Strengthening of Al-Fe3Al composites by the generation of harmonic structures

Strengthening of alloys can be efficiently attained by the creation of harmonic structures: bimodal microstructures generated by controlled milling of the particulate precursors, which consist of coarse-grained cores embedded in a continuous fine-grained matrix. Here, we extend the concept of harmonic structures to metal matrix composites and analyze the effectiveness of such bimodal microstructures for strengthening composites consisting of a pure Al matrix reinforced with Fe3Al particles. Preferential microstructural refinement limited to the surface of the particles, where the Fe3Al phase is progressively fragmented, occurs during ball milling of the Al-Fe3Al composite powder mixtures. The refined surface becomes the continuous fine-grained matrix that encloses macro-regions with coarser reinforcing particles in the harmonic composites synthesized during subsequent powder consolidation. The generation of the bimodal microstructure has a significant influence on the strength of the harmonic composites, which exceeds that of the conventional material by a factor of 2 while retaining considerable plastic deformation. Finally, modeling of the mechanical properties indicates that the strength of the harmonic composites can be accurately described by taking into account both the volume fraction of reinforcement and the characteristic microstructural features describing the harmonic structure

Harassment of women garment workers in Bangladesh

The study analyzed the different factors that are responsible for the harassment of women garment workers in Bangladesh. Three garment factories from Mirpur area under Dhaka district were selected purposively where garment factories are available. The sample consisted of 90 women workers taking 30 randomly from each of the three garment factories. Female workers are mostly employed at the lower category of jobs like operator, finishing helper, polyer etc. These jobs are very monotonous in nature. Because of the nature of their jobs, female workers sometimes lose interest in work and become depressed. A large number of female workers received low and irregular wages which create their job dissatisfaction. Only 22 female workers earned salary between Tk. 2700 to Tk. 3000 per month. Female workers are sexually harassed by their co-workers in the factory or by police or by mastans in the street. Communication problem is a major problem faced by most of the female garment workers. A long distance travel is not only physical strenuous but also mentally stressful. Their overtime rate is very low. Long working hours result in a number of illnesses and diseases like headache, eye trouble, ear ache, musculoskeletal pain etc. Women are exploited easily due to lack of technical knowledge and training. The employers do not pay any heed to this exploitation

Effect of sand blasting on structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of Zr <inf>58.3</inf>Cu <inf>18.8</inf>Al <inf>14.6</inf>Ni <inf>8.3</inf> bulk metallic glass

Abstract In the present work sand-blasting-induced structural, thermal, and mechanical effects were studied in Zr58.3Cu18.8Al14.6Ni8.3 bulk metallic glass. It was observed that sand blasting favors disordering of the atomic configuration, formation of free volume and evolution of multiple intersecting shear bands. As a result, considerable compressive plasticity was achieved in sand-blasted samples. It was also observed that in order to superimpose the effect of pre-straining and extra free volume for improving compressive plasticity, there exists a limit to both parameters.</jats:p

FIGURE 5 in Oropetium almeidanum (Poaceae: Chloridoideae): a new species from The Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Oropetium almeidanum in India. (Prepared by R. N. Kulloli)Published as part of Shinde, Rajendra D., Landge, Shahid Nawaz, Kulloli, R.N. & Chorghe, Alok R., 2023, Oropetium almeidanum (Poaceae: Chloridoideae): a new species from The Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India, pp. 267-277 in Phytotaxa 579 (4) on page 274, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.579.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/756398

Role of PKCɛ in PGF2α-Stimulated MMP-2 Secretion from Human Ciliary Muscle Cells

Studies were designed to examine the roles of individual protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) secretion from human ciliary muscle cells