The Influence of Gamma-rays on the Injury and Chromosomal Aberrations of Long Bean (Vigna sesquipedalis, Fruw.)

The effects of gamma-rays on three varieties of long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis, Fruw), namely Melaka, Local Black and Local Long were studied using Jive doses ranging from 10 to 50 kR. Both Chromosomal aberrations and characteristics related to physiological damage were used to study radiation sensitivity of the varieties. In general, gamma radiation did not affect % seed germination but caused a significant reduction in characteristics related to survival, growth and fertility. Percentage chromosomal aberrations also increased with increasing dose. As the measurement of seedling height is simple, quick and highly correlated with most characteristics studied, it could be a useful parameter in the study of radiation effects on long bean. Using a critenrion of approximately 30% reduction in seedling height or 50% lethality, it is suggested that doses ranging from 30 to 50 kR would be suitable for mutation induction in long bean

Historical and Projected Surface Temperature over India during the 20th and 21st century.

Surface Temperature (ST) over India has increased by ~0.055 K/decade during 1860-2005 and follows the global warming trend. Here, the natural and external forcings (e.g., natural and anthropogenic) responsible for ST variability are studied from Coupled Model Inter-comparison phase 5 (CMIP5) models during the 20th century and projections during the 21st century along with seasonal variability. Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and Land Use (LU) are the major factors that gave rise to warming during the 20th century. Anthropogenic Aerosols (AA) have slowed down the warming rate. The CMIP5 projection over India shows a sharp increase in ST under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5 where it reaches a maximum of 5 K by the end of the 21st century. Under RCP2.6 emission scenarios, ST increases up to the year 2050 and decreases afterwards. The seasonal variability of ST during the 21st century shows significant increase during summer. Analysis of rare heat and cold events for 2080-2099 relative to a base period of 1986-2006 under RCP8.5 scenarios reveals that both are likely to increase substantially. However, by controlling the regional AA and LU change in India, a reduction in further warming over India region might be achieved

MODELING AND SUPERVISION OF SMART TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLER USING AT89C51 MICROCONTROLLER

Abstract Traffic light control systems are widely used to monitor and control the flow of vehicles through the junction of many roads. They aim to realise smooth motion of cars in the transportation routes. However, the synchronisation of multiple traffic light systems at adjacent intersections is a complicated problem given the various parameters involved. Conventional systems do not handle variable flows approaching the junctions. In addition, the mutual interference between adjacent traffic light systems, the disparity of cars flow with time, the accidents, the passage of emergency vehicles, and the pedestrian crossing are not implemented in the existing traffic system. This leads to traffic jam and congestion. We propose a system based on AT89C51 microcontroller that evaluates the traffic density using IR sensors and accomplishes dynamic timing slots with different levels

Low latitude ionospheric response to March 2015 geomagnetic storm using multi-instrument TEC observations over India

The regional ionospheric models are successful in capturing the variability of ionosphere with the inclusion of local ground-based GPS observations and location dependent ionospheric dynamics. In this context, there is a need to develop regional ionospheric maps that aids in improving the consistency of global models. In this paper, an attempt is made to understand the potentiality of multi-instrument observations over Indian region. Four different Total Electron Content (TEC) data sources namely from network of GPS receivers, Ionosonde stations, space based COSMIC radio occultation profiles and SWARM mission data is utilized. The multi-source data is chosen for the geo-magnetic storm conditions prevailed during March 2015. Data from multiple-sources is observed over the period from 15th March 2015 to 20th March 2015. Validation of ground and space-based TEC data with International GNSS service (IGS) station data is significantly observed

Adaptation Reduces Variability of the Neuronal Population Code

Sequences of events in noise-driven excitable systems with slow variables often show serial correlations among their intervals of events. Here, we employ a master equation for general non-renewal processes to calculate the interval and count statistics of superimposed processes governed by a slow adaptation variable. For an ensemble of spike-frequency adapting neurons this results in the regularization of the population activity and an enhanced post-synaptic signal decoding. We confirm our theoretical results in a population of cortical neurons.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

The relationship between substrate roughness parameters and bond strength of ultra high-performance fiber concrete

The bonding that exists between the old concrete and the new concrete depends largely on the quality of substrate surface preparation. The accurate representation of substrate surface roughness can help determine very precisely the correct bonding behavior. In this work, an experimental investigation was carried out to quantify the normal concrete (NC) substrate roughness parameters and evaluate their relationship with the bonding performance of ultra high-performance fiber concrete (UHPFC), used as a repair material. The bond strength was quantified based on the results of the pull-off test, splitting cylinder tensile test, and the slant shear test. Three types of NC substrate surface preparation were used: as-cast (without surface preparation) as reference, wire-brushed, and sand-blasted (SB); the roughness of which was determined using an optical three-dimensional (3D) surface metrology device (Alicona

Rainfall and removal method influence eradication success for Lantana camara

The success of invasive species eradication depends on a variety of factors, including those that initially facilitated the invasion, as well as removal and post-removal protocols. Two factors that appear to influence invasion by, and eradication of, the Neotropical shrub Lantana camara (L.), in southern Indian deciduous forests, are rainfall and removal method. However, their role in influencing eradication success is yet to be quantified, and remains unclear. We conducted an experiment to clarify how rainfall (high vs. low) and removal method (cutting vs. uprooting Lantana) influence re-invasion by Lantana, and native plant recovery. Rainfall influenced both eradication effort and outcomes—drier forest had lower starting levels of invader biomass, requiring less initial eradication effort, as well as lower subsequent Lantana re-invasion (from seed and rootstock) whereas wetter forest typically had greater starting levels of invader biomass, requiring considerably greater initial eradication effort, and greater Lantana re-invasion. However, wetter forest also showed greater native tree and forb recovery. Therefore, the availability of funds, local environmental gradients, and restoration priorities should inform the selection of restoration sites. With regard to removal method, uprooting combined with weeding of germinating Lantana, particularly after the rainy season, minimized overall re-invasion. Therefore, uprooting, followed by regular weeding of germinating Lantana and secondary invaders, is crucial to long-term Lantana eradication success

Dynamic Mechanical and Gel Content Properties of Irradiated ENR/PVC Blends with TiO2 Nanofillers

Numerous studies reported on irradiated epoxidized natural rubber/polyvinyl chloride (ENR/PVC) blends and the blends were found miscible at all compositional range thus it offers a broad of opportunity in modifying the blend characteristic. Addition of low loading titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofillers in the ENR/PVC blends has shown a remarkable increment in tensile strength. Thus, this study was initiated to address the effect of TiO2 nanofillers on ENR/PVC blends dynamic mechanical and gel content properties and its morphology upon exposure to electron beam irradiation. ENR/PVC blends with addition of 0, 2 and 6 phr TiO2 nanofillers were first blended in a mixing chamber before being irradiated by an electron beam accelerator at different 0-200 kGy irradiation doses. The influence of TiO2 nanofillers on the irradiation crosslinking of ENR/PVC blends was study based on the dynamic mechanical analysis which was carried out in determining the glass transition temperature and the storage modulus behavior of ENR/PVC blends incorporated with TiO2 nanofillers. Formations of irradiation crosslinking in the blend were investigated by gel content measurement. While, the TiO2 nanofillers distribution were examined by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Upon irradiation, the ENR/PVC/6 phr TiO2 formed the highest value of gel fraction. For dynamic mechanical analysis, it was found that electron beam radiation increased the Tg of all the compositions. The relationship between the crosslinking and the stiffness of the nanocomposites also can be found in this study. The enhancement in the storage modulus and Tg at higher amount of TiO2 in the blend could be correlated to the enhancement of the irradiation-induced crosslinking in the nanocomposites characteristic and also with the higher agglomerations of TiO2 evidence shown from the TEM micrograph examination. Lastly, the dimensions of TiO2 in the blends were found less than 100 nm in diameter which indicates incorporation of TiO2 nanofillers in ENR/PVC blends is potentially to provide the nanocomposites features. Doi: 10.12777/ijse.6.1.24-30 [How to cite this article: Ramlee, N.A., Ratnam, C.T., Alias, N.H., Rahman, M.F.A.. 2014. Dynamic Mechanical and Gel Content Properties of Irradiated ENR/PVC blends with TiO2 Nanofillers. International Journal of Science and Engineering, 6(1),24-30. Doi: 10.12777/ijse.6.1.24-30

The Disk Mass of Spiral Galaxies

We derive the disk masses of 18 spiral galaxies of different luminosity and Hubble Type, both by mass modelling their rotation curves and by fitting their SED with spectro-photometric models. The good agreement of the estimates obtained from these two different methods allows us to quantify the reliability of their performance and to derive very accurate stellar mass-to-light ratio vs color (and stellar mass) relationships.Comment: 5 pages, 4 Figures accepted to M

Patterns and consequences of invasion of tropical montane forests by Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl. in the Western Ghats

In the montane forest-grassland mosaics of the Western Ghats, land cover conversion to silviculture and agriculture over the last five decades has resulted in both loss of natural habitats and widespread invasion of remnant habitat patches. While invasion of the grassland habitats of the mosaic has been relatively well studied, there have been few attempts to understand the extent to which forest habitats (locally known as sholas) have been affected by the spread of exotic species. Here we examine the patterns and impacts of invasion of shola forest understoreys by Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl., an exotic shrub species. At the landscape scale, we demonstrate that the presence and abundance of this invasive in shola understories is negatively related to distance from tea plantations. Further, the intensity of invasion is higher in areas with greater seasonality of temperature and lower mean annual precipitation. At the patch scale, invasion is greatest at shola edges and away from stream courses. We find that C. aurantiacum abundance has negatively affected the regeneration of native shola tree species as well as the abundance of native shola understorey shrubs. Fifty three percent of invaded plots had no native shrubs present. In plots where both C. aurantiacum and native shrubs were present in large enough numbers, we found evidence of negative spatial dependence between stem locations of C. aurantiacum and native shrubs. Our findings have important implications for the management and conservation of these mosaics