Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on six research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL-22-009-016)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-8415

The Covariant Approach to LRS Perfect Fluid Spacetime Geometries

The dynamics of perfect fluid spacetime geometries which exhibit {\em Local Rotational Symmetry} (LRS) are reformulated in the language of a $1+\,3$ "threading" decomposition of the spacetime manifold, where covariant fluid and curvature variables are used. This approach presents a neat alternative to the orthonormal frame formalism. The dynamical equations reduce to a set of differential relations between purely scalar quantities. The consistency conditions are worked out in a transparent way. We discuss their various subcases in detail and focus in particular on models with higher symmetries within the class of expanding spatially inhomogeneous LRS models, via a consideration of functional dependencies between the dynamical variables.Comment: 25 pages, uuencoded/compressed postscript fil

Intra-articular knee haemangioma originating from the anterior cruciate ligament: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Synovial haemangioma is a rare intra-articular benign tumour, which may arise from any synovium-lined surface, but particularly in the knee joint. Synovial haemangioma originating from the anterior cruciate ligament has not been reported previously.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 34-year-old man presented with a history of intermittent knee pain, locking and swelling.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Knee intra-articular haemangioma, a very rare benign tumour, is often misdiagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging is effective in detecting this lesion and should be performed in cases of persistent knee swelling and pain.</p

Plasma Physics

Contains research objectives and reports on three research projects.U. S. Atomic Energy Commission under Contract AT(30-1)-1842National Science Foundation (Grant G-9330)U.S. Air Force (Electronic Systems Division) under Contract AF19(604)-599

Banks' risk assessment of Swedish SMEs

Building on the literatures on asymmetric information and risk taking, this paper applies conjoint experiments to investigate lending officers' probabilities of supporting credit to established or existing SMEs. Using a sample of 114 Swedish lending officers, we test hypotheses concerning how information on the borrower's ability to repay the loan; alignment of risk preferences; and risk sharing affect their willingness to grant credit. Results suggest that features that reduce the risk to the bank and shift the risk to the borrower have the largest impact. The paper highlights the interaction between factors that influence the credit decision. Implications for SMEs, banks and research are discussed

Intelligence within BAOR and NATO's Northern Army Group

During the Cold War the UK's principal military role was its commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) through the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), together with wartime command of NATO's Northern Army Group. The possibility of a surprise attack by the numerically superior Warsaw Pact forces ensured that great importance was attached to intelligence, warning and rapid mobilisation. As yet we know very little about the intelligence dimension of BAOR and its interface with NATO allies. This article attempts to address these neglected issues, ending with the impact of the 1973 Yom Kippur War upon NATO thinking about warning and surprise in the mid-1970s. It concludes that the arrangements made by Whitehall for support to BAOR from national assets during crisis or transition to war were - at best - improbable. Accordingly, over the years, BAOR developed its own unique assets in the realm of both intelligence collection and special operations in order to prepare for the possible outbreak of conflict

Plasma Dynamics

Contains research objectives and reports on three research projects.National Science Foundation under Grant G-9930Air Force Cambridge Research Center under Contract AF-19(604)-5992WADC Contract AF33(616)-3984, with the Electronic Systems LaboratoryContract AF19(604)-4551 with Air Force Cambridge Research CenterAtomic Energy Commission under Contract AT(30-1)184

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on seven research projects.M. I. T. Sloan Fund for Basic ResearchNational Science Foundation (Grant GP-8415)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U. S. Air Force) under Contract DA 28-043-AMC-02536(E)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL 22-009-016

Bottom Production

We review the prospects for bottom production physics at the LHC.Comment: 74 pages, Latex, 71 figures, to appear in the Report of the ``1999 CERN Workshop on SM physics (and more) at the LHC'', P. Nason, G. Ridolfi, O. Schneider G.F. Tartarelli, P. Vikas (conveners