A new model for scientific publication

In an article titled "Post-publication peer review: opening up scientific conversation", the inventors of and original advocates for open access now propose a radically new model of “publish first and then referee openly later” system.

Faculty of 1000 (F1000 London) where the author of this article belongs to, its remit is to work with named experts to identify and recommend the most interesting papers published across different subject areas in biology and medicine.

Quoting the article, "Open access removes barriers for readers. Open, post-publication refereeing removes barriers for readers and authors alike, and it refocuses the role of peer review from, at its worst, a behind-the-scenes variety of censorship to, at its best, the process of expert criticism and advice that has always been its core and upon which the progress of science depends".

Researcher in Indian Astronomy

Dr.S.Balachandra Rao has been researching in Indian Astronomy under successive research projects sponsored by the National Commission for History of Science (INSA), New Delhi since 1993. He is also a member of the Research Advisory Council for History of science and also the editorial board of the Indian Journal of History of Science, INSA.

He has authored numerous books on astronomy and mathematics in English and Kannada. The following lists some of the books.

• Indian Astronomy - A Primer, Gandhi Center, 2008     This is the first book that one should read in order to familiarize onself with Indian astronomy
• Eclipses in Indian Astronomy,  Gandhi Center, 2008      This book has an interesting chapter on determining the date of Mahabharatha apart from covering the methods for computing eclipses, including improved siddhantic procedures.
• Transits And Occultations in Indian Astronomy, Gandhi Center, 2009      This book is a sequel to the eclipses book dealing with transits. It also has interesting accounts of modern Indian astronomers
• Indian Mathematics And Astronomy, Gandhi Center, 2004        This is the must read and have a copy book. It introduces contributions in mathematics and astronomy from India. 
• Astrology : Believe It Or Not?, Navakarnataka Publications, 2000     For all the believers of astronomy, this book is a must. It is an eye opener which analyzes astrology from a scientific point of view.
• Tradition Science And Society, Gandhi Center, 2009
• Indian Astronomy : An Introduction, Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2002 (Alternate link).        This book has computer programs for calculating all the algorithms discussed
• Indian Mathematics And Astronomy: Some Landmarks, Gandhi Center, 2004
• Ancient Indian Astronomy: Planetary Positions and Eclipses, B.R.Publishing Corp, Delhi, 2000 (Alternate link)
• Differential Calculus (with programs), New Age International, New Delhi, 2005
• Numerical Methods with programs (Alternate link), Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2004
• Differential Equations with applications (with programs), Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2002

Adhika masa and Kshaya masa

This article is regarding the concept of Adhikamasa and Kshayamasa (intercalary months) used in some luni-solar calendars in India. Luni-solar calendars are in vogue since lunar months determine the high and low tides while the solar year determines the seasons. But the use of  luni-solar calendars create a unique problem.

Since the lunar year (12 lunar months) lags behind the solar year (~365.25 days), this creates a need to keep the lunar year and the solar year in synchrony. Hence the need to use Adhika masa (extra month) and Kshaya masa (removed month)!  The reason for their asynchrony is explained next.