Decision Table Formulation of The 1969 Aisc Specification

The American Institute of Steel Constructio

China’s Footprints in Maldives: Concern for India?

China has, in the recent decades, has consolidated its interests in the South Asian region. This change in China‟s foreign policy, from a focus on the North-East and South-East Asia, hints at an attempt to sustain China‟s own peaceful rise. India, on the other hand, has emphasised on a „Look East‟ foreign policy in the recent times. Both India and China share an important diplomatic relationship with Maldives. However, China‟s growing influence in Maldives might be a serious strategicconcern to India. This article is an exploratory study of the relationship that China shares with Maldives and its implications to India

Grid Potential Analysis and Docking Studies on a Dataset of N-Arylsulfonyl-3-AcetylIndoles as Anti-HIV Agent

A grid potential analysis employing the AutoGPA module in MOE2009.10 was performed on a dataset of 42 molecules of N-arylsulfonyl-3-acetylindoles as anti-HIV agent. The molecular docking simulations were also employed to position the inhibitors to their binding site to determine the most appropriate binding mode for different conformations of molecule. The uniqueness of AutoGPA module is that it automatically builds the 3D-QSAR model on the pharmacophore based molecular alignment. The best AutoGPA 3D-QSAR model obtained in the present study gives the cross-validated q2 value of 0.588 and r2pred value of 0.701 among the fifty six 3D-QSAR model developed. Furthermore, the steric and electrostatic contour maps for AutoGPA model along with the 3D structure of protein (binding residue of active site) inlaid were obtained to better understand the structural requirements against HIV and interaction between binding residues of protein and inhibitors. The study shows that hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding potential groups are favorable for optimization of parent nucleus for better activity

China’s SAARC Membership: The Debate

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been in existence for 29 years, but has made slow progress. Despite this, many countries within and outside the region aspire to be part of this forum. As a result, SAARC is the only association in the world, which has more observer members (nine), than full-fledged members (eight). China is presently the observer member in SAARC, and working towards enhancing its roleto“dialogue partner” and later on obtaining the full membership. However,China’s SAARC membership is widely debated. In this context, the paper attempts to analyse the arguments in favour and against China’s membershipand examines India’s position and concerns vis-à-vis China’s elevated role in SAARC. Subsequently, it identifies and discusses the factors favouring China to become a full fledge member of SAARC. This paper concludes thatChina’s SAARC membership might become inevitable at some time in the future. However, the question is – can India intelligently and sophisticatedly play its cards to advance its own interests

Nature of crop contents of an amblyceran pigeon louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum (Phthiraptera: Insecta)

Selected haemetophagous phthirapterans have been convicted to act as reservoir and transmitter of pathogens among their hosts. Amblyceran Phthiraptera are generally believed to exhibit varying degree of haemetophagy. The microscopic examination of 100 adults (both sexes) and 47 nymphal instars of an amblyceran louse, Colpocephalum turbinatum revealed their non haemetophagous nature as any red content compatible with host blood was not detected in their crops. The crops of the lice were found packed with only feather barbules. On seven instances the pieces of egg chorion and in 20 cases the presence of epidermal tissue were also detected in crop contents. However, the presence of any triturating agent (any structure which can help in grinding the feather contents) was not noticed. SEM studies on the ventral side of the head of the louse do not indicate the presence of any pointed gear which can be used to pierce the skin blood vessels of host. Present study suggests that few amblyceran species of Phthiraptera are not in haemetophagous in nature

High-capacity electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage: Role of nanoscale effects

This review summarizes the current state-of-the art electrode materials used for high-capacity lithium-ion-based batteries and their significant role towards revolutionizing the elec- trochemical energy storage landscape in the area of consumer electronics, transportation and grid storage application. We discuss the role of nanoscale effects on the electrochemical performance of high-capacity battery electrode materials. Decrease in the particle size of the primary electrode materials from micron to nanometre size improves the ionic and electronic diffusion rates signifi- cantly. Nanometre-thick solid electrolyte (such as lithium phosphorous oxynitride) and oxides (such as Al 2 O 3 ,ZnO,TiO 2 etc.) material coatings also improve the interfacial stability and rate capability of a number of battery chemistries. We elucidate these effects in terms of different high-capacity battery chemistries based on intercalation and conversion mechanism

Casting of thrown away tool steel bits in the centrifugal casting route

Cutting tools get worn out due to wear and are ground in order to use them again. This wear may be due to abrasive wear, diffusion wear, fatigue wear, adhesive wear. Wear of tool steels leads to shortening of the length, so small that the tool bits are no more usable. These waste and thrown away tool bits were collected which may include steel waste, pig iron, molybdenum iron, chromium iron, vanadium iron, tungsten iron and other waste material. This mixture was melted in induction furnace at temperature about 1600 o C to 1700 o C. After that the casting of the melt was done through the centrifugal route at speeds of 200 rpm and 250 rpm. The cast obtained is in the shape of tool steel cylinder. Then the samples were prepared for the hardness test, machinability test and SEM analysis. The hardness was measured across the radius of the cast cylinder by using Rockwell hardness test machine in C-scale. The machinability test specimens were taken from the outer zone of the cast cylinder and the test was carried out in Lathe by keeping the variables such as rotation speed (420 rpm), feed rate (0.15 KM), rack angle (10 0 ) material to be machined (mild steel) and time of machining (5 minutes 40 seconds) constant. The machinability of the centrifugally cast samples were compared with the as-cast samples. SEM micrographs were taken for the outer region of the cast cylinder and a comparative study was made with the as-cast samples. We found that there is an increase in hardness values with the distance from the centre to the outer periphery of the cast samples also the hardness values are higher for speed 250 rpm than 200 rpm. The Machinability of the centrifugally cast samples was better than generally used tool steels

Rural non-farm employment in Madhya Pradesh. Findings of a participatory rural appraisal in 8 villages (NRI report no. 2694)

This study presents the results of a Participatory Rural Appraisal in Madhya Pradesh, which was undertaken by the NGO Samarthan (Centre for Development Support, Bhopal) in collaboration with the Natural Resources Institute. The fieldwork was undertaken from November 2001 to January 2002. The objectives of the PRA in Madhya Pradesh were to identify farm and non-farm income sources of rural households, barriers to the uptake of non-farm employment, and opportunities, which can be translated into policy recommendations. The PRA was undertaken in eight villages within the Betul and Narshimpur Districts

Catalytic Studies of Sodium Hydroxide and Carbon Monoxide Reaction

We have studied the effect of ball milling on alumina mixed nickel, magnetite and Raney nickel on the reaction: 2NaOH(s) + CO (g) = Na2CO3 (s) + H2 (g) and determined the optimum particle size for the catalysts. The best performance was shown by a 2 h ball milled Raney nickel with average crystallite size of 209 Å. This reaction serves the dual purpose of carbon sequestration and yielding hydrogen gas