A study of plastic deformation during axisymmetric forward spiral extrusion and its subsequent mechanical property changes

Axisymmetric forward spiral extrusion (AFSE) accumulates large strains in its sample while extruding it through a die with engraved spiral grooves. A three-dimensional finite element model of AFSE has been developed using ABAQUS to investigate the deformation mode in detail, including the effect of groove geometry and the heterogeneity of plastic deformation. The numerical results demonstrated that the strain distribution in the AFSE sample cross section is linear in the radial direction within a concentric core while the distribution, outside the core, in the vicinity of the grooves is non-linear and non-axisymmetric. Mechanical properties and grain structure changes of the deformed sample were investigated. Improvements of mechanical properties in the processed samples can be attributed to the domination of the shear deformation mode in a plane normal to the extrusion axis and consequently the elongation of grains in the tangential direction

Virtual thievery : an insight into the criminal mind of virtual property thieves

Virtual worlds have become highly popular in recent years with reports of over a billion people accessing these worlds and the virtual goods market growing to near $50 US billion dollars. An undesirable outcome to this popularity and market value is thriving criminal activity in these worlds.  The most profitable transgression at the moment in virtual worlds is named Virtual Property Theft.  The aim of this study is to gain insight using an online survey, as to how thieves in these synthetic worlds conduct their criminal activities.  This survey asked questions on: thief profiling, how theft was conducted, times of criminal activity, which items are stolen and distributed, victim targeting and criminal profiteering.  This survey is the first to report an insight into the criminal mind of virtual thieves.  The results of this study will provide a pathway for designing an effective anti-theft mechanism capable of abolishing this criminal enterprise.

The pharmaceutical industry, intellectual property rights and access to medicines in Pakistan

The pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan is worth around US$ l.18 billion, with annual growth in 2010 approaching 10 per cent (Khan, 2012). There are more than 650 registered companies, including 31 multinationals, which in 2006 had a market share in value terms of 53.3 per cent, with national firms controlling the remaining 46.7 per cent (IMS Health, 2007). In 2007 medicines worth about US$100 million were exported. Medicines are a vital component of healthcare, and Pakistan spends around three-quarters of its healthcare budget on medicines (WHO, 2004). This chapter provides an overview, from a public health perspective, of the national pharmaceutical market and the development of drug policies and regulation. Pakistan adopted a Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) compliant patent regime in 2000, and the intersection between patents and public health is a central policy challenge. This chapter highlights key issues related to intellectual property, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and production and access to medicines.