Publications

Folding and unfolding of proteins is a biologically important topic as many neurological diseases involve misfolding of proteins. Here we have used the technique of X-ray crystallography to characterise the early stages of unfolding of the protein lysozyme purified from hen egg-white. The results when compared with our earlier studies reveal, for the first-time, the possibility of protein unfolding to start from a unique point. If true, this would enable engineering of proteins and drugs to prevent neurological disorders.

 In this study, a modular radial flow annular reactor using the strontium bromide hexahydrate-monohydrate conversion reaction is designed for long-term energy storage, and performance analysis is conducted for eight cities from the Indian Himalayan Region, each with distinct meteorological characteristics, to evaluate the system’s suitability.  The year-long charging and discharging efficiencies are nearly location-independent, with consistent values of ∼35 % and ∼74 %, respectively. The system configuration with direct solar heating capabilities exhibits better overall system efficiency and economic feasibility, with the levelized cost of heating in the range of INR 33–51/kWh. The heating cost is higher than that of conventional electric systems but is competitive with diesel-based heating (>INR 40/kWh).

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions significantly impact the middle and upper atmosphere. They cause cooling and thermal shrinking and affect the atmospheric structure. Atmospheric contraction results in changes in key atmospheric features, such as the stratopause height or the peak ionospheric electron density, and also results in reduced thermosphere density. These changes can impact, among others, the lifespan of objects in low Earth orbit, refraction of radio communication and GPS signals, and the peak altitudes of meteoroids entering the Earth's atmosphere. Given this, there is a critical need for observational capabilities to monitor the middle and upper atmosphere. Equally important is the commitment to maintaining and improving long-term, homogeneous data collection. However, capabilities to observe the middle and upper atmosphere are decreasing rather than improving.

Rare diseases affect a small percentage of the population. Collectively, they impact millions of people globally. Launched in 2008 by Rare Diseases Europe, Rare Disease Awareness Day is observed on the last day of February. 70% of rare diseases start in childhood, and 72% of rare diseases are genetic. The proper treatment and diagnosis are still a struggle for rare disease patients as the conditions are not well understood. Stories narrated by individuals burdened by such rare diseases motivate others and testify to their strength and resilience.

Large-sized nuclear power plant (NPP) units with a rated capacity of 700 MWe or more are crucial for the civilian nuclear sector since they enable efficient land utilization, and provide economies of scale, facilitating rapid capacity enhancement. However, since commercial nuclear reactors are envisaged to supply clean and affordable baseload power to the utilities, the possible technological options should be evaluated in detail through a multi-disciplinary lens. This report provides a detailed comparative evaluation of five prominent variants of large light water reactors (LWRs) of foreign origin and an indicative ranking among the studied reactor technologies is provided as input to policymakers and eligible Indian energy companies interested in putting up large LWRs.

Large-sized nuclear power plant (NPP) units with a rated capacity of 700 MWe or more are crucial for the civilian nuclear sector since they enable efficient land utilization, and provide economies of scale, facilitating rapid capacity enhancement. However, since commercial nuclear reactors are envisaged to supply clean and affordable baseload power to the utilities, the possible technological options should be evaluated in detail through a multi-disciplinary lens. This report provides a detailed comparative evaluation of five prominent variants of large light water reactors (LWRs) of foreign origin and an indicative ranking among the studied reactor technologies is provided as input to policymakers and eligible Indian energy companies interested in putting up large LWRs.

There is a vast and ever-accumulating amount of behavioural data on individually recognised animals, an incredible resource to shed light on the ecological and evolutionary drivers of variation in animal behaviour. Yet, the full potential of such data lies in comparative research across taxa with distinct life histories and ecologies. In this multi-author paper, we introduce MacaqueNet, a global collaboration of over 100 researchers (https://macaquenet.github.io/) aimed at unlocking the wealth of cross-species data for research on macaque social behaviour.