Mechanical Activation of Solids in Extractive Metallurgy

Mechanochemistry is the branch of chemistry that has primarily evolved in the twentieth century.It deals with the field of reactions caused by mechanical energy, often referred to as Mechanical or Mechanochemical Activation [1-3]. The process of activation depends on the breakage process and the rate at which energy is supplied to the system [1-3]. In contrast to coarse grinding, where the objective is size reduction, mechanical activation is concerned with structural changes that are brought about by application of mechanical energy. Fine grinding is an intermediate case between coarse grinding and mechanical activation [1-3]. Mechanical activation has been attem-pted in a variety of disciplines, such as extractive meta-llurgy, waste utilisation, mechanical alloying, advanced ceramics, catalysis, coal gasification, paints and dyes, fertilizers, drugs and pharmaceuticals, organometallic synthesis, and many others

A P2P Integration Architecture for Protein Resources

The availability of a direct pathway from a primary sequence (denovo or DNA derived) to macromolecular structure to biological function using computer-based tools is the ultimate goal for a protein scientist. Today\u27s state of the art protein resources and on-going research and experiments provide the raw data that can enable protein scientists to achieve at least some steps of this goal. Thus, protein scientists are looking towards taking their benchtop research from the specific to a much broader base of using the large resources of available electronic information. However, currently the burden falls on the scientist to manually interface with each data resource, integrate the required information, and then finally interpret the results. Their discoveries are impeded by the lack of tools that can not only bring integrated information from several known data resources, but also weave in information as it is discovered and brought online by other research groups. We propose a novel peer-to-peer based architecture that allows protein scientists to share resources in the form of data and tools within their community, facilitating ad hoc, decentralized sharing of data. In this paper, we present an overview of this integration architecture and briefly describe the tools that are essential to this framework

Mechanochemistry in the Utilisation/Minimisation of Wastes from Metallurgical and Allied Industries

This paper is a critical review on application of mechan-ochemistry in the Bayer process, blended cements (Portland Slag Cement, Portland Pozzolana cement) and fly ash based geopolymers. The review has three parts: a) Basic findings on mechanical activation of bauxite, granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash-the emphasis is on mineral interaction in the activation of bauxite, surface activation of slag, and activation of glass phase in fly ash; (b) Novel processes/ products involving mechanical activation with the ultimate objective of waste mini-misation (red mud in Bayer process) and utilization (in blended cements and geopolymers); (C)Barriers and research needs in implementation of the processes/product

Two Distributed Algorithms for E-ticket Validation Protocols for Mobile Clients

The e-ticket (electronic ticket) validation problem has relevance in mobile computing environment because of the multiple submission of a ticket that is possible due to intermittent disconnections and mobility of hosts. Here, we propose protocols that are not only sensitive to disconnection but also to location. One of the proposed protocols is the variant of the distributed protocol proposed by Pedone (2000) for Internet users. This shows that a distributed protocol for static network can be restructured for distributed computation in a mobile computing environment. We have also proposed another protocol that uses a hierarchical location database of mobile hosts (Pitoura and Samaras, 2001)

Evolution of dynamic capabilities for business sustainability performance:Evidence from the Indian manufacturing sector

Firms can achieve trinomial sustainability goals if they can constantly build and rejuvenate their capabilities to adapt to new situations. However, few studies consider the interrelationships between the distinct capabilities pertinent to sustainable development and the impact of these capabilities on firm performance under diverse contexts, especially in emerging economies. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, we developed a model to test the links between dynamic sustainability capability, theorized as a higher order capability, and relational and managerial capabilities, theorized as lower order capabilities, to the firm's sustainability performance. Data collected from 210 large Indian manufacturing firms is analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results confirm that dynamic sustainability capability has facilitating effects on environmental and social performance directly and indirectly through managerial capability. Although relational capability partially mediates the link between dynamic sustainability capability and social performance, it does not impact environmental performance. Further, the aforementioned relationships are affected by forces in the firms' environment. Most of the direct and indirect relationships are negatively moderated by organizational inertia and positively moderated by environmental turbulence. By investigating the hierarchically structured capabilities, this study guides firms to make strategic choices regarding resource calibration for sustainability. The study recommends that organizations looking to integrate dynamic sustainability capability as part of their strategic management should look at the sequential combinations of existing resources to achieve different sustainability targets. The study's findings also urge policymakers to consider environmental conditions while developing sustainability reforms.</p

Evolution of dynamic capabilities for business sustainability performance:Evidence from the Indian manufacturing sector

Firms can achieve trinomial sustainability goals if they can constantly build and rejuvenate their capabilities to adapt to new situations. However, few studies consider the interrelationships between the distinct capabilities pertinent to sustainable development and the impact of these capabilities on firm performance under diverse contexts, especially in emerging economies. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, we developed a model to test the links between dynamic sustainability capability, theorized as a higher order capability, and relational and managerial capabilities, theorized as lower order capabilities, to the firm's sustainability performance. Data collected from 210 large Indian manufacturing firms is analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results confirm that dynamic sustainability capability has facilitating effects on environmental and social performance directly and indirectly through managerial capability. Although relational capability partially mediates the link between dynamic sustainability capability and social performance, it does not impact environmental performance. Further, the aforementioned relationships are affected by forces in the firms' environment. Most of the direct and indirect relationships are negatively moderated by organizational inertia and positively moderated by environmental turbulence. By investigating the hierarchically structured capabilities, this study guides firms to make strategic choices regarding resource calibration for sustainability. The study recommends that organizations looking to integrate dynamic sustainability capability as part of their strategic management should look at the sequential combinations of existing resources to achieve different sustainability targets. The study's findings also urge policymakers to consider environmental conditions while developing sustainability reforms.</p

Generation of an expandable intermediate mesoderm restricted progenitor cell line from human pluripotent stem cells.

The field of tissue engineering entered a new era with the development of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which are capable of unlimited expansion whilst retaining the potential to differentiate into all mature cell populations. However, these cells harbor significant risks, including tumor formation upon transplantation. One way to mitigate this risk is to develop expandable progenitor cell populations with restricted differentiation potential. Here, we used a cellular microarray technology to identify a defined and optimized culture condition that supports the derivation and propagation of a cell population with mesodermal properties. This cell population, referred to as intermediate mesodermal progenitor (IMP) cells, is capable of unlimited expansion, lacks tumor formation potential, and, upon appropriate stimulation, readily acquires properties of a sub-population of kidney cells. Interestingly, IMP cells fail to differentiate into other mesodermally-derived tissues, including blood and heart, suggesting that these cells are restricted to an intermediate mesodermal fate