• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2007

Forest cover density studies using high resolution satellite data and object oriented classification are limited in India. This article focuses on the potential use of QuickBird satellite data and object oriented classification in forest density mapping. In this study, the high-resolution satellite data was classified based on NDVI/pixel based and object oriented classification methods and results were compared. The QuickBird satellite data was found to be suitable in forest density mapping. Object oriented classification was superior than the NDVI/pixel based classification. The Object oriented classification method classified all the density classes of forest (dense, open, degraded and bare soil) with higher producer and user accuracies and with more kappa statistics value compared to pixel based method. The overall classification accuracy and Kappa statistics values of the object oriented classification were 83.33% and 0.77 respectively, which were higher than the pixel based classification (68%, 0.56 respectively). According to the Z statistics, the results of these two classifications were significantly different at 95% confidence level.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.473-481
• /
• 2007

Joint Forest Management(JFM) is a concept of developing partnerships between fringe forest user groups and the Forest Department(FD) on the basis of mutual trust and jointly defined roles and responsibilities with regard to forest protection and development. In India, JFM was started during 1992 and it was implemented in many states. However success rate of JFM activity was not promising. Though there are many factors attributed to the failures, one of the main factors is the JFM site. This paper deals with the significant ground works to be done before planning for JFM using recent technologies such as remote sensing(RS) and Geographic Information System(GIS). Also it deals with the advantages of weighted overlay analysis in selecting suitable sites for JFM taking into consideration the various criteria. As a result of weighted overlay analysis, there were four types of suitability classes viz., less, moderate, highly and un-suitable. The moderately suitable class occupied maximum area(13209.64 ha) than less and highly suitable classes. If JFM is implemented on the suitability area, then the failure could be avoided in the future.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.351-361
• /
• 2003

As the launches of a series of remote sensing satellites, there are various multiresolution and multi-spectral images available nowadays. This diversity in remotely sensed image data has created a need to be able to integrate data from different sources. The C-band imaging radar of ERS-2 due to its high sensitivity to coastal wetlands holds tremendous potential in mapping and monitoring coastal wetland features. This paper investigates the advantages of using ERS-2 SAR data combined with IRS-ID LISS-3 data for mapping complex coastal wetland features of Tamil Nadu, southern India. We present a methodology in this paper that highlights the mapping potential of different combinations of filtering and integration techniques. The methodology adopted here consists of three major steps as following: (i) speckle noise reduction by comparative performance of different filtering algorithms, (ii) geometric rectification and coregistration, and (iii) application of different integration techniques. The results obtained from the analysis of optical and microwave image data have proved their potential use in improving interpretability of different coastal wetland features of southern India. Based visual and statistical analyzes, this study suggests that brovey transform will perform well in terms of preserving spatial and spectral content of the original image data. It was also realized that speckle filtering is very important before fusing optical and microwave data for mapping coastal mangrove wetland ecosystem.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.122-141
• /
• 2024

Drawing on mere exposure effect, we proposed that more exposure to a city, as measured by the number of channels of exposure, would increase familiarity, city image, and intention to visit that city. We conducted a survey of university students in seven Asian countries, asking them about a total of 14 cities, at least one from each of the surveyed countries. Exposure was found to be a significant antecedent and was most powerful when mediated by familiarity. Some types of exposure were stronger than others. Personal exposure, in the form of having visited a city or knowing someone who has, was the strongest type of exposure, with more than double the effect of media exposure. Social media, which is difficult to classify as either personal or media, was assessed separately and had a much smaller effect. The mere exposure effect exists whether the intention to visit a city is related to pleasure (tourism) or business.

• Acta Via Serica
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.67-90
• /
• 2024

India, Southeast Asia in general, and Siam in particular share a long history of cultural and commercial relations. Located in each other's extended neighbourhood, India and Thailand have a shared maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea. Situated in the strategic position, midway between West Asia on the one hand and East Asia on the other, India and Siam combined played a significant role in the maritime transactions in Asia and beyond. The geographical proximity between India and Siam led to multifaceted maritime interactions and exchanges. Siam was in the Indian sphere of cultural, religious, philosophical, technical, and linguistic influence much before the Common Era. The cultural and mercantile networks between India and Siam are well-attested by archaeological and literary sources. The archaeological findings in Siam and other Southeast Asian countries have revealed the dynamic trade and cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia since the pre-Common Era. The Takola (modern Takua Pa) area served as a more suitable landing place for Indian merchants and there existed the settlement of the Indian mercantile community. Ligor (Nakhon Si Thammarat), Jaya (Chaiya), Patalung (Phatalung), U Thong, Ban Don Tha Pet, Ban U Taphao, Khao Sam Kaeo, and many other sites in Siam have brought to light a large variety of objects which demonstrate that ancient Siam had close mercantile contact with India as well as the Mediterranean world and China. The paper discusses in detail the cultural and trade links between India and Siam and their impact on the Maritime Silk Road.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.157-166
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Children with disabilities may exhibit a multitude of symptoms, and treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach for a satisfactory outcome. Lack of awareness among physicians, lack of referral, and lack of inter-sectoral coordination have hindered paediatric practice in Tamil Nadu, a state in India with a striking childhood disability rate that warrants a timely interdisciplinary approach. However, the perspectives of paediatricians on paediatric physiotherapy are unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the perspectives of practicing paediatric physicians in Chennai on the role of physiotherapy in paediatrics. Methods: For an in-depth exploration, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted in person with 10 paediatricians. Audio from the sessions was recorded and transcribed, and data saturation was achieved through iterative analysis. Results: A grounded theory analysis of the results yielded 5 domains under which the perspectives and expectations of the physicians were described, along with the barriers experienced by patients' parents as explained by their paediatrician. The responses highlighted deficits in awareness, structural support, accessibility and direct communication between physicians and physiotherapists. Conclusions: Paediatric physicians have different opinions, and some ignorance persists concerning paediatric physiotherapy. This study warrants a proper structure of the paediatric rehabilitation unit and regular interdisciplinary meetings and focus group discussions to increase access for parents and improve patient outcomes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.511-516
• /
• 2012

Background: We investigated the association between polymorphisms in the $p53$ tumor suppressor gene and breast cancer risk in women especially in the Southern part of India. Methods: Genotyping was performed for 50 breast cancer women and 50 controls to determine the status of $p53$ exon 4 codon 72 polymorphism and exon 7 codon 249 mutation and their possible role in breast cancer risk. Results: Frequency of Arg/Arg at codon 72 was 18% in controls and 28% in patients, Arg/Pro frequency was 56% and 66%, Pro/Pro genotype was 8% in controls and 8% in patients. No significance was observed for breast cancer risk with either Arg/Arg or Pro/Pro genotype in codon 72 polymorphism. Similarly, mutation analysis of exon 7 codon 249 revealed that 72% of breast cancer patients have mutation, which is not statistically significant. However, there is a strong association between increase in exon 7 codon 249 mutation and exposure to pollution. Conclusion: The results suggested that there is no risk for exon 4 with Arg/Arg or Pro/Pro polymorphisms in the $p53$ gene and there is no strong correlation between breast cancer patients and mutation in exon 7 codon 249 in South Indian women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7555-7560
• /
• 2013

Background: Beedi rollers are exposed to unburnt tobacco dust through cutaneous and pharyngeal route and it is extremely harmful to the body since it is carcinogenic in nature and can cause cancer during long exposure. This indicates that occupational exposure to tobacco imposes considerable genotoxicity among beedi workers. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 27 beedi workers and age and sex matched controls were enrolled for clinical, cytogenetics and molecular analysis. Clinical features were recorded. The workers were in the age group of 28-67 years and were workers exposure from 8-60 years. Blood samples were collected from workers and control subjects and lymphocyte cultures were carried out by using standard technique, slides were prepared and 50 metaphases were scored for each sample to find the chromosomal abnormalities. For molecular analysis the genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, to screen the variations in gene, the exon 1 of CYP1A1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then screened with Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Results: A statistically significant increase was observed in the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in exposed groups when compared to the respective controls and variations observed in Exon 1 of CYP1A1(Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1) gene. Conclusions: This study shows that, the toxicants present in the beedi that enter into human body causes disturbance to normal state and behavior of the chromosomes which results in reshuffling of hereditary material causing chromosomal aberrations and genomic variations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.1201-1206
• /
• 2015

Background: Tobacco is consumed in both smoking and smokeless forms in India. About 35-40% of tobacco consumption in India is in the latter. The study objective was to describe the association between chewing tobacco and adult mortality. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted in urban (Chennai city) and rural (Villupuram district) areas in Tamil Nadu state in South India. Interviewed in 1998-2000 about 80,000 families (48,000 urban and 32,000 rural) with members who had died during 1995-1998. These were the cases and their probable underlying cause of death was arrived at by verbal autopsy. Controls were 600,000 (500,000 urban, 100,000 rural) individuals from a survey conducted during 1998-2001 in the same two study areas from where cases were included. Results: Mortality analyses were restricted to non-smoking non-drinkers aged 35-69. The age, sex, education and study area adjusted mortality odds ratio was 30% higher (RR:1.3, 95%CI:1.2-1.4) in ever tobacco chewers compared to never chewers and was significant for deaths from respiratory diseases combined (RR:1.5, 95%CI:1.4-1.7), respiratory tuberculosis (RR:1.7, 95%CI:1.5-1.9), cancers all sites combined (RR:1.5, 95%CI:1.4-1.7) and stroke (RR:1.4, 95%CI:1.2-1.6). Of the cancers, the adjusted mortality odds ratio was significant for upper aero-digestive, stomach and cervical cancers. Chewing tobacco caused 7.1% of deaths from all medical causes. Conclusions: The present study is the first large study in India analysing non-smoking non-drinkers. Statistically significant excess risks were found among ever tobacco chewers for respiratory diseases combined, respiratory tuberculosis, stroke and cancer (all sites combined) compared to never tobacco chewers.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.246-253
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular diversity of rhizobacteria associated with ginseng of varying age levels and their plant benefiting attributes. A total of 143 different isolates belonging to 15 different bacterial genera were recovered. Although variation was found in the rhizobacterial community due to age of the plant, majority of bacteria belong to Firmicutes (58%). In which, Bacillus was found to be the predominant genus irrespective of age of the ginseng. To assess the plant benefiting attributes, 30 representative isolates were selected. The results indicated that some of the isolates could exhibit multiple plant growth promoting traits like secretion of cell wall degrading enzymes, production of indole-3-acetic acid, synthesis of siderophores, solubilization of phosphates and soil pathogens inhibition. It can be suggested that strains of B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. velezensis, and B. licheniformis were positive for all the above traits, which have potential to be used as plant growth promoting inoculants to improve ginseng crop in the future.