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Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources (IJNPR) is a publication of the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR). This study makes a bibliometric assessment of the papers published in the journal from 2010 to 2020. The data was collected from the website of the journal and was analysed using MS Excel. The bibliometric assessment examines the nature and distribution of documents by their types, the geographical distribution of the papers by countries, Indian states, institutions, and authors and the impact of their productivity as reflected by the citation indicators. In addition, the trend in authorship, citations and national and international collaboration was also examined. A total of 587 documents were published during the study period, of which the majority were original research articles. Analysis revealed that during the study period, contributions from 35 countries including India were published in the journal. Maximum contributions from India were from the state of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The study also found that only a small number of papers didn’t receive any citations but a substantial number of papers (17.7%) received 6-10 citations and about 1.7% of papers received 100 or more citations. Most of the highly cited papers were reviews. The multi-authored articles were predominant, whereas the least contribution was by single authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns itself with the study of changing dynamics of herder-bovine relationships in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. By exploring the affective lives of Tamil-speaking herders of South India in their interaction with native Pulikulam breed bovines and foreign bred milch cows, this paper maps the sensuous ways in which these three beings make and unmake each other. At a more abstract level, this paper intends to improvise dialogue between new materialist and deconstructive techniques by exploring Karen Barad's conception of intra-action, and Derrida's hauntology in the context of human-animal relationships. The central argument this paper exposes is that our nuanced moments of interactions with animals are already mediated by visceral absences which we fail to take into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined patterns of dog ownership in three different states in India. The main aim was to understand who owns dogs, their reasons for owning them, and how these patterns vary in different areas. We conducted quantitative surveys to gather information on the number of people who own dogs, their backgrounds, and their attitudes towards their pets. Our findings show that there are significant differences in dog ownership depending on where people live and their economic status. In particular, we found settlements in Gujarat state to possess significantly fewer privately owned dogs that Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. These results are important because they help us understand the needs of dog owners and their pets in different parts of India. This information can be used by those making decisions about public health and animal welfare, such as how to manage stray dogs or prevent diseases that can spread from dogs to humans. This study is valuable as it provides a clearer picture of dog ownership in India, which can help improve the lives of both people and animals. This paper presents the demographics, dynamics, and attitudes of dog ownership across three states in India. The background of this research is set against the increasing significance of pet ownership in urban Indian contexts, with a particular focus on understanding the variations in dog-ownership patterns and their implications for public health and animal welfare. We employed a survey-based approach, gathering quantitative survey data from dog owners (n = 563) and non-dog-owners (n = 9282) across different socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds in seven Indian settlements. The results reveal notable differences in dog-ownership patterns, influenced by regional state. In particular, settlements in Gujarat were found to have significantly fewer dog-owning households than those in Tamil Nadu, with no differences found according to settlement size. Dog ownership was found to be more common in households of higher socioeconomic standing, and settlements in Uttarakhand were found more frequently to possess dogs for reasons other than companionship. Data from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, specifically, also indicate rapidly increasing rates of pet ownership. Sterilisation and rabies vaccination proportions were typically low and high, respectively, across all settlements, with few significant differences found among settlements. Confinement of owned dogs at night was significantly lower in Nainital than all other settlements. Differences in attitudes towards roaming dogs between dog owners and non-dog-owners were also examined, with the results indicating both positive and negative trends accordingly. Our results emphasise the need for region-specific strategies in public health and animal welfare policies, acknowledging the diverse nature of pet ownership in India. This research provides valuable insight for policymakers and animal welfare organisations, underlining the importance of tailored approaches to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters affect economic activities and welfare of small‐scale producers in developing countries, but may also offer opportunities to reinvest in productive asset, economic capital, and new technologies for future economic prospects. This paper investigates the impacts of a livelihood recovery project that provided access to finance and rehabilitated communal infrastructures in the coastal communities of Tamil Nadu, India which were severely affected by the 2004 tsunami. We replicate the project's eligibility criteria to build the counterfactual to identify control households based on the validation of secondary data and administrative records. Using data from a carefully designed primary survey, we estimate the impacts of providing access to finance and rehabilitating communal infrastructures on economic and livelihood outcomes. Results indicate positive and significant impacts on income, asset and food security. These impacts are mainly driven by improved access to finance provided and participation in groups. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring access to finance for sustainable economic recovery among small‐scale producers, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among college going women. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India between October 2022 and January 2023 using a purpose predesigned, pretested, semi-structured proforma that included validated Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36). Results: Only 1.4% of the study participants used MMMs – menstrual cups (1.3%) and tampons (0.1%). Sanitary pads were the most common MHM of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. The unmet needs associated with MMMs (menstrual cups and tampons) were significantly lower than that for other MHMs (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other MHMs in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of MMMs were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers' and mothers' education (high school and above), and presence of personal income. Discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods. Conclusion: MMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the MHMs fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the awareness and usage of Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNS) among female research scholars and faculty members in Tamil Nadu, India. A structured questionnaire was used to survey 838 female research scholars through online platforms. The results showed that most respondents use at least one ASNS, with Google Scholar being the most popular. The primary reasons for using ASNS are to disseminate scholarly work and discover research papers. However, a lack of awareness and time was the main reason for not having an account with these sites. The respondents learned about ASNS primarily through friends and colleagues and suggested increasing their use and awareness through seminars and training courses, library posters, and integration in the student courses. The study highlights the importance of ASNS in the research work of female scholars and faculties while also recognizing the need for increased awareness and access to these resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the intricate interplay between mass-mediated communication, the formation of publics, and the political landscape within the culturally diverse and politically vibrant state of Tamil Nadu, located in Southern India. The study focuses on the unique context provided by the annual readers' meetings of the vernacular political satire journal, Thuglak. Employing a comprehensive political ethnography approach, the paper uncovers a complex web of interactions, ideologies, and identity formation that shape the publics of Thuglak. The paper further reveals that the political character of the journal's readership is profoundly influenced by the journal's core tenets, particularly Brahminism and Hindutva. Through a nuanced exploration of the Thuglak readers' meetings, the paper contributes to a broader understanding of the role of mass-mediated communication in shaping public sentiment and, subsequently, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu. This study serves as a testament to the powerful influence of local media in shaping the political destiny of a region and underscores the critical importance of examining such connections in an increasingly interconnected and globalised world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the virtual power plant (VPP) is gaining more attention in power system engineering due to its tremendous potential in enhancing sustainable urbanism, in which, it supplies clean energy from distributed generators. Electricity is deemed a basic requirement for future automotive and ultra-modern technologies. The deficiency of traditional energy resources and their complex generation process make the production cost of electricity increase dramatically. Moreover, traditional power distribution systems are encountering issues in distributing electrical energy to fulfill customer demands. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel power management system named 'the hybrid genetic local binary knowledge (HGLBK) algorithm' to manage power distribution in the transmission lines and to optimize the total operation cost of the network. The hybrid optimization algorithm effectively controls the load by supplying the surplus power load to the adjacent feeders thereby optimally selecting and placing the distributed energy resource (DER). The proposed concept is implemented at Kayathar, Tamil Nadu in India, and their real-time data are utilized for modeling the VPP. The proposed VPP concept is implemented in the IEEE-9 bus system and the performance of VPP is simulated using the MATLAB software. The performance of the proposed HGLBK algorithm is assessed by comparing its effectiveness with the existing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional agricultural system heavily depends on chemicals and inorganic fertilizers, which cause environmental issues. Organic agriculture impacts 6 of the 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Strategies to develop organic agriculture have used SWOT and MCDM techniques for analysis. However, the examination of the influence of one strategy over the other strategies has yet to be investigated. This paper proposes a model that combines the existing SWOT analysis with neutrosophic cognitive maps (NCM) models to analyze interconnections among the various strategies obtained from SWOT. This research deploys the proposed SWOT–NCM model to analyze the case study of developing organic farming in Tamil Nadu, India. It offers insights into the strategy's influence over other strategies so that the best is given maximum importance while implementing organic farming. The framework captures the interconnections and ranks the strategies by order of influence, providing fresh insights by taking the farmers' perspective while working with the strategies from the SWOT analysis to model an NCM. A comparative analysis of this SWOT–NCM model with other MCDM models that use SWOT to analyze the agriculture problem, and a sensitivity analysis of the proposed model, is performed. According to our study, the best possible strategy to encourage organic farming is minimum support price (MSP) and centralized procurement. This proposed model can analyze other MCDM problems that use SWOT analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India witnessed a massive tsunami on 26th of December 2004, which adversely affected the East coast of India. This research focuses on the coastline between Nagoor to Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu which lies for a stretch of 35 km. Eight stations, namely, Poompuhar, Chinnangudi, Kuttyandiyur, Chandrapadi, Kottucherimedu, Karaikal Beach, Vadakku Vanjiyur North, and Nagoor Beach were chosen and a total of 73 samples were studied. The motive is to study the characteristics of pre and post tsunami sediment samples by analysing their grain size. The statistics of the sediments were done using G2Sd package of R programme, which showed lowering in the mean values of phi, percentage of increase in bimodality, change in skewness, and moderately well sorted sediments post tsunami indicating high-energy circumstances. The bivariate plots were plotted between different parameters to get more insight about depositional environments. Linear Discriminate Functions reveal the samples of pre-tsunami were deposited by aeolian process but most of the post-tsunami samples were deposited by beach process and 100% are from shallow marine conditions. The CM pattern and tractive current plots reveal the gradual suspension in pre tsunami whereas rolling in post tsunami. The characteristics of sediments of pre- and posttsunami in a more effective manner are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lessons learnt from past experiences push for an alternate way of crop production. One such is conservation agriculture (CA), which can be seen as a new way forward for conserving resources and enhancing productivity to achieve goals of sustainable agriculture. In recent past, progressive and significant efforts are made to develop, refine and disseminate conservation-based agricultural technologies across globe. Tremendous efforts on zero-till practices and surface management with crop residues for crop production were reviewed. This work was done at Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai-625 104, Tamil Nadu, India. A systematic cum integrative review of research work done in different parts of World, particularly in India was comprehended. Literature search was done during 2020. About 200 review and research papers were screened from various databases like TNAU e-library, ARCC journals, google scholar, research gate and scopus and 84 papers were used. This review article comprehensively documents major principles of CA along with extent and spread of CA across the globe. It also highlights CA in Indian perspective. Various merits and demerits were also discussed with literature support. This review paper discusses rising concerns of conventional agriculture systems with regard to its adoption, positives and negatives of conservation agriculture in promoting conservation agriculture in tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural health monitoring (SHM) for early diagnosis of damage in structures has become vital in improving the structural integrity and safety of the structure and thereby providing a smooth operation for most of the important in-service civil structures such as buildings and bridges. SHM also contributes to the substantial reduction in the maintenance cost of the structure. During serious structural failures, SHM can safeguard human life through an early warning system. This paper presents an output-only model-free technique by extracting damage features from the energy profiles derived from measured time-history responses. The proposed algorithm is organized into two phases i.e. the learning phase and the monitoring phase. While the learning phase can optionally be executed offline, the monitoring phase can preferably be online. The damage feature is extracted by carrying out a fractal dimension analysis of the continuous waveform of energy associated with the jolt (i.e. rate of change of acceleration) evaluated from the acceleration responses of the structure. A novel damage index is proposed, to localize the damage, using the damage features extracted from the fractal dimension, while handling operational and environmental variability (EoV). The proposed algorithm is evaluated through numerical simulations on a typical span of 220 m RCC bridge across river Amaravathi in Tamil Nadu, India and also a 20-story frame structure. Experimental investigations are also carried out by testing a laboratory-scale 10-story frame structure and also an RCC bridge model of a 7.7 m span to evaluate the practical amenability of the proposed algorithm. The experimental and numerical studies carried out in this paper, suggest that the proposed energy-based diagnostic technique can effectively localize the damage even in the presence of confounding factors like EoV. Conclusively, the proposed diagnostic technique can be an effective tool for online SHM, as it is model-free with less tedious computations and can perform well even in the presence of noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a signatory of the United Nations Commission on Child Rights, India has enacted laws and policies to protect the child's interests. The Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 addresses the needs and well-being of the most vulnerable children, including those who do not have anyone to care for or have experienced a traumatic upbringing and those who are allegedly in conflict with the law. No research from India addresses these vulnerable children's mental health and well-being. The current paper describes a pilot project to create mental health awareness and improve children's care access in India's Juvenile Justice System (JJS). Methods: Permission was obtained from appropriate governmental agencies in Odisha and Tamil Nadu and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) that consented to participate. A co-creation model was utilized to create youth-friendly spaces and methods to deliver mental health literacy for all stakeholders and access to care. Results: Seven CCIs and 278 children across two states participated in the implementation of the project. 37.8% of the children had resided for less than six months and 34.5% for more than two years in the current CCI. Of the various adverse childhood experiences, neglect was the highest at 76.3% followed by parental issues at 32%. Conclusions: Children in the JJS have many risk factors predisposing them to develop mental health issues. This unique pilot project describes implementing a codesigned and co-created model of delivery of mental health literacy and access to care to this vulnerable group of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the effects of biometric and digital technologies on social protection for the poor in India? Drawing on ethnographic research from rural Tamil Nadu, this paper presents evidence of how new technologies are experienced by beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS), and analyses the impacts of technology innovations on transparency, exclusion and mediation. The authors focus on the implementation of 'smartcards,' new digitised and Aadhaar-enabled ration cards, introduced in ration shops across Tamil Nadu in 2017. They first document how digitised smartcards and mobile text messages transform transparency for beneficiaries by introducing new opacities and information gaps. They then demonstrate how a lack of transparency (re)produces forms of exclusion that remain a challenge under the automated PDS. Finally, the paper highlights how novel forms of kin and non-kin mediation play a mitigating role in accessing PDS, and constitute a vital part of the infrastructure underpinning social welfare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a blend of three techniques to select COVID-19 testing centers. The objective of the paper is to identify a suitable location to establish new COVID-19 testing centers. Establishment of the testing center in the needy locations will be beneficial to both public and government officials. Selection of the wrong location may lead to lose both health and wealth. In this paper, location selection is modelled as a decision-making problem. The paper uses fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique to generate the criteria weights, monkey search algorithm to optimize the weights, and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the different locations. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed technique, a state named Tamil Nadu, located in India, is taken for a case study. The proposed structured algorithmic steps were applied for the input data obtained from the government of India website, and the results were analyzed and validated using the government of India website. The ranks assigned by the proposed technique to different locations are in aligning with the number of patients and death rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schoolchildren's embodied subjectivity has often been understood as a bio-political tool to 'clean up' and modernize poor and marginalized communities. In many post-colonial contexts, school uniforms frequently appear as visual symbols of a child's clean, schooled body and democratic access to education. Through ethnographic research with 10–14-year-old schoolchildren in urbanizing areas in northern Tamil Nadu, my paper asks how children inhabit and co-construct the school uniform code's cleanliness discourse in their everyday lives. Studying plural school uniforms through a spatial lens, I explore schoolchildren's embodied and relational work in negotiating with the equalizing school uniform codes within the schools and the circulation of multiple school uniforms in the community outside. Engaging with a shifting visual aesthetic of embodied cleanliness in a context of class segregated schooling. I argue that school uniforms are discursive sites where exclusions of class and gender, with undertones of caste and age, are simultaneously reinforced and negotiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is declared as the international public health emergency concern by the World Health Organization in the month of March 2020. This viral disease invented from China in the month of December 2019 has previously caused havoc around the world, including India. In this paper, efficient mathematical models using Gustafson–Kessel fuzzy clustering approach for the transmission of the COVID-19 are developed by considering the actual reported cases in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The results proved a good concord between the reported data and the estimated data given by the proposed models. Moreover, the developed models are also capable to predict the requirements of beds in hospitals on the month of August 2020 in Tamil Nadu, India. Also, this work suggests strictly implementing/extending the complete lockdown for at least 21 days in the month of August 2020 and immediate separation of infected cases are the positive steps to reduce the spread of novel corona virus in Tamil Nadu state, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper inspects changes in crime trends brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu, India. Using Bayesian structural time-series models, the authors study the changes in two metrics of criminal activity – crime registration and distress calls. In addition to absolute changes, the authors analyse the relative changes in one metric with respect to the other during two stay-at-home orders across six categories of crimes: property offences; offences against the human body; cases of missing persons and unidentified dead bodies; vehicle- and traffic-related offences; crimes against women, children and elders; and emerging crimes. While there was an overall decrease in most types of crime, results show that each category was impacted by restrictions in human mobility in different ways; emerging crimes, in particular, increased significantly during both periods. The crime and call trends exhibited a synchronous pattern with respect to a majority of offences except in the category of crimes against women and missing persons, where a contrary trend of decreasing crime registrations and increasing distress calls was noticed during the partial lockdown period. This finding highlights inherent inadequacies such as under-reporting of crimes by victims and non-registration of crime by the police. Understanding these inadequacies could potentially enhance preparedness leading to improved public service delivery by reordering priorities. Breaking down these trends at a crime-specific level assists law enforcement practitioners in gaining insights on crime motivators and enablers, thus contributing towards more effective crime prevention under ordinary circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most developing countries have large and persistent informal sector. Historically, the literature was dominated by strict duality viewpoint, where the formal and informal sectors are treated as two separate entities. However, in recent times, a new approach has developed where the formal and informal sectors are not binary but they often co-exist and feed into each other. Most academic work on agglomeration economies is based on developed countries where almost all production takes place in the formal sector. Apriori, there is no reason to believe that agglomeration economies do not extend to the informal sector. Hence, in this paper, we hypothesize that agglomeration economies can arise from the interaction between formal and informal firms as well. To check the validity of the hypothesis, we study the geographic distribution and Coagglomeration pattern between formal and informal manufacturing firms in India. Using the firm level National Sample Survey for unincorporated enterprises and Annual Survey of Industries data, we calculate the Ellison and Glaeser Coagglomeration index at 2-digit NIC level. Further, using the Marshall's theory of agglomeration, we create four kinds of linkages to capture the nature of interdependence between formal and informal firms, i.e. Buyer, Supplier, Labor and Technology. We find that there is heavy clustering of both formal and informal manufacturing firms in India, however, mostly in different areas, with few exceptions like Western Uttar Pradesh and Southern Tamil Nadu. Out of 22 major industries, we find high coagglomeration only in 7. The average value of coagglomeration index at aggregate level decreases from 0.00536 in 2000-01 to -0.0027 in 2015-16. This indicate towards reduced interdependence over time, however in few industries it remains high. The average value of labor linkage increased from 0.1889 in 2000-01 to 0.3651 in 2015-16, during the same period buyer linkage remained constant around 0.2481 and supplier linkage fell from 0.5755 to 0.2749. The technology linkage remained low throughout in the range of 0.02-0.03. Strong buyer and labor linkage mean subcontracting of inputs is the main motive driving the interaction between formal and informal firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on the concept of the "socio‐ecological fix" to emphasise the contradictions inherent in seeking to produce nature through such fixes for insecure petty commodity producers who occupy the class place of both labour and capital. I explore how petty commodity producer households cultivating tobacco in western Tamil Nadu, South India, are reworking labour practices in managing erratic rainfall and groundwater depletion. Agriculture in Tamil Nadu is in decline, and dominated by small and marginal farming households that oscillate between agrarian production and waged work to make ends meet. These unstable petty commodity producer households have historically accumulated in western Tamil Nadu, through labour exploitation and the appropriation of groundwater, in order to transition to petty industry. However the long‐term decline of the region's aquifers highlights the limits of such over‐exploitation. The paper makes two contributions in exploring how petty commodity producer households are remaking space to move beyond agrarian accumulation. First, the paper highlights the biophysical limits of seeking to produce nature through socio‐ecological fixes, therefore acknowledging the mercurial as well as produced aspects of nature as a form of space. Second, in adjusting to such biophysical limits on productive capacity, the paper highlights how petty commodity producer households enact forms of resilience and reworking in decreasing their reliance on waged workers and remaking agrarian landscapes to demand less labour, tending away from accumulation and towards salaried jobs. Overall, the paper looks to explore how petty commodity producers, which constitute a norm in Global South agrarian settings, offer new paths for thinking about forms of class‐entangled geographical space‐making in understanding trajectories of socio‐ecological accumulation. First, the paper highlights the biophysical limits of seeking to produce nature through socio‐ecological fixes, therefore acknowledging the mercurial as well as produced aspects of nature as a form of space. Second, in adjusting to such biophysical limits on productive capacity, the paper highlights how petty commodity producing households enact forms of resilience and reworking as spatial agents, tending away from accumulation and towards salaried jobs. Overall, the paper looks to explore how petty commodity producers, who constitute a norm in Global South agrarian settings, offer new paths for thinking about forms of geographical resistance in understanding trajectories of socio‐ecological accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karur, one of the oldest towns in Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India, embedded with its rich cultural history and heritage of over more than 2000 years can be considered a key textile hub in present times. Being perennially busy with home furnishings and garment exports, like any other "Textile" town of India or other textile players of the world, Karur was pushed into lockdown one after another from March 2020 for a few undecided months owing to the pandemic outbreak of the disease Covid-19 with a new class of corona virus, known as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) being responsible for the occurrence of this disease. With uncertainty and a lack of clarity looming over their heads, many owners with the backing of their employees of the textile firms and industries jumpstarted their lives trying their best in beating the odds laid on themselves in quite successful ways backed with technical innovations. Though it happened for few, it didn't realize for some. This paper attempts to track and research on some of the life stories of achievement and the unprecedented misery few were suddenly pushed into. While this town's success stories as a meticulous process of change in its people's mindset in desperate times toward themselves and those around can be studied to be implemented as a role model for other towns, the future lying in its unpredictability can never be ascertained thereby only making the successful solutions of those a base study of learning for the next. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proso millet is a potential crop for food, nutritional security, and sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change. It is one of the traditional millet crops in cultivation in Tamil Nadu and India. Self-pollinated nature of this crop makes evolutionary process a terminal one and creating variability to broaden the genetic base is important. The objective of the study was to optimize mutagenic dose of gamma mutagen, document types of mutations and identify mutants for high grain yield (GY) and fodder yield (FY), hence to determine the feasibility of gamma mutagenesis in proso millet crop improvement. A mutation breeding program with 10 doses of gamma irradiation, i.e. 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 Gy were imposed on seeds of variety ATL 1, a popular variety in India. Roll paper method, tray method and field evaluation were carried out to determine the LD50 and GR50 doses. Based on viable mutation frequency in M2 generation, mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency was estimated. Targeted selection for yield and yield contributing traits was carried out in M2, M3 and M4 generation to identify high yielding mutants. The LD50 and GR50 doses of gamma were estimated to be 418 Gy and 542 Gy, respectively. Based on results from probit analysis, mutagenic effectiveness, mutagenic efficiency and mutation spectrum, the optimum treatment dose of gamma was concluded to be 400 Gy. High frequency, i.e. 10.96% of phenotypic mutants was identified in the M2 generation. The broad range of mutants identified in M2 generation had mutations for plant height, plant habit, panicle shape, compactness, and length, days to 50% flowering (DFF), lodging resistance, tillering, leaf phenotype, apiculus color, culm branching, stem and leaf hairiness, sheath pigmentation, seed color and shape and seed coat attachment. Eight high yielding mutant families were isolated in M4 generation. The mean single plant GY and FY of these mutants ranged between 25 to 51 g and 40 to 68 g respectively while in control it was 15 g and 30 g, respectively. The wide spectrum and high frequency of mutations both for qualitative and quantitative traits suggest mutation induction as a promising method for creating novel variations in proso millet. The high yielding mutants identified can be utilized for varietal development both for grain and fodder purpose after further stability and quality evaluations in the advanced generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of workable beach placer deposits of garnet and ilmenite along the coastal region of southern Tamil Nadu is known for long. Though the adjoining rivers like Kallar, Vaippar and Vembar are generally thought to be the major contributors of placer minerals, especially garnet, to their respective beaches, none of the river basins has yet been explored. The present paper discusses the distribution, resource potential and geomorphic controls of garnet placer in the Vaippar basin using ArcGIS. Analysis of sediment samples collected from the Vaippar River and its tributaries shows that the concentration of garnet is up to 20 wt.% and predominantly localized in river alluvium, coastal alluvium and pediment. A distribution map of garnet for the entire basin (5508 km2) portrays three zones of enrichment: zone I: 0.06–1.0 million tonnes (Mt); zone II: 1.0–1.1 Mt; zone III: 1.1–1.21 Mt. It is estimated that in zone III (942 km2) for every 100 km2, about 17 km2 area has an average garnet reserve of 1 Mt and this could be profitably mined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) in the 2019-20 academic year, the wind power plant produces 23% of the biomass power supply in the Indian electrical commodities. To maintain the power withstanding capability needed for future electrical commodities, a yearly power shutdown program is implemented. An additional wind power plant unit will be erected and create more electricity, thereby balancing India's commercial electricity needs. Even in a nonstationary working environment, continuous monitoring and analyzing the efficiency of wind turbines is a more difficult task. Consequently, in this paper, a health index calculation for wind power plants is proposed utilizing neurofuzzy (NF) modeling. Wind generator efficiency can be measured mathematically by recording three crucial primitivistic such as observed rotation speed, generation wound temperature, and gearbox heat. Fuzzy rules are used to design the parameters of the neural network (NN), and the accumulated signal is compared using the nonlinear extrapolation approach to determine the wind generator's behavior and evaluate the hazards. During the experimental study, two windows of 24 hours and 60 hours are used, where the deviation signal required for the hazard induction is investigated. The proposed approach can accurately calculate the wind generator's health state. As a result of an improved health operating and management (HOM) system, the amount of power generated by industrials and domestic appliances has increased dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material evidence of the establishment of Christianity in India suggests, at least, an eighth-century date. However, the widely held Thomasine tradition believes that the apostle Thomas arrived on the west coast of India in the first century, and that the faith was bolstered by further Christian migrations in the fourth and possibly eighth centuries. The timing of the arrival of Christianity on Indian shores hinges on the probability of sea journeys across the Arabian Sea in late antiquity. This paper offers a brief outline of the Thomasine tradition and discusses the material culture associated with it in the form of stone crosses, the concept of which also likely arrived with travellers and missionaries. However, the material expressions of the cross and attendant ritual practices display borrowings and assimilations from Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crop yield prediction is an important issue for the proper selection of crop for sowing. Earlier prediction of crop is done by the farmer’s experience on a particular type of field and crop. Predicting the crop is done by the farmer’s experience based on the factors like soil types, climatic condition, seasons and weather, rainfall and irrigation facilities. Methods: Data mining techniques is the better choice for predicting the crop. Different Data Mining techniques are used and evaluated in agriculture for estimating the future year’s crop production. This research proposes and implements a system to predict crop yield from soil data. This is achieved by applying Decision Tree Algorithm on agricultural data. The main aim of this research is to pinpoint the accuracy of Decision Tree Algorithm and C 5.0 algorithm which is used to predict the crop yield. Result: This paper presents a brief analysis of Crop yield prediction using data mining technique based decision tree algorithm and C5.0 algorithm for the selected region (Krishnagiri) district of Tamil Nadu in India. The experimental result shows that the proposed work efficiently to determine the accuracy of decision tree algorithm and also to predict the crop yield production using R- Tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on how Female Heads of Households (FHHs) in a village in Cuddalore District, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, have tried to achieve their various well-being targets and overcome their vulnerabilities through engaging in fish trading and auctioning that in turn involves moving within and outside their village. The study is based on a three-week fieldwork undertaken in April and May 2017, including multiple methods, such as observations, village walks, informal discussions, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. We address how FHHs' well-being intersects with old vulnerabilities that are an inherent part of their fishing culture (caste, class and gender) and new vulnerabilities created due to precarities related to mechanized fishing, modernization and post-tsunami development. We found that the complex situation of vulnerability and precarity in the fishing sector have affected the material, relational, and subjective well-being of FHHs differently, benefitting some female auctioneers but not the majority of fish vendors. In particular, the mobility of younger FHHs was restricted due to familial and social expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The government has taken an initiative to improve the MBBS admission process in the country to eradicate the academic dishonesty and encourage the deserving candidates for MBBS enrolment. The Supreme Court has paved the way to hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a common entrance test for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses, from the 2016-17 academic year onwards. This paper aims to focus on the contention raised by various stakeholders associated with it and examines the pass percentage of plus two State Board examinations in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and admission details for 2016 and 2017. Design/methodology/approach: The researchers adopted exploratory research. The researchers studied the medical admission process at national and global levels. They collected data of MBBS admission, NEET, State Board and CBSE plus two results and information from newspapers, website and magazine articles. Many experts published articles in newspapers. No study analysed data and made an exhaustive exploratory study. This motivates the researcher to do the same. Simple percentage, percentage change, correlation analysis and the sign test are used to determine whether the State Board or CBSE students get benefitted out of NEET to become medical professionals. Findings: There is no significant relationship between MBBS enrolment of students (both State Board and CBSE students) before and after the NEET was introduced. From correlation analysis, it is inferred that the pass percentage of students who studied under State Board and MBBS enrolment were lesser in 2017 than 2016. It is also inferred that many districts students' enrolment in MBBS course have increased from 2016 to 2017. The researchers concluded that because of NEET, CBSE students got more enrolment in MBBS course in 2017 compared with State Board students in 2016. Research limitations/implications: The researchers found that the students with State Board examinations enrolled in lesser number for MBBS course than CBSE students in Tamil Nadu. There is a scope for improvement in designing and implementing NEET with the deliberations among different stakeholders involved with the medical education system, which will help in reducing the rampant corruption and, most importantly, pave the way for a selection based on merit in medical education. Possibly, this will also work as a safeguard to the sanctity of the medical profession in India and at the global level. Originality/value: The researcher collected data from newspapers, websites and journals. Many experts discuss about, for and against NEET. No one analysed the data. This is a unique article that has more statistical analysis and meaningful interpretations from analysis. This paper will be useful to the government at national and global levels to frame medical admission procedure and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White grubs are the serious pests of several agricultural and horticultural crops. Recent surveys in Krishnagiri Dt., of Tamil Nadu, India had revealed the occurrence of adult beetels of white grub species, Holotrichia serrata (F.) in abundance infesting French bean. The adult beetles were found in huge numbers feeding on the leaves, flowers and pods of the crop. The incidence of the white grub species and the damage inflicted are presented in this paper. This is the first report of adult beetle damage on French bean in South India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Iron Age-Early Historic landscape of southern India has been subject to scholarly study and scrutiny for over a century now. There is much variation in the chronology, typology and understanding of sites from this period. This paper looks at the habitation, burials and habitation-cum-burial sites of the Iron Age-Early Historic period, from the northern part of Tamilnadu, India. Historians have also used the Sangam texts of classical Tamil, which are believed to be contemporaneous with the archaeological sites considered, to understand the society and culture of this period. However, most of the previous literary and archaeological researches have progressed parallel to each other, thereby resulting in different perspectives for the same research questions. This paper uses the excavated sites from northern Tamilnadu as a case study to explore the possibility of combining archaeological and literary-historical approaches, while examining the advantages and limitations of each approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent caste conflicts have revolved around discourses of honour, caste pride and shame. Although Dalit movements have been at the receiving end of the violence and have condemned the casteism underpinning it, they operate within a society in which questions of honour are highly significant. Dalit women activists are trapped in an unenviable position within the twin structures of caste and patriarchy, both of which speak to debates about group boundaries and honour. Taking the recent violence as its starting point, this paper draws on interviews with and observations of Dalit women in the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (Liberation Panther Party) in Tamil Nadu to chart how discourses of honour both facilitate and constrain their capacity to act. For all the party’s emphasis on women’s rights, women activists face an uphill struggle to secure recognition, respect and responsiveness both within the party as well as wider society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Researchers interested in a paper's statement or aiming to acquire useful information from scientific papers rely heavily on references. Additionally, calculation accuracy is important for ensuring the technical soundness of scientific papers. However, inaccurate citations and calculations are common in scientific literature. A recently published paper in the Journal of Hazardous Materials reported a study on microplastics in groundwater and surface water from coastal south India (Tamil Nadu state) and the heavy metal adsorption capacities of different polymers. In this study, we identified critical calculation errors and incorrect reference citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All the elements of twentieth-century politics in Tamilnadu cohere in 1918–1919: human and natural rights, women's rights, the labor movement, linguistic nationalism, and even the politics of caste reservation. Much has been written of how this politics was mediated by newspapers, handbills, and chapbooks, and the dominant narrative of such events privileges the circulation of print and print culture of vernacular language. This paper explores the relatively lesser-known story of the role and impact of vernacular oratory on the development of the mass political in Tamilnadu from the Swadeshi movement (1905–1908) to the formation of labor unions (1917–1919), and the explicit attempt to persuade non-elites into speech, action, and ultimately politics. I argue that Tamil oratory was an infrastructural element in the production of the political, at least the political as we understand it in twentieth-century Tamilnadu, where oratory became the defining activity of political practice. When elites made the conscious move to begin addressing the common man, when Everyman was called to join into the political, a new agency was formed along with a new definition of what politics would look like. The paper considers what such new agency and definitions entail in pursuit of a better understanding of what constitutes the political generally and the Tamil political in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study was focussed on identifying a cost-effective method for delimitation, monitoring and evaluation in bancroftian filariasis. Finger prick blood samples were collected between 20.00 and 23.00 hours for the detection of microfilariae (mf) from the available population in a village which was endemic for lymphatic filariasis. Simultaneously, from each individual, four spots of 25-μl blood samples were collected on Whatman number 3 filter paper and air dried. Dried filter paper spots were pooled in quantities of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 on unknown and simulated mf and antigen prevalence. Pooled samples were assayed for circulating filarial antigen (CFA) using TropBIO Og4C3 ELISA kits. The community mf and CFA rates were 3.4% and 25.9%, respectively. The pool sizes of 20 and 25 showed CFA positivity in all the above categories tested. The results of the pooled blood spot samples suggest that, in areas with mf and CFA prevalence rates between 1 and 10%, pools of 20 or 25 could be considered as the ideal pool size for the detection of filarial infection in the community. CFA prevalence at the level of 5-6% following desirable rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) indicates that the community mf prevalence is likely to be at the 1% level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the state of information science and scientometrics (ISS) analysis studies in India from 2005-2009. The author's study focused on analyzing bibliographic details of documents on ISS, which were obtained from the 2005-2009 issues of the journal "Indian Science Abstracts." He found that journals were the most important of publication in information science and scientometrics and that there was a strong trend of multi-authored papers during the given period. He also revealed that Karnataka was the source of majority of the papers on ISS with Tamil Nadu and Delhi trailing behind.

THEENADHAYALAN, G.; KANMANI, T., and BASKARAN, R., 2012. Geomorphology of the Tamil Nadu coastal zone in India: applications of geospatial technology. The world's coastal environment is made up of a wide variety of landforms manifested by a spectrum of sizes and shapes, ranging from gently sloping beaches to high cliffs. Despite the diversity, coastal landforms are best considered in two broad categories: erosional and depositional. In reality, the overall nature of any coast may be described in terms of one or the other of these categories. An attempt is made in this paper to describe the areal extent of coastal morphology along the entire Tamil Nadu coast, within a 3 km buffer zone. In fact, the Tamil Nadu coast has now become a topic of considerable interest due to the threat of tsunamis and other devastating processes prevailing in this area. Thirty-three geomorphologic features covering an area of 2765 km2 and spread over the length of 1117 km were identified and studied spatially and temporally to assess their past and present status. Moreover, the effect of tsunamis on these features was investigated and is discussed in detail. Analysis of the results shows that any one of the relief features present along a given coast is the result of a combination of processes, sediments, and the geology of the coast itself. Beaches, for example, were located only in the central-northern and southern parts of the study area, while the central part is devoid of beaches. Before the last tsunami in 2004, the measurable extent of beaches throughout the study area was increasing due to continuous sedimentation process occurring during 1992-2003. However, the tsunami of 2004 had a major impact on the Tamil Nadu beaches, resulting in their modification. Similarly, other features are treated in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the contribution of Science faculty of Annamalai University. It describes the year-wise growth and form-wise distribution of the research output. It studies the impact of research under different Science Departments of the Annamalai University and analyses the strong and weak areas of University research, collaborative nature of research in terms of the authorship pattern. The results show that there is a significant growth of research productivity in the Faculty of Science during the period of study with more multi authored papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is working towards becoming a 'knowledge superpower', expanding its technical education system. But despite a rapidly growing annual turnout of S&T graduates, there is still a disparagingly low ratio of R&D personnel in India's workforce, worrisome for its future S&T capabilities. A disquieting trend has been that graduates from even the best S&T institutions have increasingly chosen future professional or academic avenues that have little to do with their training, due to which, over time, India has lost its best science manpower. On examining a distinguished institution -- IIT Madras -- the paper unfolds the variety of interconnected incentives and disincentives at ground level that contribute to this situation. This paper is but a step towards indicating the vast amount of further investigation required in assessing whether India's technical education system has sufficiently delivered in its role as the actor primarily in charge of competence building in India's innovation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper which aims to describe the initiatives of different stakeholders for the tsunami early warning system for Indian Ocean. It explores the reports/programmes for disaster preparedness and mitigation, and the progress of the implementation of initiatives. It discusses the pilot project proposed for the selected villages in Tamil Nadu and make them multi hazard ready sites. It mentions that the research paper is a resource guide offering contours of a road map for possible ways for coordinated and focused risk management plan.

In this paper, an attempt has been made at Sweta sub basin, Kallar basin, Tamil Nadu, where sites for groundwater exploration have been demarcated applying geophysics and GIS technique using Arc GIS software. In this paper, the geophysical output was taken to GIS platform, where the point scoring of the individual theme followed by the final map was assessed to predict the water bearing formation. The total work is executed with the weighted rating analysis in GIS environment. Spatial and non-spatial data was analyzed in GIS in a quick and efficient way. The term 'geographic' in GIS refers to the locational attributes which define the spatial positioning of the piece of information on the face of the earth. The advent of digital computers with high data processing speed and the development of analytical tools in GIS have helped in handling geographically referenced data with ease and flexibility. Of late, computer-aided GIS has become a reality. Using of GIS in hydrogeology is only at its inception, but there have been cases of some successful applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the issue of post-disaster livelihood recovery through economic rehabilitation, with the illustration of post-tsunami promotion of microentrepreneurship activities generating employment and income among the affected populations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines two field case studies in Aceh (Indonesia) and Tamil Nadu (India), where a well-established European NGO carried out economic relief and microentrepreneurship rehabilitation in 2005-2007. Findings - Despite unlimited trust in rapid reconstruction capacity, post-tsunami livelihood recovery has been chaotic and uncoordinated. Contrary to humanitarian agencies in charge of emergency relief, only a few development agencies and NGOs were able to deliver a rapid rehabilitation of microeconomic activities existing locally before the disaster. Research limitations/implications - There are values but also obvious limits to comparing the micro-level experiences of a major European NGO in two different locations such as Aceh and Tamil Nadu, and to deducing macro- and meso-level lessons to be learned. Practical implications - There are difficulties in benchmarking the divison of labour but necessary coordination among development agencies and their humanitarian counterparts in the field of post-disaster sustainable economic rehabilitation. Originality/value - Post-disaster economic security and livelihood recovery are at the forefront of current international policy research in humanitarian and development cooperation circles. Documented case studies and lessons to be learned are still scarce for feeding possible best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saravanan, S. and Chandrasekar, N., 2015. Wave refraction pattern and littoral sediment transport along the SE Tamilnadu coast, India. The objective of the paper is to understand the wave refraction pattern and littoral sediment transport along the SE coast of India. There are areas of erosion and accretion observed along the coastal stretch that depend primarily the direction of wave approach, the wave period, and the wave refraction pattern. In the nearshore zone of the study area, the movement of sand alongshore is due to the action of waves and currents. Wave refraction is an important process responsible for effecting changes in coastal configuration. Based on this study, the wave convergent and divergent zones are identified with reference to wave refraction. Longshore sediment transport is higher in the northerly direction than in the southerly direction. The present study of littoral sediment transport implies that the beaches of Kanyakumari, Navaladi, and Ovari have greater transport rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical community development relies on a sociological understanding of knowledge although the sociology of scientific knowledge in community development is under-researched. Literature on the public understanding of science, and even people's science movements, has tended to focus on communication between specialist scientists and a lay public who, at best, co-produce knowledge with scientists. Seldom are communities in struggle considered as generators of scientific knowledge. Even more rarely considered are the material interests embedded in scientific knowledge that result from the economic location of the generators of knowledge. This paper draws on the experience of a community in Tamil Nadu, South India, that has been mobilizing against the polluting impacts of industrial development. The SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors have been generating scientific knowledge by building on indigenous knowledge through the systematization of observation. This praxis has also transformed community members' relationship with specialist scientists and increased their knowledge of science, not only as an authoritative yet contested knowledge on which conflicts over development may be resolved, but also as a social process embedded in conflicting relations of production. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

"Dalit endru sollada; talai nimirindu nillada" - 'Say you are a Dalit lift up your head and stand tall.' This line from the Dalit Catholic author, Bama's Afterword to the first edition of her autobiography 'Karukku' in 2000 is echoed in the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to set right the centuries of injustice meted out to Dalit Catholics who form the largest majority of the Christian population in Tamil Nadu who embraced Christianity because of its explicitly egalitarian teachings which preached love for all humankind as one of its basic tenets. The concept and category of 'Dalit Christians' and the slogan 'Dalit is dignified' was formulated by the Christian Dalit Liberation Movement in 1985. The National Convention of All India Catholic Union (AICU) first used the term 'Dalit Christians' in 1989. Today, the CBCI Commission (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) for SC/ST/BC is active in the battle for extending the privileges given to other S.C. converts to Christian converts as well so that they are not marginalized by the State and society. Through the analysis of 'KARUKKU', the autobiography of Faustina Mary Fatima Rani, better known as Bama, an ex-nun from Tamil Nadu, this paper will examine the scourge of caste discrimination in the Catholic Church and its institutions where Christian belief and practice stand in glaring conflict. The social practices of our society have pervaded deeply into Christianity and caste oppression is a lived reality. A Scheduled Caste person is considered to be an untouchable irrespective of the faith he/she may profess. The upper caste converts to Christianity gave up their religion but did not give up their caste practices. Thus whatever else conversion may mean to the 'dalit' Chrisitans, it did not change the material reality of their situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global COVID-19 pandemic has hit the agriculture sector hard around the world. A study was conducted to assess the impact of the pandemic on cropping patterns, crop management, usage of chemical inputs and their organic alternatives, harvesting, and marketing avenues through a survey approach in the two states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India. A total of 250 farmers participated in the study, the data was analyzed by Chi-square test and Kruskal–Wallis test. The assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on some aspects was undertaken by dividing the study period into three phases. Though a smaller number of people were infected with COVID-19 in the initial phase of the pandemic compared to the later phases, farm operations and the procurement of inputs were significantly affected at this phase as there was a sudden disruption in transportation due to COVID-19-induced movement restrictions. During the entire study period, commodities such as rice, bananas, vegetables, coconuts, and flowers suffered maximum crop loss compared to pulses, groundnuts, cotton, and rubber. Among fertilizers, the maximum shortage was observed for chemical fertilizers (46%) and biofertilizers (30%) compared to cow dung (18%) and poultry manure (6%), indicating that farmers tended to use more local materials that could be easily procured and accessed compared to shop-based inputs. A rise in the cost of cultivation, scarcity of farm workforce, and difficulty in hiring farm machinery all have contributed to the loss of profit during the pandemic period. As a response to COVID-19, growers initiated post-harvest processing of commodities, and cropping systems remained the same during the period. The paper also discusses some remedial measures to be adopted by households in the future, to minimize the impacts of such pandemics in the agrarian sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Variations in sea water temperature, salinity, light intensity and availability of nutrients strongly influence the phytoplankton distribution that forms an important part of the coastal food chain. In this paper, we present the results of the physico-chemical parameters and nutrient concentrations in seawaters sampled during the 2009 South West (SW) and post North East (NE) monsoon periods along the continental shelf from Chennai to Nagapattinam, east coast, Tamil Nadu. This study was conducted to assess the status of the coastal biogeochemical environment and for this purpose, seawater samples were collected from the sea surface and also at varying depths (surface to 150m depth) at six different locations. The nutrient analyses and the CTD data reveal a distinct variation with water depth along the continental slope and also the physico-chemical properties of seawater are not homogenous. The observed values of nutrients for the post NE monsoon period are low compared to the SW monsoon period. Contour plots indicate seasonal and spatial variations in physico-chemical parameters along the continental shelf of the east coast of India. The data suggests that during the 2009 SW monsoon period, a significant increase of freshwater input into the Bay of Bengal could have elevated nutrient concentration compared to that observed during the post 2009 NE monsoon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes the projection of climate change scenarios under increased greenhouse gas emissions, using the results of atmospheric-ocean general circulation models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 dataset. A score is given to every model based on global and regional performance. Four out of 20 general circulation models (GCMs) were selected based on skill in predicting observed annual temperature and precipitation conditions. The ensemble of these four models shows superiority over the individual model scores. These models were subjected to increases in future anthropogenic radiative forcings for constructing climate change scenarios. Future climate scenarios for Tamil Nadu were developed with MAGICC/SCENGEN software. Model results show both temperature and precipitation increases under increased greenhouse gas scenarios. Northeast and northwest parts of Tamil Nadu show a greater increase in temperature and precipitation. Seasonally, the maximum rise in temperature occurred during the MAM season, followed by DJF, JJA, and SON. Decreasing trends of precipitation were observed during DJF and MAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: HMIS will incorporate a paradigm shift in health such as removing manual records and transformation of data through the complex structure of health departments in Tamilnadu. Thus developing a model of technology acceptance in HMIS contest is important and necessary in order to promote usage of the HMIS in rural health care system.OBJECTIVE: The papers purpose is to formulate a model of technology acceptance of Health Management Information System (HMIS) by generating and validating a research model that best describes rural health care workers usage behavior and behavior intention. METHODS: This research proposes a theoretical framework which is comprised of key determinants that influence usage behavior of HMIS together with moderator. It has been tested through different parametric test and confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Data analysis shows that health workers innovativeness and voluntariness have a direct and positive influence on Technology Acceptance level and that the basic TAM hypotheses are fulfilled. HMIS usage behavior and behavior intention can be increased with factors that are effecting the successful implementation of HMIS when it remains high. CONCLUSIONS: This research enables health departments to know which aspects of their HMIS components and variables to improve. This shows that HMIS usage and health workers/staffs acceptance level are key tools in the success of HMIS. This research has seemed to be done at the right time and in the right place to the best of its kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]