Planning And Operation Problems Of Indian Major Ports With Special Emphasis On Cochin Port

Rapid changes in the technological environment of marine logistics and the increasing integration of waterborne, air and land transport systems have fostered a revolution in the design and operations of transport vehicles, cargo handling technology, and terminal facilities. This in turn has caused major changes in the functions of and uses of ports. From literature, it was found that these changes were very slow in case of Indian ports and the performances of port operations were poor when compared with similar ports in the same region. It was also found that a very few studies were conducted to identify the reasons for slow improvements in the performances of Indian major ports. In this thesis, an attempt is made to find out the operational problems of Indian major ports and to analyze the reasons for it. Some solutions have also been found out using management tools

Increased 5-HT2C Receptor Binding in the Brain Stem And Cerebral Cortex During Liver Regeneration And Hepatic Neoplasia In Rats

In the present study, serotonin 2C (5-HT2c) receptor binding parameters in the brainstem and cerebral cortex were investigated during liver generation after partial hepatectomy (PH) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced hepatic neoplasia in male Wistar rats. The serotonin content increased significantly (p<0.01) in the cerebral cortex after PH and in NDEA induced hepatic neoplasia. Brain stem serotonin content increased significantly (p<0.05) after PH and (p<0.001) in NDEA induced hepatic neoplasia. The number and affinity of the 5-HT2c receptors in the crude synaptic membrane preparations of the brain stem showed a significant (p<0.001) increase after PH and in NDEA induced hepatic neoplasia. The number and affinity of 5-HT2c receptors increased significantly (p<0.001) in NDEA induced hepatic neoplasia in the crude synaptic membrane preparations of the cerebral cortex. There was a significant (p<0.01) increase in plasma norepinephrine in PH and (p<0.001) in NDEA induced hepatic neoplasia, indicating sympathetic stimulation. Thus, our results suggest that during active hepatocyte proliferation 5-HT2c receptor in the brain stem and cerebral cortex are up-regulated which in turn induce hepatocyte proliferation mediated through sympathetic stimulation.

Hypothalamic GABA receptor functional regulation and liver cell proliferation

GABAergic alterations in hypothalamus during compensatory hyperplasia after partial hepatectomy (PH), lead nitrate (LN) induced direct hyperplasia and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced neoplasia in liver were investigated. Serum GABA levels were increased in all 3 experimental groups compared with the control. GABA content decreased in hypothalamus of PH and NDEA treated rats, while it increased in LN treated rats. GABAA receptor number and affinity in hypothalamic membrane preparations of rats showed a significant decrease in PH and NDEA treated rats, while in LN treated rats the affinity increased without any change in the receptor number. The GABAB receptor number increased in PH and NDEA treated rats, while it decreased in LN treated rats. The affinity of the receptor also increased in NDEA treated rats. Plasma NE levels showed significant increase in PH and NDEA rats compared with the control while it decreased in LN treated rats. The results of the present study suggests that liver cell proliferation is influencing the hypothalamic GABAergic neurotransmission and these changes regulate the hepatic proliferation through the sympathetic stimulation.

Enhancement of [m-methoxy 3H]MDL100907 binding to 5HT 2A receptors in cerebral cortex and brain stem of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

5-Hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor kinetics was studied in cerebral cortex and brain stem of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Scatchard analysis with [3H] (±) 2,3dimethoxyphenyl-l-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol] ([3H]MDL100907) in cerebral cortex showed no significant change in maximal binding (Bmax) in diabetic rats compared to controls. Dissociation constant (K) of diabetic rats showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in cerebral cortex, which was reversed to normal by insulin treatment. Competition studies of [3H]MDL100907 binding in cerebral cortex with ketanserin showed the appearance of an additional low affinity site for 5-HT2A receptors in diabetic state, which was reversed to control pattern by insulin treatment. In brain stem, scatchard analysis showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Bmax accompanied by a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Kd. Competition analysis in brain stem also showed a shift in affinity towards a low affinity State for 5-HT2A receptors. All these parameters were reversed to control level by insulin treatment. These results show that in cerebral cortex there is an increase in affinity of 5-HT2A receptors without any change in its number and in the case of brain stem there is an increase in number of 5HT2A receptors accompanied by a decrease in its affinity during diabetes. Thus, from the results we suggest that the increase in affinity of 5-HT2A receptors in cerebral cortex and upregulation of 5-HT2A receptors in brain stem may lead to altered neuronal function in diabetes.

STUDIES ON HAEMOLYMPH CONSTITUENTS OF PILA VIRENS (LAMARCK) AND THE EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES ON THE ACTIVITY PATTERN OF SELECTED ENZYMES

The present study is an attempt to understand the physiological responses of a freshwater gastropod, in terms of haematological parameters, in normal conditions as well as in various natural and man made altered conditions of the environment.Pila virens, a freshwater prosobranch,commonly found in paddy fields, ponds, and streams of Kerala is selected as the test animal for the present investigation. Various haemolymph constituents such as total carbohydrate, glycogen, total protein, total lipid, urea,ammonia,sodium,potasium, calcium, and chloride which are directly involved in the control and maintenance of different physiological systems, were analysed in the present study. Selected haematological parameters like total haemocyte number, and packed cell volume were also determined. Besides , the activity pattern of selected haemolymph enzymes such as acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP),Glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), all having diagnostic value in terms of internal defence system and metabolism of the organism, were also studied.

Studies on Fuzzy Matroitls and Related Topics

The doctoral thesis focuses on the Studies on fuzzy Matroids and related topics.Since the publication of the classical paper on fuzzy sets by L. A. Zadeh in 1965.the theory of fuzzy mathematics has gained more and more recognition from many researchers in a wide range of scientific fields. Among various branches of pure and applied mathematics, convexity was one of the areas where the notion of fuzzy set was applied. Many researchers have been involved in extending the notion of abstract convexity to the broader framework of fuzzy setting. As a result, a number of concepts have been formulated and explored. However. many concepts are yet to be fuzzified. The main objective of this thesis was to extend some basic concepts and results in convexity theory to the fuzzy setting. The concept like matroids, independent structures. classical convex invariants like Helly number, Caratheodoty number, Radon number and Exchange number form an important area of study in crisp convexity theory. In this thesis, we try to generalize some of these concepts to the fuzzy setting. Finally, we have defined different types of fuzzy matroids derived from vector spaces and discussed some of their properties.

Nd:Glass laser-induced damage to thin films, two-photon excited fluorescence and plasma studies

Laser-induced damage is the principal limiting constraint in the design and operation of high-power laser systems used in fusion and other high-energy laser applications. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms which cause the radiation damage to the components employed in building a laser and a knowledge of the damage threshold of these materials are of great importance in designing a laser system and to operate it without appreciable degradation in performance. This thesis, even though covers three distinct problems for investigations using a dye Q-switched multimode Nd:glass laser operating at 1062 nm and emitting 25 ns (FWHM) pulses, lays its main thrust on damage threshold studies on thin films. Using the same glass laser two-photon excited fluorescence in rhodamine 6G and generation and characterisation of a carbon plasma have also been carried out. The thesis is presented in seven chapters.

The Systematics, Distribution and Bionomics of Deep sea fishes beyond depth 200m along the South west coast of India

Reducing fishing pressure in coastal waters is the need of the day in the Indian marine fisheries sector of the country which is fast changing from a mere vocational activity to a capital intensive industry. It requires continuous monitoring of the resource exploitation through a scientifically acceptable methodology, data on production of each species stock, the number and characteristics of the fishing gears of the fleet, various biological characteristics of each stock, the impact of fishing on the environment and the role of fishery—independent on availability and abundance. Besides this, there are issues relating to capabilities in stock assessment, taxonomy research, biodiversity, conservation and fisheries management. Generation of reliable data base over a fixed time frame, their analysis and interpretation are necessary before drawing conclusions on the stock size, maximum sustainable yield, maximum economic yield and to further implement various fishing regulatory measures. India being a signatory to several treaties and conventions, is obliged to carry out assessments of the exploited stocks and manage them at sustainable levels. Besides, the nation is bound by its obligation of protein food security to people and livelihood security to those engaged in marine fishing related activities. Also, there are regional variabilities in fishing technology and fishery resources. All these make it mandatory for India to continue and strengthen its marine capture fisheries research in general and deep sea fisheries in particular. Against this background, an attempt is made to strengthen the deep sea fish biodiversity and also to generate data on the distribution, abundance, catch per unit effort of fishery resources available beyond 200 m in the EEZ of southwest coast ofIndia and also unravel some of the aspects of life history traits of potentially important non conventional fish species inhabiting in the depth beyond 200 m. This study was carried out as part of the Project on Stock Assessment and Biology of Deep Sea Fishes of Indian EEZ (MoES, Govt. of India).

Nd:Glass Laser-Induced Damage To Thin Films, Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence And Plasma Studies

Laser-induced damage is the principal limiting constraint in the design and operation of high-power laser systems used in fusion and other high-energy laser applications. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms which cause the radiation damage to the components employed in building a laser and a knowledge of the damage threshold of these materials are of great importance in designing a laser system and to operate it without appreciable degradation in performance. This thesis, even though covers three distinct problems for investigations using a dye Q-switched multimode Nd:glass laser operating at 1062 nm and emitting 25 ns (FWHM) pulses, lays its main thrust on damage threshold studies on thin films. Using the same glass laser two-photon excited fluorescence in rhodamine 6G and generation and characterisation of a carbon plasma have also been carried out.

Adrenergic and muscarinic receptor subtypes functional regulation during diabetogenesis: Effect of curcumin and vitamin D3 pre-treatment

In the present study, the initial phase was directed to confirm the effects of curcumin and vitamin D3 in preventing or delaying diabetes onset by studying the blood glucose and insulin levels in the pre-treated and diabetic groups. Behavioural studies were conducted to evaluate the cognitive and motor function in experimental rats. The major focus of the study was to understand the cellular and neuronal mechanisms that ensure the prophylactic capability of curcumin and vitamin D3. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in conferring the antidiabetogenesis effect, we examined the DNA and protein profiles using radioactive incorporation studies for DNA synthesis, DNA methylation and protein synthesis. Furthermore the gene expression studies of Akt-1, Pax, Pdx-1, Neuro D1, insulin like growth factor-1 and NF-κB were done to monitor pancreatic beta cell proliferation and differentiation. The antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions of curcumin and vitamin D3 were examined by studying the expression of antioxidant enzymes - SOD and GPx, and apoptotic mediators like Bax, caspase 3, caspase 8 and TNF-α. In order to understand the signalling pathways involved in curcumin and vitamin D3 action, the second messengers, cAMP, cGMP and IP3 were studied along with the expression of vitamin D receptor in the pancreas. The neuronal regulation of pancreatic beta cell maintenance, proliferation and insulin release was studied by assessing the adrenergic and muscarinic receptor functional regulation in the pancreas, brain stem, hippocampus and hypothalamus. The receptor number and binding affinity of total muscarinic, muscarinic M1, muscarinic M3, total adrenergic, α adrenergic and β adrenergic receptor subtypes were studied in pancreas, brain stem and hippocampus of experimental rats. The mRNA expression of muscarinic and adrenergic receptor subtypes were determined using Real Time PCR. Immunohistochemistry studies using confocal microscope were carried out to confirm receptor density and gene expression results. Cell signalling alterations in the pancreas and brain regions associated with diabetogenesis and antidiabetogenesis were assessed by examining the gene expression profiles of vitamin D receptor, CREB, phospholipase C, insulin receptor and GLUT. This study will establish the anti-diabetogenesis activity of curcumin and vitamin D3 pre-treatment and will attempt to understand the cellular, molecular and neuronal control mechanism in the onset of diabetes.Administration of MLD-STZ to curcumin and vitamin D3 pre-treated rats induced only an incidental prediabetic condition. Curcumin and vitamin D3 pretreated groups injected with MLD-STZ exhibited improved circulating insulin levels and behavioural responses when compared to MLD-STZ induced diabetic group. Activation of beta cell compensatory response induces an increase in pancreatic insulin output and beta cell mass expansion in the pre-treated group. Cell signalling proteins that regulate pancreatic beta cell survival, insulin release, proliferation and differentiation showed a significant increase in curcumin and vitamin D3 pre-treated rats. Marked decline in α2 adrenergic receptor function in pancreas helps to relent sympathetic inhibition of insulin release. Neuronal stimulation of hyperglycemia induced beta cell compensatory response is mediated by escalated signalling through β adrenergic, muscarinic M1 and M3 receptors. Pre-treatment mediated functional regulation of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors, key cell signalling proteins and second messengers improves pancreatic glucose sensing, insulin gene expression, insulin secretion, cell survival and beta cell mass expansion in pancreas. Curcumin and vitamin D3 pre-treatment induced modulation of adrenergic and cholinergic signalling in brain stem, hippocampus and hypothalamus promotes insulin secretion, beta cell compensatory response, insulin sensitivity and energy balance to resist diabetogenesis. Pre-treatment improved second messenger levels and the gene expression of intracellular signalling molecules in brain stem, hippocampus and hypothalamus, to retain a functional neuronal response to hyperglycemia. Curcumin and vitamin D3 protect pancreas and brain regions from oxidative stress by their indigenous antioxidant properties and by their ability to stimulate cellular free radical defence system. The present study demonstrates the role of adrenergic and muscarinic receptor subtypes functional regulation in curcumin and vitamin D3 mediated anti-diabetogenesis. This will have immense clinical significance in developing effective strategies to delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.