Temperatures and metallicities of M giants in the galactic Bulge from low-resolution K-band spectra

With the existing and upcoming large multi-fibre low-resolution spectrographs, the question arises how precise stellar parameters such as Teff and [Fe/H] can be obtained from low-resolution K-band spectra with respect to traditional photometric temperature measurements. Until now, most of the effective temperatures in galactic Bulge studies come directly from photometric techniques. Uncertainties in interstellar reddening and in the assumed extinction law could lead to large systematic errors. We aim to obtain and calibrate the relation between Teff and the $\rm ^{12}CO$ first overtone bands for M giants in the galactic Bulge covering a wide range in metallicity. We use low-resolution spectra for 20 M giants with well-studied parameters from photometric measurements covering the temperature range 3200 < Teff < 4500 K and a metallicity range from 0.5 dex down to -1.2 dex and study the behaviour of Teff and [Fe/H] on the spectral indices. We find a tight relation between Teff and the $\rm ^{12}CO(2-0)$ band with a dispersion of 95 K as well as between Teff and the $\rm ^{12}CO(3-1)$ with a dispersion of 120 K. We do not find any dependence of these relations on the metallicity of the star, making them relation attractive for galactic Bulge studies. This relation is also not sensitive to the spectral resolution allowing to apply this relation in a more general way. We also found a correlation between the combination of the NaI, CaI and the $\rm ^{12}CO$ band with the metallicity of the star. However this relation is only valid for sub-solar metallicities. We show that low-resolution spectra provide a powerful tool to obtain effective temperatures of M giants. We show that this relation does not depend on the metallicity of the star within the investigated range and is also applicable to different spectral resolution.Comment: 6 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy&Astrophysic

The "karikkadi" fishery of Kerala

Parapenaeopsis stylifera, (called 'Karikkadi Chemmeen' ) is the most important species of prawn contributing to the commercial fishery of Kerala coast. An experimental shrimp trawling conducted for a period of two years has shown that during the non-monsoon period (September/October to May) most of the shrimp stocks occupy the coastal waters within the 20 m depth contour. With the commencement of southwest monsoon and the consequent changes in the environmental conditions, the prawns leave the inshore areas in large numbers to the deeper zones. The wide annual fluctuations observed at important centres, the occurrence of juvenile prawns in large quantities noticed quite often in the fishery, call for proper management and conservation measures

Innovative exploitation of deepsea crustaceans along the Kerala coast

Exploratory surveys carried out since 1965 by fishing vessels belonging to different governmental agencies have revealed the occurrence of commercially Important deep sea crustaceans in trawlable concentration along the south-west coast of India

Observations on the prawn fishery off Sakthikulangara in the light of monsoon trawling ban

Sakthikulangara is the most important prawn landing center in Kerala. Study on the prawn fishery exploited by shrimp trawlers for a period of 15 years during 1986-200b at rnis centre indicated a decline in the landings in the first five year period followed by improved fishery between 1991 and 1995. However, decline in catch and catch rate was registered in the next 5 years. Contribution of Sakthikulangara to the Kerala prawn fishery declined from 51% in seventies to 30% in eighties and 24% in nineties. 'Karikkadi' (Parapenaeopsis stylifera) contributed to 68% of the average annual production during 1986 - 2000. Extension of trawling to middle shelf waters and introduction of night trawling transformed the complexion of prawn fishery in the nineties with the addition of nonconventional species such as Trachypenaeus curuirostris, Solenocera choprai and Penaeus canaliculatus. Analysis of data on prawn fishery at Sakthikulangara for a period of 20 years (1981-2000) to study the impact of ban on monsoon trawling has indicated that trawling ban for a short duration of 45 days in the first half of the season is advantageous to the 'Karikkadi' fishery

Is the deep sea prawn fishery of Kerala sustainable?

The enterprising small and medium shrimp trawler operators of Kerala ventured into deep sea fishing for the first time in November 1999 defying the longheld concept that deep sea prawn resources could be harvested only by means of large trawlers. This endeavour proved successful with the realisation of 25,647 t of deep sea prawns in the first fishing season lasting between November '99 and May 2000

A Novel Algorithm for Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

The rapid growth in wireless communication technology has led to a scarcity of spectrum. But, studies are saying that licensed spectrum is underutilized. Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs) seem to be a promising solution to this problem by allowing unlicensed users to access the unused spectrum opportunistically. In this paper we proposed a novel spectrum sensing algorithm to improve the probabilities of detection and false alarm in a CRN, using the traditional techniques of energy and first order correlation detection. Results show a significant improvement in performance in cooperative spectrum sensing

Performance of a C4F8O Gas Radiator Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detector Using Multi-anode Photomultiplier Tubes

We report on test results of a novel ring imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detection system consisting of a 3 meter long gaseous C4F8O radiator, a focusing mirror, and a photon detector array based on Hamamatsu multi-anode photomultiplier tubes. This system was developed to identify charged particles in the momentum range from 3-70 GeV/c for the BTeV experiment.Comment: 28 pages, 23 figures, submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Method

Salinity changes in the estuary and the coastal sea adjacent to the portmouth at Cochin

The article deals with the details of salinity changes in the Cochin estuary and its influence and interrelations with the Vembanad lake

Altered expression of cytokines in mice infected intranasally with two syncytial variants of Herpes simplex virus type 1

Immune evasion strategies are important for the onset and the maintenance of viral infections. Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to counteract or suppress the host immune response. We have previously characterized two syncytial (syn) variants of Herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) strain F, syn14-1 and syn17-2, obtained by selective pressure with a natural carrageenan. These variants showed a differential pathology in vaginal and respiratory mucosa infection in comparison with parental strain. In this paper, we evaluated the modulation of immune response in respiratory mucosa by these HSV-1 variants. We observed altered levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-6 in lungs of animals infected with the syn14-1 and syn17-2 variants compared with the parental strain. Also, we detected differences in the recruitment of immune cells to the lung in syn variants infected mice. Both variants exhibit one point mutation in the sequence of the gene of glycoprotein D detected in the ectodomain of syn14-1 and the cytoplasmic tail of syn17-2. Results obtained in the present study contribute to the characterization of HSV-1 syn variants and the participation of the cellular inflammatory response in viral pathogenesis.Fil: Artuso, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Linero, Florencia Natalia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gazzaniga, Silvina Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Scolaro, Luis Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pujol, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Wainstok, Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Carlucci, Maria Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Consultancy services in marine fisheries- A profile of technologies and experts

The ICAR system currently needs very effective partnership between the researchers and the user groups. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, a premier Institute under the ICAR, has taken effective steps to introduce the services and technologies in the marine fisheries sector, achieved over the last 50 years R & D activities. With a viev/ to institutionalising transfer of technologies, the institute has constituted a Consultancy Processing Cell (CPC) in 1997 for effectively serving the needs of our clients, through the short term and long term trainings, consultancies, contract services and contract research