Marine prawn farming along the coast of the Gulf of Kutch its prospects and problems

Along the 250 kilometer coastline of the Gulf of Kutch, there are no prawn farming activities Millions of juveniles of prawns ascending the creeks in the little Rann of Kutch are trapped by staked bag nets are marketed for meagre revenue. The fishermen remain in perpetual poverty due to drought prone conditions of the coast during remaining period of the year. A tidal range of 2.6 metres and high salinity conditions of the Gulf of Kutch necessitate capital investment for supply, retention and exchange of seawater in farming operations. The available seed are not of quick growing variety of prawns. An experimental project was initiated in 1979 firstly to explore the feasibility of utilisation of low saline reservoirs of solar salt works in Okha mandal for extensive prawn farming using the indigenous seed and there after to assess the culturability, economic viability and management problems associated with small scale intensive farming. During September 1986 to IVIarch 1987, seed of Penaeus mergulensis and Metapenaeus kutchensis @ 36332 nos/hectare were stocked in three ponds of 1.92 hectare each. A growth rate of 0.437 mm/day length and 0.056 gm/day weight in respect of the former and 0.33 mm/day length and 0.037 gm/day weight in respect of the latter species in 187 days of rearing was achieved. The harvested prawns were acceptable to freezing industry and fetched Rs. 14000-23000 (Headon) per tonne. The advantages of employment generation, economic up liftment and utilisation of the monsoon seed resources for farming are discussed

ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ERYTHRINA VARIEGATA

Objective: Erythrina variegata had been widely used for its reported biological activity in indigenous system of medicine. The present investigation was carried out to find the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Erythrina variegata in albino rats.Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using acute inflammatory model like carrageenan induced paw edema and chronic inflammatory model like cotton pellet induced granuloma respectively.Results: The ethanolic extract in different doses (200, and 400mg/kg, p. o) exhibited dose dependent and significant antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic model of inflammation.Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of Erythrina variegata has anti-inflammatory activity. This activity was related to the dose and these results corroborate the potential traditional use of the plant in folk medicine

Histogenesis of human foetal cerebellar cortex

The objective of present study is to describe the prenatal histogenesis of human cerebellar cortex. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the various histological features of human foetal cerebellum in spontaneously aborted fetuses of different gestational ages for analyzing the cerebellar histology. Histogenesis of cerebellum is observed from 13 weeks to 36 weeks of gestational age by dividing the specimens into six gestational age groups (group A to group F). External granular layer is observed at 13 weeks of gestation and purkinje cell layer is arranged at 17 weeks as a multilayered and single layer at 36 weeks of gestation. The knowledge of cerebellar anatomy has a tremendous neurosurgical importance. Future investigations might involve evaluation of the cerebellum at other gestational ages.Keywords: Cerebellum, Histogenesis, Purkinje cel

On the occurrence of mature penaeid prawn Penaeus merguensis in a shallow solar salt works reservoir along the Okhamandal Coast of Gulf of Kutch and its spawning in laboratory

Penaeus merguensis is so far reported to attain complete maturity and spawn in the sea or deep culture ponds only. Mature specimens of stage III to V collected from a shallow reservoir of solar saltworks were studied and spawned in laboratory. A comparison of spawning of spawner from sea and reservoir is also reported

Observations on the fish and prawn seed resources of the Gulf of Kutch and their utilization in aquaculture

The characteristics of the fish and prawn seed resources of the Gulf of Kutch are described. Results of experiments conducted in a primary low saline reservoir of a solar salt works to study their utility for aquaculture are reported. The prospective role of aquaculture in augmenting fish production along the coast is also discussed

Tropical convective cloud characterization using ground-based microwave radiometric observations

Characterization of the microphysical and thermodynamical properties of convective events over the tropical coastal station Thiruvananthapuram (TVM) has been carried out based on multiyear microwave radiometer profiler observations. The analyses have been extended to develop a methodology to identify convective events, which is based on the radiometric brightness temperature (Tb) difference threshold, at 30 and 22.23 GHz channels, and the results are compared with reflectivity and rainfall intensity deduced from concurrent and collocated disdrometer measurements. Eighty-four of such convections were identified using the aforementioned methodology over the station during 2010-2013, i.e., both for pre- and post-Indian summer monsoon months, and further evaluated by computing their stability indexes. The occurrence of convective systems peaks in the afternoon and early-morning hours with genesis, respectively, over the land and the sea

OPTIC NEUROPATHY INDUCED BY LOW DOSE OF ETHAMBUTOL: A RARE PRESENTATION

Ethambutol is a bacteriostatic antimicrobial agent used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Optic neuropathy is a potentially severe side effect of ethambutol, which is dose related. Ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy (EON) incidence is 15%, 5% & 1% when taken at 50 mg/kg/day , 25 mg/kg/day & 15 mg/kg/day respectively for 3 months. We report a case of bilateral EON in 20-year-old female after 1 month of exposure to 15 mg/kg/day of ethambutol for tubercular meningitis. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral ill sustained pupillary reactions and optic disc pallor. Deranged color vision test and scotomas on Goldmann perimetry in both eyes, aided in diagnosis.Keywords: Low dose ethambutol, Optic neuropathy, Tuberculosis

Casting alloys: the saga of their existence and the recipe of their blend

Though a variety of metals and combinations have been in use since decades in the field of dentistry, there are only a few which have sustained the challenges of evolving material science. The history of these alloys, their constituent metals and properties impart the rationale of their use both in the past and advancing future perspectives. Also bearing the environmental hazards in laboratory and clinical environments, safe levels of exposure to these alloys and aspects of selecting the best option among the different alternatives is important