Promoting democracy backwards: looking forward

A typology of the diverse ways in which international dimensions of democratization and democracy assistance itself actually retard and undermine democracy’s progress around the world provides a salutary response to currently fashionable ideas of democracy promotion as a world value. The detailed typology presented here offers an aid to thinking and practice concerning what approaches to take to the international promotion of democracy in the future. But as is the case with the already well established idea of ‘democratization backwards’, so it is equally true when looking forward that ‘promoting democracy backwards’ implies no one determinate eventual outcome. The analysis implicitly raises the question whether the time has now come not just for the practice of democracy promotion to widen its lens but for studies of it to broaden their horizons too

Theory of Cluster Formation: Effects of Magnetic Fields

Stars form predominantly in clusters inside dense clumps of molecular clouds that are both turbulent and magnetized. The typical size and mass of the cluster-forming clumps are $\sim 1$ pc and $\sim 10^2 -$ 10$^3$ M$_\odot$, respectively. Here, we discuss some recent progress on numerical simulations of clustered star formation in such parsec-scale dense clumps with emphasis on the role of magnetic fields. The simulations have shown that magnetic fields tend to slow down global gravitational collapse and thus star formation, especially in the presence of protostellar outflow feedback. Even a relatively weak can retard star formation significantly, because the field is amplified by supersonic turbulence to an equipartition strength. However, in such a case, the distorted field component dominates the uniform one. In contrast, if the field is moderately strong, the uniform component remains dominant. Such a difference in the magnetic structure is observed in simulated polarization maps of dust thermal emission. Recent polarization measurements show that the field lines in nearby cluster-forming clumps are spatially well-ordered, indicative of a rather strong field. In such strongly-magnetized clumps, star formation should proceed relatively slowly; it continues for at least several global free-fall times of the parent dense clump ($t_{\rm ff}\sim$ a few $\times 10^5$ yr).Comment: 8 pages, proceedings of Computational Star Formation (IAU 270

Effect of homogenisation conditions on recrystallisation in the Al-Mg-Mn alloy AA5454

The purpose of the present work is to understand the microstructure development and, particularly, to control the progress of recrystallisation in hot strip in the Al-Mg-Mn alloy AA 5454, which is typically used for the manufacture of structural automotive components. The chemical composition, together with the thermomechanical processing history of this material, has a strong influence on the microstructure of the product and the resulting properties as it is supplied to the customer. Electrical conductivity measurements, thermal analysis and electron microscopy have been carried out to characterise the evolution of precipitation state at various stages in the processing route. The conditions of the homogenisation heat treatment have been varied, and the effect on subsequent recrystallisation after hot rolling has been evaluated in both the as cast and rough rolled condition by optical microscopy techniques. Results indicate that the conditions of homogenisation heat treatment and roughing rolling are critical for the generation of a suitable recrystallised microstructure in AA 5454 hot strip. A new two stage homogenisation practice has been developed to expedite post-rolling recrystallisation in this alloy

Application of exhaust gas fuel reforming in diesel and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines fuelled with biofuels

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Energy. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2007 Elsevier B.V.This paper documents the application of exhaust gas fuel reforming of two alternative fuels, biodiesel and bioethanol, in internal combustion engines. The exhaust gas fuel reforming process is a method of on-board production of hydrogen-rich gas by catalytic reaction of fuel and engine exhaust gas. The benefits of exhaust gas fuel reforming have been demonstrated by adding simulated reformed gas to a diesel engine fuelled by a mixture of 50% ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) and 50% rapeseed methyl ester (RME) as well as to a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine fuelled by bioethanol. In the case of the biodiesel fuelled engine, a reduction of NOx emissions was achieved without considerable smoke increase. In the case of the bioethanol fuelled HCCI engine, the engine tolerance to exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was extended and hence the typically high pressure rise rates of HCCI engines, associated with intense combustion noise, were reduced

Improving spatial-simultaneous working memory in Down syndrome: effect of a training program led by parents instead of an expert

Recent studies have suggested that the visuospatial component of working memory (WM) is selectively impaired in individuals with Down syndrome (DS), the deficit relating specifically to the spatial-simultaneous component, which is involved when stimuli are presented simultaneously. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of a computer-based program for training the spatial-simultaneous component of WM in terms of: specific effects (on spatial-simultaneous WM tasks); near and far transfer effects (on spatial-sequential and visuospatial abilities, and everyday memory tasks); and maintenance effects (1 month after the training). A comparison was drawn between the results obtained when the training was led by parents at home as opposed to an expert in psychology. Thirty-nine children and adolescents with DS were allocated to one of two groups: the training was administered by an expert in one, and by appropriately instructed parents in the other. The training was administered individually twice a week for a month, in eight sessions lasting approximately 30 min each. Our participants' performance improved after the training, and these results were maintained a month later in both groups. Overall, our findings suggest that spatial-simultaneous WM performance can be improved, obtaining specific and transfer gains; above all, it seems that, with adequate support, parents could effectively administer a WM training to their child

Innovative Selective Laser Sintering Rapid Manufacturing using Nanotechnology

The objective of this research is to develop an improved nylon 11 (polyamide 11) polymer with enhanced flame retardancy, thermal, and mechanical properties for selective laser sintering (SLS) rapid manufacturing (RM). A nanophase was introduced into nylon 11 via twin screw extrusion to provide improved material properties of the polymer blends. Atofina (now known as Arkema) RILSAN® nylon 11 injection molding polymer pellets was used with three types of nanoparticles: chemically modified montmorillonite (MMT) organoclays, nanosilica, and carbon nanofibers (CNF) to create nylon 11 nanocomposites. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the degree of dispersion. Fifteen nylon 11 nanocomposites and control nylon 11 were fabricated by injection molding. Flammability properties (using a cone calorimeter with a radiant flux of 50 kW/m2 ) and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and modulus, flexural modulus, elongation at break were determined for the nylon 11 nanocomposites and compared with the baseline nylon 11. Based on flammability and mechanical material performance, five polymers including four nylon 11 nanocomposites and a control nylon 11 were cryogenically ground into fine powders for SLS RM. SLS specimens were fabricated for flammability, mechanical, and thermal properties characterization. Nylon 11-CNF nanocomposites exhibited the best overall properties for this study.Mechanical Engineerin