Measurement of dsigma/dy for high mass Drell-Yan e+e- Pairs at CDF

We report on the first measurement of the rapidity distribution dsigma/dy over nearly the entire kinematic region of rapidity for e+e- pairs in the Z-boson region of 66116 GeV/c2. The data sample consists of 108 pb-1 of pbar-p collisions at sqrt{s}=1.8 TeV taken by the Collider Detector at Fermilab during 1992--1995. The total cross section in the Z-boson region is measured to be 252 +- 11 pb. The measured total cross section and dsigma/dy are compared with quantum chromodynamics calculations in leading and higher orders.Comment: 3 pages, Presented by Arie Bodek for the CDF Collaboration at DPF-2000, Columbus, Ohio, August 200

Integrating fish into seasonally flooded rice fields: on-farm trials in Assam, India

In the State of Assam, floodplains cover 2.6 million ha of area that is traditionally rice growing. The ecosystem in the rice-growing areas has undergone major changes as a result of various developmental activities and adoption of modern farming technology. Rice fields were once the major source of fish for the rural farmers. There has been a sharp decline in fish population in rice field leading to a chronic shortage of fish in the State and a deterioration of the rice ecosystem. This paper describes two on-farm experiments for integrating rice cultivation and fish production with the intent of contributing to the understanding of how raising fish can improve rice yields, riceecosystems and farm incomes

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE ORGANIC RACE

Organic production is carried out under an extensive regulatory setup because organic products are sold as value-added products with certified organic labelling in developed countries. Production is strictly monitored at every step in production chain. Organic production apart from being eco-friendly offers higher net returns per unit area compared to conventional agriculture. Organic production uses traditional tillage systems, crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, mineral bearing rocks, and biological pest and weed control to maintain soil productivity. Thus, an organic farm should be a self contained system of production with minimal dependence on external inputs. Those farms having dairy as one of the active components will have to convert to organic livestock management so that manures supplied are as per requirements for organic production. The dairy products can also be certified organic to fetch higher prices. Organic farming is a highly labour intensive enterprise. Some of the major organic accreditation agencies are IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), FiBL, Demeter and many more. APEDA has also developed national standards for organic production. Indian farmers face many challenges in adoption of certified organic production. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA.Genetically engineered cultivars or plant materials are not permitted in organic production. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA.Before products from a farm/project can be certified as organic, inspection shall be carried out during the conversion period. To ensure a clear separation between organic and conventional production, the certification programme (agency) shall inspect, where appropriate, the whole production system. Organic production is one area of agriculture which can convert India’s ‘Green Revolution’ into ‘Evergreen Revolution’

A novel method of pure oxy-fuel circulating fluidized bed combustion with zero recirculation flue gas : experimental validation

Applying oxy-fuel combustion requires more advanced combustion control methods to avoid inadmissible high flam temperature. In fluidized beds and pulverized unites, enhanced heat transfer and recirculation flue gas are used. On other hand, higher oxygen concentration has pluses viz. better heat transfer, higher efficiency, compact setup and lower installation and operating costs. In pulverized power unites, pure oxy-fuel combustion is used with 100% O2 in the oxidant. In contrast, the highest experimental O2 % in oxy-fuel circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustor is 70%. To the best of authors’ knowledge, there is no single CFB power plant operating under pure oxygen condition. In this work, we are aiming to use pure oxygen for oxy-CFB combustion, with new temperature controlling method for CFBs depending on combustion staging by fuel staging rather than using RFG. Fuel staging allows controlling combustion and varying SR. At the first stage, the used oxidant is 100% O2, and fuel is fed to achieve over SR (λ>1), where the excess oxidant absorbs heat and does not take a part in the reaction. The products of the first stage are reach of O2 and subsequently it is used as an oxidant for the second stage. For validation, a series of experiments are conducted using mini-CFB, and an oxidant of 100% O2 concentration is used with three SR ratios λ=1.25, 2.0, and 3.0. The resulted average temperatures along the riser for biomass are 1031°C, 950°C, and 798°C; and for coal 1129 °C, 1051 °C, and 961 °C respectively. The controlling of AFT with pure oxy-fuel combustion eliminates the recycled flue gas (RFG) in oxy-fuel CFB combustion and flue gas recirculation section; this simplifies the power plants’ design, fabrication and its installing-operating costs. Familiarising this concept can accelerate adapting oxy-fuel combustion in CFB power plant for Carbon Capturing and Sequestration (CCS). This contribution can commence and commercialise the third generation of oxy-fuel CFB combustion with zero recycled flue gas. Finally, the concept of controlling AFT by SR (λ) is validated experimentally

Water-Assisted Synthesis of Next Generation 2D Materials for Energy Storage

Over the years, various nanomaterials are continuously researched and synthesised to improve energy storage devices' energy and power densities. Two-Dimensional (2D) materials have developed great interest as a new prototype in materials science due to their collective advantages of ultrathin thickness and tuneable physical and chemical properties. The application of these nanomaterials extends to energy storage, water purification, catalysis, biosensors, antibacterial films, and coatings, thereby prompting the development of viable techniques for synthesising nanomaterials. However, challenges of further size reduction of nanomaterials with a simultaneous low cost, scalable and reproducible synthesis approach remain famous for sustainable progress in their practical applications. For the first time, 2D Graphene and MXene composite materials were synthesised through a Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Synthesis (CHFS) method and engineered into electrodes for electrochemical energy storage applications. CHFS is a single-step hydrothermal process involving mixing supercritical water (374 °C, 22.4 MPa) with a flow of water-soluble precursors in a reactor to obtain a rapid and controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. This synthesis method is scalable and tuneable by controlling process parameters such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure, thereby impacting the particle size, morphology, and crystal structure of nanoparticles. In addition, CHFS limits the use of toxic reagents and produces nanomaterials with desired properties in minimal time (seconds). One of the findings in this research paves way for the in-situ production and aqueous processing of functionalised MXene composites with a high electrochemical performance. Through aqueous dispersions as a green route of synthesis in CHFS, these 2D MXene and graphene derivatives were produced with enhanced electrochemical properties. This research provides a significant contribution to the expanding portfolio of continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis reactions. In this thesis, a variety of materials such as manganese (iv) oxide, manganese (iv) oxide/reduced graphene oxide (rGO), titanium (iv) oxide, titanium (iv) oxide/ reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and N-doped MXene/ titanium (iv) oxide, are hydrothermally synthesised via CHFS, developed and fabricated into electrode materials for energy storage applications. The in-depth analysis provides a comprehensive insight into how nanocomposites of promising energy storage properties are designable, made functional, and synthesised in-situ hydrothermally via CHFS from non-toxic and water-soluble precursors while delivering excellent electrochemical performance when used as electrodes in batteries

Mycosphaerella podagrariae - a necrotrophic phytopathogen forming a special cellular interaction with its host Aegopodium podagraria

We present a new kind of cellular interaction found between Mycosphaerella podagrariae and Aegopodium podagraria, which is remarkably different to the interaction type of the obligate biotrophic fungus Cymadothea trifolii, another member of the Mycosphaerellaceae (Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) which we have described earlier. Observations are based on both conventional and cryofixed material and show that some features of this particular interaction are better discernable after chemical fixation. We were also able to generate sequences for nuclear ribosomal DNA (complete SSU, 5.8 S and flanking ITS-regions, D1–D3 region of the LSU) confirming the position of M. podagrariae within Mycosphaerellacea

Further observations on a newly located prawn fishery off Saurashtra coast

The abundance of prawns in a newly located ground off Saurashtra has been described. Catch composition showed that Metapenaeus affinis formed the bulk of the catches. Previously this species was thought to be of not much commercial importance in this region. The peak of the fishery lasted from September to November. Observations on the biology of this species showed that it occurs as an independent stock in this region. The significance of the gear employed in fishing is also emphasized

Side effects of phenobarbital and carbamazepine in childhood epilepsy: randomised controlled trial

Objective: To compare the behavioural side effects associated with two commonly used antiepilepsy drugs--phenobarbital and carbamazepine--in children in Bangladesh. Design: Prospective randomised controlled single centre trial. Setting: Specialist children's hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Participants: 108 children aged 2-15 with generalised tonic-clonic (n=51) or partial and secondary generalised seizures (n=57). Main outcome measures: Seizure control and behavioural side effects. Results: 91 children were followed up for 12 months. Six required a change of antiepilepsy drug. Side effects were compared in 85 children. In the last quarter of the 12 month follow-up, 71 children were seizure free after one year's treatment. Thirty two in the phenobarbital group and 39 in the carbamazepine group had no seizures in 74 and 102 days after randomisation, respectively. Ten children had increased behavioural problems, which were unacceptable in four (one in the phenobarbital group and three in the carbamazepine group). Independent t tests, however, showed no difference between the two trial drugs. Conclusion: There was no excess in behavioural side effects with phenobarbital in children with epilepsy in a country with limited resources

The direct vapour-phase oxidation of benzene to phenol

The homogeneous gas phase oxidation of benzene to phenol with air has been studied with the objective of finding the economically optimum conditions for a commercial process for the production of phenol. The experimental work was carried out in the temperature range of 585°C to 650°C, reaction times of 0.4 to 1.2 seconds, and at a total pressure of one atmosphere. Most of the experiments were carried out in a quartz-lined reactor. It was found that benzene (less than 0.1% impurities) gave lower selectivities for phenol than Analar benzene which contained 0.3% to 0.5% impurities. The effect of a homogeneous promoter (chloroform) on the oxidation reaction was also studied. [Continues.