Numerical Evaluation of Microflaps for On Blade Control of Noise and Vibration

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90660/1/AIAA-2011-1873-453.pd

Computational Study of Microflaps with Application to Vibration Reduction in Helicopter Rotors

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90636/1/AIAA-55024-132.pd

Effect of plant growth promoting bio-agents (Bacillus sp) on the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum) mini-tubers in north-western Himalaya

Two plant growth promoting bio-agents, viz. Bacillus cereus (B4) and Bacillus subtilis (B5) were evaluated for production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), mini-tubers from micro-plants two potato cultivars, viz. Kufri Giriraj and Kufri Kanchan (red skin tubers) under polyhouse conditions during the autumn (off) seasons of 2008 and 2009. Treatment of micro-plants with both the bio-agents (B4 and B5) proved significantly effective in improving the per cent ground cover, height of plants as well as haulms weight/plant in both the potato cultivars over control. However, no significant effect of these bio-agents was observed on establishment of micro-plants as well as on the number of shoots and compound leaves per plant. B4 bio-agent was found significantly superior in improving the ground cover and haulms weight/plant over B5. Number and yield of mini-tubers/m2 varied significantly between the cultivars and were significantly better with both the bio-agents over control

Effect of Altitude on the Phenology and Fruit Quality Attributes of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Fruits

Consumer concern about poor taste of fresh apricots is increasing and knowledge about the more suitable production requirement is essential. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on environmental effect on fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits from 162 genotype were collected from nine locations from 3006-3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The altitude had a marked influence on date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture and TSS content. For every 100 m increase in altitude, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 day, respectively. Inverse relationship between altitude and fruit weight (R2=0.310) was observed. For every 100 m increase in altitude the fruit weight decrease by 0.5 g. Fruit moisture content decreased significantly with increase in elevation (R2=0.585). Decrease in moisture content was 1.9% for every 100 m increase in elevation. Altitude showed linear relationship with fruit TSS content (R2=0.726). For every 100 m increase in altitude, the fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix. Knowledge from the present study on the impact of altitude on fruit quality characters provides a useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit qualit

Symmetrical Derivative of Anthrone as a Novel Receptor for Mercury Ions: Enhanced Performance of Modified Screen-Printed Electrode

Voltammetric sensor using a symmetrical derivative of anthrone3 (1,7-diamino-3,9-dibutyl benzo[1,2,3-de:4,5,6-d’e’]diquinoline-2,8(3H,9H)-dione) (SPE-A) has been developed as a probe for Hg(II) ions. Performance of the probe as screen-printed electrode modified with the receptor (SPE-A) has been compared with anthrone3 in solution phase, using 1:1 water-acetonitrile solvent system. Anthrone3 displayed an electrochemically quasi-reversible nature in voltammograms with both the systems and is presented as a novel disposable voltammetric sensor for mercury ions. Upon interaction with cations, both the electrode systems showed sensitivity towards Hg2+ ions with a lower detection limit of 0.61 µM. The magnitude of the voltammetric current with the SPE-A exhibited three times the current obtained with a bare glassy carbon electrode (GC). Kinetic performance of the SPE-A electrode is better than the GC electrode. The morphological studies indicate reusability of the electrodes

Hebbian and neuromodulatory mechanisms interact to trigger associative memory formation

A long-standing hypothesis termed “Hebbian plasticity” suggests that memories are formed through strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons with correlated activity. In contrast, other theories propose that coactivation of Hebbian and neuromodulatory processes produce the synaptic strengthening that underlies memory formation. Using optogenetics we directly tested whether Hebbian plasticity alone is both necessary and sufficient to produce physiological changes mediating actual memory formation in behaving animals. Our previous work with this method suggested that Hebbian mechanisms are sufficient to produce aversive associative learning under artificial conditions involving strong, iterative training. Here we systematically tested whether Hebbian mechanisms are necessary and sufficient to produce associative learning under more moderate training conditions that are similar to those that occur in daily life. We measured neural plasticity in the lateral amygdala, a brain region important for associative memory storage about danger. Our findings provide evidence that Hebbian mechanisms are necessary to produce neural plasticity in the lateral amygdala and behavioral memory formation. However, under these conditions Hebbian mechanisms alone were not sufficient to produce these physiological and behavioral effects unless neuromodulatory systems were coactivated. These results provide insight into how aversive experiences trigger memories and suggest that combined Hebbian and neuromodulatory processes interact to engage associative aversive learning

Electronic Structure of Sr_2FeMoO_6

We have analysed the unusual electronic structure of Sr_2FeMoO_6 combining ab-initio and model Hamiltonian approaches. Our results indicate that there are strong enhancements of the intraatomic exchange strength at the Mo site as well as the antiferromagnetic coupling strength between Fe and Mo sites. We discuss the possibility of a negative effective Coulomb correlation strength (U_{eff}) at the Mo site due to these renormalised interaction strengths.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Assessing long term impact of nutrient management and rainfall variability on the agroecological resilience of maize (Zea mays)- wheat (Triticum aestivum) system in NW India

A long-term (2000-2010) field experiment was carried out in the lower Shiwalik foothills of Punjab to study the carry over effect of organic manures and fertilizers on the productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system for efficient N management and resource use under rainfed conditions and to develop predictive models describing relationship between yields and seasonal rainfall. N management strategies involving combined application of 15 kg N/ha either through compost or leucaena loppings along with 20 kg N/ha through inorganic fertilizer for maize-wheat cropping sequence utilized growth resources most efficiently and maintained stable yield performance culminating in significantly higher system productivity, better resource use efficiencies and sustainable yield index, suggesting partial N substitution through compost or locally available plant material. The regression models developed to predict the effects of N sources on crop yields using monthly rainfall would be of interest to estimate the yield at a given level of rainfall with the likely fluctuation (as error) particularly under rainfed conditions

Dusty plasma in active galactic nuclei

Since many years we know that dust in the form of the dusty-molecular torus is responsible for the obscuration in active galactic nuclei (AGN) at large viewing angles and thus for the classification of AGN. Recently, we gained some observational and theoretical insight into geometry of the region and the role of the dust in the dynamics of the outflow and failed winds. We will briefly touch on all these aspects, including our dust-based model (FRADO - Failed Radiatively Accelerated Dusty Outflow) of the formation of the Balmer lines in AGN.Comment: Partially based on talk at 31st Symposium on the Physics of Ionized Gases in Belgrade, submitted to the European Physical Journal D Topical Issue: "Physics of Ionized Gases and Spectroscopy of Isolated Complex Systems: Fundamentals and Applications