Initial mass functions of Wolf-Rayet stars

On the basis of evolutionary tracks on the HR diagram the lower limit of initial mass functions for Wolf-Rayet stars are estimated. The lower limit to the initial masses of the Wolf-Rayet stars seems to be 20M and in this respect there is no significant difference between the WN and WC stars.     

Comparison of Two Data Smoothing Techniques for Vegetation Spectra Derived From EO-1 Hyperion

Hyperspectral data are generally noisier compared to broadband multispectral data because their narrow bandwidth can only capture very little energy that may be overcome by the self-generated noise inside the sensors. It is desirable to smoothen the reflectance spectra. This study was carried out to see the effect of smoothing algorithms - Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and Savitzky–Golay (SG) methods on the statistical properties of the vegetation spectra at varying filter sizes. The data used in the study is the reflectance spectra data obtained from Hyperion sensor over an agriculturally dominated area in Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh). The reflectance spectra were extracted for wheat crop at different growth stages. Filter sizes were varied between 3 and 15 with the increment of 2. Paired t-test was carried out between the original and the smoothed data for all the filter sizes in order to see the extent of distortion with changing filter sizes. The study showed that in FFT, beyond filter size 11, the number of locations within the spectra where the smooth spectra were statistically different from its original counterpart increased to 14 and reaches 21 at the filter size 15. However, in SG method, number of statistically different locations were more than those found in the FFT, but the number of locations did not changing drastically. The number of statistically disturbed locations in SG method varied between 16 and 19. The optimum filter size for smoothing the vegetation spectra was found to be 11 in FFT and 9 in SG method.     

Assessing the relative packing behaviour of Chandarpur and Khairagarh sandstones of Proterozoic Chhattisgarh Basin

The paper concerns mainly with properties of packing of the Proterozoic Chandarpur and Khairagarh sandstones of Chhattisgarh Basin. An attempt has been made to decipher the nature of boundary between Chandarpur Group and overlying Raipur Group on the basis of grain packing. For the purpose of study based on eight representative thin sections of Chandarpur and Khairagarh sandstones, measurements of grain size distribution, types of grain contacts, packing density (Pd), packing proximity (Pp) and linear regression analysis has been carried out. The relation of packing density with packing proximity of Khairagarh sandstone shows positive correlation coefficient (r) with linear regression equation (y) and no clear trend in packing proximity (Pp) vs grain size (Is) is observed whereas Chandarpur sandstone shows packing density increases and packing proximity decreases with linear regression equation (y) and correlation coefficient (r). Chandarpur grain size tends to increase with packing density (Pd) whereas packing proximity (Pp) increases but Khairagarh sandstone packing density (Pd) decrease with increase of grain size (Is) and packing proximity (Pp) tends to increase with decrease in grain size. Above study indicates that packing behaviour of Chandarpur sandstones and Khairagarh sandstones are entirely different.     

Anisotropy from full waveform inversion of multicomponent seismic data using a hybrid optimization method

Seismic waveforms contain valuable information about the media, but the waveform inversion is a non‐linear problem. We present a waveform inversion method that combines a local optimization method with a genetic algorithm to determine the anisotropic parameters of a horizontally stratified medium. Synthetic seismograms for a horizontally stratified anisotropic medium are calculated using the reflectivity technique. In the initial stage of the inversion, the global space‐sampling properties of the genetic algorithm are used to direct the search to the region close to the global solution. This solution is then further improved using a conjugate‐gradient method. The numerical experiments performed with noisy synthetic data show that our hybrid optimization method satisfactorily reconstructs the anisotropic parameters at a reasonable computing cost while the range of slowness is adequate. We found that (i) for small‐angle data neither single‐ nor multiple‐component data are sufficient to determine the anisotropic parameters uniquely; (ii) for medium‐angle data the multiple‐component data are sufficient to determine the anisotropic parameters exactly whereas the single‐component data are not sufficient; and (iii) for wide‐angle data, either single‐ or multiple‐component data are sufficient to determine the anisotropic parameters accurately.     

Some thougths on the evolution of Himalaya and the Northern limit of the Indian Shield

Based on the sedimentological studies and the distribution of fossil-bearing horizons in the Himalaya a new model for the evolution of Himalaya is visualized. It is proposed that the Lesser and Central Himalaya constitute an integral part of the Peninsular Indian shield. The unfossiliferous orthoquartzite-shale-carbonate sequences of Lesser and Central Himalaya represent Precambrian sediments, deposited in a shallow tidal sea. Within the Lesser Himalaya there are thin detached marine fossiliferous horizons of three ages, viz. Carboniferous-Permian, Jurassic-Cretaceous and Eocene, located in a narrow E-W running zone (Dogadda-Subathu Zone), representing deposits of three transgressions in this zone.This zone is analogous to the Narbada Valley zone of the Peninsular India, where rocks of Permian, Cretaceous and Eocene ages are present. This model properly explains the unfossiliferous nature of the Lesser Himalayan sediments and demands the northern limit of Indian Plate north of Himalaya.

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Zusammenfassung Aufgrand sedimentologischer Untersuchungen und der Verteilung fossilführender Schichten im Himalaya wird ein neues Modell der Himalayaentwicklung dargestellt. Es wird angenommen, daß der Außen- und Zentralhimalaya fester Bestandteil des indischen Schildes waren. Die fossilleeren Abfolgen von Orthoquarziten, Tonen und Kalken des Außen- und Zentralhimalaya bestehen aus präkambrischen Sedimenten, die ehemals in einem Flachmeer unter Gezeiteneinfluß abgelagert wurden. Im Bereich des Außenhimalaya finden sich geringmächtige Einschaltungen mit mariner Fauna, die dem Permokarbon, Jura/Kreide und Eozän zuzuordnen sind. Sie liegen innerhalb einer schmalen E/W-verlaufenden Zone (Dogadda-Subathu Zone) und entsprechen 3 Transgressionen in diesem Gebiet.Diese Zone ist dem Narbada Valley-Bereich der indischen Halbinsel vergleichbar, wo ebenfalls Ablagerungen aus Perm, Kreide und Eozän angetroffen werden.Durch dieses Modell läßt sich die Art der fossilleeren Sedimente des Außenhimalaya erklären. Es führt zu der Annahme, daß die Nordgrenze der indischen Platte nördlich des Himalaya zu suchen ist.

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Résumé Un nouveau modèle de l'évolution de l'Himalaya est présenté, basé sur des études sédimentologiques et sur la répartition des horizons fossilifères, suivant lequel l'Himalaya Central et Externe ferait intégralement partie du boncliez péninsulaire Indien.Les séquences non fossilifères d'orthoquartzites-schistes-carbonates de l'Himalaya Central et Externe représentent des sédiments précambriens déposés dans un environnement marin peu profond soumis aux marées. Dans la région de l'Himalaya Externe, on observe de minces intercalations fossiliferes marines correspondant à trois phases de transgression, au Permo-Carbonifére, au Jurassique-Crétacé et à l'Eocène. Ces horizons sont localisés dans une zone étroite, de direction E-W, la zone de Dogadda-Subathu.Cette zone est comparable à la Valleé de Narbada en Inde péninsulaire, qui comporte également des dépôts permiens, crétacés et éocènes. Le modèle propose permet d'expliquer la nature non fossilifère de la plupart des sédiments de l'Himalaya Externe et conduit á rechercher la limite Nord de la plaque indienne au Nord de l'Himalaya.

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Plane Symmetric Domain Wall in Lyra Geometry

In this paper general solutions are found for domain walls in Lyra geometry in the plane symmetric spacetime metric given by Taub. Expressions for the energy density and pressure of domain walls are derived in both cases of uniform and time varying displacement field β. It is also shown that the results obtained by Rahaman et al [IJMPD, 10, 735 (2001)] are particular case of our solutions. Finally, the geodesic equations and acceleration of the test particle are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

At‐a‐station hydraulic geometry relations, 1: theoretical development

This paper, the first of two, hypothesizes that: (1) the temporal variation of stream power of a river channel at a given station with varying discharge is accomplished by the temporal variation in channel form (flow depth and channel width) and hydraulic variables, including energy slope, flow velocity and friction; (2) the change in stream power is distributed among the changes in flow depth, channel width, flow velocity, slope, and friction, depending on the boundary conditions that the channels has to satisfy. The second hypothesis is a result of the principle of maximum entropy and the theory of minimum energy dissipation or its simplified minimum stream power. These two hypotheses lead to families of at‐a‐station hydraulic geometry relations. The conditions under which these families of relations can occur in the field are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Malaria and related environmental issues in India: a case study of Aligarh city

Malaria is one of the most widespread diseases in the world. Endemic malaria no longer occurs in many temperate zones as a result of social and economic improvement. At present malaria is the Third World's most dreaded killer. It kills over 1 million people and causes 300–500 million episodes of illness. In India, malaria-reported deaths have shown an upward trend. In 1955, a drive to eradicate malaria was launched in India. But after initial success it failed and malaria made a comeback. Malarial mosquitoes generally prefer unpolluted natural breeding sites but now they have adapted to the changed urban environment. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine the occurrence of malaria and related environmental issues in a small town of India. Aligarh city, lying in the shadow of the country's capital New Delhi, was selected as a case study. Data were collected mainly from household surveys with the help of questionnaire interviews. About 2,185 households belonging to different income groups were sampled. The differences in the occurrence of malaria in the different income households (in 87% low, 69% lower-middle, 65% middle, 14% upper-middle, and 5% upper) suggest that most of these differences are related to the environmental conditions existing inside and outside their homes, such as poor drainage system, poor sullage disposal, open blocked drains, waterlogging and indoor water storage in open containers. Commitment both by the Government and local residents is needed to improve the environmental conditions and eradicate malaria.     

Vermicomposting of domestic waste by using two epigeic earthworms (Perionyx excavatus and Perionyx sansibaricus)

The composting potential of two epigeic earthworms (P. excavatus and P. sansibaricus) was studied in 2002 to breakdown the domestic waste under laboratory conditions. The experimental container with P. sansibaricus showed maximum mineralization and decomposition rate than that of P. excavatus. Except for exchangeable K (it was higher (P = 0.004) in a container with P. excavatus), the domestic waste processed by P. sansibaricus showed about 6% more total nitrogen (P = 0.002) and about 7% more available P (P = 0.269) at the end than by P. excavatus. As compared with the initial level organic C content as well as C:N ratio showed a considerable reduction that was noted higher in substrate with P. sansibaricus than those by P. excavatus (organic C, t-test: P = 0.870; C:N ratio, t-test: P = 0.002). The growth (biomass increase) and reproduction parameters such as mean individual live weight, maximum individual growth rate (mg wt./worm/day), number of cocoons and reproduction rate (cocoon/worm/day) were higher in bedding with P. sansibaricus. The maximum earthworm mortality was in vermibed having P. sansibaricus (～50% higher than by P. excavatus) (t-test: P = 0.423), since both species did not show a drastic difference in waste mineralization rate, but comparatively, P. excavatus exhibited better growth and reproduction performance, which further support the suitability of the species for large scale vermiculture operations.