Current Science最新文献

{"title":"Calcite polymorphs in historic plasters of India’s arid region – execution technique, composition and characterization","authors":"S. Bansal, M. Singh","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/804-813","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/804-813","url":null,"abstract":": The lime works in India’s desert region were executed by a technique that is characteristically different from other parts of the country. The area is very hot and the high evaporation of water due to heat and less rain has caused salinity to the groundwater. Due to local climatic conditions, the decorative works of Rajasthan were executed on a shiny white plaster by a technique locally named Ala-Gila which is sometimes compared with the true fresco of Italy. The Persian colonial arts also flourished in this part and the color palette suddenly changed from vibrant to more shiny colors in the paintings. In this work, the microscopic observation of thin section was utilized to investigate geological and fine morphological features of the 16th century Amber fort lime plaster-a WHS site and a very popular tourist destination. The FTIR, XRD, and SEM photomicrographs of the plasters showed the stabilization of different crystalline phases of polymorphs of calcium carbonate. The chemical analysis and SEM-EDX data denote dolomitic limestone probably sourced for plaster works. The high amount of magnesium present in the raw material, the environmental conditions at the time of the application of the plaster, pH, etc. have stabilized calcite polymorphs in the plaster. The calcite meta-stable phases have undergone dissolution with time making the plaster weak. This has increased porosity, permeability, and resultant lowering of plaster's mechanical strength. The thermal analysis and cementation index of the plaster showed the use of non-hydraulic binder-rich air-lime for plaster works. The granulometric study showed the mixing of reddish-brown sand-size grains, and the aggregates were probably from the same location for major construction activity. The low proportion of aggregates led to reduced mechanical strength, and the is vulnerable to damage. It is to a major restoration of the ancient lime works with compatible materials as per analytical data","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82303711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traffic operations at mainline toll plazas","authors":"C. Bari, S. Chandra, A. Dhamaniya, Yogeshwar V. Navandar","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/754-766","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/754-766","url":null,"abstract":"Most projects across the world are built under the public–private partnership (PPP) module. In the highway sector, the highway projects are built by the con-cessioner, and in lieu of that, he generates revenue by collecting tolls from road users. The toll plazas built across the highways to collect tolls act as a bottleneck in highway facilities. Although the toll collection system has been improved worldwide, users are still expe-riencing an enormous delay at toll plazas due to congestion, especially in developing countries like India. This congestion is caused due to various factors such as long service time, an inadequate number of windows, traffic volume, categories of toll rates, etc., which lead to delay, degradation of capacity, and level of service. Different researchers in their countries have analysed all these factors. The present article gives a detailed literature review summarizing various studies on the different parameters related to toll plazas and proposes research gaps from the perspective of developing countries. The challenges and methodology for evaluating various parameters are also discussed, and a way for-ward for future research is suggested.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84134508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Radio-sterilized Spodoptera litura (Fabr.) as a conducive host for in vivo safe trans­port of viable entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema thermophilum as potential parasitoids","authors":"Simran K. Arora, P. Yadav, R. Seth, Y. Singh, R. Seth","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/791-796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/791-796","url":null,"abstract":"The potential of a radio-sterilized host, Spodoptera litura (Fabr.), an established noctuid pest, was ascertained for in vivo transport of the viable entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernema thermophilum . Radio-sterilization (70 Gy) of the host (pest) was done to avoid any pest population build-up from the host larvae that could inadvertently miss EPN infection. The infective juveniles (IJs) derived from a radio-sterilized host took 67.3 h to induce host mortality, 132 h for incubation, and showed 87.8% parasitization with 98.9 IJs harvesting per mg host body wt, indicating almost similar parasitizing behaviour of these IJs as control. The findings indicated the suitability of the radio-sterilized host, S. litura , for carrying the IJs ( in vivo ) in a safe mode, that could retain a substantial degree of infectivity to be utilized in the field for managing this serious noctuid pest using biocontrol measures.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76078001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interleukin-6, a major player of cytokine storm in COVID-19 and its alleviation by therapeutic antibodies","authors":"Kumar Simant, Krishnan Venkataraman","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/745-753","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/745-753","url":null,"abstract":"Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important cytokine that plays a vital role in immune response and inflamma-tion. Here, the signalling functions of IL-6 through its receptors, physiological and pathological roles, espe-cially its contribution to various autoimmune diseases, cancers and severe COVID-19/SARS-CoV2 infections are described. It is reported that in severe COVID-19 infection and auto-immune diseases, the patients expe-rience cytokine storms due to hyper-activation of the IL-6 receptor pathway leading to detrimental effects. Blocking IL-6 receptor action by therapeutic antibodies has been considered an attractive strategy of treat-ment. The latest findings on the application of anti-IL-6 therapeutic antibodies in COVID-19 patients are also discussed. © 2022,Current Science. All Rights Reserved.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72956216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the forest and mapping its archaeology: Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, India","authors":"Nayanjot Lahiri, M. B. Rajani, Debdutta Sanyal, Samayita Banerjee","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/772-780","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/772-780","url":null,"abstract":"The archaeology of historical India has usually been perceived through the lens of cities and states, leaving forest tracts to a large extent unexamined. This article considers the historical signature in a segment of the Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India, in order to understand how histories of occupation in jungles and wilderness where no settlements presently exist can be studied. Our survey involved a combination of ground-level investigations using GPS devices along with an analysis of satellite images to explore whether such images can be used for locating structures and sites. The earliest archaeological markers in Bandhavgarh are cave shelters of the 2nd century CE , which form the subject of this article.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87167699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic gain apropos socio-ecological pain: expansion of plantation crops in biocultural jhumscape of North East India","authors":"D. K. Pandey, S. Dubey, A. Tripathi, Barun Singh, B. N. Hazarika","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/767-771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/767-771","url":null,"abstract":"North East India is a biodiversity-rich zone and a part of both the Himalaya and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots. It is a large-scale multipurpose landscape consisting of a mosaic of crops, livestock and forest. The landscape also ensures almost all the ecosystem services that con-tribute to the well-being of more than 100 diverse ethnic groups (indigenous people) in the region. However, in recent years, rapid transition in the form of promotion and expansion of oil palm and rubber plantations as mooted and supported by the state has posed threats to the ecosystem and biodiversity especially the biocultural landscapes. Supported by empirical evidence (primary and secondary data), this study argues that as we increase the intensity of production or harvest of such crops, the environmental cost becomes unprecedented and immense to be offset by economic gain. The use of renewable biological resources as the foundation for a bioeconomy must be regulated in terms of environmental impact ra-ther than short-term financial dividends. Therefore, we need to develop optimization models for the biocultural landscape(s) that determine land use based on what is both economically and environmentally optimal.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85962983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crash risk factor identification using association rules in Nagpur city, Maharashtra, India","authors":"Bahuguna Dalai, V. Landge","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i6/781-790","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i6/781-790","url":null,"abstract":"The increase in traffic volume in urban road networks poses a significant challenge to transportation safety. It is evident that different traffic zones experience unique crash patterns and severities. The different factors that affect crash rates are caused by the various characteristics of the drivers, weather conditions, design of road-side infrastructure and driving behaviour. Although studies have shown that various factors can affect crash rates, there are insufficient studies on the exact catego-rization of these factors. Accordingly, the present study focuses on traffic crashes on streets where the risks of an accident occurrence are higher, using Nagpur city, Maharashtra, India as a case study. Three levels of risk zones were selected, i.e. zone-I (low risk), zone-II (medi-um risk) and zone-III (high risk). The risk zones are created in ArcGIS software using the kernel density esti-mator function. The association rule was then used to find out the various crash risk factors within the zone. The results of the study reveal that the risk of pedestrian fatalities is higher in areas where the speed limit is more than 40 km/h and day-to-day pedestrian activity is present. Based on the results, we propose a lower speed limit in zone-I, in addition to providing pedestrian-crossing facilities such as zebra crossings or refuge islands for cross-walks. Moreover, we propose implementing an awareness campaign for road traffic safety aimed at educating road users on how to follow road discipline, especially with regard to utilizing pedestrian facilities, aggressive young motorcyclists, lane changing and overtaking mano-euvres.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73035925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"India’s management and governance in protecting the stratospheric ozone layer","authors":".. Garima","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i5/635-641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i5/635-641","url":null,"abstract":": India has vigorously participated in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Stratospheric Ozone Layer through its noteworthy management and governance. The Montreal Protocol is the international treaty with most nations as signatories to safeguard the ozone layer. For the success of the Protocol, developing (Article-5) and developed (non-Article 5) countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, need to fully adhere to the conditions and provisions of the Montreal Protocol. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) have been phased out from all countries. Since 1 August 2008, India has completely phased-out CFCs' production and consumption, almost 17 months ahead of the agreed phase-out schedule. India has contributed to the \"Save Ozone\" efforts by all the world nations.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88624216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk assessment of drowning incidents at Aksa Beach, Mumbai, India","authors":"Deepali Gadkari, Subhankar Das","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i5/687-693","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i5/687-693","url":null,"abstract":"The Aksa Beach is one of the most drowning incident-prone beaches in Mumbai, India. From 2006 through 2018, an average of 38 people drowned annually. A total of 445 non-fatal drowning victims have been rescued and 47 have died. No studies about these drowning incidents in Aksa Beach have been published. The incidences are classified according to various parameters such as season, tide time, lunar day, gender and age of victims, and locations on the beach to assess drowning hazards. The result is that both natural and demographic factors are responsible for drowning incidents. This study assesses the natural and social causes of drowning and suggests a prevention policy.","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84162139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanoparticles mitigate arsenic stress in plants by modulating defence mechanisms","authors":"Thorny Chanu Thounaojam, Zesmin Khan, T. Meetei, S. Panda, H. Upadhyaya","doi":"10.18520/cs/v123/i5/642-649","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v123/i5/642-649","url":null,"abstract":"Arsenic stress greatly affects plant production, threatening food security, and also human health through food chain. Arsenic alters various physiological processes that subsequently affect plant’s normal metabolism. Plant has different mechanisms to protect from stress, where nanoparticles improve plant metabolisms and defence system, thereby alleviating arsenic stress in plant. Therefore, this review discusses the effects of arsenic in plant at different levels, and the roles of NPs in modulating plant defence system against As stress. This review will be encouraging in future research on plant protective mechanisms against stress and the significance of NPs in plant science and agriculture. nitrite reductase, and glutamate dehydrogease, thereby, reducing NO 3̄ and NO 2 ̄ contents and glutamic acid and glutamine ratio 24,25 . AsV uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, which resulted into the inhibition of ATP synthesis 26 . ATP is formed by phosphorylation of ADP in mitochondria, but due to the interference of AsV with the mitochondrial enzymes, F 1 F o ATP synthase, the enzyme reacts with AsV and formed ADP-AsV and thereby inhibiting the normal metabolism. AsV interferes the activity of polynucleotide phosphorylase enzyme (PNPase), the enzyme that catalyze phosphorolysis and also the exchange of the terminal phosphate group of ADP and Pi. In presence of AsV, PNPase catalyze the arsenolysis of RNA and ADP giving AMP-arsenate 27 . AsV also alters the activity of glycolytic ezymes by substituting the Pi group. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is the glycolytic enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative phosphorylation of D -glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P) to 1,3-biphospho- D -glycerate (1,3BPG), but presence of AsV inhibited the formation of 1,3BPG, and formed 1-arseno-3-phosphoglycerate (1As3PG) 28 . The study of Tariang et al. 29 also revealed that As altered activity of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase enzymes, which might have caused to inhibition of carbohydrate metabolism. cell walls by decreasing degree of pectin methylesterification. The SiO 2 NPs treated cell show higher expression of OsNIP1; 1 and OsNIP3; 3 and lower expression of OsLis1 and OsLis2 genes. These findings provide the possibility of using SiO 2 NPs in As-contaminated paddy soil. It has been reported that many other abiotic stresses such as salinity stress, drought and Cd stresses were mitigated by different NPs by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities while lowering ROS 48, 49 . The recent study of Hussain et al. 50 on the use of different NPs (ZnO, FeO and Si) under Cd stress in wheat plant also revealed that NPs ameliorate Cd stress by increasing nutrient uptake and antioxidant enzyme activities, while reducing Cd intake by the plant. The prospective of NPs to mitigate abiotic stress in crop plant was reviewed by Das and Das 51 where the significant roles of NPs in mediating different stresses have been explained. Abiotic stress such as drou","PeriodicalId":11194,"journal":{"name":"Current Science","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82307830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}