The Role and Impact of ATMs in reducing Regional Disparities to Enhance Competitive Edge for the Indian Economy

Every nation runs its economic chariot through the guidance of the banking sector. The policy makers work on the twin objectives of removing regional imbalances across the length and breadth of the country and to reach out to the underprivileged masses of the society in our country. To serve objectives with such lofty ideals, not only does profit making take a back seat, it also calls in for investment in infrastructure to enhance competitive edge to the entire sector.  The power of nationalization was seen as it emerged to shift focus from ―Class Banking‖ to ―Mass banking‖, from ―Profit Banking‖ to ―Social Banking‖ and from ―Elite Banking‖ to ―Every body‘s Banking.  Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Telephonic Customer Service (TCS), online banking and mobile banking are the most prominent ones amongst banking technological advances. Yet, has it really touched the heart and soul of the country? The measurable progress with its impressive numbers, guided by policy making at the centre, has churned out progress year after year and managed to hide a growing hole called the disparity in banking services between the urban and rural masses

Impact of honey-enriched mulberry diet on the energy metabolism of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The present study was taken-up with a view to clearly define the role of oxidative phosphorylation vis-a-vis transdeamination in Bombyx mori metamorphosis, under the influence of honey-enriched mulberry diet. Therefore, the study examined the accumulation and utilization patterns of carbohydrate (glycogen, trehalose, glucose) and non-carbohydrate energy reserves (proteins, amino acids) in its fat body during larval, pupal and adult stages. In accordance with Hutchinson’s investment principle, the energy reserves invested during larval stage are partly used in pupal stage and those invested during larval and pupal stages are used in adult stage. Their utilization patterns are correlated with the activity levels of succinate (SDH) and glutamate (GDH) dehydrogenases and aspartate (AAT) and alanine (ALAT) aminotransferases and changes thereof were interpreted in terms of glycolytic oxidative phosphorylation and non-glycolytic transdeamination.  The trends in mass incorporation rates vis-à-vis enzyme activities indicated that the metabolism-related energy needs of all metamorphic events are majorly met through a gluconeogenetic mechanism called transdeamination, while the behavioural-related energy demands of larval and pupal stages are fulfilled through glycolytic-based oxidative phosphorylation. The activity trends further indicated that AAT plays major role in meeting the energy needs of larva and pupa, while GDH predominantly meets the energy requirements of reproduction in adults. The honey-enriched mulberry diet showed stage-specific and pathway-specific impacts on energy metabolism. It positively reinforced the energy metabolism in larval stage, but showed no significant effect in pupal and adult stages. Similarly, it showed more promising effect on glycolytic-oxidative phosphorylation and null or neutral effect on transdeamination

Biochemical Constituents of Shrimps from Semi-Intensive and Modified-Extensive Culture Ponds

A quantitative study on the occurrence of major biochemical constituents including protein, carbohydrate, lipid and cholesterol in the muscle of different growth stages of Penaeus monodon collected from semi-intensive (SI) and modified-extensive (ME) culture ponds of coastal Andhra Pradesh, adopting different feeding schedules was undertaken. The objective was to determine the effects of the age of shrimp and the stocking density on the biochemical composition of the muscle. Protein was found to be the major biochemical constituent and an increase in protein content with advancement of shrimp age was recorded. Glycogen occurred only in traces. Lipid and cholesterol occurred in moderate quantities with concentrations slightly higher in shrimps of SI ponds as compared to those of ME ponds. Overall, the stocking density had little impact on protein and glycogen concentration in the muscle

Characterization of Vibrio spp. associated with Diseased Shrimp from Culture Ponds of Andhra Pradesh(India)

Surveys undertaken on diseases caused by Vibrio spp. in Penaeus monodon from culture ponds of coastal Andhra Pradesh recorded the occurrence of five types of diseases : tailnecrosis,shelldisease,reddisease,looseshellsyndrome(LSS), and white gut disease(WGD). Amongthese,LSS,WGD,and red disease caused mass mortalities in shrimp cultureponds. Six species of Vibrio V.harveyi,V.parahaemolyticus,V.alginolyticus,V.anguillarum,V.vulnificus,and V.splendidus are associated with the diseased shrimp. The number of Vibrio spp. associated with each disease ranged from two to five. Additionally,shrimp with red disease had concurrent infections with white spot syndrome virus.Vibrio harveyi in the case of LSS and WGD, V. parahaemolyticus for reddisease, and V.algino-lyticus for shell disease are the major etiologcalagents. Differences occur in the degree of virulence of different species of Vibrio and also different isolates of the same species. Vibrioharveyi isolated from LSS shrimp is the most virulent.Ingeneral, allthe Vibrio isolates from LSS shrimp tend to be more virulent as compared to their counter parts fromo the diseased shrimp.It is apparent that the degree of virulence of various Vibrio isolates depends on its source and the pond environmental conditions. Most of the Vibrio isolates showed susceptibility to oxy-tetracycline, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. The luminous V.harveyi exhibited resistance to many antibiotics and susceptibility to only three drugs. Considering the emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains of Vibrio, the need for using probiotics in place of antibiotics for disease control is stressed

Characteristics, Pathogenicity and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Bacterial Isolates from White Spot Diseased Shrimp

A bacteriological study was undertaken on white spot diseased shrimp collected from extensive, modified-extensive and semi-intensive ponds located at Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The diseased shrimp exhibited white spots and red discoloration of the body. Four species of bacteria, V. alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. anguillarum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the hemolymph of the diseased shrimp. V. alginolyticus was found to be the most dominant and virulent species. All the bacterial isolates showed sensitivity towards oxytetracycline which is a commonly used antibiotic in culture ponds

Survival, Growth and Production of Penaeus monodon in Modified- Extensive and Semi Intensive Culture Systems of Andhra Pradesh, India

An analysis was made on the stocking density, survival, growth and production of Penaeus monodon in semi intensive (SI) and modified extensive (ME) shrimp culture ponds located in East Godavari district of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, India. Survival of shrimp in the ME systems with low stocking densities is higher (56 - 88%) than in the SI systems (12.3 – 52%) with higher stocking densities. Growth of shrimp is dependent not only on the stocking density but also on the management practices. Although the percent survival is more in ME system the growth is much faster in SI system owing to better management practices. Weight gain of shrimp was more rapid in the SI system than in the ME system initially up to 90 days of culture (DOC) but the trend was reverse in the later age of culture period. The optimum stocking density for achieving maximum production in the area is suggested as 10-15 individuals / m2 in SI ponds and 3-5 individuals / m2 in ME ponds