On a swarm of Sergestid shrimps near Chennai

Swarm of Acetes sp. were observed during 20-30 April 2002 near shore along south Chennai coast.Aeru vallai or Mosquito net was operated to catch shrimps and overall catch comprises of Acetes species. The dominant species was Acetes indicus (90%) followed by A.japonicus (6%) and A. erythreaus

Studies on the Pyrolysis of Composite Solid Propellants leading to Ignition

Studies on the pyrolysis leading to ignition of polystyrene (PS)/ammonium perchlorate (AP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/AP and polyphenol formaldehyde (PPF)/AP  propellants revealed that the activation energy for the ignition strongly depends upon the binder. Double base propellants exhibit an empirical relationship between the ignition delay (~) and the oxidiser concentration; when the same equation is applied to composite solid propellants, the plot of In ~ vs In C (C=Concentration, %) yields a straight line with a knee corresponding to 65-70 per cent AP above which the dependence on ~ becomes less sensitive

On two species of marine turtles caught off Dhanushkodi, Gulf of Mannar

A female leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea was captured in a trawl net operated from a 10 m long mechanised boat, 30 km southeast of Pamban opposite to Dhanushkodi at about 13 m depth. An Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea was also landed by a trawl boat. The morphometric measurements (in cm) of the two turtles were tabled in the report

Instance of heavy catches of Metapenaeus dobsoni along the Madras coast

Unusually heavy catches of Metapenaeus dobsoni were made from the inshore waters during 12th to 18th July, 1988 at the fishing villages of Perianeelangarai kuppam, Panayur kuppam and Kanathur-reddi kuppam. The catches were made using Edavalai, a type of bag net which requires 4 catamarans and 20 men to operate. The length range of the prawns landed was between 78 and 102 mm and dominant size group (31.4%) was 90-94 mm

Changes in the Calorimetric Value and Ignition Temperature of Composite Solid Propellants During Ageing-A Note

Calorimetric value and ignition temperature of carboxy terminated polybutadiene/ammonium perchlorate propellant decrease during accelerated ageing. The behaviour has been explained on account of binder loss and condensed phase reactions in the propellant matrix

Bumper catches of Metapenaeus dobsoni along the Madras coast

Heavy landings of Metapenaeus dobsoni was observed during 12th to 18th July, 1988 along the southern landing centres of Madras. A total of 6 units were operated at Panayurkuppam and the total landings were 3,048 kg with an average of 508 kg per unit which was sold for Rs. 68,508 at the rate of Rs. 22.50 per kg. The landings at Periyaneelangaraikuppam were around 2,000 kg. The landings of M. dobsoni at Kanathur Reddikuppam was contributed by kavala valai and total landings was estimated at 2,500 kg. The size of the prawns ranged between 78 and 102 mm and dominant size group was 90-94 mm which constituted 31.4%

Bodovanje jačine patoanatomskih promjena za procjenu virulencije i patogenosti indijskih terenskih izolata ptičjih vrsta roda Eimeria.

Chicken coccidiosis caused by the genus Eimeria is a major health impediment causing high morbidity and mortality in commercial poultry. Assessment of the virulence and pathogenicity of Eimeria species are the vital factors for formulating effective control strategies. The gross lesion score was used in this study for assessing the virulence and pathogenicity of indigenous six Eimeria sp. in a controlled experimental trial using six groups of one hundred and twenty chicks of three weeks of age, inoculated with 2 × 10 2 to 2 × 103 numbers of oocysts of six species of Eimeria. While an extended prepatent period (2 - 6 hrs) was confirmed in the majority of the species, the gross lesion scores were mostly within the low score of 1-2 compared to the international reference strains such as Houghton, so indicating possible natural attenuation of the field isolates. The gross lesion scores (GLS) were assessed ranging from a scale of 0 (no gross lesion) to 4 (most severe lesion). This study seems to be the first such attempt to standardize a lesion scoring technique for assessing the virulence and pathogenicity of indigenous isolates of Eimeria in the Indian sub-continent.Kokcidioza uzrokovana vrstama roda Eimeria jedna je od glavnih prijetnji za zdravlje pilića, jer može uzrokovati njihov veliki pobol i pomor. Procjena virulencije i patogenosti vrsta roda Eimeria od velike je važnosti za donošenje učinkovitih kontrolnih mjera. Bodovanje jačine patoanatomskih promjena rabljeno je za procjenu virulencije i patogenosti šest udomaćenih vrsta roda Eimeria u kontroliranim pokusima na šest skupina pilića. U svakoj skupini bilo je 120 pokusnih pilića u dobi od tri tjedna. Pilići su bili zaraženi s 2 ×102 do 2 ×103 oocista šest vrsta Eimeria. Potvrđen je produženi prepatentni period (2 - 6 sati) za većinu vrsta, a patoanatomske promjene procijenjene su većinom s malim brojem bodova i to 1 - 2 u usporedbi s međunarodnim referentnim sojevima poput soja Houghton. To upozorava na moguću prirodnu oslabljelost terenskih izolata. Patoanatomske promjene bile su procijenjene na skali od 0 (bez promjena) do 4 (jako teške promjene). Ovo je istraživanje prvi pokušaj standardizacije bodovanja jačine patoanatomskih promjena za procjenu virulencije i patogenosti izvornih izolata vrsta roda Eimeria na Indijskom potkontinentu

Antifungal activity of mangrove rhizobacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa against certain phytopathogenic fungi and its growth characterization

Antimicrobial substances are widespread and they are likely to play an important protective role. Marine bacterium has been recognized as producer of important antimicrobial substances which has an exceedingly bright future in the discovery of life saving drugs. The present study was carried out to screen the antifungal activity of mangrove rhizobacteria against certain phyto pathogens from Manakudi estuary, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu. Around 20 colonies obtained in Zobell marine agar plates were screened for antifungal traits. Among the 20 isolates, the candidate bacterial isolate exhibited good anti fungal ability. Identification of strains was carried out and confirmed by cultural, biochemical and 16S rDNA sequences. The potent strain was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Various process factors such as different pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen sources and NaCl were tested for the bacterial growth in static and shaking conditions. The isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesed a variety of promising properties that favoured as a better biocontrol agent. In the present investigation antifungal activity of the mangrove isolate was tested against common pathogens like Penicillium sp., Candida sp., Aspergillus sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Pescalotionbsis sp., Fusarium oxysporum and Glomerella cinculata. The candidate bacterium showed inhibitory action to the tested fungal pathogens except Fusarium oxysporum and Glomerella cinculata.

Study of diffusion weighted MRI as a predictive biomarker of response during radiotherapy for high and intermediate risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx: The MeRInO study

Introduction and background: A significant proportion of patients with intermediate and high risk squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx (OPSCC) continue to relapse locally despite radical chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The toxicity of the current combination of intensified dose per fraction radiotherapy and platinum based chemotherapy limits further uniform intensification. If a predictive biomarker for outcomes from CRT can be identified during treatment then individualised and adaptive treatment strategies may be employed. Methods/design: The MeRInO study is a prospective observational imaging study of patients with intermediate and high risk, locally advanced OPSCC receiving radical RT or concurrent CRT Patients undergo diffusion weighted MRI prior to treatment (MRI_1) and during the third week of RT (MRI_2). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements will be made on each scan for previously specified target lesions (primary and lymph nodes) and change in ADC calculated. Patients will be followed up and disease status for each target lesion noted. The primary aim of the MeRInO study is to determine the threshold change in ADC from baseline to week 3 of RT that may identify the sub-group of non-responders during treatment. Discussion: The use of DW-MRI as a predictive biomarker during RT for SCC H&N is in its infancy but studies to date have found that response to treatment may indeed be predicted by comparison of DW-MRI carried out before and during treatment. However, previous studies have included all sub-sites and biological sub-types. Establishing ADC thresholds that predict for local failure is an essential step towards using DW-MRI to improve the therapeutic ratio in treating SCC H&N. This would be done most robustly in a specific H&N sub-site and in sub-types with similar biological behaviour. The MeRInO study will help establish these thresholds in OPSCC

Marine fisheries of the south-east coast of India during 2008

The south-east coast of India comprising the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry have a total coastline of 2050 km which is 34% of the total coastline of the country. This region is more diverse with respect to the number of species that are landed. In 2007, it was observed that 499 species were landed in Tamil Nadu, 294 in Andhra Pradesh and 115 in Pondicherry