Ideas by Statistical Mechanics (ISM) is a generic program to model evolution and propagation of ideas/patterns throughout populations subjected to endogenous and exogenous interactions. The program is based on the author’s work in Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions (SMNI), and uses the author’s Adaptive Simulated Annealing (ASA) code for optimizations of training sets, as well as...

In order to understand the evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) of a galaxy, we have analysed the gas and dust budget of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Using the Spitzer Space Telescope, we measured the integrated gas mass-loss rate across asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and red supergiants (RSGs) in the SMC, and obtained a rate of 1.4 × 10−3 M yr−1. This is much smaller than the e...

N umerous studies have been conducted on the pathologic changes that occur in the lung due to exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. These studies indicate that the entire lung, from the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract down to the pulmonary capillary endothelium, can be damaged by prolonged exposure to elevated partial pressures of oxygen.' Reports of 2-4 lung tissue changes due to oxygen tox...

An overview is given of ISO results on regions of high excitation ISM and gas, i.e. H ii regions, the Galactic Centre and Supernovae Remnants. IR emission due to fine-structure lines, molecular hydrogen, silicates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dust are summarised, their diagnostic capabilities illustrated and their implications highlighted.