MEASUREMENT OF THERMAL PROPERTIES AND POROSITY OF CONSOLIDATED SALT.

Salt formations may be used as repositories for long term isolation of nuclear waste. Excavating drifts in a subsurface salt formation produces granular salt spoils, which could be used as sealing material for boreholes and drifts. In drifts, the backfilled salt would conduct heat from the waste load to the host rock salt. The efficiency of heat dissipated from the backfill will depend on the thermal properties of the backfill. The results of this study show how these thermal properties evolve with the porosity of consolidating granular salt. Thermal properties and porosity of laboratory-consolidated salt and in situ partially consolidated salt were determined. The laboratory-consolidated salt was consolidated under a range of hydrostatic stresses with temperature and moisture conditions relevant to a potential repository environment. Additional measurements were made on an intact salt crystal and dilated polycrystalline host rock salt from the WIPP facility. Thermal properties in this study were measured using a transient plane source method at temperatures ranging from 50 ˚C to 250 ˚C. Porosity and grain density were measured using a porosimeter; granular salt porosities ranged from 0.005 to 0.33, with an average grain density of 2.161 g/cc. Thermal conductivity of granular salt was shown to be dependent on temperature as well as porosity; thermal conductivities decreased with increase in temperature and porosity. Thermal conductivity of dilated salt was lower than consolidated salt at comparable porosities. This is believed to be caused by the pervasive crack network present in the dilated salt which is expected to inhibit flow of heat more than the pores present in the consolidated salt. Specific heat of granular salt at lower temperatures decreased with increasing in porosity. At higher temperatures, porosity dependence was not apparent. The thermal conductivity and specific heat data were fit to empirical models and compared with results presented in literature. At comparable densities, the thermal conductivities of granular salt samples consolidated hydrostatically in this study were greater than those measured previously on samples formed by quasi-static pressing. Photomicrographs of thin sections suggested that the method of consolidation influenced the nature of the porosity of the samples (e.g., crack vs. pore), and this may account for the variation of measured thermal conductivities between the two consolidation methods

Family Language Policy and Heritage Language Development of Children in Transnational Immigrant Families: A Case of Two Nepali Families in the US

This study explored the family language policy of the transnational Nepali families living in the US regarding how their language ideologies and practices are shaped and in turn shape the heritage language development of their school-age children. Adopting an ethnographic case study research design, the study tried to find the answers to three research questions; 1) What are the beliefs of the two Nepali immigrant families living in the US related to the use of language and what are the sources of these beliefs?; 2) What language practices do they make in different interactional settings and how does that further influence the linguistic behavior of the children?; and 3) What language management efforts are these family members making for the development of language in their children and how do these efforts influence the language and literacy skills of their children?. Data for the study were collected using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, field notes, and analysis of available artifacts related to the study area from two selected families. Analysis of the data done through recursive content analysis showed that despite having a positive attitude towards their heritage language, the families are not able to invest resources and provide adequate support to their children for the development of heritage language and literacy skills. The study also revealed that the children, as members of the linguistically marginalized communities, do not receive any support from the schools and society to help them develop proficiency in their home language

Computational Frameworks for Multi-Robot Cooperative 3D Printing and Planning

This dissertation proposes a novel cooperative 3D printing (C3DP) approach for multi-robot additive manufacturing (AM) and presents scheduling and planning strategies that enable multi-robot cooperation in the manufacturing environment. C3DP is the first step towards achieving the overarching goal of swarm manufacturing (SM). SM is a paradigm for distributed manufacturing that envisions networks of micro-factories, each of which employs thousands of mobile robots that can manufacture different products on demand. SM breaks down the complicated supply chain used to deliver a product from a large production facility from one part of the world to another. Instead, it establishes a network of geographically distributed micro-factories that can manufacture the product at a smaller scale without increasing the cost. In C3DP, many printhead-carrying mobile robots work together to print a single part cooperatively. While it holds the promise to mitigate issues associated with gantry-based 3D printers, such as lack of scalability in print size and print speed, its realization is challenging because existing studies in the relevant literature do not address the fundamental issues in C3DP that stem from the amalgamation of the mobile nature of the robots, and continuous nature of the manufacturing tasks. To address this challenge, this dissertation asks two fundamental research questions: RQ1) How can the traditional 3D printing process be transformed to enable multi-robot cooperative AM? RQ2) How can cooperative manufacturing planning be realized in the presence of inherent uncertainties in AM and constraints that are dynamic in both space and time? To answer RQ1, we discretize the process of 3D printing into multiple stages. These stages include chunking (dividing a part into smaller chunks), scheduling (assigning chunks to robots and generating print sequences), and path and motion planning. To test the viability of the approach, we conducted a study on the tensile strength of chunk-based parts to examine their mechanical integrity. The study demonstrates that the chunk-based part can be as strong as the conventionally 3D-printed part. Next, we present different computational frameworks to address scheduling issues in C3DP. These include the development of 1) the world-first working strategy for C3DP, 2) a framework for automatic print schedule generation, evaluation, and validation, and 3) a resource-constrained scheduling approach for C3DP that uses a meta-heuristic approach such as a modified Genetic Algorithm (MGA) and a new algorithm that uses a constraint-satisficing approach to obtain collision-free print schedules for C3DP. To answer RQ2, a multi-robot decentralized approach based on a simple set of rules is used to plan for C3DP. The approach is resilient to uncertainties such as variation in printing times and can even outperform the centralized approach that uses MGA with a conflict-based search for large-scale problems. By answering these two fundamental questions, the central objective of the research project to establish computational frameworks to enable multi-robot cooperative manufacturing was achieved. The search for answers to the RQs led to the development of novel concepts that can be used not only in C3DP, but many other manufacturing tasks, in general, requiring cooperation among multiple robots

Effect of feed supplemented exogenous bacteria, Lactobacillus sporogenes on the growth and body composition of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings

Probiotics are known to improve the growth rate of aquatic organisms. Little experimentation has focused on supplementation of live colony forming units ofL.sporogenes in Cirrhinus mrigala to access the growth performance. A feeding trial was conducted for 50 days to study the effects of Lactobacillus sporogenes on growth and body composition of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton-Buchnan, 1822) fingerlings. Fishes were fed with five experimental feeds containing 3.31x105 colony forming units (CFU)/100g-1 of L. sporogenes in diet D2 , 1.65×106 CFU/ 100g-1 in diet D3, 3.31×106 CFU/100g-1 in diet D4 and 4.96×106 CFU/100g-1 in diet D5. Control diet D1 was kept devoid of L. sporogenes. The diets prepared were containing 0.0% (D1), 0.1% (D2), 0.5% (D3), 1.0% (D4) and 1.5%(D5) of live cells of L. sporogenes CFU/100gm-1 of feed. Increasing trend of weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) improved food conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in treatments fed with probiotic added feeds than control feed. Best growth performance was found in the treatment fed with D4 of L. sporogenes containing 3.31×106 CFU 100g-1 of feed. At increased level 4.96×106 CFU 100g-1 of L. sporogenes inclusion the growth performance was dropped. Tissue protein content was also observed to be higher in animals fed with D4 feed. The lipid content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fingerlings fed with control feed (D1). In short, L. sporogenes addition to a level of 3.31×106 CFU 100g-1 in feed improved growth performance of C. mrigala fingerlings. Therefore, it is evident that 3.31×106 CFU 100g-1 of feed of L. sporogenes can be considered as suitable concentration for attaining good growth in C.mrigala fingerlings

Learning Networks Matter: Challenges to Developing Learning-Based Competence in Mango Production and Post-Harvest in Andhra Pradesh, India

This discussion paper explores aspects of innovation systems ideas in the analysis of mango production and export by smallscale farmers in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The paper shows how despite favourable agro-ecological conditions and being the largest international mango producer, India still struggles to build momentum in rapidly emerging export markets. An analysis of the sector's recent history combined with an empirical account of inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral linkage patterns among stakeholder groups appears to provide the basis for remedial policy suggestions. Most of these relate to aspects of integrated technology development and innovation management.innovation, innovation systems, mango, high-value, national competence, learning networks, South Asia, India

Engaging scientists through institutional histories

An institutional history is a narrative that records key points about how institutional arrangements – new ways of working – evolve over time creating more effective ways to achieve goals. It can be used to document institutional innovations in projects and to highlight barriers to change. An institutional history draws out and synthesizes lessons for research organizations and partners as well as for others in similar circumstances

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Pethia ticto (Hamilton, 1822) from Gomti river in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

This study describes the length-weight relation (LWR) of small indigenous fish Pethia ticto from Gomti River, Aamghat, Haliyapur, Sultanpur district 260 29N and 810 44E, 751m (msl) Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 306 specimens were caught by random sampling method using traditional fishing gear as gillnet, cast net and dragnet of various mesh sizes from June 2016 to May 2017, once in a month. Total Length (mm) was measured from anteriormost part of the snout to the posterior-most part of the caudal fin and body weight (g) were taken by digital electronic balance. The analysis of data shows that the allometric coefficient is close to isometric value (3.0). Allometric growth indicates a more rotund population of fish when the values of growth coefficient are higher than 3.0 (b>3). If the value of growth coefficient is less than 3.0, the population of fish is known to be less rotund. Isometric growth indicates that the shape of fish does not change as it grows (b=3). The coefficient of determination (R2 ) was also found significant (=0.97). Fulton’s condition factor further supports the results obtained ranged from 1.041 to 1.660 shows the degree of well being of a fish. This study is helpful in providing relevant information in the assessment of stock and estimation of the fish condition about its environmen

Transforming industrial food systems to prevent future disruptions

I cannot emphasize enough the relevance of the work reported in this book, most notably how Chinese consumers procure food, including so-called wet markets that are often blamed for infec­tious disease outbreaks (e.g., SARS-CoV in 2002 and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019). For this reason, JAFSCD has allowed me to review this book although it was ably reviewed by Anthony Fuller in the previous issue of JAFSCD (Fuller, 2020). This book provides theoretical as well as empirical analysis of food systems in China, a country with the largest human population. It also details the long-established his­tory of how traditional wet markets have become culturally important for food, nutrition, health, livelihoods, and wellbeing of Chinese residents. The book is divided into 10 self-contained chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the topic with a compelling story of how the authors’ journey to write this book began after they attended the BioFach China trade fair in Shanghai, the biggest annual organic food trade fair in the country (http://www.biofachchina.com/en/). This chapter also outlines the research objectives and methods for data collection and analysis. Chapter 2 provides further context surrounding China’s changing food systems after the economic liberal­ization in the late 1970s, following the death of Mao Zedong, former chairman of the People’s Republic of China. It was the time when industrial agriculture gained momentum in the country. Together with crop monoculture that eroded agricultural biodiversity and polluted air, water, and soil, industrial livestock production led to the concentration of animal wastes and excessive use of antibiotics and growth hormones

Bacterial flora associated with the selected life stages and organs of farmed giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Bacteria associated with different life stages of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man) were analyzed. The gill, hepatopancreas, haemolymph of brood and juveniles as well as the egg, larvae and larval rearing water were sampled to understand the quantity and the quality of bacteria associated with the animals.A total number of 93 representative isolates were identified. The identified bacterial isolates could be distributed in to 14 genera. A mean bacterial total plate count (TPC) of 4.5x105 colony forming units (cfu) g-1 in eggs, 6.0x106 cfu g-1 in larvae and 4.6x105 cfu ml-1 in water were observed. Among all the organs highest TPC of 3.5x107 cfu g-1 were observed in juvenile’s gills. The brood haemolymph was found to be devoid of any bacteria. Identification of isolates representing different colony morphotype indicated that 89.77% of the bacterial population was gram negative dominated by Aeromonas hydrophilla (16.74%), Enterobacter aerogenes (12.09%) and Citrobacter frundii (10.16%). Among Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus, Streptococcus and Micrococcus were identified. Study of quantitative and qualitative aspects of bacterial prevalence with the different life stages of M. rosenbergii would be helpful in identification of disease causing bacteria and therefore in better management of M.rosenbergii culture

Stronger EPR-steering criterion based on inferred Schrodinger-Robertson uncertainty relation

Steering is one of the three in-equivalent forms of nonlocal correlations intermediate between Bell nonlocality and entanglement. Schrodinger-Robertson uncertainty relation (SRUR), has been widely used to detect entanglement and steering. However, the steering criterion in earlier works, based on SRUR, did not involve complete inferred-variance uncertainty relation. In this paper, by considering the local hidden state model and Reid formalism, we derive a complete inferred-variance EPR-steering criterion based on SRUR in the bipartite scenario. Furthermore, we check the effectiveness of our steering criterion with discrete variable bipartite two-qubit and two-qutrit isotropic states.Comment: 9 page