Assessment Strategic Research Extension Plan (SREP) Methodology for Upscaling and Institutionalisation of R-E-F Linkages

The main goal of the Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD)component of the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) is to increase farmers input into programme planning and resource allocation especially at the block level and to increase accountabili ty of stakeholders. Further, it is also to increase the programme coordination and integration so that program thrust such as Farming System Innovation, Farmers' Organization, Technical Gaps, and Natural Resource Management can be more effectively and efficiently implemented. Objectives: To review the SREP methodology followed in the pilot districts with a focus on linkages and identification and prioritization of research, extension and development issues; To analyze the mechanism followed in each state for implementation of SREP outputs in operationalizing strategies evolved; To identify the gaps in SREP methodology and its implementation process and suggest appropriate measures to overcome the gaps; and To evolve future directions for up-scaling and institutionalization of SREP approach systems, structures and functional dimensions.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Shear Strength Study of RC Beams Retrofitted Using Vinyl Ester Bonded GFRP and Epoxy Bonded GFRP

Many of the existing reinforced concrete structures throughout the world are in urgent need of rehabilitation, repair or reconstruction because of deterioration due to various factors like corrosion, lack of detailing, failure of bonding between beam-column joints, increase in service loads, etc., leading to cracking, spalling, loss of strength, deflection, etc. The recent developments in the application of the advanced composites in the construction industry for concrete rehabilitation and strengthening are increasing on the basis of specific requirements, national needs and industry participation. The need for efficient rehabilitation and strengthening techniques of existing concrete structures has resulted in research and development of composite strengthening systems. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite has been accepted in the construction industry as a promising substitute for repairing and in incrementing the strength of RCC structures. FRP composites possess some outstanding properties such as: resistance to corrosion, good fatigue and damping resistance, high strength to weight ratio, and electromagnetic transparency. FRPs over the years have gained respect in terms of its superior performance and versatility and now are being used not only in housing industry but its potentials are being continuously explored for its use in retro-fitting and strengthening of damaged structural members. This paper focuses exclusively on shear behaviour of RCC beams and the Vinyl-Ester bonded GFRP and Epoxy bonded GFRP wrapped retrofitted RCC beams. Beams were retrofitted with 1.2 mm Epoxy bonded GFRP sheets and 0.9 mm Vinyl-Ester bonded GFRP sheets using epoxy resins. In all a total of 10 beams were tested and the respective readings were recorded. The beams were full-wrapped and strip-wrapped and tested for shear behavior analysis. Cracking and deflection of GFRP reinforced concrete beams are analyzed experimentally. It was  concluded that the wrapping of GFRP sheets increases the ultimate load carrying capacity of RCC beams. Also a cost analysis was done in order to get a cost effective solution for the issue of retrofitting, which is a rising concern in the recent times. Keywords: Glass Fibres, Vinyl Ester Bonded GFRP, Epoxy bonded GFRP, Shear Strength, RC Beam

Efficiency of Paddy Farms in India: an Empirical Evidence of TBP Area of Karnataka state

The study on efficiency of paddy farms revealed that majority of the farmers were operating in medium efficiency level (70%) followed by low efficiency level (17%) and high efficiency level(13%) with respect to nitrogen. Similar trend was noticed in plant protection chemicals wherein farmers operating in medium efficiency level (74%) were higher than those of high (13%) and low efficiency levels (13%). The percentage excess of nitrogen usage over the frontier level ranged from 38.86% to 91.03% and plant protection chemicals from 42.53% to 70.54% with increase in nitrogen levels indicating inputs like nitrogen and plant protection chemicals were used indiscriminately in the study area in view of practice of their own method of cultivation. It is suggested that farmers should be trained about adoption of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in paddy cultivation in TBP area. Key words: Integrated Nutrient Management, IPM, Paddy, Frontier, MVP, OC, Efficienc

Price trend and integration of wholesale markets for onion in metro cities of India

Availability of market intelligence on various aspects like the potential markets, quantity arrived and prevailing and expected prices in different regions during different months of the year are important in mitigating many of market related problems. Study reveals that there was high variability in the arrival of onion in the month of March and April in selected markets. Among the markets, the coefficient of variation in both arrivals and prices were found to be higher in Ahmedabad and Kolkata. The zero order correlation matrix between two markets average wholesale prices of onion indicated the high integration among the selected markets except Ahmedabad with Mumbai market. This might be due to the movement of produce from one market area to another depending upon price prevailed in the markets. The competitive conditions prevailing in the selected markets might have influenced the movement of prices in the same direction. The magnitude of regression coefficient revealed that an increase in market arrivals by a MT in a month led to an increase in prices by Rs.6.00/MT and Rs. 0.40/MT in Bangalore and Delhi markets respectively. On the contrary, prices of onion decreased in Ahmedabad (Rs. 6.00), Mumbai (Rs. 10.00) and Kolkata (Rs. 2.00) markets with increase in arrivals by one MT in a month. Key words: Instability, Market integration, Price behavio

Esterification of dicarboxylic acids to diesters over Mn+-montmoril lonite clay catalysts

Esterification of dicarboxylic acids with various alcohols and phenols in presence of metal exchanged montmorillonite clay catalyst (Mn+-mont; Mnþ ¼ Al3þ, Fe3+, Cr3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Ni2+) is studied. Among the catalysts used, Al3+-mont was found to be the most effective, as it gave good to excellent yields of esters under mild reaction conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst presented here can be regenerated and reused. All these features indicate the high potential of the reaction as ‘‘green chemistry’’ process

Brønsted and Lewis acidity of modified montmorillonite clay catalysts determined by FT-IR spectroscopy

The surface acidity of different modified montmorillonite clay catalysts, Al3+-exchanged montmorillonite (Al3+-Mont) and aluminium pillared montmorillonite (Al-PILC) was determined by DRIFTS (diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectra) using pyridine as probe molecule. The method involved treating the clay sample directly with pyridine, drying the sample at 120 °C and recording FT-IR spectra in the region 1650 and 1350 cm−1. The spectra obtained showed well resolved absorption bands for Lewis and Brønsted acid sites in the clay catalysts. In order to understand the role of acid sites present on clay catalysts, esterification of propionic acid with p-cresol has been studied. The Brønsted acidity data obtained by FT-IR study for modified montmorillonite clay catalysts correlated well with the catalytic activity in the esterification reaction. Among the modified clay catalysts, Al3+-Mont and H+-Mont clay catalysts showed good activity and Al-PILC showed negligible activity in esterification. The inactivity of Al-PILC catalysts is attributed to the absence of Brønsted acidity

DRUG INTERACTION INDUCED PHENYTOIN TOXICITY: A CASE REPORT

Phenytoin is a narrow therapeutic indexed antiepileptic drug. Many drugs competitively inhibit isoenzymes responsible for its metabolism when concurrently administered and increases the phenytoin plasma concentration leading to serious adverse effects. One such case is being reported with phenytoin toxicity due to concurrent administration of phenytoin and Isoniazid

Synthesis of phenylacetates using aluminium-exchanged montmorillonite clay catalyst

Liquid phase esterification of phenylacetic acid with phenol and substituted phenols has been investigated over montmorillonite clay exchanged with H + - Al 3+ - and aluminium polyhydroxy oligomer cations. Among the catalysts studied, Al 3+ - montmorillonite dried at 100°C showed 67 conversion, while the same catalyst dried at 200deg;C showed reduced conversion of 36. Al 3+ - montmorillonite dried at 400°C and montmorillonite exchanged with aluminium polyhydroxy oligomer cations dried at 100°C and calcined at 500°C failed to bring about the reaction. Effects of mole ratio of reactants, reaction period and catalyst amount on yield of the ester and catalyst regeneration are also investigated. Esterification of phenylacetic acid with phenol, cresols, nitrophenols and resorcinol has been carried out in the presence of montmorillonite clay exchanged with H +-ions, Al 3+-ions and polyhydroxy oligomer cations of Al. Na +-montmorillonite (raw clay) was inactive, H +- and Al 3+-montmorillonites, dried at 100°C, showed 52 and 67 conversions to ester, respectively, upon refluxing the phenylacetic acid (20 mmol) and p-cresol (40 mmol) for 6 h. While Al 3+- montmorillonite dried at 200°C showed a conversion of 36 the same catalyst when dried at 400°C showed no conversion. Montmorillonite exchanged with aluminium polyhydroxy oligomers dried at 100°C and calcined at 500°C to get pillared clay (d 0 0 1=17.5 à ) failed to bring about the esterification. Effect of concentration of reactants, amount of catalyst and the reaction time on the yield of p-cresyl phenylacetate has been investigated. The esterification of phenylacetic acid with phenol and substituted phenols like m-cresol, o-cresol, p-nitro phenol and o-nitro phenol showed reduced yield due to steric factors. The activity of the clay catalyst after regeneration has also been studied. © 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V

A validated patient-specific FSI model for vascular access in haemodialysis

The flow rate inside arteriovenous fistulas is many times higher than physiological flow and is accompanied by high wall shear stress resulting in low patency rates. A fluid–structure interaction finite element model is developed to analyse the blood flow and vessel mechanics to elucidate the mechanisms that can lead to failure. The simulations are validated against flow measurements obtained from magnetic resonance imaging data