S. Arunkumar ¹, A. Sangaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animals Sciences University, Chennai – 600 007, IN

Abstract

Antigen sharing amongst gastro-intestinal nematodes viz., Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum and Bunostomum trigonocephalum was evaluated by inhibition ELISA. Two antigens namely soluble extract antigen (SEA) and gut integral membrane antigen (GIMA) were prepared and hyper immune sera were raised in rabbits against SEA of three referral nematodes. Based on inhibition ELISA, it was observed that the SEA of H. contortus had 36.4 and 28.87% cross-reactivity with inhibited sera of B. trigonocephalum and O. columbianum respectively whereas, the GIMA showed 29.2 and 25.1% crossreactivity with B. trignocephalum and O. columbianum. The SEA of O. columbianum exhibited 34.3 and 22.0% and the GIMA revealed 27.3 and 22.8% cross-reactivity with B. trigonocephalum and H. contortus respectively. The SEA of B. trigonocephalum showed 24.8 and 34.2% and the GIMA exhibited 21.48 and 30.25% crossreactivity with O. columbianum and H. contortus respectively. Further, it was concluded that H. contortus showed a high degree of antigen sharing with B. trigonocephalum than O. columbianum.

Keywords

Antigen Sharing, Nematodes, ELISA, Sheep

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B. Srinivasan ¹, S. Arunkumar ², K. Rajesh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Information Technology, School of Computing, SASTRA University, IN
2 Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Computing, SASTRA University, IN

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new approach for concealing secret message in a digital image by adding three layer securities. In the first layer, the secret image is encrypted by using the famed AES algorithm. In the second layer, we establish a Non-Uniform Block Adaptive Segmentation on Image (NUBASI) algorithm for generating segments of the cover image. This algorithm accept a Key from sender and by using this key, split the cover image into small pieces each with different dimension. In the third layer, a new randomized secret sharing algorithm hide the secret data into the different segments. This algorithm defines 32 different patterns for selecting the segments order to implant the cipher data. This proposed method was implemented and tested for various size cover images and secret messages. The quality of the final stego-image and original image are compared and analyzed through their PSNR values.

Keywords

Cryptography, Image Segmentation, Non-Uniform Block, Randomized Algorithm, Steganography.

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S. Arunkumar ¹, A. Anand ², V. Vijay Anand ¹, V. Rengarajan ¹, M. Shyam ¹

Affiliations
1 SOM, SASTRA University, Thanjavur - 613401, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Gnanam Business School, Thanjavur - 613402, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objectives: The study is to understand and analyze the role of microfinance in women empowerment through Self Help Groups in Chidambaram taluk, to understand the demographic profile of Self Help Group members and to give suggestions for the improvement of performance of microfinance toward women’s empowerment through self help groups. Methods/ Analysis: This study is both empirical and descriptive in nature. Both Primary and Secondary data have been made use of the analysis. Primary data will be collected through field survey and questionnaires. Personal interviews with the officials concerned are also conducted to get the needed information for the analysis. Here structured questionnaire is used as a tool for data collection from SHG members. The overall progress of the project is being assessed with the help of secondary data which are collected from published sources like annual reports, records of CREED (Centre for Rural Education and Economic Development) office, internet, books etc. A proportionate random sampling method has been used for selecting the respondents from the total SHG’s. The population of this study is the total SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk, which is a finite population. There are 680 number of SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk. It refers to the number of items to be selected from the universe to constitute as a sample. In this study 200 number of SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk would be selected as size of the sample. The total sample comprises of 50 SHG members from each 4 blocks of Chidambaram Taluk (Chidambaram urban, Chidambaram rural, Vallampadugai, Kattumanarkoil). This study is conducted for duration of two months from 28th April 2015 to 30th of June 2015.The statistical tools used for analysis are as follows, Percentage Analysis Method, Weighted Average Method, and Paired ‘t’ test. The data analyzed used SPSS Version 16 software. The study has the following limitations, some of the respondents might have answered in biased manner, the Study was limited and confined to Chidambaram Taluk only and time was a major constraint due to which the sample size is limited. Findings: The study reveals that there is a significant difference observed between income generation, contribution to house hold income, participation in house hold financial decision, improvement in standard of living, change in social status, awareness about social issues, involvement in social issues at locality, improvement in basic house hold facilities and amenities, ability to solve family related problems, self-confidence, attainment of knowledge and skills, decision making capability and ability to tackle family problems before and after microfinance usage and participation in Self Help Group. Hence, the study concludes that women are empowered because of the usage of microfinance and participation in Self Help Group. Novelty/Improvement: In every economy, women play an integral part. For achieving all round development and harmonious growth, women should also be given equal rights. In order to achieve economic development, importance has to be given to the women labor. Nowadays SHG are voluntary organizations, through which members are given micro credits and it ease them to become entrepreneurs. The empowerment of women in rural as well as urban areas can be achieved through formation of Self Help Groups (SHG) of women. The economic empowerment, which is dependent on the overall empowerment of women, can be achieved through these SHGs which involve women in the areas like health, sanitation, nutrition, agriculture, forestry etc., apart from involving them in activities pertaining micro credit.

Keywords

Empowerment, Entrepreneurial Activities, Microfinance, Self Help Groups.

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V. Vijay Anand ¹, C. Vijaya Banu ¹, S. Balachandran ¹, S. Arunkumar ¹, R. S. Sarayu ¹, J. Hemalatha ¹, M. Shaira Banu ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Management, SASTRA University, Thanjavur - 613401, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Employee engagement is a high impact factor towards productivity of an organization. It is an emotional and psychological attachment of an employee towards his/her organization. An engaged employee is always more reliable, self-motivated and loyal to strengthen the organization towards sustainable position. There are many factors that influence an employee engagement in association with demographic factors. Here the researchers have taken individual factor upon grouping up various variables and tried to find the relationship between the demographic factors and the individual factors. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find out the contributing variables which are significantly influencing in the engaged workforce and to study the effect and relationship among the EE factors in association with output factors. Method/Analysis: The researchers have selected 124 respondents and collected primary data by adopting standard questionnaire. The statistical tools such as Chi square test, one-way ANOVA and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings: The predictor variables viz., Co-Workers, Department, Rewards and recognition, Opportunities, Team work and Immediate Supervisor are statistically significant factors towards employee engagement. The regression results also show that the variables such as Job, Superior, Organization and Communication are not statistically significant. There is a significant relationship between employee engagement and outcomes - discretionary efforts and retention. There is a statistical significant effect of employee engagement on Discretionary Effort which is one of the outcomes of the study. Applications/Improvements: The present study suggests the important factors contribute the employee engagement in a better way in banks. The study results will make certain impact oriented changes in banks.

Keywords

Employee Engagement, Engaged Workforce, Productivity, Rewards and Recognition.

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S. Arunkumar ¹, V. Vijay Anand ¹, N. Kumarappan ², V. Suveetha ², B. Toziba ², T. Vignesh ²

Affiliations
1 SOM, SASTRA University, Thanjavur - 613401, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, Thanjavur - 613401, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Objectives: To study the demographic profile of the construction laborers working in rural and urban areas of Tanjore district, to find out the significant factors which influences the safety and health practices in the construction sites as per the perception of laborers (Construction site workers) and to provide suggestive strategies to raise the level of awareness of the significance of safety and health practices at the construction sites. Methods/Analysis: The population of study deals with the construction workers who work in selected construction sites located in the rural areas of Tanjore district.The study adopted the non-probability convenient sampling. The schedule was self- administered to 132 respondents with the help of the researcher.The data were subject to reliability analysis to check the internal consistency and validity test such as content validity & face validity were applied. The data were analyzed using percentage analysis to depict the demographic profile and specific statistical tools used for the analysis was multiple regression analysis for determining the overall satisfaction level of construction workers. SPSS version 16 was used for data anlaysis. Findings: The research study reveals that the significant factors responsible for the safety and health practices are lack of first aid training program, the firm pressurizes workers to complete the work beyond their limits, the workers feel nervous and mental phobia when working under high altitude, safety net not provided for scaffolding, lack of temporary railings for staircases, caution and reflector are not provided to denote the sign of danger. Applications/Improvement: The study provides some suggestive strategies to enhance the safety performance level and the study need to add more items related to safety measures and test the instrument with more samples both in rural and urban areas.

Keywords

Awareness, Construction Sites, Laborers, Rural Areas, Safety, Training.

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