bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do solar variations affect Earth's weather?
Authors: Lubkin Gloria B.
Published: April 2009

As far back as biblical times, Man has searched for correlations between events in the heavens and events on Earth. In more recent times, scientists have looked for a connection between solar phenomena and the weather on Earth. Over the past twenty years evidence has been growing that variations in solar magnetic activity correlate with low-pressure troughs in the Northern Hemisphere. The work has been pioneered by Walter Orr Roberts (University of Colorado and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder). In recent years others have collaborated with Roberts, for instance John M. Wilcox, Philip Scherrer and Leif Svalgaard at Stanford University, Roger H. Olson (University of Colorado) and Roy L. Jenne (National Center for Atmospheric Research).
Photoacoustic spectroscopy of solids
Authors: Rosencwaig Allan
Published: April 2009

One of the most effective means for studying the properties of matter nondestructively is to observe how photons interact with it; that is, by optical spectroscopy. The two most common techniques in the optical region are absorption and reflection spectroscopy. But many organic and inorganic materials, such as powders, amorphous compounds, smears, gels and oils, can not be readily studied by either of these two techniques. Methods involving diffuse or attenuated total reflectance permit the study of some of these materials, but they possess severe drawbacks.
Effects of radiation on materials
Authors: Vook Frederick L.
Published: April 2009

The United States is conducting an intensive search for more—and lower cost—energy. Because of its relatively low cost, nuclear energy is rapidly becoming an important energy source. However, there are still unsolved technological problems in the present and projected nuclear industry; many of these arise from the interaction of nuclear particles with the solid materials in the reactor.
High-energy gamma-ray astronomy
Authors: Fichtel Carl , Greisen Kenneth , Kniffen Donald
Published: April 2009

All the natural electromagnetic radiation reaching the Earth, whether from nearby or remote parts of the universe, brings with it information on the contents or structure of the region in which it originated. This is true of each part of the spectrum, from radio waves through the visible, ultraviolet and x-ray regions, to the realm of high-energy gamma rays which is our subject here. We will be concentrating on celestial gamma rays, with energies above about 10 MeV, which provide clear and in some respects unique information on the high-energy particles and processes in the universe, both currently and in the remote past.
Theory of condensed matter the joint symposia
Authors: Herring Conyers , Pines David
Published: April 2009

During the past seven years the National Academy of Sciences of the US and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR have jointly sponsored five symposia on current topics in the theory of condensed matter. These symposia have made possible a significant transfer of scientific information in both directions and have led to the establishment of many useful personal contacts between the scientists of the two countries. In this article we wish to describe briefly the history and organization of the symposia, and discuss in some detail the most recent symposium in the series, which was held in Moscow during the week of 14 October 1974.
Neutron scattering probes interstitials
Authors: Rothenberg Marian S.
Published: April 2009

Sensitive probes of radiation-induced damage in metals have been hard to come by. For ionic crystals or insulators, various magnetic-resonance and optical techniques can give detailed structural information even at very low defect concentrations. But the best tools available for studying defects in metals have been the relatively insensitive ones of neutron and x-ray scattering. Recently two groups of theorists—Richard F. Wood and Mark Mostoller at Holifield National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee1 and H. R. Schober, V. K. Tewary and P. H. Dederichs at the Institut für Festkörperforschung of the Kernforschungsanlage in Jülich, West Germany2—independently predicted that the librational modes of the so-called “dumbbell” interstitials in copper are such that the defect structure should reveal itself to neutron scattering. Experimenters at Oak Ridge rapidly followed up on their theorists' predictions and have now shown—at least tentatively—that the theorists were correct. These experiments, which were described at the International Conference on Fundamental Aspects of Radiation Damage in Metals that took place in October in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are being hailed as a “tour de force” because they were done at exceedingly low defect concentrations.
Synchrotron-radiation sources proliferate
Authors: Bennett Floyd C.
Published: April 2009

The recent authorization in the UK financing construction of Daresbury Laboratory's Synchrotron Radiation Source ensures that a greater synchrotron radiation supply will be on tap for researchers within four years. Though it will not be the first facility built exclusively for use as a synchrotron radiation “light bulb,” SRS—scheduled to be commissioned in April 1979—is to be the first dedicated source comparable in essential design parameters with the largest existing electron-positron storage rings. In the meantime, experimenters at other facilities around the world are pressing ahead with a variety of new and exciting studies, usually sharing present sources symbiotically with high-energy physicists.
The need for basic research in industry
Authors: Goldman J. E.
Published: April 2009

Why should there be any basic research in industry? How have recent shifts in our priorities—from defense and space towards energy, health and the environment—changed the outlook for industrial research? How badly has industry been hit by cutbacks in research support and how can it overcome them?.
Application of radical chain reactions to drug release controlling of liposomal carriers under high magnetic fields
Authors: Nakagawa Hidenori , Ueno Shoogo , Shiina Tsuyoshi , Kotani Makoto , Kubota Shunichiro
Published: April 2009

The use of paramagnetic liposomes modified with radical initiators is a new approach for applications to drug delivery systems. In order to evaluate the potentials of these liposomes, we investigated the effect of 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) as a radical initiator on the fluidity and permeability of model membranes, using NMR spectroscopy. The results are discussed in terms of the number of unsaturated double bonds in phospholipids of liposomal membranes.
Ab initio thermochemistry using optimal-balance models with isodesmic corrections: The ATOMIC protocol
Authors: Bakowies Dirk
Published: April 2009

A theoretical composite approach, termed ATOMIC for Ab initio Thermochemistry using Optimal-balance Models with Isodesmic Corrections, is introduced for the calculation of molecular atomization energies and enthalpies of formation. Care is taken to achieve optimal balance in accuracy and cost between the various components contributing to high-level estimates of the fully correlated energy at the infinite-basis-set limit. To this end, the energy at the coupled-cluster level of theory including single, double, and quasiperturbational triple excitations is decomposed into Hartree–Fock, low-order correlation (MP2, CCSD), and connected-triples contributions and into valence-shell and core contributions. Statistical analyses for 73 representative neutral closed-shell molecules containing hydrogen and at least three first-row atoms (CNOF) are used to devise basis-set and extrapolation requirements for each of the eight components to maintain a given level of accuracy. Pople’s concept of bond-separation reactions is implemented in an ab initio framework, providing for a complete set of high-level precomputed isodesmic corrections which can be used for any molecule for which a valence structure can be drawn. Use of these corrections is shown to lower basis-set requirements dramatically for each of the eight components of the composite model. A hierarchy of three levels is suggested for isodesmically corrected composite models which reproduce atomization energies at the reference level of theory to within 0.1 kcal/mol (A), 0.3 kcal/mol (B), and 1 kcal/mol (C). Large-scale statistical analysis shows that corrections beyond the CCSD(T) reference level of theory, including coupled-cluster theory with fully relaxed connected triple and quadruple excitations, first-order relativistic and diagonal Born–Oppenheimer corrections can normally be dealt with using a greatly simplified model that assumes thermoneutral bond-separation reactions and that reduces the estimate of these corrections to the simple task of adding up bond increments. Preliminary validation with experimental enthalpies of formation using the subset of neutral closed-shell (HCNOF) species contained in the G3/99 test set indicates that the ATOMIC protocol performs slightly better than the popular G3 approach. The newly introduced protocol does not require empirical calibration, however, and it is still efficient enough to be applied routinely to molecules with 10 or 20 nonhydrogen atoms.
Ultrafast Kα x-ray Thomson scattering from shock compressed lithium hydride
Authors: Kritcher A. L. , Neumayer P. , Castor J. , Döppner T. , Falcone R. W. , Landen O. L. , Lee H. J. , Lee R. W. , Holst B. , Redmer R. , Morse E. C. , Ng A. , Pollaine S. , Price D. , Glenzer S. H.
Published: April 2009

Spectrally and temporally resolved x-ray Thomson scattering using ultrafast Ti Kα x rays has provided experimental validation for modeling of the compression and heating of shocked matter. The coalescence of two shocks launched into a solid density LiH target by a shaped 6 ns heater beam was observed from rapid heating to temperatures of 2.2 eV, enabling tests of shock timing models. Here, the temperature evolution of the target at various times during shock progression was characterized from the intensity of the elastic scattering component. The observation of scattering from plasmons, electron plasma oscillations, at shock coalescence indicates a transition to a dense metallic plasma state in LiH. From the frequency shift of the measured plasmon feature the electron density was directly determined with high accuracy, providing a material compression of a factor of 3 times solid density. The quality of data achieved in these experiments demonstrates the capability for single shot dynamic characterization of dense shock compressed matter. The conditions probed in this experiment are relevant for the study of the physics of planetary formation and to characterize inertial confinement fusion targets for experiments such as on the National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Thermoelectric power factors of nanocarbon ensembles as a function of temperature
Authors: Gruen D. M. , Bruno P. , Arenal R. , Routbort J. , Singh D. , Xie M.
Published: April 2009

Thermoelectric power factors of nanocarbon ensembles have been determined as a function of temperature from 400 to 1200 K. The ensembles, composed of mixtures of nanographite or disperse ultrananocrystalline diamond with B4C, are formed into mechanically rigid compacts by reaction at 1200 K with methane gas and subsequently annealed in an argon atmosphere at temperatures up to 2500 K. The ensembles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman, x-ray diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques and found to undergo profound nanostructural changes as a function of temperature while largely preserving their nanometer sizes. The power factors increase strongly both as a function of annealing temperature and of the temperature at which the measurements are carried out reaching 1 μW/K2 cm at 1200 K without showing evidence of a plateau. Density functional “molecular analog” calculations on systems based on stacked graphene sheets show that boron substitutional doping results in a lowering of the Fermi level and the creation of a large number of hole states within thermal energies of the Fermi level [P. C. Redfern, D. M. Greun, and L. A. Curtiss, Chem. Phys. Lett. 471, 264 (2009)]. We propose that enhancement of electronic configurational entropy due to the large number of boron configurations in the graphite lattice contributes to the observed thermoelectric properties of the ensembles.
Electrical and structural investigation of triangular defects in 4H-SiC junction barrier Schottky devices
Authors: Berechman R. A. , Skowronski M. , Zhang Q.
Published: April 2009

The structure and effects of triangular-shaped defects in 4H-SiC junction barrier Schottky devices were investigated using I-V measurements, infrared microscopy, electron beam induced current, electroluminescence, and transmission electron microscopy. Thermal imaging of devices under reverse bias detected hot spots at the locations of triangular defects. Electroluminescence images determined the position of the leakage currents at the triangular defect sides near the p-n metallurgical junction. The triangular defects consist of macroscopic (1 μm thick) 3C-SiC platelets embedded in the 4H-SiC matrix.
Generation of synthetic turbulent inflow data for large eddy simulation of spatially evolving wall-bounded flows
Authors: Pamiès Mathieu , Weiss Pierre-Élie , Garnier Eric , Deck Sébastien , Sagaut Pierre
Published: April 2009

A method for generating inflow conditions for large eddy simulations (LESs) of spatially developing turbulent boundary layers is presented. It is an adaptation of the synthetic eddy method (SEM) of Jarrin et al. [Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 27, 585 (2006)], which uses the Cholesky decomposition of the Reynolds stress tensor to enforce second-order moments starting from a normalized stochastic velocity signal, the latter being constructed with a superimposition of turbulent structures with prescribed geometrical shape and random signs and position. The present method modifies the definition of the stochastic signal so that it can be split into several modes, with different time, length and velocity scales and also with different vorticity contents. The idea is to reproduce more realistically the distribution of scales in the wall-normal direction of a turbulent boundary layer flow. The novelty of the proposed modified SEM is that physical information concerning the coherent vortical structures of such flows are extracted from the literature and used in the definition of the modes. It is shown that the specification of realistic modes for the buffer and the logarithmic layers significantly helps to reduce the spatial transient undergone by the synthetic inflow data. The new method is assessed in the framework of LES and compared to the original SEM and to a reference simulation which uses the recycling procedure of Lund et al. [J. Comput. Phys. 140, 233 (1998)]. First- and second-order statistical results, as well as instantaneous behavior of turbulence, are shown to be in excellent agreement with the reference after an adaptation distance of five to six initial boundary layer thicknesses.
Measurements of preheat and shock melting in Be ablators during the first few nanoseconds of a National Ignition Facility ignition drive using the Omega laser
Authors: Bradley D. K. , Prisbrey S. T. , Page R. H. , Braun D. G. , Edwards M. J. , Hibbard R. , Moreno K. A. , Mauldin M. P. , Nikroo A.
Published: April 2009

A scaled Hohlraum platform was used to experimentally measure preheat in ablator materials during the first few nanoseconds of a radiation drive proposed for ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility [J. A. Paisner et al., Laser Focus World 30, 75 (1994)]. The platform design approximates the radiation environment of the pole of the capsule by matching both the laser spot intensity and illuminated Hohlraum wall fraction in scaled halfraums driven by the OMEGA laser system [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. Back surface motion measured via VISAR reflecting from the rear surface of the sample was used to measure sample motion prior to shock breakout. The experiments show that the first ∼20 μm of a Be ablator will be melted by radiation preheat, with subsequent material melted by the initial shock, in agreement with simulations. The experiments also show no evidence of anomalous heating of buried high-Z doped layers in the ablator.
Laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of jet-cooled 1-phenylpropargyl radical
Authors: Reilly Neil J. , Nakajima Masakazu , Gibson Bligh A. , Schmidt Timothy W. , Kable Scott H.
Published: April 2009

The D1(A2″)−D0(A2″) electronic transition of the resonance-stabilized 1-phenylpropargyl radicalooled discharge of 3-phenyl-1-propyne, has been investigated in detail by laser-induced fluorescence excitation and dispersed single vibronic level fluorescence (SVLF) spectroscopy. The transition is dominated by the origin band at 21 007 cm−1, with weaker Franck–Condon activity observed in a′ fundamentals and even overtones and combinations of a″ symmetry. Ab initio and density functional theory calculations of the D0 and D1 geometries and frequencies were performed to support and guide the experimental assignments throughout. Analysis of SVLF spectra from 16 D1 vibronic levels has led to the assignment of 15 fundamental frequencies in the excited state and 19 fundamental frequencies in the ground state; assignments for many more normal modes not probed directly by fluorescence spectroscopy are also suggested. Duschinsky mixing, in which the excited state normal modes are rotated with respect to the ground state modes, is prevalent throughout, in vibrations of both a′ and a″ symmetry.
Investigation via numerical simulation of limiting currents in the presence of dielectric loads
Authors: Baedke W. C.
Published: April 2009

An investigation of the space-charge-limited currents for unneutralized relativistic particle beams drifting through a dielectrically loaded cylindrical conductor is presented. The first limiting current expression investigated assumes a uniform axial velocity profile, is commonly found in the literature, and has been applied to solid and annular beams with and without a dielectric present. The second limiting current expression investigated is self-consistent and is developed for annular beams in the presence of a dielectric load provided that the beams’ inner and outer radii are less than the dielectric inner radius. Comparing both of these expressions to particle-in-cell simulations shows that the first expression under predicts the limiting current by no more than 20% and no less than 10% for all geometries and relativistic mass factors considered. It is also shown that the second expression over predicts the limiting current for all scenarios investigated by as much as 20% and in certain cases only a few percent. In addition, estimates for the accumulated charge densities at the vacuum-dielectric interface are presented and the possibility of breakdown within the dielectric is addressed.
Accurate ab initio and “hybrid” potential energy surfaces, intramolecular vibrational energies, and classical ir spectrum of the water dimer
Authors: Shank Alex , Wang Yimin , Kaledin Alexey , Braams Bastiaan J. , Bowman Joel M.
Published: April 2009

We report three modifications to recent ab initio, full-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the water dimer [X. Huang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 128, 034312 (2008)]. The first modification is a refit of ab initio electronic energies to produce an accurate dissociation energy De. The second modification adds replacing the water monomer component of the PES with a spectroscopically accurate one and the third modification produces a hybrid potential that goes smoothly in the asymptotic region to the flexible, Thole-type model potential, version 3 dimer potential (denoted TTM3-F) [G. S. Fanourgakis and S. S. Xantheas, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 074506 (2008)]. The rigorous D0 for these PESs, obtained using diffusion Monte Carlo calculations of the dimer zero-point energy, and an accurate zero-point energy of the monomer, range from 12.5 to 13.2 kJ/mol (2.99–3.15 kcal/mol), with the latter being the suggested benchmark value. For TTM3-F D0 equals 16.1 kJ/mol. Vibrational calculations of monomer fundamental energies using the code MULTIMODE are reported for these PESs and the TTM3-F PES and compared to experiment. A classical molecular dynamics simulation of the infrared spectra of the water dimer and deuterated water dimer at 300 K are also reported using the ab initio dipole moment surface reported previously [X. Huang, B. J. Braams, and J. M. Bowman, J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 445 (2006)].
Transient growth analysis of the flow past a circular cylinder
Authors: Abdessemed N. , Sharma A. S. , Sherwin S. J. , Theofilis V.
Published: April 2009

We apply direct transient growth analysis in complex geometries to investigate its role in the primary and secondary bifurcation/transition process of the flow past a circular cylinder. The methodology is based on the singular value decomposition of the Navier–Stokes evolution operator linearized about a two-dimensional steady or periodic state which leads to the optimal growth modes. Linearly stable and unstable steady flow at Re=45 and 50 is considered first, where the analysis demonstrates that strong two-dimensional transient growth is observed with energy amplifications of order of 103 at U∞τ/D≈30. Transient growth at Re=50 promotes the linear instability which ultimately saturates into the well known von-Kármán street. Subsequently we consider the transient growth upon the time-periodic base state corresponding to the von-Kármán street at Re=200 and 300. Depending upon the spanwise wavenumber the flow at these Reynolds numbers are linearly unstable due to the so-called mode A and B instabilities. Once again energy amplifications of order of 103 are observed over a time interval of τ/T=2, where T is the time period of the base flow shedding. In all cases the maximum energy of the optimal initial conditions are located within a diameter of the cylinder in contrast to the spatial distribution of the unstable eigenmodes which extend far into the downstream wake. It is therefore reasonable to consider the analysis as presenting an accelerator to the existing modal mechanism. The rapid amplification of the optimal growth modes highlights their importance in the transition process for flow past circular cylinder, particularly when comparing with experimental results where these types of convective instability mechanisms are likely to be activated. The spatial localization, close to the cylinder, of the optimal initial condition may be significant when considering strategies to promote or control shedding.
Forces on a spherical particle with an arbitrary axis of rotation in a weak shear flow of a highly rarefied gas
Authors: Liu Nan , Bogy David B.
Published: April 2009

In this paper, we derive analytical formulas for the force and torque on a spherical particle in a weak shear flow of a highly rarefied gas. The rotation axis of the particle is not restricted with regard to its direction. So this paper is an extension of our previous paper [N. Liu and D. Bogy, Phys. Fluids 20, 107102 (2008)] where the rotation axis is in the same direction as the gradient of the incoming shear flow. The contributions to the force from rotation of the particle and nonuniformity of the flow are shown to be decoupled. These two effects, however, do produce a coupled effect in the torque. Combined with the equation of motion, the trajectory of a spherical particle in a weak shear flow of a highly rarefied gas can be analyzed based on these analytical formulas together with appropriate initial conditions.
Portable laser-heating stand for synchrotron applications
Authors: Boehler R. , Musshoff H. G. , Ditz R. , Aquilanti G. , Trapananti A.
Published: April 2009

A compact, double-sided laser-heating system for diamond-cell synchrotron applications is described. The optical table, containing laser, spectrometer, and all optics for visual observation and measuring temperatures and pressures has an area of less than 12 m2 and weighs less than 20 kg. All components can be remotely controlled at micron levels with simple dc motors and pneumatic drives. The design allows quick alignment of the laser-heated hot spot with the x-ray beam and the spectrometer. The prealigned system can be set up at most synchrotron beamlines within about 1 h. We carried out measurements on a variety of materials above one megabar and up to over 4000 K at both the x-ray diffraction beamline ID 27 and the x-ray absorption beamline ID 24 at the European Synchrotron Facility. A new measurement of the melting temperature of iron by x-ray absorption spectroscopy is presented.
Rethinking linearized coupled-cluster theory
Authors: Taube Andrew G. , Bartlett Rodney J.
Published: April 2009

Hermitian linearized coupled-cluster methods have several advantages over more conventional coupled-cluster methods including facile analytical gradients for searching a potential energy surface. A persistent failure of linearized methods, however, is the presence of singularities on the potential energy surface. A simple Tikhonov regularization procedure is introduced that can eliminate this singularity. Application of the regularized linearized coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) method to both equilibrium structures and transition states shows that it is competitive with or better than conventional CCSD, and is more amenable to parallelization.
Effect of hydration on the structure of caveolae membranes
Authors: Caracciolo Giulio , Sciubba Fabio , Caminiti Ruggero
Published: April 2009

In situ energy dispersive x-ray diffraction was used to investigate the effect of hydration on the structure of caveolae membranes. The structure of caveolae membrane was found to be strongly dependent on hydration. At low hydration two lamellar phases with distinct repeat spacings were found to coexist with segregated cholesterol crystallites. Upon hydration, the lamellar phases did swell, while diffraction peak of cholesterol crystals disappeared suggesting that cholesterol molecules redistributed homogeneously within the caveolae membrane. At full hydration, unbinding of caveolae membrane occurred. Upon dehydration the system returned to the bound state, demonstrating that the unbinding transition is fully reversible.
Raman spectroscopy of reaction fields induced by plasma in supercritical CO2
Authors: Tomai Takaaki , Yui Hiroharu , Terashima Kazuo
Published: April 2009

The characteristic microstructures of supercritical fluids, such as density fluctuation near the critical point, in reaction fields induced by low-temperature plasma were investigated by using Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the decrease in the density of CO2 during plasma generation was less than 0.02 g/cm3 (critical density of CO2:0.467 g/cm3), when compared to the decrease in density of pure CO2 for a wide pressure range from gaseous to supercritical conditions. Moreover, it was experimentally verified that the density fluctuation observed near the critical point persists in the reaction field.
Design and testing of a microfluidic biochip for cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Authors: He Hongyan , Yuan Yuan , Wang Weixiong , Chiou Nan-Rong , Epstein Arthur J. , Lee L. James
Published: April 2009

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been widely used in medical diagnostics, environmental analyses, and biochemical studies. To reduce assay time and lower consumption of reagents in cytokine ELISA analysis, a polymeric microfluidic biochip has been designed and fabricated via several new techniques: Polyaniline-based surface modification for superhydrophobic capillary valving and oxygen plasma-poly(ethyleneimine)-tyrosinase-protein A modification for high sensitivity protein detection. The proper flow sequencing was achieved using the superhydrophobic capillary valves. The burst frequency of each valve was experimentally determined and compared with two capillary force equations and the fluent finite element simulation. This fully automated microfluidic biochip with an analyzer is able to provide high fluorescence signal of ELISA with a wider linear detection range and a much shorter assay time than 96-well microtiter plates. It is applicable to a variety of nonclinic research and clinically relevant disease conditions. The modification technologies in this study can be implemented in other lab-on-a-chip systems, drug/gene delivery carriers, and other immunoassay biosensor applications.
Branding and strategic maneuvering in the Romanian presidential election of 2004
Authors: Ieţcu-Fairclough Isabela
Published: April 2009

In this paper I analyse differences in the legitimation strategies used by and on behalf of the two presidential candidates in the elections of December 2004 in Romania, using a combination of Critical Discourse Analysis and pragmadialectics. These differences are seen to lie primarily in the varieties of populist discourse that were drawn upon in the construction of legitimizing arguments for both candidates: a paternalist type vs. a radical, anti-political type of populism. I relate the success of the latter type to more effective strategic maneuvering in argumentation, part of more effective branding strategies in general, but also to existing types of political culture amongst the electorate and to social, economic circumstances. In CDA terms, I discuss the “Băsescu brand” as involving choices at the level of discourse, genre and style; in pragma-dialectical terms, I view its success as partly the effect of successful strategic maneuvering. I also place the success of this brand within the Romanian context at the end of 2004, where often questionable populist electoral messages were perceived as reasonable and acceptable, as fitting adjustments to the situation and even as means of optimizing the deliberative situation of the electorate.
“Global” discourses of democracy and an English city
Authors: Farrelly Michael
Published: April 2009

In many contemporary polities, democracy is portrayed as a universal good, a democratic ideal appears to be spreading globally, its practice burgeoning; it seems to be appearing for the first time in some places and deepening in established democracies. Yet, when one looks for the concrete touch of democracy in one’s own activities, groups, communities and nation it becomes elusive. I discuss this apparent contradiction in relation to discourse and a new “Area Forum” in the English city of Preston. The categories of ‘global’ and ‘local’, ‘identity’ and ‘branding’ prove useful in discussing the contradiction as situated in the English context. I suggest that this problem of democracy may be understood in terms of the ideological concept of ‘democratism’: the assumption that the status quo in England is unproblematically democratic whilst discursively closing off the possibility of genuine democratic progress.
“The world in one city”
Authors: Koller Veronika
Published: April 2009

This paper compares the vision documents for a British borough and a German city to see how the city-as-brand is encoded in different semiotic modes, to draw inferences about the cognitive structure of the brand, to ascertain in how far any global brand values are adapted to local contexts, and discuss what this tells us about the relationship between councils and citizens. As such, the study represents a cognitive critical approach to discourse in which texts are seen as vehicles for their producers’ mental representations, disseminated to align recipients’ representations with those of producers. This approach leads to the investigation of linguistic and visual parameters such as attribution, actors and processes, modality and tense, and layout and logo elements. Despite local adaptations, both municipal entities are conceptualized as brands with largely generic and interchangeable attributes. Global competition among cities leads to the appropriation of corporate discourses, such as branding, which redefine and ultimately depoliticize the relationships between council and citizens.
Humanitarian branding and the media
Authors: Vestergaard Anne
Published: April 2009

The development of corporate communication in recent years has brought about a fading of the division of labor between commercial and non-commercial organizations. While the practices of commercial organizations are becoming increasingly ethicalized, so the practices of non-profit organizations are becoming increasingly commercialized. This paper explores the use of media discourse for the communication of ethical messages by humanitarian organizations, caught, as they are, in a tension between, on the one hand, the commercial strategies of visibility and still greater dependence on the media, and, on the other hand, the public’s skepticism toward mediated morality and what is commonly referred to as compassion fatigue. The issue is investigated through an analysis of a TV spot produced by the Danish section of Amnesty International in 2004. This spot is taken as an example of how the organization’s branding strategies testify to a high degree of reflexivity about the conditions of what Luc Boltanski calls a Crisis of Pity. The analysis illustrates how, in the face of compassion fatigue, the organization manages to carve out a new space for itself in the marketized ethical discourse, and leads to a discussion of the consequences of such rebranding for the construction of morality by the organization.
Circulation of the World War II / Holocaust analogy in the 1999 Kosovo intervention
Authors: Bates Benjamin R.
Published: April 2009

This essay offers an analysis of the circulation of World War II and Holocaust analogies in discourses about American military involvement in Kosovo. The essay argues that the World War II/Holocaust analogy provided the public with a new vocabulary for understanding the situation in Kosovo. The essay uses Bill Clinton’s speeches about Kosovo during the first week of American intervention as a representative anecdote for discussing the analogy and its rhetorical force. The essay then probes the circulation of the analogy in other governmental, media, and public opinion outlets. By comparing Kosovo 1999 to Europe 1945, the analogy offers descriptive and prescriptive reasons for American involvement that encourage public approval of military intervention. The essay offers conclusions and implications of this analysis for the understanding of the relationships among rhetoric, public opinion, and international conflict.
Audience participation through interjection
Authors: Ikeda Keiko
Published: April 2009

This study examines a particular modality of audience participation in Japanese municipal council sessions. As with parliamentary debates elsewhere (Carbó 1992, Antaki & Leudar, 2001), the prescribed participation framework in a Japanese council session is highly structured so as to facilitate deliberation for the public good. Accordingly, the formal institutional rules do not assign the audience ratified speaking rights during question-answer periods. Nevertheless, audience members do insert interjectory remarks with precise timings to accomplish specific social consequences. While official records typically exclude audience voices and therefore fail to capture the relevant social consquences, the analysis of raw data brings them to light. This study investigates audience interjections in terms of their sociolinguistic characteristics, their placement in the on-going discussions, and their “covert” social consequences. The analysis shows that interjections in Japanese council sessions are tools for spontaneous politicking whereas the ostensibly deliberative proceedings are largely scripted performance.
A Jewish and democratic state
Authors: Kuzar Ron
Published: April 2009

The two Palestinian uprisings have brought about an ideological shift in Israel’s view of the solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The time has ripened for an open debate about ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. The debate has limited discursive boundaries, set up by the catch phrase “a Jewish and democratic state”. This article discusses some points of view within this discourse and exemplifies those that remain outside it.
From paradise to brand
Authors: Hülsse Rainer
Published: April 2009

Metaphors construct social reality, including the actors which populate the social world. A considerable body of research has explored this reality-constituting role of metaphors, yet little attention has been paid to the attempts of social actors to influence the metaphorical structure by which they are constituted. The present article conceptualises the relationship between actor and metaphorical structure as one of mutual constitution. Empirically, it analyses how until the late 1990s Liechtenstein was constructed as an attractive financial centre by metaphors such as haven and paradise, how then a metaphorical shift constituted the country more negatively, before Liechtenstein finally fought back: with the help of the new brand-metaphor and also a professional image campaign the country tried to repair its international image.
Dana Philpott: Exploring the land of NOD
Authors: Heller Kira
Published: April 2009

Scientist and mom Dana Philpott has dedicated her career to figuring out how mammalian NOD-like receptors detect invading pathogens and help prevent autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease.
Talent in the taxi: a model system for exploring expertise
Authors: Woollett Katherine , Spiers Hugo J. , Maguire Eleanor A.
Published: April 2009

While there is widespread interest in and admiration of individuals with exceptional talents, surprisingly little is known about the cognitive and neural mechanisms underpinning talent, and indeed how talent relates to expertise. Because many talents are first identified and nurtured in childhood, it can be difficult to determine whether talent is innate, can be acquired through extensive practice or can only be acquired in the presence of the developing brain. We sought to address some of these issues by studying healthy adults who acquired expertise in adulthood. We focused on the domain of memory and used licensed London taxi drivers as a model system. Taxi drivers have to learn the layout of 25 000 streets in London and the locations of thousands of places of interest, and pass stringent examinations in order to obtain an operating licence. Using neuropsychological assessment and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we addressed a range of key questions: in the context of a fully developed brain and an average IQ, can people acquire expertise to an exceptional level; what are the neural signatures, both structural and functional, associated with the use of expertise; does expertise change the brain compared with unskilled control participants; does it confer any cognitive advantages, and similarly, does it come at a cost to other functions? By studying retired taxi drivers, we also consider what happens to their brains and behaviour when experts stop using their skill. Finally, we discuss how the expertise of taxi drivers might relate to the issue of talent and innate abilities. We suggest that exploring talent and expertise in this manner could have implications for education, rehabilitation of patients with cognitive impairments, understanding individual differences and possibly conditions such as autism where exceptional abilities can be a feature.
How does visual thinking work in the mind of a person with autism? A personal account
Authors: Grandin Temple
Published: April 2009

My mind is similar to an Internet search engine that searches for photographs. I use language to narrate the photo-realistic pictures that pop up in my imagination. When I design equipment for the cattle industry, I can test run it in my imagination similar to a virtual reality computer program. All my thinking is associative and not linear. To form concepts, I sort pictures into categories similar to computer files. To form the concept of orange, I see many different orange objects, such as oranges, pumpkins, orange juice and marmalade. I have observed that there are three different specialized autistic/Asperger cognitive types. They are: (i) visual thinkers such as I who are often poor at algebra, (ii) pattern thinkers such as Daniel Tammet who excel in math and music but may have problems with reading or writing composition, and (iii) verbal specialists who are good at talking and writing but they lack visual skills.
Do calendrical savants use calculation to answer date questions? A functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Cowan Richard , Frith Chris
Published: April 2009

Calendrical savants can name the weekdays for dates from different years with remarkable speed and accuracy. Whether calculation rather than just memory is involved is disputed. Grounds for doubting whether they can calculate are reviewed and criteria for attributing date calculation skills to them are discussed. At least some calendrical savants possess date calculation skills. A behavioural characteristic observed in many calendrical savants is increased response time for questions about more remote years. This may be because more remote years require more calculation or because closer years are more practised. An experiment is reported that used functional magnetic resonance imaging to attempt to discriminate between these explanations. Only two savants could be scanned and excessive head movement corrupted one savant's mental arithmetic data. Nevertheless, there was increased parietal activation during both mental arithmetic and date questions and this region showed increased activity with more remote dates. These results suggest that the calendrical skills observed in savants result from intensive practice with calculations used in solving mental arithmetic problems. The mystery is not how they solve these problems, but why.
Outsider Art and the autistic creator
Authors: Cardinal Roger
Published: April 2009

Outsider Art (
art brut
) is defined as a mode of original artistic expression which thrives on its independence, shunning the public sphere and the art market. Such art can be highly idiosyncratic and secretive, and reflects the individual creator's attempt to construct a coherent, albeit strange, private world. Certain practitioners of what may be termed autistic art are examined in the light of this definition; their work is considered as evidence not of a medical condition but of an expressive intentionality entirely worthy of the interest of those drawn to the aesthetic experience.
The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future
Authors: Treffert Darold A.
Published: April 2009

Savant syndrome is a rare, but extraordinary, condition in which persons with serious mental disabilities, including autistic disorder, have some ‘island of genius’ which stands in marked, incongruous contrast to overall handicap. As many as one in 10 persons with autistic disorder have such remarkable abilities in varying degrees, although savant syndrome occurs in other developmental disabilities or in other types of central nervous system injury or disease as well. Whatever the particular savant skill, it is always linked to massive memory. This paper presents a brief review of the phenomenology of savant skills, the history of the concept and implications for education and future research.
Assessing musical skills in autistic children who are not savants
Authors: Heaton Pamela
Published: April 2009

Descriptions of autistic musical savants suggest that they possess extraordinary skills within the domain. However, until recently little was known about the musical skills and potential of individuals with autism who are not savants. The results from these more recent studies investigating music perception, cognition and learning in musically untrained children with autism have revealed a pattern of abilities that are either enhanced or spared. For example, increased sensitivity to musical pitch and timbre is frequently observed, and studies investigating perception of musical structure and emotions have consistently failed to reveal deficits in autism. While the phenomenon of the savant syndrome is of considerable theoretical interest, it may have led to an under-consideration of the potential talents and skills of that vast majority of autistic individuals, who do not meet savant criteria. Data from empirical studies show that many autistic children possess musical potential that can and should be developed.
A case study of a multiply talented savant with an autism spectrum disorder: neuropsychological functioning and brain morphometry
Authors: Wallace Gregory L. , Happé Francesca , Giedd Jay N.
Published: April 2009

Neuropsychological functioning and brain morphometry in a savant (case GW) with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and both calendar calculation and artistic skills are quantified and compared with small groups of neurotypical controls. Good memory, mental calculation and visuospatial processing, as well as (implicit) knowledge of calendar structure and ‘weak’ central coherence characterized the cognitive profile of case GW. Possibly reflecting his savant skills, the superior parietal region of GW's cortex was the only area thicker (while areas such as the superior and medial prefrontal, middle temporal and motor cortices were thinner) than that of a neurotypical control group. Taken from the perspective of learning/practice-based models, skills in domains (e.g. calendars, art, music) that capitalize upon strengths often associated with ASD, such as detail-focused processing, are probably further enhanced through over-learning and massive exposure, and reflected in atypical brain structure.
Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity
Authors: Baron-Cohen Simon , Ashwin Emma , Ashwin Chris , Tavassoli Teresa , Chakrabarti Bhismadev
Published: April 2009

We argue that
hyper-systemizing
predisposes individuals to show talent, and review evidence that hyper-systemizing is part of the cognitive style of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). We then clarify the hyper-systemizing theory, contrasting it to the weak central coherence (WCC) and executive dysfunction (ED) theories. The ED theory has difficulty explaining the existence of talent in ASC. While both hyper-systemizing and WCC theories postulate
excellent attention to detail
, by itself excellent attention to detail will not produce talent. By contrast, the hyper-systemizing theory argues that the excellent attention to detail is directed towards detecting ‘if p, then q’ rules (or [input–operation–output] reasoning). Such law-based pattern recognition systems can produce talent in systemizable domains. Finally, we argue that the excellent attention to detail in ASC is itself a consequence of
sensory hypersensitivity
. We review an experiment from our laboratory demonstrating sensory hypersensitivity detection thresholds in vision. We conclude that the origins of the association between autism and talent begin at the sensory level, include excellent attention to detail and end with hyper-systemizing.