Present status and problems of fishermen in the marine fishing industry

With rising pressure on food producing land resources, an increasing share of future food supply needs, especially of developing countries like India may have to be met from fisheries. The present study focuses on the prevailing problems connected to the fishing populations in our rural coastal regions and the crucial socioeconomic problems affecting peace and stability in our country

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Datura stramonium leaf extract and assessment of their antibacterial activity

Silver nanoparticles of 15-20 nm size with spherical shape were synthesized from green synthesis method using Datura stramonium leaf extract. Synthesized Ag NPs were studied for their optical, structural, surface morphological and antibacterial properties. The optical study shows that the appearance of SPR peak at 444 nm in the absorption spectrum is affirming the formation of Ag NPs and its high intensity with narrowed width indicating the homogenous size and shape of the Ag NPs. Structural studies reveal the good crystalline nature of face center cubic structure of Ag crystal and preferentially oriented along (111) plane with average crystallite size of 18 nm. FTIR analysis exhibits the possible reducing biomolecules within the leaf extract. The well defined homogenous spherical shape of the Ag NPs is clearly observed from the TEM studies and lattice fringes spacing of 0.23 nm shows the high crystalline nature of the synthesized Ag NPs. EDAX profile affirms the Ag crystal by the presence of energy peak at 3 eV. The synthesized Ag NPs showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. However, well pronounced activity was observed against E. coli

Prevalence of unmet need for contraception in urban slum communities, Mumbai

Background: Unmet need for family planning is a tool to monitor the family planning program. Hence, the objective of study is to examine the prevalence of unmet need for family planning among women living in urban slum communities, Mumbai.Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among currently married women aged 18-39 years and having at least one child. A total of 2797 women were selected using systematic random sampling. Information on demographic characteristics, their contraceptive behaviour and fertility intention were collected by face to face interview using structured questionnaire. Chi square test was applied and p <0.05 was considered as significant.  Results: About 59.4% were currently using family planning methods and 40.6% have reported unmet need for family planning. Awareness of contraceptive methods among women with unmet need for family planning was universal. The prevalence of unmet need for family planning significantly decreased as the age and number of children increased. The prevalence of unmet need was significantly higher than met need for family planning among women having one child as compared to women having 2 or more children.Conclusions: A significant gap was observed between met and unmet need for family planning among younger women and having one child. The study emphasises the need for family planning programs to focus on younger couples having one child.

Digital Modulation Identification Model Using Wavelet Transform and Statistical Parameters

A generalized modulation identification scheme is developed and presented. With the help of this scheme, the automatic modulation classification and recognition of wireless communication signals with a priori unknown parameters are possible effectively. The special features of the procedure are the possibility to adapt it dynamically to nearly all modulation types, and the capability to identify. The developed scheme based on wavelet transform and statistical parameters has been used to identify M-ary PSK, M-ary QAM, GMSK, and M-ary FSK modulations. The simulated results show that the correct modulation identification is possible to a lower bound of 5 dB. The identification percentage has been analyzed based on the confusion matrix. When SNR is above 5 dB, the probability of detection of the proposed system is more than 0.968. The performance of the proposed scheme has been compared with existing methods and found it will identify all digital modulation schemes with low SNR

Molecular modeling of 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile dye sensitizer for solar cells using quantum chemical calculations

AbstractThe geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities, and hyperpolarizabilities of organic dye sensitizer 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile was studied based on Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrum was investigated by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT). Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. The absorption bands are assigned to π→π∗ transitions. Calculated results suggest that the three lowest energy excited states are due to photoinduced electron transfer processes. The interfacial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO2 electrode and 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile is due to electron injection process from excited dye to the semiconductor’s conduction band. The role of cyanine in 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile in geometries, electronic structures, and spectral properties were analyzed

Crystal structure of isobutyl 4-(2-chloro-phenyl)-5-cyano-6-{(E)-[(dimethylamino)-methylidene]amino}-2-methyl-4H-pyran-3-carboxylate

The authors thank Dr Babu Varghese, Senior Scientific Officer SAIF, IIT Madras, India, for carrying out the data collection.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENT IN TWO DIFFERENT HOSPITALS IN TAMIL NADU

Objective: The objective of the present study is to compare the prescribing patterns and cost of illness of Rheumatoid arthritis patients in two different hospitals. Methods: This is an observational study conducted in two different tertiary care hospitals in Salem district after obtaining approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) (Registration Number EC/PHARM D/2019.06). A sample size of 102 (above 18 y) patients were included (52 from group 1 hospital and 50 from group 2 hospital). The study was conducted over a period of 6 mo from February 2019 to July 2019. The cost was collected by a patient face-to-face interview. Results: Out of 102 patients, females (57.84%) patients were more prevalent than men with the age group of 50-59 y in both groups. Methotrexate was most commonly prescribed drug in group 1(36.5%), whereas in group 2 are Sulfasalazine (37%). Among the DMARDs unit cost of methotrexate is high but the monthly cost was high for Sulfasalazine, because the methotrexate is prescribed on a once-weekly basis while sulfasalazine is taken twice a day. The cost of NSAIDs comes around 46.47% of the total drug cost of the month. In steroids, cost comes around 11.73% of the total drug cost. Among the direct cost of two groups, the drug cost and transportation cost is higher when compared with other costs. Indirect costs such as lost wages, due to disease is higher in group 1. Conclusion: The study concluded that the burden of RA to the patient is huge, Appropriate standard prescribing guidelines should be developed and implementation of the rational drug must be promoted. Polypharmacy was reported in group 1 hospital, the progression of symptoms was the same in both hospitals, it increases the cost of therapy and overall cost of patients. Hence it becomes vital to diagnose and control the disease at an early stage to control the economic burden on the patient

Regulation of rod photoreceptor function by farnesylated G-protein γ-subunits

Heterotrimeric G-protein transducin, Gt, is a key signal transducer and amplifier in retinal rod and cone photoreceptor cells. Despite similar subunit composition, close amino acid identity, and identical posttranslational farnesylation of their Gγ subunits, rods and cones rely on unique Gγ1 (Gngt1) and Gγc (Gngt2) isoforms, respectively. The only other farnesylated G-protein γ-subunit, Gγ11 (Gng11), is expressed in multiple tissues but not retina. To determine whether Gγ1 regulates uniquely rod phototransduction, we generated transgenic rods expressing Gγ1, Gγc, or Gγ11 in Gγ1-deficient mice and analyzed their properties. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated the robust expression of each transgenic Gγ in rod cells and restoration of Gαt1 expression, which is greatly reduced in Gγ1-deficient rods. Electroretinography showed restoration of visual function in all three transgenic Gγ1-deficient lines. Recordings from individual transgenic rods showed that photosensitivity impaired in Gγ1-deficient rods was also fully restored. In all dark-adapted transgenic lines, Gαt1 was targeted to the outer segments, reversing its diffuse localization found in Gγ1-deficient rods. Bright illumination triggered Gαt1 translocation from the rod outer to inner segments in all three transgenic strains. However, Gαt1 translocation in Gγ11 transgenic mice occurred at significantly dimmer background light. Consistent with this, transretinal ERG recordings revealed gradual response recovery in moderate background illumination in Gγ11 transgenic mice but not in Gγ1 controls. Thus, while farnesylated Gγ subunits are functionally active and largely interchangeable in supporting rod phototransduction, replacement of retina-specific Gγ isoforms by the ubiquitous Gγ11 affects the ability of rods to adapt to background light

Tibia Fracture Healing Prediction Using First-Order Mathematical Model

The prediction of healing period of a tibia fracture in humans across limb using first-order mathematical model is demonstrated. At present, fracture healing is diagnosed using X-rays. Recent studies have demonstrated electric stimulation as a diagnostic tool in fracture healing. A DC electric voltage of 0.7 V was applied across the fracture and stabilized with Teflon coated carbon rings and the data was recorded at different time intervals until the fracture heals. The experimental data fitted a first-order plus dead time zero model (FOPDTZ) that coincided with the mathematical model of electrical simulated tibia fracture limb. Fracture healing diagnosis was proposed using model parameter process gain. Current stabilization in terms of process gain parameter becoming constant indicates that the healing of fracture is a new finding in the work. An error analysis was performed and it was observed that the measured data correlated to the FOPDTZ model with an error of less than 2 percent. Prediction of fracture healing period was done by one of the identified model parameters, namely, process gain. Moreover, mathematically, it is justified that once the fracture is completely united there is no capacitance present across the fracture site, which is a novelty of the work

The battle of Brain vs. Heart: A literature review and meta-analysis of "hedonic motivation" use in UTAUT2

YesMuch of the scholarly debate on the extrinsic-intrinsic motivation dichotomy to date has focused on organisational context. However, the recent upsurge of technology use amongst individuals in non-organisational context has led to consumer-focused research model such as extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The objective of this study is to bring back much needed focus on motivation dichotomy from the consumer perspective. This involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of hedonic motivation an affective construct in UTAUT2 studies. The findings from 79 UTAUT2 empirical studies revealed that only 46 studies (58%) utilised hedonic motivation while the remaining 33 studies (42%) omitted the construct. Extrinsic motivation was the major driver of non-hedonic and non-significant hedonic motivation studies with individuals using technologies for utilitarian outcomes. Unlike UTAUT2, moderators association of hedonic motivation were non-significant in determining consumer intention to use technology. The findings also revealed an important association between hedonic motivation and effort expectancy, in addition to fruitful directions for research and practice