Bianchi type-VIh string cloud cosmological models with bulk viscosity

String cloud cosmological models are studied using spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type VI_h metric in the frame work of general relativity. The field equations are solved for massive string cloud in presence of bulk viscosity. A general linear equation of state of the cosmic string tension density with the proper energy density of the universe is considered. The physical and kinematical properties of the models have been discussed in detail and the limits of the anisotropic parameter responsible for different phases of the universe are explored.     

The effects of induced magnetic field on unsteady hydromagnetic flows in a rotating medium

Unsteady flows of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid filling the semi-infinite space in contact with an infinite conducting plate in a rotating medium in the presence of a transverse induced magnetic field are investigated under an arbitrary time-dependent forcing effect on the motion of the plate where the plate and the fluid rotate uniformly as a rigid body. By using the Laplace transform technique, the Greens function of the problem is determined and certain asymptotic expansions of the exact solutions are analyzed. the steady-state oscillatory flow problem is solved, and structure of waves and displacement thickness of the boundary layers are discussed for different cases of some natural parameters in the problem. The results are compared with similar flows in the presence of a constant magnetic field.     

Unsteady MHD free-convection flows on a porous plate with time-dependent heating in a rotating medium

The three-dimensional unsteady free-convection flows of a viscous fluid near a porous infinite vertical plate in a rotating medium in the presence of a constant transverse magnetic field are investigated under an arbitrary time-dependent heating of the plate. By using the Laplace transform technique, the Green function of the problem is determined and exact solutions are obtained for special cases of the impulsive and the accelerated heating effect for an arbitrary Prandtl number. The thermal influence on skin friction at the plate and the displacement thickness of the boundary layers are discussed.     

A comprehensive and quantitative assessment of Raunthi Gad flash flood,Rishi Ganga catchment,central Himalaya,Uttarakhand, India

Natural Hazards - Drought severity is increasing in Southern Africa which is affecting rain-fed agriculture, the main source of livelihood in most countries in this region. The study assessed the...     

Influence of Drying Temperature on Three Soils Physical Properties

Changes in plasticity characteristics of three soils upon drying are examined in this paper. These changes are attributed to aggregation of particles. The key characteristic evaluated was the impact of drying temperature on the index properties, compaction characteristics and California bearing ratio. The study found the effect of drying strongly depended on soil type, mineralogy or presence of cementing agents. The observed changes are found to be permanent and the implications are that these changes may affect the field performance of test soils.     

An analysis of debris-flow events in the Sardinia Island (Thyrrenian Sea, Italy)

On 6 December 2004, the Villagrande Strisaili area (middle-east Sardinia), was struck by debris flows; 330 mm of rainfall took place within 3 h with an hourly intensity of 120 mm, which is far more above than normal for the study area. In the urban center stony and driftwood deposits accounted for a total volume estimated as 10,000 m³. The event claimed huge amount of infrastructural loss and two human lives. According to the chronicle reports, the area experienced two debris-flow events in the last century. The present paper is the outcome of an intensive study of such debris-flow events including their physical processes and geomorphological effects through both field survey and laboratory analysis.     

Development of Information Evaluation System for Smart City Planning Using Geoinformatics Techniques

Urbanization is a continuous process, which transforms the traditional setup into the modern era. Uneven population growth over the next 3 decades is expected in cities. In this context, the new technology-based solutions are desirable, which can provide more efficient and robust approaches for urban infrastructure planning. Keeping these visions, the smart city concept is evolving in the developing countries like India, which appears a new paradigm of systematic intelligent urban infrastructure planning in the city. This research work comprises of grids-based, eight different land use and infrastructure-related information evaluation systems namely urban settlements information evaluation system, water resource information evaluation system, urban green space information evaluation system, intelligent transportation information evaluation system, basic infrastructure information evaluation system, power distribution information evaluation system, telecommunication mast information evaluation system and city surveillance information evaluation system for the development of smart city priority zones in the Bhopal city, capital of Madhya Pradesh, India. The LISS IV and Cartosat 1 sensor digital Image data along with ancillary data were used. The GPS survey was carried out to confirm ground realities, and digital intelligent map was prepared for various utilities after integration of thematic layers. The geostatistical analysis and weights-based methods were used for the creation of information evaluation system for city planning. The investigation of results have shown that various parameters related to smart city planning can be analyzed in a more efficient manner by dividing the area into an appropriate size grid. The spatial integration of information evaluation systems were carried out and areas were divided into low-, medium- and high-priority zones. These prominent categories such as high-priority zones covered the 14% of the study area, similarly medium-priority zones covered the 34% of the study area and low-priority zones covered the 52% of the study area. This research work investigations are very useful for the formulation of new strategic plans, in order to achieve better land use and infrastructure features utilization for the smart city planning.     

Temporal variations in Sr and 87Sr/86Sr of the Ganga headwaters: estimates of dissolved Sr flux to the mainstream

The headwaters of the Ganga (the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and the Ganga) were analysed for their dissolved major ions, Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr on a biweekly to monthly basis over a period of one year to determine their temporal variations and the factors contributing to them. The concentrations of major ions and Sr show significant seasonal variation with lower values during monsoon period in all the three rivers. A similar trend is also observed for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Na*/Ca (Na* = Na_r? Cl_r) suggesting relatively lower contribution of Sr and Na from silicates (which are more radiogenic in Sr) during monsoon. Budget calculations show that silicate derived dissolved Sr (Sr_s) in the river Ganga, Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi varied from 10 ± 4 to 27 ± 11, 7 ± 3 to 30 ± 12, 16 ± 6 to 57 ± 23% of measured Sr respectively with lower values during monsoon. The relative decrease in silicate erosion compared to carbonate during monsoon can result from several factors, these include higher dissolution kinetics of the carbonates, lower water–rock interaction time and availability of larger area for weathering. The annual discharge weighted Sr flux derived from the time series data is higher by ～20% from that based on peak flow Sr, and lower by ～40% compared to that derived from lean flow Sr concentration. The area‐normalized annual flux of dissolved Sr from the Ganga at Rishikesh is about five times its flux at Rajshahi (Bangladesh) and a few other major global rivers, such as the Amazon, indicating higher erosion rate over the Himalaya. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A class of charged analogues of Durgapal and Fuloria superdense star

We obtain a new class of charged super-dense star models after prescribing particular forms of the metric potential g ₄₄ and electric intensity. The metric describing the superdense stars joins smoothly with the Reissner-Nordstrom metric at the pressure free boundary. The interior of the stars possess there energy density, pressure, pressure-density ratio and velocity of sound to be monotonically decreasing towards the pressure free interface. In view of the surface density 2×10¹⁴ g/cm³, the heaviest star occupies a mass 5.6996 M _⊙ with its radius 17.0960 km. The red shift at the centre and boundary are found to be 3.5120 and 1.1268 respectively. In absence of the charge we are left behind with the regular and well behaved fifth model of Durgapal (J. Phys. A 15:2637, 1982).