Role of Women in Sustainable Management of Kangayam Grassland

Kangayam grassland is located in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats in South India between the coordinates 77° 17”E and 77° 55”E longitude and 10° 44” N and 11° 03” N latitude. It receives an annual rainfall of 666 mm. The grassland used to a barren land with overgrown until 150 years ago when the ownership of these lands were given to the local people by the British colonizers under land settlement called ayen pillu (remission in tax) and paravu pillu (grazing rent) (Nicholson,1887). The occupancy rights granted to the cultivators encouraged them to invest in the unproductive land over generations, building wells for providing drinking water to animals, identifying and using Balsmodendron berryias live fence (Voelcker, 1893) around the grazing areas, taking a collective decision to discourage goats in the region which damage the live fence etc. Historically, this area does not have communal grazing land as Littlewood (1936) reported that the Dharapuram taluk which lies in the heart of the grassland has no cultivable waste, no communal grazing land and no forest. Yet it was one of the best managed cattle rearing area with an excellent system of mixed farming. The whole of the Kangayam grassland spread over 4000 sq km area now has grazing paddocks of varying size fenced with live fence of Balsmodendron berryi in which a few cattle and 25-30 Mecheri sheep are grazed under rotational grazing system. Soil is broken up once in 4-5 years to take a crop whose success depend upon the monsoon, else they make way for use as fodder for the animals. Reseeding of the grass (Cenchrus spp) is taken up once in 2-3 years to maintain the productivity of the grassland and in several pockets grass is sown with Phasolus trilobus to get nutritious grass-legume mixture to feed the animals. Development of the Kangayam grassland and its sustainable management over 150 years highlights the importance of individual ownership rights over \u27the tragedy of commons\u27. Women play an important role in the management of the grassland and the livestock production activities. The present study highlights the role of women in various activities that are being carried out in this predominantly sedentary pastoral economy

Performance of BFRP and GFRP Hollow Circular Steel columns subjected to axial compression loads

Recent research has been focused on rehabilitation and strengthening of deteriorated steel structures and bridges using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials. This paper deals with the behavior of FRP confinement of hollow steel sections subjected to axial compression loads. The load carrying capacity and buckling failure patterns of hallow steel sections strengthened by different FRP were studied experimentally. Numbers of circular hallow steel sections of same diameter with different L/D ratio test specimens were fabricated. Three different L/D ratio test specimens were used as control specimens. The different number of layers in FRP such as basalt (BFRP) and glass (GFRP) fabrics in different orientations has been fabricated. The effects of strengthened elements were observed under axial compression load. The load vz slenderness ratio, stress strain relationship, the ultimate load vz orientation and number of ply wrapping by different FRP were deeply analyzed and are plotted, tabulated and discussed. Besides local and overall buckling modes, failure patterns and rupturing of fiber of strengthened and non strengthened specimens were also observed. It is concluded that BFRP fabric wrapped by double layers in the circumferential direction elements withstand more axial compressive load than other strengthened and non strengthened elements

Comparative storage stability of shrimp (Metapenaeus spp.) pickle at room temperature and refrigerated temperature

One of the determinants of consumer demand for any value added product especially that of a perishable item like fish/ shrimp is its shelf life. Pickling has long since been one of the effective ways to preserve perishable foods for the lean season. The present study was designed to assess the biochemical and microbiological quality of shrimp pickle stored at room temperature and refrigerated temperature (4oC). The recipe for preparation of the product was decided based on the consumer preference of the region. The pH, which is considered as the most important criterion determining the shelf life in pickle, remained below 5 in both the treatments throughout the storage period of six months (p=0.053). All the biochemical parameters except total volatile nitrogen (TVN), remained with in the acceptable limit throughout the storage period in both the treatments, although the values were low for pickle stored at refrigerated temperature. There was no significant difference in TVBN value of pickle stored at refrigerated and room temperature at the end of six months (p=0.072). The TVN value did not correlate with organoleptic evaluation of the pickles stored at both room temperature and refrigerated condition. As per the organoleptic evaluation, the pickles were in acceptable level even after six months of storage and the sensory quality was not significantly different between the two treatments (p=0.225). Consumers perceived taste, price, appearance and health factor as the most important attributes that would determine the acceptability of a product

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF FRESH WATER CRAB AND SNAIL AND ISOLATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL PEPTIDES FROM HAEMOLYMPH BY SDS – PAGE

Objective: The present study was undertaken to characterize antimicrobial molecules from the fresh water snail and crab.Methods: Collection of haemolymph, preparation of extracts, antimicrobial activity, TLC analysis, SDS PAGE analysis.Results: The result of the present investigation reported that the fresh water snail (Pomacea insularium) and crab (Callinectes sapidus) having remarkable antimicrobial activity in methanol, di-ethyl ether and water extracts. Antimicrobial activity was high in di-ethyl ether extracts of the snail against Streptococcus sp. (37.16±0.76 mm) and methanol extract of crab against E. coli (32.16±0.28 mm). The MIC of extracts ranges between 5 µl to 30 µl methanol extract of both snail and crab inhibited the growth of organisms at very low concentration. Biomolecules from the extract was separated by TLC. The molecular mass of the peptide was determined by SDS PAGE. Peptides from snail and crab haemolymph were ranges in 9 to 110 and 40 to 100 kDa respectively.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that fresh water crab and snail having good antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes. Therefore they can be used to treat many pathogenic infections.Â

Pastiches sovversivi. Strategie della parodia e della satira in Luciano di Samosata

Parody and pastiche are among the main literary and satirical strategies used by Lucian of Samosata. The aim of this article is to explore the relationship between the reuse of the tradition of Greek paideia and the new perspectives of literature through the analysis of a serie of examples (cat., hist. conscr., VH, Peregr., Alex.). On the one hand, there is the recognition of the greatness of the ancient authors and certainly there is also the literary pleasure of pepaideumenos. At the same time, in contrast to what happens for mimesis in the Second Sophistic, Lucian’s parody and satirical pastiches look in other directions, because parody, by its nature and through the 'necessary gap', always implies a principle of subversion of the tradition: in Lucian's Works the satiric rule of «believing in nothing» produces its effects in the development of Literature

आंध्रा प्रदेश मेें मछुआरोँ की आजीविका सुधार पर पिंजरा मछली पालन का तकनो-आर्थिक प्रभावः एक गुणात्‍मक मूल्‍यांकन

आंध्रा प्रदेश मेें मछुआरोँ की आजीविका सुधार पर पिंजरा मछली पालन का तकनो-आर्थिक प्रभावः एक गुणात्‍मक मूल्‍यांक

Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized extracellularly by soil micro flora

The microbes used to synthesize the silver nanoparticles were isolated from the soil and identified as E.coli, Pseudomonas sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp and Actinomycetes sp. All the isolated organisms were cultured in broth medium and used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles extracellularly by adding 3 -10mm AgNO3. The presence of extracellular silver nanoparticles were identified by UV – visible spectrophotometer (380-420nm) and particle size investigation. Most of the microbial synthesized products are susceptible for Proteus sp. Bioactive particles from E.coli and Actinomycetes sp. were found to be best against Klebsiella sp. The active molecule from Pseudomonas sp and Penicillium sp. showed very good sensitivity pattern against Proteus sp. The molecules formed by Aspergillus sp. showed higher sensitivity against Enterobacter sp. Among the three bacterial and two fungal species, the silver nanoparticles from the fungal organisms showed the better result against pathogens.Gümüş nanopartiküllerini sentezlemek için kullanılan mikroplar toprak ortamından izole edilmiş ve E.coli, Pseudomonas sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp and Actinomycetes sp olarak tanımlanmıştır. İzole edilen bütün organizmalar et suyu ortamında kültürlenmiş ve 3 -10mm AgNO3 eklenerek hücre dışı gümüş partiküllerin sentezi için kullanılmıştır. Hücre dışı gümüş partiküllerin varlığı, UV Vis (380-420nm)ve partikül boyut incelemesiyle belirlenmiştir. Mikrobiyal sentezlenen ürünlerin çoğu, Proteus sp.’ye duyarlıdır. E.coli and Actinomycetes sp.’den kaynaklanan biyoaktif partiküller Klebsiella sp.’ye karşı en iyi olarak bulunmuştur. Pseudomonas sp ve Penicillium sp türlerinden kaynaklanan aktif molekül Proteus sp’ye oldukça duyarlı bir durum sergilemiştir. Aspergillus sp. Tarafından oluşan moleküller Enterobacter sp.’ye karşı yüksek duyarlılık göstermiştir. Üç bakteri ve iki mantar türleri arasında mantarlardan kaynaklanan gümüş partiküller patojenlere karşı daha iyi sonuç vermiştir

Economic empowerment of SHGs through Pearlspot Seed Production Technology

Pearlspot being recognized as the state fish of Kerala. The seed production technology of Pearl spot ensures an avenue for the livelihood enhancement of fisherfolk through farming. The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), plays a vital role in disseminating the seed as a part of the project entitled “Empowerment of Scheduled Caste Fisherfolk through Entrepreneurial Capacity Building of Self-Help Groups in Marine Sector” funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) programme setup a Pearl spot seed production unit in Vallarpadom, Ernakulam district, Kerala. Self Help Groups (SHGs) were mobilized with the assistance of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of ICAR-CMFRI and women participation as the essence of the gender mainstreaming was ensured

Visakhapatnam Regional Centre: A Profile

The Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR - CMFRI had its beginning in 1947 as a Survey Unit, which was housed in the premises of the Department of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The main function of the Survey Unit was to collect the fish landing data. The Survey Unit was upgraded as a Research Unit and research activities were initiated in the year 1955 in the premises of Department of Zoology, Andhra University. Later, the Calcutta Research Unit of CMFRI was merged with the Visakhapatnam Research Unit of CMFRI in 1962. During 1970, the Research Unit housed within the premises of Department of Zoology, Andhra University was elevated to a Sub-station and subsequently as a Research Centre in 1976. The Research Centre moved into its own building in 1995, and was further upgraded as the Regional Centre on 17th October, 2001. The Kakinada Research Centre of CMFRI was merged with the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI on 15th February, 200

Regulation of Motor Function and Behavior by Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-014-9665-7Atypical Chemokine Receptor 1 (ACKR1), previously known as the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines, stands out among chemokine receptors for its high selective expression on Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, consistent with the ability of ACKR1 ligands to activate Purkinje cells in vitro. Nevertheless, evidence for ACKR1 regulation of brain function in vivo has been lacking. Here we demonstrate that Ackr1−/− mice have markedly impaired balance and ataxia when placed on a rotating rod and increased tremor when injected with harmaline, a drug that induces whole-body tremor by activating Purkinje cells. Ackr1−/− mice also exhibited impaired exploratory behavior, increased anxiety-like behavior and frequent episodes of marked hypoactivity under low-stress conditions. The behavioral phenotype of Ackr1−/− mice was the opposite of the phenotype occurring in mice with cerebellar degeneration and the defects persisted when Ackr1 was deficient only on non-hematopoietic cells. We conclude that normal motor function and behavior depend in part on negative regulation of Purkinje cell activity by Ackr1