Annual Report 2001 - 2002

Autonomous Institutions

Raman Research Institute, Bangalore

The Raman Research Institute founded by Prof. C. V. Raman in the late forties was reorganised after his death in 1970, as a national institute for research in basic science. The main research areas are Theoretical Physics, Optics, Liquid Crystals and Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Theoretical Physics (TP)

• The dynamics of driven diffusive Heisenberg systems show a novel dynamical critical behaviour belonging to a distinct universality class and spatio-temporal chaos which may be controlled in a precise manner to give rise to helical configurations.
  
• The dynamics of solid state transformations, specifically in the context of martensites and bainites has been studied using both molecular dynamics simulations and analytical calculations based on a Langevin approach.
  
• A physical model of rafts consisting of sphingolipids and cholesterol on the cell membrane has been analysed to obtain a shape-texture phase diagram of rafts of a prescribed area. These studies indicate how rafts might lead to membrane budding, a necessary precursor to endocytosis.
  
• The phenomena of fission and fusion of membranes in the internal membrane components of the cell are `active processes' requiring the hydrolysis of ATP and a complex protein machinery. The dynamics, shape instabilities and steady states of a membrane subject to active fission and fusion events have been studied using a Langevin approach.
  
• A Microwave Cavity experimental setup is being fabricated to study Quantum Chaos.
  
• Topological phases in three-state systems are being studied.
  
• The statistics of semiflexible polymers is being investigated.
  
• Work on Heat conduction is in progress.
  
• A particular finite dimensional model has been put forward in the literature to bring out the meaning of the Immirzi ambiguity. It is shown that the example is fallacious in that the model is not intrinsically ambiguous, but the ambiguity is put in by hand.
  
• The relation between Fock space photons and representations in which the electric flux is quantised was generalised to the context of linearised gravity wherein Fock space gravitons were obtained as distributional states in terms of polymer like excitations.
  
• Gravitational wave phasing of compact binary systems to 3.5PN order:
  The inspiral of compact binaries driven by gravitational radiation reaction has been computed through 3.5PN order beyond the leading Einstein quadrupole formula.

Research activities being pursued currently are given below:

• An intense study of the physico-chemical mechanisms of endocytosis in eukaryotic cells is being undertaken, focussing in particular on the mechanisms involved in the internalization of GPI-anchored proteins.
  
• The dynamics of active processes in membranes and semi-flexible polymers, such as lipid flip-flop, network models of fission-fusion, transport and organisation of motor proteins and microtubules will be studied.
  
• The equilibrium and statistical mechanics of DNA-Histone complexes will be investigated.
  
• Experiments on quantum chaos and Berry phases with microwave cavities are planned.
  
• Studies to understand physical properties of DNA will be undertaken.
  
• Work on heat conduction will be continued.
  
• Investigation into the topological phase for three state systems will be initiated.
  
• The interpretation of black hole entropy will be investigated by working on the space of solutions.
  
• Investigation into the feasibility of non compact gauge group based connections as variables for quantum gravity will be undertaken.
  
• Further studies of the r-Fock measure introduced in earlier work as well as of the relation between Fock and polymer-like excitations will be pursued in order to understand semiclassical states in loop quantum gravity. In the system of quantum cylindrical waves the issue of possible perturbative non-renormalizability in the context of a non-perturbative quantization will be investigated.
  
• 3PN generation of gravitational waves: Work is in progress to examine the ambiguity in the 3PN generation due to the physical incompleteness of the Hadamard regularisation. The extension of the mass quadrupole computation to non-circular orbits is also under way.
  
• Effective one body templates for inspiralling compact binaries:
  The recent 3.5PN accurate gravitational wave phasing will be employed to construct 3.5PN accurate effective one body templates for inspiralling compact binaries.

Optics

Light in random media : The rate of depolarisation of multiply scattered light was studied as a function of the anisotropy of scattering, and the implications of imaging through turbid media examined. It is concluded that using the technique of polarisation discrimination, one can image deeper in a medium of isotropic scatterers.

Nonlinear Optics : Measurements of optical nonlinearity in rare-earth doped phthalocyanines in liquid and solid forms were carried out, in collaboration with Cochin University of Science and Technology. The data analysis is in progress.

Laser Cooling and trapping of atoms : A new high power external cavity actively stabilised laser with 80mW output at 780nm has been built and locked to the F=2->F'=3 hyperfine transition of 87Rb. A glass cell was evacuated and the cooling beams aligned, for obtaining a magneto-optic trap. However, due to inadequate vacuum, this cell was subsequently replaced by a metal chamber, in which ultrahigh vacuum of 2x10-9 Torr has been achieved. Optical molasses has been obtained at the junction of the three pairs of counter-propagating "cooling" beams within the evacuated chamber. We are now in the process of superimposing a repumper beam, and the requisite magnetic fields, so that a trapped cloud of cold atoms can be obtained.

Research activities currently being undertaken are given below:

Laser Cooling and trapping

• To optimise the parameters that can give a cold cloud of Rb atoms reproducibly.
  
• To build an injection locked laser to increase available laser power.
  
• To lock the laser to 85Rb transition, and get a cold cloud of this isotope.
  
• To study numerically, the interaction of cold atoms in an optical lattice.

Nonlinear optics : To continue the non-linear optics experiments on rare-earth phthalocyanines

The new laboratory building is expected to be ready during this period, and we will shift the existing facilities to the new premises. This is a major task, requiring reinstallation of most laser systems, vacuum systems, monochromators, etc., and is expected to take at least 4 months.

Liquid Crystal Laboratory

• A number of new symmetrical and unsymmetrical compounds composed of banana-shaped molecules have been synthesized. The mesophases exhibited by some of these compounds have been characterized. A detailed temperature concentration phase diagram of a second binary system composed of bent-core and rod-like molecules, and exhibiting the biaxial smectic A (SmAb) phase has been constructed. Initial experiments to probe the relative orientation of bent-core and rod-like molecules in different phases of one of the mixtures of the above system have been carried out using polarised infra-red spectroscopy.
  
• Free standing films of mixtures exhibiting the TGBA and UTGBC* phases have been studied in detail in order to account for a radial periodic pattern that forms in the meniscus region of these films.
  
• The hydrodynamic modes in mixtures of cholesteric liquid crystals have been investigated. The viscoelastic coefficients as functions of temperature in these mixtures have also been determined.
  
• Theoretical investigations on the nonlinear optical effects near the optical absorption edges in dye doped liquid crystals have been carried out. A systematic approach for a proper analysis of this problem is underway.
  
• X-ray diffraction studies on DNA-cationic surfactant complexes have been carried out to determine their structure. In the case of single chain surfactants, these complexes are found to have a hexagonal structure. A hydration chamber for the electro formation of vesicles from bilayer forming lipids and surfactants has been constructed.
  
• Low temperature experiments on certain bulk liquid crystalline samples have been carried out using a superconducting magnet to look for a nematic-nematic transition. A plot of the intensity vs. temperature showed a discontinuous jump indicating this transition.
  
• Studies on displaying eight gray shades on a 16 X 16 matrix LCD using successive approximation in combination with pulse modulation have been carried out. In addition, comparison of addressing techniques from the point of brightness uniformity of pixels as well as eight character alphanumeric display with 7 X 5 dot matrix driven using binary addressing technique have been carried out.
  
• The monolayers formed by alkanethiols have been evaluated in a few non-aqueous solvents such as ethanol and active acid using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
  
• Microelectrodes have the interesting properties of very high rate of mass transport and low ohmic drop, which makes it ideal for studies involving low conductivity media. Studies on the basic reversible systems and on the monolayer coated microelectrodes have been initiated.

Research activities currently being pursued are as under:

• The synthesis of new liquid crystalline compounds composed of bent-core molecules will be continued in an effort to correlate the mesomorphic behaviour with the molecular structures. A very interesting striped texture observed when a mixture exhibiting the SmAb phase is taken between rubbed glass plates will be studied in detail. The influence of temperature and thickness on these stripes and the effect of electric fields will also be studied in detail.
  
• It is proposed to study the effect of different types of surface treatments on the alignment of various liquid crystalline phases exhibited by compounds with bent-core molecules. Theoretical studies on the liquid crystalline phases exhibited by such compounds will be taken up.
  
• Work on studies on the Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred from air-water interface to solid substrates will be continued. It is proposed to study the wetting and dewetting phenomena in the case of isotropic, nematic and smectic phases at different temperatures. The surface roughness at the air-film the film-glass interfaces will be studied.
  
• Biologically important cholesteryl esters are found in the interior rigid core of chylomicrons and in other otherosclerotic lesions. It is proposed to probe the different phases and structures of these systems at the air-water interface by surface manometry, epifluorescence microscopy and other techniques.
  
• It is proposed to investigate some of the laser induced effects in absorbing liquid crystals. A preliminary analysis indicates that one may expect many new and interesting effects even at low laser intensity levels, like structures similar to twist grain boundary phases retroreflecting structures etc.,
  
• It is envisaged to work on the theoretical aspects of statistical physics of active processes in soft matter.
  
• Initial results obtained on the structures of some DNA-surfactant complexes from a modelling procedure by comparing calculated and observed diffraction patterns will be continued. It is planned to take up neutron scattering studies in order to determine their structures unambiguously be contrast variation techniques. X-ray diffraction studies on lipid-DNA complexes to infer the out of plane positional correlations between the DNA strands, and their dependence on temperature will be carried out.
  
• Cholesterol-lipid interactions are known to be responsible for the formation of domains in cell membranes called rafts. These rafts are suspected to be involved in a new pathway of endocytosis, by which a cell takes in material from the outside. It has been suggested that this process takes place by a chirality induced budding process. For this mechanism to be operative, it is essential for the hydrocarbon chains of the lipid molecules in the rafts to be tilted with respect to the bilayer normal. It is planned to take up x-ray diffraction studies on oriented bilayers of lipid-cholesterol mixtures to examine the tilt angle.
  
• It is proposed to study the temporal dynamics of single DNA molecule-lipid interactions by using optical tweezer set up. Also, the study of charge transport in individual DNA molecule and the effect of stress induced transitions in electronic transport by using an atomic force microscope cantilever arrangement will be taken up.
  
• Work initiated on 16 X 16 matrix display and displaying gray shades as well as eight character alphanumeric display driven by binary addressing techniques will be completed.
  
• It is proposed to explore the possibility of driving ferroelectric liquid crystal displays. Attempts will be made to reduce the number of voltage levels in the column waveforms in restricted pattern addressing also called as Pseudo Random Binary Addressing techniques (PRBST) where in all the rows are selected simultaneously by using pseudo random binary sequences. A high contrast clock display using Guest-Host effect with the help of a single polarizer will be undertaken.
  
• Studies on certain liquid crystalline samples constrained in a random network of pores like vycor glass or silica aerogel etc., will be undertaken. Two different models are proposed in the literature to explain the behaviour of the nematic phase in these systems based on the random uniaxial anisotropies and the random fields analogous to magnetic systems. It is proposed to study the birefringence in these systems as a function of electric and magnetic fields to look for a new model to explain the anomalies.
  
• Studies on the solvent effects on the adsorption kinetics of long chain alkanethiols will be carried out. Work on ethanol as a solvent medium has shown that the barrier efficiency is significantly affected if alkanethiol monolayers formed in ethanol is used. These studies will throw light on the best solvent to be used for the formation of monolayer. This will also indicate how the monolayers property is decided by the property of the adsorbing solvent.
  
• Due to the fast rate of mass transfers in a microelectrode, it is the preferred electrode for studying the fast charge transfer reactions. The mechanism of charge transfer on a thiol coated electrode (macroelectrode) is by tunneling with a parallel path of charge transfer across the defects and pinholes. It is proposed to examine how the microelectrodes will behave under similar circumstances.
  
• The positioner for the scanning electrochemical microscope (SEM) has been designed and fabricated and the same will be integrated with the control circuitry.
  Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Theoretical studies of neutron stars, pulsars and interstellar medium.
  
• Investigations on the mechanisms for state of the intergalactic medium and its evolution.
  
• Work on Cartographic mapping of emission patterns of pulsars continued.
  
• Putting together a multiwavelength Indian GRB follow-up network for HETE-II alerts.
  
• Unbiased survey of galactic plane for methanol masers at 6.7 GHz using the 10.4 m telescope on campus continued; several new methanol masers discovered in survey so far.
  
• Observation of multi-frequency recombination lines and continuum in starburst galaxies using GMRT and other radio telescopes.
  
• Full resolution 150 MHz image of a portion of sky extending over about an hour in right ascension completed from MRT observations.

Instrumentation for Astronomy

• Field trials have been carried out to validate the basic design of Pre-stressed parabolic dish concept being adapted for the 12m dish. The 4m diameter hub and a few test members are installed in the dish currently being fabricated at RRI.
  
• Prototype of wide band correlator (160 MHz bandwidth) completed; system integration and testing in progress.
  
• High speed samplers (up to 100 Ms/s) and high speed data acquisition cards have been prototyped.
  
• A second receiver for frequency recovery from INSAT completed for use at RRI main campus
  
• A pilot project initiated for the application of radio interferometric techniques to the problem of accurate location of geostationary satellites. System design in progress.
  
• A coded mask imaging element for the Scanning Sky Monitor proposed for ASTROSAT designed at RRI; the design has been handed over to ISRO for fabrication. An initial version of the basic image reconstruction software has been developed and refinements are being worked on.

Research and development activities being undertaken presently are listed below :

• Survey of Galaxy clusters over the redshift range 0 to 0.5 in HI and in radio continuum to study the gas content and star formations rates of cluster galaxies and their evolution.
  
• Theoretical modelling and statistical investigations of gamma-ray burst afterglows
  
• Work on the cartographic mapping of emission patterns of pulsars will continue and will include aspects of nulling, mode changing etc. An improved model for emission patterns of pulsars will be sought.
  
• An extensive search for pulsars (over about 1000 fan-beams) covering a substantial fraction of the sky will be conducted with the Gauribidanur Telescope.
  
• An extensive study of pulsars as well as recombination lines at decametric wavelengths (using sensitive low frequency arrays in Russia & Chile in addition to the use of GEETEE) will be attempted with a portable baseband recording system.
  
• Active involvement in user training/outreach for ASTROSAT.
  
• Analysis of Solar Wind Scattering data obtained with the VLA and the VLBA.
  
• Further observations of multi frequency recombination lines & continuum in starburst galaxies.
  
• Radio studies of the Galactic centre.
  
• Observation of HI in emission from nearby galaxies
  
• Study of HI and OH absorption at moderate and high reshifts.
  
• Radio and optical investigations of about 100 sources from the Molonglo Radio Catalog are planned using the GMRT and the 2.3 m optical telescope to be commissioned by IIA at Hanle. By supplementing with the data available in the literature, these observations will provide a complete sample of about 700 sources in the southern sky with detailed radio and optical observations which can be used for a variety of investigations including detailed imaging of individual sources and cosmological investigations. Initial observations for this programme will be carried out.
  
• Studies related to the polarization of light, topological phases and foundations of quantum mechanics will continue.
  
• Generation of a catalog of southern radio sources at 150 MHz using images from the MRT and a statistical study of the sources will be taken up.
  
• Further observations of sources identified in the MRT images will be made with the GMRT and Australia Telescopes.
  
• Further observations will be made with the MRT to make up for the data which were found to be corrupted by interference or other effects.

Instrumentation for Astronomy

• Most of activities in the lab will be driven by the requirement of 12m telescope and upgradation of 10.4 m telescope receivers to centimetre wavelength.. Development of phase stabilized local oscillator system with distribution considerations will be carried out. Reference frequency generation and distribution will also be considered. Provision to give remote setting of frequency and health monitoring will be planned.
  
• Testing of the 12m prototype pre-loaded parabolic dish will be undertaken. Mount design will be finalised and contact will be awarded for fabrication of mount and commissioning of the antenna at Gauribidanur.
  
• Integration and validation of the complete 160 MHz digital Correlator system will be done using the NASA Correlator chips which includes programmable LO units, various back planes, power supply units and data acquisition system.
  
• Preliminary study of new type of cryocoolers and their possible use for the 10. 4m Antenna.
  
• The feeds finally designed for different frequency bands will be tested out on the dish with a prototype receiver having an uncooled low noise amplifier to begin with.
  
• Design studies of possible modifications to the 10.4m antenna for more efficient use at centimeter wavelength will be undertaken. A 4-8 GHz broad band feed and the necessary modifications of cassegrain system will be the first priority.
  
• Receivers and data recording systems will be developed for use in the 6.7 GHz VLBI observations.
  
• Development of a VLBI correlator will be initiated based on reconfigurable computing system on a PC platform
  
• Finalisation of the design of the coded mask camera based on the results of various tests conducted on the prototype.
  
• Development of the imaging software related to the coded mask camera, including automatic processing.

S.N.Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences, Kolkata

The Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre is perhaps one of the unique research centres in the country which has been founded on the concept of collaboration, networking and complementary vis a vis other national and international organizations. This is why a reasonable modern facilities have been created to provide an ambience of scientists to work and confer within the same compound, in order to enhance cooperative academic interactions.

The Centre has formed certain groups, keeping in view the necessity of a critical mass, in order to nucleate further advancements. These groups are in Quantum Field Theory & Mathematical Physics, Soft and Hard Condensed Matte Physics, Optics, Astrophysics and Cosmology and a small component of experiments, based mostly on Magnetism and Superconductivity.

The group in Quantum Field Theory and Mathematical Physics has been engaged in studying BRST transformations, Chern Simons Theory, Hodge decomposition theorem, planar field theory, duality in equation of motion and integrable systems. It is hoped that this group with its strong mathematical background would be able to interact with the scientists in high energy physics phenomenology in order to provide a satisfactory understanding of nature.

The group in Condensed Matter Theory is large and has three different constituents : (a) soft condensed matter physics comprising of colloids, liquid crystals, granular matter and phase separation : this group is ideally suited for expanding into areas of biology inspired physics; (b) hard condensed matter physics in the form of electronic structure calculations, clusters, mesoscopic phenomena, manganites and superconductivity; a natural contact point of this
activity is with the physics of materials; and (c) statistical physics involving models of traffic flow and self-organized criticality, dislocation and grain-boundary motion in solids, martensitic transition, quantum dissipation and stochastic resonance. Again there is a scope of
interdisciplinary research in material sciences.

The Optics group works both in classical areas of light scattering as well as quantum and nonlinear domains of micromasers, magneto-optic drift and lasers. There is a vast possibility for the activity in optics to be related to astrophysics. The focus in the latter subject has so far been on large black hole structures, as well as advective accretion and Bondi flows.

The experimental programme has been small and limited to amorphous magnetic thin films and microwires, high Tc superconductors and internal friction.

Academic Programmes

No research programme can succeed without a symbiosis and organic link with young student bodies. Keeping this in mind the Center has undertaken various student training and teaching activities. these consist of sporadic ventures such as National Science Day celebrations, laboratory workshops in collaboration with the Indian Association fro Physics Teachers as well as more regular commitments to the post B. Sc. and post M. Sc. teaching progarmmes. One of the highlights of this year's achievements has been the successful planning to launch an integrated Post B. Sc. teaching curriculum. Students have been admitted through national level recruitment procedures and put through a rigorous course work including laboratories. It is a matter of gratification that the teaching laboratories would be run with the assistance of colleagues from the neighbouring Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Indian Association for the
Cultivation of Science etc. We are also grateful to the newly founded West Bengal University of Technology fro having accorded affiliation to our integrated Ph. D. programme. The first batch comprising of 9 students have already been admitted and classes have started from 16th August 2001.The Centre's post M. Sc. programme is also running successfully with 6 students enrolling this year.

Seminars

• Dr.Manidipa Mitra, SINP, Kolkata spoke on 'Magnetic Transition and Polatron Crossover in a Two site single Polaron model including Double Exchange Interaction' on 20th June 2001 at SNBNCBS.
  
• Prof. Kaushik Bhattacharya, California Institute of Technology spoke on "Domain Patterns, textures and Macroscopic Electro-mechanical Properties of Ferroelectrics' on 26th June 2001 at SNBNCBS.
  
• Dr. Bimalendu Deb of PRL, Ahmedabad spoke on 'Cold Collisions with Filed-Induced Dipole-Dipole Interaction on 27th June 2001 at SNBNCBS.
  
• Dr. Supriya Kar of IIT Kanpur spoke on 'Non-Commutative Geometry and String Theory' on 11th September 2001 at SNBNCBS.
  
• Dr. Anirban Sain of Unilever-Hindustan Lever Research Centre, Mumbai spoke on 'Rupture of Adhesion Bonds in Biological Systems' on 12th September 2001 at SNBNCBS.

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute For Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

The mandate of the Institute is to develop appropriate technologies to meet the health care needs of the country and initiate training and research programmes integrating biomedical technology and health sciences, while demonstrating high standards of patient care in medical specialities. The Institute therefore has a Biomedical Technology Wing for the R & D activities , a Superspeciality Hospital for cardiovascular thoracic and neurological disease and the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies for research and training in public health. Conscious of its national and societal obligations and confident in its ability to adapt to the changing times, the Institute continued its momentum of progress. A summary of the important achievements in the last one year are given below.

Technology Development

A major programme for the implementation of a Quality System for the testing services initiated with the objective to accredit selected laboratories for the evaluation of biomaterials and medical devices, has resulted in the creation of a Quality Cell, Customer Service unit and a Calibration Unit. The Quality System will conform to the latest standard ISO/IEC 17025 and accreditation by the French agency COFRAC is expected. A number of training programmes and audits have already been conducted, including a pre-audit by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Infrastructure improvements and restructuring of test facilities have been carried out to meet international guidelines for testing environment and safety. Quality system implementation has entered the final phase and final audit by COFRAC is expected. To streamline device development activities, a laboratory for Dental Products was set up, thus stressing the importance of Dental Biomaterials in the current scenario. The division of Artificial Organs has been reorganized with Modelling & Prototyping and Devices Testing Laboratories. An Instrumentation Lab has been created to focus development work in selected areas of medical instrumentation. Sustained efforts to convert R & D work on biomaterials and medical devices into commercial technologies continued. Memorandum of Understanding signed for transfer of technologies of four dental products, fibrin glue and porous hydroxyapatite. Multi-centric clinical evaluation of these products are in progress. Laboratories of Dental Products and Medical Instrumentation created to focus development in these areas. Evaluation of membrane oxygenator in animals and training in industry personnel in the assembly procedures were completed. Four patents were sealed and five patent applications filed MOU signed with Dynamic Orthopaedics Pvt. Ltd., for scale up and multi-centric trial of Chitosan based wound dressings developed by the Dvn. of Biosurface Technology. MOU with Aurolab, Madurai for Heparin coating of Intra-ocular lenses being finalized. Thirty-eight patents were sealed so far and another forty-three patent applications were filed and pending. The Institute received the National Technology Day Award for 2001 for successful development and commercialization of the Chitra Heart Valve.

Biomedical technology Research activities

(i) The Indo-French collaborative project on "Development of Diamond like coating for medical and other applications" (ii) Coating of calcium phosphate compounds over polymeric substrates by biomimetic processing. (iii) Modification of PVA microspheres by covalent linkage of poly ethylene glycol in addition to heparin and a specific amino acid to inhibit adhesion of WBC without affecting the adsorption of lgG type of immunoglobulins (under haemoperfusion column program) (v) Development of a novel dual cure dental formulation based on BIS-GMA resin (vi) Development of a novel radiopaque glass filler to be used as a substitute for the imported glass filler in dental composites. (vii) Synthetic polymers containing affinity sites towards biomacromolecules in order to develop molecular imprinting (viii) chemically modified hydroxyapatite as a selective separation medium (ix) porous polyurethane-IPN material for the immunoisolation of islets cells (x) Development of biodegradable polymeric implant materials; syntheses of oligomeric resins for the development of vascular stent material (xi) Preparation of some aide-containing polymers from p-azido benzoic acid and epichlorohydrin azide. (xii) Surfactant-modified polymer surfaces to resist protein and platelet adhesion using cyanuric chloride chemistry. (xiii)Hydroxyapatite (HAP) - ethylene vinyl acetate co-poliymer (EVA) composites for bone substitute application (xiv) Implant biological studies (a) on bone response to HA-BG composite granules, (b)Gross and histological evaluation of tissue response around application of EVA-HAP composites in a cranioplasty rabbit model in pre-clinical evaluation of stainless steel vascular stents in pigs (xv) Radioscintigraphic technique for measurement of platelet adhesion on to biomaterials during in vitro material-platelet rich plasma exposure (xvi) Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of diamond like carbon coating on titanium with fibroblasts, endothelial cells and osteoblasts (xvii) tissue engineering on a co-culture of hepatocytes and endothelial cells (xviii) development of a pig model for the biofunctional evaluation of an endovascular stent and an antibiotic sensitivity kit for testing for mastitis in milch cows.

Patient Care Services

The patient care services maintained the highest standard in every field of specialized care. Every department made positive efforts in updating the quality of service to keep it on par with the world standard. With the acquisition of the most modern digital cardiac interventional lab, the Cardiology Department is currently able to admit patients suffering from acute chest pain directly and the Comprehensive Acute Coronary Care Unit is intended to provide without delay the entire spectrum of recent advances in the management of patients with acute coronary events. Two new speciality clinics namely Dementia and Behavioural Disorder clinic and a Lipid Clinic were added to the out-patient service by the Department of Neurology and Cardiology respectively. More number of Open Heart Procedures and closed cases were carried out than the previous year by the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department. After successfully completing limited clinical trial of the large diameter Chitra graft prosthesis developed by Biomedical Technology Wing at our hospital, multi-centric trials in six centres are taken up.

The Department of Neurology concentrated on the development of sub-specialities such as Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology, Epilepsy, Movement Disorder, Neuromuscular and Stroke. The R. Madhavan Nayar Centre for Comprehensive Epilepsy Care is the only centre in the country dedicated to comprehensive management of persons with epilepsy besides accomplishing its objectives in all three areas viz. Epilepsy care, epilepsy education and epilepsy research. A Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders was also started and the programme acquired an intraoperative microelectrode-recording machine for intraoperative neurophysiological targeting during functional surgery for movement disorders. This programme is the only one in India which utilizes intraoperative electrophysiology for movement disorder surgery. Bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation surgery being done successfully.

With the commissioning of the fourth operation theatre, the volume of operative work in Neurosurgery Department increased substantially. Vascular and skull base surgery constituted majority of the operative workload. However, neuroendoscopy, epilepsy surgery, surgery for movement disorders and spinal instrumentation were the thrust areas of Department of Neurosurgery. In the Department of Radiology, besides the routine investigations, various interventional procedures like cerebral AVM, Aneurysm coiling, spinal AVM/AVF, Bronchial Artery Embolisation, Uterine Artery Embolisation, Bronchial tumour ablation, Pertcutaneous Vertebroplasty, Laser ablation, Tracheal stenting, etc. were carried out.

Clinical Research

Clinical Research on the different areas was also undertaken by the faculty of the institute, These include (i) Coconut oil & incidence of coronary artery disease in Kerala (ii) Galectin-1 (iii) A psycho-social perspective study of blood transfuion services in Kerala (iv) Molecular basis of endomyocardial fibrosis (v) Molecular mechanisms in cardiac fibrosis (vi) Free radicals in cardiac myocyte hypertrophy (vii) Vitamin-D and its relationship to coronary artery disease in a tropical population (viii) Abdominal aortic aneurysm (ix) A rat epileptic model for identifying molecular variations during seizure development in neuronal cells by the injection of pilocarpine (x) Epidemiological Epilepsy research (xi) Randomized study on Ayurvedic preparation in patients with coronary artery disease in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi and JJ Hospital, Mumbai under Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, Government of India being initiated.(xii) A major project (Rs.40.71 lakhs) on Laser induced Fluorescence for malignancy detection and treatment of cancers by laser assisted photodynamic therapy was sanctioned. (xiii) Subthalamaic surgery for Parkinson's Disease - a research paper on the subject was awarded "honorary mention of the scientific committee for best paper" at the 14th International Congress for Parkinson's Disease at Helsinki, Finland.

Health Science Studies

The Achutha Menon Centre (AMC) continued its trailblazing activities. Several international agencies have approached the Centre to lend its expertise to various projects in India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India recognized the Centre as an Institute of Excellence for Public Health Training. The Centre organized several important training workshops and seminars. An off-campus course, Master of Applied Epidemiology was started at the National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), Chennai. Training programmes for the District and State Level Health Officers from Gujarat were organized. The purpose of the programme was to analyse the rapid progress in health service in Kerala and to impart the same to the rest of the country for such health improvement. The Centre became the Secretariat for the Public Health Schools Without Walls (PHSWOW) Networking Initiative, Asia Region. This is a prestigious initiative that includes all public health schools in Asia and is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. AMC was selected as the centre to coordinate the process of defining the future form of the PHSWOW Network. The "PHSWOW Network Development: Asia Meeting" was organized to identify possible ways of improving public health training and practice. Over thirty members from far and wide particularly from India, Nepal, China, South Africa, Vietnam, Kenya, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, Lebanon, USA attended the meeting. The Centre hosted an international workshop on "Ethical Issues in Health Research in South Asia".

Wadia Institute Of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun

The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is devoted to basic research in Himalayan Geology and its related fields, including crustal evolution, basin evolution, natural hazards, palaeoclimate, water resources and Himalayan geo-data base. The research activities of the Institute are conducted through timebound project mode and the areas of its multidisciplinary research are organised into six major research areas such as Structure & Tectonics, Petrology and Geochemistry, Biostratigraphy, Sedimentology, Geomorphology & Environmental Geology & Geophysics. Highlights of research contributions made during the year 2001-2002 are summarised below :

The continued research on the coesite bearing ultra high pressure eclogites from the Tso Morari Crystallines in Ladakh, reveals the presence of carbonates which indicate that the pressure has far exceeded the stability of coesite.

Detailed geochemical studies have been carried out on the volcanics of Indus and Shyok Suture zones of Ladakh and Karakoram regions to understand the evolution of magmatic arc. The volcanics of Shyok Suture zone show many fold enrichment of LILE-REE in comparison to the Indus Suture zone and it is interpreted in terms of its generation in an Andean type margin where the continental lithosphere has a substantial influences.

The geochemistry of the trondhjemite associated with the Lohit Plutonic Complex of eastern Arunachal Pradesh suggests that it is a high- Al type trondhjemite containing > 15 wt % Al2O3, with high Sr (> 300 ppm), very low Rb/Sr ratio, enriched LREE, depleted HREE, no Eu anomaly, low Y and Nb. The absence of hornblende and the restricted geochemical criteria indicate that extensive fractionation of hornblende from the original mafic magma was involved in its production. The presence of hornblende dykes in the host rock can be taken as field evidence towards hornblende fractionation.

The Granitic rocks of Karakoram batholith and Tso-Morari Crystallines of Ladakh have been dated by Rb-Sr dating technique in Mass Spectrometer Lab. of W.I.H.G. The Karakoram granite from Syanpock is dated at 124 + 13 Ma with Sri ratio of 0.70909 + 19 while the granites of Tso-Morari gave the following ages : 459 + 12 Ma (Sri = 0.7204 + 52) for Nimaling granite; 427 + 27 Ma (Sri = 0.7162 + 28) for Mata granite; 487 + 29 Ma (Sri = 0.7250 + 55) for Polokongla granite. These lower Paleozoic ages indicate a widespread crustal anatexis during this period.

Homogenisation experiments were conducted in the Experimental Petrology Lab. of WIHG, to determine the melt temperatures of pre-Himalayan granitoids, at 1050oC and surface pressure. Study of structural state indicates more ordering for the alkali feldspars that were subjected to high grade of metamorphism. The Lower Paleozoic Akpa granite in the Satluj Valley contains three generations of aquamarine, showing distinct fluid phases derived from pegmatitic source wherein a P fluid > P total was inferred.

The sediment hosted Proterozoic sulphide mineralizations are widespread in the Lesser Himalaya and largely confined to Middle calc-magnesian and siliciclastic rocks. The genetic studies of these Pb, Zn, Cu and the sulphides suggest that they belong to Missisipi Valley and volcano sedimentary types.

The Trans-Himadri or Malari fault separating the Central Crystallines and the Tethyan sequence in Garhwal region is reinterpreted to have developed during Late Pan-African event is supported by the finding of Lower Ordovician red beds and breccia conglomerate in the area.

The palaeobiological studies in the Lower Paleozoic sediments (Cambrian succession) of the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh and in Zanskar, have revealed some new carbonate fossiliferous horizons. These carbonates have higher quality of preservation of individual sclerites than shales- which will help in accurate comparison of these fossils with those from other regions.

New species of Trilobites have been reported from Nigalidhar syncline in Krol Belt of Lesser Himalaya in H.P. viz. Qingouia Zhangyangouensis, Dolerolenus (molungia) cf. malungensi and Protolenella sp. land they suggest an age of latest Lower Cambrian to earliest Middle Cambrian. These fossils predate the Paoknnia magna, oldest trilobite known from the Himalaya.

The occurrence of early Triassic Dienerian Conodonts and clararia bivalves, reported for the first time from the uppermost Kuling shale in Spiti Valley suggest that the Permo-Triassic boundary lies below the Kuling shale. This indicates a time transgressive litho-stratigraphic relationship near the P/T boundary in the Tethys Himalaya.

The Infra Krol sequence of Lesser Himalaya, Nainital has yielded many species of organic-walled microfossils : Siphonophycus, Oscillatoriopsis, Echinosphaeridium etc. These assemblages further strengthen an early Vendian age for the Infra Krol Formation.

From the Arunachal Lesser Himalayan sediments (Buxa dolomite), for the first time microstromatolites, V shaped microfossils, organic-walled microfossils and micrometazoans have been reported. The carbon and oxygen isotopic data of these dolomites are comparable with the global data. These findings strongly support in establishing the evolution of life across the Precambrian- Cambrian boundary.

The lower Tertiary Murree Group of sediments exposed near Kalakot, J & K, has yielded significant vertebrate fossils, cf rodents, mammals, fish, lizards and crocodilians. Among these a primitive cricetid rodent Primus microps which is the first recorded micromammal from Murrees succession and is the oldest in India. It clearly suggests an Early Miocene age and also supports the view that Subathu and Murree successions are separated by a considerable time gap.

Detailed biostratigraphic investigations of the Palaeogene sediments, namely the Kakara and Subathu Formations in Jammu region reveal that these formations represent a single principal transgression-regression cycle that incorporates a rhythmic series of small scale repetitions. The transgression occurred towards the end of Late Cretaceous and continued till the Early Lutetian times and affected by minor regression during early Late Ypresian times, related to India-Asia collision. As a result, similar environmental conditions were repeated during the deposition of the Kakara-Subathu succession giving rise to the recurrence of similar faunal association.

The Upper Siwalik fauna of the Chandigarh region were reinterpreted. 29 characteristic taxa assigned to the pre-Pinjor beds while 49 taxa made first appearance in the Pinjor Formation. On the basis of fauna and magnetostratigraphy two biostratigraphic interval zones belonging to the Upper Siwalik subgroup, viz. Elephas planifrons (3.6 to 2.6 Ma) and Equus sivalensis (2.6 to 0.6 Ma) were recognised.

The processing of the sedimentological data collected from the Siwaliks of the Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, indicate that the rate of sedimentation of the Ranital-Kangra succession (11.3 to 5.5 Ma) varies from 21 to 39 cm/kyr. Within this period, two major influxes, one at 9.58 Ma (61 cm/kyr) and the other at 7.37 Ma (44 cm/kyr) have been inferred. In this area, the rock magnetism of the representative upper Siwalik paleosol show that the pedogenetic transformation of magnetic mineral into hematite and goethite occurred during the Pliocene and the development of authigenic magnetite during Pleistocene, as a result of climate change from warm humid to dry cooler climates.

The application Anisotrophy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) method to understand strain during deformation in weakly deformed areas (Foreland Foothill belt) was found to be superior over the conventional methods since it in provides the orientation principal strain axes. It is observed that the magnetic lineation is controlled by folding and not by thrusting. Relating the stretching mineral lineation with movement along thrusts are mostly based on over simplification.

To assess the environmental pollution, particularly the water pollution, Radon concentration studies in water from tubewells and handpumps were carried out in Eastern Doon valley. The radon concentration varies from 25 Bq/l to 85 Bq/l. These values are above the average but well below the recommended value of 400 Bq/l (UNSCEAR, 1982).

Geohydrological studies of Una Valley, Himachal Pradesh has enabled to identify the occurrence of groundwater both under unconfined and confined conditions. The confined aquifers with free flowing artesian conditions occur in the depth range of 45 to 96 m and 160-195 m. In unconfined aquifers, the lateral hydraulic conductivity varies from 3 m/day and 91 m/day indicating low to highly pervious nature of the water bearing strata. The groundwater chemical analysis from shallow aquifers show that the concentration. levels of Nitrate, fluoride and sulphate are within permissible limits.

The Landslide Hazard Zonation studies in Beas Valley of Himachal Pradesh show that a change in pore water pressure in the hill slope scree and quaternary material due to ingress of rain water is the main causative factor of landslide in Kullu Valley. Mass movement is mainly in the form of debris flow, debris slide,slump and rotational slip. In the upper hill slope, just below tree line are subjected to creep movement due to steep slope, lack of forest cover and the under lying material of, clay rich soil.

The geotechnical studies in the Karsingsa slide zone, near Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh indicate that this slide is mainly erosion induced, where movement of beds is nil. The major lithology consisting of a conglomerate horizon underlain by alternate beds of sand, sandy conglomerate and sandy clay in the slide zone contain lot of water resulting seepage.

The analysis of glacial land forms and lichenometric data collected from Shanu Garang glacier indicate three glacial advances between 468, 387 and 107 B.P. respectively as denoted by end moraines. The lateral and median moraines indicate fast shrinking of the main glacier body within 323 years B.P. Besides four glacial outburst flows have been recognised in the present glacial trough.

The landslide studies in the Tola Hydroelectric project, a joint venture of Govt. of India and Govt. of Bhutan, indicate that heavy rainfall and > 2 m thick weathered strata are the main causative factors. The other factor of slide in the project area is the exposed slopes due to construction activity and change of angle of repose due to toe cut along roads.

Glaciological research is also being pursued on Dokriani glacier in Garhwal Himalaya. Three discharge and three meteorological stations were established in the Pin Gad Catchment to monitor discharge, suspended sediment concentrations etc. The runoff data collected during 1998-99 show that the glacial discharge declined due to reduced precipitation while the specific runoff from glacier catchment was considerably high. The sediment flux monitored over a period (1994, 1998-99) show annual variability. This is an important factor for the planning and maintaining the hydel projects in the Himalayan river basins. Mass balance studies were carried out with a network of 45 stakes. The net mass balance during 1998-99 has shown a negative value of - 3.58 x 206 m3 years (2.50 x 106 m3).

Seismological studies are being carried out in Kangra-Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh, using 8 permanent short period analog stations. A high level of earthquake activity in a narrow zone bordering the northern flanks of Dhauladhar range is recorded and the depth of focus are restricted to the upper 12 km of the crust. Further north in the Chamba region the activity is diffused and the focal depths are distributed between 15 and 22 kms.

Detailed damage survey was conducted immediately after the 26 January Kachch earthquake. On the basis of damage survey an isoseismal map has been prepared which shows almost an E-W trend, with another elongation in SE direction. The major axis trend in E-W direction and the minor axis in N-S direction. From the tectonics of the area, isoseismal trend and the fault plane solution indicate that the eastern segment, trending ENE-WSW of Kachch Mainland Fault, could be the causative fault.

The Institute organised a DST sponsored Training Course on GPS at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, from 11th October to 20th October, 2001. A seminar on "Himalayan Geology" also organised at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun from 22 to 25 October, 2001. The scientists of the Institute published 60 research papers both in national and international journal and 40 research papers have been communicated for publication. Eight technical/consultancy reports were also prepared. A special volume 22(2) of the Journal of Himalayan Geology "Chamoli Earthquake" shall be published. Journal of Himalayan Geology
Vol. 21(1& 2) was published as well as Hindi Magazine 'Ashamika' Vol. 6.

National Accreditation Board For Testing And Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

The Aims & Objectives of NABL are:

• To promote, coordinate, guide, implement and maintain an accreditation system for laboratories suitable for the country in accordance with the relevant national and international standards and guides.
  
• To ensure that all measurements either during calibration or testing by accredited laboratories are traceable to appropriate national / international standards maintained at National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) through an unbroken chain of comparisons.
  
• To encourage Proficiency Tests / Inter-laboratory comparisons in order to ensure accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of test results.
  
• To ensure that the accredited laboratories adhere to all the conditions of accreditation, by periodic surveillance.
  
• To organize Awareness Programmes on all aspects of laboratory accreditation for the laboratories by various means including seminars, workshops and laboratory-industry-accreditation body meets etc.
  
• To acquire travelling standards and artifacts for conducting studies on measurements by the accredited laboratories and thereby to help improve reliability and reproducibility of results.
  
• To establish and maintain strong linkages with international and regional for a such as International Laboratory Accreditation Conference (hitherto referred to as ILAC), European Accreditation Cooperation for Laboratories (hitherto referred to as EAL), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (hitherto referred to as APLAC) etc. and to take active participation in Plenary Sessions, Committee Meetings etc. in order to keep pace with the latest developments.
  
• To undertake all the activities which shall promote undertaking Bi-lateral / Multilateral Recognition Agreements between NABL and laboratory accreditation bodies in other countries so that test results of NABL accredited laboratories become acceptable in all countries.

Status of NABL Accreditation, Surveillance and Re-assessment

During the period April 1, 2000 till March 31, 2001, NABL has accredited 91 Testing and 18 Calibration Laboratories. Records of Reassessment, Surveillance and Assessment are given below:

Records of Accreditation--Testing Laboratories

{ April 1, 2000 March 31, 2001}

Discipline	Re-Assessment	Assessment	Surveillance	New Accreditations Granted	New Applications Received
Biological	04	08	13	07	08
Chemical	12	36	38	41	37
Clinical	--	02	01	02	08
Electrical	04	09	09	09	03
Electronics	01	01	02	01	01
Fluid Flow	01	00	04	--	--
Mechanical	08	21	30	25	21
NDT	--	05	07	04	05
Radiology	--	--	02	--	--
Photometry	--	--	03	01	--
Forensic	--	01	--	01	02
Thermal	--	--	--	--	--
Total	30	83	109	91	85

Records of Accreditation (Cumulative Basis)--Testing Laboratories

{as on May 31, 2001}

Discipline	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	Total
Biological	01	03	05	02	01	04	08	01	25
Chemical	04	03	12	06	18	17	42	14	116
Clinical	--	--	--	--	--	07	11	--	18
Electrical	--	03	--	04	09	01	11	07	35
Electronics	02	--	02	--	02	03	01	--	10
Fluid Flow	--	--	01	01	01	--	--	--	03
Mechanical	02	06	05	08	09	10	23	14	77
NDT	--	--	01	01	06	02	05	03	18
Radiology	--	--	01	01	--	--	--	--	02
Photometry	--	--	--	--	--	02	--	01	03
Forensic	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	01	01
Thermal	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Total	09	15	27	23	46	46	101	41	308

Records of Accreditation--Calibration Laboratories

{ April 1, 2000 - March 31, 2001}

Discipline	Assessment	Surveillance	Re-Assessment	New Accreditations Granted	New Applications Received
Electro-Technical	19	10	05	09	--
Fluid-Flow	01	--	01	01	01
Mechanical	14	18	06	11	23
Radiological	--	--	00	--	--
Thermal and Optical	02	07	00	01	05
TOTAL	24	44	17	18	38

Records of Accreditation (Cumulative Basis)--Calibration Laboratories

{as on May 31,2001}

Discipline	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	TOTAL
Electro-Technical	02	06	09	02	09	03	04	02	37
Fluid-Flow	--	--	02	--	--	--	01	--	03
Mechanical	--	05	06	02	10	05	13	07	48
Radiological	--	--	--	01	--	--	--	--	01
Thermal and Optical	--	02	04	--	03	--	01	01	11
Total	02	13	21	05	22	08	19	10	100

Evaluation of NABL by APLAC Evaluation Team

A four member team under the leadership of Mrs. Roxanne Robinson, Vice President, A2LA, USA and members consisting of Mr. C.P. Ramani, Vice President, ICBO Evaluation, USA, Mr. Max Purss, NATA, Australia and Mr. Yoshinobu Uematsu, JNLA, Japan visited NABL Secretariat to assess the implementation of accreditation system in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 58, APLAC MR001 of the Accreditation Body and ISO/IEC Guide 25 for the laboratories. The four-member team was split by the Lead Assessor enabling them to witness the assessment/surveillance/re-assessment of 8 testing and calibration laboratories in different disciplines. Besides, they also visited National Physical Laboratory (NPL) for studying metrology standards in India and the Quality System being adopted by NPL. At the end, the team in their summary report submitted to Secretary, Department of Science and Technology recommended NABL for the APLAC MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement). They particularly appreciated that NABL has taken all corrective actions against the concerns expressed during pre-evaluation. They were also happy at the progress made by NPL towards meeting its commitments as the National Metrology Institute. Further, they appreciated that NABL :

• has a highly technical, qualified staff who demonstrated exceptional knowledge, commitment and energy in performing their job responsibilities;
  
• has a very effective LANs database system to support their accreditation activities;
  
• has developed a very efficient record keeping system:
  
• has access to high levels of expertise from within the country for recruitment of assessors and
  
• enjoys an exceptionally supportive and cooperative relationship with their national measurement institute.

On the basis of the witness visits, the team considers that the NABL assessments are consistent with those performed by the accrediting bodies represented by the evaluation team and that confidence in the data generated by NABL- accredited laboratories may be realized. The team has recommended recognition of NABL under APLAC MRA.

NABL Qualifies for APLAC MRA and ILAC Arrangements

APLAC MRA Council met in Pasadena USA in October 2000. The team leader of APLAC evaluation team presented the case of NABL to the Council. After prolong deliberation and discussion with NABL representative, NABL qualified for APLAC MRA for a full term of 4 years subject to a follow up visit by a two-member team.

European Accreditation Cooperation (EA) and APLAC reached a consensus about mutual acceptance of their MRAs during the General Assembly of ILAC held in Washington D.C. in November 2000. Based on NABL qualifying for APLAC MRA, NABL was unanimously selected to be a Signatory to ILAC Arrangements. 28 countries and 37 Accreditation Bodies including NABL qualified as ILAC Signatories.

NABL had made a major advancement towards mutual acceptance of test results, test certificates and measurement data amongst APLAC MRA Partners and ILAC Arrangement Signatories. This is expected to increase confidence of outside countries on the test results and measurement data of NABL accredited laboratories and thereby promote international trade by overcoming technical barriers.

Status of Proficiency Testing Programme

Proficiency testing is the use of inter-laboratory comparison for determining the performance of individual laboratories for specific tests. Participation in proficiency testing programmes provides laboratories with an objective means of assessing and demonstrating the reliability of data they are producing. The primary objective of proficiency testing is to provide the laboratories with an information and support to demonstrate and improve the quality of their analytical measurement. It also supplements the laboratories own internal quality controlling procedures by adding an additional external evaluation of their testing capabilities.

To meet the requirements of ISO 17025 and APLAC MR001, it is mandatory for all accrediting bodies to undertake proficiency testing programmes for its accredited laboratories in conformity with ISO/IEC Guide 43. NABL regularly organises PT programmes for its accredited as well as applicant laboratories. The programmes are run through nodal laboratories identified by NABL. During this year NABL has also revised NABL - 162 "Guidelines for Proficiency Testing Programmes for Testing and Calibration Laboratories" for conducting PT programmes.

PT programmes completed during the year 2000-2001

• Testing of Diesel Fuel
  
• Analysis of Gamma BHC in Oil
  
• Testing of Organochloride Pesticides
  
• Complexometric Determination of Alumina in China Clay
  
• Tensile Testing of Steel Bars
  
• Tensile Testing of Steel Plates
  
• Testing of Building Materials (Portland Slag Cement)
  
• BET and Sterility Test for intravenous fluids for determining the presence of micro-organisms
  
• Water Testing
  
• Chemical Analysis of Mild Steel for five elements viz. Carbon, Silicon, Manganese, Sulphur and Phosphorous.

During this year the following programmes have supported:

• Testing of Pesticides
  
• Chemical Analysis of Heavy Metal residue in fish
  
• Impact Testing of Steel
  
• Mechanical Testing of Cured Rubber Slab
  
• Mechanical Testing of Plastic Raw Material
  
• Mechanical Testing of Leather
  
• Twist and Tensile Testing of Yarn
  
• Measurement of Flow-rate by tow Orifice Meter
  
• Testing of Cement Mortar Cubes
  
• Ultrasonic Testing of Steel Bars
  
• Testing of Tungsten Filament General Service Electric Bulb

Besides, the aforesaid NABL programmes, NABL has also organised an APLAC Proficiency Testing Programme on "Tensile Testing of Steel Bars". In this programme 100 laboratories from 30 countries had participated. From NABL, 11 laboratories were nominated in this programme. The performance by NABL accredited laboratories was satisfactory. APLAC has also sponsored a proficiency testing programme on "Egg Powder Testing" with financial assistance. The programme, at present, is in planning stage.

NABL regularly participates in the PT programmes organised by APLAC and other international bodies. During this year NABL has nominated its accredited laboratories in the following APLAC programmes:

a) Electrical Safety (Iron)
b) Coal Testing
c) Flour Testing
d) Rockwell Hardness Testing
e) Food Testing (Meat Paste)

Status of Assessors Training & Training of Laboratory Personnel on Quality System Management

This year has been a very special year for NABL with respect to its training activities. As is well known, during this year, the adoption of standard ISO/IEC 17025 was in progress and the training requirements on this count were enormous. It was a challenge because it required the proper understanding of 17025, its assimilation, absorption and then preparation of the course material for NABL Assessors and also designing the course for the existing NABL Assessors. During the year, Mr. Devi Saran Tewari, represented NABL at the APLAC Training Workshop held in Hong Kong in April 2000 and provided valuable inputs towards development of APLAC course material for training of assessors during the discussion following formal presentations by IANZ, A2LA and NATA.

NABL has to meet the requirement of ILAC/APLAC implementation schedule of ISO/IEC 17025. For its ready empanelled assessors, training division of NABL designed a 3-day refresher course, and conducted the first course from March 26-28, 2001 at IIQM-Jaipur. It is planned to train each empanelled NABL Assessor through 3-day courses on new requirements.

NABL also organised 3 courses of 5-day duration and 21 courses on Laboratory Quality System Management & Internal Audit based on ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory personnel.

During the year, NABL has opened the Assessor Course for all experts working in laboratories and meet its qualification norms, by charging a fee of Rs. 7500/- per participant to cover the cost of boarding, lodging and course material. As a result, many people have willingly come forward and got the Assessor Training by paying Rs. 7500/- Altogether 486 assessors have been trained in cumulative basis.

Progress on setting up GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority

Subsequent to the workshop held on Preparing the Laboratories towards GLP Compliance Monitoring in February 2000 and the interactions with the experts from OECD countries, Department of Science and Technology is considering setting up GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority Cell. This may emerge as a major activity on its own in the coming years.

Workshop on ISO/IEC 17025 and Uncertainty in Measurements

a) Workshop on ISO/IEC 17025 organised by NABL on the May 6,2000 at Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai.

b) Workshop on ISO/IEC 17025 and Uncertainty in Measurements was held at STIC, Kochi during February 23-24, 2001.

b) Workshop on ISO/IEC 17025 and Uncertainty in Measurements was held at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune during April 13-14, 2001.

Both workshops at STIC, Cochin and ARAI, Pune were jointly organised by NPL and NABL.

One Day Seminar on Accreditation of Clinical Laboratory

a) One Day Seminar on Accreditation of Clinical Laboratory organised by NABL in association with Indian Hospital Association, Vadodara Chapter at IHA, Vadodara on the September 24,2000.

b) One Day Seminar on Accreditation of Clinical Laboratory organised by NABL in association with Institute of Applied Quality Management, Calcutta at Calcutta on the December 17,2000.

Co-Sponsorship and Participation

a) NABL Co-sponsored and took active part in the 8th Quality Summit - Building Global Competitiveness organised by Confederation Indian Industries (CII), New Delhi during November 16-18,2000 in Bangalore.

b) NABL Co-sponsored and took active part in the workshop on Proficiency Testing which was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at India Habitat Centre during March 12-13,2001.

c) NABL Co-sponsored the International Conference on Metrology in New Millennium and Global Trade (MMGT 2001) organized by NPL during February 8-10,2001 and participated by way of presenting technical papers.

NABL - Newsletter

NABL brings out a quarterly 'NABL - NEWS' so far 20 issues have come out and are being sent to accredited laboratories, Assessors, expert of the committees and all those who have received NABL training of any kind.

Governing Body Meetings

NABL Governing Body under the Chairmanship of Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary DST met twice during the financial year (April 1,2000 - March 31,2001) during which NABL activities were reviewed and policy decisions were taken.

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