Cosmic ray density gradient and its dependence on the north-south asymmetry in solar activity

An analysis of the diurnal anisotropy on geomagnetically quiet days was performed using neutron monitor data at Deep River, Leeds, Rome and Tokyo, well distributed in latitude and longitude for the period 1964-79. The days were separated according to the polarity of IMF on that day. A significant difference in the amplitude and phase was found on towards and away polarity days, particularly during the years of high solar activity and large north-south asymmetry. These results (particularly time of maximum) on geomagnetically quiet days show some better relationship to the expected results as compared to the results obtained using all the days in a year

Potentiality of Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidans in Microbial Solubilization of Phosphate Mine Tailings

This paper deals with the solubilization behavior of the tailings produced by the floatation of a complex low grade phosphate ore. The composition of the tailings was essentially dolomite (52.04%) with minor amounts of phosphate, iron and aluminium oxides (10.4 and 0.5% respectively). The presence of these products created uncontrolled land pollution and severely affected groundwater. An initiative has been taken up for utilization of this waste to generate an eco-friendly product. First step towards this panorama is incorporation of suitable microorganisms for the biodegradation of this effluent. Sulphur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans produces sulphuric acid which neutralizes the dolomitic tailings and convert it into plant available forms. The solubilization activity was tested in sulphur medium with 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentration of tailings. The solubilization is graded on the basis of pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), soluble calcium and magnesium and soluble phosphate. The results from ex-situ experiments showed that the treatment with 15% tailings ended with highest solubilization. The values of pH, EC, soluble calcium and magnesium and soluble phosphate for this treatment were 4.92, 31.6 dS/m, 10.8 mL EDTA and 17.24 µg/mL respectively. Also, the results proved that sulphur oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is capable of solubilizing dolomitic tailings from the Jhamarkotra mines. Finally, an important factor taken into account wassolubilization of residual phosphate along with dolomite in the tailings. This combined action affects the solubilization behaviour of the residue, which was also showed successfully with the assayed laboratory studies

IONS (ANURADHA): Ionization states of low energy cosmic rays

IONS (ANURADHA), the experimental payload designed specifically to determine the ionization states, flux, composition, energy spectra and arrival directions of low energy (10 to 100 MeV/amu) anomalous cosmic ray ions of helium to iron in near-Earth space, had a highly successful flight and operation Spacelab-3 mission. The experiment combines the accuracy of a highly sensitive CR-39 nuclear track detector with active components included in the payload to achieve the experimental objectives. Post-flight analysis of detector calibration pieces placed within the payload indicated no measurable changes in detector response due to its exposure in spacelab environment. Nuclear tracks produced by alpha-particles, oxygen group and Fe ions in low energy anomalous cosmic rays were identified. It is calculated that the main detector has recorded high quality events of about 10,000 alpha-particles and similar number of oxygen group and heavier ions of low energy cosmic rays

Transport and Magnetic Properties of FexVse2 (x = 0 - 0.33)

We present our results of the effect of Fe intercalation on the structural, transport and magnetic properties of 1T-VSe2. Intercalation of iron, suppresses the 110K charge density wave (CDW) transition of the 1T-VSe2. For the higher concentration of iron, formation of a new kind of first order transition at 160K takes place, which go on stronger for the 33% Fe intercalation. Thermopower of the FexVSe2 compounds (x = 0 - 0.33), however do not show any anomaly around the transition. The intercalation of Fe does not trigger any magnetism in the weak paramagnetic 1T-VSe2, and Fe is the low spin state of Fe3+.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, 2 table

Energy input–output analysis and mechanization status for cultivation of rice and maize crops in Sikkim

Rice and maize are main cereal crops cultivated in Sikkim.  In this paper energy input–output and the level of agricultural mechanization for cultivation of rice and maize in Sikkim state of India has been presented.  The data were collected on area under rice and maize crops, sources of power and agricultural tools/implements used total production through village survey.  It has been observed that the traditional practices of cultivation of rice and maize crops consumed an average energy input of 3338.984 MJ ha-1 and 4386.435 MJ ha-1 respectively.  Data analysis showed that about 60% of the total input energy in the present cultivation practices comes from human and animal power sources.  The output–to–input energy ratio was observed to be 7.66 and 5.86 for rice and maize, respectively.  The observational estimate showed that average productivity of rice and maize crop in the region is only 924.0 kg ha-1 and 431.0 kg ha-1, respectively, which is very low.  Mechanization and machine energy indices were found to stand at a value of 0.3618 and 0.3244, respectively for rice crop cultivation, and 0.2612 and 0.2111, respectively for maize crop cultivation.  The average farm power availability in the state has been estimated as 0.70 kW ha-1.   Keywords: agricultural mechanization in Sikkim, energy input and output, rice and maize crops, grain productivit

Vibrational studies of biomolecules. I. 2-Thiouracil

IR, far-IR and Raman spectra of 2-thiouracil are reported and interpreted. All the thirty normal modes could be assigned. The Raman spectrum and the vibrational assignments for all the thirty modes are reported for the first time. The ring breathing and Kekule stretching modes for 2-thiouracil are observed to have lower magnitudes when compared to those for uracil which could be due to the mass effect of the sulphur atom in place of the oxygen atom

An improved magnetic field simulator - MAGFLD.

An improved two-dimensional simulator MAGFLD has been developed which is useful for the design and simulation of periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing system for linear beam tubes. At present, input is possible only through the input file, which is very simple and user friendly. A complete PPM circuit is generated using the coordinates of first pole piece, first magnet, gun adapter (if the structure is a-periodic) and the region of computation. Small mesh units of either square or rectangular shapes can be used with mesh refinement capability in one or more regions in any or both directions for better accuracy of the solution. Materials with different magnetic permeability can be modeled by defining a characteristic value for each mesh point of the geometry. The effective potential value at each point in the region of interest is calculated based on the vector potential model by using the 5-point finite difference method and the solution is achieved by over relaxation technique for faster convergence. This package has an interface with EGUN to model the electron gun and collector under the influence of magnetic field. Versatile color graphics are capable of plotting both axial magnetic field and flux lines along with the magnetic circuit. MAGFLD has been validated against some published data and experimental results