Electron-nucleus scalar-pseudoscalar interaction in PbF: Z-vector study in the relativistic coupled-cluster framework

The scalar-pseudoscalar interaction constant of PbF in its ground state electronic configuration is calculated using the Z-vector method in the relativistic coupled-cluster framework. The precise calculated value is very important to set upper bound limit on P,T-odd scalar-pseudoscalar interaction constant, k_s, from the experimentally observed P,T-odd frequency shift. Further, the ratio of the effective electric field to the scalar-pseudoscalar interaction constant is also calculated which is required to get an independent upper bound limit of electric dipole moment of electron, d_e, and k_s and how these (d_e and k_s) are interrelated is also presented here.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure

Effect of acyl chloride functionalized carbon black on mechanical and thermal properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polyaniline blend

Pristine Carbon Black (CB) has been first oxidised to introduce carboxylic acid functional group on the surface of CB, followed by treating with thionyl chloride. The presence of acyl chloride group in the resultant product has been ascertained by FTIR spectroscopy. The acyl chloride functionalized CB (CB-Ac) has been used as a filler in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)/Polyaniline (PANI) blend to improve the mechanical and thermal properties. Further addition of Nanoclay (NC) in the blend has improved the dispersion of fillers in the polymer matrix as confirmed by FESEM images and XRD pattern. The Ultimate Tensile Analysis (UTA) and Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) have been studied. The Young modulus has shown increment of 48% and 66% in case of CB-Ac and CB-Ac/NC filled blend, respectively. The ultimate tensile strength has also been found to be increased in CB-Ac and CB-Ac/NC filled blends. DMA has given the insight about the excellent improvement in damping properties of the composites due to filler addition. Themo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been carried out to ascertain the thermal properties. TGA has revealed the excellent augmentation in the flame retardancy and heat resistance of the composites due to CB-Ac/NC loading. DSC study has further verified the improvement in degree of crystallinity due to interfacial attraction between fillers and polymer matrix

A shader based approach to painterly rendering

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a texture-based painterly shader that would render computer generated objects or scenes with strokes that are visually similar to paint media like watercolor, oil paint or dry media such as crayons, chalk, et cetera. This method would need an input scene in the form of three dimensional polygonal or NURBS meshes. While the structure of the meshes and the lighting in the scene would both play a crucial role in the final appearance of the scene, the painterly look will be imparted through a shader. This method, therefore, is essentially a rendering technique. Several modifiable parameters in the shader gives the user artistic freedom while overall introducing some amount of automation in the painterly rendering process

Evaluation of feeds from tropical origin for in vitro methane production potential and rumen fermentation in vitro

Enteric methane arising due to fermentation of feeds in the rumen contributes substantially to the greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, like evaluation of chemical composition and nutritive values of feeds, methane production potential of each feed should be determined. This experiment was conducted to evaluate several feeds for methane production potential and rumen fermentation using in vitro gas production technique so that low methane producing feeds could be utilized to feed ruminants. Protein- and energy-rich concentrates (n=11), cereal and grass forages (n=11), and different straws and shrubs (n=12), which are commonly fed to ruminants in India, were collected from a number of locations. Gas production kinetics, methane production, degradability and rumen fermentation greatly varied (p<0.01) among feeds depending upon the chemical composition. Methane production (mL/g of degraded organic matter) was lower (p<0.01) for concentrate than forages, and straws and shrubs. Among shrubs and straws, methane production was lower (p<0.01) for shrubs than straws. Methane production was correlated (p<0.05) with concentrations of crude protein (CP), ether extract and non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) negatively, and with neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) positively. Potential gas production was negatively correlated (p=0.04) with ADF, but positively (p<0.01) with NFC content. Rate of gas production and ammonia concentration were influenced by CP content positively (p<0.05), but by NDF and ADF negatively (p<0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentration and organic matter degradability were correlated (p<0.05) positively with CP and NFC content, but negatively with NDF and ADF content. The results suggest that incorporation of concentrates and shrubs replacing straws and forages in the diets of ruminants may decrease methane production