Consider the findings of a study in this month's issue of Social Psychology, examining how the "mere presence" of a cell phone -- even when it is not being used -- influences people's performance on complex mental tasks.

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The intent was that the mere presence of police would deter any would-be attackers.

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The four-time World Player of the Year has scored 57 times this season, but just his mere presence was enough to unnerve his opponents.

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In his dissent, Judge Robert Smith wrote that mere advertising by an out-of-state retailer through in-state media does not constitute a physical presence or sufficient nexus, concluding links from the New York websites to big online retailers are simply that.

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At about 60 tonnes in mass, this future station would be considerably smaller than the 400-tonne international platform operated by the US, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan, but its mere presence in the sky would nonetheless represent a remarkable achievement.

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