Interpretation of genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for grain yield of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Fourteen pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) genotypes were evaluated for their yield performance at two locations during kharif season of 2009-10 and 2010-11. A significant genotypic difference for yield character was observed. Highly significant genotype–environment interaction indicated differential response of the genotypes to the environmental changes. The stability analysis showed significance of linear component of variation for grain yield. The genotypes TJT-501 (1728.667Kg/Ha) and GRG-2009-3 (1570.000 Kg/Ha) exhibited low meanperformance along with regression value nearer to unity (bi=1) and non significant deviation from regression (S2 di=0) indicating, the high stability and wider adaptability across the different environments. The genotype ICPH-2671 (3134.833 Kg/Ha) exhibited highest mean value and regression value (bi>1) and non significant deviation (S2 di < 0). But genotypes JKM-197 (3072.667 Kg/ha), GRG-2009 (29993.167 Kg/ha), TS-3R (2823.333 Kg / Ha) and ICP-8863 (2740.417 Kg/Ha) exhibited high mean performance but higher regression value (bi>1) and significant deviation (S2 di < 0) value indicating adapted for high performance environments showing these genotypes are sensitive to environments and give maximum yield when inputs are not limited

Comparison of Damage Path Predictions for Composite Laminates by Explicit and Standard Finite Element Analysis Tools

Splitting, ultimate failure load and the damage path in center notched composite specimens subjected to in-plane tension loading are predicted using progressive failure analysis methodology. A 2-D Hashin-Rotem failure criterion is used in determining intra-laminar fiber and matrix failures. This progressive failure methodology has been implemented in the Abaqus/Explicit and Abaqus/Standard finite element codes through user written subroutines "VUMAT" and "USDFLD" respectively. A 2-D finite element model is used for predicting the intra-laminar damages. Analysis results obtained from the Abaqus/Explicit and Abaqus/Standard code show good agreement with experimental results. The importance of modeling delamination in progressive failure analysis methodology is recognized for future studies. The use of an explicit integration dynamics code for simple specimen geometry and static loading establishes a foundation for future analyses where complex loading and nonlinear dynamic interactions of damage and structure will necessitate it

Influence of Shear Stiffness Degradation on Crack Paths in Uni-Directional Composite Laminates

Influence of shear stiffness degradation in an element, due to damage, on crack paths in uni-directional laminates has been demonstrated. A new shear stiffness degradation approach to improve crack path prediction has been developed and implemented in an ABAQUS/Explicit frame work using VUMAT. Three progressive failure analysis models, built-in ABAQUS (TradeMark), original COmplete STress Reduction (COSTR) and the modified COSTR damage models have been utilized in this study to simulate crack paths in five unidirectional notched laminates, 15deg, 30deg, 45deg, 60deg and 75deg under uniaxial tension load. Results such as crack paths and load vs. edge displacement curves are documented in this report. Modified COSTR damage model shows better accuracy in predicting crack paths in all the uni-directional laminates compared to the ABAQUS (TradeMark) and the original COSTR damage models

Genotype and environment interaction and stability analysis for seed yield in yellow mung bean (Vigna radiata L.)

Nine yellow seeded mung (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes were evaluated along with three checks for their yield performance during three years (2007, 2010 and 2011). Pooled analysis of variance and stability analysis were performed. The genotypic (G) × environment (E) interaction and both variance due to genotypes and environment were significant. The portioning of G × E interaction into linear and non-linear components indicated that both predictable and unpredictable components shared the interaction. On the basis of stability parameters, the top yielding genotypes such as BGS-9 (605.444 Kg/Ha), Sel-4 (519.778 Kg/Ha) and China mung (567.000 Kg/Ha) exhibited high mean yield. Based on stability parameters the genotypes YM-5 (459.889 Kg/Ha), YM-8 (451.333 Kg/Ha) exhibited low mean performance along with regression value nearer to unity (bi=1) and non significant deviation from regression (S2 di=0) indicating the high stability and wider adaptability across the three environments. The genotypes BGS-9 (605.444 Kg/Ha) and Sel-4 (519.778 Kg/Ha) exhibited high mean value and bi values (bi>1) and non significant deviation (S2 di < 0) value indicating adapted for high performance environments (These genotypes are sensitive to environments and give maximum yield when inputs are not limited)

Evaluation of the performance of gum guar varieties in north eastern Karnataka, India

The climatic situation in north eastern parts of Karnataka (except Bidar district) is almost similar to that of Rajastan. There is considerable area under rainfed situations and guar being a highly drought and temperature tolerant summer annual legume crop, there is hope for guar as an alternate and contingent crop during drought year in this region. With this objective effort were made to introduce, evaluate and to identify suitable gum guar varieties for North eastern parts of Karnataka. Ten gum guar varieties developed, released and cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat state were evaluated in Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) located in Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgiri, Bellary and Raichur districts of Karnataka during Kharif 2013-14. At Bidar, the top entry with respect to yield was HG-884 (679.00 Kg/ Ha), Variety RGC-1031 (793.00 Kg/Ha) performed well with respect to seed yield in Gulbarga district. Genotypes GAUG-13 (614.00 Kg/Ha) and RGC-986 (501.00 Kg/Ha) recorded higher seed yield respectively, in Bellary and Yadgiri district. At Raichur GAUG-13, recorded highest seed yield of 1432.00 Kg/Ha. Over the locations genotype GAUG-13 recorded highest seed yield of 759.00 Kg/Ha followed by HG-884 (700.40 Kg/Ha) and RGC-986 (696.60 Kg/Ha). The varieties tested exhibited considerable significance differences among themselves at four locations, except at one location (Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi, Yadgir district). Variety GAUG-13, recorded highest seed yield over three locations indicating its wider adaptability

Damage Simulation in Non-Crimp Fabric Composite Plates Subjected to Impact Loads

Progressive failure analysis (PFA) of non-crimp fabric (NCF) composite laminates subjected to low velocity impact loads was performed using the COmplete STress Reduction (COSTR) damage model implemented through VUMAT and UMAT41 user subroutines in the frame works of the commercial finite element programs ABAQUS/Explicit and LS-DYNA, respectively. To validate the model, low velocity experiments were conducted and detailed correlations between the predictions and measurements for both intra-laminar and inter-laminar failures were made. The developed material and damage model predicts the peak impact load and duration very close with the experimental results. Also, the simulation results of delamination damage between the ply interfaces, in-plane matrix damages and fiber damages were all in good agreement with the measurements from the non-destructive evaluation data

Test and Analysis of Sub-Components of Aluminum-Lithium Alloy Cylinders

Integrally machined blade-stiffened panels subjected to an axial compressive load were tested and analyzed to observe the buckling, crippling, and postcrippling response of the panels. The panels were fabricated from aluminum-lithium alloys 2195 and 2050, and both alloys have reduced material properties in the short transverse material direction. The tests were designed to capture a failure mode characterized by the stiffener separating from the panel in the postbuckling range. This failure mode is attributed to the reduced properties in the short transverse direction. Full-field measurements of displacements and strains using three-dimensional digital image correlation systems and local measurements using strain gages were used to capture the deformation of the panel leading up to the failure of the panel for specimens fabricated from 2195. High-speed cameras were used to capture the initiation of the failure. Finite element models were developed using an isotropic strain-hardening material model. Good agreement was observed between the measured and predicted responses for both alloys

GENETIC VARIABILITY, CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS STUDIES IN SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR L. MOENCH)

Experiment was conducted to study the genetic variability, association among the yield component traits, their direct and indirect effects on the yield of sorghum. All the genotypes showed considerable amount of variation in their mean performances with respect to the characters studied, indicates presence of sufficient variability and scope for further selection and breeding superior and desirable genotypes.GCV played a major role for the expression of the traits. Fodder yield/plant (34.08) had high GCV, followed by Grain yield/Ha (29.88), Grain yield/plant (28.48), Ear head length (12.89), Test weight (11.04), Seed set % (10.25), Plant Height (9.05), Days 50% flowering (8.35) and Ear head breadth (8.27). Heritability in narrow sense ranged from 50.30 (ear head breadth) to 92.20 (grain yield). High GA observed for grain yield (1376.74) coupled with high heritability (92.20), indicating the preponderance of the non-additive gene action; suggesting that hybridization breeding will be effective. Ear head length (0.443) and seed set % (0.705) were positively associated with grain yield per hectare indicating any increase in these traits will increase the yield. Ear head length, test weight and seed set percent had positive direct effect on yield indicating importance of these characters, which can be strategically used to improve the yield of sorghum

Three-Dimensional High Fidelity Progressive Failure Damage Modeling of NCF Composites

Performance prediction of off-axis laminates is of significant interest in designing composite structures for energy absorption. Phenomenological models available in most of the commercial programs, where the fiber and resin properties are smeared, are very efficient for large scale structural analysis, but lack the ability to model the complex nonlinear behavior of the resin and fail to capture the complex load transfer mechanisms between the fiber and the resin matrix. On the other hand, high fidelity mesoscale models, where the fiber tows and matrix regions are explicitly modeled, have the ability to account for the complex behavior in each of the constituents of the composite. However, creating a finite element model of a larger scale composite component could be very time consuming and computationally very expensive. In the present study, a three-dimensional mesoscale model of non-crimp composite laminates was developed for various laminate schemes. The resin material was modeled as an elastic-plastic material with nonlinear hardening. The fiber tows were modeled with an orthotropic material model with brittle failure. In parallel, new stress based failure criteria combined with several damage evolution laws for matrix stresses were proposed for a phenomenological model. The results from both the mesoscale and phenomenological models were compared with the experiments for a variety of off-axis laminates

Knowledge Attitude and Practice on Sexual Health Education among Teachers of Intellectually Challenged Children in Villupuram District

Sexual health education has always been a controversial topic. Parents of intellectually challenged children experience fear about other people that they might take advantage of their child, thus special educators have greater role in assisting children with intellectual disability in their growth and development, and sexuality is part of that growth. Special educators need to start early to educate the intellectually challenged children about sexuality-related issues and continue the conversation well into their teen years. Sexual health education helps children with an intellectual disability recognize if someone is trying to take advantage of them so they can recognize inappropriate sexual advances early on, better protect themselves from exploitation and be able to report incidents of suspected sexual abuse. Hence, all the special educators should be aware about sexual health education. Against this background, the present study is aimed at measuring the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Sexual Health Education among teachers of intellectually challenged children in Villupuram District. Having adopted descriptive research design, a total of 32 special educators were selected from 93 special educators using Simple Random Sampling Method (Lottery Method) for the study. A tool on KAP on Sexual Health Education prepared by Venkat Lakshmi and Navyas was applied by the authors to measure the KAP on Sexual Health Education. Salient findings and Suggestions pertaining to the study will be discussed in the full paper. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Sexual Health Education, Teachers of Intellectually Challenged Children, Role of Teachers