Women Industrial Cooperatives- An Analysis of Its Structure, Performance and Growth in Kannur District

In the present study made an attempt to analyse the structure, performance and growth of women industrial cooperatives in kannur district, Kerala. The study encompasses all women industrial cooperatives registered at the district industries center, kannur and that currently exist. The women industrial cooperatives are classified into two ie; group with network and another group without network. In Kannur there are 54 units working as women industrial cooperatives. One of the main problems the women cooperatives face is the lack of working capital followed marketing problem. The competition between cooperatives and private traders is very high. The variables examined to analyse the performance of women industrial cooperatives in Kannur showed that there exists inter unit differences in almost all the variables. The financial structure structure shows that the short term liquidity of women cooperatives in Kannur favour more the units which have political networks; but the long term financial coverage is seen to be highly geared in this group, not because of a decline is net worth but due to highly proportionate increase in financial liabilities in the form of borrowings. The encouragement given by the government through financial stake and other incentives has been the major factor in the formation and growth of women cooperatives. As a result both productivity and efficiency improves in the cooperatives. In short the present study helped to capture the impact, role and dynamics of networking in general and socio political network in particular in relation to intra and inter unit differences on the structure, growth and performance of women industrial cooperatives societies in Kannur district

New oligomer-bound antioxidants for improved flex crack resistance and ozone resistance

New oligomer-bound antioxidants have been prepared by condensation reaction. The efficiency and permanence of these oligomer- bound paraphenylene diamines as antioxidants has been compared with conventional amine type antioxidants in NR, SBR, IIR and NBR and in elastomer blends like NR/BR and NR/SBR. The oligomer-bound antioxidants are found to impart improved ozone, flex resistance and mechanical properties to the vulcanizates of NR, SBR, IIR and NBR and to blends of NR/BR and NR/ SBR in comparison with those containing conventional antioxidants.

Optimization of carbon and nitrogen sources and growth factors for the production of an aquaculture probiotic (Pseudomonas MCCB 103) using response surface methodology

Aim: To develop a new medium for enhanced production of biomass of an aquaculture probiotic Pseudomonas MCCB 103 and its antagonistic phenazine compound, pyocyanin. Methods and Results: Carbon and nitrogen sources and growth factors, such as amino acids and vitamins, were screened initially in a mineral medium for the biomass and antagonistic compound of Pseudomonas MCCB 103. The selected ingredients were further optimized using a full-factorial central composite design of the response surface methodology. The medium optimized as per the model for biomass contained mannitol (20 g l)1), glycerol (20 g l)1), sodium chloride (5 g l)1), urea (3Æ3 g l)1) and mineral salts solution (20 ml l)1), and the one optimized for the antagonistic compound contained mannitol (2 g l)1), glycerol (20 g l)1), sodium chloride (5Æ1 g l)1), urea (3Æ6 g l)1) and mineral salts solution (20 ml l)1). Subsequently, the model was validated experimentally with a biomass increase by 19% and fivefold increase of the antagonistic compound. Conclusion: Significant increase in the biomass and antagonistic compound production could be obtained in the new media. Significance and Impact of the Study: Media formulation and optimization are the primary steps involved in bioprocess technology, an attempt not made so far in the production of aquaculture probiotics.

Culture and growth kinetics of selected nanoplankters

The present study on naoplankton is based on the isolation and development of unialgai culturas from the inshore waters at Cochin. characterization of their growth assimilation products. ecophysioiogy and evaluation of nutritional quality. The work was carried out during the period 1980-1983. The nanoplankters were isolated and grown in the labratory as batch cultures to study the increase in cell population, the photosynthetic pigment: ana physioiogical activity. The chemical composition of these organisms and their rate of excretion were also determined. The environmental factors physical and chemical that influence the growth of these Cultures were defined by conducting independentexperiments. These cultures of the isolated nanoplankters have raised indoor and fed to the larvae of edible oyster to test their suitability as live-food.

Optimization of carbon and nitrogen sources and growth factors for the production of an aquaculture probiotic (Pseudomonas MCCB 103) using response surface methodology

Aim: To develop a new medium for enhanced production of biomass of an aquaculture probiotic Pseudomonas MCCB 103 and its antagonistic phenazine compound, pyocyanin. Methods and Results: Carbon and nitrogen sources and growth factors, such as amino acids and vitamins, were screened initially in a mineral medium for the biomass and antagonistic compound of Pseudomonas MCCB 103. The selected ingredients were further optimized using a full-factorial central composite design of the response surface methodology. The medium optimized as per the model for biomass contained mannitol (20 g l)1), glycerol (20 g l)1), sodium chloride (5 g l)1), urea (3Æ3 g l)1) and mineral salts solution (20 ml l)1), and the one optimized for the antagonistic compound contained mannitol (2 g l)1), glycerol (20 g l)1), sodium chloride (5Æ1 g l)1), urea (3Æ6 g l)1) and mineral salts solution (20 ml l)1). Subsequently, the model was validated experimentally with a biomass increase by 19% and fivefold increase of the antagonistic compound. Conclusion: Significant increase in the biomass and antagonistic compound production could be obtained in the new media. Significance and Impact of the Study: Media formulation and optimization are the primary steps involved in bioprocess technology, an attempt not made so far in the production of aquaculture probiotics

Age and growth of Gerres filamentosus (Cuvier, 1829) from Kodungallur, Azhikode Estuary, Kerala

The age and growth, length – weight relationship and relative condition factor of Gerres filamentosus (Cuvier, 1829) from Kodungallur, Azhikode Estuary were studied by examination of 396 specimens collected between May 2008 to October 2008. Here, length frequency method was used to study age and growth in fishes. L∞, K and t 0 obtained from seasonal and non - seasonal growth curves. Gerres filamentosus showed a low mortality rate (Z) 3.702 y-1. G. filamentosus has moderately low K value and long life span. The relation between the total length and weight of G. filamentosus was described as Log W = 1.321+2.5868 log L for males, Log W = 1.467 + 2.7227 log L for females and Log W = 1.481 + 2.7316 log L for sexes combined. The mean relative condition factor (Kn) values ranged from 0.9 to 1.14 for males, 0.89 to 1.11 for females and 0.73 to 1.08 for sexes combined. The length weight relationship and relative condition factor showed that the wellbeing of G. filamentosus were good. The morphometric measurements of various body parts were recorded. The morphometric measurements were found to be nonlinear and there is no significant difference observed between the two sexes.