Economic loss assessment on juvenile fish catch due to forced non-selectivity in a selective fishing gear, gillnet along Mumbai coast, India

A study on quantity and value of juvenile fish landings was carried out in the gillnet fishery of three selected landing centers along Mumbai coast viz., Versova, Cuff Parade and Mahim in India using Out board motors (OBM), Inboard motors (IBM) and non-motorised gillnetters respectively. The data on the quantity and value of landed juveniles were collected and analysed to reach a consensus on the gross economic loss on account of juvenile fishing. A bio-economic model was used to estimate economic loss due to juvenile fishing of 18 commercially important species of finfish and shellfish. A huge economic loss was recorded due to fishing of juveniles of 18 species by three different gillnet sectors. The analysis indicated that IBM gillnetters at Cuff Parade incurred maximum loss of Rs. 62.26 crores with major contribution from juveniles of seerfish followed by non-motorised gillnetter (Rs.29.98 crores) at Mahim and 25.33 crores in OBM gillnetters at Versova

A GLOBAL ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF GOVERNANCE ON IMPROVING TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the influence of governance on tourism competitiveness as measured by tourism GDP per capita, using structural equation modeling.Methodology: The study was descriptive correlational and applied quantitative documentary approach. Data from secondary sources from the World Bank and The World Travel & Tourism were used to obtain measures of governance and tourism GDP for 172 countries during the year 2021.Results: Governance was found to have a significant influence on tourism competitiveness, with government effectiveness, regulatory quality and rule of law emerging as the main predictors of governance. It was also found that most countries with high tourism performance have good governance, especially those countries that are small and specialized in tourism. Developed countries enjoy a high governance index, but do not lead the ranking in tourism GDP per capita.  Countries with low tourism performance have poor governance.Conclusions: Governance is a crucial factor in the success or failure of the tourism sector, and the positive and significant relationship between governance and tourism competitiveness has important implications for the formulation of policies and strategies to promote sustainable tourism development

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings from the COV-AD Study

BACKGROUND: Vaccination prevents severe morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the general population. The immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with antibody deficiency is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 in patients with antibody deficiency (COV-AD) is a multi-site UK study that aims to determine the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in patients with primary or secondary antibody deficiency, a population that suffers from severe and recurrent infection and does not respond well to vaccination. METHODS: Individuals on immunoglobulin replacement therapy or with an IgG less than 4 g/L receiving antibiotic prophylaxis were recruited from April 2021. Serological and cellular responses were determined using ELISA, live-virus neutralisation and interferon gamma release assays. SARS-CoV-2 infection and clearance were determined by PCR from serial nasopharyngeal swabs. RESULTS: A total of 5.6% (n = 320) of the cohort reported prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, but only 0.3% remained PCR positive on study entry. Seropositivity, following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, was 54.8% (n = 168) compared with 100% of healthy controls (n = 205). The magnitude of the antibody response and its neutralising capacity were both significantly reduced compared to controls. Participants vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were more likely to be seropositive (65.7% vs. 48.0%, p = 0.03) and have higher antibody levels compared with the AstraZeneca vaccine (IgGAM ratio 3.73 vs. 2.39, p = 0.0003). T cell responses post vaccination was demonstrable in 46.2% of participants and were associated with better antibody responses but there was no difference between the two vaccines. Eleven vaccine-breakthrough infections have occurred to date, 10 of them in recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines demonstrate reduced immunogenicity in patients with antibody deficiency with evidence of vaccine breakthrough infection

The plants, rituals and spells that 'cured' helminthiasis in Sicily

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The author reports on the plants, rituals and spells used against worms and the so-called <it>scantu </it>(fright) in some areas of Sicily. The work is based on ethnobotanical research carried out, prevalently, between 2002-2006, in some areas of Eastern, South-Eastern, North-Central and South-Central Sicily.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This research is based on dialogue. Senior 'healers' were contacted; furthermore, doctors, teachers, farmers and in general 'experts' with herbs and 'magic' rituals. Information was collected about the way the plants of folk medicine are prepared. The interviewees were also invited to recite prayers and spells against helminthiasis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The author has highlighted the importance of how, in some parts of Sicily, some ailments like helminthiasis and other correlated pathologies like <it>scantu </it>are 'treated' and, especially within the rural social classes, by folk medicine remedies, herbal practises, particular prayers, rituals and spells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>As regards health/illness, it should be noted that in the last ten years conventional medicine has provided very satisfactory results even resolving potentially mortal pathologies. However, in certain social classes, there is no real collaboration between conventional and folk medicine; so for some senior citizens, the 'healer' with his rituals and empirical and magical herbs is still the person to turn to for the 'cure' of particular ailments. Interest in these practises from ancestral heritage in an advanced country like Italy, is only relevant if the aim is to recoup a cultural identity which is already in decline.</p> <p>It is significant to report a piece: on 14 October 2007 the news on a well-known national Italian TV channel reported an interview with a 94 year-old man from Arbatax (Sardinia) referred to as a 'healer' because both his townspeople and others from all over the world go to him for his cures. He is not paid except in kind and has been known to cure St. Anthony's fire, burns, scalding and marine fungal infections, by smearing his saliva over the infected part and reciting 'special words'.</p

Evolution of long-term vaccine-induced and hybrid immunity in healthcare workers after different COVID-19 vaccine regimens

BACKGROUND: Both infection and vaccination, alone or in combination, generate antibody and T cell responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the maintenance of such responses-and hence protection from disease-requires careful characterization. In a large prospective study of UK healthcare workers (HCWs) (Protective Immunity from T Cells in Healthcare Workers [PITCH], within the larger SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation [SIREN] study), we previously observed that prior infection strongly affected subsequent cellular and humoral immunity induced after long and short dosing intervals of BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccination. METHODS: Here, we report longer follow-up of 684 HCWs in this cohort over 6-9 months following two doses of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) vaccination and up to 6 months following a subsequent mRNA booster vaccination. FINDINGS: We make three observations: first, the dynamics of humoral and cellular responses differ; binding and neutralizing antibodies declined, whereas T and memory B cell responses were maintained after the second vaccine dose. Second, vaccine boosting restored immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels; broadened neutralizing activity against variants of concern, including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5; and boosted T cell responses above the 6-month level after dose 2. Third, prior infection maintained its impact driving larger and broader T cell responses compared with never-infected people, a feature maintained until 6 months after the third dose. CONCLUSIONS: Broadly cross-reactive T cell responses are well maintained over time-especially in those with combined vaccine and infection-induced immunity ("hybrid" immunity)-and may contribute to continued protection against severe disease

SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-suppressive disease

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune responses and infection outcomes were evaluated in 2,686 patients with varying immune-suppressive disease states after administration of two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Overall, 255 of 2,204 (12%) patients failed to develop anti-spike antibodies, with an additional 600 of 2,204 (27%) patients generating low levels (&lt;380 AU ml−1). Vaccine failure rates were highest in ANCA-associated vasculitis on rituximab (21/29, 72%), hemodialysis on immunosuppressive therapy (6/30, 20%) and solid organ transplant recipients (20/81, 25% and 141/458, 31%). SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses were detected in 513 of 580 (88%) patients, with lower T cell magnitude or proportion in hemodialysis, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and liver transplant recipients (versus healthy controls). Humoral responses against Omicron (BA.1) were reduced, although cross-reactive T cell responses were sustained in all participants for whom these data were available. BNT162b2 was associated with higher antibody but lower cellular responses compared to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. We report 474 SARS-CoV-2 infection episodes, including 48 individuals with hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Decreased magnitude of both the serological and the T cell response was associated with severe COVID-19. Overall, we identified clinical phenotypes that may benefit from targeted COVID-19 therapeutic strategies

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Not AvailableFishing gears may be lost into the seas because of rough climatic conditions, damages of the gear, entanglement with bottom obstructions or dragged away by other fishing vessels or ships etc. These lost gears designated as abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG) contributes to species mortality by continuing to entangle and kill fishes and other endangered/threatened species such as turtles, birds and mammals, a phenomenon referred to as ghost fishing. Passive gears like traps, gillnets may catch fish for several months or even years after they are lost. Locating ALDFG will be helpful to understand the fate and transport of lost fishing gear and to remove them from marine waters, thus eliminating its harmful impacts to species and habitats. Present study was undertaken for evidences of fishing gear losses and ghost fishing from selected areas of Indian waters. Underwater investigation by scuba diving were conducted at Enayam, Tamil Nadu & Vizhinjam coast of Kerala. About 33kg lost gears were recovered by scanning an area of 700m2 seabottom at Enayam. Six types of lost gears were retrieved in which Nylon monofilament gillnet panels (47.3%) were the predominant gear types followed by pieces of trawl codends , parts of long lines, ropes , traps , and squid jigs. Retrieved traps contained Molluscs, Arthropods, Echinoderms, Annelids and Cnidarians, Poriferans at various degrees of decomposition. From Vizhinjam coast of Kerala, gillnet webbings and ropes were recovered. This baseline information will be useful to understand the scale and distribution of ALDFG and identification of the hotspot areas of gear losses.Not Availabl

STUDY OF AL/A-SIC/C-SI(P)/AL STRUCTURES FOR PV APPLICATION

Plasma CVD reactor was used to grow a-SiC:H on p-type crystalline silicon substrate. Identification of chemical bonds in the structure of thin amorphous layer by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)and Raman spectroscopy methods was performed. DC characterization was performed in order to obtain basic electric and PV parameters of prepared sample. AC impedance spectroscopy characterization was performed in order to detect the frequency response of Al-a-SiC/c-Si(p)/Al heterojunction. The analysis of these characteristics, using the impedance spectroscopy method, has allowed the construction of the electrical equivalent circuit (EEC) of the investigated structures. EEC contains series connections of series resitance and parallel combination of thin film capacitance shunted by resistance and constant phase element (CPE) shunted by resistance. The values of the parameters of the circuit elements have been determined at room temperature in the dark and on illuminated samples in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 1 MHz and also at different forward bias voltages. The negative capacitance phenomenon was observed at lower frequencies

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Chapter 21 of training manual "Recent advances in harvest and post-harvest technologies in fisheries"Not AvailableNot Availabl