Significant Dot: The 1769 transit of Venus - a tale of astronomy, medicine and empire

This article places the 6 June 2012 transit of Venus in the context of James Cook’s voyage from England to the South Pacific to observe the 1769 transit of Venus. A description is given on how to use a computer program called Stellarium to ‘observe’ the 1769 transit of Venus exactly as Cook saw it from the island of Tahiti in the South Pacific

Universalising and Spiritualising Christ\u27s Gospel: How Early Quakers Interpreted the Epistle to the Colossians

This article examines seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Quaker methods of biblical interpretation, comparing them to Puritan and Spiritualist methods. The focus is on verses from the Pauline epistle to the Colossians frequently cited by early Quakers. In contrast to John Calvin and four seventeenth-century Puritan Biblical commentators, but similar to seventeenth-century Spiritualists such as William Erbery, Quakers argued strongly for a form of mystical universalism closely akin to Arminianism in their interpretation of this epistle. Quakers (especially John Woolman) resembled medieval Catholics in their willingness to interpret Col. 1.24 to assert that Christ\u27s \u27mystical\u27 body, which could include contempora1y Christians, was somehow involved in the redemption of humanity. Early Quakers tended to reserve the eschatological promise of the \u27hope of glory\u27 in Col. 1.27 for those who had fully experienced redemption, or \u27convincement\u27. Quakers and Puritans resembled each other in their arguments for a spiritualist interpretation of Col. 2.14-17, and both, somewhat inconsistently, tempered spiritualist principles with pragmatic acceptance of certain outward ecclesiastical practices in their attempts to preserve church order

Comparative analysis of the seismic hazard of Central China

Seismic hazard assessment is globally recognised as a tool in identifying levels of earthquake ground shaking within an area. However, methodologies for seismic hazard calculation are wide ranging and produce variations in results and maps. As a case study seismic hazard and results from Gumbel’s method of extremes are determined for the area of greatest intraplate seismicity in China covering the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan. This area is termed the North-South Seismic Zone. Devastating earthquakes in this zone include the 8.4 MS 1920 Haiyuan earthquake causing over 220,000 deaths and the 1996 Lijiang earthquake. Most recently the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake caused over 69,000 deaths with more than 18,000 people missing. These results and seismic hazard maps are compared with the publicly available maps of GSHAP and the national seismic hazard map of China at the level of 10% probability of exceedance in a 50 year period. The distributions of high and low hazard areas are similar and adjacent to the major thrust and strike-slip faults dominating in this area. However, results from the Gumbel method of extremes suggest that the hazard levels within certain areas are slightly different compared to the other two models. This is primarily because the Gumbel methodology is based on determining hazard from earthquakes that have already taken place whereas the other two models determine maximum hazard levels in areas which may exhibit no previous strong hazard. Additionally the Chinese national hazard map does not indicate levels of ground shaking intensity greater than IX in detail, whereas such zones are identified using the extreme value method. This work should be used to strengthen the seismic hazard analysis of this area of China

Description of the Fifth Instar of \u3ci\u3eApache Degeerii\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae)

(excerpt) Apache degeerii (Kirby) ranges from Maine south to Florida and west to Iowa and Texas; it has also been recorded from British Columbia and Washington (Metcalf 1945. Wilson and McPherson 1980). This derbid has been recorded from oak, beech, maple, and hickory (Swezey 19(4); otherwise no information on its biology is available

A Survey of the Aquatic Macrobenthos of Waller Creek

This report characterizes the mouth of Waller Creek, while also providing the results of a 10 month research period focusing on macrobenthic life. 876 individuals were collected, and details regarding their collection are included inside the report.Waller Creek Working Grou

The Changing Dimensions of Japanese Security Issues

Presentation on post-Cold War security issues and international relations in Japan. Delivered to the Japan Industry and Management of Technology Program (JIMT) at The University of Texas at Austin on August 11, 1999.IC2 Institut

Description of the Fifth Instar of \u3ci\u3eEpiptera Opaca\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Achilidae)

(excerpt) Epiptera opaca (Say) ranges from Quebec south to Georgia and west to Ontario and Mississippi; it has also been recorded from British Columbia (Beirne 1950, Wilson and McPherson 1980). This achilid has been associated with pines (Hepburn 1967); otherwise no information on the biology of this species is available. Based on observations of E. fusca (Walker), Hepburn (1967) noted that the immature stages of all species of Epiptera probably live beneath the loose bark of dead trees, presumably feeding on fungal hyphae