Composite materials are emerging as a vital entity for the sustainable development of both humans and the environment. Polylactic acid (PLA) has been recognized as a potential polymer candidate with attractive characteristics for applications in both the engineering and medical sectors. Hence, the present article throws lights on the essential physical and mechanical properties of PLA that can be beneficial for the development of composites, biocomposites, films, porous gels, and so on. The article discusses various processes that can be utilized in the fabrication of PLA-based composites. In a later section, we have a detailed discourse on the various composites and nanocomposites-based PLA along with the properties’ comparisons, discussing our investigation on the effects of various fibers, fillers, and nanofillers on the mechanical, thermal, and wear properties of PLA. Lastly, the various applications in which PLA is used extensively are discussed in detail.
East Asia, historically a vibrant region, has been witnessing momentous changes in contemporary times. In the past, it has witnessed a Sinocentric regional order, the era of Japanese imperialism, the Cold War divide and the persistence of the Cold War. The region is also important because in the contests for the Indo-Pacific, the roles of China, Japan and South Korea will have a large bearing. This article deals with China, Japan and South Korea as the main actors in the region, which have their concerns and challenges in this dynamic region. Most of the time, these countries are so engrossed in their own challenges and concerns that they cannot comprehend the collective regional scenario. Looking at the region from India, a distanced but connected country, it is possible to list their particular concerns and challenges and classify them to comprehend the full picture. This article classifies their concerns and challenges into three broad categories: common, different but reconcilable and different and irreconcilable. The classification is heuristic and subjective, but it is being used to recommend that the countries of the region must try to transform and move their concerns and challenges from the third category to the second category. Furthermore, the article also delves into the place and role of India in the region, along with a few tentative recommendations for India to play a more constructive role in reaching out to these countries bilaterally and collectively. In the process, the article argues that India needs to have a coordinated regional policy.
Anand Neelakanthan, the writer of Bahubaali, released the book Literature and World Cinema, edited by Itishri Sarangi in the Kalinga Literary Festival, 2017 at Mayfair Convention. The book is an anthology of critical articles written by different contributors on popular literature translated into films. According to the editor, the new book is an attempt to rediscover global cinema based on the literary pieces which later turned to movies. In the preface, Dr. Sarangi writes, "World cinema is no more Hollywood centric. Rather it has moved beyond its geographical area. Bollywood and Hindi film industry are loved by the audience worldwide. The book speaks about the role of Literature and its contribution to cinema, a popular culture" (Sarangi, 2017). The cinematic representations of the popular novels revive the works and get critically acclaimed by the people who watch them. The movies are easier understood by the audience than the novels and stories. The scriptwriters get attracted to the popular literary pieces for the theme of the movies and the directors are prone to literary texts if they find any cinematic potentiality in literature. It is their professionalism too, which makes famous literary text become successful movies. The book is an attempt to rediscover some eternal texts translated into films.The present book taken for review has ten distinctive chapters. In the Chapter "Meeting Jim: A Film in the Making" Dr. Chittaranjan Mishra portrays the journey of a man transcending boundaries to unite people and create bonds. The film is about Jim, who for more than four
During the course of data collection for my research in Ecocriticism, I came across a recently published book on the critical theory. The book, Perspective on Ecocritical Studies (2017) is an anthology of critical articles on the representation of environment and nature in some literary works. It explores a wide range of reading in Ecocritical perspectives. In this book, authors have successfully presented the different point of views with help of works in which environment and its parts have been represented whether negatively or positively. There are few chapters of the book very important to get a sense of ecocritical history, historical
Four rounds of the Six-Party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue have taken place so far. In the first three rounds no substantial progress was achieved, and only in the fourth round was a ‘breakthrough’ claimed when North Korea declared its intention to abandon its nuclear programme. North Korea, at the same time, emphasised its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and the Light Water Reactors that had been promised in the Nuclear Accord of 1994 between North Korea and the US. The process of negotiations has so far been predicated on mutual mistrust and lack of understanding of the threat perception of each other. A close scrutiny of the ‘breakthrough’ of the fourth round of talks reveals that there still is not any consensus on the main contentious issues. To move ahead, it must be recognised that the process of negotiations has been following a wave-like movement in which the fourth round constitutes a crest. Rather than resorting to coercive measures, more confidence building measures should be undertaken between North Korea and the other parties involved, especially the US.The growing consensus among the regional powers to engage North Korea might be effective in facilitating such measures. In particular, it is necessary for Washington to review its aggressive policy vis-É-vis North Korea. Any imposition of a ‘solution’ by the US on North Korea, devoid of mutual trust between the two countries, might again lead to breach of commitment by one side or the other, as happened with the Nuclear Accord of 1994.
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