Copepod Abundance and Diversity from Offshore Region of Tuticorin, South East Coast of India

A detailed study had been carried out on species abundance, biomass and composition of copepod in four different offshore stations namely, Station I: Vembar, II: Keelavaipar, III: Punnaikayal and IV: Thiruchendhur in Gulf of Mannar region from October 2011 to April 2012. A total of 56 copepod species belongs to 20 families under 4 orders have been encountered during the period. The percentage composition of different groups of copepod species was composed of Calanoida (35 numbers) 62.5%, Cyclopoida (4 numbers) 7.14%, Harpacticoida (8 numbers) 14.3% and Poecilostomatoida (9 numbers) 16.1%. The percentage of biomass composition of different groups of copepods during the study was in the order of Calanoida 38.99%, Harpacticoida 32.56%, Cyclopoida 15.22% and Poecilostomatoida 13.23%. In the case of species composition, Euterpina acutifrons (28.61%) was the most abundant species followed by Acrocalanus gracilis (17.68%), Corycaeus crassiusculus (12.33%), Oithona brevicornis (12.03%) and Temora turbinata (4.25%) were the other dominant species in observation. The copepod density in different stations were in the range of 8600–39900, 3900–64600, 3800–24800 and 5000–22500 numbers m-3 at station I, II, II and IV respectively. The lowest biomass of copepod was observed at station III and highest biomass was found at station II. The copepod species richness ranged from 0.48 to 2.72 and species diversity was in the range of 0.87 to 1.98 in the study areas. Species evenness was varied from 0.24 – 0.51 during the observation period

Phase Change Material on Augmentation of Fresh Water Production Using Pyramid Solar Still

The augmentation of fresh water and increase in the solar still efficiency of a triangular pyramid is added with phase change material (PCM) on the basin. Experimental studies were conducted and the effects of production of fresh water with and without PCM were investigated. Using paraffin as the PCM material, performance of the solar still were conducted on a hot, humid climate of Chennai (13°5′ 2" North, 80°16′ 12"East), India. The use of paraffin wax increases the latent heat storage so that the energy is stored in the PCM and in the absence of solar radiation it rejects its stored heat into the basin for further evaporation of water from the basin. Temperatures of water, Tw, Temperature of phase change material, TPCM, Temperature of cover, Tc were measured using thermocouple. Results show that there is an increase of maximum 20%, in productivity of fresh water with PCM

Elevated percentage of perforin positive cells in active pulmonary tuberculosis

Background & objectives: Perforin is one of the major effector molecules of cytotoxic cells associated with killing of cells harbouring intracellular bacterial infection. The precise role of perforin positive cells in tuberculosis still remains controversial. The present study was done to determine the number of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ perforin positive cells to assess the level of cytotoxic response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Intracellular perforin and surface CD4 and CD8 staining of peripheral blood lymphocytes was done using specific monoclonal antibodies and enumerated using flowcytometry. Results: A significantly decreased total lymphocytes (P<0.01), CD4 (P<0.001) and CD8 (P<0.01) lymphocyte counts in PTB patients was observed compared to normal healthy individuals (NHS). Intracellular perforin staining showed significantly elevated percentages of total (P<0.05) and CD8 (P<0.01) perforin positive cells in PTB patients compared to NHS. However, the absolute counts of total, CD4 and CD8 cells positive for perforin were similar in patients and NHS. Interpretation & conclusion: Our results suggest that during active stage of pulmonary tuberculosis there was an increased percentage of CD8 cells positive for perforin, irrespective of their absolute counts. Further, CD8+ perforin positive cells ma

Intracellular granzyme A expression of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in pulmonary tuberculosis

Cell-mediated immunity is a key weapon of host defence against tuberculosis (TB). Granzyme A (GzmA), a serine protease, present in the granules of cytotoxic cells induces caspase-independent cell death. We estimated the proportion of GzmA producing lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood from 59 normal healthy volunteers and 48 pulmonary TB (PTB) patients using flow cytometry. When compared with normal healthy subjects, we observed a significantly higher percentage of GzmA-positive CD56+ cells (P = 0.01) in PTB patients. However, when the absolute number was compared between the two groups, a significantly decreased number of GzmA-expressing CD16+ (P = 0.01) and CD56+ (P = 0.0001) cells was observed in patients and this could be explained by the significantly reduced number of total lymphocytes (P = 0.0009) seen in the patients. There was no significant difference in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ GzmA double-positive cells between the two study groups. CD56 is a natural killer cell marker and these cells represent innate immune response to TB. We report an increased percentage of CD56+ cells expressing GzmA in TB patients, which shows the relevance of the GzmA-mediated pathway of apoptosis in immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Analysis of the UBV light curves of TT hydrae by Kopal's frequency domain method

The light curves of the totally eclipsing system TT Hya in UBV colours observed by Kulkarni and Abhyankar during 1973-77 have been analysed by Kopal's frequency domain method with slight modification. We find rs (primary) = 0.104 &#177; 0.005, rg (secondary) = 0.215 &#177; 0.008 and i = 89&#176; &#177; 1&#176;. The value of rg obtained in this study is smaller than that determined earlier by Kulkarni and Abhyankar by the method of Russell and Merrill; this confirms the undersized nature of the secondary component. The ultraviolet colour excess of the secondary is also confirmed

First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data

Spinning neutron stars asymmetric with respect to their rotation axis are potential sources of continuous gravitational waves for ground-based interferometric detectors. In the case of known pulsars a fully coherent search, based on matched filtering, which uses the position and rotational parameters obtained from electromagnetic observations, can be carried out. Matched filtering maximizes the signalto- noise (SNR) ratio, but a large sensitivity loss is expected in case of even a very small mismatch between the assumed and the true signal parameters. For this reason, narrow-band analysis methods have been developed, allowing a fully coherent search for gravitational waves from known pulsars over a fraction of a hertz and several spin-down values. In this paper we describe a narrow-band search of 11 pulsars using data from Advanced LIGO’s first observing run. Although we have found several initial outliers, further studies show no significant evidence for the presence of a gravitational wave signal. Finally, we have placed upper limits on the signal strain amplitude lower than the spin-down limit for 5 of the 11 targets over the bands searched; in the case of J1813-1749 the spin-down limit has been beaten for the first time. For an additional 3 targets, the median upper limit across the search bands is below the spin-down limit. This is the most sensitive narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves carried out so far

Ambidexterity for corporate social performance

The literature on corporate social performance advocates that firms address social issues based on instrumental as well as moral rationales. While both rationales trigger initiatives to increase corporate social performance, these rest on fundamentally different and contradicting foundations. Building on the literature on organizational ambidexterity and paradox in management, we propose in this conceptual article that ambidexterity represents an important determinant of corporate social performance. We explain how firms achieve higher levels of corporate social performance through the ambidextrous ability to simultaneously pursue instrumentally and morally driven social initiatives. We distinguish between a balance dimension and a combined dimension of ambidexterity, which both enhance corporate social performance through distinct mechanisms. With the balance dimension, instrumental and moral initiatives compensate for each other – which increases the scope of corporate social performance. With the combined dimension, instrumental and moral initiatives supplement each other – which increases the scale of corporate social performance. The article identifies the most important determinants and moderators of the balance and the combined dimension to explain the conditions under which we expect firms to increase corporate social performance through ambidexterity. By focusing on the interplay and tensions between different types of social initiatives, an ambidextrous perspective contributes to a better understanding of corporate social performance. Regarding managerial practice, we highlight the role of structural and behavioral factors for achieving higher corporate social performance through the simultaneous pursuit of instrumental and moral initiatives

Effect of Organic Granules on the Productivity, Quality, and Nutrient Uptake Level of Tomato and the Fertility and Microbial Population of the Soil

Organic vegetable production is needed worldwide to minimize the use of inorganic fertilizers, protect the environment, and produce healthy food. Accordingly, in the present study, the effects of organic granules on the productivity, quality, and nutrient uptake level of tomatoes and the fertility and microbial population of the soil were determined. Briefly, organic NPK granules and organic N, P and K-rich sources were compared with synthetic NPK granules and synthetic fertilizers administered at 100 and 75% of the recommended fertilizer levels. Among the various treatments applied, treatment with 100% of the recommended NPK using the synthetic NPK granules (Urea, DAP and MOP) led to higher growth, yield attributes, and yield (fruit yield, – 24.21 t/ha and stover yield, -15.01 t/ha) of tomato. This treatment also enhanced the nutrient uptake by tomato. However, quality parameters, such as total soluble solids (6.64% ), titrable acidity (0.62% ), ascorbic acid content (14.31 mg/100 g), lycopene content (3.54 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (3.11%), non-reducing sugars (1.02%), total sugar (4.13% ), and shelf life (15.76 days ) of tomato were higher with 100% of the recommended NPK from organic NPK granules than from synthetic granules. This treatment also enhanced the available nutrients and microbial population in the soil. Notably, the same trend was observed for tomatoes fertilized with 75 % of the recommended NPK. The lowest values were obtained with the absolute control. Based on the results of this experiment, the application of 100% of the recommended NPK using organic NPK granules is the best approach to improve the quality of tomato fruits and to enhance the soil fertility

Stakeholders, collaboration, food, and wine: The case of Jumilla’s Gastronomic Days

An emerging literature on gastronomic events highlights the growing interest among academics, event organisers and development agencies in identifying potential or actual outcomes from gastronomic events. Partly in response to such interest, this study seeks to contribute to the literature on events management, studying the contribution of various stakeholders involved in the ‘Gastronomic Days’ of Jumilla, Spain. Semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with the managers and owners of four participating businesses to the event. The data collection was complemented through on-site visits, observations, and interviews with eight other local businesses. The findings underline the significance of collaboration among these participants to grow and sustain the event, as well as voluntary efforts by event ‘stakeholders.’ Importantly, a common objective was identified in the form of enhancing the image of the local products, and overall that of the region, to ‘convert’ residents, and also outside consumers and tourists to Jumilla’s products. These findings have significant implications for Jumilla’s community. In particular, the importance and efforts of a region’s food stakeholders in contributing to adding value and improving the local food culture emerge as useful aspects, with potential benefits for local food growers, hospitality and tourism sectors, and residents