Technological options in the traditional marine fisheries sector and impact of motorization on the economics of gillnet fishing along Tuticorin coast, Tamil Nadu

Cost minimisation and profit maximisation are the twin interrelated objectives which influence the decision making of the investor on choices of techniques to be adopted for any production process. In marine fisheries the extensive adoption of fishing methods like mechanised trawling, shifting of cotton into synthetic nets, motorization of country crafts and innovative processing and preservation techniques in fish marketing are very much guided by the profit motive of individual fishermen. Capital being a scarce resource to many of the fishermen the choice of their fishing techniques at times drifts towards labour intensive devices

Hepatoprotective activity of polyherbal formulation against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The ethanloic extracts of the polyherbal medicinal plants (Asteracantha longifolia, Cyperus rotundus and Bryophyllum pinnatum) were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats. The ethanolic extract of polyherbal formulation at 250 mg/kg b.w. exhibited a significant protective effect by lowering serum and liver activities of aspartate  transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), serum bilirubin, serum cholesterol and serum total protein when compared with standard silymarin. The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts may be attributed to increased regeneration of hepatocytes and inhibitory effects on microsomal enzymes.Key words: Polyherbal formulation, carbon tetrachloride, silymarin

Subunit-Selective Interrogation of CO Recombination in Carbonmonoxy Hemoglobin by Isotope-Edited Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

Hemoglobin (Hb) is an allosteric tetrameric protein made up of αβ heterodimers. The α and β chains are similar, but are chemically and structurally distinct. To investigate dynamical differences between the chains, we have prepared tetramers in which the chains are isotopically distinguishable, via reconstitution with 15N-heme. Ligand recombination and heme structural evolution, following HbCO dissociation, was monitored with chain selectivity by resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy. For α but not for β chains, the frequency of the ν4 porphyrin breathing mode increased on the microsecond time scale. This increase is a manifestation of proximal tension in the Hb T-state, and its time course is parallel to the formation of T contacts, as determined previously by UVRR spectroscopy. Despite the localization of proximal constraint in the α chains, geminate recombination was found to be equally probable in the two chains, with yields of 39 ± 2%. We discuss the possibility that this equivalence is coincidental, in the sense that it arises from the evolutionary pressure for cooperativity, or that it reflects mechanical coupling across the αβ interface, evidence for which has emerged from UVRR studies of site mutants

Linking Conformation Change to Hemoglobin Activation Via Chain-Selective Time-resolved Resonance Raman Spectroscopy on Protoheme/Mesoheme Hybrids

Time-resolved Resonance Raman spectra are reported for Hb tetramers, in which the αand β chains are selectively substituted with mesoheme. The Soret absorption band shift in meso- relative to protoheme permits chain-selective excitation of heme RR spectra. The evolution of these spectra following HbCO photolysis show that geminate recombination rates and yields are the same for the two chains, consistent with recent results on 15N-heme isotopomer hybrids. The spectra also reveal systematic shifts in the deoxy-heme ν4 and νFe-His) RR bands, which are anti-correlated. These shifts are resolved for the successive intermediates in the protein structure, which have previously been determined from time-resolved UVRR spectra. Both chains show Fe-His bond compression in the immediate photoproduct, which relaxes during the formation of the first intermediate, Rdeoxy (0.07 μs), in which the proximal F-helix is proposed to move away from the heme. Subsequently, the Fe-His bond weakens, more so for the α than the β chains. The weakening is gradual for the β chains, but abrupt for the α chains, coinciding with completion of the R-T quaternary transition, at 20μs. Since the transition from fast- to slow-rebinding Hb also occurs at 20μs, the drop in the α chain νFe-His supports the localization of ligation restraint to tension in the Fe-His bond, at least in the α-chains. The mechanism is more complex in the β chains

Note on the subsistence fishery of Periasamipuram in Gulf of Mannar

The survey of Periasamipuram, one of the fishing villages has revealed that there are about 250 families in the village, among which 41 are actively engaged in the fishing activity. Three types of nets, a) Nachchuvalai, b) Viduvalai and c) Sippivalai are being employed for fishing. Some action has been initiated to establish a co- operative society at Periasamipuram

Comparative Outcomes of Resident vs Attending Performed Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether outcomes are different when surgery is performed by resident or attending surgeons, and which variables may affect outcomes. DESIGN: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to May 2014 alongside the bibliographies of all included or relevant studies. Any study comparing outcomes from surgery performed by resident vs attending surgeons was eligible for inclusion. The main outcome measures were surgical complications (classified by Clavien-Dindo grade), death, operative time, and length of stay. Data were extracted independently by 2 authors and analyzed using the random-effects model. RESULTS: The final analysis included 182 eligible studies that enrolled 141 555 patients. Resident performed surgery took longer by 10.2 minutes (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.38-11.95), and had more Clavien-Dindo grade 1 (rate ratio = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.29) and grade 3a complications (rate ratio = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.44). Resident performed surgery resulted in fewer deaths (risk ratio = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.999) with a shorter length of stay of -0.49 days (95% CI: -0.77 to -0.21). Significant heterogeneity was present in 7 of 10 outcomes, which persisted during multiple subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Resident performed surgery appears to be safe in carefully selected patients. The significant amount of heterogeneity present in the study outcomes prevents generalizability of these results to specific clinical contexts