there was no garbage. There was no plastic, said Byers. Now, he said: we see this in every village all the way up to Everest base camp. Even the village of Namche Bazaar, the biggest in the region, does not have a waste treatment system. Sewage from the 45 lodges is dumped directly into a canal, which eventually feeds into the Khosi river, according to Orenlla Puschiasis, a researcher from the University of Paris West-Nanterre, who is working on water quality in the region. There is nothing sustainable about it, she said. To be sustainable they have to think about the future and manage the waste and the sewage water. Trekking companies are supposed to carry their rubbish out with them but most do not. Lodge operators balk at the idea of paying to cart out beer cans by yak. Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
Hog waste produces power, carbon offsets

A pilot waste-to-energy system captures greenhouse gases from hog waste and burns them to run a turbine, producing enough electricity to power 35 homes for a year and creates carbon offset credits.
Hominins evolved in grasslands, not forests

Did a major part of hominins' evolution during the past six million years take place in the wooded environments or the savannah grasslands found in east Africa? The savannah hypothesis first proposed by Raymond Dart has been widely debated in scientific circles since 1925. Dart's hypothesis tries to explain the origin of the first Pliocene hominin in Africa. The puzzle would have been resolved much earlier but for the difficulty in finding a reliable way of deciphering the palaeoenvironment. Quantifying the fraction of woody cover from the fossil record, which in turn would have revealed the palaeoenvironment has been a sticking point. But authors of a paper published in Nature today (August 4) sidestepped the problem to find a way to solve the puzzle. According to the paper, hominins from two sites in east Africa the Awash Basin in Ethiopia and Omo-Turkana Basin in Kenya lived in a savannah ecosystem for most part of the last six million years. More than 70 per cent of the palaeosols [studied] reflect woody cover less than 40 per cent, they note. And more striking is the fact that less than 1 per cent of the samples studied showed woody cover more than 70 per cent. Closed forests (with more than 80 per cent woody cover) represent a very small fraction of the environment, they underline. Punctuated period But savannahs did not dominate the entire six million-year period. In fact, forest cover was high about 3.6 million years ago (Middle Pliocene). But for this period, the Awash and Omo-Turkana Basins had a savannah environment. The period 3.6 million years ago to 1.4 million years ago (marking the transition from Pliocene to Pleistocene, and the global climate change) marked a return of the open grassland environment. Open grassland with less than 10 per cent woody cover peaked during 1.8 million years ago to 0.01 million years ago (Pliestocene). It is true that Australopithecus , a more efficient bipedal, occurred in a wooded environment in both the places studied by these authors. But this apart, it cannot be negated that the savannahs of east Africa played a vital role in the development of bipedal locomotion. More importantly, it led to upright bipedalism, increased brain mass and the suite of other characteristics that make us human, notes an accompanying news piece in the journal. But what connection can one draw from open grassland and improved characteristics in humans? Open areas can have daily high surface ground temperatures up to 25 degree C higher than in nearby woodlands, they note. And this uneven distribution of heat would have affected early hominins positively, and may have influenced physiological and behavioural adaptations that occurred since divergence from the LCA [last common ancestor]. Novel method But how did these authors solve the puzzle to understand the palaeoenvironment? Simple: they used the well known stable isotopes of carbon rare {+1} {+3}C and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 39 of 143 common {+1} {+2}C in a rather novel manner. The authors first studied the ratios of 3,000 present-day tropical soils from 75 locations in Kenya, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Botswana, Zambia, Australia and Brazil as control samples. They then studied 1,300 fossil soil samples from or near sites from where human ancestors evolved. These fossil soils were taken from two sites in east Africa the Awash Basin in Ethiopia and Omo-Turkana Basin in Kenya. It is a well known fact that the photosynthetic pathways used by trees and tropical grasses are quite different. While trees, shrubs, herbs and cool-season grasses use the C {-3} photosynthetic pathway, tropical grasses that dominate the savannahs use the C {-4} photosynthetic pathway. In fact scientists had earlier studied the palaeosols to quantify the fraction of biomass typical of tropical grasses (C {-4}) in hominin environments. But what was never done was to find the relationship between {+1} {+3}C and woody cover to estimate the fraction of woody cover in past environments, they write. It is a fact that tropical grasses of savannahs have a higher ratio of {+1} {+3}C to {+1} {+2}C compared with forest trees. Critical ratios Hence, knowing this ratio in the decayed plant material found in the palaeosoils will help reveal the type of photosynthetic pathway used, and in turn, the type of plants that once grew at the site millions of years ago. It must be borne in mind that relatively fewer trees are found in a savannah environment. Hence even the soil from under a tree will still continue to show signatures typical of savannah because of the tropical grasses (growing under the tree). Similarly, in a forest, even the areas that do not have tree cover will have plants or grasses showing signatures typical of a forest environment. This is because the light intensity and the surface ground temperature in the forest region and savannah have a pronounced effect on photorespiration, humidity and soil moisture.
Honda unveils smarter robot

Honda's human-shaped robot can now run faster, balance itself on uneven surfaces, hop on one foot, pour a drink and even almost think on its own. Honda's demonstration of the revamped Asimo on Tuesday was not only to prove that the bubble-headed childlike machine was more limber and a bit smarter. It was a way to try to answer some critics that Asimo, first shown in 2000, had been of little practical use so far, proving to be nothing more than a glorified toy and cute showcase for the Honda Motor Co. brand. Honda President Takanobu Ito told reporters some of Asimo's technology was used to develop a robotic arm in just six months with the intention of helping with the nuclear crisis in northeastern Japan. The mechanical arm can open and close valves at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which went into meltdown after the March tsunami, according to Honda. The For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 40 of 143 automaker is working with the utility behind the problem plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., to try to meet demands to bring the plant under control. Ito acknowledged that the first idea was to send in Asimo to help out, but that was not possible because the robot cannot maneuver in rubble, and its delicate computer parts would malfunction in radiation. But in Tuesday's demonstration, Asimo was able to walk without falling over 2 centimeter padded bumps on the floor. It can also now jog faster than it did in 2005, pushing better with its toes so its run was smoother and not as jerky. Ito said Asimo had developed autonomous artificial intelligence so that it could potentially manoeuver itself through crowds of people, without remote control. AP
Honey bees
In which part of honey bee is nectar stored till it is deposited in bee hive? MUSHTAQ SHERIFF Chennai Bees are social insects. They belong to order hymenoptera, class insecta. A bee colony have a single queen (fertile female), few hundreds of drones (males) and thousands of worker bees (unfertile female). The worker bees, three weeks after emergence, visit flowers. During this visit, the entire body of bees gets smeared with pollen. These worker bees have legs with certain adaptations to collect by brushing the pollen all over the body, to pack the pollen and deposit in pollen basket (corbicula), which is present in the hind leg. Apart from pollen, bees collect nectar from flowers and store them in their stomach (crop). Honeybee stomach is technically called crop. The digestive/alimentary system is adapted in such a way that the liquid food consumed could be stored and regurgitated back if required. In the stomach, the nectar is mixed with saliva. The invertase of saliva converts sucrose of nectar into dextrose and levulose. The bees, when they return to hive, vomit (regurgitate) the stomach contents into the comb cells meant for that. The cell is closed with natural air tight flat capping. Apart from pollen and nectar, the bees also collect propolis, a gum like substance from buds, leaves and other parts of trees. Water requirement of the hive is taken care of by the foraging workers of the hive. The collection is done by a set of workers, and the other workers in the hive receive the pollen and propolis from the foragers and the same is stored in the bee comb. Bees make several thousand trips a day for the collection of nectar. Bees work together, share their work perfectly and have clear caste differentiation based on the work carried out by them. Hence, they are highly evolved, social insects. T. JEYALAKSHMI Entomologist International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology Padappai, Tamil Nadu For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
Honey
Why does honey not decay for many days? K. ANANTHANARAYANAN Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu Natural honey is a highly viscous and sweet syrup. It is usually made by honey bees using the nectar of the flowers they have collected, followed by its refinement by their saliva, regurgitation into the beehive honeycomb cells and fanning it to remove water to its lowest levels. Many of the commercial honey brands contain either this natural honey or a viscous mixture of glucose and fructose obtained by chemical hydrolysis (inversion) of ordinary sugar solution followed by removal of much of water by evaporation at reduced pressures. A good sample of honey has about 40 per cent of fructose, 30 per cent of glucose, 7 per cent of maltose, 1 per cent of sucrose and less than 20 per cent of water. Some of the biochemical ingredients and minerals at their trace levels render honey a bit acidic (pH is between 3 and 4). Thus, honey is said as a supercooled and mildly acidic liquid with a poor water content. By the term, decay, we usually mean spoilage of a material from its original physicochemical status into an unwanted state. This decay is either by natural or environmental chemical means or by biological means. In the case of honey, most of the chemical ingredients are thermodynamically stable under benign conditions. Even for the atmospheric oxidation of glucose, to produce hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid, it needs good amounts of water and dissolved oxygen which do not adequately exist in honey. Thus, a nicely preserved honey is inert to chemical decay. The situation for even biological decay (by microorganisms) is also no way good because (i) the low pH, (ii) low water content, (iii) low nitrogenous (protein) content and (iv) high viscosity of honey do not allow survival and growth (colonization) of microorganisms. Instead, the low water content of honey makes it highly hygroscopic (water absorbing) and would be adverse to the microorganisms as their cells are prone to be dried to death through dehydration by the honey's thirst' for water. Further, in many microorganisms, the fructose metabolism is rather less developed than the glucose. That is why honey does not decay for many days. Ancestrally, it is known that good quality honey and objects immersed in it are preserved for decades and even, for centuries. PROF. A. RAMACHANDRAIAH National Institute of Technology Warangal Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
How baby mouse knows mom, siblings and home

For rodent pups, bonding with mom develops over the first few weeks of life, achieved by their maturing sense of smell, possibly allowing these mammals a survival advantage by identifying mom, siblings and home.
How bacteria live inside cells

Bacteria build camouflaged homes for themselves inside healthy cells, and cause disease, by manipulating a natural cellular process.
How do retinal neurons encode what we see'?

The question of how neurons in the retina encode what we see' has been a tricky one. A new study reveals for the first time that only information about pairs of temporal stimulus patterns is relayed to the brain.
How fluttering feathers cause courtship sounds

Air flowing past the tail feathers of a male hummingbird makes the feathers flutter and generate fluttering sounds while courting females. Each of the bird species has its own signature sound.
How kilograms, metres, seconds keep changing

Cooks who prefer to measure their ingredients accurately will be interested by the news that scientists are meeting at the Royal Society to discuss how best to measure a kilogram. Platinum lump At present, this unit is defined by a lump of platinum cast in 1879 and located in a safe at the office of the International Committee on Weights and Measures in Paris. But this block of metal has lost 50mg equal to a grain of sand since it was cast and scientists are seeking a way of expressing a kilogram in terms of the fundamental constants of nature, rather than a man-made object. But the kilogram is not the only unit of measurement that has witnessed calls for greater accuracy: The metre: Since 1983, the metre has been the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. The calibration But before this it was calibrated as the distance between two Xs on a metal bar (90 per cent platinum, 10 per cent iridium) kept in Paris at a temperature of 0C. Before 1889, the metre was judged to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the north pole. The second: Since 1967, a second has been classified as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom. You can see why they judged second to be snappier. Before atomic clocks, the second was the length of a mean solar day divided by 86,400 or, rather, 24 (hours) divided by 60 (minutes) divided by 60 (seconds). The problem was our days are lengthening ever so slightly. Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
How native ants fight Argentine ants

University sophomores studying ants in a summer course discovered that the local ants were using poison to kill invading Argentine ants.
How pollution damages human airways

Why can some people remain relatively healthy in polluted areas and why others don't? The severity of the injury depends on the genetic make-up of the affected individual, as researchers from Duke University Medical Center found out. The culprit They identified how nanoparticles from diesel exhaust damage lung airway cells, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people susceptible to airway disease. The work was published recently on-line in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Diesel exhaust particles, a major part of urban smog, consist of a carbon core coated with organic chemicals and metals. The Duke team showed that the particle core delivers these organic chemicals onto brush-like surfaces called cilia, which clear mucus from the airway lining. Contact with these chemicals then triggers a signalling cascade, as the cells respond. In some patients, who have a single letter difference in their DNA, a circuit called the TRPV4 ion channel signals more strongly in response to the pollutants. Previous research showed that this gene variant makes humans more liable to develop chronic-obstructive disease (COPD), and the current study provides an explanation for this observation, according to a Duke University press release. Most affected About 75 per cent of people have the version of the gene MMP-1 that leads to greater production of the molecule MMP-1 mediator, which destroys lung tissue. This genetic make-up allows for a turbo-charged production of MMP-1, which damages airways and lungs at multiple levels. A more fortunate 25 per cent of people escape this high level of production of MMP1, which may be reflected in the fact that certain individuals can better manage the effects of air pollution without grave airway damage. Our Bureau
How reindeer benefit from ultraviolet light

Reindeer let in UV into their eyes without suffering any consequences. It allows them to take in life-saving information in conditions where normal vision would make them vulnerable to starvation and predators.
How safe Kudankulam nuclear power reactors are How sea turtles know east-west, north-south
Migrating sea turtles pick up on magnetic signatures that vary across Earth's surface in order to determine their position in space both east-west and northsouth and steer in the right direction, to cross vast stretches of ocean.
How silica helps plants grow, flourish

Maati hi Odan, Maati Bichavan Maati ka Tan Ban Jaayega So wrote the Hindi poet Bharat Vyas, in a different context. But it is relevant to us here. A typical man of 70 kg is made up of 43 kg oxygen, 16 kg carbon and just 1 gram of silicon. Yet he cannot do without this little gram. Without it, his skin would suffer, his bones lose strength. He needs to take in anywhere between 5-20 milligrams of silicon per day, and most, if not all, of it comes through diet. Research published ten years ago in the West showed that man takes in 30-33 milligrams per day, while a typical woman takes in a bit less, 24-25 mg per day. Where does this intake come from? Beer, bananas, string beans and cereals. Banana packs in 14 mg per 250 g of the fruit, high grain cereals 10 mg/100 g and green beans 6 mg/250 g. Brown rice has 4 mg/200 g while white rice has 2.5 mg/200g (Gandhiji was right eat brown rice and high grain cereals. And I like the idea of beer as a silicon supplier). Plants happen to be the major source of silicon for our needs. But why did they start taking in this element in the first place? And how do they do it? After all sand, which is silicon dioxide (called silica, to differentiate this compound or molecule from its parent element silicon), is not soluble in water. The roots of plants must have a mechanism to take silica in the soluble form and transport it to the stem, leaves and other parts. Strength to stalk We now know that silica offers strength to the stalk and stem, keeping them from wilting, and to toughen and widen the leaves open so that they may capture light and photosynthesize efficiently. Silica prevents leaves from lodging or falling over, and the husk that covers the seeds has silica. And the silicon helps warding off invading pests such as the yellow stem borer by killing off their larvae. Of all plants, rice is the best one to capture silica from the ground and use it for its health. Silica is present to the extent of 10-15 per cent in all parts of the rice plant. Transported in the soluble form through the roots, it is sent to various parts and processed to diverse morphological forms. In some parts, it is made into tough sheets and in others more granular. Through these specific forms, silica offers protection to the plant from stresses (heat, drought) and attack by pests and fungi, promotes better harvesting of sunlight for fast growth and in packaging the seeds.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 45 of 143 We now know that silica is first converted to the soluble silicic acid, in the presence of moisture and the right acidity conditions in the soil. This silicic acid is then transported in plants using proteins called Lsi1 and Lsi2, which belong to what biologists call as the aquaporin family. The challenge However, excessive use of fertilizers, insufficient amounts of water, increasing incidence of pests and microbes, and the depletion of soil silicon have all led to a decline in rice production. It has therefore become important to find ways of enhancing the uptake of available silicon using novel methods. It is this challenge that Professor S. Ranganathan of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad has taken up to address and solve. A creative organic chemist who successfully practices and propagates the art of organic synthesis, he argued that if one can hook on a water-soluble small molecule to the hydroxyl arm of silicic acid, one should be able to enhance the transport of silicon from the soil to the plant via the root. He had known that people had used a polymer-based molecule to dissolve fine silica from the lungs of affected people. He then wondered: why not strip the polymer down to its basic active unit (pyridineN-oxide) and use it to transport silica? He did so and found this simpler version successful in attaching to the silicic acid ( J. Chem. Sci., 2004, Biologia Plantarum, 2006). Yet, he was not satisfied, because pyridine N-oxides might lead to soil residual effects. He wanted to try more easily available and naturally occurring small molecules, which do not have ill effects on soil microbial organisms that are beneficial to the plant. Extensive research After extensive search, he found simple amino acids like glycine, glutamine, histidine, and even imidazole to enhance silica uptake three times better. And these are natural environment-friendly and easily available ( Crop Protection, 2008, and in the journal called P, S, Si and the Related Elements, 2009, 2010). The next step was to go from lab to land. Collaborating with the plant physiologist Dr. Voleti Sitapathi Rao of the Directorate of Rice Research (ICMR), Hyderabad, Professor Ranganathan tried his method on rice plants in the green house, field and in normal farmlands. Not only does silica uptake go up (by 18 per cent in the stalk and 11 per cent in leaves) when imidazole is added, but it also cuts down the damage caused by the pest yellow stem borer by over 50 per cent in three different varieties (Rasi, Kasturi, Krishna hamsa) and reduces fungal damage (blast) remarkably. Drs. Ranganathan and Sitapathi Rao are now asking that their method be field-tried on a more extensive scale, and I am sure it will be done soon. Here then is a promising example of translational research sand to lab to land. D. BALASUBRAMANIAN dbala@lvpei.org
How space flight impacts astronauts' eyes and vision

North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) member describes novel eye findings in astronauts after long duration space flight A newly published ophthalmologic study recently described the history, clinical findings, and possible etiologist of novel ophthalmic findings discovered in astronauts after long-duration space flights. The study is published in Ophthalmology , the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The authors reported eye exam findings in seven astronauts as well as an analysis of post-flight questionnaires regarding in-flight vision changes in approximately 300 additional astronauts. The seven astronauts with ocular anomalies had returned from long-duration space missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and all seven subjects went through complete eye examinations. After six months of space flight, all seven astronauts had eye findings, including swollen optic nerves, distortion of the shape of the eyeball, and retinal changes. Most became more farsighted, and had blurred vision, especially at near. The spinal taps showed either top normal or slightly elevated pressures in the spinal fluid surrounding the brain and optic nerves. Many astronauts on short and long-duration missions, respectively, experienced a worsening of distance or near visual acuity. Some of these vision changes remain unresolved years after flight. This could have been brought about by prolonged exposure to low gravity. The findings might represent parts of a spectrum of ocular and brain responses to extended exposure to low gravity. Our Bureau
How the brain knows what the nose smells

A new technique maps the path that scent signals take from the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that first receives signals from odour receptors in the nose, to higher centres of the brain where the processing is done.
How the brain strings words into sentences

Advances in brain imaging have revealed that complex cognitive tasks such as language processing rely not only on particular regions of the cerebral cortex, but also on the white matter fibre pathways that connect them.
How the nuclear plant crisis happened

The crisis at the three Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power stations did not come from buildings collapsing due to the March 11 earthquake of magnitude 9 but from power failure following the quake. The tsunami knocked out the generators that produced the power. Lack of power in turn caused the cooling systems of the reactors to fail. The Fukushima nuclear reactor 1 went critical on March 1971 and is a 460 MW reactor. Unit-2 and Unit-3 are 784 MW each and went critical in July 1974 and March 1976 respectively. All the three are Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) and use demineralised water for cooling nuclear fuel.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 47 of 143 The fuel, in the form of pellets, is kept inside a casing called cladding. The cladding is made of zirconium alloy, and it completely seals the fuel. Fuel pins in the form of bundles are kept in the reactor core. Heat is generated in the reactor core through a fission process sustained by chain reaction. The fuel bundles are placed in such a way that the coolant can easily flow around the fuel pins. The coolant never comes in direct contact with the fuel as the fuel is kept sealed inside the zirconium alloy cladding. The coolant changes into steam as it cools the hot fuel. It is this steam that generates electricity by driving the turbines. All the heat that is produced by nuclear fission is not used for producing electricity. The efficiency of a power plant, including nuclear, is not 100 per cent. In the case of a nuclear power plant the efficiency is 30-35 per cent. About 3 MW of thermal energy is required to produce 1 MW of electrical energy. Hence for the 460 MW Unit-1, 1,380 MW of thermal energy is produced, said Dr. K.S. Parthasarathy, former Secretary, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai. This heat has to be removed continuously. In the case of the Fukushima units, demineralised water is used as coolant. Uranium-235 is used as fuel in Unit-1 and Unit-2, and MOX (a mixture of oxides of Uranium-Plutonium-239) is used as fuel in Unit-3. Coolant flow Since a very high amount of heat is generated, the flow of the coolant should never be disrupted. But on March 11, pumping of the coolant failed as even the diesel generator failed after an hour's operation. Though the power producing fission process was stopped by using control rods that absorbed the neutrons immediately after the quake, the fuel still contains fission products such as iodine-131 and caesium-137 and activation products such as plutonium-239. Decay heat These radionuclides decay at different timescales, and they continue to produce heat during the decay period, Dr. Parthasarathy said. The heat produced by radioactive decay of these radionuclides is called decay heat. Just prior to the shut down of the reactor the decay heat is 7 per cent. It reduces exponentially, to about 2 per cent in the first hour. After one day, the decay heat is about 1 per cent. Then it reduces very slowly, he said. While the uranium fission process can be stopped and heat generation can be halted, there is no way of stopping radioactive decay of the fission products. Apart from the original heat, the heat produced continuously by the fission products and activation products has to be removed even after the uranium fission process has been stopped. Inability to remove this heat led to a rise in coolant temperature. According to the Nature journal, when the temperature reached around 1,000 degree C, the zirconium alloy that encased the fuel (cladding) probably began to melt or split apart. In the process it reacted with the steam and created hydrogen gas, which is
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 48 of 143 highly volatile, Nature notes. Though the pressure created by hydrogen gas was reduced by controlled release, the massive build-up of hydrogen led to the explosion that blew the roof of the secondary confinement (outer buildings around the reactor) in all the three units (Unit-1, Unit-2 and Unit-3). The reactor core is present inside the primary containment. But the real danger arises from fuel melting. This would happen following the rupture of the zirconium casing. If the heat is not removed, the zirconium cladding along with the fuel would melt and become liquid, Dr. Parthasarathy explained. The government has said that fuel rods in Unit-3 were likely already damaged. Effect of melted fuel Melted fuel is called corium. Since melted fuel is at a very high temperature it can even burn through the concrete containment vessel. According to Nature, if enough melted fuel gathers outside the fuel assembly it can restart the power-producing reactions, and in a completely uncontrolled way. What may result is a full-scale nuclear meltdown. Pumping of sea-water is one way to reduce the heat and avoid such catastrophic consequences. The use of boric acid, which is an excellent neutron absorber, would reduce the chances of nuclear reactions restarting even if the fuel is found loose inside the reactor core. Both these measures have been resorted to in all three Units. Despite these measures, the fuel rods were found exposed in Unit-2 on two occasions. Fate of reactor core While the use of sea-water can prevent fuel melt, it makes the reactor core completely useless due to corrosion. The case of Unit-4 is different from the other three units. Unlike in the case of Unit1, 2 and 3, the Unit-4 is under maintenance and the core has been taken out, and the spent fuel rods are kept in the cooling pond. Whatever led to a decrease in water level, the storage pond caught fire on March 15 possibly due to hydrogen explosion. The radioactivity was released directly into the atmosphere. Spent fuel fate unknown It is not known if the integrity of the cladding has been already affected and the fuel exposed. Since the core of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) is removed only once a year or so, the number of spent rods in the pond will be more. If the fuel is indeed exposed, the possibility of fuel melt is very likely. Though the fuel will be at a lower temperature than found inside a working reactor, there are chances of the fuel melting. Since it does not have any containment unlike the fuel found inside a reactor, the consequences of a fuel melt would be really bad. Radioactivity is released directly into the atmosphere. Radioactivity of about 400 milliSv/hour was reported at the site immediately after the fire.
How to determine a star's age

A star's rotation slows down steadily with time, like a top spinning on a table, and can be used as a clock to determine its age.
How to stop women scientists from dropping out? Hubble snaps close-up of Tarantula Nebula
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced an outstanding image of part of the famous Tarantula Nebula, in our neighbouring galaxy.
Huge potential for turmeric in North East

The North Eastern region offers great potential for large scale cultivation of many spices. In terms of area, turmeric is the third largest crop in the region. However, its productivity in the region is only 1.5 tonnes against 3.9tonnes / ha in the country. According to Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, after much research and demonstration, we have identified two varieties of turmeric, Lackadong and Megha varieties for their higher yield and quality. Good yielder Trials in Sikkim, Mizoram, Tripura and other states, proved that Megha and Lackadong yield curcumin of not less than 6.5 per cent. The average yield is around 30-32 tonnes per ha. In addition oleoresin content is also very high for these varieties, adds Dr. Ngachan. So far under NAIP [National Agricultural Innovation Project], we have been able to spread these varieties in around 33,000 hectares in the north east, he adds. The biggest challenge faced by the turmeric growers in the region is lack of premium price for the produce. Post harvest losses of almost all the farm produce in the region are very high due to near zero facility for their handling, processing, value addition, packaging and even organized marketing. It is an irony that though the region produces best quality turmeric, ginger, pineapple, orange, apple etc., there are very few processing units for any of these crops. Processing units To help the farmers, ICAR and NAIP have set up some semi processing units in seven districts of NEH Region, says Dr. Ngachan. Earlier farmers were incurring heavy loss due to huge transportation cost for ferrying their produces to processing units in far off places. But now farmers, after drying the turmeric in the field can bring them to the unit for processing. After packaging, they will sell it either directly or through the ICAR
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 50 of 143 Farmers'Association for marketing under the logo of ICAR. When compared to Kerala or Andhra, NEH varieties are rich in curcumin and oleoresin content. We should be able to offer farmers a premium price by setting up semi processing units in various parts of the region with the help of entrepreneurs and industry people, he adds. For details contact Dr. S.V.Ngachan, email:svngachan@rediffmail.com, phone : 0364-2570257.
Human activity hitting deep-sea biodiversity

Human activities are increasingly affecting deep-sea habitats, resulting in the potential for biodiversity loss and, with this, the loss of many goods and services provided by deep-sea ecosystems, according to a study.
Human activity, threat to Antarctic ecosystem

A team of scientists has warned that the native fauna and unique ecology of the Southern Ocean, the body of water that surrounds the Antarctic continent, is under threat from human activity.
Human brain's common cell cultivated in a lab

A group of stem cell researchers reports it has been able to direct embryonic and induced human stem cells to become astrocytes the most common cells of the human nervous system in a lab dish.
Human cornea gene discovered

Since a transparent cornea is essential for vision, the eye has evolved to nourish the cornea without blood vessels. A gene plays a major role in maintaining clarity of the cornea in humans.
Human gait to power portable electronics

If the vision of Tom Krupenkin and J. Ashley Taylor comes to fruition, one day soon cellphone or just about any other portable electronic device could be powered by simply taking a walk. In a paper appearing recently in the journal Nature Communications , Krupenkin and Taylor, both engineering researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, describe a new energy-harvesting technology that promises to dramatically reduce our dependence on batteries and instead capture the energy of human motion to power portable electronics. Power producers Humans, generally speaking, are very powerful energy-producing machines, explains Krupenkin, a UW-Madison professor of mechanical engineering. While sprinting, a person can produce as much as a kilowatt of power. Grabbing even a small fraction of that energy, Krupenkin points out, is enough to For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 51 of 143 power a host of mobile electronic devices. What has been lacking is a mechanicalto-electrical energy conversion technology that would work well for this type of application, he says. Current energy harvesting technologies are aimed at either high-power applications such as wind or solar power, or very low-power applications such as calculators, watches or sensors. What's been missing, says Taylor, is the power in the watts range. That's the power range needed for portable electronics. According to a press release from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Krupenkin and Taylor describe a novel energy-harvesting technology known as reverse electrowetting, a phenomenon discovered by the Wisconsin researchers. The mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy by using a micro-fluidic device consisting of thousands of liquid micro-droplets interacting with a novel nanostructured substrate. This technology could enable a novel footwear-embedded energy harvester that captures energy produced by humans during walking, which is normally lost as heat, and converts it into up to 20 watts of electrical power that can be used to power mobile electronic devices. Our Bureau
Human skin cells turned into brain cells

Scientists have discovered a novel way to convert human skin cells into brain cells, advancing medicine and human health.
Humanoid robots make entry into Middle East classrooms

Humanoid robots are making an entry into classrooms in academic and research institutions in the Middle East, promising to revolutionise the teaching process especially in the fields of science and mathematics. French company Aldebaran Robotics, in partnership with Intel, has showcased the power of humanoid Nao robots in the teaching process in the classrooms of Middle East educational institutions. Powered by Intel Atom technology, Nao is the first versatile and programmable humanoid robot to be used as a standard research platform and an educational tool for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students, it was announced here recently. User-friendly Nao's user-friendly programming environment, used by beginners and experts, includes visual programming software Choregraphe and a 3D simulator along with numerous application programming interfaces (APIs). A step-by-step guide helps both students and teachers to easily master Nao, thus rapidly energising science and engineering classes. Ten years ago people did not believe that computers would be an instrumental component of the teaching process, compared with today where a wide variety of technologies are incorporated into the 21st century classroom. In the coming years robotics will be as important to classrooms as computers are today.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 52 of 143 All future engineers, scientists and researchers in applied sciences, will benefit from learning with and about robotics, Bruno Maisonnier, CEO of Aldebaran Robotics said. PTI
Hummingbirds' beak helps them catch flying bugs

With greater speed and power than could be achieved by jaw muscles alone, the shape of a hummingbird's beak allows for a controlled elastic snap that allows it to snatch up flying insects in a mere fraction of a second, says a new study in a forthcoming issue of Journal of Theoretical Biology. Not nectar alone Hummingbird beaks are built to feed on flowers, but hummingbirds can't live on nectar alone. To get enough protein and nutrients they need to eat small insects too, said co-author Gregor Yanega of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina. But how can a long, slender bill so well suited for sipping nectar also be good at catching insects, and often in mid-air? In 2004 in the journal Nature , Yanega reported that part of the answer lies in the hummingbird's flexible bill. Using high speed video of three hummingbird species catching fruit flies, the researchers found that the hummingbird's bendy lower beak flexes by as much as 25 degrees when it opens, while also widening at the base to create a larger surface for catching insects , according to a National Evolutionary Synthesis Center press release. While watching the ultrafast videos, however, Yanega also noticed something else: As soon as the hummingbird's beak is maximally bent, it suddenly springs back to its original position and snaps closed. Their beaks snap shut in less than a hundredth of a second, he explained. It's fast. Yanega teamed up with engineers Matthew Smith and Andy Ruina of Cornell University to unlock the secret to the hummingbird beak's sudden snap. The researchers developed a mathematical model of the elastic energy in the beak from the time it flexes open to the time it snaps shut. While other insect-eating birds such as swifts and nighthawks have a cartilaginous hinge near the base of their beaks, hummingbird beaks are solid bone. They're also incredibly thin, Yanega said. This makes their lower beaks stiff yet springy, like a diving board. The researchers' mathematical model revealed that the downward bend of the hummingbird's lower beak puts stress on the bone, storing elastic energy which eventually powers its sudden snap closure, explained first author Matthew Smith. Our Bureau .
Hwang Woo-Suk clones coyotes

Disgraced South Korean stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-Suk unveiled eight cloned coyotes today in a project sponsored by a provincial government.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 53 of 143 Hwang delivered the clones to a wild animal shelter at Pyeongtaek, 50 kilometres south of Seoul, in a ceremony chaired by Gyeonggi province governor Kim MoonSoo, Kim's office said. Hwang was a national hero until some of his research into creating human stem cells from a cloned embryo was found to be faked. But his work in creating Snuppy, the world's first cloned dog, in 2005 has been verified by experts and authorities. Under a joint project with the province to clone wild animals, Hwang took cells from the skin of a coyote, Kim's office said in a statement. He transplanted their nuclei into a dog's eggs from which the canine nucleus had been removed, it said, adding the first clone was born on June 17. The governor praised Hwang for what he called the world's first use of such a technique. The cloning of an African wild dog is under way, and we will attempt to clone a mammoth in the future, Kim said. PTI
Hybrid crops that breed true, from cloned seeds

Plants have for the first time been cloned as seeds. The research by scientists at the University of California, Davis, is a major step towards making hybrid crop plants that can retain favourable traits from generation to generation.
Hydrogen fuel from sunlight

Scientists have determined that an inexpensive semiconductor material can be tweaked' to generate hydrogen from water using sunlight. Using state-of-the-art theoretical computations, the University of KentuckyUniversity of Louisville team demonstrated that an alloy formed by a 2 per cent substitution of antimony (Sb) in gallium nitride (GaN) has the right electrical properties to enable solar light energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, a process known as photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. When the alloy is immersed in water and exposed to sunlight, the chemical bond between the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water is broken. The hydrogen can then be collected, according to a University of Kentucky press release. Our Bureau
Hydrogen production from blue-green algae

Using a molecular switch in an enzyme, blue-green algae build up energy reserves that allow them to survive in darkness. Removing this switch enables use of the excess energy for purposes such as hydrogen production.
IAF lays bare forward bases across border in tender documents

It does not require any guesses on the number of helicopter bases across the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control in the Northern and Eastern sectors of the border India shares with China and Pakistan. The number 80 plus along with its name and coordinates form part of the tender documents the Indian Air Force put up on its website as it sought Request for
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 54 of 143 Proposal (RFP) from public sector undertakings and private operators to ferry men and material across to these military locations. Air maintenance The IAF carries out air maintenance work for the Army by reaching personnel and cargo to both its maintenance and forward bases but the documents on the website not only earmark the bases under Northern Command across Jammu and Kashmir as Kishtwar, Chowkibal, Kupwara, Tangdhar but also provide the exact contours in terms of latitude and longitude and reference, a crucial input for pilots/navigators to home in. Similarly, in the Eastern Command the bases identified include Tawang, Taksing, Tadadage Point 4711. Sources in armed forces indicated that the information provided in the open tender document should at least form part of restricted' document in terms of classification they do for such material. An argument advanced by officials in uniform, who preferred anonymity, suggested that most of the specific information made public as part of the documents was needed before companies send in their commercial bids. Moot point While there is no denying the fact that the need to do away with opaqueness in the procurement process of the Ministry has been lauded, the question that remained unanswered in this case is how easily the information is given, especially, when as a matter of routine the Defence Ministry is extra-cautious while interacting with media on regular issues. Another official said considering the availability of technology with search engines of zooming in, such longitude-latitude details are not difficult to locate by those with discerning eye. Yet the question whether it was necessary for such information to be authenticated officially making it easier for those seeking it, elicited no reply. The latest RFP is the second being issued by the IAF based on the requirement of the Army after the first one got little response. Interestingly, a high-powered committee is understood to have cleared the proposal to hire private helicopters for such missions but it is not clear whether the specific locations that from part of the annexure were also meant to go with it on the website. IAF seeks RFP from PSUs, private operators to ferry men, material across Highpowered panel is said to have cleared proposal to hire private copters
Iceland plans to make cigarettes prescription-only

Iceland is considering banning the sale of cigarettes and making them a prescriptiononly product.The parliament in Reykjavik is to debate a proposal that would outlaw the sale of cigarettes in normal shops. Only pharmacies would be allowed to dispense them initially to those aged 20 and up, and eventually only to those with a valid medical certificate. Radical initiative The radical initiative is part of a 10-year plan that also aims to ban smoking in all
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 55 of 143 public places, including pavements and parks, and in cars where children are present. Iceland also wants to follow Australia's lead by forcing tobacco manufacturers to sell cigarettes in plain, brown packaging. Under the mooted law, doctors will be encouraged to help addicts kick the habit with treatments and education programmes. If these do not work, they may prescribe cigarettes. The private member's bill is sponsored by former health minister Siv Fridleifsdottir, who worked with the Icelandic Medical Association as well as a coalition of antitobacco groups to come up with the proposal. The aim is to protect children and youngsters and stop them from starting to smoke, she said recently. The proposal would initially result in an increase in cigarette prices, said Fridleifsdottir, of 10 per cent per year, in line with World Health Organisation proposals evidence shows that a 10 per cent increase results in a 4-8 per cent reduction in consumption. Huge costs on society Thorarinn Gudnason, president of the Icelandic Society of Cardiology, who helped draw up the proposal, said current cigarette pricing in Iceland did not take into account the huge costs imposed on society by smokers. A packet currently costs around 1,000 krona [GBP5.50], but if you factor in the cost of sick leave, reduced productivity due to smoking breaks and premature retirement on health grounds, it should really be 3,000 krona, he said. The proposal also says that nicotine should be classed as an addictive substance. It's as hard to give up nicotine as heroin, not in terms of the side effects, but in terms of the cravings and how quickly one becomes addicted, said Gudnason. Licensing mooted We also want the government to license cigarettes like a medicine, which would mean they would have to go through the same rigorous trials as any other drug. I doubt cigarettes would ever get on the market now that we know the side-effects lung cancer, heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Gudnason said three hundred out of the 1,500 deaths in Iceland each year were caused by one of those three conditions. Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
Impact of wrong use of a clean fuel

A pioneering program by one of the world's largest cities to switch its vehicle fleet to clean fuel has not significantly improved harmful vehicle emissions in more than 5,000 vehicles and worsened some vehicles' climate impacts -- a new University of British Columbia study finds. The study which explores the impacts of New Delhi, India's 2003 conversion of 90,000 buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws to compressed natural gas (CNG), a wellknown clean fuel provides crucial information for other cities considering similar projects. Of the city's more than 5,000 auto-rickshaws with two-stroke engines a common For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 56 of 143 form of transportation in Asia and Africa the study found that CNG produced only minor reductions in emissions that cause air pollution and an increase in emissions that negatively impact climate change. According to the researchers, the New Delhi's program could have achieved greater emission reductions at a cheaper price by simply upgrading two-stroke models to the cleaner, more fuel-efficient four-stroke variety. Our study demonstrates the importance of engine type when adopting clean fuels, says lead author and UBC post-doctoral fellow Conor Reynolds. Despite switching to CNG, two-stroke engine auto-rickshaws in Delhi still produce similar levels of particulate matter per kilogram of fuel to a diesel bus -- and their climate impacts are worse than before. Published online in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, the study is the first to comprehensively examine the pollutant emissions from small vehicle engines fuelled with CNG. It included significant laboratory testing of Indian autorickshaws. The study finds that as much as one third of CNG is not properly burned in twostroke engines, producing high emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. CNG use also produced substantial emissions of high particulate matter from unburned lubricating oil, which can appear as blue smoke. The findings show the importance of strong scientific data for policymakers and the need to consider small vehicles like auto-rickshaws in emissions reduction programs, according to the researchers. If policymakers have information about emissions and their potential impacts, they can make better decisions to serve both the public and the environment, says Reynolds, who co-authored the study with Prof. Milind Kandlikar and post-doctoral fellow Andrew Grieshop from UBC's Liu Institute for Global Issues and Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. Clean fuels are being used in Indian cities for transportation when they could save many more lives if used for cooking, says Kandlikar. The interests of the rural poor, particularly women and children, are being put below those of the urban consumer. Several Asian cities have more two-stroke auto-rickshaws than New Delhi. They say the study provides important information to other cities considering fuelswitching programs. University of British Columbia
Important, trustworthy public health research evidence Importing grains cannot solve food shortage problems
It is a universally acclaimed fact, that importing food cannot solve the problem of food shortage. Modern technologies do offer vast prospects for crop improvement but that alone need not make it popular among small and marginal farmers, says farmer Mr. Mahavir Singh Arya, from Churu district of Rajasthan. Despite facing acute problem of water shortage, Mr. Mahavir, an advocate of
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 57 of 143 organic farming, developed numerous varieties of wheat and mustard, and claims that he never used any inorganic fertilizer to grow crops and still managed to generate good yield. Ignorant Urban people do not seem to know the real problem we farmers face, he says and adds: To them it becomes an issue only during price hike. Though farming being an important area a large section of the public view agriculture as something involving the government and it becomes a job for elected persons to resolve the farmers' problems. The fact, that we import food to cater to domestic demand, besides large scale migration to cities does not seem to cause any serious concern in the urban mans mind. Real life According to him, though urban people may be fascinated by the simple village life, in reality life isnt all that easy in villages. The aspiration of rural folks to seek out greener pastures in nearby metros, educate their kids and push them out of the village. Hence statistically, food supply is dwindling and demand is shooting up we are all sitting on a volcano ready to erupt anytime, he feels. A farmers life is a tale of continuous experimentation and struggle for existence and even getting a good price for the produce is difficult for us, he explains. Different odds Inspite of all the odds, inquisitiveness made him visit Hissar agriculture university to see some breeding experiments in crop varieties and learn the method of selection and crossing between different varieties. He returned to start experimenting in the fields. Encouraged by the success, he got interested in breeding and thereafter he made it a point to visit various research institutions and universities, to keep himself updated. The farmer developed more than 10 varieties of mustard by crossing the varieties available in Delhi region. The maturity period of all these varieties varies from 130 to 150 days and the yield from about 1.8 tonnes to 2.4 tonnes per hectare. All the varieties are disease resistant and high yielding, according to him. He chanced upon a variety of tall and high yielding wheat and crossed it with a locally popular variety. The next year, the farmer observed that the crops grew taller, bore bolder grains, that were resistant to disease. He selected plants possessing characteristics like height of the plant, resistance to disease, etc., every year and developed the variety Mahavir Kisan Mahan. Different varieties In the same way, he kept on crossing varieties obtained from different regions with other local varieties and successfully developed more than 15 varieties of wheat. The maturity period of all the wheat varieties varies from 135-160 days, except one,
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 58 of 143 named Mahavir Kishan Pragati, a short duration dwarf variety developed by him that comes to harvest in 95-110 days. The yield of these varieties varies from 4-8 tonnes for an hectare. Extra effort For a farmer every available area of space needs to be utilised so that some sort of income can be generated. In places like ours where water is a scarce commodity, extra effort is needed to obtain even average yield. Government should look into the cause of the millions of farmers like Mr Mahavir who toil day in and day out to feed the over billion plus population of the country. says Sundaram Verma, a progressive farmer himself and Honey Bee Network collaborator ofRajasthan. Mr. Mahavir mentions that the government may be trying its best,but an extra effort towards providing enough support to the farmers would go a long way in making India a self reliant country in food crops. For more information, contact Mahavir Singh Arya, village Gudan, taluka Rajgadh, district Churu, Rajasthan, Mobile 09461932854.
Impregnating plastics with CO {-2}

Impregnating plastics with compressed CO {-2} could lead to new applications ranging from coloured contact lenses to bacteria-resistant door handles.
Increasing ride quality of cars by 60 %

An active electromagnetic suspension system that can increase the ride quality of cars by 60 per cent has been developed.
Increasing vegetable intake in kids' foods

Preschool children consumed nearly twice as many vegetables and 11 per cent fewer calories over the course of a day when researchers at Penn State added pureed vegetables to the children's favorite foods.
India keen to develop exa-computers

India is keen to join the ambitious race to develop new generation of powerful supercomputers and is mulling allocating Rs 6,000 crore for the purpose in the 12th Plan. This is over and above the Rs 5,000 crore allocation proposed in the 12th Plan for development of supercomputers, Minister of State for Science and Technology Ashwani Kumar said. The fastest supercomputer with a computing speed of 2.7 petaflops is said to be in China. A petaflop is 1,000 trillion sustained floating-point operations per second. One exaflop is 1,000 times faster than a petaflop performing 1 million trillion calculations per second. PTI
India to seek Iqbal Mirchi's extradition

India on Wednesday said it would seek extradition of Iqbal Mirchi from the United Kingdom Mirchi, a close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and an accused in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was arrested in London on Tuesday. A Red Corner notice for the arrest of Mirchi had been issued and it continued to be valid, which meant that he is still a wanted person, the official spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry said here. Indian government's attempts to extradite Mirchi from the U.K. had failed some years ago. He is wanted by the Mumbai police in several cases, including those related to a murder and narcotics trafficking.
Indian scientists traverse shortest path to South Pole

Braving temperatures as low as minus 54 degrees Celsius and navigating jagged sharp ice hills, India's first scientific expedition team to the South Pole took a different but short route to reach the earth's southernmost point in just eight days. The path has never been tried before by any other country, the scientists said. The team led by Rasik Ravindra, director of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), had left Maitri, India's second permanent research station on the Antarctica, on Nov 13, 2010 and planted the Indian flag at South Pole on Nov 22. The eight-member team travelled 2,350 km distance (one side) between Maitri, and South Pole in arctic trucks braving the difficult weather conditions and traversing the tough terrain with snow-capped sharp razor-edged hills of 1-2 metre height. According to Ravindra, they were asked by the Norwegian and US scientists to take a usually travelled curved route but the team decided to rather take a straight and short route to reach the southernmost tip. The team, consisting of a geologist, glaciologist, geophysicist and a meteorologist as well as vehicle engineers, collected valuable data to study the impact of global warming on Antarctica. The expedition travelled on four specialised arctic truck vehicles, which did face some problems due to the intense cold. IANS
Induced pluripotent stem cells cure liver cirrhosis

Treating human diseases using adult cells taken from a patient and genetically reprogramming them so that they behave like embryonic stem cells has come a step closer. In a paper published in Nature today (Oct 13), scientists report the sequence of events for successfully correcting a gene mutation responsible for both cirrhotic liver disease and lung emphysema. They first took adult skin cells and corrected the gene mutation. Having done that, they next reprogrammed the adult cells to make them behave like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 60 of 143 After completing the genetic correction in the cell line, the researchers introduced the iPSCs into a mouse. The mouse had a mutation that resembled the condition seen in humans. That the successfully corrected gene was active in the liver cells was proved by the presence of normal alpha1-antitrypsin protein in both test tube and mouse experiments. The iPSCs were able to function in the same way as their in vivo counterparts including glycogen storage, LDL-cholestrol uptake, albumin secretion etc. The authors also confirmed by two methods that the alphal-antitrypsin (A1AT) assay produced by the iPSCs cells in the liver showed complete absence of the mutant polymeric A1AT. Also, the iPSCs were engrafted into the animal model for liver injury without causing tumour formation. In addition, secreted A1AT showed an enzymatic inhibitory activity that was comparable to that obtained from normal adult [liver] cells, the paper notes. Earlier studies have shown that it was possible for correcting gene mutations of A1AT. Even correcting human iPS cell lines was also tried. But this is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the generation of mutation-corrected patientspecific iPSCs, which could realise the therapeutic promise of human iPSCs, the paper states. The researchers selected a deficiency caused by a mutation in A1AT for this study. This gene is active in the liver where it is responsible for making a protein that protects against excessive inflammation. Any mutation results in inability to release the protein properly from the liver resulting in liver cirrhosis and lung emphysema. Unlike harvesting embryonic stem cells that lead to the destruction of embryos, iPSCs use only adult cells and hence the question of embryo destruction does not arise. Several studies have demonstrated that adult human cells reprogrammed to become induced pluripotent stem cells behave like embryonic stem cells. Hence, they are capable of becoming any of the 256 adult cells found in our body.
Infants not exempt from obesity epidemic

Children are part of the obesity epidemic. However, a revealing new study finds that obesity might begin in babies as young as nine months old.
ING Vysya Bank net profit rises

ING Vysya Bank has reported a 36 per cent increase in net profit at Rs.94 crore in the quarter ended June 30, 2011, against Rs.69.10 crore in the corresponding period in the previous year. Net interest income has increased to Rs.262 crore from Rs.238 crore and other income to Rs.140.50 crore from Rs.124.4 crore.
INM for maximizing sugarcane yield Innovative technique showcased at national conference
A farmer is comparable to a one man University. A single person combines in himself the work of a weatherman, an engineer, a marketing executive, a veterinarian, and above all a statesman endowed with the responsibility of feeding his people, says Mr G. R. Sakthivel an enterprising and innovative farmer from Sathyamangalam, Erode, Tamil Nadu. A member of the scientific advisory committee of MYRADA-KVK and Erode district organic farmers' federation, Mr. Sakthivel developed a simple yet effective mechanism to filter cattle waste and use the same in sugarcane cultivation. Four compartments The four compartment system includes the filtration technique, ensuring that an enriched solution gets collected at the end, mixed with water, and sent by drip irrigation system to the field. The first section is meant for collection of cow dung and urine mixing. After thorough mixing, the solution is sent to the second compartment for first filtration. The solid matter is used for biogas production and the upper part of the solution is then allowed to flow into a third compartment where jaggery is added for fermentation. The clear enriched filtrated medium is collected and used for irrigation. By adopting this technology the farmer can save Rs.27,000 per acre as it reduces labour and fertilizer cost, according to Mr. Sakthivel. This technology aids water holding capacity in the soil and presence of earth worms is considerably increased in the fields. A believer in organic cultivation, Mr. Sakthivel says that one of the main reasons that encouraged me to develop this technique was the decreasing quality of soil due to the continuous usage of chemicals for growing crops. Cattle resources Fertilizers not only affect one's health considerably, but also decrease the quantity of yield. I worked on this innovation to do away with the use of fertilizers, and use available cattle resources for the purpose of soil nourishment. he says. Decreased availability of labour also acted as a catalyst in the process of innovation for this farmer. The increase in sugarcane yield in the farmers fields are a standing proof for the success of this innovation. From 60 tonnes in the first harvest, the yield increased to 63 tonnes in the second harvest. The crop, now in its third harvest, is expected to yield higher, says agricultural expert Mr Saravana Kumar. Priced at Rs.20,000 the filtering system can be used for other crops as well. Successful model Bannariamman sugar factory at Sathyamangalam area identified this technology as an alternative suitable farming practice and the Sugarcane breeding institute, Coimbatore identified this as a successful model for addressing labour and fertilizer
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 62 of 143 reduction in sugarcane cultivation. So far we have not received any complaints about the filtration use but in some places blockages in the drip irrigating tubes have been noticed. But we rectified it by using EM (Effective Microorganism) solution once in three months. The EM solution is also mixed with the end solution to flow in the drip tubes to prevent blockage, says Dr. K. Alagesan, Program Co-ordinator, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lot of queries Till date about 10 farmers in the region and a few from Tirunelveli district are trying this technique in their fields. Farmers from Dharmapuri, Madurai and Dindigul are now approaching me to learn the technique. I did not innovate for an award. My greatest achievement would be to inspire as many farmers as I can, to take to organic farming methods. Organic farming is the only way to increase declining yields today, says the farmer. This, according to him is the real award. Mr. Sakthivel presented this technology at the 6th National level KVK conference at Jabalpur where nearly 1,000 delegates participated. Contact Mr. G.R.Sakthivel at No. 149, Ganeshapuram, Gettavadi(P.o), Talavadi (Via), Sathyamangalam(T.K), Erode District-638461, Mobile: 94863 16041.
Insect meat may help lessen climate change

Insects produce much smaller quantities of greenhouse gases per kilogram of meat than cattle and pigs. The rearing of insects could contribute to more sustainable protein production and replace conventional meat.
Insulin-releasing switch discovered

Researchers believe they have uncovered the molecular switch for the secretion of insulin, providing for the first time, an explanation of this process.
Integrated management of rice leaf folder Integrated pest and disease management for mango Intercropping onion in cabbage
Can onion be intercropped with cabbage? Suresh Khanna Aurangabad Generally farmers grow cabbage and onion separately. But Mr. Davinder Singh from Punjab intercropped cabbage with onion. In this practice, cabbage was transplanted in December and onion was transplanted in the 2nd week of January. Seed rate for cabbage was 375 gms/ha and for onion it was 2 kg/ha. The cabbage was transplanted on both sides of beds of size 2 feet. The difference between consecutive beds was also 2 feet. The onion was transplanted in lines 15 cm apart For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 63 of 143 in between the cabbage lines. He used only 30 kg/ha urea in two split doses of 15 kg each through the drip lines. Only two manual weedings were done in the field. The farmer obtained about 300 tonnes/ha of cabbage and onion crop yield was additional. For more details contact Davinder Singh, V. P. O. Nakodar, District Jalandhar, Punjab, Mobile : 098724-40130.
Interface to steer a car using mind developed

An interface, which connects new commercially available sensors, which measure brain waves, to an otherwise purely computer-controlled vehicle, so that it can now be controlled' via thoughts has been developed by scientists.
International conference on welding

The Indian Institute of Welding (IIW-India) is hosting the 64th annual assembly and international conference on global trends in joining, cutting and surfacing technology. The conference is being held from July 20 to 21 at Chennai Trade Centre. An international welding exhibition, Weld India 2011, will be held concurrently from July 21 to 23.
Invasive plants can be beneficial to ecology

In a study in the U.S., it was found that certain well-established, invasive fruiting species have mutualism (beneficial to both) with fruit eating bird communities which also helps seed dispersal of other species of fruiting plants.
Irradiation makes cow dung bio-fertilizer safer

Do you know that the humble cow dung can be used in a high technology agricultural practice? Researchers from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyala and MSV Laboratories Private Ltd demonstrated the potential use of irradiated cow dung as a carrier of biofertilizers. On July 9, this year the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MSV Laboratories Private Limited for setting up a radiation processing plant at Midnapur, West Bengal. The plant will process 60,000 Te of cow dung compost annually for use as a carrier of bio-fertilizers. BRIT will offer technical guidance including dosimetry to the company and the company will bear the entire capital investment. Mobilising nutrients According to the International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), bio-fertilizers are ready to use formulates of such beneficial microorganisms which on application to seed, root or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular, and help build up the micro-flora
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 64 of 143 and in turn the soil health in general. ICRISAT lists the following: for fixing nitrogen, Rhyzobium for legume crops and Azotobacter /Azospirillum for non legume crops; Acetobacter for sugarcane only; Blue-green algae and Azolla for low land paddy; for phosphorus mobilization, phosphatika is to be applied with Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and acetobacter; for enriched compost, Cellulolytic fungal culture or Phosphotica and Azotobacter culture. Researchers prepare bio-fertilizers as carrier-based inoculants containing effective microorganisms. This enables easy-handling, long-term storage and high effectiveness of bio-fertilizers. According to the FENCA's Bio-fertilizer Manual , a good carrier must be nontoxic; it should have good capacity to absorb moisture; it should be easy to process and should be free of lump forming materials. The requirements Good carrier material must be easily available in adequate quantities; it should be inexpensive and should have good adhesion to the seeds. The carrier should be easy to be sterilized either by autoclaving or by gamma irradiation. Charcoal, lignite and peat are costly and are not readily available in the market; so the scientists from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyala and MSV Laboratories Private Ltd chose low cost cow dung compost (CDC)as a satisfactory carrier material ( Journal of Interacademecia, Jan- Mar. 2011). CDC is non toxic to the desired strains of the inoculants. It has good moisture absorption capacity and is easy to process. The authors found gamma sterilization is effective and less time consuming than autoclaving. Normally, most carrier materials are contaminated with other bacteria. Sterilization offers nutrient and place to the inoculant bacteria against the occupation by the contaminated and/or native bacteria. This is important to keep the number of inoculant bacteria on carrier during the storage period before use. Unsterilized carrier material will cause undesirable dispersion of pathogenic bacteria into agricultural fields. Scientists exposed the samples of raw material in low density, 65 to 70 micron thick polyethylene bags to various doses of gamma radiation They found that CDC, irradiated with a gamma dose of 50kGy, can be used as a carrier for bio-fertilizers (Gy is a unit of radiation dose. When the dose is one Gy the radiation energy absorbed per kilogramme of material is one joule; since during radiation sterilizing we use large doses of radiation, multiples of Gy such as kiloGy or 1000 Gy are used). High initial cost The initial cost of gamma irradiation installation will be high, at Rs.50 million compared to autoclave (Rs.20 million). A ton of irradiated cow dung compost carrier will cost only Rs.2583 as against Rs.20,370 for a ton of sterilized charcoal. The major reason for this is the cost of charcoal (Rs.20,000) compared to cow dung (Rs.2, 250)
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 65 of 143 A major difficulty with the project may be the collection of enough raw material. MSV Laboratories Private Limited may have to set up a chain of cow dung collection centres to keep the programme running. K.S. PARTHASARATHY Raja Ramanna Fellow, Department of Atomic Energy ( ksparth@yahoo.co.uk )
Is Curiosity only an advanced science lab?

Of course, it has a suite of 10 scientific instruments and is rightfully named the Mars Science Laboratory. Many of the instruments on board are first of their kind and will help in fulfilling the main objective of finding out if the conditions on Mars many millions of years ago ever favoured the existence of life. For instance, it has very sophisticated instruments like the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam). The laser in ChemCam can vaporise thin layers of material of rocks less than one millimeter in diameter from a distance of seven metres and identify the chemical composition. According to scientists, the telescope in ChemCam will register the flash of glowing plasma created by the vaporised material and record the colours of light. The colours, which are nothing but spectral signatures, will be analysed by a spectrometer to find out the composition. While the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in ChemCam has been successfully used for determining the composition of objects in difficult to reach or extreme environments like nuclear reactors and sea floor, this is the first time it is sent to another planet. Curiosity also has the ability to drill and scoop samples from the Mars surface and conduct analysis using spectroscopy inside the spacecraft. Apart from the chemical composition, the Mars Science Laboratory is equipped to find out the mineralogy of samples. The Chemistry and Mineralogy (ChemMin) instrument uses X-ray diffraction to determine the mineralogy of the samples, a standard tool used by scientists. This is the first time that this instrument is ever being sent to another planet. But any scientists would vouch that the success of studying samples taken for analysis depends on how well the sampling is done. Random selection of sampling sites or samples will have no meaning, as it may not reveal everything, and at times be completely misleading. Field geologists often rely on visual inspection of the study area for different parameters like rock types, layering and possible minerals before deciding on the area to be sampled and the kind and number of samples to be taken. If the samples to be studied are loose sand or soil, the texture, grain size etc are looked at before collecting the samples. This is where Curiosity scores over its predecessors. The ChemCam is equipped with a telescope to image the small craters that the laser has made by vapourising the selected area. The message relayed to scientists here will help them in determining the next For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 66 of 143 target areas in the near vicinity to be sampled next. Once the area has been chosen based on the image provided by ChemCam, MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager) comes into the picture. MAHLI is the best instrument that mimics a handheld lens carried by field geologists. Scientists will be able to have a close-up view of the structures and textures of both rocks and minerals. While this will provide ample information about Mars, it will greatly help in deciding if samples need to taken for further analysis. According to R. Aileen Yingst, Planetary Science Institute researcher, MAHLI, with its high resolution camera, will be able to show a magnified view of the Martian surface. As the American Astronomical Society states, Curiosity is both a Mars Science Laboratory and a geologist married into one.
Is radiation a must for cells' normal growth?

The March, 2011 issue ofHealth Physicspublished an interesting paper titled Exploring Biological Effects of Low Level Radiation from the other Side of Background summarizing the results from a Low Background Radiation Experiment carried out in Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), an underground lab at New Mexico and those from a sister experiment conducted at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque. The recommendation This was part of a $150 million, five-year long, low-dose research project recommended by 26 scientists highly regarded in radiobiology research community and representing competing radiation effects hypotheses. WIPP is located at a depth of 650 metre in the middle of a 610 metre thick ancient salt deposit that has been stable for more than 200 million years. The radioactivity content of the salt deposit is extremely low. The radiation levels in the lab are ten times lower than the normal natural background radiation levels. The contribution to the background from potassium-40, the only identifiable radionuclide present in the lab can also be reduced further by using a modest amount of shielding. Massive, 650 metre thick, salt reduced the cosmic ray background. Highly resistant Researchers incubatedDeinococcus Radiodurans, a bacterium which is highly resistant to radiation, above-ground and in WIPP in a 15 cm thick pre-world war II steel chamber; that steel is not contaminated by traces of radio-nuclides from nuclear weapons fallout. The surface radiation levels averaged 3.1 micro Roentgen per hour; the level underground was 0.6 microroentgen per hour and in the preWW II chamber it was as low as 0.2 microroentgen per hour. [Roentgen is a unit of radiation exposure. It depends on the ability of radiation to ionize air. Radiation exposure is one roentgen when the ionizing radiation releases one esu (electrostatic unit of charge) of charge in a cc of air at Normal temperature and Pressure (NTP)] Scientists monitored the bacterial growth by assaying for protein, optical density of For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 67 of 143 the cultures and cell agar plate counts. Though data had relatively high variability, the three indicators of cell growth demonstrated that the cells grown underground were inhibited and grew increasingly so with increasing time underground(Health Physics,2011). In the second experiment, researchers exposed a type of human lung cells at 1.75 mGy per year; another sample of cells to 0.3 mGy per year by using a 10 cm lead shield. The former corresponds to a typical background radiation level. Gy is a unit of absorbed dose, when the radiation energy absorbed in material is one joule per kg. Since Gy is a very large unit, submultiples such as mGy milli Gy (one thousandths of Gy) are used. They controlled the temperature, carbon dioxide and humidity levels in the two incubators in which the cells were placed ensuring that these parameters were statistically the same. Standard methods They analyzed the exposed cells directly by standard methods for the presence of heat shock proteins or by exposing the cells to a single x-ray dose of 10 cGy and then assayed for heat shock proteins.(cGy or centiGy is one hundredth of a Gy) The researchers found that shielding cells from natural radiation upregulated ( initiated the process of increasing the response to a stimulus) the expression of two out of three stress proteins and follow on x-ray exposure further upregulated expression. They obtained similar results with the bronchial epithelial cells. Both studies demonstrated a stress response when cells were grown under reduced radiation conditions. Does it show that radiation is necessary for normal growth of cells? A few years ago, mainstream scientists should have shown a smirk on their face followed by a grin if they heard this conclusion. Not any more. Many outstanding specialists feel that at the end of five years, they may be able to develop a model based on exposing organisms to near zero levels of radiation, a model based on sound science. Profound impact It may lead to increasing the levels of radiation considered safe; it will have a profound impact on the economics of decommissioning nuclear facilities, long term storage of radioactive waste, construction of nuclear power facilities among others. This requires drastic changes in public perception. K.S. PARTHASARATHY Raja Ramanna Fellow, Department of Atomic Energyksparth@yahoo.co.uk
Is the fertilized human egg a person?

A rather interesting debate has been going on in America. Of the 50 states comprising the USA, several (particularly in the South) have strong religious lobbies that persuade or pressurize the state's policies on a variety of issues, particularly governing human evolution, abortion, research on stem cells and related matters. In several states, abortion is illegal. Indeed the issue of a woman's right to abortion For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 68 of 143 went all the way up to the nation's Supreme Court in the year 1973, and its landmark judgment gave a woman the right to terminate her pregnancy in the first trimester as a constitutional right. Since then, there have been continuous attempts in various states to overturn this judgment, using a variety of arguments. Crucial to the argument is the issue of whether the foetus is a person. The unborn child is not legally classified as a person; the U.S. Supreme Court also noted then that if the personhood of the preborn is established, then the case for the right to abortion collapses, because the foetus's right to life is then guaranteed specifically in the constitution. The debate thus turns to the issue of is a foetus a person. And if we hold the foetus to be a person, why not the embryo out of which the foetus is formed, or even earlier to it the fertilized egg a person? If yes, then the Supreme Court's 1973 decision of right to abortion should be overturned. It is this point that the elected representatives of the state of Colorado wanted to establish by law in the year 2008. When this issue was put to vote, it failed to get a majority. A second attempt in 2010 also failed, by a 70-30 majority. And now the State of Mississippi has raised this issue of definition of person' and held a series of public hearings on the question: should the term person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent thereof? After a series of such public hearings, the issue went into the state legislature for voting on November 8, 2011 and was rejected. Thus, as on today, in the U.S., a human foetus, embryo, fertilized egg or a clone is not a person. Not yet, but for how long? It is likely that fresh attempts will be made and it may even turn out that one state or the other might vote to grant personhood to them and thus make abortion illegal all through the U.S.. Recall how George W. Bush stopped the U.S. federal government funding for research involving human embryonic stem cells, on the ground that since it can give rise to a human, we should not be tinkering with it, since that would be equivalent to man playing God. What then is a person? The question is not easy to answer. Philosophers, ethicists and moralists have debated it for centuries and each generation brings in newer arguments. A quick look at the Encyclopaedia and Wikipedia offers several perspectives. The 17 {+t} {+h} century French thinker Rene Descartes insisted on thinking or cognition as a must, stating je pense donc je suis (or cogito ergo sum in Latin, or I think, therefore I am in English). A century later, the British philosophers John Locke and David Hume argued that a person is one who possesses continuous consciousness over time, and should have interpersonal relationship with others. (Pause for a moment and think about the qualifier adjective continuous; if one loses consciousness continuously, as when happens after a severe brain injury, is he no longer a person?).
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 69 of 143 But the one that I think captures personhood better is proposed by the contemporary philosopher Thomas I. White, of the Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, who wants the following attributes as necessary for personhood: be alive, be aware, feel positive and negative sensations, has emotions, has a sense of self, controls its own behaviour, recognizes other persons and has cognitive abilities. White thus includes the ideas of Descartes, Locke and Hume, but note that in his case, personhood can actually extend to nonhumans such as higher primates, and perhaps even dolphins. (White has recently authored the book In defense of dolphins: the new moral frontier). We thus have not heard the last word on personhood' either politically or philosophically. Such serious issues are not without their satire. When The Economist reported on the Mississippi initiative, a reader Mr. Benjamin Twai from St. Louis, MO, USA wrote: My wife and I have been considering IVF. Mississippi's proposed amendment gives us even more reason to pursue this treatment. After the procedure, we will insist on taking custody of any extra embryos that result from IVF it is our right as parents after all. Once safely in our home we plan to keep them in a freezer in our basement and list them as child dependents for tax deduction. In case of a power outage we will buy a backup generator. Anything less would be bad parenting. D. BALASUBRAMANIAN dbala@lvpei.org
It was a bullseye' quake that hit New Zealand

New Zealand's Christchurch weathered a 7.0 earthquake, but a smaller 6.3 aftershock toppled buildings and killed scores largely because it was a bullseye' direct hit, scientists said. Very shallow Tuesday's cataclysmic tremor, which left nearly 400 people dead or missing and the city centre in ruins, was so close to the city of 390,000 and so shallow that major damage was inevitable, they said. This quake was pretty much a bullseye, said Professor John Wilson, deputy dean of engineering at Australia's Swinburne University of Technology. It was quite a large 6.3-magnitude event and so close to Christchurch that we weren't surprised to see significant damage. At that close range, the level of shaking is quite severe. The earthquake struck six months after the violent 7.0 tremor damaged 100,000 buildings and left a major repair bill, but caused no deaths, after striking overnight on September 4. Tuesday's quake is by far the largest earthquake to have occurred in the Christchurch region in historic time, Melbourne University research fellow Gary Gibson said in a release from the Australian Science Media Centre. Earthquakes always cluster in time and space, with some large earthquakes having For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 70 of 143 foreshocks and most large earthquakes have many aftershocks. Gibson said authorities should not be faulted for not anticipating the quake. Gibson, however, said Christchurch would always be prone to damaging quakes, saying all earthquakes in the Christchurch region will be shallow, so the effect of a given earthquake will be worse than from a deeper plate boundary earthquake of the same magnitude. Newer office blocks such as the CTV and Pyne Gould buildings collapsed. We expected the older buildings with unreinforced masonry to suffer their masonry is heavy, brittle and vulnerable to earthquake shaking, Wilson said. In general the contemporary buildings performed well, although a few contemporary buildings have collapsed, which did surprise us. David Rothery, of the Volcano Dynamics Group at Britain's Open University, said the soft ground on which the city is built would have magnified the shaking, making the 6.3 quake even more deadly. Flat ground In much of Christchurch where the ground is flat and underlain by sand or silt, some structures have been shaken apart, causing upper stories to collapse onto the floors below, he said. This is because soft ground magnifies how violently the surface shakes during an earthquake. Australian Seismological Centre director Kevin McCue said the tremor could increase pressure on plate boundaries across New Zealand, increasing the likelihood of a tremor elsewhere, particularly in the capital Wellington. If you have one (quake) it ups the hazard, he told the New Zealand Herald. This quake has the potential to load up the plate boundary, increasing the likelihood of a quake at Wellington. Wellington has always been considered much more at risk because it straddles the plate boundary. New Zealand has been relatively quiet since the 1930s maybe (it's) about to catch up. New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire', a vast zone of seismic and volcanic activity stretching from Chile on one side to Japan and Indonesia on the other. But Gibson feels that the September earthquake and this earthquake will have relieved the majority of stress in the regions in which they occurred so another large earthquake is unlikely. Tuesday's quake is the most deadly to hit New Zealand since a 7.8-magnitude tremor killed 256 people in the Hawke's Bay region in 1931. DPA and AFP
Italy: when society scolds scientists

Something unusual is happening in a place called L'Aquila in Italy, which suffered an earthquake on April 5, 2009, causing large scale damage to property and the loss of over 300 lives. The citizens there have sued a group of 7 scientists for manslaughter. The case is being heard in an Italian court and the judgment expected with great anxiety by the scientific community, and with hope for justice by the citizens there. This is perhaps the first time that a community has taken a group of scientists to For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 71 of 143 court for having caused a large number of deaths by negligence. Expectedly, scientific societies and academics have condemned the petitioners; one such group has said that it was unfair and nave of the local prosecutors to charge the scientists for failing to alert the population of L'Aquila of an impending earthquake. The incident has been covered widely across the world, and in scientific circles ( Nature, Science, Scientific American, The Economist ). Why this accusation of manslaughter against a group of 7 seismologists who were, on the face of it, trying to help and advise the citizens of this medieval town, situated in a well-known earthquake-prone zone, where the people since long had learnt to live with this ever-present danger? One citizen said: I am not crazy. I know they can't predict earthquakes. The basis of the charges is that they (as the scientific committee advising the town) had certain duties imposed by law: They were obligated to evaluate the degree of risk given all factors, and they did not. Another citizen said: this is not a trial against science. Their persistent advice to us was to be calm and not to worry. As a result, many of us did not move out of our houses (as we normally would have) and a lot of us lost our lives. Indeed, two members of the scientists group had a press conference (along with the city mayor) and said that the seismic situation was normal and posed no damage. Herein is the crux of the law suit. Rather than admit that seismic predictions are uncertain, they claimed no danger. In a commentary on it, Dr. Willy Aspinall, a Professor in Natural Hazards and Risk Science, says that scientists in sensitive situations should think carefully about their use of social media (such as press conferences), and of the legal implications. He puts it succinctly: the world is litigious and scientists are not immune. Lateral and collateral The engagement of science with society at large is a recent phenomenon, where the results of science and technology are being used by industry and, more importantly, by the governments for widespread use by and for society. When scientists are called to advise governments and the citizenry on issues that affect natural resources and the everyday lives of people, they need to be sensitive to the voices of society. It is in this transaction between science and society that conflicts can occur. In any decision based on application of science for social purposes, the situation is never linear or a simple A leads to B. It can collaterally beget C, D and E. And when a decision by industry or the government is taken on the use of A, emphasis is given on the result B. And people who are affected by C, D or E tend to raise their voices. Silencing them and attempting to go ahead with the decision leads to conflict. We see it in our own society be it on the issue of GMO, nuclear plants or some clinical trials. In each of these, there are advantages as well as risks engaging all stake-holders and addressing each advantage and each risk is important before embarking on the application of any technology. Sociologists' vital role
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 72 of 143 It is here that sociologists play a vital role. Dr. Shiv Visvanathan, an erudite analytical sociologist, has recently pointed out ( Tehelka, Oct 4, 2011 ) how the scientists and activists have to work in tandem, each understanding the challenges the other faces. Scientists need not lose tempers when questioned, nor activists always accusative. Governance requires the opening and questioning of scientific knowledge but not just by scientists or specialists. He says that we have entered an era where scientific knowledge can no longer offer certainties in many domains. This, however, is a curious statement, since scientists always knew this. It never does when the results depend on how various parameters affect the outcome. As the Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich remarked in 1974: everything depends on everything else. And when he says that the classic definition of science as public and certifiable knowledge is flawed, I find it curiouser. Science is public. Science, more than any other, is verifiable and certifiable knowledge. It posits that while A leads to B, it can also lead to C, D and E. It is for society to choose and this is done only through engagement. Also, I am not sure whether we in India have worries about epistemology, and theories of science as truth and as valid knowledge. This would be true of societies where ideology and belief systems are in direct conflict with science (creationism vs evolution), but in India? Then again, to dub science with its theological selfclaiming infallibility is somewhat harsh. If there is one system of knowledge that admits its fallibility and attempts to improve, it is science, not theology. D. BALASUBRAMANIAN dbala@lvpei.org
IVF embryos: new genetic testing technology

A new technique, which helps couples that are affected by or are carriers of genetic diseases have in vitro fertilized babies free of both the disease in question and other chromosomal abnormalities has been devised by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The results were reported inFertility and Sterility. Because embryos are so small and cells contain too little DNA to do extensive testing, researchers have in the past had to limit genetic testing of IVF embryos to either looking for a specific gene mutation that is known to exist in either parent or for other types of chromosomal abnormalities such as the existence of too many or too few chromosomes (aneuploidy) or other structural chromosomal aberrations. Trial and error Paul Brezina, M.D., M.B.A., a clinical fellow in obstetrics and gynecology and William G. Kearns, Ph.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, by a method of trial and error that lasted approximately one year, optimized a technique they call modified multiple displacement amplification that allows them to amplify or make carbon copies of the DNA they obtain from an embryo obtained by in vitro fertilization, enough to do multiple tests. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 73 of 143 Couples often first learn that they are carriers of a genetic disease, such as Cystic Fibrosis or Tay-Sachs, from having a previous child who is affected by the disease. Planning to have another baby, who may also be at risk for having the same disease, can be quite a daunting experience, says Brezina. As a result, such couples have been turning to in vitro fertilization (IVF) coupled with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), genetic testing prior to implanting the embryos into the mother's uterus, to become pregnant. We were able to amplify the genomic DNA accurately to the point where both single-gene testing and aneuploidy screening could be done. Up till now it has only been one or the other, says Brezina. In PGD, which is also called single-gene testing, doctors remove either one cell from an IVF-conceived three-day old embryo, which contains only eight cells total, or a few cells from a five-day old embryo, which contains about 150 cells total. Removing more cells from the embryo is also an unviable option as it can compromise its health and development. They then test the DNA from these cells for the disease-causing genetic alteration. They then implant back into the mother only those embryos that will give rise to a baby free of the disease. However, as much of a boon as PGD is, babies conceived in this manner are still exposed to other genetic risks, says Brezina, the most common being the gain or loss of chromosomes, a condition called aneuploidy. Aneuploidy can cause several diseases, the most commonly known of which is Down syndrome. Brezina and Kearns applied their new modified multiple displacement technique to screen embryos from a couple where both parents were carriers for GM1 gangliosidosis, a potentially lethal disease that can cause seizures, bone malformations and mental disabilities; the couple already had one child with the disease and the mother was older and had a prior history of miscarriage. Brezina and Kearns amplified the DNA from the couple's embryos and sent some of the amplified DNA to their collaborators at the Reproductive Genetics Institute in Chicago for PGD testing for GM1 gangliosidosis. They had enough DNA leftover to test it for aneuploidy using a test called 23chromosome microarray on embryos, a test developed by Kearns, according to a Johns Hopkins University press release. Of the ten IVF embryos that they tested, they found that although only two were affected by GM1 gangliosidosis, an additional three were also aneuploid, leaving them with only five healthy embryos available for transfer into the uterus. One of the healthy embryos was transferred back into the mother, who subsequently became pregnant. The strength of this technique lies not only in its ability to detect two different kinds of genetic alterations while causing minimal harm to the embryo, but also in the speed with which it can be completed, says Kearns. This allows the embryo to be transferred back into the mother in a timely manner. Since the online publication of this study in December 2010, Kearns, who also directs the Shady Grove Center for Preimplantation Genetics in Rockville, MD, has
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 74 of 143 offered combined PGD and aneuploidy testing to seven more couples. Five of these seven couples have achieved pregnancy with this technique and one couple is scheduled to transfer an embryo in the near future. Really happy Speaking of one of the couples, he says, I am really happy for this couple. She is a 39-year-old woman who is a carrier for Fragile X syndrome (a genetic disease that causes mental disabilities) and had two first trimester miscarriages. We did the same methodology on her and now she is pregnant. It is spectacular. And they aren't stopping there. Kearns and Brezina are trying to further improve existing technologies so that they can more accurately identify genetic abnormalities in IVF embryos. IVF is only going to become more relevant as time goes on and as it gets better and better, says Brezina. He adds: The ability to know detailed information about the embryos you are putting back in, it is a powerful thing. Our Bureau
Jab cuts heart attack damage by 60 per cent

A simple injection administered to patients even 12 hours after a heart attack or stroke could cut down their crippling effects by more than half. British-based scientists have produced an injectible antibody that reduces by more than 60 percent the physical scarring of the heart and brain after an attack. Heart attacks and strokes are caused by blood flow being blocked by a clot, starving parts of the body further downstream of oxygen. But most of the permanent damage is caused later when circulation is eventually restored and a default of nature which means the body's own defences attack the oxygen starved cells. This effect, which kicks in around nine to 12 hours after the attack or stroke, causes massive inflammation and more than 80 percent of the permanent damage. It is this that often leads to death and massive reduction in the quality of life of stroke and heart attack survivors. Now University of Leicester researchers have come up with an injection which can effectively stop the body attacking the oxygen starved cells. The team first uncovered a key molecule in the process responsible for the immune attack. After identifying the enzyme called Mannan Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-2 (MASP-2) they then developed an antibody to knock it out. The protein codenamed OMS646 is so effective that only two injections in the first week are needed to completely neutralise MASP-2 while the heart heals itself. IANS
Jaw size linked to diet

Many orthodontic problems experienced by people in industrialised nations is due to their soft modern diet causing the jaw to grow too short.
Jumping gene, key step in corn domestication

Corn split off from its closest relative, teosinte, a wild Mexican grass, due to a jumping' gene, about 10,000 years ago thanks to the breeding efforts of early Mexican farmers.
Jupiter grew in size robbing Mars of mass

New research has shown how an infant Jupiter may have migrated to within 1.5 astronomical units (AU, the distance from the Sun to Earth) of the Sun, stripping a lot of material from the region, starving Mars of formation materials.
Keeping away diabetes, nervous disorders

A study suggests that a strawberry a day (or rather, 37 of them) could keep away the neurologist, the endocrinologist, and maybe even the oncologist.
Key brain-heart link in disease identified

Using pioneering techniques to study how the brain regulates the heart, a crucial part of the nervous system whose malfunction may account for an increased risk of death from heart failure has been identified.
Key enzyme involved in aging process found

Caloric restriction slows down aging by preventing an enzyme, peroxiredoxin, from being inactivated. This enzyme is also important in counteracting damage to our genetic material, delaying age-related diseases.
Koodunkulam to add 2000 MWe to grid

After more than a decade of delays, the Koodunkulam Atomic Power Project will attain criticality in the next quarter. Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Power Secretary P. Uma Shankar said 1000 MWe would be added in the next quarter and another 1000 MWe in the last quarter of this year. The Vallur Power Project (3x500), the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)'s joint venture with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, was well on target. The first unit will be ready by the end of this year, said Arup Roy Choudhury, Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC. State Electricity Boards should move forward to levy tariffs which will reflect costs and not stop with mere trifurcation of production, transmission and distribution, said Mr. Shankar, to a question. Merely trifurcating them does not make senseThe trifurcation will only be the first step. So they should do move towards further corporatisation of these entities, he told The Hindu . Asked if the financial health of the State Electricity Boards was a matter of concern to the Centre, he said definitely. This is recognized by
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 76 of 143 everybody, every State government, he said. Citing the case of Delhi, he said the power tariffs had not been revised for five years. This situation was untenable. There was no need to force the States to push them towards a rational tariff, he said when asked if the Centre would push the States to adopt more reasonable levies on power. We had organised a meeting of State Power Ministers. All these issues have been discussed in detail. A set of resolutions were passed which broadly encompass the actions required to ensure that the tariffs reflect cost. There is no gap between the cost of supply and the revenues realized, he said. BSES pays up The NTPC has withdrawn the notice to cut power to the Reliance Power distribution companies after these companies paid up, Mr. Choudhury said. The NTPC had issued notices to cut power supply from September 7 to BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL). According to officials, BRPL owes the NTPC about Rs. 290 crore; BYPL about Rs.189 crore. The NTPC sent many letters and reminders to both these companies asking them to renew the letter of credit. Asked if payment is problem with State Electricity Boards, he said: I won't say so. But [with] BSES we were having a problem. On the issue of southern States, he said that every State had a problem. Many of them [SEBs' financial] health is not very good. By and large we have got no defaulters, he told The Hindu . SEBs should levy tariffs which will reflect costs Power tariff situation untenable
Kudankulam plant in the larger interests of State, says Manmohan

Reiterating that nothing would be done to threaten the safety and security of the people in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) zone, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has conveyed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that sudden reversal of the power plant would adversely impact the State's development and industrialisation plans. In a letter addressed to Ms. Jayalalithaa, Dr. Singh sought her support for the project and apprised the Chief Minister of his discussion on October 7 with a delegation led by the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, O. Panneerselvam, which included some persons from the area around Kudankulam, on their concerns about the project. This is the second letter of Dr. Singh to Ms. Jayalalithaa this month and comes a day after activists, opposed to the project, decided to convert their 72-hour fast into an indefinite one. The crux of the Prime Minister's letter is that while the government would leave no stone unturned to address all concerns, the plant was in the larger interests of Tamil Nadu, one of the most industrialised States and whose energy requirements were growing. Dr. Singh wrote that it was conveyed to the delegation that the Union government would constitute a small group of experts to interact with the representatives of the
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 77 of 143 people of the region to satisfy all their legitimate concerns, and the exercise would suitably involve the government of Tamil Nadu. In response to some technical issues raised by the team, it was informed that it would not be possible to settle them at his meeting. Apart from the safety and livelihood aspects, where the government and the people are on the same side, I also took the opportunity to mention that Tamil Nadu is one of the most industrialised States of the country whose power requirements are growing constantly. Of the 2000 MWe power to be generated by Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Units 1 and 2, the allocation of power to Tamil Nadu is 925 MWe. In case the prospects of availability of this power are suddenly withdrawn, this would impact on the State's development and industrialisation plans. Dr. Singh said he had separately directed the Department of Atomic Energy to maintain close liaison with the local and authorities and the State government. Nothing will be done to threaten safety and security of the people State's industrialisation plans will be hit if project is reversed
Lab grown human cells to obviate animal tests

The response of lab grown human cells can now be used to classify chemicals as sensitizing, or non-sensitizing, and can predict the strength of allergic response, obviating animal testing.
Lab-grown blood vessels

For the first time, blood vessels created in the lab from donor skin cells were successfully implanted in patients according to new research presented in the American Heart Association's Emerging Science Series webinar. . Functioning blood vessels that aren't rejected by the immune system could be used to make durable shunts for kidney dialysis, and potentially to improve treatment for children with heart defects and adults needing coronary or other bypass graft surgery. More testing needed While more testing is needed, such off-the-shelf blood vessels could soon be used to improve the process and affordability of kidney dialysis. Our approach could allow hundreds of thousands of patients to be treated from one master cell line, said study lead author Todd N. McAllister, Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer of Cytograft Tissue Engineering Inc., of Novato, California. The grafts also have the potential to be used in lower limb bypass to route blood around diseased arteries, to repair congenital heart defects in pediatric patients and to fix damaged arteries in soldiers. The tissue-engineered blood vessels, produced from sheets of cultured skin cells rolled around temporary support structures, were used to create access shunts For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 78 of 143 between arteries and veins in the arm for kidney dialysis in three patients. These shunts, which connect an artery to a vein, provide access to the blood for dialysis. The engineered vessels were about a foot long with a diameter of 4.8 millimetres, according to an American Heart Association press release. At follow-up exams up to eight months after implantation, none of the patients had developed an immune reaction to the implants, and the vessels withstood the high pressure and frequent needle punctures required for dialysis. Shunts created from patients' own vessels or synthetic materials are notoriously prone to failure. Investigators previously showed that using vessels individually created from a patient's own skin cells reduced the rate of shunt complications 2.4-fold over a 3year period. Avoiding expense The availability of off-the-shelf vessels could avoid the expense and months-long process involved in creating custom vessels for each patient, making the technique feasible for widespread use. Besides addressing a costly and vexing problem in kidney dialysis, off-the-shelf blood vessels might someday be used instead of harvesting patients' own vessels for bypass surgery. Our Bureau
Lambs provide link in understanding obesity

Research done on lambs shows a link between maternal and offspring obesity and is the first demonstration that this is the case in mammals bearing mature offspring' as humans do.
Large Hadron Collider sets new world record

CERN's Large Hadron Collider has set a new world record for beam intensity when it collided beams with a luminosity of 4.67 X 10 {+3} {+2} cm {+-} {+2}s {+-} {+1}, exceeding the previous world record 4.024 X 10 {+3} {+2}cm {+-} {+2}s {+-} {+1}.
Laser technology detects fake whisky

Three Indian researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland claimed to have developed a method to tackle the counterfeiting of whisky using laser technology. They have come up with a user-friendly device that can prove if a whisky is genuine or not with a teardrop of sample. The research was carried out by Praveen Cheriyan Ashok, Kishan Dholakia, and Bavishna Balagopal Praveen. The technique involves placing a tiny amount of whisky on a transparent plastic chip no bigger than a credit card. Using optical fibres the width of a human hair, the whisky sample is illuminated and the light scattered from the whisky is collected. Chemical diagnosis For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 79 of 143 By analysing the collection of light scattered from the whisky, we can chemically diagnose the sample, Mr. Ashok told The Hindu in an e-mail from Scotland. He said that the key lies in the ability of the laser to detect the amount of alcohol contained in the sample, genuine whisky must contain at least 40 per cent. The method exploits both the fluorescence of whisky and the scattering of light and shift in energy when it interacts with molecules, known as its Raman signature. Explaining that the device is easy to use and can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner, Mr. Ashok said that the research team has been successful in predicting the alcohol content of liquors and also qualitatively analysing its chemical formulation. Other than detecting counterfeit liquor samples, this can also be used for quality monitoring of liquor in their production process, he said. Professor Dholakia said that light is incredible and has led to amazing advances in the last fifty years since the advent of the laser. Amazing It is amazing to think that the technology we are developing for biomedical analysis can also be used to help us enjoy a wee dram - and with the minimum of waste, he said. Ms. Praveen said that counterfeiting is rife in the drinks industry, which is constantly searching for new, powerful and inexpensive methods for liquor analysis. The power of light Using the power of light, we have adapted our technology to address a problem related to an industry, which is a crucial part of Scottish culture and economy, she said. Mr. Ashok said that the device can be used for analyzing any type of liquor. It is not just limited within liquor analysis. The same device can be used for analyzing food oils or any other analytes. Our technique allows rapid analysis and it will only take less than one minute to load and analyze the sample, he said. The researchers have filed two patent applications based on this technology. For the first generation of this device we have filed patent application in the U.S. and Canada. For the second generation of this device (one which was used for whisky analysis) we have filed international patent application under PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty), Mr. Ashok said. The research has been published in the journal Optics Express .
Lasting evolutionary change takes about 1 million years

In research that will help address a long-running debate and apparent contradiction between short- and long-term evolutionary change, scientists have discovered that although evolution is a constant and sometimes rapid process, the changes that hit and stick tend to take a long time. Give or take a little, one million years seems to be the magic number. A new study, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, combined for the first time data from short periods such as 10-100 years with much longer evidence found in the fossil record over millions of years. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 80 of 143 It determined that rapid changes in local populations often don't continue, stand the test of time or spread through a species. In other words, just because humans are two or three inches taller now than they were 200 years ago, it doesn't mean that process will continue and we'll be two or three feet taller in 2,000 years. Or even as tall in one million years as we are now. Unknown reasons Rapid evolution is clearly a reality over fairly short time periods, sometimes just a few generations, said Josef Uyeda, lead author of the study and a zoologist at Oregon State University. But those rapid changes do not always persist and may be confined to small populations. For reasons that are not completely clear, the data show the long-term dynamics of evolution to be quite slow. Across a broad range of species, the research found that for a major change to persist and for changes to accumulate, it took about one million years. The researchers wrote that this occurred repeatedly in a remarkably consistent pattern. A paradox What's interesting is not that we have so much biological diversity and evolutionary change, but that we have so little, Uyeda said. It's a paradox as to why evolution should be so slow. Long periods of little change, Uyeda said, are called stasis, a pattern that originally led to the concept of punctuated equilibrium, controversial when it was first proposed in the early 1970s. We believe that for changes to persist, the underlying force that caused them has to also persist and be widespread, Uyeda said. Our Bureau
Lavender oil has antifungal effect

Lavender oil could be used to combat the increasing incidence of antifungalresistant infections, according to a study.
Leaf venation study advances plant biology

A method of monitoring the response of plants to different environments is by studying their vein network patterns. These networks impact whole plant photosynthesis and the mechanical properties of leaves.
Learning to count not as easy as 1, 2, 3

Only if they are taught to understand the number value of groups of objects greater than three, do preschool children seem to be able to grasp the true concept of counting, research at the University of Chicago shows. Elizabeth Gunderson, a University of Chicago graduate student in psychology and Susan Levine, Professor in Psychology at the University, study how children develop an understanding of the connection between number words and their actual numerical value. That connection is known as the cardinal principle, which states that the size of a set of objects is determined by the last number reached when counting the set. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 81 of 143 Going beyond 3 We think that seeing that there are three objects doesn't have to involve counting. It's only when children go beyond three that counting is necessary to determine how many objects there are, said Gunderson. Learning to recite number words in order is not the same as understanding the cardinal principle, they point out. Research has shown that children who enter kindergarten with a good understanding of the cardinal principle do better in mathematics, according to a University of Chicago press release. Gunderson is lead author of a paper published in the current issue of the journalDevelopmental Science.Levine, a leading national expert on the early acquisition of mathematics, is co-author. A step further Levine's work has shown that exposure to language related to numbers improves mathematics comprehension; the latest paper goes a step further. It shows that children who are exposed to number words from four through 10, in addition to the number words from one through three, acquire an understanding of the cardinal principle before children who have little exposure to these higher number words. To perform the study, team members made five home visits and videotaped interactions between 44 youngsters and their parents. The sessions lasted for 90 minutes and were made at fourmonth intervals, when the youngsters were between the ages of 14 to 30 months. They coded each instance in which parents talked about numbers with their children. When the children were nearly 4 years old, they were assessed on their understanding of the cardinal principle. The results were then compared to the records of their conversations about numbers with their parents. Children whose parents talked about sets of four to 10 objects that the child could see were more likely to understand the cardinal principle, the research showed. Using smaller numbers in conversations and referring to objects the children couldn't see (such as I'll be there in two minutes.) was not predictive of children's understanding of the cardinal principle. The results have important policy implications, showing that specific aspects of parents' engagement in numerically relevant behaviours in the home seem to have an impact on children's early mathematical development, the authors point out. Parents frequently do not realize the impact they can have on their children's understanding of mathematics and believe that a child's school is primarily responsible for the development of mathematical skills, research shows. Parents also frequently overestimate their children's understanding of mathematics. Our Bureau
Leeches use water disturbances to find meals

Medicinal leeches use water disturbances to help them find a meal. Juvenile leeches eat the blood of fish, while adults opt for the more nutritious mammals.
Left-handedness is a normal variant

Most of the time, left-handedness is simply a naturally occurring, normal variant. In some cases, however, it is disadvantageous and may well reflect a genetic defect or early developmental disturbance.
Lens for 3D microscope

Engineers have designed a lens that enables microscopic objects to be seen from nine different angles at once to create a 3D image. The new lens is the first single, stationary lens to create microscopic 3D images by itself. Using our lens is basically like putting several microscopes into one microscope, said postdoctoral researcher and study co-author Lei Li, according to an Ohio University (where the lens was developed) statement. For us, the most attractive part of this project is we will be able to see the real shape of micro-samples instead of just a two-dimensional projection, said Li. IANS
Leucine saves muscle, burns fat of climbers

At high altitudes, fat and muscle loss occurs not only when climbing, but also at rest. Research on Mt. Everest climbers shows that an amino acid, leucine, may help climbers burn fat while keeping their muscle tissue intact.
Lifelong musicians have less age-related hearing problems

While hearing studies have already shown that trained musicians have highly developed auditory abilities compared to non-musicians, a study led by Canadian researchers has found the first evidence that lifelong musicians experience less age-related hearing problems than non-musicians. Background noise The study was led by Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute in Toronto and is published online in the journal Psychology and Aging. Hearing problems are prevalent in the elderly, who often report having difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise. Scientists describe this as the cocktail party problem. Part of this difficulty is due to an age-related decrease in the ability to detect and discriminate acoustic information from the environment. Investigators wanted to determine if lifelong musicianship protects against normal hearing decline in later years, specifically for central auditory processing associated with understanding speech, according to a Rotman Research Institute press release What we found was that being a musician may contribute to better hearing in old age by delaying some of the age-related changes in central auditory processing. This advantage widened considerably for musicians as they got older when
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 83 of 143 compared to similar-aged non-musicians, said lead investigator Benjamin Rich Zendel at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute. In the study, 74 musicians (ages 19-91) and 89 non-musicians (ages 18-86) participated in a series of auditory assessments. A musician was defined as someone who started musical training by the age of 16, continued practicing music until the day of testing, and had an equivalent of at least six years of formal music lessons. Non-musicians in the study did not play any musical instrument. Wearing insert earphones, participants sat in a soundproof room and completed four auditory tasks. These tasks assessed four parameters pure tone thresholds, gap detection, mistuned harmonic detection and speech-in-noise. Pure tone threshold is the ability to detect sounds that grew increasingly quieter. Gap detection is the ability to detect a short silent gap in an otherwise continuous sound, which is important for perceiving common speech sounds such as the words that contain aga' or ata'. Mistuned harmonic detection is the ability to detect the relationship between different sound frequencies, which is important for separating sounds that are occurring simultaneously in a noisy environment. Speech-in-noise is the ability to hear a spoken sentence in the presence of background noise. Scientists found that being a musician did not offer any advantage in the pure-tone thresholds test, across the age span. However, in the three other auditory tasks mistuned harmonic detection, gap detection and speech-in-noise musicians showed a clear advantage over non-musicians and this advantage gap widened as both groups got older. By age 70, the average musician was able to understand speech in a noisy environment as well as an average 50 year old non-musician, suggesting that lifelong musicianship can delay this age-related decline by 20 years. Most importantly, the three assessments where musicians demonstrated an advantage all rely on auditory processing in the brain, while pure-tone thresholds do not. This suggests that lifelong musicianship mitigates age-related changes in the brains of musicians, which is probably due to musicians using their auditory systems at a high level on a regular basis. Our Bureau
Light detects oesophageal cancer

A new, more accurate way to identify pre-cancerous cells in the lining of the oesophagus uses a tiny light source and sensors at the end of an endoscope. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid splashes, or refluxes, up into the oesophagus. Long periods of acid reflux can change the cells that line the oesophagus, making them appear more like intestinal cells than oesophageal cells. These cellular changes can also be a precursor to cancer. As in most cancers, early identification of these pre-cancerous cells often leads to better outcomes for patients. Barrett's oesophagus afflicts more than one percent of the U.S. population, with most patients above the age of 50. Developed by biomedical engineers at Duke University and successfully tested on patients during a clinical trial at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 84 of 143 device holds the promise of being a less invasive method for testing patients suspected of having Barrett's oesophagus, a change in the lining of the oesophagus due to acid reflux. Using an endoscope to reach the oesophagus via the nose, physicians shine short bursts of this light at locations of suspected disease and sensors capture and analyze the light as it is reflected back. In particular, they are trying to spot characteristic changes within the layer of cells known as the epithelium, which line cavities and surfaces throughout the body, according to a Duke University press release. By interpreting the way the light scatters after we shine it at a location on the tissue surface, we can the spot the tell-tales signs of cells that are changing from their healthy, normal state to those that may become cancerous, said Neil Terry, a Ph.D. student at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. When we compared the findings from our system with an actual review by pathologists, we found they correlated in 86 percent of the samples. The team published their findings online in the January issue of the journal Gastroenterology Our Bureau
Light on two questions of galaxy formation

A team of scientists has discovered a distant galaxy that may help elucidate two fundamental questions of galaxy formation: How galaxies take in matter and how they give off energetic radiation.
Lighter, stronger steel making method found

A new way called flash processing that makes steel 7 per cent stronger than any steel on record in less than 10 seconds has been found. The new steel is stronger and more shock-absorbing than the most common titanium alloys.
Lighter, tougher blade for greater efficiency

Efforts to build larger wind turbines able to capture more energy are stymied by blade weight. Now, a blade that is much lighter and eight times tougher and more durable than currently used ones has been developed.
Lighting and nutrients in salad greens

Scientists may prompt consumers to look for salad packages that receive the greatest exposure to light on the fresh-produce shelves.
Lightning effect
Why does the sound quality from a radio set degrade, when lightning strikes near the radio set? SUDIPTo CHAKRABORTY Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 85 of 143 A radio set works according to the principles of electromagnetic induction which, in brief, can be stated as a time varying electromagnetic field in the neighbourhood of a conducting loop which induces a similarly time varying electric current in the loop. This current in turn would give rise to a time varying magnetic field in the vicinity. The radio station generates a time dependent electromagnetic signal of definite frequency in the radio frequency range; this is known as the carrier signal. The carrier frequency of each radio station is specific and fixed. This signal is modulated by the audio signal either according to the method of amplitude modulation or frequency modulation. This signal is transmitted as an electromagnetic wave which generates the time dependent electromagnetic field in the atmosphere. The antenna of the receiving radio set intercepts this signal and picks it up. The signals of all the different radio stations in the vicinity of the receiving set are present in the atmosphere as a combined signal. However, the electronic tuning circuit in the set selects the signal of the desired station and sends it to the demodulator stage of the set, which removes the carrier signal and retrieves the audio signal in the form of a time varying electric voltage of extremely low strength. This is further processed by a suitable amplifier which enhances the strength of the audio signal. This amplified signal is played into the speaker which converts it to the audible sound waves and we listen to them. If the modulated carrier signal is modified by any means like superimposition of a signal from another source, the demodulated signal also will be effected. And that is what happens when there is a strong enough electric spark discharge, like a lightning, near a radio set tuned to any station. The spark actually involves a very irregular but strong electric current between two atmospheric charged points. The time structure of these disturbances also covers a very wide frequency range. These currents are so strong and the frequency range is so wide that they alter, in a local region, the modulated carrier signals of all the radio stations. This adds a noise to the genuine radio signal which when processed by the usual electronic circuit of the receiver set, produces the usual sound along with the imposed noise. In case, the radio station is not transmitting any signal at a time, the only signal detected and processed by the receiver is the one due to the noise and one hears only the crackling noise from the radio. PROF. H. K. SAHU Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai
Lightweight device performs six types of field operations

Till a few years back a farmer's entire family used to work in the fields and he could manage the harvest. But today, unable to make a living from the rain dependent farms, many small-holders are in difficulty and moving into the already cramped towns and cities in search of work. At times, fields are left practically unattended, says Mr. Ajay Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, New Delhi. It is akin to being caught between the devil and the deep sea for them. They For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 86 of 143 cannot sell their lands as they are their only source of security, and cannot make a net profit from their crops either, he adds. What can a farmer do in such a piquant situation? Mr. Shamrao Parhate from Madhya Pradesh says, labour shortage problem literally forced me to develop a multipurpose agriculture machine that can do several operations. Becoming popular Named 'Shivraj,' the lightweight device performs nearly six types of agricultural work, and is becoming popular among farmers of Chhindwara, Nagpur and Wardha districts in Maharashtra. It is a multipurpose tool frame drawn by a pair of bullocks. Different accessories can be attached to it for performing several operations, such as shallow ploughing, interculturing, weeding, sowing, residue collection, groundnut digging, and soybean harvesting. With a little modification, it turns into a sprayer as well. About 0.27 hectare can be readied in an hour using this machine which is priced at Rs. 12,000, inclusive of attachments, says the farmer, adding there are many innovative features in Shivraj. A provision for different seed rates and desired plant-to-plant spacing, disconnecting the seed metering drive using a locking lever to avoid seed losses, changing the angle of penetration into the soil during ploughing are some of them. Special ploughs Specially built ploughs are provided for ploughing the fields. Three plough bottoms can be attached at a time, and the full weight of the machine is put into the ploughing process and the angular back support ensures that the plough does not bend when in use, he explains. Harrowing is done by steel tyres that break the upper soil crust and uproot weeds. The residue gets collected by a special attachment operated by a hand lever at the rear of this equipment. Removing waste When the vehicle moves forward, it collects uprooted stalks, weeds and crop residue. When the lever is lifted, the collected material drops in a heap to be carried away or burnt, explains Mr. Parhate. The seed drilling attachment consists of seed box, drilling unit, seed conveying PVC tubes and furrow openers. The drilling unit derives its power from central shaft of driven wheels through a beltand-pulley mechanism. Plant-to-plant and row-to-row distance can also be adjusted. Weeding and intercultural operations are done by fixing suitable blades according to the need of crop being handled. Groundnut digging For groundnut digging, the blade enters four to five inches deep in the soil, cuts the roots allowing the pods to be retained along with the plant. For soybean harvesting, an attachment drops the cut crop to one side for manual collection,
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 87 of 143 explains Mr. Parhate who is in the process of patenting the machine. Parhate's innovation comes at an ideal time when the country is hard hit in terms of sourcing manual labourers. The machine seems to be a good alternative to human labour, adds Mr. Ajay. For more details readers can contact Mr. Shamrao Parhate, Pandhurna, Chinndwara, Madhya Pradesh, phone: 07164-220308, Fax: 07164-220637, mobile: 09424648655.
Lightweight machine weeds out paddy farmers' woes

A French Jesuit priest Henri de Laulanie first developed the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of paddy cultivation for the poor farmers in Madagascar during the 1980's. In the last two decades the technique is fast becoming popular among millions of farmers worldwide. In India the success of SRI can be perceived as being made possible by many small farmers who dared to experiment and innovate new techniques, says Mr. Senthilkumaran, Director, Information, Education and Communication, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai. Simple and efficient Take the example of the conoweeder, a simple, hand-operated device to remove weeds from the paddy field. To encourage small farmers to adopt this cultivation the State Governments passed orders to their respective agriculture Universities to make the machine available to farmers through their Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) freely as and when they require. With the numbers being limited, the KVKs' in many areas found it difficult to cater to the demand. But one significant problem that the Government failed to notice during the supply of the machines was, whether it was user friendly. Many farmers complain that the conoweeder supplied by the Government is too heavy and difficult for them to use, says Mr. Senthil. In some places farmers could not take up SRI cultivation because they did not get the weeder on time and for others it proved physically strenuous to move the machine in their fields. Being a farmer myself, equipped with an engineering degree, I decided to develop an easy to handle weeder that served multiple purposes, says Mr. S. Karthikeyan, from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. He adds, as a farmer I could easily realise the exact requirement of a paddy cultivator and designed the machine. Distinctive feature The most distinctive feature of Mr. Karthik's weeder is that being lightweight it can be easily operated. Even women find it easy to work with it. This is not the case with the commonly available conoweeder. It is heavy and requires good strength to operate it, explains Mr. Senthil. Says Mr. Karthik: Unlike the other weeders my device can be easily made to run in slushy fields to a depth of even one foot. The wheels can be changed and used for readying even dry fields. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 88 of 143 One litre of petrol It needs only one litre of petrol and can be used continuously for an hour. It is advisable to use it two times at 15 days interval for increasing the tilling growth of the crop by 50-60 numbers. Normally 12 to 15 people are required to remove the weeds from an acre, working for 5 to 6 hours. But a single person can easily perform this action using this device and complete the work in 2 to 2.5 hours. This kind of technology needs to be encouraged for adoption on a larger scale. The government and financial institutions should consider supporting such initiative by subsidizing the equipment, stresses Mr. Senthil. But the sad factor is the innovator has applied for a subsidy from the Government and is yet to hear something positive from them. Farmer's meet MSSRF organised a meet of more than 50 farmers two months back to create awareness about this new device. The innovation was also tested at TNAU, GKVK, Bangalore, State Agriculture Engineering Departments, Research Institutions and several farm fields. For more details contact Mr. S. Karthikeyan, Om sakthi agri industries, No 9/1 Lal Bahadur Sastri road, Kumbakonam: 612-001, email: karthi_omsakthi@yahoo.co.in, mobile: 09789618131, phone: 0435-2401231. And Mr. Senthil at Third Cross Road, Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, email: senthil@mssrf.res.in; senthilrural@gmail.com, Phone: 044 22541229, 22542791.
Link between moisture in soil and precipitation

While current theory suggests that soil moisture has had a positive impact on precipitation, a new study has shown that evaporation from the land is only able to modify the frequency of rainfall, not its quantity.
Linking genetic changes to human diseases become easy

The parts of the human genome that control when and where genes are turned on have been successfully identified. The map created with this information will be a shot in the arm for researchers trying to understand and interpret genetic changes linked to human diseases. The results are published in Nature today (Oct 13). This has become possible by comparing the sequences of 29 mammalian genomes. The genomes of mammals studied include those of chimpanzees, rhesus monkeys, mice, dogs, rabbits, rats, cats, squirrels, fruit bats, horses, cows, and even elephants. Conserved regions The authors were able to detect highly conserved regions of the genome in all the 29 mammals studied. The highly conserved regions have remained the same across species for a very long time. These highly conserved regions make up nearly 4 per cent of the human genome. They were also able to ascribe potential functions to around 60 per cent of the
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 89 of 143 bases found in the conserved regions. This comparative study has helped in understanding how the regulatory controls have remained the same across all mammals. Compare this with just about 1.5 per cent of the human genome that was found to encode for protein sequence when genome was studied in isolation. But when a comparative study was done with the genomes of mouse, rat and dog, it was found that at least 5 per cent of the protein sequence was probably functional. A very interesting offshoot of this study was the certainty with which scientists could understand how evolution dating back to more than 100 millions years ago has contributed to adaptation to different environments and lifestyles. Rapid evolution For instance, they were able to pinpoint the specific proteins that are under rapid evolution, like those for the immune system, taste perception, and cell division. Even the protein domains within genes like those related to bone remodelling and retinal functions have been found to be evolving rapidly. Of special interest is the finding that certain DNA controls have been changing only in human and primate genomes. If scientists were earlier able to identify 200 such regions, the latest study has helped in expanding the list to more than 1,000 regions. This will help in understanding human evolution. Health implications The study has particular relevance in helping us understand genetic variants or mutations closely tied to certain diseases. Individuals suffer from certain diseases when these mutations are disrupted. Surprisingly, most of the genetic mutations have been identified in the non-protein coding regions of the genome. But for this comparative study, it would have been very difficult to identify mutations that cause diseases in the non-protein coding regions. Sequencing of additional species should enable discovery of lineage-specific elements within mammalian clades and provide increased resolution for shared mammalian constraint, the authors note. The authors were also able to assign or suggest possible functions for more than half of the 360 million DNA letters present in the conserved elements. These regions have been carefully preserved across mammals for millions of years. The authors now intend to sequence 100 to 200 mammalian species so as to achieve single-nucleotide resolution. The advantages The biggest advantage of comparing the sequence of many mammals becomes apparent in the case of humans. For instance, even to undertake experimental studies to know the functional regions requires prior knowledge of the biochemical activity sought. But comparative approaches provide an unbiased catalogue of shared functional regions independent of biochemical activity or condition, the authors write. It can thus capture experimentally intractable or rare activity patterns.
Liquid turns solid under high electric field

Under the influence of sufficiently high electric fields, liquid droplets of certain materials will undergo solidification, simulations show.
Lit-up tumour cells help ovarian surgery

A technique which lights up tumour cells during surgery could help those who suffer from ovarian cancer. Now doctors may spot undetectable tumours measuring just a tenth of a millimetre, dramatically improving success rate in tricky cancer operations. Researchers added a fluorescent marker to a form of folic acid which gets attached to ovarian cancer cells which they injected into patients two hours before surgery, the Daily Mail reports. Using a special camera, they were able to highlight cancer cells and display them as green glowing patches on a monitor. Biochemistry professor Philip Low, from Purdue University in Indiana, the US, who invented the technique, said: It allowed surgeons to spot a tumour 30 times smaller than the smallest they could detect using standard techniques. By dramatically improving the detection of the cancer by literally lighting it up removal has dramatically improved. It is extremely difficult to locate ovarian cancer which is often spotted at a late stage, when it is too late. Surgeons using traditional methods, which rely on vision and touch, often miss small tumours containing clusters of cells which are less than three mm wide. However, those involved in a trial of the new fluorescence-guided technique found an average of 34 tumours compared with an average of seven using current methods. IANS
Lizard fossil provides the missing link in snake origins

Genetic studies suggest that snakes are related to monitor lizards and iguanas, while their anatomy points to amphisbaenians (worm lizards'), a group of burrowing lizards with snake-like bodies. The debate has been unresolved until now. First evidence The recent discovery by researchers from the University of Toronto Mississauga and the Museum fr Naturkunde BerlinGermany of a tiny, 47 million-year-old fossil of a lizard calledCryptolacerta hassiacaprovides the first anatomical evidence that the body shapes of snakes and limbless lizards evolved independently. The findings were reported inNature. The fossil reveals that amphisbaenians are not closely related to snakes, but instead are related to lacertids, a group of limbed lizards from Europe, Africa and Asia. This is the sort of study that shows the unique contributions of fossils in understanding evolutionary relationships, says Professor Robert Reisz from the University of Toronto Mississauga, the senior author of the study. It is particularly exciting to see that tiny fossil skeletons can answer some really important questions
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 91 of 143 in vertebrate evolution. This fossil refutes the theory that snakes and other burrowing reptiles share a common ancestry and reveals that their body shapes evolved independently, says lead author Professor Johannes Mller of Humboldt-Universitt, Berlin. The German research team, led by Mller and American graduate student Christy Hipsley, used X-ray computed tomography to reveal the detailed anatomy of the lizard's skull and combined the anatomy ofCryptolacertaand other lizards with DNA from living lizards and snakes to analyze relationships. The results Their results showed that Cryptolacerta shared a thickened, reinforced skull with worm lizards and that both were most closely related to lacertids, while snakes were related to monitor lizards like the living Komodo dragons, according to a University of Toronto Mississauga press release. Even though snakes and amphisbaeans separately evolved their elongate, limbless bodies, the discovery ofCryptolacertareveals the early stages in the evolution of burrowing in lizards. By comparingCryptolacterato living lizards with known lifestyles, co-author and U of T Mississauga paleontologist Jason Head determined that the animal likely inhabited leaf-litter environments and was an opportunistic burrower. Cryptolacertashows us the early ecology of one of the most unique and specialized lizard groups, and also reveals the sequence of anatomical adaptations leading to amphisbaenians and their burrowing lifestyle, says Head. Based on this discovery, it appears worm-lizards evolved head first. Our Bureau
Long, non-stop bird-flight

Great snipes (Gallinago media) that summer in Scandinavia fly to their winter habitat in Africa in just two to three days, according to researchers led by biologist Raymond Klaasen of Sweden's Lund University. Writing inBiology Letters, Klaasen said the snipes not only flew over seas and deserts but also attractive rest and feeding grounds. Little was known previously about the migratory behaviour of the shorebird, a relative of the common snipe. Klaasen's team captured 10 great snipes at their summer habitat in central Sweden and fitted them with tiny geolocating devices that recorded their flights. The team recaptured three of the birds a year later and were able to reconstruct their migration. All three crossed the Baltic Sea, the Balkans, the Adriatic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Libyan coast and Sahara Desert on their way to central Africa. While other migratory birds take advantage of many possible stopovers en route to rest and feed, great snipes fly the distance almost nonstop, Klaasen said. They also shun stops on the return trip. He said they reached speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour without assistance from tail winds, as meteorological data showed. DPA
Long-term wind speed changes estimated

Scientists are taking the first steps to improve estimates of long-term wind speed changes for the fast-growing wind energy sector. The research is intended to identify the risks for generators in a changing climate.
Loss of biodiversity due to unwise prioritisation Low temperatures hit corals in Florida Keys
Extreme low temperatures affect certain corals in much the same way that high temperatures do, with potentially catastrophic consequences for coral ecosystems, says a study of coral reefs in the Florida Keys.
Magnets help prevent heart attacks

A Temple University physicist has discovered that he can thin the human blood by subjecting it to a magnetic field. If a person's blood becomes too thick it can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks. Pioneering applications Rongjia Tao, professor and chair of physics at Temple University, has pioneered the use of electric or magnetic fields to decrease the viscosity of oil in engines and pipelines. Now, he is using the same magnetic fields to thin human blood in the circulation system. Because red blood cells contain iron, Tao has been able to reduce a person's blood viscosity by 20-30 percent by subjecting it to a magnetic field of 1.3 Telsa (about the same as an MRI) for about one minute. Tao and his collaborator tested numerous blood samples in a Temple lab and found that the magnetic field polarizes the red blood cells causing them to link together in short chains, streamlining the movement of the blood. Because these chains are larger than the single blood cells, they flow down the centre, reducing the friction against the walls of the blood vessels. Combined effects The combined effects reduce the viscosity of the blood, helping it to flow more freely, according to a Temple University press release. When the magnetic field was taken away, the blood's original viscosity state slowly returned, but over a period of several hours. An effective way By selecting a suitable magnetic field strength and pulse duration, we will be able to control the size of the aggregated red-cell chains, hence to control the blood's viscosity, said Tao. This method of magneto-rheology provides an effective way to control the blood viscosity within a selected range. Currently, the only method for thinning blood is through drugs such as aspirin; however, these drugs often produce unwanted side effects. Tao said that the
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 93 of 143 magnetic field method is not only safer, it is repeatable. Reapplication possible The magnetic fields may be reapplied and the viscosity reduced again. He also added that the viscosity reduction does not affect the red blood cells' normal function. Tao and his former graduate student, Ke Colin' Huang, now a medical physics resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan, are publishing their findings in the journal,Physical Review E. Our Bureau
Making a bee-line for the best rewards

Bumblebees use complex problem solving skills to minimise the energy they use when flying to collect food, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London.
Making a spectacle of star formation in Orion

Looking like a pair of eyeglasses only a rock star would wear, a new nebula view brings into focus a murky region of star formation. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope exposes the depths of this dusty nebula with its infrared vision.
Male fertility breakthrough achieved

Researcher has achieved a significant breakthrough in male fertility, producing normal sperm from mouse cells.
Man sailed the seas 130,000 years ago

Archaeologists have discovered a set of tools that point to man sailing the seas tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought. Rough axes and other tools, thought to be between 130,000 and 700,000 years old, were found close to shelters on the south coast of the Mediterranean island of Crete. Crete has been separated from the mainland of Greece for about five million years, so whoever made the tools must have travelled there by sea, a distance of at least 40 miles. The previous earliest evidence was of sea travel was 60,000 years ago and in Greece, it was 11,000 years ago, the Daily Mail reports. The findings upset the current view that human ancestors migrated to Europe from Africa by land alone. The Greek culture ministry said that the results of the survey not only provide evidence of sea voyages in the Mediterranean tens of thousands of years earlier than we were aware of so far, but also change our understanding of early hominids' cognitive abilities. The tools were found during a survey of caves and rock shelters near the village of
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 94 of 143 Plakias by archaeologists from the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the culture ministry. IANS
Management of charcoal rot in rabi sorghum Management of coffee berry borer Management of mosquito bugs in tea Management of rhinoceros beetle menace in coconut
Rhinoceros beetle is mainly a pest of coconut and oil palms. The beetles damage palms by boring into the centre of the crown, injuring the young growing tissues and feed on the exuded sap. As they bore into the crown, they cut through the developing leaves. When the leaves grow out and unfold, the damage appears as V-shaped cuts in the fronds or holes through the midrib. Life cycle Eggs are laid and larvae develop in manure pits or other organic matter and hatch in 8-12 days. The larvae stage takes another 82-207 days before entering an 8-13 day non feeding prepupal stage. The pupal stage lasts for 17-28 days. Adults remain in the pupal cell for 17-22 days before emerging and flying to palm crowns to feed. They are active at night and hide in feeding or breeding sites during the day. Mostly mating takes place at the breeding sites. Adults may live for 4-9 months and each female lays 50-100 eggs during her lifetime. Management methods: Chop and burn decaying logs or break them up and destroy any adult beetles developing inside. Cut stumps as close to the soil surface as possible. A hooked wire can be used to extract and destroy rhinoceros beetle adults feeding in coconut trees. Fungal application The fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae can be applied in manure pits at 4 kg/tonne to control the grubs that feed on the decaying matter Apply mixture of neem seed kernel powder + sand (1:2) at150 g per palm in the base of the 3 inner most leaves in the crown Place phorate 10 G 5 gms mixed with sand in two inner most leaf axils for 2 times at 6 months' intervals. Place some napthalene balls at leaf axil at the top of the crown Use pheromone traps with rhinolure @ 12/ha for trapping the adults and destroy them. Treat the longitudinally split tender coconut stem and green petiole of fronds
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 95 of 143 with fresh toddy and keep them in the garden to attract and trap the beetles. A.Suganthi and A.P. Sivamurugan KVK, VirinjipuramTamilNadu Agricultural University, Vellore
Managing papaya mealybug through bio control

Outbreak of papaya mealy bug, Paracoccus marginatus was noticed during 2008 on papaya, mulberry, tapioca, jatropha, vegetables, fruits, cotton, plantation crops, spices and flowers crops in different parts of Tamil Nadu causing extensive damage upto 90 per cent. Three parasitoids Acerophagus papayae, Anagyrus loecki and Pseudleptomastix mexicana were imported through NBAII (National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects) from US. Field trials According to Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi, Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, We obtained the nucleus culture of the parasitoids from NBAII for multiplication. Subsequently the parasitoids were released as field trials in the University campus. He says: Training on mass multiplication of mealybug parasitoids was given to plant protection scientists from seven colleges, 36 research stations and 14 KVKs within a fortnight to take up mass production throughout the state immediately. Short time frame Within a period of six months, 5,65,000 parasitoids were mass multiplied in a war footing manner and released in farmers field at 100 parasitoids / field / village or block in all districts of Tamil Nadu except Nilgiris. Since, no mealybug incidence was noticed in Nilgiris, the parasitoids were not released. The technology is very well received by the farmers. Previously, on an average 2 sprays were given for a single crop of mulberry and 20-24 sprays in papaya and ten sprays in cassava by the farmers. Amount saved An amount of Rs.122 crores have been saved by rural farmers for not advocating pesticide application for the past six months in papaya, mulberry and cassava. Due to release of mealybug parasitoidan amont of Rs.435 crores have been saved from loss due to the invasive pest in above three crops, adds Dr. Boopathi Two thousand parasitoids were also given to Kerala Agricultural University for release. Anticipation We anticipate further flare up of mealybugs, since summer is in progress. In order to prevent mealybugs damage all the research stations were asked to gear up mass production of parasitoids to meet out the demand and release the parasitoids wherever there is infestation, says Dr. Boopathi. For further details contact: Dr. E.I. Jonathan, at 94890 56704, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, TNAU, Coimbatore: For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
Map of carbon in tropical forests

A NASA-led research team has created the most precise map ever produced depicting the amount and location of carbon in Earth's tropical forests.
Marsupial wolf or Tasmanian tiger?

By studying bones of thylacines and 31 other mammals, researchers found that the thylacine was a Tasmanian tiger more cat than dog, although clearly a marsupial.
Measuring radiation on journey to Mars

The Radiation Assessment Detector, the first instrument on NASA's next rover mission to Mars to begin science operations, was powered up and began collecting data December 6, almost two weeks ahead of schedule. RAD is the only instrument scheduled to collect science data on the journey to Mars. The instrument is measuring the energetic particles inside the spacecraft to characterize the radiation environment anastronaut would experience on a future human mission to the Red Planet. The first data packets from RAD look great, said RAD principal investigator Don Hassler, science program director in the Space Studies Department at Southwest Research Institute. We are seeing a strong flux in space, even inside the spacecraft, about four times higher doses of radiation than the baseline we measured on the launch pad from the RTG, or radioisotope thermoelectric generator, used to power the rover. It's very exciting to begin the science mission. RAD will measure the relevant energetic particle species originating from galactic cosmic rays, the Sun and other sources. Of particular interest are the particles accelerated by coronal mass ejections on the surface of the Sun, which spew fastmoving clouds of radiation across the solar system. RAD was designed to characterize radiation levels on the surface of Mars, but an important secondary objective is measuring the radiation on the almost nine-month journey through interplanetary space, to prepare for future human exploration. Our Bureau
Medical use from study of ruminants' headgear Meditation for body-mind harmony
A new study suggests that professional ballet and modern dancers are not as emotionally in sync with their bodies as are people who meditate.
Mediterranean ocean invaded by more than 900 alien species

A four-year study conducted at the University of Gothenburg shows that more than 900 new alien species have been encountered in the coastal environments of the eastern Mediterranean Sea in recent decades, including the poisonous pufferfish. The invasion of alien species has had the consequence that the whole food chain is changing, while there is a lack of knowledge on which to base relevant risk assessments. When the Suez Canal was completed in 1869, a corridor was created for the spread of alien species to the Mediterranean Sea, which is now undergoing great changes in animal and plant communities. In recent years, regular reports of alien species from several of the coastal environments of the eastern Mediterranean have caused concern over what will happen to indigenous species and ecosystems. The Mediterranean is the world's most invaded sea, but our understanding of how alien species affect ecosystems is inhibited by a lack of basic knowledge of the animal and plant communities on the coast. Once species have become established in the Mediterranean it is almost impossible to eradicate them, says Stefan Kalogirou of the Department of Marine Ecology at the University of Gothenburg. Over a period of four years Kalogirou, in cooperation with the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, has studied the structure and function of fish communities in seagrass meadows and on sandy bottoms in two important coastal environments on the island of Rhodes in south-eastern Greece. This has provided important insights into invasion biology, that is to say possible ecological consequences of alien species in the food chain according to a University of Gothenburg press release. The results show a clear ecological impact when alien species either become dominant, like pufferfish, or are piscivores, like barracuda and cornetfish. It is evident that the food chain is being restructured, but the lack of previous studies limited our conclusions. The poisonous pufferfish is one of the alien species that have recently been introduced. The pufferfish toxin, tetrodotoxin, causes muscle paralysis, which can lead to respiratory arrest. In the worst case the outcome can be fatal. In the coastal environments that Kalogirou has studied, the pufferfish has become a dominant species, which has led to both ecological and social effects. Our Bureau
Meet on demystifyingcrop biotechnology

Scientists and world leaders believe that crop biotechnology holds the key to food security and poverty reduction in the developing world. Yet, public misunderstanding about biotechnology due to lack of science-based information poses a big challenge in harnessing its full potential. Role of media Understanding and enhancing the role of the media in communicating crop biotechnology was the focus of a media colloquium on Demystifying Crop Biotechnology: Issues and Concepts for the Asian Media held recently by ICRISAT-
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 98 of 143 Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh as part of the 20th annual conference of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC). The meet was jointly organized by AMIC, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Department of Biotechnology-Government of India (DBT-GOI), and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). Being the primary source of scientific information, the media plays a crucial role in communicating crop biotechnology. This role should be optimally harnessed to inform, educate and mobilize the public as an enlightened user of crop biotechnology products and decision makers to come up with supportive policies. Opportunities galore Armed with information on the tremendous opportunities offered by crop biotechnology in enhancing food security, agricultural production and yield, reducing poverty, improving livelihoods and promoting a nation's growth, the media will help consumers better understand and support agri-biotechnology, said ICRISAT Director General Dr. William Dar. Issues and concerns Biotechnology and communication experts participated in the meet to share contemporary challenges, issues and concerns related to crop biotechnology, as well enhance the appreciation and understanding of media practitioners and researchers on the subject. An apex media event in Asia, AMIC's annual conference draws over 300 delegates across the globe annually, including media scholars, communication practitioners, media industry professionals, policy-makers, researchers and academicians.
Meet on ready foods, market opportunities Megha-Tropiques will study the global tropical weather: Narasimha
The Megha-Tropiques satellite is designed to study clouds in the tropical regions of the world that play a major role in climate change, said Roddam Narasimha, Member, Space Commission, on Wednesday at Sriharikota. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C18) put four satellites in orbit on Wednesday, including the Megha-Tropiques, which is an Indo-French mission. The Megha-Tropiques is meant for studying the weather in the short-term and climate in the long-term in the tropical regions of the world. Dr. Narasimha, who along with the former ISRO chairman K. Kasturirangan, conceived the idea of building a satellite for specifically studying the global tropical weather, said that half of the land area in the world was in the tropics. The tropical region was a place where the skill in predicting the convective systems, humidity, water vapour and precipitation was of importance. Predicting the monsoons was a major problem in India, he said. Tropics radiated surplus energy received from the sun and this excess energy was transferred from the tropics to higher latitudes.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 99 of 143 The Megha-Tropiques promises to give us very special data, said Dr. Narasimha, who was former Director, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore. It will provide simultaneous data on humidity, rainfall, water vapour, temperature etc.. in the tropical regions in real time. This was the second satellite to study the global tropical weather after a satellite built jointly by the U.S. and Japan in 1997. He described the MADRAS (Microwave Imager for Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures) payload on board the Megha-Tropiques as a livewire instrument. ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said Megha-Tropiques had four scientific instruments. They were: the MADRAS developed jointly by the ISRO and the French national space agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), which would provide an estimation of rainfall, water vapour, ice and surface wind; the Sounder for probing Vertical Profiles of Humidity (SAPHIR) from the CNES; the Scanner for Radiation budget, also from the CNES; and the Radio Occultation Sensor for Vertical Profiling of Temperature and humidity, procured from Italy. While the PSLV-C18 cost Rs.90 crore to build, the Megha-Tropiques was made possible with Rs.85 crore each from India and France. That is, the satellite totally cost Rs.170 crore. Data will come to Bangalore T.K. Alex, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, which built the MeghaTropiques, said the satellite's solar-panels had been deployed and its two antennae had opened up. The spacecraft is doing wellWe will stabilise the spacecraft by using star-trackers and gyroscopes so that it will always be looking at the earth,' he said. The science data sent by the satellite would be received at the ground station at Byalalu, near Bangalore and at Kourou in French Guiana. But all the data will come to Bangalore and they will be processed there, Dr. Alex said. The satellite would cover the entire globe in a day and information from it would reach the public within three hours. The 1,000-kg Megha-Tropiques would have a life-span of five years. G. Raju, Project Director, Megha-Tropiques, said ISRO would start analysing the satellite's data in about two to three weeks. P. Kunhikrishnan was the Mission Director for the PSLV-C18 launch. The 10-kg SRMSat, from the SRM University, near Chennai, would address the problem of global-warming and pollution in the atmosphere by monitoring the carbon-dioxide and water vapour there. The three-kg Jugnu, from the IIT, Kanpur, has a camera to keep a tab on the vegetation and status of water bodies. The 29-kg VesselSat, built by LuxSpace of Luxembourg, has an automatic identification system for locating ships at sea in the region covered by the satellite's footprints. Megha-Tropiques promises to give us very special data' The 1,000-kg satellite will have a life-span of five years
Memory in older adults boosted by exercise

A new study shows that one year of moderate physical exercise can increase the size of the brain's hippocampus in older adults, when the brain at that stage remains modifiable, leading to an improvement in spatial memory.
Mental health of chimpanzees affected while in captivity

Captive chimpanzees often show abnormalities, some of which could be compared to mental illness in humans. These include self-mutilation, repetitive rocking, as well as the eating faeces and drinking urine, according to a new study by the University of Kent. Six collections Conducted by Nicholas Newton-Fisher and Lucy Birkett from the Kent School of Anthropology and Conservation, the research was based on 40 socially-housed zooliving chimpanzees from six collections in the US and Britain. After analysing 1,200 hours of data, researchers concluded that while most behaviour of zoo-living chimps is normal,' abnormal behaviour is inherent in this population despite enrichment efforts such as social housing, the journalPLoS ONE reports. The attribution Such abnormal behaviour has been attributed to the fact that many zoo-living chimpanzees occupy restricted and barren spaces compared to the natural habitat, and have large parts of their lives substantially managed by humans, according to a Kent statement. Newton-Fisher, expert in wild chimpanzee behaviour, said: The best zoo environments, which include all zoos in this study, try hard to enrich the lives of the chimpanzees in their care. Their efforts include providing unpredictable feeding schedules and extractive foraging opportunities, and opportunities for normal social interactions by housing chimpanzees in social groups. There are limits to what zoos can provide, however; the apes are still in captivity, he said. Despite interventions What we found in this study is that some abnormal behaviours persist despite interventions to naturalize' the captive conditions, said NewtonFisher. IANS The research was based on 40 socially-housed zoo-living chimpanzees The behaviour included self-mutilation, repetitive rocking, eating faeces and drinking urine
Messing up the mosquito's morse code

There is more than one way to skin a cat' is a phrase dating back to 1678, which somehow got morphed in the US to become more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream. Either way it means that there are several ways to do
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 101 of 143 something. And if a problem has multiple dimensions, there come several people, each one attempting to find one solution or the other. The ultimate goal is to solve it. Malaria is a classic cat'. The insect bites you to suck blood for its living. As it does so, the parasite within it, called plasmodium, enters your bloodstream and infects you with the disease. As malaria kills millions, particularly children, across the world every year, the challenge is to prevent, treat and cure. Global efforts through national, international, governmental and non-governmental agencies are on and the problem is not solved yet. It is indeed one of the Grand Challenges that the Gates Foundation is funding to find a solution. And there have been more than one way to skin the cat. Some here find drugs to treat the illness. Quinine and artemisinin are two examples, which came from traditional medicine (taken as pills and potions, or as gin and tonic). Antimalarial drug candidates are in hot pursuit in medicinal chemistry and natural products labs in many countries, including India. Understanding the life cycle of the plasmodium, its movement within the body and arresting the crucial steps in these is a molecular biological route that many are trying to find. Professor G Padmanaban of IISc Bangalore, and several other scientists in New Delhi, Lucknow and elsewhere are engaged in this effort. Yet others are after the holy grail of vaccines. Dr Chetan Chitnis of ICGEB New Delhi thinks he is very near it. Other skinners try to kill the messenger and along with it the deadly message, plasmodium, within it. They spray DDT and the like in areas where mosquitoes gather and try to eliminate them. Others use bednets coated with chemicals that repel mosquitoes. Yet others wish to use radio frequency waves to drive them away from an area. Some think neutering (castration is not quite the appropriate word here) male mosquitoes by genetic engineering will soon eliminate the tribe and are working on such birth control techniques. And most of us simply use mosquito repellents as pastes, creams or coils of smoke. Dr. Ananda Sankar Ray of the University of California, Riverside, is a skinner with a different approach. He wants to blunt the mosquito's nose and stop it from coming near its prey, namely us. The mosquito has a sensory set of neurons called cpA which detects its prey through the pulses of carbon dioxide that the latter exhales in its regular breath. These pulses activate the mosquito's brain, tracking the insect to fly and land on the prey. Note the ever present CO{-2}in air is not a signal because it does not come in pulses, it is simply a continuous cloud of background The breathing pulse and the puffs of CO{-2}emitted by us are the signal. As Mark Stopfer writes in his commentary on the Ray paper (both in the 2 June 2011 issue ofNature), these dashes and dots are the Morse code that spell dinner for the mosquito. Apart from cpA, there are other sensors in its nose that detect the sweat, and other
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 102 of 143 body odours, directing it to the victim. (This of course explains why some people are more prone to mosquito bites than some others). But if we can disable cpA, we can kill the smell sense (olfactory system) of the mosquito. How then does one do a Surpanaka and hack the mosquito's nose? By swamping the Morse signal of dashes and dots. This is what Ray has been able to do. (Recall though, that inThe Ramayana, Lakshmana cut off the nose of Ravana's sister Surpanaka, and thus her amorous intention as well; but Ray only blocks the nose). Ray's group found that just as plumes of breath generate the on and off pulses in the action potential' of cpA, molecules such as 2-butanone can mimic such signals. These are the mimetic odourants. But some others, for example, 2, 3-butanedione, do an overkill. Rather than pulsing, they generate an ultra-prolonged signal, lasting over a few minutes. Such inhibition of the sensory neuron confuses the mosquito, disorienting it and driving it away. The group tried this strategy first, releasing mosquitoes into one end of a wind tunnel and checking their behaviour with a mimetic odourant at the other end, and then with the overkill inhibitory odourant. In the second case the mosquitoes could not reach the other end at all. Next, they tried the same experiment in real life, in Kenyan huts and found the same. Huts that had a whiff of 2, 3- butanedione were rid of mosquitoes. As Stopfer says, 2, 3-butanedione may not be safe for humans, plus there are other human body odours, so that we need to look at other molecules to bamboozle the mosquito. It occurred to me that frankincense (olibanum,Dhooporsambrani), whose smoke has been used for centuries as an insect repellent, might be worth investigating. It is rich in terpenoids and ketones, some of which might act as safe inhibitory odourants. Any takers? D. BALASUBRAMANIAN dbala@lvpei.org
Method to detect toxic substance in leather

A new analytical method improves detection of dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) in leather and footwear. The substance causes allergic contact dermatitis. It has been detected in leather products made in Asia.
Mice stem cells studied for hair growth revival

In a study to look at the population behaviour of a large pool of stem cells in thousands of hair follicles, scientists found how hair stem cells in mice can communicate with each other for boosting mutual regeneration.
MIcrobes cleaned up most of Gulf oil slick

Bacterial microbes inside the slick degraded the oil much faster than microbes outside the slick accounting in large part for the disappearance of the slick some three weeks after Deepwater Horizon's well was shut off. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
Microbes living in Mars-like conditions

Microbes from ice within a lava tube have been found to thrive in cold, Mars-like conditions. They can tolerate temperatures near freezing, low oxygen levels, and can grow in the absence of organic food.
Microbes, nuclear waste and power

With implications that could eventually benefit sites forever changed by nuclear contamination, researchers at Michigan State University have unravelled the mystery of how microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste and other toxic metals. Details of the process, which can be improved and patented, are published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Geobacter bacteria are tiny micro-organisms that can play a major role in cleaning up polluted sites around the world, said Gemma Reguera, who is an MSU AgBioResearch scientist. Uranium contamination can be produced at any step in the production of nuclear fuel, and this process safely prevents its mobility and the hazard for exposure. The ability of Geobacter to immobilize uranium has been well documented. However, identifying the Geobacters' conductive pili or nanowires as doing the yeoman's share of the work is a new revelation, according to a Michigan State University press release. Nanowires, hair-like appendages found on the outside of Geobacters, are the managers of electrical activity during a cleanup. Our findings clearly identify nanowires as being the primary catalyst for uranium reduction, Reguera said. They are essentially performing nature's version of electroplating with uranium, effectively immobilizing the radioactive material and preventing it from leaching into groundwater. Our Bureau
Microwave oven
When we heat a cup of water in a microwave oven why is the upper part hotter than the lower part? SANJANA SUKUMAR Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu A typical microwave oven has an optoelectronic device, called, magneton which holds a thermionic electron emitter (cathode) and an electron collector (anode), both fitted into an evacuated cylinder under a magnetic field. The ejected and accelerating electrons take a curved path to reach the destination (anode) while transmitting microwave radiation. It is this radiation that is dispersed into the cooking compartment by appropriate electromechanical design. Substances, with polar molecules such as water, alcohols, oils, etc, absorb microwave radiation to elevate the rotational movements of their molecules. When foodstuffs to be cooked by microwave oven are kept in this kind of kettle, the majority of the microwave power reaches the water and tends to hasten the
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 104 of 143 molecular rotations. But, owing to the matrix and intermolecular ligaments, water molecules experience restricted rotation and dissipate the absorbed microwave optical energy into heat out of molecular frustrations. It is this heat that causes faster cooking of the food stuffs. When we heat a cup of water alone in a microwave oven, the water gets all the microwave energy and becomes hot. But the upper part of the water is hotter than the lower part because of the following two main reasons (in case, the water is not heated to boiling). Though designed to distribute the microwave energy homogeneously (isotropic) into the cooking compartment, the top regions, usually receive a slight excess. The hot water moves to upper regions of the container because its density is less than normal water's. Therefore, as and when water is getting heated, the hot water moves upward due to lower density through convection. On this concept only do solar hot water grids on the terrace function. As the cup of water kept in microwave oven is hardly stirred, the temperature gradient is more obvious. It is by the combined effect of uneven distribution of microwave energy and differential densities of hot and cold water that the upper part is hotter than the lower part when we heat a cup of water in a microwave oven. PROF. A. RAMACHANDRAIAH Department of Chemistry National Institute of Technology Warangal Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
Migrating seabirds genetically distinct

Birds of a feather don't always flock together, in fact, they have may have barely mixed with each other for hundreds of years, research by New Zealand scientists has found. Populations of migrating seabirds were genetically distinct and had been for centuries, despite the birds covering thousands of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean each year, researchers at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the University of Auckland found. The study revealed the populations were not interbreeding despite the fact they could easily visit each others' colonies during breeding seasons, said the statement. The research was published by the journal,Nature Communications What we found is that migrating to different locations contributes to genetic differences between seabird populations as it impacts populations breeding timetables,said Dr Matt Rayner, a NIWA scientist. The scientists looked at DNA from tissue samples of old Cook's petrel skins, collected from the North Pacific and South Pacific destinations of the tracked birds more than 100 years ago, housed in U.S. museums. They found that the DNA from the old skins matched perfectly the DNA of the modern populations, confirming the populations had been migrating and adapting to the different locations for a long time. Xinhua
Migration leads to less infectious diseases

Some parasites have transmission stages that can build up where host animals live, and migration allows the hosts to periodically escape these parasite-laden habitats. With hosts gone, parasite numbers drop.
Milk, soy protein linked to lower blood pressure

As per a study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, m ilk and soy protein supplements were associated with lower systolic blood pressure compared with refined carbohydrate dietary ones.
Miniature power plants for aircraft bodies

Using electricity generated from the temperature difference between the air in high altitudes and that close to the ground sensor networks on the body shell of future airplanes will report where maintenance is needed.
Mirror proves quantum superpositions of atom

The two quantum superpositions of an atom, one moving towards a mirror and the other away from it, were combined using Bragg diffraction from a grating of laser light showing that it has been travelling both paths at once.
Mixed cropping of pepper in coconut gardens

Research on mixed cropping of pepper in coconut garden is being carried out at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod. Technologies have been evolved for successful cultivation of the crop. Method of planting The rooted cuttings need to be planted one m away from the bole of coconut in North-East direction. Before planting, one 50x50x50 cm dimension pit has be taken in the above mentioned place and should be kept open for 15 days and available organic manure has to be applied and planting of rooted cuttings can be taken up. During first year, proper care should be given for staking the vines to coconut bole. Management practices Application of recommended dose of fertilizers and organic manures: N:P:K: at 50:50:150 g/vine and application of 2 to 3 kg of organic manure (vermicompost or FYM or compost). Care should be taken not to disturb the root system of the plant and apply the manure on the outer side of the root system and cover with soil. Irrigating during summer months is required and can be given in the form of drip irrigation or sprinkler Irrigation. Integrated disease management approach needs to be adopted involving application of fungicide and bioagents ( Trichoderma viride ) blended with neem cake or vermicompost to manage wilt disease. Successful cultivation of black pepper depends upon, how the vines are taken care
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 106 of 143 with respect to nutrient management and disease management with organic manure blended with bioagents. Easy harvesting Vines should be allowed to trail up to 20 to 25 feet height and further growth should be restricted for easy harvesting of berries and to allow the climber to climb the coconut palms for harvest of nuts. Suitable Varieties: Panniyur 1, 4 and 5, thevam, Sreekara, Panchami and Karimunda. Studies conducted at CPCRI. Kasaragod have revealed that Panniyur 1 variety has performed better by yielding 2.5 to 4 kg dry pepper per vine per year under coconut based high density multispecies cropping system. Other varieties like Panniyur 4 and 5, Sreekara, Panchami also gave better yield ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 kg dry pepper per vine per year. 15 years of result has indicated that, by growing the pepper as mixedcrop in coconut, there was no reduction in the yield of coconut rather there was increase in the yield. Dr. H.P. Maheswarappa Principal Scientist(Agronomy)CPCRI, Kasaragod
Models to save seabirds from becoming bycatch

Tens of thousands of seabirds are killed each year after they are caught in longline fishing gear. New models help reduce these casualties by precisely projecting where and when birds and boats are likely to cross paths.
Modified tiller rotovatoras a weeding machine Monitor flicker

Why does a CRT monitor flicker when shot with a digital camera? R.V. GOVIND Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh The working of CRT is based on a principle called scintillation. In simple words, scintillation is the process by which some atoms emit light when they are excited by ionized or charged particles (typically electrons). In a CRT, electrons continuously fall on the phosphor (or some other scintillating material) screen and cause the phosphor atoms to excite and emit visible light (or simply scintillate). There are two magnetic fields one horizontal and one vertical that direct these electrons to fall on the correct location on the screen. Obviously these fields cannot control the electrons' direction if all electrons are to fall at the same time. The simplest order in which the electrons are directed are row by row from left to right. Hence, the first electron falling would be the top-left most point of the screen and the last would be the bottom-right most point. Each point corresponds to a PIXEL (a picture element). Therefore in a resolution of 1024 X 768 pixels, there are 1024 X For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 107 of 143 768 = 7,86,432 electrons involved to display one static flash of image. By the time the last electron is directed to the last pixel, the first electron would have lost its excitation energy and come back to normal state where no light is emitted. But before this loss of pixel is detected by human eye, the electron directing of magnetic fields starts from first, again. This is the basic working of a CRT. When a camera snaps a picture (or covers a video) there may be some particles which do not emit light during the short time gap when the shutter opens and closes (in videos between intervals when light is sampled, called as frame rate). This causes loss of light in those areas or pixels, which we refer to as flickering. The row by row order is just a simple example. Commonly used order is Horizontal Sawtooth, which explains the zig zag pattern of flicker we observe in our camera. GURUSHARAN Chennai
Monitoring ocean wave behaviour precisely

Engineers have created a new type of stereo vision' to use in studying ocean waves as they pound against the shore, providing a better way to monitor this violent, ever-changing environment.
Monkey study leads to vaccine for trachoma

An attenuated, or weakened, strain of Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria can be used as a vaccine to prevent or reduce the severity of trachoma, a cause of blindness, suggests a study on monkeys.
Monster star, with shells spotted

At a distance of about 13,000 light-years from Earth, it is the closest yellow hypergiant found to date and new observations show it shines some 500,000 times more brightly than the Sun. The monster star, known to astronomers as IRAS 17163-3907, has a diameter about a thousand times bigger than our Sun. Infrared camera The observations of the star and the discovery of its surrounding shells were made using the VISIR infrared camera on the VLT(Very Large Telescope). The pictures are the first of this object to clearly show the material around it and reveal two almost perfectly spherical shells. This object was known to glow brightly in the infrared but, surprisingly, nobody had identified it as a yellow hypergiant before, said Eric Lagadec (European Southern Observatory), who led the team that produced the new images. The sheer size If the Fried Egg Nebula were placed in the centre of the Solar System the Earth would lie deep within the star itself and the planet Jupiter would be orbiting just above its surface. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 108 of 143 The much larger surrounding nebula would engulf all the planets and dwarf planets and even some of the comets that orbit far beyond the orbit of Neptune. The outer shell has a radius of 10,000 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun, according to a European Southern Observatory press release. Very active phase Yellow hypergiants are in an extremely active phase of their evolution, undergoing a series of explosive events this star has ejected four times the mass of the Sun in just a few hundred years. The material flung out during these bursts has formed the extensive double shell of the nebula, which is made of dust rich in silicates and mixed with gas. This activity also shows that the star is likely to soon die an explosive death it will be one of the next supernova explosions in our galaxy. Provide chemicals Supernovae provide much-needed chemicals to the surrounding interstellar environment and the resulting shock waves can kick start the formation of new stars. The Very Large Telescope mid-IR instrument, VISIR, captured this delicious image of the Fried Egg Nebula through three mid-infrared filters that are here coloured blue, green and red. Our Bureau
Moon to have no-fly zones by month end

No-fly zones will come into effect on the moon for the very first time by the end of this month! Why, even buffer zones that spacecraft may have to avoid will come into existence. The reason: avoiding any spraying of rocket exhaust or dust onto certain historical sites and artefacts on the moon. The historical sites are of course the Apollo landing sites and artefacts present on the moon. And the recommendations are for preserving and protecting these historical sites. There are currently more than three dozen historical sites that preserve the more than four-decade-old remains. Apollo 11 and 17 sites [will] remain off-limits, with ground-travel buffers of 75 metres and 225 metres from each respective lunar lander, states the July 20 guidelines of NASA. Science journal had obtained the guidelines. No legal binding According to Science , by the end of this month NASA is expected to come up with a set of recommendations for spacecraft and astronauts visiting the U.S. government property on the moon. Of course, these recommendations will not be legally binding as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty makes it clear that the lunar surface has no owner. Despite the lack of ownership, NASA is hopeful that other countries will respect the U.S. sentiments. Incidentally, the restriction list contains more than the historical sites. For instance, the list includes studying discarded food and abandoned astronaut faeces. Study of bacteria Though these restrictions may appear preposterous, there are clear scientific For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 109 of 143 compulsions to collect and study them. For example, studying the discarded food will reveal the viability of bacteria on the moon and, if present, how they have mutated and survived after years of exposure to solar radiation. It is worthwhile to remember that all scientific experiments conducted on board during space travel are of a few days duration and pale in comparison with decades of constant exposure to several stressful lunar conditions/environment. Similarly, there are other scientific compulsions to study the artefacts left behind on the moon. For instance, any metallic objects would reveal how these materials have degraded after prolonged exposure to solar radiation and other peculiar conditions prevailing on the moon. What prompted the space agency to act was the Google Lunar X prize for those landing a robot that moves 500 metres and sends images from the moon. Precise landing near the Apollo sites would get them more money. Very recently, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. The paths made when the astronauts explored the lunar surface have been very clearly captured by the images. According to NASA, at the Apollo 17 site, the tracks laid down by the lunar rover are clearly visible, along with the last foot trails left on the Moon. The images also show where the astronauts placed some of the scientific instruments that provided the first insights into the Moon's environment and interior.
More bacterial effect on oil from Gulf current

In a process called dynamic auto-inoculation, water moves over the ruptured well, picking up hydrocarbons and crossing back over the well, the bacteria, already activated, are more abundant than before.
More newborn neurons sharpen mouse mind

Adult mice engineered to have more newborn neurons in their brain memory hub excelled at accurately discriminating between similar experiences an ability that declines with normal aging and in some anxiety disorders.
More potent ways to design HIV drugs found

In perhaps the most comprehensive survey of the inner workings of HIV, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco has mapped every apparent physical interaction the virus makes with components of the human cells it infects. This work may reveal new ways to design future HIV/AIDS drugs. In back-to-back papers published today (December 22) in the journal Nature , the survey reveals a pathogenic landscape in which HIV's handful of proteins makes hundreds of physical connections with human proteins and other components inside the cell. In one paper, the team details 497 such connections, only a handful of which had For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 110 of 143 been previously recognized by scientists. Disrupting these connections may interfere with HIV's lifecycle, and the existence of so many new connections suggests there may be several novel ways to target the virus. Have we identified new drug targets? said Nevan Krogan, who led the research. I believe we have. Krogan is an associate professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UCSF. In a companion paper, Krogan and collaborating labs investigated one such connection in detail. They discovered that an HIV protein called Vif makes a physical connection with a human protein called CBF-, hijacking its function. This virus requires this action to function, said Krogan, which suggests that disrupting the connection may be a viable way to design new HIV/AIDS therapies. Unlocking the doors The UCSF-led study has provided the most comprehensive and detailed picture to date of all the interactions HIV has with the human cells it infects, and identifying these interactions may lead to the development of new drugs to treat the disease. Of the 497 specific interactions between HIV and human proteins discovered in the new work, only 19 of those were previously reported. What accounts for the discrepancy, Krogan said, is that this was the first study to look for such interactions globally and in an unbiased fashion unlike previous studies, which had been more focused. Interfering with this association may be a way to block the virus. Ultimately, if scientists can design compounds to do this safely and effectively, those compounds could form the basis for a new type of HIV/AIDS treatment. Our Bureau
Mosquito-eating spider
The stinky smell of sweaty socks may force you out of a room, but scientists have found that the odour enthrals a spider that preys on malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Researchers who made this amazing discovery said their findings could lead to novel ways to combat malaria that kills thousands of people every year. In an experiment, the scientists used worn socks to find out if the East African jumping spider, Evarcha culicivora, was attracted to human odours like its prey. It was found that the spider has evolved an affinity for smelly human feet in order to help find its prey Anopheles gambiae that, according to past research, is also attracted to the scent of humans. It's something that's there in the environment for free, study author Fiona Cross from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, told BBC News. The researchers, who reported their findings in the journal Biology Letters, said they were interested in this species as it is the only known predator that specifically preys on blood-carrying mosquitoes. Cross and her team devised an aroma-based experimental set-up called an olfactometer. They put each test spider into a small holding chamber into which air was pumped, either from a box containing a clean sock or one containing a worn (and For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 111 of 143 therefore smelly) sock. Each spider was able leave its holding chamber at any time and escape into an exit chamber, which did not have sock-scented air pumped into it. The spiders supplied with the aroma of worn socks always remained in the holding chamber for longer than those exposed to the freshly washed sock. PTI
Mouse sheds light on human depression

Just as in humans, there are tough and delicate personality types among mice. Some mice display a passive attitude when faced with stress, and this resembles those attributed to human depression.
Moving the heaven to get some rare earth

About a month ago came an intriguing piece of news. One Mr. Naveen Jain, who has started a company called Moon Express Inc. in California, has plans of sending robotic rovers to the moon. These rovers will look for minerals and ores which contain rare earth elements such as Yttrium, Dysprosium, Nyobium and others, and upon finding, will send back images to the control station on earth. The team will then plan on sending space crafts to go and retrieve the rare earth minerals from the moon and bring them here. An out-of-the-box (more an out-of-the-earth) idea! After all, recall that the moon was once part of the earth and was ejected from us (either by simple break-off from where the Pacific Ocean now is or due to collision by an external body) in the early history of the solar system. Thus, it is not unlikely that some of the ores and minerals we have here are also present on the moon; since the technology is available, why not explore there? Why this focus on the rare earths? What are they? As many students of chemistry know, this is a group of 17 elements of the Periodic Table, specifically the fifteen of the Lanthanide group plus Scandium and Yttrium. Indeed, as they were discovered, they posed an embarrassment to the orderliness of the Periodic Table, much as the inert gases (also called rare gases) did. But the latter could simply be added on as an extra column (the zero group) where they fitted decorously. But the lanthanides had to be grouped into one position with an asterisk and footnote. All the 15 elements from Lanthanum (atomic number 57) to Lutetium (atomic number 71) are placed in one spot on the table, between Barium (56) and Hafnium (72). And they all occur together. In a given ore, for example Ytterbite which takes as name from the Swedish village Ytterby, the oxides of Yttrium and Cerium were first discovered. Further analysis revealed two more oxides, those of Lanthanum and Didymium (which itself is a twin mixture of Praseodymium and Neodymium). These Swedish ores yielded element after element, much like the Russian Matryoshka doll contains doll within a doll within a doll. The village Ytterby became famous since as many as seven elements (Yb, Er, Tb, Y, Pr and Nd) are named after it. What use are
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 112 of 143 they? Because of their remarkable electronic structures, these elements and their compounds are useful in making specialty glasses, battery electrodes, superconducting materials, electromagnets, microwave resonators, and of course laser sources. One of the most common lasers used in YAG (yttrium-aluminium-garnet), and its cousin is Nd-YAG which contains the element Neodymium also. Other lanthanides are used in magnets, steel, MRI contrast agents and phosphors. They are ubiquitous in today's gadgets: disc-drives, miniature chargeable batteries, display, TV monitors, rangefinders, night vision goggles, and so on. Soon it became clear that these elements and oxides are not as rare as was thought. In fact they occur just as abundantly as copper, and mostly in Brazil, China, South Africa, Malaysia US and of course India. We have rare earth ores found in Kerala and the Department of Atomic Energy has a company called Indian Rare Earths. It is estimated that the world uses as much as 134,000 tons of rare earth metals a year, but mining only 124,000. Given this gargantuan appetite, those countries with supply are in a winning position, making rare earth stocks the new oil. And China, which holds 37 per cent of the world's supply, has decided to decrease its exports and regulate its mining efforts as well. Foreseeing the looming situation, a note has been circulated to the US policymakers by the Congressional Research Service highlighting the effect this would have on national security. Rare earth metals are used in missile guidance systems, jet fighter engines, underwater mine detectors and so forth. Aware of the importance, India too appears to have geared up its policy. A new national multi-pronged strategy has been suggested, not only to ramp up domestic production, but also to enter into joint ventures with international players. Granted that we only offer 2% today of the world's needs, business opportunity on one hand and national needs on the other, demand such a move. No wonder then that Naveen Jain is thinking of going to the moon. Now, if he can do it, should we not too? Moon is just as free and uninhabited as the Antarctic (just a bit farther away), and several countries have pitched their tents and hurled their flags in the latter. And it is not the same as the colonization of The Gold Coast (Ghana) by the Portuguese and British, subjugating the native residents, or of D R Congo by the Belgians for diamond. So, are there rules for such exploitation and owning virgin territories, or is it free for all first come first own? Are there any international laws or accepted practices? I wonder. D. BALASUBRAMANIAN dbala@lvpei.org
MRI may help detect Alzheimer's earlier

New research suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could help detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage, before irreversible damage has occurred, according to a study published online in Radiology. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
Multidrug-resistant TB on the rise

Cases of tuberculosis (TB) resistant to a multitude of drug treatments are rising at an alarming rate across Europe, with an estimated 81,000 new cases every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a report published Wednesday. Fifteen of the 27 countries with the highest incidence of multidrug-resistant TB are in eastern Europe, but Asia has also been hit hard by the disease. The report Almost 12 per cent of newly diagnosed patients with TB have the multidrugresistant form, as do 37 per cent of those who have previously been treated for TB, the report said. While countries in eastern Europe and central Asia were hardest-hit by drugresistant TB, their treatment success rate of 65 per cent was greater than that in western Europe. In western Europe TB is widely perceived as a problem of the past, but the disease remains active, mainly in cities, said the WHO report, presented in London. 9,000 cases annually It said 3,500 new cases were reported in London every year more than anywhere else in western Europe. Across Britain, there were around 9,000 cases annually. Almost 50 per cent of patients affected by the multidrug-resistant form of TB will die because no drugs are strong enough to treat them, said the WHO. The organization has launched a multi-billion-dollar action plan aimed at saving 120,000 lives in the period up to 2015. DPA
Multiple varieties and different cropping pattern for higher income

Farming as a profession, requires patience. Normally, the farmer need not depend on anybody for obligations. Though today this might not be true for several farmers in the country, I want to differ on this. Look at my area, just 2 acres and some cents, and my annual income is between Rs. 7 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh in a year, says farmer Sadananda from Tapasihalli village, Doddaballapura taluk, Bangalore rural district proudly. Earning money is not a difficult job for farmers. The secret lies in making use of the available land area and making best use of available resources and technologies, he says. Not satisfactory Mr. Sadananda started cultivating vegetables initially and realized a reasonable income. But he says the income and marketing did not prove satisfactory. He planned the cropping pattern in such a way that it included a combination of perennial, annual, and seasonal crops as well as livestock rearing. Accordingly, he planted 50 coconut trees, most of them around the field borders, and also planted Chikku, Jack (bearing round the year), Agase (fodder trees), Teak, Silver Oak, Pongamia and other trees. In about 20 cents he planted arecanut and adopted
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 114 of 143 organic mulching. Till 2003-04, I planned my own cropping pattern including dairy, sheep and biogas and obtained a net income of around Rs. 3 lakh. During 2005-06 I came into contact with Rural Bioresource Complex Project (RBRC) project staff from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and acted on their advice to shift the cropping attern from more of vegetables to floriculture, nursery raising, adding improved breeds of sheep, vermicomposting, backyard poultry, and azolla production, he explains. Poultry The farmer started rearing of giriraja and girirani poultry birds in the arecanut plantation by using shade net as fencing material and planted rose in one acre and twenty cents of land. Subsequently, he started raising a vegetable nursery in an area of 10 cents based on the local demand. Two cross-breed cows generate 6,000 litres of milk annually. A water storage tank dug at the entrance to the field is used for fish rearing and also for irrigating the crops. Since I got free cow dung I set up a bio gas plant and also erected drip irrigation to use water judiciously. Since labour is a problem, I modified my old scooter into a power sprayer for spraying, and fertigation for my crops, he adds. According to him, money generation serves as a big energy booster for a farmer. What farmers in our country need today is finance. Practically all other inputs are available for them. Must be practical Whatever be the technology, they must be able to deliver results be practical and feasible. Merely talking cannot solve the problem, seems to be his conviction. He further adds, If you look at some of the available government and international websites, they give details of the area of sowing, the seasons, cropping and other information. But in reality this information does not help grassroots farmers. Of what use are these data for farmers when they are suffering? he asks. There is absolutely no basis to expect the impossible. Careful study, interacting with other experienced farmers and experts alone will help, according to him. Good example A field should be like a kirana store (provision store), he says. One can get almost any edible item from the shop. Similarly a farmer must start growing different crops along with fish, poultry, and cattle. Crops are like long term deposits and animals are for the short term, that mature in some months. There is a much needed safety and lesser risks for a farmer practicing more than one avocation. Even if one fails, the other will bail him out, he explains. Several awards Mr. Sadanand has been conferred with several State and national awards in recognition for his work on integrated farming. The most important features of Mr. Sadananda's farming are use of own manure, least dependence on external input, and use of family labour. In view of well balanced combination of enterprises the annual income generated
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 115 of 143 from seasonal, annual perennial, livestock, and fishery is encouraging and motivating many farmers' in the area to follow him, adds Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, Vice Chancellor of the University. For more details readers can contact Mr. Mr. Sadananda at Tapasihalli village, Doddaballapura taluk. Bangalore rural district, phone: 808-7659151 and mobile No.9342022146.
Mushroom training programme

During the past two decades, the Mushroom research and training centre of the Department of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore has made tremendous efforts on transfer of mushroom cultivation technology by imparting trainings. Contribution The department has contributed for the establishment of about 50 seed (spawn) producers and 600 oyster mushroom producers producing 5- 6 tonnes a day. About 40 button mushroom producers producing 7- 10 tonnes a day and 10 milky mushroom producing 1-2 tonnes a day in the state account to about 15 per cent of the total Indian mushroom production of the country. Integrated model Mushroom cultivation best fits in the Integrated Farming system (IFS) as the crop residues like paddy straw can be better used for mushroom cultivation. The spent waste after mushroom cultivation can be utilized for making bio manure and the vermi compost that can add rich organic manure to the standing crop and thereby enrich the soil with natural beneficial microorganisms. Even if one per cent of the agro wastes available in the state is used for mushroom production it will certainly boost the mushroom production to 500 fold increase. For the benefit of farmers and owing to the consumers preference for wide variety of mushrooms in the market , the University has contributed by releasing eight oyster mushroom varieties/ species, two button mushroom varieties and one milky mushroom variety suited for different agro climatic zones. Workshops The department offers training programmes on mushroom cultivation technology for interested farmers and entrepreneurs. Those interested can get in touch with.the Mushroom research and training centre, Department of plant pathology Centre for plant protection studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore641 003, email: pathology@tnau.ac.in, Phone : 0422 6611336 ; 0422 66 11226; 0422 6611426.
Nano solution for safe water

A new nanotechnology is likely to make drinking water a lot more safer and keep infections at bay by filtering out deadly bugs at the source. Both water molecules and bugs are so tiny that they are measured by the nanometre, 100,000 times thinner than a human hair.But at the microscopic level,
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 116 of 143 the two actually differ greatly in size. A single water molecule is less than a nanometre wide, while some of the littlest bugs are 200 nanometres. Working with a specific block co-polymer, a University of Buffalo team has synthesized a new kind of nanomembrane containing pores about 55 nm wide, large enough for water to slip through, but too small for bacteria, reports the journal Nano Letters. IANS
Nanolasers for faster microprocessors

Engineers have found a way to grow nanolasers lasers able to produce beams at nanoscale directly onto a silicon surface, potentially opening the way to a new class of faster and more efficient microprocessors. Increasing demands on electronics have sent researchers in search of better ways to harness the inherent ability of light particles to carry far more data than electrical signals can, the journal Nature Photonics reports. A solution Optical interconnects are seen as a solution to overcoming the communications bottleneck within and between computer chips, according to a University of California statement. Because silicon is extremely deficient at generating light, engineers have turned to another class of materials known as IIIV semiconductors to create light-based components such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers. But the researchers pointed out that marrying IIIV with silicon to create a single opto-electronic chip has been problematic. For one, the atomic structures of the two materials are mismatched. Growing IIIV semiconductor films on silicon is like forcing two incongruent puzzle pieces together, said study author Roger Chen, who is a University of California, Berkeley, graduate in electrical engineering and computer sciences. It can be done, but the material gets damaged in the process. The researchers overcame this limitation by finding a way to grow nanopillars made of indium gallium arsenide, a IIIV material, onto a silicon surface at the relatively cool temperature of 400 degrees Celsius. IANS
Nanoparticles deliver steroids to retina

Steroids hitching a ride into the retina on nanoparticles called dendrimers offer a new way to treat age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The steroids target damage-causing cells.
Naoto Kan: What the hell is going on?

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan had every reason to ask the executives of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), What the hell is going on? His outburst was in response to the delay of nearly an hour by TEPCO officials to alert him about the third explosion at the Fukushima nuclear facility. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 117 of 143 Can it be dismissed as a slip on the part of TEPCO officials, given the emergency situation at the nuclear facility? Quite unlikely. This is not an isolated case, and TEPCO has a dubious track record of falsification and concealing crucial data, including safety data, of the nuclear plants. Ticking time bomb It has now come to light that the company has been storing 4,000 spent uranium fuel assemblies at its nuclear units at Fukushima Daiichi. This is equivalent to almost the amount of highly radioactive uranium fuel produced in six years by the units and more than three times the amount of radioactive material present in the cores of all the six units. For instance, Unit-4 had some 548 still-hot fuel assemblies stored in a pool of water in the upper floor. It was the lack of cooling water in this pool that ultimately led to an explosion of the roof of Unit-4. More than 60 per cent of the spent fuel from the facility is stored in a separate pool built in 1997. According to Reuters, constrained by space, TEPCO had initiated steps to increase the storage capacity of spent fuel inside the reactor buildings by re-racking the pools. There were other plans for increasing the storage capacity outside the reactor buildings. But only the reactor buildings offered sufficient open space for any significant increase in storage capacity. TEPCO had the capacity to more than double the number of fuel assemblies stored in the reactors from 3,998 at the time of the quake to 8,310 assemblies, according to Reuters. No safety checks The Guardian reports that TEPCO had missed safety checks over a 10-year period up to two weeks before the March 11 quake. For instance, the company had failed to carry out safety checks on 33 pieces of equipment inside the plant's cooling system. The company's admission of this omission came weeks after government regulators approved prolonging of the life of one of the six reactors. This is not the fist time that TEPCO had violated safety norms, concealed crucial safety data, or even vital information about geological fault structures. Turning a blind eye It was after the 2007 earthquake of 6.8 magnitude, which hit the seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Japan's west coast that it became clear that the reactor facility was built directly on top of a seismically active fault line. People were told about this only after the quake. According to Nature, scientists knew about the presence of an active fault under the nuclear facility but it was ignored when the plant was enlarged. TEPCO had apparently found a seven-km long fault line during the course of its investigation prior to expanding the facility. But [TEPCO] failed to investigate it fully, notes Nature. Hiroaki Nakata, a seismologist at the Hiroshima Institute of Tehnology was quoted as saying in Nature: There's no reason for TEPCO to have stopped when they [found the fault line]. There are many places where they missed or intentionally
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 118 of 143 avoided seeing fault lines. The damage to the plant was minor and no one died and the amount of radiation released was reportedly negligible. Yet, this and many other instances dented the public's faith and trust. According to Nature, it became clear that 1,200 litres of contaminated water released from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility into the ocean was 50 per cent more radioactive than what TEPCO had previously stated. Other instances There have been many instances when TEPCO had behaved irresponsibly. In February 2007, the company admitted to 199 cases of falsifying inspection data at three nuclear power plants, including Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. TEPCO was found to be slow in reporting two radiation leaks and miscalculating the amount of radiation released. In 2002, a major scandal hit the company. A government investigation revealed that TEPCO had systematically concealed safety breaches for a period stretching to nearly two decades. A three-year investigation revealed that up to 13 of the protective shells surrounding reactors had cracks. And the company officials knew about this. TEPCO ordered closure of all its reactors after it admitted to falsifying data in about 30 safety logs and up to 200 incidents. This included the now infamous Fukushima Daiichi Unit-1.
Narayana Murthy to mentor West Bengal IT panel NASA airborne sensor studies river in sky'
A NASA Global Hawk unmanned aircraft studied an atmospheric river ('river in sky'), a narrow region in Earth's atmosphere that transported enormous amounts of water vapour from the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii.
NASA grows audience through tweetups

Rocket science isn't easily explainable in 140 characters, but NASA is asking a group of people to do just that with a series of VIP tours for some of its ardent Twitter followers. The events called tweetups offer ordinary science fans a behind-the-scenes look at the space agency's facilities that can include its astronauts and scientists. In exchange, many participants whose day jobs range from church office worker to baker narrate their day through tweets, photographs and videos. NASA's imagination-grabbing work gives it a bigger pool of fans to draw from than many companies or government agencies, and it sets itself apart further with its egalitarian approach to social media. While it's not unusual for an organization to give special access to journalists or influential bloggers, experts say NASA sets itself apart by inviting people who may only have a few dozen followers. It goes against the grain of only talking to people that have a lot of influence, said For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 119 of 143 William Ward, a social media professor at Syracuse University. Participants are chosen through a lottery. While some end up being self-described techies who blog regularly about space, it's important to NASA that it draws people with a wide range of interests who can tweet with authentic voices to a varied audience. I think everybody knows if you hear it from a friend or a family member, you see it as being much more credible than it being from a government organization like NASA, said Stephanie Schierholz, NASA's social media manager. The sentiment was echoed by a participant in a tweetup held last week at Langley Research Center in Hampton. I know I have friends at home who are following every word here. And they're not normally space enthusiasts, but it's just something that, Hey, David's going down there. Let's see what he's up to.' And they're following my photos and my tweets and they get excited, too, said David Parmet, from Westchester County, New York. NASA's first tweetup was in 2009, and it's held a total of 30. Some have coincided with news events like rocket launches, and one is planned in Florida the week of Thanksgiving for the Mars rover launch. The events can last from two hours to two days, ranging from a few dozen participants to more than 100. Participants pay their own travel expenses. While it's not clear how many new Twitter followers NASA has gained from the tweetups, the number is expanding rapidly. Since June, nearly 600,000 people have started following the agency about 4,000 to 5,000 per day for a total of about 1.6 million. NASA tweetup alumni closely monitor their reach and noted that when 150 participants were invited to Kennedy Space Center in Florida this August for the Juno spacecraft launch their tweets through the power of retweets had 29.9 million potential views. This is pretty small from a resource perspective, yet it has this huge impact, Schierholz said. The tweetup has become a prime example of how NASA is harnessing social media to keep the agency in the public's imagination in an era where its most recognizable programmme, the space shuttle, has come to an end. We know more about Kim Kardashian than we do important scientific events that are happening in our country, said Donna Hoffman, a marketing professor at the University of California at Riverside. This is NASA's opportunity, I think, to educate a new demographic. Schierholz said the public generally has a strong positive reaction to NASA, but is unfamiliar with a lot of its work. That is particularly true at Langley. Among other things, the center's research has resulted in wing design that allows airplanes to use less fuel. It's currently testing whether a craft designed to send astronauts into deep space can survive falling into the Pacific Ocean. The work is important, but it rarely generates public excitement. The problem
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 120 of 143 Illustrating the center's lack of fame, one participant at last week's tweetup from Maine was late because he thought the center was across the state in Langley, Varginia., the same place that's home to the CIA. It's a common mistake. Even for those who live near one, opportunities to visit a NASA facility are limited. It's a good chance to actually see Langley. Just dropping in is one of those things you don't do much, said Langley tweetup participant Matthew Francis of Richmond. This kind of thing is very cool. Those who followed along with tweetup participants could watch Langley test the Orion space capsule what NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars in and also found out that the center is working on a new air traffic control system, among other things. Those are exactly the kind of tweets the center's research director was hoping for. AP
NASA Mission to Mars, Jupiter moon

Bringing Mars rocks to Earth and a mission to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, should be among the top priorities for NASA in the coming decade, a high-level panel of planetary scientists has suggested. The National Research Council, which released a to-do list for NASA for the decade 2013-2022, also said if the US space agency cannot afford such multi-billion-dollar flagship missions, they should be delayed in favour of smaller ones, the New Scientist reported. In its decadal survey of planetary science missions, the council recommended that NASA should make a Mars sample return mission its top priority among its large planetary science missions. Bringing back samples Bringing Martian rocks back to Earth, it said, would allow scientists to study them with a much wider array of instruments than can be packaged on a Martian rover. That in turn would allow scientists to better search for signs of past or present life, the report noted. This scores over sending rovers to the Red Planet. The panel's second-highest priority for large missions is a probe that would orbit Europa, thought to harbour an ocean of liquid water beneath its surface. The mission, the panel said, would help assess the moon's potential for hosting life by trying to confirm the presence of an ocean and determining how far the ocean lies below the moon's icy surface. PTI
NASA studies fire in space aboard the ISS

Since March 2009, NASA's Flame Extinguishment Experiment has conducted more than 200 tests to better understand fundamentals of flames, and how best to suppress fire in space aboard the International Space Station.
National awards to three Krishi Vigyan Kendras

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi honoured three outstanding Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) during the annual conference on KVKs. The awards carry a silver plaque, citation and cash amount of Rs. 1,00,000. Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, (TANUVAS) Kancheepuram bagged the award for providing strong technology support in agriculture, animal husbandry and allied activities. The KVK carried out 89 technology assessment and refinement trials and rendered farm advisory services and field visits. It also organized training programmes for extension personnel and imparted modern technological knowhow and do how in agriculture and allied sectors. Capacity building The KVK wing of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Cuddalore bagged the award for its contribution under the various capacity building exercises in which it conducted 2,140 courses for farmers, rural youth, unemployed persons, extension functionaries and others in which there were 64,104 participants with 37 per cent representation by women. It also acted as knowledge and resource centre for implementation of Precision farming in farmers holdings in 1,020 hectares. It also produced cashew grafts (23,938), Moringa (1,264), Jatropha (4,500) and other horti seedlings and supplied to farmers. Seeds of groundnut, sesame and black gram were produced. Kerala Agricultural University KVK from Kannur exerted a powerful influence on the other extension systems of the district by playing a leadership role. Paddy task force The Paddy Task Force (PTF), a novel initiative of the kendra to address the alarming declining area under paddy due to labour shortage has been recommended by the State planning board for statewide adoption. The Kannur kendra pioneered several innovations in extension, namely, farmers science congress and creative extension, a new branch of agricultural extension, which uses art forms for communication. The sub-surface dyke built by the Kendra to alleviate water scarcity has now become the largest rainwater harvesting system in the region and a model demonstration unit.
National project on climate resilient agriculture launched

The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project was launched at Vadavathur village, Erumapatti block, Namakkal district recently. NICRA has been promoted in the XI five year plan by ICAR constituent unit Central Research Institute for Dry Land Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad. This project is being implemented in 100 districts in India and four districts in Tamil Nadu. At Namakkal district, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra is the project implementing agency for the programme. NICRA is implemented at Vadavathur village, Erumapatti block, Namakkal district
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 122 of 143 which has recorded an average rainfall of 400 mm for the past 20 years when compared to 750 mm in the district. Aim The project aims to enhance the resilience of agriculture through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies. The following technological interventions were inaugurated at the village. Inauguration of manually operated weather station to record daily rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. Stocking of fish fry in temporary water ponds. Artificial insemination centre for cows and buffaloes. Improved water harvesting structure at senguttai, a public pond. Protray nursery for hybrid vegetable seed multiplication. Custom hiring of farm machineries and implements Distribution of drought resilient sorghum Co-30, Groundnut (TMV-13), Green gram (VBN-3), Black gram (Co-6), Red gram (Co-7), Vegetable cow pea seed (Arka suman), Bush type Lab Lab seed (CoGb14), onion seed (Co-6), turmeric seed rhizome (Alleppy supreme). Fodder slips Distribution of fodder slips (Co-4), Multi cut fodder sorghum, Hedgelucerne, Fodder tree plants viz., Agathi, Subabul and Glyricidia. Distribution of backyard chicks (Namakkal chicken-1, Aseel cross), large White Yorkshire piglets, Khakki camphell ducks, Nandanam-1 Turkeys. Boer Tellicherry cross rams, NARI Swarna cross Tellicherry rams and eves and carp fingerlings. During the inaugural speech, Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, ICAR highlighted the importance of water conservation and adoption of new technologies for improving the productivity and profitability of the farmers through the group approach. Vice-Chancellor Dr.R. Prabakaran, TANUVAS, Chennai and Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore also spoke. A total of 1112 farmers and school children participated in the programme.
National seminar on eco-friendly crop protection Natural inputs, multicropping advised for Vidharbha region
The names Vidharbha or Wardha immediately evoke memories of farmers' suicides. Several reasons such as growing only one crop, total dependence on monsoon, lack of infrastructure and irrigation facilities, small land holdings, poor marketing, and insensitive government policies towards farmers are attributed to this. Visiting the region drives home one point, that not all of Vidharbha is a graveyard of dead farmers, says Mr. Praful Bansod, Scientist MSSRF village Resource Centre, Yavatmal. National shame
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 123 of 143 Termed as a national shame due to the gross indifference of the Government, it is true that the region recorded the highest suicide rates among farmers. In fact the Prime Minister reacted late by visiting the region but responded immediately on television channels to the share market slump during the period. This only proves how far the government is pro-farmer in its attitude, he adds. But still a sizeable number of ryots continue to farm their lands and are able to overcome the crises by using natural inputs and trying different crops and cultivation techniques, says Mr. Bansod. Take the case of the husband and wife farmers in the region. Popularly referred to as Mahajans, both Mr. Purushottam Jagannath Mahajan and his wife Mrs. Sunita are practising agriculture in this region for a long time and today are a guiding force for many others who wish to build a new life. Chemical fertilizers are perennially in short supply in the region. Even if they are available, the cost burns a hole in our pocket. We explored other alternatives for using as inputs and learnt to make our own liquid manure from compost. I constructed a simple four chamber system using brick and mortar to store cowdung. Water is mixed with the dung in one of the chambers and the slurry is released in the subsequent chambers. After some days the mixture is released along with flowing water into the fields. Black liquid manure Since the slurry is black in colour and helps the crops to grow well, we named it as black liquid manure, explains Mr. Mahajan. He also advocates the use of Sanjeevak or Jeevamrut, fermented liquid manures, made from cow dung and urine. Amrutpani, a soil tonic can also be used instead of Jeevamrut. About 200 litres of any one of them can be mixed with irrigating water to be applied to the field. A minimum of three applications are necessary, he says. First immediately after sowing, a second application after 25-30 days (after first weeding), and the third application at 50-60 days after sowing (after second weeding). For better crop growth, diluted Jeevamrut can also be sprayed on the crops at an interval of 20 days after sowing. Main reason One of the main reasons for the crop failure and accumulating debts from the farmers' side is going in for monocropping using chemicals., explains Mr. Mahajan. Many farmers cultivated only cotton. Be it two or five acres, the lure of big money in a short time attracted many to grow cotton. They did not bother to enquire about the crop suitability for their area, whether water is available or not etc. When the crops died so did many farmers.The main reason being accumulated debts from private moneylenders fleecing them with exhorbitant interst rates. In fact, several farmers thought that they could get back their money by growing cotton again in the second cycle and again failed. I thought about this and
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 124 of 143 introduced several combinations of multicrops, says Mr. Mahajan. Different crops The farmer grows maize, cowpea or sorghum in one row, red gram in two rows and cotton in four rows in one acre. The field is mulched using a thick layer of crop residue, immediately after sowing. The Mahajans also grow different vegetables, pulses, fruits, spices, and medicinal plants. Though during initial stages they faced many hurdles ultimately it turned out to be a very satisfying and profitable venture for them. Today they are a standing example for others on how to become successful farmers in the region, says Mr. Bansod. For more information contact Mr. Praful Bansod, Scientist MSSRF, Village Resource Center Yavatmal, email: prafulbansod@gmail.com, mobile: 9420960830 and Mr. Mahajan at Karanji Bhoge, Deoli taluk, Wardha, mobile: 9552955897 and 9922354663.
NDM-1 superbugs found in seepage, tap water

Gram-negative bacterial strains with NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) gene, also called the superbug, have now been detected in drinking water and seepage water samples collected from several sites in New Delhi. Seepage samples were collected from water pools found in streets or rivulets. The findings have been published online today (March 7) in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The NDM-1 gene enables Gram-negative bacterial strains to become resistant to carbapenem, a powerful antibiotic. Bacteria that carry the antibiotic resistant gene were found in two drinking-water samples and 51 seepage water samples. The two drinking-water samples were collected from west of the Yamuna River in the district of Ramesh Nagar and from south of the Red Fort, respectively. The seepage samples that tested positive for the NDM-1 gene were collected close to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Gol Market and other sites. No panic situation Since none of the tap water samples had stable plasmids, the situation has not yet [become] utterly miserable, writes Mohd Shahid in an accompanying Comment piece in the journal. Dr. Shahid is from the Department of Medical Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, U.P. In all, the researchers had collected 50 drinking-water samples (public tap water samples) and 171 seepage samples from sites within a 12 km radius of central New Delhi. 70 sewage effluent samples from Cardiff Wastewater Treatment Works were also collected as control samples. Some samples contained multiple NDM-1 positive species, the authors write. 20 NDM-1 positive strains were present in the samples, including E. coli and K. pneumonia [that causes pneumonia], ...and pathogenic species Shigella boydii and V. cholera [that cause dysentery and cholera, respectively]. For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 125 of 143 NDM-1 was in the news in August last year when the same journal reported that 37 U.K. patients who had undergone elective and cosmetic surgeries in India and two neighbouring countries (Pakistan and Bangladesh) were harbouring the drugresistant bacterial strains. Human gut bacteria But the latest finding clearly indicates that the drug-resistant bacterial strain carrying NDM-1 gene is no longer a hospital-born infection, but is found in the environment. The authors of the study have found that NDM-1 gene has also spread to families of bacteria that populate the human gut and cause urinary tract infection, diahorrea, to name a few. It has also spread to pathogenic bacteria species that cause cholera and dysentery. It is indeed really possible for the NDM-1 gene that confers antibiotic resistance to move from one species to another. The easy spread is made possible as the NDM-1 gene is carried in the plasmids of the Gram-negative bacteria. And the plasmids can move from one bacterium to another of its kind, and even to different bacterial species. Role of temperature But a bigger concern is the temperature conditions under which the plasmids carrying the antibiotic resistant gene get transferred to another bacterium. It was highest at 30 degree C. In fact, it was 1 to 10,000 times higher than at 25 degree C, and 1 to 10,00,000 times higher than at 37 degree C. What does that mean in terms of public health? 30 degree C is the average peak temperature in New Delhi, and is also the temperature that lies within the daily range of temperature of the city for seven months of the year from April to October. The April to October period includes the monsoon season. And that would mean that the spread of the antibiotic resistant strains to other areas is easily facilitated by rain water carrying the seepage water. Route of transmission That not all patients from the U.K. or other European countries who had visited India had any hospitalisation history underlines the fact that bacteria with this resistance are present in the environment. The authors state: NDM-1 is widely disseminated in New Delhi and has spread into key enteric pathogens. Faecal-oral transmission would have been the possible route for the E. coli with the NDM-1 gene to enter the gut of these patients. In fact, about 650 million people in India do not have access to toilets. And only about 60 per cent of New Delhi's population is served by the sewerage system. The data presented by [the authors] clearly show the grave potential for widespread dissemination of NDM-1 in the environment, writes Shahid. NDM-1 gene has just got into the environment but is yet to be established in tap water as the isolates from the tap water did not have stable plasmids. So there is no need to worry right now if we implement policies to control the spread, said Dr.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 126 of 143 Shahid to this Correspondent. The sample size is also small and only two tap water samples tested positive for NDM-1 gene. But it is a fact that broad epidemiological and environmental studies are now needed in other cities in India, especially those that are adjacent to New Delhi, Dr. Shahid writes in the Comment.
NDM-1: 2010 results confirmed by others

If the first paper on NDM-1 superbug published last year created an uproar in India, the second paper published on April 7 created a storm. From denying to finally agreeing to investigate the presence of drug-resistant NDM-1 bacteria in hospitals and drinking water, the government appears to be taking some steps. Mark Toleman of Cardiff University, U.K., one of the co-authors of the paper, discussed with R. Prasad through email how serious the NDM-1 issue is, how his Indian co-authors had faced threats from the government, and about the naming of the superbug after New Delhi. Do you think two tap water samples testing positive can serve as representative of a city's drinking water supply? The time taken between collection and analysis and our knowledge of DNA degrading enzymes in the water suggests that the 2 out of 50 samples is a very conservative figure. Again, just one month ago, 18 per cent of the drinking water was contaminated by sewage. My guess based on this is that the real figure is much higher. Of course, if the water is cleaned up before the new study begins the figure may be less than this. For this reason it is very important to work out carriage rates of NDM-1 by doing screening of faecal samples or anal swabs both in the community and in the hospital. This will give a baseline of carriage and can be used to assess if future interventions are effective and whether some geographic regions have higher incidence than others etc. Will drinking water studied immediately after collection show up more NDM-1 positive results? I think that you will get higher results than we did given the transport and time between collection and detection. I would be surprised if you do not. What do you think is the route of transmission of the superbugs to tap water? From reading the newspapers, it is obvious that the drinking water is often contaminated with sewage material. An article just last month stated 18 per cent of water in New Delhi was contaminated. This most likely is the number one source of NDM-1 i.e. faecal contamination. This is a very serious matter and certainly is a direct cause of deaths especially of vulnerable and precious individuals, example those under five years of age. In 2002, Clean drinking water' was declared by the United Nations to be a human right. A country that is able to send rockets into space and develop nuclear technology surely must be able to provide clean drinking water. The government has now constituted a committee to study patients in a few hospitals in New Delhi and check for the prevalence of NDM-1, and if found, to test For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 127 of 143 the drinking water in the surrounding areas. Do you think this approach is correct? A really positive step. We applaud the Indian government my thoughts are about knowing the prevalence of carriage. This can be done by [taking] faecal samples or anal swabs and looking for carbapenem resistant bacteria and testing by NDM-1 PCR and probing. My reservation is, given our prior history with the Indian government, what about transparency? Denial appears to be the first response and the second is to blame someone else. I notice that just one month ago 18 per cent of water supplies in New Delhi were found to be contaminated with faecal material in accordance with our results. Yet I read about government ministers proclaiming that the water is safe to drink. Are there any other ways to study its spread? I think it would be correct to look wherever there is human contact which is more or less what we did. Given that a lot of sewage is just dumped in the Yamuna River and this is then used to irrigate crops, it would be good to look at all water sources. Why did you not opt to take samples directly from the sewerage system? [It] probably [has] to do with ease. Why did you take the help of a journalist and not a scientist to collect the samples? Simply because your government "encouraged" Indian scientists not to help and the opportunity arose. Unlike your earlier work published last year, no Indian authors are part of the study published on April 7, 2011. What is the reason? To coin Tim's [Tim Walsh, the lead author of the paper] words: When your Indian colleagues, who have also become your friends, are the subject of a vicious witchhunt and threatened with their livelihoods and even jail we thought it would be prudent to do this study alone. The treatment of our Indian co-authors from the last study was disgraceful and highly unprofessional. You were quoted as saying to a news agency recently that the government is threatening scientists in the wake of last year's findings. Your comments. As mentioned earlier, it is very difficult for me to understand this mentality. A caring government would do everything in its power to uncover sources of harm and infection to its people. There are several cases where your government only does what is right, just and fair when they come under the media spotlight. The Indian media had not reported Indian co-authors facing any witch hunting/threats by the Indian government. What is the source of your information? The source of my information is e-mails directly from individuals being threatened. Furthermore when other scientists change from being delighted in a collaboration to asking you not to contact them again. This suggests that they have been got at. Despite the terrible experience that your Indian co-authors (of 2010 paper) faced, you still had Mohd Shahid from India writing the Comment piece published along with your current paper. Your comments. I cannot comment here as I have had no personal contact and did not know about the comment piece until publication.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 128 of 143 Do you ever think you would get Indian scientists to be a part of your team in any studies on NDM-1 in the foreseeable future? I know there are people who would gladly collaborate with us tomorrow if they could do so without fear of reprisals. Unlike your current paper (published in April 2011) which has stuck to the normal format of a scientific paper, the discussion part of your paper published last year read like an editorial. Don't you think such observations are best made by authors writing the Comment' piece or Editorial? The discussion part of the paper is supposed to reflect ideas and opinions based on the results. At the time of writing we knew little about medical tourism but an article in the Independent newspaper suggested that the National Health Service pays to send patients to India for surgery. We felt that we had a moral obligation to forewarn of the possible dangers of being exposed to NDM-1 positive bacteria and the associated costs of treatment and cleanup when they returned to the UK. Since we have a nationally funded health care [system] it is difficult to understand how this statement could be motivated by financial incentives as we were accused of. Do you think the government was trying to deflect attention from the main issue by saying that there was some ulterior motive for targeting India? Of course they are. Most people cover things up they know are wrong. But it is only by exposing our problems and bringing them into the light are any of our deficiencies addressed. What do you have to say about the recent comment by government officials that your study is not scientific? This is what was said of the last study which basically has now been verified by over 80 further papers and by many groups around the globe. The wonderful thing about science is that it is repeatable in fact this is what science is. Of course if you want credibility it would be good to have an independent observer. I wonder if your government has thought of that. What did these papers published after yours report? These papers are mostly identifying NDM-1 in their own countries by several different groups. Many of these have direct links to either hospitalisation in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh or a recent visit. Do you agree that not all gram-negative bacteria resistant to carbapenem are named after the place where they are found? So don't you think there was a case to name the superbug without making a reference to New Delhi? I consider that this naming system is a good one and has brought to light a very serious issue that may well have been "swept under the carpet" without the reaction to the name. That said, this was not by design but just simply by force of circumstance. Even if it has brought out some desired results from the government, there was no compulsion to name them after the location. They could have been named following other naming protocols, as well. Your comments.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 129 of 143 Naming does not necessarily mean that it emerged at that exact spot. Of course, it is possible that it first emerged in Bangladesh or Pakistan or anywhere else in the world and was brought to India. I think this unlikely myself, given that the earliest isolates that we know of are actually from New Delhi. No one else in the world seems to get upset about a name as mentioned before and many bacteria are named after places. Many pathogens are named after the people who discovered them like Escherichia and Yersinia etc. It is also interesting that the travel advisories to India recommend that individuals are first vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis this does smack a bit of double standards. Has anyone asked the Japanese what they think of this? I doubt it and I also doubt that they care. Why did the Editor of The Lancet admit that it was a mistake to name the superbug after New Delhi if the journal was indeed not responsible for naming it in the first place? I don't know. The papers were not published in The Lancet but in a sister journal Lancet Infectious Diseases that Dr Richard Horton is not an editor of. My guess is that he was put on the spot and was not aware of all the details of prior publication in AAC and didn't want to cause offence as indeed we do not.
Need for prudent forest resources management

Forest biomass could replace a quarter of the liquid fossil fuel now used for industrial heating in the Northeastern U.S. and forest resources must be carefully managed to protect the other important services they provide.
Neurons and light-sensing mechanism

A scientist has discovered a second form of phototransduction light sensing in cells that is derived from vitamin B2.
New cancer warning on red and processed meat

Cancer experts have issued a fresh warning about eating red and processed meat after the most authoritative report on the subject blamed them for causing the disease. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) is advising people to limit their intake of red meats such as beef, pork and lamb and avoid processed meat such as ham and salami altogether. Convincing evidence that both types of meat increase the risk of bowel cancer means people should think seriously about reducing how much they eat, it recommends. The charity kick-started a global debate in 2007 when it published a study which identified meat as a risk factor for a number of different forms of cancer. WCRF-funded scientists at Imperial College London led by Dr Teresa Norat studied 263 research papers that have come out since then looking at the role of diet, weight and physical activity in bowel cancer. An independent panel of leading For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 130 of 143 cancer experts then reviewed their conclusions. For red and processed meat, findings of 10 new studies were added to the 14 analysed as part of the 2007 report. The panel confirmed that there is convincing evidence that both red and processed meat increase bowel cancer risk, said the report, published recently. WCRF recommends that people limit consumption to 500g (cooked weight) of red meat a week roughly the equivalent of five or six medium portions of roast beef, lamb or pork and avoid processed meat, it added. About 36,000 people a year develop bowel cancer in the UK, and some 16,500 die from it. It is the UK's second biggest cancer killer after lung cancer. About 17,000 cases a year (43 per cent) could be prevented if people ate less meat and more fibre, drank less, maintained a healthy weight and kept active, the WCRF says. Its 850-page report is the most authoritative ever report of bowel cancer risk, experts in cancer prevention claim. Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
New evidence on origin of supernovas

Astronomers may now know the cause of an historic supernova explosion, an important type of object for studying dark energy in the universe.
New form of diamond lighter than ever

A newly created nanocyrstalline diamond aerogel could improve the optics for something as big as a telescope or as small as the lenses in eyeglasses.
New fossil primate species discovered

Physical anthropologist Chris Kirk has announced the discovery of a previously unknown species of fossil primate,Mescalerolemur horneri.
New horned dinosaur announced

A new species of horned dinosaur was just announced by scientists, nearly 100 years after the initial discovery of the fossil.
New insight on hidden galaxies

Small low surface brightness galaxies may have more in common with the first galaxies shortly after the Big Bang than previously thought of.
New kind of metal produced in deep Earth

New experiments and computations have revealed that iron oxide undergoes a new kind of transition under deep-Earth conditions due to high pressures and temperatures (as atoms, electrons are squeezed together).
New laser to kill viruses, improve DVDs

A discovery in semiconductor nanowire laser technology could potentially do everything from killing viruses to increasing storage capacity of DVDs.
New light on human-like gait

Human-like features of the feet and gait existed almost two million years earlier than previously thought of, according to a new study. Many earlier studies have suggested that the characteristics of the human foot, such as the ability to push off the ground with the big toe, and a fully upright bipedal gait, emerged in early Homo, approximately 1.9 million years ago. 3.7 million years ago University of Liverpool researchers, however, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Manchester and Bournemouth University, studying ancient footprints in Laetoli, Tanzania have now shown that footprints of a human ancestor dating back 3.7 million years ago, show features of the foot with more similarities to the gait of modern humans than with the type of bipedal walking used by chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas. The footprint site of Laetoli contains the earliest known trail made by human ancestors and includes 11 individual prints in good condition. Previous studies have been primarily based on single prints and have therefore been liable to misinterpreting artificial features, such as erosion and other environmental factors, as reflecting genuine features of the footprint. This has resulted in many years of debate over the exact characteristics of gait in early human ancestors. The team used a new statistical technique, based on methods employed in functional brain imaging, to obtain a three-dimensional average of the 11 intact prints in the Laetoli trail, according to a University of Liverpool press release. This was then compared to data from studies of footprint formation and under-foot pressures generated from walking in modern humans and other living great apes. Computer simulation was used to predict the footprints that would have been formed by different types of gaits in the likely printmaker, a species called Australopithecus afarensis . Professor Robin Crompton, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, said: It was previously thought that Australopithecus afarensis walked in a crouched posture, and on the side of the foot, pushing off the ground with the middle part of the foot, as today's great apes do. We found, however, that the Laetoli prints represented a type of bipedal walking that was fully upright and driven by the front of the foot, particularly the big toe, much like humans today, and quite different to bipedal walking of chimpanzees and other apes. Our Bureau
New light on infectious phase of cattle disease

A new study of foot-and-mouth disease shows that afflicted cattle are only infectious for a brief window of time, about half as long as previously thought. Measures such as killing large numbers of cattle could be reduced.
New light shed on how memory is organised

In an article published today (September 29) in Nature, researchers describe exactly how the brain reacts during the transition between one memory and the next. Consider these situations: You're rudely awakened by the phone. Your room is pitch black. It's unsettling, because you're a little uncertain about where you are and then you remember. You're in a hotel room. Similar disorientation Sound like a familiar experience? Or maybe you've felt a similar kind of disorientation when you walk out of an elevator onto the wrong floor? But what actually happens inside your head when you experience moments like these? The study by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience employed a method that allowed them to make measurements right down to the millisecond level. The research was conducted in the laboratory of May-Britt and Edvard Moser, codirector and director respectively of NTNU's Kavli Institute, by first author Karel Jezek. Their findings show that memory is divided into discrete individual packets, analogous to the way that light is divided up into individual bits called quanta. Each memory is just 125 milliseconds long which means the brain can swap between different memories as often as eight times in one second, according to a Norwegian University of Science and Technology press release. The brain won't let itself get confused, says Professor May-Britt Moser. It never mixes different places and memories together, even though you might perceive it that way. This is because the processes taking place inside your head when your brain is looking for a map of where you are take place so fast that you don't notice that you are actually switching between different maps. When you feel a little confused, it is because there is a competition in your brain between two memories. Or maybe more than two. Brain researchers Edvard and May-Britt Moser are trying to understand exactly how the brain works. Their approach is to meticulously monitor electrical activity in different parts of the rat brain, while the rats explore different mazes. Painstaking approach It's a painstaking approach that provides them ever more pieces to the puzzle that is the workings of the brain.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 133 of 143 To explore the question of whether the brain mixes memories together, the researchers created a special box for their laboratory animals that effectively enabled them to instantaneously teleport' a rat from one place to another without the help of the Starship Enterprise as featured in the science fiction teleseries Star Trek.' Then, they tested how the brain handled the memory of place when the experience of that place suddenly changed from one location to another. We tricked the rats, May-Britt Moser explains. They're not really teleported of course, but we have an approach that makes them believe that they have been. The features of the box, which give the rats a sense of where they are, are actually constructed' out of different lighting schemes. So we can switch from one group of location characteristics to another with the flick of a light switch. The rats were trained over a long time to believe that the various lighting schemes represented different rooms. The researchers can tell that the rats truly believe that they are in different places because of their brain activity. Specific activity pattern Once we turn on one lighting scheme, we can read a very specific pattern of activity in the cells in the part of the rat's brain that creates maps, May Britt Moser says. And when we switch to the other lighting scheme, the map pattern in the brain is completely different. When the researchers teleport' the rats from one place to another by flipping the light switch from A to B, the rats experience exactly the kind of confusion you feel when you momentarily don't know where you are. But the mind doesn't actually mix up the maps," she says. "It switches back and forth between the two maps that represent rooms A and B, but it is never in an intermediate position. The brain can 'flip' back and forth between the two different maps, but it is always either or, site A or site B. May-Britt and Edvard Moser have previously discovered the location of the brain's sense of place, shown how the brain works to make memories distinctively different, and have found that the brain has a mechanism to switch between experiences through the use of senses and images stored as memories. Now the researchers have also shown how the brain switches between individual memories, and how long the brain lingers on the different bits of memory. We are beginning to get a glimpse of the contours of the mechanisms that make up the world of our thoughts, says May-Britt Moser. Our Bureau
New method to unreel silkworm cocoon found

The development of a method for unreeling the strands of silk in wild silkworm cocoons could clear the way for establishment of new silk industries in Asia, Africa and South America.
New microscope reveals nanoscale details

A new kind of X-ray microscope can penetrate deep within materials and see minute details at the scale of a nanometre which is one billionth of a metre.
New nanoparticle could lead to vaccines

MIT engineers have designed a new type of nanoparticle that could safely and effectively deliver vaccines for diseases such as HIV and malaria.
New signature of first star birth

Researchers have revealed for the first time the existence of a new signature of the birth of the first stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way.
New story of galaxy evolution

The ESA's Herschel infrared space observatory has discovered that galaxies do not need to collide with each other to drive vigorous star birth.
New study reveals how glaciers formed valleys

A clever technique by scientists studying glacial valley formation reveals that most of the valley-making was at the downstream mouths of glaciers for the first million years, stopping about 1.5 million years ago.
New system to bring order to air traffic

Pilots currently communicate verbally with air traffic controllers. This information will be digitalised, making it available to multiple user groups, such as ground crews, resulting in fewer delays and shorter flight times.
New TB treatment limits infection while reducing drug resistance New technique for artificial photosynthesis
This discovery will make it possible to improve photoelectrochemical cells. In the same way that plants use photosynthesis to transform sunlight into energy, these cells use sunlight to drive chemical reactions that ultimately produce hydrogen from water. The process involves using a light-sensitive semi-conducting material such as cuprous oxide to provide the current needed to fuel the reaction. Although it is not expensive, the oxide is unstable if exposed to light in water. Research by Adriana Paracchino and Elijah Thimsen, published May 8, 2011 in the journal Nature Materials, demonstrates that this problem can be overcome by covering the semiconductor with a thin film of atoms using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 135 of 143 Under the supervision of Professor Michael Grtzel in EPFL's Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces, the two scientists achieved this remarkable feat by combining techniques used at the industrial scale, and then applying them to the problem of producing hydrogen. With their process, cuprous oxide can be simply and effectively protected from contact with water, making it possible to use it as a semiconductor. The advantages are numerous: cuprous oxide is abundantly available and inexpensive; the protective layer is completely impermeable, regardless of the roughness of the surface; and the process can easily be scaled up for industrial fabrication. The research team developed the technique by growing layers of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, one atom-thick layer at a time, on the cuprous oxide surface. By using the ALD technique, they were able to control the thickness of the protective layer down to the precision of a single atom over the entire surface. This level of precision guarantees the stability of the semiconductor while preserving all of its hydrogen-producing efficiency. The next step in the research will be to improve the electrical properties of the protective layer. Using widely available materials and techniques that can be easily scaled up brings the green photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen closer to the industrial interest. Our Bureau
New theory explains how fishes grew into amphibians

A small fish crawling out of a drying desert pond underlines a theory that ties up the fishes with the amphibians, reveals a study. Such a plucky hypothetical ancestor of ours probably could not have survived the overwhelming odds of perishing in a trek to another shrinking pond, said Gregory J Retallack, professor of geological sciences at University of Oregon, who led the study. This scenario comes from the late Devonian period, roughly 390 million to 360 million years ago, which late Harvard palaeontologist Alfred Romer propounded, the Journal of Geology reported. Challenging Romer's theory on fish survival, Retallack said that the transitional fossils were not associated with drying ponds or deserts, but were found consistently with humid woodland soils, according to a university statement. Limbs proved handy Judging from where their fossils were found, transitional forms between fish and amphibians lived in wooded floodplains. Limbs proved handy for negotiating woody obstacles, and flexible necks allowed for feeding in shallow water, he said. By this new woodland hypothesis, the limbs and necks, which distinguish salamanders from fish, did not arise from reckless adventure in deserts. They were rather nurtured by a newly evolved habitat of humid, wooded floodplains, Retallack said. Ancient soils and sediments at sites for transitional fossils around the world are critical for understanding when and under what conditions fish first walked, he added. IANS For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
New training toolkit for medicinal plants

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, India, and the Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research (DMAPR) of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), released a training toolkit on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) medicinal plants. This training toolkit is based on the guidelines for good practices for medicinal plants that were developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003. Specific guidelines The guidelines were designed to ensure the safety, efficiency and quality of raw materials used in herbal medicine. In 2009, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), in collaboration with the WHO Country Office for India, developed a set of country specific guidelines and standards for Good Agricultural Practices and Good Field Collection Practices. Compliance to quality standards is necessary to consolidate our position in the world herbal market and towards this, adoption of good agriculture and collection practices (GACP) by farmers and collectors is an important starting point, said Dr Satyabrata Maiti, Director, DMAPR. There was a need to present these GACP standards and guidelines in a format that will enable easy adoption by farmers and collectors, particularly in less developed areas with low literacy levels. This unique training material developed by the FAO and DMAPR serves the purpose and includes a variety of communication tools, such as a film and an illustrated booklet to deliver the core message of GACP principles. The adoption of GACP in the medicinal plant sector will improve livelihood by adding premium price to the produce and also generating additional employment in rural sector for the educated youth, Dr Maiti said. Project support This toolkit was developed under a project implemented by FAO in India and Bhutan with support from the International Fund for Agriculture Development. effective dissemination. The publications can be downloaded on the FAO, India website at GACP Trainer's Toolkit. For more details, contact Food and Agriculture Organization, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi -110 003, phone: 011- 24628877, email: FAO-IN@fao.org or The Director, Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research, Boriavi - 387 310, Anand, Gujarat, India, Phone: 02692-271602, email: director.dmapr@gmail.com, web: www.dmapr.org.in
A new type of polio vaccine on the cards

Oral vaccines have played huge part in the global battle to wipe out polio. When the WHO endorsed the goal of eradicating polio in 1988, some 350,000 children in 125 countries were being paralysed by the virus that caused the disease. That number has dropped precipitously and there were only about 1,000 cases of polio across the world last year.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 137 of 143 If all goes well, this could be the year when the chain of transmission of wild polio is at last broken in India, one of just four countries in the world where the disease is still endemic. The oral polio vaccines, which use live but weakened strains of the virus, are easy to administer as drops. But the live viruses they contain can occasionally turn virulent again. Such revertant viruses have the disease-causing potential of the wild forms and can readily spread. Circulating vaccine-derived polio viruses have been implicated in over 15 outbreaks since 2000. One such outbreak began in Nigeria in 2005 and has still not been stamped out there. The virus turned up in two neighbouring countries as well and has been responsible for over 300 cases of paralysis. In India, four lineages of vaccine-derived viruses that emerged independently have affected 16 patients in U.P. between July 2009 and March this year. So far there have been five such and only one caused by a wild virus. Using the oral vaccine could be considered an example of fighting fire with fire, remarked Neal Nathanson of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine in an editorial commentary in the Journal of Infectious Diseases earlier this year. In countries or continents where wild polio viruses have been eliminated, there should be a transition from OPV to inactivated polio virus vaccine. Many industrialised countries had already made this shift, he pointed out. The inactivated vaccine (or IPV) is currently made from virulent strains of the virus that are grown in cell culture and then killed before being administered as an injection. Ironically, the issue of which sort of vaccine to use is one that goes back to an epic squabble between two giants in the field, Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin. The former developed the inactivated vaccine while the latter was responsible for OPV. America began immunising children against polio with the inactivated vaccine, which was the first to become available in the mid-1950s. It then moved to the Sabin vaccine based on live attenuated viruses in the early 1960s. However, with the steady trickle of polio cases from vaccine-derived viruses, the country switched back to the Salk vaccine in 2000. But developing countries that want to make a similar switch face a major hurdle. The injectable vaccine is considerably more expensive than OPV. As a way out of this conundrum, one option that is being seriously looked at would involve a mix of the Salk and Sabin approaches inactivated vaccines made from attenuated strains. The WHO has been working with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands on the development of a safe, effective and affordable IPV using the Sabin virus strains and transferring the technology to vaccine manufacturers in developing countries. In May this year, the global health agency announced that Pancea Biotech in India and LG Life Sciences in South Korea were the first two vaccine makers that had been selected to receive the RIVM's Sabin-IPV technology. Last month, the WHO again called for Expressions of Interest' from other manufacturers in developing
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 138 of 143 countries that wanted the technology. Safer ways to produce the inactivated polio vaccine will be needed in a world where polio has been eradicated, noted the RIVM scientists in a recent paper in the journal Expert Review of Vaccines . Development of an IPV based on [a] nonvirulent strain, such as the attenuated Sabin strains, will help to increase the biosafety of the manufacturing process. Employees will not be exposed to the wild-type polio strains and accidental spills will not cause an immediate danger of reintroduction of wild virulent polio strains into the world. The higher cost of IPV was the result of several factors, the scientists noted in another recent paper in the journal Vaccine . The IPV needed more vaccine per dose than the oral vaccine to elicit a protective immune response. Additional processing, including concentration, purification and inactivation of the virus, was necessary. Besides, quality control as well as the containment required in dealing with wild viruses also added to the vaccine's cost. At present, the RIVM process to make Sabin-virus-based IPV was similar to the regular IPV production. At this moment, the initial yields for Sabin-IPV are somewhat lower when compared to that for regular IPV, noted Wilfried Bakker, senior scientist for viral vaccines and project manager at the RIVM, in an email. However, they were already engaged in an optimisation process to raise yields to levels comparable to or better than the conventional IPV, he added. If the attenuated Sabin strains were used for IPV production, the same stringent and expensive biosafety conditions for handling the wild viruses would not be necessary, said Oliver Rosenbauer, a spokesperson for the WHO-led Global Polio Eradication Initiative. That would help bring down the cost of the vaccine quite significantly. In addition, more manufacturers making the vaccine in developing countries could stabilise the market as well. Apart from the RIVM, the Japanese Polio Research Institute in Tokyo and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences' Kunming Institute of Medical Biology have also been working on IPVs using attenuated Sabin strains. Indeed, the Kunming Institute has already completed Phase-II clinical studies. (Scientists in the Netherlands expect to begin the Phase-I clinical trials of their vaccine in Europe shortly.) Before Sabin-IPV vaccines can be cleared for general use, their safety and efficacy will, however, have to be proven through such clinical trials.
New ultrasound tools for health care in orbit

Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute have created a catalog of space-normal' imagery of the human body, paving way for astronauts to provide care without consulting a physician on Earth.
New vaccine attacks breast cancer in mice

A new vaccine developed at the University of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic in Arizona dramatically reduces tumours in a mouse model that mimics 90 per cent of human breast and pancreatic cancer cases.
New views of Saturn's moon Hyperion snapped

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured new views of Saturn's moon Hyperion during its encounter with a cratered body recently. This was Cassini's second closest encounter.
New X-ray strategy to understand molecules

X-rays are a crucial component for studying and understanding molecules, and a new approach may dramatically improve what researchers can learn.
Next generation of computing now closer

Spintronics, which exploits the electron's tiny magnetic moment, could radically change computing due to its potential of high-speed, high-density and low-power consumption. New research shows how to make spin' more efficient.
Nitrogen in the soil cleans the atmosphere

Nitrous acid formed in fertilized soil and released to the air, the amount increasing with increasing soil acidity, leads to the formation of hydroxyl radicals which oxidise pollutants that then can be washed out by rain, says a study.
No labour shortage problems for Dharmasthala farmers

The number of farmers committing suicide in our country in the last fifteen years is more than the number of soldiers dying on the war front of our country. It is estimated that more than 200,000 farmers committed suicide in India in the last 15 years. It is strange that for a country that is mostly agrarian, depending on agriculture production for maintaining a stable economy, policy makers don't seem worried about small farmers, says Dr. L.H. Manjunath, Executive Director, Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), Dharmastala, Mangalore. Death blow The Government's claim that it evinces keen interest in uplifting small farmers seems to have no basis, given the fact that many small farmers across the country suffer due to shortage of manual labour. The 100 days rural employment scheme struck a death blow to the already crises ridden agriculture, he says. One cannot expect a small farmer to pay high wages to farm hands from the meagre income he gets from the land. Crop gestation period of four to five months for most crops means that these farmers get no income on a daily basis and therefore cannot pay the labourers. Most small farmers depend on family labour for their agriculture work. Therefore they are hardly innovative. Many of them also do not maintain proper land records and therefore cannot get financial aid from banks, adds Mr. Manjunath. To address these two issues, an innovative model called Pragathibandhu developed by the SKDRDP under Dr. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari, Manjunatha Swamy
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 140 of 143 temple in Dharmasthala is being implemented. Pragathibandhu model SKDRDP promotes small farmers self-help groups called Pragathibandhu SHGs'. There are about five to eight members in each group and every member owns anywhere from a few cents to two hectares of land. Predominantly made up of men, one or two women also join the group. The field workers of SKDRDP, after promoting such groups, train them on managing a group, documentation, handling of cash etc. - as routinely done in the case of any SHGs'. In addition these groups also prepare a five-year farm plan based on the landholdings and cropping pattern of each member. The farm plan is unique to each member and will consist of change in the farming practice, take up multiple cropping to generate continuous income, sustainable farming, mechanization, sustainable water supply and also ancillary activities such as home management, children's education, house construction, marriage etc. Compulsory sharing of labour between the members of the group one day in a week is a new feature in this region. The members go to the house of another member and work in the farm without receiving any wages. Sharing work The work to be done and the house to be visited are predetermined. On the day of the labour sharing, hospitality becomes the host's responsibility. The same day of the next week they go to another member's house. As a result, each small farmer gets five to six free labour days in two months. The small farmers get the labour so essential for farming, that too, without payment. Contrary to the belief of unemployment, there is high percentage of labour shortage in the farm sector in our country. Labour shortage is acutely affecting production. The labour sharing programme is a unique answer to the labour shortage suffered by the small farmers. No need to pay In this method the farmer does not pay the labourers in cash but instead returns the labour day to the member farmer, by working in his farm, according to Mr. Manjunath In the process, the affinity between the members of the group becomes stronger, they learn from each other, they help each other in times of crisis. It is very common to see members working for eight to nine hours on a labour sharing day to complete the work, he explains. For more details visit www.skdrdpindia.org and contact Dr. L. H. Manjunath, Executive Director, SKDRDP, Dharmasthala, email skdrdp@skdrdpindia.org, mobile: 09448469009, phone: 08256-277215.
Northeners have bigger brains

People living in the northern hemisphere have bigger brains than those staying near the equator, says a study. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean northerners are more intelligent than people from the south just that they have evolved to cope with the longer winters For More Visit www.mrunal-exam.blogspot.in or www.mrunalpatel.co.nr
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 141 of 143 and greyer skies in northern climes, say British researchers. In fact, a team at Oxford University, who measured the brain volume of 55 skulls from around the world, came out with this intriguing theory that people from countries further from the equator have more grey matter and larger eyes than those from sunnier parts, The Daily Telegraph reported. This is because living in low light conditions means the eyes and brain need to work harder in order to process images to a good level of detail, or high resolution, say the researchers. Lead author Eiluned Pearce said the study suggests that the bigger brains and eyes are needed to see properly in dimmer light. As you move away from equator, there's less light available, so humans have had to evolve bigger and bigger eyes. Their brains also need to be bigger to deal with the extra visual input. Having bigger brains doesn't mean that they are smarter, it just means they need bigger brains to see well where they live, she said. PTI
Novel light-absorbing material

NASA engineers have produced a material that absorbs on average more than 99 per cent of the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and far-infrared.
Novel magnetic, superconducting material

A new material has a layer where the two nonmagnetic insulators meet has both magnetic and superconducting regions two properties that normally can't coexist.
Now, high quality stem cells from human cells

A new technique to reprogram human cells, such as skin cells, into stem cells increases the efficiency of cell reprogramming by one hundred-fold and generates cells of a higher quality at a faster rate.
Now, plastic turned into power conductor

Plastics used in insulating power cables can be made to conduct electricity with the help of a thin metal film, opening the way to plastic electronics. Applying this technique, University of New South Wales researchers can now make cheap, strong, flexible and conductive plastic films. Ion beam techniques are widely used in the microelectronics industry to tailor the conductivity of semiconductors such as silicon, but attempts to adapt this process to plastic films have met only with limited success since the 1980s, the journal ChemPhysChem reports. What the team has been able to do here is use an ion beam to tune the properties of a plastic film so that it conducts electricity like the metals used in the electrical wires themselves, says Paul Meredith, from the University of New South Wales, who led the research.
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 142 of 143 These new materials can be easily produced with equipment commonly used in microelectronics and are vastly more tolerant of exposure to oxygen compared to standard semiconducting polymers, according to a University of New South Wales statement. Combined, these advantages may give ion beam processed polymer films a bright future in the on-going development of soft materials for plastic electronics applications a fusion between current and next generation technology, researchers say. IANS Thin metal film used to help conduct electricity Can be easily produced with common equipment
Nuclear disaster response failed, says report

Japan's response to the nuclear crisis that followed the March 11 tsunami was confused and riddled with problems, including an erroneous assumption an emergency cooling system was working and a delay in disclosing dangerous radiation leaks, an interim report revealed on December 26. The disturbing picture of harried and bumbling workers and government officials scrambling to respond to the problems at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was depicted in the report detailing a government investigation. The 507-page interim report, compiled by interviewing more than 400 people, including utility workers and government officials, found authorities had grossly underestimated tsunami risks, assuming the highest wave would be 6 meters (20 feet). The tsunami hit at more than double those levels. The report criticized the use of the term soteigai, meaning outside our imagination, which it said implied authorities were shirking responsibility for what had happened. It said by labeling the events as beyond what could have been expected, officials had invited public distrust. This accident has taught us an important lesson on how we must be ready for soteigai, it said. Untrianed workers The report, set to be finished by mid-2012, found workers at Tokyo Electric Power Co., the utility that ran Fukushima Dai-ichi, were untrained to handle emergencies like the power shutdown that struck when the tsunami destroyed backup generators setting off the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. There was no clear manual to follow, and the workers failed to communicate, not only with the government but also among themselves, it said. Finding alternative ways to bring sorely needed water to the reactors was delayed for hours because of the mishandling of an emergency cooling system, the report said. Workers assumed the system was working, despite several warning signs it had failed and was sending the nuclear core into meltdown. The report acknowledged that even if the system had kicked in properly, the
The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 143 of 143 tsunami damage may have been so great that meltdowns would have happened anyway. But a better response might have reduced the core damage, radiation leaks and the hydrogen explosions that followed at two reactors and sent plumes of radiation into the air, according to the report. Gross failure Sadder still was how the government dallied in relaying information to the public, such as using evasive language to avoid admitting serious meltdowns at the reactors, the report said. The government also delayed disclosure of radiation data in the area, unnecessarily exposing entire towns to radiation when they could have evacuated, the report found. The government recommended changes so utilities will respond properly to serious accidents. It recommended separating the nuclear regulators from the unit that promotes atomic energy, echoing frequent criticism since the disaster. Japan's nuclear regulators were in the same ministry that promotes the industry, but they are being moved to the environment ministry next year to ensure more independence. The report did not advocate a move away from nuclear power but recommended adding more knowledgeable experts, including those who would have been able to assess tsunami risks, and laying out an adequate response plan to what it called a severe accident. The report acknowledged people were still living in fear of radiation spewed into the air and water, as well as radiation in the food they eat. Thousands have been forced to evacuate and have suffered monetary damage from radiation contamination, it said. The nuclear disaster is far from over, the report said. The earthquake and tsunami left 20,000 people dead or missing. AP

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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 1 of 143

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GAGAN making GPS more accurate

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Gene from celery inside rose fights petal blight

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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 11 of 143

Gene swapping by flu viruses

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Genes involved in risk of thyroid cancer found

Genetic differences between African lions

Genetic parasites and mammalian pregnancy

1000 Genome-Wide Association Studies lack global coverage

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Gestures can change one's thoughts'

Giant claw helps fiddler crabs stay cool

Global agri-business incubation for agri-preneurs

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Global climate change effects need study

Global CO {-2} emissions reach 10 billion Tonnes

Glory' set for March 4 launch

GM crops debate: consensual versus adversarial approaches

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Good harvests do not always translate into money in the bank

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GPS can detect nuclear tests

Gradual deepening of core science ideas

Graphene spurs next generation chips

Graphene to shape future computers

Graphite and diamond

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Greenland's melting glaciers

Grunting affects opponent's response time

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Gujarat RTI activist complains of police harassment

Gulf oil-spill's dead zone' biggest ever?

Halving battery costs of electric cars by 2018

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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 26 of 143

Happiness has a dark side

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The Hindu S& T 2011 Page 27 of 143

Has the Earth's sixth mass extinction already arrived?

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HbA1c diabetes blood test not as effective for children

Heat-resistant fungal spores found in Western Ghats

Helping farmers solve their marketing problem

Helping small jackfruit farmers boost yield and income

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HIgher clock speeds for chips sans heat buildup

Highly efficient solar product

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High-tech approach to scrutinise fresh produce