Complex Network Analysis of Carbon Emission Transfers under Global Value Chains

Accompanied with the increasing complicated global value chain (GVC) networks is the carbon emission transfers among countries. Utilizing the complex network analysis alongside quadratic assignment procedure (QAP), this paper detects the community structure and influencing forces of the emission transfers under GVCs. The results imply that the bipolar structure of the network transformed gradually to tripolar owing largely to the surging of carbon emissions from China. Evidence on the existence of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in the emission transfers from high-income countries to low-income countries, and a U-shape relationship in the transfers in the reverse direction, suggesting that growing carbon emissions from both low- and high-income countries transferred to other high-income countries gradually. Gaps in technology, especially in patent applications, between source and destination countries played an important role therein. JEL: F14, F18, Q56, R15

A Mediterranean Region? Regional Security Complex Theory Revisited

This article argues that the shift from the bipolar structure of the Cold War international system to a more polycentric power structure at the system level has increased the significance of regional relations and has consequently enhanced the importance of the study of regionalism. It makes a case for a Mediterranean region and examines various efforts aimed at defining what constitutes a region. In so doing, it investigates whether the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) can be utilized to define a Mediterranean region and argues that the patters of amity and enmity among Mediterranean states are necessary but not sufficient to identify such a region. It suggests that economic, energy, environmental, and other factors, such as migration and refugee flows should be taken into consideration in order to define the Mediterranean region. It also claims that the Mediterranean security complex includes three sub-complexes. The first is an eastern Mediterranean sub-complex that revolves mainly - albeit not exclusively - around three conflicts: the Greek-Turkish conflict, the Syrian conflict, and the Israeli-Palestinian/Arab conflict. The second is a central Mediterranean sub-complex that includes Italy, Libya, Albania and Malta and which revolves mainly around migration with Italy playing a dominant role due to its historical ties to both Libya and Albania. The third is a western Mediterranean security sub-complex that includes France, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain and Portugal. This sub-complex it centered around France, the migration question and its associated threats, such as terrorism, radicalism, and human trafficking. In conclusion, it is concluded that the Mediterranean security complex is very dynamic as there are states (i.e. Turkey) that seem eager and capable of challenging the status quo thereby contributing to the process of the complexs internal transformation.

Morphogenesis and cell ordering in confined bacterial biofilms

Biofilms are aggregates of bacterial cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix. Much progress has been made in studying biofilm growth on solid substrates; however, little is known about the biophysical mechanisms underlying biofilm development in three-dimensional confined environments in which the biofilm-dwelling cells must push against and even damage the surrounding environment to proliferate. Here, combining single-cell imaging, mutagenesis, and rheological measurement, we reveal the key morphogenesis steps of Vibrio cholerae biofilms embedded in hydrogels as they grow by four orders of magnitude from their initial size. We show that the morphodynamics and cell ordering in embedded biofilms are fundamentally different from those of biofilms on flat surfaces. Treating embedded biofilms as inclusions growing in an elastic medium, we quantitatively show that the stiffness contrast between the biofilm and its environment determines biofilm morphology and internal architecture, selecting between spherical biofilms with no cell ordering and oblate ellipsoidal biofilms with high cell ordering. When embedded in stiff gels, cells self-organize into a bipolar structure that resembles the molecular ordering in nematic liquid crystal droplets. In vitro biomechanical analysis shows that cell ordering arises from stress transmission across the biofilm–environment interface, mediated by specific matrix components. Our imaging technique and theoretical approach are generalizable to other biofilm-forming species and potentially to biofilms embedded in mucus or host tissues as during infection. Our results open an avenue to understand how confined cell communities grow by means of a compromise between their inherent developmental program and the mechanical constraints imposed by the environment.

THE 2003 WAR AND İTS INFLUENCE IRAQİ-TURKİSH RELATİONS

The end of the Cold War and decline of the bipolar structure of the international relations led to significant changes of the foreign policy strategy and tactic of a large number of countries. During the late 1990’s, especially after the Gulf War, new approaches in relation with the neighbouring countries were being shaped in the regional policy of Iraq and Turkey. After the 2003 War and the post-war years the relations between two countries developed successfully in many spheres despite the existing problems. This became largely possible due to diversification of foreign policy of Iraq and Turkey: the first lost the status of one of the leading states of the region, and the second was confirmed in the status of the leader of the Middle East. The article considers bilateral relations after the war in 2003 and until 2010’s.

A gelation transition enables the self-organization of bipolar metaphase spindles

The mitotic spindle is a highly dynamic bipolar structure that emerges from the self-organization of microtubules, molecular motors, and other proteins. Sustained motor-driven poleward flows of short dynamic microtubules play a key role in the bipolar organization of spindles. However, it is not understood how the local activity of motor proteins generates these large-scale coherent poleward flows. Here, we combine experiments and simulations to show that a gelation transition enables long-ranged microtubule transport causing spindles to self-organize into two oppositely polarized microtubule gels. Laser ablation experiments reveal that local active stresses generated at the spindle midplane propagate through the structure thereby driving global coherent microtubule flows. Simulations show that microtubule gels undergoing rapid turnover can exhibit long stress relaxation times, in agreement with the long-ranged flows observed in experiments. Finally, we show that either disrupting such flows or decreasing the network connectivity can lead to a microtubule polarity reversal in spindles both in the simulations and in the experiments. Thus, we uncover an unexpected connection between spindle rheology and architecture in spindle self-organization.

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Anion-Exchange Membrane AMX-Sb Fouled by Red Wine Components

The broad possibilities of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for assessing the capacitance of interphase boundaries; the resistance and thickness of the foulant layer were shown by the example of AMX-Sb membrane contacted with red wine from one side and 0.02 M sodium chloride solution from the other side. This enabled us to determine to what extent foulants affect the electrical resistance of ion-exchange membranes, the ohmic resistance and the thickness of diffusion layers, the intensity of water splitting, and the electroconvection in under- and over-limiting current modes. It was established that short-term (10 h) contact of the AMX-Sb membrane with wine reduces the water-splitting due to the screening of fixed groups on the membrane surface by wine components. On the contrary, biofouling, which develops upon a longer membrane operation, enhances water splitting, due to the formation of a bipolar structure on the AMX-Sb surface. This bipolar structure is composed of a positively charged surface of anion-exchange membrane and negatively charged outer membranes of microorganisms. Using optical microscopy and microbiological analysis, it was found that more intense biofouling is observed on the AMX-Sb surface, that has not been in contacted with wine.

Simulating the inflation of bubbles by late jets in core collapse supernova ejecta

We conducted three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations to study the interaction of two late opposite jets with the ejecta of a core collapse supernova (CCSN), and study the bipolar structure that results from this interaction as the jets inflate hot-low-density bubbles. The newly born central object, a neutron star (NS; or a black hole), launches these jets at about 50 to 100 days after explosion. The bubbles cross the photosphere in the polar directions at much earlier times than the regions at the same radii near the equatorial plane. The hot bubbles releases more radiation and the photosphere recedes more rapidly in the tenuous bubble. Our results strengthen earlier claims that were based on toy models that such an interaction might lead to a late peak in the light curve, and that an equatorial observer might see a rapid drop in the light curve. Our results might have implications to much earlier jets that explode the star, either jets that the newly born NS launches in a CCSN, or jets that a NS companion that merges with the core of a massive star launches in a common envelope jets supernova (CEJSN) event. Our results add indirect support to the CEJSN scenario for fast blue optical transients, e.g., AT2018cow, ZTF18abvkwla, and CSS161010.

The 1945 World Order – Process with «Open» Continuation

The Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations, established by culmination of World War II, was created to maintain the security and cooperation of states in the post-war world. Leaders of the Big Three, who ensured the Victory over the fascist-militarist bloc in 1945, made decisive contribution to its creation. This system cemented the world order during the Cold War years until the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the destruction of the bipolar structure of the organization of international relations. Post-Cold War changes stimulated the search for new structures of the international order. Article purpose is to characterize circumstances of foundations formation of postwar world and to show how the historical decisions made by the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition powers in 1945 are projected onto modern political processes. Study focuses on interrelated questions: what was the post-war world order and how integral it was? How did the political decisions of 1945 affect the origins of the Cold War? Does the American-centrist international order, that prevailed at the end of the 20th century, genetically linked to the Atlantic Charter and the goals of the anti- Hitler coalition in the war, have a future?Many elements of the Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations in the 1990s survived and proved their viability. The end of the Cold War and globalization created conditions for widespread democracy in the world. The liberal system of international relations, which expanded in the late XX - early XXI century, is currently experiencing a crisis. It will be necessary to strengthen existing international institutions that ensure stability and security, primarily to create barriers to the spread of national egoism, radicalism and international terrorism, for have a chance to continue the liberal principles based world order (not necessarily within a unipolar system). Prerequisite for promoting idea of a liberal system of international relations is the adjustment of liberalism as such, refusal to unilaterally impose its principles on peoples with a different set of values. This will also require that all main participants in modern in-ternational life be able to develop a unilateral agenda for common problems and interstate relations, interact in a dialogue mode, delving into the arguments of opponents and taking into account their vital interests.