Settling characteristics of ultrafine iron ore slimes

The slurry settling characteristics are the most important to design a thickener in process industries. In this work, the iron ore slurry from the screw classifier overflow was used for the settling study. It was observed that the original slurry exhibited a low settling velocity and a turbid supernatant during the settling process. Commercial flocculating agents with anionic, cationic, and nonionic characters were used to improve the settling behavior of suspensions, which were added into the slurry at different ranges of slurry pH values, respectively. The settling results show that the use of flocculants increase the settling rate by several times. Compared with the cationic and nonionic flocculants, the anionic flocculant is more effective in enhancing the slurry settling rate. The small dose of the anionic flocculant is found to be more effective, but the other flocculants are less effective even at higher dosages. The simulation of an industrial thickener was carried out based on the laboratory settling data, and the appropriate design and selection parameters of the industrial thickener were estimated.     

Photo-induced optical changes in GexAs40Se60-x thin films

Ge-As-Se chalcogenide thin films show a wide range of photosensitivity, which is utilized for the fabrication of micro-optical elements for integrated optics. The photosensitivity of GexAs40Se60?x(x=0,15) chalcogenide thin films for UV light was presented. For that purpose, the bulk samples of GexAs40Se60?x(x=0,15) chalcogenide glasses were prepared using conventional melt quenching technique, and thin films were prepared using thermal evaporation technique. These thin films were exposed to UV light for two hours. Amorphous natures of bulk samples and thin films were verified by XRD and chemical compositions were verified by EDX measurements. The thicknesses of the thin films were measured using a thickness profilometer. Linear optical analysis of these thin films was done using transmission spectra in wavelength range of 300?900 nm. Optical bandgap was determined by first peak of transmission derivative as well as extrapol ation of Tauc’s plot. R2 analysis was done using R software to ensure that the material is indirect bandgap material. It is observed that two hours UV exposure causes photo-darkening along with photo-expansion in As40Se60 thin films, while photo-bleach ing and photo-densification for Ge15As40Se45 thin films. However, the amounts of photo-induced optical changes for Ge15As40Se45 thin films are smaller than those for As40Se60 thin films. The changes in optical absorption, bandgap and thickness are understood base d on the bonding rearrangement caused by UV exposure.     

A brief survey of computerized expert systems for crop protection being used in India

In the recent years, a plethora of computerized expert systems has been developed for various sectors of agriculture in India. The availability of low cost computers, agricultural knowledge and information technology professionals are the principal reasons for the development of so many agricultural expert systems. Among all agricultural expert systems, the expert systems for crop protection need special mention. These expert systems are meant to be used by farmers and other persons without much experience of using computers. Hence, special care must be taken while developing them. The current paper develops a taxonomy for the expert systems for crop protection and briefly discusses four such expert systems for crop protection being used in India.     

中国公路沥青路面水损害气候影响分区方案

为了了解中国气候条件对沥青路面水损害的影响情况,对沥青路面水损害研究成果进行了回顾与分析,认为影响沥青路面水损害的主要气候因素为:降水、高温以及冻融循环过程.降水与高温过程组合以及降水与冻融循环过程组合是影响沥青路面水损害的两个主要气候过程.针对这两个主要气候过程,构建了降水气温指数和降水冰冻指数,用于评价上述气候过程对沥青路面水损害的影响.分析结果表明:利用降水气温指数和降水冰冻指数划分中国公路沥青路面水损害气候影响分区是合理可行的;根据各个气候指数的工程意义和等概率原则,确定了分区界限,拟定了包含14个区的分区方案.     

Human oestrogen receptor cDNA: sequence, expression and homology to v-erb-A

We have cloned and sequenced the complete complementary DNA of the oestrogen receptor (ER) present in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The expression of the ER cDNA in HeLa cells produces a protein that has the same relative molecular mass and binds oestradiol with the same affinity as the MCF-7 ER. There is extensive homology between the ER and the erb-A protein of the oncogenic avian erythroblastosis virus.     

Interruption of acoustic communication and mating in a leafhopper and a planthopper by aerial sound vibrations picked up by plants

Summary Each sex of the cotton leafhopper and the rice brown planthopper communicates with the opposite sex by certain specific sound vibrations which travel through the plant surface and lead to mating. External sounds of certain frequencies, viz., 200 c/sec, generated by a harmonium or an audio-oscillator are picked up from the air by the plants and interrupt the acoustic communication as well as mating of the insects. Notes with harmonics are effective whereas pure notes are ineffective.The authors gratefully acknowledge P.L. 480 grant No. FG-IN-551 from the US Department of Agriculture for project No. IN-ARS-90, under which this work was carried out.