Indian Science Research Articles

CARBON-BASED RAW MATERIALS PLAY KEY ROLES IN TECHNOLOGY OF THE 21ST CENTURY: INDIAN CASE STUDIES

Coal is a vital carbon-based raw material which is used in the production of various advanced nanomaterials. This particularly holds true for the relevant research and development trends in India. New more environmentally friendly processes are under development with respect to metallurgical coke making and quality enhancement of high-ash Indian coal. Compared with chemical and physical methods, beneficiation of high-ash coal and its combustion by-products with organic liquids (various natural oils) are much more superior in terms of costs, efficiency, and environmental implications. Nanodiamonds have emerged as a key platform for nanoscience and nanotechnology developments. Indian scientists have applied eco-friendly and cost-effective ultrasonic assisted wet-chemical method to low-quality NE Indian coal and the resulting nanodiamond particles could have a wide range of applications in the field of microelectronics, optoelectronics, and biosensing. Also, Indian scientists have been working on ultrasonic-assisted chemical synthesis of activated carbon from low-quality subbituminous coal and its preliminary evaluation towards supercapacitor applications. This article shows that coal is a versatile and valuable raw material which should be saved for future generations at all costs.

Science for Freedom Exploring Scientists’ Role in the Freedom Struggle

The paper traces the rise of scientific communities in response to colonial oppression from the second half of the eighteen-century until India’s independence in 1947. We study how scientific temper, held in colonial captivity (Krishna, 1991, p. 89), registered a break from colonial restrictions to find its moorings in the freedom struggle. There were scientists, but no meaningful science was allowed to happen by the British government. We learn from the existing literature how discriminatory practices disillusioned the native Indian scientists, which led to their parting ways with the British government and forming their own scientific community for conducting scientific research (Chakrabarti, 2009, 1996, pp. 188-195) (Krishna, 1991, pp. 89-95). Even in the absence of government support, our scientists established informal collaborative networks to carry out and share scientific knowledge amongst them. Thus, scientists’ successful formation of the scientific community in India marks the beginning of the real scientific endeavour. A galaxy of early scientists such as M.L. Sircar, P.C. Ray, J.C. Bose, C.V. Raman, M.N. Saha and Ashutosh Mukherjee started scientific investigation in pre-independence India. The paper sheds light on the contribution of the above scientists to the cause of science in India and argues that the birth of science in the form of an organised scientific community was occasioned by the British government’s opposition to free scientific endeavour. The Indian scientists earned the displeasure of the British government because they worked for establishing science to create universal knowledge, not as a handmaiden to the Empire (Krishna, 1991, p. 91). Thus, the paper concludes that the struggle for freedom already began in the mind of the scientific community in India against discriminatory colonial practises in scientific institutions quite early. The article mentions specific historical events and draws inferences to form a theoretical framework for understanding the motives behind such historical happenings and their effects.

Indian Science and Technology during the Freedom Struggle: A ‘Science Diplomacy’ Perspective

Science Diplomacy (SD) has emerged as a key component of foreign policy in the first decade of the 21st century. It provides an outlookto explore science and technology and diplomatic efforts in three distinctive perspectives namely 'science for diplomacy', 'diplomacy for science' and 'science in diplomacy'. However, one must note that this is not a new phenomenon and has been in practice in different forms for centuries and Indian S&T is not an exception. However, literature dominates the European perspective and is not much available from the non-western contexts. Therefore, the paper aims to explore S&T in the Indian context from the SD perspective in the first half of the 20th century, which also marked the period of freedom struggle at its peak. The paper uses the historiography of science method and purposively selected three cases, two from the 'colonised' and one from the 'colonisers' perspective. The first is The Association for the Advancement of Scientific and Industrial Education of Indians (AASIEI) and the second set of cases reflects the efforts of four Indian scientists, namely Saha, Bhatnagar, Raman, and Bhabha. The third case is of a diplomatic effort to gather Indian support for the war by the British when they sent Hill to India. The events and anecdotes suggest that SD was very much part of the freedom struggle movement and after independence, they shaped the Indian S&T in a major way. In the end, the paper suggests a few learning for Indian S&T from the SD perspective.

Evolution of modern age drug discovery of lipopeptides and computer-aided drug discovery in India

The endeavor has been attempted to present a review on the evolution of modern age drug discovery in India. The contribution of next generation therapeutics options microbial metabolites and the computational drug discovery aspects to the global market from India have been represented. Microbial metabolites such as lipopeptides and peptide therapeutics are gaining worldwide importance due to their multiple applications as broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer properties etc. Due to the surge of microbial resistance, tumor resistance, and ongoing pandemic due to constantly mutating corona virus, there is a need to develop next-generation therapeutics options from natural origin, less toxic to the environment, and have higher specificity towards target. Small molecule therapeutics are certainly less specific towards cancer targets hence the cytotoxicity is a major issue in cancer treatment while drug resistance due to the mutations are coming as challenges every day for drug discovery researchers. Microbial lipopeptide reserves a sweet spot in between the small molecule inhibitors and peptide therapeutics because of their amphiphilic compounds consist of a fatty acid side chain and a cyclic peptide moiety of hydrophilic nature. The computational drug discovery approach accelerates the drug discovery process due to the advancement in supercomputer facilities provided by various funding agencies such as the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in India. The current review article is focusing light on the research contribution of Indian Scientists and Govt. of India in the field of lipopeptide-based research and applications of Computer-aided drug discovery.

Immediate autonomic changes during right nostril breathing and left nostril breathing in regular yoga practitioners.

The ancient Indian science of Yoga makes use of voluntary regulation of breathing to make respiration rhythmic and calm the mind. This practice is called pranayama. Nadisuddhi pranayama means "purification of subtle energy paths," inhalation and exhalation are through alternative nostrils for successive respiratory cycles. Surya Anuloma-Viloma pranayama means "heat generating breathing particle" when the respiratory cycle of inhalation and exhalation is completed through the right nostril exclusively. When completed through the left nostril alone, the practice is called "Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama," which means a heat-dissipating or cooling liberating practice. We compared the effect of right nostril breathing (RNA) and left nostril breathing (LNB) pranayama on heart rate variability. The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology at an institute of national importance, after obtaining necessary ethical approvals from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Twenty healthy kriya yogi volunteers (mean age: 44 years), who are regular practitioners for the last 10-20 years, were inducted into the study. RNB pranayama starts with closing the right nostril with the thumb of the left hand followed by exhalation through the right nostril and inhaling slowly through the same nostril. This forms one round of RNB pranayama. In contrast, inhalation through the left nostril and exhalation through the right nostril exclusively is called chandrabhedana pranayama (chandrabhedana means moon-piercing breath in Sanskrit) with a similar variation called Chandra Anuloma-Viloma pranayama in which inhalation, as well as exhalation, is performed through the left nostril exclusively. The recording of electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was taken by heart rate variability (Dinamika HRV-Advanced Heart Rate Variability Test System, Moscow, Russia). The resting and during readings of heart rate variability parameters were compared and post hoc analysis was done using Bonferroni and Holm multiple comparisons for repeated measures. Time domain parameters: Standard deviation of normal to normal RR intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive NN interval differences (RMSSD) were increased at a high level of statistical significance during both pranayama maneuvres. Frequency domain parameters: LF, LF/HF ratio increased significantly. Parasympathetic activity is represented by LF when the respiration rate is lower than 7 breaths per min or during taking a deep breath. Thus, when the subject is in a state of relaxation with slow and even breathing in both RNB-right nostril and Chandra-LNB, the LF values can be very high, indicating an increase in parasympathetic activity rather than an increase in sympathetic regulation. Our study is an acute study, where changes in HRV were seen after 5 min of RNB and LNB. However, statistically, there is not much difference in the immediate effects of the two pranayamas on heart rate variability in regular yoga practitioners.

<i>Saddālaṅkāra</i> and <i>Atthālaṅkāra</i> in the <i>Subodhālaṅkāra</i>

The Indian science of rhetoric （alaṅkāra） systematizes figures of speech. While a large number of classical works on Sanskrit rhetoric have been handed down to us, Pāli rhetoric has only one extant treatise: the Subodhālaṅkāra, written by Saṅgharakkhita. This paper discusses how verbal figures of speech （saddālaṅkāra） and semantic figures of speech （atthālaṅkāra） are defined and related to each other in the Subodhālaṅkāra, with a special focus on the relationship between superimposition （samādhi） and metaphor （rūpaka）.

RAD@home RGB-maker web-tool for citizen science research in multi-wavelength study of AGNs with radio jets

AbstractThe RAD@home RGB-maker Tool is a python-based web application that enables citizen science research through collaboration using open-source technology. The tool fetches FITS image data from NASA SkyView and generates false colour images in Red-Green-Blue channels with contour. This helps in the basic multi-wavelength understanding and characterization of extragalactic objects, and further analysis along with reporting of potential new discoveries in a uniform format. Students from Universities or science-graduate citizens gain skills in RGB-C image analysis and identify unique features in objects via either one-day online-weekend events or week-long in-person training. Trained citizen scientists in turn are part of rare discoveries such as the jet-galaxy interaction system RAD12. The tool has been successfully used by thousands of citizen scientists in India since its launch on 26th January 2021 and has demonstrated the potential during IAU symposium 375 to be part of citizen science efforts with international participants.

Secularity and Science: What Scientists around the World Really Think about Religion

Secularity and Science: What Scientists around the World Really Think about Religion

“CONCEPT OF AGNI AND ITS ROLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF AMLAPITTA VYADHI : A REVIEW ”

The ancient system of Indian medical science Ayurveda describes various concepts related to physiological functioning and biological response. Agni is considered responsible for the digestive & metabolic functioning of the body. The digestion & assimilation of ingested food performed by the Agni which is very essential process for the growth and development of human body. Ayurveda emphasizes that all the diseases are the result of the weak state of Agni i.e. Mandagni. Improper functioning of Agni leads to various gastrointestinal disorders as well as various metabolic disturbances. Agni offers Arogya, Ayu, Bala, Swasthyam, Varnam, Utsaha, Ojha, Prabha,& Teja to the body which all resembles a healthy physical and mental state. Agni Dusthi is one of the causative factors for many diseases, therefore, Agni play important role towards understanding of disease pathogenesis, disease diagnosis, & setting of the treatment protocol. Amlapitta is a disease which is commonly found in almost all parts of the world. Peculiarities of this disease are, increased prevalence, vast field of manifestation of symptoms, requires prolonged dietetic control, if not treated in proper time, it may create major problems. Amlapitta is one of the commonest Vyadhi of Annavaha Strotas, caused by vitiated Agni. Amlapitta is a condition where Amla Guna of Pachak Pitta increases due to Samata. The main principle of treatment of all diseases as per Ayurveda is to restore and to strengthen the Agni. This article emphasized the conceptual understanding of Agni & its role in the pathogenesis of Amlapitta Vyadhi.

Research Trends in Diabetes Applying VOS Viewer: A Scientometric Profile

As diabetes is a non-communicable disease, many scientists try to cure it in different ways throughout the globe. Due to the remarkable scientific growth in this area, we focus on evaluating the scholarly publications and their current research trends in diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes published by Indian scientists using statistical tools and scientometric analysis. A total of 83 318 global research productivity and a total number of research publications from India was 2 381 with 36, 408 global citations and the Period between 2009 and 2018. Further, the total number of authors (17712) and its average number of authors is 7.44, a total number of 782 core journals and 95 228 cited references found during the research period. To evaluate data, various scientometric techniques or indicators were used such as Authorship Pattern (Single vs Multiple), Degree of Collaboration, Relative growth rate (RGR) and Doubling Time (DT) and many more indicators used. This study limits with Indian research output did not include world literature. We try to identify the information in different types of type 1 diabetes between 2009 and 2018. This study will help to find out the core journals for collection management and for promoting diabetes research and developments in future. We chose the core keywords in type 1 diabetes with full records with abstracts, types of manuscripts, cited references using the Web of Science database.

Living Legends in Indian Science: Roddam Narasimha

Living Legends in Indian Science: Roddam Narasimha

Correspondence between South African geologist Alex L. du Toit and Birbal Sahni concerning Gondwana Palaeobotany (1925–1944)

Birbal Sahni (1891-1949) was well known as the first Indian palaeobotanist, and he established the Institute that was named after him, now the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences. Alexander L. du Toit (1878-1948) was the most famous South African geologist, known internationally for advocating the idea of Continental Drift, and for his work on Gondwana geology and palaeobotany. Du Toit was introduced to Sahni by Albert Seward, who was Sahni’s mentor at Cambridge University. They started a correspondence in 1925, involving the exchange of papers, books, and samples, which lasted at least until 1944. Du Toit and Sahni met in 1938 at the Indian Science Congress in Calcutta. Their preserved letters deal with the palaeobotany, correlations, and age of the Rajmahal beds, and later with the palynological investigations of Karoo Dwyka samples sent by du Toit to Sahni, which were worked on by D. D. Pant, who had been a student of Sahni. This correspondence reveals in detail just how these geoscientists involved with problems of Gondwana palaeogeography tackled these questions in spite of the long distances, and slow communications of the time. Information, especially that published in local journals, was disseminated by means of sending reprints, proof copies, and sometimes by handwritten lists of fossils. Although, initially, Sahni had obtained South African and Australian fossil material through the British Museum in London, he later obtained South African samples specially collected for him by du Toit. Samples were also exchanged between South Africa, England, India and Australia.

Structure of Indian science: a re-appraisal

Science and the associated technology have come to the centre stage of national discourse on account of Covid. The time is now appropriate for an appraisal of the structure of Indian science. We need a support system which is an elaboration of the support provided by Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar to G. N. Ramachandran who has been arguably the greatest scientist of Indian origin to have worked in the post-independence era.

Peer review Declaration

All papers published in this volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.• Type of peer review: Single-blind CONSILIO enforced a strict non-plagiarism policy. We are of the strong belief that academic research work should be original and published only once. We followed a very strict reviewing process to maintain the quality of the conference and its publication as in previous conferences. Single blind peer review of all papers was carried out by subject experts; average 2 reviewers per paper.• Conference submission management system: All the papers were submitted online through Easy Chair system https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=consilio2021• Number of submissions received: 285• Number of submissions sent for review: 259• Number of submissions accepted: 38• Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted / Number of Submissions Received X 100): 14%• Average number of reviews per paper: 2• Total number of reviewers involved: 298• Contact persons for queries (a) Prof. Vipin Tyagi Past President : Engg Sciences Section, Indian Science Congress Association, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, Raghogarh, Guna (MP ) INDIAdr.vipin.tyagi@gmail.com(b) Dr. Mayank Singh Consilio Intelligence Research Lab, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Indiadr.mayank.singh@ieee.org

Dissecting culture at work: Conversation with Indian immigrant scientists & engineers in the US industrial sector

Scientists and engineers’ social background, cultural upbringing, educational training, and world outlook influence how they perform the work and interact with their colleagues. We conducted a study on Indian immigrant scientists and engineers employed in the US industrial sector. We interviewed 40 Indian immigrant scientists and engineers, some of whom came for higher studies and found employment after graduation, while others came directly from India to work. Findings show that the overwhelming majority of interviewees (n = 35) noted significant cultural differences with their colleagues in the workplace; only a small number of interviewees (n = 5), believed that their foundation in professionalism eliminated significant impacts from cultural dissimilarities. Interviewees identified cultural differences in the areas of social interactions, work-related practices, intercultural communication, and management. When immigrant scientists and engineers from developing countries join industrial organizations, they do not leave their cultural practices at home. A conversation with Indian immigrant scientists and engineers shows how Indian culture manifests itself in the workplace.

Application of Kirlian Captures and Statistical Analysis of Human Bioelectricity and Energy of Different Organs

Bioelectricity occurs inside a living organism. It is nature through which living beings survive. It is a phenomenon through which organisms live and is also parallel to electrophysiology. Bioelectric potentials are generated by many biological processes. Bioelectric potentials are very like electrical potentials, which are generated by batteries. The bioelectric potential in a cell membrane has a potential of about 500 milli volts. Cells use their potential to control metabolic processes. But some cells use them differently for psychological functions. Cells allow the potential to be between inside and outside to discharge current to the nerves. The transportation of sodium ions is also involved in production of action potential, the ancient Indian vedic yajna, mantra, and meditation science has been proved effective to increase this bioelectricity. In this manuscript, the authors examined the different energy distribution of subjects on different organs.

Indian scientists tackle the infodemic.

At the time that COVID-19 began to take hold in India, a group of Indian scientists came together to combat what Reeteka Sud describes as one of the most potent threats: the spread of misinformation fueling the pandemic.

Growth and Collaboration Trends in Livestock Research in India: A Scientometrics Analysis

This paper attempts to analyse the growth and development of Livestock research in India, as reflected inpublication output covered by Science Citation Index (SCI) during 1999-2010. The Indian scientists published a total of 600 papers in SCI covered journals during the above period. The present study analyses the broad features of Indian output in the field of livestock by focusing on its publication growth characteristics, language, format and media of communication, research quality, institutional productivity, patterns of research collaboration, and broad and narrow subject areas of interests of Indian institutions and scientists. A broad comparison of India's research output with select countries has also been made.

Unsuccessful FRS nominations from colonial India

In the early decades of the twentieth century, several pioneers of modern science in India were nominated for the Fellowship of the Royal Society. Apart from those who got elected, the others who were not elected also had high reputation among their peers and were usually nominated by British scientists who were aware of their scientific contributions. This paper discusses six Indian scientists who were nominated for FRS during the era 1913–1939 but were not elected: P.C. Ray, D.N. Mallik, Raghavendra Row, N.R. Dhar, S.K. Banerjee, L.K. Ananthakrishna Iyer. In some of the cases, their nomination certificates (available at the Archives of the Royal Society) are the best compact statements of their scientific achievements, and it is not easy to find more information about some of them.

THE ROLE OF INTERACTIVE METHODS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS

The article provides an overview of the importance of interactive methods used in the educational process, the formation of communicative skills of students at the University, as well as in the new era of free thinking, the use of modern interactive teaching methods, English language teaching engineering students. The world is developing in the field of science and technology. Scientific inventions in Germany, France and Russia cannot reach India in a language other than English. Consequently, a scientific invention in Germany or Russia will be obsolete by the time it reaches Indian scientists by translation. The issues of development in the field of world science and technology are highlighted.