A 139-year dendroclimatic cycle, cultural/environmental history, sunspots, and longer-term cycles

Higher resolution time-stratigraphic records suggest correlation of lower frequency paleoclimatic events with Milankovitch obliquity/precessional cycles and of higher frequency events with the evidently resonance-related Pettersson maximum tidal force (MTF) model. Subsequently published records, mainly pollen, seemingly confirm that atmospheric resonances may have modulated past climatic changes in phase with average MTF cycles of 1668, 1112, and 556 years, as calculated in anomalistic years from planetary movements by Stacey. Stacey accepts Pettersson's dating of AD 1433 (517 YBP) for the last major perihelian spring tide based solely on calculations of moon- and earth-orbital relations to the sun. Use of AD 1433 as an origin for the tidal resonance model seemingly continues to provide a best fit for the timing of cyclical patterns in the presented paleoclimate time series.

Use of homeo drug for curing ulcerative syndrome in fishes

Fungal infection was observed in Catla catla and Labeo rohita cultured in two private fish farms. The later stage of the infection resulted in ulcerations followed by haemorrhage on the dorsal surface of the body. Initially, usual treatments of copper sulphate, potassium permanganate and common salt solution were tried, but no improvement was observed. Then repeated intramuscular injections of homeopathic drug Heaper Sulpher and Arnica spray were given with encouraging results. Infection reported in another farm was also successfully controlled using a similar treatment.

Some aspects of curing of sharks and rays

A simple method for eliminating urea almost completely from elasmobranch muscle consists in desalting the initially salted muscle in 5% brine. The initial salting removes about 58% of the urea, which occurs to the extent of 5.8 to 7.5% D.W.B. in the fresh muscle, and the desalting further reduces the urea content to negligible quantities (0.2%).

Studies on the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperatures, salinities and phytoplankton in Puttalam Lagoon, Dutch Bay and Portugal Bay along the west coast of Ceylon.

The monthly average temperatures at Puttalam Lagoon, Dutch Bay, Portugal Bay towards Kovilmunai and Portugal Bay towards Pallugaturai showed a distinct annual cycle. The peak was in April and values gradually fell till September. There was a further gradual fall in temperature from October to January. The highest temperatures in all four stations were in April. The highest salinities in all the stations were from May to October i.e., during the south-west monsoon. The salinities at Dutch Bay and Portugal Bay were high in March and April corresponding to the highest temperatures reached during these months. Two maxima have been observed in phytoplankton production. A primary maximum in May-June and a secondary maximum in October. The primary and secondary maxima are due to the influx of nutrient laden waters from the rivers Kal Aru and Pomparippu Aru. The phytoplankton producing blooms were Rhizosolenia alata. Rhizosolenia imbricata, Chaetoceros lascinosus, Chaetoceros pervianus, Ch,aetoceros diversus, Coscinodiscus gigas, Thallasionema nitzschioides, Thalassiosira subtilis, Thallassiothrix frauenfeldii, Asterionella japonica, Sceletonema costatum, Bacteriastrum varians and Biddulphia sinensis. Sudden outbursts of a single species were common. These diatoms were species of Chaetoceros and Rhizosolenia, and Thallassiothrix frauenfeldii. Wide fluctuations have been observed in the distribution of phytoplankton but no definite conclusions can be drawn as the period of observation was only one year.

Studies on the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperatures, salinities, oxygen and phytoplankton in Koddiyar Bay, Trincomalee in relation to the shore seine fishery

In Sri Lanka waters, Durairatnam (1963, 1969) had reported on the seasonal variation of plankton at Puttalam lagoon, Dutch Bay, Portugal Bay and in the inshore and off shore waters off Colombo. Similar investigations were carried out at Koddiyar Bay especially in the estuarine waters where the three tributaries of the river Mahaveli empty their waters into the bay. The estuary is perennial. The fishes constituting the estuarine fisheries are mostly shallow water marine species which can tolerate considerable variations of salinities. Prawns and crabs also constitute a very valuable fishery in estuarine waters.

Duty cycle and modelling considerations in three-phase induction motor drives for washing machines

Three-phase induction motors offer significant advantages over commutator motors in some domestic appliances. Models for wide speed range three-phase induction motors for use in a horizontal axis washing machine have been developed using the MEGA finite element package with an external formulation for calculating iron losses. Motor loss predictions have been verified using a novel high accuracy calorimeter. Good agreement has been observed over a wide speed range at different loadings. The model is used to predict motor temperature rise under typical washing machine loading conditions to ensure its limiting temperature is not exceeded and enables alternative designs to be investigated without recourse to physical prototypes. © 2005 IEEE.

Diesel Cylinder Charge Properties: Feed-Forward Control and Cycle-by-Cycle Analysis Using an In-Cylinder Gas Sampling System

Common-rail fuel injection systems on modern light duty diesel engines are effectively able to respond instantaneously to changes in the demanded injection quantity. In contrast, the air-system is subject to significantly slower dynamics, primarily due to filling/emptying effects in the manifolds and turbocharger inertia. The behaviour of the air-path in a diesel engine is therefore the main limiting factor in terms of engine-out emissions during transient operation. This paper presents a simple mean-value model for the air-path during throttled operation, which is used to design a feed-forward controller that delivers very rapid changes in the in-cylinder charge properties. The feed-forward control action is validated using a state-of-the-art sampling system that allows true cycle-by-cycle measurement of the in-cylinder CO2 concentration. © 2011 SAE International.

Redesigning the design process through interactive simulation: A case study of life-cycle engineering in jet engine conceptual design

Many aerospace companies are currently making the transition to providing fully-integrated product-service offerings in which their products are designed from the outset with life-cycle considerations in mind. Based on a case study at Rolls-Royce, Civil Aerospace, this paper demonstrates how an interactive approach to process simulation can be used to support the redesign of existing design processes in order to incorporate life-cycle engineering (LCE) considerations. The case study provides insights into the problems of redesigning the conceptual stages of a complex, concurrent engineering design process and the practical value of process simulation as a tool to support the specification of process changes in the context of engineering design. The paper also illustrates how development of a simulation model can provide significant benefit to companies through the understanding of process behaviour that is gained through validating the behaviour of the model using different design and iteration scenarios. Keywords: jet engine design; life-cycle engineering; LCE; process change; design process simulation; applied signposting model; ASM. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Smoke curing of mussels

Substantial quantities of green mussels are available on the Kerala coast particularly from Calicut to north. But these are not properly exploited at present. Simple and economic methods of processing like drying and smoking can go a long way towards market promotion and better returns to the fishermen. This paper reports the method of preparation of smoked mussels which have a great potential for export as well as local marketing.

Studies on smoke curing and preservation of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps)

A method is reported for smoke curing of oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) by dry salting in the ratio of 1:6 (salt to fish), followed by smoking in the traditional smoke chamber in two stages, (1) at 45°C for 3h hand (2) at 75°C for 2h with smoke generated from coconut husk, wood shavings and saw dust in 2:2:1 proportion. The product obtained had good odour, flavour, golden yellow colour and a shelf-life of 8 weeks at room temperature (26 to 28°C)

Time lag between catching and curing of fish and its influence on the finished product. 1. Mackerel

A study is made to determine the maximum permissible time lag both under iced and not iced storage conditions between the catching of mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and its curing, so that the quality of the finished product is within tolerable limits. Based on physical, chemical, bacteriological and taste panel studies the maximum time lag permissible is fixed as 8hrs under not iced condition and 3 days under iced condition. Icing of fish is also found to affect the tasting qualities of the finished product.