Towards a Settlement Structure for Kerala, Part III

PART – III : TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE FOR KEARALA CHAPTER XIV :I SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FOR PLANNING PURPOSES CHAPTER XV : AN ATTEMPT TO CONCEPTUALISE THE EXISTING SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE IN KERALA • Case studies for establishing the concept • Basis for the concept • Flexibility of the concept CHAPTER XVI : AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 0F THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE FOR KERALA CHAPTER XVII : METHODOLOGY IN ARRIVING AT THE SETTLEMENT STRUCTURES; AND ANALYSIS • Saturation level of urbanization • Population projection for 2000 A.D. • Life Tables for the estimated population • Labour force • Analyses of occupational pattern CHAPTER XVIII : THE SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE FOR KERALA BY 2000 A.D. • Urban population distribution • Size of urban settlements • The urban focus • The other urban units • The hierarchy of settlements • Hierarchy of functions • Industrial structure and flow of economy • The social structure and rural-urban relationships • Why the major urban centres should be along the sea-coast • The movement channels and their relationship with the settlement structure APPENDIX A BIBLIOGRAPH

Mobility enhancement in CVD-grown monolayer MoS2 via patterned substrate induced non-uniform straining

The extraordinary mechanical properties of 2D TMDCs make them ideal candidates for investigating strain-induced control of various physical properties. Here we explore the role of non-uniform strain in modulating optical, electronic and transport properties of semiconducting, chemical vapour deposited monolayer MoS2, on periodically nanostructured substrates. A combination of spatially resolved spectroscopic and electronic properties explore and quantify the differential strain distribution and carrier density on a monolayer, as it conformally drapes over the periodic nanostructures. The observed accumulation in electron density at the strained regions is supported by theoretical calculations which form the likely basis for the ensuing 60x increase in field effect mobility in strained samples. Though spatially non-uniform, the pattern induced strain is shown to be readily controlled by changing the periodicity of the nanostructures thus providing a robust yet useful macroscopic control on strain and mobility in these systems

A video processing and data retrieval framework for fish population monitoring

htmlabstractIn this work we present a framework for fish population monitoring through the analysis of underwater videos. We specifically focus on the user information needs, and on the dynamic data extraction and retrieval mechanisms that support them. Sophisticated though a software tool may be, it is ultimately important that its interface satisfies users' actual needs and that users can easily focus on the specific data of interest. In the case of fish population monitoring, marine biologists have to interact with a system which not only provides information from a biological point of view, but also offers instruments to let them guide the video processing task for both video and algorithm selection. This paper aims at describing the system's underlying video processing and workflow low-level details, and their connection to the user interface for on-demand data retrieval by biologists

A Video Processing and Data Retrieval Framework for Fish Population Monitoring

In this work we present a framework for fish population monitoring through the analysis of underwater videos. We specifically focus on the user information needs, and on the dynamic data extraction and retrieval mechanisms that support them. Sophisticated though a software tool may be, it is ultimately important that its interface satisfies users' actual needs and that users can easily focus on the specific data of interest. In the case of fish population monitoring, marine biologists have to interact with a system which not only provides information from a biological point of view, but also offers instruments to let them guide the video processing task for both video and algorithm selection. This paper aims at describing the system's underlying video processing and workflow low-level details, and their connection to the user interface for on-demand data retrieval by biologists

Detecting, Tracking and Counting Fish in Low Quality Unconstrained Underwater Videos

Abstract: In this work a machine vision system capable of analysing underwater videos for detecting, tracking and counting fish is presented. The real-time videos, collected near the Ken-Ding sub-tropical coral reef waters are managed by EcoGrid, Taiwan and are barely analysed by marine biologists. The video processing system consists of three subsystems: the video texture analysis, fish detection and tracking modules. Fish detection is based on two algorithms computed independently, whose results are combined in order to obtain a more accurate outcome. The tracking was carried out by the application of the CamShift algorithm that enables the tracking of objects whose numbers may vary over time. Unlike existing fish-counting methods, our approach provides a reliable method in which the fish number is computed in unconstrained environments and under several scenarios (murky water, algae on camera lens, moving plants, low contrast, etc.). The proposed approach was tested with 20 underwater videos, achieving an overall accuracy as high as 85%.

Increasing the germination percentage of a declining native orchid (Himantoglossum adriaticum) by pollen transfer and outbreeding between populations

The declining native orchid Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann is a European endemic of priority interest (92/43/ EEC, Annex II). Northern Italian populations of H. adriaticum are small and isolated, with depressed seed set. Given the important implications for plant population conservation, we tested the hypothesis that artificial pollen transfer (hand-pollination) and outbreeding between populations increases fruit set and seed germination percentage. The background fruit set and in vitro germination rates were determined for ten reference populations. An artificial cross-pollination experiment included (a) pollen transfer from one large population to two small and isolated populations; (b) pollen transfer between two small but not isolated populations; (c) within-population pollen transfer (control). All seeds were sown on a modified Malmgren's medium and cultured in a controlled environment. Germination percentage was compared using a Kruskal-Wallis anova. The background fruit set (mean = 18%) and germination (<5%) rates were consistently low across populations. Fruit set after hand-pollination was consistently 100%. Pollen transfer from the largest population to smaller populations resulted in an increase in total germination ranging from 0.9% to 2.9%. The largest increase in germination occurred between small-sized and less isolated populations (from 1.7% to 5.1%). The results of pollen transfer between the small populations are particularly encouraging, as the mean increase in germination was almost four times that of the control. Outbreeding can be considered a valuable tool to increase genetic flow and germination in natural populations, limit the accumulation of detrimental effects on fitness driven by repeated breeding with closely-related individuals, thereby increasing the possibility of conservation of rare or endangered species

Long-term underwater camera surveillance for monitoring and analysis of fish populations

Long-term monitoring of the underwater environment is still labour intensive work. Using underwater surveillance cameras to monitor this environment has the potential advantage to make the task become less labour intensive. Also, the obtained data can be stored making the research reproducible. In this work, a system to analyse long-term underwater camera footage (more than 3 years of 12 hours a day underwater camera footage from 10 cameras) is described. This system uses video processing software to detect and recognise fish species. This footage is processed on supercomputers, which allow marine biologists to request automatic processing on these videos and afterwards analyse the results using a web-interface that allows them to display counts of fish species in the camera footage

The Oogenic Germline Starvation Response in C. elegans

Many animals alter their reproductive strategies in response to environmental stress. Here we have investigated how L4 hermaphrodites of Caenorhabditis elegans respond to starvation. To induce starvation, we removed food at 2 h intervals from very early- to very late-stage L4 animals. The starved L4s molted into adulthood, initiated oogenesis, and began producing embryos; however, all three processes were severely delayed, and embryo viability was reduced. Most animals died via ‘bagging,’ because egg-laying was inhibited, and embryos hatched in utero, consuming their parent hermaphrodites from within. Some animals, however, avoided bagging and survived long term. Long-term survival did not rely on embryonic arrest but instead upon the failure of some animals to produce viable progeny during starvation. Regardless of the bagging fate, starved animals showed two major changes in germline morphology: All oogenic germlines were dramatically reduced in size, and these germlines formed only a single oocyte at a time, separated from the remainder of the germline by a tight constriction. Both changes in germline morphology were reversible: Upon re-feeding, the shrunken germlines regenerated, and multiple oocytes formed concurrently. The capacity for germline regeneration upon re-feeding was not limited to the small subset of animals that normally survive starvation: When bagging was prevented ectopically by par-2 RNAi, virtually all germlines still regenerated. In addition, germline shrinkage strongly correlated with oogenesis, suggesting that during starvation, germline shrinkage may provide material for oocyte production. Finally, germline shrinkage and regeneration did not depend upon crowding. Our study confirms previous findings that starvation uncouples germ cell proliferation from germline stem cell maintenance. Our study also suggests that when nutrients are limited, hermaphrodites scavenge material from their germlines to reproduce. We discuss our findings in light of the recently proposed state of dormancy, termed Adult Reproductive Diapause

Training for a First-Time Marathon Reverses Age-Related Aortic Stiffening.

BACKGROUND: Aging increases aortic stiffness, contributing to cardiovascular risk even in healthy individuals. Aortic stiffness is reduced through supervised training programs, but these are not easily generalizable. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether real-world exercise training for a first-time marathon can reverse age-related aortic stiffening. METHODS: Untrained healthy individuals underwent 6 months of training for the London Marathon. Assessment pre-training and 2 weeks post-marathon included central (aortic) blood pressure and aortic stiffness using cardiovascular magnetic resonance distensibility. Biological "aortic age" was calculated from the baseline chronological age-stiffness relationship. Change in stiffness was assessed at the ascending (Ao-A) and descending aorta at the pulmonary artery bifurcation (Ao-P) and diaphragm (Ao-D). Data are mean changes (95% confidence intervals [CIs]). RESULTS: A total of 138 first-time marathon completers (age 21 to 69 years, 49% male) were assessed, with an estimated training schedule of 6 to 13 miles/week. At baseline, a decade of chronological aging correlated with a decrease in Ao-A, Ao-P, and Ao-D distensibility by 2.3, 1.9, and 3.1 × 10-3 mm Hg-1, respectively (p < 0.05 for all). Training decreased systolic and diastolic central (aortic) blood pressure by 4 mm Hg (95% CI: 2.8 to 5.5 mm Hg) and 3 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.6 to 3.5 mm Hg). Descending aortic distensibility increased (Ao-P: 9%; p = 0.009; Ao-D: 16%; p = 0.002), while remaining unchanged in the Ao-A. These translated to a reduction in "aortic age" by 3.9 years (95% CI: 1.1 to 7.6 years) and 4.0 years (95% CI: 1.7 to 8.0 years) (Ao-P and Ao-D, respectively). Benefit was greater in older, male participants with slower running times (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Training for and completing a marathon even at relatively low exercise intensity reduces central blood pressure and aortic stiffness-equivalent to a ∼4-year reduction in vascular age. Greater rejuvenation was observed in older, slower individuals