ASSET FIXITY, ASSET SPECIFICITY AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC CHANGE: HYPOTHESIS AND IMPLICATIONS

That asset specificity and asset fixity are impediments to economic adjustment is well understood in the literatures of industrial organization and agricultural economics. In this paper, we show that spatial factors can plausible be expected to be arguments in functions that define asset fixity and specificity and, hence, asset fixity may be systematically related to space. The implications with regard to differences across space in rates of adjustment to market signals suggest that the short run is longer in remote than in less remote places, which may prove useful in explaining the behavior of a spatial economic system during times of rapid technological change.Industrial Organization,

Climatic variations on Mars: 2. Evolution of carbon dioxide atmosphere and polar caps

The long-term variations in the atmospheric pressure and the polar cap temperature of Mars resulting from the obliquity oscillations (presented by W. R. Ward, 1974) are discussed. In performing these calculations, the assumption is made that the atmosphere is in equilibrium with perennial CO_2 ice deposits at the north pole, as is proposed by R. B. Leighton and B. C. Murray (1966). If heat transport by the atmosphere is neglected, the temperature of CO_2 ice at the poles ranges from ∼130°K to ∼160°K, the corresponding atmospheric pressure rising from a few tenths of a millibar to ∼30 mbar, respectively. The neglect of atmospheric heat transport probably underestimates the peak pressure. Because the altitude of the south cap is ∼2 km higher than that of the north cap, CO_2 ice is unstable there and will migrate to the north cap at a rate ∼10 g/cm^2 yr, the implication being that the south residual cap is water ice. A simplified model of the annual polar caps and pressure fluctuations is also presented. This indicates that when the obliquity is at its maximum, the annual caps may be greatly enlarged in both mass and maximum coverage. The modifications introduced by including significant atmospheric heat transport are then discussed. Finally, the implications of different past climatic conditions on the mechanism of eolian erosion are briefly considered

Mitochondrial Intergenic Spacer in Fairy Basslets (Serranidae: Anthiinae) and the Simultaneous Analysis of Nucleotide and Rearrangement Data

We present the results of a study that implements a recently developed phylogenetic algorithm that combines fixed-states nucleotide optimization with breakpoint analysis to identify and examine the evolution of a mitochondrial intergenic spacer between the tRNAVal and 16S rRNA loci in a clade of fairy basslets (Serranidae: Anthiinae). The results of the analysis indicate that this spacer evolved once and that it may be increasing in size through evolutionary time. The resulting molecular hypothesis corroborates much of the previous morphological phylogenetic work.We would like to thank J. Smith (Los Alamos National Laboratory) and J. Faivovich, T. Grant, K. Pickett, J. Sparks, M. Stiassny, and K. Tang (all at or formerly at the American Museum of Natural History [AMNH]) for discussing aspects of this project with us. We are grateful to H. Endo (Kochi University), the Gahan Family, J. Leis and M. McGrouther (Australian Museum), Reef and Fin (Stamford, CT), and H. Walker (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) for providing specimens used in this study. This project was supported by funding from the AMNH Lerner-Gray Program for Marine Research, the NASA–Ames Fundamental Space Biology Program, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the National Science Foundation (DEB-0405246 and DEB-0732642)

System Development from a Legal Perspective

This paper discusses the potential for legal liability when software malfunctions and causes financial loss or harm to the user. The focus is on the systems developer as opposed to the vendor, although the samelegal issues may apply to vendors as well. Various theories in the U.S. legal system may form the basis for legal action, on the part of the purchaser or ultimate user, based upon the characteristics of the individual case. The legal theories examined, for their application to malfunctioning software, are breach of contract and the tort theories of fraud and computer malpractice

Surface Electromagnetic Wave Mode and Field Analysis in a Metal-Metal-Oxide-Air System with Damping

An Explanation is Provided for the Surface Electromagnetic Wave (SEW) Energy Ejection from a Thin Film at the Longitudinal and Transverse Optical-Phonon Frequencies of the Film Material. Field Ratio Calculations Identify Previously Discussed Metal-Metal-Oxide-Air SEW Modes as Those Expected from the Berreman Configuration, and It is Shown that Greenler Technique High-Incidence-Angle-Reflectance Data on the Same System May Be Similarly Interpreted. © 1976 the American Physical Society

Surface Electromagnetic Waves on Layered Systems with Damping

The Dispersion Curves, Propagation Distances, and Poynting Vectors of Surface Electromagnetic Waves Propagating on a System of Cu-Cu2O-Air with Variable Film Thickness Have Been Calculated using the Full Dispersion Realation Including Damping. Double-Dip Structure in the Propagation Distance for Intermediately Thick overlayers, the Shifting of One Dip Below ΣTO, and the Presence of the Other Dip at ΣLO Are Explained in Terms of Features of the Dispersion Curve. the Complete Poynting-Vector Calculations Show that Predictions of Field Bunching at ΣLO Are Probably in Error. © 1975 the American Physical Society

I.R. Lattice-Vibration Spectra of MnF2

The Room Temperature Reflectivity of MnF2 Has Been Measured in the Far I.r. between 50 and 800 Cm-1. the Reflectivity Spectra Show Four I.r.-Active Modes Which Can Be Identified as Eu and A2u Modes. the Spectra Also Show Structure Which Might Be Related to Multiphonon Effects. the Dielectric Functions Were Determined by Fitting the Reflectivity Data with Classical Oscillator Parameters. © 1974

MINNESOTA CURRENT FARM SITUATION

These papers describe the current economic conditions and outline some of the opportunities facing Minnesota farmers as they complete 1998 and develop plans for 1999. The first paper, Prospects For Farm Income in 1998, describes the variation in net farm income farmers in the Southeastern and Southwestern Farm Management Associations have experienced over the past twenty years. The possible effects of 1998's low commodity prices and government program payments on net farm income are discussed in the context of this historical variation. This paper points out that some farmers are experiencing a very good year in 1998, while others may have very low net farm income this year. Those with high incomes in 1998 may be primarily interested in opportunities to enhance their cash flow for 1999, while those experiencing financial stress during 1998 may need to consider a wider range of adjustments as they plan for the coming year. The remaining papers provide information farmers may want to consider as they plan their marketing and financial strategies for the coming year. Financial Management Alternatives outlines a wide range of financial management alternatives that can be used to deal with cash flow problems. Some of these alternatives will be of interest to farmers who have difficulty in projecting a positive net cash flow with the relatively low commodity prices being projected for 1999. Others are of primary interest to farmers who have relatively high debt levels and must find ways to improve both their net cash flow and their debt/asset position. Some observers have suggested that the low commodity prices projected for 1999 may lead to reductions in cash rental rates. The paper, Cropland Rental Market Impacts of Low Crop Prices, discusses a procedure to estimate "fair rental rates", and provides an historical perspective of the impact low commodity prices have had on land rental rates. The remaining two papers, Situation and Outlook For the Livestock Sector, and Considerations in Developing a Corn/Soybean Marketing Plan for 1998/1999, discuss the major factors to evaluate and options to consider in developing a marketing plan for corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle for the coming year.Farm Management,