One of the major objectives in reaction kinetics is to calculate the rate constant for an elementary reaction from first principles. This is a formidable task which has not yet been fully achieved in even the simplest case without making several simplifying assumptions.The earliest approach used simple collision theory and was helpful in clarifying some of the main features involved in calculating a reaction rate. However, the simple form of the theory was difficult to make quantitative. The current favored approach to rate constants from truly first principles seems to be through reaction dynamics (J, 2). This method examines the progress of individual collisions by solving the equations of motion with an assumed form of interaction potential. Although the methods of collison dynamics are elegant, the results are difficult to use in understanding reactions involving the large molecules which are of more general interest to chemists.

A minimum variance iterative technique for the determination of ionospheric parameters, including electron and ion temperatures and densities, is presented. The method formally incorporates a priori information regarding the values of these parameters and, in particular, whatever information the experimenter has concerning the uncertainty associated with these values. With proper use of this additional information, convergence will be more rapid and more likely than would be the case were a priori information not employed. With certain mathematical models, singularities that occur in other techniques are avoided. In addition, procedures for generating nominal parameter estimates from the data have been devised. These techniques have been developed for, and lend themselves to, the automatic processing of large quantities of data. An example of the analysis of both ion and electron data is included for illustrative purposes.

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Policy makers are turning to market-based mechanisms to engender innovative ways of reducing polluting air emissions. As with any emerging market, environmental policies must be carefully crafted so that the institutions and incentives needed to form working markets are developed. Attention must be paid to creating avenues for communities and other nonmoneyed or unorganised interests to be involved in the new market processes. This paper proposes a strategy to create sustainable, community-based methods to reduce polluting air emissions within the context of market-based incentive programs. By enabling communities to effectively participate in environmental solutions, they will truly be able to think globally, act locally. * Steven Moss is a partner with M. Cubed, a San Francisco-based economic consulting firm.