Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 (PZT) polycrystalline thin films were prepared by sol–gel and pulsed laser deposition techniques on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si (Pt) and SrRuO3/LaAlO3 (SRO/LAO) substrates. Infrared reflectivity spectroscopy with oblique (45°) light incidence revealed both the 3LO (688 cm-1) phonon lineshape asymmetry decrease with increasing in thickness and the thinner, disordered boundary layer at the SRO/PZT interface independently of the film preparation method. The fatigue properties of PZT films were studied for various crystallographic orientations. It was observed that in the 52/48 PZT/SRO/LAO film, when the field is applied along the (001) direction, excellent fatigue resistance is obtained.
Social capital was the Achilles" heel of the economic competitiveness of Armenia. In the meantime, the country made significant progress in solidifying it since the Velvet Revolution. In this article, we tried to present and analyze those elements of social capital which demonstrated significant progress in post-revolutionary Armenia, as well as the changes thereof. For that purpose, we have formulated the following research questions: What factors led to this growth, and what factors still lag? What hidden challenges can be observed through factual indicators which probably resulted from the slight decrease in the updated scores? What changes can be expected from the turbulent world and in the post-war society? The applied methodology is quantitative. In particular, to answer the research questions we used index analysis, graphic analysis, and comparison, correlation analysis techniques, pared t-test of the mathematical-statistical significance of changes, and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the analysis showed that a significant increase in the level of social capital was recorded in post-revolutionary Armenia, which was mainly due to the progress in institutional trust. Nevertheless, some revealed anomalies and encountered challenges undermined the archived progress in the growth of trust. Therefore, we put forward several recommendations.
Although the disintegration of the Soviet Union was relatively peaceful, unlike, for example, another socialist state with confederal structure – Yugoslavia, the independence aspirations of individual regions were often accompanied by armed struggle, which later transformed into "frozen conflicts" and turned into ‘’mines’’ placed under the statehood of a number of post-Soviet countries, thus preventing and hindering their development and threatening the regional stability and peace. The Transnistrian conflict is one of the unresolved conflicts in the post-Soviet territory, the basis of which is the struggle of the minority for the recognition and realization of its right to self-determination. Within the framework of this paper, the origins and essence of the Transnistrian conflict will be presented. Moreover, the gist of all important international agreements related to the conflict are illustrated one by one. Afterwards, parallels are drawn between Transnistria and Gagauzian autonomy: two conflicts that arose due to similar reasons and in the same country, which eventually had different outcomes. At the end of the research, two most likely scenarios are discussed for the further development of the Transnistrian conflict.
Science diplomacy, according to Berkman’s definition, is an international, interdisciplinary and inclusive (holistic) process, involving informed decision-making to balance national interests and common interests for the benefit of all on Earth across generations. It is widely used to overcome the discrepancies of the superpowers in unique scientific activities, where the joint efforts of a number of countries is required. Even when the international tension is heightened, states still do not abandon the science diplomacy and keep cooperating. The paper provides an informed look on how science diplomacy works in areas such as Arctic region, Antarctic region and the International Space Station.
The phenomena behind the economic development of Israel from Yishuv times to socialism and from socialism to liberalism may illustrate the outcome of ideological Uturn and therefore merits more academic attention and discussion. This paper seeks to examine the outcome drastically shifting the governmental policies: from illiberal laborism and socialism towards more market-friendly atmosphere on the case o f Israel. For that purpose, the following research question was formulated: “Under what circumstances did the government o f Israel change the philosophy underlying its economic policy-making?”. The methodology applied is purely qualitative. In particular, taking into account that the case is truly unique and the results are not transferrable a qualitative “intrinsic case study” was applied. We arrived at a conclusion that the relative economic success of Yishuv and later Israel that took place before 1985 is difficult to ascribe to the leftist policies. On the other hand, the diminishing involvement o f the government in economic affairs and the introduction of the pivotal principles o f market economy laid the foundation o f modern and developed state which, despite its small size and uneasy political relations with its neighbors is among the global leaders in a number o f fields, including the high-tech industry.
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