Studies on Sheet Explosive Formulation Based on Octahydro-1,3,5,7-Tetranitro-1,3,5,7-Tetrazocine and Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene

The effect of replacing hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) in HTPB-binder on the performance, sensitivity, thermal, and mechanical properties of the sheet explosive formulation has been studied. The maximum loading of HMX was achieved up to 78 per cent in HTPB-binder system. The velocity of detonation (VOD) of HMX-based sheet explosive was observed about 7300 m/s which is marginally higher than existing RDX-based sheet explosive formulation (RDX/HTPB-binder, 80/20). The VOD trends were verified by theoretical calculation by BKW code using FORTRAN executable program. The thermal decomposition kinetics of sheet explosive formulations was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The activation energy for sheet explosive formulation HMX/HTPB-binder (78/22) was calculated using Kissinger kinetic method and found to be 170.08 kJ/mol, infer that sheet explosive formulation is thermally stable

Karyotype analysis of Solanum torvum Sw. - an ethnobotanical Solanaceous species of Tripura, North East India

Solanum torvum Sw. is a wild Solanaceous plant species, commonly used by the indigenous people of Tripura. Cytological study of the species was carried out to determine the somatic chromosome number and to construct the karyotype formula. The detailed karyomorphological analysis revealed 2n=24 somatic chromosomes having haploid number n=12. The size of chromosomal complement was found to range from 2.14±0.21 to 4.02±0.26 µm with a pair of chromosomes bearing secondary constrictions. Strictly median primary constriction was recorded in two pairs of chromosomes. In general, karyotype formula was found to be A2B4C18. The detailed karyotype analysis revealed that chromosomes are generally small in size and fall under the Stebbins category of “2A” indicating symmetrical nature of the karyotype. The present study could be utilised in understanding the cytogenetic nature of the species and for future crop improvement programme

Morphometrical diversity of reproductive structures in Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. : an ethnomedicinal weed of Lamiaceae

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. is an invasive ethnomedicinal weed of Lamiaceae. Morphometrical studies of floral structures and seed dimorphism in the species were carried out. Detailed measurements of reproductive structures revealed moderate size variability in morphometric characters. The present study reconfirms the existence of efficient pollination system in protandrous flower with carinal explosion in the species. Characteristic seed dimorphism prevailed with variable nutlet number and sizes in mature fruits. The inconsistent pattern of nutlet distribution in the fruit was grouped into five categories and the most frequent was category A (2+2). Seed germination of H. suaveolens was PEF type. Large seeds showed higher germination rate with 95% under lateritic soil condition whereas small seeds almost lacked germination. The present study highlights the irregular and random nutlet distribution in fruits of H. suaveolens adding to its diversity and fundamental reproductive behaviour.Keywords: Ethnomedicinal weed, morphometry, reproductive structures, Lamiaceae.Â

Are autocracies bad for the environment? Global evidence from two centuries of data

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is crucial for reducing the danger posed by climate change. There are factors for and against democracies in achieving these desired reductions. Using data from 150 countries, we estimate the marginal emission intensity (i.e., the change in per-capita carbon dioxide emissions for a unit change in per-capita income) across autocracies and democracies. We use regional waves of democratization and mean per-capita income of other countries in the region as instruments for democracy and per-capita income, respectively. Using these instruments, we obtain the causal estimate of the difference in marginal emission intensity and confirm that democracies have lower per-capita carbon dioxide emissions per unit increase in per-capita income compared to autocracies. Our results suggest that these benefits of democracies have occurred in recent decades, following the surge in public concerns about climate change and intergovernmental initiatives to reduce emissions. There is also evidence to suggest that strengthening rule enforcement and improving access to justice can be critical in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions

Alte Erinnerungen an das Elsass

Numérisé par le partenaireAppartient à l’ensemble documentaire : BNUStr001Appartient à l’ensemble documentaire : BNUStras1Numérisé par le partenair

Estimation of Modulus of Deformation Using Rock Mass Rating—A Review and Validation Using 3D Numerical Modelling

The Himalayan region has enormous potential for hydropower development. However, variations in geological and geotechnical conditions pose challenging tasks for the designers. If these variations are not tackled in a timely manner during underground excavations, especially for caverns, instabilities may occur, resulting in time and cost over-runs. For sustainable hydropower development, minimizing these over-runs is necessary. The modulus of deformation (Ed) of a rock mass is an essential input parameter required in the design of underground excavations. This study involves collecting the results of extensive in situ tested values for various hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan regions, along with the rock mass rating (RMR) values at 35 test sites. Ed is estimated empirically based on statistical analysis. Comparisons were made with the empirical equations already available in the literature, using RMR and the proposed equation for estimating Ed. Although different researchers have proposed many equations for estimating the value of Ed using RMR, a gap exists in validating such equations. In this regard, the proposed equation for Ed was verified by carrying out 3D numerical-modelling studies using FLAC3D, an explicit finite-difference software for an underground powerhouse cavern and comparing the displacement values with the field instrumentation data

Neutralization by Insulin of the Hypertensive Effect of Dermcidin Isoform 2: An Environmentally Induced Diabetogenic and Hypertensive Protein

The effect of dermcidin isoform 2 (dermcidin), an environmentally induced stress protein, was investigated on the genesis of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, the two major atherosclerotic risk factors. The role of dermcidin as an atherosclerotic risk factor related to the impaired systemic insulin level was investigated. Dermcidin was prepared by electrophoresis using plasma from the subjects with acute ischemic heart disease. Injection of 0.2 μM dermcidin in mice increased the blood glucose level from 98±2.45 mg/dL to 350 ±10.2 mg/dL which was normalized by the oral administration of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) after 24 h. Hypertensive subjects with systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 165 mm and 95 mm of Hg, respectively, had plasma dermcidin level of 95 nM. Ingestion of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) (150 mg/70 kg body weight) decreased the systolic and diastolic pressures to 125 mm and 80 mm of Hg, respectively, with decrease of dermcidin level to 15 nM. Incubation of kidney cortex cells with 0.2 μM dermcidin-inhibited synthesis of (r)-cortexin, an antihypertensive protein, and the basal (r)-cortexin level was reduced from 33 nM to 15 nM. Addition of 25 μunits of insulin/mL was found to reverse the inhibition of cortexin synthesis. The effect of dermcidin as a diabetogenic and a hypertensive agent could be controlled either by aspirin or by insulin

A Durability Study of Jute Geotextile Treated with Bitumen Emulsion

Jute geotextile is considered as one of the vital construction material. It is also considered as an eco-friendly material but exhibits poor resistance against biodegradation. In the present study, bitumen emulsion was selected for the treatment of jute geotextile, as it prolongs the life of jute geotextile. The Sample of compost was prepared by mixing fertile garden soil, cow dung manure and sand in the proportion of 2:1:1. After the application of compost over jute geotextile, prepared samples were buried under the soil for 21 days. It was found that jute geotextile treated with bitumen emulsion at the rate of 0.6 kg/m2 and 0.5 kg/m2 revealed 14.49% and 17.03% reduction in strength, respectively, as compared to non-biodegradable samples. Along with this, bitumen emulsion treated (BET) jute geotextile treated with the application rate of 0.6 kg/m2 was selected for further research work. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was also carried, and it was found that there was an improvement in the internal structure of BET jute geotextile as compared to non-treated one. BET jute geotextile in two layers reduced Brittleness Index (IB) considerably. This methodology can be used in the severe earthquake zone for reducing the possibility of enormous damage