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Rice is a crucial staple crop cultivated extensively in command areas worldwide. In the command areas, the release of water varies due to the inadequate amount of rainfall in the source area and its proper supply. To combat such situations, direct seeding (DS) methods can be opted for; however, lacunae like excess seeds per drop, scattering of seeds, and intercultural operations like thinning, gap filling, and excess weed growth need a clear refinement to enhance the profitability of rice cultivation. Therefore, a research trial was conducted during 2022-24 at Central Farm, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai, to evolve a suitable direct seeding method. The present investigation was laid out under a split-plot design comprising four main plot treatments and four subplot treatments replicated thrice. The main plot treatments comprised different seeding methods (S) and the subplot treatments comprised different seed coating techniques (P). Based on the experimental results, paper roll seeding and DS + Seed coating @ 2% KNO3 fb Bacillus sp. and Azospirillum (PR + P-KN) combination performed better on establishment with grain (6150 kg/ha) and straw yield (7824 kg/ha) respectively. Regarding the B:C ratio, OS-GP + P-KN resulted in higher with 2.64, closely followed by PR + P-KN with 2.61. The least effect was recorded in the combination of round slots in rice drum seeder and dry seeding (RS + DS). Investigating different techniques of direct seeding and seed coating is essential across various regions, particularly in regulated areas where water discharge remains unpredictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blackgram is an important pulse crop. The productivity of crops can be enhanced through various input management and selection of suitable genotypes for different systems and seasons of cultivation. An attempt was made to gather published information on crop management for yield maximisation. Methods: This work was done at Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. A systematic cum integrative review of research work done in different parts of World, particularly in India was comprehended. The literature search was done during September, 2019-February, 2020. About 200 review and research papers were screened from various data bases like TNAU e library, ARCC journals, google scholar, research gate and scopus and 88 papers were used to write this paper. Result: This review article documents information gathered on importance of pulses, production and productivity status of blackgram, zero-budget, low-budget management techniques, INM, IPM, weed management besides foliar nutrition for yield enhancement under different systems of cultivation along-with genotype details for different seasons and situations and was presented comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the philosophical position of the scientist is investigated which will explain the purposes behind the decision approach utilized in this examination. In this way, the principal motivation behind this paper is to exhibit the examination approach and techniques utilized in this investigation to respond to the exploration questions and to accomplish the examination objective. Design / Methodology/Approach. Research Design is a groundbreaking strategy indicating the strategies and methodology controlling the specialist to gather their information and investigation their exploration. The most widely recognized research structures that analysts consistently use are exploratory, expressive, and easygoing. In the present investigation, a graphic and quantitative examination is utilized as a reason the examination to get and break down the information. The example was chosen from six regions of South Tamil Nadu, which incorporates Madurai, Dindigul, Kanyakumari, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, and Virudhunagar. The polls were dispersed to examine researchers during 2015-2016. Information sources are named being either essential sources or auxiliary sources. Both essential and optional information has been gathered in this exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the value of property is important in the real estate activity. Important factor to assess the property value is the location of the property. In India, value of a property is mainly evaluated by the guideline value and the market value. This paper addresses the effect of different parameters that affect the market value in Madurai Corporation area. It also addresses the implementation of urban valuation on a Geographic Information System for better decision-making. The valuation of the land depends upon the popularity and also the facilities around in that area. The spatial data constitutes the location information of the assets and the attributes that contain the details of the assets. Quantum GIS software is used for the storage and analysis of the data. The effective use of GIS along with reliable data and predictive tools can provide a robust and near realistic solution in predicting real estate trends. It is found that, for land assets, the Geographic Information System approach is effective. In this paper, we have used the statistical methods in order to find the market value and modelled value using Voronoi Polygon Method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this paper, the philosophical position of the scientist is investigated which will explain the purposes behind the decision approach utilized in this examination. In this way, the principal motivation behind this paper is to exhibit the examination approach and techniques utilized in this investigation to respond to the exploration questions and to accomplish the examination objective. Design / Methodology/Approach Research Design is a groundbreaking strategy indicating the strategies and methodology controlling the specialist to gather their information and investigation their exploration. The most widely recognized research structures that analysts consistently use are exploratory, expressive, and easygoing. In the present investigation, a graphic and quantitative examination is utilized as a reason the examination to get and break down the information. Research Limitations The example was chosen from six regions of South Tamil Nadu, which incorporates Madurai, Dindigul, Kanyakumari, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, and Virudhunagar. Hence a decent example is a smaller than normal rendition of the populace and a great example configuration includes the accompanying: . Sample Unit . Sample Size . Sampling Technique. Originality / Value The polls were dispersed to examine researchers during 2015-2016. Information sources are named being either essential sources or auxiliary sources. A source is essential if the information gatherer is the one utilizing the information for the investigation. A source is optional if one association or individual has accumulated information to be utilized by another association or person. Both essential and optional information has been gathered in this exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is the key to the growth of each business in a fast-changing world. Innovations affect financial activities because the successful innovation opens the new markets, gives the opportunity to reduce costs or introduce new products and services with a higher profit margin. Each organization, institution, enterprise or individual can be innovative. Innovations may not be implemented only in large enterprises, but also in medium or small. The aim of this paper is to innovate and optimize the polishing process in production plant with variant production. In this paper case study is used as research method which includes measurements and observation. The paper is focused on five variants of one product. We obtained the required data by measuring in a manufacturing plant in southern India in Madurai. At the end the results are summarized, and the optimization of the polishing process is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green finance represents a positive shift in the global economy's transition to sustainability through the financing of public and private green investments and public policies that support green initiatives. Internalizing environmental externalities and lowering risk perceptions are two of green finance's major goals in order to promote investments that have a positive impact on the environment. Banks, institutional investors, and international financial institutions, as well as central banks and financial regulators, are some of the main players advancing the growth of green finance. To assist the greening of the financial system, some of these entities employ policy and regulatory measures for various asset classes, such as priority lending requirements, below-market-rate finance through interest-rate subsidies, or preferential central bank refinancing possibilities. By issuing green bonds, green equity, and green debentures, green finance has attracted a lot of interest in the current financial market. It fosters a culture of conservation and safeguards the natural resources for the benefit of coming generations. The objective of the paper is toanalyze the profile of the respondents and analyze their opinion, progress and challenges of green finance in Madurai district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R.B. Gnanajothi (Topics in Graph Theory, Ph.D. Thesis, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, 1991) introduced odd graceful labeling. A function f is called an odd graceful labeling of a graph G if f : V (G) → {0, 1, 2, ..., 2q - 1} is injective and the induced function f*: E(G) → {1, 3, ..., 2q - 1} defined as f*(e = uv) = |f(u)-f(v)| is bijective. A graph which admits an odd graceful labeling is called an odd graceful graph. Many results exist on odd graceful labeling. The concept of odd graceful labeling is implemented in the areas of coding theory. In this paper we prove that the jewel graph J*n and the extended jewel graph EJ*n,m without the prime edge is odd graceful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Renewable energy resources have a remarkable landmark across the world to provide electricity to the consumers without any inadequacy in the energy market. The utilization of renewable energy sources in electric vehicle charging stations is among the most prominent area of research in developing countries. This paper analyses techno‐economic and environmental factors of hybrid solar wind vehicle charging stations at the highway of Southern Tamil Nadu, India. The sensitivity analysis is performed in the design of a charging station at the following highway locations at Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sattur, Kayathar, and Tirunelveli. The locations are chosen in such a way that, wind and solar potentials are having contradictory nature in the specified locations. The charging station is designed and optimized as ON‐grid strategy using the hybrid optimization model for electrical renewable tool. The designed system is capable of charging 17 electric vehicles at day from forenoon 6:00 am to evening 6:00 am The attainment of the proposed designed system proves that Virudhunagar shows less net present cost with $303 291.26 and cost of energy as $0.072/kWh with 50% reduction in emission. Moreover, with a focus on economic analysis and Madurai produces 70% more electrical energy than other selected locations. Further, the performance analysis of the system is also studied and it shows more reliable results and is feasible considering both economic and technical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present era, the demand for green and clean source of energy is increasing at an alarming rate with modernization of the society. Still, the intermittent behaviour of renewable energy sources (RES) is a challenge to use them for continuous power production. Therefore, the whole power generation fertility is still dependent on conventional fuel-based energy resources. The solar PV is most promising resource of green and clean energy but the uncertainty in output is still a challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need to study and to identify the forecasting of output power from solar PV plant. This paper utilizes the Machine Learning (ML) approach to predict the output power for a solar PV plant. The model is prepared and tested with the real time dataset, taken form a solar PV plant at Madurai, India. The multivariable-linear regression technique based different models have been implemented to forecast the output power of the solar PV plant. The Normalised Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) is used to depict the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The current study can be used for effective load forecasting on hourly basis will adequately mitigate the need for spinning reserve capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal settlements are now becoming an unavoidable and growing phenomenon in the global south, whose locations are inappropriate in official statistics and maps. The distinctive spectral signature of informal settlements in high-resolution optical images causes difficulties in finding automatic approaches. This paper investigates the Multi-Shape Multi-Size Morphological Profile-Guided filter (MShMSiMP-GF) approach for detecting the informal settlements from high-resolution optical images. The development of the proposed approach was inspired by the Superpixel-based Guided Filter (SGF) approach, which uses superpixels to construct the guidance image. Though the superpixel based guidance image extracts detailed contextual information (scale, size), it fails to model geometrical information (shapes, structures) in an image. In order to incorporate the geometrical information, the MShMSiMP-GF approach generates multi-shape multi-size morphological profiles with increasing radius of guided filters. Quantitative and qualitative results of the proposed approach are investigated by four different images of Madurai city, India acquired by Kompsat-2 and WorldView-2 sensors. From the classified maps, it is observed that the proposed MShMSiMP-GF approach achieves an overall accuracy of 91.37%, 90.19%, 93.46% and 99.36% for the subsets 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Heat gain in buildings occurs due to heat transfer through the building fabric or envelope, especially the walls and roof. The purpose of this paper is to identify and recommend the suitable wall materials for better thermal performance in buildings in warm and hot climatic zones of India. As India lies between the tropic of cancer and the equator, the solar radiation from the sun falls more on the walls than the roofs of the buildings. Thus, it is imperative to protect the walls from heat gain to promote thermal comfort in naturally ventilated buildings and reduce the energy loads due to artificial cooling systems in air-conditioned buildings. Design/methodology/approach -- In this paper, an investigation of heat flow characteristics in steadystate and the transient state for five different uninsulated wall structures using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software has been carried out. The climate conditions at Madurai, India have been considered for this study. Findings -- The findings of the study revealed that aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) and hollow clay blocks (HCB) for external walls in naturally ventilated buildings in warm climatic regions could improve the building's thermal performance index and reduce peak indoor operative temperature by about 6°C--7°C. The results of steady-state and transient state analysis were found to be in good agreement with the results of the reviewed literature. Research limitations/implications -- Over the past few decades, only very few architects and builders have been successful in influencing their clients to accept alternate materials such as AAC blocks, HCB, stabilized earth blocks, adobe blocks, fly-ash bricks as an alternate to conventional bricks in an attempt of highlighting their benefits, such as; materials that are easily available, more energy-efficient, can withstand the extreme weather conditions, promote thermal comfort and cost-effective. This paper provides strong evidence that AAC and HCB blocks are the most appropriate materials for improving the thermal performance of envelope walls in regions where the outdoor temperatures are above 40°C. Originality/value -- This paper has made an attempt to identify the appropriate wall materials for effective thermal performance in warm and hot climates. A comparative analysis between five different wall types under the existing solar conditions has been analyzed using CFD simulation study in steady-state and transient conditions under summer conditions and the appropriate wall materials have been suggested. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyze the thermal performance of different walls using 24 h transient approach in CFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Meso level vulnerability assessment for extreme heat. • Contextual vulnerability framework for heritage city. • Socio-cultural indicators like social capital, cultural value. • Support for decision making in urban disaster resilience planning. In developing cities, rapid urbanization and climate change leads to drought and urban heat island effects which affects the energy consumption, economy and the environment. Extreme temperature rise has amplified the stress on vulnerable groups and has reduced livability. The sustainability of a city lies in the adaptability of the city to the climatic stresses. The role of adaptability is guided by the contextual vulnerability assessment of the city. This paper intends to assess the contextual vulnerability of Madurai, an ancient city with high social and cultural value. Composite heat vulnerability index (CHVI), a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the context has been construed by many as the quantitative representation of the vulnerability of a place to high temperature. This paper focuses on the development of a framework to assess the CHVI considering the contextual socio-cultural indicators like social capital and cultural value along with components of meteorological, geophysical, biophysical, fragility, socially-marginalised, and development quotient.The research methodology identifies suitable context specific indicators, computes and maps exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity indices, spatially maps the categorised vulnerable zones and identifies the critical indicators that contribute to vulnerability. The framework can support decision-making to enable socially resilient cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes different mathematical morphology-based approaches to detect the urban slums from urban buildings using Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite images. Due to the rapid growth of urbanization activities, slum regions are the most evolving regions in South India whose locations are improper in official maps and statistics. Thus, automatic location identification of urban slums provides vital information for urban planners to formulate pro-poor policies and allocate resources properly. To detect the slums automatically from VHR satellite images, Multi Shape-Multi Size-Morphological Profile (MSh-MSi-MP) technique is proposed in this work. The development of this algorithm is motivated by modelling the urban slums using the conventional Morphological Profile (MP) which fails to model different structures in an image. On the other hand, the proposed MSh-MSi-MP is built by the sequence of morphological opening and closing profiles with different shapes and different sizes of structuring elements. Though MSh-MSi-MP yields high accuracy, some open areas in informal settlements and roofline structures of formal settlements are still classified as slums. To optimize these misclassification results, Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) is used as a post-processing operation. The four different very high-resolution satellite images of Madurai city, South India acquired by WorldView-2 Sensor (1.84 m) proved the ability of the proposed approach to identify urban slums from other features by generating higher classification accuracy than any other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to investigate the potential of courtyards in optimizing natural ventilation and improving comfort levels in the learning spaces of a naturally ventilated educational institution with courtyards in the warm-humid climatic region of Madurai. Field measurements and experimental studies were carried out to predict the indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. The numerical study was carried out using computational fluid dynamics-based simulations using Ansys Fluent as the solver. The main aim of the simulation is to understand the airflow pattern and air velocity fields inside the classrooms surrounding the courtyards for different wind directions. The computational fluid dynamics results were validated by comparing it with the experimental results obtained in the current study and numerical results from other studies. The major findings of the current study suggest that courtyards with an aspect ratio of 1:2, orientations of openings at an angle of 0–20° to the predominant wind directions and the overall percentage of openings between 15 and 30% in buildings in Madurai region can enhance natural ventilation and thus improve thermal comfort of the occupants. Practical application : Naturally ventilated buildings in warm-humid climates have difficulty in providing thermal comfort to the occupants. CFD tools have been used to predict the ventilation performance of a naturally ventilated educational building with courtyards. The CFD results were helpful in identifying the implication of building design on the indoor air flow pattern. The recommendations given in this paper are applicable to any building type which relies on natural ventilation for thermal comfort provided they have similar building configurations, boundary conditions and weather conditions. The study is intended to help architects and building designers in the effective design of naturally ventilated buildings with respect to its climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent girls constitute about 1/5th of the total female population in the world. This period is marked with the onset of menarche. It is still considered as something unclean or dirty in Indian society. Awareness related to menstruation is highly essential to remain healthy. Aims and Objective: The study focuses on the knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. Material and Method: It adopted a descriptive research design. Simple random sampling was followed. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire from adolescent college students in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Results: seventy-seven percent of the respondents are not aware of the biological functioning that happens during menstruation. Menstrual hygiene was marked good but they are not having adequate knowledge on ill effects of using a sanitary pad. Conclusion: The results suggest the need for social workers to ensure the utilization of exact health information regarding menstruation to the adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents are susceptible to a variety of psychosocial stressors that are frequently unrecognized or untreated. There are typically little services available to assist them deal with these losses and their effects, and they may suffer multiple losses. In areas where success is crucial to an adolescent, selfconcept reflects how that teenager sees himself or herself. Low self-esteem can be a result of issues and challenges, but it can also result from issues if it is low. An adolescent could have a positive self-concept in certain areas and a poor self-concept in others. The purpose of this study is to determine how welladjusted the adolescents attending Govt. High School in Samayanallur, Madurai District, feel about themselves. The total sample for the study comprised of 50 adolescent girls and boys studying in Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Samayanallurselected from the universe of 367. Simple Random sampling method was adopted in the present study. This study on the self concept of school going adolescents is a descriptive study and was conducted in Madurai district among 50 adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years. An interview schedule and the Adolescents Self Concept Short Scale were the tools administered in this study to collect data. The findings of this research will be discussed in the main paper. This research it is evident that more research has to be done to further analyze the factors contributing to the self concept of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study investigated information need and seeking behaviour of information behaviour of engineering college students in Madurai. The main objective of study seeking behaviour of engineering college students to the information literacy and study the purpose and motives of the students seeking information. Data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire, using the snowball sampling technique. So only 300 respondents are used for in data analysis and interpretation. It was found that 55.33% respondents are using the library for Preparing for the examination, 38% respondents are suing the print copy and 81.33% respondents are using the pen drive. Libraries have always welcomed new changes for enhancing their services and satisfactory clientele's needs. It's a high time for traditional libraries that they change their approach as the availability of the digital resources is growing day by day. The paper suggests certain measures for improving information need skills of students to make them more competent information users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes diurnal, monthly, seasonal variations of CO2 along with the meteorological parameters at Madurai (9° 92'' N and 78° 12'' E), an urban site from January-2015 to December-2015 by using a Non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR) based instrument. The highest hourly two peaks are observed in noon (476.8 ± 12.9 ppm between 12-1 PM) and in night (478.5 ± 13.7 ppm between 7-8 PM) respectively. The CO2 concentration is lower (437.93 ± 2.77 ppm) in early morning 5-6 AM. As far as, the monthly variation of CO2 is also concerned high in the month of May (487.19 ± 28.3 ppm) and low in July (444.70 ± 18.2 ppm). The seasonal variation is observed to be maximum in summer (478.33 ± 13.03 ppm) and minimum in the post-monsoon season (448.27 ± 16.8 ppm). An emission inventory is prepared based on the transportation and the electrical consumption in household activities by using a bottom-up approach method. The CO2 emission estimated from transportation is around 85.1 tonnes /day and 10289.5 kilo tonnes /year. By the consumption of electricity, the total emission of CO2 is approximately 3.3 tonnes /day and 1.2 kilo tonnes /year is estimated. Statistical analysis is carried out to find the relationship between carbon dioxide concentration and meteorological parameters observed in this study. Based on the results of statistical analysis, not only the meteorological parameters change varied the carbon dioxide concentration but also by traffic flow, types of vehicles and road types the concentration differs in this city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After globalization, service quality has assumed greater significance in rail transport owing to rail passengers' expectation of improved service quality in Indian Railways (IR), as well as existence of keen competition from the road transportation sector. Service quality is a business management term used to indicate achievement in service. Usually, service quality yields comfort to the passengers; it would delight them when the passengers' perception of service quality exceeds their expectations. In this context, service quality comes under the scanner of a comparison of passengers' expectation with performance of Madurai Division of Southern Railway (SR) Zone of Indian Railway. This research paper is an outcome of the present author's research project sponsored under ICSSR's Senior Fellowship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective of the study was to understand regrowth after an injury in 11 tropical tree species such as Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Delonix regia, Lannea coromandelica, Madhuca longifolia, Pongamia glabra, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Terminalia catappa, Senna siamea, Syzygium cumini and Terminalia arjuna. The study was conducted from January 2019 to January 2020 at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, India. In the experiment, wood incision with a dimension of 15 cm x 15 cm was made on the outside of the tree trunks and its growth was calculated by graph paper drawing method. The results indicated that Lannea coromandelica which has no timber value, exhibited the fastest cambial growth compared to the other tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seed maturation is genetically controlled process involves a series of morphological and physiological changes extending from fertilization to independence from the mother plant. Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam.) is an under exploited legume and it is an inexpensive source of protein, rich in minerals and vitamins. However, information on harvesting time of horse gram seeds are still limited. Therefore, this study was carried out in horse gram to determine the physiological maturity in obtaining good quality of seeds for better planting value. Methods: The laboratory experiment was carried out at Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, India to determine the appropriate time of harvesting horse gram var. Paiyur 2 seeds. The crop was raised as bulk in the field during rabi season of 2019 and the pods were harvested in interval of seven days from 7 days after anthesis (DAA) to 56 DAA and subjected for determinations of pod and seed characteristics. Result: The result revealed that, pod length and pod fresh weight of seeds showed a steady increase upto 35 DAA showed maximum pod length (4.76 cm) and fresh weight of pods (6.903 g/10 pods). The seeds attained maximum germination (94%), dry weight (0.859 g/25 seeds) and vigour parameters viz., root length (17.7 cm), shoot length (8.8 cm), dry matter production (0.161 g/10 seedlings), vigour index I (2491) and vigour index II (15) on 49 DAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to look for efficient development strategies towards achieving sustainable precipitation management in the Madurai Town Planning Area (MTPA) in India. In the MTPA, precipitation is the predominant source of freshwater for agricultural and domestic uses in addition to water received through conventional systems. The average annual precipitation in the region is ~ 816 mm with standard deviation of 233 mm. The regression analysis showed that annual precipitation is following a decreasing trend and will be about 716 mm by 2030. The Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) values ranging from 18 to 20 represented strong irregularities and seasonality in annual precipitation over the study area. March, July, September, and November months contributed 2.5, 6.19, 14, and 16% to annual precipitation, respectively, and all showed decreasing trends over time. Only 20% of Northeast monsoon was active over the past 44 years (1976–2019), resulting in a 15% probability of flood and drought occurrences throughout the MTPA. The long-term (1976–2019) average value of annual precipitation days was about 42. The Concentration Index (CI) showed that 60–70% of precipitation was received within 25% of precipitable days. Daily precipitation class of moderate (7.5–34 mm) and rather heavy (34–64 mm) ranges were the dominant types of precipitation, contributing 46% and 26% to total annual precipitation, respectively. Except for October, the monthly precipitation received was deficit to meet the irrigation water demand in the MTPA. However, development of precipitation harvesting systems can annually preserve about 27 Mm3 freshwater in the urban space of the MTPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses three institutions in Madurese santri culture: the pesantren (Islamic traditional education system), the Nahdlatul Ulama, and the kiai (tradisional Islamic authority). These three elements have characterised and become central part of both Islam and politics in Madura. The issues are raised in this paper: the nature of pesantren, the role of Nahdlatul Ulama, and kiais within the whole tradition of santri Islam in Madura. How does each of these elements form relationships with the others? These questions lead to answer the main question: Is Islam in Madura different from Islam in other places in Indonesia? Today, it seems clear that despite their rather changed perceptions of modern education, Islamic associations, and men of religion, Madurese people continue to preserve their sacred values, as the main three elements of the santri culture in Madura which have had a great influence on society, in both religious and worldly domains. The people share the view that Islamic law (shari'a) is fundamental to daily life and thus must be integrated in all aspects of life. However, like Islam in other places in Indonesia, the characteristic of Islam in Madura emphasises primarily, but not exclusively, on aspects such as mysticism and local cultures. [Artikel ini menjelaskan tiga elemen penting budaya santri yang melekat pada masyarakat Madura, yaitu pesantren, mewakili elemen pendidikan Islam tradisional, Nahdlatul Ulama, mewakili organisasi Islam, dan kiai, merepresentasikan tokoh Islam. Ketiga elemen tersebut berjalin-kelindan dan membentuk relasi yang kompleks antara Islam dan politik sebagaimana dipraktikkan dalam masyarakat Madura. Dua persoalan penting yang hendak dijawab melalui artikel ini yaitu bagaimana karakter pesantren, Nahdlatul Ulama, dan kiai yang menjadi dasar Islam-santri di Madura dan bagaimana ketiga elemen tersebut saling terkait satu sama lain. Persoalan ini kemudian mengantarkan pada pertanyaan penting lainnya, yakni apakah Islam di Madura memiliki karakteristik dan bentuk yang berbeda dengan Islam yang hidup di wilayah lain di Indonesia? Sampai sekarang, meski masyarakat Madura mengalami pergeseran dalam menilai pendidikan modern, organisasi Islam, dan ulama, mereka masih tetap mempertahankan nilai-nilai sakral agama. Ini bisa dibuktikan dengan kuatnya pengaruh pesantren, Nahdlatul Ulama, dan kiai dalam urusan agama dan duniawi. Masyarakat Madura meyakini bahwa syariat Islam sangat penting dan perlu diterapkan dalam keseluruhan aspek kehidupan mereka. Namun, seperti Islam di wilayah lain di Indonesia, Islam di Madura juga sangat dipengaruhi oleh tasawuf dan budaya lokal.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent economic changes in India have coincided with a dramatic change in the concept of a ‘middle class’ in the south Indian city of Madurai. Whereas previous sets of class identities were overwhelmingly dichotomous (for example, the rich and the poor, or the ‘big people’ and ‘those who have nothing’), the middle class has now become a highly elaborated component of local class structures and identities. It is also a contested category; moreover, its indigenous boundaries differ from those most often used by scholars, marketers, or policy-makers. Drawing from research over the past decade, this paper examines local definitions of ‘middleness’ and the moralized meanings ascribed to it. Whilst being ‘in the middle’ is a source of pride and pleasure, connoting both achievement and enhanced self-control, it is simultaneously a source of great tension, bringing anxiety over the critical and damaging scrutiny of onlookers. For each positive aspect of a middle-class identity that emphasizes security and stability, there is a negative ramification or consequence that highlights the precariousness and potential instability of middle-class life. In exploring each of these aspects, I pay attention to the explicitly performative features of class identities. I conclude by considering the epistemological and experiential insights we gain into the construction of emergent class categories by focusing on self-ascribed identities and their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Small Scale Industries (SSIs) have emerged as an engine of growth in several developed and developing economics of the world. This paper analyses, financing of the SSIs by the commercial banks, operating in Madurai District under the lead bank scheme. The study analyses the performance of financing SSIs by commercial banks in Madurai District and the performance scores of loans grants of SSIs by commercial banks using Friedman's Test. The result of Friedman's test indicates that there is no significant difference in the performance of commercial banks of different classifications operating in Madurai District in lending to small scale industries during the period under study. The performance scores reveal that State Bank Groups have exllibited a high range of performance score (viz., 50%) resulting a high record of achievement in finance when compared its target, followed by National Commercial Banks (49%) and Private Sector Banks (33%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Occupants dwelling in hot climatic regions of India for a longer term are tolerable to high temperature levels than predicted by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the thermal sensations (TS) and neutral temperature of the occupants in naturally ventilated (NV) and air-conditioned (AC) classrooms of two technical institutions located in the same premises in the suburbs of Madurai. The main focus of this study is to understand the occupants' behaviour in response to the thermal conditions of the educational buildings particularly in the warm and humid climatic zone of Madurai. Design/methodology/approach - This research collected data through field studies. The data included 383 survey questionnaires from NV classrooms and 285 from AC classrooms, as well as on-site measurements of interior and exterior weather conditions. The TS results show that the students preferred well-designed NV classrooms than AC classrooms. A new adaptive comfort equation derived from this study can be applied to NV classrooms in warmand humid climates where mean outdoor temperature exceeds 40°C. Findings - The neutral temperature derived for NV classrooms in Madurai ranged from 29°C to 34°C. Thus, the occupants in the NV classrooms of the higher learning educational institutions in the warm and humid climatic region of Madurai can adapt well to higher indoor temperature levels than predicted by ASHRAE comfort levels with minimum adjustments. Research limitations/implications - The study was limited to only occupants in two premier higher learning technical educational institutions located in Madurai region within 5-10 km within the city limits to understand the implications of microclimate with respect to the urban context. Thus, further research is required to examine the tendency under local conditions in other regions beyond those applied to this study. Social implications - The findings of this study showed that occupants in higher learning educational intuitions in Madurai prefer NV classrooms than AC classrooms. Therefore, with rising demands of energy use for mechanical ventilation and the associated high cost for running AC buildings, architects should prioritize the design of energy efficient buildings through the optimal use of passive design strategies for ventilation and thermal comfort. This study gives a base data for architects to understand the adaptive limitations of occupants and design NV buildings that can promote natural ventilation and provide better thermal environments that can help increase the productivity of students. Originality/value - This paper was an attempt to develop the adaptive comfort model for NV classrooms in Madurai regions. There has been no attempt to identify the adaptive comfort levels of occupants in higher learning technical educational institutions located in warm and humid climatic region of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian food systems are famously intricate, but the southern state of Tamil Nadu has a single foundation for its cuisine: rice. A few generations ago, other grains collectively called “millets” were the daily staple for many Tamil people. Then, they almost totally eschewed millets in favor of polished, white rice, as the latter became more accessible. Yet in the past few years, public health and development professionals have launched efforts to re-popularize millets as neglected and underutilized species that have the potential to positively affect consumer nutrition, use of environmental resources, and livelihood stability. Drawing on ethnographic evidence collected through field research in and around the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, this paper explores how the particularities of Tamil history and cultural values shape the current confused status of millets there. By emphasizing the interplay of structure and change over time, the paper considers how a denigrated food from the past can be made “good” and “right” in the present. It brings to the foreground unresolved challenges that could impede the goals of millet promotion efforts. These challenges will likely need to be addressed if millets are to have a place in future Tamil food culture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A fungal isolate Aspergillus terreus PDB-B (accession number: MT774567.1), which could tolerate up to 500 mg/L of cypermethrin, was isolated from the lake sediments of Kulamangalam tropical lake, Madurai, and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis. The biotransformation potential of the strain was compared with five other strains (A, J, UN2, M1 and SM108) as a consortium, which were tentatively identified as Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Batch culture and soil microcosm studies were conducted to explore biotransformation using plate-based enzymatic screening and GC-MS. A mycotransformation pathway was predicted based on a comparative analysis of the transformation products (TPs) obtained. The cytotoxicity assay revealed that the presence of (3-methylphenyl) methanol and isopropyl ether could be relevant to the high rate of lethality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

False smut of rice is an upcoming menace to rice production in India. In order to understand the intricate relationship between disease incidence and weather parameters, field experiments were conducted for three years (2019, 2020 and 2021) in two cropping seasons viz., late kharif (August to November) and rabi (October to January) at the Agricultural College and Research Institute (AC & RI), Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Results revealed that the disease severity had positive correlation with relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS) and bright sunshine hours (BSS) and negative correlation with heavy rainfall (RF), evaporation (EP) and temperature. The pooled data analysis (2019 and 2020) for the late kharif and rabi cropping season revealed that disease severity was perfectly showed positive correlation with relative humidity (0.80) and wind speed (0.83) and negatively correlated with weekly maximum temperature (-0.78) and minimum temperature (-0.84). The step wise linear regression analysis was performed which revealed that among the six weather factors minimum temperature influenced the false smut disease severity up to 92%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the development of a highly active and energy‐effective electro‐Fenton process, highly efficient 2e−pathway oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic materials forin situelectrochemical synthesis of H2O2are extremely important. A novel nitrogen‐doped graphene nanosheets (N‐Gns) is prepared, characterized, investigated for the oxygen reduction reaction, and employed for highly toxic chlorophenoxy acid herbicides degradation in water. Herein, we report novel nitrogen‐doped graphene nano sheets (N‐Gns), which exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic medium, which is utilized for Electro Fenton's reaction. The effects of operating parameters such as applied current, pH of the solution, inter‐electrode distance, ferrous ion concentration, oxygen flow rate and initial concentration of herbicides were investigated. The herbicides such as 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D), 2‐(2,4‐ dichlorophenoxy) propanoic acid (2,4‐DP), 4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2,4,5‐Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5‐T), 2‐(2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxy) propionic acid (MCPP) were degraded by electro‐Fenton process. All the herbicides exhibited the total organic carbon removal efficiency greater than 95 % within 240 minutes. The four various places of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India, real water samples were collected and spiked with standard 2,4‐D solution and its degradation was studied by as‐prepared electrodes. The degradation efficiency was greater than 95 % with 300 min. It is comparatively less high than synthetic waste water (herbicides). It is due to the presence of natural organic matter in the real water samples. Hence the herbicides 2,4‐D, 2,4‐DP, 2,4,5‐T, MCPA and MCPP were successfully removed by the as‐synthesizedN doped graphene nano sheets (N‐Gns). The as‐prepared (N‐Gns) exhibits high activity and desirable stabilityand represents a potential candidate material as electro‐Fenton cathode for energy‐effective water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess of income over expenditure by any economic unit is called savings, saving is done by abstaining from present consumption for future use. In India, savings and investment helps capital formation and fosters development. It can be achieved when individual savings and investment have been properly planned, promoted and channelized. Quantum of investment made in different sections is the most important determinant of the growth of an economy. Both the private and public sector investments needs are widely satisfied on the flow of fund from the general public. In recent times the role of money has become more vital in our lives. The educated and uneducated also realize the importance of savings. In the competitive world, the salaried women are interested in investment to improve their standard of living and to meet the expectation of their children and to project their family and for tax saving so on. The present study made an attempt to understand the investment patterns of salaried women through a quantitative and qualitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era where innovation and entrepreneurship play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and societal progress, educational institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among their students. This case study focuses on the exemplary efforts of Thiagarajar College of Engineering in Madurai to cultivate entrepreneurship and nurture a thriving startup culture within its campus. The study begins by delving into the college's strategic approach to curriculum development. It examines how Thiagarajar College of Engineering has integrated entrepreneurship-related courses and modules across various disciplines, equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to ideate, validate, and execute innovative business concepts. By analyzing the college's curriculum adaptation, this study sheds light on the methods employed to seamlessly integrate entrepreneurship education with technical learning. The role of industry collaborations in enriching the entrepreneurial ecosystem is another key aspect under scrutiny. The case study examines how the college has fostered partnerships with various startup companies. Furthermore, the case study explores the array of support systems established by the college to encourage students' entrepreneurial journeys. This includes the provision of mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, access to seed funding and incubation facilities, and guidance on intellectual property protection. By investigating these support mechanisms, the study elucidates how Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) empowers its students to transform their ideas into viable startups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agriculture is the most sensitive sector to climate variability. In rain-fed ecosystems, rainfall is the single most essential component in crop planning. Crop planning using rainfall variability and probability analysis helps to improve the productivity. Methods: A study was taken for crop planning in Madurai district by analyzing the rainfall variability and probability analysis using 40 years (1982-2021) of weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall data. Result: The mean annual rainfall in Madurai district was 925.5 mm was spread over 74 rainy days with 24.7 per cent of coefficient of variation thereby the rainfall is dependable over years with decreasing trend. The probability analysis showed that receiving 20 mm rainfall per week was for 12 weeks (32 to 45th week) except 35 and 37th week which is helpful for sowing and planting. On the other hand, highest mean monthly rainfall was received in October (176 mm) followed by September (137.4 mm). Seasonal analysis resulted that Southwest monsoon had high rainfall quantity with mean value of 397.7 mm. Rice is the major crop cultivated in this region should be replaced by maize, green gram, black gram, cowpea, sorghum, ragi and minor millets which can withstand drought conditions with less crop duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past, exotic whiteflies viz., Aleurodicus rugioperculatus, Paraleyrodes bondari, Paraleyrodes minei and Aleurotrachelus atratus are infesting coconut plantations in India. Based on the damage potential, the predominant species are the rugose spiralling whitefly, A. rugioperculatus and the Bondars nesting whitefly, P. bondari. A study was undertaken to determine the seasonal incidence and population dynamics of these in the new invasion region at Karungalakudi block of Madurai district from 33rd standard meteorological week (SMW) of 2021 to 32nd SMW of 2022. The results indicated that A. rugioperculatus incidence rose considerably from the first week of April (10.9 adults/leaflet) to third week of May (8.3 adults/leaflet; while P. bondari reached maximum during the third week of March (71.99 adults/leaflet) and extended up to first week of June (67.57 adults/leaflet) coinciding with summer months with high temperature and limited precipitation. Subsequently, their incidence declined with the onset of north east monsoon coupled with parasitism by Encarsia guadeloupae and predation by chrysopids from thirdweek of August to fourth-week of December in 2021. The extent of parasitism by E. guadeloupae on A. rugioperculatus nymphs was positively correlated and ranged from 40% (third week of August, 33rd SMW, 2021) to 84% (second week of June 2022, 24th SMW). Chrysopids revealed a highly significant positive correlation with the incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is part of normal flora and also an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections in both humans and animals. Livestock-associated S. aureus (LA-SA) has gained importance in recent years due to its increased prevalence in recent years, becoming a worry in public health view. This study aimed to study the epidemiology of LA-SA strains in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A total of 255 samples were collected from bovine and other small ruminants like goats and sheep nares (n = 129 and n = 126 respectively). Nasal swab samples were collected from study animals with sterile sample collecting cotton swabs (Hi-Media, Mumbai). Samples were transported to the lab in Cary-Blair Transport media for further analysis. The samples were tested for S. aureus using antibiotic selection and PCR-based assays. The pathogenicity of the bacteria was assessed using chicken embryo models and liver cross-sections were used for histopathology studies. Results: The prevalence rate in bovine-associated samples was 42.63% but relatively low in the case of small ruminants associated samples with 28.57% only. The overall prevalence of S. aureus is found to 35.6% and MRSA 10.98% among the study samples. The antibiogram results that LA-SA isolates were susceptible to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines but resistant to β-lactam drugs. The biofilm formation results showed that the LA-SA isolates are weak to high-capacity biofilm formers. The enterotoxigenic patterns revealed that most of the isolated strains are enterotoxigenic and possess classical enterotoxins. The survival analysis of chicken embryos suggested that the Bovine-associated strains were moderately pathogenic. Conclusion: The study concluded that economically important livestock animals can act as reservoirs for multi-drug resistant and pathogenic which in-turn is a concern for public health as well as livestock health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many school children experience psychological inflexibility, which leads to anxiety regarding their academic wellbeing, subsequently affecting their psychological well-being. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the relationship between psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety among school children, understand the sociodemographic characteristics of the selected participants, and identify significant mean differences in subgroups based on sociodemographic details in relation to psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety. Aim: To examine the relationship between psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety in students who were preparing for their board exams. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involved the selection of 348 school children from 9th to 12th grade in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, using simple random sampling. Data collection took place from March 2021 to June 2021. The study employed a 17-item Acceptance and Fusion Questionnaire (AFQ-17), a 25-item academic anxiety scale, and a semi-structured interview schedule. The data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Services (SPSS) software, version 19.0. Descriptive statistics were used, and the Pearson's correlation method was employed to determine the relationship between variables. Additionally, a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify significant mean differences between demographic variables, with a 95% confidence level and p-value<0.05 considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of the total 348 participants, majority 184 (52.9%) were in the age group of 16 to 18 years. The results indicate a positive correlation (r=0.117, p<0.05) between the level of psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety among school children. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety in terms of age and gender. Conclusion: The present study highlights a positive correlation between psychological inflexibility and academic anxiety. It emphasises the importance of raising awareness, promoting psychological flexibility, and reducing academic anxiety among school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most alarming post-operative consequences for patients and doctors are wound infection and dehiscence. Post-operative wound infection and dehiscence lengthen the hospital stay after surgery. Aims and Objectives: The present study examined the incidence of wound infection, wound dehiscence, duration of hospital stay, and burst abdomen between conventional and Hughes repair techniques of midline laparotomy wound closure. Materials and Methods: A 12-month prospective study was performed in the General Surgery Department at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. In total, 80 patients, divided randomly into two groups of 40 each, received emergency midline laparotomies for various reasons. The primary outcome measures the infection incidence, wound dehiscence, and burst abdomen at the end of 10 days by the assessing surgeon. Results: In the study group, 30 (75%) were males, and females were 10 (25%). In the control group, males were 29 (72.5%), and females were 11 (27.5%). The mean age in the study and control groups was 42.4±11.927 and 41.7±13.607, respectively. There was a significant difference in surgery duration between groups. Most patients, i.e., 27 (67.5%) and 19 (47.5%), had wound infection and dehiscence in the control group, respectively. There was a significant difference in wound infection (P=0.025), wound dehiscence (P=0.002), duration of hospital stay (P<0.001), and burst abdomen (P=0.02) between groups. Conclusion: Hughes repair is associated with less incidence of wound infection, wound dehiscence, burst abdomen, and duration of hospital stay compared to patients whose abdomen was closed using the conventional continuous technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic screening for esophageal varices (EV) is suggested for all cirrhotic patients. Patients with steady liver function should have a screening endoscopy every 2 years if no varices are found. In addition, a liver function test should be performed yearly for those with worsening liver function. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to investigate non-invasive parameters' predictive efficacy, such as Platelet count/splenic diameter ratio (PC/SD ratio), by diagnosing EV in cirrhotic patients. Materials and Methods: A Prospective, analytical, singlecenter study was conducted on 50 patients admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, with cirrhosis between March 2021 and August 2021. Patients with cirrhosis histories and clinical characteristics were admitted to the medical ward of Government Rajaji Hospital. The ultrasonogram (for splenic diameter) and a platelet count were performed on all 50 patients. Results: Thirty-three of the 50 patients had EV during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A platelet count/splenic diameter ratio of <900 was found in 33 patients. The two remaining patients have seen a ratio of >900. Therefore, the study's total of 33 patients had a ratio of <900. Varices were absent in 2 of them. The mean platelet count/spleen diameter ratio of patients without varices was 948.98, and with varices it was 826.9. Hence, using a ratio of 870 as a cutoff, 96% of patients with varices were detected (sensitivity: 94.12% and specificity: 93.94%). Conclusion: This study suggests that a lower Platelet count/splenic diameter ratio (PC/SD ratio) identifies patients needing endoscopy for esophagal varices preventative therapy. Platelet count, spleen bipolar diameter, and PSR are non-invasive, cost-friendly diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss is a frequent congenital condition. If not treated promptly, the disease's progression may endanger newborns and young children's proper growth and development. Cochlear implants (CIs) are the only viable treatment for severe or extremely severe sensorineural hearing loss. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to see how auditory performance and speech development changed after cochlear implantation in children born deaf and whether there is a link between sociodemographic parameters and the outcome. Materials and Methods: Analyze the improvement of speech and auditory performance in congenitally deaf children aged 1-6 years who underwent CI surgery at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, Madurai, from January 2016 to June 2018. The data acquired in this study were statistically analyzed to provide detailed findings. Results: Among the study population with age distribution, 18 (26.87%) were in 3 years, followed by 17 (25.37%) in 4 years and least 1 (1.49%) were in 1 year. Sex distribution - 42 (62.69%) were male, and 25 (37.31%) were female children. Progress in hearing and speech was observed, which was evident from the 2-year assessment of categories of auditory performance (CAP) (2.7-4.4) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) scores (1.04-3.67), increasing every 3 months (P<0.001). Scores of children in age group 2 (CAP2 and SIR 3.3) were the highest, yet differed significantly among age groups, implying that the earlier the CI implantation age, the better their language outcomes were. Conclusion: The importance of age at implantation and the role of family members in effective audioverbal therapy and aural stimulation at home were highlighted in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the entry of COVID-19, starting from the year 2000, India managed online education well for more than a year and a half. Now, the question is to understand whether the online mode of education is as effective as the face-to-face classes. This study intends to focus on identifying the challenges and finding the opportunities to enhance the quality of online engineering education with respect to Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire involving the chosen 2nd year, 3rd year, and 4th year students of CSE department, Velammal College of Engineering & Technology, Madurai (VCET), who have had the experience of acquiring knowledge through both offline and online modes. The spreadsheet software was used to filter, organize as well as visualize quantitative data, and descriptive methodology was adopted for the data analysis. The result of the study will lay a scope to understand the existing gaps in online CSE education and the proposed ideas to fill the same enhancing the resources. Further, this study may play a pivotal role in making effective online CSE education at par with face-to-face classes completely possible and preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable resource, seaweeds are abundant in secondary metabolites that have the potential to accelerate metabolic processes in insects, induce toxicity, alter growth and development and delay oviposition and feeding activities. The purpose of the current experiment was to examine the insecticidal activity of brown (Sargassum wightii, Stoechospermum marginatum, Turbinaria conoides) and red algal seaweeds (Gracilaria edulis, Hypnea spicifera, Liagora ceranoides) against diamondback moth under laboratory conditions in Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai. The marine algae were collected from Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Different extracts of seaweeds were made using the Soxhlet extraction method and were tested for toxicity at various concentrations, including 1%, 2% and 3% against a homogenous culture of second-instar Plutella xylostella larvae. Their effects were compared to those of solvents (Methanol, chloroform, hexane and acetone), a treated group (Azadirachtin 1% at 2 ml/l) and an untreated control under leaf dip bioassay with three replications in Completely Randomized Design. The larval mortality data on the treated larvae were collected systematically, statistically examined and reported. Among different concentrations of tested seaweed extracts, the highest larvicidal activity (83.33%) was observed after 72 h with Sargassum wightii methanolic extracts at 3% concentration and the least larval mortality was observed for Gracilaria edulis acetone extracts at 1% concentration (20.00%). Phytochemical profiling of all methanolic extracts of seaweeds was done by GC-MS/MS analysis. The heat map of the metabolites identified nine metabolites (6-Octadecanoic acid, Papveroline, Paroxypropione, o-Methoxymandelic acid, 11, 14-Eicosadienoic acid, Oxirane, 2-Hydroxy-5-Methyl acetophenone, Alpha-Bromo-gamma-valerolactone, 2-O-Methlyl-d-xylose) in S. wightii with high intensity that were not detected in other species. These metabolites are likely to possess insecticidal property. This study suggests the use of seaweed extracts as botanical pesticides which will be an alternative in the creation of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module for the control of diamondback moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste is one of the mechanisms for sustainable development since it permits both the energy-efficient disposal of solid waste and the use of biogas. As a result, this study provides an assessment of the potential energy and emissions saved by using biogas energy generated from the biodegradation of solid waste. For present study two major cities are selected in south India namely Madurai, Tamil Nādu and Hyderabad, Telangana. The LandGEM 3.03 model is used to estimate the concentration of total landfill gases. The landfill in Madurai produced 2.162 × 106 cu. m per year of methane emissions in the year 2013. The production of biogas has increased over time would continue to increase until 2045, when a production rate of 6.32 × 107 cu. m per year was recorded as the largest concentration of biogas ever generated. For the Hyderabad landfill, methane concentrations during the year 2013 was recorded to be 2.5 × 107 cu. m per year and reached a peak in 2046 with a concentration of 3.7 × 108 cu. m per year, was found to have a potential to generate 2.1 × 106 kWh per year. For the Madurai dump site, the energy potential increases gradually and reaches a peak during the year 2047 with a value of 4.54 × 107 kWh per year. Whereas for Hyderabad dump site was found to have an energy equivalent of 2.1 × 108 kWh per year during 2024 and reaches a peak during 2046 with an energy equivalent of 5.1 × 108 kWh per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The optimal system architecture of the existing HES at KCET is obtained using HOMER software. • The technical and economic parameters of the proposed HES are determined using HOMER. • Economic parameters of the optimal HES are determined along with sensitivity analysis. • Two dispatch strategies are deployed and compared in HOMER for the proposed HES. • The techno-economic analysis and sensitivity analysis are carried out for both the on-grid and off-grid HES system. The Renewable Energy Sources (RES) have marked a new trend in the Indian energy market and sustainable energy development. In countries like India, the consumers are more welcomed to be prosumers by utilizing the primary renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biogas, geothermal etc. The renewable energy generation is highly dynamic and thus, Hybrid Energy Systems (HES) strengthens its scope in self-dependent energy generation of the consumers. This paper proposes techno-economic analysis of a Hybrid Energy System (HES) design that has been set up at Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology (KCET), Virudhunagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. The paper investigates the on-grid and off-grid operation of the proposed HES. The system is designed and optimized by using HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables) software. The feasibility of the HES system is studied under different dispatch strategies such as Cycle Charging (CC) and Load Following (LF) for both on-grid and off-grid operation. Further, the sensitivity analysis is carried out for the proposed HES system with the fuel price and scaled annual solar radiation as sensitivity variables. The Net Present Cost (NPC) and Cost of Energy (COE) of the system under different architectures are determined and it is found that, the on-grid HES with LF dispatch is the optimal system design for the selected location. The performance of the system is studied in both technical and economic perspectives to optimally design the HES components and a minimum NPC of $ 7.66 M has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-Based Residential load and EV charging infrastructure, Transactive Energy Management System, Solar PV, Cost, Energy and Emission Analysis, HOMER Software. [Display omitted] • Proposing a Transactive Energy Management System (TEMS) in a community-based residential system. • Performing feasibility analysis of the proposed TEMS with V2H concept using HOMER. • Three scenarios of on-grid/off-grid solar PV for house & public loads, and EV loads with V2H concept. • Carrying out an economic analysis for three scenarios with and without TEMS. In this world, with enhancing environmental issues of greenhouses and fossil fuels-based systems in societies and assumptions of sustainable solutions includes Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) and Electric Vehicles (EV) are increased in the residential and commercial buildings. Moreover, Renewable Energy Resources (RES) have an exceptional milestone towards the world to supply energy from the energy market to the consumers without any scarcity and the EV charging facilities among the residential building is the most eminent research domain in the developing countries. This paper investigates the feasibility of solar energy for around 320 buildings include residential load with EV charging is considered for the selected location Vistara Residential Enclave at Madurai. Additionally, the optimal solution is performed using HOMER software for the proposed solar Photo Voltaic (PV), Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), grid extension, V2H process for increase the efficient energy management. Instead of, three scenarios are considered for analyse the technical, economic and environmental basis. Moreover, in the first one, off-grid/battery support system for only residential load using solar energy. Then, the second scenario is evaluated with on-grid/battery backup system by solar PV for household loads only. Finally, in the third scenario, on-grid/battery system for residential load as well as EV charging with considered V2H performance. Meanwhile, the multiple houses are confined to a residential site in the consideration of overall load system as well as divided into five zones. Moreover, the following these three scenarios cost and electrical parameters are predicted as with and without Transactive Energy Management System (TEMS) to overcome the peak load challenges. Therefore, the consequences of this study proposed that 36.90 % of Net Present Cost (NPC) is maximized and 51.87 % reduced Operating and Maintenance cost (O&M) between presence and absence of TEMS shows that overall system load with TEMS towards the localized grid is the best effective reliable system in an effective manner than five divided zones without TEMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to provide information for the government, stakeholders, and society on the quantity and types of economic activities on Madura Island that are undetected by the State Tax System. The method used in this research is the electricity consumption approach, i.e., comparing the total income of four regencies in Madura Island (Gross Regional Domestic Product) to the total electricity consumption during the 2016-2021 period. By this approach, the amount of Black Economy in four regencies in Madura Island compared to the total economic activities during 2016-2021 can be discovered, as well as the types of economic activities indicated as Black Economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethyl acetate extracts of certain botanicals were evaluated in the laboratory for their contact and oral toxicity at 5% concentration against Sitophilus oryzae L. at Natural Pesticide Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during 2019-21. The result revealed that all the botanicals were effective against S. oryzae compared to the control. Considering the contact toxicity, 5% ethyl acetate extract of Mentha spicata (86.67%) performed better 72 h after treatment. Vitex negundo and Ocimum sanctum caused (83.33%) mortality 72 h after treatment concerning oral toxicity. Mentha spicata caused 93.33% mortality after 15 days of treatment, whereas Vitex negundo, Ocimum sanctum and Tagetes erecta leaf caused 90.00% mortality, which was statistically at par with Mentha spicata. GC-MS-MS study revealed the presence of carvone (38.27%) at the retention time of 7.644, Hexadecanoic acid (2.13%) at the retention time of 27.600, Isopulegol (1.41%) at the retention time of 27.290 and phytochemicals with insecticidal potential in Mentha spicata. Whereas in Ocimum sanctum, Eugenol (59.72%) was the major compound at the retention time of 9.9. Hence, it was concluded that among the tested ethyl acetate extracts, Mentha spicata at 5% was the most effective as a contact and oral toxicant against S. oryzae in stored maize, which possesses the bioactive principle of carvone and it can be developed as an ecofriendly botanical formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]