Design of sparse linear arrays by Monte Carlo importance sampling

The formation of acoustic images in real-time requires an enormous computational burden. To reduce this demand the use of sparse arrays for beamforming is mandated. The design of these arrays for adequate mainlobe width and low sidelobe level is a difficult nonlinear optimization problem. A new approach to the joint optimization of sensor placement and shading weights is discussed. Based on the concept of importance sampling an optimization method is presented and some examples given to illustrate its effectiveness.     

A multivariate statistical study of copper mineralization in the central section of Mosaboni Mine, Eastern Singhbhum, India

A multivariate statistical analysis was carried out with log-transformed values of Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Ag, Cr, Mn, Ca, and Sr in several sets of samples collected across the mineralized base metal zone in sheared soda granite, feldspathic schist, and chlorite schist from the central section of Mosaboni Mine of the famous Singhbhum Copper Belt of eastern India. Linear correlation coefficient matrices of two sets of ore samples (>0.5% Cu)—one from levels 18 and 21 and the other from levels 25 and 28—indicate two well-defined and distinct clusters comprising Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, and Zn on one hand and Ca, Sr, and Mn on the other. Varimax-rotatedR-mode factor analysis of two above-noted sample sets, taken along with available geologic information, indicates that over 80% of the variability in data matrices for 9–10 elements can be accounted for by four distinct processes: (a) an early phase of copper mineralization which apparently replaced Mn, Ca, and Sr in the host rock; (b) a silicate-cum-oxide phase of crystallization/recrystallization of host rock; (c) remobilization of sulfide-forming ore elements (Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, and Zn); and (d) a phase of mineralization of Ag which appears to have replaced Cr, Ca and Cu. Process (c) was quantitatively most important. Factor score studies are suggestive of preferred introduction of Ni, Co, Pb, and Zn along central parts of preexisting copper-mineralized zones.     

Rice Husk Ash as a Low Cost Adsorbent for the Removal of Methylene Blue and Congo Red in Aqueous Phases

Adsorption is of significant importance for effluent treatment, especially for the treatment of colored effluent generated from the dyeing and bleaching industries. Low cost adsorbents have gained attention over the decades as a means of achieving very high removal efficiencies to meet effluent discharge standards. The present article reports on batch investigations for color removal from aqueous solutions of Methylene Blue (MB) and Congo Red (CR) using Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as an alternative low cost adsorbent. The performance analysis was carried out as a function of various operating parameters, such as initial concentration of dye, adsorbent dose, contact time, shaker speed, interruption of shaking and ionic concentration. Performance studies revealed that a very high percentage removal of color was achievable for both dyes. The maximum percentage removal of MB was 99.939%, while 98.835% removal was observed for CR. These percentage removals were better than existing systems. Detailed data analysis indicated that adsorption of MB followed the Temkin isotherm, while CR followed the Freundlich isotherm. These isotherms were feasible within the framework of experimentation. Batch kinetic data, on the other hand, indicated that pseudo second order kinetics governed adsorption in both cases. Sensitivity analysis further indicated that the effects of initial dye concentration, shaker speed, pH and ionic strength had no noticeable effect on the percentage dye removal at equilibrium. Batch desorption studies revealed that 50% acetone solution was optimum for CR, while desorption of MB varied directly with acetone concentration.     

Land productivity assessment and mapping through integration of satellite and terrain slope data

Evaluation and mapping of spatial variations of land productivity is very important for effective landuse planning. The present study was undertaken in watershed of the Song river (Dehra Dun district, U.P.), for assessing and mapping land productivity using modified Storie Index following integrated approach. This approach utilizes soilscape information (derived from digital IRS-IA LISS-II data), soil characteristics (field observed and laboratory analysed) and terrain slope information (obtained from Survey of India topographical maps). The approach consists of preparation of Storie Index productivity rating factors such as: A (soil profile character), B (soil texture), X (soil physical and fertility conditions), and C (land slope), and computerised integration of these maps to generate land productivity map. The results indicate that in the watershed 30.6%, 19.6%, 12.2%, 11.8% and 18.8% areas have been found to be under good, fair, poor, very poor and not suitable, land productivity classes, respectively.     

New U-Pb ages of zircons in the Owk Shale (Kurnool Group) with reflections on proterozoic porcellanites in India

Felsic tuff beds with some presumed sedimentary components were reported from the Owk Shale (Kurnool Group; bearing Neoproterozoic fossils) in the upper part of the sedimentary succession in the Cuddapah basin in India by Saha and Tripathy (2012a). Our optical and SEM petrographic study of three thin sections, however, indicates that the parent samples are sandy mudstones with variable amounts of a felsic volcaniclastic component. New highquality U-Pb (SHRIMP and LA-MC-ICPMS) ages of 133 detrital zircon grains from a sample show that one grain is ca. 1880 Ma, one grain is ca. 3300 Ma, and the ages of the remaining 131 grains fall between 2690 Ma and 2429 Ma, the population averaging 2522 ± 36 Ma. The data indicate that the zircons are detrital grains derived from the ca. 2.5 Ga granitic/gneissic/greenstone basement of the Dharwar cratons that also host minor older Archean enclaves. The single 1880 Ma grain could have come from a ca. 1.9 Ga LIP. In the absence of any younger magmatic zircon, the absolute age of the Owk Shale remains elusive.     

Interactive effect of cadmium and zinc on chromium uptake in spinach grown in Vertisol of Central India

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study impact and interaction of multi-metals on growth, yield and metals uptake by spinach (variety All Green). Three levels of each chromium (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg), cadmium (0, 1 and 2 mg/kg) and zinc (0, 10 and 20 mg/kg) in combinations (total treatments 3 × 3 × 3 = 27) were applied in a Vertisol (5 kg). The results showed that increasing the concentration of chromium, cadmium and zinc in soil enhanced the respective metal concentrations in spinach root and shoot. When cadmium at 2 mg/kg along with chromium at 100 mg/kg soil was applied, chromium concentration and uptake were decreased in root and shoot. Meanwhile, zinc application had no significant effect on chromium uptake and concentration in spinach biomass. From the results, it was concluded that cadmium at higher dose had an antagonistic effect over chromium. On the other hand, in chromium, cadmium and zinc combinations particularly at their higher levels, a competition among each other was found. Therefore, the findings could be used as guidelines for controlling and management of heavy metals pollution in farmland.     

Deformation behavior of migmatites: insights from microstructural analysis of a garnet–sillimanite–mullite–quartz–feldspar-bearing anatectic migmatite at Rampura–Agucha,Aravalli–Delhi Fold Belt,NW India

International Journal of Earth Sciences - In the present study we investigate the microstructural development in mullite, quartz and garnet in an anatectic migmatite hosted within a Grenvillian-age...     

Aerosol characteristics during winter fog at Agra,North India

Simultaneous measurements on physical, chemical and optical properties of aerosols over a tropical semi-arid location, Agra in north India, were undertaken during December 2004. The average concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP) increased by about 1.4 times during intense foggy/hazy days. Concentrations of SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺ and Black Carbon (BC) aerosols increased by 4, 2, 3.5 and 1.7 times, respectively during that period. Aerosols were acidic during intense foggy/hazy days but the fog water showed alkaline nature, mainly due to the neutralizing capacity of NH₄ aerosols. Trajectory analyses showed that air masses were predominantly from NW direction, which might be responsible for transport of BC from distant and surrounding local sources. Diurnal variation of BC on all days showed a morning and an evening peak that were related to domestic cooking and vehicular emissions, apart from boundary layer changes. OPAC (Optical properties of aerosols and clouds) model was used to compute the optical properties of aerosols. Both OPAC-derived and observed aerosol optical depth (AOD) values showed spectral variation with high loadings in the short wavelengths (<1 μm). AOD value at 0.5 μm wavelength was significantly high during intense foggy/hazy days (1.22) than during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days (0.63). OPAC-derived Single scattering albedo (SSA) was 0.84 during the observational period, indicating significant contribution of absorbing aerosols. However, the BC mass fraction to TSP increased by only 1% during intense foggy/hazy days and thereby did not show any impact on SSA during that period. A large increase was observed in the shortwave (SW) atmospheric (ATM) forcing during intense foggy/hazy days (+75.8 W/m²) than that during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days (+38 W/m²), mainly due to increase in absorbing aerosols. Whereas SW forcing at surface (SUF) increased from −40 W/m² during clear sky or less foggy/hazy days to −76 W/m² during intense foggy/hazy days, mainly due to the scattering aerosols like SO₄ ^2-.