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Notes: Summary The bacteria production rates in the rumen have been estimated by injecting14C- and35S-labelled mixed rumen bacteria, either live or killed by treatment with formaldehyde, into the rumen and applying isotope dilution technique. The rate of bacteria production when estimated by using either live- or dead-(protected-)labelled bacterial cells were comparable.

Notes: Summary Total microbial protein synthesis rates in the rumen of buffaloes were estimated by isotope dilution technique, using131I-albumin treated with tannic acid as a marker. The animals were fed groundnut cake treated with formaldehyde to meet 50% of their digestible crude protein (DCP) requirement and 2.5% urea molasses mixture was given to meet the remaining requirement of DCP. Wheat straw was fed as the basal roughage. The total average microbial protein synthesis was 58.14 g/day.

Notes: Summary White leaf disease of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon Pers.) has been reported from a few countries to be caused by a mycoplasma-like organism. We have tried to observe the causal agent in white leaf diseased plants ofC. dactylon collected near Varanasi. Both tetracycline treatment and electron microscopy have revealed the presence of mycoplasma-like bodies in phloem cells of the diseased plants.

Notes: Summary A new process of removing saponins from Mahua seed cake, a commonly available tree of genusBassia, has been developed. The processed cake when added to the rations of calves to the extent of 50% digestible crude protein replacement, had no adverse effect on growth rate of cross-bred dairy calves.

Notes: Summary The adiabatic vertical velocity fields in the pressure coordinates were evaluated at the intervals of 200 mb in a vertical column extending from 1000 mb to 200 mb surface on a mesh covering Indian region. The computed adiabatic vertical velocity was used in the thermodynamic energy equation to obtain diabatic vertical velocity. The rainfall patterns were seen to be in agreement with rising motion. The computed diabatic vertical velocity is generally about an order of magnitude larger than adiabatic vertical velocity at each of the three levels viz., 800, 600 and 400 mb.

Notes: Summary Inspite of the well known limitation of quasi-geostrophic model in the tropics, computations of adiabatic and diabatic vertical velocities with quasi-geostrophic baroclinic model was made at intervals of 200 mb from 1000 to 200 mb for the Indian region. The fields of vertical velocity and rainfall are discussed.

Notes: Summary The diabatic heating in pressure coordinate was computed at intervals of 200 mb on a mesh covering Indian region for the strong monsoon epoch using a dynamic model. The computed diabatic heating at each of the three levels viz. 800, 600 and 400 mb were seen to be generally supported by the distribution of rainfall. The reported amount of rainfall was seen to be of right order of magnitude to produce the computed diabatic heating.

Notes: Die design is heavily experience based and the die design process is an iterative procedure of trial and error in order to obtain a final die design for the successful manufacture of stampings. Most automotive industries use internal guidelines and past experience for die design. Even though powerful computer-aided design systems are being used in automotive industry, the lack of adequate analysis tools at the initial die geometry design stage hinders the die manufacturing process, and also necessitates lead times of the order of 5–30 weeks [1]. At the concept design stage, and during the initial die development process, the variations in geometry and process conditions are so large that it is prohibitively expensive to use 3D finite element analysis. The complexity of die design heuristic knowledge hinders the development and application of knowledge-based systems. Hybrid intelligent systems are computer programs in which at least one of the constituent models simulates intelligent behaviour [2]. These models could be knowledge-based systems, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic systems, etc. In this approach both artificial neural networks, knowledge-based systems and finite-element analysis (FEA) for modelling the design process are used. A simulation-based design approach [3] for the die design process is followed. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are preliminary design tools which indicate the formability of the component geometry, for the selected process and material conditions. The ANN module is trained from FEA results for a generic set of component geometries, process conditions, and material properties. The final die design validation is carried out by FEA. The intelligent frame-work incorporates rules for material selection, process parameter selection and their modification. Component geometry is a critical parameter which affects the manufacturability of the given part. Hence, an intelligent geometry handling module, which automatically modifies and optimises the geometry of the designed die, is implemented in the present system. Knowledge-based blackboard architecture is used for the integration of various analysis models such as CAD, FEA, and ANN, as an intelligent framework for die design [4]. The hybrid intelligent system provides an integrated decision support environment for simulation and analysis of the forming process, both during the initial die design phase and during the die tryout phase. The hybrid intelligent systems approach supports the capability for automatic evaluation of prospective die design for manufacturability, and performs automatic modification of design inputs. Applications of the hybrid intelligent system for die design are described together with a comparison with shop floor data.