Thermal hysteresis of microwave loss in (La1-xPrx)(0.7)Ca 0.3MnO3 films

[EN] We have measured the temperature (T) dependencies of the dc resistances (R-dc) and the microwave loss (R-muw) in a variety of samples of (La1-xPrx)(0.7)Ca0.3MnO3 while varying x from 0 to 0.4. Whereas both the sets of data exhibit maxima, the ac loss peak is much flatter and, during cooling, appears at a much lower temperature than the peak temperature in R-dc. The discrepancy, which vanishes for x=0, increases with lowering tolerance factor (t) (or increasing x). Also R-muw vs T exhibits large thermal hysteresis for x=0.4 indicating that the transition is first order. Cooling in a magnetic field of 9 kOe causes an upward shift of about 20 K in the R-muw peak, in some of the x=0.4 films, yielding a large magnetoimpedance. Further, once these films are exposed to a magnetic field at low T, they fail to recover their virginal behavior on subsequent cooling from room T. These films could be brought to their original state by annealing at high T. The discrepancy between R-dc and R-muw implies that the system is inhomogeneous at low T, providing, for the first time, microwave absorption evidence that manganites exhibit multiphase behavior. Presumably, disorder and strain (increasing with x) combine to stabilize a mixed phase. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.S77367738911

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Characterization of aerodynamic drag force on single particles: Final report

An electrodynamic balance was used to measure the drag coefficient and also to record the size and shape of spheres, and coal and oil shale particles (100 ..mu..m to 200 ..mu..m in size). The electrodynamic balance consisted of a central, and two end electrodes. The resulting electric field stably suspended a charged particle. A suspended particle, back illuminated by a light emitting diode, was viewed by a video camera. The image was analyzed for particle position control and was calibrated to give the diameter of spheres, or the area equivalent diameter of nonspherical particles. The drag coefficient was calculated from the air velocity and the dc voltage required to keep the particle at the balance center. The particle Reynolds number varied from 0.2 to 13. Three particles each of coal and oil shale were captured and photographed by a scanning electron microscope and the motion of all the particles was recorded on video tape. Drag coefficient vs Reynolds number data for spheres agreed well with correlations. Data for thirteen particles each of coal and oil shale indicated a power law relationship between drag coefficient and Reynolds number. All these particles exhibited higher drag than spheres and were also observed to rotate. The rotation, however, did not affect the drag coefficient. The choice of characteristic dimension affects the drag characteristics of oil shale more strongly than for coal, owing to the flake-like shape of oil shale. 38 figs., 5 tabs

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Research PaperThe study was conducted to analyze the entrepreneurial behaviour of dairy farmers in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.Total 120 dairy farmers, who were beneficiaries of Dairy Venture Capital Fund Scheme were selected as respondents. The results of the study revealed that the highest Entrepreneurial Behaviour Index (79.08) was found in co-ordinating ability attribute of entrepreneurial behaviour and was ranked first, followed by innovativeness, cosmopoliteness, risk orientation, planning ability, self confidence, achievement motivation and decision making ability, respectively. Majority of respondents possessed medium level of entrepreneurial behaviour followed by low and high entrepreneurial behaviour level. The study further revealed that education, training received, land holding, experience in dairying, herd size, milk production, total annual income, mass media exposure and extension contact had positive and significant relationship with their entrepreneurial behaviour level, whereas age had negatively significant relationship with entrepreneurial behaviour of beneficiary dairy farmers.Not Availabl

REVIEW ON REDESIGN OF TRADITIONAL OPEN CANAL SYSTEM INTO CLOSED CONDUIT SYSTEM OF SHETPHAL MEDIUM CANAL PROJECT

This paper deals with the water distribution methods of canal irrigation and their social implications. The availability of water of water resources is limited in space and time. It was also seen that the water is stolen by the people’s results in ineffective irrigation system. The Pipe Distribution Network system is one of the best possible alternatives to overcome the limitations of conventional gravity flow Canal Distribution Network system. But it was found that there is a loss of water due to evaporation, percolation and theft. It also includes study of different irrigation system like sprinkler, flow, drip irrigation and suggesting the system as per crop pattern and water requirement. This paper includes information about closed conduit canal system of water distribution. It includes advantages of pipe distribution network over the open canal water supply system

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Not AvailableAbstract – Conveyance losses from lined and unlined sections of canal irrigation network were determined under existing situation and the scenarios for different management strategy were developed to utilize saved water for irrigation. Panchnadi Minor Irrigation Project was taken as a case study. The study revealed that overall efficiencies of the lined and unlined sections of main canal and unlined field channels under existing condition were 75.1, 52.3 and 34.8%, respectively. Conveyance losses through canal network of the command were 0.97 Mm3 amounting to about 67% of the total live storage. The study also indicated that 0.263 Mm3 water can be saved due to conversion of unlined sections of main canal water and 0.113 Mm3 can be saved through conversion of unlined field channels into lined sections. With these savings, about 30 and 19 ha additional area can be brought under irrigation by keeping existing cropping pattern unaltered. The conveyance efficiency can be improved to 75 per cent from the present efficiency. Water saving to the tune of 0.65 and 0.17 Mm3 can be achieved through conversion of existing main canal sections and field channels, through which an additional area 73.3 and 19.3 ha additional area can be irrigated. Thus, total water saving of 0.82 Mm3 can be achieved and 92.6 ha additional area can be brought under irrigation. The scenarios were developed by considering the area additional area distributed among the first three highest benefiting crops like banana, watermelon and chilli using Aquacrop model developed by FAO. The gross water allocation was reduced about 26% and 57% while the project net benefit can be increased by 3.3 times (78.6 lakh) and 6 times (141.1 lakh) more than projected benefit (Rs. 23.67 lakh) under existing conditions when unlined canal sections is converted into lined sections or when whole canal network is replaced by closed conduit.Not Availabl

Genetic variation in CaTIFY4b contributes to drought adaptation in chickpea

Chickpea production is vulnerable to drought stress. Identifying the genetic components underlying drought adaptation is crucial for enhancing chickpea productivity. Here, we present the fine mapping and characterization of ‘QTL-hotspot’, a genomic region controlling chickpea growth with positive consequences on crop production under drought. We report that a non-synonymous substitution in the transcription factor CaTIFY4b regulates seed weight and organ size in chickpea. Ectopic expression of CaTIFY4b in Medicago truncatula enhances root growth under water deficit. Our results suggest that allelic variation in ‘QTL-hotspot’ improves pre-anthesis water use, transpiration efficiency, root architecture and canopy development, enabling high-yield performance under terminal drought conditions. Gene expression analysis indicated that CaTIFY4b may regulate organ size under water deficit by modulating the expression of GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (GIF1), a transcriptional co-activator of Growth-Regulating Factors. Taken together, our study offers new insights into the role of CaTIFY4b and on diverse physiological and molecular mechanisms underpinning chickpea growth and production under specific drought scenarios