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The study is an attempt to examine the factor influencing the investment behavior of equity investments in respect with gender differences. Plenty of earlier studies have been conducted to understand the trading behavior, investment decisions in different investment avenues, investment behavior in respect to individual investors but studies are lacking in stock brokers perspective. Hence the present study was undertaken to find out the influential factors of investment behavior of male and female differences in equity investments with the view of stock brokers. Based on the results of factors analysis there are two factors found similar for both male and female, i.e. attitude and good rumors, expectation and bad rumors. The other factors both male and females were differing as far as the influential variables for decision making are concerned. Hence the individual investors should consider the above two factors such as attitude and good rumors, expectation and bad rumors while making the investment irrespective of gender.

The baseline of the research work tries to explore the effect of privatisation on Indian railways. Adoption of any policy may have both positive and negative effect. Considering this perspective, the present study explores the prospective measures as well as consequence effect while adopting privatization policy in the Railway sector. The study found that efficiency, quality of services, lesser accidents, fewer political intervene, shareholders value and technological innovation as the prospective measures while adopting privatisation concepts. The study also found that limited coverage, higher fares, accountability and impact on economy as the consequences measures while adopting the privatisation policy in Indian Railways. Therefore, adopting the privatisation policy in the railway sector consideration must be given to the above said factors for future development.

In present era, efficient electrical vehicle (EV) design is an ever-increasing interest to the industry and academia. The research work carries a novel investigation on Single-Input Three-Output DC-DC Buck Converter for converting single DC voltage input to multi-output DC voltage levels in EVs. The proposed convertor topology is a non-isolated bidirectional DC-DC Buck converter with a single input of 48V and multi-outputs 12V (for Horn) and 5V (for telemetry). In addition, the investigation has been carried on the performance of Single-Input to Three-Output level DC-DC Buck converter. The proposed research work also presents model operation, design specifications, and stability analysis and control strategies. The performance of the proposed converter topology has been simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment and the results are computed. The results show that the proposed convertor topology reduces the cost and switching losses and also enhances the efficiency, reliability and availability of proposed converter.

In the present study, we synthesis nanoparticles using biosynthesis methods because of the eco-friendly approach. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using extracellular metabolites of marine bacteria (Rastrelliger kanagurta, Selachimorpha sp., and Panna microdon). After the synthesis gold nanoparticles checked their antibacterial and antimycobacterial activities. Here we have few techniques that have been used for characterizing the gold nanoparticles followed by ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrophotometer analysis, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We observed the formation of gold nanoparticles using UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis). FT-IR spectroscopy results of the extracellular metabolites showed that different characteristic functional groups are responsible for the bioreduction of gold ions. In the recent years, we used zebrafish for an animal model to estimate nanoparticle toxicity and biocompatibility. We tested toxicity of the gold nanoparticle using the zebrafish larvae that are growing exponentially. Sample 1 showed a good antimicrobial activity, and sample 5 showed a good antimycobacterial activity. Based on the UV spectrophotometer, sample 1 is used for further studies. Color change and UV spectrum confirmed gold nanoparticles. Based on the TEM and SEM particles, size was measured and ranged between 80 and 45 nm, and most of the particles are spherical and are in rod shape. XRD result showed the gold nanoparticles with crystalline nature. Toxicity studies in the zebrafish larvae showed that 50 μg ml(−1) showed less toxicity. Based on the studies, gold nanoparticle has good antibacterial and antimycobacterial activities. The present was concluded that gold nanoparticles have potential biocompatibility and less toxicity. Gold nanoparticles will be used as a drug molecule in pharmaceutical company and biomedicine application.

Globally, the disposal of shellfishery waste is a major challenge and causes a risk to the coastal region. For potential development in aquaculture, the use of safe supplements to improve fish production and health is important. Chitosan (CS) used as feed additives for several fish species that enhanced production and immunity. The present study was intended to assess the effect of feed additives N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) on productivity, survival rate, and protein conversion efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus (L.). This is the first report on the effect of CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs as feed additives enhanced growth performance and non-specific immunity of O. niloticus. CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs were synthesized and characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscope, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, and zeta sizer. Fish (15.30 ± 0.23 g) administered diets fortified with 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g CSNPs/kg feed loaded with NAG for 45 d. The diets containing 1.0 g/kg NAG loaded CSNPs enhanced specific growth rate, weight gain, survival rate, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activities of tilapia compared control group. The data shows biologically active CSNPs and NAG loaded CSNPs are potent antimicrobial agents against selected bacterial pathogens. In conclusion, the findings suggested that the dietary supplement containing NAG loaded CSNPs significantly increased immune-modulatory properties, growth performance, and enhanced their disease resistance of Nile tilapia.

Carbon dioxide sequestration by microalgae is receiving increased attention in alternative impact of increasing CO2 in the atmosphere. For this study, we have chosen three different microalgae such as Chlorococcum humicola, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus quadricauda were treated with 3 W/m2 UV-B radiation in different time durations (10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and supplemented with bold basal medium. Parameters such as Total Chlorophyll, protein, Carbohydrate, and CO2 fixation rate were determined. Based on the parameters Scenedesmus quadricauda is used for carbon sequestration study. Different concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (0.2%–1%) were supplemented to bold basal medium for carbon utilization it can act as an alternative source of atmospheric CO2. In this maximum amount of chlorophyll content were observed in 0.6% of Sodium bicarbonate. The uttermost amount of CO2 fixation rate and lipid content was recorded at 0.4% sodium bicarbonate concentration. Finally, the result indicated that Scenedesmus quadricauda could be used for CO2 mitigation and having a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Further urea and glucose in the media positively influence growth and CO2 fixation rate of micro algae. These carbon and PUFA rich microalgae can be used as dietary feed fish usually obtain necessary nutrients via bioaccumulation through the food chain. Thus, this study proves to be an encouraging source of discovery of alternating the dietary source for fish and also helping in carbon utilization process in a natural way. Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Microalgae, Scenedesmus quadricauda, PUFA, CO2 Fixation

The main aim of this paper is to find out the size effect and its efficiency of Indian Major Ports using DEA –Additive models. The hypothesis is tested in this paper size is not a determinant factor of port efficiency. The findings based on 1993-2011 data shows both bigger ports (Mormugao, JNPT) as well as smaller ports (Ennore, Tuticorin) had efficient port operations. This paper also found that JNPT had operated as super efficient port among the major port in India through DEA – A&P. Keywords: Additive Models, Data Envelopment Analysis, Major ports in India

Objective To isolate and identify of marine fungal metabolites against clinical bacterial pathogens. To optimize the production medium for isolated fungus. Method Marine fungus isolated from water and sediment samples from different places of Sundarbans mangrove, Muttukadu (Chennai) and Parangipettai in India. Antimicrobial substance from marine fungi was produced by agar plate method. The potent fungal were inoculated on production medium and extracted was done. The extracted compound was checked for anti bacterial activity. Suitable production medium were optimized. Result Totally 30 fungal isolates were recovered and morphologically 10 different strains were belongs to the fungal genera such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, Mucor and Penicillium. Preliminary screening results showed 3 fungal isolates showed promising activity. After production of potent fungal SS2 crude extracts showed highest inhibition against the bacterial pathogens out of 3 fungal isolates. The results showed maximum zone in 20mm against E. coli and minimum 10 mm against Vibrio sp. Conclusions The present study identified Fusarium sp isolated from Sundarbans mangrove water as a potential source for bioactive compounds. Further isolation of active compound from potential fungal isolates will leads to the discovery of effective antimicrobials.

Objective : Phytochemical is naturally present in the seaweeds which biologically play a significant role. The intention of this study was designed to screen the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial potential of selected seaweed collected from Rameshwaram and Tuticorin Southern coast of India. Methods : The present study investigated the presence of phytochemical constituents and also total phenol, total carbohydrate and total protein quantity of the brown seaweed. Dictyopteris delicatula , Padina gymnospora , Acanthophora spicifera , Portieria hornemannii and Ulva faciata were extracted with solvents having different polarities like methanol, ethanol, chloroform and water and screened for the phytochemical constituents, total phenol, total carbohydrate, total protein and DPPH with standard procedure. The antibacterial activities of the seaweeds were examined by agar well diffusion method. Results: Among the five seaweeds, U. faciata showed the maximum number of active constituents in the methanol extract likewise P. gymnospora was found to have a number of diligent compounds in ethanol extract. A. spicifera showed minimum compounds in ethanol as well as chloroform extract. Moreover A. spicifera , P. hornemannii have shown the superior quantity of protein and carbohydrate when compared to other species. The scavenging activity of methanol extracts at 5 mg/ml concentration P. hornemannii shows 18.2% and A. spicifera possess 17.1%. In the antibacterial activity, methanol extracts of all the seaweed showed a potential inhibitory activity against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa compared to other pathogens. Conclusion: The crude extract of seaweed manifest preferable antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, hence in the future, it would be good if it is further taken for treatment of human diseases or as new antimicrobial agents to replace synthetic antimicrobial agents.

Immunostimulatory Effects of Polysaccharide Compound from Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii on Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) and it’s Resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus Kappaphycus alvarezii is a red seaweed rich in polysaccharides. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate polysaccharide from K. alvarezii and also tested for immunostimulatory effects on Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) using Vibrio parahaemolyticus as a test pathogen. Two sets of experiments were designed as mixed with fed diets and intraperitoneal (IP) injection of the crude extracts. Every five days of interval, the non specific immune responses were analysed by the parameters like WBCs count, Lysozyme activity and NBT assay. After 15 days of treatment, the animals were challenged against V. parahaemolytcius and cumulative survival rates were recorded. The total white blood cells were decreased in intraperitoneal injection of polysaccharides extract after 5th day. But in fed diet cells count were significantly increased from 1st to 15th day. Fish fed diet with polysaccharide extract improved the lysozyme level than IP injection, which reduced simultaneously over the period compared with control. In the present study, the respiratory burst activity significantly enhanced in the fed diet polysaccharide extract in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) by oral administration and the highest activity reached in 0.5% fed diet on 15th day. After challenge with V. parahaemolyticus, all treated groups showed a reduced mortality compared to the control group. The best survival rate was observed in the group polysaccharide extract treated with 0.5% by oral administration. Among the other groups, fish treated by intraperitoneal injection had a lower survival rate than the fish treated by oral administration. However, the differences between the two sets of experiment (oral administration or intraperitoneal injection) were only 10%. UV, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra were carried out to characterize the polysaccharide extract. The UV spectrum of the crude extract compound was showed a major peak at 282 nm. In FT-IR spectrum, major peak was observed at 1000-1100 cm-1 supports the presence of ring vibrations C-O, C-O-C (polysaccharides region) and minor peak of 1647.93 cm-1, which supports amide group. And based on the 1H and 13C NMR spectra, the presence of carbonyl carbons in the purified compound was confirmed. Findings of the present study evidenced the excellent immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharide from the seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii. Further complete purification and characterization of the active polysaccharide and its field evaluation is needed to bring this seaweed polysaccharide as a promising candidate for the development of good immunostimulatory agent in the field of aquaculture.

Estuaries are considered as highly potential area for that including feeding, spawning and nursery rearing of most of the finfishes and shellfishes. In the present investigation, two species of catfish (M. gulio and M. vittatus) were selected to study the impact of season on their immune organs (kidney and spleen) and selected immune response from Vellar estuary. The physico-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, salinity and rainfall) were measured during the sampling period 2009-10. The non-specific immune parameters (WBC count, lysozyme activity and NBT assay) were analyzed. The immune organs (head-kidney and spleen) variation was also observed by histological studies. Our results stated that the WBCs count of M. gulio and M. vittatus increased during summer (10.3 and 10.1 x 10(6) ml(-1)) season and decreased in monsoon (6.8 and 7.0 x 10(6) ml(-1)). In contrast, lysozyme activity was highest in post monsoon (1540 and 1525 U min(-1) ml(-1)) and lowest in summer (1000 and 960 U min(-1) ml(-1)). The activity of NBT was highest in monsoon (0.68 and 0.65 at 540 nm) and lowest in summer (0.012 and 0.2 at 540 nm). The histological observation implies that the cell variations were different in respect to different seasons.

Allogeneic SCT remains the most effective anti-leukemic therapy. However, due to the associated TRM with conventional myeloablative regimens, this has often not translated to a significant improvement in EFS or OS. Since October 2005, at our center, we offered a RIC regimen consisting of fludarabine 30mg/m2 x 5days followed by one dose of melphalan 140mg/m2 for young adults with AML in CR1 after induction chemotherapy. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine with a low dose short course methotrexate. The graft source was a PBSC harvest. The clinical outcomes were compared with a historical control who received a conventional Bu/Cy regimen. Since October 1992, 55 of patients with AML in CR1 (constituted 47% of all AML transplants done at our center) underwent a matched related allogeneic SCT. Among these 11 received a Flu/Mel conditioning regimen while 41 received a conventional Bu/Cy conditioning regimen (3 patients excluded from analysis since they received other conditioning regimens), the clinical outcomes of these two groups were compared. All, except for one donor (one antigen mismatch) in the Bu/Cy group, were complete 6/6 HLA identical related donors. The age (mean±SD) of patients in the Flu/Mel and the Bu/Cy group was 39±14 and 27±11 respectively. The baseline characteristics of these two groups were comparable for sex, donor age, female to male transplants, AML subtypes and requirement of two course of chemotherapy to achieve CR1. Four (36.4%) of patients among the Flu/Mel group and 28 (68.3%) in the Bu/Cy group received one or two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy prior to SCT. All patients in the Flu/Mel group received a PBSC graft while only 26 (41%) among the Bu/Cy group received a PBSC graft (P=0.05). One patient in the Bu/Cy group failed to engraft. All other cases engrafted. All 11 (100%) cases in the Flu/Mel group had a complete donor chimerism documented on day 30. Prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion was not administered for any patient. There were no treatment related deaths in the Flu/Mel group up to day 100. One patient died on day 299 following pulmonary GVHD and septicemia. In comparison, the day 100 TRM was 8 (19.5%), going up to a one year all cause mortality of 21 (51%) in the Bu/Cy group. Acute GVHD grade 2–4 occurred in 5 (45.5%) and in 14 (34.1%) among patients conditioned with Flu/Mel and Bu/Cy, respectively. Chronic GVHD occurred in 4 (36.4%) of patients conditioned with Flu/Mel and was similar to the incidence seen in the Bu/Cy group. During the period of follow up none of the patients in the Flu/Mel group have relapsed while 11 (26.8%) patients had relapsed in the Bu/Cy group. The 2 year Kaplan-Meier estimate of EFS and OS for the Flu/Mel and Bu/Cy group (mean follow up 19 and 71 months, respectively) was 85.71±13.23 vs. 43.19±7.82 (P=0.0176) and 85.71±13.23 vs. 45.59±7.86 (P=0.027) respectively. A conditioning regimen of fludarabine and melphalan in young adults with AML in CR1 is associated with a low TRM with a potential to translate into improved EFS and OS. Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier estimate of Event Free Survival among patients who received Flu/Mel conditioning (n=11) versus those that received a Bu/Cy conditioning regimen (n=41) Figure 1:. Kaplan-Meier estimate of Event Free Survival among patients who received Flu/Mel conditioning (n=11) versus those that received a Bu/Cy conditioning regimen (n=41)

The clinical outcome of relapsed and refractory AML is dismal. Attempts in this setting to induce a remission, prior to an allogeneic SCT, are frequently frustrated by either failure to respond to chemotherapy or deterioration in the clinical status post chemotherapy. Since December 2005, patients with relapsed and refractory AML were offered salvage chemotherapy with a FLAG-IDA regimen (consisted of G-CSF 10mcg/kg/day starting day −1, Fludarabine 30 mg/m2 x 5 days, Cytosine 2gm/m2 x 5 days and Idarubicin 10mg/m2 x 3 days). On day 10 of chemotherapy a G-CSF mobilized PBSC harvest from a complete HLA matched related donor was infused, targeting a cell dose of 5 x 108 MNC/kg. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of low dose cyclosporine (1.5 mg/kg/day) ± short course low dose methotrexate. Eleven patients were treated with this regimen. The median age was 40 years (range: 2 – 51). There were 7 (64%) males. There were 6 relapsed cases (5 relapse-1 and one relapse-2) and 5 primary refractory cases. Of the relapsed cases, two had relapsed following a prior allogeneic SCT. Among the patients with relapsed AML, the median number of chemotherapy cycles prior to transplant was 3 (range: 2 – 5) and the median time to transplant from relapse was 5 months (range: 5 – 10). Among the 5 refractory patients, the median number of chemotherapy regimens received prior to transplant was 2 (range: 1 – 3) and the median time from diagnosis to transplant was 3 months (range: 1 – 6 months). The median number of bone marrow blasts pre-transplant was 38% (range: 5 – 70). Five cases had an ECOG performance score of 0–1 while 4 had an ECOG score of 2 and 2 had an ECOG score of 3. Salvage FLAG-IDA chemotherapy regimen was well tolerated in all cases. The median cell dose infused on day 10 was 6.59 x 108 MNC/kg (range: 3.5 – 12.73). All but one patient engrafted with a median time to ANC > 500/mm3 of 13 days (range: 9 – 21) post stem cell infusion and Platelet count > 20,000/mm3 of 12 days (range: 9 – 17). One patient failed to engraft and died on day 9 secondary to a fungal pneumonia. Nine patients achieved a complete donor chimerism on day +30 post stem cell infusion. Six (55%) developed grade 2–4 acute GVHD while 2 (18%) developed grade 3–4 acute GVHD. Six of eight who could be evaluated developed chronic GVHD, all had extensive chronic GVHD. Four patients relapsed following transplant at a median of 118 days post transplant (range: 26 – 140). At the time of this analysis 5 (45%) patients are alive and in remission at a mean follow up of 278 days (range: 119 – 551). Of the remaining 6 patients, 4 relapsed and died, 1 died prior to engraftment from a fungal pneumonia and one patient died in remission from an acute cardiac event. FLAG-IDA salvage chemotherapy followed by an allogeneic PBSC graft infusion on day 10 is a reasonable option to consider for patients in this clinical situation.