Phonon dynamics of plutonium chalcogenides and pnictides

We have investigated the phonon dynamics of the plutonium compounds (PuX; X = S, Se, Te, As, and Sb) by using rigid ion (RIM) and breathing shell models (BSM), later includes breathing motion of the electrons of the Pu-atoms due to f-d hybridization. We discuss the significance of these two approaches in predicting the phonon dispersion curves of PuX compounds and examine the role of electron-phonon interactions. Dominant ionic nature of bonding has been predicted for PuX compounds from the large LO-TO phonon splitting at zone center. We also report the one phonon density of states and first time calculated the lattice specific heat for these compounds.     

Steady-state creep of orthotropic rotating disks of variable thickness

Creep analysis of orthotropic rotating disks with variable thickness has been carried out for secondary stage of creep. Norton's power law of creep is employed to derive general expressions for stresses and strain rates in the disks. These expressions have been utilized to find stress and strain rate distributions for disks with the following types of thicknesses - (i) constant thickness, (ii) linearly varying thickness, and (iii) hyperbolically varying thickness. The numerical computations to study the effects of anisotropy and the profile of the disks on stresses and strains have been carried out employing the method of successive approximations. Five different cases of anisotropy have been considered. Selecting a certain type of material anisotropy and an optimum profile for the disk may result in a better design for the turbine disks.     

Design and development of long-period grating sensors for temperature monitoring

Long Period Gratings (LPGs) have been developed using carbon dioxide laser in a standard optical fibre. LPGs with a periodicity of 600 μm and grating length of 24 mm have been inscribed on standard single mode fibre. Such gratings have been used in designing temperature sensors and temperature is monitored up to 80°C. The sensitivity of such type of sensor is 0·06 nm/°C where as for standard Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) it is 0·011 nm/°C. The LPG performance is also evaluated after γ-ray irradiation for total dose of 5 KGy and has not shown any effect on transmission spectrum.     

Dietary fish oil enhances macrophage production of nitric oxide

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare but well-documented lesion of neuroectodermal derivation. Maturation of the neural elements has been reported only occasionally. We report a case of MNTI of the maxilla showing maturation of neural elements to ganglionic cells.     

Microbend losses in singlemode optical fibers: theoretical andexperimental investigation

A systematic study of microbend effects in singlemode optical fibers is presented. An algorithm is developed to characterize optical attenuation as a function of the spatial period of the microbend deformation. Optical attenuation peaks are described in terms of central wavelength, amplitude, and spectral width. An excellent correlation is shown between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions, with nominal errors of less than 2.5%     

Effect of Malonaldehyde on the Rheological Properties of Wheat Flour

The addition of malonaldehyde (MA) results in significant changes in the visco-elastic behaviour of wheat flour dough. Incorporation of MA in wheat flour also enhances its rate of maturation during subsequent storage. After storage, MA treated wheat flour had lesser extensibility and higher resistance, dough development time and stability than the untreated sample. Altered visco-elastic behaviour of wheat flour has been explained by the reaction of MA with sulphohydryl and amino groups.     

Histological and biochemical changes in the female genital tract of rats and mice after methallibure treatment

Methallibure administration caused reduction of gonadal weights in female rats and mice indicative of suppression of pituitary gonadotrophins. In the ovaries of the methallibure treated females, there was a great atresia of the follicles and of the corpora lutea. Methalbure caused atrophic changes in the endometrial lining of the vagina. Uterine horns became thin after methallibure treatment. A significant decrease in protein, RNA and sialic acid concentration in uterus and vagina was observed following methallibure treatment. Uterus of treated animals showed decreased glycogen contents. Histological and biochemical changes in the female genital tract of rats and mice suggested that the drug caused antifertility effect due to its possible antiestrogenic action.