bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eliciting Substance from ‘Hot Air’: Financial Market Responses to EU Summit Decisions on European Defense
Authors: Bechtel Michael M. , Schneider Gerald
Published: April 2010

The results of deliberations in multilateral fora are often considered ineffective. Decision making in the European Union (EU) and in particular its key intergovernmental body, the European Council, poses no exception. Especially in the domain of EU foreign and security affairs, the unanimity requirement governing this institution allegedly allows nationalist governments to torpedo any attempt to build up a credible European defense force and a unified foreign policy stance. In this article, we take issue with the claim that multilateral summits merely result in “hot air” by looking at whether and how decisions made during EU summit meetings affect the European defense industry. We argue that investors react positively to a successful strengthening of Europe's military component—a vital part of the intensified cooperation within the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP)—since such decisions increase the demand for military products and raise the expected profits in the European defense industry. Our findings lend empirical support to the view that financial markets indeed evaluate the substance of European Council meetings and react positively to those summit decisions that consolidate EU military capabilities and the ESDP. Each of the substantial council decisions studied increased the value of the European defense sector by about 4 billion euros on average. This shows that multilateral decisions can have considerable economic and financial repercussions.
The Enforcement Problem in Coercive Bargaining: Interstate Conflict over Rebel Support in Civil Wars
Authors: Schultz Kenneth A.
Published: April 2010

This article explores the strategic problems that arise when a state seeks to use military force to compel changes in another state's policies. Although the costs associated with military action mean that there generally exist compromises that both sides prefer to conflict, bargaining may fail if such deals are not enforceable in the face of temptations to renege on policy concessions. This study develops a model that shows that inefficient conflict can occur when states bargain over policies that one of them can change unilaterally and covertly. I then show that this theory is useful for understanding a common source of international conflict: conflicts that arise when one state supports rebel groups engaged in a civil war with another state. Episodes of rebel support are associated with a substantial increase in the risk of interstate militarized disputes, the lethality of these disputes, and the likelihood of repeated violence. Agreements to limit rebel support are unlikely to reduce interstate violence unless they are coupled with concessions by the target state and/or monitoring mechanisms, both of which are shown theoretically to mitigate the enforcement problem.
Credible Commitments and the International Criminal Court
Authors: Simmons Beth A. , Danner Allison
Published: April 2010

The creation of an International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute war crimes poses a real puzzle. Why was it created, and more importantly, why do states agree to join this institution? The ICC represents a serious intrusion into a traditional arena of state sovereignty: the right to administer justice to one's one nationals. Yet more than one hundred states have joined. Social scientists are hardly of one mind about this institution, arguing that it is (alternately) dangerous or irrelevant to achieving its main purposes: justice, peace, and stability. By contrast, we theorize that the ICC is a mechanism to assist states in self-binding, and draw on credible commitments theory to understand who commits to the ICC, and the early consequences of such commitments. This approach explains a counterintuitive finding: the states that are both the least and the most vulnerable to the possibility of an ICC case affecting their citizens have committed most readily to the ICC, while potentially vulnerable states with credible alternative means to hold leaders accountable do not. Similarly, ratification of the ICC is associated with tentative steps toward violence reduction and peace in those countries precisely least likely to be able to commit credibly to foreswear atrocities. These findings support the potential usefulness of the ICC as a mechanism for some governments to commit to ratchet down violence and get on the road to peaceful negotiations.
Exchange Rate Proclamations and Inflation-Fighting Credibility
Authors: Guisinger Alexandra , Singer David Andrew
Published: April 2010

If governments choose economic policies that often run counter to their public commitments, are those commitments meaningless? We argue that government proclamations can be critical in signaling economic policy intentions. We focus on the realm of exchange rate policy, in which countries frequently implement an exchange rate regime that differs from the officially declared regime. We argue that the official exchange rate regime is one of the most important signals of a government's economic policy preferences. When a government makes ade jurepublic commitment to a fixed exchange rate, it sends a signal to domestic and international markets of its strict monetary-policy priorities. In contrast, a government that proclaims a floating exchange rate signals a desire to retain discretion over monetary policy, even if it has implemented ade factofixed rate. We use data on 110 developed and developing countries from 1974 to 2004 to test two hypotheses: first, that governments that adoptde factofixed exchange rates will experience less inflation when they back up their actions with official declarations; and second, that governments that abide by their commitments—as demonstrated by a history of following through on their public declarations of a fixed exchange rate regime—will establish greater inflation-fighting credibility. Within developing countries, democratic institutions enhance this credibility. Results from fixed-effects econometric models provide strong support for our hypotheses.
Economic Liberalization via IMF Structural Adjustment: Sowing the Seeds of Civil War?
Authors: Hartzell Caroline A. , Hoddie Matthew , Bauer Molly
Published: April 2010

Previous studies that have explored the effects of economic liberalization on civil war have employed aggregate measures of openness and have failed to account for potential endogeneity bias. In this research note, we suggest two improvements to the study of the relationship between liberalization and civil war. First, emphasizing that it is processes that systematically create new economic winners and losers rather than particular levels of economic openness that have the potential to generate conflict, we consider the effects of one oft-used means of liberalizing economies: the adoption by countries of International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment programs. Second, we use a bivariate probit model to address issues of endogeneity bias. Analyzing all data available for the period between 1970 and 1999, we identify an association between the adoption of IMF programs and the onset of civil war. This finding suggests that IMF programs to promote economic openness unintentionally may be creating an environment conducive to domestic conflict.
An abattoir-based study on the prevalence and economic losses due to cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered herbivores in Ahwaz, south-western Iran
Authors: Ahmadi N.A. , Meshkehkar M.
Published: April 2010

A 10-year (1998–2008) retrospective study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and long-term trend of hydatid disease in slaughtered herbivores in the large complex abattoir of Ahwaz (the capital of Khuzestan province, south-western Iran). A total of 3,583,417 animals including 2,815,982 sheep, 427,790 goats and 339,645 cattle were inspected macroscopically for hydatid cysts in the 10-year period, and overall 155,555 (4.24%) livers and 228,172 (6.37%) lungs were condemned. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) was responsible for 36.08% and 48.04% of total liver and lung condemnations, respectively. The prevalence of pulmonary hydatid disease in sheep, goats and cattle was 2.22, 5.43 and 6.99%, respectively; on the other hand, the prevalence of hepatic hydatid disease for those animals was 1.26, 2.57 and 2.80%, respectively. Data showed an overall downward long-term trend for CE in all livestock slaughtered during the study period (P < 0.01). Lung condemnation due to CE was significantly more common than liver condemnation for each animal separately (P < 0.001). The prevalence of liver and lung hydatidosis in sheep was significantly lower than that in other livestock (P < 0.001). The prevalence of hydatid disease recovered from the sheep, cattle and goats varied in different seasons, but there was no statistical difference between various seasons. The odds ratio of lung and liver condemnations due to hydatidosis showed a slightly different pattern in some years; however, the overall declining trend was still observed. The total annual economic loss incurred due to hydatidosis in all ruminants slaughtered at Ahwaz municipal abattoir was estimated to be US$459,659.6, based on the market prices in the year 2008. This number corresponds to a loss of US$300,620.4 for cattle, US$123,490.0 for sheep and US$35,549.2 for goats. The current results provide baseline data for the future monitoring of this potentially important disease in the region, and also suggest that a thorough investigation leading to a disease control strategy is required to reduce the economic and public health consequences of CE.
Protection of high-riding aberrant innominate artery during open tracheotomy
Authors: Netzer A , Ostrovsky D , Bar R , Westerman S T , Golz A
Published: April 2010

Purpose:

Variations of the normal anatomy of the aortic great vessels can lead to severe complications if not recognised pre- or peri-operatively. One such anomaly is a high-riding aberrant innominate artery.

Study design:

Retrospective review of case series.

Materials and methods:

We present our experience with seven patients in whom a high aberrant innominate artery was encountered just before or during open tracheotomy. We describe a procedure designed to protect the artery from erosion due to the tracheotomy tube, using an inferiorly based, U-shaped flap from the anterior tracheal wall averted over the innominate artery.

Results:

None of the patients had any bleeding from the tracheotomy site, during a follow-up period of nine to 46 months.

Conclusion:

The technique described is simple to perform and prevents any damage to a high aberrant innominate artery, as assessed over a long follow-up period.
Paeoniflorin ameliorates schistosomiasis liver fibrosis through regulating IL-13 and its signalling molecules in mice
Authors: LI XIAOYUE , SHEN JILONG , ZHONG ZHENGRONG , PENG JUN , WEN HUIQIN , LI JING , LUO QINGLI , WEI WEI
Published: April 2010

Treatment of liver fibrosis associated withSchistosoma japonicumova-induced granulomas remains a challenging proposition. Paeoniflorin (PAE, C23H28O11) has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and immunoregulatory effects and it is commonly used in Chinese Herbal prescriptions to treat hepatic disorders. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of PAE on hepatic fibrosis of mice infected withS. japonicumand to explore its possible mechanism. Upon pathological examination of PAE-treated mice, the size of egg granuloma, fibrosis scores, the concentration of IL-13 and hydroxyproline in liver were significantly reduced compared with the model mice. In the primary culture of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), PAE inhibited IL-13-induced collagen synthesis. These results suggested that PAE might alleviate the hepatic granulomas and fibrosis caused byS. japonicumand the inhibitory effect of PAE on hepatic fibrosis might be associated with its ability to decrease the level of IL-13 and to interfere with the IL-13 signalling molecule in HSCs.
Cycling Off and On Welfare in Canada
Authors: LIGHTMAN ERNIE , MITCHELL ANDREW , HERD DEAN
Published: April 2010

Internationally, traditional approaches to social assistance (welfare) have increasingly been replaced with ‘active’ labour market policies. Alongside other industrialised countries, Canada embraced this shift, with its emphasis on the ‘shortest route’ to paid employment.

There has been little research on the outcomes of these dramatic changes in Canada, especially longer term. This article explores the post-welfare labour market experiences of people who were on social assistance in Canada in 1996. It uses the longitudinal micro-data files of the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) from Statistics Canada, which tracks a panel of recipients over five years. We examine the mixing of work and welfare, the transition from welfare to work, and selected labour market indicators – primarily hours of work and wages – that those in receipt of social assistance face in assuming paid work.

Those leaving welfare for work face precarious employment opportunities. Leavers earn lower wages, work fewer hours and consequently have lower annual earnings than non-recipients. Over time the gap narrows but remains significant, even after six years. Returns to welfare are frequent. Overall, even after six years most social assistance recipients remained marginalised in the periphery of the labour market.
Moral Disagreement and Moral Relativism
Authors: Sturgeon Nicholas L.
Published: April 2010

In any society influenced by a plurality of cultures, there will be widespread, systematic differences about at least some important values, including moral values. Many of these differences look like deep disagreements, difficult to resolve objectively if that is possible at all. One common response to the suspicion that these disagreementsareunsettleable has always been moral relativism. In the flurry of sympathetic treatments of this doctrine in the last two decades, attention has understandably focused on the simpler case in which one fairly self-contained and culturally homogeneous society confronts, at least in thought, the values of another; but most have taken relativism to have implications within a single pluralistic society as well. I am not among the sympathizers. That is partly because I am more optimistic than many about how many moral disagreements can be settled, but I shall say little about that here. For, even on the assumption that many disputes are unsettleable, I continue to find relativism a theoretically puzzling reaction to the problem of moral disagreement, and a troubling one in practice, especially when the practice involves regular interaction among those who disagree. This essay attempts to explain why.
Movements of birds among natural vegetation patches in the Pantanal, Brazil
Authors: YABE REGINA DE SOUZA , MARQUES ELIÉZER JOSÉ , MARINI MIGUEL ÂNGELO
Published: April 2010

The ability of birds to move through the landscape is a key parameter for ecological and conservation studies. We studied bird movements among natural vegetation patches surrounded by native grassland and tested the effect of inter-patch distance on bird movements/hour and assessed the distances travelled for species of different body mass. We made observations of 1,138 bird movements among 11 forest patches and banded 368 birds obtaining 69 recaptures (42 recaptures in the same patch where the birds were banded and 27 recaptures in other patches). We used seven patches as observation points and capture sites in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil during one year. Movements/hour decreased significantly with inter-patch distance. Median or maximum distance travelled increased significantly with body mass. Small-bodied Passeriformes, however, did not increase the distance travelled with body mass, since they seldom moved more than 286 m. The majority of forest dependent or semi-dependent birds seem able to adapt to natural fragmented landscapes. However, small forest patches may be inappropriate habitat for many large-bodied species, and it is more difficult for small-bodied species to use more isolated forest patches. Thus, size and spatial arrangement of habitat patches may act as a filter in which large and close fragments seem to protect the highest number of bird species. The findings of this study indicate that stepping stones provide a viable alternative to continuous biological corridors if the latter are not available. However, the type of species in an area and the size and distance between vegetation patches are all critical factors that must be considered in projects that aim to use forest patches as stepping stones to increase or maintain local bird biodiversity.
The Future of Congress
Authors: Mulhollan Dan
Published: April 2010

At a roundtable at the American Political Science Association annual meeting in September 2009, congressional scholars took on a challenge uncommon to the discipline: scenario planning. As chair of the roundtable “Congress and the 21st Century: Future Challenges and Development,” I asked each participant to identify factors to take into account if one were to project what Congress would look like as an institution in 2030. I am pleased to introduce the following articles that resulted from this effort. The authors are Frances E. Lee, University of Maryland; Matthew N. Green, Catholic University of America, with coauthor Daniel Burns; Kathryn Pearson, University of Minnesota; and Colleen J. Shogan, Congressional Research Service.
Senate Deliberation and the Future of Congressional Power
Authors: Lee Frances E.
Published: April 2010

Current circumstances might seem to present real opportunities for Congress to reassert itself relative to its weakened role during George W. Bush's presidency. Large, unusually cohesive Democratic majorities in both chambers; unified government; and an administration staffed with people who know Congress well—all this might lead one to expect a productive working relationship permitting Congress wide scope of action. Nevertheless, the Senate's internal deliberative processes threaten to create difficulties so significant that they may outweigh these developments. Looking to the future of Congress, changes in Senate procedures and practices are important not only because of their effects on the institution's internal power structure. Left unchecked, they are also likely to have implications for the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Demographic Change and the Future of Congress
Authors: Pearson Kathryn
Published: April 2010

The United States population is changing in significant ways: it is growing larger, older, and more racially and ethnically diverse, and these changes are regionally concentrated. How will these changes affect the future of Congress? In this article, I show that demographic change has significant implications for the quality of representation, the legislative agenda, party coalitions, and the diversity of congressional membership in the future, even as change inside Congress will proceed more slowly than change outside it.
Did Bush Voters Cause Obama's Victory?
Authors: Lupia Arthur
Published: April 2010

In the 2008 election, Barack Obama's campaign brought many new voters to the polls. Were these new voters necessary for Obama's victory? In this study, I find that they were not. The basis of this finding is an examination of decisions made by people who voted for George W. Bush in 2004. I show that Bush voters' decisions not to vote or to support Obama were a sufficient condition for Obama's victory.
The Effect of Nomination Divisiveness on the 2008 Presidential Election
Authors: Southwell Priscilla L.
Published: April 2010

This research examines the effect of disgruntlement among primary and caucus voters who supported U.S. presidential nomination losers—a potentially divisive nomination process. I analyze the general election voting behavior of primary and caucus voters in the 2008 presidential election to determine if differences exist between supporters of the winning nominee in each party and backers of other candidates who also sought the nomination. A multivariate analysis of the determinants of “loyal party vote” suggests that Clinton and Edwards supporters showed a significantly higher degree of defection in the general election, although this behavior did not occur among people who voted for Romney or Huckabee in their state's primary or caucus.
Usage of Recursive in Political Science
Authors: Townes Miles
Published: April 2010

The article discusses the term “recursive,” which has multiple uses in the political science literature. The two principle uses are reviewed, with attention to precedent and technical meanings, and examples are provided of mathematical concepts and their application to political science literature. The problem of divergent meaning is addressed through a survey of potential for reconciliation or possible substitute terminology.
Subfield Hockey: A Reaction to Matthew Moore's National Survey of Political Theorists
Authors: Ferguson Kennan
Published: April 2010

This survey's importance comes not from what it informs us about political theory as a field, but rather from the function it serves within debates over the component areas of the field of political science. Rather than answering whether political theory “belongs” within political science (an unanswerable question), the survey uses quantification of qualitative experience and data collection to consolidate political theory as a subfield. Thus success of this project relies upon and reinforces disciplinary norms, operating as a process that attempts to bring a normative political theory into existence. The rank ordering of departments, journals, and individual theorists proves appealing not only for the competitive, horse-race valuation of those people and institutions, but also for how they ultimately resist this project by showing the anti-normative heart of political theory: an important and useful survey indeed.
Trends in Funding for Dissertation Field Research: Why Do Political Science and Sociology Students Win So Few Awards?
Authors: Agarwala Rina , Teitelbaum Emmanuel
Published: April 2010

Despite the size and growth of political science and sociology relative to other disciplines, political science and sociology graduate students have received a declining share of funding for dissertation field research in recent years. Specifically, political science and sociology students are losing out to competitive applicants from humanities-oriented fields that provide strong training in area studies and language. These trends are explained by multiple factors. On the funding demand side, changes in graduate training within political science and sociology are undermining students' ability to conduct contextual work, thus leading to lower quality applications. On the funding supply side, the structure of selection committees may be privileging certain disciplines and approaches. We offer suggestions on how to begin reversing these worrisome trends in dissertation funding. Doing so is crucial to ensuring the continued participation of political scientists and sociologists in international comparative research.
The Representation of Women in Publication: An Analysis of Political Communication and the International Journal of Press/Politics
Authors: Evans Heather K. , Bucy Erik P.
Published: April 2010

Scholarly publication in peer-reviewed journals is widely regarded as the road to scholarly success. However, in a diversity of fields such as sociology, economics, and political science, it has been shown that the rate of publication is much lower for women than for men. The question of whether a systematic relationship exists between gender and research methods has also frequently been debated. In this paper, we explore patterns of authorship and scholarship in two influential interdisciplinary journals, Political Communication and the International Journal of Press/Politics, over the last decade. A systematic content analysis was conducted to determine the gender ratio of authors, the methods and theories employed, and the ratio of quantitative to qualitative research studies. In addition, we tracked the use of primary or secondary data sources and the prevalence of research funding by gender. Overall, we find that while women are publishing less than men, their rate of publication is somewhat higher than their representation in the field.
Why Students Need to Be Informed about Our Looming Fiscal Crisis: The America's Future Initiative
Authors: Yarrow Andrew L. , Orphan Cecilia M.
Published: April 2010

Despite nearly universal concern about America's rapidly rising national debt, the United States government was $12.5 trillion in debt by the spring of 2010. Yet, few people—including college and university students—understand why we are in debt, what the many effects and dangers could be, the difficult steps necessary to reduce our deficits and debt, and the critical importance of bipartisanship and compromise. Given that young people are the nation's future and knowledge is power, what better place to raise awareness and stimulate discussion than on college campuses?
Teaching About America's Fiscal Future in the University's Core Curriculum
Authors: Galatas Steven , Pressley Cindy
Published: April 2010

Civic engagement is increasingly recognized as a significant function of public universities. The university provides a variety of opportunities for civic engagement, including co-curricular activities, service learning opportunities, and specific majors and minors. This article reviews the attempt to embed civic engagement and civic education about the national debt and budget deficit issues in a university core curriculum course at Stephen F. Austin State University. We focus on specific issues of curriculum instruction and assessment of student learning of knowledge regarding the debt and deficit issues.
Practical Theory: Teaching Political and Economic Citizenship
Authors: Martin J. Wesley
Published: April 2010

How can philosophical instruction inform practical analysis and decision making among college students in a way that demonstrably benefits them as individual members of our polity and economy? I pose this question because each year, I introduce classic political theory to first- and second-year college students who simultaneously confront a fiscal crisis in the American state and profound financial challenges as individuals, and I want to ensure that the concepts and analytical strategies we study as theory can meet their most pressing practical needs during the first decade that they are out of college.
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: The Role of Collegiality and Normative Science in Our Profession
Authors: Plazek David J.
Published: April 2010

Lyndon State College's (LSC) participation in the America's Future Initiative on the U.S. national debt, in association with Public Agenda, began with a grant application for funding to participate. After being awarded funding, as the sole political scientist, I was selected with approval by the administration to attend the September 11 to 13, 2008, opening conference in Washington, DC. Flying into Washington, DC, on September 11 surely was a sign of commitment. At the conference, participants were schooled on the initiative by George Mehaffy of the American Democracy Project, Andrew Yarrow of Public Agenda, the Concord Coalition's Diane Rogers, and Stuart Butler from the Heritage Foundation. As a political scientist, I was well-aware of much of what was presented, but to hear differing perspectives and review the data and presentation materials was an excellent experience.
America's Financial Future, Civic Engagement
Authors: Stollman Jennifer A.
Published: April 2010

Institutions of higher learning reflect the philosophies, environments, and resources of their location. Fort Lewis College sits in the San Juan Mountains, a part of the Rocky Mountain chain in southwest Colorado. Throughout its history, the College has successfully transformed itself to suit the needs of its students. Flexibility is demonstrated in frequent changes in focus, curriculum, student population, and programming. Founded as an agricultural high school in 1911, the College transitioned to a two-year college in 1927, implemented an agricultural and mechanic two-year degree program in 1933, assumed junior college status in 1948, and finally, in 1962, became a baccalaureate degree–granting institution that centered its educational objectives around a liberal arts philosophy. Additionally, the College's diverse faculty and student population impact the curriculum and programs. Students of differing classes, ethnicities, regions, and faith traditions share intellectual and physical space. Presently, the student population is just under four thousand, and there are approximately two hundred tenure or tenure-track faculty. Eighteen percent of the student population is native, representing over 125 different nations, but principally the Navajo nation. These statistics require the College to adjust its curricular objectives to suit the intellectual levels and goals of its students.
The University and Student Political Engagement
Authors: Simmons James R. , Lilly Bryan
Published: April 2010

Prior research has identified a substantial positive relationship between college attendance and civic engagement. This article examines student experiences with university academics and ancillary programs to determine which of these, if any, motivate increased student engagement. Various student characteristics were evaluated to determine their impact on student engagement. Data was obtained from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Current Population Survey (CPS). Results indicated that engagement is related positively to some student college experiences, unrelated to some experiences, and even negatively related to other experiences. Few individual characteristics relate to engagement, ACT scores and gender both impact engagement, and, surprisingly, engagement was higher among men than women.
STANLEY DUFF HOPPER
Authors: Anagnoson J. Theodore
Published: April 2010

Stanley Duff Hopper, emeritus professor of political science, died of cancer on February 5, 2010, his 59th wedding anniversary, in Palmdale, California, where he had lived near one of his sons after retirement. He was 81.
PAUL FABIAN MULLEN
Authors: Peters B. Guy , Sbragia Alberta M.
Published: April 2010

Paul Mullen passed away at his home in Savannah, Georgia, on December 24, 2009. Paul had been our graduate student and remained our friend. His sense of humor was legendary: mordant, witty, and always to the point. His untimely death brought to an end a life filled with accomplishment. Paul Mullen had managed to fill his life with several careers. His first career had been as an attorney. As well as working in private practice for several years, he also was Assistant Attorney General for the state of West Virginia. He specialized in labor law and was head of the section in the Attorney General's Office responsible for litigation in that field.
Spotlight: Grain of Sand Award of 2009 Presented to Professors Lloyd I. Rudolph and Susanne Hoeber Rudolph
Authors: Yanow Dvora
Published: April 2010

The Interpretive Methodologies and Methods Conference Group of the American Political Science Association is proud to announce the creation of the “Grain of Sand” Award to honor a political scientist whose contributions to interpretive studies of the political, and, indeed, to the discipline itself, its ideas, and its persons, have been longstanding and merit special recognition.
Utility of an abbreviated version of the executive and social cognition battery in the detection of executive deficits in early behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia patients
Authors: GLEICHGERRCHT EZEQUIEL , TORRALVA TERESA , ROCA MARÍA , MANES FACUNDO
Published: April 2010

The detection of executive deficits in early behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is crucial, as impairments in the executive domain constitute an important diagnostic feature of the newly proposed diagnostic criteria for bvFTD. Our group has recently demonstrated that classical executive tests fail to detect the executive deficits of a subgroup of early bvFTD patients. When administered an executive and social cognition battery (ESCB) that includes tasks that mimic everyday scenarios (e.g., affective decision-making, planning and organization, theory of mind), however, the performance of those bvFTD patients differed significantly from that of controls. One limitation of the ESCB is its lengthy nature (approximately 90 min). For this reason, the present study analyzes the usefulness of alternative shorter versions of this battery. We propose one particular two-task combination that demands approximately 30 min for its administration and scoring, and which presents similar discriminatory accuracy as that of the complete ESCB, while maintaining its significantly superior capacity to detect subtle executive deficits in bvFTD patients relative to classical executive tests. We suggest that, in clinical settings where tools, time, or human resources are scarce, this abbreviated ESCB may be useful in the detection of subtle yet impairing executive impairments of patients with bvFTD. (JINS, 2010,16, 687–694.)
ITERATED LAVRENTIEV REGULARIZATION FOR NONLINEAR ILL-POSED PROBLEMS
Authors: MAHALE P. , NAIR M. T.
Published: April 2010

We consider an iterated form of Lavrentiev regularization, using a null sequence (αk) of positive real numbers to obtain a stable approximate solution for ill-posed nonlinear equations of the form F(x)=y, where F:D(F)⊆X→X is a nonlinear operator and X is a Hilbert space. Recently, Bakushinsky and Smirnova [“Iterative regularization and generalized discrepancy principle for monotone operator equations”, Numer. Funct. Anal. Optim.28 (2007) 13–25] considered an a posteriori strategy to find a stopping index kδ corresponding to inexact data yδ with $\|y-y^\d \|\leq \d $ resulting in the convergence of the method as δ→0. However, they provided no error estimates. We consider an alternate strategy to find a stopping index which not only leads to the convergence of the method, but also provides an order optimal error estimate under a general source condition. Moreover, the condition that we impose on (αk) is weaker than that considered by Bakushinsky and Smirnova.
Mitochondrial quality control and neurological disease: an emerging connection
Authors: de Castro Inês Pimenta , Martins L. Miguel , Tufi Roberta
Published: April 2010

The human brain is a highly complex organ with remarkable energy demands. Although it represents only 2% of the total body weight, it accounts for 20% of all oxygen consumption, reflecting its high rate of metabolic activity. Mitochondria have a crucial role in the supply of energy to the brain. Consequently, their deterioration can have important detrimental consequences on the function and plasticity of neurons, and is thought to have a pivotal role in ageing and in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders. Owing to their inherent physiological functions, mitochondria are subjected to particularly high levels of stress and have evolved specific molecular quality-control mechanisms to maintain the mitochondrial components. Here, we review some of the most recent advances in the understanding of mitochondrial stress-control pathways, with a particular focus on how defects in such pathways might contribute to neurodegenerative disease.
GaN-based amplifiers for wideband applications
Authors: Schuh Patrick , Sledzik Hardy , Reber Rolf , Widmer Kristina , Oppermann Martin , Mußer Markus , Seelmann-Eggebert Matthias , Kiefer Rudolf
Published: April 2010

Different wideband amplifiers, hybrid designs at lower frequencies, and monolithically integrated circuits (MMIC) at higher frequencies were designed, fabricated, and measured. These amplifiers are all based on AlGaN/GaN HEMT technology. The future applications for these types of amplifiers are mainly electronic warfare (EW) applications. Novel communication jammers and especially active electronically scanned array EW systems have a high demand for wideband high power amplifiers. The second application also needs high robust low noise amplifiers for its receive path. Output power levels of 38 W for hybrid amplifiers at lower frequencies up to 6 GHz and 15 W for the MMIC power amplifiers at higher frequencies are measured. With these building blocks, novel EW system approaches can be investigated.
Exact determination of electrical properties of wurtzite Al1−xInxN/(AlN)/GaN heterostructures (0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.21) by means of a detailed charge balance equation
Authors: Gonschorek Marcus , Carlin Jean-Francois , Feltin Eric , Py Marcel , Grandjean Nicolas
Published: April 2010

This paper discusses the determination of key electrical parameters of AlInN/(AlN)/GaN heterostructures from capacitance–voltage (CV) measurements. These heterostructures gained recently importance since they allow for high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) devices with several remarkable records: densities of the 2D electron gas (2DEG) of 2.6 × 1013 cm−2 for lattice-matched (LM) heterostructures and barrier thickness of 14 nm, beyond 2 A/mm saturation currents, above 100 GHz operation for heterostructures grown on Si (111) with gate length of 0.1 µm. Despite these striking experimental results, a consistent determination of the most important electrical parameters, namely polarization sheet charge density, surface potential, and dielectric constant of the alloy are still missing. By setting up the correct charge balance equation, these parameters can unambiguously be determined. For instance, in the case of nearly LM Al0.85In0.15N these parameters amount to σAl0.85In0.15N/GaN ~ 3.7 × 1017 m−2, eΦS ~ 3 eV and ɛAl0.85In0.15N ~11.2, for the charge density, the surface barrier potential, and the dielectric constant, respectively.
GaN devices for communication applications: evolution of amplifier architectures
Authors: Schmid Ulf , Reber Rolf , Chartier Sébastien , Widmer Kristina , Oppermann Martin , Heinrich Wolfgang , Meliani Chafik , Quay Rüdiger , Maroldt Stephan
Published: April 2010

This paper presents the design and implementation of power amplifiers using high-power gallium nitride (GaN) high electronic mobility transistor (HEMT) powerbars and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). The first amplifier is a class AB implementation for worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) applications with emphasis on a low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) packaging solution. The second amplifier is a class S power amplifier using a high power GaN HEMT MMIC. For a 450 MHz continuous wave (CW) signal, the measured output power is 5.8 W and drain efficiency is 18.5%. Based on time domain simulations, loss mechanisms are identified and optimization steps are discussed.
Coupled modeling of biospheric and chemical weathering processes at the continental scale
Authors: Roelandt C. , Goddéris Y. , Bonnet M.‐P. , Sondag F.
Published: April 2010

In this contribution, a reactive‐transport model describing weathering in soil profiles and at the watershed scale is coupled to a dynamic global vegetation model to calculate the dissolved load of continental waters on a 0.5° latitude × 0.5° longitude grid. The so‐called Biosphere‐Weathering at the Catchment Scale (B‐WITCH) model is applied to the Orinoco watershed (South America). We show that B‐WITCH is able to reproduce the main cation composition of the surface waters over the watershed. Sensitivity tests demonstrate that clay mineral reactivities are key factors controlling the calculated discharge of dissolved species. More specifically, our simulations show that the dissolution and precipitation rates of clay minerals in the weathering profiles are strongly intertwined, and that this coupling must be accurately described when modeling the weathering fluxes at the continental scale. A second set of sensitivity tests show that, for the tropical environment, land plants control the total base cation discharge through their impact on the soil hydrology, rather than through enhanced soil CO2 pressures. Indeed, the complete removal of the continental vegetation leads to an increase in the dissolved fluxes to the ocean by 80% because of the collapse in the evapotranspiration, resulting in a more efficient drainage of the weathering profiles. On the other hand, neglecting the root respiration and setting the soil CO2 pressure to the atmospheric level forces the total base cation discharge to decrease by only 20%.
Origin of energetic electron precipitation >30 keV into the atmosphere
Authors: Lam Mai Mai , Horne Richard B. , Meredith Nigel P. , Glauert Sarah A. , Moffat‐Griffin Tracy , Green Janet C.
Published: April 2010

Energetic electrons are deposited into the atmosphere from Earth's inner magnetosphere, resulting in the production of odd nitrogen (NOx). During polar night, NOx can be transported to low altitudes, where it can destroy ozone, affecting the atmospheric radiation balance. Since the flux of energetic electrons trapped in the magnetosphere is related to solar activity, the precipitation of these electrons into Earth's atmosphere provides a link between solar variability and changes in atmospheric chemistry which may affect Earth's climate. To determine the global distribution of the precipitating flux, we have built a statistical model binned by auroral electrojet (AE) index, magnetic local time (MLT), and L shell of E > 30 keV precipitating electrons from the Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector (MEPED) on board the NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) low‐altitude satellites NOAA‐15, NOAA‐16, NOAA‐17, and NOAA‐18. We show that the precipitating flux increases with geomagnetic activity, suggesting that the flux is related to substorm activity. The precipitating fluxes maximize during active conditions where they are primarily seen outside of the plasmapause on the dawnside. The global distribution of the precipitating flux of E > 30 keV electrons is well‐correlated with the global distribution of lower‐band chorus waves as observed by the plasma wave experiment onboard the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) satellite. In addition, the electron precipitation occurs where the pitch angle diffusion coefficient due to resonant interaction between electrons and whistler mode chorus waves is high, as calculated using the pitch angle and energy diffusion of ions and electrons (PADIE) code. Our results suggest that lower‐band chorus is very important for scattering >30 keV electrons from Earth's inner magnetosphere into the atmosphere.
Submicrosecond laser-filament-assisted corona bursts near a high-voltage electrode
Authors: Sugiyama Kiyohiro , Fujii Takashi , Miki Megumu , Zhidkov Alexei , Yamaguchi Masato , Hotta Eiki , Nemoto Koshichi
Published: April 2010

Long, about a half of microsecond, nonuniform corona UV burst is observed after a femtosecond-laser-filament plasma appears nearby an electrode biased (positively or negatively) slightly higher than the corona discharge threshold and well-isolated from the natural streamer discharge. A bright UV emission area moving outwards, over a 20 cm distance, with the velocity of 0.6% of the speed of light and tearing from the filament plasma in the case of the negative voltage is observed. In the case of positive voltage, a bright, bouncing UV cone is formed at around 4 cm far from the filaments exposing the appearance of a leader. Both phenomena could be explained upon supposing the formation of runaway electrons in the vicinity of the filament plasma and electrode.
Effects of cantilever buckling on vector piezoresponse force microscopy imaging of ferroelectric domains in BiFeO3 nanostructures
Authors: Nath Ramesh , Hong Seungbum , Klug Jeffrey A. , Imre Alexandra , Bedzyk Michael J. , Katiyar Ram S. , Auciello Orlando
Published: April 2010

Systematic studies are presented on the effects of cantilever buckling in vector piezoresponse force microscopy (V-PFM) imaging of polarization domains in thin-film based (001)-oriented BiFeO3 nanostructures, as observed through the coupling of out-of-plane and in-plane PFM images. This effect is a strong function of the laser spot position on the cantilever, being strongest at the free end, and insignificant at 60% of the cantilever length from the pivot point. This finding provides a unique approach to V-PFM imaging of ferroelectric polarization domains, yielding three dimensional PFM images without sample rotation in the plane.
Miniemulsion fabricated Fe3O4/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite particles and their magnetorheological characteristics
Authors: Park B. O. , Song K. H. , Park B. J. , Choi H. J.
Published: April 2010

In order to improve drawbacks such as sedimentation of magnetic particles and abrasion of the magnetorheological (MR) fluid, we have fabricated Fe3O4/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composite particles via a double miniemulsion method and studied their MR properties. Morphology and chemical composition of the synthesized Fe3O4/PMMA composite particles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared, respectively. The density of the Fe3O4/PMMA composite particles was measured to be lower than that of the as-synthesized Fe3O4 particles, indicative of an improvement of the composite particles to stay dispersed. Rheological characteristics of the Fe3O4/PMMA based MR fluid dispersed in a nonmagnetic carrier fluid were measured by both static and dynamic tests using a rotational rheometer under an external magnetic field. Shear stress, yield stress, and storage modulus from the rheological measurements were obtained to be increased with applied magnetic field strengths.
Effect of Dy-doping on the structural and magnetic properties of Co–Zn ferrite nanocrystals for magnetocaloric applications
Authors: Urcia-Romero S. , Perales-Pérez O. , Gutiérrez G.
Published: April 2010

Magnetic nanoparticles for magnetocaloric applications should combine small coercivity, low demagnetization temperature, and high pyromagnetic coefficients while keeping the magnetization as high as possible. The strong dependence of the magnetic properties of cobalt-zinc mixed ferrite with specific dopant species enables this material to be considered a promising candidate for magnetocaloric applications. On this basis, pure and Dy-doped Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 cobalt-zinc ferrite nanocrystals have been synthesized by conventional and modified (i.e., flow rate controlled addition of reactants) coprecipitation routes. The modified approach allows the control of ferrite crystal growth at the nanoscale and hence tuning of the corresponding magnetic properties. The magnetic properties of the produced nanocrystals were determined as a function of their structure, nominal dopant concentration, and crystal size. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy analyses suggested both the actual incorporation of the dopants into the host ferrite lattice and the promoting effect on crystal size of the flow rate at which the reactants are contacted. The average crystallite size varied from 13 nm (no control of flow rate) to 28 nm when the ferrite was synthesized at 1 ml/min. Doping caused the maximum magnetization of the ferrite to decrease; this parameter dropped from 60 emu/g (nondoped ferrite) to 55 emu/g when the ferrite was doped with 0.01 at. % of Dy. The maximum magnetization of the Dy (y=0.01) Co–Zn ferrite went up to 62 emu/g when the synthesis was carried out under flow-controlled conditions. The presence of 0.01 at. % Dy in the ferrite caused the demagnetization temperature to decrease from 350 °C (nondoped ferrite) to 320 °C. The demagnetization temperature was further decreased down to 308 °C when the ferrite powders were synthesized under flow rate controlled conditions.