Economics of Sheep and Goat Rearing under Extensive, Semi-Intensive and Intensive Methods of Rearing

Sheep and goat rearing practices are followed since from the civilization of the human beings over the period of years, millions of people in the world. Sheep and goat population in southern region is consistently increasing mainly due to increase in number of keepers. Several feeding management systems are being followed. The study was carried out in Mandya and Mysuru districts of Karnataka. The random sampling technique was adopted in selecting sample for the study. 180 farmers (90 sheep farmers, 90 goat farmers) were selected at randomly. The results of the study revealed that overall outlay required for beginning sheep farm were, in extensive rearing (` 1,74,706), semi-intensive (` 2,31,243) and in intensive rearing (` 6,33,857) respectively. With respect to goat farm, extensive rearing (` 1,33,881), semi-intensive (` 1,96,673) and in intensive rearing (` 4,61,041) respectively. The total cost per annum was relatively low in goat rearing across all the rearing methods, extensive rearing (` 1880/animal), semi-intensive rearing (` 2355/animal) and in intensive rearing (` 3811/animal) compared to sheep rearing, extensive rearing (` 2060/animal), semi-intensive rearing (` 2638/animal) and in intensive rearing (` 3874/animal).The net return per animal was higher in goat rearing across all the rearing methods, extensive rearing (` 1537/animal), semi-intensive rearing (` 2174/animal) and in intensive rearing (` 4186/animal) compared to sheep rearing, extensive rearing (` 1092/animal), semi-intensive rearing (` 2020/animal) and in intensive rearing (` 3983/animal)

Interlayer structure of iodide intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDHs)

The iodide-containing layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Mg and Zn with Al crystallize by the inclusion of extensive positional disorder of I- ions in the interlayer region. I- ion given its poor charge to size ratio can neither screen effectively the positive charge nor participate in H-bonding with the metal hydroxide layers. Thereby the I- ions are not stabilized in sites close to the seat of positive charge of the metal hydroxide layers (6c), nor in sites that facilitate H-bonding (3b or 18h). On the other hand, OH- from water can do both and effectively displaces I- from the interlayer. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Effect of mfd viscosity on the onset of ferromagnetic fluid layer heated from below and cooled from above with constant heat flux

The effect of magnetic field dependent (MFD) viscosity on the onset of convection in a ferromagnetic fluid layer heated from below and cooled from above in the presence of vertical magnetic field is investigated theoretically. The bounding surfaces are considered to be either rigid-ferromagnetic or stress free with constant heat flux conditions. The resulting eigenvalue problem is solved using the Galerkin technique and also by regular perturbation technique. It is found that increase in MFD viscosity and decrease in magnetic number is to delay the onset of ferroconvection, while the nonlinearity of fluid magnetization has no influence on the stability of the system

Ferromagnetic Convection in a Heterogeneous Darcy Porous Medium Using a Local Thermal Non-equilibrium (LTNE) Model

The combined effects of vertical heterogeneity of permeability and local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) on the onset of ferromagnetic convection in a ferrofluid saturated Darcy porous medium in the presence of a uniform vertical magnetic field are investigated. A two-field model for temperature representing the solid and fluid phases separately is used. The eigenvalue problem is solved numerically using the Galerkin method for different forms of permeability heterogeneity function Γ(z) and their effect on the stability characteristics of the system has been analyzed in detail. It is observed that the general quadratic variation of Γ(z) with depth has more destabilizing effect on the system when compared to the homogeneous porous medium case. Besides, the influence of LTNE and magnetic parameters on the criterion for the onset of ferromagnetic convection is also assessed

Effect of γ-​irradiation on the dielectric and conductivity properties of nano-​Wollastonite

Nanocryst. porous CaSiO3 ceramic powders have been synthesized by a novel low-​temp. initiated self-​propagating, gas-​producing soln. combustion method. Single phase β-​CaSiO3 (Wollastonite) is formed by calcination at 900°C for 3h. The crystn. and phase formation temps. in this method are found to be lower compared to the powder obtained via solid state reaction method. The powder is characterized by powder XRD (X-​Ray Diffraction)​, and crystallite sizes are evaluated using Scherrerf's formula as well as from TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy)​. The Wollastonite powder is exposed to 60Co γ-​radiation to accumulated doses of 1, 3, and 5 KGy and low-​frequency (102-​106 Hz) dielec. measurements are carried out before and after irradn. The dielec. cond. is estd. from the dielec. const. and loss tangent. Exposure to γ-​radiation results in substantial modification in the properties of the ceramic powder due to changes in the porosity of the material. The correlation between dielec. and cond. properties is discussed in relation to porosity effect

Synthesis, structural and transport properties of nanocrystalline La1−xBaxMnO3 (0.0≤x≤0.3) powders

Nanocrystalline La1−xBaxMnO3 (0.0≤x≤0.3) manganites have been prepared by a simple and instantaneous solution combustion method, which is a low temperature initiated synthetic route to obtain fine-grained powders with relatively high surface area. The phase purity and crystal structure of the combustion products are carried out by powder X-ray diffraction. The as-made nanopowders are in cubic phase. On calcination to 900 °C, barium doped manganites retain cubic phase, whereas barium free manganite transformed to rhombohedral phase. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) results revealed that the combustion-derived compounds are agglomerated with fine primary particles. The doped manganites have surface area in the range 24–44 m2/g. The surface area of the manganites increases with barium content, whereas it decreases on calcination. Both undoped and doped lanthanum manganites show two active IR vibrational modes at 400 and 600 cm−1. The low temperature resistivity measurements have been carried out by four-probe method down to 77 K. All the samples exhibit metal–insulator behaviour and metal–insulator transition temperature (TM–I) in the range 184–228 K and it is interesting to note that, as the barium content increases the TM–I shifts to lower temperature side. The maximum TM–I of 228 K is observed for La0.9Ba0.1MnO3 sample

A novel amperometric catechol biosensor based on α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals-modified carbon paste electrode

In this work, we designed an amperometric catechol biosensor based on α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals (NCs) incorporated carbon-paste electrode. Laccase enzyme is then assembled onto the modified electrode surface to form a nanobiocomposite enhancing the electron transfer reactions at the enzyme’s active metal centers for catechol oxidation. The biosensor gave good sensitivity with a linear detection response in the range of 8–800 μM with limit of detection 4.28 μM. We successfully employed the sensor for real water sample analysis. The results illustrate that the metal oxide NCs have enormous potential in the construction of biosensors for sensitive determination of phenol derivatives

Hydrothermal synthesis of Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors: Effect of surfactant on structural and luminescence properties

Various morphologies of Eu3+ activated gadolinium oxide have been prepared by hydrothermal method using hexadecylamine (HDA) as surfactant at different experimental conditions. The powder X-ray diffraction studies reveal as-formed product is hexagonal Gd(OH)(3):Eu3+ phase and subsequent heat treatment at 350 and 600 degrees C transforms to monoclinic GdOOH:Eu3+ and cubic Gd2O3:Eu3+ phases respectively. SEM pictures of without surfactant show irregular shaped rods along with flakes. However, in the presence of HDA surfactant, the particles are converted into rods of various sizes. The temperature dependent morphological evolution of Gd2O3:Eu3+ without and with HDA surfactant is studied. TEM micrographs of Gd(OH)(3):Eu3+ sample with HDA confirms smooth nanorods with various diameters in the range 20-100 nm. FTIR studies reveal that HDA surfactant plays an important role in conversion of cubic to hexagonal phases. Among these three phases, cubic phase Gd2O3:Eu3+ (lambda(ex) = 254 nm) show red emission at 612 nm corresponding to D-5(0)-> F-7(2) and is more efficient host than the monoclinic counterpart. The band gap for hexagonal Gd(OH)(3):Eu3+ is more when compared to monoclinic GdOOH:Eu3+ and cubic Gd2O3:Eu3+. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

Effect of Li+-​ion on enhancement of photoluminescence in Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors prepared by combustion technique

Gd2O3:Eu3+ (4 mol​%) nanophosphor co-​doped with Li+ ions have been synthesized by low-​temp. soln. combustion technique in a short time. Powder X-​ray diffractometer (PXRD)​, SEM, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FT-​IR)​, UV-​VIS and photoluminescence (PL) techniques have been employed to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. It is found that the lattice of Gd2O3:Eu3+ phosphor transforms from monoclinic to cubic as the Li+-​ions are doped. Upon 254 nm excitation, the phosphor showed characteristic luminescence 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0-​4) of the Eu3+ ions. The electronic transition located at 626 nm (5D0 → 7F2) of Eu3+ ions was stronger than the magnetic dipole transition located at 595 nm (5D0 → 7F1)​. Furthermore, the effects of the Li+ co-​doping as well as calcinations temp. on the PL properties have been studied. The results show that incorporation of Li+ ions in Gd2O3:Eu3+ lattice could induce a remarkable improvement of their PL intensity. The emission intensity was obsd. to be enhanced four times than that of with out Li+-​doped Gd2O3:Eu3+

Magnetoresistive studies on nanocrystalline la0.8Sr 0.2MnO3+δ manganite

Low-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) measurement has been carried out on nanocrystalline La0.8Sr0.2MnO3+δ manganites prepared by combustion synthesis. This preparation method yields voluminous powders with large surface area (â¼40m2/g) having crystalline nanosize(-50 nm) products. Formation and homogeneity of the solid solutions have been confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Rietveld refinement of X-ray data indicates that as-formed compound exhibits cubic phase with space group Pm3m. However, calcined sample transforms into rhombohedral phase with space group R-3c. The stabilization of the cubic phase in as-formed manganite is due to the substitution of Sr2+ on La3+ sites, resulting in higher Mn4+ content. The low-temperature resistivity measurements down to 70 K exhibit a broad metal-insulator transition (TM-I) at around 257 K. MR measurements on sintered pellets show â¼5 MR at 1T, whereas for 4 and 7T, the MR values are found as 22 and 28, respectively, at TM-I. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved