Archives-January 2013

This paper deals with the geotechnical investigation of Geopathic Stress Zone. The energy from the earth at specific locations that have the ability to change the normal functioning of human system is called Geopathic Stress. In Structures, soil is an important component; change in Geotechnical Properties of the soil affects the stability of the structure. Experimental investigations on soil at Geopathic Stress Zone reveal that there is change in the properties of soil, due to such energies emitted by the earth, 30% of accidents take place. Investigations carried out by the researchers at mysterious accidental spots on Mumbai-Pune expressway has confirmed accidents occur due to existence of Geopathic stress, but there is no geotechnical investigations carried out on such accidental spots. This paper aims at finding out the change in soil properties due to presence of Geopathic Stress Zone. The conclusions are justified by carrying out different tests on soil such as, “determination of water-content, specific gravity, density, plastic and liquid limits, conductivity, electrical Resistivity and pH value.” The variation in the values of the Geotechnical Properties of soil at Geopathic stress zone is remarkable.

Exhaust of simple, reheat and inter-cooling cycle of gas turbine cycle posses a lot of energy. Sometime this energy is so much that it can run another cycle or it can be used to heat the compressed air from the compressor to the combustion charmer that results to increase the overall efficiency of the plant. Air Bottoming Cycle (ABC) was proposed as an alternative for the conventional steam bottoming cycle. In spite of the cost of reducing hardware installations it could achieve a thermal efficiency of 80%. This paper is the parametric analysis of regenerative ABC Combine Cycle. The variables are compression ratio of topping cycle, peak temperature of the combustion chamber and mass flow rate of bottoming cycle. The result shows the gain in net work output as well as efficiency of combined cycle is 14% to 33%.

Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons of 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the effect of integrated nitrogen management nutrient uptake, quality, economics and soil fertility of pearlmillet under rainfed conditions. Applications of 50% RDN through FYM + 50% through urea, 80% RDN through vermicompost + 20% through urea and 25% RDN through FYM + 75% through urea were found the most superior and equally effective treatments in terms of total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, protein content in grain, grain yield, net returns and B:C ratio. Significantly, higher total uptake of nitrogen (66.73 kg/ha), phosphorus (14.48 kg/ha) and potassium (97.16 kg/ha), protein content in grain (11.83%), grain yield (2.22 t/ha) net returns ( 11169/ha) and B:C ratio (1.95) were recorded where 50% RDN through FYM + 50% through urea was applied. Whereas, application of 100% RDN through FYM was proved most superior treatment for improvement in post experiment soil fertility by increased soil organic carbon, N, P and K content

The need for eco friendly alternatives to conventional cutting fluids arises because usage of conventional cutting fluids poses threat to ecology and health of workers. The present work focuses on performance of nano solid lubricant suspensions in vegetable oils in turning of AISI1040 steel in minimum quantity lubrication(MQL). Soyabean, canola and coconut oils are taken as base lubricants with suspensions of 100nm sized boric acid particles. These particles are characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and particle size analyzer to confirm their purity and particle size. Variation of basic properties like thermal conductivity, specific heat and heat transfer coefficient are evaluated from empirical relations, to check the viability of nano lubricants in machining. Variation of cutting tool temperatures, average tool flank wear and surface roughness of the machined surface with cutting speed and feed are studied with the prepared nano lubricants. Results are encouraging and coconut oil seems to be more advantageous compared to other vegetable oils.

A Lamotrigine (LMG) reagent, 6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1, 2,4-triazine-3,5-diamine. Its molecular formula and molecular weight are C9H7N5Cl2 and 256.09 respectively, was employed for the sensitive spectrophotometric determination of gold(III). The gold(III) ion forms a yellow-coloured complex with LMG in an aqueous solution at pH 3.0. The gold complex shows the absorption maximum at 400 nm, and Beer, s law obeyed in the range of 10-160 µg/ml. The molar absorptivity and sandell, s sensitivity were found to be 1.38 X 103 mol -1 cm-1 and 0.0184 µg cm-2 respectively. The complex shows 1:1 [Au(III) : LMG] stochiometry with a stability constant of 4.77X104. The interference effect of various diverse ions has been studied. In addition to zero- order, first derivative spectrophotometric methods was also developed for the determination of gold(III) in trace amount which was more sensitive than the zero-order method. The developed method has been used for the determination of gold(III) in various kinds of alloys. The results was in excellent agreement with certified values.

Nature Inspired Computation defined as a computational intelligence paradigm inspired from natural biological systems (such as human brain and neural systems, Genetic Algorithms; Bees and Ants Colonies Optimization, etc........). Recently, this paradigm has been successfully applied for solving computational optimization problems, in many fields (such as, machine learning, and engineering design, etc.........). Moreover, by considering its unique computational intelligence characters of self-adaptive, self-organizing and self-learning. It is relevant to adopt its application for modeling and performance evaluation of educational Systems. Herein, the presented work motivated by recent research publications inspired by two interdisciplinary computational intelligence Models. Both have been characterized by challenged bridging of two Natural inspired Models across an interesting practical educational issue. More specifically, this piece of research concerned with the theoretical analysis and evaluation of constructive bridges of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) & Ant Colony Systems (ACS) across Open Learning Systems. Noting that motivating research publications include the following two topics: 1- Assessment of students' adaptability using ANNs models (Cognitive Styles Approach). 2- Modeling of Cooperative e-Learning Performance (ACS Approach).

Antibacterial activity of chloroform and methanol extracts of Phellinus switeniae (Murr.) S. Herrera and Bondart were studied. The activity was evaluated by well assay method and microtiter plate dilution method using sixteen strains of Acinetobacter baumanii Bouvet & Grimont. The methanol extract of Phellinus switeniae showed activity against all strains of Acinetobacter but no activity has been found in case of chloroform extract of Phellinus switeniae against all strains of bacteria. Methanol extract of Phellinus switeniae was found to be efficient against human pathogenic Acinetobacter, as low MIC values seen.

WTO brings several important benefits to the members and its agreements helping in better market access and better policy implications. These agreements cannot tackle problems originating in developing countries due to poor domestic supply response, terms of trade changes or exogenous shocks, but opens up new markets for the member countries, efficiency gains, and growth of trade and inflow of foreign products. WTO assists commodity-producing Southeast Asian countries to improve their capacity for increasing the worth of their commodities through processing and manufacturing as well as marketing. At the same time, developing countries should press developed countries to reduce subsidy escalation and allow better market access for processed and commodity-based manufactured products, and thus help commodity producers reap better benefits from the trading system. Therefore WTO policies impact on Southeast Asian countries is positive as well as negative in some aspects. Improvement in production/marketing technology, provision or strengthening of basic infrastructural facilities such as those of packaging, transportation, storage, marketing information etc. and assured factor supplies which improve the comparative advantage can be helpful in increasing the export supply of major agricultural products i.e. coffee and tobacco. Policies and programmes which aim at reducing the yield risk in coffee and tea production will be helpful in increasing the export supply. These agreements significantly improve the stability of market access. WTO has also played a positive role in strengthening domestic policies for better management of agricultural sector crisis of Southeast Asian countries by making the healthy investment atmosphere over a longer period of time.

Experiential learning method (ELM) is more strategic and easy to implement activities for language learning. When experience is made the nucleus of the learning process, learning takes place automatically. It is also possible to make ELM a guiding star to show the destination of communication. Successful learning of language skills occurs through the process of experiential learning cycle. This method allows the learning transformation to take place within the learner without much enforcement from the teachers and allows the learners to naturally overcome the inhibition and actively participate in doing activities. This method also permits learner independency and getting familiarized with the learning methods. The learner’s personal experience becomes the point of initiation for learning experience. Familiarity of the context and the content chosen for the classroom activities, enable the learners to involve fully which, in turn, allows the learning possible. The present experiment was done with a group of 30 students from the second year under graduate course of an arts and science college situated in Thrissur, Kerala state.

MHD peristaltic flow of a conducting fluid with heat transfer in a vertical asymmetric channel through porous medium is investigated under long wave length and low Reynolds number assumptions. The flow is examined in a wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the wave. The channel asymmetry is produced by choosing the peristaltic wave on the walls to have different amplitudes and phase. The analytical solutions have been computed for the axial velocity and temperature. The pressure rise and the frictional force are obtained. The effects of different parameters on the pressure rise, velocity, temperature and shear stress are discussed numerically. The phenomenon of trapping is further investigated.