Geotechnical Problems and Performance Studies - Chilla Power Scheme, Hardwar

Thin plastic clay seams existing in the upper Shivalik formations caused hazardous geotechnical problems during the construction of 144 MW capacity Chilla Power House Scheme, Hardwar, India by initiating several land slides. In addition, serious seepage problems occurred with the commissioning of the scheme. The paper describes in detail, the events of slides & seepage problems faced and the remedial measures adopted to counteract them. The data observed on the instruments installed to keep a vigil on the performance of the structure has also been analysed and discussed

The Neon Alphabet Game

All previously identified components of trapped meteoritic neon-Ne-A, Ne-B, Ne-C, Ne-D, Ne-E, Ne-Al, Ne-A2, Ne-E(L), Ne-E(H), and Ne-O - and differences between the isotopic compositions of atmospheric, meteoritic, and solar-wind-implanted Ne can be accounted for by mass fractionation and spallation reactions. These processes can also account for the experimental data that have previously been assigned to nucleogenetic anomalies in meteoritic Ne. The Ne record of events in the early history of the solar system includes evidence of 1) severe fractionation, 2) spallogenic 21Ne from an early irradiation of material prior to the compaction of meteorites, 3) a close association of planetary He and Ne with isotopically anomalous Ar, Kr, and Xe, and 4) the total absence of He and Ne in the noble gas component which contains isotopically normal or planetary-type Ar, Kr, and Xe. Experimental difficulties in the detection of extremely low values of the 20Ne/22Ne ratio are presented in an appendix.-P.Br

Trapped Xenon in Meteorites

Xenon in meteorites can be resolved into a mixture of component X and trapped xenon with the following composition,124Xe:126Xe: 128 Xe: 130Xe: 131Xe: 132Xe: 134Xe: 136Xe = 0.0276: 0.0248: 0.501: 1.00: 5.04: 6.19: 2.31: 1.90. This trapped meteoritic xenon is distinct from xenon trapped in the average carbonaceous chondrite which is shown to represent the average composition of the total xenon in meteorites containing various mixtures of component X and trapped meteoritic xenon

Double beta decay of ¹²⁸Te

The half-life of 128Te relative to the half-life of 130Te has been found to be t12128t12130=(1.59±0.05)×103 by measurement of the ββ-decay products, 128Xe and 130Xe, in a geologically old (2.4×109 yr) telluride ore. These results yield an upper limit on the lepton nonconservation parameter, η≤0.8×10-4. RADIOACTIVITY ββ-decay 128Te; measured T1/2=1.5×1024 yr; deduced η≤0.8×10-4. Detected excess 128Xe in old Te ore

Reaching the poor with adequately iodized salt through the Supplementary Nutrition Programme and Midday Meal Scheme in Madhya Pradesh, India

PROBLEM: In India, adequately iodized salt needs to be made accessible to the most marginalized. APPROACH: In an effort to provide adequately iodized salt to the most vulnerable, in 2009 Madhya Pradesh launched a state-wide initiative through two national flagship nutrition programmes: the Supplementary Nutrition Programme of the Integrated Child Development Services and the Midday Meal Scheme. Programme staff members were taught how to correctly store salt and monitor its iodine content. Field monitors assessed the iodine content of the salt in the common kitchens of participating schools and anganwadi centres monthly. LOCAL SETTING: Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, is home to a substantial proportion of India’s poor. In 2009, household coverage of adequately iodized salt in the state was nearly 90% among the richest but only about 50% among the poorest. RELEVANT CHANGES: Two hot meals prepared with adequately iodized salt were served daily for more than 21 days per month to approximately 89% of the 12 113 584 children aged 3 to 6 years enrolled in anganwadi centres (June 2011 to March 2012). One meal on school days was served to 78% of 5 751 979 primary-school children and to 79% of 2 704 692 secondary-school children (April 2011 to March 2012). Most of the kitchens visited in 2010 (79%) and 2011 (83%) were consistently using adequately iodized salt to prepare hot meals. LESSONS LEARNT: India has large-scale social safety net programmes for the poorest. Both national and state policies should mainstream the use of adequately iodized salt in these programmes