A study was undertaken with an objective of evolving substrate specific customized non-starch polysaccharidase mixture for effective utilization of sorghum stover and groundnut haulm. Enzyme activity (IU/g) assay revealed that the activity of cellulose, xylanase and pectinase were 1368.33±23.30, 2294.16±65.17 and 930.83±52.22 respectively. All enzymes were found to have associate activity of other enzymes. An invitro trial was conducted to identify the concentration range of individual non-starch polysaccharidase enzymes required for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. A second invitro trial was conducted to identify the precise concentration of individual non-starch polysaccharidase enzymes required for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. The third in vitro trial was conducted to optimize the concentration of non-starch polysaccharidase mixture for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. The efficacy of customized non-starch polysaccharidase mixture was further evaluated at three levels (viz the selected level, 10% higher than selected level and 10% lower than the selected level)to arrive at their optimal level of inclusion separately for sorghum stover and groundnut haulm.

Rational drug design, is the inventive process of finding new medications based on knowledge of the biological target. Drug design involves the design of small molecules that are complementary in shape and charge to the bimolecular target to which they interact and therefore will bind to it. In the experiment based approach, drugs are discovered through trial and error. With high R&D cost and consumption, computational drug discovery helps scientists gain insight into drug receptor interactions and reduce time and cost. Scientists can predict whether the molecule will succeed or fail in the market. Currently, the process of drug designing increasingly relies on computer modeling techniques. This type of modeling is often referred to as computer-aided drug design. In computational drug discovery, different computational tools, methods, and software are used to simulate drug receptor interactions. Using computational drug discovery helps scientists gain insight into drug receptor interactions with less time and cost.

Food bait preferences of house flies were evaluated using olfactometry bioassays. A single cage dual port glass olfactometer was used to assess preferences of house flies towards sugar, fish meal and molasses in no choice and choice bioassays. Flies were allowed into olfactometer individually, observed for five minutes. Time spent in bait port and decision chamber, number of entries into test/control port and port selected five minutes post-exposure were recorded. In the second study in a four arm acrylic olfactometer, three food baits viz., high fish meal low molasses cake, low fish meal high molasses cake and mango essence were tested In the glass olfactometer, flies showed positive response towards food baits compared to control in no choice bioassay. In choice bioassay, flies preferred fish meal than both sugar and molasses and molasses was preferred over sugar. In four arm acrylic olfactometer bioassay, 43.87, 30.96 and 25.16 per cent flies were attracted to high fish meal low molasses cake, low fish meal high molasses cake and mango essence, respectively. Results revealed that molasses and fish meal based baits can be used in housefly traps. Olfactometry bioassays were found effective in bait preference studies of house flies.

The optimization of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) as a healthy alternative to refined wheat flour (RWF) in chicken nuggets was investigated to assess dietary fibre enrichment. Replacement was performed at four levels: 5% (Tl), 6% (T2), 7% (T3), and 10% (T4), while control nuggets were prepared using RWF. Product quality, texture profile, sensory evaluation, and dietary fibre content were assessed. Emulsion stability and product yield remained statistically similar, with improved textural characteristics observed up to 7% replacement with Kodo millet. The product's acceptance was highly significant (P<0.01) at 7% inclusion (7.61±0.32), with dietary fibre enrichment showing a 126.49% increase over the control. The findings concluded that 7% Kodo millet flour inclusion is the optimal level for dietary fibre enhancement in functional chicken meat nuggets.

Goats are highly susceptible to endoparasitic infections due to free grazing habits. The present study was reported for concurrent infection ofMoniezia expansa and Haemonchus contortus in two goats from a flock of 40 goats in Orathanadu, Thanjavur. History included anorexia, foetid diarrhoea and jowl edema in goats. On clinical examination, pyrexia, pale conjunctival mucous membrane, pasty diarrhoeic faeces, bottle jaw and abdominal thudding were noticed. Coproscopy revealed Moniezia expansa eggs and strongyle eggs and faecal culture revealed Haemonchus contortus larvae. Uneventful recovery was noticed in goats after treating with praziquantel and fenbendazole for 3 days with supportive therapy.

The squat lobster, Munidopsis cylindrophthalma (Alcock, 1894) was recorded for the first time from the Indian main land coast while investigating the biodiversity of the squat lobster of Gulf of Mannar during April, 2013. One specimen of the said species was collected as an incidental by-catch in the deep sea trawl fisheries off Thoothukudi coast of Gulf of Mannar, between 08º 35’ 22.5" N lat. 78º 27’ 40.9" E long and 08º 31’ 91.2" N lat. 78º 25’ 32.7"E long at a depth of 305-310 m. The present records show its extended distribution from Gulf of Mannar to east of Andamans and further to South China Sea. 

This study on the employment and income of fishermen in the nonmechanized fishing craft categories of Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu was carried out with the specific objectives of estimation of costs per fishing trip, seasonal employment and identification of the factors determining quantity of fish catch. The sample size was 90 fishermen respondents equally distributed among canoe, vallam and FRP boat operating villages. Descriptive analyses were used to estimate the items of costs and returns, pattern of employment and levels of net income per fishing trip for different fishing seasons. The average annual fishing days of employment was 243, 138 and 136 for canoe, vallam and FRP boat categories, respectively. The overall mean gross income per fishing trip was r. 1843.42, r.2444.77 and r. 2116.97 for canoe, vallam and FRP boat categories, respectively.

The study was conducted to find out polymorphism at various growth hormone (bGH) and growth hormone receptor loci (bGHR) by using PCRRFLP technique. Fifty two blood samples of Mehsana buffalo were collected from Livestock Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Agricultural University, Gujarat. The DNA samples were subjected to PCR amplification using bGH and bGHR specific primers. The PCR products of GH1 (436 bp), GH2 (891bp), GH3 (441bp) and GHR1 (approx 640 bp) loci were digested with Alu 1, Msp 1, Hae III and Mae II restriction enzymes respectively and only AA, CC, FF and RR genotypes were respectively found in Mehsana buffalo. All the bGH and bGHR loci studied were monomorphic.

The present investigation was carried out on 25,499 weekly test day milk yield records of first lactation pertaining to 593 Sahiwal cows spread over 49 years located at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. The comparison of three lactation curve models viz, quadratic model, gamma type function and mixed log function was made in the present investigation. Mixed log function described the best fit with highest coefficient of determination (97.9%) with lowest value of root mean square error (0.025 kg) value. The peak yield of 8.08 kg in 8thweek of lactation was observed by mixed log function. The closeness of the curves of mixed log function and gamma type function with the observed lactation curve was of the same order of magnitude. The least coefficient of determination (77.8%) was observed in quadratic model with maximum root mean square error (0.081 kg). The gamma type function when compared to mixed log function, explained low peak yield and it is recommended that this function can give best fit for the low yielding cows.

The giant lizard mantis of Lysiosquilla sulcirostris Kemp, 1913 was recorded for the first time from Thoothukudi waters while investigating the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mannar during September, 2013. One specimen of the said species was collected as an incidental by-catch in the trawl fisheries off Thoothukudi coast of Gulf of Mannar, between 08º 35’ 22.5" N lat. 78º 27’ 40.9" E long and 08º 31’ 91.2"N lat. 78º 25’ 32.7"E long at a depth of 150-160 m.