"Globalization and Regional Co-operation in South Asia: A Political and Social Economy Approach"

This paper analyzes the problems of regional co-operation in South Asia within a general political and social economy approach towards a "fractured or fragmented globalization". The word globalization, as commonly used, is largely a descriptive and not an analytical category. This paper attempts to give the term analytic content. It then focuses on both the positive and normative analysis of globalization. Trade, environment, finance and gender issues receive special attention. A global governance structure based on transparent principles of both economic efficiency and social justice is shown to be a desirable state of affairs; however, the present fractured process of globalization is more likely to end up in regionalism or even national protectionism and rivalry. Multilateral co-operation on the basis of the framework advanced here is an urgent necessity. For South Asia, such multilateral regional co-operation presents some special difficulties. But the paper argues that these difficulties, while challenging, can be overcome. The preconditions and prospects for building South Asian regional co-operation are discussed and a specific set of recommendations are offered.

Phytochemical investigation of Striga asiatica

Corresponding author (NCNPR): Ahmed Elbermawi, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1006/thumbnail.jp

Evaluation of dark etching regions for standard bearing steel under accelerated rolling contact fatigue

Subsurface microstructural alterations are formed in the later stages of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) under high contact pressure. The subsurface changes observed as a dark contrast under optical microscopy are classified as Dark Etching Regions (DERs). Despite the fact that DERs have been presented for several decades, the understanding of its development and growth is yet to comprehend. Current research employed a modified high-speed microprocessor rotary tribometer to conduct systematic RCF study under accelerated testing conditions with variable temperatures and contact pressures. Comprehensive RCF data has been acquired, analysed and is reported for the very first time with ball-on-ball point contact loading conditions. The subsurface microscopic investigations have shown the ongoing progression and development of DER extent and are reported to be associated with the accumulation of plasticity during RCF. The comparison of the DER with the responsible stress components have revealed that DER formation is more closely related to the von Mises stresses when superposed with residual stresses. The experimentally observed area fraction of dark etching zones has been evaluated in terms of DER% and compared with the dislocation assisted carbon diffusion model for DER formation. The overprediction of the numerical model in comparison with the presented results in current research manifests its limitations which can be improved with the incorporation of cyclic plasticity governed by evolved von Mises stresses. Detailed evaluated DER results are presented as 3D DER% maps incorporating the combined effects of contact stress, temperature and rolling cycles simultaneously which enables an in-depth RCF understanding within microstructural context and therefore can be used as guidelines for DER formation models

A review of performance enhancement of PCM based latent heat storage system within the context of materials, thermal stability and compatibility

Phase change materials (PCM) with their high thermal storage density at almost isothermal conditions and their availability at wide range of phase transitions promote an effective mode of storing thermal energy. Literature survey evidently shows that paraffins and salt hydrates provide better thermal performance at competitive cost. However, the efficient utilization of latent heat storage is limited by low thermal conductivity, phase segregation, subcooling and container material compatibility with PCMs. This review paper is focused on classification of various PCMs, long term thermal stability of paraffins and salt hydrates; their compatibility with different container materials and thermal performance enhancement techniques adopted by various researchers such as influence of container shape, employment of fins and high conductivity additives, multi-PCM approach and PCM encapsulation on phase transition rates and thermal energy storage density. The conclusions obtained from critical assessment of research work carried out on latent heat storage will encourage using reliable PCM with compatible container material and an efficient geometric configuration to achieve maximum thermal utilization of PCM

A 3D finite element model of rolling contact fatigue for evolved material response and residual stress estimation

Rolling bearing elements develop structural changes during rolling contact fatigue (RCF) along with the non-proportional stress histories, evolved residual stresses and extensive work hardening. Considerable work has been reported in the past few decades to model bearing material hardening response under RCF; however, they are mainly based on torsion testing or uniaxial compression testing data. An effort has been made here to model the RCF loading on a standard AISI 52100 bearing steel with the help of a 3D Finite Element Model (FEM) which employs a semi-empirical approach to mimic the material hardening response evolved during cyclic loadings. Standard bearing balls were tested in a rotary tribometer where pure rolling cycles were simulated in a 4-ball configuration. The localised material properties were derived from post-experimental subsurface analysis with the help of nanoindentation in conjunction with the expanding cavity model. These constitutive properties were used as input cyclic hardening parameters for FEM. Simulation results have revealed that the simplistic power-law hardening model based on monotonic compression test underpredicts the residual generation, whereas the semi-empirical approach employed in current study corroborated well with the experimental findings from current research work as well as literature cited. The presence of high compressive residual stresses, evolved over millions of RCF cycles, showed a significant reduction of maximum Mises stress, predicting significant improvement in fatigue life. Moreover, the predicted evolved flow stresses are comparable with the progression of subsurface structural changes and be extended to develop numerical models for microstructural alterations

Inhibition of iNOS induction and nf-κΒ activation by taste compounds from the edible mushroom tricholoma caligatum (Viv.) ricken

© 2019 ACG Publications. All rights reserved. Tricholoma caligatum (Viv.) Ricken is an edible mushroom that belongs to matsutake group. The first chemical investigation of the three different extracts of Tricholoma caligatum resulted in two new compounds, 8-demethoxylascivol (1) and 8-epi-lascivol (2) and six known compounds, lascivol (3), trametenolic acid (4), ergosterol (5), ergosterol peroxide (6), 5α, 6α-epoxyergosterol (7), and cerebroside B (8). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR data. The biological activities of all the compounds were evaluated toward multiple targets related to inflammation and metabolic disorder such as NF-κΒ, iNOS and ROS. The findings of this study reveal that the edible mushroom Tricholoma caligatum could be a potential source for anti-inflammatory bioactive metabolites

Development of Nanocomposite Coatings

Special Issue in the Development of Nanocomposite Coatings in nanomaterials was setup with the aim to provide an opportunity to showcase the latest developments within the theme of this special issue. It therefore welcomed research articles and reviews papers, by invitation only, within the context of nanocom-posite coatings for possible publications. There are wide ranging major applications of nanocomposite coat-ings for example corrosion, tribology, machine elements, components, complex interacting systems, and flu-id flow especially within the context of cavitation. We have been witnessing increased application needs to address key global and industrial challenges including energy efficiency, reliability, sustainability and dura-bility of systems and machines. These components and systems are often deployed in harsh operating envi-ronments and conditions, for example, very high and subzero temperatures, extreme pressures, very high loading, exposure to corrosive environment, and starved lubrication. To solve these issues, novel and inno-vative approaches are needed. These solutions include optimisation of surfaces and interfaces through surface modifications and coatings. Development and applications of nanocoatings and nanocomposite coatings are relatively new and developments in this area are underway

Biodiesel Performance within Internal Combustion Engine Fuel System: A Review

This review paper highlights the tribological performance of biodiesel at contacting surfaces in the fuel delivery system of compression ignition (diesel) engines. The focus is on the injection components that include low and high pressure injection pumps, diesel fuel injectors, electro-hydraulic valves, diesel fuel lubricity measurements and effects of biodiesel on the running conditions in a diesel fuel injection system. The common rail system and the distributor pump injection systems with electronic diesel control are among the modern trends that are specifically highlighted. Boundary, mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes together with lubricant oil film thickness, pressure and engine performance are also considere

Neo-clerodanes from Teucrium divaricatum and their potential antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activities

Corresponding author (NCNPR): Fadime Aydoğan, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1000/thumbnail.jp

Development of white etching bands under accelerated rolling contact fatigue

Bearing steel under severe loading condition undergoes substantial subsurface microstructural alterations known as Dark etching regions and white etching bands. White etching bands (WEBs) develop after hundreds of millions of stress cycles in bearing components and have been reported for several decades but the formation mechanism of white bands is not fully elucidated. Current research presents a systematic rolling contact fatigue (RCF) testing in a rotary tribometer under accelerated conditions, where rolling cycles are simulated in a 4-ball test configuration. The post RCF investigations have been carried out to understand the formation mechanism of WEBs in a ball-on-ball point contact load. WEBs have been characterised with the help of nanoindentation and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The quantitative analysis of WEBs growth with subsurface stress field has revealed that the unique orientations of white bands are governed by the plane of maximum relative normal stress along the contact track. Moreover, the accelerated growth and reversal of WEBs sequence at elevated temperature have revealed that the WEBs formation is dependent on temperature/load combination. The observed growth of lenticular carbides in current research is also compared with dislocation gliding model and the role of carbon diffusion within WEBs is highlighted