An effective Nuclear Model: from Nuclear Matter to Finite Nuclei

The momentum and density dependence of mean fields in symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter are analysed using the simple density dependent finite range effective interaction containing a single Gaussian term alongwith the zero-range terms. Within the formalism developed, it is possible to reproduce the various diverging predictions on the momentum and density dependence of isovector part of the mean field in asymmetric matter. The finite nucleus calculation is formulated for the simple Gaussian interaction in the framework of quasilocal density functional theory. The prediction of energies and charge radii of the interaction for the spherical nuclei compares well with the results of other effective theories.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, To appear in the Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (NN2012), May 27-June 1, 2012, San Antonio, Texas, US

Ethnobotanical Exploration of Malkangiri District of Orissa, India

The association of man with the neighborhood flora starts with human civilization. Besides food, feed clothes and shelter, plants are important source of drugs. These plants or its parts therefore used either directly or after processing by the native people against various diseases, disorders and ailments. A survey was conducted on the tribal district of Malkangiri of Orissa to identify and record various ethno medicinally important plants and their medicinal uses. In the present investigation there are 134 species of plants belong to 69 families and 128 genera are recorded and used in various ailments by different tribes of Malkangiri district of Orissa

Leaching of nickel laterite using fungus mediated organic acid and synthetic organic acid: a comparative study

A huge amount of overburden (nearly 8 to 10 times of the ore) containing trace amount of nickel and cobalt is generated during Chromite mining at Sukinda valley, Orissa, Chromite overburden contains around 0.4 to 0.9% Ni and 0.02–0.05% Co respectively. The setting up of nickel and cobalt processing plant based on these deposits through conventional methods such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy is not economical. The microbes and metals interaction have been studied for the exploitation in metals extraction. So an attempt has been made to extract these metals using multi metal resistant indigenous microorganisms, isolated from the Chromite overburden of Sukinda mines. A native strain of Aspergillus species was used for bioleaching. Aspergillus species are well known for their potential to produce a variety of organic acids (oxalic, citric acids etc.). The mineralogical studies indicated that there is no separate nickel bearing mineral phase in the Sukinda Chromite overburden. The mineralogy of the raw lateritic ore reveals the presence of goethite, ferrihydrites as major minerals. In the thermally activated overburden the minerals present were hematite, surimarite, quartz and traces of magnetite. Experiments were carried out with synthetic organic acids at 2.5% pulp density, 350C and 150rpm. Synthetic oxalic acid (0.1 M) leached 5% Ni and 71% Co from raw ore, whereas it leached 43% Ni and 95% Co from thermally activated ore. Citric acid (0.1 M) was not that much efficient. It leached 9% Ni and 14% Co from raw ore and 32% Ni and 45% Co from thermally activated ore. The fungal culture filtrate leached 3% Ni and 12% Co from raw ore. In case of roasted ore it leached 18% Ni and 28% Co at 2.5% pulp density, 35°C and 150rpm. Mineralogical analysis was carried out through X-ray diffraction, FTIR and transmission electron microscopy

Designing terry fabric for improved serviceability

Various terry fabrics (cotton) having different constructional parameters have been designed and the effect of washingtreatment on water absorbency, surface characteristics and compression characteristics are studied. To establish the optimumloop length and loop density of terry fabrics at which they can withstand maximum number of washing cycles withoutaffecting water absorbency, surface characteristics and compression characteristics, terry fabrics having the same yarn andfabric parameters are washed under industrial conditions for 10 washing cycles. After each cycle, the rate of waterabsorption, total amount of water absorbed, surface characteristics and compression characteristics are evaluated bygravimetric absorbency testing system, image analysis techniques and KES-FB-3 testing system respectively. Another groupof cotton terry fabrics having different loop length and loop density have been studied to optimise these two important fabricparameters to increase the life of fabric. It is observed that the rate of water absorption, the total amount of water absorbedand the surface characteristics improve with increase in washing cycle, but after 8th washing cycle these parameters startdeteriorating. Maximum possible loop density and loop length of 15 - 17 mm give maximum life of terry fabric i.e. thefabric can perform well even after 10 washing cycles. This study will certainly help in increasing the life of terry fabric,developing high quality towel fabric by providing information on absorbency, surface characteristics and compressioncharacteristics of fabric before and after washing along with the values of loop length and loop density