HIERARCHICAL APPROACH OF USING P300 IN EEG BASED BCI

Brain Computer Interface is a system that translates the electrical activity of the brain into commands which can control devices in real time applications, enabling the disabled people to communicate with the outside world. In this paper we focus on P300 based real time application where the users’ difficulty in communicating with the external environment is made easier. The P300 Event Related Potential (ERP) are natural responses of the brain to some specific stimuli. A person who is paralysed or bedridden needs full care and attention. This means that a care team will likely be working together (including family, friends, nurses and other professional help). Because of this, it is important to make sure that every or any one of the care team member should always be there with the patient. If there occurs a situation where the patient is in need and the care taker is not present with them, our work finds a solution for this problem using BCI technology. In this concept we use a CRT or LED monitor placed infront of the user where different images are displayed. These images represent the basic needs of the paralysed person. When the user is in need of some requirements they can gaze at the images displayed on the monitor. Meanwhile the signals generated during this event is processed and the output is given to the desired applications. Thus this paper eases the users difficulty in meeting their basic needs

Marine Fisheries Insurance in India: Status and prospects

Insurance in the fisheries sector in India, unlike that of crop and livestock, does not have a long history or an organized structure to boast of. Except for the presence of a few public sector insurance companies and cooperative bodies at the local level with limited scale of activity, the sector has received little attention either at the central or state levels. The private sector operation in this arena is also limited to a few cases scattered over time and space. Among the available options, the ‘Group Accident Insurance Scheme for Active Fishermen’ is the only major programme presently in operation that covers the life/disability risks of the boat crew

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Not AvailableGillnets are commonly used in inland lakes due to their simplicity in construction and operation, efficiency, and low energy usage. The Vembanad lake is one of the most prominent lakes in Kerala, contributing significantly to the small-scale and artisanal fisheries, in which gillnets are the predominant gear. There have been studies on the effect of gillnet panel colour on the selective capture of fish species, primarily in the open ocean and rivers. Although a considerable number of studies exist on the species profile and fish catching methods in the lake, the efficiency of coloured webbing for gillnets is not available. The efficiency of coloured webbing for gillnets is not documented, which, if available, would be a crucial input for implementing gearbased technical measures for conservation in gillnets in the lake. In this regard, a study was conducted along Vembanad lake and the lower reaches of the Muvattupuzha river to compare the catch efficiency and species profile of transparent gillnets typically employed in the region with gillnets fabricated using blue and green coloured webbing. The results demonstrated a considerable increase in CPUE for green-coloured gillnets (708.9±12.8 grams per operation) compared to blue and transparent gillnets, which had CPUE values of 397.9±80.2 and 293.7±70.6 grams per operation, respectively. Significantly higher catches of Horabagrus brachysoma and Etroplus suratensis were obtained with the green-coloured gillnets than with the control (Transparent). Lengthwise data showed that green-coloured nets captured larger individuals of E. suratensis, but significant difference was not observed in other species. The number of E. suratensis captured in each gillnet contributed to the most dissimilarity in all comparisons, followed by Gerres sp. and H. brachysoma, according to similarities percentage analysis conducted to comprehend the species assemblage structure. This is the first report on the effect of gillnet colour on the catch efficiency of gillnets in Vembanad lake, and the results, which indicate species-specific differences in capture, will be one of the many inputs necessary for implementing gear-based technical measures in the gillnet fishery in the lake.Not Availabl

The Blue Bonanza: A Manual for on the job Training Programme for VHSE students on Advances in Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques

The Blue Bonanza: A Manual for on the job Training Programme for VHSE students on Advances in Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques (18th September to 1st October, 2019

Compilation of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Marine Fisheries Sector of Karnataka

The research article makes an earnest effort to compile the major Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITKs) prevailing in Karnataka. The major objectives were to document the different FTKIs of the coastal villages of Karnataka and to anlayse the changes in practice as well as to study the perception of the scientists and the fisherfolk on the role of FTKIs in resource management. ITKs categorised under eight groups such as ‘Craft and Gear Making/Maintenance’, ‘Shoal Identification’, ‘Harvesting Methods’, ‘Predicting Natural Hazards’, ‘Preservation Techniques’, ‘Processing’, ‘Medicinal Uses’ and ‘Beliefs & Value systems’ have been collected through personal interview of 400 stakeholders including fisherfolk, farmers, policy makers, development agencies, govt. departments and NGOs with a structured interview schedule, focus group interactions and PLA techniques undertaken in potential maritime pockets of Karnataka state such as Mangalore, Ullal, Thalapadi, Bhadkal, Baithkol, Tadri, Belekeri, Dandebag, Karwar, Sunkeri, etc. free flow of information on ITKs was encouraged and documented everything recorded as such. In the second phase each practice was examined systematically for the scientific rationale by the project associates and the changes in the practice of FTKIs were quantified through interactive sessions and appropriate PLA tools. The scientific rationale behind the selected items as perceived by the scientists and the fisherfolk was also found out at appropriate stages through content analysis. This identification and documentation process of the fisherfolk on ITKs will accelerate the technology transfer as well as the technology refinement in such a way to suit to the needs of the target group as it acknowledges their inherited knowledge and value system and thereby the inclusion of selected FTKIs in the contemporary management measures will augment the resource management strategies

Role of Self Help Groups on coastal indebtedness in marine fisheries sector – a case study from Kerala, south India

The Self Help Groups (SHGs) mobilised in marine fisheries sector play pivotal role in reducing the indebtedness among marine fisherfolk. An effort is made in the present paper to assess the extent of indebtedness among marine fisherfolk in various sectors and to assess the role of SHGs on coastal rural indebtedness. The study was carried out in northern, central and southern coastal belts of Kerala State. Situational analysis was done through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) in the selected locations in the above mentioned zones of Kerala and the sample respondents were selected from mechanised, motorised, traditional, secondary, tertiary and mariculture sectors. Data were collected through personal interview from members of 12 selected SHGs and nonmembers in these sectors comprising a total of 600 respondents. The level of indebtedness of members of SHGs was less compared to the nonmembers. Even if indebtedness was more in certain cases, the repayment capacity was found to be significantly improved in SHGs. There is an extreme necessity of strengthening the SHG ventures in the traditional, secondary and tertiary sectors in the state. It was also found that the SHGs ranked better in most of the major attributes in the perception of stakeholders. A comparative assessment of the sources of credit, the purposes of credit and the utilisation pattern of loans in the state also was undertaken to draw valid conclusions. Successful microfinance ventures documented can be used as a practical manual for mobilising SHGs in any key areas on a sustainable basis

Short-term efficacy and safety of betamethasone valerate 2.25 mg medicated plaster in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis: Results of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study

Background. This placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluated the short-term effects of betamethasone valerate (BMV) 2.25mg medicated plaster in patients with chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET). Methods. Adult outpatients with LET and on-movement pain intensity ≥50 mm at a 0-100mm visual analogue scale (VAS) were randomised to receive BMV (N=101) or placebo (N=98), 12 hours/day for 4 weeks. Pain decrease from baseline to Day 28 was the primary endpoint. Other endpoints were: patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE), use of rescue paracetamol, tolerability at the application site. Results. Decrease in mean pain VAS from baseline to Day 28 was significantly higher with BMV vs. placebo: the difference between groups (intent-to-treat) was-8.57 mm (95% CI:-16.19 to-0.95 mm; p=0.028). Higher pain decreases in the BMV group over placebo were reported weekly during each control visit and daily in patients’ measurements on diaries. Treatment with BMV also led to higher decreases vs. placebo in PRTEE total, pain and functional disability score. Use of paracetamol was minimal. BMV plaster was well tolerated for general and local adverse events. Conclusions. BMV 2.25mg plaster was superior to placebo and well tolerated in patients with painful chronic LET

Economic Analysis on the Hatchery Technology and growout of Pearl Spot (Etroplus suratensis)

“Karimeen’’, which is also known as 'Peari spot fish’, is one of the most important fish species in Kerala. Even though it was officially announced as the 'State Fish of Kerala' in only the year 2010, karimeen is the most influential fish in the lifestyle of Kerala. Karimeen is highly nutritive as food. Pearl spots have the special ability to live equally in both pure and saline waters. They are mainly found in rivers, ponds, farm fields, canals and estuaries. Karnataka and Orissa are the other major states in India, where karimeen is found. Due to the favouring geographical conditions of the coastlines in Kerala, almost 10 per cent of the local freshwater fish found in Kerala are karimeen. With its increasing demand, the price of the fish variety is also soaring. Apart from the growing demand from local market and domestic tourism sector, the fish is also exported in large quantity to foreign markets as well. Though, Kerala produces 2000 tonnes of Karimeen annually, it is not sufficient to meet the rising demand for 'Kerala Karimeen' inside and outside the state. This paper presents the different package of practices of karimeen farming and analyses the economics of the pearl spot hatchery technology and farming in cages and farms involving monoculture and polyculture. The analysis in d ic a te s the economic viability of pearl spot as a candidate species for farming in Kerala, which could provide alternate vocation and good remuneration to the fishers

Marine Biodiversity in the Australian Region

The entire Australian marine jurisdictional area, including offshore and sub-Antarctic islands, is considered in this paper. Most records, however, come from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the continent of Australia itself. The counts of species have been obtained from four primary databases (the Australian Faunal Directory, Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota, Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums, and the Australian node of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System), but even these are an underestimate of described species. In addition, some partially completed databases for particular taxonomic groups, and specialized databases (for introduced and threatened species) have been used. Experts also provided estimates of the number of known species not yet in the major databases. For only some groups could we obtain an (expert opinion) estimate of undiscovered species. The databases provide patchy information about endemism, levels of threat, and introductions. We conclude that there are about 33,000 marine species (mainly animals) in the major databases, of which 130 are introduced, 58 listed as threatened and an unknown percentage endemic. An estimated 17,000 more named species are either known from the Australian EEZ but not in the present databases, or potentially occur there. It is crudely estimated that there may be as many as 250,000 species (known and yet to be discovered) in the Australian EEZ. For 17 higher taxa, there is sufficient detail for subdivision by Large Marine Domains, for comparison with other National and Regional Implementation Committees of the Census of Marine Life. Taxonomic expertise in Australia is unevenly distributed across taxa, and declining. Comments are given briefly on biodiversity management measures in Australia, including but not limited to marine protected areas