THE MOTOR SKILLS FOR PERFORMING MANIPURI PUNG CHOLOM

Manipuri Nata-Sankirtana is a unique type of performing art form where Manipuri male musicians sing Sankirtana using musical instruments such as Pung (Manipuri percussion musical instrument) by Pungyeiba (Pung player), Kartal (Manipuri cymbal) by Eshei-sakpa (singers), and Moibung (Conch Shell) by Moibungkhongba (conch blower) by following its prescribed sequence. The percussion musical instrument, Pung is the soul of such performance. It is necessary to know how Pung Cholom (the dexterous and vigorous movements of the body from head to toe in tune with the beats of playing Pung simultaneously in a creative manner by the Pungyeiba) is done and what are the motor skills involved in performing it. The discussion has the following objectives: Identifying the different parts of the body involved in doing Pung Cholom, knowing the basic foundations for playing Pung, and understanding the basic motor skills for performing Pung Cholom. It uses descriptive qualitative method. This utilizes the tools and techniques of interview and observation. This will bring out the different aspects of Manipuri Pung Cholom helping in the learning area of psychomotor skill, giving global benefits in performing arts.

Comparative Study of Fire Resistance and Char Formation of Intumescent Fire-Retardant Coatings Reinforced with Three Types of Shell Bio-Fillers

Three types of shell bio-fillers, including eggshell (CES), conch shell (CHS) and clamshell (CMS), were prepared by cleaning, ultrasonication and pulverizing processes of biowastes, and then applied to intumescent fire-retardant coatings. The effects of shell bio-fillers with different polymorphs on the fire resistance and char-forming of intumescent fire-retardant coatings were investigated by cone calorimeter test, fire protection tests, smoke density test, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and the fire resistance and char-forming mechanism of bio-fillers in intumescent fire-retardant coatings were proposed. The results show that three kinds of bio-fillers exert an excellent synergistic effect on enhancing the fire resistance and char-forming properties of the intumescent fire-retardant coatings, while clamshell has the best synergistic efficiency among the bio-fillers. Especially, IFRC-CMS coating containing 3 wt% clamshell shows the best fire protection performance and lowest smoke production and heat release, which offers an equilibrium backside temperature of 134.6 °C at 900 s, a flame-spread rating of 14.4, and a smoke density rating value of 22.8%. The synergistic efficiency of bio-fillers in the intumescent coatings depends on the polymorphs of CaCO3 in bio-fillers, and aragonite CaCO3 shows a higher synergistic efficiency compared to calcite CaCO3 and the mixture of aragonite and calcite CaCO3. The CMS composed of aragonite shows the best synergistic effect, CHS composed of aragonite and calcite comes second, and CES composed of calcite has the weakest synergistic effect.

Mechanical Properties of Pack Carburized SCM 420 Steel Processed Using Natural Shell Powders and Extended Carburization Time

The feasibility of using coconut shell powder (CSP) and dog conch shell powder (DCSP) as carburizing media in the pack carburization of SCM 420 steel was investigated. The carbon content and surface hardness of the carburized specimens prepared with different CSP:DCSP ratios and carburizing durations were examined and compared. A CSP:DCSP ratio of 60%:40% and an extended carburizing time of 12 h were found to increase the carbon content of the carburized specimens to 1.14 ± 0.007 wt%. Furthermore, the surface hardness was significantly improved to 961.3 ± 4.918 HV following water quenching. Finally, the thickness of the carburized layer of the quenched specimens increased by around 2.5 times as the carburizing duration was increased from 3 to 12 h.

Comparative Study of Fire Resistance and Anti-Ageing Properties of Intumescent Fire-Retardant Coatings Reinforced with Conch Shell Bio-Filler

Conch shell bio-filler (CSBF) was prepared by washing, ultrasonicating, and pulverizing of conch shells and then was applied in waterborne intumescent fire-retardant coatings. The influence of CSBF on fire resistance and anti-ageing properties of intumescent fire-retardant coatings were studied by using different analytical methods. The fire protection and smoke density tests showed that when the mass fraction of CSBF was 3%, the resulting FRC3 coating had the optimum synergistic flame-retardant and smoke-suppression effects concomitant with a flame-spread rating of 10.7, equilibrium backside temperature of 152.4 °C at 900 s, and smoke-density rating value of 10.4%, which were attributed to the establishment of a more dense and stable intumescent char layer against heat and mass transfer. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the presence of CSBF increased the thermal stability and char-forming performance of the coatings, and the char residue of FRC3 rose to 34.6% at 800 °C from 28.6% of FRC0 without CSBF. The accelerated ageing test suggested that the incorporation of CSBF reduced the migration and decomposition of the flame retardants and the yellowing, blistering, and powdering phenomenon, thus improving the structural stability of the coating, resulting in better durability of flame retardancy and smoke-suppression performance.

First record of the sound produced by the oldest Upper Paleolithic seashell horn

Anthropologists and ethnomusicologists assert that there is no society without song, and more specifically, there is no ritual or celebration without accompanying sound. The production of sounds in social contexts is very ancient. Here, we report on the study of a seashell from the decorated cave of Marsoulas and demonstrate that the Magdalenian occupants of this site transformed this shell into a wind instrument. It is one of the very rare examples, if not the only one for the Paleolithic period, of a musical instrument fashioned from a large shell, and the first conch shell of this use thus far discovered. We already know that prehistoric people transformed many shells into portable ornaments and that they thus attributed substantial corporal symbolism to them. This seashell horn, with its unique sonority, both deep and strong with an enduring reverberation, sheds light on a musical dimension until now unknown in the context of Upper Paleolithic societies.

MOORA-Driven Decision Making to Select the Optimal Specimen of Organic CMCs

Bone grafting or bone implant is a typical procedure in surgery in which a missing or broken bone is replaced in order to treat bone fractures that pose a significant health risk to the patients. Several research works have been carried out in the past few years regarding various composite materials used in bone implants, their fabrication methods, and evaluation of their physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. The use of ceramic powders and ceramic-based composites in biomedical applications are steadily increasing over years mainly due to their advantages like high compressive strength, excellent hardness, etc. In this research work, organic ceramic matrix composites with varying proportions of conch shell and sea sponge are fabricated using powder metallurgy technique and their physicomechanical properties such as density, porosity, water absorption, and micro-hardness are evaluated. Finally, optimization of process parameters is done using multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA) to select the best possible specimen of CMCs.

Pengaruh Variasi Konsentrasi NaOH Terhadap Nilai Derajat Deasetilasi Kitosan dari Limbah Cangkang Kerang Hijau (Perna viridis L)

Chitin which is the result of processing from green conch shell waste can be transformed into chitosan through a deacetylation process using variations in the concentration of NaOH. This study aims to determine the optimum conditions of variations in base concentration to the value of the degree of deacetylation of chitosan. The types of bases used are NaOH with the concentration variations of 50%, 55%, and 60%. Chitosan obtained was calculated the yield and characterized using FTIR. The results showed the optimum condition of the value of chitosan deacetylation degree was achieved by using 60% NaOH which produced the highest deacetylation degree value of 76.5%. Keywords: Green mussels shell, chitin, chitosan, deacetylation

UNUSUAL ANIMAL RESOURCES EXPLAINED IN RASA RATNA SAMUCCHAYA

Rasa Ratna Samucchaya being an important treatise of Rasashastra from 12th Century A.D consists of var-ious references regarding the usage of diverse animal resources. Resources like various products and body parts by different animals are derived and are used for various purposes in different context. They were used for the purpose of Shodhana (purification), Marana (incineration), Satwapatana (process of extrac-tion of chief constituent of any mineral), Druti nirmana (liquid form of any metal/mineral) and in prepara-tion of different Mushas (crucibles) like Vajra musha, Vajra dravanimusha, Garamusha etc., as well as in the preparation of Rasayogas (formulations). They are also used as Anupana/Sahapana (adjuvants), Pathya and Apathya (diet and regimens to be followed and avoided). Not only animal resources but utiliza-tion of resources of birds, insects, worm as well as aquatic resources like Pravala (coral), Mukta (pearl), Shankha (conch shell), Muktashukti (pearl oyster shell), Agnijara (ambergies) etc., were also explained. In addition, usage of Nara mutra (human urine), Narasthi (human bone) and Nari sthanya (breast milk) are also mentioned. This article is an effort to compile and enlist about the assorted animal resources that has been told in Ayurveda Rasashastric text Rasa ratna samucchaya written by Rasa Vagbhata.