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Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "The Atlantic Century?," in the February 8, 1999 issue, "A GOP Tax Cut: No Sure Winner," in the February 8, 1999 issue, and "Social Security: Go Refigure," by Aaron Bernstein, in the February 8, 1999 issue.

Focuses on the Chernobyl nuclear accident that took in Chornobyl, Ukraine. Implication of the nuclear disaster on the debate concerning the use of nuclear power; Lessons provided by the incident to critics and advocates of nuclear power; Comparison between the reactor safety procedures of the Soviet Union and the United States; Number of people who died from the disaster; Difference of a nuclear power accident from other accidents.

The article discusses the life of Edgar Allan Poe as a cadet in the United States Military Academy in Westpoint. Poe joined the Army in June 1830 under the guidance of Colonel Sylvanus Thayer. Poe was court-martialed for failure to attend classes and formations due to personal problems and health reasons. His inability to survive even in his first year in the academy became an unpleasant memory for him.

Focuses on the US Army School of the Americans (SOA), located at Fort Benning, Georgia, highlighting its involvement in the training of Nicaraguans for military combat in the Contra war. Reference to a trip taken by Carol Richardson, a United Methodist Pastor, to Nicaragua; Purpose of this visit; Estimated amount of Latin American military trained each year by the SOA; Amount of money spent annually by the US government to train the Latin American military personnel.

The article focuses on the most efficient way of disposing nuclear waste in the U.S. Researchers suggests that it would be efficient to mix radioactive waste with molten glass to keep it isolated for thousands of years. Experts claims that it is important to understand the broad program of nuclear-waste disposal. Another method is to bury the waste in caverns carved out of salt or granite.

The article explores the geothermal power resources in the U.S. It states that the ideal geothermal field is hot enough to deliver dry steam directly to a turbine generator. It mentions the plant operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Union Oil of California, which produce 910 megawatts of electricity, enough to meet the needs of San Francisco, California. However, only 0.5% of the earth's geothermal reserve can be brought to the surface as dry steam.

Presents Oticon Holding A/S's DigiFocus,the first in a generation of microchip-driven hearing instruments, which will be marketed to United States dispensers in mid-1996. Processing speed; Pilot testing; Available models; Digital Audio Processor (DAP) as pilot; Oticon's `spaghetti' system of program development; Oticon Inc.'s regional training and education program for DAP-equipped instruments. INSET: How the Digital Audio Processor works..

The article provides information on the top investment research teams included in the 2005 All-America Research Team ranked by the "Institutional Investor" magazine. Several firms that were included in the top five positions include Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Citigroup. According to Candace Browning of Merrill Lynch, the firm has redesigned research reports that are easier for clients to use. UBS has influenced the decline of the market share of Harley-Davidson in January.

Reports on the expected impact of changes in industrial legislation in the United States on the pest control industry. Several legislation intended to help business; Planned review of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); Plan to remove mandatory requirements in the Clean Water Act.

Discusses the expected impact of the Republican Party's Contract With America on the pest control industry. Planned reinvention of the policy-making process; Need to review anti-pesticide regulation; Views of National Pest Control Association's Bob Rosenberg and Gene Harrington on legislation that affects the industry.

This section offers news briefs pertaining to gliding achievements and final glide in the U.S. Doctor Andrew Jamieson soloed in the Grob-103 sailplane with Big Q Aviation in Dallas, Texas on November 14, 2010. Continental 737 airline captain John Hoffman has soloed the 2-33 sailplane of the Marshall's Soaring Club on his way to a commercial glider rating. Pilot Steve Fischer has been appointed member of the Adirondack Soaring Club.

Announces the top ranking ophthalmology programs in the United States in the survey of the periodical `Ophthalmology Times.' Ranking of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University; Best research; Best patient care; Best residency program.

Discusses the potential of telemedicine to extend big-city medical expertise to rural patient settings. Contracts announced by the National Coordination Office for High Performance Computing and Communications and the National Library of Medicine; Application of very-high-speed networks to ophthalmology; Observations of vitreoretinal surgeon Steven Charles on the directions of telemedicine.

Reports on the concerns of ophthalmologists on the rule changes in Medicare billing. `Ophthalmology Times' magazine's survey on the problems caused by rule changes; Effects of the growth of managed care and emphasis on business skills in medical care; Percentage of ophthalmologists' practice which is related to Medicare; Growth of electronic billing.

Reports on Senator Thad Cochran's introduction of a companion bill to H.R. 1057 granting civilian government employees direct access to audiological services and giving audiologists the same status as other clinical specialists. Amendment made to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; Implications of the bill; Reaction of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Reports on the introduction of a legislation called Hearing Care for Federal Employees Act. Legislation on the addition of audiologists to the list of healthcare practitioners; Opposition of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Diagnosis of medical condition of the patient by otolaryngologists.

The article discusses the factors that stimulate the developments of fire sprinklers for homes in the U.S. According to a fire prevention official, the product react five times faster than the industrial heads. He adds that it essential for homes, in which fire smolder for long periods, highly flammable hot gases build up and ignite after flames break out. Several new sprinklers that were developed by various companies are also mentioned.

Presents the criticisms of Joseph A. Blair, a retired United States Army major about the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia. Information about some of the graduates of the school; Torture manuals and the hours of instruction of Major Victor Thiess, one of the professors of the school according to Blair; Directive issued in 1994 by the United States State Department that no Latin American military member could attend the School of the Americas.

Opinion. Focuses on developments in commercial real estate market in San Diego, California. Competitive pricing; Attitude of cautious optimism; Measurement of long-term goals; Impact of the industry on the economy.

Reports on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) requirements for indoor air quality in commercial buildings. Cost effect on the private sector; Stipulations; Provision of outside air ventilation during work shifts; Relative humidity maintenance; Plans by some companies to offer specialized consulting services to assist in heating and air-conditioning systems.

The article discusses the legality of school library Web sites and services offered by the library and most schools with library Web sites in the U.S. It points out that there are no laws in the country prohibiting deep linking. It points out that librarians need to be very careful in linking to second-level Web sites and bypassing a home page. Metatags are also used by librarians to attract an audience to the school Web site.

The article investigates the impact of the economic conditions in the U.S. in 2008 on the funeral service industry. It is noted that the economic downturn will most negatively affect those funeral homes that were struggling even before the economy turned. Among the strategies that funeral directors can use in countering the impact of the economic downturn is maintaining or building the value of their funeral homes.

The article reports on Fort Wayne, Indiana, the only privatized fleet operation in the United States to be ISO 9001:200 certified in comprehensive fleet maintenance services. The fleet was named the best fleet operation in 2006 by "Fleet Equipment" magazine. The fleet, which has operated for six consecutive years with no lost time due to injury, has received a U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's award called Voluntary Protection Program to recognize voluntary safety activities.

Reports on the growth of refractive surgery market. Details in the increased number of refractive procedures performed in the United States; Number of laser-trained ophthalmologists and refractive surgeons; Average price per procedure; Information on discount pricing.

Deals with the increasing popularity of low-cost ambulatory surgery center (ASC) among ophthalmologists in the United States. Composition of a low-cost ASC; Laws regulating ASC usage; Reasons ophthalmologists clamor for a change of scenery; Political and market considerations that ophthalmologists need to weigh.

Part I. Cites a study conducted by `Ophthalmology Times' on the decline in ophthalmologists' patient access. Increase in competition with optometrists as factor behind drop in patient accessibility; Harm done to patient's health by optometrists.

Focuses on the development plan in Hackensack Meadowlands in New Jersey. Features of the project; Previous reputation of the area; Potential economic benefits of the plan; Comment by Larry Schmidt, director of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Program Coordination, Policy and Planning.

Presents golf course superintendents' assessment of golf courses in the United States in 1995. Includes turf growing condition in Northern Illinois; Impact of heat wave and drought on Michigan's golf courses; Moisture content of Kentucky's soils. INSET: Dealing with boards and greens chairmen..

Reports on the popular environmental legislation accorded to the landscape industry and golf business in the United States. Views of American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) director for government affairs Ben Bolusky; Effect of reauthorization of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) on the pesticide registration process; Reintroduction of the Minor Use Pesticide package. INSET: Help wanted...

Reports on the effect of the pro-business legislation of the Republican party on the green industry of the United States. Benefits for small businesses; Possibility of rewriting the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); Reauthorization of the Clean Water Act.

The Federal Reserve's surprise move raises many questions. We've asked a few of the top U.S. equity research directors for some answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the increase of 60 percent in the number of new residential construction permits for single family homes in the twin cities metropolitan area in the U.S. as reported by the organization Builders Association of the Twin Cities.

The article offers information related to the application software DoDrinks for food and beverage industry in the U.S., developed by BreAnna Fisher, who is a student at the University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota. As suggested, the application provides a social way of buying drinks and was selected as a finalist of Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. It also states that the application is available in Twin Cities, Minnesota at present and supposed to be available nationally by 2014.

In this article, the author discusses the effect of technology to banks and bankers in the U.S. The author contends that computer software does not make bad loans, but rather it is the bankers themselves. He points out that Information Technology (IT) speeds up bank processes. He adds that having the right tools to adapt and changing the market conditions is relevant in the financial crisis.

This article discusses how the financial industry can recover from the crisis by investing in innovative information technology rather than reverting to old methodology and fundamentals. Having the latest technical tools will help financial institutions to adapt more quickly to changing market conditions and will allow bank employees to provide the best service possible at the lowest cost. Bad decisions, not technology should be blamed for the financial crisis.

The article presents information related to the best chief financial officers (CFOs) of the U.S. and their rankings. It states that being the CFO of a public company is a demanding job. According to participants in this year's ranking of U.S. Best CFOs, Louis Baldwin, CFO of XTO Energy ranks among the nation's top CFOs. Many hedge funds suffered huge losses in 2008, but the top five firms managed to hold their own, falling just 4 percent.

The article emphasizes that a few analysts including Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co. economist Nobuyuki Saji had predicted in 2008 that the economy of Japan will be facing a crisis. Saji cites his disapproval of the general perspective that the economy will have the least impact from the subprime crisis in the U.S. The decline in demand for exports resulted to reduced rate of the real gross domestic product of Japan in the fourth quarter. The attempt of the Japanese government to boost the economy is said to have been unsuccessful.

The article reports on the theory of decoupling in economics. The U.S. receding in importance as the high-growth economies of China, India and Russia assert their newfound financial muscle in world markets. According to the article, the theory of decoupling may have been overstated and the countries around the world are feeling the effects of the U.S.-led subprime mortgage crisis, and odds are it will be the U.S. that leads the world back to prosperity.

The article discusses the highlights of the Country Credit survey. According to the author, uncertainty still haunts the world's financial markets because of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis. He adds that investors' interest in Asian securities has increased, with assets under management at the Asia 100 growing by 10.6 percent since the 2006 ranking. The survey showed that creditworthiness is on the rise, too.

The article features John Kanas, CEO of North Fork Bancorp. He receives an annual compensation of $5.73 million. Under his management, the bank has transformed from a small institution into the 16th largest bank in the U.S. with assets of $60 billion. According to the CEO, the bank has to restructure its balance sheet and change some practices to become less exposed to the margin pressures brought by interest rates.

Focuses on the lottery promotion of North Dakota and Virginia. Plan of North Dakota to use Lady Luck to promote its lottery; Comments from Virginia Lottery spokesman Ed Scarborough on the advertising campaigns for the lottery.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Is Your Personal Vehicle Covered in a Crash During a Response?", the involvement of firefighters in the U.S. building codes, and the importance of education as the key firefighters' survival.

Focuses on the role of food-service equipment manufacturers' representatives as food safety experts and trainers in the United States. Relationship of representatives with customers; Importance of food safety issues to the food service industry; Resources for training representatives to become food safety experts.

Reports on the increasing number of ophthalmologists in the United States who are merging their practices. Factors that motivate ophthalmologists to merge their practices; Mergers of hospitals and other health care institutions; Drawbacks of big mergers.

Reports on the difficulties in expanding the practice of small ophthalmic offices in the United States. Search for compatible information systems; Commodity management of patient care; Effects of views on the practice; Expansion towards managed care capabilities.

Features Richard Ruckman, an ophthalmologist based in Luftkin, Tex. Ruckman's expansion into the radial keratotomy (RK) business; Factors for Ruckman's decision.

Focuses on the business opportunities of the practice of radial keratotomy (RK) in the United States. Factors to be considered in the establishment of RK practice; Comments from Alan J. DeCorte, executive director of the Williamson Eye Center in Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Calif.