Mithradates Ii

Mithradates recovered the eastern provinces that had been overrun by invading Saka nomads during his father's reign. In the west he conquered Mesopotamia and defeated the Armenian king Artavasdes, whose son Tigranes (later Tigranes II) became a Parthian hostage and was redeemed only for the cession

Great Escarpment

Plateau edge of southern Africa that separates the region's highland interior plateau from the fairly narrow coastal strip. It lies predominantly within the Republic of South Africa and Lesotho but extends northeastward into eastern Zimbabwe (where it separates much of that country from Mozambique) and northwestward into Namibia and Angola (where it separates

Skellefte�

Town and port, in the l�n (county) of V�sterbotten, northern Sweden, on the Skellefte�lv (river) near the Gulf of Bothnia. Although incorporated in 1845, it did not become important until after the discovery, in 1918, of the rich Boliden mineral deposits northwestward. In 1952 Skellefte� absorbed several surrounding communities. Gold, silver, copper, arsenic, and other metals, as well

Cherub

Plural �Cherubim, � in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic literature, a celestial winged being with human, animal, or birdlike characteristics who functions as a throne bearer of the deity. Derived from ancient Middle Eastern mythology and iconography, these celestial beings serve important liturgical and intercessory functions in the hierarchy of angels. The term most likely derives

Habsburg, House Of

There have been several good studies of economic development during the Habsburg reign. David F. Good, The Economic Rise of the Habsburg Empire, 1750 - 1914 (1984), is a solid survey. More advanced students may examine John Komlos, The Habsburg Monarchy as a Customs Union: Economic Development in Austria-Hungary in the Nineteenth Century (1983). Also worthy of inspection is John Komlos (ed.), Economic Development in the Habsburg Monarchy in the Nineteenth Century: Essays (1983). International relations and Habsburg foreign policy are the subjects of H.G. Koenigsberger, The Habsburgs and Europe, 1516 - 1660 (1971); F.R. Bridge, The Habsburg Monarchy Among the Great Powers, 1815 - 1918 (1990); and Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., Austria-Hungary and the Origins of the First World War (1991).

Habsburg, House Of

There have been several good studies of economic development during the Habsburg reign. David F. Good, The Economic Rise of the Habsburg Empire, 1750 - 1914 (1984), is a solid survey. More advanced students may examine John Komlos, The Habsburg Monarchy as a Customs Union: Economic Development in Austria-Hungary in the Nineteenth Century (1983). Also worthy of inspection is John Komlos (ed.), Economic Development in the Habsburg Monarchy in the Nineteenth Century: Essays (1983). International relations and Habsburg foreign policy are the subjects of H.G. Koenigsberger, The Habsburgs and Europe, 1516 - 1660 (1971); F.R. Bridge, The Habsburg Monarchy Among the Great Powers, 1815 - 1918 (1990); and Samuel R. Williamson, Jr., Austria-Hungary and the Origins of the First World War (1991).

Van Allen, James Alfred

Van Allen was a naval officer during World War II and helped develop the radio proximity fuse for naval artillery shells. In 1946 he was placed in

Fetter, Frank Albert

After an interruption of university studies because of illness in his family, Fetter graduated from Indiana University in 1891 and from Cornell University in 1892. He subsequently studied in France and Germany, receiving his Ph.D. (on population)

Protein, Results of X-ray diffraction studies

Most knowledge concerning secondary and tertiary structure of globular proteins has been obtained by the examination of their crystals using X-ray diffraction. In this technique X rays are allowed to strike the crystal; the X rays are diffracted by the crystal and impinge on a photographic plate, forming a pattern of spots. The measured intensity of the diffraction

China, Readjustment and reaction, 1961 - 65

Reality can be seen, however, in the increasing

Buber, Martin

German-Jewish religious philosopher, biblical translator and interpreter, and master of German prose style. Buber's philosophy was centred on the encounter, or dialogue, of man with other beings, particularly exemplified in the relation with other men but ultimately resting on and pointing to the relation with God. This thought

Vagina

In humans the vagina is about 9 cm (3.5 inches) long; it is located in front of the rectum and behind the bladder. The cervix of the uterus connects to the upper region

Ear, Human, Muscles

Two minuscule muscles are located in the middle ear. The longer muscle, called the tensor tympani, emerges from a bony canal just above the opening of the eustachian tube and runs backward then outward as it changes direction in passing over a pulleylike projection of bone. The tendon of this muscle is attached to the upper part of the handle of the malleus. When contracted,

Nervous System Disease, Facial nerve

The herpes

Arad

The site became a Roman outpost south of the river at Aradu Nou (�New Arad�). The first documented mention of Arad dates from 1156. Arad was in Turkish hands, with brief

Ammers-k�ller, Jo Van

Van Ammers-K�ller began her writing career as a playwright. Her first successful novels, Het huis der vreugden (1922; The House of Joy) and Jenny Huysten (1923; Jenny Huysten's Career), deal with life in and around the theatre and draw on her experiences as a dramatist in London from 1912 to 1921. Her most successful

Liechtenstein

In late October the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, ruled that Prince Hans Adam

Overbeck, Johann Friedrich

In 1806 Overbeck entered the Academy of Vienna, where, disappointed in the academic approach to teaching, he and Franz Pforr in 1809 founded the Lucas Brotherhood. They sought to revive

Sun Orchid

A sun orchid derives its name from its habit of remaining closed except in strong sunlight. Some self-pollinating species never open their flowers. The lemon orchid

Noble Gas, Xenon

The name xenon is derived from the Greek word xenos, �strange� or �foreign.� Like several other noble gases, xenon is present in meteorites and certain minerals, but its only useful source has been the atmosphere, of which it composes 86 parts per 109 by volume. Nuclear reactors may become an important source of xenon, because the fission of uranium produces several isotopes

Sorb

German �Sorben, � any member of a Slavic minority living in eastern Germany. The Sorbs are concentrated in the Spree River valley, in the area of Bautzen (Budy

Bryant, Bear

Bryant played tackle and was all-state at Fordyce (Ark.) High School; he went on to the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (1932 - 36; B.S., 1936), where he played blocking end. During his collegiate career the team won 23 games, lost 3, and tied 2. He played on

Romanus Iii Argyrus

He was an undistinguished Byzantine patrician, who was compelled by the dying emperor, Constantine VIII, to marry his daughter Zoe and to become his successor. Romanus showed great eagerness to make his mark as a ruler but was mostly unfortunate in his enterprises; and in his endeavour to relieve the pressure of taxation he disorganized

Ibn Al-jawzi

Ibn al-Jawzi received a traditional religious education, and, upon the completion of his studies, he chose a teaching career, becoming

Nicaragua

Officially �Republic of Nicaragua, �Spanish �Rep�blica de Nicaragua� country of Central America, bounded by Honduras on the north, the Caribbean Sea on the east, Costa Rica on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is the largest of the Central American republics, with an area of 50,464 square miles (130,700 square kilometres). Its population, mostly mestizo, is an ethnic mixture that reflects the country's history. The capital is Managua, the nation's

Novello, Ivor

Novello, the son of the celebrated Welsh singing teacher, Dame Clara Novello Davies, was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, and served with the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I. He became famous with a

Arrangement

In music, traditionally, any adaptation of a composition to fit a medium other than that for which it was originally written, while at the same time retaining the general character of the original. The word was frequently used interchangeably with transcription, although the latter carried the connotation of elaboration of the original, as in the virtuosic piano

Computers, The Turing machine

Alan Turing, while a mathematics student at University of Cambridge, was inspired by German mathematician David Hilbert's formalist program, which sought to demonstrate that any mathematical problem can potentially be solved by an algorithm, that is, by a purely mechanical process. Turing interpreted this to mean a computing machine and set out to design one capable

Nature, Philosophy Of, Evolutionary ethics

Toward the end of the 19th century, Herbert Spencer, in England,

Earn

Loch (lake) and river, central Scotland. Loch Earn lies on the boundary between the council area of Stirling and the council area of Perth and Kinross, and the River Earn flows through Perth and Kinross. Loch Earn is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from east to west with a maximum width of 0.5 mile (0.8 km). Lochearnhead is situated at the western end of the loch and St. Fillan's village at the eastern extremity,