CURRENT SCIENCE A fortnightly journal of research Editor: P. Balaram Associate Editors: K. S. Gandhi, N. V. Joshi, S. S. Krishnamurthy and R. Srinivasan Editorial Board G. K. Ananthasuresh, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: suresh@mecheng.iisc.ernet.in B. R. Arora, Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, Dehra Dun. e-mail: arorabr@wihg.res.in E. Arunan, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: arunan@ipc.iisc.ernet.in Mammen Chandy, Tata Memorial Centre, Kolkata e-mail: mammen@cmcvellore.ac.in Dipankar Chatterji, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: dipankar@mbu.iisc.ernet.in G. R. Desiraju, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: gautam_desiraju@yahoo.com R. Gadagkar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: ragh@ces.iisc.ernet.in Debasish Ghose, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: dghose@aero.iisc.ernet.in K. N. Ganeshaiah, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore e-mail: kng@vsnl.com Giridhar Madras, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: giridhar@chemeng.iisc.ernet.in B. N. Goswami, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune e-mail: goswami@tropmet.res.in S. E. Hasnain, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi e-mail: sehiitd@gmail.com A. M. Jayannavar, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar e-mail: jayan@iopb.res.in S. Kailas, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai e-mail: kailas@magnum.barc.ernet.in A. K. Kembhavi, IUCAA, Pune e-mail: akk@iucaa.ernet.in Kusala Rajendran, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: kusala@ceas.iisc.ernet.in S. C. Lakhotia, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi e-mail: lakhotia@bhu.ac.in H. S. Mani, Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai e-mail: hsmani@imsc.res.in N. K. Mehra, AIIMS, New Delhi e-mail: narin98@hotmail.com Gadadhar Misra, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore e-mail: gm@math.iisc.ernet.in T. J. Pandian, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai e-mail: tjpandian@rediffmail.com Deepak Pental, University of Delhi South Campus, Delhi e-mail: dpental@gmail.com G. Prathap, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, New Delhi. e-mail: gp@niscair.res.in Girish Sahni, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh e-mail: director@imtech.res.in S. R. Shetye, Goa University, Goa e-mail: shetye@unigoa.ac.in Mewa Singh, University of Mysore, Mysore e-mail: mewasingh@sancharnet.in A. K. Singhvi, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad e-mail: singhvi@prl.res.in Anindya Sinha, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore e-mail: asinha@nias.iisc.ernet.in Somdatta Sinha, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali. e-mail: sinha@ccmb.res.in S. K. Tandon, University of Delhi, Delhi e-mail: sktand@nda.vsnl.net.in B. K. Thelma, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi e-mail: thelmabk@yahoo.co.in R. Uma Shaanker, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. e-mail: rus@vsnl.com 338 Subscription Rates Universities, Institutions and Government Departments: Rs 4000 per year Industries, Business Houses and Commercial Establishments: Rs 10,000 per year Schools and Colleges: Rs 1500 per year Personal Subscriptions: Two years – Rs 1250; Three years – Rs 1750; Five years – 3000 Other countries (one year): Personal, US $100; Institutions/ Industries, US $300 All overseas addresses are served by Air Mail. Send subscriptions to: Circulation Department, Indian Academy of Sciences, C. V. Raman Avenue, P.B. 8005, Bangalore 560 080, INDIA (NOT to Current Science). Allow four weeks from subscription realisation for shipments to begin. Payment method: Demand Drafts or Cheques payable to Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (NOT to Current Science). Cheques drawn in Indian Rupees must be payable on a Bank in India, and must add bank charges of Rupees 80. Editorial Office : CURRENT SCIENCE C. V. Raman Avenue P. B. 8001, Bangalore 560 080, India Telephone: 91–80–2361 2310/2266 1263 Fax: 91–80–2361 6094 email: currsci@ias.ernet.in Website: www.currentscience.ac.in S. Ramaseshan Fellow: Jaimini Sarkar Riki Krishnan Science Writing Fellow: Science Writing Interns: Richa Malhotra Hardik Panchal and K. V. Soumya Editorial staff: R. Anuradha, Chandrika Ramesh, D. L. Geetha, G. Madhavan, Megha Prakash, V. Rajitha, N. Subashini, V. Venkateswari, M. S. Venugopal Circulation and Accounts: Peter Jayaraj, B. Krishna, Ranjini Mohan, Shanthi Bhaskar, A. Shashidhar, C. Vedamurthy Working Committee, Current Science Association P. D. R. V. N. Balaram, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Balasubramanian, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad Gadagkar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Treasurer) M. Katoch, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi V. Madhusudana, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore (Secretary) N. Mukunda, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore R. Narasimha, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (President ) Shailesh Nayak, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi K. Radhakrishnan, Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore V. S. Ramamurthy, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore (Vice-President) P. Rama Rao, IARC for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials, Hyderabad T. Ramasami, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi A. K. Sood, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore M. S. Swaminathan, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai Swati A. Piramal, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, Mumbai © 2012, Current Science Association CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 103, NO. 3, 10 AUGUST 2012