Millennium Development Goals: Tool or token of global social governance?

In this paper we argue that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) experience suggests that Global Social Governance (GSG) exists and that the MDGs have been an effective tool in creating a global accountability framework despite shortcomings mainly arising in the formulation process. The paper first discusses the historical emergence of the MDGs, leading to questions of ownership and responsibilities of developing and developed countries respectively. Subsequently, we assess whether the MDGs comprehensively reflect development concepts and address the question whether the MDGs had an impact on national policies, and ultimately on people's lives. Eventually, these questions and their answers are intended to stimulate and inform discussions on the post-2015 development agenda as a - potentially improved - GSG tool. Keywords: Millennium Development Goals, Global Social Governance, post-2015 development agend

The application of positron emission particle tracking to study non-metallic inclusions in metal castings

To improve the efficiency of turbine aero engines, higher operating temperatures and weight savings are being investigated. Alloys such as RR1000 are being trialled as they perform better at higher temperatures than current nickel-based superalloys. To achieve weight savings, inertia welding is being trialled for turbine discs but current post weld heat treatments reduce fatigue life. In this investigation, a number of novel post weld heat treatments were trialled aimed at improving post weld microstructure and fatigue properties. Extensive microstructural characterisation and mechanical testing were used to assess the effect of these treatments on both parent and weld materials. Post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was found to have a great effect on the size and distribution of γ' and carbides, particularly when a PWHT temperature of 980ºC or above was used. The effect of this microstructural change on the hardness of the weld and parent material has also been characterised. Extensive total life fatigue testing was carried out at 650ºC. It was found that failure can occur in both the parent and weld material, although it is deduced that the yield stress of the weld needs to be surpassed to see weld failure (plasticity in the weld). Increasing dwell time at peak load reduced the life of these components. Two mechanisms for crack growth were observed with initiation either at the surface or at a large Hf rich particle subsurface. Oxidation was found to have a large effect on both initiation and growth of fatigue cracks. By introducing a sharp pre-fatigue crack into samples, static load testing was used to determine a threshold value of K (stress intensity factor) for growth and growth rates were plotted at different K values. It was seen in these tests that PWHT had a large effect on growth rates and threshold values of K

Biological activities and biosorption potential of red algae (Corallina officinalis) to remove toxic malachite green dye

Abstract This research aims to use eco-friendly Corallina officinalis as an adsorbent for removing harmful malachite green dye streams from industrial effluent, promoting sustainable living and effective microbial growth inhibition. Corallina officinalis biomass was tested for textile dye biosorption, as well as its antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. The effects of certain parameters, involving pH solution, initial dye concentration, algae dose, and contact time, were investigated on the sorption of dye. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were also used and, the results showed that the functional groups on the surface of algae played an important part in the biosorption process. It was noted that the kinetic data were significantly prominent by the Pseudo-second-order model with regression correlation coefficient $${r}_{2}^{2}$$ r 2 2 values with an average of 0.95232. The biosorption was compatible with both the Freundlich (R2 = 0.9843), and Langmuir (R2 = 0.9653) isotherms, and the maximum removal efficiency for dye reached up to 99.9% in 2 h, 27 °C, stirring speed 120 rpm, pH 6, initial dye concentration 20 mg L−1, and biomass dose 0.03 g L−1. Corallina officinalis had higher antimicrobial activity, with values of minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.156 to 5 mg mL−1. Corallina officinalis exerted significant radical scavenging activity against tested free radicals. The extract was examined for cytotoxic activity using nine cancer cell lines, which exhibited high cytotoxicity for colon adenocarcinoma with an IC50 value of 25.895 µg mL−1

Synthesis, antimalarial, antileishmanial evaluation, and molecular docking study of some 3-aryl-2-styryl substituted-4(3H)-quinazolinone derivatives

Abstract Quinazolinones are a diverse group of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds with promising antimalarial and antileishmanial activities. Herein, some 3-aryl-2-styryl substituted-4(3H)-quinazolinones were synthesized via cyclization, condensation, and hydrolysis reactions. 1H NMR, FTIR and elemental microanalysis was used to verify the structures of the synthesized compounds. The in vivo antimalarial and in vitro antileishmanial activities of the target compounds were investigated using mice infected with Plasmodium berghi ANKA and Leishmania donovani strain, respectively. Among the test compounds, 8 and 10 showed better antimalarial activities with percent suppression of 70.01 and 74.18, respectively. In addition, (E)-2-(4-nitrostyryl)-3-phenylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (6) showed promising antileishmanial activity (IC50 = 0.0212 µg/mL). It is two and 150 times more active than the standard drugs amphotericin B deoxycholate (IC50 = 0.0460 µg/mL) and miltefosine (IC 50 = 3.1911 µg/mL), respectively. Its superior in vitro antileishmanial activity was supported by a molecular docking study conducted in the active site of Lm-PTR1. Overall, the synthesized 3-aryl-2-styryl substituted-4(3H)-quinazolinones showed promising antileishmanial and antimalarial activities and are desirable scaffolds for the synthesis of different antileishmanial and antimalarial agents

Tool or Token of Global Social Governance? Prepared by

UNU-MERIT Working Papers intend to disseminate preliminary results of research carried out at UNU-MERIT and MGSoG to stimulate discussion on the issues raised. Millennium Development Goal

Design, synthesis, anti-inflammatory evaluation, and molecular modelling of new coumarin-based analogs combined curcumin and other heterocycles as potential TNF-α production inhibitors via upregulating Nrf2/HO-1, downregulating AKT/mTOR signalling pathways and downregulating NF-κB in LPS induced macrophages

AbstractPersistent inflammation contributes to various inflammatory conditions. Inflammation-related diseases may be treated by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Curcumin and coumarin derivatives can target signalling pathways and cellular factors to address immune-related and inflammatory ailments. This study involved designing and synthesising three series of coumarin-based analogs that incorporated curcumin and other heterocycles. These analogs were evaluated for their potential as anti-inflammatory agents in LPS-induced macrophages. Among the fourteen synthesised coumarin derivatives, compound 14b, which contained 3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene hydrazinyl, demonstrated the highest anti-inflammatory activity with an EC50 value of 5.32 μM. The anti-inflammatory effects of 14b were achieved by modulating signalling pathways like AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1, and downregulating NF-kβ, resulting in reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. The modelling studies revealed that 14b and dexamethasone bind to the same TNF-α pocket, suggesting that 14b has potential as a therapeutic agent superior to dexamethasone for TNF-α