Sampling India: examining cultural appropriation, intercultural exchange, and the Othering of Indian music in hip-hop and reggaeton

Since Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978), scholars have continued to expound upon Said’s binary analysis of ‘Orient and Occident’. In popular music studies, India is primarily explored through its influence on psychedelic rock (Lavezzoli, 2007; Bakrania, 2013), or the impact of bhangra in shaping diasporic South Asian identities (Sharma, 1996; Dudrah, 2002). However, the role of digital sampling in the Othering of Indian culture is relatively undertheorized. In order to provide a fresh perspective, this thesis examines the sonic Othering of Indian music in hip-hop and reggaeton, with a key focus on cultural appropriation discourse and Orientalism in a globalised age. These genres make for an ideal study not only due to a proclivity for sampling and interpolations (the reuse of portions of existing musical works), but also the increased interest of American producers in Indian sounds through the 2000s. In addition to drawing from academic theory, music industry journalism, copyright law, and original interviews, this thesis comprises case studies examining 2000s hip-hop and reggaeton works through concepts of cultural exchange, exploitation, dominance, and transculturation. My goal in this process is to explore the scope for cultural appropriation whilst acknowledging the possibility for both exploitation and exchange, thereby driving the debate forward. Through these studies, I observe both overt and inferred forms of appropriation. Moreover, certain works exhibit a paradoxical duality, demonstrating elements of appropriation and exchange through hybridised identities. These findings enhance our understanding of not only the scope for intercultural exchange amongst postcolonial cultures, but also the role of sampling and interpolations in lending or denying subordinated cultures agency. Additionally, I identify new mediums of appropriation such as ‘brownfishing’ (the South Asian equivalent of blackfishing) as well as resistance (such as versioning and signifying politics by Indian artists), and examine the role of self-exoticisation in reclaiming sonic agency

Welding Studies on a Near-alpha Titanium Alloy

The mechanical properties and microstructures of electron beam and friction welds of a near-alpha titanium alloy IMI 834 (presently TIMET 834) have been evaluated. Electron beam welds that contain micro pores and friction welds are free from such solidification-related defects. Porosity index in electron beam welds shows a decreasing trend with an increase in the welding speed. Electron beam welds contain coarse prior β grains and fine transformed β microstructure while, friction welds contain fine prior β grains and coarse transformed β microstructure. Electron beam welds with fine transformed β microstructure exhibited higher strength as compared to friction welds with coarse transformed β microstructure. The impact toughness of both the welds is comparable. Drastic reduction in impact toughness was observed when the welds were subjected to post-weld ageing as a result of inter-lath precipitation. Coarse-grained electron beam welds exhibited better creep and stress rupture properties as compared to friction welds.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(6), pp.590-596, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.64

Cooling Ability-based Integrated Quality of Laser-drilled Holes

Research aimed at improving the end-product quality in meeting the functional needs isimperative to sustain product development. Aerospace manufacturers are increasingly usingpercussion laser drilling for producing cooling holes in turbine components made of nickel basesuperalloys. Laser drilling of superalloys has been initiated at the Defence Metallurgical ResearchLaboratory, Hyderabad in the last decade keeping in view its uses in Kaveri Gas Turbine Engineprogramme. Considerable.work has been carried out in this direction. Laser-drilled hole's qualityissue has been addressed in the past considering separately the shape, precision, and functionalcharacteristics of the laser-drilled holes. In the present investigation, a newer approach for defininghole quality has been reported which takes into account the above hole characteristics forcomputing cooling ability of the holes. This approach indicates that it is feasible to producebetter integrated quality holes through laser drilling

Influence of process parameters on physical dimensions of AA6063 aluminium alloy coating on mild steel in friction surfacing

AbstractAn attempt is made in the present study to obtain the relationships among process parameters and physical dimensions of AA6063 aluminium alloy coating on IS2062 mild steel obtained through friction surfacing and their impact on strength and ductility of the coating. Factorial experimental design technique was used to investigate and select the parameter combination to achieve a coating with adequate strength and ductility. Spindle speed, axial force and table traverse speed were observed to be the most significant factors on physical dimensions. It was observed that the thickness of the coating decreased as the coating width increased. In addition, the width and thickness of the coatings are higher at low and high torques. At intermediate torque values, when the force is high, the width of the coating is high, and its thickness is thin; and when the force is low, the width and thickness are low. The interaction effect between axial force (F) – table traverse speed (Vx) and spindle speed (N) – table traverse speed (Vx) produced an increasing effect on coating width and thickness, but other interactions exhibited decreasing influence. It has also been observed that sound coatings could be obtained in a narrow set of parameter range as the substrate-coating materials are metallurgically incompatible and have a propensity to form brittle intermetallics

Isolation, identification and culture of the marine rotifer Colurella adriatica Ehrenberg, 1831 (Family: Lepadellidae) from Andaman & Nicobar Islands: A promising live feed for larval rearing of high value shellfishes and finfishes

An extremely small rotifer was isolated from the micro zooplankton samples collected during February, 2014 from Havelock islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The species was identified as Colurella adriatica Ehrenberg, 1831 (Family: Lapadellidae). Its lorica length under culture period ranged from 47.530 to 98.868 μm and width from 34.308 to 56.277 μm. The size of the eggs, neonates and adults are also documented. Comparison of size of C. adriatica with Brachionus plicatilis (L type) and B. rotundiformis (S and SS type) revealed that C. adriatica is smaller in length and width than the SS-type rotifer which is currently used as a first feed in marine tropical fish larval rearing. However, the larvae of many marine food fishes including groupers and high value marine ornamental fishes are unable to consume the SS-type rotifers as a first feed due to their extremely small mouth gape. The culture of C. adriatica was carried out using Nannochloropsis oculata Diet-I), N. oculata and yeast (0.01g/litre) (Diet-II), Yeast (0.01g/litre) alone (Diet-III). Average population density of C. adriatica with these diets reached a maximum of 1000 nos. of individuals /ml on 10th day of culture on feeding with Diet-I; 950 nos. /ml on 14th day (Diet-II) and 650 nos. /ml on 15th day of culture (Diet-III). Diet I &II and Diet II &III did not show any significant difference (P>0.05) whereas, Diet I and III showed significant difference (P<0.01). Preliminary studies of C. adriatica as a feed to the larvae of Stenopus hispidus, Lysmata amboinensis and Pomacentrus caeruleus showed better survival than larvae fed with B. routundiformis during first phase of larval rearing

Marine ornamental fishes and their breeding: CMFRI initiatives

The marine ornamental fish trade is a sunrise industry in aquaculture and has become a growing industry worldwide. As a result the trade of marine ornamentals has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion dollar enterprise mainly due to the emergence of modern aquarium gadgets and technologies for setting and maintenance of miniature reef aquaria. Since the marine ornamental trade is operated throughout the tropics, the global marine ornamental trade is estimated at US$ 200- 330 million. Since India is endowed with a vast resource potential of marine ornamentals distributed in the coral seas and rocky coasts with patchy coral formations and the increasing the demand in the domestic trade, it appears very much lucrative for India to venture into this industry

Crystal structure of isobutyl 4-(2-chloro-phenyl)-5-cyano-6-{(E)-[(dimethylamino)-methylidene]amino}-2-methyl-4H-pyran-3-carboxylate

The authors thank Dr Babu Varghese, Senior Scientific Officer SAIF, IIT Madras, India, for carrying out the data collection.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The “Spot 14” Gene Resides on the Telomeric End of the 11q13 Amplicon and is Expressed in Lipogenic Breast Cancers: Implications for Control of Tumor Metabolism

Enhanced long chain fatty acid synthesis may occur in breast cancer, where it is necessary for tumor growth and predicts a poor prognosis. “Spot 14” (S14) is a carbohydrate- and thyroid hormone-inducible nuclear protein specific to liver, adipose, and lactating mammary tissues that functions to activate genes encoding the enzymes of fatty acid synthesis. Amplification of chromosome region 11q13, where the S14 gene (THRSP) resides, also predicts a poor prognosis in breast tumors. We localized the S14 gene between markers D11S906 and D11S937, at the telomeric end of the amplified region at 11q13, and found that it was amplified and expressed in breast cancer-derived cell lines. Moreover, concordant expression of S14 and a key lipogenic enzyme (acetyl-CoA carboxylase) in a panel of primary breast cancer specimens strongly supported a role for S14 as a determinant of tumor lipid metabolism. S14 expression provides a pathophysiological link between two prognostic indicators in breast cancer: enhanced lipogenesis and 11q13 amplification

Stepwise Formation Constants of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) & Nd(III) with 4-H'ydroxy- 3-formyl-(2'/4')-methylazobenzenes

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