Democracies, Autocracies, and Political Stability

Does democracy promote political instability? Research by pre-eminent scholars demonstrate how nascent democracies may be disadvantaged in promoting political stability because of the pluralist and populist demands that citizens may place on the state that can generate large-scale social rigidities. Furthermore, recent scholarship has shown that nascent democracies are prone to having ethnic dominant minorities that precipitate large scale violence against them as they control most of the wealth, while ethnic dominant majorities resist income inequities. Autocracies are also considered to be more stable over time because of its virtual monopoly on the centralized use of force and its quick suppression of dissent and opposition. Certain autocracies also remain politically stable over time because of the perpetuation of Rentier-state economic systems. The article examines the research question using cases from 122 developing states where large variations exist in terms of its regime systems and levels of political stability. Cross-national regression analysis shows that democracies are more likely to be politically stable. Thus, autocracies in the developing world are more prone to political instability because oppressed citizenries and displaced groups have no other mechanism to voice dissent other than active mobilization in the streets or subversive activities against the state

Nanoindentation and Plasticity in Nanocrystalline NI Nanowires: A Case Study in Size Effect Mitigation

We examine the processes of spherical indentation and tension in Ni nanowires and thin films containing random distributions of nanoscale grains by molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that the resistance to nanoindentation of nanocrystalline Ni nanowires with diameters of 12 and 30 nm tends not to depend on the wire diameter and free surfaces, contrary to nanoindentation in single-crystalline nanowires. Accommodation of plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding suggests a mitigation strategy for sample boundary effects in nanoscale plasticity

Statistical Analysis of Instantaneous Velocities in Turbulent Flow of Dilute Viscoelastic Solutions

An experimental study, based on streak photograph determination of instantaneous velocities, was directed at determining the structure of turbulence within the boundary layer and core regions of circular pipes. The measurements lend support to the ejection phenomenon as the mechanism controlling drag reduction. A correlation factor, defined as the ratio of the observed number of positive instantaneous radial velocities, to the observed number of negative instantaneous radial velocities, suggests acceleration in the radial direction as the elements of fluid move through the sublayer. The correlation factor also provides information about the thickening of the boundary layer for drag reducers relative to the Newtonian case. Radial turbulent intensity data for 0.01% aqueous solutions of Separan AP-30 were found to be markedly lower, at all radial positions, than the intensities for Newtonian fluids. The lowering of the radial intensities being ordered according to the amount of drag reduction

Avec leur statut original, quels rôles pour les sociétés d'aménagement régional dans les politiques de l'eau et de l’irrigation ?

Les sociétés d’aménagement régional (SAR) opérateurs régionaux de la gestion de l’eau avec un mandat d’aménagement du territoire ont un statut original de sociétés commerciales. Elles jouent un rôle majeur dans la réalisation des investissements nécessaires à l’irrigation dans le Sud de la France. Une interview de trois cadres de ces sociétés permet de cerner comment elles peuvent jouer ce rôle. La relation avec les irrigants se fait par des contrats de droit privé impliquant généralement un comptage des quantités d’eau distribuée et une attention particulière au prix de l’eau. La vente d’eau à différents usagers agricole, urbain ou industriel permet d’équilibrer les comptes. Ces sociétés apportant à l’État la garantie d’organisations structurées, la répartition de l’eau, la création de ressource avant l’équipement des exploitations irrigantes, le conseil d’État recommande de leur donner plus de poids. / Regional development companies (SAR), regional organizations of water management with a role of regional planning and development have, in France, an original status of corporations. They play a major role in making the necessary investments in irrigation in the South of France. An interview with three managers of these companies can identify how they can play this role. Relationship with irrigators is done by private contracts generally involving water measurement and special attention to water price. The sale of water to different users agricultural, urban or industrial balances the accounts. As these companies bring to the state the guaranty of structured organizations, balanced distribution of water, creating resource before farm equipment, the State Council recommends to give them more weight

The History and Development of a Consolidated Communications System and an Emergency Medical Services System in Nebraska

•A Chronology of Events •Nebraska Vital Statistics •A Consolidated Communications Concept •A Total Emergency Medical Service System Concept •The Nebraska Adjutant General\u27s Study of Telecommunications •Nebraska State Civil Defense •The Nebraska Consolidated Communications Corporation •Emergency Telecommunications Service: Planning for the State Disaster Plan •Evolution of Ambulance Service in Nebraska •The Nebraska Committee on Transportation and Communication •The University of Nebraska College of Medicine •Extension Service, the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture •The Nebraska State Department of Health •Area Funding •The Department of Health, Education and Welfare •The Six EMS Regions in Nebraska •The Office of Traffic Highway Safety in Nebraska •The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation •Comprehensive Health Planning •Project 20/20 •Operation Sky-Aid •The Use of Helicopters in EMS Services in Nebraska •The Common Emergency Calling Number-911 •Immediate Dial Tone/Coin Free Telephone •Identification of Calling Number and Ring-back Capability •Visit of DOT People to Nebraska to Inspect Communications •The Omaha Fire Department Ambulance Service •A Paramedic Service for Nebraska •The Nebraska Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons •Full-time Emergency Department Staffing (American College of Emergency Physicians) •The Lincoln Medical Education Foundation •Categorization of Hospitals •The American Red Cross Handbook •Veterans Administration TV Network •Some Early Day Activities in Emergency Services in which Nebraskans were Involved •Things That Might Have Been •A Few of Lynn\u27s Comments •Mid-America Research Corporation •Interest in Joint Funding Lincoln/Lancaster Pilot Project •Changes in Pre-hospital Survival in Nebraska •People Involved in Early Day Consolidated Communications •People Involved in Early Day EMS •Appendix A-Original Members of Dr. Thompson\u27s Committee •Appendix B-Professional Staff, EMS Division Department of Health •Appendix C-Report by Del Maier in Washington •Appendix D-Joint Funding Report •Appendix E-ETV Network Development •Bibliographyhttps://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/nehist_books/1000/thumbnail.jp

Shortening of the Short Refractory Periods in Short QT Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of short QT syndrome (SQTS) remains difficult in case of borderline QT values as often found in normal populations. Whether some shortening of refractory periods (RP) may help in differentiating SQTS from normal subjects is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Atrial and right ventricular RP at the apex and right ventricular outflow tract as determined during standard electrophysiological study were compared between 16 SQTS patients (QTc 324±24 ms) and 15 controls with similar clinical characteristics (QTc 417±32 ms). Atrial RP were significantly shorter in SQTS compared with controls at 600- and 500-ms basic cycle lengths. Baseline ventricular RP were significantly shorter in SQTS patients than in controls, both at the apex and right ventricular outflow tract and for any cycle length. Differences remained significant for RP of any subsequent extrastimulus at any cycle length and any pacing site. A cut-off value of baseline RP <200 ms at the right ventricular outflow tract either at 600- or 500-ms cycle length had a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of SQTS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SQTS have shorter ventricular RP than controls, both at baseline during various cycle lengths and after premature extrastimuli. A cut-off value of 200 ms at the right ventricular outflow tract during 600- and 500-ms basic cycle length may help in detecting true SQTS from normal subjects with borderline QT values

October 1963

Turf and Lawn Grass Association Better turf through research and Educatio

Minerals information GIS for regional development and inward investment in Northern Highlands of Scotland

The principal aim of this project, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is to stimulate exploration for metalliferous minerals in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, thereby promoting inward investment, job creation and the development of infrastructure in the region. The Northern Highlands study area occupies about 27,000 km2 located to the north and west of the Great Glen, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. The regional geology is highly varied, comprising mainly Archaean and Proterozoic metamorphic rocks and Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks. Intrusive igneous rocks are also widely developed. This geological diversity enhances the potential of the region for the occurrence of a wide range of mineral deposit types. The Northern Highlands are under-explored, relative to other parts of Scotland; nevertheless, this study has documented more than 350 recorded mineral occurrences

Hantavirus and Arenavirus Antibodies in Persons with Occupational Rodent Exposure, North America

Rodents are the principal hosts of Sin Nombre virus, 4 other hantaviruses known to cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in North America, and the 3 North American arenaviruses. Serum samples from 757 persons who had worked with rodents in North America and handled neotomine or sigmodontine rodents were tested for antibodies against Sin Nombre virus, Whitewater Arroyo virus, Guanarito virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Antibodies against Sin Nombre virus were found in 4 persons, against Whitewater Arroyo virus or Guanarito virus in 2 persons, and against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in none. These results suggest that risk for infection with hantaviruses or arenaviruses usually is low in persons whose occupations entail close physical contact with neotomine or sigmodontine rodents in North Americ