Artificial reefs for the enhancement of biological resources and livelyhoods of fishermen

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has conducted the final report presentation meeting for commemorating the completion of the Consultancy project on" Site Selection and Monitoring of Artificial Reefs in Eleven Selected Locations in Tamil Nadu" on 18'" May 2009, at 15.00 hrs. by Madras Research Centre of CMFRI at Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture. Dr.G.Mohanraj, Principal Scientist delivered the welcome address. Dr.H.Mohamad Kasim, Principal Scientist & Scientist in charge of Madras Research Centre of CMFRI, presented the project report wherein he highlighted the salient achievements under the project followed by detailed video clipping presentation on the project activities

SOFTWARE QUALITY: DUAL EXPERTS OPINION AND CONDITIONAL BASED AGGREGATION METHOD

The software reliability is the significant factor to find out software failures in software development Life Cycle. The one more factor considered is the quality of software measurement process. These two factors are mostly considered for the possibility of execution of the software without failures in a software development life cycle. The software reliability and software quality cannot be predicted accurately because of its unsuccessful detection of failures in certain scenarios. This paper mainly focuses on improving the software engineering metrics using an expert opinion and in order to resolve the software failures. On choosing the software engineering measures there are different types of problem that are been occurred in that in this paper we have taken two main issues. The first issue is number of measures that are utilized in estimating software quality and these software measures are chosen with the help of expert opinion. However, the experts are humans so they may have less adequate knowledge about different software evaluations. The Problem is resolved by taking consideration with first level and second level of experts ’ opinion for selecting the best measures for software quality. The second issue is of data aggregation function which is not suitable for large number of data aggregations, here in this paper we select a prioritized opinion for data aggregation. The prioritization is based on number of experts involved in each life-cycle phase of software development with time duration to give the opinion. Finally the experiments results are shown for the software quality improvisation by the proposed framework

Limitations of conducting community surveys to access the epidemiological impact of TB control programmes on the incidence of TB

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem in India, and accounts for nearly 20-30% of the global TB burden. A comprehensive review1 in 1993 of the National TB Control Programme (NTP), present in our country for four decades, documented the failure of NTP due to various drawbacks. These included poor management of the TB control programme, over-reliance on X-rays, poor treatment adherence, under-utilization of laboratory services, poor supply of quality drugs, inadequate funding and lack of proper documentation and case reporting. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), an application of the globally accepted WHO recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy, was implemented in 1993 on a pilot basis, rapidly expanded from 1997 and achieved nation-wide coverage in March 2006

Evaluation of a Non-Rifampicin Continuation Phase (6HE) Following Thrice-Weekly Intensive Phase for the Treatment of New Sputum Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Setting: Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai and Madurai, South India. Objective: To assess response to treatment, relapse and emergence of MDR TB in newly diagnosed patients with sputumpositive tuberculosis using an intermittent intensive phase followed by a non-rifampicin continuation phase. Design: Patients were treated in a controlled clinical trial with 2HRZE3/6HE with thrice-weekly direct dosing in the intensive phase and once-weekly with six doses self-administered in the continuation phase. Clinical and bacteriologic evaluation was done every month for 24 months. Results: The overall outcome was good, with 92% favourable response (cure) and 4.8% relapse in 450 patients including 103 who did not receive extension of intensive phase for positive smear, 38 with initial H-resistant cultures, 4 with MDR TB and 15 who received less than 75% of chemotherapy. In 392 patients with drug-susceptible cultures, 96%were cured and only 4% relapsed. There was no emergence of MDR TB among failures and relapses; toxicity was low. Conclusion: Newly-diagnosed Category I patients can be effectively treated with this regimen without emergence of MDR TB. It has immense potential in programmes where directly observed therapy cannot be ensured throughout, and when rifampicin is contraindicated in HIV-TB patients who require concomitant therapy with anti-retroviral drugs

Influence of sex, age & nontuberculous infection at intake on the efficacy of BCG: re-analysis of 15-year data from a double-blind randomized control trial in south India

Background & objectives: To estimate the efficacy of BCG in preventing tuberculosis over a 15-year period, and also to assess the impact of infection with nontuberculous environmental mycobacteria in a rural community in Chingleput district in Tamil Nadu in south India. We re-analysed the 15-year follow up data of a large randomized trial conducted earlier. Methods: A double-blind randomized control trial was initiated in 1968, in which over 100,000 uninfected subjects with a normal radiograph were allocated to placebo, BCG in low dose (0.01 mg) or BCG in high dose (1.0 mg); two widely used strains of BCG were employed, each in one half of the vaccinated subjects. Sensitivity to purified protein derivative (PPD-B) was also determined. The study population was followed for 15 yr by radiographic surveys of the total population once every 2.5 yr, selective case finding in suspects once in 10 months, and investigation of those reporting voluntarily with chest symptoms. Results: Coverage by radiography was of the order of 80 per cent throughout, while coverage by sputum examination of suspects was usually 90 per cent or above. The annual incidence of culturepositive tuberculosis (irrespective of smear) was estimated to be 55 per 100,000, and neither strain of BCG had any effect. The failure to protect was seen in both males and females, and in children and adults. However, in a subset of over 40,000 subjects who were also nonreactors to PPD-B, BCG had a low level of protection, i.e., 32 per cent (95% CI=3-52%), 29 per cent with the Danish strain and 34 per cent with the French strain. Interpretation & conclusion: Our findings reaffirm that BCG was of little value in preventing sputumpositive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis

Trends in initial drug resistance over three decades in a rural community in south India

programme. Aims: To study trend of initial drug resistance over a period of three decades in a rural community in five panchayat unions in Chingleput district in south India. Methods: A total population survey of tuberculosis in the area was undertaken in 1968-70, comprising radiographic examination of all individuals aged 10 years or more and sputum examination of those with abnormal shadows. Subsequently, the total population survey was repeated on 6 occasions at intervals of 2.5 years along with new entrants found at each survey, and on two more occasions (1991-92, 1994-96) in a subset of two panchayat unions. Prevalence cases and (new) incidence cases of culture-positive tuberculosis were identified in each survey, and their susceptibility to Isoniazid and Streptomycin was determined. Results: Between 1968 and 1986, initial drug resistance to Isoniazid increased from 12.5% to 20.7% in prevalence cases, at an average annual rate of 3.1%. For Streptomycin, the increase was from 6.4% to 12.1%, at the rate of 4.9% per annum. In incidence cases, the corresponding annual rate of increase was 3.8% for Isoniazid and 7.4% for Streptomycin. In the subset of the population, that was surveyed in 1991-92 and 1994- 96, there was some evidence of a decline in the proportion of resistant cases after 1984-86. Conclusion: There was a steady increase in the magnitude of initial drug resistance in the community between 1968 and 1986, which probably indicates an unsatisfactory tuberculosis programme during the period

Shortening short course chemotherapy: a randomized clinical trial for the treatment of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis with regimens using ofloxacin in the intensive phase

the setting of clinical trials, yet cumbersome to implement under practical conditions. Shorter treatment regimens would ease drug administration for both patients and providers: an effective. regimen of 3 or 4 months’ duration would have significant practical advantages for tuberculosis control. Methods: The study subjects were HIV negative adults with newly diagnosed. sputum smear and culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to one of four regimens: (a) Ofloxacin. Isoniazid. Rifampicin. and Pyrazinamide daily for 3 months; (b) regimen(a). followed by Isoniazid and Rifampicin twice a week for 1 month: (c) regimen(a). followed by Isoniazid and Rifampicin twice a week for 2 months: or (d) Ofloxacin. Isoniazid. Rifampicin, and Pyrazinamide daily for 2 months, followed by Isoniazid and Rifampicin twice a week for 2 months. Each dose was administered under direct observation. The patients were assessed clinically and bacteriologically every month during and after treatment. Follow up will continue for 5 years; the results up to 24 months after treatment are presented here. Results :A total of 529 patients were admitted to the study. Data for efficacy analysis are available for 416 patients: 113 were excluded primarily because of limited compliance. At the end of treatment, only 4 (1%) of 360 patients with initially drug-susceptible tuberculosis had an unfavourable bacteriological response (> 1 positive culture in the last 2 months of treatment). one patient in each regimen. Over a follow-up period of 2 years, 7 (8%) of 83, 3 (4%) of 81. 2 (2%) of 86. and 12 (13%) of 91 patients relapsed in regimens (a) through (d), respectively. Most (79%) of the relapses occurred in the 6 months following the cessation of treatment. Of the 47 patients with tuberculosis initially resistant only to Isoniazid. 2 (4%) had an unfavourable bacteriological response at the end of treatment. However, bacteriological relapse occurred in 8 (19%) of 43 such patients who were assessed for relapse. Intention to treat analysis i.e. after including those who had inadequate therapy. of 469 patients (which had 53 patients who received inadequate chemotherapy). showed that only 4 (3%) of 120. 6 (5%) of 115, 5 (4%) of 118 and 3 (3%) of I16 patients in the 4 regimens had an unfavourable bacteriological response at the end of treatment. Adverse reactions attributable to the anti-tuberculosis medications were observed in 3 1% (regimen d) to 44% (regimen c) of the patients. but a majority of the reactions were mild and manageable with symptomatic measures. Only 5% of patients had a reaction that required modification of the regimen. Corrclusions: Regimens of 4 or 5 months’ duration that contain Ofloxacin and other first-line anti-tuberculosis agents for at least three months can achieve high cure rates and low 24-month relapse rates in newly diagnosed patients with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis without causing significant adverse reactions. These results indicate that Ofloxacin containing regimens of 4-5 months achieve >95% efficacy with no increased incidence of adverse reactions and minimal relapses. permitting shortening of short-course chemotherapy

Blending sea farming with traditional capture fisheries Concept of lab to land

Blending sea farming with traditional capture fisheries Marine fisheries development in the country has been impressive during the past 3 decades. But the benefit accrued have n o t helped the poor fishermen engaged in small-scale indigenous fisheries whose per capita income has hardly improved. In order to benefit the fishermen and their family members whose labour potential has not been fully utilised it was felt that blending of culture fisheries with normal capture fisheries would greatly help to enhance the production and the earning capacity of the rural community