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Marketing of fish and fishery products in the three markets of Gazipur district were studied during the period from November 2014 to April 2015. Data were collected from three different markets. A total of 45 traders (retailers), 15 from each market were interviewed at the market center. A survey questionnaire was developed, pre-tested and finally used for collection of data. Data were collected from the three different fish markets through questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions. Three types of marketing channel were found to be operated in the selected markets. The market chain from fishermen to consumer passes through a number of intermediaries: local traders, agents/suppliers, retailers and consumers. The shorter marketing chain which included the fish farmers, retailers and consumers was found to be more beneficial to the fish producers. There are some fish species available in three different markets, such as Indian major carps i.e. rui, catla, mrigal and Exotic fish i.e. silver carp, grass and common carp, tilapia, pangas etc. The price of fish depended on size, weight, season, availability, species quality and size of fishes. Different types of dried and salted fish were available in the markets. A number of constraints for fish marketing were reported by the retailers, the constraints were lack of storage facilities, poor supply of ice, exploitation by middlemen, lack of money and lack of infrastructure. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2019, 4 (1), 7-13

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is ubiquitous in its prevalence in most of the developing countries. In the era of systems biology, multi-omics has evinced an extensive approach to define the underlying mechanism of disease progression. HCC is a multifactorial disease and the investigation of progression of liver cirrhosis becomes much extensive with cultivating omics approaches. We have performed a comprehensive review about such challenges in multi-omics approaches that are concerned to identify the immunological, genetics and epidemiological factors associated with HCC.

Background Hypothetical proteins [HP] are those that are predicted to be expressed in an organism, but no evidence of their existence is known. In the recent past, annotation and curation efforts have helped overcome the challenge in understanding their diverse functions. Techniques to decipher sequence-structure-function relationship, especially in terms of functional modelling of the HPs have been developed by researchers, but using the features as classifiers for HPs has not been attempted. With the rise in number of annotation strategies, next-generation sequencing methods have provided further understanding the functions of HPs. Results In our previous work, we developed a six-point classification scoring schema with annotation pertaining to protein family scores, orthology, protein interaction/association studies, bidirectional best BLAST hits, sorting signals, known databases and visualizers which were used to validate protein interactions. In this study, we introduced three more classifiers to our annotation system, viz. pseudogenes linked to HPs, homology modelling and non-coding RNAs associated to HPs. We discuss the challenges and performance of these classifiers using machine learning heuristics with an improved accuracy from Perceptron (81.08 to 97.67), Naive Bayes (54.05 to 96.67), Decision tree J48 (67.57 to 97.00), and SMO_npolyk (59.46 to 96.67). Conclusion With the introduction of three new classification features, the performance of the nine-point classification scoring schema has an improved accuracy to functionally annotate the HPs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12859-018-2554-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Unambiguous vehicular sensing is one of the most important aspects in autonomous driving in vehicular ad-hoc networks. The conventional techniques such as communication-based technologies (e.g., GPS) or the reflection-based technologies (e.g., RADAR, LIDAR) have various limitations in detecting concealed vehicles in dense urban areas without line of sight which may trigger serious accidents for autonomous vehicles. To address this issue, this paper proposed a machine learning method based on stochastic Gaussian process regression (SGP) to position vehicles in a distributed vehicular system with received signal vector (RSV) information. To estimate the test vehicle position and respective position errors, the proposed SGP method records the RSV readings at neighboring locations with continuous approximation of the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) distance, angle of arrival (AoA), and path delay. Then, the subsequent averaging of the training RSVs minimizes the effects of the shadowing noise and multipath fading. The prediction performance of the proposed learning approach is measured in terms of the root mean square prediction error (RMSE) in a realistic environment. Finally, the prediction performance of the proposed learning method is compared with other existing fingerprinting methods for error-free location estimation of the vehicular network.

Eradicating poverty is the numero uno objective of the United Nations for sustainable development of the world by 2030. But, in order to develop a feasible, targeted solution to this problem, an exact poverty map is required. In India, especially in rural areas, there is a dearth of reliable and frequent data related to indicators of poverty line as the national statistics division of the country releases data only once in five years. In this paper, we look at an alternative to the slow, ineffective collection of data on ground: mapping poverty from outer space using medium and high-resolution satellite imagery. Using both satellite imagery and survey data for the rural areas of India, we review how machine learning tools like convolutional neural networks have been harnessed to efficiently identify image features that help us effectively predict socio-economic indicators of poverty. We also explore how these methods offer promising means for policy makers to tackle poverty at the grassroot level and a potential for application across several domains of science.

Background There are genes whose function remains obscure as they may not have similarities to known regions in the genome. Such known 'unknown' genes constituting the Open Reading Frames (ORF) that remain in the epigenome are termed as orphan genes and the proteins encoded by them but having no experimental evidence of translation are termed as 'Hypothetical Proteins' (HPs). Objectives We have enhanced our former database of Hypothetical Proteins (HP) in human (HypoDB) with added annotation, application programming interfaces and descriptive features. The database hosts 1000+ manually curated records of the known 'unknown' regions in the human genome. The new updated version of HypoDB with functionalities (Blast, Match) is freely accessible at http://www.bioclues.org/hypo2. Methods The total collection of HPs were checked using experimentally validated sets (from Swiss-Prot) or non-experimentally validated set (TrEMBL) or the complete set (UniProtKB). The database was designed with java at the core backend, integrated with databases, viz. EMBL, PIR, HPRD and those including descriptors for structural databases, interaction and association databases. Results The HypoDB constituted Application Programming Interfaces (API) for implicitly searching resources linking them to other databases like NCBI Link-out in addition to multiple search capabilities along with advanced searches using integrated bio-tools, viz. Match and BLAST were incorporated. Conclusion The HypoDB is perhaps the only open-source HP database with a range of tools for common bioinformatics retrievals and serves as a standby reference to researchers who are interested in finding candidate sequences for their potential experimental work.

We here report a case of a 23-year-old female from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India who was detected to carry the α chain variant Hb J-Norfolk [HBA2: c.173G>A (or HBA1]. She had no clinical symptoms and was referred to us for routine investigations and screening. An abnormal peak was detected on both high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a fast-moving band on cellulose acetate electrophoresis. There is no detailed study on the HPLC and CE pattern of this hemoglobin (Hb) variant, and therefore, this study will help in detecting and avoiding missing these variants during routine investigations and population screening. This is the first report of this variant in the Indian population.

The Cu2+ doped Ni0.5−xCuxZn0.5Fe2O4 (with x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) ferrites of nanorods morphology was synthesized by glycine–nitrate auto-combustion method. The samples presents the diffraction peaks of cubic spinel crystal structure with Fd 3 m space group. An average crystallite size of 47 nm is obtained for undoped Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. The Cu (x=0.1) doping is increased the crystallite size to 50 nm, thereafter, it is decreased to 42 and 38 nm at x=0.2 and 0.3 respectively. The lattice parameter is found to increase from 8.354 A to 8.408 A with increasing the Cu2+ content. The formation of ferrite phase is further confirmed by obtaining the active Raman mode peaks of A1g+Eg+3T2g bands in all samples. The bands are linked with the symmetric and asymmetric stretching as well as the symmetric bending. The Cu (x=0.1) doping showed 20% enhancement in coercivity, i.e. 105 Oe and 16% enhancement in saturation magnetization 87.16 emu/g compared to 87 Oe and 73.13 emu/g at x=0. The dielectric constant of 450 for the Cu (x=0) and 50 for Cu (x=0.1) is obtained at a constant frequency of 100 Hz. The dielectric loss as low as 0.05 is measured for Cu (x=0.1) at 1 MHz.

We describe the scientific community of an India effort, the Bioinfomatics Club for Experimenting Scientists (Bioclues) whose aim works on four avenues, viz. Mentoring, Outreach, Research and Entrepreneurship (MORE). Incepted in the year 2005, the organization went on to become an affiliate of International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) in 2011. Ably supported by Asia pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet), we are one of the fastest growing bioinformatics societies in India, currently serving over 3400 members from nearly 30 countries. Bioclues adheres Creative Commons License with the prime focus to help the bioinformaticists in India to promote open access. In the year 2010, when we setup vision 2020, we aimed to bring together the Indian bioinformaticians, foster a strong working mentor-mentee relationship, provide access to bioinformatics resources, organize conferences and workshops besides imparting information about research, training, education, employment and current events and news from bioinformatics, genomics, and related fields. In this article, we describe the challenges across the four avenues and further highlight the opportunities the organization has met the last decade in understanding the core necessity of computational biology virtual projects driven by these avenues viz. MORE.

Looking at the increasing scope of plasma processing of materials surface, here we present the development and diagnostics of a microwave assisted Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma system suitable for surface modification of polymers. Prior to the surface-treatment, a detailed diagnostic mapping of the plasma parameters throughout the reactor chamber was carried out by using single and double Langmuir probe measurements in Ar plasma. Conventional analysis of I-V curves as well as the elucidation form of the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) has become the source of calibration of plasma parameters in the reaction chamber. The high energy tail in the EEDF of electron temperature is seen to extend beyond 60 eV, at much larger distances from the ECR zone. This proves the suitability of the rector for plasma processing, since the electron energy is much beyond the threshold energy of bond breaking in most of the polymers. Nylon 6 is used as a representative candidate for surface processing in the presence of Ar, H

The study was conducted in a peri-urban village named, Panchpy under Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district with stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis ) and carps ponds to produce aquaponics vegetable kolmi (water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica ) towards using waste substances of intensive stinging catfish ponds. Aquaponic plant (water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica ) was grown in floating trays in the selected ponds. The water quality parameters including, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite and ammonia were measured during study period.The level of ammonia was higher in catfish pond compared to carps pond water. Inversely, the dissolved oxygen content of catfish pond water was lower than that of carps pond. In the stinging catfish pond, the mean value (± SE) of plant length, weight, number of branches and leaves were recorded at 27.67 ± 1.76, 62.67 ± 2.03, 13.00 ± 1.15 and 55.33 ± 3.18, respectively. The corresponding values 19.33 ± 1.45, 46.67 ± 1.86, 9.33 ± 1.45 and 43.00 ± 2.88, respectively in carps pond, were significantly lower than that of catfish pond. Overall the percent weight gain of kolmi was higher in catfish pond. A positive correlation was found between the length and weight of kolmi produced in both catfish and carp ponds, however R2 value of that relationship was higher for catfish pond due to higher level of available waste nutrients in water. This indicates that the potential of aquaponics research and development in intensively feed catfish aquaculture ponds at the farmer level that can feed the growing population in both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(1): 143-150, April 2015

Environment monitoring in underground coal mines has been a mandatory requirement to ensure safe working conditions in mines. There is a need to develop active communication and information network to quickly detect the underground condition and accurately provide location references to evacuate workers from the dangerous zone. This paper addresses the recent technological comprehensive developments in the area of communication and environment monitoring in underground coal mines. It points out the suitability of application of recently developed wireless sensor network for this purpose as proposed by different researchers all over the world. The possibility of image, video surveillance, and use of robot are also explored here. Need of real-time implementation of proper system inside regulated and hazardous mining environment is evaluated in details.

All annotated genes were once hypothetical or uncharacterized. Keeping this as an epilogue, we have enhanced our former database of hypothetical proteins (HP) in human (HypoDB) with added annotation, application programming interfaces and descriptive features. The database hosts 1000+ manually curated records of the known ‘unknown’ regions in the human genome. The new updated version of HypoDB with functionalities (Blast, Match) is freely accessible at http://www.bioclues.org/hypo2.

A potent feather degrading bacterium was isolated from soil and it was identified as Paenibacillus woosongensis TKB2 on the basis of morphological, biochemical and as well as 16S rDNA sequence characteristics. The physico-chemical cultural condition for keratinase (principal feather degrading enzyme) production by the isolate was optimized following OVAT (one variable at a time) protocol. It was found that the bacterium produced highest amount of keratinase at 0.75% (w/v) raw feather as sole substrate, 2% (v/v) inoculums, pH 8.5, incubation temperature 30 °C, 5% (w/v) sodium chloride and other mineral components like 0.05% K 2 HPO 4 , 0.025% MgSO 4 and 0.02% CaCO 3 (w/v). The filter sterilized fermented hydrolysate has the ability to promote significantly the germination of seeds (germination rate 87.5%) and growth of Bengal gram ( Cicer arietinum ) seedlings. It induces the nodule formation (3 fold) and increased soil fertility by altering N, P, K and the C/N ratio by 1.2 fold. This also enhanced the quantity of free living nitrogen fixers (2 fold) and phosphate solubilizers (5.8 fold) in comparison to the control soil. Thus the enzymatic feather hydrolysate can be exploited as a useful biological fertilizer in future.

By developing a diagonalization scheme we observe that the dynamics of interacting electrons or holes locally coupled to dispersionless phonon mode in one-dimensional lattice can be mapped into that of paired electron or hole states (bipolaronic states), which then gives a physically appealing picture of excitation modes of the interacting electron or hole gas. As a result, the bipolaronic model of the interacting electron or hole gas, obtained from Holstein–Hubbard Hamiltonian in one-dimensional lattice, exhibits normalization of the hopping terms and leads to a reduced effective mass of the bipolaron, which essentially gives support to the bipolaronic theory of high T c superconductivity.

This paper presents a low power, cost-effective, and ZigBee protocol based wireless sensor network that provides an intelligent surveillance and safety system for underground coal mines. The system consists of wireless connection of several nodes. Sensor node mainly consists of ZigBee protocol based low power CC2530 transceiver integrated with a high performance, low power microcontroller on single chip. This integrated chip connected through RF connector on smartRF05 Battery Board. This small size, low power device is easily interfaced with desired miniature size sensors. Wireless sensor nodes join to other sensor node in specific multi-hop mesh network topology, that creates a ZigBee based wireless sensor network. This network can be easily placed in underground mines and it provides an effectively surveillance and safety system for underground coal miners. Especially, it provides the real-time data communication between miners and surface control room through highly secure, reliable wireless sensor nodes. The proposed system improves the existing miner's safety and early warning surveillance in underground coal mines.

Copper substituted NiZn ferrite powder of a chemical formula Ni 0.5−x Cu x Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 (0≤ × ≤0.3) is synthesized by auto combustion process at 350°C followed by the calcination at 600, 900 and 1000°C for 2h. The derived powder shows well distinct total seven peaks of cubic spinel structure with space group Fdℨm. The considerable increments in the lattice constant and the reduction in an average crystallite sizes are observed with increasing the Cu content. At the optimal condition of x = 0.1, the crystallite size as small as 26 nm and the coercivity as high as 158 Oe is obtained in samples calcined at 600°C. The dielectric (έ, e″, and tanδ) analyses show the frequency sensitive behavior in the low frequency region and the frequency independent characteristics at high frequency side due to the Maxwell-Wagner type of interfacial polarization and also due to hopping of charges between Fe2+ ↔Fe3+. The highest dielectric constant ∼ 48 at 1 kHz and the lowest dielectric loss ∼ 0.06 at 4 MHz are obtained in the studied frequency range, whereas the maximum frequency sensing response ∼ 92% is observed at 4 MHz in same sample.

This paper addresses a cost-effective, flexible solution of underground mine workers' safety. A module of MEMS based sensors are used for underground environment monitoring and automating progression of measurement data through digital wireless communication technique is proposed with high accuracy, smooth control and reliability. A microcontroller is used for collecting data and making decision, based on which the mine worker is informed through alarm as well as voice system. The voice system with both microphone and speaker, transforms into digital signal and effectively communicate wirelessly with the ground control centre computer. ZigBee, based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard is used for this short distance transmission between the hardware fitted with the mine worker and the ground control centre.

Measurement of data electronically leads a combination of benefits that go well beyond the traditional rotor-plate energy meter design. In this paper with the help of an energy chip, an improved novel three phase energy metering solution is developed. Automating the progression of measurement through digital wireless communication technique is done to get high accuracy, smooth control and better reliability. The developed energy meter calculates the total average active power mainly for industrial and commercial applications. The hardware circuit accepts three phase voltages and currents as its inputs and provides the output in the form of serial interfaced data equivalent to the average real power. This serial data is fed to a remote personal computer through the wireless ZigBee network that represents the concept of distant wireless metering, practically involving no manpower. The paper also presents a software solution developed for total electrical energy billing and data management system.

Recently the Electrical supply companies are trying to adopt the electronic measurement of energy consumption data because of reduced manufacturing cost, improved measurement accuracy, increased timely information, miniature size and many other benefits that go well beyond the traditional rotor-plate energy meter type. In this paper with the help of an energy chip, an improved energy metering solution is developed, where automating the progression of measurement through digital wireless communication technique is adopted to get the above benefits alongwith smooth control. The developed energy meter calculates the total average active power mainly for residential consumers. The hardware circuit accepts single phase voltage and currents as its inputs and provides the output in the form of logic data proportional to the average real power. This data is fed to a remote computer server through the wireless ZigBee network that represents the concept of distant wireless metering, practically involving no manpower. This paper also presents a software solution developed for total electrical energy billing and data management system.

When 42 cases of primary dissociative states from India were classified according to DSM–III–R and ICD–10 criteria, DSM–III–R was found to be unsatisfactory, with 40 (95.2%) cases receiving a diagnosis of dissociative disorder not otherwise specified. The majority fit well into simple dissociative and possession disorders. ICD–10 was found to be more satisfactory, with 36 (85.5%) patients fitting into specific subcategories, which, however, need to be defined and described more explicitly.