The Indian Cephalopod landscape: An overview from biodiversity to market dynamics

Partnerships between medical schools and their clinical associates, which we describe in this article as academic clinical partnerships (ACPs), are powerful economic and social actors through their roles as major employers and procurers of goods and services. A broad spectrum of effects extending beyond the tripartite mission shapes the social contract between ACPs and the communities they serve. The authors present a model for identifying and measuring effects across this spectrum and illustrate the model's application with reference to specific case studies set in the United Kingdom. This model categorizes effects into five different domains: economic, human capital, social capital, knowledge, and place. These different effects express themselves along a spatial scale that varies from the very local to the global. The authors describe the theoretical background for each domain, as well as the methods required to identify and measure effects. These methods range from a quantitative economic impact analysis using extended input-output models to qualitative methods to capture social capital and place effects. The authors demonstrate how leaders in academic medicine can use the model to build a holistic picture of the societal effects of ACPs. Evidence of impact is of value to ACP leaders in engaging with both national and local stakeholders, and the approach is likely transferable to different countries.

OAK-B135 Interest in wind power development is growing as a means of expanding local economies. Such development holds promise as a provider of short-term employment during facility construction and long-term employment from ongoing facility operation and maintenance. It may also support some expansion of the local economy through ripple effects resulting from initial increases in jobs and income. However, there is a need for a theoretically sound method for assessing the economic impacts of wind power development. These ripple effects stem from subsequent expenditures for goods and services made possible by first-round income from the development, and are expressed in terms of a multiplier. If the local economy offers a wide range of goods and services the resulting multiplier can be substantial--as much as three or four. If not, then much of the initial income will leave the local economy to buy goods and services from elsewhere. Loss of initial income to other locales is referred to as a leakage. Northwest Economic Associates (NEA), under contract to the National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC), investigated three case study areas in the United States where wind power projects were recently developed. The full report, ''Assessing the Economic Development Impacts of Wind Power,'' is available at NWCC's website http://www.nationalwind.org/. The methodology used for that study is summarized here in order to provide guidance for future studies of the economic impacts of other wind power developments. The methodology used in the NEA study was specifically designed for these particular case study areas; however, it can be generally applied to other areas. Significant differences in local economic conditions and the amount of goods and services that are purchased locally as opposed to imported from outside the will strongly influence results obtained. Listed below are some of the key tasks that interested parties should undertake to develop a reasonable picture of local economic impacts that may accrue from existing or future wind development.

Rural transit services are generally considered a tool to alleviate immobility for the elderly, the handicapped, and the carless and a form of income redistribution to them from society at large. But their economic impacts on local economies and governments are seldom realized and quantified. This study estimates two important transfer impacts of rural transit service on local (county) economies and governments in Georgia: the overall economic impacts and the fiscal revenue impacts. This study analyzed economic benefits of three major transit rider types in rural Georgia: elderly riders, work trip riders, and school trip riders. It found that rural transit services have a significant and positive economic impact on the local economy, indicating that, in addition to providing mobility and accessibility to the transportation disadvantaged, rural transit services promote local economic development. The fiscal revenue impact of rural transit service varies depending on the availability and the amount of federal transit subsidy. If the current level of federal transit subsidy continues, the fiscal revenue impact is positive and is larger than 1.0 for the state as a whole. It shows that providing transit service can bring positive fiscal revenues to local governments, realizing that some fiscal revenues are transferred from the federal government. Without federal transit subsidies, local governments would need to pay for all the costs. The revenue impact thus would become smaller yet still positive and greater than 1.0.

ABSTRACTKrishna AV, Ammini P. 2017. Population characteristics of Villorita cyprinoides in Vembanad Lake, India. Lake Reserv Manage. 34:130—140.The Vembanad Lake system (VLS), the largest Ramsar site in India, faces a major ecological crisis because of reclamation. The lake ranks first in the production of the black clam (Villorita cyprinoides). In this study, we investigated the distribution patterns of V. cyprinoides, and reports that the central region of the VLS sustained the highest population density of the black clam. The average density of black clams ranged from 10 to 15,558 individuals/m2, with average sizes ranging from 2 to 40 mm. The average size at maturity was 20 mm. Further, we employed the use of population parameters as a tool to determine their exploitation status in the VLS. The rate of exploitation (E) of V. cyprinoides (0.763) was higher than the maximum exploitation rate (Emax; 0.529), clearly suggesting its overexploitation in the central region. This finding corroborated well with the size distribution analysis indicating that the legal harvestable size of 20 mm was the lowest size fraction in the sediment samples. Although population parameter tools have been used for many fish and shellfish species in the past, our study, the first on black clams in Indian waters, suggest that V. cyprinoides is overexploited in the central region, and conservation measures should be considered. Further, the study demonstrates the utility of population parameters, such as the rate of exploitation, for identifying zones within an ecosystem that warrant conservation for sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources.

Cephalopods, a class of molluscs including Squids, Cuttlefish have become an important part of India's marine fisheries sector. Over the last few decades, the cephalopod fishery in Indian waters has seen substantial growth due to increasing demand in both domestic and international markets. The main target squid species Loligo duvaucelii (Indian squid) and cuttle fish species Sepia pharaonis (Pharaoh cuttlefish), Sepia aculeata, Sepiella inermis and Sepia brevimana. The present study deals with the stock assessment, market trends and export potential of loligo and sepia species from Visakhapatnam fishing harbour. The present study was conducted for a period of four months i.e. from December 2024 to March 2025. Weekly and fortnight data was analysed, and it is evident from the present study findings that, the maximum stock (1679kg.) of Loligo was observed during the month of December 2024. Similarly maximum stock (1913kg) of sepia was recorded in the month of February 2025. The variation in stock recruitment maybe due to environmental changes like oceanic temperature etc. A brief description of market price trends also discussed in this paper.

OAK-B135 Interest in wind power development is growing as a means of expanding local economies. Such development holds promise as a provider of short-term employment during facility construction and long-term employment from ongoing facility operation and maintenance (O&M). It may also add to the supply of electric power in the area and support some expansion of the local economy through ripple effects resulting from initial increases in jobs and income. These ripple effects stem from subsequent expenditures for goods and services made possible by first-round income from the development, and are expressed in terms of a multiplier. If the local economy offers a wide range of goods and services the resulting multiplier can be substantial--as much as three or four. If not, then much of the initial income will leave the local economy to buy goods and services from elsewhere. Loss of initial income to other locales is referred to as a leakage. While there is a growing body of information about the local impacts of wind power, the economic impacts from existing wind power developments have not been thoroughly and consistently analyzed. Northwest Economic Associates, under contract to the National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC), conducted a study and produced a report entitled ''Assessing the Economic Development Impacts of Wind Power.'' The primary objective of the study was to provide examples of appropriate analyses and documentation of economic impacts from wind power development, using case studies of three existing projects in the United States. The findings from the case studies are summarized here; more detail is available in the report, available at NWCC's website http://www.nationalwind.org/. It should be noted that specific results presented apply only to the respective locales studied and are not meant to be representative of wind power in general. However, qualitative findings, discussed below, are likely to be replicated in most areas where wind development occurs.

BackgroundChildhood obesity persists in the United States and is associated with serious health problems. Higher rates of obesity among children from disadvantaged households may be, in part, attributable to disparities in access to healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. Community supported agriculture can improve access to and consumption of fresh produce, but the upfront payment structure, logistical barriers, and unfamiliarity with produce items may inhibit participation by low-income families. The aim of this project is to assess the impact of subsidized, or “cost-offset,” community supported agriculture participation coupled with tailored nutrition education for low-income families with children.Methods/designThe Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids community-based, randomized intervention trial will build on formative and longitudinal research to examine the impact of cost-offset community supported agriculture on diet and other health behaviors as well as the economic impacts on local economies. The intervention will involve reduced-price community supported agriculture shares which can be paid for on a weekly basis, nine skill-based and seasonally-tailored healthy eating classes, and the provision of basic kitchen tools. Low income families with at least one child aged 2–12 years will be recruited to join existing community supported agriculture programs in New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. In each program, families will be randomized 1:1 to intervention or delayed intervention groups. Data will be collected at baseline, and in the fall and spring for 3 years. The primary outcomes are children’s intake of fruits and vegetables and foods high in sugar and/or (solid) fat, as well as diet quality; secondary outcomes include physical, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental variables. Cost-effectiveness and economic impact at the farm and community levels also will be assessed.DiscussionThis integrated project will provide important information and contribute to the evidence base regarding the use of local agricultural interventions to improve children’s dietary behaviors and weight maintenance. Findings also will inform the development of a toolkit for farmers and education modules related to local food system innovations for undergraduate and graduate students.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02770196. Registered 5 April 2016.

The European wild rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) is a species with a wide distribution across the globe and a contradicting role in the ecological integrity of ecosystems and local economies. Despite the considerable amount of research that has been conducted on the trophic ecology of the species in continental environments, similar studies in insular environments are still fairly scarce. The article examines the trophic ecology of wild rabbit, using microhistological analysis to study its annual dietary composition in relation to the availability and quality of food sources, in two different habitats of a northeast Mediterranean island. A total of 112 species were found to participate, to a lower or greater degree, in the species diet across the year. The available food sources, as well as the identified food items, were classified in three feeding functional groups (FFGs), namely, grasses, forbs and parts of woody plants. Wild rabbit follows a diverse diet having adapted to the seasonal changes in the availability and quality of food sources. Forbs is the FFG which constitutes the main food source of the species, while grasses and parts of woody plants form occasionally an important component of its diet. The FFG of grasses is almost constantly preferred in both habitat types and plays a deterministic role in the trophic ecology of wild rabbit. During the critical dry season, where the availability of high quality food becomes limited, the species preferably consumes taxa that are generally less palatable and even toxic in its struggle for survival.

International trade brings widespread economic impacts to local, regional, and national economies. Identifying what economic impacts are and how they take place helps guide policy-makers in making decisions that can promote welfare by enhancing or facilitating the transportation of goods and services along a trade corridor. However, the state of the art in economic and transportation impact measurement has been unable to capture the impacts of international trade. It is the purpose of this paper to analyse the cumulative economic and transportation impact of international trade between the United States and Latin America by adopting a case study methodology that delineates trade across a supply chain. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to apply methodological aspects from three different literatures related to transportation and trade, those of economic impact studies (especially port impact studies), supply chain logistics, and transportation corridors. Using our proposed methodology, we provide estimates of cumulative economic and transportation impacts, relying on the direct expenditures of individual shipments of regionally significant commodities from their origins to their destinations.

Has the time come for "medication tourism"?

The present study compiles a comprehensive review of the taxonomic diversity of the order Tetraodontiformes in Indian waters. Members of this order primarily inhabit benthic and demersal ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions, where they play important ecological roles in structuring benthic communities. Several species are known for their potent neurotoxins, while others are valued for their nutritional, medicinal, and ornamental significance. Their ecological niche makes them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures and climate-induced environmental changes, underscoring the importance of systematic documentation and long-term monitoring. Based on published literature, this study records 121 species of Tetraodontiformes from Indian waters, representing 55 genera across eight families. This accounts for approximately 28% of the 433 species globally recognized under 104 genera and 10 families. The most represented families in India include Tetraodontidae, Monacanthidae, Balistidae, Diodontidae, Triacanthidae, and Ostraciidae. Among the Indian marine regions, higher number of species were recorded from the southern Bay of Bengal and the Andaman waters. According to IUCN classifications, 94 species are listed as Least Concern, 20 as Not Evaluated, five as Data Deficient, and two speciesOxymonacanthus longirostris and Mola molaas Vulnerable.

We describe feeding guilds of mangrove crabs in the Caeté estuary (north Brazil), aspects of their feeding behavior and food consumption rates, and discuss their ecological role. Ucides cordatus and Aratus pisonii eat mainly senescent and fresh leafs, respectively, while fiddler crabs (Uca spp.) and Pachygrapsus gracilis are the most important deposit feeders. Goniopsis cruentata is the dominant omnivore, feeding on plant material, detritus and other crabs alike, while the mud crab Eurytium limosum is the most important carnivorous crab in the intertidal. Feeding periodicity and daily food intake (DFI) differed between feeding guilds. While U. cordatus feeds more or less continuously, fiddler crabs and P. gracilis only feed during low tide, mostly during the day. E. limosum feeds only during high tide. Deposit feeders had the highest daily food intake with 22–32% of bodyweight, followed by the herbivorous U. cordatus (6.4 %), and the predator E. limosum (6.2%). U. cordatus eats over 80% of the litter and propagule production in the forest, returning it as finely shredded detritus via their feces. Mangrove trees, leaf consuming and deposit-feeding crabs, and microbenthos form a positive feedback loop that enhances nutrient remineralization, and probably promotes primary and secondary production. Mangrove trees benefit as (1) nutrients and energy are retained in the system, (2) nutrient remineralization is enhanced, and (3) the soil is aerated by the crabs, diminishing anoxic conditions and production of phytotoxins in the sediment.KeywordsMangrove EcosystemDeposit FeederDaily Food IntakeFiddler CrabMangrove TreeThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

The deep-sea caridean shrimp Plesionika semilaevis (Spence Bate, 1888) is a significant commercial species in the deep-sea fishery on the south-west coast of India. An in-depth analysis of its population parameters is crucial, serving as vital indicators for understanding variability and ensuring the sustainability of this stock. This study presents the first stock assessment of P. semilaevis from Indian waters, analysing its population and growth parameters in the south-eastern Arabian Sea. Both sexes showed negative allometric growth. Growth estimates using the von Bertalanffy model revealed rapid growth and low longevity for males (L∞ = 14 cm TL, K = 0.74 year-1 and Φ′ = 2.16) and females (L∞ = 14.3 cm TL, K = 0.73 year-1 and Φ′ = 2.17). The length at first capture was estimated as 9.46 cm while the length at maturity was measured at 8.73 cm. The estimated values for natural, fishing and total mortality were 1.12 , 2.06 and 3.18 ± 0.17 y-1 respectively. The exploitation rate (E = 0.65) was almost equal to the E msy value (E0.1 = 0.62), indicating the fishery as sustainable. The findings provide a baseline for stock management and conservation of Indian deep-sea fisheries. Keywords: Deep-sea fishery, Exploitation, Mortality, Population growth, Sustainable management

The frigate tuna, Auxis thazard forms a coastal fishery in India throughout the year. Duringthe period 2015-2020, with an annual average catch of 6,387 t, the resource formed 7.14%of the total tuna catch of the country. Andhra Pradesh (1,131 t) recorded the maximumlandings followed by Karnataka (968 t) and Tamil Nadu (701 t). In West Bengal and Odisha,A. thazard formed more than 60% of the total tunas landed. Mature fishes dominated inJanuary-March. Size at first maturity was 31.9 cm TL. Size (fork length) was in the range22.8-68 cm and the estimated length-weight relationship was log W = 0.000049 + 3.1740log L (n = 832, r2= 0.93) (95% CI). The von Bertalanffy growth equation derived was: Lt = 72.6[1 - e -0.73 (t + 0.063)]. The growth performance index was 3.585 and the length at first capture wasestimated at 33.35 cm. The estimated natural mortality, fishing mortality and total mortalitywere 1.17, 1.21 and 2.38 respectively; the exploitation rate was 0.508. Emax estimated was0.735, which is higher than the present levels, indicating scope for further exploitation. Theprediction analysis for MSY, F/Fmsy and B/Bmsy showed the current exploitation is sustainable,indicating scope for increasing catch with increased effort. Keywords:Fishery biology, Population dynamics, Thompson andBell, VPA

BackgroundThe United States (US) healthcare system has experienced enormous economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by both loss of revenue related to shutdowns and increased strain on resources. These factors have impacted the workload and finances of physicians.MethodsA 31-item anonymous survey evaluating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physicians was developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham using QualtricsXM software and included questions on adverse economic impact (defined as selecting job loss, furlough or reduced income as a stressor), workload, and compensation. It was distributed via physician professional and social networks including email, Facebook groups, and #MedicalTwitter May 14-July 31, 2020.ResultsAmong 597 respondents, 295 (49%) reported adverse economic impact, with the highest proportions among emergency medicine (71%), anesthesiologists (63%), and surgeons (60%) and lowest among infectious diseases (ID) (25%). In multivariable analysis (Table), physicians practicing in the Northeastern US saw the lowest economic impact versus the South (OR 3.44, 95% CI: 2.03–5.84), Midwest (2.62, 1.36–5.05) or West (1.98, 1.06–3.71). Physicians practicing in federal or academic settings experienced less economic impact than those in community settings (0.09, 0.03–0.30 and 0.61, 0.41–0.93 respectively). Increased work hours were identified by 185 (31%) of respondents as a stressor, with 169 (92%) reporting additional hours were partially or completely uncompensated. Among 584 respondents, 212 (36%) had new roles and responsibilities (Figure), with the highest proportion among ID physicians (75%).Table 1: Characteristics and factors associated with reporting adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among 597 physicians in the United StatesFigure: New roles and responsbilities assumed by 212 physicians during the COVID-19 pandemicConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has increased physician workload, with approximately one-third of physicians taking on new responsibilities and a similar proportion reporting increased work hours. Much of this additional work is uncompensated due to the economic impact of the pandemic on the healthcare system. Simultaneously, many physicians across the US have suffered adverse economic consequences, especially in the South. ID physicians have experienced higher workload but less economic impact, related to increased need for their expertise and new roles and responsibilities.DisclosuresDustin Long, PhD, Nothing to disclose