Biopower, governmentality, and capitalism through the lenses of freedom: a conceptual enquiry

In this paper I propose a framework to understand the transition in Foucault’s work from the disciplinary model to the governmentality model. Foucault’s work on power emerges within the general context of an expression of capitalist rationality and the nature of freedom and power within it. I argue that, thus understood, Foucault’s transition to the governmentality model can be seen simultaneously as a deepening recognition of what capitalism is and how it works, but also the recognition of the changing historical nature of the actually existing capitalisms and their specifically situated historical needs. I then argue that the disciplinary model should be understood as a contingent response to the demands of early capitalism, and argue that with the maturation of the capitalist enterprise many of those responses no longer are necessary. New realities require new responses; although this does not necessarily result in the abandonment of the earlier disciplinary model, it does require their reconfiguration according to the changed situation and the new imperatives following from it

Post-liberalisation Efficiency and Productivity of the Banking Sector in Pakistan

It has been long debated in economic literature whether financial markets play a significant role in economic growth and development. [For review see Gertler (1988) and Levine (1997)]. Findings of some recent empirical literature show that well-functioning financial system plays an instrumental role in economic growth, and the causality runs from finance to growth [for cross country evidences see King and Levine (1993, 1993a); Levine and Zervos (1998); Levine, Loayza and Beck (1999); Beck, Levine, and Loayza (1999)]. This, in turn, has led to a search for the key factors that determine the better functioning financial markets. Within the banking sector, efficiency is the core concern of both academics and bank officials. A number of studies have sought to measure the efficiency of financial institutions, to identify the factors that contribute to efficiency of financial system, and to recommend the ways to attain the peer group efficiency levels [Berg (1993); Leaven (1999); Berger and Mester (1997); Miller and Noulas (1996)]. These empirical findings suggest a healthy competitive financial market pave the way for efficient market participants that leads to overall efficiency of the system and hence productivity. Following this notion, liberalisation of financial markets has been initiated to improve the performance of financial institutions both in developed and developing countries. Some empirical tests have been carried out to measure the effects of liberalisation and deregulation of financial institutions on the efficiency and productivity of banking sector.

The Effects of Cell Clustering on Cell Differentiation in Human Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cancer Cells

The thesis was funded by the College of Engineering by the Undergraduate Research Scholarship, when the project proposal was approved in April 2011.For diabetes mellitus type I, regular insulin therapy is not enough to completely control the disease. Ineffective control of blood glucose levels can lead to complications in other parts of the body, including kidney failure, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, blindness, and acute hypoglycemic attacks. Although pancreatic transplants are one possible solution to reduce the effects of diabetes, it is not the best option. The proposed work of this research project is new and innovative with respect to hypothesis and methodology. It follows the goal to identify the role of cell clustering for differentiation of β cells so that the option of pancreatic islet transplantation can be substituted completely. Work by Boretti and Gooch in their paper “Induced Cell Clustering Enhances Islet β Cell Formation from Human Cultures Enriched for Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cells” was relevant to this project as it established the importance of clustering for differentiation of precursors cells into β cells. I used this work as a motivation to further research the amount of clustering required for the expression of insulin. My project speculates that the number of cells per cluster is essential for differentiated β cells to form. Further, there also must be a certain number of cells per cluster in order for proper insulin expression to take place. Upon experimentation, the results showed that cluster sizes of at least 4 cells per cluster were successful in expressing insulin as differentiated β cells. Whereas, small cluster sizes with only 1-2 cells per cluster were not able to express insulin. Further an area-to-perimeter analysis showed that ratios greater than 4.5 were common among insulin-expressing large cluster sizes. Although the results are quite preliminary, the investigation of the role that cluster size has on differentiation of β cells has a lot of potential for further research.The Ohio State University, College of Engineering, Undergraduate Research Scholarship (URS)No embarg

Development of mathematical model and optimization of GMA welding parameters of IS 2062 grade A steel weldments

In this experimental works, the effect of GMA welding process parameters, such as arc voltage, wire feed speed, and gas flow rate on the mechanical quality of IS 2062 structural steel of grade A has been studied. Process parameters play an important role in determining the weld quality. In this research work response surface methodology (RSM) technique via design expert (DOE) 12 version software was applied to determining the weld quality and also to develop a mathematical model that can predict the main effect of the above said parameters on weld quality i.e. toughness and hardness. A set of experiments has been conducted to collect the data using a central composite design and ANOVA was used to predict the impact of welding parameters on toughness and hardness and Comparison also made between the actual result and predicted value and from the result that is clear that toughness and hardness of weldment is significantly affected by arc voltage, wire feed speed, and follow by gas flow rate

Policies and practices of capacity-building for educational managers: Prior to and after decentralisation

Decentralisation trends in education are consistently being followed around the world including South Asian countries (Govinda, 1997). In Pakistan, decentralisation in education came through a radical devolution policy in August, 2001, and new governing structures are currently undergoing a transition phase. Effective decentralisation requires education managers, key players in a devolved system, to acquire new knowledge and skills. In order to understand the policies and practices of capacity-building of educational managers and their impact on educational decentralisation, a research was conducted between March and November, 2005. This paper reports on the major initial findings emerging from this research which suggest that there are gaps between policies and the practices of capacity-building both prior to and after decentralisation. The papers also cites various possible causes for this gap and concludes by arguing that while there are greater training opportunities after decentralisation, the quality of training needs to be improved before expecting any substantial improvements in building capacity

Post-liberalisation Efficiency and Productivity of the Banking Sector in Pakistan

It has been long debated in economic literature whether financial markets play a significant role in economic growth and development. [For review see Gertler (1988) and Levine (1997)]. Findings of some recent empirical literature show that well-functioning financial system plays an instrumental role in economic growth, and the causality runs from finance to growth [for cross country evidences see King and Levine (1993, 1993a); Levine and Zervos (1998); Levine, Loayza and Beck (1999); Beck, Levine, and Loayza (1999)]. This, in turn, has led to a search for the key factors that determine the better functioning financial markets. Within the banking sector, efficiency is the core concern of both academics and bank officials. A number of studies have sought to measure the efficiency of financial institutions, to identify the factors that contribute to efficiency of financial system, and to recommend the ways to attain the peer group efficiency levels [Berg (1993); Leaven (1999); Berger and Mester (1997); Miller and Noulas (1996)]

Tillage-induced changes in the physical properties of soil

Four tillage systems were used to measure the effects of tillage-induced changes on bulk density, penetration resistance, soil temperature, moisture content, surface roughness, and aggregate mean weight diameter. The four systems included, five passes with a cultivator, one pass with rotavator, two passes with disk, and one pass each with moldboard and disk. Wheat emergence count and yields were evaluated. Field experiments were conducted in three different agro-ecological regions of Pakistan. Soil types varied from sandy clay loam to clay loam. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was used at all sites. Prior to tillage, base line data for the above related physical properties were collected at three locations and at different depths in each plot. A complete randomized experimental design with three replications was used. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance were significantly affected by the tillage treatment at all three locations. A higher percentage changes in bulk density and in penetration resistance were observed in sandy clay loam than in clay loam soils. The lowest bulk density was observed for the rotavator treatment while the highest occurred in disk plots after tillage. Soil water content and soil temperature were affected by tillage. Surface roughness coefficients and water retention data indicated higher values for moldboard and lower for the rotavator. Mean weight diameters of soil aggregates were not significantly affected by the tillage treatments. Emergence was greatest in moldboard treatment followed by rotavator, then disk and cultivator treatments. Clay loam soil showed more yield differences due to tillage than did sandy clay loam soil. Higher yield in moldboard plowed plots corresponded to higher emergence, lowest penetration resistance and lowest bulk density, higher surface roughness coefficient and aggregate mean-weight-diameter. Minimum yield for cultivator and rotavator corresponded to lower emergence, higher penetration resistance and bulk density, and low surface roughness and lower aggregate mean-weight-diameter

Design of Novel Molecular Micelles for Capillary Electrophoresis

The research presented in this dissertation involves the synthesis, characterization, and application of novel anionic and cationic chiral molecular micelles in capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation of diverse chiral compounds. Chapter 1 presents brief overview of the surfactants, micelle polymer, CE and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Chapter 2 describes the simultaneous enantioseparation of eight single chiral center â-blockers using two novel leucine and isoleucine based polymeric surfactants. The simultaneous enantioseparation of multichiral center bearing â-blockers, nadolol and labetalol is described in chapter 3. A synergistic approach, using a combination of polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-isoleucinate (poly-L-SUCIL) and sulfated â-CD showed dramatic enantioseparation of four stereoisomers of nadolol. On the other hand for labetalol, enantiomeric separation remains unaffected using the dual chiral selector system. Chapter 4 deals with the enantiomeric separation of the binaphthyl derivatives that was found to be influenced by pH, type and concentration of the background electrolyte as well as concentration of the polymeric surfactant. In chapter 5, characterization of five alkenoxy leucine-based surfactants with variations in chain length (C8-C11), polymerization concentration and degree of polymerization showed significant effects on the chiral resolution and efficiency of hydrophobic â-blockers. The synthesis and characterization of two positively charged amino acid derived chiral ionic liquids (ILs) and their corresponding polymers is presented in chapter 6. Chiral separation of two acidic analyte (difficult to resolve with anionic micelles) can be achieved with both monomers and polymers of ILs. In chapter 7, the synthesis and detailed characterization of three pH independent amino acids derived (L-leucinol, L-isoleucinol and L-valinol) sulfated chiral polymeric surfactants is presented. These chiral sulfated surfactants are thoroughly characterized and the morphological behavior of polymeric sulfated surfactants is revealed using cryogenic high-resolution electron microscopy. The work clearly demonstrates for the first time the superiority of chiral separation in MEKC coupled to mass spectrometry at low pH. Finally, in chapter 8, six amino acid derived chiral surfactants with carboxylate and sulfate head groups were compared for enantioseparation of broad range of structurally diverse racemic compounds at neutral and basic pH conditions