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Background: The negative appraisal of emotional stimuli is a feature of social anxiety disorder (SAD). People with SAD demonstrate deficits in neurocognitive performance while performing tasks of attention. However, the relationship between attentional control, working memory, and threat perception in SAD has not been studied well. The present study aimed to identify patterns of threat perception in relation to performance on attention and visuospatial working memory tasks in individuals with SAD. Methods: Subjects with SAD ( n = 27) and a healthy comparative (HC) group ( n = 26) completed tasks of sustained and focused attention, visuospatial working memory, computerized emotion identification, and pictorial emotional Stroop. Results: The SAD group had decreased performance in the domains of sustained (P = 0.001) and focused attention (P = 0.04). They also had an enhanced threat perception as demonstrated by greater reaction time to anger (P = 0.03), lower emotion recognition accuracy (P = 0.05), and higher over-identification of the threat to neutral and nonthreatening faces. However, the Stroop effect was not demonstrated across the groups. No group difference was seen in the performance on the visuospatial working memory tasks. Lower focused attention was significantly correlated with higher emotional threat perception (ETP; P = 0.001) in the SAD group. Conclusion: People with SAD have greater deficits in attention processing and ETP. The attention deficits were associated with enhanced ETP in social anxiety. The link between threat perception and cognitive functions would aid in a better understanding of SAD and in planning appropriate intervention.

This study from southern India showed that proximal hip geometry was significantly impaired in postmenopausal women with femoral neck fracture. The trabecular bone score (TBS), which is reflective of bone microarchitecture, was also significantly impaired in patients with fracture.There is limited information with regard to comprehensive bone health in Indian postmenopausal women with neck of femur fracture. We studied the bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone score (TBS), proximal hip geometry, and bone mineral biochemistry in postmenopausal women with and without femoral neck fractures.This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care center in South India. BMD, TBS, and hip structural analysis (HSA) were assessed using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner. Bone mineral biochemical profiles were also studied.A total of 90 postmenopausal women with acute femoral neck fracture with mean (SD) age of 63.2 (6.1) years and 90 age-matched controls were included. The prevalence of osteoporosis was higher among cases as compared to controls (83.3% vs 47.8%; P 0.001). Degraded bone microarchitecture (TBS value 1.200) was more frequent among women with hip fracture as compared to controls (46.7% vs 31.1%; P = 0.032). Cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) was significantly lower at the narrow neck (NN) and inter-trochanteric (IT) region in cases (P 0.05) and buckling ratio (BR) was significantly higher at all three sites in postmenopausal women with femoral neck fracture as compared controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that femoral neck osteoporosis, low CSMI at NN and high BR at NN and femoral shaft emerged as factors significantly associated with femoral neck fractures.This study highlights that impaired parameters of proximal hip geometry and a low trabecular bone score may be significantly associated with femoral neck fractures in postmenopausal women.

In an urban setting, it is a difficult task to collect adult Anopheles stephensi, unlike the immature stages, due to various reasons. A longitudinal study was undertaken from January 2016 to April 2017, with CDC light traps to collect adult Anopheles stephensi and other mosquito species in houses located in a few slums of Chennai, India. A total of 203 trap collections were made indoors from human dwellings having different roof types, as well as outdoors. Three to four trap collections were made at night (18:00 to 06:00 h) once a week. Overall, Culex quinquefasciatus (64%) was the predominant mosquito species captured, followed by An. stephensi (24%). In 98 of the 203 trap collections (48.3%), at least one female An. stephensi was trapped. In all, 224 female An. stephensi were trapped, of which the majority were collected during monsoon and winter seasons. Compared to outdoors, 10% more An. stephensi, the majority of them unfed, were collected indoors, with relatively more contribution coming from asbestos-roofed houses (71.4%), followed by thatched-roof houses (47.3%). Overall, 2.2% positivity for Plasmodium vivax was detected in An. stephensi through Circumsporozoite-ELISA. Binary logistic regression model indicated that season (winter and monsoon), asbestos-roofed dwelling, lesser number of rooms in a house, and more members in a family were significant predictor variables for the odds of trapping an An. stephensi. The study brought out significant factors associated with the presence of An. stephensi in urban slums setting in Chennai, where malaria is declining. The findings would help in devising targeted, effective vector control interventions for malaria elimination in urban settings.

Today, there are over 2,000 different biomaterials used for various medical applications, but none of these biomaterials are 100% compatible with all human beings. Coconut fiber is widely available but has not been tested as a safe natural alternative for sutures. Immature coconut fiber is nonabsorbable and is effective for cuts and open wounds when used in combination with dehydrated human amnion membrane (dHAM). Immature coconut fiber, tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP), and dHAM were prepared to test their combinational effect on wound healing in rats. TSP enhanced cell viability, proliferation, and migration in human skin cells and cured wounds both individually and in combination with dHAM. An antibiotic-free combination of the human amniotic membrane with intact epithelium, tamarind seed polysaccharide, and immature coconut fiber provided faster wound healing. Significantly higher wound healing was seen on the 11th day based on an initial 10 mm biopsy punch surgery in Wistar rats compared to control groups. Histological studies revealed thickened dermis edges with more neutrophil infiltration. Collagen deposition in the dermis was homogeneous across the excised skin tissue in the test group, again attesting to the utility of this procedure. This research signifies the use of TSP gel together with the amnion membrane representing a “smart patch” with wound healing potential, which would encourage further research on the smart patch made using a combination of plant and animal biological materials.

The study was an attempt to capture Anopheles stephensi from cattle sheds during dawn to understand the realistic density of the resting mosquitoes. A 2-year longitudinal study was carried out in cattle sheds in close proximity to the human dwellings to collect the resting vector mosquitoes. The man-hour density of An. stephensi ranged from 24.7 to 206.5. The vector incrimination results indicated 0.15% of An. stephensi infected with Pv210 in 2015 and 0.09% in 2016. The current study indicated that cattle sheds are still the preferred resting place of An. stephensi and that dawn is the perfect time to collect and estimate its densities. Hence, adult vector control may also be given due importance in addition to the routine larval source management measures to curb malaria transmission in an urban setting.

BackgroundIn an urban scenario, it is an arduous task to collect adult Anopheles stephensi, unlike the immature forms due to various reasons such as the complex spatial heterogeneity, intricacies in feeding, and resting preferences. Thus it is necessary to have more specific and accurate assessments of adult vector density by performing various collection methods and timeframes to achieve appropriate and sustainable vector control strategies.Methods The study was undertaken in two phases, (i) resting dawn collections in cattle sheds from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016 to assess the possibility of maximum collection of An. stephensi compared to dusk collections done previously and to find out the best appropriate collection strategy for vector control and (ii) light trap collections from Jan 2016 to Apr 2017 to determine the efficiency and reliability of CDC light trap in sampling the anophelines including the urban malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi in human dwellings besides, other mosquito species. The man-hour density of An. stephensi in cattle sheds were calculated and its infection rate was analyzed by circum-sporozoite ELISA (CS-ELISA). Binary logistic regression analysis was done to ascertain the variables associated with the collection of Anopheles stephensi using a light trap.Results The resting collections in cattle sheds indicated that dawn collections yielded more Anopheles stephensi than at dusk. The resting stage female (fully fed, semi-gravid, and gravid) mosquitoes were more in dawn collections than in dusk collections. The CDC-light trap collections revealed that An. stephensi collected indoors were more than outdoor in human dwellings. Further, vector incrimination results observed that 0.56% of the female An. stephensi from cattle sheds were infected in 2014 (dusk), 0.15%, and 0.09% in 2015 and 2016 respectively in dawn collections. Nevertheless, 2.3% of An. stephensi collected by CDC light trap in human dwellings were positive for Plasmodium vivax (Pv210) infection. Binary logistic regression analysis proved that the presence of An. stephensi in human dwellings was significantly influenced by seasons, the number of rooms in the house, number of household members, and also the use of repellents.ConclusionsThe different collection (resting and light trap) approaches were assessed to find out the appropriate collection method and time which could yield the maximum number of An. stephensi with the existing resources. The study revealed that dawn collections during the early hours as the most suitable time to collect wild An. stephensi in an urban setting. The present study thus would help in chalking out an operationally feasible vector control strategy with the most appropriate methodology, timeframe useful for effective control of vectors.

Background Environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and their daily variation influence a range of mosquito life history traits and hence, malaria transmission. The standard way of characterizing environmental factors with meteorological station data need not be the actual microclimates experienced by mosquitoes within local transmission settings. Methods A year-long study was conducted in Chennai, India to characterize local temperature and relative humidity (RH). Data loggers (Hobos) were placed in a range of probable indoor and outdoor resting sites of Anopheles stephensi. Recordings were taken hourly to estimate mean temperature and RH, together with daily temperature range (DTR) and daily relative humidity range. The temperature data were used to explore the predicted variation in extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax between microhabitats and across the year. Results Mean daily temperatures within the indoor settings were significantly warmer than those recorded outdoors. DTR in indoor environments was observed to be modest and ranged from 2 to 6 °C. Differences in EIP between microhabitats were most notable during the hottest summer months of April–June, with parasite development predicted to be impaired for tiled houses and overhead tanks. Overall, the prevailing warm and stable conditions suggest rapid parasite development rate regardless of where mosquitoes might rest. Taking account of seasonal and local environmental variation, the predicted EIP of P. falciparum varied from a minimum of 9.1 days to a maximum of 15.3 days, while the EIP of P. vivax varied from 8.0 to 24.3 days. Conclusions This study provides a detailed picture of the actual microclimates experienced by mosquitoes in an urban slum malaria setting. The data indicate differences between microhabitats that could impact mosquito and parasite life history traits. The predicted effects for EIP are often relatively subtle, but variation between minimum and maximum EIPs can play a role in disease transmission, depending on the time of year and where mosquitoes rest. Appropriate characterization of the local microclimate conditions would be the key to fully understand the effects of environment on local transmission ecology. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2342-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on the epithelial cells of buccal mucosa in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The study group included 30 healthy patients who were advised orthodontic treatment. Applying sterile cement spatula, scrapping of exfoliated buccal epithelial cells was performed from the middle part of the inner cheeks before starting the orthodontic treatment and at 1st week, 2nd week, 1 month, and 45 days after the treatment, followed by smearing and staining with Papanicolaou stain. Light microscope was used to score micronuclei, and independent two-tailed t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Micronuclei were assessed during the various stages of treatment and were recorded accordingly. At 1 week, there was increase in micronuclei number compared to before starting the treatment (day 0) and at 15th day; 30th day showed decrease in number compared to 1 week but increase compared to day 0. The results of day 45 were almost equal to day 0 with a significant P value (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic appliances induce increased micronuclei frequency, especially in the first weeks of treatment, however, these genotoxic effects tend to approach baseline levels in later period.

Introduction: Acute injury to the optic nerve resulting in vision loss is known as Traumatic Optic Neuropathy (TON). Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) documents the progression of damage of axons over time. Aim: To assess visual outcome of patients diagnosed with TON after management with intravenous (IV) steroids and to study Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) using OCT in patients with TON. Materials and Methods: An observational prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care centre, including 29 TON patients. IV steroids, methylprednisolone was administered in indirect TON patients. RNFL was assessed using OCT on the day of discharge. Follow-up for one week and one month after discharge. Paired t-test/Wilcoxon sign rank test was applied to test the mean differences of the study. Results: Patients treated with IV, steroids showed significant improvement over time. Patients with just Perception of Light (PL) or Hand Movements (HM+) did not show much improvement. Another factor for visual recovery was timing of steroid administration. The time limit was within 24 hours after the injury before full-fledged inflammation sets in. RNFL study using OCT showed reductions in circumpapillary RNFL thickness and Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) complex began to decrease at two weeks after trauma and plateaued at 20 weeks in all cases. Conclusion: IV steroids can be considered as a treatment of TON rather than wait for spontaneous recovery. But baseline visual acuity played a crucial role in recovery. OCT is a useful follow-up tool to analyse axonal loss. But a standard protocol is still lacking.

Background Household and environmental factors are reported to influence the malaria endemicity of a place. Hence, a careful assessment of these factors would, potentially help in locating the possible areas under risk to plan and adopt the most suitable and appropriate malaria control strategies. Methods A cross-sectional household survey was carried out in the study site, Besant Nagar, Chennai, through random sampling method from February 2014 to February 2015. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess selected variables of demography, structural particulars of a household, usage of repellents, animals on site, presence of breeding habitats and any mosquito/vector breeding in the household, malaria/vector control measures undertaken by government in each houses. The data was collected through one to one personal interview method, statistically analysed overall and compared between the households/people infected with malaria within a period of 1 year and their non-infected counterparts of the same area. Results Presence of malaria was found to be significantly associated with the occupation, number of inhabitants, presence of a separate kitchen, availability of overhead tanks and cisterns, immatures of vector mosquitoes, presence of mosquito breeding and type of roof structures (p

The genus Hersilia was established by Audouin in 1826 with H. caudata Audouin, 1826 as the type species. It is the most speciose hersiliid genus presently comprising 79 described species worldwide (World Spider Catalog 2017, version 18). There are seven species known from India: H. aadi Pravalikha, Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu, 2014, H. longivulva Sen et al., 2010, H. orvakalensis Javed et al., 2010, H. savignyi Lucas, 1836, H. striata Wang & Yin, 1985, H. sumatrana (Thorell, 1890), H. tibialis Baehr & Baehr, 1993. This paper is based on fresh material collected from the patches of scrub jungle enclosed within the Madras Christian College campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Both sexes of H. savignyi are illustrated. H. aadi Pravalikha, Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu, 2014 is synonymized with H. savignyi Lucas, 1836.

Deficiency in major port facilities off Orissa prompted the State Government to promote development of a port facility in the Subarnarekha river outflow sector utilizing the inland water network of Orissa coast canal and Contai canal. Marine and Coastal Surveys Division of Geological Survey of India carried out geotechnical feasibility surveys to explore possibilities of setting up a port facility in this sector. Bathymetry reveals smooth, parallel isobaths signifying gentle slopes with varying gradients. The East-West profile delineates a natural channel that could be dredged into a navigational channel. Sediments are dominantly sandy silt marginally varying either into silty sand or clayey silt. Geotechnical characteristics suggest a stable substratum ideal for developing the offshore port facility. Side-scan sonar surveys reveal a seafloor bereft of any hazardous rocks or reefs. The surveys espouse immense potential for developing this sector into an offshore port facility.

The proliferance of organised retail in the form of malls & brand outlets has brought in a sea change in the shopping habits of Indian customers, who considers this as an entertainment. This trend was accentuated with the buying capacity of customers. This has led to the rapid increase in impulse buying behaviour. Majority of the customers are deciding their purchases inside the store due to in store stimuli, availability of credit cards and the influence of the sales staff or the fellow customers and sometimes because of customer's personality traits. This study investigates on the influence of /relations between the impulse buying on different personality traits among the retail customers in Kochin city. Big Five Personality test has been used as an instrument to reveal the relationship between these two factors.

Background: Wells and overhead tanks (OHT) are the major breeding sources of the local malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi in the Indian city of Chennai; they play a significant role in vector breeding, and transmission of urban malaria. Many other man-made breeding habitats, such as cemented cisterns/containers, barrels or drums, sumps or underground tanks, and plastic pots/containers are maintained to supplement water needs, temporarily resulting in enhanced mosquito/vector breeding. Correlating breeding habitats with immature vector abundance is important in effective planning to strengthen operational execution of vector control measures. Methods: A year-long, weekly study was conducted in Chennai to inspect available clear/clean water mosquito breeding habitats. Different breeding features, such as instar-wise, immature density and co-inhabitation with other mosquito species, were analysed. The characteristics of breeding habitats, i.e., type of habitat, water temperature and presence of aquatic organisms, organic matter and green algal remnants on the water surface at the time of inspection, were also studied. Immature density of vector was correlated with presence of other mosquito species, malaria prevalence, habitat characteristics and monthly/seasonal fluctuations. All the data collected from field observations were analysed using standard statistical tools. Results: When the immature density of breeding habitats was analysed, using one-way ANOVA, it was observed that the density did not change in a significant way either across seasons or months. OHTs contributed significantly to the immature population when compared to wells and other breeding habitats of the study site. The habitat positivity of wells and OHTs was significantly associated with the presence of aquatic organisms, organic matter and algal remnants. Significant correlations of malaria prevalence with monthly immature density, as well as number of breeding habitats with immature vector mosquitoes, were also observed. Conclusions: The findings that OHTs showed fairly high and consistent immature density of An. stephensi irrespective of seasons indicates the potentiality of the breeding habitat in contributing to vector density. The correlation between vector breeding habitats, immature density and malaria prevalence indicates the proximity of these habitats to malaria cases, proving its role in vector abundance and local malaria transmission. The preference of An. stephensi to breed in OHTs calls for intensified, appropriate and sustained intervention measures to curtail vector breeding and propagation to shrink malaria to pre-elimination level and beyond.

The genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 is known from 35 species worldwide, including 27 species from Africa and eight from Asia (four species known from India, one from Iran, one from China, one from Tibet and one from Vietnam) (World Spider Catalog 2016). The four species known from India are S. albus Sebastian et al., 2015, S. jagannathae Das, MalikVidhel, 2015, S. lesserti Reimoser, 1934 and S. sarojinae CalebMathai, 2014 (Prószyński 2015; World Spider Catalog 2016). The present paper contains description of Stenaelurillus metallicus sp. nov., discovered from scrub jungle remnants of tropical dry evergreen forests, a unique habitat found in Madras Christian College campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Offshore geotechnical surveys form part of an integrated investigation to rejuvenate a decrepit minor port at Badagara, Kerala on the southwestern coast of India. The sediments typify a fluvio-marine milieu ranging from silty clay, sand, silty sand, sandy silt and clayey silt. Geotechnical and sedimentological studies of shallow cores reveal the geotechnical aspects besides the depositional history of the sediments. Downcore geotechnical variations and regressive coefficients based on their inter-relationships highlight diverse factorial inferences. X-Ray Diffraction data indicate the prominent clay type. A comparative evaluation of the geotechnical characteristics of clayey sediments off Badagara, with similar studies along various sectors of the Kerala coast, both on land as well as in the near shore, is broadly attempted. Geotechnical studies carried out earlier on the uplifted Cochin marine clays provide comparative data for evaluating the possible variations between present day marine clayey sediment...

Geotechnical parameters of three selected sectors in the nearshore waters off West Coast of India, viz. (1) Kandla, Gujarat, (2) Devgarh, Maharashtra and (3) Tadri, Karnataka, having three different provenances, are discussed in this paper. As the geotechnical parameters are also likely to change in accordance with composition and texture of the sediments, silty clay and clayey silt samples only were selected so as to maintain homogeneity. Studies confirm that the nature and composition of marine clayey sediment from shelf area to a large extent are dependent on the lithology of hinterland. It is observed that in the Kandla area, where hinterland is mainly composed of sedimentaries, the values of geotechnical parameters like water content, wet unit weight, void ratio, porosity, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, and liquidity index are low, whereas in the Tadri area, where hinterland is mainly crystallines and metasedimentaries, the values are relatively higher. In Devgarh area, where the prov...

Sediment core samples collected during geotechnical surveys along the West Coast of India in the near shore areas of Arabian Sea have generated data on the geotechnical index properties of clayey sediments up to nearly 5 m depth below seafloor. A comparative study of three sectors within themselves is attempted before carrying out a final evaluation between the sectors. Cohesive clayey sediments of Gujarat sector are comparable though widely variant in a few aspects; in the Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka sector though, plasticity levels and clay type vary, and activity and consistency levels are quite similar. Though broadly comparable, the clayey sediments of Kerala-Tamilnadu sector have quite diverse characteristics that fail to conform to any particular pattern as each area has an exclusive set of geotechnical properties.

Stages in the Emergence of the CochinKodungallur CoastEvidence for the Interaction of Marine and Fluvial Processes

Tuberculosis has been a well-known affliction of human kind, since antiquity. Cutaneous tuberculosis constitutes only a small proportion of extra pulmonary tuberculosis and multifocal involvement of cutaneous tuberculosis is an even rarer manifestation. We report one such case of multifocal tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in a 17-year old male patient in the absence of any primary tuberculous focus.

Background Environmental temperature is an important driver of malaria transmission dynamics. Both the parasite and vector are sensitive to mean ambient temperatures and daily temperature variation. To understand transmission ecology, therefore, it is important to determine the range of microclimatic temperatures experienced by malaria vectors in the field. Methods A pilot study was conducted in the Indian city of Chennai to determine the temperature variation in urban microclimates and characterize the thermal ecology of the local transmission setting. Temperatures were measured in a range of probable indoor and outdoor resting habitats of Anopheles stephensi in two urban slum malaria sites. Mean temperatures and daily temperature fluctuations in local transmission sites were compared with standard temperature measures from the local weather station. The biological implications of the different temperatures were explored using temperature-dependent parasite development models to provide estimates of the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. Results Mean daily temperatures within the urban transmission sites were generally warmer than those recorded at the local weather station. The main reason was that night-time temperatures were higher (and hence diurnal temperature ranges smaller) in the urban settings. Mean temperatures and temperature variation also differed between specific resting sites within the transmission environments. Most differences were of the order of 1-3°C but were sufficient to lead to important variation in predicted EIPs and hence, variation in estimates of transmission intensity. Conclusions Standard estimates of environmental temperature derived from local weather stations do not necessarily provide realistic measures of temperatures within actual transmission environments. Even the small differences in mean temperatures or diurnal temperature ranges reported in this study can lead to large variations in key mosquito and/or parasite life history traits that determine transmission intensity. Greater effort should be directed at quantifying adult mosquito resting behaviour and determining the temperatures actually experienced by mosquitoes and parasites in local transmission environments. In the absence of such highly resolved data, the approach used in the current study provides a framework for improved thermal characterization of transmission settings.

Osteoarticular tuberculosis of the ankle joint is rare, and diagnostic delays are common with this condition. The aim of our report is to highlight the varied clinical and radiologic presentation of this entity. We present a retrospective review of 16 patients with tuberculosis in and around the ankle joint who were surgically treated during a 6-year period. The incidence of ankle joint involvement in extraspinal osteoarticular tuberculosis was 15.7% in our unit. The most common presentation in our series was chronic septic arthritis, followed by periarticular osseous lytic lesion. Tuberculous synovitis, tenosynovits, and retrocalcaneal bursitis were also seen. Osteopenia, the hallmark of osteoarticular tuberculosis, might not be seen in all forms of tuberculosis affecting this joint. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant surgery is often required to establish the diagnosis and in the treatment of patients with deformity and widespread destruction of articular cartilage owing to delayed presentation.

Alternative methods of calculating high frequency added masses and damping coefficients of vertical cylinders of arbitrary section are described. Damping coefficients are calculated by a short-wave approximation relating to the local form of waves generated by the oscillating structure. As an alternative, they are also obtained from the exciting forces of the related scattering problem, with these forces obtained by a geometrical optics approximation. Added masses are obtained by discarding the propagating mode and using only the evanescent modes which are free of irregular frequencies. They are also obtained by an application of the Kramers–Kronig relations, which require the infinite frequency added masses and the damping coefficients at all frequencies. Numerical results obtained by the various methods are compared with corresponding analytical results for vertical circular and elliptic cylinders. The practical application of the proposed approach is indicated. Key words: added mass, cylinders, damping, hydrodynamics, ocean engineering, offshore structures, waves.

Detailed bathymetric surveys using the single beam echo-sounder (BATHY-1500) and Multi-beam echo-sounder (MBES-Seabat — 8111) along the nearshore sector off Chellanum coast of Kerala has brought out shore parallel depressions having depths of about 5 to 6m abruptly beyond the 4m level in the nearshore sector. The otherwise smooth and undulating shoreward gradient displays this abrupt anomalous depression as a recently developed feature. The Tsunami waves that lashed this part of the shore are seen to have caused extensive damage along the Chellanum coast. It is probable that the heavy impact of the tsunami wave in the nearshore could have scooped out the clayey sediments from the nearshore and caused these shore parallel depressions.

The added mass and the damping coefficient of a large surface-piercing circular cylinder extending to the seabed and undergoing horizontal oscillations are described. A closed-form solution to the corresponding linear radiation problem is obtained by the use of eigenfunction expansions. Attention is given to the vertical distribution of these coefficients and to their high-frequency asymptotic behaviour. Comparisons are made with experimental measurements. The application to typical offshore structures is discussed. Key words: added mass, cylinders, damping, hydrodynamics, ocean engineering.

The effect of wave steepness on the wave force exerted on an elliptical caisson subjected to regular wave is presented in this paper. Laboratory results are compared with the modified linear diffraction theory proposed by Mogridge and Jamieson (1976). The caisson was tested for angles of orientations of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° of its major axis with the direction of wave propagation.

Background The physico-chemical characteristics of lentic aquatic habitats greatly influence mosquito species in selecting suitable oviposition sites; immature development, pupation and adult emergence, therefore are considerations for their preferred ecological niche. Correlating water quality parameters with mosquito breeding, as well as immature vector density, are useful for vector control operations in identifying and targeting potential breeding habitats. Methods A total of 40 known habitats of Anopheles stephensi, randomly selected based on a vector survey in parallel, were inspected for the physical and chemical nature of the aquatic environment. Water samples were collected four times during 2013, representing four seasons (i.e., ten habitats per season). The physico-chemical variables and mosquito breeding were statistically analysed to find their correlation with immature density of An. stephensi and also co-inhabitation with other mosquito species. Results Anopheles stephensi prefer water with low nitrite content and high phosphate content. Parameters such as total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, total hardness, chloride, fluoride and sulfate had a positive correlation in habitats with any mosquito species breeding (p

This is the first joint reference paper for the Ocean Energy Systems (OES) Task 10 Wave Energy Converter modeling verification and validation group. The group is established under the OES Energy Technology Network program under the International Energy Agency. OES was founded in 2001 and Task 10 was proposed by Bob Thresher (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) in 2015 and approved by the OES Executive Committee EXCO in 2016. The kickoff workshop took place in September 2016, wherein the initial baseline task was defined. Experience from similar offshore wind validation/verification projects (OC3-OC5 conducted within the International Energy Agency Wind Task 30) [1], [2] showed that a simple test case would help the initial cooperation to present results in a comparable way. A heaving sphere was chosen as the first test case. The team of project participants simulated different numerical experiments, such as heave decay tests and regular and irregular wave cases. The simulation results are presented and discussed in this paper.