Annual Report 2003 - 2004

Science and Engineering Research Council

The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) continued its support for Basic Research in challenging and promising fields of Science & Engineering. It identified and promoted research in newly emerging and frontier areas with thrust on multidisciplinary fields. In Engineering and Technology, special efforts were made to support research programmes in academic and research institutions having close linkages with industry and user agencies and to transfer such technologies for further utilisation. As in the past, programmes under SERC were carefully selected through Programme Advisory Committees (PACs) which continued to serve as the technical think-tanks of SERC.

Realizing the continued importance of manpower training in promoting Basic Research, the Council supported several manpower training programmes like the Kishore Vaigyanik Prothsahan Yojana (KVPY), DST-JNC Summer Student Fellowships, Integrated Science Olympiad Programme, etc. The Council also supported programmes to encourage Young Scientists to take up challenging R&D activities as independent researchers. In addition, a new Women Scientists Scheme was also launched to encourage women to take up research in basic and applied sciences.

The Council, which regularly met during the period, apart from approving projects in various areas of Science & Engineering, also discussed the following and made suitable recommendations, wherever necessary:

• Enhancement of approval limit of PACs from Rs 15.00 lakhs to Rs 20.00 lakhs.
  
• Research support to New Faculty Appointees in Universities and Academic Institutions.
  
• A focused and major initiative in the area of ‘Green Chemistry’.
  
• Flexibility in manpower recruitment in sponsored projects to meet the requirements of
  the project and giving operational flexibility to the Principal Investigator.
  
• India Science Award.
  
• A new DST ‘Nurture Scheme for Young Scientists’.
  

The Indian scientists continued to receive recognition at national and international level. Special efforts were made to identify active scientists, particularly young ones, and institutions in remote areas and encourage them by providing visiting fellowships, research grants and infrastructural support etc. Linkages were established between R&D projects and other programmes like IRHPA and FIST programmes aimed at strengthening institutional research infrastructure.

Under the SERC R&D programme, 214 research projects were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 3373.00 lakhs. The discipline-wise and institution-wise break-up of this R&D support is given in Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2.

R&D Projects sanctioned during 2003-2004

As given in the sequel, the R&D projects were supported in a variety of areas in Science & Engineering – the paradigm being that any ‘good science’ ought to find encouragement and support. Several SERC Schools and training programmes were supported in areas like Soft Computing, Precision Engineering, Chronobiology, Laser-Optics, Atomic & Molecular Physics, Theoretical High Energy Physics, Atmospheric Modelling, etc. The sanctioned projects were regularly monitored through PACs or Group Monitoring Workshops.

The special interest of the Council for IT intervention in project management led to a web-based ‘Express Highway’ which is presently under trial. This system for on-line submission of projects would allow project investigators to submit proposals and enable referees to evaluate proposals on-line, allow guest access, enable selection of referees and evaluation of proposals through a browser etc. The website for SERC (www.serc-dst.org), which was launched two years back, was kept updated and was used extensively by the scientific community.

A slightly more detailed account of activities and achievements in different subject areas and under the newly started programmes - Nanomaterials Science & Technology Initiative (NSTI), Women Scientists Scheme, Kishore Vaigyanik Prothsahan Yojana (KVPY), Better Opportunities for Young Scientists in Chosen Areas of Science and Technology (BOYSCAST), Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Academic and Related Institutions (FIST), SERC Fast Track Scheme for Young Scientists, Integrated Science Olympiad Programme - are being given in the sequel.

Figure 2.1 SERC Support 2003-2004 - Discipline wise

Figure 2.2 SERC Supoort 2003-2004 - Institution wise

Some Recent Initiatives

India Science Award

The India Science Award was announced by the Honourable Prime Minister during the Indian Science Congress held at Bangalore in 2003. It is envisaged to be the highest science award to be given to an individual in India and the most prestigious national recognition for outstanding contribution to science. It will be given for a “big” achievement and the benchmark will be “global”. It will cover all areas of research in science including engineering, medicine and agriculture. The award amount will be Rs. 25 lakhs. The methodology and guidelines for the award were finalized during the year and the process of seeking nominations for the first award was underway.

Women Scientists Scheme - A

The Women Scientists Scheme – Part A, got a head start this year with overwhelming response from Women Scientists desirous of pursuing research in basic and applied sciences. Details have been given in Chapter 6 in the report.

Nanomaterials Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI)

The national initiative envisages overall research and development in nanoscience and technology with vigour, so that India can become a significant player in the area and contribute to the development of new technologies besides carrying out basic research at the frontiers. Under the programme, support is extended for capital equipment and facilities, research infrastructure, training programmes, industrial liaison, fellowships, conferences, workshops, etc.

All aspects of nanotechnology - such as nanofabrication, nanolithography, DNA chips, synthesis including self-assembly, nanocomposites, molecular electronics, nanosensors, drug delivery, memory, quantum dots, nanotubes and wires, nanobiology etc. are receiving attention and support.

Support to R&D projects sanctioned under NSTI (Phase – I) was continued during the year. A number of proposals were received under Phase – II of NSTI. The National Expert Committee met several times and identified a total of 51 projects in Phase II. These projects are expected to have greater applied potential.

Among the projects approved during the year were:

• Studies on Nanomaterials and Devices,
  
• Nano Science & Technology: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach,
  
• Development of Nanophosphors for Industrial Applications,
  
• Design of New and Novel Nanoconstruction Tools,
  
• Carbon Nanotubes based Sensors,
  
• Magnetic, Optical and Electronic Properties of Semiconducting Particles doped with Magnetic Impurities,
• Synthesis of Nanostructured Magnetic Materials for Different Applications,
  
• Preparation and Processing of Nano-Sized Oxides for Application as Super-Pigments.

Some major experimental facilities established during the period were: Nanocluster & Ion Beam Sources, Field Emission TEM with CCD, Nano Indentor, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Patterning Apparatus, PPMS with 7 T Magnet & VSM, Nanomanipulator with SPM, Optical Tweezer, Electron Beam Writing Facility and Nanolithography, AFM/STM/TEM, MALDI, Micro Array Spotter & Scanner, Dual Patch Clamp Set up with Fluorescence, Fluorescence Microscope, Single Molecule Fluorescence Set up etc.

Towards manpower development, an ‘Advanced School on Nanomaterials Preparation, Characterization and Manipulation’ was organized at the Indian Institute of Science and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore. A select group of young researchers were exposed to many of the sophisticated techniques and instruments and were provided hands-on experience in the methods of nanomaterials fabrication, characterization and manipulation.

On the international front, a significant activity was the participation of Indian Scientists in the International Congress and Exhibition in Chiba, Japan. Indian achievements and initiatives under NSTI were exhibited. An International Conference on Nanomaterials Science & Technology was also held in December at Kolkata. This conference brought together wellknown scientists from India and abroad for in-depth discussions regarding the future directions in this field and provided a unique opportunity to the young scientists to interact with other eminent scientists.

The Serc R&D Projects

Chemical Sciences

Support for research in frontier areas of chemistry and launching of new initiatives in carefully selected areas were the highlights of this year. A major initiative on Green hemistry was taken. A number of projects were supported in contemporary areas such as atom economy, novel materials, EPR imaging, ultrafast dynamics, etc.

Organic Chemistry

As a sequel to the special initiative launched last year to attract young researchers to undertake research in internationally competitive areas, five more areas were identified. They were organic reactions in aqueous media, atom economy in organic processes, self-assembly, bio-conjugates, and molecular materials. These areas, along with the previously identified five areas, were given wide publicity and proposals were invited. A total of 44 proposals were received in response to the advertisement and after rigorous peer review, 5 proposals were supported (1 in molecular materials; 2 in self-assembly; 1 in bio-conjugates and 1 in structural and functional mimicry of bio-systems). The project on molecular materials dealt with design and synthesis of organic photochromic systems, nonlinear optical materials and organic light emitting diodes whereas the project on bioconjugates aimed at the development of glycoconjugates as substitute for vitreous humor of eye. Among the two projects supported on self-assembly, one proposed to study supramolecular assemblies of peptides with a view to asscertaining the mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease and, the other, focused on design, synthesis and properties of novel photoactive nanostructures and gels based on the selfassembly of À-conjugated molecules and use of these molecules in controlled drug release, light harvesting and supramolecular electronics. The project in the area of biomimicry aimed at creation of artificial photosynthetic modules based on dendrimers. This study was expected to enhance the understanding of photosynthetic process and help in the design of advanced systems for artificial photosynthesis. In addition to this special initiative, projects in other areas of organic chemistry also received support.

The progress of ongoing projects was reviewed and some of the interesting results reported from these projects were as follows:

• Suitable intermediates for the synthesis of Mitomycin K and C were prepared. As Mitomycin C is clinically used as antitumor antibiotic for the past several years, this synthesis might gain recognition for its simplicity, novelty and practicality.
  
• Peptides containing enediynyl amino acids were synthesized and these could be potentially used as scaffolds to induce â–turns in peptides.
  
• 3-amino-1-propanol based dendrimers were designed and synthesized as an alternative to two of the most widely used dendrimers in scientific research, namely, poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) and poly (propyleneimine). This was an important development in the general area of dendrimer chemistry.
  
• A new –C-C bond formation strategy utilizing intramolecular á-arylation of ketones for construction of polycyclic compounds was achieved. This could be applied to a variety of alkaloids which were academically challenging in basic research.
  
• A new efficient enzymatic pathway was developed for the synthesis of enantiopure alcohols by lipase mediated resolution process. This method was not only cost effective but the reduction took place in less reaction time than reported earlier. This one-pot lipase mediated transesterification process was novel in nature and might find immense applications in basic as well as applied research for the preparation of chiral drug intermediates.
  
• A process patent was filed for the preparation of viologen linked acridine based molecule for use as phototherapeutical and catalytic photoactivated DNA cleaving agents.

Inorganic Chemistry

In addition to promoting frontier areas of research, a few areas were identified for targeted funding. These were: aqueous organometallic chemistry; molecular precursors for advanced inorganic materials; metalloenzymes and their mimics; Green Chemistry; and f-block lements. These areas were given wide publicity and proposals were invited for funding.

Some of the projects funded in other areas were:

• Synthesis of new heterobimetallic complexes with metal centres that differed widely in delectron configuration, using bridging ligands. The new complexes would be examined for NLO properties and as candidates for small molecule activation.
• Synthesis of hemilabile phosphine complexes of Rh, Pt, W, Se, Pd etc and exploring the catalytic activity of these metal complexes, which were not commercially available.
  
• Synthesis of a range of laterally fused porphyrin and corrole assemblies and investigating their spectral and NLO properties.
  
• Synthesis of some new Iron (III) porphyrin complexes and using them as catalysts for oxidizing substrates like norbornene and stilbenes. This study would have considerable implications in biology and industry.
  
• Systematic investigation of the chemistry of organochalcogens having two intramolecularly coordinating groups. This investigation might lead to useful contribution in the area of organochalcogen chemistry and their application in organic synthesis and enzyme mimics.
  

The progress of several ongoing projects was reviewed and some of the interesting results obtained were as follows:

• A novel synthetic strategy using phosphonate ligands for assembling multi-metallic assemblies had been found. Pendant cyclophosphazene polymers were shown as excellent polymers for the preparation of polymeric catalysts.
  
• New methodologies had been developed for the synthesis of a new class of cobaloximes with mixed dioxime ligands and for the synthesis of organobridged dicobaloximes.
  
• For the first time, the detection of C-H—O hydrogen bonds in organotelluriums were reported, and they were utilized to generate (a) tellurium essential and (b) ligand essential supramolecular assemblies.
• A sterically hindered and strongly Lewis basic bis(phenolate) ligand, which could stabilize a five-coordinate iron(III) geometry which closely mimicked the active site geometry of CTD enzyme, was the first example to be reported in the literature.
  
• Nuclearity-dependent activity of Mn complexes was reported and these observations might help in designing materials for the bleaching H2O2 or for its proper utilization in selective oxidation of hydrocarbons.
  
• It was observed that sub-micrometer, crystalline hematite powders could be prepared from titania wastes by solvent extraction combined with hydrothermal synthesis, at relatively lower temperature range of 160-180ºC. This investigation demonstrated a novel process involving solvent extraction combined with low temperature hydrothermal step to generate pure iron oxide for industrial utility.
  
• A new Zn phosphate monomer was identified and also shown to transform into a layered solid, retaining the structural integrity of the monomer phase which was the first observation of such a transformation and paved way for understanding the formation of new types of open-framework solids.

Physical Chemistry

Some of the new projects that were sanctioned included:

• Development of new polymeric hydrogels for drug delivery systems. Several biodegradable polymeric hydrogels that are cross-linked and absorb large quantity of water and resemble living tissue were proposed to be synthesised.
• Detection and quantitative estimation of specific metabolites in body fluids such as serum, urine and saliva after treatment of immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporine, was proposed to be undertaken using high resolution NMR Spectroscopy.
  
• Exploration of potential energy surfaces of floppy organic molecules and determination of structures of their conformers and clusters. This study was expected to help in understanding the energetics and dynamics of floppy molecules and their clusters in solated collision-free environment.
  
• Design and synthesis of a large number of non-oxide and oxide/non-oxide hybrid solids which could serve as a tool box for pre-designed assembly of inorganic materials.
• Design and fabrication of an EPR spectrometer with 3D capabilities. The developed instrument would be used for in-vivo EPR oximetry, nitric oxide imaging and for the development of oxygen sensors.

A workshop was organized at Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi in the area of catalysis. About 35 students attended this workshop and got training in recent trends in catalysis.

Some interesting results obtained from ongoing projects were:

• In a project on single molecule spectroscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer was used to study conformational dynamics of protein molecules both in its extended and folded states. This technique was increasingly being used to study complex heterogeneous dynamics of super cooled liquids and glassy systems.
  
• The ground state spin was determined for 6 diradicals with benzene rings and 8 diradicals with naphthalene rings. The rule of spin alternation in the UHF had been verified in each case. Exotic magnetic properties of a molecular crystal had been successfully explained by a theoretical solid state treatment.
• Photophysical properties of two bichromophoric systems comprising a pyridyl moiety and a naphthyl/pyrenyl moiety covalently linked through a dimethylene bridge had been investigated. The spectral behaviour of the systems suggested formation of an intramolecular complex between the two terminal moieties of the molecule in the ground
  states.
  
• Detailed dielectric properties of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 and Ba2TiO4 were reported for the first time. Stability of nanosized grain was observed at a temperature of 1100°C. Monodisperse nanocrystalline BaTiO3 and Ba2TiO4 showed tetragonal splitting in 20-25 nm sized grains. Fourteen new ternary and quaternary microemulsion systems comprising plant and essential oils, non-ionic surfactants and water had been developed. These systems had shown good stability with time and over a temperature range.

New breakthrough was made in formalizing analytical derivatives of first and higher order using the Effective Hamiltonian version of Multi-Reference Coupled-Cluster Theory. This allowed, for the first time, the possibility of evaluation of properties and geometric derivatives to quasi-degenerate cases. Physical Sciences

A number of research programmes on emerging topics in Physical Sciences were supported through the PACs on (a) Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, (b) Plasma Physics, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Nonlinear Dynamics and (c) Lasers, Optics and Atomic and Molecular Physics. The progress made in ongoing projects was also regularly monitored through the PACs.

Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science

A major highlight of the promotional efforts made in this area was the targeted and proactive exercise undertaken to increase the participation of university groups in research programme. Building upon the earlier experience in the areas of Plasma Physics and Animal Sciences, focused Interaction Meetings were organized on two topics – (i) Thin Film Studies for Solar Energy Applications; and (ii) Electronic Structure Calculations and Computational Condensed Matter Physics. This initiative was widely publicized and university researchers were invited with preliminary proposals to attend these meetings and discuss their ideas with leading scientists of the country. 77 scientists attended these meetings and 36 of them were advised to submit detailed proposals for funding incorporating the scientific input of their discussions with the experts. A number of these detailed proposals were received towards the end of the year for consideration of possible funding.

A number of projects were also sanctioned on diverse topics. Among the major projects was one where ultrathin films on solid inert gas substrates, i.e. quasi-free standing films, had been grown. It was planned to carry out structural studies using STM, local superconductivity studies using Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy and study of thermodynamic transitions using sensitive heat capacity measurements. It was also planned to investigate vortices and their dynamics with the STM. These measurements were expected to throw light on some fundamental physics issues related to insulator-to-superconductor transition in, and microstructure of, these films. In another project, crystal growth facilities were being upgraded for growing pure and substituted hexagonal ferrites as single crystals. A new sol-gel route for synthesis of three multi-component lithium-based fast ion conducting systems was to be studied in another project. In another significant project, it had been proposed to investigate in detail, the magneto caloric effect in, and thermal conductivity of, a number of different types of promising GMR manganites as a function of composition and grain size. Such a study was expected to provide not only a reliable database for the usefulness of these materials as magnetic refrigerants, but also help in understanding the influence of structural distortions, phase transitions and charge ordering phenomenon on the heat transfer mechanisms in GMR perovskites. In another project, device physics studies of organic and polymeric light-emitting devices had been planned. Apart from conventional spin coating and evaporation methods, layer-by-layer self-assembled films and Langmuir-Blodgett films of emitting materials would be used to fabricate the light-emitting devices. Their impedance spectroscopy and transient electroluminescence characteristics would be studied.

A SERC School on “The Physics of Disordered Systems” was organized at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai.

Several interesting results were reported from ongoing projects. For example, in a project at IIT, Kharagpur, a novel magnetic sensor based on second harmonic response of polycrystalline (Bi-Pb)-2223 superconductor and the technique of protection was developed. Field sensitivity of the 2f based sensor was comparable to flux gate sensor. The noise sensitivity of the sensor was: 3.1¡Á10-9T/¡ÌHz. Encapsulation of the sensor in a thin polythene tube and sealing its ends with Locktite gave excellent protection from degradation. A complete system comprising of a portable cryostatic system containing the sensor and the signal processing and read-out device had been developed. In another project at the University of Hyderabad, it had been demonstrated for the first time that the well-known weak itinerant ¨C electron ferromagnet, Ni3Al, when prepared in the nanocrystalline state, lost long-range ferromagnetic order completely and exhibited exchange-enhanced Pauli-spin paramagnetism instead. The first-ever magnetic relaxation study of a three-dimensional (d=3) ferromagnet with weak quenched random-exchange disorder revealed that a crossover in equilibrium dynamics from the one, characteristic of a pure d=3 ferromagnet with complete atomic ordering and prevalent at temperatures away from the Curie temperature, Tc, to that, typical of a d=3 random exchange ferromagnet, occurred as T
Tc. At NCL, Pune, a new method for surface modification of gold nanoparticles using alkylamines had been developed by phase transfer of aqueous gold nanoparticles to organic environments. A one-step method for the synthesis of hydrophobic gold nanoparticles in organic solutions had also been developed which enabled rapid synthesis of hydrophobic gold nanoparticles of a range of sizes and shapes. The aminederivatized gold nanoparticles showed excellent organization at the air-water interface and multilayer formation capability; and gold nanoparticles had been synthesized at the air-water interface by the spontaneous reduction of gold ions by a multifunctional Langmuir monolayer and excellent quality superlattice films of gold nanosheets had been formed using this methodology.

Plasma, High Energy, Nuclear Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics and Nonlinear Dynamics

The SERC Schools successfully organized this year were : Preparatory SERC School in Theoretical High Energy Physics (University of Hyderabad); Main SERC School in Theoretical High Energy Physics (Rajasthan University); and, School on Physics of Beams (CAT, Indore). High Energy physicists, all over the world, have been discussing the possibility of setting up a Linear Collider in future. An Indo-US Interaction Meeting on Linear Collider was organized at INSA, New Delhi on November 10-11, 2003 where the US and Indian scientists discussed various scientific issues related to such a major world facility. The two sides also devoted one more day on November 12, 2003 to discuss scientific issues of common interest in the area of Neutrino Physics. With the work on Indian Neutrino Observatory moving forward, this discussion was quite fruitful.

Significant results were obtained in an ongoing project at IIT, Kharagpur using the Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) technique. This advanced plasma assisted surface engineering technique involved implantation of cations in high frequency negatively biased pulses on to metallic or non-metallic substrates at ambient or elevated temperature. This non-line-of-sight implantation of cations like nitrogen was capable of developing a thin solid solution and/or intermetallic/ceramic phase dispersed surfaces and imparting enhanced resistance to wear, corrosion and other similar surface-dependent degradations. In this project, PIII had been used for nitrogen implantation in AISI52100 ball bearing steel and it had led to significant increase in hardness. A novel route to synthesis of nano-aluminides through PIII of mechanically milled elemental Ti, Zr, Si and Fe had also been found out. At the Nuclear Science Centre, New Delhi, a general purpose neutron detector array had been set up which would be of immense use in measurements related to nuclear level densities, fission dynamics and nuclear spectroscopy.

Lasers, Optics, Atomic and Molecular Physics

Among the several projects that were sanctioned, there was one where it was planned to develop surface relief diffractive element, which offered advantages over conventional diffractive optics in many applications. In another project, it was planned to carry out measurements of elastic and inelastic scattering cross section in the X-ray region. Growth and processing of Laser Diodes based on A1xGa1-xAs/GaAs Quantum Well Structures using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system in the operating wavelength of 0.7 to 0.9 µm for optical data recording, laser sensors etc. was the topic of investigation in another project. Theoretical and experimental development of the optical coherence tomographic (OCT) technique, theoretical modelling of spectral line shifts with dynamical multiple scattering and setting up an experimental set-up for studying the frequency shift of spectral lines with spectral applications to Quasar line red-shifts and its Cosmological implications were the issues that would be investigated in some of the other sanctioned projects.

A SERC School on “Precision Spectroscopy of Atoms, Molecules, and Bose Condensates” was held at I.I.Sc., Bangalore and another School on “Coherent Optics and Applications” was held at M.S. University, Baroda, Vadodara.

Several interesting results were reported from ongoing projects. The Laser Cooling Experiments at IISc, Bangalore continued to produce important results. A fully operational MOT for Rb atoms with ability to load more than 108 atoms in a few seconds from a getter source had been developed. It had been demonstrated that a MOT for Yb atoms could be loaded directly from a thermal source without the use of a Zeeman slower. In a project at the University of Hyderabad, an experimental setup had been developed for the first time in the country for obtaining electro absorption (EA) spectra to estimate the higher order non-linear susceptibilities of materials without the aid of any high power laser source. At IIT, Delhi, a scheme of acceleration of thermal electrons to mildly relativistic velocities via stimulated Compton back scattering was developed and experimental results were explained. A novel scheme of simultaneous excitation of slow and fast plasma waves by two counter propagating lasers differing in frequency by twice the plasma frequency had also been developed. The slow plasma wave accelerated the electrons in the Maxwellian tail to mildly relativistic energies. These electrons were further accelerated by the fast wave to tens of MeV energy. At Anna University, detailed studies of bright and dark optical solitons in various non-linear wave guides had been done.

Life Sciences

Health Sciences

During the year, several new projects were sanctioned in emerging & frontline areas of Health Sciences to generate base line data, develop diagnostic methods, devices and processes and study mechanism of action of some of the communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Some of the projects that were supported were on:

• Drug development, drug discovery and development of New Molecular Entities (NMEs) from plant sources of medicinal importance and characterization of active principles.
• Molecular biology and basic biochemistry of pathogenic organism, molecular therapeutics, molecular haematology and development of new generation of vaccines.
• Identification of Indian mutations, study of new diseased genes and disease susceptibility genes, analysis of genotype/phenotype correlation, patho-physiology of genetic diseases.
• Nucleotide sequencing to understand genetic variability.
• Development and evaluation of diagnostics for malaria, filaria, kala-azar and PKDL.
• Development of non-invasive diagnostic devices for cancer.
• Study of basic cellular processes in understanding cancer; markers and factors responsible for transformation of pre-cancerous lesions to invasive disease; elucidation of genetic basis for cancer; role of viruses in etiology of cancers.
• Study of non-communicable diseases such as respiratory disorder, sleep disorder, mental health and neurosciences, urological disorder and malnutrition/nutritional problems.

Efforts were also made to formulate and generate programmes and projects in the emerging & frontier areas of biomedical research. A Workshop-cum-Training Programme on “New Perspectives in Drug Discovery and Development” was organized to highlight the recent developments. Recent advances in Genomics, Structural Genomics and Proteomics and associated technologies such as high–throughput screening, automation, miniaturization, combinatorial chemistry, nanotechnology were demonstrated as part of this programme. The workshop served as a forum for exchange of ideas among workers in the field.

Progress of Ongoing Programmes/ Projects

Among the significant results obtained in ongoing and completed projects were the following:

• An anti cancer formulation had been developed with methylglyoxal as the lead compound.
  
• A new antibiotic MT81 and its derivatives possessing CNS depressant action have been found to possess potent anti-leishmanial activity. Two patents were filed based on this development.
  A limonene-based Transdermal Therapeutic Patch for Nicardipine Hydrochloride in the treatment of Hypertension and Angina Pectoris and a Carvone-based Transdermal Therapeutic Patch for Nimodipine in the treatment of hypertension had been developed.
• The aqueous extract of seed of Tamarindus indica had been found to possess potential hypoglycemic activity which had been reported for the first time.
• A study of polymorphisms in Glutathione s-transferase (GST) genes revealed that polymorphism in GSTPI, GSIM1, GSTM and GSTT1 genes regulated risk of cancer and leukoplakia differentially among different tobacco habituals.
• It had been demonstrated for the first time that Dopamine (catecholamine neurotransmitter acting both on CNS as well as in the periphery) played a significant role in the development and progression of gastric malignancy. Dopamine treatment regulated the growth and progression of stomach tumor by inhibiting angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. Results warranted future studies using Dopamine as an antiangiogenic therapeutic agent in the treatment of gastric malignancy.
  
• Rotavirus is known to cause severe diarrhea among children sometimes leading to severe dehydration. Several rotavirus isolates of G 9 & G 3 strains had been isolated from children.
• Studies were under progress to establish antiangiogenic effect of butyric acid and develop drugs with butyric acid as component. BuA had been demonstrated as a potent antiangiogenic compound for the first time.
• Chemo preventive effects of vanadium compound had been investigated for colorectal carcinogenesis. The findings suggested that vanadium administration could suppress colon carcinogenesis.
• Lycopene had potent antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects. Tomato and tomato based products, rich in lycopene, had been evaluated for chemoprevention of oral carcinogenesis. Results of the study on anticarcinogenic potential of tomato in combination with garlic and turmeric demonstrated antigenotoxic / anticarcinogenic effects by decreasing lipid per-oxidation and enhancing the antioxidant status.
  
• In a study on neuronal control of cardiac growth, substance P was found to be a potent peripheral and coronary vasodilator that was involved in inflammation, tissue repair and fibrosis. The myocardium was innervated by peptidergic nerves that synthesized and secreted neuropeptides like substance P in response to conditions such as myocardial ischemia.
  
• New membrane proteins in Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC) had been investigated for its role in pathogenesis and as virulence marker. It was found that maltoporin played (membrane protein) an important role in the kinetics of the cytopathic effects of the outer membrane preparation.
  
• Molecular genetic analysis of different categories of Parkinson’s disease had been undertaken to analyze mutation. New mutation/polymorphism was noted in Parkin gene at the exon 4, exon 7, exon 9 and exon 10.

The PAC on Animal Sciences is responsible for promoting basic research in the organismal biology. During the year, research proposals were supported on : biodiversity; studies on nematodes from the north-eastern region; survey of gastro-intestinal pathogenic helminth parasites in small ruminant of Kashmir Valley; epidemiology and effects of ectoparasitism infesting common Indian birds; biosystematics of harpactorine assassin bugs; biodiversity and conservation of some freshwater invertebrates of Tripura, particularly colonial rotatoria; development and life history responses of some colonoid Copepods; integrated pest management package for forest nursery; development of ELISA techniques to detect invisible
insect contamination in stored foods; and, to formulate novel mosquito larvicide.

Special efforts had been made to generate quality R&D proposals on mammalian ecology. The proposals thus generated had made impressive progress and all of them were monitored this year at the Gir Lion Sanctuary at Sasan. The local forest officials were fully involved and they supplemented and shared the ecological knowledge of wild animals with the scientific community. The proposals that were monitored were on : Ecology, status and conservation of lesser known mammals in neglected habitats; feeding behaviour and cology of Porcupine in cultivated palm ecosystems in Western Ghats of Karnataka, South India; status, distribution, food and feeding of Malabar Spiny Dormous (Platacanthomys lasturus Blyth) in the Western Ghats of Kerala; ecology and demographic changes among bats of the Thar Desert with special reference to Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer; study of maternal parental investment patterns in relation to dominance ranks and sex of the offspring in non-human primates; localization of prey by the gleaning bat Megaderma lyra; and ecology and management of leopard in Gir Lion Sanctuary & National Park. Considerable progress had been made on all these projects and these projects were either mid-way or close to completion.

In another monitoring meeting, 18 ongoing and completed projects were monitored. These included projects on: evolution, biodiversity, invertebrate and vertebrate reproduction, biodiversity of mosquito fauna of Garhwal region, Amphibian diversity of Dibrusaikhowa National Park, Assam; systematics of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae : Homoptera : Insecta) of Eastern and Western Ghats; role of Pheromones in buffalo reproduction; and Implications of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (w3 and w6) on mammalian male reproductive system.

A few new initiatives were also taken during the current year. Effort was made to develop a programme on study of cave-dwelling animals. A concept paper was discussed and it was decided to organize a colloquium followed by an interaction meeting to generate some quality proposals to study evolution, distribution, life history, reproduction etc. of cave-dwelling animals.

The Second School on “Chronobiology” was organized at Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur. The School covered wide-ranging topics, from basic to latest aspects of the subject. Issues right from activity recording to molecular control of rhythmicity were discussed threadbare during the School.

Plant Sciences

In the area of Plant Sciences, several projects were supported during the year. These projects included basic research as well as some application-oriented R&D projects. Some of the projects funded during the year were on in-vitro propagation of Bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.)- a medicinal leguminous tree; identification of elite genotypes of Hippophae rhamnoides for multiplication & large scale domestication in the higher Himalayan region of Uttaranchal; assessment and conservation strategies of pteridophytic diversity of Milam; reproductive strategies of two clover species with emphasis on pattern and causes of ovule abortion; screening of potato cultivars for novel properties; biological control of a wilt disease complex of pigeon pea (caused by Heterodera cajani, meloidogyne sp. and Fusariumudum) by fluorescent Pseudomonads and Bacillus Sps; studies on the metabolic machinery involved in the assimilation of alkane by filamentous fungi; immunological analysis of nuclear inclusion protein of potyviruses; pharmacognostic studies of ‘Phansomba’ samples: an indigenous folk medicine; studies on inter specific hybridization with particular reference to the development of cytoplasmic male sterility in sesame; development of diagnostic kit for the detection of viruses infecting banana (Musa spp); induction of somaclonal variation in Psoralea corylifolia Linn; characterization and role of the virus inhibitory agent induced in susceptible plants flowing phytoprotein mediated systemic antiviral resistance; regulation of gene expression in light signal transduction pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana; studies on adsorption capacities and leaching behaviour of heavy metals in soils used for root zone treatment plants; and, development of Integrated Bioremediation System for Metal Loaded Industrial Wastes.

Some important observations made in on-going projects were as follows:

• Successful selection of resistant Coleus forskohlii, a medicinally important plant, had been done to root rot caused by the fungal pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The plants had been transferred to the field (Figure 2.3). Isolation, purification and characterization of Jasmonic Acid (methyl esters) in the fungal culture filtrates (FCF) of Lasiodiplodia theobromae had also been attempted. This fungal strain could be commercially used to produce methyl jasmonates in large quantities. Further, three fungal toxins had been isolated and partially characterized. One of these toxins had been identified as ‘Lasiodiplodin’. It was possible in future to genetically engineer the plants to root rot resistance, using these toxins.
• Powdery mildew of pea incited by Erysiphe pisi is a devastating pathogen of the crop inciting infection in all the above ground parts of the plant. Successful management of this pathogen is possible by immunizing the host, i.e., Pisum sativum, through several biotic and abiotic agencies. In an on-going project this goal had been achieved by: 1. seed treatment with plant growth - promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), 2. induction of resistance in pea (Pisum sativum) against Erysiphe pisi by non-pathogen powdery mildews, 3. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, 4. by foliar application of PGPR, 5. immunizating pea plants with methanolic extract of cashewnut shells and 6. inducing resistance in pea against E. pisi through salicylic acid.
• India is one of the largest producers of the world’s finest tea. Tea, being a perennial and the most economically important plantation crop, is highly affected by Exobasidium vesans, both in the hill areas of Darjeeling and the Dooars, and this is responsible for enormous crop losses in the tea industry. Polyclonal antibody (PAb) raised against E.vexans were used for immuno-cytochemical localization of the pathogen in tea leaf tissues showing compatible interaction. Dot-blot assays were also developed for screening disease (blister blight) resistant varieties among the available tea germplasms collected from Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiris. A new peroxidase isozyme of Rm 0.44 on PAGE was detected when plants acquired immunity against biotic stress in field conditions.

Figure 2.3 (a) : 1. Diseased & Healthy Coleus forskohlii plants	2. Diseased & Healthy roots of Coleus forskohlii
Figure 2.3 (b) : 1. Micropropagation steps of Coleus forskohlii plants	2. In-vitro raised plants after selection procedure

• In another study, the unique diversity in the Glossopteris flora had been explored in the Saharjuri Basin, Jharkhand, Eastern India which had far-reaching consequences for the fundamental concepts of depositional characteristics of Indian coal beds and Palaeogeography of the subcontinent during late Palaeozoic.
• A number of ichnofossils of estuarine to shallow marine environment were recorded along with the Glossopteris, Gangamopteris and other members of the flora. The assemblage suggested reconsideration of environment of deposition and palaeogeography of Indian Lower Gondwana basins. The coal basins so far recognized to have originated from essentially continental deposits now revealed marine influence suggesting nearness of the sea from the coal basins.
  
• In another study, the Protoplasts from the leaves of pea (Pisum sativum L., cv. Arel) were used to assess the role of cyanide-insensitive alternative pathway and the cytochrome paths of mitochondrial electron transport in protecting photosynthesis against photoinhibiton.
• An extremely thermophilic bacterium NP33 producing an extra cellular, high-maltose forming, hyperthermostable, and calcium-independent amylopullulanase was characterized and identified as Geobacillus thermoleovorans based on morphological, physiological, biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence [Genbank (Bethesda, Maryland, USA) accession no.AY427833)] analysis. The enzyme was active in a broad temperature (from 40 to 100°C, optimum at 80°C, t ½ at 100°C 2 - 3.5 h), and pH (from 3.0 to 10.0, optimum at 6 – 8) ranges, and without any observable effect on its activity in the presence of Ca2+. The enzyme could be stable for three months at 4°C and for 20 days at room temperature without any loss of activity. Starch was efficiently saccharified in a single step by amylopullulanase.

Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Microbiology

Several new projects were sanctioned during the year. These were in the areas of Biochemistry, Protein Design, Theoretical and Computational Biology, Cell Structure and Signal Transduction, Microbial Chemistry, identification of genes and their regulatory mechanisms, Molecular Parasitology, etc. Some of these projects were: Analysis of host Pathogen interactions of mycobacterium using novel system which induces antibiotic resistance by recombination; Studies on BT toxin larval gut protein interactions towards development of a more effective biopesticide; Functional analysis of S29 ribosomal protein in apoptosis; Characterization of negative strand synthesis during replication of Japanese encephalitis virus; Crystal structure determination of some phytolectins from Indian plants; Molecular analysis of structural and functional changes of some genes in Leukemia; Molecular characterization of Nutrient signaling and Nitrogen deficiency in rice; Novel approaches to understanding cell wall phenolics for improving raw materials quality in food plants; Identification and characterization of genes and their promoters involved in signaling under salinity stress in Oryza sativa.

Some of the significant results reported from the ongoing and completed projects were as follows:

- An insect cell expression system for the production of recombinant proteins had been successfully set up. Such a system had tremendous advantage over the more commonly used E.coli expression system.
- In a project aimed at studying the pigment profile and protein aggregation status in cataractous lenses from India, a flourophore that accumulated in the lens, namely, xanthurenic acid 8-O-B-D-glucoside (XAOG) had been isolated and identified as a possible endogenous chromophore in the lens, which could act as cataractogenic agent. In the same project, use of antioxidant formulations e.g. tea, extracts from Ashwagandha and gingko biloba were seen to have cataractostatic potential since these retarded the progression of selenite mediated cataract in test rats.
- In another project involving developmental studies in Drosophila, two novel molecules CUL-5 and GEF that played important role in the development of drosophila had been identified.
- In a project on “Microwave Imaging of Biological objects”, a prototype of the imaging system had been built in which a novel dielectric resonator antenna had been used as the transmitter and a dipole as the receiver. It was observed that the dielectric resonator antenna could be used as a compact antenna suited for microwave transmission and reception in imaging studies. Engineering Sciences

The Engineering Sciences Programme, initiated during the Seventh Five Year Plan is a multi-disciplinary R&D promotion programme within the scope of the Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC). The broad programme objectives cover support for research efforts in a wide range of disciplines within engineering sciences such as chemical, mechanical, civil, materials, electrical, manufacturing and information technology, and, robotics and automation. The individual research programmes may address one or more sectors like health, bio-medical, transportation, automotive, water resources management, structural engineering, building technologies, manufacturing and process industry related technologies, etc.

The specific programme objectives are:

• To promote and nurture research at academic and research institutions, in newly emerging and frontier areas of engineering including multidisciplinary fields.
• To promote research capability in relevant areas of engineering and technology taking into account capability of the host and collaborating institutions.
• To set up advanced research facilities for carrying out R&D activities.
• To conduct SERC (Engineering) Schools in emerging areas of engineering and technology.
• To develop technologies of relevance to the country in collaboration with industry / user agencies (where applicable) and to transfer resulting technologies for industrial and developmental activities.

During 2003-2004, support was extended to over sixty new projects. Support extended for basic and applied research projects in laboratories and institutions in the past, resulted in several quality scientific publications in national and international journals, training of technical manpower, development of products, processes, and patents, some of which were being transferred to industry and user agencies. A brief summary of activities in different subject areas is given below:

Chemical Engineering

During the year, a new ‘Vision Document’ was prepared spelling out the approach to support basic research, applications development and mission projects in a focused manner. Contemporary areas and sub-areas of national as well as global relevance were identified to guide potential researchers in the area of Chemical Engineering. Sixteen new projects were sanctioned during this period. Four SERC Schools were also organized in contemporary areas of Biotechnology Process, Interfacial Fluid Dynamics and Modeling & Simulation.

Highlights of results reported from ongoing projects were:

• Enormous amount of work had been done to understand the fundamentals of cavitation phenomenon, using both ultrasound and hydrodynamic means. Input (source; intensity and delivery), process (medium) and system (geometry & scale) parameters had been studied and characterized in great details. Hydrodynamic cavitation has been particularly demonstrated to be attractive for achieving significant process intensification and the stage was now set for scaling-up the work on real-life systems of industrial relevance.
• Enzymatic delignification/bleaching of pulp had been demonstrated to produce improved paper quality. The treatment, although more expensive presently as compared to conventional treatment, may find justification in the near future in terms of reduced environmental costs and improved pulp quality. The culture based on white rot fungi, developed to produce laccase enzyme for this work, had stand-alone potential for commercial application. One national/international patent was likely to be filed shortly.
• A novel complex fertilizer (micro-nutrient) of iron, manganese and molybdenum had been developed and field-tested for various crops and it had shown very encouraging results. Pilot plant trials were presently on to standardize the process and test marketing the product for regular commercial production. Two national patents had been filed and international patents were in process.
• A new PC-based advanced control strategy had been developed for real-time process control of batch reactors, predominantly used in pharmaceutical industry. The same had been demonstrated to give substantial improvement in yield from 50-65% over manual control under laboratory conditions. Industrial demonstration/implementation was in progress and a large number of industries were likely to benefit from this.
• Plant extracts had been studied for their enzymatic activity and isolation of enzymes. Plant laccasses had been found quite effective for degradation of dyes from industrial effluents. The process could become cost effective for commercial application if suitable methodology was evolved for immobilization of the enzyme.
• A project on ozone bleaching of textiles was likely to lead to a new environment friendly process of direct relevance to industry. A demonstration unit for batch operation was almost ready. An industry had come forward to support another demonstration unit for continuous operation with direct funding.
  
• A project had been initiated to develop chemically active TFC membranes having appropriate flux and selectivity for selective permeation of ionic species for product recovery in commercial applications. The work would contribute to scientific knowledge as well as technology development.
• Work had also been started to develop functional polymer matrices for chiral separation in Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography (SMBC). This was a high value added – frontline application, so far the domain of only a few multinationals.
• Work had been initiated to prepare a comprehensive and interactive database on more than 200 different types of chemical reactors used commercially, in the form of a user friendly package on a CD. The compilation would have relevant information on design, operation, optimization and trouble shooting. This would be of great utility for teaching and research and for the industrial designers.

Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

During the year, new areas of basic research and application development were identified along with mission projects of national relevance to guide potential researchers.

Highlights of the results reported from ongoing projects included:

• In the project on “Development of Control Strategies and Determination of Optimum Locations for Flexible AC Transmission Systems Devices in a Transmission Network”, analytical tools for load flow and transient stability studies had been developed. Modal observability-based ranking tool had been developed for placement of FACTS devices for small signal stability enhancement. Structure preserving energy function and trajectory sensitivity based methods had been developed to determine the effect of FACTS controllers on Transient Stability. A flexible load flow tool which used dual formulation with dual specifications had also been developed for load flow with series devices.
• Under the project on “Thermoelectric-cum-Water evaporative personal cooler”, a new concept of providing cooling in localized domains around individuals differing markedly from the current practice of total room cooling was being developed. An approach utilizing two focused and directionally controlled air streams relieving heat stress without the discomfort of strong air blast was being tried. The power requirement would be well below conventional air-conditioning and the equipment cost would also be less. Moreover, in a hospital situation, cross infection amongst patients through air recycling, as occurring in conventional air-conditioning, would also be minimized. There would also be significant advantages in using such a system in places other than hospitals such as offices.
• The project “New Electrical System for Stand alone Micro-Hydel based Power Generation” was carried out with the support of an NGO located in Bangalore, who were in the process of installing a few Pico Hydel plants in several locations with financial assistance from the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme (INEP). The project envisaged (a) survey of the site, (b) assessment of hydro-potential, (c) identification of local persons, (d) construction of civil works and hydro channels, terminating in 4 Bay tank, (e) installing penstock pipes and power house in which the hydro turbine generator and controllers would be, (f) connecting the generator with all the local consumers through underground cables and terminal connections, (g) training the local persons to operate the systems including troubleshooting and maintenance, and (h) advise each household on suitable energy efficient loads such as lights and fans. This was a socially-relevant project, which would result in providing electricity to remote villages using locally available hydro-potential with minimal environmental impact.
• The project “Design & Development of fault tolerant circuitry to improve the reliability of solar PV modules and arrays” had explicitly dealt with the improvement of reliability by active redundancy. This involved use of interconnection circuitry in the modules. It had been established that the Bridge-Linked (BL) circuitry excelled over others. The modules based on this circuitry had been fabricated in the conventional plants of industry, without any change of process or manufacturing unit. The BL modules could be retrofitted to replace the conventional modules and/or used in conjunction with the conventional modules, and PFC. DST was considering this product for a patent.
• Under the project “Turbo Coding, Iterative Decoding and Graphical Models: Construction, Development and Analysis” at IISc., Bangalore, efficient graphical models called Minimal Tail-Biting Trellises had been developed for a large class of codes. The performances of Trellis codes in conjunction with multiple transmit and receive antennas had been studied by simulation. Efficient maximum-likelihood decoding algorithms for block codes using tail-biting trellises had been found.

Material, Mining & Mineral Engineering

During the year, seventeen new projects were sanctioned. A large number of ongoing projects were in various stages of progress. Several interesting and significant results were reported from these projects which included the following:

• A laboratory-scale process had been developed for dephosphorization of high carbon liquid ferromanganese alloy for production of high quality steel at NML, Jamshedpur. The process developed was capable of removing 60% of phosphorous selectively from high carbon ferromanganese melts with the use of a BaO-MnO-BaF2 based flux (Figure 2.4). It had also been observed that the process was better suited for treatment of low carbon ferromanganese under reducing condition rather than under oxidizing condition.
• A good testing laboratory for measurement of magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials had been established at the National Research & Technology Consortium (NRTC), Parwanoo, HP. Indigenously designed hydrogen-annealing furnace for optimizing heat treatment process had been fabricated and commissioned (Figure 2.5). Permalloys of Ni-Fe with suitable composition of Mo and Mn had been developed and their properties were comparable to imported materials. The technology was now available to the industry for development of component for audio recording applications (Figure 2.6 & Figure 2.7).

Figure 2.4 Calcined Pellets of BaO-Ba F2- MnO based Flux for Dephosphorization of High Carbon Liquid Ferromanganese	Figure 2.5 Indigenously Designed and Fabricated Computer Controlled Laboratory Scale Hydrogen Annealing Furnace
Figure 2.6 (a) Permalloy Audio Head Case; (b) Permalloy Audio Head Cores; (c) Permalloy Audio Head Shield Plates; (d) Complete Audio Head	Figure 2.7 Annealed Permalloy Ring Torroids of Different Sizes

• A model had been developed at IIT, Kanpur to describe the cavity nucleation and growth process with reference to mesoscopic sliding along planar grain/ interphase boundaries that controlled the rate of super-plastic flow.
• Detailed studies on synthesis and characterization of mesoporous materials using inorganic templates were under progress at IIT, Kharagpur. A variety of mesoporous materials had been extensively characterized by XRD, TEM and SEM. Some of the synthesized materials had patent potential.
• A new process had been developed for making cost-effective and efficient copperbased brazing alloys for the substitution of high silver alloy for joining of ceramic to metal, metal to metal and ceramic-to-ceramic joints at NML, Jamshedpur for applications in electronics, aerospace, and automotive industries. The process developed had high patent potential.
• An Orientation Imaging Microscope Facility was being set up at IIT, Mumbai, to facilitate extensive studies on orientation and texture in materials, which had wide-ranging applications in various areas of science and engineering.

The PAC focused on research and technology as the twin pillars of strategy, and tried to create a productive and enriching environment to enable the country reach world-class tature in both. Disaster management, pollution mitigation, low-cost automation, performance-based road design, IT for urban application etc. were identified as challenging areas for support. The new projects initiated during the year were: two-dimensional mixing of pollutants in open channels; application of fractal dimension and AI techniques for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of industrial machines through tribo analysis of used oil; effect of cohesion on initiation of motion and transport of non-uniform sediments; the role of reduced iron in contaminant transport, transformation and degradation in engineered and natural subsurface environments; design options based on performance analysis of rural roads in Uttaranchal; dynamic response of the Human Head under impact loading by finite element method; performance evaluation and analytical modeling of ferro-cement skin elements under torsion; and centrifuge model studies on stabilization of slope with piles.

From the on-going projects, the following significant results were reported: -

• On the basis of the parametric studies on the Vertical Dynamics and Ride Analysis of three-wheeled Motor Vehicles, it was observed that the coupled vertical and lateral dynamic behaviour of vehicles could be improved to a certain extent by a combination of the proposed design recommendations in the vehicle and suspension parameters.
• Under the project, “Passive and Active Control of Vibration and Noise in Machines and Structures”, a unique measurement system had been built to measure damping properties of viscoelastic materials (VEM). A program to conduct Computer Aided Analysis of VEM damping treatments had been developed. Several algorithms to improve vibration
  design by passive control via Model Updating and Structural Modification of Machines had been developed. Noise control studies on plates employing sound intensity measurement techniques had been undertaken. Preliminary studies of active vibration control using shape memory alloys (SMA) and piezoelectric materials had been conducted.
• In project entitled “Development of Pneumatic Prime Mover for Small Vehicles” at IIT Delhi, a simulation model had been developed to design a thermodynamic cycle for the development of pneumatic prime mover. The results of the simulation model had been used to convert two old multi-cylinder engines into a pneumatic prime mover. The simulation model helped in the selection of inlet air pressure and valve timings of the prime mover. Two engines, namely, FIAT engine and Maruti Gypsy engine had been converted into pneumatic prime movers. The vehicle could run at a maximum speed of 40 km/hr and could run approximately 60 km between two fillings. The present survey showed that the pneumatic vehicles were useful in developing zero-emission vehicles in conferred areas and mines. These prime movers could also be used to develop Pneumatic Electric Generators in congested commercial complexes, trolleys, forklifts, etc.
• A low-cost stratified change two-stroke engine had been conceived and the concept engine had been demonstrated at IISc, Bangalore. The technology had been transferred to an automotive industry, where prototype development was going ahead as per plan.
• A project on condition monitoring was being system implemented jointly by IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, BHEL and CSIO Chandigarh for on-line monitoring of the health of the TG set of a thermal power plant. This included a vibration analysis based Condition Monitoring System having Online Expert System and Artificial Neural Network System that acquired and checked machine health by interpretation of measurement results. It had been developed and implemented on turbo generator set of Unit No. 1 at Shri Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant (GGSST), Ropar. In the absence of this system, it was only possible to follow a corrective or scheduled maintenance schedule. A predictive maintenance methodology could now be followed which would avoid catastrophic faults. This system was now in place in GGSST Power Plant, Ropar and had been working satisfactorily for more than a year. Power plant personnel had been trained in the use of these tools and a workshop to further educate the plant personnel as well as people in other plants was being planned in the near future.
• A facility for research in Technical Acoustics had resulted in initiation of new courses at IISc in the area of Acoustics. 23 industrial consultancies had been completed and 17 more were on hand. It had also resulted in 50 journal papers, conference proceedings, and reports during the duration of the project.

Four SERC schools had been planned on Natural Disaster Management, one for each geographical zone. These schools would be conducted in the next financial year. The SERC schools would have core component common for all zones and would also have some zone specific components.

Robotics and Manufacturing

As in the past, vigorous efforts were made in a proactive mode, which resulted in the sanction of thirty new projects, covering various frontier areas. Six of these projects were jointly supported by industry or other agencies. Some of the notable projects were Development and Performance Evaluation of Diamond Coated Carbide Tools for High Speed and Clean Machining; Design and Development of an Automatic Machine for Sharpening/ Resharpening of Cut, Torn and Curl (CTC) Tea Roller; Development of New Technology for One-off Intricate Castings; Manufacture of Wear Parts by Hot Consolidation of Mechanically Alloyed Copper-Iron Powders; Development of Process Technology and Manufacture of Austempered Ductile Iron Components for Engineering Applications; and, Development of Non-conventional Method for Manufacturing of Light Engineering Components of Near Net Shape.

Progress made in ongoing and completed projects was regularly reviewed by PACs or Expert Groups. Significant outcome from these projects included the following:

• Shaped Tube Pulse Electrochemical Machining technique for drilling deep micro-holes in super-alloy material used for turbine blades, etc, had been developed at IIT, Kanpur. A machine, using this technology, was being developed by BHEL.
• A process, as well as material, for manufacture of ceramic based honeycomb structures was developed by ARCI, Hyderabad. Discussions were underway to use the technology for producing boots that could withstand blasts, during explosion while removing mines in battle field, etc.
• Geometric Modelling of Cutting Tools using reverse engineering approach was evolved by IIT, Kanpur, leading to development of a user-friendly menu-driven software for aligning with cutting tool design module in existing commercial CAD packages, for interfacing with other software modules. Standards agencies (like the National Institute of Standards and Testing, USA) showed interest in incorporating these codes as a part of the existing standards.
• An energy-efficient and environment-friendly Rotary Furnace was developed for use in the small scale foundries by the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra.
• An Electro-Spark Coating process, to enhance performance of twist drills, had been developed by ARCI, Hyderabad which showed improved life over other methods. A few industries came forward to use this technique and a patent was being filed for the same.

A SERC School on ‘Surface Engineering’ was organized at ARCI, Hyderabad during the year, which had good participation from various academic and research institutions and industry. A one-day workshop on ‘Robotics’ was organized jointly with Honda Motors Ltd, Japan, wherein activities of various Academic and Research Institutions and Industry in India were presented. Thrust areas requiring further initiatives in Robotics and related fields were also identified. Earth Sciences

The Programme Advisory Committee on Earth Sciences considered and recommended a number of proposals for support. It also discussed a number of policy issues for the overall promotion and growth of Earth Sciences. Among the sanctioned projects were:

• A study on biostratigraphic & palaeoenvironmental aspects of calcareous algae of the Cretaceous succession of Tiruchirapalli District, Tamilnadu.
• High resolution study of the Last Glacial Holocene Monsoon Variability in the Arabian Sea based on the Foraminiferal records of the Indian & Somali margins.
• Mesozoic mammalian faunal changes: the fossil record from India.
• Platinum Group Elements & associated sulphide mineralisation at Boula–Naushai Igneous Complex, Orissa.
• Modelling the distribution of rare earth, precious & trace elements in weathered equences (Bauxite deposits), Eastern India.
• Development of high strain zones in rocks: Experimental and theoretical investigations.
• Dissolution rates of lithologies from Alaknanda –Bhagirithi river basins: Implications for chemical weathering processes.

Considering the need for trained manpower in advanced areas of Earth Sciences, two Winter Schools on ‘Sedimentary Facies & Basin Analysis’ were organized during the year. Among the significant results reported from on-going and completed projects were the following:

• Soft sediment deformation structures had been observed in thirty-five levels in the laminated sediments and sands, separated by gravel, in the exposed palaeolake profile along 11 km stretch between Garbyang and Gunji in the Tethys zone of Kumaun, which, at present, lay in the seismically active sector of the Himalayan domain. The preserved signatures of the lacustrine sediments were believed to be representing the past seismic pulses. Some of the excellent examples of the structures are given in Figure 2.8 and Figure 2.9. The preliminary paleo-magnetic studies indicated five reversals in the profile. Radiocarbon dating had indicated the uppermost reversal to represent the recurrence of the Mono Lake excursion that had already been recorded from the lacustrine profiles of Kumaun Himalayas.

• The exposures of Siwalik sediments along Punjab re-entrant had been studied. The succession was dominated by sandstone-mudstone cycles in its lower part and conglomerate-sandstone-mudstone cycle in the upper part.
• With the objective of measuring the different litho-stratigraphic successions, litho- and bio-facies analysis, reproducibility of microbiota, and characterising the different morphotypes of stromatolites in the Eastern Kumaon Lesser Himalayas, field traverses had been undertaken along the following sections - Jhiroli magnesite section, Bageshwar– Utrora section, Jarmalgaon–Ghat section, Pithoragarh– Chandak section, Pithoragarh– Bans section, Gurna–Ghat section and Pithoragarh– Jhulaghat section.

Thin section analysis revealed the presence of chert nodules within dolomite and phosphatic lamina within stromatolites with well-preserved microbiota including cyanobacterial filaments, coccoides, acanthomorphic acritarchs and sponge spicules. The presence of cyanobacterial filaments, coccoides, acanthomorphic acritarchs and sponge spicules supported the younger age (Neoproterozoic) for the Gangolihat Dolomite.

• The area between Palar and Koratallaiyar river basin, lying along the western fringe of Chennai (79o.40’E 13o.00’N; 79o.40’E 13o 20’N: 80o20’E 13o 00’N: 80o20’E 13o20’N longitudes and latitudes) had been studied and the Quaternary Stratigraphy reconstructed.
• A novel approach involving the fusion of thermodynamics and geochemistry with fuzzy mathematics had been attempted to explain the phenomena of multiple clay mineral assemblages and their compositional vagueness and the diffuseness of their natural occurrences, thereby opening up a new field for studies of clay minerals, in particular, and mineralogy and geochemistry, in general.

Human Resource Development Programme in Earth System Sciences

The Department of Science and Technology, as a follow-up of the recommendation of the Standing Committee – ESS, had set up an Expert Committee on Human Resource Development in Earth Sciences. The Expert Committee finalised a report on the subject and it was planned to initiate a ‘Human Resource Development Programme in Earth System Sciences’ under the overall umbrella of the ESS Division.

The main thrust of this programme would be on developing manpower in Earth System Sciences (Earth, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences), which could meet the present and future needs of our country, by organising different kinds of multi-disciplinary and multiinstitutional activities in different parts of the country. The main aim would be to understand and approach the system using modern methods, tools and mathematical framework. Activities like Summer/ Winter School, Short–Term Training Programmes, Group Discussions (1 –10 days), Contact Programmes, and Advanced Lecture Circuits were being contemplated. The work for formulating the programme was started in the middle of October, 2003.

Atmospheric Sciences

The significant projects approved this year dealt with monitoring of detailed physical characteristics and temporal and spatial variability of aerosols using mobile Micro-Pulse LIDAR. Two projects were sanctioned to the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Andhra University, Visakhapatnam to undertake these measurements over the West and the East Coast of India. These studies were expected to contribute towards the understanding of aerosols characteristics over India and their influence on regional radiation disposition and their ultimate influence on climate.

Consequent to a Brain Storming Session organized on ‘Severe Local Storm’, it was proposed to start a pilot study on observational and modeling aspects of thunderstorms in the Eastern region. An Expert Committee has been constituted to draft a science plan for this pilot project named STORM (Severe Thunderstorm – Observational and Regional Modeling).

Two SERC Schools, one on ‘Mathematical Modeling of Air Pollution’ and, the other, on ‘Numerical Weather Prediction’, were organized during the year.

Mathematical Sciences

Support under the Mathematical Sciences Programme was being provided for (i) R&D projects, (ii) new initiatives mainly aimed at enhancing the scope of application of mathematical/ statistical tools/techniques in non-traditional areas, and (iii) manpower development in the thrust areas through training courses, instructional workshops, etc. The sanctioned projects were in the areas such as: Stochastic processes, Fuzziness, Graph Theory and Combinatorics, Celestial Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics/Mechanics, and various aspects of Algebra and Analysis.

Manpower development programmes were conducted in the areas like: Graph Energy, Social Network Analysis, Systems Theory and Cybernetics, Computational Algebraic Geometry, and Digital Image Processing.

The exercise for evolving programmes on applications of Mathematics and Statistics in other non-traditional fields continued with addition of Anthropology to the areas already under consideration, viz., Archaeology, Geography, Psychology, and Ecology. Presentations on conceptualized programmes in Archaeology, Geography and Psychology were made before PAC-MS during the year.

Deep Continental Studies

The Deep Continental Studies (DCS) Programme is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary Earth Science Research Programme aimed to develop understanding of the deep crustal configuration and related processes of the Indian Lithosphere. During the year, efforts were made to carry out integrated geological and geophysical studies along selected transects or study areas. Few geotransects across critical areas of tectonic significance were chosen for intensive studies. These transects are the NW Rajasthan Shield, Nagaur-Jhalawar Transect, Central Indian Craton, South Granulite Terrain and NW Himalayan Geotransect (HIMPROBE).

Some of the new projects sanctioned were on:

• Ultra-High Pressure metamorphism in Tso-Morari region.
• Petrological, geochemical and isotopic evolution of the lower crust and mantle of the Eastern Dharwar Craton.
• Geophysical studies in North Eastern Indian region by using magnetotelluric techniques.
• Structure and evolution of the South Indian Craton & mobile belts from deep seismic profiling and other geophysical studies.

The significant results reported from various ongoing programmes were as follows:

Himprobe Transect

The Northwest Himalayan region provides unique coverage of almost all tectonic units from the Indo-Gangetic Plains to the loftiest Ladakh and Karakoram ranges. The HIMPROBE programme was launched to investigate the geodynamic processes in the youngest mountain belt across the Himalayas in a 100km wide corridor along Hoshiarpur Mandi-Leh-Karakoram Transect (Figure 2.10). Figure 2.10: Simplified tectonic framework of the western Himalaya 1: KBC-Karakoram Batholith Complex. 2: (a) SSZ-Shyok Suture Zone, (b) LBC-Ladakh Batholith Complex, (c) ITSZ-Indus/Tsangpo Suture Zone. 3: (a) TMC-Tso-Morari Crystallines, (b) TSZ-Tethyan Sedimentary Zone, (c) HMB-Himalayan Metamorphic Belt of the Proterozoic remobilized basement and the Lesser Himalayan ca. 500 Ma granitoid belt (cl) and Cenozoic leucogranite (c2), (d) LHSZ-Lesser Himalayan Sedimentary Zone, (e) SH-Sub-Himalayan Cenozoic sedimentary foreland. Other abbreviations: MBT-Main Boundary Thrust. MCT-Main Central Thrust. JT-Jutogh Thrust. MF-Martoli Fault. ZSZ-Zanskar Shear Zone. K-Karcham. K-Kishtwar. M-Mandi. Sa-Sangla. S-Shimla. UK-Uttarkashi. G-Gangotri. DD-Dehra Dun.

Multi-disciplinary geological/geochemical and geophysical investigations were carried out by various agencies to delineate structure and tectonics of NW Himalayas. These studies included P-T constraints of Karakoram metamorphic belt, Rb-Sr biotite ages, Nd-, Srisotopic and geochemical constraints and geophysical investigations including gravity, magnetic and long period magnetotelluric studies.

In order to collate and integrate various achievements under the above transect, a Workshop on Himalayan Tectonics (HIMPROBE) was organized at the Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee during October 16-17, 2003. About 30 presentations were made on various aspects of these studies.

Several significant achievements were made in the HIMPROBE programme. For example, Gravity Data Inversion Schemes for delineation of crustal structures, using global optimization techniques, viz., simulated annealing (SA) and genetic algorithm (GA), had been developed. Application of SA was demonstrated by inverting the gravity data over 600km long Udipi- Kavali profile of Peninsular India. On the other hand, GA was used to invert the gravity data over Nagaur-Jhalawar geotransect across the Aravalli Mountain.

Database Management System for the Precambrian Ore Deposits of India- A Web ready GIS Approach

The project was initiated to (i) build a database of information about Precambrian Ore Deposits in India and their geological context and (ii) provide public access to a digital database with maps, photographs, graphs and data with possibility of retrieving information.

Four hundred and eight ore deposits/occurrences had been located on the combined crustal domain cum tectonic map. The different metal associations had been distinguished by using different colours and different symbols .

Detailed geological maps for different cratons such as Dharwar, Singhbhum, Central, Aravalli, Bundelkhand, NE Himalayas and Western Himalayas had been prepared. Database management system for the Northwestern Indian Shield and the Dharwar Craton had also been developed. Shown below is the Dharwar geology with all the gold occurrences as an example:

Studies on the origin of the Cardamom hills Charnockite massif

The Cardamom hill charnockite massif, located in the central part of the Southern Indian granulite belt, has remained as one of the least studied sections. Field studies were carried out to document a variety of rock types in the Cardamom massif. All charnockite variants and representatives of mafic granulites, metapelites and granite had been collected. Most significant among the observations was the evidence for polyphased nature of the Cardamom massif and occurrence of arrested charnockite.

Contact Programmes were organized on “Application of Anisotropic Magnetic Susceptibility in Structural Geology/Tectonic Investigations” and “Palaeomagnetic and Rock Magnetic Research”.

A National Facility on “Isotope Geology and Geochronology” was established at Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. It is fully functional and operational and would cater to the needs of geoscientists.

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