Strong State Research Articles

RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL CULTURES IN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE. THE CASE OF DENMARK IN A EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Europe is characterized by both religious and legal pluralism involving mainly the monotheistic Abrahamic religions, which have all historically been dominated by patriarchal and hierarchical values and attitudes. The Protestant north, and especially the Nordic countries with state churches under absolutism and continued strong state influence on church matters after introduction of democracy have since WWII seen a legal, political and cultural development where women have been given legal rights to become priests and now make up slightly more than half of the clergy. This influences religious practice, interpretation and implementation. It has also inspired the establishment of the first female-led Mosque in the Nordic countries in Copenhagen. This article will reflect on these developments and their relation to law and legal culture.

Dialectics of Traditional Authority and Post-Colonial Modern State: The Case of Somaliland

This article investigates the development of states within societies that have undergone colonization, with a specific focus on Somaliland and its clan-based structure. Our aim is to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the interplay between traditional clan affiliations and the pursuit of a nation-state, which is a critical issue with significant implications for political stability and international recognition in the region. To achieve this, we employ a methodology that includes reviewing relevant literature, synthesizing theoretical perspectives, and conducting in-depth sociological analyses, incorporating Weberian ideas of authority into our examination. This comprehensive approach enables us to gain a deeper understanding of Somaliland's unique socio-political landscape, which has been shaped by its colonial past and entrenched tribal dynamics. In our analysis, we critically assess the role of clan structures, such as the Guurti council, and their relationship with attempts to establish a rational state system. Our findings indicate that although clannism remains deeply ingrained in Somaliland's society, achieving harmony between these affiliations and modern state-building initiatives is crucial for the region's progress. In conclusion, we synthesize these insights to provide recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of strategies that recognize and address the dynamics of clan affiliations while promoting a strong state identity. Adopting such an approach is essential for fostering stability in Somaliland and supporting its aspirations for recognition.

Poverty in South Africa: Drivers of Perpetuation

Poverty remains a persistent issue within the socio-political landscapes of Africa. This study explores the income, food, and multidimensional nature of poverty in South Africa. The study found that economic, social, and political factors are not only responsible for poverty, but they perpetuate poverty in South Africa. These factors include weak institutions, unemployment, service delivery issues, corruption, security challenges and dysfunctional family settings. The study adopted the state fragility theory to demonstrate how weaknesses in state institutions affect their ability to discharge their functions as expected and how they manage the dynamics associated with these expectations. The study utilised the qualitative research method based on literature search from secondary sources. These included journal articles, books, institutional documents, and newspaper articles. Data were descriptively analysed. The study recommends strong state institutions to coordinate stemming the threat these poverty drivers pose to the well-being of South Africans. It also recommends commitment through good values demonstrated by the political class, bureaucracies, and the citizens.

How the constitution shapes economic governance: Balancing law and economics in post-war countries

The Constitution of Kosovo establishes the basis of the country’s political system, the fundamental rights, and the functioning of the economy. Laws in post-communist societies are crucial for creating a reliable legal environment for economic development. This paper explores the role of the Constitution in regulating economic governance and its impact on public-owned enterprises. Also, the aim of this paper is to highlight, through this case resulting from the approach to the economy, the administration of the economy through legal norms. To present such a relationship, the case of Trepça JSC has been examined, analyzing the legal and constitutional regulations within the context of economic development. For a more comprehensive perspective, this case has been analyzed within the context of history, and politics, but not only. It can be concluded that strong state regulation is required to ensure stability, emphasizing the intricate nature of state intervention in the economy within the constitutional framework, as evidenced by constitutional and legal provisions governing public enterprises such as Trepça, with the suggestion of amendments to address regulatory gaps. The paper serves as a foundation for further research into the constitutional and legal regulation of public enterprises and their relationship with the economy. Additionally, it provides a comparative basis for future studies in this field.

Political and security instability and its effects on foreign investment: with reference to Iraq's experience after 2003

The research deals with the conceptual framework of political and security stability and foreign investment, the theoretical framework for the impact of political and security stability on foreign investment, and the practical aspect that affected political and security stability on foreign investment in Iraq for the period 2003-2021. The research aims to explain the reasons for the modest levels of foreign investment in Iraq and the fluctuation of its flows. Since 2003 and studying the causes of this imbalance, and among these reasons the security and political instability for the period under study, the Iraqi society was chosen as a sample for the research, and simple statistical tools were used in the analysis. The measurement method (SPSS) and linear programming were excluded because the results obtained are negative and do not explain Scientific explanation of the relationship between the two variables. Therefore, the method of direct analysis was resorted to through the tables obtained related to the index of political and security instability, and the results were positive and depended on solid scientific facts.
 On the outside world and then lift the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq, and the issuance of the investment law for the year 2006 had a great impact in encouraging the flow of foreign investment to Iraq. Although these flows are still modest and weak, and most of them are in the oil sector, and what indicates the obstacles to foreign investment are the security and political instability and cases of administrative and financial corruption were among the reasons that prevented the provision of an appropriate investment climate capable of attracting foreign investments. And the research recommended that Political stability is an attractive factor for foreign investors to invest their money inside the country because stability is one of the important elements for the investor and the economy of Iraq must be developed because Iraq’s economy is a one-sided renter economy that depends on oil and the development of the rest of the sectors to advance the economic reality and build a strong state. The instability index is considered one of the dangerous and important indicators, and due to the fluctuations of government systems and their unstable policies in recent times, this has led to a deterioration in conditions and a decrease in the demand for invest.

Modern Forms of Participation and Practical Experience of the Volunteers of Khmelnychchyna

The study is aimed at the analysis of modern forms of participation and practical experience in the organization of help and support to the Forces of Security and Defence of Ukraine during the Russian aggression. The research of these processes, especially their regional features, is in a great demand currently and more relevant than ever. After all it will enable the deeper comprehension of significance and variability of the volunteering movement, its needs and effectiveness of its activities for society as a whole. Regional peculiarities of the volunteering of the patriotic direction in the city of Khmelnytskyi during 2022–2023 are described on the base of evaluation of the existing historiography, collected by the authoress of the source base of work and personal practical experience. The types of volunteer activities related to the help to the Ukrainian military during the struggle for the independence of our state are classified. The methods of volunteer work of the local charitable organizations, headquarters and foundations are described in detail. The scholar is succeeded to consider the changes in priorities in volunteer areas of activity depending on the war stages. The most effective types of volunteer work in the form of charity auctions, fairs, races, development games and other events are analyzed. The definition of volunteering as a mutually beneficial activity that helps not only those targeted directly, but also the volunteer himself and society in general through the development of psychological resilience and adaptability is submitted in the article. The important significance of volunteering in expanding the world view, responsibility and environment through the constant growth of the number of communications, in the development of an active life position and positive thinking, in the growth of honesty and sober mind of people and in their participation in forming a conscious democratic and legal civil society, and a strong state as a result is emphasized.

Skazani na imperium. Wizja rosyjskiej drogi dziejowej w Jeźdźcu miedzianym Aleksandra Puszkina

The article is an attempt to explore the vision of Russian history in Alexander Pushkin’s The Bronze Horseman. The key role in the poem is played by the figure of Peter I, who is shown as a despot on the one hand, and a bold visionary on the other. In The Bronze Horseman, Pushkin presents a suggestive image of the flood in St. Petersburg, referring to such problems as the clash between an ordinary man and history or the essence of rebellions and revolutions. Deciphering the meaning of individual motifs allows us to perceive Pushkin’s coherent and multidimensional historiosophical vision. The main conclusion of the article is the statement that Russian imperialism in The Bronze Horseman is shown as an organic element of Russianness, without which Russia could not have formed as a strong and modern state. Moreover, the poem can invariably be seen as a key to understanding the essence and vitality of Russian imperialism.

Christian vs liberal conceptions of human rights

The Catholic Church has traditionally raised four objections to the doctrine of human rights in its liberal version: the lack of reference to God as the source of human rights, individualism, the absence of a list of human duties accompanying individual rights, and the doctrine’s vulnerability to proliferation and creative interpretation of those rights. The paper mainly focuses on the first two concerns. From the point of view of secular liberalism, the idea of God appears as an unnecessary by-product of the process of human evolution. From the point of view of Christianity, creation in the image and likeness of God is the source of man’s inalienable dignity, and serves, at the same time, to safeguard his rights from reinterpretation by the state, should the state consider itself the source of such rights. Christianity presents man as an inherently social being, with two communities, i.e., the family and the nation, that are recognized as natural. Liberal individualism views people as a collection of elementary particles that collide with one another but never connect. The difference is fundamental when it comes to attitudes towards obligations prior to individual decisions, but also when it comes to a person’s emotional backing. The human being, therefore, seeks to create either family-type ties, or merely ones based on a voluntary contract. It is a paradox that the more atomized a society is, the more necessary a strong state becomes to guarantee individual rights and a sense of security in times of crisis. As a result, a system called statist individualism comes to existence. Religion not only reveals the ultimate meaning of human life and the reasons for which it is worthwhile to be human, but it has also been a source of public morality. The liberal concept of neutrality and the privatization of religion reopen the question of the axiological foundations of the state. On the one hand, why, in the end, should people obey state laws when the state itself convinces them that they are morally neutral? On the other hand, this raises the question of the preferred model of education. From the point of view of the state and society, can a culturally and axiologically neutral education, in which children are taught about what is allowed and what is forbidden by law, but not about what is morally right and wrong, be sufficient? One answer suggests that a liberal state conceived in this way is unstable, and able to exist only for a while. The alternative would be a liberal state that is imperfect, culturally charged, and open to the presence of the Church as a public and publicly meaningful authority.
 Benedict XVI, in a discussion on Marcello Pera’s interpretation of the doctrine on human rights, says: “It was only thanks to your book that it became clear to me how much the encyclical Pacem in terris had set a new direction in thinking. I was aware of the strong influence of the encyclical on Italian politics: it gave a decisive impulse to the opening of Christian Democracy to leftist views. However, I did not realize to what great an extent it signified a new premise also to the basis of the party's thinking”. Pera himself believes that the Church, by making the doctrine of human rights part of the Church Magisterium, proclaimed “by virtue of the Gospel committed to her” (Gaudium et spes, 41) has fallen into a “liberal trap”.

The Methodology of Rating Methodologies: The Problem of Constructing Correct University Ratings

The article is devoted to the substantiation of the general (framework) methodology for creating correct methodologies of university ranking, which capable of correctly (truly, in accordance with reality) ranking universities, primarily top ones. The conceptual foundations of such a methodology are formulated. It is based on a mission-based approach to the definition of university and ranking excellence, which involves the determination of the criterion-indicator base of the ranking both by its mission and by the mission of the university, especially a globally leading institution. Essential definitions of relevant missions as key system-creating factors are given. A criterion for the formulation of the true mission is proposed. The principle of mission minimisation of the list of necessary and sufficient ranking criteria / indicators and the principle of their mission synergy for the unambiguous orientation of university development are substantiated. The general methodology prevents the de-specification of the ranking and university missions, the dissynergisation of ranking criteria and indicators, their divergence and fragmentation, and the disorienting action. This methodology covers methodologies both simple (mono) and complex (combined), as well as general (institutional) and sectoral (by academic subjects) rankings. The methodology built on these foundations will contribute to the adoption of rankings as objective and reliable evaluation tools, the effective use of the IREG Berlin principles for the creation of ranking methodologies, the acceleration of the formation of a university ranking culture and its legislative regulation in Ukraine, and the further development of science about universities. This is important for the development of a strategy for the formation of leading universities of the highest excellence (strategy-2), the implementation of the second dimension of the European higher education area in terms of achieving its competitiveness and attractiveness, the approaching victory of Ukraine in the war, the innovative recovery of the country, the establishment of Ukraine as a strong European integrated state.

The Beginning of Independent Financial Control in Bulgaria – from the Influences of the Modern World towards a National Model

The paper analyzes the scientific works of Prof. Dobrev from the 1920s and the early 1930s - the time when he developed the concept of the establishment of the institution of independent financial control in Bulgaria. On the basis of this analysis, the following conclusions are drawn: strong influence of the Continental School (that of Germany, in particular) on the emergence and initial development of Bulgarian independent financial control; the characteristics of the “Bulgarian model”; in Bulgaria (contrary to Western countries), first the institution, regulated by law, is established and only then the practice of the public accountant profession begins; strong state control over the activities of the Institute of Sworn Expert Accountants and the profession - something that has been lacking in other countries to date. The article offers explanations for these features of the “Bulgarian model”. The public accountant profession was an outstanding manifestation of Bulgarian economic and social modernization in the first half of the 20th century.

Enhanced Methanol Synthesis over Self-Limited ZnOx Overlayers on Cu Nanoparticles Formed via Gas-Phase Migration Route.

Supported metal catalysts are widely used for chemical conversion, in which construction of high density metal-oxide or oxide-metal interface is an important means to improve their reaction performance. Here, Cu@ZnOx encapsulation structure has been in situ constructed through gas-phase migration of Zn species from ZnO particles onto surface of Cu nanoparticles under CO2 hydrogenation atmosphere at 450 °C. The gas-phase deposition of Zn species onto the Cu surface and growth of ZnOx overlayer is self-limited under the high temperature and redox gas (CO2 /H2 ) conditions. Accordingly, high density ZnOx -Cu interface sites can be effectively tailored to have an enhanced activity in CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. This work reveals a new route for the construction of active oxide-metal interface and classic strong metal-support interaction state through gas-phase migration of support species induced by high temperature redox reaction atmosphere.

The Perception of the French Policy of «Reunions» in the Second Half
 of the 17th Century by the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire

This article discusses the political position and perception of the Estates of the Holy Roman Empire regarding the French policy of «Reunions» of 1667–1697. The position of Brandenburg, Bavaria, Saxony, Braunschweig-Luneburg, Hesse-Kassel, Munster, Cologne, Trier, Mainz, Palatinate, Baden-Baden, BadenDurlach and Württemberg has been analyzed to varying degrees by the author.
 Some attention is paid to attempts to create an alliance among some of the Imperial Estates to resist the expansionist policy of the French king Louis XIV. However, the effectiveness of such alliances was insignificant as an attempt to create
 a combat-ready army. 
 As a result of the study, the author can state that the policy of «Reunions» was generally perceived negatively by the Imperial Estates. A number of officials of the Empire – Brandenburg, Brunswick-Luneburg, Bavaria, Hesse-Kassel and some others had significant financial resources and sufficiently combat-ready
 military contingents. This gave them the opportunity not only to fear a French invasion of the Empire, but also to effectively resist it.
 Some of them could only temporarily use France to weaken the influence of the emperor. There was an understanding among the German princes that France was a strong absolutist state and being in its zone of influence meant the loss of territorial independence.

Dominating the Superpower: A Bounded Rationality Approach to Nuclear Proliferation and Inhibition in the U.S. / North Korea Dyad

Why was the United States, despite its overwhelming superiority in power, unable to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons? Why did North Korea persist in its nuclear pursuit in the face of U.S. opposition? In this article, we represent nuclear proliferation and counter-proliferation as situations of subjective strategic interaction between states. We measure preferences over strategies and outcomes using operational codes of the leaders of each country, derived via linguistic analysis. Our results indicate that neither the U.S. nor North Korea accurately understood the other side’s preference ordering, and that their operational codes interacted in such a way as to produce an outcome favorable to North Korea – the weaker party - and unfavorable to the U.S. – the stronger. The wider contribution is to show that (mis)perceptions of the goals and resolve of the opponent play a crucial role in the success or failure of strong states to compel weak states and vice versa.

Targeting the immune microenvironment for ovarian cancer therapy.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a breakthrough in cancer therapy by reactivating the antitumor immune response suppressed by tumor cells. However, in the case of OC, these inhibitors have failed to demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, and existing biomarkers have not yet identified promising subgroups. Consequently, there remains a pressing need to understand the interplay between OC tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment to develop effective immunotherapeutic approaches. This review aims to provide an overview of the OC TME and explore its potential as a therapeutic strategy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are major actors in OC TME. Evidence has been accumulating regarding the spontaneous TILS response against OC antigens. Activated T-helpers secrete a wide range of inflammatory cytokines with a supportive action on cytotoxic T-cells. Simultaneously, mature B-cells are recruited and play a significant antitumor role through opsonization of target antigens and T-cell recruitment. Macrophages also form an important subset of innate immunity (M1-macrophages) while participating in the immune-stimulation context. Finally, OC has shown to engage a significant natural-killer-cells immune response, exerting direct cytotoxicity without prior sensitization. Despite this initial cytotoxicity, OC cells develop various strategies to induce an immune-tolerant state. To this end, multiple immunosuppressive molecules are secreted to impair cytotoxic cells, recruit regulatory cells, alter antigen presentation, and effectively evade immune response. Consequently, OC TME is predominantly infiltrated by immunosuppressive cells such as FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells, M2-polarized macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Despite this strong immunosuppressive state, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have failed to improve outcomes. Beyond PD-1/PD-L1, OC expresses multiple other immune checkpoints that contribute to immune evasion, and each representing potential immune targets. Novel immunotherapies are attempting to overcome the immunosuppressive state and induce specific immune responses using antibodies adoptive cell therapy or vaccines. Overall, the OC TME presents both opportunities and obstacles. Immunotherapeutic approaches continue to show promise, and next-generation inhibitors offer exciting opportunities. However, tailoring therapies to individual immune characteristics will be critical for the success of these treatments.

Релігійний чинник у формуванні правової ідеології

The article clarifies the influence of the religious factor on the formation of the legal ideology of Ukrainian society in modern realities, which often has an ambiguous and contradictory character in the formation of the newest mechanism for the realization of human and citizen rights and freedoms. The approach to the religious factor based on the principle of political theology makes it possible to use the factor of religious organizations and the church in the process of building a nation-state in Ukraine, which is of enormous importance for the formation of a strong, democratic and legal state that is able to protect national interests and confront threats to national security. This approach also makes it possible to consider Ukrainian religious organizations and churches as an element of Christian civilization, where there is a place for Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants. This approach creates a platform for cooperation within Western institutions (EU, NATO) of states dominated by different Christian denominations. It has been proven that Christian norms and religious legal awareness are formed in objective conditions and closely interact, and therefore influence legal awareness, shape the perception of members of society about their rights and obligations, about the proper legal order. From its side, legal consciousness affects religious norms, determines the practice of their application in the interests of believers, religious communities in the latter's realization of their religious interests, determining the nature of law enforcement, rule-making activity, the mechanism of legal regulation, etc. That is, Christian norms act as the most important regulators of various social relations, factors in the formation of legal norms, the attitude of individuals to legal institutions and the manifestation of illegal or lawful behavior. It was noted that the influence of religious organizations and churches is changing and transforming into new ideas, legal and political. The structural component of ideology is the religious basis, and this does not apply exclusively to theocratic and clerical states, since religious norms have become the basis of the moral foundations of society. Despite the fact that in the digital age, religious values, although they lose their former meaning as a "sacred image" of the world, and even if they do not have a direct impact on the legal system, they still play an important role in legal life, because the European legal culture was created under the influence Christianity, the Christian view of the world. And modern European legal systems function in a social system that has absorbed Christian religious values.

Uniform infrared light field induced rapid crystallization and enhanced stability of perovskite solar cells

Infrared (IR) light has exhibited remarkable efficacy in facilitating the annealing crystallization process of perovskite film. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning the promotional effects of IR remain a subject of ongoing investigation. Herein, we address this critical knowledge gap by presenting a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms governing IR-induced crystallization and its impact on the performance of perovskite solar cells. Our computational simulations reveal that IR light create a swift, stable, and homogenous annealing environment during the crystallization. The incident light field on the perovskite film surface orchestrates the controlled departure of excess iodide ions from the surface, consequently inducing the formation of iodine vacancies. This transformative process leads to a transition of the surface from a strong p-doped state to a more delicate n-doped state. Furthermore, the application of IR treatment demonstrates a pronounced propensity for facilitating the integration of methylammonium iodide (MAI) into the less compacted PbI2 lattice, thereby expediting the crystallization rate. Remarkably, devices processed within this uniform and stable light field exhibit augmented performance and heightened stability.In summary, our study furnishes invaluable insights into the intricate interplay underlying IR-assisted crystallization in perovskite solar cells. The elucidation of these mechanisms holds significant promise for advancing future industrial-scale fabrication techniques for enhanced perovskite solar cell production.

Ideology at the Water’s Edge: Explaining Variation in Public Support for Foreign Aid

To explain variation in foreign aid levels and attitudes in donor countries, past research emphasizes the importance of values related to the welfare state such as economic ideology. Scholars argue that liberals support redistribution at home in the form of a strong welfare state and redistribution abroad in the form of foreign aid. Yet, the conditions under which values related to domestic politics translate to issues of foreign policy remain undertheorized. I argue that economic ideology interacts with foreign policy orientation – individuals’ placement along the internationalist/isolationist spectrum – to shape foreign aid attitudes and outcomes. Using original data from surveys fielded in the U.S., UK, and Norway, as well as data on foreign aid spending levels, I show that the relationship between ideology and foreign aid is conditional on foreign policy orientation. The effect is driven by isolationist liberals whose support for redistribution stops at the water’s edge.

Income inequality and socioeconomic differences in bullying perpetration among adolescents in post-communist countries of Europe: Findings from the HBSC study

BackgroundAdolescent bullying is a major public health concern in post-Communist countries of Europe (PCCE). We studied the impact of income inequality on the prevalence of and socioeconomic differences in bullying perpetration. MethodsNationally representative samples of adolescents aged 11–15 years from 14 PCCE participating in the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey during 2017–18 years were included. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted. ResultsOverall, 71,119 adolescents participated in the survey. About 27.7 % of country differences in bullying perpetration were attributable to high income inequality. Adolescents with low and high family socioeconomic status (SES) had a 10–15 % greater risk (P < 0.05) of bullying perpetration compared to middle-SES adolescents. In cross-level interaction, the risk of bullying perpetration was the highest among high-SES adolescents from countries with wider income inequality (P-interaction = 0.003). The odds ratios of bullying perpetration comparing high- vs. low-SES adolescents ranged from 0.67 in the least unequal to 1.59 in the most unequal countries. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that high income inequality might contribute to school bullying among adolescents in PCCE, particularly those from high-SES families. The necessary political and economic interventions should focus on improving the country socioeconomic environment in PCCE. Moving towards less neoliberal policies and creating a strong welfare state that promotes the population's economic and social well-being and reduces income inequality might be a necessary component of macro-level strategies aimed at preventing bullying among adolescents. Targeted public health interventions might be required for high-SES adolescents in countries with wide income inequality.

Nanocomposite synergy for enhanced oil recovery: Macro and micro analysis of CeO2/montmorillonite nanofluids in carbonate and sandstone reservoirs

Cerium (IV) oxide has shown great potential for serving as a mutually advantageous conjunction material when applied in a synergistic manner of use with other chemicals thanks to its oxygen storage capacity. Recently, many researchers have elaborated on novel synthesis methods for achieving nanocomposites (NCs) that combine inherent properties of nano-sized CeO2 with those of montmorillonite, as a low-cost base substance. CeO2/Montmorillonite nanocomposite synthesized by application of an environmentally friendly reducing and stabilizing agent. The success of the synthesis was verified by analytical techniques including Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermo-Gravimetric analysis, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Mapping, X-Ray Diffraction analysis, Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Nanofluids were prepared by dispersing the synthesized NCs, at different concentrations as aqueous colloidal solutions and then studied for investigating the nanofluid colloidal stability. Experimental studies were undertaken on the nanofluid functioning subjects of the fluid/fluid and fluid/fluid/rock interactions area in both macro and micro scales. Macro investigations of interfacial tension and wettability alteration and also micro-analysis of microfluidic injections with proper visualizations of created effects within pore structures were carried out. The results confirmed the proper synthesis of the NC and its stability in water-based nanofluids. CeO2 nano clays showed nearly 33 % optimization of the interfacial tension (IFT) (i.e., IFT decreased from the initial value of 27 to 18 mN/m at the NC concentration of 1000 ppm). However, their effect on the alteration of wettability was significant. Indeed, at the optimum concentrations, the contact angle decreased from 151° to 19.38° at the concentration of 500 ppm for carbonate lithology (87.1 % optimization) and also it decreased from 135.5° to 18.73° at the concentration of 1500 ppm for sandstone lithology (86.1 % optimization). The effect of wettability alteration for carbonate rocks was reported to be high enough for changing the wettability to a strong water-wet state while the wettability alteration for sandstone lithology was measured to be low. Both wettability alteration studies and micro visualizations validated the strong and low wettability alteration for carbonate and sandstone lithology systems. Also, the emulsion analysis was carried out on the micro-scaled images of the pores and throats with their containing fluids by a new method of color saturation investigation which showed a promising new emulsion analysis method for micro-scaled experiments.

Was global deforestation under lockdown?

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and government responses led to a halt in economic activity. While this reduced pollution in urban areas, its effect on deforestation in areas outside of cities is unclear. Deforestation may have decreased due to the restrictions on economic activity, but, it may have increased due to the drying up of alternative income sources. We analyzed bi-weekly data on tropical forests worldwide in relation to the dates when different countries implemented lockdown restrictions. Our analysis found that while lockdowns did reduce mobility in forest municipalities, the average effect on deforestation was not significant. However, we did observe variations in the impact of lockdowns on deforestation based on the share of lockdown-vulnerable GDP and the level of government effectiveness. These results stand across tropical countries and within Colombia. These findings highlight the importance of alternative income sources and strong state capacity for effective policies aimed at reducing deforestation.