Characteristics Of Microstates Research Articles

Commercial diplomacy in action to ensure a micro-state's international competitiveness during years of economic and political turmoil: the case of Andorra

This case study discusses the Andorran Government’s diplomatic response to ensure the country’s international competitiveness and continuity in the European regional economic bloc throughout the recent financial crisis imperatives and external threats that led to their immediate economic and political environment after 2009. After a short revision of the commercial diplomacy literature, we briefly describe the characteristics of micro-states, particularly of Andorra. This section is followed by an explanation of the extremely critical situation in Andorra in 2009. We have analysed the country’s diplomatic and governmental responses. During the two years following 2009, Andorra saw an unprecedented acceleration of international policy signing, which included over 18 bilateral agreements to exchange tax information. These agreements ensured Andorra’s ability to maintain its position in the international economic arena as well as its most important commodity, full sovereignty as a normalised country. Simultaneously, Andorra substantially changed its internal tax structure and has prepared future negotiations with the EU to join in the coming years the European Economic Area. All these actions were adopted in the face of threats and unprecedented international pressures from neighbouring countries and international organisations.

Research on Flow Mechanism of Materials and Micro-State of Distortion Area in Closed Extruding Fine Blanking Process

There are some differences between traditional fine blanking and closed extruding fine blanking in stress, separation process and change of material's performance. The article researched the micro-state's characteristics and deformation law in closed extruding fine blanking process, through observing the closed extruding fine blanking parts' metallographic, flow lines of deformation zone and analyzing the micro-hardness.

Classes of Multichannel EEG Microstates in Light and Deep Hypnotic Conditions

The study assessed the brain electric mechanisms of light and deep hypnotic conditions in the framework of EEG temporal microstates. Multichannel EEG of healthy volunteers during initial resting, light hypnosis, deep hypnosis, and eventual recovery was analyzed into temporal EEG microstates of four classes. Microstates are defined by the spatial configuration of their potential distribution maps ([Symbol: see text]potential landscapes') on the head surface. Because different potential landscapes must have been generated by different active neural assemblies, it is reasonable to assume that they also incorporate different brain functions. The observed four microstate classes were very similar to the four standard microstate classes A, B, C, D [Koenig, T. et al. Neuroimage, 2002;16: 41-8] and were labeled correspondingly. We expected a progression of microstate characteristics from initial resting to light to deep hypnosis. But, all three microstate parameters (duration, occurrence/second and %time coverage) yielded values for initial resting and final recovery that were between those of the two hypnotic conditions of light and deep hypnosis. Microstates of the classes B and D showed decreased duration, occurrence/second and %time coverage in deep hypnosis compared to light hypnosis; this was contrary to microstates of classes A and C which showed increased values of all three parameters. Reviewing the available information about microstates in other conditions, the changes from resting to light hypnosis in certain respects are reminiscent of changes to meditation states, and changes to deep hypnosis of those in schizophrenic states.

Growth and equity in microstates

This paper examines the phenomen of microstates and, in particular, their often exceptionally high per‐capita levels of income. It suggests that the small size of a state, in terms of both area and population, may be economically advantageous. The special characteristics of microstates are defined and a case study of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is used to examine them further. Conclusions are drawn and, hopefully, discussion will be stimulated regarding the relatively unexplored field of microstates.