Feasibility of integrated bivalve farming at Pallipuram in Vypeen Island, Cochin

The technologies for edible oyster and mussel farming have been developed by CMFRI in 1980's. In order to facilitate the transfer of technologies, several demonstration trials have been carried out at various locations to test the adaptability, ecofriendliness, economic viability and sustainability of these technologies

Ab-initio study of the bandgap engineering of Al(1-x)Ga(x)N for optoelectronic applications

A theoretical study of Al(1-x)Ga(x)N, based on full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method, is used to investigate the variations in the bandgap, optical properties and non-linear behavior of the compound with the variation of Ga concentration. It is found that the bandgap decreases with the increase of Ga in Al(1-x)Ga(x)N. A maximum value of 5.5 eV is determined for the bandgap of pure AlN which reaches to minimum value of 3.0 eV when Al is completely replaced by Ga. The static index of refraction and dielectric constant decreases with the increase in bandgap of the material, assigning a high index of refraction to pure GaN when compared to pure AlN. The refractive index drops below 1 for photon energies larger than 14 eV results group velocity of the incident radiation higher than the vacuum velocity of light. This astonishing result shows that at higher energies the optical properties of the material shifts from linear to non-linear. Furthermore, frequency dependent reflectivity and absorption coefficients show that peak value of the absorption coefficient and reflectivity shifts towards lower energy in the UV spectrum with the increase in Ga concentration. This comprehensive theoretical study of the optoelectronic properties of the alloys is presented for the first time which predicts that the material can be effectively used in the optical devices working in the visible and UV spectrum.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Land Use Planning for Resilient Pastoral Rangelands: Greater Serengeti Mara Ecosystem

Greater Serengeti Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses large protected areas of savanna with iconic wildlife surrounded by pastoralists and farms. GSME is facing severe pressure from human-induced changes due to rapid increase in population and climate variability. We undertook surveys with local communities to understand the potential impacts of these changes on wildlife and livelihoods of communities. We visited eight villages in Kenya and Tanzania and discussed with local communities and leaders, park management on drivers of change, and wishes for future development. To facilitate the conversation, we developed posters with four scenarios as a basis for discussions and a board game for simulation of everyday life for people living close to the protected park areas. The board game served both as a platform for discussing livelihood strategies and evaluating consequences of choices for the players and as a tool for us to record the players\u27 behavior. The game was played with a group of four men and a group of four women in each village and with one group of four policy-makers and one group of park managers from both countries. In general, women were more successful in the game by being more strategic and collaborative than the 8 groups of men and thereby obtaining better scores. The poorest group of players were the policy-makers from both Tanzania and Kenya. The poster and board game results were used to build future scenarios based on Bayesian Belief Network

The Potency of Sumba Ongole (So) Cattle: a Study of Genetic Characterization and Carcass Productivity

A study was conducted to assess the genetic characterization of the Sumba Ongole (SO) cattlebased on DNA microsatellites and also to study the potency of SO cattle based on carcass productivity.Blood samples were collected from 28 individual cattle and 12 microsatellite primers as recommendedby FAO were used to identify the genetic characterization of the SO cattle population. Data of carcassproductivity were collected from 506 individual cattle that slaughtered in Karawaci abattoir, Banten,Indonesia. The heterozygosity values of microsatellite loci ranged from 0.143 to 1.000 (mean 0.536).The highest PIC values was 0.814 (locus TGLA122), while the lowest was 0.280 (locus BM1818).Cattle in range of 351-475 kg slaughter weight was most slaughtered in year 2013 and 2014 with carcasspercentage ranged from 52.89% to 53.43%. The highest carcass percentage (56.34%) was obtained fromcattle in range of 626-650 kg slaughter weight while the lowest (51.42%) was obtained from cattle inrange of 250-275 kg slaughter weight. The results of genetic characterization showed that allmicrosatellite locus were highly polymorphic and highly informative for detecting the level of geneticdiversity in the SO cattle population. The results of carcass productivity showed that the SO cattle hasexcellent potential as beef cattle compare with other local breeds cattle in Indonesia

Cholera and household water treatment why communities do not treat water after a cholera outbreak: a case study in Limpopo Province

Background: Cholera is one of the common diseases in developing countries caused by consumption of contaminated and untreated drinking water. A study was conducted 7 months after a cholera outbreak in Vhembe district, Limpopo, South Africa. The aim of the study was to assess if the communities were still conforming to safe water practices after an outbreak of cholera. Methodology: One hundred and fifty-two (152) participants from 11 villages were recruited to form 21 focus groups, with a mean of 7. The interview transcripts were coded and arranged based on the study themes. Results: Of the 21 groups in 11 villages, three villages were using water from boreholes, six were using river water and three were using mixed sources which included river, canal and spring water, three depended on municipal tanks and only six were using tap water. Only 19% of the respondents treated their water, even though the majority of communities reported treatment of water as a priority. Four villages claimed they never received environmental health education at all, while most of the villages confirmed they received education during a cholera outbreak. Conclusion: Regardless of the outbreak and health education efforts done, communities continued using unprotected water sources without any form of treatment, as they perceived it to be unimportant. Sustainable water supplies and environmental health education should be continued after an outbreak as it is important for public health gains

Sikap Ramaja terhadap Kegiatan Keagamaan di Rw 04 Kelurahan Tangkerang Timur Kecamatan Tenayan Raya

This research caused by the negative attitude of teenagers in religious activity at RW 04 Kelurahan Tangkerang Timur Kecamatan Tenayan Raya. Formulation of the problem in this study is whether the attitude of teenagers have positive or negative action in religious activity at RW 04 Kelurahan Tangkerang Timur Kecamatan Tenayan Raya. The purpose of this study is to know the attitude of teenagers at RW 04 Kelurahan Tangkerang Timur Kecamatan Tenayan Raya in religious activity have positive or negative action. The populations in this research are 287 teenagers and the samples of this research are 74 teenagers with critis level 10%, the sample used is proporsionate stratified random sampling. The instrument to collect the data is questionnaire containing 64 items and after to try out the valid statements become 62 items to use in research. Analize data used descriptive analize. From the answer percentase can calculated, have the result as cognitive indicator which the positive attitude of teenagers 89,24% and negative 2,25%. Between as affective aspect which the positive attitude of teenagers 44,21% dan negative 47,51%. Next, can to know from konative aspect which the positive attitude of teenagers 43,67% dan negative 47,63%

Insulator-to-metal transition in sulfur-doped silicon

We observe an insulator-to-metal (I-M) transition in crystalline silicon doped with sulfur to non- equilibrium concentrations using ion implantation followed by pulsed laser melting and rapid resolidification. This I-M transition is due to a dopant known to produce only deep levels at equilibrium concentrations. Temperature-dependent conductivity and Hall effect measurements for temperatures T > 1.7 K both indicate that a transition from insulating to metallic conduction occurs at a sulfur concentration between 1.8 and 4.3 x 10^20 cm-3. Conduction in insulating samples is consistent with variable range hopping with a Coulomb gap. The capacity for deep states to effect metallic conduction by delocalization is the only known route to bulk intermediate band photovoltaics in silicon.Comment: Submission formatting; 4 journal pages equivalen

Investigating the need for therapeutic drug monitoring of imipenem in critically ill patients: Are we getting it right?

Background. The drug levels and clearances of imipenem in critically ill patients are not comprehensively described in current literature, yet it is vital that adequate levels be achieved for therapeutic success.Objectives. To determine the proportion of critically ill patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels, and to compare the clinical outcomes of those patients with therapeutic levels with those who had sub-therapeutic levels.Methods. Trough imipenem plasma levels of 68 critically ill patients from a surgical intensive care unit were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Imipenem trough levels were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the causative bacterial agents, based on a target value of 100% time above MIC (¦T >MIC).Results. The proportion of participants with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 13% - 34%). The 14- and 28-day mortality rates in the sub-therapeutic group were 33% and 40%, respectively, compared with 19% (p=0.293) and 26% (p=0.346), respectively, in the therapeutic group. Sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels are associated with adjusted hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 0.55 - 3.91).Conclusions. The lower proportion of critically ill patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels in this study compared with previous studies may be attributed to the practice of higher dosages and the administration method of extended infusions of imipenem/cilastatin in our setting. The results demonstrate a trend of higher mortality in patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels, although the results were not statistically significant at this sample size.

Investigating the need for therapeutic drug monitoring of imipenem in critically ill patients: Are we getting it right?

Background. The drug levels and clearances of imipenem in critically ill patients are not comprehensively described in current literature, yet it is vital that adequate levels be achieved for therapeutic success. Objectives. To determine the proportion of critically ill patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels, and to compare the clinical outcomes of those patients with therapeutic levels with those who had sub-therapeutic levels. Methods. Trough imipenem plasma levels of 68 critically ill patients from a surgical intensive care unit were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Imipenem trough levels were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the causative bacterial agents, based on a target value of 100% time above MIC (ƒT >MIC). Results. The proportion of participants with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 13% - 34%). The 14- and 28-day mortality rates in the sub-therapeutic group were 33% and 40%, respectively, compared with 19% (p=0.293) and 26% (p=0.346), respectively, in the therapeutic group. Sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels are associated with adjusted hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 0.55 - 3.91). Conclusions. The lower proportion of critically ill patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem plasma levels in this study compared with previous studies may be attributed to the practice of higher dosages and the administration method of extended infusions of imipenem/ cilastatin in our setting. The results demonstrate a trend of higher mortality in patients with sub-therapeutic imipenem levels, although the results were not statistically significant at this sample size

Nigerian scam e-mails and the charms of capital

So-called '419' or 'advance-fee' e-mail frauds have proved remarkably successful. Global losses to these scams are believed to run to billions of dollars. Although it can be assumed that the promise of personal gain which these e-mails hold out is part of what motivates victims, there is more than greed at issue here. How is it that the seemingly incredible offers given in these unsolicited messages can find an audience willing to treat them as credible? The essay offers a speculative thesis in answer to this question. Firstly, it is argued, these scams are adept at exploiting common presuppositions in British and American culture regarding Africa and the relationships that are assumed to exist between their nations and those in the global south. Secondly, part of the appeal of these e-mails lies in the fact that they appear to reveal the processes by which wealth is created and distributed in the global economy. They thus speak to their readers’ attempts to map or conceptualise the otherwise inscrutable processes of that economy. In the conclusion the essay looks at the contradictions in the official state response to this phenomena