Assessing the tagging behaviour of kannadigas: A study of hash tags in twitter

Tweeting is the fastest communication media now. It is short and simple. It is a microblogging service. Hashtags are the organizational component adopted by Twitter. Tweets is Kannada are available for some years now.But, Twitter opened up Kannada for hashtags in February 2015. The study focuses on the analysis of the 3158 Kannada tags collected from 1993 tweets. There is an increasing trend for using hashtags in Kannada. There are very lengthy tags as well

Faunal component in the diet of lion-tailed macaques

The paper reports the information on the faunal component in the diet of wild lion-tailed macaques. The faunal component accounts for about 19 per cent of the total diet. There is more intake of faunal items during the dry months from December to May when fruit availability is low, as compared to the wet months from June to November. The faunal intake at different times of the day and by different age-sex classes does not differ. Invertebrates constitute the largest portion of the faunal diet. The smaller animals are captured and eaten by all age-sex classes, whereas the larger vertebrates are usually caught and eaten by adult animals, especially males. The method of capturing the prey and the parts of the body eaten are reported

Status and conservation of lion-tailed macaque and other arboreal mammals in tropical rainforests of Sringeri forest range, Western ghats, Karnataka, India

The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), an endangered primate species, was surveyed in the tropical rainforests of Sringeri in the state of Karnataka, south India. A total of 10 groups and a solitary adult male were found in approximately 90 square kilometers of rainforest. The other sympatric arboreal mammals found included common langurs, bonnet macaques and Malabar giant squirrels. The liontailed macaques are sympatric with other primates and giant squirrels in the undisturbed core areas. More towards the human habitations and disturbed areas, the lion-tailed macaques are absent and the forest is occupied by commensal species. The habitat features and the population structure indicate that this region is a potential area for maintaining a biologically viable population of lion-tailed macaques. However, a number of factors such as extraction of fuel wood, collection of minor forest produce, grazing by domestic livestock and plantation of commercial tree species are causing a serious threat to the habitat. The effect of habitat degradation on arboreal wildlife is discussed and the steps are suggested to minimize the effect of human disturbance on habitat

Male migration in lion-tailed macaques

Adult lion-tailed macaque males probably often migrate. Previous observations indicate the presence of solitary adult males in the forest and also the number of adult males in a group varying in repeated counts. This paper reports one fully documented case of a solitary male joining the study group. The resident male was first chased out and then allowed to reenter the group. One female conceived and delivered during the presence of migratory male. Almost all matings with that female were made by the migratory male. The other adult females in the group preferred the migratory male to the resident male in all social interactions including sexual present, approach, proximity, and grooming. The presence of two adult males resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of social interactions among group members. The fact that the group females easily accepted the migratory male has significant implications for the management of this species inhabiting forest fragments

SYNTHESIS AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY OF 2-ARYL/HETEROARYL-6-CHLOROQUINOLINE-4-CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH PLASMODIUM LDH RECEPTOR PROTEIN

Objective: Synthesis and in silico molecular docking studies of 2-aryl/heteroaryl-quinoline-4-carboxylic acid derivatives (3a-j) with plasmodium LDH receptor protein.Methods: The 2-aryl/heteroaryl-quinoline-4-carboxylic acids (3a-j) were obtained by Pfitzinger reaction. Ligands (3a-j) interaction with plasmodium LDH receptor protein was studied through molecular docking method.Results: Good yields of 2-aryl/heteroaryl-quinoline-4-carboxylic acid derivatives (3a-j) were obtained by convenient and economical procedure. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS spectral analysis. The binding site analysis of the synthesized compounds (3a-j) with plasmodium LDH receptor that are responsible for malaria parasite response was evaluated through molecular docking study. The results reveal that the ligand 3d shows maximum of five hydrogen bonding interactions with binding energy -9.05 kcal/mol, shown to be a promising lead molecule to inhibit Plasmodium LDH receptor.Conclusion: The docking studies of newly synthesized 2-aryl/heteroaryl-quinoline-4-carboxylic acids were found to be very useful ligands for antimalarial therapy particularly on Plasmodium LDH protein. However the installation of still many appropriate substitutions on quinoline moiety would lead to identification of novel antimalarial compounds that ascertained via molecular docking is underway in our lab

Fish Diversity in Huchharayanakere, Shikaripura, Shivamogga District, Karnataka, India

Fresh water wetlands are fragile ecosystems, which are fast deterioring and shrinking due to manmade activities. The fish composition of Huchharayanakere of Shikaripura was studied for a period of twelve months from January to December 2015. The icthyo-faunal diversity of this pond confirmed the occurrence of 13 species of fishes belonging to 5 families. The family Cyprinidae represented by 9 species. Families Anabantidae, Bagridae, Clupeidae and Notopteridae were represented by only a single species. Simultaneously the physico-chemical condition of the water body revealed that water quality is suitable for fish culture. The study of fish fauna of an aquatic body is useful for planning of fisheries development. The pond needs proper management and utilization of this fish wealth and sustainable steps to monitor and conserve the fish health. The present study revealed that Huchharayanakere of Shikaripura harbors wide varieties of fish with economic importance in local and global trade. The study will provide future strategies for development and fish conservation

STUDY ON FLOTATION OF SILLIMANITE USING PLANT-BASED COLLECTOR

The coastal lines of India are rich in placer deposits of valuable heavy minerals such as ilmenite, garnet, rutile, zircon and sillimanite. The conducting and magnetic minerals are separated first, leaving behind the non-conducting and non-magnetic sillimanite along with quartz in the processing of heavies in beach sand. Sillimanite, an important mineral for refractory application is mainly recovered by flotation technique from its associated major gangue mineral, quartz by imparting selective surface hydrophobicity on sillimanite using a suitable collector. A placer sample after the removal of heavies from eastern coast of India was studied for beneficiation using froth flotation technique. Detailed characterization studies of the feed sample and the types of collectors used for this study have been carried out using XRD and FTIR analyses. Sillimanite feed sample assaying 55.4% sillimanite along with 33.9% quartz, 1.7% magnetics, 1.4% rutile, 2.4% zircon, 5.6% kynite was subjected to beneficiation using flotation technique for enriching the sillimanite content using oleic acid and a plant-based reagent SFA as collector. The effect of variation of input parameters such as pH, depressant and collectors were evaluated and flotation process optimization was carried out. Based on the results, it was found that flotation performance of the natural source based collector has better selectivity and improved recovery as compared to that of oleic acid as collector. Weight recovery of 67.8% with 85.1% sillimanite was obtained using the plant-based collector while a weight recovery of 55.5% with 84.9% sillimanite was obtained using oleic acid. The improved sillimanite recovery by using the plant-based collector than that of the conventional oleic acid would be more economical in industrial scale sillimanite recovery in beach sand processing industries

Towards Reforming Sri Lanka Railways: Insights from International Experience and Industry Expert Opinion

Growing of the automobile industry and the demand for personal car use and chronic financial deficits in the balance sheets of rail operators have significantly affected the rail industry deterioration since 1970. However, gradual rail reforms were carried out by many countries to eliminate financial and operational issues and to develop their rail transportation systems. Sri Lanka has more than 150 years of history in railway operations, yet it is still in a weak position in terms of the operational efficiency and the financial position. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the key issues and root causes for the operational and financial deficiencies of Sri Lanka Railways and identify the best reform model in the light of world rail reform experiences and rail industry experts’ opinion. A semi-structured questionnaire was employed to interview twelve railway industry experts. Content analysis, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method, and Policy Delphi Method were the main analytical techniques employed in the study. The results of the analysis showed that the vertical separation of the ownership between rail service operation and rail infrastructure provision is suitable for Sri Lanka Railways and, given the existing operational and financial characteristics, the reform steps should mostly be designed as in the case of the German- Sweden hybrid model of rail reforms

Targeting and Diffusion of Chickpea improved cultivars in Karnataka state of India

Chickpea was a major crop during rabi season as it occupied a considerable (over 56 to 60%) proportion of the operational land and predominantly cultivated in black soils in both districts. Average operational farm size per household was 12.98 acres in Dharwad and 12.05 acres in Gulbarga. A comparison between seed beneficiaries and non-seed beneficiaries across districts indicated that area under chickpea among seed beneficiaries (7.73 acres/farm) was marginally more when compared to non-seed beneficiaries (7.23 acres/farm). Most of seed beneficiaries and nonseed beneficiaries in Dharwad (over 84%) and Gulbarga (over 93%) districts had no access to irrigation facility for chickpea crop. Thus, chickpea was largely cultivated under rainfed condition. Seed beneficiary farmers were provided with improved and preferred chickpea cultivars seeds such as JG-11, and BGD-103. All the seed beneficiaries were covered under seed distribution from 2008- 09 to 2011-12. Since, JG-11 was most preferred variety where a majority of seed beneficiary farmers were provided with the seed material during the project period and 12 to 13 % per cent were provided with BGD-103. Quantity of seed material supplied was 20 kg per farmer for each variety. Over the years, number of seed beneficiaries who cultivated JG-11 also increased. Annigeri-1 was the most popularly cultivated chickpea variety by seed beneficiary farmers across districts. The farmers depended prominently for seed material on inherited (32% to 39%) and farmer to farmer seed exchange (30% to 33%) sources. Extent of area allocated by farmers for Annigeri-1 declined and that of JG-11 increased over three years period from 2009-10 to 2011-12. The decrease in Annigeri-1 area was from 952 acres in 2009-10, 486 acres in 2010-11 and 437 acres in 2011-12. Area under BGD-103 increased under favorable production conditions. Area under JG-11 increased in the same period from 314 acres in 2010-11 to 1434 acres 2012-13. Gross returns realized were highest in case of BGD-103(Rs.24882.67/acre) followed by JG-11(Rs. 22642.73/acre) and Annigeri-1(Rs.15524.58/acre). The corresponding net returns for the respective varieties were Rs. 13997.17/acre, Rs.13430.96/acre and Rs. 6268.94/acre, respectively. The benefit cost ratio for Annegiri-1 variety was lowest (1.68) and it was highest at 2.29 for BGD-103 and 2.46 for JG-11. About 55.96% farmers under seed beneficiaries shared seed material of improved cultivars with other fellow farmers in respect of most preferred variety JG-11. There was a tendency of farmers to share seed material (38.72%) within the village and only 17.23% farmers shared with farmers of other villages.Quantity of seeds distributed during project operation period (from 2009- 10 to 2012-13) within the same village was higher than in other villages. Hence, village could taken as the appropriate unit to focus intensive extension activities and for the spread of agricultural technology efficiently.Majority of (79%) farmers were disinterested to share seed with other farmers as they needed more time for validation on the true benefits such technology. Government sources comprising Department of Agriculture, Seeds Corporations constituted as major sources of seed supply at lesser cost to (about 80%) farmers followed by the University. According to farmers rapid diffusion of new cultivars could be hastened through measures like organizing intensively crop demonstrations, awareness campaigns using mass media tools, training programs

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYCAPROLACTONE (PCL)/POLY ((R)-3-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID) (PHB) BLEND MICROSPHERES FOR TAMOXIFEN DRUG RELESE STUDIES

Objective: The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate the drug release studies using Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/and Poly (R)-3-hydroxy butyric acid (PHB) blend microspheres for controlled release of Tamoxifen, an anticancer drug.Methods: Poly (ε-caprolactone), Poly ((R)-3-Hydroxybutyric acid) blend microspheres were prepared through a modified Water/Oil/Water (W/O/W) double emulsion-solvent diffusion method using Dichloromethane as solvent. Tamoxifen (TAM), an anti Cancer drug, was used for encapsulation within PCL/PHB blend microspheres. Morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency and drug release from these microspheres were evaluated by different characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction studies(X-RD) and dissolution test studies respectively.Results: Drug loaded microspheres were analyzed by FT-IR, which indicates the interaction between drug and polymers. DSC thermograms on drug-loaded microspheres confirmed the polymorphism of Tamoxifen and indicated a molecular level dispersion of drug in the microspheres. SEM confirmed the spherical nature and smooth surface of the microspheres produced. X-RD study was performed to understand the crystalline nature of the drug after encapsulation into the microspheres and confirmed the complete dispersion of the drug in the polymer matrix. In-vitro release studies conducted in different pH which indicated a dependence of release rate on the amount of drug loading and the amount of PCL/PHB, but slow release rates were extended up to 12 h. Kinetic analysis of dissolution data showed a good fit in Peppas equation confirming diffusion controlled drug release.Conclusions: The research findings obtained from the studies were found to be satisfactory. It can be concluded that biodegradable polymer blend (PCL/PHB) microspheres can be effectively used for preparation of controlled release matrices. Â