Dimensions and Determinants of Peoples’ Participation in Watershed Development Programmes in Rajasthan

Peoples’ participation has been at the centre-stage of the resource conservation and rural development efforts in the developing countries. The study on peoples’ participation in watershed development programmes in Rajasthan has revealed that a very low proportion of beneficiaries is contributing at different stages of the programme in terms of either labour or finances or both. The determinants of participation have been identified using Tobit regression. The institutional effectiveness has been found as the key factor towards guaranteeing involvement of people in the watershed programmes. The other factors positively related with peoples’ participation are training of farmers, age, and frequency of the visit of extension workers. A negative relationship has been found between participation and off-farm income. Therefore, efforts should be made for developing effective local institutions, capacity building through training of farmers and providing off-farm employment opportunities in the countryside itself for safeguarding the livelihoods of people in the rainfed areas.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Strings, Junctions and Stability

Identification of string junction states of pure SU(2) Seiberg-Witten theory as B-branes wrapped on a Calabi-Yau manifold in the geometric engineering limit is discussed. The wrapped branes are known to correspond to objects in the bounded derived category of coherent sheaves on the projective line \cp{1} in this limit. We identify the pronged strings with triangles in the underlying triangulated category using Pi-stability. The spiral strings in the weak coupling region are interpreted as certain projective resolutions of the invertible sheaves. We discuss transitions between the spiral strings and junctions using the grade introduced for Pi-stability through the central charges of the corresponding objects.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX; references added. typos correcte

Optimización de secciones CFS bajo flexión usando el Algoritmo Genético

Economization of the structural systems by optimizing the elements is the recent trend receiving much attention in structural engineering designs. In this work, a numerical study is made to arrive at the optimal proportions of the cold-formed steel (CFS) Lipped C, Lipped Z, and Rectangular Hollow Flange sections (RHFB) when used as flexural members. Web depth to developed length ratio (k) and the flange width to lip depth ratio (a) are the two parameters taken for this optimization. Genetic algorithm was used to obtain the optimum values. Investigations are carried out on the variation in the moment capacity to the changes in dimensions of web, flange and lip. In this work developed length ranging from 100 mm to 500 mm and thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm were adopted. The moment capacity and buckling behavior of (CFS) sections are verified by non-linear finite element analysis using ABAQUS.La tendencia actual en los diseños de la ingeniería estructural es el abaratamiento de los sistemas estructurales mediante la optimización de sus elementos. En este trabajo se emplean métodos numéricos para obtener las dimensiones óptimas de secciones conformadas en frío (CFS) tipo C, Z y en I con perfiles huecos rectangulares (RHFB) que se usan para piezas en flexión. Para la optimización se usaron dos parámetros, la relación entre la dimensión del alma y la longitud del desarrollo (k) y la relación entre la longitud del ala y la longitud del labio (a). Los valores óptimos se obtuvieron mediante algoritmos genéticos. Se investiga la variación del momento resistido con las variaciones en la dimensión del alma, el ala y el labio. Las longitudes de desarrollo consideradas en este trabajo van de 100 mm a 500 mm y los espesores adoptados desde 1 mm a 3 mm. El momento resistido y el comportamiento a pandeo de las secciones conformadas en frío (CFS) se verifican mediante el análisis por elementos finitos no lineales usando ABAQUS

Multiple-response optimization of cutting forces in turning of UD-GFRP composite using Distance-Based Pareto Genetic Algorithm approach

AbstractThis paper presents the investigation of cutting forces (tangential and feed force) by turning of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced plastics (UD-GFRP) composite. Composite materials are used in variety of engineering applications in different fields such as aerospace, oil, gas and process industries. Process parameters (tool nose radius, tool rake angle, feed rate, cutting speed, depth of cut and cutting environment) are investigated using Taguchi's robust design methodology. Taguchi's L18 orthogonal array is used to conduct experimentation. The experimentation is carried out with Carbide (K10) Tool, covering a wide range of machining conditions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed for significant parameters and later regression model is developed for the significant parameters. The relative significance of various factors has also been evaluated and analyzed using ANOVA. Distance-Based Pareto Genetic Algorithm (DBPGA) approach is used to optimize tangential and feed force. Predicted optimum values for tangential force and feed force are 39.93 N and 22.56 N respectively. The results of prediction are quite close with the experimental values

A heuristic for placement of limited range wavelength converters in all-optical networks

Wavelength routed optical networks have emerged as a technology that can effectively utilize the enormous bandwidth of the optical fiber. Wavelength converters play an important role in enhancing the fiber utilization and reducing the overall call blocking probability of the network. As the distortion of the optical signal increases with the increase in the range of wavelength conversion in optical wavelength converters, limited range wavelength conversion assumes importance. Placement of wavelength converters is a NP complete problem [K.C. Lee, V.O.K. Li, IEEE J. Lightwave Technol. 11 (1993) 962-970] in an arbitrary mesh network. In this paper, we investigate heuristics for placing limited range wavelength converters in arbitrary mesh wavelength routed optical networks. The objective is to achieve near optimal placement of limited range wavelength converters resulting in reduced blocking probabilities and low distortion of the optical signal. The proposed heuristic is to place limited range wavelength converters at the most congested nodes, nodes which lie on the long lightpaths and nodes where conversion of optical signals is significantly high. We observe that limited range converters at few nodes can provide almost the entire improvement in the blocking probability as the full range wavelength converters placed at all the nodes. Congestion control in the network is brought about by dynamically adjusting the weights of the channels in the link thereby balancing the load and reducing the average delay of the traffic in the entire network. Simulations have been carried out on a 12-node ring network, 14-node NSFNET, 19-node European Optical Network (EON), 28-node US long haul network, hypothetical 30-node INET network and the results agree with the analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved

Designing asymmetric multilayered membrane filters with improved performance

Asymmetric multilayered filters, comprising a series of membranes with varying pore sizes stacked on top of one another, allow filtration to be tailored in a variety of novel ways. We develop a network model that systematically captures the complex filtration behaviour in such multilayer filters. The model allows us to understand the response of the system when challenged with a particular feed composition, characterized through the particle size and adhesivity to the membrane. We show how the model enables comprehensive and time-efficient sweeps in parameter space to be conducted that determine the optimal mulilayered filter configuration for a given filtration challenge, classified by the number of membrane layers, the change in pore size between each layer (filter taper angle), and the level of trans- pore interconnectivity between each layer. The model allows us to isolate and analyse the effect of each of the specific filter characteristics and identify the practical merits and disadvantages. In particular, we predict that the optimal arrangement for maximizing throughput through the filter is to have pore radius gradually decreasing with depth a slight level of pore interconnectivity, with the precise set-up a function of the particle size, adhesivity and number of filter layers. The results of the analysis are used to draw conclusions on the design of membrane filters for optimal filter performance

Comparative In vitro and In vivo study of antioxidants and phytochemical content in Bacopa monnieri

Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs for the majority of the world’s population. Plant secondary  metabolites  are  economically  important  as  drugs,  fragrances,  pigments,  food  additives  and  pesticides. Bacopa monnieri L. Penn. commonly known as “Brahmi†is an important medicinal herb of the family Scrophulariaceae. It is the foremost brain tonic herb of the Indian System of Medicine and other traditional systems, used primarily as a nerve tonic, to treat insomnia and nervous tension. Bacopa’s antioxidant properties may offer protection from free radical damage in cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Bacopa monnieri showed antibacterial effect on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria suggests the passage of active phytochemicals through both the bacterial cell wall. Microropagation is rapid, in vitro clonal multiplication method of elite clones and also helps in dissemination and ex situ conservation of this endangered medicinal plant. The present study is justifiably planned to propagate the valuable medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri L. in in-vitro condition with various combinations/ concentrations of plant growth regulators, and compare the antioxidant and photochemical content difference in the in-vivo and in-vitro cultivated plant of Bacopa monnieri