Pacific Ocean, The trade winds
The trade winds of the Pacific represent the eastern and equatorial parts of the air circulation system; they originate in the subtropical high-pressure zones that are most pronounced, respectively, over the northeast and southeast Pacific between the 30th and 40th parallels N and S. The obliquity of the ecliptic (an angle of approximately 23 1/2� that is the difference between
Baer, Karl Ernst, Ritter Von (knight Of), Edler (lord) Von Huthorn
Baer, one of 10 children, spent his childhood with an uncle and
Arales
The Arales may share common evolutionary ancestors with the palm order (Arecales) and the Panama hat palm order (Cyclanthales) from the immediate ancestors
Nef'i
Little is known of Nef'i's early life; he served as a minor government official in the reign of the sultan Ahmed I (1603 - 17). Not until the time of Sultan Murad IV (1623 - 40), himself a poet, did Nef'i gain court favour. He
Pavia
Pavia originated as Ticinum, a settlement of the Papiria tribe, which was conquered by Rome c. 220 BC and later became a key point in the Roman defense
Caucasian Languages, Phonology
A characteristic feature of the sound system of the Abkhazo-Adyghian languages is a rather limited number of distinctive vowels - a and {schwa} (pronounced as the a in English �sofa�). Some scholars consider it possible to posit only one vowel, which, depending on the position, can be realized in different ways: a, {schwa}, i, o, e. On the other hand, the languages are notable for a great
Rin-chen-bzang-po
Also spelled �Richen Zampo � Tibetan Buddhist monk, called the �Great Translator,� known primarily for his extensive translations of Indian Buddhist texts into Tibetan, thus furthering the subsequent development of Buddhism in Tibet. First sent to India in the late 10th century under Tibetan royal patronage, Rin-chen-bzang-po eventually succeeded in bringing back to Tibet a number of Indian
Belcher, Jonathan
After graduating from Harvard College in 1699, Belcher traveled in Europe before returning to Boston, where he became a prosperous merchant. He formally entered Massachusetts politics in 1718, when he was elected
Gendje Carpet
Old Gendjes are made entirely of
Quantum Computer
As early as 1959 the American physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman noted that, as electronic components begin to reach microscopic scales, effects predicted by quantum mechanics occur - which, he suggested, might be exploited in the design of more powerful computers. In
Kuldja
Also spelled �Kulja, �Chinese �(Wade-Giles) I-ning, �or (Pinyin)� Gulja, or Yining, � city in western Uighur Autonomous Region of Sinkiang, China. It is the chief city, agricultural market, and commercial centre of the I-li River valley, which is a principal route from the Sinkiang region into Central Asia. The valley is far wetter than any other part of Sinkiang and has rich grazing land. Kuldja has been a strategic centre since early times, being known
World Water Crisis: Is There A Way Out?
According to British hydrologist J.A. Allan, a country that imports food crops is essentially importing the water that was used to grow the crops in the exporting country. This virtual water can amount to as much as 1,000 to 5,000 tons of water per ton of crop imported. Virtual water, acquired as food and agricultural products through global food trade, can actually help to overcome
La Guma, Alex
La Guma was reared in a family active in the black liberation movement.
Cachoeiro De Itapemirim
City, southern Esp�rito Santo estado (�state�), eastern Brazil. It lies along the Itapemirim River, at 95 feet (29 m) above sea level and about 30 miles (48 km) inland from the Atlantic coast. It was given city status in 1889. Cachoeiro de Itapemirim is a manufacturing centre and serves a livestock-raising region. It lies on the main highway and railroad linking Vit�ria, the state capital (70 miles
Xenon
�(Xe), � chemical element, heavy and extremely rare gas of Group 0 (noble gases) of the periodic table. It was the first noble gas found to form true chemical compounds. More than 4 1/2 times heavier than air, xenon is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. Solid xenon belongs to the face-centred cubic crystal system, which implies that its molecules, which consist of single atoms, behave
La Salle University
Private, coeducational institution of higher learning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. It is operated by the Christian Brothers, a teaching order of the Roman Catholic church. It comprises schools of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, and Nursing, offering a range of bachelor's and master's degree programs in nursing, education, business, computer sciences,
Han River
Korean �Han-gang� river, northern South Korea, rising in the western slopes of the T'aebaek-sanmaek (mountains) and flowing generally westward across the peninsula through the provinces of Kangwon, Kyonggi, and North Ch'ungch'ong and through the city of Seoul to the Yellow Sea. Of its 319-mile (514-kilometre) length, 200 miles (320 km) are navigable, and it has been a valuable river transportation route since
Philip Iv
Byname �Philip The Fair, �French �Philippe Le Bel� king of France from 1285 to 1314 (and of Navarre, as Philip I, from 1284 to 1305, ruling jointly with his wife, Joan I of Navarre). His long struggle with the Roman papacy ended with the transfer of the Curia to Avignon, Fr. (beginning the so-called Babylonian Captivity, 1309 - 78). He also secured French royal power by wars on barons and neighbours and by restriction of
Kaffraria
(from Arabic kafir, �infidel�), the territories along the southeast coast of Africa that were colonized by the Portuguese and British. The term referred more specifically in the 19th century to those lands inhabited by the Xhosa-speaking peoples of the Transkei and Ciskei. Now considered pejorative, the term Kaffir was used in the 19th century as a synonym for Xhosa. In 1847, during
Arabesque
In literature, a contrived intricate pattern of verbal expression, so called by analogy with a decorative style in which flower, fruit, and sometimes animal outlines appear in elaborate patterns of interlaced lines. That these designs can sometimes suggest fantastic creatures may have given rise to another sense of the term, denoting a tale of wonder or of the supernatural.
New Granada, Viceroyalty Of
The separation of these territories from the viceroyalty of Peru, one of the principal colonial administrative changes effected by the
Probenecid
Drug used in the treatment of chronic gout, a disorder that is characterized by recurrent acute attacks of inflammation in one or more joints of the extremities. Probenecid inhibits the transport of most organic acids in the renal tubules of the kidneys. It was used in medicine originally to prolong the action of the antibiotic penicillin by preventing its loss
Fa Ngum
Fa Ngum was the grandson of Souvanna Khamphong, the last in a long line of local rulers of the principality of Muang Swa, later called Luang Prabang, on the upper Mekong River. According to local legend, Souvanna Khamphong banished Fa Ngum's father for having seduced
Crome, John
During his apprenticeship to a housepainter, Crome devoted what leisure time he had to sketching from nature. Through the influence
Agnostus
Genus of trilobites (an extinct group of aquatic arthropods) found as fossils in rocks of Early Cambrian to Late Ordovician age (those deposited from 540 to 438 million years ago). The agnostids were generally small, with only two thoracic segments and a large tail segment. Agnostus itself was only about 6 millimetres (0.25 inch) long and lacked eyes. The similarity of the
Padauk
Any of several species of tropical trees of the genus Pterocarpus. Padauks of the Indo-Malaysia region have a tendency to be larger than related species elsewhere. They are highly prized as shade trees and for their red or reddish brown wood. The blood-red sap is used commercially; a red dyewood, �Red Saunders,� which is obtained from the padauk, was formerly exported in
San Carlos
City, northeastern Negros island, Philippines. Set in an area of concentrated sugarcane production, it is the site of a large sugar mill established in 1912. Frequent ferry service across Tanon Strait from Toledo on the island of Cebu brings large numbers of migrant workers to the surrounding sugar plantations. The city has deepwater port facilities and also has an airport.
Balchin, Nigel
After studying natural science at the University of Cambridge, Balchin divided his time between research work in science and industry (as an industrial psychologist) and writing. During World War II he was deputy scientific adviser to the Army
Tooele
City, seat of Tooele county, north-central Utah, U.S. It lies 32 miles (52 km) southwest of Salt Lake City. Settled in 1849, it was a centre for mining operations in the 1860s and '70s after rich silver and gold veins were discovered in the nearby Oquirrh Mountains. Its name may refer to Tuilla, a local Indian leader, or to the abundant tules, or bulrushes, that grew near the local springs. The city
