4 research outputs found
Strain and Surface Effects on the Magnetism of Epitaxial Nickel Cobaltate Thin Films
No full textResearch into the behavior of NiCo2O4 (NCO) has accelerated in the last two decades, especially due to its promising applications in catalysis and in supercapacitive energy storage. The transport properties of NCO have been shown to be tied to its magnetic behavior, suggesting research into the magnetism of the material, especially in thin film form, may help inform other aspects of its properties. While NCO is known to exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), no work has analyzed the size of the effect, nor the mechanism of the anisotropy.This dissertation presents the observations of strong magnetic anisotropy for epitaxial films grown via pulsed laser deposition onto MgAl2O4 substrates. By fabricating a variety of sample geometries, the size of the anisotropy is determined and is close to that of similar oxides & similar thin-film materials. Using both phenomenological and microscopic studies, we then demonstrate how the modest strain induces the tetragonal distortion leading to the PMA. The second part of the dissertation presents the observation of surface magnetization which is not observed in conventional SQUID magnetometry. Through use of surface-sensitive x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements, the surface magnetization is observed to be confined to approximately the top one nanometer of the film, with magnetic transition temperature well below that of the bulk film. Evidence for the reduced magnetism coming from vacancies within the spinel structure are also presented
Curing Cholera: Pathogens, Places and Poverty in South Asia
No full textIn this paper I will seek to provide a new understanding of endemicity of disease in India. Through a study of cholera research in the twentieth century I will argue that disease and its endemicity has to be understood in biological factors as well as within a wider social and economic context. I will discuss the medical efforts at locating the causality of cholera from the nineteenth century in Indian climate, water bodies and human anatomy to show that cholera is no more a biological phenomena than water is an ecological or environmental problem. Both are essentially political and economic questions
Globalizing resistance against war? : a critical analysis of the theoretical debate through a case study of the "new" anti-war movement in Britain
No full textThe study engages with a controversial theoretical debate on ‘global resistance’ in the context of the anti-war movement. Through an empirical case study of four anti-war organizations in Britain, the thesis critically evaluates dominant globalist theoretical discourses and their state-centric critiques from the perspective of ‘critical theory in political practice’ and seeks to develop the theoretical debate further. Acting as a critical mediator in between the metatheories and micropolitics of resistance, the author examines how the theoretical discourses ‘resonate’ with the premises of the current anti-war movement; what the theories fail to consider in terms of political practice; and to which extent the values and normative visions embedded in their broader political projects relate to the movement.
The research demonstrates that the connection between the theories and the political practice is not only inadequate but also problematic in many regards. The divergences between the globalist frameworks and the premises of the movement are particularly substantial; convergence with the state-centric approach is found more often. Although it also succeeds in illustrating serious problems in the globalist frameworks, the thesis argues that the state-centric approach is not without problems either. All three theoretical approaches have a problematic tendency to resort to a dualistic ‘either-or’ logic in conceptualizing power, effective strategies and the primary context of resistance which represents a clear diversion from the understandings held within the movement where analyses and conceptions are overlapping and mixed, echoing often a ‘both-and’ approach. The globalist frameworks are problemactic also because in conceptualizing the multitude and global civil society as consensual global political collectives, they fail to take into account political conflicts and power struggles within the movement. The study shows that below the surface there are many political conflicts and struggles going on. Transforming the movement into something more permanent and global is an extremely challenging endeavor, one that cannot be established ‘from above’.
Instead of defining their political projects of resistance in a way which enables their conceptualizations to be detached from practice and their normative visions and suggestions to diverge from the premises of the movement, the theories must closely engage with the movement in order to establish an emancipatory dialogue in the true sense of critical theory. The study contributes insights for developing the theoretical debate further, suggesting that a ‘both-and’ approach instead of an ‘either-or’ would not only reflect more accurately how the relationship between the local and global – and many other concepts as well – are conceived within the movement, but would also provide a more productive and comprehensive perspective for conceptualizing power and resistance in the context of social movements generally. While revealing many ongoing political conflicts and power struggles between the organizations studied, the thesis brings forward problems and tensions also within the movement and suggests it would benefit from a more open discussion about the complex relationship between unity and diversity.ei tietoa saavutettavuudest
The securitisation of the United Kingdom's maritime infrastructure during the 'war on terror'
No full textThis thesis examines counter-terrorism efforts in relation to the United Kingdom's ports and harbours (its 'maritime infrastructure') in the context of the 'war on terror'. To do this the thesis utilises the Copenhagen School's securitisation theory as the analytical frameowrk through which a case study, focusing on developments in a five year period between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009 and utilising the cases of Felixstowe, Holyhead and Tilbury, is undertaken. The thesis argues that UK maritime infrastructure was securitised in the context of the macrosecuritisation of the 'civilised way of life', which were in a mutually reinforcing relationship. By reorienting emphasis towards the 'post-securitised environment' and on to examining what securitisations 'do' in practice, the thesis subsequently demonstrates the substantial impact of securitisation on the management of UK maritime infrastructure. More specifically it argues that a counter-terrorism security response was evident which constantly evolved, was layered and increasingly expansive in scope and that had a series of prominent, recurring features. The thread which ran through this response was the pursuit of increased power in relation to UK maritime infrastructure, undertaken by the British state and port owners in particular. The thesis concludes by noting how the key findings of the case study progressively demonstrate a greater level of complexity to the securitisation of UK maritime infrastructure than can at first be apparent
