Pair Trawling vs. Otter Trawling: An evaluation of efficiency along the Southwest Coast of India

In Karnataka, the trawling industry contributes significantly to fish landings. Though conventional otter trawlers account for the majority of trawl landings in the state, pair/bull trawling, which is prohibited, also during the post-monsoon season. There are no published reports on the specifications of the gear used or the changes operation, in the region over the last few years. A comparison of pair/ bull trawls and mid-water finfish otter trawls operating off the coast of Karnataka was conducted. The specifications for the gears were gathered from the gear fabrication units in Mangalore and Malpe. The pair trawl’s head rope (HR) measured 183–293 m in length, while the finfish otter trawl’s HR measured 99–110 m. The pair trawls had a mouth opening that was between 2.9–4.06 times that of the mid-water finfish otter trawls. Trawlers operating along the Karnataka coast conducted both pair and otter trawling during the same cruise, depending on the circumstances. The study indicates that the catch rate was significantly higher in pair trawls than in otter trawls. The average drag produced by pair trawls was calculated to be 6.74 tonnes at a speed of 3.0 kn, while the drag produced by otter trawls was only 2.28 tonnes at the same speed. The result of the study indicates that while the high fuel consumption of a pair trawling unit may negate some of the profits, the overall profit margin of the unit remains high during pair trawling, enticing fishermen to engage in clandestine pair trawling.Capping engine power, regulating gear size and operation and enforcing legal mesh sizes through stringent “monitoring, control and surveillance†mechanisms mitigate the negative impacts of pair trawling

Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of achilles tendinopathy : study protocol for a randomised trial

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that can cause marked pain and disability. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of this condition, but many of these treatments have a poor or non-existent evidence base. The exception to this is eccentric calf muscle exercises, which have become a standard non-surgical intervention for Achilles tendinopathy. Foot orthoses have also been advocated as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, but the long-term efficacy of foot orthoses for this condition is unknown. This manuscript describes the design of a randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of customised foot orthoses to reduce pain and improve function in people with Achilles tendinopathy. METHODS: One hundred and forty community-dwelling men and women aged 18 to 55 years with Achilles tendinopathy (who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria) will be recruited. Participants will be randomised, using a computer-generated random number sequence, to either a control group (sham foot orthoses made from compressible ethylene vinyl acetate foam) or an experimental group (customised foot orthoses made from semi-rigid polypropylene). Both groups will be prescribed a calf muscle eccentric exercise program, however, the primary difference between the groups will be that the experimental group receive customised foot orthoses, while the control group receive sham foot orthoses. The participants will be instructed to perform eccentric exercises 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures will be participant perception of treatment effect, comfort of the foot orthoses, use of co-interventions, frequency and severity of adverse events, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life (assessed using the Short-Form-36 questionnaire - Version two). Data will be collected at baseline, then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle. DISCUSSION: This study is the first randomised trial to evaluate the long-term efficacy of customised foot orthoses for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings are generalisable to clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12609000829213

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Not AvailableEconomic viability or economic efficiency is equally an important aspect in fishing industry in addition to technical efficiency. Even if a fishing unit is technically efficient but economically not viable, it is not considered suitable for long running. Reduction in fleet size of mechanised trawlers since 2000 might be associated with the decreased economic viability of trawl units which would be resulted in termination of the units. An estimation of capital investment and annual expenditure, details of elements of each type of cost and a comparison of all these among different size category are the results described. Role of fuel cost in operational cost is also portrayed.Through the study, it is proved that capital cost and other annual expenditure are in linear relationship with the size of trawler. The capital investment of mechanised trawlers in Kerala found to be ranged from 0.45 to 13.74 million rupees depending on the size. Comparing the components of capital investment of wooden and steel trawlers, cost of vessel is the major contributor in steel vessels but in wooden trawlers, it is contributing less compared to trawl nets and accessories. Annual fixed cost of mechanised trawlers in Kerala ranged from 0.3 to 2.5 million rupees. It is higher in large and very large trawlers and decreasing with respect to size of the trawler. The contribution of trawlers towards insurance found to be negligible as Matsyafed is giving insurance to fishing vessels at a very low cost ranging from 250 to 350 rupees. Operational cost, which is the most significant economic factor in case of trawlers found to increasing with size of trawlers depending on the rate of fuel consumption. Annual operational cost of trawlers in Kerala ranged from 1.21 to 14.52 million rupees during the study period. Among the components of operational cost, fuel cost found to be major contributor followed by fishermen share, repair and maintenance cost and other remaining costs. Operational cost found to be the major contributor in total annual cost of mechanised trawlers contributing 73 to 85% depending on their size.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGlobally,fisheries production is facing concerns in the form of sustainability issues, increased fuel consumption and resultant burdens contribute to worsen the scenario. All specified concerns are most prominent in trawling industry which is the most common and dominating worldwide. As India is dependent deeply on fisheries for employment and food security, the energy cost is a concern among seafood consumers, seafood traders and fishing communities. Rate of average fuel consumption of mechanised trawl fishing fleet of Kerala in a year is estimated. Rate of fuel consumption found to be higher in very large trawlers and lower in small trawlers. While comparing single-day trawlers found to be consuming 57% lesser fuel than multiday trawlers. If small trawlers are taken as a base, the rate of fuel consumption is 18.5% higher in medium trawlers, 74% higher in large trawlers and 180% higher in very large trawlers. The average annual fuel consumption of is highest in very large trawlers followed by large trawlers, medium trawlers, small trawlers (multi-day) and small trawlers (single-day)Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTrawl drag is an important factor determining the energy efficiency and profitability of trawling. Drag experienced during trawling depends on the design, rigging, accessories of the net, hydrographic and dragging conditions and has a direct bearing on fuel consumption. Fuel cost can alone constitute up to 75% of the operational expenditure of a trawler. Stronger materials will permit the use of thinner twines to reduce twine surface area and hence drag. Empirical estimations of drag of different commercial trawl nets in Kerala showed it to range from 1.37 to 48.94 kN. Comparative fishing trials were carried out with 24 m trawls made of HDPE twine and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Study revealed that average fuel consumption of HDPE trawls was 31.86±1.25 l-h whereas it was 25.31±1.38 l-h for UHMWPE trawl. CPUE were 8.1 kg h-1 and 7.9 kg h-1 for UHMWPE trawl and HDPE trawl respectively. Results shows that material substitution, coupled with improvement in trawl design, appropriate gear accessories and towing speed can help significantly in reducing the drag and concurrent reduction in fuel use.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn Karnataka, the trawling industry contributes significantly to fish landings. Though conventional otter trawlers account for the majority of trawl landings in the state, pair / bull trawling, which is prohibited, also during the post-monsoon season. There are no published reports on the specifications of the gear used or the changes operation, in the region over the last few years. A comparison of pair/ bull trawls and mid-water finfish otter trawls operating off the coast of Karnataka was conducted. The specifications for the gears were gathered from the gear fabrication units in Mangalore and Malpe. The pair trawl’s head rope (HR) measured 183–293 m in length, while the finfish otter trawl’s HR measured 99–110 m. The pair trawls had a mouth opening that was between 2.9–4.06 times that of the mid-water finfish otter trawls. Trawlers operating along the Karnataka coast conducted both pair and otter trawling during the same cruise, depending on the circumstances. The study indicates that the catch rate was significantly higher in pair trawls than in otter trawls. The average drag produced by pair trawls was calculated to be 6.74 tonnes at a speed of 3.0 kn, while the drag produced by otter trawls was only 2.28 tonnes at the same speed. The result of the study indicates that while the high fuel consumption of a pair trawling unit may negate some of the profits, the overall profit margin of the unit remains high during pair trawling, enticing fishermen to engage in clandestine pair trawling. Capping engine power, regulating gear size and operation and enforcing legal mesh sizes through stringent “monitoring, control and surveillance” mechanisms mitigate the negative impacts of pair trawlingNot Availabl

Ca2+-Triggered Coelenterazine-Binding Protein Renilla: Expected and Unexpected Features

Ca2+-triggered coelenterazine-binding protein (CBP) is a natural form of the luciferase substrate involved in the Renilla bioluminescence reaction. It is a stable complex of coelenterazine and apoprotein that, unlike coelenterazine, is soluble and stable in an aquatic environment and yields a significantly higher bioluminescent signal. This makes CBP a convenient substrate for luciferase-based in vitro assay. In search of a similar substrate form for the luciferase NanoLuc, a furimazine-apoCBP complex was prepared and verified against furimazine, coelenterazine, and CBP. Furimazine-apoCBP is relatively stable in solution and in a frozen or lyophilized state, but as distinct from CBP, its bioluminescence reaction with NanoLuc is independent of Ca2+. NanoLuc turned out to utilize all the four substrates under consideration. The pairs of CBP-NanoLuc and coelenterazine-NanoLuc generate bioluminescence with close efficiency. As for furimazine-apoCBP-NanoLuc pair, the efficiency with which it generates bioluminescence is almost twice lower than that of the furimazine-NanoLuc. The integral signal of the CBP-NanoLuc pair is only 22% lower than that of furimazine-NanoLuc. Thus, along with furimazine as the most effective NanoLuc substrate, CBP can also be recommended as a substrate for in vitro analytical application in view of its water solubility, stability, and Ca2+-triggering “character”

Ca²⁺-Triggered Coelenterazine-Binding Protein Renilla: Expected and Unexpected Features

Ca2+-triggered coelenterazine-binding protein (CBP) is a natural form of the luciferase substrate involved in the Renilla bioluminescence reaction. It is a stable complex of coelenterazine and apoprotein that, unlike coelenterazine, is soluble and stable in an aquatic environment and yields a significantly higher bioluminescent signal. This makes CBP a convenient substrate for luciferase-based in vitro assay. In search of a similar substrate form for the luciferase NanoLuc, a furimazine-apoCBP complex was prepared and verified against furimazine, coelenterazine, and CBP. Furimazine-apoCBP is relatively stable in solution and in a frozen or lyophilized state, but as distinct from CBP, its bioluminescence reaction with NanoLuc is independent of Ca2+. NanoLuc turned out to utilize all the four substrates under consideration. The pairs of CBP-NanoLuc and coelenterazine-NanoLuc generate bioluminescence with close efficiency. As for furimazine-apoCBP-NanoLuc pair, the efficiency with which it generates bioluminescence is almost twice lower than that of the furimazine-NanoLuc. The integral signal of the CBP-NanoLuc pair is only 22% lower than that of furimazine-NanoLuc. Thus, along with furimazine as the most effective NanoLuc substrate, CBP can also be recommended as a substrate for in vitro analytical application in view of its water solubility, stability, and Ca2+-triggering “character”