Russophobia in the Kremlin’s strategy. A weapon of mass destruction. OSW POINT OF VIEW #56, 2015-11-02

Building up an image of Russophobic countries is currently instrumental in shaping a neo-imperial political identity among the citizens of the Russian Federation, mobilising them in the face of real or alleged threats, and also serves as a form of restoring psychological comfort to them in the face of the failure of the Kremlin’s actions (as in Ukraine, for example). The mythologised stereotype of Russophobic countries also remains a crowning argument and a simple explanation for the ongoing tensions in relations between Russia and the West.

An essential partner in the background. Europe in China's policy during the rule of Xi Jinping. OSW STUDIES 56 2016

Chinese elites do not treat Europe as an equal partner and are convinced that China holds the upper hand over Europe. They see a growing asymmetry in bilateral relations. China’s sense of its own potential is boosted by internal divisions within the European Union. At the same time, Europe is China’s key economic partner and an ‘economic pillar’ supporting China’s growth on the international stage. Beijing strives to maintain Europe’s open attitude towards the Chinese economy, in particular its exports, technology transfer to China, location of investments and diversification of China’s currency reserves. Cooperation with Europe and support from Europe are necessary to enable China to improve its position in the international economic and financial system, mainly in order to legitimise China’s actions in the area of multilateralism and global governance. Similarly, Beijing attaches great importance to maintaining Europe’s non-involvement in two issues: China’s core interests and Chinese-American relations.

Risorse genetiche animali: ricerca terminologica in collaborazione con la FAO

Il progetto di questa tesi nasce da un accordo stipulato tra il Laboratorio di Terminologia della Scuola di Lingue e Letterature, Traduzione e Interpretazione di Forlì e l’Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l’Alimentazione e l’Agricoltura (FAO) per la stesura di tesi di laurea in ambito terminologico in collaborazione con il Servizio Programmazione e Documentazione delle Riunioni (CPAM) della FAO. Con il presente lavoro si intende svolgere una ricerca terminologica in inglese e in russo nell'ambito delle risorse genetiche animali e, nello specifico, delle biotecnologie e della salute animale e creare un database terminologico bilingue, inglese-russo, utilizzabile anche nei programmi di traduzione assistita. Nel primo capitolo viene presentata una panoramica della FAO, della sua storia, delle sue missioni e dei suoi obiettivi. Il secondo capitolo tratta la Divisione Produzione e Salute Animale della FAO che si occupa delle risorse genetiche animali e delle biotecnologie e salute animali, dominio e sottodominio del progetto per questa tesi. Il terzo capitolo riguarda le lingue speciali, le loro caratteristiche, il loro rapporto con la lingua comune e la tipologia testuale dei corpora utilizzati per la ricerca terminologica. Nel quarto capitolo si parla di terminologia e dell’attività terminologica illustrando approcci e correnti della terminologia moderna e descrivendo brevemente le peculiarità della terminologia delle biotecnologie. Infine, il quinto capitolo presenta l’intero progetto di ricerca terminologica, dalla fase preparatoria alla fase di revisione, soffermandosi, in particolare, sul procedimento di compilazione e conversione delle schede terminologiche per la creazione del database bilingue. In appendice, a fine tesi, sono allegate le mappe concettuali, le schede terminologiche del file di Microsoft Excel e il database terminologico bilingue inglese-russo.

Organic geochemistry of sediments at DSDP Legs 56-57 Holes

The quantity, type, and maturity of the organic matter of Quaternary and Tertiary sediments from the Japan Trench (DSDP Leg 56, Sites 434 and 436; and Leg 57, Sites 438, 439 and 440) were determined. The hydrocarbons in lipid extracts were analyzed by capillary- column gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. Kerogen concentrates were investigated by microscopy, and vitrinite-reflectance values were determined. Measured organic-carbon values were in the range of 0.13 to 1.00 per cent. Extract yields, however, were extremely low. Normalized to organic carbon, total extracts ranged from 4.1 to 15.7 mg/g Corg. Gas chromatography of non-aromatic hydrocarbons showed that all sediments, except one Oligocene sample, contained very immature, mainly terrigenous organic material. This was indicated by n-alkane maxima at C29 and C31 and high odd-carbon-number predominances. Unsaturated steroid hydrocarbons were found to be major cyclic compounds in lower- and middle-Miocene samples from the upper inner trench slope (Sites 438 and 439). Perylene was the dominating aromatic hydrocarbon in all but the Oligocene sample. Microscopy showed kerogens rich in terrigenous organic particles, with a major portion of recycled vitrinite. Nevertheless, almost all the liptinite particles appeared to be primary. This is a paradox, as the bulk of the samples were composed of hemipelagic mineral matter with a major siliceous biogenic (planktonic) component. A trend of reduced size and increased roundness can be seen for the vitrinite/ inertinite particles from west to east (from upper inner trench slope to outer trench slope). All sediments but one are relatively immature, with mean huminite-reflectance values (Ro)in the range of 0.30 to 0.45 per cent. The oldest and deepest sediment investigated, an Oligocene sandstone from Site 439, yielded a mean vitrinitereflectance value of 0.74 per cent and a mature n-alkane distribution. This sample may indicate a geothermal event in late Oligocene time. It failed to affect the overlying lower Miocene and may have been caused by an intrusion. Boulders of acidic igneous rocks in the Oligocene can be interpreted as witnesses of nearby volcanic activity accompanied by intrusions.

(Table 1) Carbon and isotopic composition of organic carbon in sediments from DSDP Leg 56 Holes

We have analyzed inorganic and organic carbons and determined the isotopic composition of both sedimentary organic carbon and inorganic carbon in carbonates contained in sediments recovered from Holes 434, 434A, 434B, 435, and 435A in the landward slope of Japan and from Hole 436 in the oceanic slope of the Japan Trench. Both inorganic and organic carbons were assayed at the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, in the same sample, using the Knopp technique and measuring evolved CO2 gravimetrically. Each sample was analyzed twice in parallel. Measurements were of a ±0.05 per cent accuracy and a probability level of 0.95. Carbon isotopic analysis was carried out on a MI-1305 mass spectrometer at the I. M. Gubkin Institute of Petrochemical and Gas Industry and the results presented as dC13 values related to the PDB standard. The procedure for preparing samples for organic carbon isotopic analysis involved (1) drying damp sediments at 60°C; (2) treating samples, while heating, with 10 N HCl to remove carbonate carbon; and (3) evaporating surplus HCl at 60°C. The organic substance was turned to CO2 by oxidizing it in an oxygen atmosphere. To prepare samples for inorganic carbon isotopic analysis we decomposed the carbonates with orthophosphoric acid and refined the gas evolved. The dC13 measurements, including a full cycle of sample preparation, were of a ±0.5 per cent accuracy and a probability level of 0.95.