Statebuilding and the Origins of the “American Empire”: Towards the Problem of Legitimizing Sovereign Inequality in the 21st Century

In recent decades, “statebuilding” policies in the Greater Middle East have been used by Washington as a tool for forging an “American empire” based on unequal relations between the U.S. and its dependent regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time, current research focuses mainly on the instruments for implementing these policies and ensuring the acceptance of new political and economic institutions by the local population. Unlike the established approaches, the author examines Washington’s statebuilding efforts as a specific practice of legitimacy aimed at entrenching sovereign inequality and institutionalizing the US political control over “client-regimes.” The study draws on the theoretical legacy of the English school, which views “legitimacy” as a phenomenon inextricably linked with “international society,” comprising a group of states bound by common goals, institutions, and values. The legitimation strategies adopted by members of this society involve the performance of various international roles through which states acquire recognized statuses, rights and obligations. Focusing on the US roles such as “imperial power” and “patron,” the author concludes that Washington’s statebuilding efforts were aimed at linking the US interventionism in Afghanistan and Iraq with the collective goals of international society, and thus served to legitimize inequitable relations with “client-states” under the formal legal equality of members of international society. Therefore, the application of the proposed approach helps to shed light on the underexplored aspects of the legitimizing instruments of the US dominance and the means of institutionalizing sovereign inequality inherent in the “American empire” in the 21st century

Estimating degradation of strength of neat PEEK and PEEK-CF laminates under cyclic loading by mechanical hysteresis loops

A method for assessing the degradation of mechanical properties of neat polyetheretherketone and its laminated composite reinforced with unidirectional carbon fibers is proposed. It is based on the calculation of the maximum and minimum strains in a cycle, as well as both dynamic and secant moduli estimated from mechanical hysteresis loops. These parameters reflect the material damage degree, enabling to predict its current mechanical state

Secure evaluation of polynomial using privacy ring homomorphisms

Method of secure evaluation of polynomial y=F(x_1, …, x_k) over some rings on untrusted computer is proposed. Two models of untrusted computer are considered: passive and active. In passive model untrusted computer correctly computes polynomial F and tries to know secret input (x_1, …, x_k) and output y. In active model untrusted computer tries to know input and output and tries to change correct output y so that this change cannot be determined. Secure computation is proposed by using one-time privacy ring homomorphism Z/nZ -> Z/nZ[z]/(f(z)), n = pq, generated by trusted computer. In the case of active model secret check point v = F(u_1, …, u_k) is used. Trusted computer generates polynomial f(z)=(z-t)(z+t), t in Z/nZ, and input X_i(z) in Z/nZ[z]/(f(z)) such that X_i(t)=x_i (mod n) for passive model, and f(z)=(z-t_1)(z-t_2)(z-t_3), t_i in Z/nZ and input X_i(z) in Z/nZ[z]/(f(z)) such that X_i(t_1)=x_i (mod n), X_i(t_2)= u_i (mod n) for active model. Untrusted computer computes function Y(z) = F(X_1(z), …, X_k(z)) in the ring Z/nZ[z]/(f(z)). For passive model trusted computer determines secret output y=Y(t) (mod n). For active model trusted computer checks that Y(t_2)=v (mod n), then determines correct output y=Y(t_1) (mod n)

Frequency swept pulses for the enhanced resolution of ENDOR spectra detecting on higher spin transitions of Gd(III)

Half-Integer High Spin (HIHS) systems with zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters below 1 GHz are generally dominated by the spin |─1/2>→|+1/2> central transition (CT). Accordingly, most pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) experiments are performed at this position for maximum sensitivity. However, in certain cases it can be desirable to detect higher spin transitions away from the CT in such systems. Here, we describe the use of frequency swept Wideband, Uniform Rate, Smooth Truncation (WURST) pulses for transferring spin population from the CT, and other transitions, of Gd(III) to the neighbouring higher spin transition |─3/2>→|─1/2> at Q- and W-band frequencies. Specifically, we demonstrate this approach to enhance the sensitivity of 1H Mims Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) measurements on two model Gd(III) aryl substituted 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (DO3A) complexes, focusing on transitions other than the CT. We show that an enhancement factor greater than 2 is obtained for both complexes at Q- and W-band frequencies by the application of two polarising pulses prior to the ENDOR sequence. This is in agreement with simulations of the spin dynamics of the system during WURST pulse excitation. The technique demonstrated here should allow more sensitive experiments to be measured away from the CT at higher operating temperatures, and be combined with any relevant pulse sequence

Estimating degradation of strength of neat PEEK and PEEK-CF laminates under cyclic loading by mechanical hysteresis loops

A method for assessing the degradation of mechanical properties of neat polyetheretherketone and its laminated composite reinforced with unidirectional carbon fibers is proposed. It is based on the calculation of the maximum and minimum strains in a cycle, as well as both dynamic and secant moduli estimated from mechanical hysteresis loops. These parameters reflect the material damage degree, enabling to predict its current mechanical state