Case of the month

Description and diagnosis of 67 year-old Caucasian male patient admitted to the ER

X-Ray tomography study on porosity and particle size distribution in In Situ Al-4.5Cu-5TiB2 Semisolid rolled composites

X-ray computed tomography (XCT) was used for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the internal microstructure and quantification of the porosity and second-phase particles in Al-4.5Cu-5TiB2 composites prepared by an in situ liquid metallurgy casting route. The as-cast composites were subjected to hot rolling and mushy-state rolling for deagglomeration and to achieve a uniform distribution of CuAl2-TiB2 particle clusters. Qualitative results obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitative results obtained by XCT both showed that mushy-state rolling as well as hot rolling resulted in fragmentation and a homogeneous distribution of the CuAl2-TiB2 particle clusters, with the mushy-state-rolled composite exhibiting the highest number of smaller-size particles. The porosity was increased in both rolling conditions through debonding of particles due to the compressive force during solid-state deformation along with the quick solidification of the solute-rich liquid during mushy-state rolling. These results show that application of secondary processes such as hot-rolling and mushy-state rolling can help to achieve a relatively more uniform particle distribution in Al-4.5Cu-5TiB2 in situ composite

Enactment of Technology Structures in ICT4D Projects : A Study of Computerization of Land Records in India

In this paper, we argue that technology use depends on the action of human agents and is influenced by the context in which this use takes place. We draw upon the literature on social shaping of technology, particularly that which looks at its usage, to base our claims. We have used a practice-oriented approach to studying technology, derived largely from Giddens’ structuration theory, to understand the use patterns of a widely acclaimed ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) project in India. We find that the technology structures enacted by users reflects differences in their existing social contexts and, therefore, technology, and particularly ICT designs need to be sensitive to these variations if they intend to serve any significant development purpose

China Walks the US-India Space Solar Power Dream

While India and the US make pledges about potential collaboration on space, others walk those promises and potentials. In the India-US context, space has remained a potential area of cooperation for the last decade or so whereas China, which has studied the Indo-US joint communications carefully, has made fast progress on space-based solar power (SBSP), in terms of devoting financial and human resources into the project. The need of the hour is for democracies like India, US and may be even Japan to come together, structure large collaborations around space and capture the political space in this regard. The political leadership in both India and the US should recognise the importance of it and act accordingly before it is too late

J/psi+gamma production at the LHC

The associated production of J/psi + gamma at the LHC is studied within the NRQCD framework. The signal we focus on is the production of a J/psi and an isolated photon produced back-to-back, with their transverse momenta balanced. It is shown that even for very large values of transverse momentum (pT of the order of 50 GeV) the dominant contribution to this process is not fragmentation. This is because of the fact that fragmentation-type contributions to the cross-section come from only a q q(bar) initial state, which is suppressed at the LHC. We identify gg-initiated diagrams higher-order in alpha(s) which do have fragmentation-type vertices. We find, however, that the contribution of these diagrams is negligibly small.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 6 ps figures, Minor changes, Version to appear in Physical Review