Identification of Shocks in the Spectra from Black Holes

We study the spectral properties of a low angular momentum flow as a function of the shock strength, compression ratio, accretion rate and flow geometry. In the absence of a satisfactory description of magnetic fields inside the advective disk, we consider the presence of only stochastic fields and use the ratio of the field energy to the gravitational energy density as a parameter. We not only include `conventional' synchrotron emission and Comptonization by Maxwell-Bolzmann electrons in the gas, but we also compute these effects due to power-law electrons. For strong shocks, a bump is produced due to the post-shock flow. A power-law spectral components due to the thermal and non-thermal electrons appear after this bump.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Astronomy and Space Science (in press), Proceedings of the Hong Kong Conference (2004) Edited by Cheng and Romer

Parallel h-p spectral element method for elliptic problems on polygonal domains

It is well known that elliptic problems when posed on non-smooth domains, develop singularities. We examine such problems within the framework of spectral element methods and resolve the singularities with exponential accuracy

Extent of Groundwater Extraction and Irrigation Efficiency on Farms under Different Water-market Regimes in Central Uttar Pradesh

Tube-well irrigation, through modern water extraction mechanisms (WEMs), has been vital to food security and sustainable livelihoods in India. However, due to skewed distribution of WEMs towards large farmers on account of huge investment needs, small and marginal farmers have to rely on owners of WEMs for irrigation water. This has resulted in the emergence of informal water-markets. The present study has examined the groundwater extraction and water-use efficiency under different water-market regimes in the Central Plain Zone (CPZ) of Uttar Pradesh, where water-intensive cropping pattern is followed. The study is based on the primary data collected from 100 farmer-households of Central Plain Zone in the year 2007. Most of the farmers in the study domain are small and marginal, having less than 2 ha land. These resource-poor farmers buy water from the WEM–owners. Thus, groundwater market has been found to provide them easy accessibility to irrigation water and helps them in realizing better yields. The popularity of water-intensive crops, such as paddy, wheat and sugarcane, is responsible for the depleting groundwater tables in the region. Estimates of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) have shown that both buyers and owners of WEMs are technically inefficient in water–use, as the actual use of irrigation water has been found much higher than the optimum level. However, ‘Buyers have been found comparatively more efficient than ‘Owners’ in water utilization. Overexploitation of groundwater resources raises concerns about the future sustainability of agriculture. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly important that groundwater is used efficiently and groundwater market can emerge as a better tool for improving the efficiency of irrigation water across farm-sizes and crops. Based on the results, the study has made some policy suggestions also for an equitable and sustainable development of agriculture in the region.Agricultural and Food Policy,

An Assessment of Risk Attitude of Dairy Farmers in Uttaranchal (India)

The study was carried out in the Tarai area of Uttaranchal state to (i) identify the sources of risks perceived to be relevant by the farmers, (ii) examine farmers risk attitude, (iii) identify the factors that affect risk attitudes and (iv) evaluate the relative importance of different risk management strategies. Adverse effect on family health was perceived as a major source of risk by the dairy farmers, indicating the crucial role that surplus family labour plays in dairy farming in India. Lack of institutional support in dairying was also perceived to be a major source risk. Farmers risk attitude was measured using an attitudinal scale approach. The attitudinal scale consisted of a series of different risk management strategies and the farmers attitude was measured by his rating of each of those strategies. The analysis establishes a refined 22-item scale that can be applied by researchers to measure the risk attitude of dairy farm ers in Indian context. The refined scale has high degree of reliability as farmers responses to the items of the scale revealed a communal variation of 85%, which is higher than the minimally acceptable range of 65% to 70%. The study further revealed slight degree of risk aversion among farmers as revealed by the adoption such risk management tools like vaccinating the animals, calling a veterinarian, prevention of illness, maintaining hygienic conditions, and feeding adequate concentrates. Hence, there is a strong tendency on the part of the farmers to mitigate the production risks at farm level by adapting appropriate measures. But, a certain degree of risk taking behaviour was also seen in regard to certain risk management tools, especially livestock insurance. Regression analysis to ascertain relationship between socio-economic factors with risk attitudes, revealed largely insignificant influence of the variables considered in the study. Herd size and hours spent in off-farm work showed negative and significant impact upon the risk attitude score. Number of dependents showed significant and positive relationship with the total score. The variables included in the study explained 54.5 per cent of variation in risk attitude score. As regards to relative importance of different risk management tools, carrying adequate cash reserve was cited by the farmers as relevant, which is against the general perception that Indian farmers, mostly being subsistent can not afford to hold cash reserve to meet future crisis.Livestock Production/Industries,

Evaluation of Economic Losses due to Coccidiosis in Poultry Industry in India

Coccidiosis is an old parasitic disease, prevalent all over the country and has a significant impact on poultry production. In this paper, economic loss to poultry industry has been estimated considering the major economic parameters. The estimation has revealed that commercial broiler industry is a major sufferer due to coccidiosis wherein 95.61 per cent of the total economic loss occurs due to the disease. The commercial layer industry shares 3.53 per cent economic loss, mainly due to cost of chemoprophylaxis and reduced egg production. A comparison across economic traits has revealed that loss is maximum due to reduced body weight gain, followed by increased FCR (23.74%) and chemoprophylaxis (2.83%) in the total loss due to coccidiosis in broiler industry of India. The overall comparison of economic traits for all the types of poultry sector it has shown that reduced body wt gain and increased FCR are the major parameters from which 68.08 per cent and 22.70 per cent annual loss has occurred in the total loss from coccidiosis in India during the year 2003-04. The total loss due to coccidiosis has been found to be of Rs 1.14 billion (approx) for the year 2003-04. The study has observed that generation of this data across different geographical regions will be helpful to conclude about the global economic loss due to coccidiosis in the poultry industry.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Analysis and Performance of ORC Based Solar Thermal Power Plant Using Benzene as a Working Fluid

AbstractIn the present scenario of huge demand of energy and economy create the necessity to give importance to all types of energy resources either it is conventional or nonconventional. Since the rapid consumption of fossil fuel over billions of people across the world are still unable to assess electricity. Furthermore, if the consumption of fossil fuel will be continued then our future generation will certainly have to face the shortage of it and the Global warming potential and ozone layer depletion will also increase. On account of this the Present paper investigates the application of benzene as a working fluid for ORC system. In this paper, performance analysis of organic Rankine cycle with benzene as working fluid has been done to improve efficiency and achieve better economy. This paper also describes clearly that if we want to produce 9kW of power output with the same variation of mass flow rate as well as Reynolds number, the efficiency of ORC system will have to vary from 32.87% to 54.98% and that is possible only when the temperature at the outlet of turbine will be varied from 259.53oC to 127.22oC respectively. Since the fire point of benzene is very low and any instant sparking may cause hazard and hence in our system there is only a liquid to liquid heat transfer device. Boiler of ORC system consists of helical coil copper dipped into a thermal energy reservoir i.e. heat transfer fluid, therminol vp-1 whose upper temperature limit is 415oC

Effect of Marma Therapy on Sandhigata Vata w.s.r. to Osteoarthritis

The principal aim of Ayurveda is to maintain and promote positive physical and mental health as well as ensure the prevention of diseases. Sandhigata Vata is the commonest form of articular disorder. It is a type of Vatavyadhi which mainly occurs in Vriddhavastha due to Dhatukshaya, which limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, bathing etc. It occurs due to change in lifestyle like unsuitable sitting, sleeping, standing and look upwards or obliquely in various professions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is degenerative joint disorder, represents failure of the diarthrodial (movable, synovial lined) joint. OA of the joints comes under the inflammatory group which is almost identical to Sandhigata Vata described in Ayurveda with respect to etiology, pathology, and clinical features. Marma therapy is one which gives instant relief from pain by balancing local Vata and Kapha Dosha without any untoward effects. In the present research work, total 15 diagnosed case of Sandhigata Vata were randomly selected from OPD and IPD of department of Shalya Tantra, Rishikul Campus, Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, Haridwar (U.K.) India, all these patients were treated with the application of Marma therapy. Result was observed on the basis of subjective and objective parameters and analysed statistically. No complications were observed in this clinical study

Surface Characterization and Machining of Blind Pockets on Ti6Al4V by Abrasive Water Jet Machining

AbstractPresent work discusses the method of machining and characterization of blind pockets on Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated using Abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) by varying the process parameters; pressure, stand-off distance (SOD) and abrasive size. Depth of pockets was measured by coordinate measuring machine (CMM). Deeper pocket were formed at higher pressure; craters and high waviness were observed on machined surface. Surface waviness (SW) and craters sphericity were observed at many places of machined pocket through 3-D optical profilometer with objective lens (5x) and field of view (FOV 2x) along with the SPIP software. SW was found high at corners (side wall) of the pockets. Digital microscope of 230x and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to observe and analyze the micro structure of the machined pockets

Need-based Information Service in BARC

The organisation pattern of the Library and Information Services of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre suitable for rendering effective need-based information service is explained. The method followed for assessing the information needs of the scientists is described, The various custom-buil t documentation services offered to meet the specific requirementc of the clientele are given indetail. It has been suggested that plans formulated should be periodically reviewed and necessary modifications be done with a view to get the best out of the system concerned

Inheritance pattern of genes for morpho-physiological and yield traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In order to study the inheritance pattern of morpho-physiological traits in bread wheat, a 10×10 diallel cross, excluding reciprocals was made and grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Observations were recorded on Days to 75% flowering (DF), Days to maturity (DM), Duration of reproductive phase (DRP), Plant height (cm) (PH), Effective tiller/plant (TLS), No. of spikelets per spike (SLS), No. of grains per spike (GS), Grain weight per spike (g) (GW), Spike length (cm) (SL), Biological yield per plant (g) (BY), Harvest index (%) (HI), 1000-Grain weight (g) (TGW), Spike density (SD), Canopy temperature depression (°C) (CTD), Chlorophyll intensity (%) (CI), Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) (CF), Protein content (%) (PC), Grain yield per plant (g) (GY). Highly significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all traits. The resulted 45 F1s and their F2s used for study the nature of gene for grain yield and its contributing traits in bread wheat. The result indicated that considerable gene action and average degree of dominance respond to achieving significant result for grain yield and its component traits. In both the generations F1s and F2s, grain yield per plant (g) was governed by non-additive gene action based on combining ability analysis, (σ2 g/σ2 s)0.5 [GCA and SCA variance ratio] and (H1/D)0.5 [Degree of dominance] were exhibited over dominance type average degree of dominance for grain yield and its component traits in both generations. Genetic analyses of the traits confirm the involvement of both additive and non-additive gene effects in governing the inheritance