Seasonal fluctuation in primary production in relation to the physicochemical parameters of two weed-infested ponds of Kalyani, West Bengal

Kalyani lake (P sub(1)), a weed infested recreational water body and a weed chocked derelict water body (P sub(2)) in the heart of Kalyani city of West Bengal were studied for a period of one year for their primary productivity and other physicochemical parameters. Very low primary productivity (GPP=360-1237mg C m super(-2) d super(-1); NPP=157-787 mg C m super(-2) d super(-1)) was recorded in P sub(2) in spite of having a high concentration of nutrients (PO sub(4)–P=0.052-0.260mg l super(- 1); NO sub(3)-N=0.110-0.412mg l super(-1)). On the other hand, moderate primary productivity (GPP=1687-3195mg C m super(-2) d super(-1); NPP=900-2700mg C m super(-2) d super(-1)) was found in P sub(1) with comparatively low range of nutrients (P0 sub(4)-P =0.010-0.058mg l super(-1); NO sub(3)-N=0.032-0.118mg l super(-1)). After studying the other physicochemical parameters (temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, pH, alkalinity and macrophytic biomass), it was found that the overall hydro-biological conditions of the weed-chocked derelict water body (P sub(2)) is not congenial for biological production as compared to Kalyani Lake (P sub(1)). Kalyani Lake may be used for fish culture with proper management practices

Production and Reproductive Performance of Bhadawari Buffaloes in Uttar Pradesh, India

Bhadawari is one of the recognized buffalo breeds of India and is famous for high fat content in their milk. Data on production and reproductive traits were collected under Network Project on Bhadawari buffaloes, at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The overall least squares means (±SE) for peak yield, days to attain peak yield, lactation milk yield, lactation length, 305 days milk yield, milk yield per day of lactation, service period, calving interval and dry period were 6.96±0.10 kg, 52.8±4.1 days, 1250.5±24.6 kg, 291.4±4.9 days, 1213.5±21.6 kg, 4.30±0.06 kg, 172.4±7.7 days, 522.1±12.1 days and 241.80±11.3 days, respectively. Period of calving had a significant (p<0.05) to highly significant (p<0.01) effect on all the traits studied except service period and dry period, where it was not significant. Season of calving had a significant (p<0.05) effect or lactation length and highly significant (p<0.01) effect on lactation milk yield, 305 days milk yield and all the reproductive traits under study. The lowest calving interval, service period and dry period were observed in rainy season calvers and they differed significantly (p<0.01) with winter and summer calvers. Parity had a significant effect (p<0.05) on lactation milk yield, 305 days milk yield and milk yield per day of lactation. Pair-wise comparison revealed that lactation milk yield was highest in the 2nd lactation followed by 3rd and 4th lactation. Large coefficient of variation observed for different traits under study indicates that there is enough scope for improvement in the production and reproduction traits. Better breeding management and selection for increased performance is needed for genetic improvement of these traits

Performance of late season litchi cultivars grown in Jharkhand Province of India

The narrow genetic diversity and short market availability of litchi (Litchi chinesis Sonn.) are the main constrains for its cultivation more profitable in Indian sub-continent. Late season litchi cultivars in subtropical and tropical India are prone to fruit cracking and diseases susceptibility. Seven promising selections and four late season commercial cultivars viz; CHES-1, CHES-2, CHES -3, CHL-5. CHL-7, Lal Bombaiya, Late Bedana, Purbi,  Selection -3-7, Selection 8-1 and  Swarna  Roopa were evaluated during 2014-15 at ICAR-RCER Ranchi, based on physico-chemical characters, cracking habit and diseases susceptibility. The results revealed that the cultivars Purbi, Lal Bombaiya and Late Bedana were cracking resistant.  The maximum fruit weight was found in the cultivars Lal Bombaiya (22.0 g ) being comparable with Late Bedana (21.2 g) and CHES-2 (21.0 g). The cultivars Lal Bombaiya and CHES –2 had the highest aril weight of 19.44 g and 17.66 g, respectably. The maximum TSS of 22.2 0B was found in CHES-1 both in Jharkhand and Bihar. Late Bedana cultivar had high sugar acid ratio (73.52) with pomegranate flavor and popular for local market. Litchi fruit borer mainly attacked Lal Bombaiya and CHES-2 at early stage whereas the cultivars Purbi and Swarna Roopa were affected (3-6% bunch) by litchi stink bug (Tessaratoma javanica) at late harvest season. From the present study, it was concluded that CHES-1, Lal Bombaiya, Purbi and Late Bedana were promising late season cultivars for commercial cultivation with effective management of litchi fruit borer and stink bug

Analytical evaluation of output current ripple amplitude in three-phase three-level inverters

Nowadays, three-phase multilevel inverters are widely employed in medium and high-power applications, increasing the power ratings, improving the output voltage quality and reducing the conducted electromagnetic interferences. Despite of numerous pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques have been developed for multilevel inverters, a detailed analysis of the output current ripple amplitude has not been reported yet. In this study, the peak-to-peak current ripple distribution over a fundamental period is analysed in details specifically for three-level three-phase voltage source inverters for both motor-load and grid-connected applications. In particular, the peak-to-peak amplitude of the current ripple is determined analytically as a function of the modulation index. The centred PWM strategy is considered in all the developments, implemented either by carrier-based or space vector (SV) PWM methods. With this modulation, the dc bus utilisation is maximised in a simple and effective way, and a nearly-optimal behaviour is obtained to minimise the current ripple rms. The results obtained in different cases and sub-cases identified in the proposed analytical approach are verified by experimental tests with reference to three-phase three-level neutral-point clamped configuration

Experimental determination of the 6s^2 ^1S_0 -> 5d6s ^3 D_1 magnetic-dipole transition amplitude in atomic ytterbium

We report on a measurement of the highly forbidden 6s^2 ^1S_0 \to 5d6s ^3 D_1 magnetic-dipole transition in atomic ytterbium using the Stark-interference technique. This amplitude is important in interpreting a future parity nonconservation experiment that exploits the same transition. We find $| | ~ = ~ 1.33(6)_{Stat}(20)_{\beta} \times 10^{-4} \mu_0$, where the larger uncertainty comes from the previously measured vector transition polarizability $\beta$. The $M1$ amplitude is small and should not limit the precision of the parity nonconservation experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures Paper resubmitted with minor corrections and additions based on comments from referee

Probing the fuzzy sphere regularisation in simulations of the 3d \lambda \phi^4 model

We regularise the 3d \lambda \phi^4 model by discretising the Euclidean time and representing the spatial part on a fuzzy sphere. The latter involves a truncated expansion of the field in spherical harmonics. This yields a numerically tractable formulation, which constitutes an unconventional alternative to the lattice. In contrast to the 2d version, the radius R plays an independent r\^{o}le. We explore the phase diagram in terms of R and the cutoff, as well as the parameters m^2 and \lambda. Thus we identify the phases of disorder, uniform order and non-uniform order. We compare the result to the phase diagrams of the 3d model on a non-commutative torus, and of the 2d model on a fuzzy sphere. Our data at strong coupling reproduce accurately the behaviour of a matrix chain, which corresponds to the c=1-model in string theory. This observation enables a conjecture about the thermodynamic limit.Comment: 31 pages, 15 figure

Highly anisotropic Bose-Einstein condensates: crossover to lower dimensionality

We develop a simple analytical model based on a variational method to explain the properties of trapped cylindrically symmetric Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) of varying degrees of anisotropy well into regimes of effective one dimension (1D) and effective two dimension (2D). Our results are accurate in regimes where the Thomas-Fermi approximation breaks down and they are shown to be in agreement with recent experimental data.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; significantly more new material added; title and author-list changed due to changes in conten

Processing of aluminum-graphite particulate metal matrix composites by advanced shear technology

Copyright @ 2009 ASM International. This paper was published in Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance 18(9) and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of ASM International. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplications of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of this paper are prohibited.To extend the possibilities of using aluminum/graphite composites as structural materials, a novel process is developed. The conventional methods often produce agglomerated structures exhibiting lower strength and ductility. To overcome the cohesive force of the agglomerates, a melt conditioned high-pressure die casting (MC-HPDC) process innovatively adapts the well-established, high-shear dispersive mixing action of a twin screw mechanism. The distribution of particles and properties of composites are quantitatively evaluated. The adopted rheo process significantly improved the distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix with a strong interfacial bond between the two. A good combination of improved ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile elongation (e) is obtained compared with composites produced by conventional processes.EPSR