Although the events of September 2001 marked the United States' employment of solid forces in its direct comprehensive strategy to counter terrorist organizations and any other challenges to US national security, the United States did not lose sight of the importance of the cultural variable. The cultural variable is the United States' most important instrument of soft power in ensuring its dominance of the international system and promoting its global project. France viewed US soft power as a threat to its own civilizational pattern. Therefore, France considers culture to be an inherent component of its national personality and a cornerstone of its international standing as a major force. Additionally, the US-French political and economic rivalry in Africa, regarded by France as its most important region of national security, has escalated. The developments have contributed to years-long historical rivalry and tension between France and the United States since the 1960s over many contentious issues, including the US position on the political rights of the French-controlled Indochinese and African peoples.As Charles de Gaulle assumed power in France in the early 1950s, France moved to take steps against NATO. De Gaulle demanded in 1958 that France be given more autonomy and freedom than the other members, especially in nuclear armament, and powers similar to those of the UK and the US with regard to NATO-managing strategies. These claims and invitations prompted the US reservation in the late 1950s. Therefore, this study aims to define comprehensive strategy and soft power, identify the manifestations of US soft power towards France, investigate the US practices on the French perception of soft power and cultural variables, and examine the effects of the said US strategies and powers on France's international interests and its strategic action in the world order and NATO.
Alpha shape theory for 3D visualization and volumetric measurement of brain tumor progression using magnetic resonance images
Concrete columns with hollow-core sections find widespread application owing to their excellent structural efficiency and efficient material utilization. However, corrosion poses a challenge in concrete buildings with steel reinforcement. This paper explores the possibility of using glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement as a non-corrosive and economically viable substitute for steel reinforcement in short square hollow concrete columns. Twelve hollow short columns were meticulously prepared in the laboratory experiments and subjected to pure axial compressive loads until failure. All columns featured a hollow square section with exterior dimensions of (180 × 180) mm and 900 mm height. The columns were categorized into
... Show Morecompound [1] was formed from the reaction of benzoin and benzaldehyde in the presence of ammonia, which was reacted with sodium hydride in DMF to obtain imidazole salt. This salt was reacted with adipoyl chloride to give compound [2]. Acid hydrazide derivative [3] was obtained from the reaction of compound [2] with hydrazine hydrate. After that Shiff bases [4-9] have been synthesized from the reaction of compound [3] with different aromatic aldehydes. These new formed compounds were diagnosed by 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR for some of them (in Ahl-Albate University in Jordan) and FT-IR spectroscopy (In Baghdad University). All of the prepared products have been studied their biological activities toward two kinds of bacteria. These products show
... Show MoreA new novel series of metalcomplexes are prepared from reactions between 2-benzoylthio- benzimidazole (L) with metal salts of Co (II) , Fe(III) and Rh (III) , while Pd(II) complex was obtained by mixing ligandsof 2-benzoylthiobenzimidazole (L) as primary ligand and bipyridine (L/)as secondary ligand as well as palladium chloride as metal salt in an ethanoic medium. The geometry of these compounds were identified using C.H.N.microanalysis, Ultraviolet–visible, Fourier transforms infrared, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity and flame atomic absorption (A.A). From the dataobtained by these spectral analyses, the molecular structures for Rh and Fe complexes were proposed to be octahedral geometry. A square planar const
... Show MoreIn this study, a new adsorbent derived from sunflower husk powder and coated in CuO nanoparticles (CSFH) was investigated to evaluate the simultaneous adsorption of Levofloxacin (LEV), Meropenem (MER), and Tetracycline (TEC) from an aqueous solution. Significant improvements in the adsorption capacity of the sunflower husk were identified after the powder particles had been coated in CuO nanoparticles. Kinetic data were correlated using a pseudo-second-order model, and was successful for the three antibiotics. Moreover, high compatibility was identified between the LEV, MER, and TEC, isotherm data, and the Langmuir model, which produced a better fit to suit the isotherm curves. In addition, the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the adso
... Show MoreStudies on the flexural behavior of post-tensioned beams subjected to strand damage and strengthened with near-surface mounted (NSM) technique using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) are limited and fail to examine the effect of CFRP laminates on strand strain and strengthening efficiency systematically. Furthermore, a design approach for UPC structures in existing design guidelines for FRP strengthening techniques is lacking. Hence, the behavior of post-tensioned beams strengthened with NSM-CFRP laminates after partial strand damage is investigated in this study. The testing program consists of seven post-tensioned beams strengthened by NSM-CFRP laminates with three partial strand damage ratios (14.3% symmetrical damage, 14.3%
... Show MoreA new series of Sulfamethoxazole derivatives was prepared and examined for antifibrinolytic and antimicrobial activities. Sulfamethoxazole derivatives bear heterocyclic moieties such as 1,3,4-thiadiazine {3}, pyrazolidine-3,5-diol {4} 6-hydroxy-1,3,4-thiadiazinane-2-thione {5} and [(3-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)diazenyl] {8}. Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods (FT-IR, H1-NMR). Physical properties are also determined for all compound derivatives. Recently prepared compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity in the laboratory. Each screened compound showed good tendency to moderate antimicrobial activity.