A study of the potential impacts of space utilization

Because the demand for comprehensive impact analysis of space technologies will increase with the use of space shuttles, the academic social sciences/humanities community was surveyed in order to determine their interests in space utilization, to develop a list of current and planned courses, and to generate a preliminary matrix of relevant social sciences. The academic scope/focus of a proposed social science space-related journal was identified including the disciplines which should be represented in the editorial board/reviewer system. The time and funding necessary to develop a self-sustaining journal were assessed. Cost income, general organizational structure, marking/distribution and funding sources were analyzed. Recommendations based on the survey are included

Europeanisation should meet international constructivism: the Nordic Plus group and the internalisation of political conditionality by France and the United Kingdom

This article is a plausibility probe for the significance of international constructivist ‘mediating factors’ to explain variation in Europeanisation outcomes. It applies a most similar systems design (or Mill's method of difference) to show that the UK has internalised political conditionality to a larger extent than France at least partially because it has been the object of stronger socialisation pressures within the ‘Nordic Plus’ group. The article contributes to the literature on Europeanisation and development cooperation in two important ways. First, it enlarges its scope of analysis, both geographically (beyond new European Union member states) and thematically (beyond simple measures of aid quality and/or quantity). Second, it emphasises the importance of international (versus domestic) mediating factors. The empirical analysis focusses on three cases of aid sanctions in response to human rights abuses and democratic setbacks: Zimbabwe 2002, Madagascar 2009 and Mozambique 2009

Djibouti: small state strategy at a crossroads

Geography and politics indicate Djibouti would be a particularly weak and ineffectual ‘small state’. Located on a bridgehead between the poorest parts of Africa and Arabia, it is continental Africa’s smallest state by population and is devoid of natural resources. The text demonstrates that Djibouti has been able to transform weakness and liabilities stemming from its geo-strategic location, sandwiched between large neighbours and key maritime shipping lanes, into a lucrative ‘resource’. This has been achieved via creative diplomacy, fostering ties with a diverse range of states, translating acute dependence into economic and diplomatic capital. The text focusses primarily upon diplomatic strategies, while addressing broader concerns of small states’ energy, infrastructure and development policies

Multi-method Analysis of Avian Eggs as Grave Goods: Revealing Symbolism in Conversion Period Burials at Kukruse, NE Estonia

Eggshells are unusual finds in the Iron Age of eastern Europe (500 BC–1200 AD) deserving extra attention in terms of analysis as well as interpretation. This paper discusses two rare eggshell finds, discovered in female burials at the conversion period (12th–13th century AD) cemetery at Kukruse, NE Estonia. Our multianalytical study combining FT-IR, SEM(-EDS), microscopy and ZooMS provides an overview of methods applicable for identifying egg species, their predepositional history and curation. Based on the analytical results and the comparative analysis of the content and context of these two burials, we argue that different aims and connotations lay behind depositing eggs as burial goods, allowing well-supported interpretations of both pagan and Christian religious worldviews simultaneously

Emmanuel Mounier and the awakening of Black Africa

Emmanuel Mounier, Director of the Catholic review Esprit, was a pioneering participant in criticising French colonial activities. The debates of the 1940s were strongly framed by France’s ‘mission to civilise’ its colonies, which was supported by universal humanist aspirations but was also criticised as masking policies of exploitation and oppression. The resulting tensions are well demonstrated by Emmanuel Mounier’s book L’Éveil de l’Afrique noire, published after a visit to several areas of French West Africa in the spring of 1947, at a crucial moment in France’s relations with its colonies. This article focuses on the components published in Esprit, Combat, and Présence africaine, which outlined the positive roles that France could play in the region, but warned against the dangers if opportunities were missed, and recognised the particular difficulties confronting the rising African elites. A closer examination of the discursive strategies he deployed shows that Mounier’s frame of reference remained within the paternalist paradigm of republican humanism, and that he saw France’s role as a duty to guide the development of Africa. However, in the myths and metaphors he adopted a more radical vision can be identified, which expressed an underlying anti-colonialism

Assembly process and sub-Doppler spectroscopy of end-capped photonic micro-cell

International audienceGeneration of sub-Doppler spectral lines in compact devices is very useful in bringing functionalities such as laser-frequency stabilization, slow light application or quantum sensing to a wider and friendlier use. An all-fiber Photonic MicroCell (PMC), which consists of a gas-filled hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) hermetically spliced to a solid optical fiber [1], is one of the most promising of such devices because of its ultra-long interaction length. Thus far, the PMC assembly processes are either limited to a short range of HCPCF core diameter [2], or entails the use of glue [3], or exhibit high injection losses (~10dB) [4]. Here, we report on a 7-meter contaminant free and single-mode C2H2-PMC. The process consists of end-capping a 80µbar acetylene-filled HCPCF via heat-collapsing a fused borosilicate sleeve on the two HCPCF tips. The process requires no helium gas [2] nor glue [3], which are potential pollution sources, and keeps the physical integrity of the HCPCF intact. The used HCPCF exhibits a novel cladding lattice and operates in a robust single-mode fashion [5]. The fiber has a 30 µm core diameter, a 10dB/km transmission loss at 1540 nm. The resulted PMC has polished and mounted ends to FC/APC connectors for integration (Fig. 1(a)), exhibits a total insertion loss of ~2dB and a motion-resistant single-mode guidance (see reconstructed near field in Fig. 1 (b)). The PMC was then used to generate saturable absorption spectroscopy (SAS) measurement (Fig. 1 (b-c))). The observed saturable absorption peak reaches 25% contrast and 20MHz linewidth (FWHM) for ~190mW of pump power that is the highest observed contrast in a fully sealed PMC [6]. The evolution of the SA peak characteristics over pump power are represented in Fig. 1 (e), and shows for pump power of less than 100 mW a transit-time limited linewidth (19MHz), thus indicating no additional collisional dephasing that could be induced by contaminant during the assembly process. The linewidth was monitored over 3 months for 23 mW pump power with no significant variation (Fig.1(f)), demonstrating thus its hermeticity, and its suitability for long time and mobile applications. Fig. 1. (a) FC/APC patch-cord like final PMC. (b) Near field intensity profile at the output of polished PMC. (c) Normalized SAS measurement on P9 absorption line of acetylene (1530.371nm) in purple line, simulation of SAS signal for 31 µbar pressure in dashed line. (d) SA contrast zoomed in SA peak with numerical calculation in dashed line. (e) Experimental (dots) and calculated (line) SA transparency peak contrast and linewidth evolution with pump power. The dashed line correspond to the transit time limit. (f) Evolution of SA FWHM during 95 days for a pump power of 23mW

Fabrication and characterization of Iodine Vapor Photonic Microcell

International audienceA standalone FC/PC connectorized and sealed Iodine filled hollow core fiber with coupling efficiency as high as 75% and an absorption contrast reaching 65% on the P(33) 6-3 transition at room temperature is demonstrated