From Passive to Radical Revolution in Venezuela’s Populist Project

In December 2001, Hugo Chávez and others changed Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolutionary project, which consisted of replacing a corrupt and elitist constitution with a fair and popular one, into a radical one. In its early stages the project corresponded to what Gramsci called a “passive revolution.” Attempts by opposition forces to crush the construction of a new populist hegemony (a coup in April 2002 and an indefinite strike in December 2002) were met with popular mobilization that reaffirmed Chávez’s hegemonic project. The radical revolution consisted of social programs designed to alleviate the suffering of the poor and consolidated a new hegemonic structure among Venezuela’s lower classes. The concept of “radical revolution” provides a theoretical alternative for assessing the extent to which a political project can be described as populist

A Synthesis of Hybrid RANS/LES CFD Results for F-16XL Aircraft Aerodynamics

A synthesis is presented of recent numerical predictions for the F-16XL aircraft flow fields and aerodynamics. The computational results were all performed with hybrid RANS/LES formulations, with an emphasis on unsteady flows and subsequent aerodynamics, and results from five computational methods are included. The work was focused on one particular low-speed, high angle-of-attack flight test condition, and comparisons against flight-test data are included. This work represents the third coordinated effort using the F-16XL aircraft, and a unique flight-test data set, to advance our knowledge of slender airframe aerodynamics as well as our capability for predicting these aerodynamics with advanced CFD formulations. The prior efforts were identified as Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International, with the acronyms CAWAPI and CAWAPI-2. All information in this paper is in the public domain

Judicial Review, Irrationality, and the Legitimacy of Merits-Review

The definition of the irrationality ground of judicial review recognises the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, in allowing for judicial control of the executive only very rarely. The author in a previous article in this study found that the courts, on occasions, had intervened in circumstances where administrative decisions arguably were not irrational. To this end, the purpose of this article is to assess the constitutionality of these seemingly low standards of irrationality. The author does so by reference either to the manner of review employed—the use of the proportionality principle, for example—or the context of the administrative decision under scrutiny, such as the infringement of the applicant’s fundamental rights. The author finds that the cases from the previous article where low standards of irrationality were arguably adopted were, in fact, legitimate according to these chosen methods of evaluation. However, this is an interim conclusion because, for reasons of word length, the author is unable to complete a full assessment here. It is therefore proposed that a subsequent article will continue to examine the constitutionality of these cases. Furthermore, the author will also try and establish a zone of executive decision-making, for reasons of democracy, where the courts are excluded from irrationality review. If the author is unsuccessful in this regard, the final conclusion of this study will inevitably be that low standards of judicial intervention exist without limit—a clear assault on the constitutional principle stated above

Right Turn Veteran-Specific Recovery Service: 5 site evaluation pilot : Interim report

The Right Turn project works with the ex-service personnel community in recovery from substance misuse. This report presents the interim findings from a two-year evaluation on the impact on health and wellbeing outcomes on military veterans engaging in this innovative peer-focussed recovery service. The evaluation is designed around a structured quantitative data collection process using an established repeat measure design and utilises qualitative methodologies to explore both the life experiences of this veteran cohort and to take account of their own perceptions of the model of services they feel they require. This report suggests that the military veteran community experience distinct barriers to accessing main stream health and wellbeing services. Alongside comorbidity issues, management of chronic physical conditions and social isolation, this report demonstrates that this cohort's own previous military conditioning forms a further barrier to accessing support services. This report contains recommendations to inform generic support staff when encountering veterans within health and wellbeing settings

Synthesis of Hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamics Results for F-16XL Aircraft Aerodynamics

A synthesis is presented of recent numerical predictions for the F-16XL aircraft flowfields and aerodynamics. The computational results were all performed with hybrid RANS/LES formulations, with an emphasis on unsteady flows and subsequent aerodynamics, and results from five computational methods are included. The work was focused on one particular low-speed, high angle-of-attack flight test condition, and comparisons against flight-test data are included. This work represents the third coordinated effort using the F-16XL aircraft, and a unique flight-test data set, to advance our knowledge of slender airframe aerodynamics as well as our capability for predicting these aerodynamics with advanced CFD formulations. The prior efforts were identified as Cranked Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project International, with the acronyms CAWAPI and CAWAPI-2

A GEOPOLÍTICA DO SISTEMA DE ESTADOS E O CAPITALISMO GLOBAL EM QUESTÃO

Alex Callinicos’s intervention in the debate on the geopolitics of the states-system and capitalistmodernity provides a crucial wake-up call to International Relations (IR) and International PoliticalEconomy (IPE). Yet, within the contending positions disputing the political economy of geopoliticalconflict, interstate rivalry, and capitalist imperialism, the insights of Antonio Gramsci have beennotably present by their absence. This article attempts to contribute to the dialogue initiated by AlexCallinicos by drawing attention to Gramsci’s relevance to theorising the relationship between thestates-system and capitalism. It does so by elaborating how the theory of passive revolution revealsthe political rule of capital by internally relating the states-system and capitalist modernity within afocus on uneven development. This concern is evident in Gramsci’s own analysis of Anglo-Saxoncapitalism and the geopolitics of the states-system in his survey of Americanism and Fordism. Thistheorising of the passive revolution of capital might then provide a fruitful basis from which anempirical research agenda on social development could be advanced with reference to postcolonialstate formation processes.La contribution d’Alex Callinicos au débat sur la géopolitique du système d’états et la modernitécapitaliste attire l’attention sur les Relations Internationales (RI) et l’Économie Politique Internationale(EPI). En outre, dans les positions opposées sur l’économie politique du conflit géopolitique mises enquestion – la rivalité entre les états et l’impérialisme capitaliste –, les insights de Gramsci sontprésents par leur absence. Cet article cherche à contribuer au dialogue entrepris par Alex Callinicosqui souligne l’importance de Gramsci vis-à-vis de la théorisation des relations entre le systèmed’états et le capitalisme. Il montre comment la théorie de la révolution passive permet de révéler lerôle politique joué par le capital, en mettant en rapport de l’intérieur le système d’états et la modernitécapitaliste en termes de développement inégal. Cette préoccupation est visible dans l’analyse queGramsci lui-même élabore du capitalisme anglo-saxon et de la géopolitique du système d’états dansses notes dans Américanisme et fordisme. Cette théorisation de la révolution passive du capital peutfournir une base fructueuse sur laquelle un plan de recherche empirique sur le développement socialpeut être perfectionné en ce qui concerne les processus de formation d’états post-coloniaux.A contribuição de Alex Callinicos para o debate sobre a geopolítica do sistema de estados e a modernidadecapitalista chama de modo crucial a atenção para as Relações Internacionais (RI) e a Economia PolíticaInternacional (EPI). Além disso, nos posicionamentos antagônicos em debate sobre a economia política doconflito geopolítico, a rivalidade entre os estados e o imperialismo capitalista, os insights de AntonioGramsci têm-se feito notavelmente presentes pela sua ausência. Este artigo busca contribuir para o diálogoiniciado por Alex Callinicos chamando atenção para a relevância de Gramsci para a teorização dasrelações entre o sistema de estados e o capitalismo. Para tanto, mostra como a teoria da revolução passivapode revelar a atuação política do capital, relacionando internamente o sistema de estados e a modernidadecapitalista em termos de desenvolvimento desigual. Essa preocupação é evidente na análise que o próprioGramsci elabora do capitalismo anglo-saxão e da geopolítica do sistema de estados em suas notas emAmericanismo e fordismo. Essa teorização da revolução passiva do capital pode, assim, oferecer uma basefrutífera sobre a qual um plano de pesquisa empírica sobre o desenvolvimento social possa ser aprimoradoem relação aos processos de constituição de estados pós-coloniais

First radial velocity results from the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA)

The MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) is a dedicated observatory of four 0.7m robotic telescopes fiber-fed to a KiwiSpec spectrograph. The MINERVA mission is to discover super-Earths in the habitable zones of nearby stars. This can be accomplished with MINERVA's unique combination of high precision and high cadence over long time periods. In this work, we detail changes to the MINERVA facility that have occurred since our previous paper. We then describe MINERVA's robotic control software, the process by which we perform 1D spectral extraction, and our forward modeling Doppler pipeline. In the process of improving our forward modeling procedure, we found that our spectrograph's intrinsic instrumental profile is stable for at least nine months. Because of that, we characterized our instrumental profile with a time-independent, cubic spline function based on the profile in the cross dispersion direction, with which we achieved a radial velocity precision similar to using a conventional "sum-of-Gaussians" instrumental profile: 1.8 m s$^{-1}$ over 1.5 months on the RV standard star HD 122064. Therefore, we conclude that the instrumental profile need not be perfectly accurate as long as it is stable. In addition, we observed 51 Peg and our results are consistent with the literature, confirming our spectrograph and Doppler pipeline are producing accurate and precise radial velocities.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PASP, Peer-Reviewed and Accepte

Evidence for an FU Orionis-like Outburst from a Classical T Tauri Star

We present pre- and post-outburst observations of the new FU Orionis-like young stellar object PTF 10qpf (also known as LkHa 188-G4 and HBC 722). Prior to this outburst, LkHa 188-G4 was classified as a classical T Tauri star on the basis of its optical emission-line spectrum superposed on a K8-type photosphere, and its photometric variability. The mid-infrared spectral index of LkHa 188-G4 indicates a Class II-type object. LkHa 188-G4 exhibited a steady rise by ~1 mag over ~11 months starting in Aug. 2009, before a subsequent more abrupt rise of > 3 mag on a time scale of ~2 months. Observations taken during the eruption exhibit the defining characteristics of FU Orionis variables: (i) an increase in brightness by > 4 mag, (ii) a bright optical/near-infrared reflection nebula appeared, (iii) optical spectra are consistent with a G supergiant and dominated by absorption lines, the only exception being Halpha which is characterized by a P Cygni profile, (iv) near-infrared spectra resemble those of late K--M giants/supergiants with enhanced absorption seen in the molecular bands of CO and H_2O, and (v) outflow signatures in H and He are seen in the form of blueshifted absorption profiles. LkHa 188-G4 is the first member of the FU Orionis-like class with a well-sampled optical to mid-infrared spectral energy distribution in the pre-outburst phase. The association of the PTF 10qpf outburst with the previously identified classical T Tauri star LkHa 188-G4 (HBC 722) provides strong evidence that FU Orionis-like eruptions represent periods of enhanced disk accretion and outflow, likely triggered by instabilities in the disk. The early identification of PTF 10qpf as an FU Orionis-like variable will enable detailed photometric and spectroscopic observations during its post-outburst evolution for comparison with other known outbursting objects.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, ApJ accepte

Is capitalism structurally indifferent to gender?: Routes to a value theory of reproductive labour

The contributions of Ellen Meiksins Wood to social property relations arguments have facilitated an enhanced understanding of the historical specificity of capitalism and its structuring conditions. Yet such arguments also have some questionable assumptions when it comes to theorising gender and so-called “extra-economic” identities, most noticeably regarding capitalism as indifferent to gender relations. This article delves into such issues by delivering a set of quandaries about various aspects of the social property relations approach and its relevance to wider debates on economy and space. We contend that debates in Marxism Feminism and social reproduction theory therein should be elevated to centre stage in considerations of political economy and economic geography. Consequently, it is possible to dispense with the notion that capitalism is structurally indifferent to gender, which mars the social property relations approach. At the same time, however, there are tensions within Marxism Feminism, not least revolving around questions of value, the role of unpaid labour in the household, and wider theorising on the relationship between “market” conditions and extra-economic relations of “state” power. We explore two major contending routes to what we call a value-theory of reproductive labour within Marxism Feminism and conclude that this reconnaissance provides an opportunity to initiate enhanced discussion on future political struggles against capital’s requirements