Unloading or not unloading? Sheep welfare implication of rest stop at control post after a 29h transport

In Europe, maximum journey time for transported sheep is set at 29. h (EC Regulation 1/2005), after which animals must be unloaded, fed and watered in control posts stopping for 24. h, as all other species, before continuing their journey. The industry considers these resting times too general, not taking into account the peculiar differences between species or age classes. Also, loading and unloading have been reported to be detrimental for the animals. Therefore, the industry pushes to reduce the times at control post and avoid unloading the animals from the truck. Since there is little information concerning the effect of resting in a stationary truck after long journeys, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of an 8. h rest stop on the truck for transported ewes compared to being unloaded for resting in a control post for the same amount of time, considering physiological and behavioural measures. Two groups of ewes were transported for 29. h, after which one was unloaded and housed in a pen (P) at the control post while the other was left inside the truck (T). After 8. h stop, a further 6. h travel was headed to the farm of origin. A third group (C) stayed at the farm as control. During the stop, standing, resting, moving and eating behaviour of all groups was recorded. Blood parameters, salivary and faecal cortisol were assessed at different stages. The behaviour of P animals during the resting period was more similar to C than to T ones, where feeding and lying behaviours were restricted by the limited space allowance on the truck. After returning to the farm of origin, both T and P animals showed different parameters' levels as compared to C. P ewes showed a mean loss weight of 2. kg not recorded in group T and showed higher signs of muscular damage compared to C group. It was concluded that, with so short resting times as 8. h, there is no clear advantages in terms of animal welfare for avoiding the unloading and loading of the animals in the control post after long journeys.

Effects of sucrose on opioid gene expression in the rat brain.

Opioid peptide neurotransmitters stimulate feeding and are involved in mediating the rewarding aspects of feeding, as well as in energy regulation in the brain. The effects of sucrose diets on opioid peptide gene expression were measured in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat. Rats were fed a cornstarch-based diet or a low (16.7%), medium (33.4%), or high (50%) sucrose containing diet for 7 days. Analyses of the ARC and PVN demonstrated that sucrose in the diet had no effect on mRNA levels of opioid peptides. The lack of an opioid response in the ARC and PVN suggests that opioids in the ARC and PVN are involved in energy regulation rather than in mediating hedonic aspects of feeding.

Obesidade infantil: práticas alimentares e percepção materna de competências

A obesidade infantil é um importante problema de saúde pública, não só pelos efeitos adversos durante a infância mas porque tende a persistir na idade adulta, constituindo um factor de risco para diversas doenças crónicas. Os alicerces de uma vida saudável estruturam-se na vida pré-natal e sedimentam-se nos seis primeiros anos de vida, sendo o crescimento da criança fortemente influenciado pelo seu contexto ambiental familiar. Foi neste âmbito que emergiu como objectivo geral deste estudo explorar as relações existentes entre os determinantes infantis (antecedentes obstétricos e peri-natais) e parentais (práticas alimentares, conhecimento dos pais sobre alimentação infantil, percepção parental de competência e percepção do peso da criança) e o desenvolvimento de excesso de peso em crianças pré-escolares. Este estudo, de carácter observacional e transversal, foi realizado com 792 crianças pré-escolares, idade M= 4,39 anos (±0,91Dp) e seus pais, residentes num concelho pertencente às NUTs III Dão-Lafões, sendo efectuada a avaliação antropométrica e classificação nutricional das crianças com base no referencial NCHS (CDC, 2000) e da OMS nos pais. O protocolo de pesquisa incluiu instrumentos de medida que validamos para a população portuguesa e a construção do Questionário de Conhecimentos sobre Alimentação Infantil (QAI) cujas propriedades psicométricas certificam a sua qualidade (Alfa de Cronbach = 0,942; Alfa de Cronbach teste re-teste = 0,977). Nas crianças, 31,3% apresentavam excesso de peso (12,4% obesidade), assim como 41,1% das mães (10,2% obesidade) e 64,4% dos pais (14,8% obesidade), sendo mais evidente nas mães o risco metabólico associado ao Perímetro da Cintura. As mães revelam mais conhecimentos sobre alimentação e sentimentos de eficácia mais elevados com o papel parental, enquanto os pais manifestaram mais sentimentos de motivação e satisfação. Os resultados obtidos corroboram existir efeito significativo dos determinantes infantis e parentais no excesso de peso da criança, designadamente: (i) do peso ao nascer, com impacto dos nascidos grandes; (ii) da higiene do sono especificamente dos que dormem menos de 11horas; (iii) dos que não brincam na rua, (iv) das mães mais jovens, do IMC e risco metabólico dos Pais; (v) da percepção parental da imagem corporal dos filhos, verificando-se que quanto mais elevado o IMC das crianças, mais distorcida é esta percepção dos pais; (vi) das crenças, atitudes e práticas alimentares e que permitem inferir que uma maior preocupação com o peso da criança, maior controlo, restrição e menor pressão para comer se associa a maior excesso de peso. As inferências evidenciam que, na vigilância de saúde periódica se torna imprescindível a valorização dos determinantes de risco biológicos e familiares do excesso de peso infantil, considerando programas de intervenção centrados na família, num processo que encontre sentido a partir daquilo que as famílias experienciam, de forma a ajudá-las a criar recursos fortalecedores de competência para uma parentalidade mais positiva.

A alimentação suplementar de aves necrófagas em comedouros

A alimentação artificial de aves necrófagas tem sido alvo de atenção e as suas vantagens e desvantagens ainda são discutidas. A habituação por parte dos abutres e a atracção de espécies oportunistas são vistas como um problema. Foi disponibilizado alimento em quatro comedouros durante três anos, de 2010 a 2012. Registaram-se todas as aves observadas nos comedouros, anotando-se a espécie, o número de indivíduos e o comportamento alimentar e/ou não alimentar a cada 5 minutos. Também foi monitorizado o número de casais e o sucesso reprodutor do Grifo e do Abutre do Egipto. Notou-se uma aparente relação positiva entre estas duas espécies. A frequência de alimentação e o número de indivíduos das duas espécies aumentou gradualmente ao longo dos três anos, enquanto os tempos de detecção e alimentação diminuíram. Uma tendência oposta foi obtida para espécies oportunistas como o Milhafre-preto e o Milhafre-real. Não foi possível concluir sobre o efeito da alimentação artificial na produtividade mas pode existir uma relação da frequência de alimentação com a fase da época de reprodução na qual as crias são um factor determinante. O máximo da frequência de alimentação e o mínimo geral de tempos coincidem com as primeiras semanas das crias, para o Abutre do Egipto, e com a fase de maior requerimento destas, para o Grifo. A evolução destes parâmetros pode definir habituação. Os nossos resultados mostram que esta habituação tornou a alimentação artificial mais eficaz, com pouca quantidade de alimento, maioritariamente obtido pelo Abutre do Egipto e pelo Grifo com menor presença de espécies oportunistas. As espécies que se alimentam nos comedouros apresentam diferentes estratégias na obtenção do alimento, contornando a monopolização apresentada pelo Grifo. Desta forma o Abutre do Egipto parece estar a conseguir tirar proveito do alimento que lhe é dirigido. A disponibilização de alimento regular em poucas quantidades, nas primeiras horas de luz do dia, alternando o local onde o alimento é colocado, podem ser estratégias acertadas na alimentação suplementar dirigida ao Abutre do Egipto e ao Grifo.

Bioethanol production from a sub-product of pulping industry

A vida da sociedade atual é dependente dos recursos fósseis, tanto a nível de energia como de materiais. No entanto, tem-se verificado uma redução das reservas destes recursos, ao mesmo tempo que as necessidades da sociedade continuam a aumentar, tornando cada vez mais necessárias, a produção de biocombustíveis e produtos químicos. Atualmente o etanol é produzido industrialmente a partir da cana-de-açúcar e milho, matérias-primas usadas na alimentação humana e animal. Este fato desencadeou o aumento de preços dos alimentos em todo o mundo e, como consequência, provocou uma série de distúrbios sociais. Os subprodutos industriais, recursos independentes das cadeias alimentares, têm-se posicionado como fonte de matérias-primas potenciais para bioprocessamento. Neste sentido, surgem os subprodutos gerados em grande quantidade pela indústria papeleira. Os licores de cozimento da madeira ao sulfito ácido (SSLs) são uma matériaprima promissora, uma vez que durante este processo os polissacarídeos da madeira são hidrolisados originando açúcares fermentáveis. A composição dos SSLs varia consoante o tipo de madeira usada no processo de cozimento (de árvores resinosas, folhosas ou a mistura de ambas). O bioprocessamento do SSL proveniente de folhosas (HSSL) é uma metodologia ainda pouco explorada. O HSSL contém elevadas concentrações de açúcares (35-45 g.L-1), na sua maioria pentoses. A fermentação destes açúcares a bioetanol é ainda um desafio, uma vez que nem todos os microrganismos são capazes de fermentar as pentoses a etanol. De entre as leveduras capazes de fermentar naturalmente as pentoses, destaca-se a Scheffersomyces stipitis, que apresenta uma elevada eficiência de fermentação. No entanto, o HSSL contém também compostos conhecidos por inibirem o crescimento de microrganismos, dificultando assim o seu bioprocessamento. Neste sentido, o principal objetivo deste trabalho foi a produção de bioetanol pela levedura S. stipitis a partir de HSSL, resultante do cozimento ao sulfito ácido da madeira de Eucalyptus globulus. Para alcançar este objetivo, estudaram-se duas estratégias de operação diferentes. Em primeiro lugar estudou-se a bio-desintoxicação do HSSL com o fungo filamentoso Paecilomyces variotii, conhecido por crescer em resíduos industriais. Estudaram-se duas tecnologias fermentativas diferentes para a biodesintoxicação do HSSL: um reator descontínuo e um reator descontínuo sequencial (SBR). A remoção biológica de inibidores do HSSL foi mais eficaz quando se usou o SBR. P. variotii assimilou alguns inibidores microbianos como o ácido acético, o ácido gálico e o pirogalol, entre outros. Após esta desintoxicação, o HSSL foi submetido à fermentação com S. stipitis, na qual foi atingida a concentração máxima de etanol de 2.36 g.L-1 com um rendimento de 0.17 g.g-1. P. variotti, além de desintoxicar o HSSL, também é útil na produção de proteína microbiana (SCP) para a alimentação animal pois, a sua biomassa é rica em proteína. O estudo da produção de SCP por P. variotii foi efetuado num SBR com HSSL sem suplementos e suplementado com sais. A melhor produção de biomassa foi obtida no HSSL sem adição de sais, tendo-se obtido um teor de proteína elevado (82,8%), com uma baixa concentração de DNA (1,1%). A proteína continha 6 aminoácidos essenciais, mostrando potencial para o uso desta SCP na alimentação animal e, eventualmente, em nutrição humana. Assim, a indústria papeleira poderá integrar a produção de bioetanol após a produção SCP e melhorar a sustentabilidade da indústria de pastas. A segunda estratégia consistiu em adaptar a levedura S. stipitis ao HSSL de modo a que esta levedura conseguisse crescer e fermentar o HSSL sem remoção de inibidores. Operou-se um reator contínuo (CSTR) com concentrações crescentes de HSSL, entre 20 % e 60 % (v/v) durante 382 gerações em HSSL, com uma taxa de diluição de 0.20 h-1. A população adaptada, recolhida no final do CSTR (POP), apresentou uma melhoria na fermentação do HSSL (60 %), quando comparada com a estirpe original (PAR). Após esta adaptação, a concentração máxima de etanol obtida foi de 6.93 g.L-1, com um rendimento de 0.26 g.g-1. POP possuía também a capacidade de metabolizar, possivelmente por ativação de vias oxidativas, compostos derivados da lenhina e taninos dissolvidos no HSSL, conhecidos inibidores microbianos. Por fim, verificou-se também que a pré-cultura da levedura em 60 % de HSSL fez com que a estirpe PAR melhorasse o processo fermentativo em HSSL, em comparação com o ensaio sem pré-cultura em HSSL. No entanto, no caso da estirpe POP, o seu metabolismo foi redirecionado para a metabolização dos inibidores sendo que a produção de etanol decresceu.

Estudo da relação entre o estado nutricional e défice cognitivo em idosos

Tese de mestrado, Nutrição Clínica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2014

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from oil-containing substrates

Different oil-containing substrates, namely, used cooking oil (UCO), fatty acids-byproduct from biodiesel production (FAB) and olive oil deodorizer distillate (OODD) were tested as inexpensive carbon sources for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using twelve bacterial strains, in batch experiments. The OODD and FAB were exploited for the first time as alternative substrates for PHA production. Among the tested bacterial strains, Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas resinovorans exhibited the most promising results, producing poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, P(3HB), form UCO and OODD and mcl-PHA mainly composed of 3-hydroxyoctanoate (3HO) and 3-hydroxydecanoate (3HD) monomers from OODD, respectively. Afterwards, these bacterial strains were cultivated in bioreactor. C. necator were cultivated in bioreactor using UCO as carbon source. Different feeding strategies were tested for the bioreactor cultivation of C. necator, namely, batch, exponential feeding and DO-stat mode. The highest overall PHA productivity (12.6±0.78 g L-1 day-1) was obtained using DO-stat mode. Apparently, the different feeding regimes had no impact on polymer thermal properties. However, differences in polymer‟s molecular mass distribution were observed. C. necator was also tested in batch and fed-batch modes using a different type of oil-containing substrate, extracted from spent coffee grounds (SCG) by super critical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2). Under fed-batch mode (DO-stat), the overall PHA productivity were 4.7 g L-1 day-1 with a storage yield of 0.77 g g-1. Results showed that SCG can be a bioresource for production of PHA with interesting properties. Furthermore, P. resinovorans was cultivated using OODD as substrate in bioreactor under fed-batch mode (pulse feeding regime). The polymer was highly amorphous, as shown by its low crystallinity of 6±0.2%, with low melting and glass transition temperatures of 36±1.2 and -16±0.8 ºC, respectively. Due to its sticky behavior at room temperature, adhesiveness and mechanical properties were also studied. Its shear bond strength for wood (67±9.4 kPa) and glass (65±7.3 kPa) suggests it may be used for the development of biobased glues. Bioreactor operation and monitoring with oil-containing substrates is very challenging, since this substrate is water immiscible. Thus, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was implemented for online monitoring of the C. necator cultivation with UCO, using a transflectance probe. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was applied to relate NIR spectra with biomass, UCO and PHA concentrations in the broth. The NIR predictions were compared with values obtained by offline reference methods. Prediction errors to these parameters were 1.18 g L-1, 2.37 g L-1 and 1.58 g L-1 for biomass, UCO and PHA, respectively, which indicates the suitability of the NIR spectroscopy method for online monitoring and as a method to assist bioreactor control. UCO and OODD are low cost substrates with potential to be used in PHA batch and fed-batch production. The use of NIR in this bioprocess also opened an opportunity for optimization and control of PHA production process.

Mirror extreme BMI phenotypes associated with gene dosage at the chromosome 16p11.2 locus.

Both obesity and being underweight have been associated with increased mortality. Underweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≤ 18.5 kg per m(2) in adults and ≤ -2 standard deviations from the mean in children, is the main sign of a series of heterogeneous clinical conditions including failure to thrive, feeding and eating disorder and/or anorexia nervosa. In contrast to obesity, few genetic variants underlying these clinical conditions have been reported. We previously showed that hemizygosity of a ∼600-kilobase (kb) region on the short arm of chromosome 16 causes a highly penetrant form of obesity that is often associated with hyperphagia and intellectual disabilities. Here we show that the corresponding reciprocal duplication is associated with being underweight. We identified 138 duplication carriers (including 132 novel cases and 108 unrelated carriers) from individuals clinically referred for developmental or intellectual disabilities (DD/ID) or psychiatric disorders, or recruited from population-based cohorts. These carriers show significantly reduced postnatal weight and BMI. Half of the boys younger than five years are underweight with a probable diagnosis of failure to thrive, whereas adult duplication carriers have an 8.3-fold increased risk of being clinically underweight. We observe a trend towards increased severity in males, as well as a depletion of male carriers among non-medically ascertained cases. These features are associated with an unusually high frequency of selective and restrictive eating behaviours and a significant reduction in head circumference. Each of the observed phenotypes is the converse of one reported in carriers of deletions at this locus. The phenotypes correlate with changes in transcript levels for genes mapping within the duplication but not in flanking regions. The reciprocal impact of these 16p11.2 copy-number variants indicates that severe obesity and being underweight could have mirror aetiologies, possibly through contrasting effects on energy balance.

Does Gamma-aminobutyric acid function as a plant resistance mechanism against phytophagous insect activity? /

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAB A) is a ubiquitous non-protein amino acid synthesized via the decarboxylation of L-glutamate in a reaction catalyzed by the cytosolic enzyme L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). In animals it functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In plants it accumulates rapidly in response to various stresses, but its function remains unclear. The hypothesis that GABA accumulation in leaf tissue may function as a plant resistance mechanism against phytophagous insect activity was investigated. GABA accumulation in response to mechanical stimulation, mechanical damage and insect activity was demonstrated. In wt tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Samsun), mechanical stimulation or damage caused GABA to accumulate within 2 min from mean levels of 14 to 37 and 1~9 nmol g-l fresh weight (FW), respectively. In the transgenic tobacco strain CaMVGAD27c overexpressing Petunia GAD, the same treatments caused GABA to accumulate from 12 to 59 and 279 nmol g-l FW, respectively. In the transgenic tobacco strain CaMVGADilC 11 overexpressing Petunia GAD lacking an autoinhibitory domain, mechanical stimulation or damage caused GABA to accumulate from 180 to 309 and 630 nmol g-l FW, respectively. Ambulatory activity by tobacco budworm (TBW) larvae (Heliothis virescens) on leaves of CaMVGAD27c tobacco caused GABA to accumulate from 28 to 80 nmol g-l FW within 5 min. Ambulatory and leaf-rolling activity by oblique banded leaf roller (OBLR) larvae (Choristoneura rosaceana cv Harris) on wt soybean leaves (Glycine max cv Harovinton) caused GABA to accumulate from 60 to 1123 nmol g-l FW within 20 min. Increased GABA levels in leaf tissue were shown to affect phytophagous preference in TBW larvae presented with wt and transgenic tobacco leaves. When presented with leaves of Samsun wt and CaMVGAD27c plants, TBW larvae consumed more wt leaf tissue (640 ± 501 S.D. mm2 ) than transgenic leaf tissue (278 ± 338 S.D. mm2 ) nine times out of ten. When presented with leaves of Samsun wt and CaMVGAD~C11 plants, TBW larvae consumed more transgenic leaf tissue (1219 ± 1009 S.D. mm2 ) than wt leaf tissue (28 ± 31 S.D. mm2 ) ten times out of ten. These results indicate that: (1) ambulatory activity of insect larvae on leaves results in increased GABA levels, (2) transgenic tobacco leaves with increased capacity for GABA synthesis deter feeding, and (3) transgenic tobacco leaves with constitutively higher GABA levels stimulate feeding.

Parental care in the common tern (Sterna Nirundo): sexual roles in a monogamous seabird

The parental behaviour of male and female Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) was documented throughout two breeding seasons at a colony near Port Colborne , Ontario. Thirteen and fourteen pairs of terns were chosen for intensive study in 1982 and 1983, respectively. The delivery of fish by males to their mates ("courtship feeding") occurred prior-to, during, and following the egg-laying period. Following the laying of the second egg, courtship feeding rates declined significantly. There was a significant, positive correlation bebween courtship feeding rates and subsequent chick feeding rates by males. The incubation rates of females were significantly higher than those of males, especially during the first ten days of incubation. Territorial attendance rates during the incubation stage were similar for males and females. During the chick stage, territorial attendance rates of females were significantly higher than those of males. The size of fish fed to chicks by males increased as the chicks grew older and chick feeding rates of males were approximately three times higher than female rates. Based on these quantitative differences in parental care activities, the cumulative parental time investment by the two sexes was very similar. However, the energetic investment by males was likely greater than that by females, since male parental contributions (e.g. courtship feeding and chick feeding) often entailed extensive foraging behaviour.

The Role of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase-4 in Post-Exercise Glycogen Recovery

The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex regulates the oxidation of carbohydrates in mammals. Decreased activation of PDH following exhaustive exercise may aid the resynthesis of glycogen through increased activity of PDH kinase-4 (PDK4), one of four kinases that decrease the activity of the PDH complex. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of PDK4 in post-exercise glycogen resynthesis. Wild-type (WT) and PDK4-knockout (PDK4-KO mice) were exercised to exhaustion and were sampled at rest (Rest), at exercise exhaustion (Exh), and after two-hours post-exercise (Rec). Differences in feeding post-exercise led to the addition of a PDK4-KO group, pair-fed (PF) with WT mice. Glycogen fully recovered in all Rec groups in muscle however remained low in the PF group in liver. Flux through PDH was elevated in PDK4-KO muscle with feeding and low in the PF group in both tissues. This suggests PDK4 may fine-tune flux through PDH during exercise recovery.

La promotion de l’allaitement maternel en milieu défavorisé dans le cadre de l’implantation de l’Initiative des amis des bébés : le cas des infirmières de santé communautaire

Contexte : Pour favoriser l’allaitement, la Condition 3 de l’Initiative des amis des bébés (IAB) (OMS / UNICEF) vise à offrir une information complète aux femmes enceintes. Or, cette condition est implantée de façon variable dans les CLSC de Montréal car les intervenants de la santé ne semblent pas confortables à faire la promotion de l’allaitement en prénatal, surtout dans les milieux « québécois » et défavorisés. Objectif : Explorer les expériences personnelles et professionnelles des infirmières en santé communautaire qui sont reliées à la promotion de l’allaitement en prénatal en milieu défavorisé. Dans la présente étude, les informations moins souvent transmises, soit les risques du non-allaitement ainsi que la recommandation de poursuite de l’allaitement jusqu’à deux ans ou au-delà, ont été examinées. Méthodologie : La collecte des données de cette recherche qualitative s’est effectuée auprès d’infirmières de huit CLSC montréalais offrant des services à une population importante de femmes défavorisées, francophones, nées au Canada et ce, sous forme d’entrevues individuelles (n=12 infirmières) et d’entrevues de groupe (n=36 infirmières). Résultats : Les principaux facteurs favorables au niveau de confort des infirmières à faire la promotion de l’allaitement sont d’avoir suivi 20 heures ou plus de formation en allaitement dans les cinq dernières années, et d’avoir des croyances profondes positives quant à la valeur de l’allaitement comparativement aux préparations commerciales pour nourrissons (PCN). Craindre de susciter la culpabilité nuit à la promotion de l’allaitement. De plus, les infirmières exposées à la culture d’allaitement pendant l’enfance, ayant eu une expérience personnelle d’allaitement positive, qui perçoivent que leur rôle est d’encourager les mères à allaiter, ou qui recommandent rarement de donner des PCN en postnatal en cas de problèmes d’allaitement, sont plus confortables à informer les femmes enceintes des risques du non-allaitement. Conclusion : Plusieurs infirmières semblent manquer de connaissances sur la qualité supérieure de l’allaitement par rapport à l’alimentation artificielle et sur les risques du non-allaitement. De plus, il semble que plusieurs infirmières n’aient pas les habiletés cliniques optimales pour soutenir les mères dans leur allaitement. Des formations appropriées aideraient les infirmières à avoir davantage confiance dans leur capacité à soutenir les mères en postnatal, ainsi qu’à promouvoir l’allaitement en prénatal. Finalement, les infirmières devraient prendre conscience de leurs biais personnels, afin d’en réduire les impacts négatifs sur leur pratique professionnelle.

Studies on the Deep - Water Crab Charybdis (Goniohellenus ) Smithii Macleay From the Seas Around India

The present study deals with a general introduction which outlines the objective of the study providing an exhaustive review of works on crabs with particular reference to deep-sea forms. In the first section, Taxonomy and Geographical disribution of the crab are dealt with. The species is described in detail based on several male and female specimens obtained from the pelagic and bottom collections, and its identity in Indian waters is established. It is also distinguished from a closely allied species so far not reported from Indian waters. The second section comprises the biology of the species and it is dealt with under four subheading, namely Habit and Habitats, Reproduction, Food and feeding and Proximate composition. The different habitats occupied by juveniles, subadults and adults of the species have been described and discussed in the light of available information on differential distribution of other related species. The reproductive biology is described in various details touching on gross anatomy and histology of the reproductive systems, spermatogenesis, oogenesis, size at maturity, ovarian maturation process, fecundity, egg carriage and breeding. The food and feeding habits of the species have been studied with reference to the different life stages such as juveniles, subadults and adults during the different phases of life based on stomach content analysis. The percentage of meat recovery and protein, carbohydrate and lipid content of meat have been described in the section dealing with proximate composition. In section three the distribution and abundance of the crab for the entire Indian EEZ and some contiguous ares have been described and illustrated in detail separately for pelagic and benthic realms. The size frequency disrtibution, sex ratios, length weight relationship and relative abundance of breeding population in the experimental catches have been dealt with in detail and discussed.

Legal Control of Fishing Industry in Kerala

This work is a study on ‘Legal Control of Fishing Industry in Kerala.Fishery and Fishery-related legislations are sought to be examined in the light of scientific opinion and judicial decisionsThis work is divided into five Part.The thrust of time Study is on the success of legislative measures in attempting to achieve socio-economic justice for the fishermen community.Fishing is more an avocation than an industry. It is basically the avocation of the artisanal or traditional fishermen who depend on it for their livelihood. As an ‘industry’, it is a generator of employment, income and wealth.The modern tendency in national legislations is to integrate legal proivisions relating to EEZ fisheries into the general fisheries legislation.Chartered fishing was introduced by the Central Government during 1977-78 to establish the abundance and distribution of fishery resources in Indian EEZ, for transfer of technology and for related purposes.Going by the provisions of Articles 61 and 62 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, foreign fishing need be permitted in our EEZ area only if there is any surplus left after meeting our national requirements.Conservation of the renewable fishery resources should start with identification of the species, their habitats, feeding and breeding patterns, their classification and characteristics. Fishing patterns and their impact on different species and areas require to be examined and investigated.the Central Government, that the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 was passed.our traditional fishermen that our Governments in power in Kerala resorted to the appointment of Commissions after Commissions to enquire into the problems of resource management and conservation of the resources. The implementation of the recommendations of these Commissions is the need of the times.General infrastructure has increased to a certain extent in the fishery villages; but it is more the result of the development efforts of the State rather than due to increase in earnings from fishing. Fisherwomen ar e still unable to enjoy the status and role expected of them in the society and the family.Around 120 million people around the tuorld are economically dependent on fisheries. In developing countries like India, small-scale fishers are also the primary suppliers of fish, particularly for local consumption. A most important role of the fisheries sector is as a source of domestically produced food. Fish, as a food item, is a nutrient and it has great medicinal value.Consumers in our country face a dramatic rise in fish prices as our ‘fishing industry’ is linked with lucrative markets in industrial countries. Autonomy of States should be attempted to be maintained to the extent possible with the help and co-operation of the Centre. Regional co-operation of the coastal states interse and with the Centre should be attempted to be achieved under the leadership of the Centre in matters of regional concern. At time national level, a ifisheries management policy and plan should be framed in conformity with the national economic policies and plans as also keeping pace with the local and regional needs and priorities. Any such policy, plan and legislation should strive to achieve sustainability of the resources as well as support to the subsistence sector.

Slot Line Fed Dipole Antenna For Wide Band Applications

A slot line fed planar dipole antenna with a parasitic strip for wide band applications is presented. The presented antenna offers a 2:1 VSWR bandwidth from 1.66 to 2.71 GHz covering the DCS/ PCS/UMTS and IEEE 802.11b/g bands with a gain better than 6.5 dBi. The uniplanar design, simple feeding, and high gain make it a versatile antenna for wireless applications