bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(The End of) Communism as a Generational History: Some Thoughts on Czechoslovakia and Poland
Authors: SHORE MARCI
Published: July 2009

This article explores communism – including its pre-history and aftermath – as a generational history. The structure is diachronic and largely biographical. Attention is paid to the roles of milieu, the Second World War, generational cleavages and a Hegelian sense of time. Nineteen sixty-eight is a turning point, the moment when Marxism as belief was decoupled from communism as practice. The arrival of Soviet tanks in Prague meant a certain kind of end of European Marxism. It also meant the coming of age of a new generation: those born in the post-war years who were to play a large role in the opposition. The anti-communist opposition was organically connected to Marxism itself: the generation(s) of dissidents active in the 1970s and 1980s should be understood as a further chapter in the generational history of communism. Nineteen eight-nine was another moment of sharp generational rupture. The new post-communist generation, Havel's great hope, possessed the virtue of openness. Openness, however, proved a double-edged sword: as eastern Europe opened to the West, it also opened a Pandora's box. Perhaps today the most poignant generational question brought about by 1989 is not who has the right to claim authorship of the revolution, but rather who was old enough to be held responsible for the choices they made under the communist regime. There remains a division between those who have to account for their actions, and those who do not, between those who proved themselves opportunists, or cowards or heroes – and those who have clean hands by virtue of not having been tested.
Nationalism and the Collapse of Soviet Communism
Authors: BEISSINGER MARK R.
Published: July 2009

This article examines the role of nationalism in the collapse of communism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, arguing that nationalism (both in its presence and its absence, and in the various conflicts and disorders that it unleashed) played an important role in structuring the way in which communism collapsed. Two institutions of international and cultural control in particular – the Warsaw Pact and ethnofederalism – played key roles in determining which communist regimes failed and which survived. The article argues that the collapse of communism was not a series of isolated, individual national stories of resistance but a set of interrelated streams of activity in which action in one context profoundly affected action in other contexts – part of a larger tide of assertions of national sovereignty that swept through the Soviet empire during this period.
Western Communists, Mikhail Gorbachev and the 1989 Revolutions
Authors: PONS SILVIO
Published: July 2009

Western communists reflected two opposing responses to the final crisis of communism that had matured over time. The French communists represented a conservative response increasingly hostile to Gorbachev's perestroika, while the Italians were supporters of a reformist response in tune with his call for change. Thus Gorbachev was the chief reference, positive or negative, against which Western communists measured their own politics and identity. In 1989 the French aligned with the conservative communist leaderships of eastern Europe, and ended up opposing Gorbachev after the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Accordingly, the PCF became a residual entity of traditional communism. On the other hand, the Italian communists agreed with all Gorbachev's choices, and to some extent they even inspired his radical evolution. But they also shared Gorbachev's illusions, including the idea that the fall of the Berlin Wall would produce a renewal of socialism in Europe. Unlike the PCF, the PCI was able to undertake change in the aftermath of the 1989 revolutions, thus standing as a significant ‘post-communist’ force. However, if conservative communism was destined to become marginal, reform communism also failed in its objective of renewing the Soviet system and the communist political culture
Analysis of regional congenital cardiac surgical outcomes in Florida using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database
Authors: Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Quintessenza James A. , Burke Redmond P. , Bleiweis Mark S. , Byrne Barry J. , Ceithaml Eric L. , DeCampli William M. , Giroud Jorge M. , Perryman Richard A. , Rosenkranz Eliot R. , Wolff Grace , Posner Vicki , Steverson Sue , Blanchard William B. , Schiebler Gerry L.
Published: July 2009

Background

Florida is the fourth largest state in the United States of America. In 2004, 218,045 live babies were born in Florida, accounting for approximately 1744 new cases of congenital heart disease. We review the initial experience of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database with a regional outcomes report, namely the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Florida Regional Report.

Methods

Eight centres in Florida provide services for congenital cardiac surgery. The Children’s Medical Services of Florida provide a framework for quality improvement collaboration between centres. All congenital cardiac surgical centres in Florida have voluntarily agreed to submit data to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Duke Clinical Research Institute prepared a Florida Regional Report to allow detailed regional analysis of outcomes for congenital cardiac surgery.

Results

The report of 2007 from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database includes details of 61,014 operations performed during the 4 year data harvest window, which extended from 2003 through 2006. Of these operations, 6,385 (10.5%) were performed in Florida. Discharge mortality in the data from Florida overall, and from each Florida site, with 95% confidence intervals, is not different from cumulative data from the entire Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database, both for all patients and for patients stratified by complexity.

Conclusions

A regional consortium of congenital heart surgery centres in Florida under the framework of the Children’s Medical Services has allowed for inter-institutional collaboration with the goal of quality improvement. This experience demonstrates, first, that the database maintained by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons can provide the framework for regional analysis of outcomes, and second, that voluntary regional collaborative efforts permit the pooling of data for such analysis.
Not a Papal Conspiracy but a Spiritual Principle: Three Early Anglican Apologists for the Practice of Retreat
Authors: Tyers John
Published: July 2009

The first silent preached retreat in the Anglican Communion was held in 1858. The exercise quickly aroused suspicions because it appeared to be dangerously close to Roman Catholic practice. Based upon original printed sources, this paper reviews arguments put forward during the next ten years by three advocates of the led retreat, to counter such fears. Far from being part of a Roman plot, they claimed that the retreats were an expression of a fundamental spiritual principle, which was not limited to any particular denomination and party.
MHC class II expression by β2 integrin (CD18)-positive microglia, macrophages and macrophage-like cells in rabbit retina
Authors: Huang Wenbing , Chamberlain Coral G. , Sarafian Richard Y. , Chan-Ling Tailoi
Published: July 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) by microglia and macrophages and their relationship to blood vessels in the retina, a representative tissue of the central nervous system. Such information is crucial to understanding the role of these cells in immune surveillance. Wholemount preparations of retinas from late embryonic, postnatal and adult rabbits were subjected to three-colour fluorescence microscopy using β2 integrin (CD18) and MHCII antibodies and biotinylatedGriffonia simplicifoliaB4 isolectin labelling of blood vessels. CD18+cells consistently exhibited characteristics of macrophages or microglia in the vascularized and non-vascularized regions of the retina, respectively. At all ages, MHCII was expressed by a high proportion of cells in the vascularized region, which contained macrophage-like ‘parenchymal cells’ as well as typical perivascular macrophages. MHCII expression by ramified microglia, first detected on postnatal day 30, was lower in the peripheral retina and intermediate in the avascular region of the myelinated streak. The observed localization of MHCII+cells in relation to blood vessels and location-dependent differences in MHCII expression point to the possibility that these cells may be distributed strategically within the retina to provide multiple lines of defence against immune challenge arriving via the retinal vasculature.
Generic universalism in world politics: beyond international anarchy and the world state
Authors: Prozorov Sergei
Published: July 2009

Even though the notion of ‘world politics’ has become increasingly widespread in the discipline of International Relations, its deployment in the disciplinary discourse has been highly problematic. This article argues that the impasse of the discourse on world politics is owing to its commitment to a political ontology of identitarian pluralism, most forcefully articulated in the work of Carl Schmitt, which limits the political imagination to the binary opposition of the preservation of international anarchy and its hierarchical domestication in the world state. As long as politics is cast in identitarian terms, it is impossible to conceive of the universal dimension of political praxis other than in terms of the universalization of some particular content, i.e. as a hegemonic project. We shall then outline the pathway towards a non-identitarian understanding of world politics through an engagement with the universalist themes in the philosophy of Alain Badiou and Giorgio Agamben. We shall reconstitute the authors’ alternative to identity politics that rehabilitates the notion of universalism from ‘postmodern’ criticism and reconstructs the category of the universal in non-identitarian or generic terms of indiscernibility and ‘whatever being’. The paper concludes with a discussion of the practical dimension of generic world politics as a radically egalitarian process of the emergence of the world community of ‘whatever singularities’.
Why do states have territorial rights?
Authors: Stilz Anna
Published: July 2009

What gives a particular state the right to exercise jurisdiction and enforcement power over a particular territory? Why does the state of Denmark have rights over the territory of Denmark, and not over the territory of Sweden, and vice versa? This paper first considers a popular argument that purports to ground state territorial rights in citizens’ rights of land ownership. On this view, the state has jurisdiction over territory insofar as its peopleownsthe territory, and delegates jurisdictional powers over their land to the state. It is argued that we should reject this approach, because it is unable to explain: (a) how the state can establish a continuous territory; (b) why later generations consent to the state’s jurisdiction; and (c) why non-consenting property owners cannot secede.

Rather than considering state jurisdiction to bederivedfrom the people’s prior property rights, this paper claims that we should consider state jurisdictional rights over territory to be primitive. It defends an alternative Kantian account of territorial rights. On this view, a state’s claim to jurisdiction over territory is justified if that state imposes a system of property law that meets certain basic conditions of legitimacy. This Kantian approach, it is argued, allows us to make better sense of state territorial rights.
Brokering change: networks and entrepreneurs in international politics
Authors: Goddard Stacie E.
Published: July 2009

Political entrepreneurs reside at the core of international relations (IR) theory. Structures might constrain agents, but entrepreneurs can remake and transform these structures, contesting norms, shifting identities and creating space for significant political change. Despite this, IR theorists note that key questions about entrepreneurs remain under-theorized. Under what conditions are political entrepreneurs likely to emerge? Who is likely to succeed as an entrepreneur, and how do entrepreneurs produce structural change? I argue scholars could strengthen their answers to these questions by drawing from the growing program of social network theory. Networks influence entrepreneurship in three ways. First, networks provide certain actors – brokers – with resources to effect change. It is not an actor’s attributes or interests but her position, then, that enables entrepreneurial behavior. Second, networks create the conditions of entrepreneurship. While certain networks are extremely stable, others contain contradictions that allow entrepreneurs to emerge. Finally, network theory posits structural mechanisms – including mobilization, polarization, and yoking – to explain political change.
Spatial Abilities in Prepubertal Intellectually Gifted Boys and Genetic Polymorphisms Related to Testosterone Metabolism
Authors: Celec Peter , Ostatníková Daniela , Holešová Zuzana , Minárik Gabriel , Ficek Andrej , Kelemenová Silvia , Putz Zdeněk , Kúdela Matúš
Published: July 2009

Spatial abilities are known to be related to testosterone levels in men. Polymorphisms of genes related to androgen metabolism, however, have not been previously analyzed in association with spatial abilities. Our study analyzes genetic polymorphisms of androgen receptor (AR), aromatase (CYP19), and 5-alpha reductase (SRD5A2) in relation to mental rotation and spatial visualization in prepubertal intellectually gifted boys. DNA samples of 36 boys with an average age of 10.0 ± 0.7 years and an IQ higher than 130 were isolated from buccal cells in saliva. DNA was subsequently used for amplification by PCR. The CYP19 C1558-T polymorphism and SRD5A2 A49T polymorphism were determined by RFLP analysis, and the AR (CAG)n polymorphism was determined by fragment analysis. Salivary testosterone levels were measured with radioimmunoassay. Spatial abilities (mental rotation and spatial visualization) were assessed using standard psychometric tests. AR and CYP19 polymorphisms were not associated with spatial abilities. Heterozygotes in A49T polymorphisms (AT) of SRD5A2 had significantly better results in both mental rotation and spatial visualization tests compared to AA homozygotes. TT homozygotes were not found. The T allele of A49T polymorphism of the SRD5A2 was reported to have a 5-fold increased activity in comparison to the A allele. AT heterozygotes outscored AA homozygotes in tests of spatial performance. Since dihydrotestosterone – the product of 5-alpha reductase catalyzed reaction – has a higher affinity to AR, this might indicate a potential molecular mechanism for the influence of SRD5A2 polymorphism on spatial abilities in intellectually gifted prepubertal boys.
The Relationship Between Pain Perception and Interoception
Authors: Werner Natalie S. , Duschek Stefan , Mattern Michael , Schandry Rainer
Published: July 2009

The question of whether the perception of externally applied pain stimuli and the perception of interoceptive stimuli are based upon similar neuronal or behavioral processes is still open to debate. If such a similarity exists, one would expect that persons who are highly sensitive to visceral stimuli would also exhibit a higher sensitivity to pain stimuli. The present study investigated the sensitivity to heat pain of individuals with high vs. low cardiac interoceptive sensitivity. Pain threshold and pain tolerance were assessed using a testing-the-limits procedure. Furthermore, participants rated the subjective intensity and unpleasantness of tonic heat stimuli on visual analog scales and in a questionnaire. The results show that pain experience did not differ between participants with high and low interoceptive sensitivity, nor did correlation analyses reveal significant relationships between pain experience and cardiac interoceptive sensitivity. These findings suggest that the pathway of peripheral pain processing is at least partially independent of the pathway of interoceptive sensations.
Personality and Values as Predictors of Self- and Peer-Reported Behavior
Authors: Pozzebon Julie A. , Ashton Michael C.
Published: July 2009

We examined the validity of self-reported personality traits and values in predicting self- and peer reports of behavior. Self- and peer reports were obtained from 252 undergraduate students on the HEXACO Personality Inventory, the Schwartz Value Survey, and scales assessing value-expressive behaviors. Self-reports of personality and of values correlated moderately with self-reports of value-expressive behaviors. Correlations with peer reports of these behaviors were almost as large, thus, indicating that the validity of the personality and values variables did generalize across criterion rating sources. Both personality traits and values provided incremental validity beyond the other domain in predicting the behavior criteria, with the personality variables yielding slightly higher validity, on average.
Genetic and Environmental Correlations Between Trait Emotional Intelligence and Humor Styles
Authors: Vernon Philip A. , Villani Vanessa C. , Schermer Julie Aitken , Kirilovic Sandra , Martin Rod A. , Petrides K.V. , Spector Tim D. , Cherkas Lynn F.
Published: July 2009

This article reports the first studies to investigate the genetic and environmental components of correlations between humor styles and trait emotional intelligence. In two independent adult-twin samples, significant phenotypic correlations were found between four humor styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating) and five trait emotional intelligence (EI) variables (well-being, self-control, emotionality, sociability, and global trait EI). These observed phenotypic correlations were themselves found to be largely attributable to correlated genetic and correlated nonshared environmental factors.
Performance on Embedded Figures Tests
Authors: Glicksohn Joseph , Kinberg Zehavit
Published: July 2009

We examined individual performance on an embedded figures test, in two separate studies. Performance measures were both the number (m) of hits (H) and the number of false alarms (FA), and their respective reaction times (RT). Using these measures, we postulated four templates of performance, indicative of field dependence (mH = low, RTH = long, mFA = high), field independence (mH = high, RTH = short, mFA = low), impulsiveness (mH = low, RTH = short, mFA = high), and reflectiveness (mH = high, RTH = long, mFA = low). In the first study, individual profiles were correlated with these four templates, whose mean values were updated in a stepwise manner, under the constraint that the individual profile had to be substantially correlated with the emerging template (r > 0.9). This procedure resulted in the final placement of a total of 64 individuals (80%) into one of the four templates. In the second study, we could identify 87% of the participants in such a manner. These participants also provided us with performance data on the rod-and-frame test (RFT), and a line-bisection task (whose analysis here is innovative), as well as scores on the sensation-seeking scales. We emphasize the utility of adopting such a finely-tuned approach to the study of the disembedding aspect of the cognitive style, and to the profiling of individual differences in general.
Life Regrets by Avoidant and Arousal Procrastinators
Authors: Ferrari Joseph R. , Barnes Kelly L. , Steel Piers
Published: July 2009

The present study examined the relationship between two types of chronic procrastination and 12 varied life domains in which individuals report regret. Subjects were 2,887 adults (1,776 women and 1,111 men; M age = 38.63 years; SD = 14.35) from across the United States. Initially, pure arousal (n = 386), avoidant (n = 220), and nonprocrastinators (n = 215) were identified. Results found that nonprocrastinators reported significantly less regret than both avoidant and arousal procrastinators in domains of education pursuits, parenting, family and friend interactions, health and wellness, and financial planning. There were no significant differences in feelings of regret between chronic procrastinators and nonprocrastinators in romance, career planning, and spiritual and self-improvements. Further research should explore the specific causes and consequences of regret among chronic procrastinators.
Positive and Negative Affect in Individuals at High and Low Risk for Bipolar Disorders
Authors: Meyer Thomas D. , Baur Marina
Published: July 2009

Introduction: Affective disorders are thought to be associated primarily with changes in positive affect (PA) and secondarily with changes in negative affect (NA). Based upon a dysregulation model, we assumed that people at risk for bipolar disorders show stronger emotional reactions – especially with reference to PA – in certain situations (e.g., facing success). Methods: Seventy-two male students completed the Hypomanic Personality Scale and were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). The high-risk persons (n = 16) and controls (n = 56) completed an intelligence test and received success feedback. Afterward they played with dice. Affect was repeatedly assessed. Results: High-risk individuals generally reported more PA than controls but no significant interaction with time emerged. Different aspects of PA, however, showed different time courses. Conclusion: Despite methodological limitations, the results are in line with prior research showing that individuals at risk for bipolar disorder often report elevated levels of PA. It is unclear, however, if the available measures are the most appropriate because PA might be a multidimensional concept with its facets being differently affected by time and experimental or environmental changes.
Methyl iodide in the NW Atlantic: Spatial and seasonal variation
Authors: Wang Lu , Moore Robert M. , Cullen John J.
Published: July 2009

While the global ocean is an important source of atmospheric methyl iodide (CH3I), the major producers of CH3I within the ocean remain unclear. During a seasonal study in the NW Atlantic, the relationship between CH3I and some characteristic phytoplankton pigments was examined in order to identify possible phytoplankton producers of CH3I. Although no characteristic pigments exhibited a strong positive correlation with CH3I, in the surface mixed layer, there was a weak correlation (R = 0.35, n = 70, p = 0.003) between the concentrations of CH3I and zeaxanthin, a pigment characteristic of cyanobacteria in the open ocean. In this study, a moderate correlation was observed between the surface mixed layer CH3I concentration and depth‐averaged daily radiant exposure (R = 0.61, n = 15, p = 0.02), which indicates a positive influence of solar radiation on CH3I production. However, the results from this study do not conclusively show whether the influence was exerted through photochemistry or other pathways. A positive correlation between the CH3I concentration and sea surface temperature was also observed (R = 0.61, n = 79, p ≪ 0.001).
Earthquake ruptures with thermal weakening and the operation of major faults at low overall stress levels
Authors: Noda Hiroyuki , Dunham Eric M. , Rice James R.
Published: July 2009

We model ruptures on faults that weaken in response to flash heating of microscopic asperity contacts (within a rate‐and‐state framework) and thermal pressurization of pore fluid. These are arguably the primary weakening mechanisms on mature faults at coseismic slip rates, at least prior to large slip accumulation. Ruptures on strongly rate‐weakening faults take the form of slip pulses or cracks, depending on the background stress. Self‐sustaining slip pulses exist within a narrow range of stresses: below this range, artificially nucleated ruptures arrest; above this range, ruptures are crack‐like. Natural earthquakes will occur as slip pulses if faults operate at the minimum stress required for propagation. Using laboratory‐based flash heating parameters, propagation is permitted when the ratio of shear to effective normal stress on the fault is 0.2–0.3; this is mildly influenced by reasonable choices of hydrothermal properties. The San Andreas and other major faults are thought to operate at such stress levels. While the overall stress level is quite small, the peak stress at the rupture front is consistent with static friction coefficients of 0.6–0.9. Growing slip pulses have stress drops of ∼3 MPa; slip and the length of the slip pulse increase linearly with propagation distance at ∼0.14 and ∼30 m/km, respectively. These values are consistent with seismic and geologic observations. In contrast, cracks on faults of the same rheology have stress drops exceeding 20 MPa, and slip at the hypocenter increases with distance at ∼1 m/km.
Estimation of the Doppler frequency and direction of arrival of the ionospherically propagated HF signals
Authors: Su Hongtao , Liu Hongwei , Shui Penglang , Bao Zheng
Published: July 2009

High‐frequency (HF) signals reflected from different points within each ionospheric layer may have slightly different Doppler frequencies and angles of arrival. The superposition of these signals leads to time varying and nonplanar wavefronts. Investigation of temporal and spatial characteristics of the ionospherically propagated HF signals plays an important role in designing the signal processing algorithms for the HF over‐the‐horizon radar (OTHR). A cost‐efficient superresolution algorithm for simultaneously estimating the Doppler frequencies and angles of arrival of the ionospherically propagated HF signals is proposed in this paper. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by the experimental data from a trial HF OTHR. Furthermore, the superposition model with the HF signal reflected by a smooth ionospheric layer consisting of a number of submode signals is also confirmed by the experimental data processing results.
Diachronous evolution of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous continental rifting in the northeast Atlantic (west Iberian margin)
Authors: Alves Tiago M. , Moita Carlos , Cunha Tiago , Ullnaess Magnar , Myklebust Reidun , Monteiro José H. , Manuppella G.
Published: July 2009

Regional (2‐D) seismic reflection profiles, outcrop, and borehole data are used to characterize the evolution of deep offshore sedimentary basins in southwest Iberia (Alentejo Basin). The interpreted data indicate the bulk of Late Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous subsidence occurred in the present‐day continental slope area, as shown by (1) significant thickening of synrift strata basinward from a slope‐bounding fault system (SFS), west of which the total thickness of sediment can reach more than 9.0 km, and (2) relatively thin Mesozoic strata east of the SFS, where thickening of synrift units against principal faults is limited. Five principal regressive events and their basal unconformities reflect tectonic uplift and relative emersion in proximal basins, which were located on the rift shoulder to subsiding tilt blocks west of the SFS. These regressive events are correlated with major rift‐related events occurring on the deeper margin. Direct comparisons with the Peniche Basin of northwest Iberia reveal that significant portions of the Iberian lower plate margin were uplifted and eroded during the last stages of continental rifting. This process was repeated at different times (and in different areas) as the locus of rifting and continental breakup migrated northward. As a result, two distinct rift axes are recognized in west Iberia, a first axis extending from the Porto Basin to the Alentejo Basin and a second axis located on the outer proximal margin north of 38°30N. In addition, the SFS delimited (1) prograding deposits of Cretaceous‐Paleogene age and (2) late Cenozoic deposits draping the modern continental slope. These latter facts demonstrate that on lower plate passive margins, the relative position of the continental slope is established during the final rifting episode(s) preceding continental breakup.
An analysis of spatiotemporal variations of soil and vegetation moisture from a 29‐year satellite‐derived data set over mainland Australia
Authors: Liu Yi Y. , van Dijk Albert I. J. M. , de Jeu Richard A. M. , Holmes Thomas R. H.
Published: July 2009

The spatiotemporal behavior of soil and vegetation moisture over mainland Australia was analyzed using passive microwave observations by four satellites going back to late 1978. Differences in measurement specifications prevented merging the data directly. A continuous product was developed for Australia by scaling percentiles of the cumulative moisture distribution within each grid cell to the percentiles of a reference sensor. The coefficient of correlation and root‐mean‐square error between rescaled values and the reference generally suggest good agreement. Using the merged data product, a strong El Niño–Southern Oscillation signal in near‐surface hydrology across Australia was confirmed. Spatial patterns of trends in annual averages show that western and northwestern Australia have experienced an increase in vegetation moisture content, while the east and southeast experienced a decrease. Soil moisture showed a similar spatial pattern but with larger regions experiencing a decrease. This could be explained by decreasing rainfall and increasing potential evapotranspiration during the extended winter period (May–September). The results give us reasonable confidence in the time series of soil and vegetation moisture derived by the scaling method developed in this study. Development of a global data set along these lines should enable better estimation of hydrological variables and should increase understanding of the impacts of ocean circulations on terrestrial hydrology and vegetation dynamics.
Climate projections: Past performance no guarantee of future skill?
Authors: Reifen C. , Toumi R.
Published: July 2009

The principle of selecting climate models based on their agreement with observations has been tested for surface temperature using 17 of the IPCC AR4 models. Those models simulating global mean, Siberian and European 20th Century surface temperature with a lower error than the total ensemble for one period on average do not do so for a subsequent period. Error in the ensemble mean decreases systematically with ensemble size, N, and for a random selection as approximately 1/Nα, where α lies between 0.6 and 1. This is larger than the exponent of a random sample (α = 0.5) and appears to be an indicator of systematic bias in the model simulations. There is no evidence that any subset of models delivers significant improvement in prediction accuracy compared to the total ensemble.
Sea‐ice production over the Laptev Sea shelf inferred from historical summer‐to‐winter hydrographic observations of 1960s–1990s
Authors: Dmitrenko Igor A. , Kirillov Sergey A. , Tremblay L. Bruno , Bauch Dorothea , Willmes Sascha
Published: July 2009

The winter net sea‐ice production (NSIP) over the Laptev Sea shelf is inferred from continuous summer‐to‐winter historical salinity records of 1960s–1990s. While the NSIP strongly depends on the assumed salinity of newly formed ice, the NSIP quasi‐decadal variability can be linked to the wind‐driven circulation anomalies in the Laptev Sea region. The increased wind‐driven advection of ice away from the Laptev Sea coast when the Arctic Oscillation (AO) is positive implies enhanced coastal polynya sea‐ice production and brine release in the shelf water. When the AO is negative, the NSIP and seasonal salinity amplitude tends to weaken. These results are in reasonable agreement with sea‐ice observations and modeling.
Characterizing the 10 November 2004 storm‐time middle‐latitude plasma bubble event in Southeast Asia using multi‐instrument observations
Authors: Li Guozhu , Ning Baiqi , Zhao Biqiang , Liu Libo , Wan Weixing , Ding Feng , Xu J. S. , Liu J. Y. , Yumoto K.
Published: July 2009

The development and dynamics of ionospheric plasma bubble (PB) irregularity during the super storm of 7–11 November 2004 are investigated using the data from a multi‐instrument network operated in Southeast Asia. Analysis of fluctuations in Global Positioning System total electron content (GPS TEC), ionosonde, GPS scintillation, and in situ satellite density data indicates a series of intense PB‐associated irregularities at equatorial, low, and middle latitudes in the Japanese longitude on 10 November. However, in the Chinese sector, the scintillations and PB irregularities are confined within the range of 20–50°N in geographic latitude and 110–125°E in geographic longitude. The absence of equatorial PB irregularities in this sector shows a major difference from that in the close‐by longitude Japanese sector. In the Southern Hemisphere Australian sector, the irregularities occurrence is present as a symmetrical distribution at conjugate latitudes. Combined analysis of the data from Osan and Wuhan ionosondes illustrates that the middle‐latitude spread F irregularities initially develop at the lower part of the F region and then distribute in the whole F region. This initiation of spread F at lower altitudes indicates that the middle‐latitude PB‐associated irregularities are locally generated. These results together with the irregularities occurrence sequence from higher to lower latitudes, and the onset time delay of several hours implies that the presence of PB‐associated irregularities within a latitude range of 20–50°N in the Chinese sector cannot be attributed to the effects of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs), although the equatorial PBs in the close‐by longitude are seen to be associated with PPEFs. The possible mechanism is the F region plasma instabilities triggered by wave structures, which act as an external driving force and seed active plasma dynamics and instability growth at middle latitude.
Solar terminator wave and its relation to the atmospheric tide
Authors: Miyoshi Yasunobu , Fujiwara Hitoshi , Forbes Jeffrey M. , Bruinsma Sean L.
Published: July 2009

Observations by the CHAMP satellite have recently revealed wave structure of the neutral density near the solar terminator in the upper atmosphere. The amplitude of the neutral density perturbation associated with a solar terminator wave is of order ±3–6%, and the horizontal wavelength is of order 3000 km. In this study, we examine the excitation mechanism of the solar terminator wave using a general circulation model (GCM) that extends from the ground surface to the exobase. Our result reveals that waves similar to the solar terminator wave observed by the CHAMP satellite are found not only in the thermosphere but also in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The terminator wave is excited in the stratosphere and/or troposphere and propagates upward into the upper thermosphere. Specifically, the solar terminator wave is mainly generated by superposition of the upward propagating migrating tides from zonal wave number 4 to zonal wave number 6. The terminator wave is more prominent during solstice than during equinox. This seasonal variability of the terminator wave is also studied using a GCM simulation. In addition, the maximum temperature perturbation at low latitudes occurs near midnight, indicating a contribution to the midnight temperature maximum in the upper thermosphere. The effect of the terminator wave on the generation of the midnight temperature maximum is examined. The relation between the midnight temperature maximum and the upward propagating migrating tides is also discussed.
Thinning and volume loss of the Arctic Ocean sea ice cover: 2003–2008
Authors: Kwok R. , Cunningham G. F. , Wensnahan M. , Rigor I. , Zwally H. J. , Yi D.
Published: July 2009

We present our best estimate of the thickness and volume of the Arctic Ocean ice cover from 10 Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) campaigns that span a 5‐year period between 2003 and 2008. Derived ice drafts are consistently within 0.5 m of those from a submarine cruise in mid‐November of 2005 and 4 years of ice draft profiles from moorings in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Along with a more than 42% decrease in multiyear (MY) ice coverage since 2005, there was a remarkable thinning of ∼0.6 m in MY ice thickness over 4 years. In contrast, the average thickness of the seasonal ice in midwinter (∼2 m), which covered more than two‐thirds of the Arctic Ocean in 2007, exhibited a negligible trend. Average winter sea ice volume over the period, weighted by a loss of ∼3000 km3 between 2007 and 2008, was ∼14,000 km3. The total MY ice volume in the winter has experienced a net loss of 6300 km3 (>40%) in the 4 years since 2005, while the first‐year ice cover gained volume owing to increased overall area coverage. The overall decline in volume and thickness are explained almost entirely by changes in the MY ice cover. Combined with a large decline in MY ice coverage over this short record, there is a reversal in the volumetric and areal contributions of the two ice types to the total volume and area of the Arctic Ocean ice cover. Seasonal ice, having surpassed that of MY ice in winter area coverage and volume, became the dominant ice type. It seems that the near‐zero replenishment of the MY ice cover after the summers of 2005 and 2007, an imbalance in the cycle of replenishment and ice export, has played a significant role in the loss of Arctic sea ice volume over the ICESat record.
Theoretical and experimental evaluation of the isotope effect of NDIR analyzer on atmospheric CO2 measurement
Authors: Tohjima Yasunori , Katsumata Keiichi , Morino Isamu , Mukai Hitoshi , Machida Toshinobu , Akama Isao , Amari Taketo , Tsunogai Urumu
Published: July 2009

Nondispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 analyzer could produce erroneous CO2 mole fraction measurements for an air sample when CO2‐in‐air mixtures having different isotopic compositions than atmospheric CO2 are used as the NDIR calibration gases. This is because (1) an optical band‐pass filter equipped in a typical NDIR analyzer to minimize the interference effect from the other infrared‐active species is basically designed to transmit only the absorption band of 12C16O2 and (2) absorption bands for the other CO2‐related isotopologues, for example, 13C16O2, are shifted to lower wave numbers depending on their isotope effects. To evaluate the effect of the isotopic composition on the NDIR response, we computed the theoretical relative molar response of the instrument to each isotopologue based on the infrared absorptance by the individual isotopologues. We then prepared a gravimetric 13CO2‐in‐air mixture with CO2 mole fraction of 380 ppm to experimentally determine the optical filter property. The apparent mole fractions of the 13CO2‐in‐air mixture determined by three NDIR analyzers used in this study were 46, 94, and 27 ppm, indicating that the optical filters in these instruments substantially reduced the response to 13C16O2. Based on these theoretical and experimental analyses, we evaluated the apparent difference in the CO2 mole fraction determined by the three NDIR analyzers from the true value when isotopically lighter CO2‐in‐air mixtures (δ13C = −32.4‰ and δ18O = +11.7‰), as compared to atmospheric CO2 (δ13C = ∼−8‰ and δ18O = ∼+40‰), are used as calibration gases. The estimated difference varied with NDIR analyzers, ranging from −0.04 to −0.08 ppm for air samples with 380 ppm CO2.
Heterogeneous freezing of ice on atmospheric aerosols containing ash, soot, and soil
Authors: Fornea Adam P. , Brooks Sarah D. , Dooley Jeffrey B. , Saha Auromeet
Published: July 2009

Nucleation of ice crystals in the atmosphere often occurs through heterogeneous freezing processes in which an atmospheric aerosol acts as the ice nuclei (IN). Depending on the ambient conditions and composition of the available IN, heterogeneous nucleation may occur through one of several freezing mechanisms, including contact and immersion. In this study, an optical microscope apparatus equipped with a cooling stage and a digital camera was used to observe the freezing events of individual droplet‐IN samples. For each experiment, a particular IN was either placed in contact with the surface or immersed in the bulk of an ultra pure water droplet. Using volcanic ash as the IN, we observed that inside‐out contact freezing occurred at warmer temperatures than immersion freezing. We also conducted contact freezing experiments using three representative aerosol types as the potential IN. The most effective contact freezing IN was Pahokee Peat soil with an average freezing temperature of −10.5°C, followed by volcanic ash (−11.2°C), and finally soot (−25.6°C). In addition, we have used classical nucleation theory to derive the heterogeneous nucleation rates for the IN compositions explored.
Absolute Aqueous Redox Potentials ( via a new link between aqueous and gaseous properties)
Authors: Heyrovska Raji
Published: July 2009

The new finding here, that the conventional standard potentials (based on S.H.E.) are linearly dependent on ionization potentials, has yielded the absolute values of aqueous standard potentials.
Shifting Wittigian Binaries: Abstraction and Re-materialization of the Lesbian Body in Sande Zeig's The Girl
Authors: Dolidon Annabelle
Published: July 2009

This paper explores issues of abstraction and space in Sande Zeig's movie The Girl (2001), based on a novella by Monique Wittig, who also co-wrote the script. It argues that, with this movie, Zeig and Wittig strive to re-materialize the lesbian body abstracted by the ‘Straight Mind’ as defined by Wittig in her 1980 essay. The plot revolves around the love affair of two women, the narrator and the Girl (a lesbian painter and a straight B-grade jazz singer), under the oppressive scrutiny of the Man (the Girl's boss). Each part of this paper corresponds to one space where the characters interact: first, it shows how the nightclub stands as a space of transgression for the lesbian subject and how it opens a reflection on temporality as represented by space; then the analysis of the hotel room where the Girl lives and meets the narrator demonstrates how, notably through the use of close-ups in erotic scenes, Zeig redefines abstraction as a new way to envisage the materiality of the lesbian body; finally, in the third part, the discussion on abstraction moves on to the narrator's studio where, through her work as a painter, she also explores abstract representations of the female body. This approach reconciles Wittigian theory with post-modern queer theory, and confirms that the former still offers paths to positive reformulations of modes of relationality through the de-spatialization of gender – de-genderization; the rematerialization of the body outside of heteronormative conventions; and a reconfiguration of human relationships that refuses the inevitability of social and amorous hierarchy, and that shifts the representation of the erotic from possessiveness to disinterested reciprocity.
Contentious Citizenship: Feminist Debates and Practices and European Challenges
Authors: Lombardo Emanuela , Verloo Mieke
Published: July 2009

Citizenship is both a contentious and contested struggle about the creation of rights, duties, and opportunities. Feminist practices and debates can clarify the meaning of citizenship. This is because the form of feminist practices, characterized by an ongoing struggle, and the content of feminist debates, focusing on gender and other inequalities, recognition of different voices, and critiques of the public and private dichotomy, are particularly suited for dealing with the challenges of contentious and contested processes of citizenship. We argue more specifically that feminist debates and practices provide fruitful contributions for the citizenship challenges that the European Union must face.
Ukraine's Ancient Matriarch as a Topos in Constructing a Feminine Identity
Authors: Rubchak Marian J.
Published: July 2009

In 1991, Ukrainian independence opened an important theoretical channel for debating the status of its women. The people's collective memory of an ancient matriarchy generated a neo-matriarchal mythology which has been transformed into a delusional ideology that legitimizes female subordination, in the name of her alleged empowerment. Fieldwork in Ukraine – annual visits, including travel from one end of the country to another in official capacities, and many extended stays in Ukraine, as a scholar, researcher, educator and participant in key events, provided opportunities for exchanging views with countless people from many walks of life throughout the country. Participation in a host of programs – television ‘specials’ on gender, seminars, retreats, workshops and conferences, designed to raise the consciousness of women and men alike – provided an array of opportunities to observe at first hand the way that today's women construct individual identity. Extensive research in the press (many runs of daily newspapers, including Den’, in Kyiv, and Vysoky Zamok in Lviv, and women's journals such as the widely read Zhinka, among others) added further insights. Television viewing, popular publications collected habitually during my numerous visits to Ukraine, copies of documents contributed by my Ukrainian friends and colleagues, outdoor advertising, posters and intimate gatherings at the homes of likeminded women, all played a part in the formation of my impressions of Ukrainian women's inferior status. In this paper I use my findings to explore the conflicting discourses on women's alleged empowerment, and the essentialist constraints on their self-realization, together with measures adopted to date on changing gender stereotypes and promoting equal rights and opportunities.
Writing the Terrorist Self: The Unspeakable Alterity of Italy's Female Perpetrators
Authors: Glynn Ruth
Published: July 2009

This paper examines texts written by, or in collaboration with, female ex-members of the Italian left-wing armed organization, the Red Brigades. The corpus differs from male-authored or male-centred texts in that issues relating to identity and selfhood lie at the very heart of the project of narrating the terrorist past; the primary concern of Italian women's post-terrorist narration is not to narrate the experience of belonging to an armed organization, but to construct a new identity distinct from a pre-existing self identified exclusively with the transgressive experience of political violence. I consider the corpus in the light of a number of critical problems posed both by the specificity of female perpetration and by the dearth of theoretical writings on perpetrator trauma more generally. I identify in each text an acute anxiety about the very act of speech or narration and find that, in order to circumvent the perceived prohibition on speech, the women of the Red Brigades subtly insinuate into their life writing a discourse of alterity bordering on subalternity that obscures the boundary between victim and perpetrator. The unacknowledged slippage between discourses of perpetration and victimization is explored in relation to Ruth Leys’ critique of Cathy Caruth's formulation of trauma as the wound that cries out through the voice of the victim. The paper concludes by questioning whether perpetrator trauma can ever be articulated as such and by considering the implications of that question for traumatized perpetrator and victimized society alike.