ODI
SHABI
GYANACADEMY
3
RDYEAR
7
T
HI
SSUE
J
UL
Y
,
2
0
1
3
OB ITU ARY
Prof. (Dr.) Gokulananda Mahapatra, an eminent Chemist of Odisha and Former
Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry, Ravenshaw College, Cuttack
let for his heavenly abode on 10.07.2013 i.e. the day of Car festival. He was 92.
Prof. Mahapatra, a human being of precious values, a teacher extraordinaire
and a scientist par excellence will be remembered ever as the pioneer in
popularising science among common people through his brilliant writings and talks
in odia language. He has been decorated with a number of Awards and Accolades
for his outstanding contribution to Science. Some of them are: Cooper Gold Medal
of Institution of Chemists (India), Kolkata, Odisha Sahitya Academy Award and
Felicitation; Sarala Puraskar; Prana Krushna Parija Bigyan Sahitya Samman of Utkal
Sahitya Samaj, Cuttack; Felicitation by Odisha Bigyan Academy, Bhubaneswar as
Senior Scientist and the coveted "Kalinga Samman" for Popularization of Science by
Kalinga Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswar.
His demise is a great loss to our state and country. On the departure of this
great soul, Odisha Bigyan Academy prays the Almighty to provide eternal peace to
the departed soul and expresses heartfelt condolences to the members of the
bereaved family.
Odisha Bigyan Academy, Bhubaeswar
Science Horizon
3RD YEAR
7TH ISSUE
JULY,2013
President, Odisha Bigyan Academy
Prof. (Dr) Uma Charan Mohanty
Editor
Prof. (Dr) Sodananda Torasia
Editorial Board
Language Expert
Prof. (Dr) D. K. Ray
Dr Pramod Kumar Mahapatra
Dr Ramesh Chandra Parida
Dr Nityananda Swain
Dr Prahallad Chandra Nayak
Managing Editor
Dr Rekha Das
Secretary, Odisha Bigyan Academy
Dr Bhabendra Kumar Patnaik
Prof. (Er) P.C. Patnaik
CONTENTS
Subject
Author
Editorial : Public Communication of
Science and Technology (PCST)
Sodananda Torasia
2
2.
Biofertilizers
Basanta Kumar Choudhury
3
3.
Bio-Energy for Mitigating Future Energy Crisis
Bishnu Prasad Behera
6
4.
Power Plastics - A Gift of Konark Technology
S. Acharya
10
5.
Water Stress
Kamalakanta Jena
12
6.
Mango 'The King of Fruits'
Chitrotpala Devadarshini
Birendra K. Prusty
14
7.
Penguin : King of Antarctica
Manoj Kumar Mohapatra
18
8.
Flying Cat
Murari Mohan Dash
19
9.
Genetically Modified Bananas
Dwijesh Kumar Panda
21
10. Prickly Pear : Nutritional and Medicinal Values
Ramesh Chandra Parida
Pranab Kumar Ghosh
24
11. Protein that Kick-Starts Life
Ramesh Chandra Parida
27
12. Death of the Baby Inside Mother's Uterus
Kalyani Dash
28
13. Parental Care in Animals
Rekha Das
31
14. Fascinating Amicable Numbers
Mayadhar Swain
37
15. Faces of Climate Change
Nikunja Bihari Sahu
41
16. Quiz on Computers
Lingaraj Nayak
43
17. 5W'S+H : Bones
Nityananda Swain
45
1.
The Cover Page depicts :
Page
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; Kalinga Laureates, who are also Nobel Laureates
and Kalinga Laureates from India.
Cover Design : Sanatan Rout
EDITORIAL
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (PCST)
Man by nature, instinct and habit is a keen
observer. It is this ability which developed in him both
superstition and scientific temper. The two depended
on the existing knowledge based traditions, culture and
faith. However, the sharp sense of the questioning mind,
intelligent inter pretation and the impact of
contemporary philosophy, sowed the seeds and
established schools of thought, which led to Science
and scientific reasoning. The growth and development
of Science coupled with advances in Technology during
the last few hundred years contributed to the socioeconomic development of the countries throughout the
world, though in varying degrees. With change of times,
and the maximum benefit from science it was felt that
science should be taken to the common man in order
to remove superstition from their minds and develop
in them scientific temper. Thus popularization of
science started with the publication of articles & books
and talks by scientists and eminent speakers.
In post independence India these activities got
a boost from Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime
Minister of India, a great visionary and an exponent of
science. In 1951, another visionary and legendary
statesman of Odisha, India, Shri Biju Patnaik, founded
the Kalinga Foundation Trust and instituted the Kalinga
Prize for popularization of science to be awarded
through UNESCO. Among the sixty six UNESCO
Kalinga Laureates there are seven Nobel Laureates,
and five from India. The Trust has instituted the
KALINGA SAMMAN for popularization of science
in Odia since 2012. Popularization of Science is
synonymous with Public Communication of Science
and Technology. Realizing its importance way back in
1976, the constitution of India had been amended with
the new article 51-A (h) which reads: "It shall be the
duty of every citizen of India) to develop scientific
temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform."
At the national level, the Department of Science and
Technology has been undertaking a wide range of
activities in this regard through the National Council
of Science and Technology Communication, State
Councils of Science & Technology of different States
an UTs. DST have instituted several awards, in different
categories, for popularization of science, which are being
awarded every year on the National Science Day.
Public Communication of Science & Technology
is important for the economic and social well being of
the society and for exercise of participatory democracy.
Rea lizing the impor tance, ou r leaders ha ve
incorporated this in the S&T Policy 2003, an excerpt
of which is quoted below:
"To ensure that the message of science reaches
every citizen of India, man and woman young and old
and make it possible for all our people to participate
fully in the development of Science and Technology
and its application for human welfare."
At the global level, an International Network
of Public Communication of Science and Technology
(PCST) came into existence with its first International
meeting on Public Science Communication in Poitiers,
France in theYear 1989. PCST aims at fostering public
communication of science and technology; encouraging
discussion of practices, methods, ethical issues, policies,
conceptual frameworks , economic and socia l
concerns, and other related issues. It has more than
50 representatives from various organizations of
different countries from across the globe. The biannual
conferences are organized in different countries. The
places are Poitiers, Madrid, Montreal, Melbourne,
Berlin, Geneva, Cape Town, Barcelona, Beijing, Seoul,
Oresund, New Delhi and Florence. India hosted the
11th International Conference on PCST, organized in
New Delhi (June 06-10, 2010). While the Theme of
the Main Confer ence focused on Science
Communication without Frontiers the Preconference
seminar incor por ated 10th. India n Science
Communication Congress and the Post conference
workshop deliberated on Bringing Scientists & Media
together for Better Science Communication. The main
conference was inaugurated by Honb'le Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kala m, a grea t scientis t and science
communicator and former President of India. There
were fivesubthemes with a number of parallel sessions
in which detail deliberations were held.
PCST is no more confined to communicating
science in a popular way. It has developed into a
regular subject taught in a department of an academic
institution which offers certificates/ degrees/ diplomas.
The offer of fellowships trans cends na tiona l
boundaries. A large no. of national and International
conferences, covering differ ent issues, is being
organized across the globe with wide participation.
The mass media, especially television, have a
special role to play in the whole area of popularization.
They have become an extremely important means of
communication and of influencing public opinion. At
the same time, their potential impact can be a source
of problems and difficulties, and the responsibility of
the mass media, especially the electronic media, is
indeed huge. Any error in the interpretation of data or
method of communicating scientific knowledge may
cause a great loss to the community.
Sodananda Torasia
JULY, 2013
BIOFERTILIZERS
Basanta KumarChoudhury
Fertilizers are used as the major inputs
to increase the crop production. The common
se lf suf fi ci en t in che mica l fe rt ili ze r
practice throughout the world is the use of
chemical fertilizers like compounds of
do not release, the expected amount of crops
nitrogen, phosphate and potassium etc. As a
can the Government provide them freely the
result, the consumption of these inorganic
fertilizers, which was approximately 0.05
required amount of chemical fertilizer. Hence,
million tones in 1951, has now crossed 10
million tones. The manufacture of these
of using biofertilizer. The term 'biofertilizers'
chemical are very costly and depends on the
origin for plant growth. These are the organic
nonrenewable fossil fuels. Nitrogen fertilizers,
for examp le, produced in industry by
substances either extracted from microbes
Haber-Bosch process consume nearly 13,500
be in combinations) or developed from
kcal/kg of nitrogen fixed. Also, the chemical
fertilizers pollute land and contribute to many
disintegration of different living organisms or
hazardous effect, to the aquatic ecosystems
by causing eutrophication and biological
microo rganisms. Biofer tilizers in clude
magnification. Hence, the need of the hour is
to develop new methods that could be practiced
nitrogen fixers (iii) Blue green algae (BGA),
to enhance food grain production. To this, one
of the answers is to accept and adopt
biofertilizers.
Biofertilizers are the formulations of
production. It is well known that our farmers
from their fields. They can neither afford nor
only alternative left is to undertake the practice
denote all the nutrient inputs of biological
like bacteria, algae or fungi separately (may
this remarks due to the intervention of the
(i) Symbiotic nitrogen fixers, (ii) Nonsymbiotic
(i v) Pho sp ha te sol ub il iz in g ba ct er ia ,
(v) Mycorrhizae, (vi) Organic fertilizers. This
indicates that first three includes nitrogen
fixers and latter three may be nitrogen fixesser,
phosphate fixers and the third, a combination
li vi ng org an is ms - par ti cu la rl y th e
of all the types.
combinations of microbes and plant systems.
These can definitely supplementing the
(i)
Nitrogen fixers :
Nit ro ge n is the mo st es se nt ia l
availability of the scarce resources of chemical
fe rti li ze rs an d als o en ri ch th e so ils .
macroelement for proper healthy crop. The
Biofertilizers have given hope to many
consumption of nitrogen fertilizers in India is
countries. There use is economical and
ecofriendly again, countries like India and not
more than its production. The increasing
Science Horizon
demand has necessitated import of nitrogen
3
JULY, 2013
containing fertilizers from other countries
ass oc ia ti on , Ana ba en a - Az ol la and
cultivation of green manure producing crops,
Cyanobacteria - rice systems. Rhizobium -
especially the pulses, rotation of crops like
legume association occurs in form of root
cultivation of pulses after the cereals like rice
nudules. This group of nitrogen fixers have
and addition of crop residues to the fields for
be en div id ed int o th er e ca te go ri es .
enriching the soil we widely practised method
(1) Rhizobium type - includes fast growing
for a very longtime. These processes enrich
species (2) Bradyrhizobium type are slow
the soil naturally with nitrogenous substances.
growing straining (3) Azorhizobium types are
Most of the leguminous plants (that yiebl
combination of traints from Rhizobium and
pulses) with the help of symbiotic bacterium,
rhizobium spp. can fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Bradyrhizobium. All the stains of Rhizobium
Rhizobium forms nodules with the root
roots of the host plant but Azorhizobium
systems of the legumes. 7 species of Rhizobia
have been recognised in India. (Table given
produce nodules on the sleve s of
below). They take shelter with 7 different
60 kg/ha in legume pulses and legume oil
species of angiospermic plants and form
nodules in their root systems. The conversion
seed crops.
of invert free elemental atmospheric nitrogen
is a good source of nitrogen fertilizer
into nitrogenous compounds occur there.
particularly to the nice crops. Even heterocysts
and Bradyshizobium produce nodules on the
SesbaniaRhizobium inoculant, can add upto
Arabaena (BGA) - Azolla association
of free living BGA can fix significant amounts
Table
Name of the Plant
Rhizobium species
of free nitrogen. BGA systems fix 25 kg
1. Clover
R. trifolii
Nitrogen per hectare to the wetland rice soils.
2. Bean
R. phasedi
3. Lupinus
R. lupinii
4. Ornithopus
R. lupinii
5. Soybean
R. Soponicum
Association between centaciu spp. of
Cynobacteria and fungi in symbiosis (called
lichens) can also fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Licheus, generally grow in barrers, denuded
scarce habitats. Hence, nitrogen fixction under
6. Melilotus, Trigonella R. melilotii
those condition have good effects for the
7. Pea
plant life in their vicinity. This also helps the
R. leguminasarum
Agronomically, the most important
process of plant succession.
nitrogen fixing systems are Rhizobium -
Certain bacteria can fix nitrogen under
legume association, Frankia-woody plant
free conditions. For example, Azotobacter,
4
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
Azospirillum when applied to the rhizosphere,
Here, the nutrients absorbed from the
fix nitrogen and make it available to crop
soil by fungi are released to the host cells and
plants. Simultaneously, they contribute growth
in turn, the fungus takes its food requirements
promoting antibiotic substances helpful for
from the host plant. Nutrients like nitrogen,
the plants. Most efficient Azotobacter can fix
phosphorous, potassium, calcium, growth
upto 30 kg of nitrogen from 1000 kg of
promoters like cytokinins are provided to the
organic maller when applied to crop fields
plants by such associations.
saving upto 15 to 25 kg equivalent nitrogen
per hectare. Azospirillum, another bacterium
living freely in the farmyand manure lead
to saving of 15 to 25 kg equivalent of
nitrogen per hectare in crops like Sorghum
and other millets.
(i i) Phosphate fixers
Phosphates in soil occur in complex
In recent years, much stress is given to
the organic farming where the biofertilizers
used are safer being free of pesticides and
ecofriendly. The heterogenous organ ic
substances are subjected to degradation process
by microbes and simple organic products are
generated. These are used by the plants.
Re al is in g
th e
im po rt an ce
of
inorganic form. As such, it is not assimilable
biofertilizers for supplementing the use of
by the plants. But it is an important input for
chemical fertilizers, the Govt. of India has
plant growth. There are certain phosphate
started a national chemical project. Efforts
solubilizing bacteria like Thiobacillus and
are being made to exploit the full potency of
Bacillus. These can convert nanoavailable
Rhizobium and BGA in combination with
inorganic phosphates to soluble organic ones
Azolla. Although good results have been
and then, easily utilized by plants.
ac hi ev ed by the se le ct ion of sta in s,
(i ii) Phosphate - nitrogen and other
improvement of culturing and processing
growth promoters
There are certain plant gr owth
promoting Rhizobacteria which can kill
microorganisms harmful to the crop plants
and thus, help plants in the area to grow
luxuriantly. The symbiotic association
between root systems of plants and soil
inhabiliting fungi is called mycorshiza.
Science Horizon
procedures. Much work is needed to be done
uigenetic engineering aspects to improve the
yield of biofertilizers. More is to explored
and understood on the venome map and foreign
gen e introduction aspect to boost the
production of biofertilizers.

Sidhi, 24/732, Shree Vihar, Post-Patia, Bhubaneswar-751024
Mob. - 9337107299
E-mail - [email protected]
5
JULY, 2013
BIO-ENERGY FOR MITIGATING FUTURE ENERGY CRISIS
Bishnu Prasad Behera
Introduction
by a low efficiency and a low quality of life
Energy is the prime mover of economic
due to drudgery associated with its gathering
growth, and is vital to the sustenance of a
and use. Bio-energy is a form of renewable
modern economy. Future economic growth
energy because the energy contained in
crucially depends on the long term availability
biomass is energy from the sun captured
of energy from sources that are affordable,
through natural processes of photosynthesis,
accessible and environmentally friendly.
and so long as the quantity of biomass used is
Energy problem is not only specific to India,
equal to or less than the amount that can be
but it is of global concern. Erratic petroleum
re -gro wn , it is pote nt ia ll y re ne wa bl e
prices, security concerns related to import of
indefinitely. Bio-energy includes power and
oil, climate change, impacts of burning fossil
fuels derived from biomass. Bio-power, for
fuels and increasing energy demand to meet
example, is electricity generated from
population and industrial growth have renewed
combustion of biomass. Heat and steam, or a
interest in producing alternative sources of
combination of both, may also be produced
energy including bio, wind and solar energy.
through combustion of biomass, and may be
Bio-energy concept
produced in co-generation with electricity.
For most of the world's people, biomass
is the single most important source of energy.
Developing countries as a whole derive 35%
of their energy from biomass. About two third
Bio-fuel is a term commonly referring to
biomass-derived liquid fuels and gases most
typically used in transportation.
Sources of bio-energy
of the earth's population are virtually dependent
The majority of biomass for bio-energy
on biomass for their cooking and heating and
comes from three sources such as forests,
most of these people live in rural area. Bio-
agriculture and waste. The main biomass
mass energy or bio-energy is a form of
sources are as follows
renewable energy, which comes from materials
derived from recently living organisms
including plants, animals and their by products.
i)
Wood, saw dust
ii)
Agricultural residues like rice husk,
Biomass energy includes energy from all plant
bagasse, groundnut shells, coffee husk,
matter like tree, shrub, crop animal, municipal
straws, coconut shells, coconut husk,
and industrial wastes. It is also characterized
arhar stalks, jute sticks etc.
6
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
iii) Aquatic and marine biomass like algae,
tuberosum, andMeliotus alba etc., specifically
water hyacinth, aquatic weeds, and plants,
for bio-energy production, collected after
harvest of crops grown for food and feed. Bioenergy crops are sugar cane and sweet
sea grass beds, kelp, coral reef etc.
iv)
Wastes like municipal solid waste,
municipal sewage sludge, animal waste
and industrial waste
Forest based bio-mass includes stem
wood, tops and branches of harvested trees
and under storey trees. Agriculture based biomass includes crops grown (Fig.1) like Zea
mays, Sorghum sudanense, Sweet lupin,
Barley, Silphium perfoliatum, Helianthus
sorghum as well as perennial herbaceous and
woody crops grown for their cellulose.
Grasses like switch grass and woody plants
like hybrid poplar, sycamore, alder, eucalyptus
are very common. Waste based bio mass
includes organic materials left over from
industrial processes such as mill and pulp
pr od uc ti on , muni ci pa l so li d wa st es ,
construction wastes and landfill gas. Bio-mass
from alga-culture involves production of
micro-algae organisms from seaweeds and
ma rin e al ga e, whi ch are cap ab le of
photosynthesis.
Bio-mass characteristics
The main constituents of any bio-mass
material are (i) lignin, (ii) hemi-cellulose,
(iii) cellulose, (iv) mineral matter and (v) ash.
Wood is a solid lingo-cellulosic material
naturally produced in trees and some shrubs,
Fig. 1 : Photographs of some bio energy crops
made up of 40-50% cellulose, 20-30% hemicellulose and 20-30% lignin. The percentage
Table.1. Bio-chemical composition of cellulosic bio-mass (percentage dry basis)
Feed stock
Bagasse
Corn cabs
Wheat straw
Short rotation woody crops
Herbaceous energy crops
Waste paper
Science Horizon
Cellulose
35
32
38
50
45
76
Hemi-cellulose
25
44
36
23
30
13
Lignin
20
13
16
22
15
11
Others
20
11
10
5
10
0
7
JULY, 2013
of the above components of bio-mass varies
Biomass conversion into energy
from species to species. Evaluation of bio-
To make use the energy available in
mass resources as potential energy feed stocks
biomass, it is necessary to utilize technology
generally requires information about their
to either release the energy directly, as in
composition, heating value, production yields
burning of bio-mass materials for heat, to
and bulk density.
transform it into other forms such as solid or
Bio-mass can also be considered a form
of solar energy as the later is used indirectly
liquid fuel. There are three types of
to grow these plants by photosynthesis. Bio-
These are thermal, chemical and bio-chemical
fuel (Fig.2) is used over 85% of rural
households and in about 15% urban dwellings.
for specific biomass types and specific
Agriculture products rich in starch and sugar
like wheat, maize, and sugarcane can be
fermented to produce ethanol (C2H 5OH).
Methanol (CH 3OH) is also produced by
conversion technologies currently available.
energy products.
(i)
Th ermal co nver sion : co mbus tion ,
pyrolysis and gasification
(ii) Chemical conversion: use of chemical
agents to convert biomass into liquid fuels
distillation of bio-mass that contains cellulose
like wood and bagasse. Both these alcohols
(iii) Biochemical conversion: use of enzymes
can be used to fuel vehicles and can be mixed
of bacteria and other micro-organisms
with diesel to make biodiesel.
to break down biomass through process
of anaerobic digestion, fermentation and
composting
Development of bio-energy
In India, nearly 25%of its primary energy
comes from biomass resources, and close to
70% of rural population depend on biomass to
meet their daily energy needs. The MNRE
(Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
recognizes the potential of bio-energy
technologies (BETs). But the spread of BETs
is low due to institutional, technical,
informational, market and financial barriers.
Fig.2. Cellulosic biofuels and the carbon cycle
8
Some of the technologies are bio-mass
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
gasification, bio-mass combustion, bio-gas,
by agricultural intensification on marginal or
efficient cook stoves and bio-fuels. Bio-energy
degraded lands, as well as conversion of natural
seems to be a potential stimulus for economic
areas to energy cropping are major demerits.
development, particularly in rural areas, when
Depending on which crops are produced, bio-
energy security, energy independence and
energy developments can lead to deforestation,
climatic impacts associated with use of non-
bio-diversity loss, soil erosion, excessive water
renewable energy resources are considered.
use, land use conflicts and food shortages.
Today, nearly all ethanol production in the
US utilizes corn grain in fermentation
Conclusion
process. Ongoing bio-energy development is
In ord er to ac hi ev e lo ng ter m
focused primarily on advanced bio fuels and
sustainability, bio energy must be supported
bio-power projects, driven by policy at
by a thriving energy market, which rewards
national and state levels.
low carbon fuels, not aiming through
Potential benefits of bio energy
agricultural subsidies. Furthermore, research
The use of biomass in the production of
is needed to identify the most suitable bio-
electric power, steam, liquid and gas fuels has
energy sources, its management and processing
the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse
techniques. By using modern and effective
gas emissions, associated with global climate
technologies, biomass can offer a source of
change. CO2 is removed from the atmosphere
clean energy that can gradually replace coal
or sequestered, when it is absorbed by plants
and other fossil fuels, bringing environmental
in the process of photosynthesis. When
benefits, supporting rural development and
biomass is used to produce bio-energy, the
creating new employment opportunities.
amount of CO2 that is released in the process
is potentially sequestered with the growing
References:
1.
Bio-energy in India-Barriers and Policy Supports by
D. Ravindranath and S.S. Nagesh Rao (UNDP)
2.
Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Sources by
G.N. Tiwari and M.K.Ghosal, Narosa Publ., New
Delhi
3.
Non-Conventional Energy Sources and Utilization
by R.K.Rajput, S.Chand & Company, New Delhi-55.
4.
Bio-energy images, www.google.com
new plants. Agriculture and forest's role in
providing bio-mass for bio-energy must be
balanced with their roles in the overall global
carbon balance.
Disadvantages of bio-energy
Air pollution and production of green
house gases by combustion, unsustainable
impacts on soil and water resources, induced
Science Horizon

Associate Professor, Dept. of Agril. Structures,
Civil & Environmental Engineering, CAET, OUAT,
Bhubaneswar-751003
9
JULY, 2013
POWER PLASTICS - A GIFT OF KONARK TECHNOLOGY
S. Acharya
Introduction
The Konark temple of Odisha is the
pinnacle of Hindu architecture and a priceless
gem of Odisha's art. It was constructed from
oxidized and weathered ferruginous sandstone
by KingNarasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga
Dynasty. The name Konark is derived from the
Sanskrit word 'Kona'(meaning angle) and word
Arka (meaning sun) in reference to the temple
which was dedicated to the Sun God, Surya
who is the source of enormous energy of the
earth. The temple displays a chariot of the sun
with 7 horses, which represent seven days of
the week and 12 pairs of the wheels, one hour
for each month of the year. The engineering
wonder of one of the finest monuments of the
religious architecture has attracted the
scientists and art lovers throughout the world.
The scientists have tried to prove the real
relationship between the mythology and
science. They prove their innovativeness by
storing the solar energy which can solve the
future energy crises.
New Material
In recent times the name "Konark" has
become more popular throughout the world by
one of the Odisha born and internationally
famous material scientist, Late Dr. Sukanta K
Tripathy. He and his team of scientists have
started "Konark Technology" on 2001 at
UMASS Lowell led by Dr. Tripathy for using
10
the PV technology
(photovoltaic
technology) to produce new materials,
known as "power plastics". Since then the
Konark Technology has grown up rapidly. In
the year, 2008. Konark introduced power
plastics to the commercial market.
Power plastic is a thin film of semitransparent, light weight organic photovoltaic
material that offers versatility and goes well
beyond the traditional solar cell. As the power
plastics have light weight, colour attribution,
transparency, flexibility and reflection in the
IR band they can be applied in many ways using
the photovoltaic techniques. Photovoltaic
technology consists of cells which contain
different layers of semiconducting materials
that convert solar energy to electricity. When
light falls on the layers it creates an electric
field across the layers which cause the
electricity to flow. The intensity of the light
determines the amount of electrical power,
each cell generates. Konarka used the
photoreactive materials made from the
conductive polymers and organic nanoengineered materials. These materials can be
printed or coated on to the flexible plastic
using an energy efficient manufacturing
process to produce different power plastics
having different applications.
Initially, it developed photovoltaic
technology for the soldiers under the
coordination and support of US army and
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
Massachusetts laboratory. Later on they
discovered materials at relatively low
temperature. This type of discovery exposed
the use of low cost polymers as the top and the
bottom surfaces of the photovoltaic cell for
the first time. This company also enables the
manufacture of photovoltaic materials at high
speed using coating and printing technologies.
In comparison to the traditional solar cell,
Konarka's plastic based photovoltaic cells are
more effective in using indoors and outdoors.
Some of the applications of the power plastics
are shown below.
Application of Konarka's power plastics
Rollable Power Plastic
Solar umbrella with
irregular surface
Power plastics in traveller choice bag
Power plastics used in
Green house project
Power plastics used for
transit shelter
Conclusion
Thebeauty of power plastics is something
different. Konarka has manufactured the
powerplastics which are both opaque and semitransparent solar panels. Being thin and
flexible, it is possible to mould to different
designs. Power plastic gives the freedom to
create solar powered buildings that embrace
the beauty of the creation. The incredible solar
energy can and must be a part of the solution
to the climate change, helping to shift away
from fossil fuel dependence. Using the power
of the Sun God, the structures on the planet
can be designed in a magnificent way which
has already been proved by Konarka's own
technology. It expands its scientific network
in all directions. We will always acknowledge
the Odia scientist to have proved his skill and
talent by proving a mythological concept
scientifically true and keeping the pride of his
own wonder architecture around the globe.
References :
Power Plastic used in tents
and other unique shades
Portable power plastic
battery chargers
1.
2.
3.
Solar photovoltaic electricity empowering the
world, European Photovolataic Industry
Assocatiion, 2011.
Photocurrent generation prop er ties of
Organomettalic Fullerene molecule as an
Electrode, JACS. 2008.
Semiconductor s for Organic Tarnsistors,
Materials Today, 2007.

Power plastic portable charger Power plastic as curtain wall
Science Horizon
Department of Chemistry,
KMBB College of Engineering & Technology, Khurda
11
JULY, 2013
WATER STRESS
severe water stress. The percentage is expected
Kamalakanta Jena
to reach 66% by 2025 mainly in developing
countries like India. Each year about 13 million
Earth has enormous water resources,
approximately 1.35 billion cubic km. It is
children die from water contaminated diseases.
In November 2002, Convent for Economic
enough to submerge our country (area = 3
million sq km) under 450 km of water. But
Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has
reccommended the water to be the fundamental
more than 97 percent of it is salt water, against
human right. The present decade (2005-2015)
is being observed as the international decade
about 38 million cubic km (less than 3%)
fresh water. Saline water neither can be used
for cultivation nor for human consumption. In
some regions fresh water resources are coming
under stress. Now-a-days water scarcity is one
of the major problems both in rural and urban
areas. About 20% of urban population and
75% of rural population of the world have no
accessibility to pure water.
of “Water for Life”.
Groundwater and water from lakes and
rivers contribute to the main sources of water
that humans use. These sources can be further
divided into water sources that are renewable
and water sources that are nonrenewable.
Renewable sources include lakes, rivers, and
aquifers that are regularly refilled. According
to the World Re so urce s Inst it ut e, an
environmentally oriented research group
located in Washington, D.C., theworld’s annual
renewable freshwater resources total about
0.1 per cent of Earth’s total fresh water
With rapid growth in world population,
resources. Nonrenewable sources include
passive aquifers (aquifers filled millions of
human beings are compelled to live in a
degraded environment, inhale the polluted air,
drink the contaminated water and sleep in a
noisy surrounding. This is not the life one
needs. Everyone wants to enjoy a healthy life.
But there exists a great discrepancy in
distribution of the basic amenities of life
amongst the people. At present about 33 % of
world’s population bear with moderate or
12
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
years ago that receive no predictable recharge).
Water is necessary for all living things.
This type of water is also called fossil water.
Up to 90% of body weight comes from
Broadly speaking, we use water for three
basic purposes : (a) Agriculture, (b) Industry
water in some organisms. We can live one
and (c) Domestic use. Agriculture has always
required the most of all the uses of water by
without water. We need to drink more than 2
humans. Farms use enormous amounts of water
to irrigate land for growing crops and to raise
litres are used for drinking and cooking. The
livestock. Even today, production of 1 metric
ton of grain takes some 1,000 metric tons.
for our daily activities:
About 435 litres water is needed to grow the
wheat for one loaf of bread. About 30,000
month without food, but only one week
litres (8 glasses) of water each day. About 8
table below shows how much water we use
Daily Activity
Water Used
(litre)
Have a drink
0.5 liter
Wash hands and face
9 liters
amounts of water to produce goods. It takes
about 2,27,000 litres of water to make a ton of
Brush teeth
1 liter
Take a bath
90 liters
steel. Less than 2 metric tons of water is
needed to manufacture 1 metric ton of
Take a shower
27 liters
aluminum. The table below shows how much
water it takes to make some common things:
Flush the toilet
9 liters
Wash clothes
litres of water is invested to produce one
kilogram of beef. Factories use enormous
Common Items
A small car
Water Used
(litres)
120,000
A ton of plastic
37,000
A ton of paper
14,000
Watering the garden
118 liters
9 liters
The total population of world is more
than 700 crore. Therefore, a minimum of
7,000,000,000 cubic metres of fresh water is
required per year. According to the UN reports,
A bag of cement
47
A bicycle
34
A woollen sweater
26
One litre of gasoline
18
One kg of instant coffee
15
A pair of leather shoes
14
for cleaning and gardening. A typical person
A newspaper
2
living in the developing countries of Asia,
A bar of chocolate
1
LatinAmerica, andAfrica uses between 50 and
Science Horizon
a person living in Europe or North America
uses between 500 and 1,000 liters of water per
day. Each person in the United States of
America uses about 340 litre of water a day
13
JULY, 2013
100 liters per day. In areas where water is
scarce, the figure is even lower.
MANGO
'THE KING OF FRUITS'
* Chitrotpala Devadarshini
**Birendra K. Prusty
Truly speaking, water is a Synonym for
Life in biosphere. One should avail up at least
1,700 cubic metre renewable freshwater per
Mango is a fleshy fruit belonging to the
year to free oneself from water stress and
genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous
1,000 cubic metre to avoid scarcity. Due to
tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant
uneven distribution of water, water shortages
family Anacardiaceae. Mango is native to
could also lead to international conflict as
SouthAsia, from where it has been distributed
cou nt ri es co mpet e for limite d wa te r
worldwide to become one of the most
resources. In 1995, a top official Ismail
cultivated fruits in the tropics. While other
Serageldin, at the World Bank aptly declared,
Mangifera species (e.g. horse mango, M.
“the wars of the next century will be over
foetida) are also grown on a more localized
water.” The conflicts will not solve the
basis, Mangifera indica - the 'common mango'
problem. To survive on this celestial abode,
or 'Indian mango' - is the only mango tree
each and every nation should care for that
commonly cultivated in many tropical and
meagre water. We have no option but to save
subtropical regions. It is the national fruit of
each drop of pr ecious water for our
India, Pakistan and the Philippines, and the
Offsprings and the Future generations.
national tree of Bangladesh. In several cultures,
References :
its fruit and leaves are ritually used as floral
01. National Geographic Society 1996-2003
/ Earth’s Precious Water
decorations at weddings, public celebrations
and religious ceremonies. Mango trees are
evergreens that will grow to 60 feet tall. The
02. Freshwater: lifeblood of the planet
mango tree bears fruit 4 to 6 years after
03. www. un.org/waterforlifedecade/
scarcity.shtml
planting. Mango trees require hot, dry periods
04. Kamalakanta Jena, Environmental
Mango is generally sweet, although the
Education, Vidyapuri

Lecturer in Physics, Vice President (Science Society),
Government Women’s College, Sundargarh, Odisha
Email ID : [email protected]
to set and produce a good crop.
taste and texture of the flesh varies across
cultivars, some having a soft, pulpy texture
similar to an overripe plum, while the flesh of
others is firmer, like avocado, or may have a
fibrous texture.
14
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
Health benefits of mangos
We all know the
importance of fiber in
our diets. If you are eating
yo ur ma ngo -a -d ay,
irre gularity is no t a
problem for you and so
well spare the gruesome
de ta il s
re gard in g
constipation, piles and spastic colon. Research
has shown that dietary fiber has a protective
effect against degenerative diseases, especially
with regards to the heart; may help prevent
certain types of cancer, as well as lowering
blood cholesterol levels. An average sized
mango can contain up to 40% of your daily
fiber requirement. For those of you who are
physically active, whether working out or
constantly on the go, mangos are also a great
way to replenish that lost potassium.
Deliciously rich in anti-oxidants, potassium
and fiber - the mango is the perfect fruit!

Mango is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber,
vitamins and minerals. A prebiotic is a
selectively fermented ingredient that
allows specific changes, both in the
composition and/or activity in the
gastrointestinal microflora that confers
benefits upon host well-being and health.

Recent research has revealed, mango has
been found to protect against colon,
breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
Several trial studies suggest that
polyphenolic anti-oxidant compounds
in mango are known to offer protection
against breast and colon cancers. These
in cl ud e qu er ce ti n, iso qu er ci tr in ,
astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methyl
gallate, and other enzymes. The studies
suggest that polyphenols in mango limit
inflammatory response in both cancerous
and non-cancerous breast cells.

Mango is anexcellent sourceofVitamin-A
Mango Nutrient Information*
Serving size: 3 1/2 ounces mango slices
Calories
66
and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alphacarotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. 100
Protein
Total Carbohydrate
Fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Potassium
of recommended daily levels of vitamin
0.5g
17g
0.27g
0mg
2mg
156mg
Vitamin-A
3,890IU
Vitamin C
27mg
* Not recommended for labeling purposes
Science Horizon
g of fresh fruit provides 765 mg or 25%
A. Together; these compounds are known
to have antioxidant properties and are
essential for vision. Vitamin A is also
required for maintaining healthy mucus
membranes and skin. Consumption of
natural fruits rich in carotenes is known
to protect the body from lung and oral
cavity cancers.
15
JULY, 2013


Fresh mango is a good source of
concentration in the blood is directly
potassium. 100 g fruit provides 156 mg
of potassium and just 2 mg of sodium.
proportional to the body fat content. As
Potassium is an important component of
cell and body fluids that helps controlling
leptin also increase. Leptin plays a key
heart rate and blood pressure.
study, mice receiving high fat diets
It is also a very good source of vitamin-
containing mango hadsignificantly lower
C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods
rich in vitamin C helps the body develop
levels of leptin than mice eating the high
resistance against infectious agents and
scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
body fat stores increase, the levels of
role in regulation of appetite. In the
fat diet alone.

It also controls homocystiene levels
within the blood, which may otherwise
vital enzymes, including cytochrome
c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase
(other minerals function as co-factors
be harmful to blood vessels resulting in
CAD and stroke.

for this enzyme are manganese and zinc).
According to a recent animal study
conducted by Edralin Lucas, associate
professor in Nutritional Sciences in the
College of Human Envir onmental
Sc ien ce s at Okl ah om a St at e
Co pp er is al so req ui re d fo r th e
production of red blood cells.


antioxidants like carotenoids and
be a promising alternative to lipid
lowering drugs. Mango was seen to affect
16
polyphenols.

The high amount of vitamin C and vitamin
A in mangoes, along with different kinds
According to Lucas, mango contains
nutrients and other bioactive compounds
that provide various health benefits. The
findings demonstrated mango flesh to
Additionally, mango peel is also rich in
phytonutrients, such as the pigment
University, incorporating mango in the
diet could aid in reducing body fat and
controlling sugar.
Further, it contains moderate amounts
of copper. Copper is a co-factor for many
of carotenoids help keep the immune
system healthy and strong.

Mango is rich in Vitamin B-6 which is
essential for Gamma-Amino Butyric acid
(GABA) hormone production. GABA is
se ve ra l fa ct or s in vo lv ed in fa t
metabolism as it reduces the circulating
an amino ac id whi ch ac ts as a
neurotransmitter in the central nervous
level of the hormone leptin. Leptin is
pr od uc ed by fa t ce ll s an d it s
system, inhibiting nerve transmission in
the brain, thus causing a calming effect.
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013

Mango contains an enzyme with stomach
We have found that the best way to ripen a
soothing properties similar to papain
mango is at room temperature, on the kitchen
found in papayas. These comforting
counter and if you wish to accelerate the
enzymes act as a digestive aid and can be
process place in a paper bag overnight (some
held partially responsible for the feeling
folks place an apple with the mango in the bag
of contentment. Tartaric acid, malic acid,
to create more natural ethylene gas and further
and traces of citric acid found in mangoes
decrease the ripening time). Once ripened the
help to maintain the alkalinity of the
mango can be refrigerated for a few days, but
body. Enzymes in the fruit help in
should be used shortly thereafter.
digestion. The fiber too helps in digestion
Conclusion
and elimination. The raw mango acts as a
coolant in the summer season. Juice of
the green mango helps cool down the
body and prevent sun stroke.

Mangos are a versatile, tropical fruit and
at just 110 calories, they can help fill you up
without weighing you down. The key to any
weight loss regimen is reducing calories and
Mangos are high in fiber, but low in
choosing nutrient dense foods that will keep
calories (approx. 110 per average sized
mango), fat (only 1 gram) and sodium.
you feeling full and satisfied. Mangos are a
Mangos are a good staple food item for
them a go-to option for anyone looking to
good source of fiber and antioxidants, making
your daily diet.
lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.
How to select and store mangos
Reference
1.
www.medindia.net
2.
www.nutrition-and-you.com
3.
www.naturalnews.com
A ripe mango will have full, fruity aroma
coming out from the stem end. Mangos can be
4.
Fruits. National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR,
2011.
considered ready to eat when slightly soft to
5.
Srilaxmi. B. Food Science. New Age
Publication. 20010. Fruits and vegetables.
Pg- 54-75
Selection of the ripeness of mangos can
be determined by either smellingor squeezing.
the touch and yielding to gentle pressure, like
a ripe peach. The best flavored fruit have a
yellow tinge when ripe; however, color may be
red, yellow, green, orange or any combination.
The ideal post harvest storage temperature for
mangos is 55º F. When stored properly a

*Asst. Prof , Foods & Nutrition,
Colllege of Homescience, OUAT
Mob-8280079986, E-mail - [email protected]
**Research Scholar, Institute of Life Sciences. Bhubanswar
Mob- 8280079987, E-mail - [email protected]
mango should have a shelf life of 1 to 2 weeks.
Science Horizon
17
JULY, 2013
PENGUIN : KING OF ANTARCTICA
Manoj Kumar Mohapatra
Antarctica
The Antarctica is a continent, situated
between North and South Pole. It is a cold
homeless continent. The area of the continent
is about 36.26 million square kilometers.
More than 95% of the continent is covered by
ice. The temperature is about - 89.94 c in the
continent. This continent was discovered in
1820 AD. But Ronald Amundsen of Norway
became the first person to reach the continent
in the year 1911 AD. In this continent penguins,
seals and some algaeare livingunder the ice layer.
Penguin
Penguin is a flightless bird living in
Antarctica. This bird is also called as marine
bird. There are 17 species of penguin living in
Antarctica,Australia and New Zealand.
Important Types of Penguin
Among the 17 species or types of
penguin, 6 types are well-known in their nature
and behavior. These are as follows:
1. Macaroni- This species of penguin lives
in islands around the Antarctica. It has long
bright yellow feathers above its eye.
2. Humboldt- This species lives in the cool
waters of the West Coast of South America.
3. Adelie-This speciesare foundatAntarctica.
They prepare their nest in huge colonies.
4. Galapagos - They are livingat the Galapos
islands of Antarctica.
18
5. Rockhopper Penguin- This type of
penguin is living in Antarctica islands.
6. King Penguin-This type of penguin is
larger in size than other penguins. The male
and female king penguin lookalmost identical.
They breed on windswept island in every two
years. The king penguin included in the ordersp he ni sc if or ms bel on gs to fa mily spheniscidae. The Zoological name of the
king penguin is Aptenodytes patagonica.
Physical Features of the Penguin
The size of penguin varies from 12 inches
to 3 ft in length. The colour of the bird is
yellow. Its body is covered with dense black
plumage. The lower part or under surface of
the body is covered with dense white feathers.
The wings are modified to flippers. The bird
has ornamental tufts of feathers on the head.
They have a large pointed beak with a steam
lined body and short stiff wings. Its legs are
very short. The feathers are water proof in
nature. Under the skin, a layer of fat is present.
The fat keeps them warm in icy water and also
acts as a store of food. They have solid bones
and flexible shoulder joints. The wing bones
are firmly locked together. Every year they
moult their old feathers.
Food and Swimming Habit
They feed upon fishes and squid. They
can swim more than 40 k.m per hour. They
propel themselves forward with their wings
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
and feet. They can jump several meters into
the air before landing on ocean-swept rocks
or ice-floats.
Nests and Breeding
They build nests on the ground or in
holes on rocks. Some penguins build their
nests on ice. The female lays one white egg in
the autumn season. The male incubates their
egg at -45 C temperatures. The parents feed
their young's with fish and shrimp.
Conclusion
The penguinsare called as king and queen
of the Antarctica. Now-a-days they have
established good relationship with men/
scientists, who are present in this continent.
They are harmless birds. Their courtship has
one very interesting and practical aspect. The
male tries to attract the female with which it is
interested to mate by presenting pebbles. They
use pebbles as foundation to raise the level of
their nests as a protection against melting
snows when the Antarctica warms up. When it
gets very cold the males huddle together in
groups of as many as 6000 with their backs to
the wind. The evolution of morphological,
physiological and behavioral characteristics
by completely different groups of animals,
called as convergent evolution. So the aquatic
life of penguins are probably the result of such
convergence in birds. The life span of the
penguin is 20 years.

Lecturer in Zoology, Banki Autonomous College,
Banki, Cuttack, Pin- 754008
Mobile - 9437317659, E-mail : [email protected]
Science Horizon
FLYING CAT
Murari Mohan Dash
Among the birds, owls can be most easily
recognised from their round faces and
forwardly directed eyes. Further, they are
nocturnal in habit whereas almost all the birds
are diurnal. It is said that they take over the
night-shift from the day flying birds. They are
included under the order strigidae among the
carninate birds. About 250 species of owls are
known from all over the world. They are
cosmopolitan in distribution.
In many countries and in all ages the owl
has been the object of quaint superstitions due
to their nocturnal habbit and lugubrious cries.
The call of the owl near a house is considered
to be a sign of death to one of the occupants.
In the ancient times owl was regarded as the
bird of wishdom, the symbol of the Goddess
Anthene. Hindus believe that the owl is the
symbol of the Goddess Laxmi and to
encounter an owl bring about wealth to the
person but its cry near the house is considered
as a sign of danger.
In size the owls vary from 12 cm to 75
cm. Their colours range from brown to gray.
Their hues hide them effectively during the day
when they are hidden in the hollows of trees or
perched on branches chalose to the trunk.
By day the eagle own (Bubo bubo)
perches motionless on rocks and trees, with
its eyes almost closed. It appears to be half
asleep, but slightest noise will awaken it. It
hunts at twilight uttering its hooting cry at
19
JULY, 2013
intervals. At times, it seems as if it is laughing
or howling and these sounds are so similar to
these made by human beings as to frighten
anyone unfamiliar with them.
Since most small mammals are nocturnal
and most birds are diurnal the chief food of
the owl is small mammals especially small
rodents. Usually the owl swallows its prey
whole. However, if the prey is too large the
owl tears it into few pieces which are then
swallowed. The owls also feed on snails,
insects, small birds, rabbits and fishes but not
on vegetable matter.
The presence of ear tuft of feathers are
the main characteristic features of an owl.
These feathers ornament the head and have
nothing to do with the sense of hearing. The
entire body is covered by soft feathers making
noiseless flight possible. The head is always
remarkably large and the bill strongly hooked
and cered. The food is strongly dawed. The
owls which live on fishes have honry speciles
on their feet.
The eyes of owls are very large. They are
set immovaly in their sockets and directed
forward like those of man. They are primarily
binocular. Therefore, an owl in order to look
at a particular object must move its entire
head. It is able to swing its head through 1800
without moving the rest of the body. It is
commonly believed that owls can't see during
the day. The belief probably originated from
the stupidity of some species which permit
themselves to be captured during the day. The
eyes are able to register the faintest light rays,
20
a necessity for its nocturnal habbit. Besides the
lower and upper eyelids, the owls are provided
with a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane.
Unlike other birds there is a true external
ear in the form of a fold of skin. It is probably
that hearing plays a very important part in the
owl's pursuit of prey. The ears are asymmetrical
in size and shape.
The owl's well known salient flight gives
it a great advantage as it swoops on its prey. It
is achieved by the special construction of the
feathers of the wing which forms a loose
fringe. An interesting phenomenon is observed
when an owl catches a snake. As soon as a
snake comes to the sight of an owl it aims at
the head of the snake and falls silently on it. If
the judgement is correct, the owl kills the
snake. If the strike is wrong and hits far back
of the head, the snake tries to get away, but the
owl hangs on its. As such a furious battle
ensues. The owl tries to kill the snake before
the latter can coil around its body. Such fights
can end in death of both combatants.
The owls breed during late winter and
spring. The cry of the male may be heard in
winter and spring. The cry of the male may
first be heard in February to March when the
female will answer with higher pitched sounds.
From time to time they make a clapping noise
with their wings. The female lays about 2-6
eggs. The eggs are almost spherical and while
in colour, the diameter of which varies from
3.4-3.6 cm. They lay their eggs in holes present
in trees or rocks, in nests deserted by other
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
birds or nests constructed by themselves. The
femal es incubate the eggs and during
incubation the males provide the food. After
hatchingof the eggs both birds share in feeding
the young. The hatchlings come out of the
eggs within a month. When hatched the young
are covered with white feathers (soft feathers)
and are still blind. When they are five days old
their eyes open. It takes the young bird a long
time for its flight feathers to develop. Usually
this period is four weeks or so. It may be about
three weeks in case of a born owl, Tyts alba.
Owls usually begin to incubate as soon
as the first egg is laid. Sometimes both parents
sit on eggs side by side. The first eggs may be
hatched much sooner than the last ones. That
is why the youngowls found in a single resting
side may be of different ages and stages of
development. There is often such a difference
in sizes in born owls that big brother may kill
and eat little brother when the latter hatches.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED
BANANAS
Dwijesh Kumar Panda
Introduction
Bananas are among the most widely
consumed fruits in the world.Half a billion
people in Asia andAfrica depend on it. India is
the largest producer of this fruit. It is
inexpensive, readily available all over the year,
easy to peel and easy to chew and digest.They
are the largest source of calories .Vitamins
and minerals content of one medium size
banana is 23% of potassium, 41% of vitamin
B6 and 33% of our daily requirement of
Vitamin C. Potassium is a very important
mineral for regulating blood pressure. That
is why bananas and other potassium rich
foods, such as papayas and mangoes are
recommended for high blood pressure
As the owls feed on rats and other pests
it renders real service to man. The migratory
habit of some owls make them most efficient
perfecters of grain crops. Whenever field mice
patients. Potassium is also critical in
become abundant in a locality a flight of owls
may follow. They remain in the area, prepare
nests if necessary, until the rodents once again
become scarce. Other owls dwell selected
areas and feed mainly on rats. They are,
therefore, certainly well adopted for their
per banana) because of which it is not good
function. The problem with banana, however,
is its high sugar content (28 grams of sugar
for diabetic and obese patients. As food items,
bananas are fried, mashed, used in ketchups,
flavor drinks. They are also used for thatching,
in textiles, handicrafts, cosmetics, dyes, table
cloths and umbrellas.
role as 'Flying Cats'.

Retired Reader, G/L-1, V.S.S. Nagar, Bhubaneswar-751007
Mobile - 9437110715
Science Horizon
regulating muscle, heart, kidney and adrenal
Banana is widely cultivated in Uganda,
India, China, Ecuador, the countries of Central
21
JULY, 2013
America, mostly in Costa Rica, Honduras, and
genetic diversity to fight off pests and disease.
Panama whose economies are dominated by
Sexually reproducing crops have broader
the banana trade. North-EastAfrican countries
genetic base; the genes recombine in new
like Ethiopia,Iritria and Somalia also cultivate
arrangements, in each generation which gives
banana on a large scale where it is consumed
them greater flexibility in evolving responses
as a food. In Uganda, bananas are grown on a
to diseases and genetic resources to draw on
one third of all cultivable land.
Diseases affecting Banana Crop
in the face of attack.
Efforts to sexually reproduce banana
plants have failed miserably. In Honduras
Banana is among world's oldest crops.
Edible banana is believed to have been used in
every day in the year workers had pollinated
several thousands of plants with pollens from
South-EastAsia about 10,000 years ago. Today
wild fertile Asian bananas. It may be noted
it is beset with problems of fungal disease.
One such disease is the PANAMA DISEASE.
that wild bananas are resistant to fungi, but
they are not edible. The resulting 400 tons of
Once the fungus gets into the soil, it remains
fruit were peeled and searched for seeds.
there for years. Nothing can be done to kill it.
Even chemical spraying does not work.
They got only 15 and of these only 5
germinated. Further crossing with wild
Another fungal disease BLACK SIGATOKA
bananas yielded a new seedless banana
has become a global epidemic. The banana
crop is in great danger of disappearing from
resistant to both Panama and Sigatoka. This
new banana tasted like an apple.
the Earth's surface sooner than later. In
Genetic Modification
Brazilian Amazon most of the banana fields
Taking into account all facts presented
have been destroyed by this disease. Similar
above, attention has shifted to genetic
things have happened in Uganda. Fungicides
modification. The first thing to be done for
have not been effective in controlling the
this effort is sequencing the banana genome,
dise ase, beca use the fungus de velops
which is expensive. Because of this and
resistance. As soon as you bring in a new
customer acceptance corporates/companies
fungicide the same thing happens.The reason
are not very enthusiastic for projects for
for pessimism is the genetic sterility of banana
genetic modification of banana. But the fact
(unlike other crops which can fight disease). It
remains that bananas represent the strongest
does not reproduce sexually and has not done
case for using GM technology. Because
so for thousand years. As a result it lacks
bananas are very essential for Uganda, this
22
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
country has established its own laboratory for
Administration who has categorically stated
research on GM bananas. Many researchers
that food items developed by bio-engineering
be li ev e th at bio te ch no lo gy (Ge ne ti c
techniques do not entail greater dangers than
Modification) is the only hope for banana to
those developed by traditional method of
survive. Apart from survival fromfungal attack
plant breeding. As food demand keeps rising,
there is another aspect of genetic modification.
it will become increasingly hard to resist the
This is fortification of bananas food value by
use of high -yielding GM varieties. It will not
putting extra vitamins by GM method.
be wise to reject when no harm has been
India is world's largest producer of
bananas which are consumed domestically.
detected in the American GM corn flakes for
around two decades.
So, if the Indian bananas could be fortified
GM crops are like the proverbial Genee's
with more nutrients, this would help in solving
bottle. Once it is introduced into the
the problems of malnutrition.It is therefore
environment, there is no going back.
heartening to note that the possibility of making
Ge ne ti ca lly mo di fi ed or ga ni sms ma y
bananas rich in iron is of special significance
int er br ee d
as iron deficiency is a grave problem among
contaminating future yields in entirely
vegetarians and anemia is also a major cause
unpredictable ways. In the developed world
of maternal mortality. Ninety percent of
precautions such as adequate labeling of GM
American maize, soybean and canola is now
crops and seeds, and similar measures can be
genetically engineered. Brazil, which once
implemented to mitigate their risks for those
used to be a net food importer has effected an
who are unwilling to jump on to the GM
impressive agricultural turn around by pushing
bandwagon. The safest way is to simply say no
forward GM crops and China's dining tables
boast of GM papaya, tomato and bell peppers.
wi th
nat ur al
organ is ms,
to GM. Otherwise, the world's favorite fruit
could disappear in 10 years' time.
The GM poplar is a good timber which is
marketed on a commercial scale.
Concern and Caution
References :
1.
2.
www.newscientist.com/18 january 2003.
Academia Journal of Medicine - August 2012.

There is however concern in many
quarters about possible health hazards of GM
M.D., Ph.D. (Medcine),
M5/12, Acharya Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751013
fruits and vegetables. These fears have been
all ay ed by th e US Foo d an d Dr ug s
Science Horizon
23
JULY, 2013
PRICKLY PEAR : NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL VALUES
*Ramesh Chandra Parida
**Pranab Kumar Ghosh
There are a good number of thorny green
plants with leafless, juicy, flat stems which
belong to a group of about 200 species of the
cactus family (Cactaceae) which is called
prickly pears, because of their pear shaped
stems. Thesehardy plants are seen in roadsides,
deserted lands and fences of agricultural farms.
However, now-a-days their thick juicy pulps
have made entry into five star kitchens in
many parts of the world, including India.
raw or made into drinks. The nopales are
sliced and cooked like beans.
Its nutritional composition (Table -1)
indicates that although it is not rich in protein,
it contains 18 amino acids including all the 8
essential ones (Table-2). The essential amino
acids are not produced in the body and
therefore, must be ingested through the diet.
Besides, it has quite good quantities of dietary
fibres, minerals and vitamins. Its low lipid and
carbohydrate contents make it ideal for diabetics,
obese persons and people suffering from the
related diseases. All these factors make it a
very nutritive and health ensuring vegetable.
Prickly pear plant
Prickly pear fruit(Tuna)
Of course, the practice of eating prickly
pears is not quite new. In certain places, various
species of those are known to be consumed
for over 7000 years. But in the last two decades,
those have been scientifically exploited for
their nutritional and medicinal uses and
therefore, gained importance as a health
ensuring green vegetable. Among the culinary
species of prickly pears, the Indian Fig
Opuntia (Opuntia ficus-indica) is the more
common, particularly, in our country.
Therefore, generally the name "Prickly Pear"
refers to it. Mainly, it is grown both as fruit
(c al le d as tu na / pr ic kly pe ar app le ),
vegetable(called as nopales/tender prickly
pear pads) and other uses. Tuna is eaten as
24
Raw edible tuna
Sliced prickly pear
(nopales) for cooking
Prickly pear has a number of medicinal
values and can be used for the treatment and
prevention of a number of diseases. Like some
other species of its family, it is known to
reduce cholesterol, thereby preventing
hyperlipidemia. The amino acids, dietary fibres
and vitamin B3 (niacin) present in it prevent
the conversion of excess blood sugar into fats
and reduce total cholesterol, triglyceride and
LDL-cholesterol levels, by metabolising fat
as well as fatty acids and eliminating excess of
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
Table 1: The nutritive composition of
prickly pear (Opuntia spp)
Nutrients
Proximates
Water
Energy
Protein
Total lipid (fat)
Carbohydrate,
by difference
Fiber, total dietary
Minerals
Calcium
Iron
Units
Value per
100 grams
of edible
portion
g
kcal
g
g
87.55
41
0.73
0.51
g
g
9.57
3.6
mg
mg
56
0.3
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc
Copper
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
85
24
220
5
0.12
0.08
Selenium
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B-6
Folate,total
mcg
0.6
mg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mcg
14
0.014
0.06
0.46
0.06
6
Folic acid
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
mcg
mcg
IU
mg
0
0
51
0.01
Science Horizon
Table 2: The amino acids present in
prickly pear (Nopalea cochennilifera)
Amino
Acids
Units
Tryptophan
g
Value per
100 grams
of edible
portion
0.014
Threonine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Cystine
g
g
g
g
g
g
0.040
0.049
0.077
0.059
0.015
0.008
Phenylalanine
Tyrosine
Valine
Arginine
Histidine
Alanine
g
g
g
g
g
g
0.049
0.029
0.059
0.052
0.025
0.050
Aspartic acid
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Proline
Serine
g
g
g
g
g
0.086
0.145
0.046
0.043
0.043
bi le acid s (w hi ch get co nver ted in to
cholesterol). Beside, niacin also converts LDL
(or bad) cholesterol into HDL (or good)
cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart
diseases. Furthermore, these amino acids and
fibers along with anti-oxidants like vitamin-C
and A(ß carotene) are likely to prevent the
damage of the walls of blood vessels including
the arteries and formation of fatty plaques in
them. As a result, the probability of
arteriosclerosis is reduced.
25
JULY, 2013
Dietary fibers and mucilages present in
it control gastric acid production and protect
gastrointestinal mucus, thereby reducing and
eliminating various gastrointestinal disorders,
including gastric ulcer. Its buffering action
and coating prevent damages due to spicy
foods and medicines like aspirin etc. It also
helps in digestion and liver function and is a
store house of naturally available vitamin like
A,B1,2,3,C and minerals like calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron along
with fibers in the form of lignin, cellulose,
hemicelluloses, pectin, mucilages and gum as
well as 18 amino acids. These help to detoxify
and support the liver in particular and the body
in general and remove immunodepressants
like ammonia, various free radicals and toxins
like the metabolic products of alcohol and
cigarette smoke from the body. ß carotene
present in it also soothes our nerves by
eliminating nerve tissue disturbances.
appetite. As a result, fat building up is
Of the soluble and insoluble dietary
fibres contained in prickly pear, the latter
absorbs water and gently hastens food through
digestive track and contributes to regular bowl
movement, besides helping in diluting the
concentrations of potential carcinogens that
may be present in colon. Furthermore, it is a
gentle alternative to psyllium and can be used
bythose who aresensitiveand allergic to psyllium.
example, it is used in dye industry, as an
additive in earthen plasters etc.
Since prickly pear is nutritionally
balanced, energy giving and contains a lot of
dietary fibre, it helps body to lower blood
sugar, elevate moods and suppress excessive
26
prevented, while fat breakdown and excretion
is increased, which prevents obesity and the
related diseases such as heart ailment, diabetes
etc. Particularly, it is very important for
diabetes-II patients, because it increases body's
sensitivity to insulin, thereby stabilizing and
then regulating blood sugar.
Like most species of Opuntia , it contains
a range of alkaloids in ample quantities. The
not ab le among the m ar e su bs ti tu te d
phenethylamines. The others with medical
significance include 3-methoxytyramine,
candicine, hordenine, N-methyl tyramine and
tyramine. Prickly pear also contains betalain
antioxidant and indicaxanthin which are in the
highest levels in their fruits.
Besides being a nutritive vegetable with
health ensuring and medicinal properties, it
has other commercial applications too. For
Conclusion
Taking all these factors into consideration,
ho rt ic ul tu ri st s ar e no w en co ur ag in g
commercial cultivation of prickly pear and the
other species of the family, that can be grown
in our environment. These neither need fertile
soil nor irrigation and fertilizers and therefore,
can be grown even in deserted waste land.

*124/2445, Khandagiri Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751030
** ADVENT, M-87, Baramunda Housing Board Colony
Bhubaneswar- 751003
E-mail : [email protected]
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
PROTEIN THAT KICK-STARTS LIFE
Ramesh Chandra Parida
Our life process begins as a haploid cell,
the sperm donated by the male, fuses with
another haploid cell, the ovum or egg in the
female reproductive organ, where half a set of
chromosomes from each of those combine to
form a diploid cell, with a complete set of
chromosomes. Known as fertilization, it takes
place in the mid portion of the uterine tube
and the fertilized cell divides forming the
zygote, a solid ball of cells.
Atthe beginning of fertilization, the ovum
or egg secretes an attractant called the
chemoactive factor, which attracts millions of
the available sperms. However, only 50 to 100
of those are able to reach there. Many of these
contact the zona pellucida, a membranous
structure around the egg, in order to bind to
the sperm receptor ZP3 in it. When one sperm
reaches the membrane, the acrosome, a
lysosome - like organelle, on the head of the
breaks down to release various enzymes
including the typsin-like protease, acrosine. It
facilitates the penetration of the sperm through
the zona pellucida. The process is mediated by
a protein also present at the head of the sperm.
Known as fertilin, it resembles the viral fusion
proteins that permit viruses to attack the cells.
The fusion off a reduction in the
membrane potential of the egg (ovum) followed
by a structural change in the zona pellucida. It
prevents polyspermy i.e., its fertilization of it
by more than one sperm. Besides, it also
pr ovid es th e si gnal th at in it iate s th e
development of the embryo into a blastocyst,
a hollow ball of cells, while moving down the
Science Horizon
rube into the uterus for implantation. It takes
3 to 5 days time and during this period it
reaches the 8 or 16 cell stage.
However, the mechanism of the process
of development after the fusion of the sperm
with the egg (ovum) was not fully well
understood until a team of researchers led by
Tony Lai of the Cardiff University, London
discovered it very protein PLC-Zeta (PLCz)
to the egg, whcih causes, what they call as "egg
activation" to set off the biological processes
for the development of an embryo. In other
words, it kick-starts the life process. Even
though the sperm fuses with the egg, if the
protein is missing or is defective, it fails to
activate it. As a result, the next stage of
pregnancy does not take place. It is a type of
male infertility.
In a paper published in a recent issue of
the journal the "Fertility and Sterlity" (Sept.
2012), Lai and his coworkers have claimed to
have got the result, initially workingwith mice,
but they have now confirmed by using the
human spermprotein PLCz.Accordingto them,
even when an unfertilized egg is infected with
this protein, it responds exactly as it should do
after fertilization, resulting in successful
embryo development up to the blastocyst stage.
Therefore, they suggest that the protein is
absolutely critical at the point, where life begins
and hope that the type of male infertility arising
from its absence or defectiveness can be
overcome by treating the egg (ovum) with it.

Usha Nivas, 124/2445, Khandagiri Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751030
27
JULY, 2013
DEATH OF THE BABY INSIDE MOTHER'S UTERUS
(Intra-Uterine Foetal Death)
Kalyanee Dash
A woman gets fulfillment by becoming a
a.
Maternal Causes of IUD
mother. She waits for nine months and seven

days to hold the baby in her lap. But this
In toxaemia of pregnancy, the mother
suffers from high blood pressure which
com pl et en es s of wom an ho od is no t
leads to inadequate blood supply to the
experienced by all. Due to some reasons
foetus. It causes lack of oxygen supply
to foetus and premature foetal death.
some ladies lose the unborn baby during
pregnancy. When a foetus dies in the uterus a

Sometimes the placenta gets separated
serious problem occurs. So we should know
from the nuterus causing death of
something about the cause and precautions to
foetus.
be taken for this problem.

When the pregnant lady suffers from
What is Intra-Uterine Foetal Death
some serious conditions like High Blood
(IUD) ?
Pressure, Diabetes, Serious Kidney
Disease, Syphilis, Malaria, Severe
The abnormal death of the foetus inside
Anaemia, Liver disease etc. the foetus
the mother's uterus after 28 weeks of
dies in uterus.
pregnancy is known as IUD (Intra Uterine
foetal Death). It leads to birth of a dead child.
Cause of IUD
b.
Foetal causes of IUD
Se ri ou s ma lf or me d fa ct us , Rh incompatibility between mother and the
There are different causes of IUD. In
foetus (i.e. mother in Rh -ve and the
some cases, the mother has complications of
foetus is Rh +ve) lead to foetal death in
pregnancy, and in some other cases the
uterus. In about 20-30% of cases no
complications of the unborn foetus leads to
cause in traceable for intra-uterine
malfunctioning of the placenta causing
foetal death.
inadequate supply of blood carrying nutrients
and oxygen from mother to the foetus. It ends
in death of the foetus in uterus. But in about
20-30% of cases the cause of Intra Uterine
fetal death is unknown.
28
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The pregnant lady does not find the
fee li ng of fo et al mo ve me nt. Dur in g
examination, the doctor finds that the pregnant
uterus is smaller in size than the corresponding
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
period of conception. The breast signs
gradually disappear. The feeling of uterine
contraction and relaxation are alogent, rather
the uterus feels soft. These are not foetal
movement and foetal heart sounds. The
Doppler Test shows non-functioning of the
foetal heart. On palpation the foetal lead gives
Intra - Uterine Foetal Death (Spalding's Sign)
vrackling sound.
X-Ray Examination
Usually the dead foetus is delivered
within two weeks of foetal death. But if the
On X-Ray examination, it is revealed
expulsion does not happen normally, there is
that there is overlapping of foetal skull bones,
risk of maternal health complications. To
gas inside the heart or bending of the vertebral
column. But now-a-days X-ray is not advised
to avoid effect of radiation.
prevent this the blood sample is collected
from the patient for blood grouping and Rh
typing, VDRL test, blood sugar estimation,
haemoglobin, urea, creatinine, thyroid function
Ultr asound Exa mi na ti on (U.S. G.
examination of the abdomen)
In USG one can know that there is no
foetal movement, the foetal heart does not
test, TORCH test for further analysis.
Complications ofIntra Uterine foetaldeath
1.
When a pregnant lady suffers from death
of the baby inside the uterus she suffers
function, the amniotic fluid inside the uterus
fro m
is reduced and there is overlapping of the skull
ment al
dep re ss io n
an d
psychological shock.
bones of the foetus.
2.
Bacterial infection of the uterus occurs
after the amniotic bag (inside which
foetus remains) bursts, bacteria enter
inside. It may led to systemic generalised
infection of the patient.
3.
When the dead foetus remains inside
the uterus for more than four weeks,
there occurs clotting defect of the
patient. It may lead to bleeding and
Intra - Uterine Foetal Death
Science Horizon
death of the patient.
29
JULY, 2013
4.
The uterus does not contract and relax
Intravenous fluid with medicine syntocinon is
normally during delivery of the dead
given to induce abortion or labour for
fo et us
to ut er in e
prostaglandin is administered inside vagina to
malfunctioning. It causes post-delivery
induce labour. If the cervix of the uterus does
bleeding and retention of the placenta.
not open to facilitate labour and expulsion of
whi ch lea ds
How to prevent Intra Uterine Foetal
Death
Intra uterine foetal death can not be
prevented completely. But by taking some
pr ec au ti on s we ca n pr ev en t th is
unfortunate mishap in many cases. The
steps to be taken to prevent this are as
follows -
the foetus then caearian operation is done to
remove the dead foetus and the placenta.
Necessary precautions are taken to
prevent bleeding and in emergency, blood
transfusion is given. Proper hygienic condition
to maintained and antibiotics are given to
prevent lacterial infection.
Mixogen or Bromocryption medicine is
given to the mother to prevent lactation after
1.
We can avoid and prevent some known
delivery.
causes of foetal death in uterus by regular
health checkup by an experienced
Gynecologist.
The tissue from the dead foetus is sent
for biopsy. Blood test is advised for the couple
to detect any genetic disorder.
2.
Those patients who have complications
with pregnancy which may lead to
foetal death are advised to terminate
the pregnancy.
3.
Patients who have history of intrauterine
Genetic counselling is advised for the
parents of the dead foetus to predict and
prevent any genetic disorder.
Conclusion
foetal death previously, should be
It is a matter of great sorrow for a mother
ex amin ed in de ta il s an d ge ne ti c
to lose a foetus during pregnancy. It can be
counselling of the couple is advised.
prevented by taking sufficient precaution
during pregnancy and with necessary advice
Treatment
When the dead foetus is not expelled,
the patient is admitted to a good hospital.
Blood grouping and Rh typing is done and
from an experienced doctor.

Gynacology Specialist
D-46, Green Garden, Kalinga Vihar, Patrapada,
Bhubaneswar-751019
Mob. - 9437627421
blood is arranged to tackle any emergency.
30
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
PARENTAL CARE IN ANIMALS
Rekha Das
Life is believed to have originated about
three billion years ago. After its origin it had
the greatest of challenges to its sustenance
and perpetuation. The challenge was largely
due to the ever-changing environment. This
challenge and response led to development of
an instinctive behaviour in the form of parental
care. Few other instincts ha ve really
contributed as much to the survival and success
of higher vertebrates as parental care. With
this development parents ensured survival of
their off-springs. Parental care has evolved
gradually reaching its peak in the highest
evolved animal – the humans. It is very less
developed or totally absent in lower forms of
life like many lower invertebrates. It has
be co me in cr eas in gl y co mplex in the
successively higher groups of animals.
Parental care in lower forms:
Parental care, broadly speaking, is the
protection of the young ones until they are
sufficiently grown up to take care of themselves. Much of this behaviour is largely
instinctive but strengthened by past experience,
association with other individuals and also by
the general environment. When environment
becomes increasingly complex, as is seen today
in the human society or when other individuals
take perceptibly extra measures to nurture
their babies, others modify their behavior as
parents. The phenomenon is so abundantly
clear in our society that it needs no elaboration.
However, a separate study of its importance in
humans would open up new vistas of parental
care fostered by creativity and innovation.
depressus spawns near water bodies in a mass
of leaf-debris. But since the leaf-debris reduces
the dissolved oxygen and the water pH in the
nursery, the mother crab keeps cleaning and
replacing leaf debris. The mother also brings
in snail shells that enhance the pH as well as
Science Horizon
Among the invertebrates parental care is
best developed in some of the insects
especially where one comes across a wellknit social life. Many bees and wasps take care
of their eggs in a nest after laying and also
take care of the larvae once they hatch out.
Some solitary wasps like Ammophila bring in
a paralysed prey for food of the larvae as is
also seen with most of the bigger wasps.
Ammophila also renews the supply once the
first supply is exhausted. This kind of care of
the larvae by parents is also seen among the
burrowing bees. The bumble bees and the honey
bees show a step further where the queen takes
care of the brood.
Some land crabs like Metopaulias
calcium level in the nursery. In addition to
collecting food for the larvae, it also protects
the nursery from spider and nymphal damselfly
predators. The salt-marsh beetle Bledius
spectabalis is known to building a burrow in
such a fashion that water cannot enter into it to
flood the burrow. It also provides food and
also protects the young ones from predators.
Some cockroaches carry their youngs ones
31
JULY, 2013
inside the mother’s body while some lay eggs
and there are still others which hatch their eggs
inside the body. Freshwater leeches, octopuses
and other cephalopods are also known to offer
different degrees of parental care.
Parental care in fishes
Many of us might have the wrong notion
that fishes eat away their young ones. About
25% of fish-species take care of their young
ones. Although most of the fishes deposit
their eggs and leave at the mercy of Nature,
some fishes like Herrings deposit their eggs
in masses on the sea floor. But still there are
numerous examples of thoughtful parents.
Their care for the young ranges from encrusting
some sort of nests for the reception of the
fertilized eggs to taking care by the males. The
nests are of different shapes and designs. While
some scoop out a simple hollow on the gravels,
some build very elaborate structures where
the growing young fishes can live a playful life
with utmost safety. Parents also bring in
provisions for them. Some dog-fishes and ray
fishes protect their eggs in a horny purse-like
case called “Mermaid’s purse”. Parents attach
their Mermaid’s purse to stout sea weeds by
twining long tendrils given up from the corner
of the purse.
Nest building has been observed in
minute details in the stickle-backs. Here the
male selects a site and then digs a shallow pit
by removing mouthful of sand from the site
and dropping that at a place 5 to 6 inches away
in a fashion to have a ridge around the pit.
32
When the pit is ready, it collects shreds and
water weeds. These materials for the nest are
arranged skillfully in the pit by gluing them
with a sticky secretion from its body. Then it
bores a tunnel right through it and courtship
occurs in the nest. When eggs are laid, the
male slips over to fertilise the eggs. The female
runs away and the male waits at the doorway to
court four to five females. When all the females
finish egg-laying they run away and the male
takes the pain of gathering food, making for
aeration of the pit by fresh flow of water and
protecting the young ones from different
predators. Food and water are gathered from
the water which is directed into the nest by the
male vibrating its tail violently. Themale guards
the young fishes very carefully so much so
that when per chance a young one strays out,
the guarding male snaps it in its own mouth
and spits it back into the swarm.
Actually in most of the fishes care of the
offspring is taken up by the males in contrast
to other animal species where mostly the
mother takes up care. In the pipe fish and
Cover
Eggs
Female Stickleback
(Laying eggs under a cover)
Brood
Pouch
Male Kurtus
incubating eggs
in his fore-head
Mermaids purse
Male Seahorse
with brood pouch
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
seahorse, males have a safe space called ‘brood
pouch’ beneath their tails to shelter the eggs
and the young ones. There are mouth-breeders
also among fishes. The female chichlid, for
instance, picks up the eggs in her mouth, soon
after the male fertilises them. When the eggs
hatch, the fingerlings remain in mother’s
mouth and after a few days they swim out of
the mouth but remain in the neighbour-hood
around the mouth so that whenever they are
threatened by predators, they can rush into
their safe haven in mother’s mouth. Very
strangely the mother chichlid does not feed at
allas long as the youngoff-springs are sheltered
in her mouth.
Parental care in amphibia:
Parental care in amphibia is more diverse
than that in any other group of animals. The
diversity is again greater in anurans (frogs and
toads) than in urodeles (salamander and newt)
and the limbless apoda. While parental care in
the anurans involve guarding the eggs and
tadpoles in nests or burrows, in urodeles and
apoda it involves taking care of the eggs only
mainly by the males. Here parental care also
entails transportation of eggs and larvae to a
safer place.
The tendency to remain with the eggs is
common with amphibian parents especially
among the frogs and toads. Among the tree
frogs some like Hyla faber make a basin
shaped nest in the shallow water of 3-4 inches
deep in which eggs aredeposited. The Japanese
female tree frog builds a hole in the mud and
deposits its eggs. After impregnation of the
eggs by the male, the entrance to the mud-hole
closes and the couple find their wayout through
a new hole through which the tadpoles also
Direct parental care in Amphibia. A - Female Ichthyophis coiling round eggs. B - Transporation of tadpoles attached
to back of aparent. C - Desmognathus fuscus with eggs. D - Male Alyles obstetricans carrying eggs around his thighs.
E - A marsupial frog with eggs exposed in open brood pouch on back. F - Natotrema or Gastrotheca, with flap of dorsal
brood sac cut open to show eggs. G - In Pipa, eggs develop completely into individaul capsules on back of female. H Froglets inside vocal sacs cut open of male Rhinoderma darwinii.
Science Horizon
33
JULY, 2013
come out when hatched. Tree frogs we find
here lay their eggs in a froth attached to the
leaves, twigs overhanging the water pool. Even
in some cases the froth is attached to the side
of the wall or a rock. Here the purpose is to
ensure dropping of larvae into the water when
they hatch. In case of African tree frog
Nectophryne, the mother lays eggs in the tree
cavities containing some water where they
hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles develop there in
that cavity. During all this period the male
keeps guard of the developing tadpoles.
In some toads the male carries the eggs
round its legs as in the midwife toad (Alytes).
The midwife is strangely the male partner not
the female. Here after the eggs are laid, the
male gets the strings of eggs twined to its back
and thighs. With the eggs the male midwife
lives in a shallow pit and occasionally comes
out for feeding itself and make the eggs moist.
When the time of hatching approaches, the
midwife comes out to a pond and the tadpoles
are released into water. Another male toad
Rhinodema darwini or Darwin’s frog (Darwin
had first found it in Chile, but named after
Darwin by the French zoologist Andre Marie
and his assistant Gabriel Bibron) carries the
tadpoles (larval forms) in its vocal sac after
they hatch out of the eggs laid by the female.
In the Surinam toad eggs laid by the
female get transferred onto its back by the
special movements of the male partner in
water and sink into the skin of the mother’s
back. The skin then thickens around the
34
developing eggs forming a dermal pouch.
Tadpoles develop inside those pocket-like
pouch and incidentally after completion of
their development they emerge out of those
pockets as tiny toads measuring about 2 cms
in size. This type of parental care is also met
with in the Brazilian tree toad Hyla goeldii.
In the apodan amphibian, the mother digs
a hole on the damp bank of a pond or river or
a stream and lays eggs there. Then it coils
herself around the eggs to protect them from
enemies till the young ones develop and
emerge. Many of the salamanders lay eggs in
a nes t and so me li ke Sa lam an drel la
keyserlingi makes a gelatinous bag below
water hanging attached to a branch or a twig
and lays eggs in it. However, in case of the
dusky salamander Desmognathus the mothers
gets the eggs tied down to her neck and moves
with the eggy necklacearound. In the European
salamanders some like Salamanda salandra (the
fire salamander) the mother retains the eggs in
its body and only releases larvae into water.
These larvae develop further in water. But the
alphine salamander (Salamandra atra) the
young ones complete their development inside
the body (uterus) and are released to the
environment as tiny individuals.
Parental care in reptiles:
There are very few instances of careful
parenting in the reptiles. Most of them are
particular in depositing the eggs in a shallow
pit or a deep hole scooped on the soil, or under
leaves, logs and rocks and then abandoning the
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
eggs to vagaries of Nature. They also take care
to filling the area or the spots with mud or soil
and obliterating all the traces of egg-laying.
But some lizards and snakes guard their eggs
against predators. Some snakes also carry the
developing youngones in their body thus giving
an impression of viviparity. Among reptiles
only the crocodiles and their close relatives
offer some parental care as much as they
guard their eggs and hatchlings. They also
make provisions for their young ones.
Female crocodiles lay eggs in the sand
well out of the reach of moisture. Even some
construct elaborate kinds of nests. Female
alligators build nests out of dead leaves, humus
and debris. They lay eggs near the top of the
nest within eight inches from the surface.
Some lizards do not lay eggs until the
embryos are ripe inside the body. In such
cases the eggs hatch out immediately after
deposition. Some lizards and turtles are known
as communal egg layers. A number of females
gather together to lay their eggs at the same
site as is seen in case of Olive Ridley turtles
in the coasts of Odisha. Such communal groups
are also known to be visiting the same site to
deposit their eggs year after year.
Parental care in birds:
Parental care, for the first time, appears
as a bi-parental responsibility in the birds.
They display parental responsibility towards
the young ones right from the word ‘go’ as
they begin the courtship. With onset of
courtship both the partners select a site and
Science Horizon
start building a nest which is completed in
almost two days. Female lays eggs and
immediately starts incubating the egg. In some
cases the male also incubates and in some
male and female birds do it alternately. Some,
birds have been seen bringing water in their
bills perhaps to provide cooling, moisturisation
and also humidification. Most of the birds
keep the eggs turning or rolling so as to
provide uniform heating in incubation. Parental
cooperation during this period is remarkable.
While one sits incubating the other fetches
food for itself as well as the incubating partner.
As so on as th e eggs ha tc h, th e
relationship between parents and offspring
becomes truly mutual. Brooding or covering
of the young by the parent bird to keep them
warm is very important in early life as is the
case with prematurely born human babies. This
warming up operation by the parent gets
gradually reduced as the hatchlings grow
feathers. During the period of incubation and
brooding, a featherless patch known as
‘incubation patch’ or ‘brood patch’ develops
on the lower surface of the belly which
facilitates direct transfer of heat from the
mother’s body to the egg and hatchling.
Parent birds in some cases get halfdigested fish or crab or a batch of earthworms
or caterpillars and as soon as the parents alight
on the edge of the nest, the young rise up and
stretch their neck and gape. Afterevery feeding,
the parent birds clean the nest. Undigested
material with faeces are provided by the young
35
JULY, 2013
in a convenient faecal sac which can be readily
picked up by the parents and dropped at a
distance from the nest.
and teaches it how to jump, how to walk and
how to hang down from branch of the tree.
another sharp closeness with their offspring
when predators threaten. Parents give out sharp,
shrill alarming calls and fight for the defence
of the young.
Humans arethe highest evolved mammals
and in their case the parental care has also
been unique inasmuch as there is no limit in
terms of age or stage of growth when care of
the parents for their offspring ceases. Human
parents have also invented a variety of ways to
provide unabashed care to their offspring.
Parental care in mammals:
Significance of parental care in humans:
Besides protecting the eggs, brooding
and feeding the offspring, avian parents offer
In mammals, the group to which we the
humans also belong; parental care has reached
its highest form. Of course there are some
lower mammals like the egg-laying Echidna
and monotremes where the young is born
premature and so needs extra care. In Echidna
a temporary pouch develops in which the eggs
are kept for safety and incubation. The young
after hatching also remains there drawing
nourishment from the mother till it is big
enough to look after itself. In marsupials like
the kangaroo the immature young at birth is
put into the marsupial pouch where the young
stays till full development. It is nourished
there by suckling.
In higher mammals belonging to
placentalia group, parental care is of the highest
order. The mother protects the life of the baby
even at the risk of her own life. In case of
monkeys and primates, the baby remains
clinging to the body of the mother. In the
chimpanzee parental care is very interesting as
the mother gives regular tuition to her baby
36
Parental care evolved originally to ensure
survival of the offspring and thereby to ensure
continuance of the genes. It has also a selective
value in the struggle for existence. While this
is generally true for rest of the animal world,
in the human world it has assumed a different
dimension altogether. This is because of the
fact that in case of humans, factors like social
status, wealth, income and levels of awareness
play a greater role in deciding the pattern of
parental care. Actually many also view parental
care as ‘parental investment’ in the offspring.
In human society parental care and investment
leads to survival of the luckiest not of the fittest.
References :
1.
‘Parental Care in Chordates’ by Rekha
Mohanty in “Bulletin" of the Post-Graduate
Seminar in Zoology- Utkal University.
2.
Parental Care in fishes and Amphibia from
Text Book of Vertebrate Zoology by
R.L.Kotpal.
3.
Evolution of Parental Care by T. H. Clutton
Brock

Former Principal, Rama Devi Women's Autonomous College,
252, Sahidnagar, Bhubaneswar-751007
Phone - 2542764 / Mobile - 8260755562
E-mail - [email protected]
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
FASCINATING AMICABLE NUMBERS
Mayadhar Swain
Introduction
It can be seen that each amicable number
Numbers have fascinated mathematicians
has the power to generate another, thus
and enthusiasts from time immemorial. People
sy mbol iz in g mutu al ha rmon y, pe rf ec t
have studied intensively natures of different
friendship and love. In antiquity, the amicable
numbers and have found some special
numbers were thought by mystics to possess
interesting number groups. One such number
magical powers. Astrologers used these
group is Amicable Numbers.
nu mber s fo r pr ep arin g ta li sman s an d
Amicable Numbers
horoscopes. They believed that amicable
Th e
Gre ek
mathematician Pythagoras
(570 BC – 495 BC) of
numbers had the power to create special ties
between individuals.
History
“Pythagoras Theorem”
fame, when asked, “What
numbers were known from the times of
is a friend”, replied that “a
Pythagoras (probably it
Pythagoras
friend is one who is the
other one such as 220 and 284”. Interestingly,
220 and 284 are the smallest pair of amicable
numbers (also often known as friendly
numbers) known to Pythagoras.
The first and smallest pair of amicable
was
discovered
by
Pythagoras). The French
mathematician Pierre de
Fe rmat (1 601 – 16 65 )
discovered another pair of
Two members are called amicable (or
friendly) numbers if each number equals to
the sum of the proper divisors of the other.
Proper divisors of a number are divisors
excluding the number itself. For example,
proper divisors of 220 are 1, 2 ,4, 5, 10, 11,
20, 22, 44, 55 and 110. The sum of these
amicable numbers (17296,
18416) in 1636. Later another French
mathematician Rene Descartes (1596 –
1650) gave the third pair
of amicable numbers i.e.
(9363584,
9437056).
divisors is 284. Similarly proper divisors of
284 are 1, 2, 4, 71 and 142 and the sum of
These results were actually
these divisors is 220. Hence, 220 and 284 are
kn own
amicable numbers.
mathematicians. In the 18th
Science Horizon
Pierre Fermat
rediscoveries of numbers
to
Ar ab
Rene Descartes
37
JULY, 2013
century Leonhard Euler
Rules for Finding Amicable Numbers
(1707 – 1783) drew up a
There are many rules for finding
list of 64 amicable pairs
amicable numbers. Two such methods are
(two of which later shown
given below:
to be unfriendly). B.N.I.
Paganini, a sixteen year old
Thabit ibn Qurra theorem
Leonhard Euler
Italian youth, startled the
mathematical world in 1866 by announcing
that the numbers 1184 and 1210 were friendly.
It was the second lowest pair and had been
The Thabit ibn Qurra theorem is a method
for discovering amicable numbers invented by
theArab mathematician Thâbit ibn Qurra (826
– 901). It states that, let
completely overlooked until then. Even Euler’s
p = 3 × 2n ” 1 ” 1,
list of amicable pairs does not contain it.
q = 3 × 2n ” 1,
Numerous other mathematicians devoted a
r = 9 × 2 2n ” 1 ” 1,
considerable part of their time seeking for
new pairs of amicable numbers.
The first ten amicable pairs are (220,
284), (1184, 1210), (2620, 2924), (5020,
where n > 1 and is an integer.
If p, q, and r are prime numbers, then 2n
x p x q and 2 n x r are a pair of amicable
numbers.
5564), (6232, 6368), (10744, 10856), (12285,
For example, when n = 2, we get p = 5,
14595), (17296, 18416), (63020, 76084) and
q = 11 and r = 71, which are all primes. Hence
(66928, 66992).
2n x p x q = 220 and 2n x r = 284 are amicable
As of 1946, there were 390 known
numbers. Similarly when n = 4, we get the
amicable pairs, but the advent of computers
amicable pair (17296, 18416) and for n =7,
has allowed the discovery of many thousands
we get (9363584, 9437056).
since then. In 2007, there were almost
But unfortunately, no other such pairs
12,000,000 known amicable pairs. There
are known from this formula. Numbers of the
are 1427 amicable pairs of number below
form 3 × 2n ” 1 are known as Thabit numbers.
10 10 (ten billion) and 39374 amicable pairs
In order for Ibn Qurra’s formula to produce an
below 10 14. The largest known amicable
amicable pair, two consecutive Thabit numbers
pairs have numbers each consisting of
must be prime. This severely restricts the
24073 digits.
possible values of n.
38
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
Euler’s rule
3.
Euler’s rule is a generalization of the
Thâbit ibn Qurra theorem. It states :
its digits.
For example, consider amicable pairs
Let
p = (2 (n - m) +1) × 2m ” 1,
(2620, 2924).
q = (2(n - m) +1) × 2 n ” 1,
r = (2 (n - m) +1)2 × 2m + n ” 1,
Sum of digits of 2620 = 2+6+2+0= 10
and it divides 2620 (i.e. 2620/10 = 262)
where n >m > 0 and are integers.
Similarly, sum of digits of 2924 = 2 + 9
+ 2 + 4 = 17 and it divides 2924 (i.e.
n
If p, q and r are prime numbers, then 2 ×
p × q and 2 n× r are a pair of amicable numbers.
Thâbit ibn Qurra’s theorem corresponds to the
2924/17=172)
It may be mentioned that in general, if a
case m = n -1. Euler’s rule creates additional
number is divisible by sum of its digits,
amicable pairs for (m, n) = (1, 8) and (29, 40)
with no others being known.
it is calledHarshad number. For example,
81 is divisible by the sum of its digits
Some Fascinating Observations on
Amicable Pairs
1.
2.
There are some amicable pairs in which
each number is divisible by the sum of
(i.e. 8+1=9). This class of numbers was
There is no amicable pair in which one
discovered by the Indian mathematician
Dattaraya Ramchandra Kaprekar. Hence
of the two numbers is a square.
the amicable pair of numbers which are
also Harshad numbers are called
There are some amicable pairs, in which
“Harshad amicable numbers” Examples
of such numbers are (2620, 2924),
the sum of digits of each number is
equal. For example, consider amicable
(10634085, 14084763), (23389695,
pair (69615, 87633)
Sum of digits of 69615 = 6 + 9 +6 + 1
25132545), (34256222, 35997346) etc.
There are 192 Harshad amicable pairs
+ 5 = 27
in the first 5000 amicable pairs
Sum of digits of 87633 = 8 + 7+ 6 + 3+
4.
The minimal value of the ratio of the
3 = 27
numbers in the amicable pairs (first
Other example of such amicable pairs
are (100485, 124155), (1358595,
number divided by second number) is
0.6979 corresponding to amicable pair
1486845) etc. There are 427 such
(9 38 30 429 0,
amicable pairs in the first 5000 amicable
938304290/1344480478=
pair numbers.
0.697893577…..
Science Horizon
13 44 48 047 8)
i. e.
39
JULY, 2013
5.
The maximal value of the ratio of the
numbers in the amicable pairs (first
1 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 10 + 17 + 20 + 34 + 68
0.999858 corresponding to amicable pair
(4 00 07 839 84 , 400 13 51168 ), i. e.
+ 85 + 170 + 340 + 3719 + 7438 + 14876 +
18595 + 37190 + 63223 + 74380 + 126446
40 00 78 398 4/ 400 13 51168
+ 252892 + 316115 + 632230 = 1547860
=
Some Unanswered Questions

The sum of the proper divisors of
1547860 (22 x 5 x 193 x 401) is:
It is not known whether there exist
1 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 10 + 20 + 193 + 386 +
infinitely many pairs of amicable
401 + 772 + 802 + 965 + 1604 + 1930 +
numbers.
2005 + 3860 + 4010 + 8020 + 77393 +
In every known case, the numbers of a
pair are either both even or both odd. But
it is not known whether there exists any
pair with one of the numbers odd and one
even.

1264460 (22 x 5 x 17 x 3719) is:
number divided by second number) is
0.9998582518……

The sum of the proper divisors of
Every known pair shares at least one
common factor. It is not known whether
there are pairs of relatively prime
amicable numbers.
Sociable Numbers
154786 + 309572 + 386965 + 773930 =
1727636
The sum of the proper divisors of
1727636 (22 * 521 * 829) is:
1 + 2 + 4 + 521 + 829 + 1042 + 1658
+ 2084
+ 3316
+ 431909 + 863818 =
1305184
The sum of the proper divisors of
1305184 (25 x 40787) is:
1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 40787 +
81574 + 163148 + 326296 + 652592 =
Sociable numbers are generalizations of
the concept of amicable numbers. Sociable
numbers are a set of numbers in which each
number is the sum of the proper divisors of
1264460

Deputy General Manager, PP & EE Section
MECON Limited, Ranchi-834002
Ph:- 09470193755, E-mail: [email protected]
the preceding number. For the sequence of the
numbers to be sociable, the sequence must be
cycle, eventually returning to its stating point.
For example, (1264460, 1547860, 1727636,
1305184) are sociable numbers.
40
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
FACES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Nikunja Bihari Sahu
Now, this unique planet of ours is under
threat mostly due to the challenges posed by
Climate Change. Climate has always been
Climate has shaped the world ever since
it was born in the emission of the atmosphere
from the hot interior of Earth. Rain produced
the oceans and atmospheric Carbon dioxide
maintained the planet within the range of
habitable temperatures. Climate developed as
a complex system powered by the Sun and
affected by winds, ocean currents, continental
movement and perpetual flow of Carbon in
our biosphere. Under the influence of climate,
life emerged and flourished and the earliest
animals evolved.
Our Earth is the only known planet in the
whole universe to have sustained forms of
life. Its right distance from the Sun allows a
moderate temperature range to prevail wherein
Water, the key ingredient for life, can exist in
all its three different states. Earth's inert
Nitrogen rich atmosphere contains the right
amou nt of Ox ygen ne cess ary for the
changing naturally and has never been a threat
since the long history of the planet. But
scientists are concerned that the climate change
caused by human activities has far overtaken
the natural climatic fluctuations leading to
serious consequences for the people and the
planet. It can alter the processes of nature's
delicate web of life and the complex life
sustaining mechanism of the biosphere of
which we are an integral part.
For many, climate change seems remote
and hazy that our grandchildren may have to
suffer and solve. This is because they are still
fortunate enough to be shielded from its
mounting consequences. Climate change has
indeed very real effects on people, animals,
ecosystems and natural resources on which
we all depend. Left unchecked, it will spread
like wildfire beyond repair.
sustenance of aerobic life. The Stratospheric
Climate change has greatly affected the
Ozone layer acts like a boon by shielding the
lives and livelihoods of people around the
harmful Ultra-violet radiations reaching into
world. Poor farming communities in south-
the biosphere. Our atmosphere contains traces
east Asia directly depending on a monsoon-
of green-house gases (mostly Carbon dioxide)
fed stab le climate for subsis tenc e of
that produce the right amount of global
agriculture are most vulnerable to extreme
warming necessary for life to survive; as
weather events like droughts and tropical
without these gases Earth's mean temperature
storms. As glaciers melt in the world's great
would have been dropped to -18 0C instead of
mountain ranges in Europe, water supplies to
15 0C where no life could exist.
rivers will be drastically affected. By 2050,
Science Horizon
41
JULY, 2013
as many as 64% of China's glaciers will have
disappeared and an estimated 300 million
in climate may cause significant disruption in
people of China's arid west dependant
droughts, famines and social conflicts resulting
directly on water from glaciers for survival
from climate change also threaten the
would suffer.
developmental goals of countries. According
the habits and habitats of animals. Floods,
In the past 100 years, the global sea level
to an estimate, the global economic losses
rose between 1 and 2 mm per year primarily
due to weather-linked disasters like tropical
because of thermal expansion of warm ocean
storms and forest fires in 2005 stood at 200
waters and the volume of additional fresh
water received from melting ice. As the sea
billion US Dollar with Insured losses at more
level rises, inhabitants of many low-lying
also affected the health of people world-wide
islands and coastal cities face the risk of
as the warmer climate offers a favourable
inundation, submersion and even complete
condition for certain vector-borne diseases
annihilation. In 2005, a small community living
like Malaria and Dengue to proliferate.
in the Pacific island chain of Vanuatu became
the first victim to be formally moved as a
result of climate change. The concern is
equally high in small island nations like Tuvalu,
Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea,
archipelago like Indonesia, deltaic countries
than 70 billion US Dollar. Climate change has
The environmental change has proved
very harsh to the Arctic communities including
indigenous people striving to maintain and
adapt traditional lifestyles. They view climate
change as a threat to their cultural identity as
li ke Viet na m, lo w- ly in g re gi on s li ke
their very way of survival is inextricably linked
Bangladesh and Maldives and many others.
to sea ice. The native reindeer herders and
Climate change also threatens marine habitats
hunters of the Arctic who travel on frozen
and the livelihoods of the people depending
rivers and snow bears the brunt of climate
on them. The increasing acidity level of ocean
water due to the absorption of Carbon dioxide
change as the sea ice melts in warmer climate.
from the atmosphere could affect the
Penguins to Tundra lichens and Sedges are
formation of shells (from Calcium Carbonate)
likely to be affected. Of particular mention is
of animals like corals and molluscs. Changing
climate has proved to be inhospitable for many
the Polar Bear thriving and well adapted to the
species that are on the verge of extinction
Seals on pack ice. But melting of ice due to
which may affect the food web and the life-
climate change has jeopardised the survival of
cycle of other organisms. Even a small change
this greatest symbol of the Arctic.
42
Organisms ranging from Polar bears and
frigid environment of the Arctic, hunts mostly
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
QUIZ ON COMPUTERS
Life on Earth depends on water. From
rain forests to rice paddies, water binds every
Lingaraj Nayak
eco-system. Climate change will dramatically
affect the world's supply of fresh water and
1.
In computer the operations of ADD,
SUBSTRACT, DIVIDE, MULTIPLY &
the people, plants and animals dependingon it.
Precipitation will increase in some places
LOGIC are performed by
potentially bringing floods and decrease in
a)
Register
others possibly bringing drought and dry
periods. Conflicts between nations may arise
b)
Control Unit
c)
Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU)
over water sources and plant andanimal species
d)
None of these
may undergo upheavals as some area of the
world suffers from too much water and others
2.
The error that can be pointed out by the
too little.
The by-gone year 2012 was marked by
many climate change milestones around the
world. Arctic sea-ice cover reached a record
lo w in Sept embe r, th e Un it ed Stat es
compiler are
a)
Syntax Errors
b) Simantic Errors
c)
Logical Errors
d ) Digital Errors
3.
To create large size drawings, architects
& engineers often use a device called
a)
Plotters
b) Band Printers
rocked the Caribbean, the Philippines and the
c)
Line Printers
d) Laster Printers
United States; droughts plagued northern
Brazil, Russia, China, and two-thirds of United
4.
The gigantic work of simulating the
experienced its hottest year ever, super-storms
airflow around an entire aircraft can only
States; floods inundated Nigeria, Pakistan, and
be done using fast
parts of China are some of the footprints of
nature's anguish.
a)
Microcomputers
b) Minicomputers
c)
Supercomputers
d) None of these
Hence, climate change has affected
5.
Telephone lines in India carry ___signal.
people, places, plants and animals world-wide
with the victims multiplying every day.
a)
Analog
b) Digital
c)
Microwave
d) Infrared
6.
_____ are added to margins, thereby
Fortunately, the pace of the climate change is
slow and, therefore, a solution exists at hand.
We should act together to meet its myriad
increasing the white space & decreasing
text area for specific paragraphs.
challenges so as to save our beautiful planet.

a)
Header
b) Indents
Education Officer, Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar- 751013
Mobile - 9938974485/ 8018708858
c)
Words
d) Button
Science Horizon
43
JULY, 2013
7.
a)
The first electronic worksheet was
known as
VisiCalc
b) Lotus 1-2-3
c)
Microsoft Excel
8.
The electronic circles on floppy disk
d) None ofthe above
created for storing data are known as __
a)
Cylinders
b) Sectors
c)
Segments
d) Tracks
9.
The first network that planted seeds of
14. A sequence of instruction in a computer
language to get the desired result is
known as _______
a)
Algorithm
b) A Decisionrtable
c)
A Program
d) None ofthe above
15. Data structure
a)
is programming language dependent.
b)
need not give relationship between
data items :
internet was ________
a)
NSFnet
b) Inet
c)
ARPANET
d) Vnet
10. Cell based architecutre is known as
a)
LAN
b) FDDI
c)
ATM
d) Client Server
c)
alogorithms in different phases of data
processing
d)
news group is called __________
a)
News
b) Gateways
c)
Netnews
d) Both (a) & (b)
12. Networks are vulnerable to computer
crime like ________
a)
Theft, Vandalism & Graffiti
b)
Hacking, Viruses & Software Pirary
c)
InternetAddiction, Sabotage & Negligence
d)
None of the above
none of the above
16. The name of an Indian lady who was
known as "HUMAN COMPUTER" and
11. A popular application of computer
networking in the world wide web of
may be helpful to develop efficient
died recently the age of 83 years is ___
a)
Anu Garg
b) Shakuntala Devi
c)
Sujata Samyal
d) None ofthe above
ANSWERS
1. (c)
2. (a)
3. (a)
4. (a)
5. (a)
6. (b)
7. (a)
8. (d)
9. (c)
10. (c)
11. (c)
12. (b)
13. (c)
14. (c)
15. (c)
16. (b)

DOEACC EXTN CENTRE, NHIC 194, 1st Floor,
13. The process of translating information
Kharavel Nagar, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar-751001
Mob. - 9937954419, 9124372325
from its original form into an encoded,
incomprehensible form is called _____
a)
Deccryption
b) Authorization
c)
Encryption
d) Coding
44
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
5W'S + H :
(Why, Who, What, When, Where and How)
BONES
Nityananda Swain
Q.
Are bones living or dead ?
The bones are very hard and strong.
Therefore, the doubt arises whether they are
living or dead. Although this doubt is quite
understandable, remember that they are living
like any other body tissues.
You might have been told by your
te ache rs th at grow th is an impo rtan t
characteristic of the living. You have noticed
that the bones of a child are smaller and
thinner. But as he marches on and continues to
add years to his life, his bones also continue
to grow. Therefore, they become larger and
thicker. Besides, when a bone is broken or
fractured, the broken ends too start growing
towards each other and join to form a single
piece again. This is effected as the bones are
living tissues.
Q.
What are the bones made up ?
If one examines a dried bone, one finds
out that it constitutes both the organic and the
inorganic substances, their proportion being
25 and 75 per ce nt re sp ec ti vely. Th e
‘collagen’, which is a protein by nature, is
nearly 90 percent of all the organic matters
in bon es, the re st 10 pe rc en t bei ng
carbohydrates combined with proteins (the
combination is termed glycoprotein), fats
and other complex compounds.
Science Horizon
The inorganic matters provide hardness
to bones. The hardness is mostly due to the
presence of large amount of calcium and
phosphate. Apart from these two elements, the
bones also contain sodium, magnesium,
strontium, chloride, fluoride, bicarbonate,
citrate, etc. The strontium and the fluoride
contribute to bones’ hardness too. The adult
body contains about 1.0 to 1.2 kilogram of
calcium, 99 percent of which is present in bones
and teeth. Similarly, out of 400 to 700 gm of
phosphorous as phosphates in the adult human
body, about 88 percent of it occurs in bones
and teeth, but in combination with calcium.
You will also be surprised to know that
like all other body tissues, bones contain water
too, although it appears devoid of it.
Q. What about the size and shape of
bones? Is it same or different ?
The size and shape of bones vary. As you
know, the bones of the forearm, arm, leg and
thigh are long, those of the hand and foot are
short, the sternum or the breastbone and some
of the bones of the skull are flat, the ribs are
long, flat and curved and that constitute the
spine are irregular.
Q.
What are its structural characteristics?
The bones are no doubt compact and
hard exterior, but the interior is spongy. This
spongy part is known as the marrow of the
bone or bonemarrow, in short. This is the site
where all the cells of the blood like red blood
cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and
platelets are formed.
45
JULY, 2013
During bone formation, first of all, its
framework is laid down. The framework
mostly consists of carbohydrates and proteins.
Su bs eq uen tl y, miner al s like cal ciu m,
phosphorous, fluoride, strontium and other
compounds are deposited over this framework
to complete the process of bone formation.
The structure of a bone
Besides, bones are covered with a tough
and thin membrane termed periosteum.
Q. In our body, when does the process of
bone formation begin ?
The foundation for the formation of bone
Q. The bone-tissue being living, does it
need nutrients for its sustenance ?
begins while the human embryo is only two
Yes, it does ! The bones are also supplied
girls and boys, this process continues till they
with blood vessels. Through blood are
transported nutrients, oxygen and water to the
bones. They do have nerve supply as well.
attain the age of 16 and 18 respectively. At the
initial phase of formation, the bones are very
Q.
How do bones grow ?
months old in the mothers’ womb. In case of
soft, but their shape is just like that of a fully
developed one. The bones that are soft at the
initial state of development are called the
As you have been told, the bones are
living tissues. In bones, there are four different
cartilages. The cartilage-model is subsequently
types of cells namely, the osteoblasts,
osteocytes, osteoclasts and fibroblasts. In
Greek, ‘osteon’ means bone. That is why bone-
Q. How do bones get their calcium and
phosphorous ?
related cells carry the prefix ‘-Osteo-’.
The osteoblasts and fibroblasts produce
collagen which form the framework for the
bones. The osteocytes develop from the
osteoblasts and help in the deposition of
calcium in the bones. The osteoclasts are
larger cells with multiple nuclei. They absorb
and remove excess of bone tissue. While
remodeling the growing bones or the damaged
bones during the repair process of fractures.
46
converted into the bone-tissue proper.
As you know we get our nutrients from
the foods we eat. That is also true for calcium
and phosphorous. Its best sources in the diet
are the milk, curd and cheese. Quite a good
amount of it is obtained from the green leafy
vegetables, cabbage, beans, fish and egg yolk.
The calcium and phosphorous from the
foodstuffs enter into the blood stream from
the intestine. But their absorption from the
intestine into blood and deposition on the soft
Science Horizon
JULY, 2013
frame of the bones require vitamin D. The
Q.
What are its important functions ?
Vitamin D, although is obtained from diet,
i.
The bones provide shape and support to
the individual. Without the bones, we
would have been just like a mass of
flesh. The longer the bones of the limbs,
taller are we.
ii.
The bones provide protection to the vital
organs of the body. For example, the
brain is protected by the skull and the
heart and the lungs in the chest cavity are
by the rib-cage.
iii.
They are the storage sites for calcium
and phosphorous. Therefore, when the
blood levels of calcium and phosphorous
fall, these nutrients ae mobilised from
the bones to maintain the levels.
iv.
Various blood cells are formed in the
bonemarrow; therefore, when the
marrow fails to function normally, the
counts of the cells appreciably fall
leading to a lot of complications.
v.
Bones also provide points for the
attachment of skeletal muscles. Because
of the attachment of muscles, they act
as levers, and make all sorts of body
movements possible and enable us to do
physical work. The tendons of muscles
and ligaments at the joints are attached
to the bones also.
vi.
The patients suffering from diseases like
leukaemia or blood cancer, multiple
myeloma, and thalassaemia etc. are
treated by transplantation of bone
marrow with satisfactory outcome.
significant amount of it comes from its
synthesis in our skin. When sunlight falls on
skin, skin synthesises this vitamin. Vitamin D
per se is not functional. In order to become
functional, it needs to be activated in the liver
and kidneys. Parathormone, the hormone
secreted from the parathyroid glands also plays
a major role in the deposition of calcium and
phosphorous on the bones.
Q.
How many bones are there in an adult ?
The number of bones in the skeleton of
an adult is 206. It is more in case of children.
The human skeleton, with principal bones designated.
Science Horizon
47
JULY, 2013
thin membrane covering the bone surface,
come cells to form new tissues inside the
blood clots. These newly formed tissues act
as coverings on the broken surfaces of the
bones. Thereafter, calcium, phosphorous,
magnesium etc. are deposited to form soft
bone and subsequently, the hard bones. Thus
the broken segments get united. Later, the
bones are remodeled to smoothen the surface
at the fracture-site. The remodeling work is
accompished by the osteoclasts. After a few
months, the injured bones become as hard
and strong as the healthy ones.
Q. What are the important diseases of
the bones ?
The vertebrae of the spinal column have between them
disks of cartilage that act as elastic cushions.
Q.
In accidents, victims often sustain
fracture of bones. How do the broken
bones unite ?
In fracture, the bones may be broken
In vitamin D deficiency, there occur
rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Due to lack of vitamin D, calcium and
phosphorous absorption from intestine is
hampered and bones fail to get adequate
amount of these nutrients. This results in
weak and deformed bones. Hence, the
patients suffer from bony deformities.
Similarly, due to chronic deficiency of
calcium, one suffers from Ostcoporosis. In
living tissues with their own blood supply.
this disease, bones become porous and
therefore, vulnerable for fractures. The
bones also may be infected by bacteria which
is known as osteomyelitis. Tuberculosis of
bones and cancer of bones are the other
common bone diseases. In spondylitis, the
When a bone breaks, blood accumulates at
vertebrae of the spine are affected.
into two or more pieces. In order to restore
the usual functions, the broken bones need to
unite and regain normal shape and size.
You already know that the bones are the
the injured site between the bone pieces.
From the periosteum, which is the tough and
48

'ABHIPSA' Sector -6, Plot No.-1131,
Abhinab Bidanasi, Cuttack - 753014
Science Horizon
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES FOR THE MAGAZINE
1.
"SCIENCE HORIZON" aims at developing the scientific outlook of students as well as the general
people and seeks togivethem informationonscientific developments. Itis published as a monthly magazine.
2.
The authors desirous of writing and contributing articles to the magazine should first assimilate the ideas
of the theme and present it in simple language and popular style.
3.
The authors are requested to write clearly on one side ofA/4 size paper. The relevant pictures in 4cm X
6 cm size are welcome. Photo copies of manuscripts are not accepted for consideration.
4.
Each article will be ordinarily of two to three printed pages inA/4 size papers.
5.
The article shall be profusely illustrated with pictures.
6.
At the end of the article the author should give the references and suggestions for further reading.
7.
The reference of books, journals, sources, ideas and essential points collected by the writer should be
mentioned in the bibliography. This will enhance the quality and fidelity of the writing and give the reader
an opportunity for making further studies.
8.
Matter translated from other languages and illustrations should indicate the original sources otherwise
those would not be accepted. The articles which are not selected are not returned to the authors. However,
if the author wants, such articles may be collected from our office.
9.
As far as practicable the articles should be based on contemporary science and must be easily
comprehensible to students at the secondary level.
10.
The writers should present difficult concepts of science through stories of everydaylife, heart-rendering
songs, pictures, satirical cartoons or attractive dramas.
11.
Allunits in the articles should be given in the metric system.
12.
The title of the article should be brief and attractive. Moreover, subtitles maybe given in long articles. The
writings should be coherent and cohesive.
13.
There should not be repetition of specific words. While ensuring the contemporary spirit of the writing, it
should reflect some valuable lesson for the society. It is also necessary to avoid mistakes in spelling,
language use and factual details.
14.
The Editor & the Editorial Board of "Science Horizon", Secretary of the Academy or Odisha Bigyan
Academy shall not be responsible for the views of the authors.
Address for sending the articles
The Secretary,
Odisha BigyanAcademy
Plot No. B/2, Saheed Nagar,
Bhubaneswar - 751 007
Telephone - 0674-2543468
Fax - 0674-2547256
E-Mail - [email protected]
Price : Rs 10.00
(Website : www.orissabigyanacademy.nic.in)
UNESCO KALI
NGA LAUREATES andKALI
NGA SAMMAN AWARDEES