Tamil Nadu Research Articles

Climate Change and its Impact on Water Requirement and Productivity of Bengal Gram Over Different Agro-climatic Zones of Tamil Nadu

Background: The AquaCrop model for bengal gram successfully matches the biomass and yield of reported crop data under various planting dates, according to results that have been validated. Further this study was carried out in different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu to assess variations in yield and water requirement. Methods: In order to simulate realistic yields for the Bengal gram in response to planting date impacts in the Guziliamparai Block in the Dindugal District of Tamil Nadu, the study parameterized and verified performance of the AquaCrop model. Four field trials planted in D1 - 1st November, D2 - 15th November, D3 - 1st December, and D4 - 15th December provided the model calibration data. Result: Fruit yield and biomass had R2 values of 0.9 and 0.8, respectively, indicating strong agreement between observed and model-simulated data. Fruit output and biomass were found to have RMSE values of 0.4 and 0.2, respectively. The NRMSE values for fruit yield and biomass were determined to be 0.3 and 0.1, respectively. The AquaCrop model somewhat overestimated fruit production and biomass since the BIAS was less than 0.4 and 0.2 for yield and biomass, respectively. Fruit production and biomass showed less agreement between simulated and actual D levels (0.4 to 0.6). Across Tamil Nadu's ACZ, a 20C temperature increase decreased the yield by an average of 6%, with minimums of 2% and maximums of 13%. An rise in temperature of 3°C and 4°C, respectively, decreased the yield by 9% and 19% on average.

Genetic Diversity in Katchaikatty Sheep based on Microsatellites Polymorphism

Background: Sheep is one of the important species of livestock in India contributing to meat production. India has 44 distinct breeds of sheep, out of which 10 are found in Tamil Nadu. The present study describes the molecular characterization of recently registered breed of sheep - Katchaikatty sheep, genetic variability and genetic structure of the population by microsatellite marker analyses. Methods: DNA from 50 unrelated Katchaikatty sheep was amplified with 25 FAO recommended fluorescent tagged ovine-specific microsatellite markers and genotyped on an automated Genetic Analyzer. In each locus, observed (no) and effective number of microsatellite alleles (ne), allele frequencies, observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity and heterozygosity deficit estimate (FIS), polymorphism information content (PIC) and Chi-square (χ2) test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were assessed. Mode-shift analyses were performed. Result: The study revealed a total of 144 alleles across all the loci. The number of alleles at each locus varied from one to 10 with a mean of 5.76 alleles. The PIC values in the microsatellite loci ranged from 0.34 (OarAE129) to 0.83 (OarFCB48) with an average of 0.59, which showed a high genetic polymorphism. Six out of 25 microsatellite loci studied were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and 19/25 loci showed positive FIS values. The overall mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.50 and 0.65 respectively and the estimates elucidated a substantial genetic variability in Katchaikatty sheep population. Mode shift analysis revealed a normal L-shaped curve, describing that the Katchaikatty population had not experienced any genetic bottleneck and remained in mutation-drift equilibrium.

Role of high-resolution modeling system in prediction of heavy rainfall events over Tamil Nadu and Kerala on different global/regional datasets

Role of high-resolution modeling system in prediction of heavy rainfall events over Tamil Nadu and Kerala on different global/regional datasets

Book review: S. Narayan, The Dravidian Years: Politics and Welfare in Tamil Nadu

S. Narayan, The Dravidian Years: Politics and Welfare in Tamil Nadu. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018, 262 pp., ₹550 (Hardcopy).

Re-negotiating the Cauvery River Water Dispute in Changing Geopolitics and Ecological Era

For hundreds of years, conflicts in water sharing have existed all around the globe. Cauvery River, in the southern part of India, has been in the midst of such conflict for the last 130 years. The Cauvery conflict between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka resurfaces whenever there's a shortfall in the Southwest Monsoon in the region. Historically, the conflict has been about the right to use water and the states/provinces in conflict have used the water from the river for agricultural purposes. Due to industrialization in the late 1980s and increasing population, water availability in the region has become stressed. The paper is an attempt to analyse the history and recent issue of Cauvery river water dispute. The paper also highlight the climate change that exacerbated the region’s water availability issues. Faltering rainfall has caused unrest in the region, and the traditional methods of water sharing are dwindling under political pressure. The purpose of this paper is to suggest the solution to Cauvery river dispute lies in effective water conservation strategy. Without a climate change strategy, the governments of these states will never be able to solve this complex issue at hand. Here's an in-depth study of historical, political and ecological aspects of this dispute.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Gastro-intestinal Dysfunction in Rescued Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Background: The olive ridley sea turtle is a common inhabitant of primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Sea turtles show poor clinical signs and due to the existence of carapace and plastron, physical examination requires complementary diagnostic methodology to provide valuable information for clinical diagnosis. Methods: This work describes the normal ultrasonographic appearance of cervical structures and gastro-intestinal organs of seven olive ridley sea turtles that were stranded during September 2017 to April 2018 along with rescued sea turtle by Trust for Environmental and Education (TREE) foundation, Vettuvankeni, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Ultrasound examination was performed with multi frequency Probe (3.5 MHz to 7.5 MHz) transducer. Ten soft-tissue areas of integument were used as acoustic windows. Result: On ultrasonographic examination of the cervical-ventral acoustic window, the esophagus was imaged. The stomach was more frequently seen through the left axillary acoustic window. The liver could be imaged through both sides of the axillary window and the right axillary acoustic window was the most indicated to visualize the gallbladder. The large and small intestines could be seen in the prefemoral and post femoral acoustic window on the both the sides. The ultrasonographic measurement of various organs was done furthermore gastrointestinal dysfunctions were recorded. This study on ultrasound indices was found to be a useful diagnostic tool for evaluation of coelomic organs in olive ridley.

Development of in-country logistics performance index for emerging economies: a case of Indian states

PurposeLogistics sector is recognized as one of the core enablers of the economic development of a nation. However, inefficiency in logistics operations impedes the achievement of intended targets by increasing the cost of doing business. Also, it is difficult to improve the efficiency of a country’s logistics operations without a metric for evaluating and understanding logistics capabilities and efficiency. Therefore, the present study has developed In-country Logistics Performance Index (ILP Index) to propose a benchmarking tool to measure the in-country logistics competitiveness, particularly in the setting of emerging economies, i.e. India.Design/methodology/approachThis study has developed a unified index using principal component analysis and quintile approach. In addition, the proposed index relies on several dimensions that are developed and illustrated using quantitative secondary panel data.FindingsThe findings of this study reveal that the quality of infrastructure, economy, and telecommunications are the three most important dimensions that may significantly support the growth of the transportation and logistics sector. The results reveal that Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra are the top performers whereas, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir scores the least due to the insufficient logistics infrastructure as compared to other Indian states.Originality/valueGiven the extensive focus on international-level logistics index (like World Bank’s LPI) in the existing literature, this study intends to develop in-country logistics index to evaluate the logistics capabilities at the regional and state level. In addition, unlike prior studies, this study utilizes quantitative secondary data to eliminate cognitive and opinion bias. Moreover, this benchmarking tool would assist decision-makers in idealizing standard practices toward sustainable logistics operations. Additionally, the ILP index could serve the international investors in crucial decision-making, as it provides valuable insights into a country’s logistics readiness, influencing their investment choices and trade preferences. Finally, the proposed approach is adaptable to measuring the overall performance of any other industry/economy.

Short Communication: Pregnant dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) stranding in Palk Bay, India: Insights and significance of stranding records

This Short Communication describes the stranding of a pregnant dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) in Palk Bay, India. The dwarf sperm whale is little understood in Indian waters and considered to be one of the most unusual and rare stranded cetaceans in some parts of Tamil Nadu. While these whales have been more common in Palk Bay over recent years, only few stranding events have been reported. This study focuses on the first-documented stranding of a pregnant dwarf sperm whale in Indian waters, highlighting the significance of Palk Bay and associated waters as breeding grounds which can impact the population status.

Root Cause Analysis of Gaps in Non-communicable Disease Monitoring in a Sub-district Hospital, Tamil Nadu: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Introduction Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) present a significant public health challenge globally, and India is deeply affected. With the largest population in the world, India struggles with a high burden of NCDs, encompassing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. These ailments contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality, placing a strain on healthcare systems. Despite efforts through public health initiatives, NCD monitoring and management remain deficient, especially at grassroots levels. Methods At a sub-district hospital in Tamil Nadu, India, a quality improvement initiative targeted diabetes and hypertension, prevalent NCDs. Utilizing Fishbone analysis and process flow diagrams, we identified gaps in NCD monitoring. Employing the Plan-Do-Study-Act model and reorienting the patient flow, we enhanced NCD monitoring by optimizing patient health record maintenance within the hospital. Results Root cause analysis identified a lack of patient record protocols and patient loss of records as key hindrances in NCD monitoring. We revamped patient flow and implemented a robust record-keeping system, boosting access to patient health records. This initiative was embraced by healthcare providers, enhancing NCD management. Leveraging these records, we assessed control rates of diabetes and hypertension patients effectively. Conclusion The research underscores the importance of maintaining comprehensive patient health records in healthcare centers for enhancing NCD monitoring. These records serve as valuable tools for healthcare providers, aiding in the monitoring and treatment of patients with diabetes and hypertension. By leveraging these records, healthcare providers can achieve better disease control outcomes, thereby improving the overall management of NCDs.

Two new species of the Cnemaspisgalaxia complex (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the eastern slopes of the southern Western Ghats.

Two new species allied to Cnemaspisgalaxia are described from the eastern slopes of the south Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. Both new species are members of the ornata subclade within the beddomei clade. The two new species can be easily distinguished from all other members of the beddomei clade and each other by a combination of nonoverlapping morphological characters such as small body size, distinct colouration of both sexes, the number of dorsal tubercles around the body, the number or arrangement of paravertebral tubercles, the number of midventral scales across the belly and longitudinal ventral scales from mental to cloaca, besides uncorrected pairwise ND2 and 16S sequence divergence of ≥ 7.4% and ≥ 2.7%. The two new species are distributed from low elevation, deciduous forests of Srivilliputhur, and add to the five previously known endemic vertebrates from Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve.

Assessment of students' awareness, knowledge, and accessibility of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations came into effect on 1st January 2016. The SDGs focus on global efforts to end poverty and discrimination and ensure the peace and well-being of all. The agenda is based on certain themes such as people, plants, prosperity, peace and partnership. Despite the fact that it has been endorsed by 193 countries, its success is contingent on the country's ability to implement effective SDG projects using the Global Thinking, Local Action (GLOBAL) method. Higher education students, as members, have a higher level of awareness, knowledge and accessibility about the SDGs. With this level of awareness, knowledge, and accessibility, they can actively promote and accomplish the SDGs by using their academic background. In view of this, the primary goal of this empirical paper is to assess the level of awareness, knowledge and accessibility about all 17 SDGs, including SDG 4 quality education among higher education students in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India.

A STUDY OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS IN RELATION TO EMPLOYABILITY OF ENGINEERS

India is the diverse country and the diversity extends to the engineering graduates across states. Technical education in India has scaled over the last decade boasting of 1000s of Engineering colleges spread across the length and breadth of the country producing over half a million Engineering graduates annually. The objectives of this study are to find out the relationship between socio-economic status and employability skills among the engineering graduates in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. As reported in The Hindu dated October 07, 2023,Anna University Vice Chancellor has Emphasised the importance of diverse skill of Tamil Nadu may be known for its massive number of engineering colleges, but the graduates they produce do not top in employability. The students in most of the engineering colleges are from different socio-economic status/background coming from different places. The socio economic status of the family plays an important role in the personality development of the students. The present study tries to find the extent to which the socio economic status is a barrier in being employable and provides means to overcome the present day menace of unemployability.

Spectral Analysis of Pink Mealy Bug Damaged Mulberry Plants Using Hyperspectral Radiometry

Mulberry (Morus spp.) foliage forms a sole food to silkworms, Bombyx mori L. Its quality plays a pivotal role in superior silk fiber production. Like any other plants, mulberry is susceptible to detrimental diseases and infested by insect pests. Many sucking pests cause damage to mulberry among which, pink mealybug causes severe damage leading to significant loss in mulberry leaf yield (12-25 %). Conventional approaches to assess and manage damage caused by pink mealybugs demand substantial manpower and expertise, resulting in time-consuming and inefficient processes. However, leveraging modern tools and technologies like remote sensing has emerged as a remarkably effective strategy for crop protection and management.Specifically, hyperspectral remote sensing proves invaluable by furnishing insights into the biophysical and biochemical traits of crops. This is achieved through the recording of narrow wave bands that reflect specific plant characteristics. The main objectives were to understand the spectral reflectance characteristics of healthy and pink mealy bug damaged mulberry crops, to identify the optimal spectral bands and vegetative indices for detecting pink mealy bug damage in mulberry and to explore the feasibility of estimating pest damage levels based on the spectral properties of mulberry crops. Top of FormAt the mulberry garden of the Department of Sericulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, studies were conducted on spectral analysis of pink mealy bug damaged mulberry plants using hyperspectral radiometry during 2018. In this trial, at 15-day intervals during the active damage stage, the percentage damage was observed in plots infested with pink mealy bugs and those that were healthy. Measurements of spectral reflectance across various wavelengths and vegetation indices (VIs) were taken using a hyperspectral radiometer. The analysis included evaluating the sensitivity of different spectral bands and VIs to pink mealybug damage, along with employing correlation and regression analyses between the extent of pest damage and the VIs. The findings revealed distinct differences in the spectral reflectance profiles of mulberry plants compared to their healthy counterparts. Typically, affected plants exhibited increased reflectance in the red (620–680 nm) and green (520–590 nm) bands and reduced near-infrared (NIR) reflectance (770–860 nm). The average values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Red Vegetation Index (GRVI), and Ratio Vegetation Index (RVI) were significantly lower in the pink mealybug-damaged plants across all measurements. Notably, red reflectance demonstrated the greatest sensitivity to pink mealybug-induced damage. The study highlighted the Simple Ratio (SR) index as particularly effective for identifying pest damage. Damage estimation by pink mealybugs was refined using linear regression models based on spectral indices, specifically NDVI, RVI, and GRVI. The correlation intensity analysis pinpointed the green region at 516.73 nm as showing the most significant negative correlation (r = -0.02), whereas the highest positive correlation with pink mealybug damage was observed in the NIR region (r = 0.77), underscoring the precise wavelengths and indices most indicative of pest impact. Thus, using hyperspectral radiometry identification of damage caused by pink mealy bug possible, through analysis of spectral bands and indices.

Capturing the enchanting glow: first-ever photographs of bioluminescent mushroom Mycena chlorophos in Tamil Nadu, India

Mushrooms, classified within the class Agaricomycetes in the fungal kingdom, are often colloquially referred to as toadstools. The bioluminescence exhibited by fungi has captivated human curiosity for an extensive period, arising from a chemical reaction involving the interaction of the enzyme luciferin. In India , research pertaining to bioluminescent fungi remains notably limited. This study reports a novel distribution record of Mycena chlorophos in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India.

Geochemistry, Petrology and Tectonic Settings of Dolerite Dykes of Ranipet District, Northern part of Southern Granulite Terrain, Tamil Nadu, India


 
 
 The dolerite dykes and their associated rock are collected from the Ranipet district which is located in the northern part of the Southern Granulite Terrain and South of the Dharwar craton. The major dyke in the Ranipet district shows WSW-ENE trending dykes intruded the hornblende-biotite gneiss with gabbroic diorite and granite gneiss. The dolerite in this region shows typical dolerite composition with high alteration like chloritization and sericitization. Mineralogically, the rock shows laths of plagioclase, anhedral to euhedral clinopyroxene with basal cleavage, and quartz minerals. The opaque minerals ilmenite and magnetite crystals interstice the major minerals and it has altered boundaries. Texturally, the rock shows subophitic and intermediate gabbroic texture (granular texture). TAS diagram shows that the dykes plot in the basalt, basalt andesitic, and rhyolitic field (highly sericitized dolerite). The host and other associated rocks plot within the sub-alkaline field. The bivariate plot for the studied dolerite shows a positive correlation with SiO2, CaO, Na2O, K2O, and P2O5 and a negative correlation with TiO2, Fe2O, and Al2O3. The AFM and Jensen plots show that the dolerites samples plot in the tholeiitic field with Fe enrichment and a High Fe tholeiitic character respectively. The primitive mantle diagram shows the depletion of Nb, P, and Ti showing possible interaction of crust during the emplacement. The Chondrite normalized plot for the dolerite shows enrichment of LREE and Slight depletion of HREEs indicates OIB character. Tectonically, the dolerites formed emplaced in the continental and alkaline arc OIB settings with E-MORB affinity.
 
 

Occurrence of forever chemicals in Chennai waters, India

BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ due to their environmental persistence, bio-accumulative potential, and adverse effects on human health. They are widely employed in producing various goods used in daily life, such as non-stick cookware, cleaning agents, and many industrial applications in aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and military, all of which ultimately end up in different environmental matrices. India’s rapid economic growth necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its PFAS contamination levels and potential human and ecological exposure.ResultsThe present study reports the quantification of one long-chain and two short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids and three long-chain and two short-chain perfluorosulfonic acids and qualitative analysis using suspect screening in the waters of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Samples were collected from surface and groundwater sources, including the Adyar river, Buckingham canal, Chembarambakkam lake, and the water treatment plant. The concentrations analyzed in all the samples ranged from 0.10 ng/L to 136.27 ng/L. Groundwater had some of the highest concentrations of PFAS. L-PFBS (up to 136.27 ng/L) and PFOA (up to 77.61 ng/L) are present in all the samples. The concentrations of all the target PFAS increased in the 5 to 103% range in the final treated water compared to the raw water of the water treatment plant. This treated water is distributed as a source of drinking water for the residents of Chennai. Additionally, the dominance of short-chain compounds (4–7 carbons) over long-chain compounds (> 7 carbons) was observed. Suspect screening revealed numerous precursors and other fluorinated compounds abundantly present in the samples.ConclusionsOur study revealed PFAS levels up to 136.27 ng/L in both surface and groundwater samples from Chennai. These findings raise concerns about potential risks to ecosystems and human well-being. The dominance of short-chain PFAS coupled with abundant precursors and unidentified fluorinated compounds indicates an ongoing shift toward alternatives. Conventional water treatment is ineffective in eliminating these chemicals from the water system; rather, increasing the PFAS concentrations from raw water to treated water necessitates advanced polishing steps. Industrial emissions, untreated domestic wastewater discharge, and open dump sites have been suspected as the significant sources of contamination, highlighting the need for further investigation to fully assess the extent of PFAS contamination in Chennai.Graphical

Investigating the Quality of Water Available in Surya Nagar of Madurai District in Tamil Nadu, India

Investigating the Quality of Water Available in Surya Nagar of Madurai District in Tamil Nadu, India

Visual hazardous models: A hybrid approach to investigate road hazardous events

Road users (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and Animals) are exposed to hazardous events during their commute. With 23 % of global fatalities among pedestrians, their safety continues to be a principal interest for policymakers worldwide. Owing to limited budgets available, there is a growing emphasis on data-driven stochastic models to decide on policies. However, statistical models have limitations due to crash data having redundant features, inherent heterogeneity, and unobserved characteristics. The random parameter model framework addresses the unobserved heterogeneity, but redundant features and inherent heterogeneity among the data's characteristics still compute the biased estimates. This is further complicated if the data has spatiotemporal attributes. To address this, we developed two visual hazardous (VH) models: (i) addresses the unobserved heterogeneity in the data, and (ii) addresses the dimensionality, inherent heterogeneity among the characteristics and unobserved heterogeneity in the collected data after spatiotemporal pattern identification. The feature selection model reduces the dimensionality, whereas latent class clustering classifies the data into maximum heterogeneity between classes. This integration reduces bias in the estimates. As a use-case, pedestrian crosswalk crashes for a decade (2009–2018) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu extracted from the Road Accident Database Management System (RADMS) was used to understand model performance. This data comprises the crash location, road, vehicle, driver, pedestrian, and environment details. Results show that visual hazardous model 2 allows for generating crash scenarios with five homogeneous sub-classes and the magnitude with marginal effects of contributing factors impacting it. For example, pedestrians during their crosswalks are likely to sustain 820 times more fatal/grievous injuries than simple injuries on expressways per 1000 crosswalk crashes (posted speed limit: 100 km per hour). Working pedestrian age group (25–64 years), an older pedestrian (>64 years), the pedestrian position on a pedestrian crossing and not in the centre of the road, pedestrian action: walking along the edge of the road, multiple lanes, two lanes, paved shoulder, straight and flat road, motorcycle, bus, truck, medium-duty vehicle, illegal driver (<=17 years), going ahead/ overtaking, high speed, expressways, and rural region were statistically significant (positively) contributing to the fatal/grievous injury pedestrian crashes during their crosswalk. This technique serves as a structure for engineers, researchers, and policymakers to formulate effective countermeasures that enhance road safety.

Impact of Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project Melur Farmer Producer Organization Company Ltd.,- A Socio-economic Analysis

"The Indian government has declared 2014 to be the “Year of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO).”Thousands of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) had registered around the country under the various legislation, like cooperative laws, trusts, federations and more recently, the Corporations Act as producer companies. Even though, there is a lack in technical aspects of FPO. So this study was focussed on FPO and conducted in the TNIAMP (Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project) Melur Farmer Producer Organization Company Ltd., to assess the factors which influencing the status of the FPO member. This study was conducted among 30 FPO members and 30non-members of FPO selected based on the purposive cum random sampling tool using well-designed interview schedule. The results of the study revealed that, the 43.33 per cent members of FPO getting higher profit (&gt; 6,00,000 `) than non-members. Hence, government should create the awareness regarding the various activities involved in the FPO, should maintain proper infrastructure development for FPOs, proper computer literacy guidelines for FPOs, proper guidelines to raising the technical skills of FPO members and cold storage facilities for all FPOs dealing with the perishable commodities among others."

Markov Chain analysis of rainfall of Coimbatore

Rainfall is considered one of the most important weather parameters which helps in deciding the time of sowing, pest and disease management and harvesting. Markov chain analysis deals with predicting future values based on past values. In the present study, Markov Chain analysis was used to predict the future probability of monthly rainfall and examine the pattern and distribution of rainfall using daily rainfall data from the year 1982 to 2016 (34 years) in the Coimbatore district. This study mainly analysed the probability of rainfall in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu based on Markov chain process. Based on the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology, the intensity of rainfall per day was categorized and a day is considered as no rain if rainfall was less than 0.1 mm, low rain if rainfall was between 0.1 mm to 10 mm, moderate rain if rainfall was between 10 mm to 20 mm and heavy rain if rainfall was above 20 mm. By calculating the transition probability matrices and steady-state probability matrices for each month based on the conditional probability of rain on a particular day given that rain on the previous day which is to predict the state of rainfall on the next day. This study reported that the availability of water for crop production is higher during the winter, pre-monsoon, the onset of the southwest monsoon, and at the end of the northeast monsoon. There may be a scarcity of water from August to November for agricultural activities. Based on this study, farmers can plan for a better cropping system in advance to get a better yield.