Stock assessment of soldier catfish Osteogeneiosus militaris along the northwest coast of India

Value of length growth parameters L∞, K and t(sub)0 from age-length relation obtained from length-frequency analysis for the soldier catfish stock were estimated to be 47.6 cm, 0.51 per year and 0.03 year respectively. The age at recruitment (t [sub]r) was 0.58 year and the age at first capture (t[sub]c) 0.83 year. The total mortality (Z) was 0.88 including the present natural mortality (M) of 0.84 and fishing mortality (F) of 0.04. The total stock of this fish along the Northwest coast of India was assessed to be 32,413 tons and the MSY 5,426 tons which is much higher than the current catch of 863.8 tons. The potential yield (P[sub]y) of 38.7 g per recruit could be obtained at the optimum of exploitation (t[sub]y) of 2.84 years

Sea ranching of sea cucumbers

Sea ranching of sea cucumber

Hatchery Techniques and Culture of the Sea-cucumber Holothuria scabra

In India the Beche-de-mer industry is very ancient one. Till recently the whole fishery was supported only by a single species namely Holothuria scabra. As a result of this the natural populations dwindled down alarmingly. In order to eiu-ich the natural populations a Research Project was taken up by the Central Marine Fislieries Research Institute at Tuticorin Research Centre in 1987 on the hatchery and culture of sea-cucumbers. Break-through was achieved in 1988 in inducing Holothuria scabra to spawn in the laboratory for the first time by thermal stimulation and producing seeds. Since then several spawnings have taken place and seeds produced. In 1992 the Marine Products Export Development Authority, Cochin has sanctioned a Research Project for six lakhs rupees for three years on intensive seed production and sea-ranching of sea-cucumbers. This has given a further impetus to the work

Antimicrobial Activity of Aegle marmelos Against Pathogenic Organism Compared with Control Drug

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the leaves of Aegle marmelos traditionally used in Indian system of Medicines were screened against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by using disc diffusion test technique. Bacillus subtilis exhibit about 22mm inhibition zone were considered resistant. The zone of inhibition of the extract was compared with the standard antibiotics such as Penicillin. The study suggests that the plant is promising development of phytomedicine for antimicrobial properties

Evaluation of traditionally used medicinal plants for anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral (HPV-1) activity

The aim of this study was to determine the anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities of traditionally used medicinal plants.The extracts were tested for cytotoxicity against human melanoma (A375), epidermoid carcinoma (A431), cervical epithelial carcinoma (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were also determined. Gomphocarpus fruticosus, Helichrysum kraussii and Syzygium jambos were selected for activity against the herpes simplex virus type-1.The extracts exhibited low toxicity towards HEK-293 cells, and four extracts; namely Acacia mellifera, G. fruticosus, H. kraussii and S. jambos, were able to inhibit the A431 and HeLa cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 34.90-56.20μg/ml. Arbutus unedo, Combretum molle, Dissotis princeps, Erythrophleum lasianthum, Harpephyllum caffrum, H. kraussii and S. jambos, showed high DPPH inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 2.41-5.25μg/ml. The highest antioxidant activity was seen for S. jambos (DPPH) and A. unedo (NO) respectively with greater activity than ascorbic acid. D. princeps, H. caffrum, Leucas martinicensis and S. jambos, showed high inhibition of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme with IC50 values ranging from 3.79-25.80μg/ml with S. jambos showing the highest activity. S. jambos further showed the highest anti-HSV-1 activity at 50.00μg/ml against 100TCID50virus challenge dose.This is the first report of the selected plants for their cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and viral inhibitory activity. S. jambos was able to show high inhibition of the HPV type-1 virus and the COX-2 enzyme.The National Research Foundation of South Africa (84870), the University of Pretoria and the Department of Science and Technology. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens (SANBI).http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb2018-09-30hj2017Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Green tea polyphenols in cardiometabolic health: A critical appraisal on phytogenomics towards personalized green tea

Cardiovascular disease is a chronic multifactorial health complication that is either directly or indirectly associated with pathophysiological mechanisms, including pro-oxidation, pro-inflammation, vascular and endothelial dysfunction, impaired platelet function, thrombosis, and others. The therapeutic options to circumvent cardiovascular complications include several phytomedicines, including green tea polyphenols. However, while many experimental and clinical studies report distinct mechanisms by which the polyphenols of green tea elicit a beneficial role in cardiometabolic health, the translation and applications of green tea polyphenols in clinics have yet to gain their optimal use on the broader population. This review critically appraises the various reported mechanisms of green tea polyphenols in modulating cardio-metabolic health and associated phyto-genomic challenges. Further, our review highlights the probability of gene polymorphic associated therapeutic variations in individuals using green tea for cardio-metabolic effects and the necessity to personalize green tea for clinical use, thereby improvising the risk-benefit ratio

Outcomes in patients with interrupted aortic arch and associated anomalies: a 20-year experience

Objective: The surgical results for the repair of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) have evolved in recent years. We report our results for staged repair of this complex congenital malformation. Methods: Sixty-five patients (mean age, 16.9 ± 41.7 days) were diagnosed with IAA and referred for surgical therapy. The surgical management strategy at our institution between 1982 and 2005 has been one-stage complete repair (n = 13) or staged repair (n = 52) in selected patients. Non-complex patients (group I, n = 51) had a ventricular septal defect (87%), aortopulmonary window (8%), and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (27%). Group II (n = 14) were patients with Taussig–Bing double outlet right ventricle (n = 6) or truncus arteriosus (n = 8). Method of staged repair of IAA was to transect and turn down the left carotid artery and anastomosis it to the descending aorta (n = 41) or graft interposition (n = 2) combined with a pulmonary artery (PA) banding followed in a few months by delayed ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure and PA de-banding. Results: There were 5 early and 10 late deaths. The actuarial survival including early mortality was 92% at 1 year, 81% at 5 years, and 76% at 10 and 15 years. There was an 81% 15-year survival for children in group I compared with a 54% for children in group II (p ≪ 0.001). Risk factors for increased mortality by univariate analysis were as follows: (1) primary aortic anastomosis (p = 0.03), (2) presence of complex anomalies (p = 0.05), and (3) initial IAA repair performed before 1994 (p = 0.05). Actuarial freedom from any type of aortic reoperation or intervention was 86% at 1 year, 69% at 5 years, and 60% at 10 and 15 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified no tested variables as risk factors for reoperation. The majority (86%) was in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, and 14% remained in NYHA class II. During the postoperative course there were no neurologic deficits, seizures, and growth disturbances in any patient. Conclusion: Staged repair of IAA using a left carotid artery turn down can be safely applied in IAA patients with and without other intracardiac anomalies with good results. Use of the left carotid artery for arch reconstruction did not result in any detectable neurological events or growth disturbances later in life. Associated anomalies played an important role in outcomes. The long-term probability for reoperation and/or reintervention remains high regardless of operative technique

Relationship between ultrasound detected tendon abnormalities, and sensory and clinical characteristics in people with chronic lateral epicondylalgia

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between tendon structural changes determined by static ultrasound images (US) and sensory changes using quantitative sensory testing (QST), and clinical measures in lateral epicondylalgia.Materials and methodsBoth elbows of 66 adult participants with a clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia were investigated. Using a standardised ultrasound image rating scale, common extensor hypoechogenicity, heterogenicity, neovascularity, and bony abnormalities at the enthesis were scored, and tendon thickness (longitudinal and transverse plane) was measured by a trained assessor. Sensory measures of pressure, heat and cold pain thresholds and vibration detection threshold were recorded. Pain and function were assessed using the patient-rated tennis elbow (PRTEE), pain-free grip strength, pain visual analog scale (PVAS) and quality of life (EuroQoL EQ -5D). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between tendon structural, sensory and clinical variables which were adjusted for age, gender and duration of symptoms.ResultsA negative correlation was identified between the presence of neovascularity and cold pain threshold (P = 0.015). Multiple regression analyses revealed that a combination of female gender (P = 0.044) and transverse tendon thickness (P = 0.010) were significantly associated with vibration detection threshold in affected elbows, while gender (P = 0.012) and total ultrasound scale score (P = 0.024) were significantly associated with heat pain threshold and vibration detection threshold in unaffected elbows. Heat pain threshold and gender were significantly associated with pain and disability (PRTEE; P ConclusionGenerally, structural and sensory measures were weakly correlated. However, neovascularity and transverse tendon thickness may be related to sensory system changes in LE

Impact of Coastal Disasters on Women in Urban Slums: A New Index

Coastal hazards, particularly cyclones, floods, erosion and storm surges, are emerging as a cause for major concern in the coastal regions of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Serious coastal disaster events have become more common in recent decades, triggering substantial destruction to the low-lying coastal areas and a high death toll. Further, women living in informal and slum housing along the Vijayawada coastline of Andhra Pradesh (CAP), India, suffer from multiple social, cultural and economic inequalities as well. These conditions accelerate and worsen women’s vulnerability among this coastal population. The existing literature demonstrates these communities’ susceptibility to diverse coastal disasters but fails to offer gender-specific vulnerability in urban informal housing in the Vijayawada area. Accordingly, the current study developed a novel gender-specific Women’s Coastal Vulnerability Index (WCVI) to assess the impact of coastal disasters on women and their preparedness in Vijayawada. Field data was collected from over 300 women through surveys (2) and workshops (2) between November 2018 and June 2019, and Arc-GIS tools were used to generate vulnerability maps. Results show that women are more vulnerable than men, with a higher death rate during coastal disaster strikes. The current study also found that gender-specific traditional wear is one of the main factors for this specific vulnerability in this area. Furthermore, the majority of the women tend to be located at home to care for the elders and children, and this is associated with more fatalities during disaster events. Homes, particularly for the urban poor, are typically very small and located in narrow and restricted sites, which are a barrier for women to escape from unsafe residential areas during disasters. Overall, the research reveals that most of the coastal disaster events had a disproportionately negative impact on women. The results from this present study offer valuable information to aid evidence-based policy- and decision-makers to improve existing or generate innovative policies to save women’s lives and improve their livelihood in coastal areas

Seeding Success through Innovation & Technology: Role of Innovations in Transforming Indian Agriculture

Agriculture remains the most important sector for India, vital for ensuring its food and nutritional security. From an economic perspective, the sector provides livelihood means to over 58 percent of the nation’s population, while contributing 14 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by providing bulk of the wage goods required by non-agriculture sectors, and most of the raw materials for the industries. The Green Revolution and the transformation it brought about to this sector helped in easing poverty, and proved that agricultural development has a direct role in improving the livelihood of the people and the society. However, despite its importance, various indicators from the sector show that all is not well. Across the world, the challenges facing the sector are immense: declining natural resources, smaller landholdings and lesser area for cultivation, erratic monsoons, climate change crisis, energy crisis, loss of biodiversity, weak extension machinery, rising input costs, inadequate storage infrastructure, high post-harvest losses, and lack of access to markets. There is also an urgent need to promote the competitiveness of this sector and gearing up our agricultural systems including technological aspects so as to meet the pressures of consumer demand and international markets