Science Vision

58-63

Authors: L.Z. Chhangte, P.C. Rohmingliana, B.K. Sahoo, B.K. Sapra, Vanramlawma, Hmingchungnunga, Remlalsiama, Z. Pachuau, B. Zoliana

Indoor radon and thoron concentrations have been measured using solid state nuclear track detector (LR-115 type-ІІ) based twin cup dosimeter with single and double entry deployed side by side. The measurements have been carried out in 50 dwellings of 8 different villages/towns situated in Saiha and Lawngtlai districts, Mizoram. Dwellings were selected primarily from the gamma level measured using Micro-R survey meter and the construction type of the building. The average concentrations of radon and thoron were found to be 75.76 Bq/m3 and 96.50 Bq/m3 for single entry dosimeter and 63.47 Bq/m3 and 19.79 Bq/m3 for double entry dosimeter. The single entry dosimeter was found to give more reliable observations than that of double entry in terms of trends of seasonal data and also on the theory behind the manufacturing qualities.

70-73

Authors: C. Vanlalveni, R. Lalfakzuala

For sustainability in agricultural productions, familiarity of soil quality and manual improvement to create the best possible growing environment for plants are extremely important. In this study the quality of soil of a paddy field in North Vanlaiphai was investigated with respect to the change in seasons throughout the year. A total of five (5) soil samples were selected from various places of the paddy field, and soil fertility indicators such as pH, total soil nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (Pav), exchangeable potassium (Kex), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic matter (SOM) and soil enzymes viz. dehydrogenase, phosphatase and urease were analyzed using standard protocols. All the parameters except available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were found to be highest during rainy season whereas lowest in summer.

78-80

Authors: L. Sailo, L. Chhangte, R. Aineh, H. Lalthanzara

In this paper we report the first confirmed sighting of chestnut-flanked white-eye Zosterops erythropleurus (Swinhoe, 1863) from Mizoram and first photographic report from India. chestnut-flanked white-eye belongs to the family Zosteropidae and is a resident of Cambodia, China, Hongkong, Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. In the Indian Sub-continent this is the only sighting report for this species and details of sightings and habitat are discussed.

11-15

Authors: R. Kumar, A. Mourya

In this paper, we study some curvature problems of Ricci solitons in α-Kenmotsu manifold. It is shown that a symmetric parallel second order-covariant tensor in a α-Kenmotsu manifold is a constant multiple of the metric tensor. Using this result, it is shown that if (Lvg + 2S) is parallel where V is a given vector field, then the structure (g, V, λ) yield a Ricci soliton. Further, by virtue of this result, Ricci solitons for n-dimentional α-Kenmotsu manifolds are obtained. In the last section, we discuss Ricci soliton for 3-dimentional α-Kenmotsu manifolds.

22-31

Authors: K.K. Singh, K. Usha, B. M. Sharma

Biomass assessment of the macrophytic plant species were carried out at Poiroupat lake located in Imphal East district of Manipur. The present study reveals the presence of 30 aquatic macrophytes. The recorded aquatic macrophytes of the lake have been classified into four categories, viz. submerged (10%), rooted with floating leaves (16.7%), free floating (20%) and emergent (53.3%). In all the study sites, Ceratophyllum demersum recorded the maximum total biomass with values ranging from 24.52 (Site I) to 241.45 gm–2 (Site III). This was followed by Alternanthera philoxeroides with values ranging from 25.74 (Site II) to 139.77 gm–2 (Site II). This was successively followed by Utricularia flexuosa (14.12 to 110.45 gm–2), Ludwigia adscendens (14.09 to 89.32 gm–2), Nymphaea stellata (29.66 to 84.32 gm–2), Nelumbo nucifera (15.03 to 67.41 gm–2), Hydrilla verticillata (16.09 to 67.00 gm–2), Hygroryza aristata (30.95 to 62.52 gm–2), Ipomoea aquatica (4.54 to 58.31 gm–2), Nymphoides indicum (4.41 to 47.95 gm–2). Eichhornia crassipes recorded peak value of 26.54 gm–2. During the entire study period, the total biomass of all species (combined) ranged from 130.07 to 512.28 gm–2. The maximum biomass values were recorded during rainy season.

37-38

Authors: S. Lalronunga et al. (+11 authors)

We report the clutch size, egg morphometry and timing of oviposition in two snakes, Oligodon albocinctus and Hebius xenura based on specimens from Mizoram, northeast India.

197–203

Authors: C. Malsawmtluangi, B. Lalzamliana, Klaudi K. Vaiphei

Sundried and smoked vegetables constitute major parts of the Mizo cuisine. Heavy metals and pesticides can be present in vegetables and cause many diseases including cancer. The objective of this study is to determine the concentration of heavy metal and pesticide residues in commonly consumed sundried and smoked vegetables from Aizawl market. Since cancer is prevailing at a high rate in Mizoram, it also aims to study whether there is any link between cancer and these vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy and pesticide residues levels were analyzed using gas chromatography. This study reveals that the levels of heavy metals tested were within the permissible limits in all the vegetable samples, except for cadmium. Since cadmium exceeds the permissible limit, it can pose health risk for the consumers. The pesticide residues found in the tested samples were all within permissible limits. However, the amount and duration of consumption need to be considered as this can be a predisposing factor for cancer and other diseases.

217-221

Authors: Lalhruaitluangi, C. Khawlhring

The present experiment was carried out to standardize suitable drying techniques for hybrid tea rose variety ‘Valencia”. Two types of desiccants viz., silica gel and boric acid were used as embedding materials for drying, and the flowers were dried in hot air oven with different temperature and time combinations such as 40°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 45°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 50°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 55°C for 24 hours and 48 hours, 60°C for 24 hours and 48 hours. Different observations were taken such as fresh and dry weight of flowers and hence moisture loss percentage calculated, petal diameter before and after drying were taken and hence petal shrinkage was determined. Sensory evaluations such as flower colour, shape, texture and overall acceptability was also determined. Results show that maximum moisture loss percentage (86.44%) was obtained in flowers embedded with silica gel and dried at 60°C for 48 hours; largest difference between petal diameter of fresh and dry flowers, and also maximum petal shrinkage of 14.27% occurred in those embedded with silica gel and dried at 60°C for 48 hours, whereas best score in sensory evaluations in terms of flower colour, flower shape, flower texture and overall acceptability were obtained with rose flowers embedded in silica gel and drying at 50°C for 48 hours.

228-237

Authors: V. Ralte

Mining causes massive damage to landscape and biological components of an ecosystem. Due to extensive and unmanaged coal mining in the southern part of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Meghalaya, the area has been turned into degraded land since nutrient deficient sandy spoils are hostile for the growth and regeneration of plant communities. Soil is sandy to sandy loam and red, brown to dark brown in colour. The physico-chemical properties of the soil were greatly affected due to coal mining. There is an increased acidity i.e. from 6.00 in the undisturbed forest (control site) to 3.50 in the coal mine spoil since abandoned mine spoil discharge acidic water that are enriched with iron and other metals and metalloids. Apart from this, soil nutrients are greatly depleted. The core zone soils are rich in organic matter and nutrients whereas coalmine spoils show sign of degradation especially in the nutrient content.

250-259

Authors: K. Lalchhandama

Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the order Rickettsiales such as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia, and Orientia are the causative agents of infectious diseases collectively known as rickettsioses. Of the different rickettsial diseases, spotted fever and scrub typhus have ravaged India for the past couple of centuries. Specifically called the Indian tick typhus, spotted fever was discovered in India in the latter half of the 19th century. After several decades of dormancy, the disease re-emerged in several parts of India. Scrub typhus, originally discovered in Japan, has been recognised to be endemic to a so-called Tsutsugamushi Triangle, extending from Russian Far East and Korea in the north to northern Australia in the south and Afghanistan in the west, but the geographical description has now been breached. Not only in India, scrub typhus has emerged as the leading infectious disease in all endemic areas. Almost all Indian states have records of recurrent outbreaks. Infection can be of dire consequences, as multi-organ dysfunction and neurological disorder (meningocephalitis) are the common complications. This article discusses the historical background and scientific reports of rickettsioses in India.

128-147

Authors: B. Bharali, P. Borgohain, D. Bezbaruah, V. Vanthangliana, P. Protim Phukan, R. Rakshit

Tertiary sediments are thickly deposited in most part of the northeast India attaining a maximum thickness of ±7 km sedimentary succession. Surma basin located in the eastern proximity of India is also characterized by a thick sedimentary column which can be considered as the northeastern extension of Greater Bengal basin. This basin was initiated due to the mutual collision between Indian and Burmese Plate. Due to this collision, the bed rocks have undergone folding which are oriented N-S trending hill ranges. The basin was also cut by a number of parallel to sub-parallel transverse faults and thrusts. The litho association is consisting of sandstone, siltstone, shale and their various proportions. The present study focused on the provenance of the sediments, tectonic settings of the basin and various paleoclimatic conditions prevailing during the time of deposition by using petrography, granulometric and heavy mineral analysis of representative rock samples which were collected from various parts of Aizawl district of Mizoram belonging to the Upper Bhuban Formation. Based on the various proxies it was confirmed that the sediments were primarily derived from surrounding orogens and deposited in a shallow marine basin under the influence of fluvial-deltaic conditions which were basically sourced from felsic provenance. The sediments were moderately weathered under semi-humid to humid climatic condition before they deposited into Surma basin. Sandstones samples are litharenite and wacke type which were deposited in an active continental margin to recycled orogen settings.

160-162

Authors: D.C. Vanlalfakawma, F. Lalnunmawia, S.K. Sen, S.K. Tripathi

Bambusa tulda Roxb. is a semi-deciduous caespitose bamboo endemic to Indo-Burma. It is known as ‘rawṭhing’ in Mizoram, India, and its mass gregarious flowering is called ṭhingtâm. ‘Ṭhingtâm’ has a cycle of about 45-50 years. The first ṭhingtâm, recorded in the region was in 1880, which was preceded by mautâm (gregarious flowering of Melocanna baccifera) in 1862; i.e., the ṭhingtâm phenomenon occurred ~20 years after the Mautâm. The last ṭhingtâm was recorded in 1981. However, there has been a localised ṭhingtâm at Zawlnuam, a village at the northwestern Mizoram. The first flowering was recorded in 2015. This unusual phenomenon needs to be investigated.

172–181

Authors: H. Lalrinawmi, J.M.C. Vabeikhokhei, J. Zothanzama, Zohmangaiha

Twenty-seven (27) species of edible mushrooms growing in both soil and wood have been described here from Mizoram, India. All the species were identified based on their morphological, both macro- and microscopic characteristics. The study was carried out during July 2013 to October 2016. Wood inhabiting fungi viz. Schizophyllum commune (pasi), Lentinula lateritia (pa pal), Auricularia auricular-judae (Pu Vana beng), Lentinus tigrinus (pa hnahkhar), L. polychrous (pa chang/pa puanveng) and soil growing fungi viz., Lactifluus corrugis (pa uithin), Lactarius piperatus (pa lengvar), Macrolepiota dolichaula (pa se-ek), Russula subfragiliformis (pa lengsen), Termotomyces heimii (pa sawntlung), Volvariella taylorii (changel pa) are the edible species known to the local community. Other edible species yet unknown to the local community in Mizoram are also recorded viz., Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cornucopioides, Lycoperdon perlatum, Macrolepiota procera, Ramariopsis kunzei, Russula aurora, R. compacta, R. cyanoxantha, Lentinula edodes, Lentinus sajor-caju, Pleurotus ostreatus, P. djamor, Tremella fuciformis, T. mesenterica, Laetiporus suphureus and Fistulina hepatica.

61-68

Authors: L. Pautu, Zorammuana, P. Lalmalsawma, Zoramthara

Outbreaks of dengue disease have been reported from many parts of India including northeastern States. There were reports of dengue disease outbreaks from Moreh town in Manipur during 2007-2008 and from Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh during 2012 from northeast India. The first outbreak of dengue-like fever in Mizoram was reported on 30th August from Tuikual North ‘C’ Mual, Aizawl, followed by consecutive outbreaks at 10 localities between August and December 2016 within Aizawl city. In these localities, epidemiological and entomological studies were conducted to identify the disease and its vector. Blood serums were collected from the patients for the serological confirmation and Aedes mosquitoes (adults and larvae) were collected for vector identification and confirmation. There were 580 (NS1=384, IgM=196) patients confirmed with the disease from 11 localities in Aizawl and Ae. aegypti were identified as a potential vector species. There was no predilection towards sexes and all age group are affected with a median age 30. Parameters of entomological study revealed high density of vector mosquito in the study areas. Public health actions pertaining to the prevention and control of the disease were implemented. As dengue is included among the notifiable diseases in India, government authorities should strengthen manpower, case management and laboratory support, and regularly organizing interactive co-ordination meetings at all levels to sensitize public through IEC and awareness programmes as well as source reduction of Aedes mosquito breeding.

94-103

Authors: K. Lalchhandama

Three flukes, Schistosoma haematobium (urinary blood fluke), Clonorchis sinensis (Chinese liver fluke), and Opisthorchis viverrini (Southeast Asian liver fluke) are, by official decree, Group 1 (fully proven) human carcinogens. Thus, they comprise a group of preventable carcinogens. But considering the situation of prevailing infection, from the lifestyle and food habits of people in the endemic regions, it is unlikely that they are eradicated in the near future. S. haematobium is transmitted by snails and infection is acquired from snail-infested water. C. sinensis and O. viverrini are both transmitted from eating fish. As medically important flukes, it is crucial to understand their biology, and this is an attempt to explain that in the light of the history of their discovery. Further, this is written with a hope that several facts, often erroneously presented in scientific literature, about these flukes are rectified.