Phase wise spatial and temporal variations of nitrogen dioxide during and pre COVID-19 lockdown period in tier-1 cities of India

Ashwini Kumar,Saw Gautam Kumar,Singh Ajai 대한공간정보학회 2021 Spatial Information Research Vol.29 No.6

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted basic lifestyle of everyone across the globe. To stop the conveyance of the coronavirus into the human body and to flatten the transmission rate curve, almost every country imposed a lockdown. In India, the emergency lockdown was imposed on the 24th of March 2020 which created an economic crisis in the country but proved a boon in disguise for the environment to improve its quality. The study analysed the statuses of air quality with respect to NO2 in pre and during the COVID-19 lockdown period in eight districts of India where tier I cities are located. Nitrous Oxide concentration was determined through Sentinel 5P satellites imagery and Central Pollution Control Board ground station data. The lockdown across the country has helped the environment to regain, and therefore, more studies are required to assess other parameters to explore the implementation of the provision of the well-planned lockdown of 1-week duration in a year for giving enough time to the environment to recuperate. These results show that the study areas (Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune) have witnessed a significant drop in nitrogen dioxide (14–62%) as compared to the same period in 2019. This propose an idea that the devilish, COVID-19 lockdown has proved to be an unknown tool for tranquillizing air pollution (NO2) during a lockdown within the Territory of Indian.

Weave Design Aspects of 3D Textile Preforms Towards Mechanical Properties of Their Composites

Ashwini Kumar Dash,Bijoya Kumar Behera 한국섬유공학회 2019 Fibers and polymers Vol.20 No.10

In this research, six different weave designs of 3D fabric preforms were produced which were subsequentlyconverted to their composite forms using compression molding technique. The composite flat panels thus produced werecharacterized with their response to in-plane tension, bending, and impact testing. The stuffer tows per layer to binder ratiowere kept 1:1 for all the samples. One of the preforms was produced without straight stuffer tows in order to categorize theirrole to different mechanical properties under this study. The tensile performance was found to be affected by the lineardensities of the load carrying fibres and also to the distribution of resin rich regions, determined by weave design of thepreforms. The flexural analysis revealed that the binder tows did not straighten and induce cracks like tensile properties,instead, they acted as a truss and improved bending property. Interlock weave designs showed better flexural properties thancorresponding orthogonal weave designs. The impact properties were predominantly influenced by the number of crossoverpoints in the fabric structure.

Optimization study for enhanced production of hyaluronic acid from Streptococcus equisimilus MK156140

Ashwini Kumar,Savitha Janakiraman,Lokesh Kyathsandra Nataraj 한국화학공학회 2021 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.38 No.9

Hyaluronic acid finds its complete application in areas such as therapeutics, cosmetics, and as a health supplement. In the present investigation, standardization for the production of hyaluronic acid by Streptococcus equisimilus MK156140 in complex media was performed. Some of the selected physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, speed, incubation time, sucrose, yeast extract, and beef extract were screened using Plackett-Burman foldover design. Further, the screened parameters interaction was investigated using central composite design (CCD) and closely compared with OVAT studies. At a pH of 7.38, with beef extract, 12.15%, and yeast extract 7.64%, the observed yield was 7.16 g/L, which was in close line with the predicted value of 7.21 g/L.

Understanding planform dynamics of the Ganga River in eastern part of India

Ashwini Kumar,Pathan Shehnaj Ahmed,Singh Ajai 대한공간정보학회 2021 Spatial Information Research Vol.29 No.4

To understand the natural processes of planform change, meandering and formation of braid bars, satellite sensor data of few decades play a significant role. The present research focuses on the planform dynamics of Ganga River from Sahibganj (Jharkhand) to Jalangi in West Bengal, India. This study is based on the sequential river planform maps. These maps were prepared using Landsat 1, Landsat 3, Landsat 4, Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 data for the period 1975–2015 at an interval of 5 years. The sinuosity index, braiding index and spatial analysis of maps were used to assess and classify the river into straight, braided and meander categories. This was observed that braiding index is continuously increasing and the meandering index has decreased from 1.6 to 1.24 during 1975 to 2015. The results showed the changes in channel migration with time and space. From the analysis, it is observed that the factors causing shifting of the Ganga River in some areas are natural and anthropogenic. Landsat images were found to be effective in determining the meandering index, braiding index and planform change of a river.

On the Alpha-Carbon-12 Elastic Scattering

Ashwini Kumar Behera,Ujjwal Laha,Madhura Majumder,Jhasaketan Bhoi 한국물리학회 2019 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.74 No.5

A closed form expression for the Fredholm determinant is constructed for motion in Coulomb-distorted nonlocal separable potential and expressed it in its maximal reduced form. We demonstrate the usefulness of our constructed expression by means of a model calculation.

Structural Characterization and Functional Evaluation of an Exopolysaccharide Produced by Weissella confusa AJ53, an Isolate from Fermented Uttapam Batter Supplemented with Piper betle L. Leaves

Ashwini Kumar Dubey,Kadirvelu Jeevaratnam 한국식품과학회 2015 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.24 No.6

Weissella confusa AJ53 isolated from fermented Uttapam batter supplemented with Piper betle L. leaves produced an exopolysaccharide (EPS) from sucrose. The optimum culture conditions were determined for maximum production. EPS AJ53 was characterized using spectral analysis as an unbranched linear (α-1→6 linked) dextran, homopolymer of D-glucose. Melting and degradation temperatures of EPS AJ53 were 103.84 and 265℃, respectively. EPS AJ53 exhibited antioxidant activities for scavenging of hydroxyl, DPPH, and nitric oxide radicals, and metal ion chelating and poor reducing abilities. A fat binding ability, oil emulsifying activity, and syneresis-prevention activity due to a water holding capacity were demonstrated. Application as an adjunct to provide value addition to food products is indicated. A potent flocculating ability enables EPS AJ53 to be used for water treatment and cryoprotectant applications as an alternative cryoprotective agent. The yield and properties of EPS AJ53 indicate multiple uses.

Numerical modeling of fuel rod transient response under out of pile test conditions

Yadav, Ashwini Kumar,Shin, Chang-Hwan,Lee, Chan,Lee, Sung-Uk,Kim, Hyo Chan Elsevier 2019 Progress in nuclear energy Vol.113 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>As per revised Emergency core cooling system (ECCS) acceptance criteria, a precise prediction of fuel rod behavior is essential for realistic safety analysis of nuclear reactor. In this context, a one-dimensional code name ‘TRAFR’ (Transient Response Analysis of Fuel Rod) is developed to simulate the thermo-mechanical behavior of Zircaloy-4 cladding under transient conditions. The transient simulations for inert and oxidizing atmosphere were performed under out of pile test conditions and the predicted burst strains were in good agreement with the experiments conducted in past. Under inert atmosphere, the cladding rupture was delayed and burst strain was higher in all the phases due to the absence of oxidation kinetics. In the oxidizing atmosphere, the burst strain was considerably small at high temperature in mix phase (α+β) and β-phase due to increment in cladding strength and reduction in ductility. For the same internal pressure and clad surface boundary conditions, the temperature of failure was higher for oxidizing atmosphere due to heat generation by exothermic reactions at the surface of the cladding. The clad surface temperature rise rate decreased before the burst with increment in gap width between pellet and cladding owing to decrement in gap conductance. The code under-predicted the burst strain in the mix phase (α+β) and β-phase by ‘Baker-Just’ model. The reason for such deviation was abrupt parabolic oxide growth prediction with higher exothermic heat generation and subsequent faster reduction in cladding thickness which made ‘Baker-Just’ model approach more conservative than ‘Cathcart-Pawel’ model.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A fully-coupled 1-D code named ‘TRAFR’ is developed to access thermo-mechanical behavior of cladding. </LI> <LI> The effect of oxidation was significant at high temperature resulting into lower burst strains. </LI> <LI> The conservative approach of ‘Baker-Just’ model led to abrupt parabolic oxide growth prediction. </LI> <LI> In the absence of oxidation the cladding was able to sustain against internal stresses for longer duration. </LI> </UL> </P>

Experimental and numerical investigation on thermo-mechanical behavior of fuel rod under simulated LOCA conditions

Yadav, Ashwini Kumar,Shin, Chang Hwan,Lee, Sung Uk,Kim, Hyo Chan Elsevier 2018 Nuclear engineering and design Vol.337 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The data from out-of-pile single rod experiments can provide vital information about transient temperature variation and deformation rate of the cladding which can be extensively used to assess the flow blockage under Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA). With this motivation, in the present investigation experiments were conducted at low heating rates (2–8 K/s) to simulate a LOCA scenario. The un-irradiated Zircaloy-4 clad tube was internally heated using a tungsten heater with alumina pellets as a fuel rod simulator in an inert atmosphere. The ballooning initiation led to a significant decrease in temperature rise rate owing to increase in gap width between pellet and cladding. A maximum hoop strain of 93% at 1080 K in the α-phase and minimum hoop strain of 28% at 1340 K in the β-phase was observed. The Azimuthal Temperature Difference (ATD) over the clad tube was below 18 K for all tests and therefore ballooning was essentially symmetrical. Based on the experimental results, a burst criterion has been developed to predict the burst by a code named ‘TRAFR’ (Transient Response Analysis of Fuel Rod). The predictions based on plasticity and creep deformation models were compared with experimental results. At high temperature, the PLASTIC model predicted too low burst strain due to hardening effect. The burst strain predictions by the CREEP model were in good agreement with the experimental results in all temperature zones. The time-dependent behavior of creep phenomena led to a gradual rise in hoop stress until burst. The predictions with CREEP model can be improved by optimizing stress exponent value at high temperature in β-phase where superplastic behavior of Zircaloy-4 is governed by dislocation climb induced creep. However creep behavior is more complex and as such no simple law is established.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A burst criterion for the Zircaloy-4 clad tube at low heating rates (2–8 K/s) developed using fuel simulator. </LI> <LI> Cladding temperature, fill pressure and radial deformation were recorded for code validation. </LI> <LI> A code was developed using finite difference method and plastic/creep equations. </LI> <LI> The predictions by CREEP model were better due to gradual rise in hoop stress until burst. </LI> </UL> </P>

Present Status and Future Management Strategies for Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus: A Major Constraint to the Global Sugarcane Production

Somnath Kadappa Holkar,Parameswari Balasubramaniam,Atul Kumar,Nithya Kadirvel,Prashant Raghunath Shingote,Manohar Lal Chhabra,Shubham Kumar,Praveen Kumar,Rasappa Viswanathan,Rakesh Kumar Jain,Ashwini 한국식물병리학회 2020 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.36 No.6

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) is a distinct member of the Polerovirus genus of the Luteoviridae family. SCYLV is the major limitation to sugarcane production worldwide and presently occurring in most of the sugarcane growing countries. SCYLV having high genetic diversity within the species and presently ten genotypes are known to occur based on the complete genome sequence information. SCYLV is present in almost all the states of India where sugarcane is grown. Virion comprises of 180 coat protein units and are 24-29 nm in diameter. The genome of SCYLV is a monopartite and comprised of single-stranded (ss) positive-sense (+) linear RNA of about 6 kb in size. Virus genome consists of six open reading frames (ORFs) that are expressed by sub-genomic RNAs. The SCYLV is phloem-limited and transmitted by sugarcane aphid Melanaphis sacchari in a circulative and non-propagative manner. The other aphid species namely, Ceratovacuna lanigera, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis, and R. maidis also been reported to transmit the virus. The virus is not transmitted mechanically, therefore, its transmission by M. sacchari has been studied in different countries. SCYLV has a limited natural host range and mainly infect sugarcane (Sachharum hybrid), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and Columbus grass (Sorghum almum). Recent insights in the protein-protein interactions of Polerovirus through protein interaction reporter (PIR) technology enable us to understand viral encoded proteins during virus replication, assembly, plant defence mechanism, short and long-distance travel of the virus. This review presents the recent understandings on virus biology, diagnosis, genetic diversity, virus-vector and host-virus interactions and conventional and next generation management approaches.

Unique variation of the left testicular artery passing through a vascular hiatus in renal vein

Ashwini Aithal Padur,Naveen Kumar 대한해부학회 2019 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.52 No.1

Surgeons should have a thorough knowledge regarding the morphologic variations of the testicular arteries as any injury to this artery during surgery might cause testicular atrophy. We report in here an unusual course of left testicular artery and discuss its embryological basis and its clinical implications. The left testicular artery had a high origin from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta at the level of origin of renal artery. In its further course, the left testicular artery passed through a hiatus present in the left renal vein. This unusual course of the testicular artery through the vascular hiatus might lead to its entrapment and is worth reporting in efforts to educate clinicians involved in abdominal and urogenital surgical procedures.