Modern Approaches to Risk Management and Their Use in Customs

In the article the analysis of experience and best practices of Europe and the world regarding the methods and tools of risk management in customs affairs. In accordance with the requirements of the Kyoto Convention the risk management is the main basic principle of modern customs control methods, which allows optimal use of resources of customs bodies, without reducing the effectiveness of customs controls, and exempt the majority of foreign trade operators from unnecessary bureaucratic control. Procedures based on risk management, concentrate customs control on areas, where there is the greatest risk, allowing the bulk of goods and individuals relatively free to pass the checkpoint at the customs border Special attention is paid to the principles and methods of risk management and their impact on the simplification of customs procedures through the use of risk-based thinking. The paper discusses the problems concerning the application and implementation of modern risk management techniques in customs procedures subject to the requirements of international standards ISO for the quality management system and risk management based on risk-based thinking

Theoretical Description of Pulsed RYDMR: Refocusing Zero-Quantum and Single Quantum Coherences

A theoretical description of pulsed reaction yield detected magnetic resonance (RYDMR) is proposed. In RYDMR, magnetic resonance spectra of radical pairs (RPs) are indirectly detected by monitoring their recombination yield. Such a detection method is significantly more sensitive than conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), but design of appropriate pulse sequences for RYDMR requires additional effort because of a different observable. In this work various schemes for generating spin-echo like signals and detecting them by RYDMR are treated. Specifically, we consider refocusing of zero-quantum coherences (ZQCs) and single-quantum coherences (SQCs) by selective as well as by non-selective pulses and formulate a general analytical approach to pulsed RYDMR, which makes an efficient use of the product operator formalism. We anticipate that these results are of importance for RYDMR studies of elusive paramagnetic particles, notably, in organic semiconductors

WORLD ORDER TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIOPOLITICAL DESTABILIZATION BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM WORKING PAPERS SERIES: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

International audienceThe present working paper analyzes the world order in the past, present and future as well as the main factors, foundations and ideas underlying the maintaining and change of the international and global order. The first two sections investigate the evolution of the world order starting from the ancient times up to the late twentieth century. The third section analyzes the origin and decline of the world order based on the American hegemony. The authors reveal contradictions of the current unipolar world and explain in what way globalization has become more profitable for the developing countries but not for the developed ones. The paper also explains the strengthening belief that the US leading status will inevitably weaken. In this connection we discuss the alternatives of the American strategy and the possibility of the renaissance of the American leadership. The last section presents a factor analysis which allows stating that the world is shifting toward a new balance of power and is likely to become the world without a leader. The new world order will consist of a number of large blocks, coalitions and countries acting within a framework of rules and mutual responsibility. However, the transition to a new world order will take certain time (about two decades). This period, which we denote as the epoch of new coalitions, will involve a reconfiguration of the World-System and bring an increasing turbulence and conflict intensity.There are grounds to conclude that in 2011–2012 the World-System experienced to some extent a phase transition to a qualitatively new state of global protest activity. This phase transition is shown to bear some resemblance to the one which the World-System experienced in the early 1960s. The first (after 1919) phase transition of this sort occurred in the early 1960s and was related to the growth of global informational connectivity after the World War II, as well as the improvement of the means of protest self-organization due to the spread of television, portable radio receivers, portable electric loud-speakers and other technologies of the Fourth Kondratieff Cycle. The phase transition of the early 2010s was prepared by a new wave of growth of global informational connectivity, as well as the improvement of the means of protest self-organization due to the spread of various technologies of the Fifth Kondratieff cycle (the Internet, satellite television, Twitter and other social networks, mobile telephony etc.). Similarly to what was observed during the Fourth Kondratieff Wave, during the Fifth Cycle while the spread of these technologies was going on for many years before 2011, their internal colossal potential for generating and spreading protest activity was realized in one leap, as a phase transition

Revisiting the models of vibration screening process

This talk presents two approaches for modeling of the vibration screening process. The first approach is analytical. It models the screening process as a diffusion of undersize fraction taking into account the special term for vibration separation (the Brazil nut effect). The talk provides a solution of the corresponding partial differential equation. The solution in turn allows estimation of the screening performance dependence on both deterministic and stochastic factors as well as evaluation of the factors dominance conditions. The talk presents simple evaluation formulae for the screening process performance. The second approach is based on a simulation model. The model deals with monolayer dynamics. Embodying traditional concepts of vibration transportation, the approach introduces some novel techniques of evaluation of the effect of the granular particles shape. Taking into account the particle shape factor may significantly improve the modeling precision for nonspherical particles

Effects of cholesterol- or 7-ketocholesterol-containing liposomes on colony-forming ability of cultured cells

AbstractExperiments with cultured Chinese hamster cells showed that incubation of the cells with (phosphatidylcholine + cholesterol + 7-ketocholesterol)-containing liposomes (4:3:1 by weight) during two hours led to a decrease in the colony-forming ability of cells down to zero, while (phosphatidylcholine + cholesterol)-containing liposomes (1:1 by weight) reduce this parameter by 90%. Furthermore, the cholesterol-containing liposomes (without 7-ketocholesterol) induce a decrease in the number of the maximal-site colonies accompanied by the corresponding increase in the number of the middle-size colonies

The structure of Atlantic Water at Eurasian continental slope in summer 2007

Intensive field campaigns during the IPY (2007-2009) allowed unprecedented coverage of Eurasian continental slope by CTD measurements. These data allowed detailed mapping of the warm Atlantic water on its way from Fram Strait to the East Siberian Sea. Fourteen cross-slope sections, carried out by Russian, US and German scientists in August-September 2007 were used to determine position and properties of the warm Atlantic water core. Temperature and salinity data were examined against traditional concept of warm intermediate layer in the Arctic Ocean and in the view of recently introduced new ideas (e.g. seasonal oscillations in AW layer far from Fram Strait). Joined analysis of CTD data with long-term mooring observations demonstrated complex nature of warming-cooling pulses, which enter Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait and effect thermal conditions in Eurasian sector of the Arctic Ocean

Electron Counting Statistics and Coherent States of Electric Current

A theory of electron counting statistics in quantum transport is presented. It involves an idealized scheme of current measurement using a spin 1/2 coupled to the current so that it precesses at the rate proportional to the current. Within such an approach, counting charge without breaking the circuit is possible. As an application, we derive the counting statistics in a single channel conductor at finite temperature and bias. For a perfectly transmitting channel the counting distribution is gaussian, both for zero-point fluctuations and at finite temperature. At constant bias and low temperature the distribution is binomial, i.e., it arises from Bernoulli statistics. Another application considered is the noise due to short current pulses that involve few electrons. We find the time-dependence of the driving potential that produces coherent noise-minimizing current pulses, and display analogies of such current states with quantum-mechanical coherent states.Comment: 43 pages, LaTeX, to appear in the Journal of Mathematical Physics special volume on Mesoscopic Physic

Inventions of Scientists, Engineers and Specialists From Different Countries in the Area of Nanotechnologies. Part II

The article provides an abstract review of patents. The results of creative activity of scientists, engineers and specialists, including inventions in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, being implemented, allow achieving a significant effect in construction, housing and community services, and related sectors of the economy. For example, the invention «Method for liquidphase synthesis of nanostructured ceramic material in the CeO2–Sm2O3 system to create a solid oxide fuel cell» can contribute to the active development of alternative, hydrogen energy. Fuel cells have a wide range of applications – from batteries in portable electronic devices to large-scale power generation and autonomous use (for example, in remote areas). Power plants based on fuel cells are almost twice as economical as traditional ones. Their efficiency can reach 85%, and the amount of harmful emissions is almost 100 times lower due to the lack of direct chemical contact of the fuel with the oxidizer. The specialists can also be interested in the following inventions in the area of nanotechnologies: method of increasing the tensile strength of fiber composites by means of preliminary modification of carbon fibers with carbon nanotubes and molecules containing amino groups; preparation method of pure silver nanowires; towards safe and sustainable innovation in nanotechnology; method of distribution of carbon-based nanoparticles in the production of nanocomposite unidirectional thermoplastic tapes; device for reducing the impact of vibration and shock effects on the performance of technological equipment; high-density three-dimensional electrically conductive micro- and mesoporous material based on carbon nanotubes and / or low-layer graphenes and a method for its preparation; nanotechnology as a viable alternative for the removal of antimicrobial resistance determinants from discharged municipal effluents and associated watersheds; and others