Social Investment Policies in Times of Permanent Austerity

The objective of this paper is to identify the political conditions that are most likely to be conducive to the development of social investment policies. It starts from the view put forward by theorists of welfare retrenchment that in the current context of permanent austerity, policy is likely to be dominated by retrenchment and implemented in a way that allows governments to minimise the risk of electoral punishment (blame avoidance). It is argued that this view is inconsistent with developments observed in several European countries, were some welfare state expansion has taken place mostly in the fields of childcare and active labour market policy. An alternative model is put forward, that emphasises the notion of "affordable credit claiming". It is argued that even under strong budgetary pressures, governments maintain a preference for policies that allow them to claim credit for their actions. Since the traditional redistributive policies tend to be off the menu for cost reasons, governments have tended to favour investments in childcare and active labour market policy as credit claiming tools. Policies developed in this way while they have a social investment flavour, tend to be rather limited in the extent to which they genuinely improve prospects of disadvantaged people by investing in their human capital. A more ambitious strategy of social investment sees unlikely to develop on the basis of affordable credit claiming. The paper starts by presenting the theoretical argument, which is then illustrated with examples taken from European countries both in the pre-crisis and in the post-crisis years.

Environment and dispersal paths override life strategies and residence time in determining regional patterns of invasion by alien plants.

We describe a novel dissimilarity framework to analyze spatial patterns of species diversity and illustrate it with alien plant invasions in Northern Portugal. We used this framework to test the hypothesis that patterns of alien invasive plant species richness and composition are differently affected by differences in climate, land use and landscape connectivity (i.e. Geographic distance as a proxy and vectorial objects that facilitate dispersal such as roads and rivers) between pairs of localities at the regional scale. We further evaluated possible effects of plant life strategies (Grime's C-S-R) and residence time. Each locality consisted of a 1 km(2) landscape mosaic in which all alien invasive species were recorded by visiting all habitat types. Multi-model inference revealed that dissimilarity in species richness is more influenced by environmental distance (particularly climate), whereas geographic distance (proxies for dispersal limitations) is more important to explain dissimilarity in species composition, with a prevailing role for ecotones and roads. However, only minor differences were found in the responses of the three C-S-R strategies. Some effect of residence time was found, but only for dissimilarity in species richness. Our results also indicated that environmental conditions (e.g. climate conditions) limit the number of alien species invading a given site, but that the presence of dispersal corridors determines the paths of invasion and therefore the pool of species reaching each site. As geographic distances (e.g. ecotones and roads) tend to explain invasion at our regional scale highlights the need to consider the management of alien invasions in the context of integrated landscape planning. Alien species management should include (but not be limited to) the mitigation of dispersal pathways along linear infrastructures. Our results therefore highlight potentially useful applications of the novel multimodel framework to the anticipation and management of plant invasions. (C) 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Relaxivity of Gd-based contrast agents on X nuclei with long intrinsic relaxation times in aqueous solutions.

The relaxivity of commercially available gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents was studied for X-nuclei resonances with long intrinsic relaxation times ranging from 6 s to several hundred seconds. Omniscan in pure 13C formic acid had a relaxivity of 2.9 mM(-1) s(-1), whereas its relaxivity on glutamate C1 and C5 in aqueous solution was approximately 0.5 mM(-1) s(-1). Both relaxivities allow the preparation of solutions with a predetermined short T1 and suggest that in vitro substantial sensitivity gains in their measurement can be achieved. 6Li has a long intrinsic relaxation time, on the order of several minutes, which was strongly affected by the contrast agents. Relaxivity ranged from approximately 0.1 mM(-1) s(-1) for Omniscan to 0.3 for Magnevist, whereas the relaxivity of Gd-DOTP was at 11 mM(-1) s(-1), which is two orders of magnitude higher. Overall, these experiments suggest that the presence of 0.1- to 10-microM contrast agents should be detectable, provided sufficient sensitivity is available, such as that afforded by hyperpolarization, recently introduced to in vivo imaging.

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times among dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae) based on three nuclear genes

We examined phylogenetic relationships among six species representing three subfamilies, Glirinae, Graphiurinae and Leithiinae with sequences from three nuclear protein-coding genes (apolipoprotein B, APOB; interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, IRBP; recombination-activating gene 1, RAG1). Phylogenetic trees reconstructed from maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian-inference (BI) analyses showed the monophyly of Glirinae (Glis and Glirulus) and Leithiinae (Dryomys, Eliomys and Muscardinus) with strong support, although the branch length maintaining this relationship was very short, implying rapid diversification among the three subfamilies. Divergence time estimates were calculated from ML (local clock model) and Bayesian-dating method using a calibration point of 25 Myr (million years) ago for the divergence between Glis and Glirulus, and 55 Myr ago for the split between lineages of Gliridae and Sciuridae on the basis of fossil records. The results showed that each lineage of Graphiuros, Glis, Glirulus and Muscardinus dates from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene period, which is mostly in agreement with fossil records. Taking into account that warm climate harbouring a glirid-favoured forest dominated from Europe to Asia during this period, it is considered that this warm environment triggered the prosperity of the glirid species through the rapid diversification. Glirulus japonicas is suggested to be a relict of this ancient diversification during the warm period.

Speciation of naturally-accumulated uranium in an organic-rich soil of an alpine region (Switzerland)

Very high concentrations of uranium (up to 4000 ppm) were found in a natural soil in the Dischma valley, an alpine region in the Grisons canton in Switzerland. The goal of this study was to examine the redox state and the nature of uranium binding in the soil matrix in order to understand the accumulation mechanism. Pore water profiles collected from Dischma soil revealed the establishment of anoxic conditions with increasing soil depth. A combination of chemical extraction methods and spectroscopy was applied to characterize the redox state and binding environment of uranium in the soil. Bicarbonate extraction under anoxic conditions released most of the uranium indicating that uranium occurs predominantly in the hexavalent form. Surprisingly, the uranium redox state did not vary greatly as a function of depth. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES), confirmed that uranium was present as a mixture of U(VI) and U(IV) with U(VI) dominating. Sequential extractions of soil samples showed that the dissolution of solid organic matter resulted in the simultaneous release of the majority of the soil uranium content (>95%). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy also revealed that soil-associated uranium in the soil matrix was mainly octahedrally coordinated, with an average of 1.7 axial (at about 1.76 Å) and 4.6 to 5.3 equatorial oxygen atoms (at about 2.36 Å) indicating the dominance of a uranyl-like (UO22+) structure presumably mixed with some U(IV). An additional EXAFS signal (at about 3.2 Å) identified in some spectra suggested that uranium was also bound (via an oxygen atom) to a light element such as carbon, phosphorus or silicon. Gamma spectrometric measurements of soil profiles failed to identify uranium long-life daughter products in the soil which is an indication that uranium originates elsewhere and was transported to its current location by water. Finally, it was found that the release of uranium from the soil was significantly promoted at very low pH values (pH 2) and increased with increasing pH values (between pH 5 and 9).

Fluid-rock interaction during late stages of the Alpine exhumation

Résumé de la thèseLa fracturation des roches au cours de phases compressives ou extensives est un souvent évoquée pour expliquer la circulation de fluide au sein des roches cristallines. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, la circulation des fluides lors de l'exhumation tardive des Alpes a été étudiée en utilisant deux approches différentes: analyses structurales de la déformation fragile d'une part et analyses géochimiques des roches et des minéraux (isotopes stables, datations U/Pb, thermochronologie (U-Th)/He) d'autre part. Cette approche combinée a permis de mieux comprendre l'interaction existante entre les fluides métamorphiques et les fluides météoriques, ainsi que leur interaction avec les roches encaissantes. Le travail a été effectué dans la zone Pennique du Valais suisse.La première partie était focalisée sur la déformation fragile, le but étant de définir les différents types de déformations existantes et de déterminer l'âge relatif des différentes familles de failles. Dans la région d'étude, quatre domaines ont été distingués. Chacun d'eux comportent deux types de structures fragiles, certaines sont minéralisées alors que d'autre non. Au sein de chaque domaine, la direction principale des structures minéralisées correspond à l'orientation des accidents tectoniques majeurs de la région (Aosta- Ranzola Line au Sud, Rhône Line au Nord et Simplon Fault Zone à l'Est), alors que les structures non- minéralisées montrent des orientations plus variables. Ainsi, le premier type de structure est interprété comme résultant d'une dislocation tectonique alors que le deuxième type de structure résulterait d'une dislocation gravitaire locale. Il n'est néanmoins pas possible de classer chronologiquement la formation de ces deux types de structure ni d'attribuer un âge relatif aux changements d'orientation des contraintes majeures.La deuxième étude a été effectuée dans la région de la zone de faille du Simplon. Dans cette zone, la composition isotopique des minéraux ayant cristallisé à l'intérieur des fractures tardives permet de distinguer différents types de circulation de fluide. Les valeurs δ180 du quartz de la roche encaissante ainsi que ceux des veines tardives du bloque inférieur de la faille sont comparables. Ces valeurs indiquent un rééquilibrage et un tamponnage isotopique des fluides tardifs au contact de la roche encaissante lors de la fracturation de cette dernière et de la cristallisation des veines tardives. La même situation est observée dans la partie nord du bloque supérieur ainsi que dans sa partie sud. Ceci n'est néanmoins pas le cas pour la partie centrale du bloque supérieur où les valeurs isotopiques des minéraux dans les veines tardives sont approximativement 3 %o plus basses (avec des valeurs extrêmes négatifs), indiquant une contribution d'eau météorique aux fluides circulant dans les veines. Ces données suggèrent qu'une infiltration d'eau météorique a pu avoir lieu dans le bloque supérieur, où la fracturation des roches est plus intensive car le déplacement relatif le long de la faille y fut plus important, et la température maximale du métamorphisme plus basse. La troisième contribution traite de la géo-thermochronologie de la zone de contact entre la klippe de la Dent Blanche et la nappe de Tsaté. De petits zircons euhédraux ont été trouvés dans un plan de faille minéralisé (parallèle à la Faille du Rhône, voir première partie de l'étude), riche en hématite et quartz, de la zone d'étude. Les analyses U/Pb donnent des âges radiométriques autour de 270 - 280 Ma aux zircons extraits de la minéralisation ainsi que ceux extraits de la roche encaissante, ce qui correspond à l'âge de la nappe de la Dent Blanche et non celui de la nappe du Tsaté qui est elle-même classiquement interprétée comme une ophiolite Jurassique de l'Océan Liguro-Piémontais. Ces données suggèrent que les zircons contenus dans la veine ont été hérités de la roche encaissante. Les résultats (U-Th)/He indiquent un âge de refroidissement différent pour la roche encaissante (25.5 ± 2.0 Ma) que celui de la minéralisation (17.7 ±1.4 Ma). Le thermomètre isotopique quartz-hématite indique une température d'équilibre, et donc de mise en place de la minéralisation, d'environ 170 °C, température très proche de la température de -180 °C de fermeture du zircon pour le système (U-Th)/He. Ceci suggère que l'âge de refroidissement des zircons de la minéralisation correspond aussi à l'âge de formation de la faille.Thesis abstractFluid circulation in fractured rocks is a common process in geology, and it is generally the consequence of faulting and fracturing during both tectonic compression and extension. This thesis is focused on fluid circulation during late stages of the Alpine exhumation. After a structural analysis of the late brittle deformation of the studied samples, several analytical methods (stable isotope investigations, U/Pb radiometric dating, (U-Th)/He thermochronology) have been applied to understand the interaction of metamorphic and meteoric fluids with one another as well as with the host rock. This thesis is articulated around three study directions. All studies were conducted in the Penninic Zone of the Valais, Switzerland. The first study deals with late, brittle deformation and focuses on the different deformation styles and on the relative age of the different families of fractures. In order to do this, late brittle structures observed in four different domains have been subdivided as a function of the existence (or not) and type of mineralization. Comparisons between mineralized and non-mineralized strike directions for all four domains show that mineralized structures follow the strike orientation of major tectonic movements indicated in the Penninic Zone of the Valais (Aosta-Ranzola Line to the S, Rhône Line to the Ν and Simplon Fault Zone to the E), whereas non-mineralized fractures have a more variable strike orientation. This difference could be interpreted as indicative of tectonic-related faulting (mineralized structures) vs. local, collapse-related faulting (non-mineralized fractures), but it is not strong enough to indicate a relative age of the late brittle structures, and/or a change in the orientation of the strain field in post-Miocene times. The second studied area is focused on the Simplon Fault Zone (SFZ). Stable isotope analyses of minerals filling these late fractures indicate that there are two different fluid circulation systems in the footwall and hanging wall of the SFZ. In the footwall, δ180 values of quartz from both the host rock and the late veins range from +10 %o to +12 %o. This is consistent with buffering of circulating fluids by the host rock during fracturing and vein precipitation. In the hanging wall, δΙ80 values for quartz crystals from the host rock and the late veins are similar in both the northern and southern parts of the detachment that are both affected by the same degree of metamorphism (greenschist to the Ν and amphibolite to the S). This is not the case in the central part of the SFZ, where there is a jump from amphibolite facies in the footwall to greenschist facies in the hanging wall. δ,80 values for quartz from the hanging wall late veins are approximately 3.0 %o lower (down to negative values in some cases) than the values observed in the footwall These data suggest that infiltration of meteoric water may have occurred in the most fractured parts of the hanging wall, where relative displacement on the SFZ was the greatest and the peak temperature lower. In the less fractured footwall the δ180 values reflect a host rock-buffered system.The third study is focused on geo-thermochronology at the contact between the Dent Blanche nappe and the Tsaté nappe where small, euhedral zircons were found in a hematite- and quartz-rich mineralization on a late normal fault plane parallel to the Rhône Line (see first part of the study). U/Pb analysis indicates that the zircons - both in the late mineralization and in the host rock - have absolute radiometric ages clustering around 270 - 280 Ma, which is the accepted age for intrusive rocks from the Austroalpine Dent Blanche units but not for the Tsaté nappe. The latter is classically interpreted as an ophiolitic remnant of the Jurassic Liguro-Piemontais Ocean. U/Pb analyses suggest that zircons in late mineralization are all inherited from the host rock; however, results of (U-Th)/He analyses indicate that cooling ages for the host rocks are different to the cooling ages for the zircons in late mineralization. Indeed, the calculated cooling age for the Arolla gneiss is 25.5 ± 2.0 Ma, whilst the cooling age for the associated mineralized fault plane is 17.7 ±1.4 Ma. Oxygen stable isotope fractionation between quartz and hematite in the same late mineralization corresponds to temperatures of about 170 °C. The proximity of the calculated emplacement temperature for the mineralization and the lower accepted closure temperature for zircon in the (U-Th)/He system (-180 °C) imply that the age of 17.7 ± 1.4 Ma can also be interpreted as the formation age of this late brittle fault.Résumé grand publicLa circulation des fluides dans les roches fracturées est typique de nombreux processus géologiques, et très souvent est la conséquence de la fracturation des roches. Cette thèse aborde la question de la circulation des fluides pendant les dernières phases du soulèvement des Alpes. Après une analyse structurale de la fracturation directement sur le terrain, plusieurs méthodes géochimiques ont été appliquées pour comprendre l'interaction entre les différents fluides circulants, et avec leur propre roche mère. L'étude, concentrée sur trois directions principales, a été conduite dans la zone Pennique du Valais suisse. La première partie traite de la déformation cassante dans le secteur cité. L'analyse détaillée des fractures a permis de les subdiviser en structures minéralisées et non-minéralisées, sur quatre domaines différents. La comparaison entre les directions des structures minéralisées et non-minéralisées a permis de montrer que les premières suivent l'orientation des accidents tectoniques majeurs de la région, alors que les structures non- minéralisées ont une orientation plus variable. Cette différence pourrait être interprétée comme indication d'une dislocation tectonique (structures minéralisées) contre une dislocation gravitaire locale (structures non-minéralisées), mais elle n'est pas assez forte pour indiquer un âge relatif des structures tardives et/ou un changement de l'orientation des contraintes après -20 Ma vers le présent.A partir de ces observations, la deuxième étude est concentrée dans la région de la faille du Simplon. Les analyses géochimiques sur les minéraux remplissant les structures tardives indiquent qu'il y a deux différents systèmes de circulation des fluides dans les deux parties (toit et mur) de la faille. Dans le mur, les valeurs isotopiques des minéraux cristallisés à partir d'un fluide tardif sont les mêmes de ceux de la roche mère, donc il y a eu rééquilibration chimique entre fluide et roche pendant la fracturation de cette dernière et la précipitation des minéraux. Dans le toit, les valeurs isotopiques dans la roche mère et dans les minéraux des veines tardives sont comparables dans les parties Ν et S de la faille, où les roches du toit et du mur ont atteint une température maximale - pendant phase prograde de la formation des Alpes - comparable. Au contraire, dans la partie centrale, où le mur a atteint des températures maximales plus élevées par rapport au toit, les valeurs géochimiques des minéralisations tardives du toit sont parfois plus basses que les valeurs observées dans le mur. Ces données suggèrent que l'infiltration de l'eau de surface aurait pu se produire dans la partie plus fracturée du toit, où le déplacement relatif le long de la faille était majeur et les températures maximales mineures. Au contraire, les données géochimiques du mur de la partie centrale indiquent un système isotopique équilibré par la roche mère.La troisième partie de ce travail se base sur l'étude géochimique intégrée des isotopes stables d'Oxygène et radioactifs du Plomb, Uranium, Thorium et Hélium, auprès d'une faille normale minéralisée et des roches de la région à cheval entre deux nappes, la nappe de la Dent Blanche et la nappe de Tsaté. Ici, des petits zircons ont été trouvés dans la minéralisation citée, riche en hématite et quartz. L'analyse radiométrique Uranium/Plomb a montré que les zircons dans la minéralisation et dans les roches autour ont des âges comparables (autour 280 Ma). Cela signifie que les zircons dans la minéralisation tardive ont été hérités de la roche mère pendant la fracturation et la circulation des fluides tardives. De l'autre coté, les résultats des analyses Uranium-Thorium/Hélium indiquent que les âges de refroidissement pour les roches mères sont différents comparés aux âges de refroidissement pour les zircons dans la minéralisation tardive: ces derniers sont plus jeunes d'environ 8 Ma (autour 25 Ma et autour 17 Ma respectivement). Les analyses des isotopes de l'oxygène sur quartz et hématite dans la même minéralisation donnent une température de mise en place de cette dernière d'environ 170° C. La température de fermeture du système chimique des zircons dans le système (Uranium-Thorium)/Hélium est d'environ 180 °C: la proximité de ces deux températures implique que l'âge de refroidissement de la minéralisation tardive peut également être interprété comme âge de formation de la faille.

Single spin-echo T 2 relaxation times of cerebral metabolites at 14.1 T in the in vivo rat brain.

OBJECT: To determine the single spin-echo T 2 relaxation times of uncoupled and J-coupled metabolites in rat brain in vivo at 14.1 T and to compare these results with those previously obtained at 9.4 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements were performed on five rats at 14.1 T using the SPECIAL sequence and TE-specific basis-sets for LCModel analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The T 2 of singlets ranged from 98 to 148 ms and T 2 of J-coupled metabolites ranged from 72 ms (glutamate) to 97 ms (myo-inositol). When comparing the T 2s of the metabolites measured at 14.1 T with those previously measured at 9.4 T, a decreasing trend was found (p < 0.0001). We conclude that the modest shortening of T 2 at 14.1 T has a negligible impact on the sensitivity of the (1)H MRS when performed at TE shorter than 10 ms.

Residence time, expansion toward the equator in the invaded range and native range size matter to climatic niche shifts in non-native species

Aim Identifying climatic niche shifts and their drivers is important to accurately predict the risk of biological invasions. The niches of non-native plants and birds have recently been assessed in large-scale multi-species studies, but such large-scale tests are lacking for non-native reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna). Furthermore, little is known about the factors contributing to niche shifts when they occur. Based on the occurrence of 71 reptile and amphibian species, we compared native and non-native realized niches in 101 invaded ranges at a worldwide scale and identified the factors that affect niche shifts. Location The world except the Antarctic. Methods We assessed climatic niche dynamics in a gridded environmental space allowing the quantification of niche overlap and expansion into climatic conditions not colonized by the species in their native range. We analyzed the factors affecting niche shifts using a model averaging approach based on generalized linear mixed-effects models. Results Approximately 57% of the invaded ranges (51% for amphibians and 61% for reptiles) showed niche shifts (≥10% expansion in the realized climatic niche). Island endemics, species introduced to Oceania and invaded ranges outside the native biogeographic realm showed a higher proportion of niche shifts. Niche shifts were more likely for species that had smaller native range sizes, were introduced earlier into a new range or invaded areas located at lower latitudes than the native range. Main conclusions The proportion of niche shifts for non-native herpetofauna was higher than those for Holarctic non-native plants and European non-native birds. The 'climate matching hypothesis' should be used with caution for species shifting their niche because it could underestimate the risk of their establishment.

Phylogenetics of Olea (Oleaceae) based on plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences: tertiary climatic shifts and lineage differentiation times.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Olea (Oleaceae) includes approx. 40 taxa of evergreen shrubs and trees classified in three subgenera, Olea, Paniculatae and Tetrapilus, the first of which has two sections (Olea and Ligustroides). Olive trees (the O. europaea complex) have been the subject of intensive research, whereas little is known about the phylogenetic relationships among the other species. To clarify the biogeographical history of this group, a molecular analysis of Olea and related genera of Oleaceae is thus necessary. METHODS: A phylogeny was built of Olea and related genera based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 and four plastid regions. Lineage divergence and the evolution of abaxial peltate scales, the latter character linked to drought adaptation, were dated using a Bayesian method. KEY RESULTS: Olea is polyphyletic, with O. ambrensis and subgenus Tetrapilus not sharing a most recent common ancestor with the main Olea clade. Partial incongruence between nuclear and plastid phylogenetic reconstructions suggests a reticulation process in the evolution of subgenus Olea. Estimates of divergence times for major groups of Olea during the Tertiary were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates the necessity of revising current taxonomic boundaries in Olea. The results also suggest that main lines of evolution were promoted by major Tertiary climatic shifts: (1) the split between subgenera Olea and Paniculatae appears to have taken place at the Miocene-Oligocene boundary; (2) the separation of sections Ligustroides and Olea may have occurred during the Early Miocene following the Mi-1 glaciation; and (3) the diversification within these sections (and the origin of dense abaxial indumentum in section Olea) was concomitant with the aridification of Africa in the Late Miocene.

Manual reaction times and brain dynamics after 'awake surgery' of slow-growing tumors invading the parietal area. A case report

Primary objectives: Awake surgeries of slow-growing tumours invading the brain and guided by direct electrical stimulation induce major brain reorganizations accompanied with slight impairments post-operatively. In most cases, these deficits are so slight after a few days that they are often not detectable on classical neuropsychological evaluations. Consequently, this study investigated whether simple visuo-manual reaction time paradigms would sign some level of functional asymmetries between both hemispheres. Importantly, the visual stimulus was located in the saggital plane in order to limit attentional biases and to focus mainly on the inter-hemispheric asymmetry. Methods and procedures: Three patients (aged 41, 59 and 59 years) after resections in parietal regions and a control group (age¼44, SD¼6.9) were compared during simple uni- and bimanual reaction times (RTs). Main outcomes and results: Longer RTs were observed for the contralesional compared to the ipsilesional hand in the unimanual condition. This asymmetry was reversed for the bimanual condition despite longer RTs. Conclusion and clinical implications: Reaction time paradigms are useful in these patients to monitor more precisely their functional deficits, especially their level of functional asymmetry, and to understand brain (re)organization following slowgrowing lesions.

Social and medical vulnerability factors of frequent users at the emergency department: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Up to 5% of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) four or more times within a 12 month period represent 21% of total ED visits. In this study we sought to characterize social and medical vulnerability factors of ED frequent users (FUs) and to explore if these factors hold simultaneously. METHODS: We performed a case-control study at Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. Patients over 18 years presenting to the ED at least once within the study period (April 2008 toMarch 2009) were included. FUs were defined as patients with four or more ED visits within the previous 12 months. Outcome data were extracted from medical records of the first ED attendance within the study period. Outcomes included basic demographics and social variables, ED admission diagnosis, somatic and psychiatric days hospitalized over 12 months, and having a primary care physician.We calculated the percentage of FUs and non-FUs having at least one social and one medical vulnerability factor. The four chosen social factors included: unemployed and/or dependence on government welfare, institutionalized and/or without fixed residence, either separated, divorced or widowed, and under guardianship. The fourmedical vulnerability factors were: ≥6 somatic days hospitalized, ≥1 psychiatric days hospitalized, ≥5 clinical departments used (all three factors measured over 12 months), and ED admission diagnosis of alcohol and/or drug abuse. Univariate and multivariate logistical regression analyses allowed comparison of two JGIM ABSTRACTS S391 random samples of 354 FUs and 354 non-FUs (statistical power 0.9, alpha 0.05 for all outcomes except gender, country of birth, and insurance type). RESULTS: FUs accounted for 7.7% of ED patients and 24.9% of ED visits. Univariate logistic regression showed that FUs were older (mean age 49.8 vs. 45.2 yrs, p=0.003),more often separated and/or divorced (17.5%vs. 13.9%, p=0.029) or widowed (13.8% vs. 8.8%, p=0.029), and either unemployed or dependent on government welfare (31.3% vs. 13.3%, p<0.001), compared to non-FUs. FUs cumulated more days hospitalized over 12 months (mean number of somatic days per patient 1.0 vs. 0.3, p<0.001; mean number of psychiatric days per patient 0.12 vs. 0.03, p<0.001). The two groups were similar regarding gender distribution (females 51.7% vs. 48.3%). The multivariate linear regression model was based on the six most significant factors identified by univariate analysis The model showed that FUs had more social problems, as they were more likely to be institutionalized or not have a fixed residence (OR 4.62; 95% CI, 1.65 to 12.93), and to be unemployed or dependent on government welfare (OR 2.03; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.14) compared to non-FUs. FUs were more likely to need medical care, as indicated by involvement of≥5 clinical departments over 12 months (OR 6.2; 95%CI, 3.74 to 10.15), having an ED admission diagnosis of substance abuse (OR 3.23; 95% CI, 1.23 to 8.46) and having a primary care physician (OR 1.70;95%CI, 1.13 to 2.56); however, they were less likely to present with an admission diagnosis of injury (OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.00) compared to non-FUs. FUs were more likely to combine at least one social with one medical vulnerability factor (38.4% vs. 12.1%, OR 7.74; 95% CI 5.03 to 11.93). CONCLUSIONS: FUs were more likely than non-FUs to have social and medical vulnerability factors and to have multiple factors in combination.

Federal Dynamics in Times of Economic and Financial Crisis

The global economic and financial crisis is a challenge for all governments, but particularly for federal states because divided and/or shared territorial powers make federations susceptible to coordination problems in fiscal policy making. This article explores the effects of the ongoing crisis on federal relations. Three kinds of problems that may become the cause of federal tensions and conflicts are evoked: opportunism of subgovernments, centralisation and erosion of solidarity among members of the federation. Our analysis of fiscal policies and federal conflicts of 11 federations between 2007 and the present reveals three kinds of coordination problems: shirking in the use of federal government grants, rent-seeking in equalisation payments, and over-borrowing and over-spending. Our results show that shirking remained limited to few cases and occurred only in the first part of the crisis. However, rent-seeking and over-borrowing and over-spending led to a reduction of solidarity among subgovernments and to increased regulation of the fiscal discretion of the members of the federation. Subsequently, tensions in federal relations increased - although only in one case did this challenged the federal order.