Russia, Eastern Europe and Central European EU members after the Ukrainian crisis : alternative options of international behaviors

The Ukrainian crisis provoked controversial behaviors in Eastern Europe. Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for the rebel republics revealed specific interests, which focus on regaining control over the area rather than economic profits or political stability whereas Central European actors target at building a buffer zone including Ukraine. The situation is equally intelligible in terms of all major descriptive paradigms and allows to draw several scenarios of foreseeable behaviors

Russia, Eastern Europe and Central European EU Members after the Ukrainian Crisis. Alternative Options of International Behaviors

The Ukrainian crisis provoked controversial behaviors in Eastern Europe. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for the rebel republics revealed specific interests, which focus on regaining control over the area rather than economic profits or political stability whereas Central European actors target at building a buffer zone including Ukraine. The situation is equally intelligible in terms of all major descriptive paradigms and allows to draw several scenarios of foreseeable behaviors

Automated Bearing Press

Our group was presented with a challenge to design an automated machine to replace Micro-Vu’s current manual pressing operation. We moved, planned, and scheduled our tasks for the three quarters we will be working on this project by using a Gantt chart. In designing the machine, we generated concepts and used analysis and prototyping to select the most promising ones. Our final design uses a pneumatic press to press the parts, and it includes magazines to hold the parts before pressing, pneumatic actuators to move the parts to and from the pressing location, and a lever to separate the defective parts from the parts within tolerance after they have been pressed. The electrical, pneumatic, and mechanical components of the machine are described, and part drawings and specifications are provided

Buffer territories in Polish-Russian relations : the case of Belarus

The notion of buffer territories is understood as referring either to buffer zones (whose status is usually reflected in international documents) or to states and semistate subjects existing between bigger and usually antagonistic powers. Belarus has sometimes been described as a buffer country both in its pre-sovereign version and after 1991. In several moments of Belarusian history, especially after 1918, neighboring powers tended to treat the area as a part of a bigger creation: either as a part of Russia (Soviet Russia and Germany) or as a segment of Bigger Lithuania (Poland and Lithuania). Those speculations, based on false geopolitical perceptions, turned ou to be a mistake in all cases. The failure of the Belarusian People's Republic led to the unnatural division of the nation, which resulted not only in the miserable conditions it had to overcome but in strengthening the area of potential conflict between powers as well. Today's Republic of Belarus despite its semi-authoritarian system and connections with the Russian Federation within the Eurasian structures provides a good example of a state which gradually works out its independent position in international relations

Designing a public train station shelter to minimise anti-social behaviour and crime in Melbourne’s metropolitan rail environment

The Melbourne metropolitan train network has experienced incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime across the network over recent years. Identification of this problem has lead to design research aimed at exploring ways to minimise anti-social behaviour, improve passenger security and the perceptions of Melbourne’s railway system.A literature review has revealed that good sightlines and visibility, minimised obstructions, sufficient lighting solutions, and controlled access are the principal factors that contribute to a safe and successful station environment. The key findings, used as guidelines, are intended to inform a design process in developing a potential design solution that is novel and adaptable.This paper examines the design and function of a shelter system design concept emerging from the research, and how it might be implemented into Melbourne’s train network in the near future. It is proposed that the system not only deters anti-social behaviour and crime, but also improves the quality of life of patrons at varying railway stations