A new method for the estimation of cooling and denudation rates using paramagnetic centers in quartz: a case study on the Eldzhurtinskiy Granite, Caucasus

We present a new method for the assessment of the most recent cooling and denudation rates using paramagnetic centers in quartz measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. These centers have a relatively low thermal stability. For cooling rates of 40° and 1000°C Myr−1, effective closure temperatures vary between 55° and 82°C (Ti center) and 49° and 64°C (Al center), respectively. Samples were collected from two cores that were drilled into the Eldzhurtinskiy Granite, which has an emplacement age of ∼2 Ma as measured by U/Pb analyses of zircons. One 1500 m core was taken from a drill hole into the dome of the granite, a second core of 4000 m from a drill hole at the base of the Baksan Valley. Our results yield cooling rates of between 160 and 250°C Myr−1 for the upper core and between 570° and 600°C Myr−1 for the lower core; the corresponding denudation rates are ∼2.5 (upper core) and 5.5mm a−1 (lower core). The shape of the temperature profile of the lower core indicates recent erosion. When fitting the temperature data with a two-dimensional heat-transfer model, we obtain a net denudation rate of ∼10 mm a−1 and cooling rates in the range of 500°C Myr−1, thus confirming the cooling rates estimated by ESR. However, the ESR denudation rates underestimate the erosion rate of the Baksan Valley because the geothermal gradient is not equilibrated between the surface and the depth of the annihilation temperatures, 950 and 1800 m for the Al and Ti centers, respectively. We conclude that ESR measurements of paramagnetic centers in quartz will allow the reconstruction of landscape dynamics for the past 10–1000 kyr and that in conjunction with U/Pb, fission track, and Ar/Ar analyses it will be possible to develop dynamic models for Quaternary tectonic movements

Unraveling the Wagner Group and Yevgeny Prigozhin: The Enigma of Prigozhin's 'March of Justice

The text discusses significant recent developments in Russia's political landscape, notably the Prigozhin insurgency, which challenged the "perception of stability" under President Putin. The author highlights the potential scenarios for the country's future. When examining the attempted coup in Russia, it's crucial to highlight Vladimir Putin's vulnerability, evident in his decision to permit Yevgeny Prigozhin and fellow Wagner PMC leaders to depart unhindered to Belarus. There are enough hypotheses as to why the Wagner PMC, which always protected the interests of the Putin government, revolted against the government. The insurrection was so massive that mercenaries quickly captured Rostov-on-Don during the rebellion, entering the city, including in tanks. During the day, the rebels, with minimal resistance, passed the Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Tula regions, heading to Moscow. The swift conclusion of the rebellion within a day raises numerous uncertainties. The circumstances surrounding it remain puzzling: Prigozhin vanished from the scene, only for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to emerge. The Ukrainian invasion has serious implications for the Putin government, potentially prompting changes in leadership. The failed coup attempt involving Prigozhin and his departure to Belarus raises questions about Putin's authority and possible arrangements. The text concludes by discussing the impact of a coup on Russia's stability and the potential for multiple coups leading to a tumultuous transition with global implications. It emphasizes the interest in avoiding bloodshed and maintaining stability from both Russian and Western perspectives

Optimization of Removal of Iron and Manganese from Groundwater using the samples from Chicha Plant, Kelantan

Groundwater is presently one of the major sources of water supply in Kelantan. The problems with iron in water are mainly aesthetic. Iron gives water a sour, metal taste, stains laundry, and food cooked in the water receives an unappetizing colour. This research is focused on removal of iron and manganese from groundwater. The area of focus was mainly the Chicha Kelantan Groundwater plant. The removal of ferrous iron (Fe (II)) and Mn in groundwater has been generally achieved by simple aeration, or the addition of an oxidizing agent or the lime treatment. Aeration has been shown to be very efficient in insolubilization of ferrous iron at a pH level greater than 6.5 and maintaining iron concentration 0.3 mg/1. Also it is effective for maintaining concentration of 0.05 mg/1 for manganese. In this study, some of the removal methods were experimented in the Chicha and in UTP such as aeration and coagulation with all complete results attached. It can be concluded that coagulation, flocculation after aeration further decrease the Fe and Mn concentrations in the water. Concentrations of Fe are low as 0.02 mg/1 and for Mn are 0.035 mg/1 which is a tremendous result. Although lime is not recommended, sodium hypochlorite might be an ideal replacement for other chemical additions. After hypo addition, concentrations of Fe are 7.95 mg/1 and Mn is 13.2 mg/l considering very high dosage of Fe & Mn solution. It is effective to reduce both Fe & Mn concentrations

Policy enforcement in cloud computing

Cloud Computing is an emerging technology, providing attractive way of hosting and delivering services over the Internet. Many organizations and individuals are utilizing Cloud services to share information and collaborate with partners. However, Cloud provides abstraction over the underlying physical infrastructure to the customers, that raises information security concerns, while storing data in a virtualized environment without having physical access to it. Additionally, certain standards have been issued to provide interoperability between users and various distributed systems(including Cloud infrastructures), in a standardized way. However, implementation and interoperability issues still exist and introduce new challenges. This thesis explores the feasibility of securing data in a cloud context, using existing standards and specifications, while retaining the benefits of the Cloud. The thesis provides a view on increasing security concerns of moving to the cloud and sharing data over it. First, we define security and privacy requirements for the data stored in the Cloud. Based on these requirements, we propose the requirements for an access control system in the Cloud. Furthermore, we evaluate the existing work in the area of currently available access control systems and mechanisms for secure data sharing over the Cloud, mostly focusing on policy enforcement and access control characteristics. Moreover, we determine existing mechanisms and standards to implement secure data sharing and collaborative systems over the Cloud. We propose an architecture supporting secure data sharing over the untrusted Cloud environment, based on our findings. The architecture ensures policy based access control inside and outside Cloud, while allowing the benefits of Cloud Computing to be utilized. We discuss the components involved in the architecture and their design considerations. To validate the proposed architecture, we construct the proof of concept prototype. We present a novel approach for implementing policy based access control, by achieving interoperability between existing standards and addressing certain issues, while constructing the system prototype. Furthermore, we deploy our solution in the Cloud and perform the performance tests to evaluate the performance of the system. Finally, we perform a case study by utilizing our system in a real-life scenario. To do this we slightly tailor our solution to meet specific needs. Overall, this thesis provides a solid foundation for the policy enforcement and access control mechanisms in the Cloud-based systems and motivates further work within this field. Cloud Computing is an emerging technology, providing attractive way of hosting and delivering services over the Internet. Many organizations and individuals are utilizing Cloud services to share information and collaborate with partners. However, Cloud provides abstraction over the underlying physical infrastructure to the customers, that raises information security concerns, while storing data in a virtualized environment without having physical access to it. Additionally, certain standards have been issued to provide interoperability between users and various distributed systems(including Cloud infrastructures), in a standardized way. However, implementation and interoperability issues still exist and introduce new challenges. This thesis explores the feasibility of securing data in a cloud context, using existing standards and specifications, while retaining the benefits of the Cloud. The thesis provides a view on increasing security concerns of moving to the cloud and sharing data over it. First, we define security and privacy requirements for the data stored in the Cloud. Based on these requirements, we propose the requirements for an access control system in the Cloud. Furthermore, we evaluate the existing work in the area of currently available access control systems and mechanisms for secure data sharing over the Cloud, mostly focusing on policy enforcement and access control characteristics. Moreover, we determine existing mechanisms and standards to implement secure data sharing and collaborative systems over the Cloud. We propose an architecture supporting secure data sharing over the untrusted Cloud environment, based on our findings. The architecture ensures policy based access control inside and outside Cloud, while allowing the benefits of Cloud Computing to be utilized. We discuss the components involved in the architecture and their design considerations. To validate the proposed architecture, we construct the proof of concept prototype. We present a novel approach for implementing policy based access control, by achieving interoperability between existing standards and addressing certain issues, while constructing the system prototype. Furthermore, we deploy our solution in the Cloud and perform the performance tests to evaluate the performance of the system. Finally, we perform a case study by utilizing our system in a real-life scenario. To do this we slightly tailor our solution to meet specific needs. Overall, this thesis provides a solid foundation for the policy enforcement and access control mechanisms in the Cloud-based systems and motivates further work within this field

Unraveling the Wagner Group and Yevgeny Prigozhin: The Enigma of Prigozhin's 'March of Justice

The text discusses significant recent developments in Russia's political landscape, notably the Prigozhin insurgency, which challenged the "perception of stability" under President Putin. The author highlights the potential scenarios for the country's future. When examining the attempted coup in Russia, it's crucial to highlight Vladimir Putin's vulnerability, evident in his decision to permit Yevgeny Prigozhin and fellow Wagner PMC leaders to depart unhindered to Belarus. There are enough hypotheses as to why the Wagner PMC, which always protected the interests of the Putin government, revolted against the government. The insurrection was so massive that mercenaries quickly captured Rostov-on-Don during the rebellion, entering the city, including in tanks. During the day, the rebels, with minimal resistance, passed the Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Tula regions, heading to Moscow. The swift conclusion of the rebellion within a day raises numerous uncertainties. The circumstances surrounding it remain puzzling: Prigozhin vanished from the scene, only for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to emerge. The Ukrainian invasion has serious implications for the Putin government, potentially prompting changes in leadership. The failed coup attempt involving Prigozhin and his departure to Belarus raises questions about Putin's authority and possible arrangements. The text concludes by discussing the impact of a coup on Russia's stability and the potential for multiple coups leading to a tumultuous transition with global implications. It emphasizes the interest in avoiding bloodshed and maintaining stability from both Russian and Western perspectives

A New Security Architecture in Türkiye-Azerbaijan Relations Between 2018 and 2023

Between 2018 and 2023, Türkiye and Azerbaijan significantly redefined their bilateral security relationship, evolving from a historically close partnership into a formalised strategic alliance underpinned by shared geopolitical interests and mutual threat perceptions. This period witnessed the consolidation of a new security architecture characterised by integrated defence planning, joint military operations, and institutionalised security frameworks. The 2020 Second Karabakh War served as a critical juncture, showcasing the effectiveness of Türkiye's military support, including advanced drone warfare and strategic advisory assistance, in reshaping the conflict dynamics in the South Caucasus. The subsequent 2021 Shusha Declaration marked a milestone in bilateral ties, codifying mutual defence commitments, emphasising territorial integrity, and signalling a shift toward a more assertive and coordinated regional posture. This transformation was driven by several structural and contextual factors: shifting power dynamics in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the relative decline of Russian influence, the reassertion of Turkish regional leadership under its "strategic autonomy" policy, and Azerbaijan's rising defence capabilities and economic clout. Moreover, increased cooperation in defence industrial development, intelligence sharing, and energy security has contributed to a multidimensional security framework that transcends traditional military alliances. The emerging Türkiye-Azerbaijan security axis has broader implications for regional stability and geopolitical alignments, particularly for Iran, Armenia, and Russia. It also reflects Ankara's ambition to position itself as a central security actor across the Turkic world and beyond, aligning with the institutional expansion of platforms such as the Organisation of Turkic States. This abstract explores the historical trajectory, institutional mechanisms, and strategic outcomes of the evolving security paradigm, arguing that the Türkiye-Azerbaijan partnership has set a precedent for new forms of regionalism and deterrence-based security cooperation in the post-Soviet geopolitical space

Geopolitics and Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Region

Could the Caspian Region replace Russia's or the Persian Gulf's immense energy potential with their energy resources? Yunis Gurbanov explores the strategic importance of the region in post-USSR Eurasian policies of major global actors, namely China, the EU, the USA, and Russia, and examines Azerbaijan's, Kazakhstan's, and Turkmenistan's oil and gas resources as alternatives to conventional suppliers. He shows that the Caspian region's resources could serve as alternative energy sources on a global level, mitigating dependence on traditional suppliers and stabilizing energy prices

СУЧАСНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ЛЮДСЬКИМИ РЕСУРСАМИ В АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНІ

Human Resource Management practices in each country are different, because HRM practices that affect each country's economic, social, political and cultural factors are different (Brewster, 1993). In the field of HRM once alleged to be universally agreed approaches and practices has become a controversial issue today. Studies of human resource management models are applied to a variety of different features of the affected countries show that they are differed, too. This, reveals that however, is in need of investigation human resource management in the country level. This needs to be highlighted by many authors, but research is not adequate. As known, every administrative practice, is affected by cultural and economic conditions which is involved and the same time themselves affect them. Gained independence in 18 October 1991 and living transition period from socialist system to the capitalist system in Azerbaijan, as in many business applications HRM practices are new. Transformation of economies to adapt the market conditions and the process requires a certain period of time. Forms and practices of organizations doing business change and every organization has to adapt new conditions in which micro, macro (national) and international conditions should be evaluated. In the context of HRM practices, formulating his personnel departments in needs of planning system will be hard to change to the needs of market economy. In order to overcome this problem at the national level to due diligence and then some arrangements should be made for there to be a smooth transition.In this context, how to improve HRM practices in the companies of Azerbaijan has been identified as a research problem. The aim of this study is to determine the overall appearance of Azerbaijan on the basis of the functions of HRM practices and to investigate the factors that influence upon the development of this condition.Практика управления человеческими ресурсами(УЧР) в каждой стране различна, потому что факторы УЧР, которые влияют на экономические, социальные, политические и культурные факторы каждой страны различны (Брюстер, 1993). В области УЧР на сегодняшний день нет общепризнанных подходов и практики. Исследования моделей управления человеческими ресурсами показывают, что они различны в различных  странах. Это указывает на необходимость частного подхода к управлению человеческими ресурсами на уровне стран. Это подчеркивается  многими авторами. Как известно, каждая административная деятельность, зависит от культурных и экономических условий, в которые она вовлечена и в то же время сама влияет на них. После приобретения независимости  18 октября 1991 года и перехода к рыночной системе экономического развития в Азербайджане, как и во многих других развивающихся странах   появилась крайняя потребность в УЧР. Однако процесс трансформации экономики и адаптации  ее к  рыночным условиям требуют определенного времени. Формы и методы УЧР в организации зависят от  рода ее бизнеса и  каждая организация должна адаптироваться к новым условиям  на микро, макро (национальном) и международном уровнях. В контексте практики УЧР,если организация формирует свои отделы персонала к потребностям системы планирования,ей трудно соответствоваеь потребностям рыночной экономики. Для того, чтобы преодолеть эту проблему на национальном уровне необходим плавный переход к рыночным требованиям.В этом контексте, в качестве задачи исследования были определены пути улучшения  практики управления персоналом в компаниях Азербайджана. Целью данного исследования является определение современного состояния УЧР в Азербайджане  и исследование  факторов,  влияющих на развитие этого состояния.Практика управління людськими ресурсами(УЛР) в кожній країні різна, тому що фактори УЛР, які впливають на економічні, соціальні, політичні і культурні чинники кожної країни різні (Брюстер, 1993). У сфері УЛР на сьогоднішній день немає загальновизнаних підходів і практики. Дослідження моделей управління людськими ресурсами показують, що вони різні у різних країнах. Це вказує на необхідність приватного підходу до управління людськими ресурсами на рівні країн. Це підкреслюється багатьма авторами.Як відомо, кожна адміністративна діяльність, залежить від культурних і економічних умов, в які вона залучена і водночас сама впливає на них. Після набуття незалежності 18 жовтня 1991 року та переходу до ринкової системи економічного розвитку в Азербайджані, як і в багатьох інших країнах, що розвиваються, з'явилася гостра потреба в УЛР.Однак процес трансформації економіки та адаптації її до ринкових умов вимагають певного часу. Форми і методи УЛР в організації залежать від роду її бізнесу і кожна організація повинна адаптуватися до нових умов на мікро, макро (національному) і міжнародному рівнях. У контексті практики УЛР,якщо організація формує свої відділи персоналу до потреб системи планування,їй важко соответствоваеь потребам ринкової економіки. Для того, щоб подолати цю проблему на національному рівні необхідний плавний перехід до ринкових вимог