Advantages and Disadvantages of U.S.-India nuclear agreement

Op/Ed: U.S.-India nuclear agreement has advantagesTufts Daily, April 24, 2006

In a time when the United States-Iran nuclear dispute remains one of the most polemical topics on the international scene, passing a nuclear deal with another developing nation seems like an ironic decision to make. Yet this is exactly what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged members of Congress to do earlier this month.

During his trip to India in March, President George W. Bush struck a milestone agreement with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, promising U.S. assistance in advancing India's civil nuclear program in return for an open inspection of Indian nuclear facilities.

While Rice has been lobbying for the agreement to be passed by Capitol Hill, approving the deal will not be an easy decision to make for Congress, as it demands a deviation from 30 years of U.S. nuclear policy. (Traditionally, the United States does not aid in the nuclear development of nations that have not yet signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.)

Invariably, the agreement comes with many political implications. Though its timing is somewhat inopportune, its approval at a time when international nuclear policy is particularly stringent will only further display the serious efforts on the behalf of the United States to strengthen its ties with India. Considering that the latter is currently the world's largest democracy, with economic growth that is only surpassed by China's, the deal clearly has its advantages.

At the same time, Washington has expressed its hesitancy in passing the deal because of India's apparent relationship with Iran. India, like many other countries, has strong oil ties with Iran. The nuclear deal is partly aimed at decreasing India's dependency on Iran for energy sources; this might not lead to an immediate loosening of ties between the two countries, however.

In fact, during Bush's visit, India also played host to two Iranian sailor ships, whose arrival marked the onset of five days of joint collaborations between India and Iran, as determined by the Tehran-New Delhi Treaty of 2003. By allowing India to bypass the Non-Proliferation treaty, the United Sates may fear it is setting a bad precedent for countries such as Egypt, which might rethink their nuclear program once they no longer view the U.S. threat of retaliation as serious.

Clearly, the political effects of the nuclear deal are somewhat ambiguous, bringing many advantages and disadvantages. From an economic standpoint, though, the implications are clearer and in fact, unanimously point to positive effects.

Even though India has been experiencing incredible economic growth, it still needs to undergo many reforms before it can become fully comfortable in its role as a world power. Like most developing countries, India still lacks a proper infrastructure and needs to improve upon its living conditions. The nuclear deal might just help India to take the next step towards realizing those of its goals that are aimed at improving these critical social conditions.

With the economy barging ahead, India has been largely unable to meet its demand for a greater electricity supply, which was already scarce to begin with. Blackouts are a part of everyday life: Farmers in India, who account for approximately two-fifths of the power consumed, can hardly count on receiving power for half of the day. Many big companies build their own power plants to make sure their operations are not halted due to inefficient power failures, an option smaller corporations do not have.

Additionally, the electricity demanded is estimated to increase by 10 percent. Under such conditions, the development of nuclear plants under the United States-India agreement will allow India to better meet the challenge of the inevitably increasing electricity shortages.

Furthermore, it will also help India achieve this in a way that is not harmful to the environment. Dependence on the coal sector - which, while being the cheapest power supplier also contains the highest percentage of carbon - can be reduced. Nuclear power will provide India with a "cleaner" option, since the latter does not emit any greenhouse gases.

If the United States-India nuclear agreement is successful in its implementation, India will be armed with at least one additional policy towards improving its infrastructure. With oil prices soaring, it will also decrease India's dependence on gas and supply it with more environment-friendly options towards its growing demand for power.

Undoubtedly, the agreement comes with political repercussions. Will the United States attempt to set an example by refusing to violate the Non-Proliferation treaty for a country that might someday rival its financial power? Or will it decide to aid a developing nation and strengthen ties with a country that might be their passport to an economically prolific Asia? Only time will tell.

ABC's of Nuclear Science

Nuclear Structure.

An atom consists of an extremely small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Although typically the nucleus is less than one ten-thousandth the size of the atom, the nucleus contains more than 99.9% of the mass of the atom! Nuclei consist of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons held together by the so-called strong or nuclear force. This force is much stronger than the familiar electrostatic force that binds the electrons to the nucleus, but its range is limited to distances on the order of a few x10-15 meters.

The number of protons in the nucleus, Z, is called the atomic number. This determines what chemical element the atom is. The number of neutrons in the nucleus is denoted by N. The atomic mass of the nucleus, A, is equal to Z + N. A given element can have many different isotopes, which differ from one another by the number of neutrons contained in the nuclei. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus equals the number of protons in the nucleus. Since the electric charges of the proton and the electron are +1 and -1 respectively (in units of the proton charge), the net charge of the atom is zero. At present, there are 112 known elements which range from the lightest, hydrogen, to the recently discovered and yet to-be-named element 112. All of the elements heavier than uranium are man made. Among the elements are approximately 270 stable isotopes, and more than 2000 unstable isotopes.

Radioactivity

In 1896, Henri Becquerel was working with compounds containing the element uranium. To his surprise, he found that photographic plates covered to keep out light became fogged, or partially exposed, when these uranium compounds were anywhere near the plates. This fogging suggested that some kind of ray had passed through the plate coverings. Several materials other than uranium were also found to emit these penetrating rays. Materials that emit this kind of radiation are said to be radioactive and to undergo radioactive decay. In 1899, Ernest Rutherford discovered that uranium compounds produce three different kinds of radiation. He separated the radiations according to their penetrating abilities and named them a alpha, b beta, and g gamma radiation, after the first three letters of the Greek alphabet. The a radiation can be stopped by a sheet of paper. Rutherford later showed that an alpha particle is the nucleus of a He atom, 4He. Beta particles were later identified as high speed electrons. Six millimeters of aluminum are needed to stop most b particles. Several millimeters of lead are needed to stop g rays , which proved to be high energy photons. Alpha particles and g rays are emitted with a specific energy that depends on the radioactive isotope. Beta particles, however, are emitted with a continuous range of energies from zero up to the maximum allowed for by the particular isotope.

α Decay

The emission of an a particle, or 4He nucleus, is a process called a decay. Since a particles contain protons and neutrons, they must come from the nucleus of an atom. The nucleus that results from a decay will have a mass and charge different from those of the original nucleus. A change in nuclear charge means that the element has been changed into a different element. Only through such radioactive decays or nuclear reactions can transmutation, the age-old dream of the alchemists, actually occur. The mass number, A, of an a particle is four, so the mass number, A, of the decaying nucleus is reduced by four. The atomic number, Z, of 4He is two, and therefore the atomic number of the nucleus, the number of protons, is reduced by two. This can be written as an equation analogous to a chemical reaction. For example, for the decay of an isotope of the element seaborgium, 263Sg:

The atomic number of the nucleus changes from 106 to 104, giving rutherfordium an atomic mass of 263-4=259. a decay typically occurs in heavy nuclei where the electrostatic repulsion between the protons in the nucleus is large. Energy is released in the process of a decay. Careful measurements show that the sum of the masses of the daughter nucleus and the a particle is a bit less than the mass of the parent isotope. Einstein's famous equation, E=mc2, which says that mass is proportional to energy, explains this fact by saying that the mass that is lost in such decay is converted into the kinetic energy carried away by the decay products.

β Decay

Beta particles are negatively charged electrons emitted by the nucleus. Since the mass of an electron is a tiny fraction of an atomic mass unit, the mass of a nucleus that undergoes b decay is changed by only a tiny amount. The mass number is unchanged. The nucleus contains no electrons. Rather, b decay occurs when a neutron is changed into a proton within the nucleus. An unseen neutrino,, accompanies each b decay. The number of protons, and thus the atomic number, is increased by one. For example, the isotope 14C is unstable and emits a β particle, becoming the stable isotope 14N:

In a stable nucleus, the neutron does not decay. A free neutron, or one bound in a nucleus that has an excess of neutrons, can decay by emitting a b particle. Sharing the energy with the b particle is a neutrino. The neutrino has little or no mass and is uncharged, but, like the photon, it carries momentum and energy. The source of the energy released in b decay is explained by the fact that the mass of the parent isotope is larger than the sum of the masses of the decay products. Mass is converted into energy just as Einstein predicted.

γ Decay

Gamma rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation that results from a redistribution of electric charge within a nucleus. A g ray is a high energy photon. The only thing which distinguishes a g ray from the visible photons emitted by a light bulb is its wavelength; the g ray's wavelength is much shorter. For complex nuclei there are many different possible ways in which the neutrons and protons can be arranged within the nucleus. Gamma rays can be emitted when a nucleus undergoes a transition from one such configuration to another. For example, this can occur when the shape of the nucleus undergoes a change. Neither the mass number nor the atomic number is changed when a nucleus emits a g ray in the reaction
152Dy* ----> 152Dy + γ

Half-life

The time required for half of the atoms in any given quantity of a radioactive isotope to decay is the half-life of that isotope. Each particular isotope has its own half-life. For example, the half-life of 238U is 4.5 billion years. That is, in 4.5 billion years, half of the 238U on Earth will have decayed into other elements. In another 4.5 billion years, half of the remaining 238U will have decayed. One fourth of the original material will remain on Earth after 9 billion years. The half-life of 14C is 5730 years, thus it is useful for dating archaeological material. Nuclear half-lives range from tiny fractions of a second to many, many times the age of the universe.
For more information on half-life and isotopes, please refer to the Isotopes Project at LBNL where you can also find the Table of Isotopes online.

Reactions

If nuclei come close enough together, they can interact with one another through the strong nuclear force, and reactions between the nuclei can occur. As in chemical reactions, nuclear reactions can either be exothermic (i.e. release energy) or endothermic (i.e. require energy input). Two major classes of nuclear reactions are of importance: fusion and fission.

Fusion

Fusion is a nuclear process in which two light nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus. An example of a fusion reaction important in thermonuclear weapons and in future nuclear reactors is the reaction between two different hydrogen isotopes to form an isotope of helium:

NTSC and PAL

NTSC and PAL Formats

NTSC
NTSC stands for the National Television Standards Committee. It is a video signal standard used by the color television industry in the United States and Japan.

The NTSC is a common format used by many video compression boards.
NTSC video contains frames and fields. Most NTSC video frames consist of two interlaced fields. Each field is displayed as alternating horizontal lines across the screen. Most computer video formats are non-interlaced.

The frame aspect ratio used by the NTSC standard format is 4:3. This format uses a 640 by 480 resolution.

By using the NTSC standard for digital video, there are two areas of concern when dealing with aspect ratios. They are as follows:
· Pixel aspect ratio
· Frame aspect ratio

There are various divisions within the NTSC standard which determine what pixel and frame aspect ratios are used. These formats are as follows:
· NTSC (resolution 648 x 486 - preferred format)
· D-1 NTSC (resolution 720 x 486)
· D-1 NTSC Square Pix (resolution 720 x 540)

NTSC (Preferred Format)
This NTSC format uses a 648 by 486 resolution format. This format makes an allowance for a few additional pixels to be created on the screen edge that may be cut off when displayed. This format is also commonly used by many video compression boards.

Because this format allows you to display a video without losing the "edges" of your video during playback, this resolution seems to be the preference within the industry.

D-1 NTSC
The D-1 NTSC format uses the same standard frame aspect ratio as the NTSC format. Unlike the NTSC format, the D-1 NTSC format uses a 720 by 486 resolution using rectangular pixels.
The D-1 pixels used in the NTSC format are displayed using a vertical axis.

D-1 NTSC Square Pix
This format uses the same standard frame aspect ratio as the NTSC format. Unlike the NTSC format, the D-1 NTSC Square Pix uses a 720 by 540 resolution using rectangular pixels.

PAL
PAL stands for the Phase Alternating Line. This is a video standard used by the color television industry and is the common standard used in Europe. This video signal format sets the video to playback at 25 frames per second which contain 625 lines of pixels in each frame.

There are various divisions within the PAL standard which determine what pixel and frame aspect ratios are used. These formats are as follows:
· PAL (resolution 720 x 486)
· D-1 PAL (resolution 720 x 576)
· D-1 PAL Square Pix (resolution 768 x 576)

D-1 PAL
The D-1 pixels used in the PAL format are displayed using a horizontal axis. This format uses the same standard frame aspect ratio as the PAL format. Unlike the PAL format, the D-1 PAL uses a 720 by 576 resolution.

D-1 PAL Square Pix
This format uses the same standard frame aspect ratio as the PAL format. Unlike the PAL format, the D-1 PAL Square Pix uses a 768 by 576 resolution using rectangular pixels.

HDTV (1280 x 720)
The HDTV stands for High Definition Television. This format is a proposed definition which displays at 1280 by 720 resolution.

HDTV (1920 x 1080)
The HDTV stands for High Definition Television. This format is a proposed definition which displays at 1920 by 1080 resolution.

Film (Academy)
This format uses 2048 x 1536, a standard resolution used for digital film.

WHAT IS NTSC AND PAL STANDARD?
Although VHS video format is the same throughout the World, the video standard or electronic signal that is recorded on the cassette varies from country to country. The two most common video standards used are NTSC and PAL.NTSC is the video system or standard used in North America and most of South America. In NTSC, 30 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 525 individual scan lines.PAL is the predominant video system or standard mostly used overseas. In PAL, 25 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 625 individual scan lines.NOTE: If you want VHS PAL standard and it is stated on the product page as available in PAL, type "Want in PAL Standard" in the comments field at the bottom of the ordering page.To determine your video standard refer to the chart below:

PAL Afghanistan Algeria Argentina (N) Austria Australia Bangladesh Belgium Brazil (M) China Denmark Finland Germany Hong Kong Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Liberia Malaysia Netherlands Nigeria Norway New Guinea Pakistan Singapore South Africa South W. Africa Sudan Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uganda United Kingdom United Arab Emirates Yugoslavia Zambia

NTSC Canada Chile Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador Japan Mexico Nicaragua Panama Peru Philippines Puerto Rico South Korea Taiwan U.S.A.

What is HDTV?

Definitions for HDTV

Regular NTSC signals have 525 lines of resolution. HDTV has 1125 lines of resolution having over five times the video information than that of a conventional NTSC-type TV set. In spite of its obvious advantages, transmission requires extraordinary bandwidth of five times the capacity of a conventional TV signal. TV receivers are estimated to be 30% more expensive than today's most costly sets.

What is HDTV?
High definition television is the highest form of digital television. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is the same as a movie theater screen. This is possibly HD’s biggest selling point. The other is the resolution. High definition is the best available picture on a television. It comes in three different flavors: 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

What do 720p, 1080i and 1080p mean?
High definition programs are encoded with a type of resolution: 720p, 1080i or 1080p. The number stands for the amount of lines embedded within the signal. The letter describes the type of scan the television uses to display the picture. The ‘i’ means interlaced and the ‘p’ means progressive.

Why does the amount of lines matter?
The number of lines on a television is important because it allows for greater detail in the image. This is a similar concept to digital photos and how dpi determines print quality. The type of televisions all of us grew up watching had 480 visible lines on the screen. By doubling the amount of lines in combination with the type of scan, HD essentially doubles the quality of picture.

Does it matter if the resolution is interlaced or progressive?
The type of scan is arguable considering the amount of lines for each HD format. Progressive scan is a better type of scan because it doubles the amount of times the TV displays the image per one second in comparison to interlaced. Still, the difference between 720p and 1080i is so minimal that is isn’t an issue at all. While 1080p is better than 720p and 1080i, very few programs are made in this resolution so it really isn’t a factor right now…and, it might never be.

Can my television display HD content?
Only high definition televisions can display HD content in the HD resolution. Enhanced definition televisions can display HD content in a 480p resolution, which is DVD quality. All other televisions that are analog of standard digital will not be able to display HD content in a HD resolution because they lack the technology to do so.

How do I get HDTV?
Anyone that owns a high definition television can get high definition content. You have three options: over-the-air signals, cable or satellite. Over-the-air signals are those that a typical rooftop antenna would receive…only these signals are digital and encoded in HD. Over-the-air signals are free to receive. The only cost out of pocket would be for the equipment needed to receive them. To receive HD programming from your cable or satellite provider you would need to subscribe to their HD package. This subscription is not free. The provider might require a minimum length of service.

Does owning a HDTV mean that I am watching in high definition?
No. Owning a high definition television is just the first step in watching HD content. The second step is to acquire a HD tuner. The tuner is either built into the television or an external set-top box. The set-top boxes can be bought in stores, but most will come from the cable or satellite provider. The third step is to either subscribe to a HD package or buy an antenna for over-the-air reception. Once steps one, two and three are in place then it is up to you to turn to the HD channel to get started watching high definition programming. And, this is only when the signal on the HD channel is delivered in high definition.

What is the future of HDTV?
If I knew that I would make my living in Las Vegas. High definition is expensive to produce and not every production company has access to it, but HD programming does have a bright future on television. The image is so clear that it appears as though you are looking at the image in person.

Workaround: ListView.SelectedIndexChanged event not firing properly.

The Problem:

In DotNet 2003, Windows forms ListView.SelectedIndexChanged event will not fire properly when MultiSelect property is set to False.
Whenever ListView selectindex is changed, it doesn't fire properly for the first iteration and it fires in second iteration. Basically, there should not be two iterations of selectindex event fire. For the first iteration itself it should fire. Its an error in DotNet 2003 ListView. The same is rectified in DotNet2005.

The Workaround:

1. By setting MultiSelect property to True eventhough which is not required.
2. By adding the given code at end of the event : ListView1.SelectedItems.Clear(); or
3. ListView1.Items.Clear() - But these two lines of code will cause ListView item row selection. Will not allow to select a row on listview.

Conclusion:

The above workaround is not a complete solution so far.

New Technology

http://www.4shared.com/file/10336197/376b9194/new_technology.html