WorldWideScience

Sample records for incendiaries

  1. Metallographic study of non-homogenous armour impacted by armour-piercing incendiary ammunition

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Balos, Sebastian; Sidjanin, Leposava

    2011-01-01

    Highlights: → Incendiary effect does not influence the changes in microstructure. → Impact causes plastic deformation in more ductile materials. → Impact causes shear crack instability in less ductile materials. → Crack propagation influences chipping on the inside of the perforated plate. -- Abstract: In this paper, the influence of impact and incendiary effect on the microstructure changes and crack development in non-homogenous add-on armour is studied. The main objective was to determine the parameters that may cause the yielding of the material, leading to a possible decrease in multi-hit resistance. For that purpose, patented wire fence and perforated plates made from two types of high strength steel, Hardox 450 and 50CrV4 tempered at 170 o C were tested. Various techniques were applied: high speed video camera was used, visual macroanalysis, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was found that incendiary effect, being of a brief nature, does not have any influence on microstructure of the add-on armour. However, impact greatly influences crack development and propagation, which occurs in 50CrV4 steel, the material with lower ductility, diminishing its multi-hit resistance. In accordance with obtained results, non-homogenous add-on armour behaviour models were devised, describing the influence of material ductility and geometry on fracture mode, stresses and deformability.

  2. 76 FR 49503 - Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Airport Security

    Science.gov (United States)

    2011-08-10

    ... acts of criminal violence, aircraft piracy, and the introduction of explosives, incendiaries, or... operators must ensure that individuals seeking unescorted access authority submit to and receive a criminal...

  3. Assessment of Mechanisms Impacting N-Nitrosodimethylamine Fate Within the North Boundary Containment System, Rocky Mountain Arsenal

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Gunnison, Douglas

    1997-01-01

    Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) was for many years a site of military chemical weapons manufacturing activities, including manufacture and assembly of weapons containing intermediate and toxic chemical end-products, incendiary...

  4. 32 CFR 179.3 - Definitions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-07-01

    ... obscuration-producing items; flame and incendiary-producing items; or soil, water, debris, or other media... components of any item thereof. The term does not include wholly inert items, improvised explosive devices...

  5. Tests of an experimental slash ignition unit

    Science.gov (United States)

    James L. Murphy; Harry E. Schimke

    1965-01-01

    A prototype ignition package containing an incendiary powder and designed for slash and brush burning jobs showed some promise, but the unit tested was not superior to such conventional devices as fusees, diesel backpack type flamethrowers, Very pistols, and drip torches.

  6. 5 CFR 9901.362 - Modification of standard provisions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-01-01

    ... in a pay band for which the overtime hourly rate is set equal to the employee's adjusted salary... coverage under 5 U.S.C. 5545b, and to emergency medical technicians not involved in fire protection... as police officer, emergency medical technician, test pilot, ordnance/explosives/incendiary inspector...

  7. 27 CFR 478.11 - Meaning of terms.

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-04-01

    ... relics. Commerce. Travel, trade, traffic, commerce, transportation, or communication among the several... device. (a) Any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas (1) bomb, (2) grenade, (3) rocket having a... illustrate this definition: Example 1. A maintains a home in State X. A travels to State Y on a hunting...

  8. Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. Incorporating the NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions (English and French)

    Science.gov (United States)

    1989-12-01

    incendiary bombs. 3. Two or more parachutes closed area-(DOD, NATTO ) A designated area for dropping light or heavy loads. 4. In land in or over which passage...DOD, NATTO ) A series of cluding primarily the Navy Cargo Handling straight lines, superimposed over a conformal and Port Group, the Naval Reserve

  9. Enoch Powell, Empires, Immigrants and Education

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tomlinson, Sally

    2018-01-01

    2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell's infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech, an intervention that is still viewed as one of the most incendiary statements of the perceived decay and violence likely to follow legislation intended to assure minoritised British citizens of equal rights regardless of their ethnic origin. In this…

  10. Terrorism, Violence, and the Collision of Masculinities in "Four Lions"

    Science.gov (United States)

    Labidi, Imed

    2011-01-01

    Many critics hailed the new film, "Four Lions," by director Chris Morris as "provocative, incendiary, audacious, and shocking" and "one of the funniest and boldest comedies of the year." As a satirist, Morris already established his wit signature with the production of the mockumentary series, "Brass Eye." Using the same absurdist approach, he…

  11. 36 CFR 261.5 - Fire.

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-07-01

    ... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Fire. 261.5 Section 261.5... Prohibitions § 261.5 Fire. The following are prohibited: (a) Carelessly or negligently throwing or placing any ignited substance or other substance that may cause a fire. (b) Firing any tracer bullet or incendiary...

  12. The Cylindrical Component Methodology Evaluation Module for MUVES-S2

    Science.gov (United States)

    2017-04-01

    following threat types: armor piercing (AP), armor-piercing incendiary (API), kinetic energy (KE), shaped charge jet (SCJ), explosively formed penetrator ...a Shaped-Charge (SC) Munition, Kinetic Energy (KE) Penetrator , Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), Joint Technical Coordinating Group (JTCG...Threat: Sample Shaped-Charge (SC), Kinetic Energy (KE) Penetrator , Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP), JTCG Frag, FATEPEN frag

  13. 49 CFR 173.58 - Assignment of class and division for new explosives.

    Science.gov (United States)

    2010-10-01

    ... Thermal Sensitivity Test at 75 °C (167 °F); (iv) The Small Scale Burning Test; (v) The EIDS Cap Test; (vi... Sensitivity Test, Princess Incendiary Spark Test, DDT Test, and External Fire Test, each as described in the... occurs: (1) Detonation occurs in the Cap Sensitivity Test (Test Method 5(a)); (2) Detonation occurs in...

  14. Improvised Incendiary Devices: Risk Assessment, Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences

    Science.gov (United States)

    2006-09-01

    Earth Liberation Front (ELF). These groups are primarily concerned with attacking symbols of capitalism and exploitation: businesses they perceive to...that between 1,200 and 2,500 people perished in the Peshtigo fire. The Triangle Factory fire, which occurred in a sweatshop in New York City in 1911, is

  15. Incendiari e vittime / Arsonists and Victims / Incendiaires et victimes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Roberta Bisi

    2008-04-01

    Full Text Available Human beings need fire !Contrary to other living beings, mankind could not live without fire so it is quite astonishing to observe that most of the fires which burn on the earth are caused by man.Many fires spread all over the North Mediterranean area, from Portugal to Turkey, during the summer 2007.Human beings and fire: associated to the sacrifice of Titan Prometheus which was meant to be a sort of pattern to be followed by men to honour the gods.Fire is alive like water and air but it is difficult to capture it with the eyes: we can look at it for a long time before we discover that it never looks like itself.Fire has brought about important changes to human life, giving it much more security and comfort.However, the destructive power of fire is a real threat which not only takes many victims and results in wounded, intoxicated and homeless people but its force also wipes out and destroys places recognized as the heritage of mankind.Les hommes ont besoin du feu! Contrairement à tous les autres êtres vivants, les hommes ne pourraient pas vivre comme ils le font sans le feu; d'autre part, le fait que la plupart des feux qui brûlent sur la planète sont causés par l’homme, représente un aspect inquiétant.Pendant l’été 2007, beaucoup d’incendies ont frappé toute la zone du Nord de la Méditerranée, du Portugal à la Turquie. Hommes et feu : un binôme lié à la création du sacrifice du Titan Prométhée et qui aurait ainsi établi le modèle suivi par les hommes afin d'honorer les dieux.Le feu est vivant, comme l’eau et l'air, mais il est insaisissable au regard, c’est à dire que nous pouvons passer beaucoup de temps à le regarder mais il ne sera jamais égal à lui même. L’usage du feu a rendu la vie de l’homme plus sûre et plus confortable et il a modifié, au cours du temps, la face de la terre.Toutefois, la force déstructrice du feu représente une menace réelle qui fait des victimes, des blessés, des intoxiqués, des sans-logis et qui ne recule même pas devant les lieux qui ont été déclarés patrimoine de l’humanité.

  16. Use of various types of carbon-containing raw materials to produce thermal energy

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    В. Б. Кусков

    2016-08-01

    Full Text Available Many types of carbon-containing organic compounds and all possible carbon-containing products or wastes in low demand can be used to produce thermal energy. A technology has been developed for producing highly flammable briquettes on the basis of bituminous coal. These briquettes have a special incendiary layer. It is easily ignites from low energy heat sources (e.g. matches, and then flame spreads to the rest of briquette. Use of coal slacks and paper wastes as carbon-containing components playing the role of binders provides an opportunity to get a fuel briquette easy in terms of production and plain in composition while at the same time dispose of coal and paper wastes. Such briquettes may also have a special incendiary layer. Technology for fuel briquettes production from wood and slate wastes employed no binding agents, as wood products acted as binders. Thus technologies have been developed to produce fuel briquettes from various carbon-containing materials in low demand. The briquettes are intended for household boilers, fireplaces, different ovens in order to cook food, heat residential and utility premises, cabins, etc.

  17. Report for the MPV Demonstration at New Boston Air Force Base, New Hampshire: UXO Characterization in Challenging Survey Environments Using the MPV

    Science.gov (United States)

    2017-04-28

    EM Electromagnetic EMI Electromagnetic Induction ERDC Engineering Research and Development Center ESTCP Environmental Security Technology... bombs , HE bombs and incendiary bombs . The site hosted demonstrations with the MPV and the 2x2 TEMTADS, both with crews from CH2MHill. Each study...array of five receiver units that measure all three components of the EM field (Figure 2). This second-generation MPV is specifically designed to

  18. Psychological Effects of U.S. Air Operations in Four Wars, 1941 - 1991. Lessons for the Commanders.

    Science.gov (United States)

    1995-01-01

    invasion. To achieve these twin objectives, U.S. bombers loaded with incendiary bombs set about destroying the basic economic and social fabric of...near the Chinese border. According to some proponents of this bombing campaign, the objective was to "wreak havoc on the political and social ...Korea.5 After the Chinese intervened in the fighting, VUNC also broadcast in Mandarin and Cantonese dialects to PLA forces.6 Tactical PSYOP were also

  19. Airpower in an Age of Limited War

    Science.gov (United States)

    2017-05-25

    the fabric and wood aircraft of World War I to the airborne weaponry of modern times. Finally, the monograph tests contemporary, doctrinally based...1914. After a few months of sea duty on a destroyer, he transferred to the Navy’s flying service. He was shot down by antiaircraft fire on his first...fuels able to resist incendiary shells, remote-controlled defensive weapons, and propeller-less engines.64 With respect to endurance, Seversky

  20. Alternative for Perchlorates in Incendiary and Pyrotechnic Formulations for Projectiles

    Science.gov (United States)

    2009-08-01

    rats fed PTFE at up to 25% in the diet for 90 days. Exposure to dust may cause irritation of the eyes, skin or the digestive tract, while aspiration...been reported. Acute L(E)C50s for fluorides in aquatic organisms range from 50 to 500 mg dm -3. Twenty-day L(E)C50s for rainbow trout ranged from

  1. Analyzing the differences between Seoul versus other Regions in response to Nuclear Power Information

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Roh, Seung Kook [KAERI, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Chul Min [KAIST, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-05-15

    Seoul citizens do not feel any seriousness about the recent issues related to NPP, since they do not have NPP in nearby region. Despite Seoul Metropolitan Government has been conducting 'reduce one NPP' campaign for 4 years with large budget, the awareness of Seoul citizens' NPP is very low. From this point of view, it can be seen that the campaign failed to increase the awareness of NPP. Besides, Seoul citizens are living in the most distant region from NPP so that they lack the opportunity to access the information about the safety of the facility in direct way. They formed overall image about nuclear power through information from the media and indirect experience. The public usually pay attention to negative or incendiary news more than the positive ones. They are more likely to have a simply negative image from incendiary news, such as the movement against radioactive waste disposal siting in Guleopdo and Buan, Fukushima accident, radioactive rain, Japanese seafood imports, nuclear scandal, etc. Even media that has positive nuances can raise doubts about nuclear power. In addition, the public usually have lower opportunity to feel an affinity for nuclear power, and show the problems related to nuclear power in the third party's stance. According to the mere exposure theory, it can be the cause of having negative stance.

  2. Robbers and Incendiaries: Protectionism Organizes at the Harrisburg Convention of 1827

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    W. Kesler Jackson

    2010-10-01

    Full Text Available Though lobbying for federal money may seem like business as usual today–with billions of dollars spent annually by companies, labor unions, and other organizations in an effort to win a piece of what has become an enormous federal pie–this was not always the case in the United States. An all-but-forgotten event, the Harrisburg Convention of 1827, may have been one of the key historical turning points in this regard, an opening of a floodgate that would transform the role of the U.S. federal government forever. It was in the modest Pennsylvania capital that a hundred of the North’s most influential manufacturers and public servants–backed by legislators like Henry Clay and Daniel Webster–assembled to draft a “memorial” to Congress, imploring that body to pass a protectionist bill to save their industries from what they viewed as eventual ruin. As Jonathan J. Pincus observed and Thornton and Ekelund echoed, “it is not small cohesive individual groups but larger diverse ones that are necessary in order to effectively lobby representatives and senators to obtain majority coalitions” in comprehensive legislation. The convention would bring together this “larger diverse” group—with just such a legislative goal. Meanwhile, mostly in the South, anti-protectionist opinion continued to surge. The Harrisburg Convention of 1827 would lead to the passage of that most hated piece of protectionist legislation—the “Tariff of Abominations” of 1828–and it would do so by framing the protectionist agenda into a nationalist “cause” borne of “patriotic duty.”

  3. Incendiary Devices for the in-situ Combustion of Crude Oil Slicks

    Science.gov (United States)

    1983-01-01

    contiennent. Celles-cl se composent principalement d’un oxydant , le perchlorate d’ammonium, d’un carburant, une poudre m~tallique, et d’un liant...20.8 I- R T: 78% vt. R-45HT/22% wt. DDI-1410. 2- Epoxy: 85% vt. Epon 815/15% wt. Hysol 3543. 3- Solvent: ethyl alcohol . 4- F-ND: boron-potassium nitrate

  4. Incendiary Discourse: Reconsidering Flaming, Authority, and Democratic Subjectivity in Computer-Mediated Communication

    Science.gov (United States)

    Oleksiak, Timothy

    2012-01-01

    This article explores the relationship between teacher authority and flaming in asynchronous online communication. Teachers who rely on what I call stabilization and universal applicability--two concepts emerging from a liberal democratic theory--may actually be preventing a full and robust understanding of the complexities of 21st-century…

  5. Simultaneous measurement of ignition energy and current signature for brush discharges

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Fast, Lars; Andersson, Birgitta; Smallwood, Jeremy; Holdstock, Paul; Paasi, Jaakko

    2011-01-01

    Accurate prediction of the probability of ignition arising from charged insulators is a crucial element of risk assessment in process industry. Incendiary brush discharges can occur when a large or grounded conductor approaches a charged insulator in the presence of a flammable atmosphere. This paper describes ignition tests based on an IEC standard method and simultaneously recorded temporal distribution of current released in the discharges, using a discharge probe integrated with the ignition probe. Ignition and non-ignition results are compared with peak discharge current and charge transferred in the discharge. No clear ignition threshold was found for either of these parameters. No major differences were found between igniting and non-igniting waveforms.

  6. Mediatized Spirituality: A Critical Appraisal of the Media-Religion Nexus in Nigeria

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Allwell Okechukwu Nwankwo

    2017-12-01

    Full Text Available Religion in Nigeria is predominantly manifested in three identifiable forms: Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion. All three forms, but especially the first two, have in recent years embraced the “media logic,” packaging religious experience in ways that appeal to the media. These religions have adopted the media as platforms for worship, proselytization, image-building and investment. Thus, religion in Nigeria has come under the grip of mediatization, giving rise to a mediatized spiritual experience. This paper contends that the strong infusion of the media into religious life in Nigeria could have both positive and negative implications for society. It advocates a responsible use of the media to curtail the purveyance of hate, incendiary and predatory messages.

  7. The Development of British Incendiary Bombs during the Period of the 1939-45 World War

    Science.gov (United States)

    1946-12-01

    gallons of methanised petrol and had a T.V. of 160 - 180 ft./sec., when falling suspended from its parasheet. 21.2 In the early stages of the design it...34J" lomb Mark I, filled with methanised shale spirit. 80 July ORD Note summari3ing American developments with the M69 bomb. 81 " 7RS Report on Tests

  8. High Energy Metallic Mechanical Alloys for New Explosives and Incendiary Devices with Controllable Explosion Parameters

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Shtessel, Emil

    2001-01-01

    .... Sets of Al-Mg, Al-Mg-H, B-Mg, Al-B, and Ti-B mechanical alloys were prepared. X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and laser diffraction were used to characterize structures, morphology, and sizes of the produced alloys, respectively...

  9. Proposals for chemical weapons during the American Civil War.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hasegawa, Guy R

    2008-05-01

    Proposals for chemical weapons that arose during the American Civil War are described. Most incendiary and all biological agents are excluded. The described proposals appeared primarily in periodicals or letters to government officials on both sides. The weapons were usually meant to temporarily disable enemy combatants, but some might have been lethal, and Civil War caregivers were ill-prepared to deal with the weapons' effects. Evidently, none of the proposed weapons were used. In only one instance was use against civilians mentioned. Among the agents most commonly proposed were cayenne pepper or other plant-based irritants such as black pepper, snuff, mustard, and veratria. Other suggested agents included chloroform, chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic compounds, sulfur, and acids. Proponents usually suggested that the chemicals be included in explosive artillery projectiles. Less commonly proposed vehicles of delivery included fire engines, kites, and manned balloons. Some of the proposed weapons have modern counterparts.

  10. Fire debris analysis and scene reconstruction.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sturaro, Alberto; Vianello, Alvise; Denti, Pablo; Rella, Rocco

    2013-06-01

    During the summer of 2010 near a little village in the south of Italy, a fire destroyed a piece of brushland without any apparent economic importance. The remains of a fire-setting tool were found at the point of origin of the fire. It was started using a well-planned and methodical approach. The analytical results demonstrated a sophisticated and effective incendiary tool designed to leave little evidence that could identify the offender. The action and the purpose of the arsonist were clear but the basic motivation was unpredictable. The burned area was without any relevant economical interest. It was burnt during the past and has not been used for any cultivation or sheep farming but in the region there was evidence of bushfires that had been lit to stimulate the growth of forest fruits to be harvested for sale. Copyright © 2012 Forensic Science Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Modeling, Vicarious Learning, and Basic Needs: Helping All Children (Including Gifted Children) Recover From an Incendiary Political Season

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cross, Tracy L.

    2017-01-01

    This column examines the recent political campaign and possible effects on gifted and talented students. Using psychological theories, the author describes ways that adults can interpret the events and model appropriate American values.

  12. A crise e suas fronteiras: oito meses de "mensalão" nos editoriais dos jornais

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Luis Felipe Miguel

    2007-06-01

    Full Text Available Com certa freqüência, a imprensa é acusada de "incendiária", alimentando as crises políticas, de forma irresponsável, na busca por melhores manchetes. A partir da análise de editoriais dos três principais jornais da imprensa brasileira entre maio e dezembro de 2005, meses do escândalo do "mensalão", este artigo observa outra faceta: como a crise é constituída como "desvio" a ser corrigido pela punição ou exclusão de determinados atores e comportamentos, impedindo que se coloque em questão os fundamentos do regime político.Press is frequently accused of being "incendiary", nourishing political crisis in an irresponsible way, in search of better headlines. This article relies on an analysis of editorial stuff of the three leading Brazilian newspapers to observe another facet: how the crisis is constituted as a "deviation" something to be corrected by punishment or exclusion of certain actors and kinds of behavior. Thus, the foundations of the political system are never put in question.

  13. El Grito de Irreverencia del Gil Blas.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Maryluz Vallejo M.

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available After the political rancor left by the XIX century country’s civil wars, especially by the One-Thousand-Days War, the “Reyista Press” was born. This press was President Rafael Reyes’s incense burner and an opposition instrument to the ‘Quinquenio regime’ characterized by a satiric, incendiary and polemic tone, which, at the same time, was the continuation of a rich tradition. Once the ‘Quinquenio regime’ was overthrown, three political forces gain momentum within the Liberal Press: The Republican Press–that supported the presidential nomination of journalist Carlos E. Restrepo–with Alfonso Villegas Restrepo, Eduardo and Enrique Santos Montejo, Enrique Olaya Herrera and the Cano family; the ‘Bloquista’ Press, lead by General Rafael Uribe Uribe; and the Opposite Press with Benjamín Palacio Uribe, founder of Gil Blas newspaper in 1910. Due to its investigative spirit, Gil Blas newspaper served as an inspiration for Colombian contemporary journalism of the Bicentennial. With this satirical poster, the saints of the Republican Press fell off their shelves in this so-called ‘Indigenous Athens.’

  14. Controlled fragmentation

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Arnold, Werner

    2002-01-01

    Contrary to natural fragmentation, controlled fragmentation offers the possibility to adapt fragment parameters like size and mass to the performance requirements in a very flexible way. Known mechanisms like grooves inside the casing, weaken the structure. This is, however, excluded for applications with high accelerations during launch or piercing requirements for example on a semi armor piercing penetrator. Another method to achieve controlled fragmentation with an additional grid layer is presented with which the required grooves are produced 'just in time' inside the casing during detonation of the high explosive. The process of generating the grooves aided by the grid layer was studied using the hydrocode HULL with respect to varying grid designs and material combinations. Subsequent to this, a large range of these theoretically investigated combinations was contemplated in substantial experimental tests. With an optimised grid design and a suitable material selection, the controlled fragment admits a very flexible adaptation to the set requirements. Additional advantages like the increase of perforation performance or incendiary amplification can be realized with the grid layer

  15. Examination of the foreign body response to biomaterials by nonlinear intravital microscopy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Dondossola, Eleonora; Holzapfel, Boris M; Alexander, Stephanie; Filippini, Stefano; Hutmacher, Dietmar W; Friedl, Peter

    2016-01-01

    Implanted biomaterials often fail because they elicit a foreign body response (FBR) and concomitant fibrotic encapsulation. To design clinically relevant interference approaches, it is crucial to first examine the FBR mechanisms. Here, we report the development and validation of infrared-excited nonlinear microscopy to resolve the three-dimensional (3D) organization and fate of 3D-electrospun scaffolds implanted deep into the skin of mice, and the following step-wise FBR process. We observed that immigrating myeloid cells (predominantly macrophages of the M1 type) engaged and became immobilized along the scaffold/tissue interface, before forming multinucleated giant cells. Both macrophages and giant cells locally produced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which initiated and maintained an immature neovessel network, followed by formation of a dense collagen capsule 2-4 weeks post-implantation. Elimination of the macrophage/giant-cell compartment by clodronate and/or neutralization of VEGF by VEGF Trap significantly diminished giant-cell accumulation, neovascularization and fibrosis. Our findings identify macrophages and giant cells as incendiaries of the fibrotic encapsulation of engrafted biomaterials via VEGF release and neovascularization, and therefore as targets for therapy.

  16. Three Waves of Populism in Latin America

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Olga V. Varentsova

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available Contemporary political regimes in Venezuela and Bolivia led by late Hugo Châvez (now by his successor Nicolas Maduro and Evo Morales are considered by foreign and Russian scholars as part of the third wave of populism. In the 20th century Latin America already witnessed two waves of populism which coincided with significant political transitions, namely a transition from oligarchy to mass politics accompanied by implementation of import substitution industrialization policies, and a transition from authoritarian rule to democracy during the third wave of democratization which triggered neoliberal reforms inspired by Washington Consensus. This article presents common characteristics of Latin American populist regimes that emerged in different historical periods which help identify the origins as well as distinctive features of Venezuelan and Bolivian political regimes. It is stated that the Châvez and Morales left populist regimes resemble classic populist regimes in that they rely on incendiary anti-establishment discourse. Therefore, left populist regimes are characterized by high levels of polarization as well as weak institutionalization and class or indigenous orientation. Election of left populist leaders may lead to institutional deadlock, uneven playing field and transition to competitive authoritarianism.

  17. Estimates of radiological risk from depleted uranium weapons in war scenarios.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Durante, Marco; Pugliese, Mariagabriella

    2002-01-01

    Several weapons used during the recent conflict in Yugoslavia contain depleted uranium, including missiles and armor-piercing incendiary rounds. Health concern is related to the use of these weapons, because of the heavy-metal toxicity and radioactivity of uranium. Although chemical toxicity is considered the more important source of health risk related to uranium, radiation exposure has been allegedly related to cancers among veterans of the Balkan conflict, and uranium munitions are a possible source of contamination in the environment. Actual measurements of radioactive contamination are needed to assess the risk. In this paper, a computer simulation is proposed to estimate radiological risk related to different exposure scenarios. Dose caused by inhalation of radioactive aerosols and ground contamination induced by Tomahawk missile impact are simulated using a Gaussian plume model (HOTSPOT code). Environmental contamination and committed dose to the population resident in contaminated areas are predicted by a food-web model (RESRAD code). Small values of committed effective dose equivalent appear to be associated with missile impacts (50-y CEDE radiological risk. These computer simulations suggest that little radiological risk is associated to the use of depleted uranium weapons.

  18. Representing Canadian Muslims: Media, Muslim Advocacy Organizations, and Gender in the Ontario Shari’ah Debate

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Meena Sharify-Funk

    2009-01-01

    Full Text Available This paper analyzes a highly public conflict between two Muslim non-profit organizations, the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC and the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC, as it played out on the pages of Canadian newspapers and Internet websites. Sparked by profoundly divergent convictions about gender norms and fuelled by contradictory blueprints for “being Muslim in Canada”, this incendiary conflict was fanned by Canadian media coverage. Focusing especially, but not exclusively, on the 2003-2005 debate over Shari’ah-based alternative dispute resolution in Ontario, I will argue that the media have played a role in constructing internal Muslim debates and identity negotiations concerning what it means to be genuinely Canadian and authentically Muslim through controversy-driven journalism that has highlighted opposing ends of a liberal/progressive versus conservative/traditional axis in a search for “point/counter-point” views. Through short stories and commentaries on controversial topicsthat juxtapose two increasingly antagonistic organizational voices, the media have not merely reflected Muslim realities, but also helped to shape them and, more often than not, reinforce polarization between a “majority Muslim” culture seeking to secure space for itself within Canadian society and a “dissident Muslim” culture that seeks to consolidate external support for internal change.

  19. Overlap of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A case report

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mahmood Akbaryan

    2016-04-01

    Full Text Available Ankylosing spondylitis is a typical, very heritable incendiary joint inflammation, influencing principally the spine and pelvis. Inflammatory arthritis in ankylosing spondylitis causes pain and stiffness and progressively leads to new bone formation and ankylosis (fusion of affected joints. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus is a highly complex and heterogeneous autoimmune disease that most often afflicts women in their child-bearing years. It is characterized by circulating self-reactive antibodies that deposit in tissues, including skin, kidneys, and brain, and the ensuing inflammatory response can lead to irreparable tissue damage. There are few reports of coexistence of Ankylosing spondylitis and Systemic lupus erythematosus which firmly emphasis on an overlap phenomenon between these two disorders. A 30 year old woman was admitted to our hospital due to signs of butterfly-shaped rash on her cheeks, which became prominent after exposure to sunlight and severe inflammatory low-back pain. About ten year earlier, AS had been diagnosed and treatment started with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is one of 10 reported cases of coexistence of these two disorders in English literature. The coexistence of these two diseases with different genetic backgrounds and clinical symptoms may implicate the importance of shared environmental factors.

  20. Virtual Testing of Composite Structures Made of High Entropy Alloys and Steel

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Victor Geantă

    2017-11-01

    Full Text Available High entropy alloys (HEA are metallic materials obtained from a mixture of at least five atomic-scale chemical elements. They are characterized by high mechanical strength, good thermal stability and hardenability. AlCrFeCoNi alloys have high compression strength and tensile strength values of 2004 MPa, respectively 1250 MPa and elongation of about 32.7%. These materials can be used to create HEA-steel type composite structures which resist to dynamic deformation during high speed impacts. The paper presents four different composite structures made from a combination of HEA and carbon steel plates, using different joining processes. The numerical simulation of the impact behavior of the composite structures was performed by virtual methods, taking into account the mechanical properties of both materials. For analyzing each constructive variant, three virtual shootings were designed, using a 7.62 × 39 mm cal. incendiary armor-piercing bullet and different impact velocities. The best ballistic behavior was provided by the composite structures obtained by welding and brazing that have good continuity and rigidity. The other composite structures, which do not have good surface adhesion, show high fragmentation risk, because the rear plate can fragment on the axis of shooting due to the combination between the shock waves and the reflected ones. The order of materials in the composite structure has a very important role in decreasing the impact energy.

  1. Innovative permeable cover system to reduce risks at a chemical munitions burial site

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Powels, C.C.; Bon, I.; Okusu, N.M.

    1997-01-01

    An innovative permeable sand cover with various integrated systems has been designed to contain and treat the Old O-Field chemical munitions landfill at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The 18,200 m 2 (4.5 acre) landfill was used from the mid 1930s to the mid 1950s for the disposal of chemical, incendiary, and explosive munitions from domestic and foreign origins, together with contaminated wastes associated with the development and production of chemical warfare agents (CWA). The site is suspected to be contaminated with white phosphorous (WP) (which when dry, spontaneously burns when exposed to air), shock sensitive picric acid fuses and has the potential to contain large quantities of CWA-filled munitions. Historically, one to three explosions or fires occurred per ten-year period at the landfill. Such events have the potential to cause a CWA release to the environment, which could potentially affect densely populated areas. Recovery and decontamination projects conducted at the site in the late 1940s and early 1950s used large amounts of decontamination chemicals (containing solvents) and fuels which further contaminated the area. The groundwater downgradient of the landfill is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, metals, explosives and CWA degradation compounds and is currently being contained by a groundwater extraction and treatment system. This report describes a remedial action program for the site

  2. The Influence of Methylsulfonylmethane on Inflammation-Associated Cytokine Release before and following Strenuous Exercise

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mariè van der Merwe

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Background. Inflammation is associated with strenuous exercise and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Methods. Physically active men were supplemented with either placebo or MSM (3 grams per day for 28 days before performing 100 repetitions of eccentric knee extension exercise. Ex vivo and in vitro testing consisted of evaluating cytokine production in blood (whole blood and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, before and through 72 hours after exercise, while in vivo testing included the evaluation of cytokines before and through 72 hours after exercise. Results. LPS stimulation of whole blood after MSM supplementation resulted in decreased induction of IL-1β, with no effect on IL-6, TNF-α, or IL-8. After exercise, there was a reduced response to LPS in the placebo, but MSM resulted in robust release of IL-6 and TNF-α. A small decrease in resting levels of proinflammatory cytokines was noted with MSM, while an acute postexercise increase in IL-10 was observed with MSM. Conclusion. Strenuous exercise causes a robust inflammatory reaction that precludes the cells from efficiently responding to additional stimuli. MSM appears to dampen the release of inflammatory molecules in response to exercise, resulting in a less incendiary environment, allowing cells to still have the capacity to mount an appropriate response to an additional stimulus after exercise.

  3. Transformative consumer research: Its origins and possible enrichment of the field of consumer research in South Africa

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Leona M. Ungerer

    2014-06-01

    Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the principles underlying transformative consumer research, including how it differs from traditional research methods and pointing out some established research areas in this field. Motivation for the study: Apart from pointing to a lack of literature, this article highlights the relevance of this approach for emerging countries by investigating the principles and practices embedded in transformative consumer research. It provides some indication of how an investigation of these areas may contribute to enhancing the relevance of consumer research to its various stakeholders. Research design, approach and method: The author used a literature review to conduct the study. Main findings: It appears that consumer research currently lacks external and internal relevance. A transformative consumer-research approach may address some of the fundamental problems in the way consumer psychologists plan and conduct their research, contributing to this lack of relevance. Practical/managerial implications: Most stages of the traditional research approach may need to be adapted for transformative research purposes. Some approaches appear particularly suited to transformative consumer research, including revelatory, incendiary, policy, participatory and coalition research. Contribution/value-add: This study’s primary contribution stems from suggesting a rather novel additional approach to enhance the relevance of consumer research in South Africa, pointing out some established practices in the field of transformative consumer research and suggesting how they may augment consumer research in South Africa.

  4. Formation of small sparks

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Barreto, E.; Jurenka, H.; Reynolds, S.I.

    1977-01-01

    The formation of a small incendiary spark at atmospheric pressure is identified with the transition from a weakly to a strongly ionized plasma. It is shown that initial gaseous ionization produced by avalanches and/or streamers always creates a high-temperature ideal electron gas that can shield the applied voltage difference and reduce ionization in the volume of the gas. The electron gas is collision dominated but able to maintain its high temperature, for times long compared to discharge events, through long-range Coulomb forces. In fact, electrons in the weakly ionized plasma constitute a collisionless independent fluid with a thermodynamic state that can be affected directly by field or density changes. Accordingly, with metal electrodes, cathode spot emission is always associated with the transition to a strongly ionized plasma. Neutral heating can be accomplished in two different ways. Effective dispersal of the electrons from the cathode leads to electron heating dominated by diffusion effects. Conversely, a fast rate of emission or rapid field changes can produce nonlinear wave propagation. It is shown that solitary waves are possible, and it is suggested that some spark transitions are associated with shock waves in the collisionless electron gas. In either the diffuse or nonlinear regime, neutral gas heating is controlled by collisions of ions with isotropic thermal electrons. This interaction is always subsequent to changes in state of the electron gas population. The basic results obtained should apply to all sparks

  5. Does charge transfer correlate with ignition probability?

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Holdstock, Paul

    2008-01-01

    Flammable or explosive atmospheres exist in many industrial environments. The risk of ignition caused by electrostatic discharges is very real and there has been extensive study of the incendiary nature of sparks and brush discharges. It is clear that in order to ignite a gas, an amount of energy needs to be delivered to a certain volume of gas within a comparatively short time. It is difficult to measure the energy released in an electrostatic discharge directly, but it is possible to approximate the energy in a spark generated from a well defined electrical circuit. The spark energy required to ignite a gas, vapour or dust cloud can be determined by passing such sparks through them. There is a relationship between energy and charge in a capacitive circuit and so it is possible to predict whether or not a spark discharge will cause an ignition by measuring the charge transferred in the spark. Brush discharges are in many ways less well defined than sparks. Nevertheless, some work has been done that has established a relationship between charge transferred in brush discharges and the probability of igniting a flammable atmosphere. The question posed by this paper concerns whether such a relationship holds true in all circumstances and if there is a universal correlation between charge transfer and ignition probability. Data is presented on discharges from textile materials that go some way to answering this question.

  6. Individuare gli incendiari. Fermare i piromani. Una professione / Identify the arsonists. Detain the pyromaniacs. A profession / Identifier les incendiaires. Arrêter les pyromanes. Un métier

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Giuseppe Vadalà

    2008-04-01

    Full Text Available From the end of the Second World War onwards, at an international level we witness an increasing development of the so called environmental emergency. The environment has become that immaterial resource that must assure all citizens well-being and renewable basic life resources for the coming generation, but globalization has produced a remarkable growth of negative results resulting in new types of menace.Forest fires directly represent one of these threats causing the destruction of both forest patrimony and natural ecosystems worldwide, contributing to an increase in the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. The Act n. 353/2000 concerning forest fires reorganized the whole sector. The aim of the law is to control and to fight the risk of forest fires thanks to the implementation of a synergic system.The criminal system of sanctions represents another type of enforcing action in order to protect woods from fires, but it can not be the only solution to this problem assuming that we have to face a very complex and multifaceted event which causes should be to identify any widespread illegal phenomena or any extremely superficial behaviour as well as in criminal ones, which take on specific characteristics when occurring in a rural context. The identification of a solution for this intricate problem could be research, both at a preventive and at a control level, into activities able to operate on the many different causes that are at the origin of that behaviour which is the cause of forest fires and arson.Depuis la fin de la seconde guerre mondiale, la prétendue émergence des questions environnementales au niveau international s'est développée de façon exponentielle. L'environnement est ainsi devenu ce bien immatériel qui doit assurer aux citoyens la salubrité et les ressources vitales renouvelables pour les générations futures. Toutefois, la mondialisation a provoqué une forte augmentation des effets dangereux pour l'environnement et cela a créé des typologies nouvelles de menaces.Les incendies de forêts représentent exactement une de ces menaces parce qu'ils causent non seulement la destruction du patrimoine forestier mondial, mais aussi celle des écosystèmes naturels et ils contribuent à l'augmentation du niveau de l'anhydride carbonique dans l'atmosphère.La loi cadre en matière d'incendies de forêts, n° 353 du 21 novembre 2000, a réorganisé tout le secteur. Cette norme a pour but de contrôler et de s'opposer à la menace des incendies de forêts par la mise en place d'un système cohérent et synergique. Le système de sanctions représente un moyen supplémentaire de renforcer la défense de forêts contre les incendies, mais il n'est pas décisif en soi car il faut faire face à un événement complexe et multiforme, dont les causes sont liées à l'illégalité répandue, aux comportements superficiels et/ou criminels qui revêtent des caractéristiques spécifiques dans le milieu rural.La résolution d'une problématique si complexe implique une lutte à la fois préventive et répressive grâce aux actions résolues contre les nombreuses causes à la base des comportements d'incendies volontaires et involontaires.

  7. La fauna come inferno della psiche. Metamorfosi animali nelle interpretazioni lautréamontiane di Gaston Bachelard e Georges Bataille

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Francesco Agnellini

    2012-10-01

    Full Text Available The article emphasizes the reading about the work of Lautréamont given by Gaston Bachelard and, in particular, the very important role that has in it the animal metamorphosis. In a second step, it would approach it through the analysis given by Georges Bataille in La Littérature et le Mal (Literature and Evil, but never fully expressed. In the Lautréamont, Bachelard identifies as the formal cause of the Chants de Maldoror the vitalistic dynamism expressed by the rapid succession of images in the unit of animal metamorphosis. The procedure followed in the course of the analysis is similar to the one previously used in La Psychanalyse du feu (The psychoanalyse of the fire: to stress the infantile, subjective and poetic dimension that precedes any objective knowledge. Rather than an happy rêverie, Lautréamont makes figuratively evident an incendiary fantasy focused on the uprising, and expression of a complex of animal life which gives rise to a phenomenology of aggression; as if the call of the embers presented in La Psychanalyse du feu as an example of the most serene philosophy of the rest, had a necessary prelude in the hell of the psyche, graphically represented by the cruelty of animals that inhabit the Chants. Similarly, Georges Bataille sees in Lautreamont the founder of a literature that expressed herself as intensive communication, based on the knowledge of evil, far from everyday life, and near to the dark zones, unconscious, regulated by taboos, which heterology designates as the accursed share. Therefore, the combination between the two authors is potentially really profitable, in the common vision of the ducassian work as a mental space animated by metamorphic images and expression of violent obsessions that translates the needs of animals and the desire of freedom of each person.

  8. Colour revolutions: criminal-legal aspect

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sergey Alekseyevich Gordeychik

    2015-03-01

    Full Text Available Objective basing on the analysis of colour revolution technologies in different countries to formulate propositions for improving criminal legislation aimed at counteraction against this phenomenon. Methods general scientific induction deduction analysis synthesis and specific scientific formaljuridical and comparativelegal. Results using the results of colour revolutionsrsquo research carried out by political scientists the author evaluates the character and level of public danger of colour revolutions. The author states that the colour revolutions threaten the normal existence of the country or several countries. The conclusion is made that the colour revolutions must be counteracted by criminallegal means. The article states the absence of norms in the existing criminal legislation which would impose criminal liability on organizers incendiaries and participants of colour revolutions. It is proposed to supplement the existing criminal law with the norm stipulating the liability for such deeds and to insert this norm into Art. 34 ldquoCrimes against peace and security of humanityrdquo thus equating organization preparation and implementing colour revolutions with planning preparation launching and conducting an aggressive war Art. 353 of the Russian Criminal Code. Scientific novelty basing on the existing legal norms modern politological and juridical scientific literature a conclusion is made that the colour revolutions are based on the abuse of law. This allows the organizers of colour revolutions to legally prepare and implement the subversion of undesirable political regimes. The author formulates proposals for supplementing the criminal legislation. Practical value the materials and conclusions of the article can be used in lawmaking activity when elaborating the drafts of legal acts for changing and supplementing the Russian Criminal Code for research activity when preparing monographs and dissertations tutorials and articles when

  9. CLOSING IN ON CLOSURE PERSPECTIVES FROM HANFORD and FERNALD AN UPDATE

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    CONNELL, J.D.

    2004-01-01

    In World War II, the arms dramatically changed from machine guns and incendiary bombs to nuclear weapons. Hanford and Fernald, two government-run sites, were part of the infrastructure established for producing the fissile material for making these weapons, as well as building a nuclear arsenal to deter future aggression by other nations. This paper compares and contrasts, from a communications point of view, these two Department of Energy (DOE) closure sites, each with Fluor as a prime contractor. The major differences between the two sites--Hanford in Washington state and Fernald in Ohio--includes the following: size of the site and the workforce, timing of closure, definition of end state, DOE oversight, proximity to population centers, readiness of local population for closure, and dependence of the local economy on the site's budget. All of these elements affect how the sites' communication professionals provide information even though the objectives are the same: build public acceptance and support for DOE's mission to accelerate cleanup, interface with stakeholders to help ensure that issues are addressed and goals are met, help workers literally work themselves out of jobs--faster, and prepare the ''host'' communities to deal with the void left when the sites are closed and the government contractors are gone. The 12-months between January 04 and January 05 have seen dramatic transformations at both sites, as Fernald is now just about a year away from closure and FLuor's work at Hanford has made the transition from operations to deactivation and demolition. While Fernald continues to clean out silos of waste and ship it off site, Hanford is dealing with recent state legislation that has the potential to significantly impact the progress of cleanup. These changes have even further accentuated the differences in the content, distribution, and impact of communications

  10. Vulnerability of populations and the urban health care systems to nuclear weapon attack – examples from four American cities

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Dallas Cham E

    2007-02-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background The threat posed by the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD within the United States has grown significantly in recent years, focusing attention on the medical and public health disaster capabilities of the nation in a large scale crisis. While the hundreds of thousands or millions of casualties resulting from a nuclear weapon would, in and of itself, overwhelm our current medical response capabilities, the response dilemma is further exacerbated in that these resources themselves would be significantly at risk. There are many limitations on the resources needed for mass casualty management, such as access to sufficient hospital beds including specialized beds for burn victims, respiration and supportive therapy, pharmaceutical intervention, and mass decontamination. Results The effects of 20 kiloton and 550 kiloton nuclear detonations on high priority target cities are presented for New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. Thermal, blast and radiation effects are described, and affected populations are calculated using 2000 block level census data. Weapons of 100 Kts and up are primarily incendiary or radiation weapons, able to cause burns and start fires at distances greater than they can significantly damage buildings, and to poison populations through radiation injuries well downwind in the case of surface detonations. With weapons below 100 Kts, blast effects tend to be stronger than primary thermal effects from surface bursts. From the point of view of medical casualty treatment and administrative response, there is an ominous pattern where these fatalities and casualties geographically fall in relation to the location of hospital and administrative facilities. It is demonstrated that a staggering number of the main hospitals, trauma centers, and other medical assets are likely to be in the fatality plume, rendering them essentially inoperable in a crisis. Conclusion Among the consequences of this

  11. Prefrontal lobotomy on Evita was done for behavior/personality modification, not just for pain control.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nijensohn, Daniel E

    2015-07-01

    Eva Perón, best known as Evita, underwent a prefrontal lobotomy in 1952. Although the procedure was said to have been performed to relieve the pain of metastatic cancer, the author carried out a search for evidence that suggests that the procedure was prescribed to decrease violence and to modify Evita's behavior and personality, and not just for pain control. To further elucidate the circumstances surrounding the treatment of this well-known historic figure, the author reviewed the development of the procedure known as prefrontal lobotomy and its three main indications: management of psychiatric illness, control of intractable pain from terminal cancer, and mind control and behavior/personality modification. The role of pioneering neurosurgeons in the development of prefrontal lobotomy, particularly in Connecticut and at Yale University, was also studied, and the political and historical conditions in Argentina in 1952 and to the present were analyzed. Evita was the wife of Juan Perón, who was the supreme leader of the Peronist party as well as president of Argentina. In 1952, however, the Peronist government in Argentina was bicephalic because Evita led the left wing of the party and ran the Female Peronist Party and the Eva Perón Foundation. She was followed by a group of hardcore loyalists interested in accelerating the revolution. Evita was also suffering from metastatic cervical cancer, and her illness increased her anxiety and moved her to purchase weapons to start training workers' militias. Although the apparent purpose was to fight her husband's enemies, this was done without his knowledge. She delivered fiery political speeches and wrote incendiary documents that would have led to a fierce clash in the country at that time. Notwithstanding the disreputable connotation of conspiracy theories, evidence was found of a potentially sinister political conspiracy, led by General Perón, to quiet down his wife Evita and modify her behavior/personality to

  12. O cinema brasileiro diante de um presente incendiário: o filme o caso dos irmãos Naves (1967, de Luís Sérgio Person, e o despertar das consciências durante o regime de exceção = Brazilian cinema in face of an incendiary present: the film o caso dos irmãos Naves (1967, by Luís Sérgio Person, and the awakening of consciousness during the dictatorial regime = El cine brasileño frente a un presente incendiario: la película o caso dos irmãos Naves (1967, de Luís Sérgio Person, y el despertar de las conciencias durante el régimen de excepción

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Silva, Jaison Castro

    2017-01-01

    Full Text Available O artigo analisa as diversas opiniões sobre o filme O Caso dos Irmãos Naves (1967, de Luís Sérgio Person, contidas na crítica cinematográfica da época da estreia do filme, que mobilizaram questões humanistas fundamentais, principalmente no que diz respeito à abordagem das violentas cenas de tortura, muitas vezes acusadas de sadismo, existentes naquela película. Em meio à discussão sobre a narrativa cinematográfica e às possibilidades de apagamento do cineasta frente à representação documental da verdade, despontava o debate sobre como as formas imagéticas de produção de sentido podem mobilizar sentimentos e/ou acionar consciências de maneira política. A abordagem histórica, a partir de referências como Walter Benjamin e Giorgio Agamben, insere-se na discussão sobre visualidade, investigando como, apesar de um quadro de referências comum, o período apresentava diferentes formas de acionar as imagens

  13. Obituary: Wulff-Dieter Heintz, 1930-2006

    Science.gov (United States)

    Augensen, Harry John; Geyer, Edward Heinrich

    2006-12-01

    Wulff Dieter Heintz, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Swarthmore College, passed away at his home on 10 June 2006, following a two-year battle with lung cancer. He had turned seventy-six just one week earlier. Wulff was a leading authority on visual double stars and also a chess master. A prominent educator, researcher, and scholar, Wulff was noted for being both succinct and meticulous in everything he did. Wulff Heintz was born on 3 June 1930 in Würzburg (Bavaria), Germany. Naturally left-handed, his elementary school teachers forced him to learn to write "correctly" using his right hand, and so he became ambidextrous. During the 1930s, Wulff's family saw the rise of Adolf Hitler and lived under the repressive Nazi regime. As a teenager during World War II, Wulff listened to his family radio for any news from the outside world. He used to say that he loved the blackouts during the bombing runs because it made it much easier to see the stars. On the night of 16 March 1945, Wulff's home town of Würzburg was heavily bombed, resulting in the destruction of eighty-five percent of the city and the deaths of several thousand civilians. One incendiary bomb landed on the roof of his family home, but Wulff climbed up to the roof and extinguished it before the flames could spread. The next morning, he discovered (with some delight) that his high school had burned to the ground. As Germany continued to suffer massive losses, teenage boys as young as fifteen were inducted into the military and sent off to replenish the troops. To avoid an uncertain fate, Wulff hid out in a farmhouse in the countryside outside of Munich. When the allied troops invaded Germany in 1945, Wulff volunteered to be a translator between the American and British soldiers and the local villagers. In return for his valuable service, the soldiers taught Wulff how to smoke cigarettes, a habit that he continued until his final days even after having been diagnosed with lung cancer. Shortly after the war