Annual Report 2003 - 2004

Infrastructure Development

Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF)

Sophisticated analytical instruments are vital for pursuing research in many areas of modern science and technology. Many institutions in the country do not have such instruments. These instruments are expensive and cannot be provided through individual project mechanism. The Department of Science & Technology has set up Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIFs) in different parts of the country to provide the facilities of sophisticated analytical instruments to the research workers in general and specially from the institutions which do not have access to such instruments. The programme enables research workers to pursue R&D activities requiring such facilities and keep pace with developments taking place globally. At present, twelve Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIFs) are being supported by DST in the Institutions like IIT, Chennai; IIT, Mumbai; Bose Institute, Kolkata; CDRI, Lucknow; Panjab University; Chandigarh; NEHU, Shillong; Nagpur University; Nagpur; IISc., Bangalore; AIIMS, New Delhi; Gauhati University, Guwahati; IIT, Roorkee and CVM, Vallabh Vidyanagar. A new facility is being set up at Sophisticated Test & Instrumentation Centre (STIC), Kochi.

Analytical Instrument Facilities available at the SAIFs

The SAIFs are equipped with sophisticated analytical instruments such as Scanning Electron Microscope (Figure 3.1), Transmission Electron Microscope, Electron Probe Micro Analyzer, Mass Spectrometer (Figure 3.2), ICP, NMR, EPR Spectrometers, X-ray Diffractometer, Thermal Analysis System etc. to meet the needs of users in various areas of science & technology. The following instruments have been added to the existing SAIFs during the year to strengthen them: TEM with image analysis system at SAIF, New Delhi; Powder X-ray Diffractometer with high temperature attachment (Figure 3.3) at SAIF, Guwahati; CHNSO Elemental Analyzer at SAIF, Lucknow; SEM at SAIF, Shillong; X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer at SAIF, Chennai; and Laser Flash Thermal Conductivity Meter at SICART, Vallabh Vidyanagar. The SAIFs over the years have acquired the capabilities of repair and maintenance of instruments and majority of the instruments with them are being maintained in-house.

Figure 3.1 : Scanning Electron Microscope at SICART, V. Vidyanagar

Figure 3.2 : Mass Spectrometer (ESI, APCI, LC/MS/MS) at the SAIF, Lucknow

Figure 3.3 : Powder X-ray diffractometer at the SAIF, Guwahati

New Facility

A new facility at Sophisticated Test & Instrumentation Centre (STIC) located within Cochin University of Science & Technology campus has been sanctioned. It will be equipped with UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer, FT-IR Spectrometer, GC-Mass Spectrometer, ICP-AES, XRD (powder), Thermal Analysis System (DTA/TGA, DSC) and CHN Analyzer. The instruments/ facilities at the SAIF, Kochi will be useful for chemical/material analysis and characterization.

The potential users of the facilities will be research workers from about a dozen universities, science departments of the colleges affiliated with these universities, R&D laboratories and industries in Kerala and adjoining states/region.

Analytical services

The SAIFs met the analytical needs of scientists in various areas of science & technology enabling them to pursue research in frontline areas. Around 6,000 scientists/users from all over the country utilized the facilities during the year including users from almost all the universities in the country. About 77% of the users were from academic sector. About 70,000 samples were analyzed at the Facilities during the year. Some of the major facilities/analytical techniques offered were as follows:

• Almost all types of techniques/facilities related to NMR Spectroscopy including 1D and 2D NMR of all NMR active nuclei, 3D experiments, Inverse experiments, Gradient experiments, Imaging of small objects, Structure determination of peptides/ bio-molecules.
• Techniques/facilities related to Electron Microscopy including study of surface topography/ morphology and internal architecture of cells/tissues, Immuno-electron microscopy, 3D imaging of biological specimens etc.
• Techniques/facilities in Mass Spectrometry including EI, ESI, APCI, GC-MS, LC-MS, MS-MS, MALDI-TOF MS, analysis of organic and organo-metallic compounds and bio-molecules etc.
• Techniques/facilities related to X-ray based analysis including single crystal X-ray diffractometer data to obtain unit cell parameters, space groups, morphology, three dimensional molecular structure of bio molecules & other molecules & molecular packing etc.
• Qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis including trace elements in silicate rocks, lime stone, cement and other materials, etc.
• Facilities and assistance for sample preparation, Testing of quality of raw material and end-products.
• Consultancy services like solution to analytical problems including development of analytical methods for specific needs, sampling problems, spectrum analysis and interpretation of results etc.

Short term courses/training programmes/workshops

Short term courses/training programmes/workshops were organized by the SAIFs on use and application of various instruments and analytical techniques to create awareness among the users about these and on maintenance/repair/operation of the instruments for technicians. Some of the training programmes/workshops organized during the year were as follows:

• Workshop on “NMR in Chemistry: From molecule to human behavior” by SAIF, Lucknow.
• “Symposium on recent developments in NMR methodology” and “National symposium on magnatic resonance” by SAIF, Bangalore. About 200 scientists including Nobel laureate, Prof. R.R Ernst participated in the symposia.
  
• Workshops and training programmes on Electron Microscopy by SAIFs at Chandigarh, Shillong and New Delhi.
• Workshop on “X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Fluorescence: Procedures and Applications” by SAIF, Guwahati.
• Refresher course and workshop on Analytical Instrumentation by SAIFs at Chennai and Chandigarh respectively.
• About 50 persons were trained in operation/maintenance of various analytical instruments at SAIF, Lucknow.

New measurement/analytical techniques developed/unique measurements done Following new analytical techniques were developed/unique measurements were done during the year:

• A new technique to view the depth or side of a trench/channel of a semiconductor wafer and other materials such as surface features at joint of cellular walls of potato chips etc. was developed at SAIF, Chandigarh.
• A new replicating material & technique for SEM studies on fragile material like flower petal was developed at SAIF, Chandigarh. With the new technique it is possible to get a perfect replica of the surfaces.
• Protocol for recording heteronuclear multiple quantum NMR spectra in oriented systems in natural abundance was developed at SAIF, Bangalore.
• Protocol for 15N measurements in natural abundance was developed using gradients and applied to peptides at SAIF, Bangalore.
• An expert system for the prediction and classification of 1H NMR spectra CSF of children suffering from meningitis was developed at SAIF, Lucknow.
• A novel method which uses a single off-magic angle spinning spectrum to identify all the 13C resonances of the liquid crystals was developed at SAIF, Bangalore. The method is based on the fact that the carbon chemical shifts in the isotropic phase and in the oriented phase under static and off-magic angle spinning conditions are uniquely related. A computational procedure was developed to take into account deviations arising out of nonideal experimental conditions and the assignments were made by identifying the minimum in the differences in the frequencies between calculated and experimental line positions. Practical implementation of the method was demonstrated in the case of the liquid crystal N-(4-ethoxybenzylidene)-4-n-butlyaniline [EBBA].

Workshop on NABL Accreditation for the SAIFs

It has been planned to get these facilities accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL). In order to give an exposure to various elements of accreditation and help in taking further steps to get themselves accredited, a workshop on NABL accreditation was organized for the SAIFs. The topics covered in the workshop included: Salient features of the ISO/IEC 17025 International Standard, documentation requirements in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025, assuring quality of test results, uncertainty in measurements in chemical testing, measurement traceability and requirements for calibration, preparing an analytical laboratory for NABL accreditation and steps involved, internal audit for laboratories.

Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) Program

Considering the present status of the S&T sector in the universities and related academic institutions who are in dire need for strengthening the existing S&T infrastructure support with adequate funding and associated flexibility, the above scheme “Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure in universities and higher educational institutions (FIST)” was launched in 2000-2001

Under the Program, the support was provided for basic infrastructure & enabling facilities and conducive environment for promoting R&D in new and emerging areas including ready access to information system, networking, databases & scientific journals and also to computational facilities. This would enable the universities & academic institutions in attracting fresh talent and pursue competitive research. This would also enhance visibility of these departments.

The Program envisaged two levels of support e.g. Level – I & Level – II in six broad subject areas viz. Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences & Mathematical Sciences.

During 2000-2003, 459 Departments (400 departments in Level – I & 59 departments in Level – II) were identified for support at a total budget of about Rs 214 crores for 5 years. In the year 2003-04, another 188 departments (174 departments in Level – I & 14 departments in Level – II) have recently been identified for support at a total budget of about Rs 77 crores for 5 years.

During the current year, so far, the support has been provided to the Departments identified during 2002-03 in both levels along with support to on-going departments out of total budgetary allocation of Rs 75 crore. Apart from support for basic equipment necessary for imparting quality teaching & modernization of laboratories, the support for creation of a few major facilities such as Ion Chromatography Systems, Automated DNA Sequencers, Ultracentrifuges, FACS, CD-Dichograph with stopped flow arrangement, I-Cycler, X-ray Diffraction set up, LC – MS - MS, Scanning Probe Microscope, Oligonucleotide Synthesizer, HPLC-cum–FPLC, Molecular Imaging System, Small size Liquid Nitrogen Plant, High Resolution Powder X-ray Diffractometer, Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer, 300 MHz & 400 MHz FT-NMRs, Mass Spectrometer, Thermal Analyser Systems, Plasma Deposition Etching System, Universal Testing Machines (UTMs), GC-MSs, Reneshaw Raman System, Electron Microprobe Analyser, High Resolution Microscopes, Confocal Microscope, Protein Sequencing Platform, AFMs, Scanning Tunneling Microscope, Vacuum Melting Furnace, etc. were also provided. For accessing internet and other computational facilities including GIS by the students & faculty members, support was also provided to a large number of institutions for creation of a ‘Central Computer Lab’. For effective implementation of the Program, follow-up visits to the departments including review of the progress were also undertaken. To assess utilization of major facilities created under the Program, visits of the departments by the Expert Group are also planned.

Seminar/Symposia and Assistance to Professional Bodies

The scheme for seminar/symposia and assistance to professional bodies aims at providing platform for interaction among scientists. The programme provides grant-in-aid for holding national/international seminars/symposia, conferences, workshops, and for publishing journals etc. During the year, international conferences supported encompass the subjects such as Ecology of biological invasions; Traditional knowledge systems of India; Disaster management and infrastructure and control system; Modern trends in inorganic chemistry; Mechanical behaviour of systems at small length scales; Mathematics and Physics of complex and nonlinear systems; Ocean electronics (SYMPOL -2003); Laser application and optical metrology (ICLAOM 03); Plant taxonomy : advances and relevance; Advances in surface treatment research & applications (ASTRA-2003); Integrated sustainable water resources, planning and management; Biochemical approaches for utilization and exploitation of commercially important plants; Indian aerospace vehicles; Sustainability of pollen and pollinator resources for food and nutritional security for human welfare; Ionic devices; New millennium strategies on quality, safety and GMPs of herbal drugs/products; Molecular toxicology and environmental health; Frontier areas of entomological research; Advances in materials and their processing (AMIP-2003); Nonlinear systems and dynamics; Computer integrated design & manufacturing; Convergent technologies for Asia pacific; Current trends on cancer; Exploration for minerals; Reef ecosystem remediation; DNA structure and genomic analysis; Point processes and product densities; Biological treatment of waste water & waste air; Reproductive biology; etc.

Grant-in-aid was provided for few important journals such as Bombay Natural History Society; Current Science; Pediatric Urology; Journal of Calcutta Mathematical Society; Journal of Agrometeorology; Ageing and Society; Science & Culture etc.

Assistance For Participation In Conferences Abroad (PFA)

The objective of the scheme is to provide partial travel assistance to the Indian Scientists working in the Educational/Academic Institutions and National R&D Laboratories to enable them to participate in the International Conferences / Workshops etc. This provides an opportunity to the Indian Scientists to interact with their foreign counterparts and update their knowledge and also present their research findings at international level for a better peer reviewing.

During the year, 878 candidates were selected for support to attend international events. This included 357 young scientists supported towards training courses. Priority was given to those who were invited speakers or were chairing a session or giving keynote/special lectures. Participation in multi-disciplinary conferences was encouraged. Some important conferences were Material Research Society -Spring Meeting, International Congress of Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanic & Thermodynamics, International Cancer Congress, International Liquid Crystal Conference, International Conference on Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology, International Conference on Nonlinear Optical Transmission Processes, World Conference on Dermatology, International Congress of Parasitology International Training Workshop on New Technology & Applications in the Analysis of Rocks & Minerals, International Workshop on in-vitro Toxicology, International Workshop on Engineering RNA Virus Genome as Biosafe Factors, Training programme on Theoretical and Practical Course on Molecular Biology of Leishmania etc.