1,475 research outputs found
1869, Cornell University Press Podcast, Ep. 118 with Jayita Sarkar, author of Ploughshares and Swords
No full textThis episode, we speak with Jayita Sarkar, author of the new paperback and open access ebook Ploughshares and Swords: India’s Nuclear Program in the Global Cold War. Jay Sarkar is Senior Lecturer in Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow and the Founding Director of the Global Decolonization Initiative.
We spoke to Jay about how the history of India’s first nuclear weapons test in 1974 has been overshadowed by their 1998 nuclear tests, why the conventional wisdom that India started off its nuclear program with nuclear energy first is in fact incorrect, and the strong connections between India’s nuclear program and their space program
De-differentiation of primary human hepatocytes depends on the composition of specialized liver basement membrane
No full textBasement membrane (BM) is a highly specialized extracellular matrix (ECM), which is associated with epithelia and endothelia. BM provide epithelia with structural support and also regulate cell behavior. The liver contains a unique ECM within the space of Disse, which consists of basement membrane constituents as well as fibrillar ECM molecules. Changes in composition of this ECM are considered detrimental for viability of hepatocytes during progression of liver disease. Mouse tumor-derived BM preparations, such as Matrigel, which are commonly used as a model for BM in vitro, differ significantly in their composition from liver BM present in vivo. In order to gain further insights into the role of BM in the regulation of hepatocyte behavior in health and disease, we generated a liver-derived basement membrane matrix (LBLM). LBLM allowed investigation of BM-hepatocyte interactions in vitro. Here we report a novel approach of generating a liver-derived basement membrane matrix by separate isolation of type IV collagen, laminin, nidogen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and subsequent reconstitution into a matrix-like gel. Adhesion of primary human hepatocytes to LBLM was increased and the rate of de-differentiation was decreased compared to hepatocyte cultivation on Matrigel or type I collagen matrix. Primary human hepatocytes maintained their differentiated epithelial phenotype on LBLM isolated from normal human livers for more than 21 days, whereas they de-differentiated rapidly on LBLM isolated from cirrhotic human livers. Normal human LBLM contains a unique isoform composition of type IV collagen, namely alpha1 (IV), alpha2(IV), alpha4(IV), and alpha6(IV) chains, whereas cirrhotic LBLM contains only alpha1(IV) and alpha2(IV) isoforms, albeit present in increased amounts. These findings suggest that the composition of liver basement membrane is important for the maintenance of hepatocyte viability and provide anti-de-differentiation clues
Paleoenvironmental Context of Microbial Mat-Related Structures in Siliciclastic Rocks
No full textThe role of biological influences in forming carbonate rocks (e.g., Altermann et al., 2006) is almost universally accepted within geology. In contrast, many see clastic sedimentary rocks as being formed primarily through physical and chemical processes, with biological mediation of their genesis being considered as of relatively minor importance (Schieber et al., 2007a). While sedimentologists and most geologists are familiar with the importance of trace fossils within clastic deposits (cf., the seminal work of Seilacher (1964) and many others since), the role of microbial mats in terrigenous sediment accretion, and in the formation and preservation of a whole host of mat-induced (mi) and mat-related structures within clastic sedimentary rocks, is less well known
An inventory model with reliability in an imperfect production process
No full textThe paper analyzes an economic manufacturing quantity (EMQ) model with price and advertising demand pattern in an imperfect production process under the effect of inflation. If the machine goes through a long-run process, it may shift from in-control state to out-of-control state. As a result, the system produces imperfect items. The imperfect items are reworked at a cost to make it as new. The production of imperfect quality items increases with time. To reduce the production of the imperfect items, the systems have to more reliable and the produced items depend on the reliability of the machinery system. In this direction, the author considers that the development cost, production cost, material cost are dependent on reliability parameter. Considering reliability as a decision variable, the author constructs an integrated profit function which is maximized by control theory. A numerical example along with graphical representation and sensitivity analysis are provided to illustrate the model. �� 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Some multivariate linear regression testing problems with additional observations
No full textAbstractIn an earlier paper, the present author (Sarkar (1979), Calcutta Statist. Assoc. Bull.28, 47–56) proposed a similar test for a mean testing problem with additional observations on a set of correlated auxiliary variables. This idea has been extended here to cover some multivariate linear regression testing problems with the same type of additional observations on a set of correlated auxiliary variables
Studies on Multiphase, Multi-scale Transport Phenomena in the Presence of Superimposed Magnetic Field
Get PDFMultiphase transport phenomena primarily encompass the fundamental principles and applications concerning the systems where overall dynamics are precept by phase change evolution. On the other hand, multiscale transport phenomena essentially corroborate to a domain where the transport characteristics often contain components at disparate scales. Relevant examples as appropriate to multiphase and multiscale thermofluidic transport phenomena comprise solid-liquid phase change during conventional solidification process and hydrodynamics through narrow confinements. The additional effect of superimposed magnetic field over such multiphase and multiscale systems may give rise to intriguing transport characteristics, significantly unique in nature as compared to flows without it.
The present investigation focuses on multiphase, multi-scale transport phenomena in physical systems subjected to the superimposed magnetic field, considering four important and inter-linked aspects. To begin with, for a multiphase system concerning binary alloy solidification, a normal mode linear stability analysis has been carried out to investigate stationary and oscillatory convective stability in the mushy layer in the presence of external magnetic field. The stability results indicate that the critical Rayleigh number for stationary convection shows a linear relationship with increasing Ham (mush Hartmann number). Magnetohydrodynamic effect imparts a stabilizing influence during stationary convection. In comparison to that of stationary convective mode, the oscillatory mode appears to be critically susceptible at higher values of (a function of the Stefan number and concentration ratio), and vice versa for lower values. Analogous to the behaviour for stationary convection, the magnetic field also offers a stabilizing effect in oscillatory convection and thus influences global stability of the mushy layer. Increasing magnetic strength shows reduction in the wavenumber and in the number of rolls formed in the mushy layer.
In multiscale paradigm, the combined electroosmotic and pressure-driven transport through narrow confinements have been firstly analyzed with an effect of spatially varying non–uniform magnetic field. It has been found that a confluence of the steric interactions with the degree of wall charging (zeta potential) may result in heat transfer enhancement, and overall reduction in entropy generation of the system under appropriate conditions. In particular, it is revealed that a judicious selection of spatially varying magnetic field strength may lead to an augmentation in the heat transfer rate. It is also inferred that incorporating non–uniformity in distribution of the applied magnetic field translates the system to be dominated by the heat transfer irreversibility.
Proceeding further, a semi-analytical investigation has been carried out considering implications of magnetohydrodynamic forces and interfacial slip on the heat transfer characteristics of streaming potential mediated flow in narrow fluidic confinements. An augmentation in the streaming potential field as attributable to the wall slip activated enhanced electromagnetohydrodynamic transport of the ionic species within the EDL has been found. Furthermore, the implications of Stern layer conductivity and magnetohydrodynamic influence on system irreversibility have been shown through analysis of entropy generation due to fluid friction and heat transfer. The results being obtained in this analysis have significant scientific and technological consequences in the context of novel design of future generation energy efficient devices, and can be useful in the further advancement of theory, simulation, and experimental work.
Finally, the combined consequences of interfacial electrokinetics, rheology, and superimposed magnetic field subjected to a non-Newtonian (power-law obeying) fluid in a narrow confinement are studied in this work. The theoretical results demonstrate that the applied magnetic field imparts a retarding influence in the induced streaming potential development, whereas, triggers the heat transfer magnitude. Moreover, additional influences of power law index show reduction in heat transfer as well as the streaming potential magnitude. It is unveiled that the optimal combinations of power law index and the magnetic field lead to the minimization of the global total entropy generation in the system
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, Benoy Kumar Sarkar, and the Śukranīti
Get PDFThe English-raised Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, the twentieth century’s leading historian of Indian art, is well known for prizing tradition and anonymity and for upholding the position that visualization exercises were an essential part of the creative process. The first part of this article addresses the role of the English Arts and Crafts Movement and of such lesser-known figures as Sister Nivedita and Lionel de Fonseka in shaping Coomaraswamy’s views. The middle part consists of a discussion of the passages in the nineteenth-century Sanskrit treatise the Śukranīti that Coomaraswamy depended upon to support his opinions. The final part of the article is devoted to the writings of the sociologist Benoy Kumar Sarkar, author of the standard translation of the Śukranīti. As an opponent of the over-spiritualisation of Indian civilisation, he constructed a universal grammar of art. In this enterprise, he was heavily influenced by the American painter Max Weber
Repensando la ciencia. La reconstrucción de la ciencia y de la sociedad de P. R. Sarkar
No full textFaced with the traditional or positivist science that stands outside history, culture and language, the author presents the thinking of Sarkar, who does not argue for an anti-science, anti-technology or falls into a science that would exist outside the social and political, but one within context, arguing for a new science of society. This paper raises important questions, such as: in what direction will then move social sciences: towards empathy and interpretation or towards disinterest and distance? Are we close to losing the universal perspectives as power and knowledge are localized and relativized? Or we are dealing with a new model of the real close, that becoming dominant will reformulate the categories of "science", "local" and "universal"?Frente a la ciencia tradicional o positivista que se coloca fuera de la historia, de la cultura y del lenguaje, el autor presenta el pensamiento de Sarkar, quien no argumenta por una posición anti-ciencia, anti-tecnología ni cae en una ciencia que existe fuera de lo social y lo político, sino contextualizada, abogando por una nueva ciencia de la sociedad. El trabajo plantea relevantes preguntas como: ¿En qué dirección se moverán luego las ciencias sociales: hacia la empatía e interpretación o hacia el desinterés y distancia? ¿Estamos nosotros cerca de perder los universales ya que el poder y el conocimiento son localizados y relativizados? ¿O es un nuevo modelo de lo real cercano de llegar a ser dominante que reformula estas categorías de "ciencia", "local" y "universal"
“A legacy of troubles. Bengal Partition as long-lasting narration”
No full textThis essays analyses Indian Partition Literature, focusing on the Eastern border and the novel East/West by the Bengali author Gangopadhyay
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