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11. Income Taxes
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
11.    INCOME TAXES

Our effective income tax rate was 13% and 33% for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2013 reflected a significant tax benefit related to the 2012 U.S. federal research credit, which was retroactively reinstated on January 2, 2013. The effective income tax rates for both periods were lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to tax benefits from differences between U.S. and foreign statutory tax rates, and research and development tax credits. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, our foreign taxes resulted primarily from taxable income earned in France and Switzerland. Switzerland's statutory tax rate for both periods was significantly lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%. Also, our effective tax rates for the first quarter of 2013 and 2012 were reduced by French tax incentives related to our research and development activities.
    
We file federal, state and foreign income tax returns in many jurisdictions in the United States and abroad. Our income tax returns are audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. We are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2009 and 2010 tax years and by various state and foreign jurisdictions. There are differing interpretations of tax laws and regulations, and as a result, significant disputes may arise with these tax authorities involving issues of the timing and amount of deductions and allocations of income among various tax jurisdictions. We periodically evaluate our exposures associated with our tax filing positions.

As of March 31, 2013, based on the expected outcome of certain examinations or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations for certain jurisdictions, we believe that within the next 12 months it is reasonably possible that our previously unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $2.3 million. Substantially all such amounts will impact our effective income tax rate.

We record liabilities related to uncertain tax positions. We do not believe any currently pending uncertain tax positions will have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements, although an adverse resolution of one or more of these uncertain tax positions in any period may have a material impact on the results of operations for that period.