Axial Shear Modulus of A Fiber-Reinforced Composite with Random Fiber Cross-Sections

A study is made of the effective axial shear modulus of a fiber reinforced material with random fiber cross-sections so that the micromechanics is governed by stochastic differential equations. A coarse-graining procedure is adopted to investigate the macroscopic behavior of the material. This analysis leads to the formula for the effective axial shear modulus μ∗=μ1/{1−2c(μ2−μ1)/(μ2+μ1)},where μ1 and μ2 are the shear modulus of the matrix and fibers respectively and c is the concentration of the fibers less that 0.5. For c>0.5, the fiber and matrix moduli are to be interchanged and c is to be replaced by 1−c. The results of this study are compared with those of the theory of fibre reinforced materials. Finally, a numerical example is presented with graphical representation

Substituent effects on the genotoxicity of 4-nitrostilbene derivatives

4-Nitrostilbene and twelve of its derivatives (eleven E-stilbenes and two Z-stilbenes) were examined for possible quantitative structure-activity relationships of their in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity. Relative mutagenicity was studied with and without S9 activation in Salmonella strains TA98 and TA100, as well as in the nitroreductase deficient strains TA98/NR and TA100/NR. Chromosomal aberrations in the bone-marrow cells of mice following intraperitoneal administration of the nitrostilbenes were observed as an indicator of in vivo genotoxicity. All of the compounds were active in TA98 and TA100 without S9 activation, with the exception of 4-amino-4'-nitrostilbene in TA100. Mutagenic activity was greatly reduced or eliminated in the NR strains, which is consistent with metabolic activation of the compounds by bacterial reductase. The presence of S9 lowered the activity of most of the nitrostilbenes presumedly by enzymatic detoxication. Hammet values of substituents, partition coefficients and frontier orbital energies (ELUMO and EHOMO) were studied for correlations with mutagenicity of the eleven E-stilbenes. Correlations could be established between mutagenicity in TA98 without S9 activation and the Hammet values. The same mutagenicity could also be correlated to ELUMO. Rationales for these correlations include the concept that electron-withdrawing groups which lower ELUMO should facilitate the reduction of the nitro group, leading to the proximate mutagen hydroxylamine. The correlations are also explained by the concept that electron-withdrawing groups should help stabilize the hydroxylamine intermediate and make the ultimate mutagenic species, the nitrenium ions, more reactive toward DNA. The relationship between mutagenicity and electronic effects of substituent groups found in vitro could not be extended to the in vivo results. However, except for the dinitrostilbenes, where insolubility prevented their testing, all the nitrostilbenes produced a statistically significant increase in chromosomal aberrations compared to the negative solvent control.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31200/1/0000102.pd

Dilaton Dark Energy Model in f(R), f(T) and Horava-Lifshitz Gravities

In this work, we have considered dilaton dark energy model in Weyl-scaled induced gravitational theory in presence of barotropic fluid. It is to be noted that the dilaton field behaves as a quintessence. Here we have discussed the role of dilaton dark energy in modified gravity theories namely, f(R); f(T) and Horava-Lifshitz gravities and analyzed the behaviour of the dilaton field and the corresponding potential in respect to these modified gravity theories instead of Einstein's gravity. In f(R) and f(T) gravities, we have considered some particular forms of f(R) and f(T) and we have shown that the potentials always increase with the dilaton fields. But in Horava-Lifshitz gravity, it has been seen that the potential always decreases as dilation field increases

Substituent effects on the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-aminostilbene derivatives

4-Amino-4'-substituted biphenyls and 4-aminostilbenes substituted in the 3' or 4' position were studied for their in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity. The in vitro mutagenicity of the biphenyls with and without S9 activation was established with Salmonella strains TA98 and TA100 and that of the stilbenes with the same strains plus TA98/1,8-DNP6. The in vivo genotoxicity assay with both series of compounds was for chromosomal aberrations in the bone-marrow cells of mice following intraperitoneal administration of the chemicals. Hammett values of substituents, partition coefficients and frontier orbital energies (ELUMO and EHOMO) of the compounds were used for correlations with mutagenicity. The Salmonella mutagenicity in TA98 and TA98/1,8-DNP6 with S9 was correlated to Hammett [sigma]+ values for the 4-aminostilbene substituents, showing a strong trend of increasing mutagenicity with an increase in the electron-withdrawing capability of the substituent. Hydrophobicity of the stilbenes, however, had little effect on their relative mutagenicity. The 4-aminobiphenyls showed a correlation between their mutagenicity and Hammett [sigma]+ values of their 4'-substituents in stain TA98 with S9, although the trend was not as strong as for the stilbenes. But unlike the stilbenes, TA98 mutagenicity of the biphenyls could also be correlated to hydrophobicity, and structure-activity correlations for the biphenyls was substantially improved when both [sigma]+ and hydrophobicity data were included. For strain TA100 with S9, little correlation was found between mutagenicity of the stilbenes and any of, the parameters. However, a limited correlation did exist between the mutagenicity of the biphenyls and their hydrophobicity. There was also limited correlations of the mutagenicity for the stilbenes in TA98 and TA98/1,8-DNP6 with S9 to ELUMO or EHOMO. The in vivo genotoxicity results for the biphenyls and stilbenes could not be correlated to electronic effects as for the in vitro results, nor could they be explained by hydrophobicity. However, it is interesting to note that 3'-substituted 4-aminostilbenes were all substantially more genotoxic in vivo than their corresponding 4'-substituted counterparts. The most genotoxic compound in vivo in either series was 4-aminostilbene which would not have been predicted from the in vitro results.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31865/1/0000815.pd

ortho-Substituent effects on the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of benzidine derivatives

Benzidine and its 3,3'-diamino, 3,3'-dimethyl, 3,3'-dimethoxy, 3,3'-difluoro, 3,3'-dichloro, 3,3'-dibromo, 3,3'-dicarbomethoxy and 3,3'-dinitro derivatives together with 2-nitrobenzidine and 3-nitrobenzidine were compared for their in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity. Relative mutagenicity was established with Salmonella strains TA98, TA98/1,8-DNP6 and TA100 with and without S9 activation. All the derivatives in the presence of S9 were more mutagenic than benzidine with 3,3'-dinitro- and 3-nitro-benzidine having the greatest mutagenicity. Mutagenicity in all 3 strains with S9 activation could be correlated to electron-withdrawing ability of substituent groups, as measured by the basicity of the amines. This correlation was explained on the basis that electron-withdrawing groups could favor the stability of the mutagenic intermediate N-hydroxylamine and also enhance the reactivity of the ultimate mutagenic species, the nitrenium ion. Mutagenicity was also correlated to the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (ELUMO). Hydrophobicity was found to have very limited effect on the relative mutagenicity of our benzidine derivatives. The in vivo endpoint was chromosomal aberrations in the bone-marrow cells of mice following intraperitoneal administration of benzidine and its derivatives. In contrast to the in vitro results, while all the amines were genotoxic in vivo, only the 3-nitro derivative had a significant increase in toxicity over benzidine.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30582/1/0000219.pd

Assessment of the effectiveness of DRASTIC in predicting the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination: a case study from Fatehgarh Sahib district in Punjab, India

The quality of groundwater has been declining in the Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, India, over the last decade due to the enormous increase in the number of tube wells for the agricultural activities. The vulnerability of groundwater to contamination in the district was assessed using the DRASTIC model. Validation of vulnerable zones was undertaken using the chemical analysis of groundwater samples from the district. Based on this investigation, the inherent problems associated with the DRASTIC model are discussed as potential measures to improve the assessment of groundwater vulnerability

Groundwater: a regional resource and a regional governance

Groundwater is a valuable renewable resource for human life. The two major threatening issues being faced by groundwater are its depletion and degradation which affect both the quantity and the quality of groundwater. Though scientific output has progressed well ahead in the domain of groundwater, very little has been done with respect to the establishment of the groundwater governance framework. Groundwater is perceived as a widely distributed resource, but it is fundamentally a local entity. The paper presents the groundwater governance framework from the regional perspective of Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, India—an over-exploited groundwater region

Estimation of Demand for Different Fish Groups in Tripura

This paper has estimated the demand and income elasticity for different fish types in Tripura and has projected the demand of fish. Three-stage multiple budgeting framework of household was structured in simple way mitigating the drawback of limited sample size and aggregation problem. The coefficient of food and fish expenditure functions for urban, rural and overall Tripura have been found to be positive and significant, indicating that the response of food expenditure to income changes and fish expenditure to food budget changes are substantial. All the coefficients of specific fish consumption (local carps, local non-carps, inter-state non-carps and small weed fish) have been found to be significant, except for the coefficient of inter-state carps (IC) consumption function. Looking at the variability of income elasticities across the Choiced Fish Groups (CFGs), all CFGs have substantial importance with respect to income change, except inter-state carps (IC) which is likely to have no relation with the change in income basket for the consumers. The income elasticity of demand for local carps in Tripura has been found highest among all the CFGs and is expected to play a dominating role in meeting fish demand. Demand for the fish under the baseline scenario (considering base year 2004) is likely to grow at an annual rate of 3.38 per cent for the state and at the rate of 3.95 per cent and 2.00 per cent for urban and rural areas, respectively between 2004 and 2015. The demand for fish by 2015 has been projected as 80,153 Mt shared by 62,910 Mt of carps (local and inter-state) and 17,243 Mt of non-carps. The demand for local carps has been projected to be nearly 50 percent (40,624 Mt) of total projected demand of fish in 2015

Index-based groundwater vulnerability mapping models using hydrogeological settings: A critical evaluation

Groundwater vulnerability maps are useful for decision making in land use planning and water resource management. This paper reviews the various groundwater vulnerability assessment models developed across the world. Each model has been evaluated in terms of its pros and cons and the environmental conditions of its application. The paper further discusses the validation techniques used for the generated vulnerability maps by various models. Implicit challenges associated with the development of the groundwater vulnerability assessment models have also been identified with scientific considerations to the parameter relations and their selections