Landing of Neophocaena phocaenoides at Rameswaram

Porpoise along Palk Bay coast and Mandapam. Report gives details of morphometric characters of Neophocaena phocaenoides

Landings of porpoise,Neophocaena phocaenoides at Rameswaram.

Paper is reporting the morphometric measurements of female porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides caught by gill net, operated off Rameswaram at a depth of 16m

Current Status of Crab Fishery in the Artisanal Sector along Gulf of Mannar and Palk bay Coasts

Among the exploited crustacean fishery resources, portunid crabs constitute a significant proportion in the landings along both the east and west coasts of India. From 4% in 1966 the composition of crabs gradually increased and reached 12% in 2006 showing an upward trend from year to year (Rao et al., 1973; Manissery and Radhakrishnan, 2003). This steady increase in the landings of crabs is mainly attributed to the intensification of fishing operation using different types of modern gears and also due to the exploration of new fishing grounds in deeper waters targeting crabs in order to meet the ever increasing demand for the processed crab meats in the domestic as well as in the international markets

Electrophysiological responses of banana pseudostem weevil, Odoiporus longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to methyl jasmonate, 1-hexanol and host plant extract

53-57The banana pseudostem weevil (BSW), Odoiporus longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the most destructive pests of banana and plantains. Our laboratory bioassay studies showed that out of 50 host plants related volatile chemicals screened against BSW, only methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and 1-hexanol was electrophysiologically and behaviourally active. Here, we investigated the influence of host plant extract (HPE) on two semiochemicals, namely methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and 1-hexanol, both independently and in combination, in the electroantennogram (EAG) response in BSW. The results showed that HPE alone elicited greater EAG response only in males suggesting that males involved predominantly in the host plant selection. Addition of HPE to MeJA increased significantly higher EAG response in females and the response was insignificant in males. Similarly, the addition of HPE to 1-hexanol evoked higher response in females but decreased antennal activity was recorded in males compared to HPE alone. The HPE showed additive effect on MeJA and 1-hexanol in their EAG responses only in female BSW. The result also revealed that 1-hexanol+HPE blend exhibited enhanced EAG response compared to 1-hexanol alone in both sexes

Assessment of Farm Financial Literacy among Jasmine Growers in Tamilnadu, India

The unique nature of farm financial management calls for farmer to act as an entrepreneur. Being an farm entrepreneur the farmer should have enough financial literacy for effective financial management. Apart from training on production, post-harvest and marketing NAIP had given some information on farm financial management. A study was conducted to assess the financial literacy of jasmine farmers. Standardized knowledge test was employed to assess the financial literacy of farmers. For that, 100 farmers from Erode and 100 famers from Madurai district was surveyed. The collected data were analyzed using percentage analysis, multiple regression and factor analysis. It was concluded that, Erode farmers has high financial literacy than Madurai farmers. The results revealed that, age, education, experience, farm income, years of relationship with the bank, size of landholding, frequency of bank visit and bank account were significantly influenced the financial literacy of farmer. Key words: Financial literacy, NAIP, knowledge test and factor analysi

An unusual bumber catch of white prawn, Penaeus indicus from Kovalam bay near Madras

In the history of the fishing village, namely, Kovalam (lat. 12°47'N long. 80°15'E), formerly known as Covelong, situated 35 km south of Madras City, heavy landings of the Indian white prawn, Penaeus indicus caught with gill net have occurred for the firsi time during 16th-20th December, 1984. Recent mark-recapture experiments on P. indicus have also established the fact that a longer migration of tagged white prawns took place from Cochin, (place of release) to Ovari - Manappad fishing villages on the southeast coast (Tinnaveli coast), covering a distance of 330-380 km in 68 to 103 days at a rate of 3.5 to 5.5 km/day. The southward migration of white prawns during the present study was in conjunction with the prevailing southerly current along the coast

The induced maturation and larval rearing of the King prawn Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye under controlled conditions

The King prawn Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye, one of the large-sized penaeid prawns are seen in Indian coastal backwaters. Reports shows some captive controlled rearing of these prawns in Japan and China. An experimental work was conducted on induced maturation by eye stalk ablation and larval production at Kovalam laboratory, Madras. This is the first time in India that an experiment conducted on the maturation and larval production of Penaeus latisulcatus under controlled conditions has yielded fruitful results

Intrathecal B-cell activation in LGI1 antibody encephalitis.

ObjectiveTo study intrathecal B-cell activity in leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody encephalitis. In patients with LGI1 antibodies, the lack of CSF lymphocytosis or oligoclonal bands and serum-predominant LGI1 antibodies suggests a peripherally initiated immune response. However, it is unknown whether B cells within the CNS contribute to the ongoing pathogenesis of LGI1 antibody encephalitis.MethodsPaired CSF and peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells were collected from 6 patients with LGI1 antibody encephalitis and 2 patients with other neurologic diseases. Deep B-cell immune repertoire sequencing was performed on immunoglobulin heavy chain transcripts from CSF B cells and sorted PB B-cell subsets. In addition, LGI1 antibody levels were determined in CSF and PB.ResultsSerum LGI1 antibody titers were on average 127-fold higher than CSF LGI1 antibody titers. Yet, deep B-cell repertoire analysis demonstrated a restricted CSF repertoire with frequent extensive clusters of clonally related B cells connected to mature PB B cells. These clusters showed intensive mutational activity of CSF B cells, providing strong evidence for an independent CNS-based antigen-driven response in patients with LGI1 antibody encephalitis but not in controls.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that intrathecal immunoglobulin repertoire expansion is a feature of LGI1 antibody encephalitis and suggests a need for CNS-penetrant therapies