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This article explores the effects of social media penetration and internet connectivity on the likelihood that parties within a conventional intra-state conflict will enter negotiations. The proliferation of advanced information communications technologies, coupled with violent political collective action, calls for further examination of how these variables intertwine to affect conflict patterns. Beginning with a discussion on communications technology and the bargaining model of war, the author presents a theoretical model that seeks to create a foundation that can be used for future empirical testing.

Producing and selling mechanically complex and expensive consumer durables involves a number of difficulties, especially if the products are manufactured in high volume. This paper focuses on the problem that companies employing high volume production methods are extremely vulnerable to the consequences of the variance in final sales across the business cycle, unless they devise methods for adjusting production to sales. Evidence is presented that it was the Ford Motor Company that first developed the methods required to ensure that production was kept in line with sales. These methods played a heretofore overlooked role in the success of Ford during its early years. General Motors was able to overtake Ford for leadership of the automobile industry only after it began to adopt similar methods, beginning in 1924.

Within the last few years several manufacturers have been producing the 'next generation' of scientific CCDs. These devices have small pixels (approximately 15 micrometers), high UV and broad-band spectral response (greater than 80%), very low readout noise (less than 4 e- rms), large format (2048*4096) and close butting capability. We present examples of recent data taken on the WHT (at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma) obtained from one such device -- the EEV CCD42 array. The detector has been used for spectroscopy and direct imaging with excellent results. Design and performance details, as well as various special operational modes will be discussed. This device has been adopted for scientific imaging on the Gemini telescopes, as well as several other major observatories -- and so these first operational results should demonstrate the power of these new sensors. Variants of the CCD42 design are now being made to yield slightly different architectures and packaging options. We will compare predicted with actual performance, and discuss characteristics and applications of this new sensor.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The prime focus of the William Herschel telescope (WHT) provides a field of one degree which is to be used for fiber spectroscopy. The WYFFOS spectrograph, based on a Baranne white pupil design, is located on one of the Nasmyth platforms of the telescope and is fed from prime focus by 126, 26 meter long fibers. The system is designed for a wavelength range of 350 nm to 1.1 microns using both transmission and reflection gratings. This paper describes the integration and testing of the spectrograph undertaken in the laboratory. The image quality and spectral resolving power have been measured. The scattered light and amount of cross-talk between adjacent fibers has been assessed. The provision of calibration illumination and facilities for back illumination of the fibers, a requirement needed by the fiber positioner, is discussed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

We review the present status of CCD use at major observatories, discuss the various developments that are leading to improved sensors. The choice of devices is quite extensive, but far from stable! A look at progress over the last few years helps to put present and future developments in perspective. Several areas of active CCD development are presented and discussed.

CCDs are widely used in astronomy for spectroscopy, photometry, astrometry, and many other applications. This array sensor has a periodic structure which defines individual picture elements (pixels). The stability and excellent overall response of this type of detector are well known. Less widely described is the fact that the internal structure of the array gives rise to intrapixel variations in responsivity. These response modulations are particularly relevant when the data is spatially undersampled; a situation that is not entirely uncommon in certain instruments. We have made detailed measurements of the response variations within CCDs, using an experimental arrangement that gave a 2 micron resolution. Optical response has been determined at all sample points within a pixel, at selected wavelengths in the range 400 to 900 nm. Measurements are presented for front-illuminated thick (EEV) devices and backside- illuminated thin (Tek) CCDs. Models of the internal structure have been constructed and used to calculate theoretical response data; these have been compared with the experimental results. An example of an extracted (FOS) spectrum which demonstrates these undersampling effects is discussed.

A tight-binding model Hamiltonian is newly parametrized for silicon carbide based on fits to a database of energy points calculated within the density functional theory approach of the electronic energy surfaces of nanoclusters and the total energy of bulk 3C and 2H polytypes at different densities. This TB model includes s and p angular momentum symmetries with nonorthogonal atomic basis functions. With the aid of the new TB model, minima of silicon carbide cagelike clusters, nanotubes, ring-shaped ribbons, and nanowires are predicted. Energetics, structure, growth sequences, and stability patterns are reported for the nanoclusters and nanotubes. The band structure of SiC nanotubes and nanowires indicates that the band gap of the nanotubes ranges from 0.57 to 2.38 eV depending on the chirality, demonstrating that these nanotubes are semiconductors or insulators. One type of nanowire is metallic, another type is semiconductor, and the rest are insulators.

Part 1 The new competitive reality: discovering the new market standards six standards of success - how America measures up dynamics of technical change and the new economic cycle. Part 2 People and organizations in the new economy: new structures that link organizations, industries, and markets competitive prospects in critical industries. Part 3 Job and skill demands in the new economy: the changing quantity, distribution, and quality of jobs the increasing need for complex and wide-ranging job skills sixteen job skills crucial to success. Part 4 Strategies for competitive success: organizational strategies for meeting the new competitive standards continuous learning - the cornerstone of economic progress. Conclusion: challenges facing America in the new economy.

When the Interstate Commerce Commission first gained substantial control over railroad freight charges in the early years of the 20th century, it used its power to ensure adherence to published tariffs and, hence, to reduce the volatility of freight charges. Following the passage of the Transportation Act of 1920, the Commission's dominant regulatory objective changed to one of providing railways with an adequate return on their invested capital. The Commission's attempts to attain this new objective resulted in substantial increases in real freight charges during economic contractions. The increase in real freight charges at the beginning of the Great Depression almost certainly increased its severity.