Volume 12, Issue 1, 2012 January-March


Volume 12, No 1 Pages:
2012 January-March Articles: 6

The next best dark lady of science

Pardon me. I look as if I am making tangible grading of scientists. Au contraire it’s just a revelation of my ignorance. Read on. To resume from our last stop of the editorial, the genre pervades, as I read Krauss’ new book (opening quote). I cannot help but wonder why this other woman is so obscure, nay, hidden from the league of extraordinary science celebrities. Of course if you think that Big Bang is a cheap ideology of some zealots, or just so story at best. There is absolutely nothing to be excited about. But then general opinion would be divided on the subject and you would certainly end up with a minority.


Conservation of Reiek Tlang: a brief assessment of the adverse effect of vehicles and a plea for its cessation

In Mizoram, slightly west of Aizawl, lies a magnificent ridge known as Reiek Tlang. In a state where, according to the Environment and Forest Department, 87.42% is covered with forest, the ridge is uncharacteristic. It hosts splendid meadow-like vegetation in an otherwise rugged, mountainous region. The thin soil on the ridge-top, a nutrient rich silt loam, forms a skin that envelopes the bedrock and provides sustenance for the tall grass as well as for other vegetation. The absence of tall trees enables one to view the steep cliffs to the east that overlook thick forest while a gentle rolling valley to the north is also in clear sight. As a result, Reiek Tlang is frequented by visitors from all over Mizoram and beyond. Its close proximity to the state’s capital, Aizawl also makes it a popular destination. Unfortunately, its lure is also degrading its beauty as vehicles plying on this slope are thinning the soil and removing the skin off the ridge.


Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract of root bark of Hiptage benghalensis (L.) Kurz

Extraction of the root bark of Hiptage benghalensis was done with Soxhlet apparatus using methanol by hot continuous extraction for 35 hrs. The extract was concentrated and dried using rotary vacuum evaporator and the extracts were used for testing the phytochemical content. The preliminary phytochemical group test revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins and reducing sugars.


Surface state photocurrent calculations in magnetic solids

Several models have been used for the photoemission calculations from surfaces of magnetic solids like Fe, Ni, Co, Cr and W. We have used the Mathieu potential model which gives a qualitative characteristic of surface state photoemission by considering only the surface contribution from the existing bulk-band structure calculations.


On pseudo W ̃2 flat LP-Sasakian Manifold with a coefficient α

De, Shaikh and Sengupta introduced the notion of LP-Sasakian manifolds with coefficient α which generalized the notion of LP-Sasakian manifolds. Recently, Ikawa and his coauthors studied Sasakian manifolds with Lorentzian metric and obtained several results in this manifold. The object of the paper is to steady pseudo flat LP-Sasakian manifolds with coefficient α.


Heavy mineral analysis of Tipam sandstone near Buhchang village, Kolasib district, Mizoram, India

A thick succession of sedimentary rocks belonging to Tipam Group is well exposed all along the road cut sections near Buhchang village, Kolasib district, Mizoram. The heavy mineral suite of the Tipam sediments depicts a cosmopolitan nature. It comprises dominantly of non-opaque variety that includes zircon, tourmaline, rutile, staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite, apatite, epidote, garnet and hornblende. Iron oxide such as magnetite and heamatite constitute the bulk opaque variety. The Tipam sandstone has a complex provenance comprising of high grade metamorphic source as well as igneous and sedimentary sources. Further, it can be suggested that the high grade metamorphic source predominates over the other two sources with a relatively short transportation.


Genome characterization of banana genetic resources of Mizoram, India

Mizoram is located in the region considered as the origin of edible bananas and plantains. Various wild and edible banana and plantains are found in the state that have to be characterized systematically. Fourteen (14) varieties of banana were collected in Mizoram and characterized using morphological parameters. 10 varieties were identified under Musa paradisiaca, 1 under M. acuminata and 1 under M. balbisiana. In addition, 2 other varieties were identified as Ensete glaucum and M. ornata respectively. Based on the morphological scores, the genome groups of 12 varieties belonging to Eumusa section were established under AB, AAB, ABB, AAA, BB and ABBB groups. The findings of this study will provide useful information on the status of the banana genetic resources of Mizoram and formulation of their conservation strategies.