Seismic qualification of directional valve

Seismic qualification tests on pneumatically operated directional valve were carried out in the shake table facility in Structural Integrity Division. Determination of the fundamental frequency for directional valve was carried out through exploratory vibration test as per ANSI B 16.41 Annexure E (Para E-3) to ascertain extent of flexibility as defined in the standard. Seismic (static) load test on same directional valve was also carried out to ascertain its capabilities to withstand the expected dynamic, seismic stresses and to ensure that the valves will not be subjected to performance degradation or malfunction under seismic conditions. This report describes the final seismic qualification documentation for directional valve manufactured by M/s Vijay Fire Protection Systems Ltd, Mumbai

The Effect of Inflation Targeting Policies on Dollarization-A Cross-Country Analysis

This paper attempts to review the experiences of various dollarized economies from the adoption of an explicit inflation-targeting framework for domestic monetary policy. Dollarization is the phenomenon where agents in a country choose to use a foreign currency instead of their domestic currency. This often occurs in response to episodes of high inflation rate in the domestic economy. Central Banks of these countries often respond by adopting an inflation-targeting regime. This paper attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of such a policy by conducting a cross-country comparison. A panel dataset from 14 dollarized economies from 2001-2015, is used to compare between dollarized economies that have adopted inflation targeting regimes versus those that have not. Inflation targeting seems to have had a higher impact in de-dollarization in Latin American economies followed by East-Asian economies

Brahma and the Problem of Popularity

Brahma, the creator god, theoretically occupies a major position in Hinduism but, in practice, receives virtually no bhakti-style devotional worship. The study examines potential causes of Brahma’s lack of popular worship through analysis of existing scholarship, and through in-depth interviews with eight Hindus. These subjects were asked to give their own explanations and evaluate scholarly theories on Brahma’s unpopularity in devotional worship. Among scholarly theories, Km. Rajani Mishra\u27s states that after creation, Brahma has nothing to offer humanity, and argues that Brahma’s character was not compelling enough to retain followers. Alternatively, Greg Bailey suggests that Brahma’s role as creator ties him to pravṛttidharma, a worldly mindset that prevents him from granting salvation. The subject interviews indicate that Brahma is well respected, and the primary cause of his unpopularity remains unclear. Some saw him as subservient to other gods and thus undeserving of worship. Others stated, like Mishra, that Brahma has nothing to offer Hindus after creation. Bailey’s theory of pravṛttidharma was controversial, with some arguing that bhakti deities are based on tradition and not considerations of pravṛttidharma. Most subjects agreed that Brahma once possessed more followers. Some argued Brahma was subject to slander and his appealing characteristics were absorbed by other gods. Others speculated a historical disaster may have caused the cult’s deterioration. Still others argued that Brahma never had a widespread following. When combined with existing scholarship, the interviews suggest that unknown historical factors, along with Brahma’s position in mythology, resulted in his cult’s decline, but indicate that Brahma still enjoys considerable respect among most Hindus

Brahma

The poem ‘Brahma’, not Brahmā who is a god entrusted with the charge of creation, refers to creative element in general. A mahāvākya, or the great saying, “Aham Brahmāsmi!”, or I am Brahma, or the creative element, from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, a Hindu scripture, deems, especially, the male human as the creator. The practical creative element with which males have been endowed is recognized as vīrya, or semen, throughout the Indian tradition. Since males are placed on par with the creator, who has been recognized above as god Brahmā, due to semen, the semen becomes an asset whose wasteful expenditure is prohibited except in the case of procreation, especially, of male progeny even in contemporary India. In short, the poem ‘Brahma’ is about the wasteful expenditure of the creative element. Thus, it unseats the males from the position of power as creators or quasi-gods

Brahma and the Problem of Popularity

Brahma, the creator, theoretically occupies a major position in Hinduism, but receives virtually no bhakti worship. The study examines potential causes of Brahma’s lack of worship through analysis of scholarship, supplemented by interviews with eight Hindus. The subjects were asked to give their own explanations and evaluate scholarly theories on Brahma’s unpopularity. Scholar Km. Rajani Mishra states that after creation, Brahma has nothing to offer humanity, and argues that Brahma’s character was not compelling enough to retain followers. Greg Bailey suggests that Brahma’s role as creator ties him to pravṛttidharma, a worldly mindset that prevents him from granting salvation. Interviews indicated that Brahma is well respected, and the primary cause of his unpopularity remains unclear. Some saw him as subservient to other gods and thus undeserving of worship. Others stated, like Mishra, that Brahma has nothing to offer Hindus after creation. Bailey’s theory of pravṛttidharma was controversial, with some arguing that bhakti deities are based on tradition and not considerations of pravṛttidharma. Most subjects agreed that Brahma once possessed followers. Some argued Brahma was subject to slander and his appealing characteristics were absorbed by other gods. Others speculated a historical disaster may have caused the cult’s deterioration. Still others argued that Brahma never had a widespread following. When combined with existing scholarship, the interviews suggest that unknown historical factors, along with Brahma’s position in mythology, resulted in his cult’s decline, but indicate that Brahma still enjoys respect among Hindus

Knockdown of the Chromatin Remodeling Gene \u3ci\u3eBrahma\u3c/i\u3e by RNA Interference Reduces Reproductive Fitness and Lifespan in Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) is a nuisance household pest causing significant medical and economic impacts. RNA interference (RNAi) of genes that are involved in vital physiological processes can serve as potential RNAi targets for insect control. Brahma is an ATPase subunit of a chromatin-remodeling complex involved in transcription of several genes for cellular processes, most importantly the homeotic genes. In this study, we used a microinjection technique to deliver double stranded RNA into female bed bugs. Delivery of 0.05 and 0.5 μg/insect of brahma dsRNA directly into hemocele resulted substantial reduction in oviposition. Eggs laid by bed bugs receiving both doses of brahma dsRNA exhibited significantly lower hatching percentage as compared to controls. In addition, brahma RNAi in female bed bugs caused significant mortality. Our results disclosed the potential of brahma RNAi to suppress bed bug population through injection of specific dsRNA, suggesting a critical function of this gene in bed bugs’ reproduction and survival. Based on our data, brahma can be a promising RNAi target for suppression of bed bug population