A Dissection of Trading Capital: Trade in the Aftermath of the Fall of the Iron Curtain

Abstract We study trade in Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and show that the countries of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy trade significantly more with one another after 1989 than predicted by a standard gravity model. This surplus trade declines linearly and monotonically over time. We suggest that the surplus comes from a mixture of increased trust, as well as better communication and information given Austria's relationship with its eastern neighbors before the wars and during isolation. Trading capital, established under Habsburg rule and maintained in the period of the Iron Curtain, seems to have survived over four decades of separation and gives an initial boost to trade. This surplus trade disappeared rapidly after 1990 as countries rearranged themselves with the new geopolitical circumstances. We document the rate of decay of these forces. Keywords: Trade, Gravity, Habsburg Empire JEL codes: F14, F15, N33, N34, N94 * This paper has been improved by the comments and suggestions of numerous colleagues and seminar participants including but not limited t

A model of DMS emission in the western north Atlantic

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) is produced in the oceanic surface layer by biological processes and is the major volatile organic sulfur compound entering the atmosphere. It is suspected to partly counteract greenhouse warming because of its contribution to aerosol formation. Current climate models use empirical relationships between surface DMS concentrations and surface temperature to estimate fluxes of DMS to the atmosphere. This approach is limiting in terms of the study of potential climate feedbacks via biological activity. We are developing a model of the biological processes involved in DMS production (NODEM for Northern Ocean DMS Emission Model). Our objectives are to: (1) provide improved representations of biologically-mediated DMS emission for a climate model that includes the effect of aerosols on the radiative balance (NARCM), and (2) investigate the sensitivity of DMS emissions to climate change scenarios. The model simulates complex interactions including the production and senescence of DMSP (dimethylsufoniopropionate, the precursor of DMS) phytoplankton carriers, zooplankton grazing, microbial processes, photo-oxidation and ventilation. The development of the model relies on experimental and in situ mesurements of DMS and DMSP collected during NODEM cruises in May-June 1997 and 1998. Remote sensing images of ocean color will be used to initialize the model and to compare with fluxes measured at selected stations. The model will then be incorporated in a one-dimensional version of NARCM (LCM) to allow initialisation from atmospheric simulations and to study the sensitivity of DMS fluxes to climate change

Electromyographic activity of trunk and hip muscles during stabilization exercises in four-point kneeling in healthy volunteers

Stabilization exercises are intended to optimize function of the muscles that are believed to govern trunk stability. Debate exists whether certain muscles are more important than others in optimally performing these exercises. Thirty healthy volunteers were asked to perform three frequently prescribed stabilization exercises in four-point kneeling. The electromyographic activity of different trunk and hip muscles was evaluated. Average amplitudes obtained during the exercises were normalized to the amplitude in maximal voluntary contraction (% MVIC). During all three exercises, the highest relative muscle activity levels (> 20% MVIC) were consistently found in the ipsilateral lumbar multifidus and gluteus maximus. During both the single leg extension (exercise 1) and the leg and arm extension exercise (exercise 2) the contralateral internal oblique and ipsilateral external oblique reached high levels (> 20%MVIC). During exercise 2 there were also high relative activity levels of the ipsilateral lumbar part and the contralateral thoracic part of the iliocostalis lumborum and the contralateral lumbar multifidus. During the leg and arm extension exercise with contralateral hip flexion (exercise 3) there were high relative muscle activity levels of all back muscles, except for the latissimus dorsi muscle. The lowest relative muscle activity levels (< 10% MVIC) were found in the rectus abdominis and the ipsilateral internal oblique during all exercises, and in the contralateral gluteus maximus during exercises 1 and 2. The results of this study show that in exercises in four-point kneeling performed by healthy subjects, hip and trunk muscles seem to work together in a harmonious way. This shows that when relative activity of muscles is measured, both “global and local” muscles function together in order to stabilize the spine