Analysis of the esophagogastric junction using the 3D high resolution manometry

Contexte & Objectifs : La manométrie perfusée conventionnelle et la manométrie haute résolution (HRM) ont permis le développement d’une variété de paramètres pour mieux comprendre la motilité de l'œsophage et quantifier les caractéristiques de la jonction œsophago-gastrique (JOG). Cependant, l'anatomie de la JOG est complexe et les enregistrements de manométrie détectent à la fois la pression des structures intrinsèques et des structures extrinsèques à l'œsophage. Ces différents composants ont des rôles distincts au niveau de la JOG. Les pressions dominantes ainsi détectées au niveau de la JOG sont attribuables au sphincter œsophagien inférieur (SOI) et aux piliers du diaphragme (CD), mais aucune des technologies manométriques actuelles n’est capable de distinguer ces différents composants de la JOG. Lorsqu’on analyse les caractéristiques de la JOG au repos, celle ci se comporte avant tout comme une barrière antireflux. Les paramètres manométriques les plus couramment utilisés dans ce but sont la longueur de la JOG et le point d’inversion respiratoire (RIP), défini comme le lieu où le pic de la courbe de pression inspiratoire change de positif (dans l’abdomen) à négatif (dans le thorax), lors de la classique manœuvre de « pull-through ». Cependant, l'importance de ces mesures reste marginale comme en témoigne une récente prise de position de l’American Gastroenterology Association Institute (AGAI) (1) qui concluait que « le rôle actuel de la manométrie dans le reflux gastro-œsophagien (RGO) est d'exclure les troubles moteurs comme cause des symptômes présentés par la patient ». Lors de la déglutition, la mesure objective de la relaxation de la JOG est la pression de relaxation intégrée (IRP), qui permet de faire la distinction entre une relaxation normale et une relaxation anormale de la JOG. Toutefois, puisque la HRM utilise des pressions moyennes à chaque niveau de capteurs, certaines études de manométrie laissent suggérer qu’il existe une zone de haute pression persistante au niveau de la JOG même si un transit est mis en évidence en vidéofluoroscopie. Récemment, la manométrie haute résolution « 3D » (3D-HRM) a été développée (Given Imaging, Duluth, GA) avec le potentiel de simplifier l'évaluation de la morphologie et de la physiologie de la JOG. Le segment « 3D » de ce cathéter de HRM permet l'enregistrement de la pression à la fois de façon axiale et radiale tout en maintenant une position fixe de la sonde, et évitant ainsi la manœuvre de « pull-through ». Par conséquent, la 3D-HRM devrait permettre la mesure de paramètres importants de la JOG tels que sa longueur et le RIP. Les données extraites de l'enregistrement fait par 3D-HRM permettraient également de différencier les signaux de pression attribuables au SOI des éléments qui l’entourent. De plus, l’enregistrement des pressions de façon radiaire permettrait d’enregistrer la pression minimale de chaque niveau de capteurs et devrait corriger cette zone de haute pression parfois persistante lors la déglutition. Ainsi, les objectifs de ce travail étaient: 1) de décrire la morphologie de la JOG au repos en tant que barrière antireflux, en comparant les mesures effectuées avec la 3D-HRM en temps réel, par rapport à celle simulées lors d’une manœuvre de « pull-through » et de déterminer quelles sont les signatures des pressions attribuables au SOI et au diaphragme; 2) d’évaluer la relaxation de la JOG pendant la déglutition en testant l'hypothèse selon laquelle la 3D-HRM permet le développement d’un nouveau paradigme (appelé « 3D eSleeve ») pour le calcul de l’IRP, fondé sur l’utilisation de la pression radiale minimale à chaque niveau de capteur de pression le long de la JOG. Ce nouveau paradigme sera comparé à une étude de transit en vidéofluoroscopie pour évaluer le gradient de pression à travers la JOG. Méthodes : Nous avons utilisé un cathéter 3D-HRM, qui incorpore un segment dit « 3D » de 9 cm au sein d’un cathéter HRM par ailleurs standard. Le segment 3D est composé de 12 niveaux (espacés de 7.5mm) de 8 capteurs de pression disposés radialement, soit un total de 96 capteurs. Neuf volontaires ont été étudiés au repos, où des enregistrements ont été effectués en temps réel et pendant une manœuvre de « pull-through » du segment 3D (mobilisation successive du cathéter de 5 mm, pour que le segment 3D se déplace le long de la JOG). Les mesures de la longueur du SOI et la détermination du RIP ont été réalisées. La longueur de la JOG a été mesurée lors du « pull-through » en utilisant 4 capteurs du segment 3D dispersés radialement et les marges de la JOG ont été définies par une augmentation de la pression de 2 mmHg par rapport à la pression gastrique ou de l’œsophage. Pour le calcul en temps réel, les limites distale et proximale de la JOG ont été définies par une augmentation de pression circonférentielle de 2 mmHg par rapport à la pression de l'estomac. Le RIP a été déterminée, A) dans le mode de tracé conventionnel avec la méthode du « pull-through » [le RIP est la valeur moyenne de 4 mesures] et B) en position fixe, dans le mode de représentation topographique de la pression de l’œsophage, en utilisant l’outil logiciel pour déterminer le point d'inversion de la pression (PIP). Pour l'étude de la relaxation de la JOG lors de la déglutition, 25 volontaires ont été étudiés et ont subi 3 études de manométrie (10 déglutitions de 5ml d’eau) en position couchée avec un cathéter HRM standard et un cathéter 3D-HRM. Avec la 3D-HRM, l’analyse a été effectuée une fois avec le segment 3D et une fois avec une partie non 3D du cathéter (capteurs standard de HRM). Ainsi, pour chaque individu, l'IRP a été calculée de quatre façons: 1) avec la méthode conventionnelle en utilisant le cathéter HRM standard, 2) avec la méthode conventionnelle en utilisant le segment standard du cathéter 3D-HRM, 3) avec la méthode conventionnelle en utilisant le segment « 3D » du cathéter 3D-HRM, et 4) avec le nouveau paradigme (3D eSleeve) qui recueille la pression minimale de chaque niveau de capteurs (segment 3D). Quatorze autres sujets ont subi une vidéofluoroscopie simultanée à l’étude de manométrie avec le cathéter 3D-HRM. Les données de pression ont été exportés vers MATLAB ™ et quatre pressions ont été mesurées simultanément : 1) la pression du corps de l’œsophage, 2cm au-dessus de la JOG, 2) la pression intragastrique, 3) la pression radiale moyenne de la JOG (pression du eSleeve) et 4) la pression de la JOG en utilisant la pression minimale de chaque niveau de capteurs (pression du 3D eSleeve). Ces données ont permis de déterminer le temps permissif d'écoulement du bolus (FPT), caractérisé par la période au cours de laquelle un gradient de pression existe à travers la JOG (pression œsophagienne > pression de relaxation de la JOG > pression gastrique). La présence ou l'absence du bolus en vidéofluoroscopie et le FPT ont été codés avec des valeurs dichotomiques pour chaque période de 0,1 s. Nous avons alors calculé la sensibilité et la spécificité correspondant à la valeur du FPT pour la pression du eSleeve et pour la pression du 3D eSleeve, avec la vidéofluoroscopie pour référence. Résultats : Les enregistrements avec la 3D-HRM laissent suggérer que la longueur du sphincter évaluée avec la méthode du « pull-through » était grandement exagéré en incorporant dans la mesure du SOI les signaux de pression extrinsèques à l’œsophage, asymétriques et attribuables aux piliers du diaphragme et aux structures vasculaires. L’enregistrement en temps réel a permis de constater que les principaux constituants de la pression de la JOG au repos étaient attribuables au diaphragme. L’IRP calculé avec le nouveau paradigme 3D eSleeve était significativement inférieur à tous les autres calculs d'IRP avec une limite supérieure de la normale de 12 mmHg contre 17 mmHg pour l’IRP calculé avec la HRM standard. La sensibilité (0,78) et la spécificité (0,88) du 3D eSleeve étaient meilleurs que le eSleeve standard (0,55 et 0,85 respectivement) pour prédire le FPT par rapport à la vidéofluoroscopie. Discussion et conclusion : Nos observations suggèrent que la 3D-HRM permet l'enregistrement en temps réel des attributs de la JOG, facilitant l'analyse des constituants responsables de sa fonction au repos en tant que barrière antireflux. La résolution spatiale axiale et radiale du segment « 3D » pourrait permettre de poursuivre cette étude pour quantifier les signaux de pression de la JOG attribuable au SOI et aux structures extrinsèques (diaphragme et artéfacts vasculaires). Ces attributs du cathéter 3D-HRM suggèrent qu'il s'agit d'un nouvel outil prometteur pour l'étude de la physiopathologie du RGO. Au cours de la déglutition, nous avons évalué la faisabilité d’améliorer la mesure de l’IRP en utilisant ce nouveau cathéter de manométrie 3D avec un nouveau paradigme (3D eSleeve) basé sur l’utilisation de la pression radiale minimale à chaque niveau de capteurs de pression. Nos résultats suggèrent que cette approche est plus précise que celle de la manométrie haute résolution standard. La 3D-HRM devrait certainement améliorer la précision des mesures de relaxation de la JOG et cela devrait avoir un impact sur la recherche pour modéliser la JOG au cours de la déglutition et dans le RGO.

Evaluation of multiple reaction monitoring cubed for the analysis of tachykinin related peptides in rat spinal cord using a hybrid triple quadrupole–linear ion trap mass spectrometer

Targeted peptide methods generally use HPLC-MS/MRM approaches. Although dependent on the instrumental resolution, interferences may occur while performing analysis of complex biological matrices. HPLC-MS/MRM3 is a technique, which provides a significantly better selectivity, compared with HPLC-MS/MRM assay. HPLC-MS/MRM3 allows the detection and quantitation by enriching standard MRM with secondary product ions that are generated within the linear ion trap. Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) are tachykinin peptides playing a central role in pain transmission. The objective of this study was to verify whether HPLC-HPLCMS/ MRM3 could provide significant advantages over a more traditional HPLC-MS/MRM assay for the quantification of SP and NKA in rat spinal cord. The results suggest that reconstructed MRM3 chromatograms display significant improvements with the nearly complete elimination of interfering peaks but the sensitivity (i.e. signal-to-noise ratio) was severely reduced. The precision (%CV) observed was between 3.5% - 24.1% using HPLC-MS/MRM and in the range of 4.3% - 13.1% with HPLC-MS/MRM3, for SP and NKA. The observed accuracy was within 10% of the theoretical concentrations tested. HPLC-MS/MRM3 may improve the assay sensitivity to detect difference between samples by reducing significantly the potential of interferences and therefore reduce instrumental errors.

Metabolomics analysis in rats with thiamine deficiency identifies key metabolites in vulnerable brain regions and suggests neural stem progenitor cells play a role in ameliorating metabolic dysfunction

La documentation scientifique fait état de la présence, chez l’adulte, de cellules souches et progénitrices neurales (CSPN) endogènes dans les zones sous-ventriculaire et sous-granulaire du cerveau ainsi que dans le gyrus denté de l’hippocampe. De plus, un postulat selon lequel il serait également possible de retrouver ce type de cellules dans la moelle épinière et le néocortex des mammifères adultes a été énoncé. L’encéphalopathie de Wernicke, un trouble neurologique grave toutefois réversible qui entraîne un dysfonctionnement, voire une défaillance du cerveau, est causée principalement par une carence importante en thiamine (CT). Des observations récentes laissent envisager que les facteurs en cause dans la prolifération et la différenciation des CSPN pourraient également jouer un rôle important lors d’un épisode de CT. L’hypothèse, selon laquelle l’identification de nouveaux métabolites entrant dans le mécanisme ou la séquence de réactions se soldant en une CT pourraient en faciliter la compréhension, a été émise au moyen d'une démarche en cours permettant d’établir le profil des modifications métaboliques qui surviennent en de telles situations. Cette approche a été utilisée pour constater les changements métaboliques survenus au niveau du foyer cérébral dans un modèle de rats déficients en thiamine (rats DT), particulièrement au niveau du thalamus et du colliculus inférieur (CI). La greffe de CSPN a quant à elle été envisagée afin d’apporter de nouvelles informations sur la participation des CSPN lors d’un épisode de CT et de déterminer les bénéfices thérapeutiques potentiels offerts par cette intervention. Les sujets de l’étude étaient répartis en quatre groupes expérimentaux : un premier groupe constitué de rats dont la CT était induite par la pyrithiamine (rats DTiP), un deuxième groupe constitué de rats-contrôles nourris ensemble (« pair-fed control rats » ou rats PFC) ainsi que deux groupes de rats ayant subi une greffe de CSPN, soit un groupe de rats DTiP greffés et un dernier groupe constitué de rats-contrôles (rats PFC) greffés. Les échantillons de foyers cérébraux (thalamus et CI) des quatre groupes de rats ont été prélevés et soumis à des analyses métabolomiques non ciblées ainsi qu’à une analyse visuelle par microscopie à balayage électronique (SEM). Une variété de métabolites-clés a été observée chez les groupes de rats déficients en thiamine (rats DTiP) en plus de plusieurs métabolites dont la documentation ne faisait pas mention. On a notamment constaté la présence d’acides biliaires, d’acide cynurénique et d’acide 1,9— diméthylurique dans le thalamus, alors que la présence de taurine et de carnosine a été observée dans le colliculus inférieur. L’étude a de plus démontré une possible implication des CSPN endogènes dans les foyers cérébraux du thalamus et du colliculus inférieur en identifiant les métabolites-clés ciblant les CSPN. Enfin, les analyses par SEM ont montré une amélioration notable des tissus à la suite de la greffe de CSPN. Ces constatations suggèrent que l’utilisation de CSPN pourrait s’avérer une avenue thérapeutique intéressante pour soulager la dégénérescence symptomatique liée à une grave carence en thiamine chez l’humain.

Studies on Pseudoscalar Meson Bound States and Semileptonic Decays in a Relativistic Potential Model

In this thesis quark-antiquark bound states are considered using a relativistic two-body equation for Dirac particles. The mass spectrum of mesons includes bound states involving two heavy quarks or one heavy and one light quark. In order to analyse these states within a unified formalism, it is desirable to have a two-fermion equation that limits to one body Dirac equation with a static interaction for the light quark when the other particle's mass tends to infinity. A suitable two-body equation has been developed by Mandelzweig and Wallace. This equation is solved in momentum space and is used to describe the complete spectrum of mesons. The potential used in this work contains a short range one-gluon exchange interaction and a long range linear confining and constant potential terms. This model is used to investigate the decay processes of heavy mesons. Semileptonic decays are more tractable since there is no final state interactions between the leptons and hadrons that would otherwise complicate the situation. Studies on B and D meson decays are helpful to understand the nonperturbative strong interactions of heavy mesons, which in turn is useful to extract the details of weak interaction process. Calculation of form factors of these semileptonic decays of pseudo scalar mesons are also presented.

Consequence modelling,vulnerability assessment and fuzzy fault tree analysis of hazardous storages in an industrial area

The hazards associated with major accident hazard (MAH) industries are fire, explosion and toxic gas releases. Of these, toxic gas release is the worst as it has the potential to cause extensive fatalities. Qualitative and quantitative hazard analyses are essential for the identitication and quantification of the hazards associated with chemical industries. This research work presents the results of a consequence analysis carried out to assess the damage potential of the hazardous material storages in an industrial area of central Kerala, India. A survey carried out in the major accident hazard (MAH) units in the industrial belt revealed that the major hazardous chemicals stored by the various industrial units are ammonia, chlorine, benzene, naphtha, cyclohexane, cyclohexanone and LPG. The damage potential of the above chemicals is assessed using consequence modelling. Modelling of pool fires for naphtha, cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, benzene and ammonia are carried out using TNO model. Vapor cloud explosion (VCE) modelling of LPG, cyclohexane and benzene are carried out using TNT equivalent model. Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) modelling of LPG is also carried out. Dispersion modelling of toxic chemicals like chlorine, ammonia and benzene is carried out using the ALOHA air quality model. Threat zones for different hazardous storages are estimated based on the consequence modelling. The distance covered by the threat zone was found to be maximum for chlorine release from a chlor-alkali industry located in the area. The results of consequence modelling are useful for the estimation of individual risk and societal risk in the above industrial area.Vulnerability assessment is carried out using probit functions for toxic, thermal and pressure loads. Individual and societal risks are also estimated at different locations. Mapping of threat zones due to different incident outcome cases from different MAH industries is done with the help of Are GIS.Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is an established technique for hazard evaluation. This technique has the advantage of being both qualitative and quantitative, if the probabilities and frequencies of the basic events are known. However it is often difficult to estimate precisely the failure probability of the components due to insufficient data or vague characteristics of the basic event. It has been reported that availability of the failure probability data pertaining to local conditions is surprisingly limited in India. This thesis outlines the generation of failure probability values of the basic events that lead to the release of chlorine from the storage and filling facility of a major chlor-alkali industry located in the area using expert elicitation and proven fuzzy logic. Sensitivity analysis has been done to evaluate the percentage contribution of each basic event that could lead to chlorine release. Two dimensional fuzzy fault tree analysis (TDFFTA) has been proposed for balancing the hesitation factor invo1ved in expert elicitation .

Study on Solid Waste Management : An Economic Analysis with Respect to Ernakulam District

This thesis analyzed waste generation and waster disposal problems in municipalities and Cochin Corporation in Ernakulam district.Then the potential of resource recovery and recycling from biodegradable and non bio-degradable waste is established.The study further focused on the need for segregation of waste at the source as biodegradable and non biodegradable solid waste.The potential of resource recovery is explained in detail through the case study.The thesis also highlights the economically viable and environmental friendly methods o f treatment of waste.But the problem is that concerted and earnest attempts are lacking in making use of such methods.In spite of the health problems faced,people living near the dump sites are forced to stay there either because of their weak economic background or family ties.The study did not calculate the economic cost of health problems arising out of unscientific and irresponsible methods of waste disposal.

Physicochemical and molecular characterization of bacteriophages ΦSP-1 and ΦSP-3, specific for pathogenic Salmonella and evaluation of their potential as biocontrol agent

This thesis entitled Physicochemical and molecular characterization of bacteriophages ΦSP-1and ΦSP-3, specific for pathogenic Salmonella and evaluation of their potential as biocontrol agent . Salmonella were screened using standard methodologies from various environmental samples including chicken caecum. Salmonella strains, which were previously isolated and stocked in the lab, were also included in this study as host, for screening Salmonella specific lytic phages. The Salmonella strain in this study designated as S49 which helped in phage propagation by acting as host bacteria was identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica by 16S rRNA gene analysis and serotyping . A total of three Salmonella specific phage named as ΦSP-1, ΦSP-2 and ΦSP-3 were isolated from chicken intestine samples via an enrichment protocol employing the double agar overlay method. ΦSP-1 and ΦSP-3 showing consistent lytic nature were selected for further study and were purified by repeated plating after picking of single isolated plaques from the lawns of Salmonella S49 plates. Both the phages produced small, clear plaques indicating their lytic nature. ΦSP-1 and ΦSP-3 were concentrated employing PEG-NaCl precipitation method before further characterization. The focus of present study was to isolate, characterize and verify the efficacy of lytic bacteriophages against the robust pathogen Salmonella, capable of surviving under various hostile conditions. Two phages, ΦSP-1 and ΦSP-3, belonging to two families, Podovoridae and Siphoviridae were isolated.

International Trade and Cochin Port A Historical. and statistical Analysis -- 1881-1980

The overall focus of the thesis involves the International trade and cochin port a historical and statistical analysis 1881-1980.Analysing the trend of exports and imports through cochin port during the course of the last hundred years .This analysis has brought to light some very pertinent facts which , in our opinion,deserve serious consideration of the policy makers,the partise involved in trade and those who are interested in the development of the cochin port.Our study is restricted to twelve commodities -ten commodities of exports and two commodities of imports.The study reveals that the commodities that were exported from cochin are subjected to fluctuations -some mild and others wild. The projections only indicate the potential and unless we are very cautious the chance will be taken away by our competitors .With reference to the development of the port in particular and the states economy in general we would like to make a suggestion .This suggestion relates to declaring cochin as a free port .This will go a long way in the develppment of the port and the state's economy.The sooner it is done the better for the port and the state.

Global Value Chain Linkages of Manufacturing Export Firms: A Study of The Kannur Home Textile Industry

The literature on the involvement of developing countries in trade has focused on the effects of different aspects of globalization on firms, regions and countries. The study attempts to examine how an export based industry, locallyembedded and originated on the basis of regional strengths has been inserted into the global trade framework. Though the unit of analysis is the manufacturing export firm in the region of Kannur, it represents the entire home textile export industry from the state of Kerala, as close to 90% of fabric exports in home furnishing material, textiles for upholstery and decoration and stitched or fused, and branded made ups are from the region. From a global perspective, how developing countries face newer trade restrictions and overcome non quota barriers by firm and region specific activities within a value chain framework is a major research area, which has already contributions from the Ludhiana woolen cluster (Tewari,1999 ) and the Tirupur cluster in India (Cawthorne, 1995). The study contributes to the value chain literature by examining the governance and upgrading as well as how firms benefit from linkages. India has a number of export oriented agglomerations or regions where firms have been serving export markets for many years. In many cases it is no longer the supply side policy actions that determine how they are able to penetrate new markets or expand existing market share. Based on this study it becomes possible to understand how the global value chain operates in these different industries to examine whether there is a danger of immiserisation of growth or low road growth

Potential public health significance of faecal contamination and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella serotypes in a lake in India

To assess the prevalence of faecal coliform bacteria and multiple drug resistance among Escherichia coli and Salmonella serotypes from Vembanadu Lake. Study design: Systematic microbiological testing. Methods: Monthly collection of water samples were made from ten stations on the southern and northern parts of a salt water regulator constructed in Vembanadu Lake in order to prevent incursion of seawater during certain periods of the year. Density of faecal colifrom bacteria was estimated. E. coli and Salmonella were isolated and their different serotypes were identified. Antibiotic resistance analysis of E. coli and Salmonella serotypes was done and the MAR index of individual isolates was calculated. Results: Density of faecal coliform bacteria ranged from mean MPN value 2900 -7100/100ml. Results showed multiple drug resistance pattern among the bacterial isolates. E. coli showed more than 50% resistance to amickacin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, tetracycline and kanamycin while Salmonella showed high resistance to oxytetracycline, streptomycin, tetracycline and ampicillin. The MAR indexing of the isolates showed that they have originated from high risk source such as humans, poultry and dairy cows. Conclusions: The high density of faecal coliform bacteria and prevalence of multi drug resistant E. coli and Salmonella serotypes in the lake may pose severe public health risk through related water borne and food borne outbreaks

“Effect of spice oleoresins in microbial decontamination and their potential application in quality stabilization of Tuna (Euthynnus affinis) during storage”

Unprocessed seafood harbor high number of bacteria, hence are more prone to spoilage. In this circumstance, the use of spice in fish for reduction of microorganism can play an important role in seafood processing. Many essential oils from herbs and spices are used widely in the food, health and personal care industries and are classified as GRAS (Generally regarded as safe) substances or are permitted food additives. A large number of these compounds have been the subject of extensive toxicological scrutiny. However, their principal function is to impart desirable flavours and aromas and not necessarily to act as antimicrobial agents. Given the high flavour and aroma impact to plant essential oils, the future for using these compound as food preservatives lies in the careful selection and evaluation of their efficacy at low concentrations but in combination with other chemical preservatives or preservation processes. For this reason they are worth of study alone or in combination with processing methods in order to establish if they could extend the shelf-life of foods. In this study, the effect of the spices, clove, turmeric, cardamom, oregano, rosemary and garlic in controlling the spoilage and pathogenic bacteria is investigated. Their effect on biogenic amine formation in tuna especially, histamine, as a result of bacterial control is also studied in detail. The contribution of spice oleoresin in the sensory and textural parameters is investigated using textural profile analysis and sensory panel. Finally, the potential of spices in quality stabilization and in increasing the shelf–life of tuna during frozen storage is analysed

In vivo screening of mangrove plants for anti WSSV activity in Penaeus monodon, and evaluation of Ceriops tagal as a potential source of antiviral molecules

The objective of the study was to find out a natural way to fight white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in cultured shrimps, as the present scenario necessitated an organic remedy for the devastating pathogen in crustaceans. Under this research programme seven mangrove plants were collected, identified and aqueous extracts screened for their protective effect on the giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon against WSSV. The experimental design consisted two modes of application, such as exposure of the virus to the extract and injection challenge, and oral administration of the extract coated feed followed by oral challenge. All experimental animals were monitored through a nested diagnostic PCR analysis. Of the seven mangrove extracts screened aqueous extract from Ceriops tagal imparted total protection to shrimp from WSSV when challenged by both methods. Shrimps administered with the aqueous extract from C. tagal were devoid of virions. The HPLC fingerprint of the aqueous extracts from C. tagal showed more than 25 peaks and 7 of them were larger and well separated. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolics, cardiac glycosides, saponins and sterols. The study indicated suitability of the aqueous extract of C. tagal as a possible prophylaxis for WSSV infection in shrimp. This is the first report on the anti WSSV property of the mangrove plant C. tagal

Export trend of Indian ornamental fish industry

Inspite of having two hotspots of biodiversity India is way long back in the ornamental fish trade. Large number of species can only foster the needs of the industry. The study aims to (1) to find the various indigenous, exotic ornamental fish species and ornamental shrimp species being exported from India, (2) to provide an overview of the trends in the Indian ornamental fish export industry. 287 indigenous fish species, 92 exotic fish species and 44 ornamental shrimps have been found to get exported from India. The export trend of the industry for the past ten years shows a declining state which is also reflected in the annual and compound annual growth rate. Ornamental fish industry has enormous potential in tropical countries like India. To expand trade, new technologies and policies will have to be developed which will help in attaining a sustainable industry.

In vivo screening of mangrove plants for anti WSSV activity in Penaeus monodon, and evaluation of Ceriops tagal as a potential source of antiviral molecules

The objective of the study was to find out a natural way to fight white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in cultured shrimps, as the present scenario necessitated an organic remedy for the devastating pathogen in crustaceans. Under this research programme seven mangrove plants were collected, identified and aqueous extracts screened for their protective effect on the giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon against WSSV. The experimental design consisted two modes of application, such as exposure of the virus to the extract and injection challenge, and oral administration of the extract coated feed followed by oral challenge. All experimental animals were monitored through a nested diagnostic PCR analysis. Of the seven mangrove extracts screened aqueous extract from Ceriops tagal imparted total protection to shrimp from WSSV when challenged by both methods. Shrimps administered with the aqueous extract from C. tagal were devoid of virions. The HPLC fingerprint of the aqueous extracts from C. tagal showed more than 25 peaks and 7 of them were larger and well separated. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolics, cardiac glycosides, saponins and sterols. The study indicated suitability of the aqueous extract of C. tagal as a possible prophylaxis for WSSV infection in shrimp. This is the first report on the anti WSSV property of the mangrove plant C. tagal

A Modeling Analysis of Changing Global Land Use as affected by Changing Demands for Wood Products

The 21st century has brought new challenges for forest management at a time when globalization in world trade is increasing and global climate change is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition to various goods and services like food, feed, timber or biofuels being provided to humans, forest ecosystems are a large store of terrestrial carbon and account for a major part of the carbon exchange between the atmosphere and the land surface. Depending on the stage of the ecosystems and/or management regimes, forests can be either sinks, or sources of carbon. At the global scale, rapid economic development and a growing world population have raised much concern over the use of natural resources, especially forest resources. The challenging question is how can the global demands for forest commodities be satisfied in an increasingly globalised economy, and where could they potentially be produced? For this purpose, wood demand estimates need to be integrated in a framework, which is able to adequately handle the competition for land between major land-use options such as residential land or agricultural land. This thesis is organised in accordance with the requirements to integrate the simulation of forest changes based on wood extraction in an existing framework for global land-use modelling called LandSHIFT. Accordingly, the following neuralgic points for research have been identified: (1) a review of existing global-scale economic forest sector models (2) simulation of global wood production under selected scenarios (3) simulation of global vegetation carbon yields and (4) the implementation of a land-use allocation procedure to simulate the impact of wood extraction on forest land-cover. Modelling the spatial dynamics of forests on the global scale requires two important inputs: (1) simulated long-term wood demand data to determine future roundwood harvests in each country and (2) the changes in the spatial distribution of woody biomass stocks to determine how much of the resource is available to satisfy the simulated wood demands. First, three global timber market models are reviewed and compared in order to select a suitable economic model to generate wood demand scenario data for the forest sector in LandSHIFT. The comparison indicates that the ‘Global Forest Products Model’ (GFPM) is most suitable for obtaining projections on future roundwood harvests for further study with the LandSHIFT forest sector. Accordingly, the GFPM is adapted and applied to simulate wood demands for the global forestry sector conditional on selected scenarios from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Global Environmental Outlook until 2050. Secondly, the Lund-Potsdam-Jena (LPJ) dynamic global vegetation model is utilized to simulate the change in potential vegetation carbon stocks for the forested locations in LandSHIFT. The LPJ data is used in collaboration with spatially explicit forest inventory data on aboveground biomass to allocate the demands for raw forest products and identify locations of deforestation. Using the previous results as an input, a methodology to simulate the spatial dynamics of forests based on wood extraction is developed within the LandSHIFT framework. The land-use allocation procedure specified in the module translates the country level demands for forest products into woody biomass requirements for forest areas, and allocates these on a five arc minute grid. In a first version, the model assumes only actual conditions through the entire study period and does not explicitly address forest age structure. Although the module is in a very preliminary stage of development, it already captures the effects of important drivers of land-use change like cropland and urban expansion. As a first plausibility test, the module performance is tested under three forest management scenarios. The module succeeds in responding to changing inputs in an expected and consistent manner. The entire methodology is applied in an exemplary scenario analysis for India. A couple of future research priorities need to be addressed, particularly the incorporation of plantation establishments; issue of age structure dynamics; as well as the implementation of a new technology change factor in the GFPM which can allow the specification of substituting raw wood products (especially fuelwood) by other non-wood products.