On electrets

(I) Evidence has been given that the so-called permanent electrets of Eguchi are not permanent, but that their polarization decays with the time. At room temperatures this decay is too slow to be observed directly; but it is the decay of the polarization that, at least in part, accounts for the presence of the free charges that are always observed. At higher temperatures the results that have been obtained are consistent with the view that the rate of decay of the polarization increases very rapidly with the temperature; so much so that the polarization may be almost completely destroyed at a temperature which is not high enough to cause any appreciable softening of the waxes that form the substance of the electrets.(2) As is to be expected from Lord Kelvin's hypothesis as to the cause of pyro-electricity, these electrets have been shown to possess the pyro-electric property.(3) The piezo-electric effect, which always accompanies the pyro-electric property, has been shown to be exhibited by these electrets.     

Formula-based research incentive plans at colleges and universities

Financial problems at colleges and universities have led many institutions to initiate extra efforts to obtain extramural funds. One such effort has been the establishment of formula-based research incentive plans. These plans generally utilize the recovery of indirect costs as the basis for allocating additional incentive funds to various areas as an encouragement to obtain additional extramural funds. Data from surveys conducted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Ohio University were combined with National Science Foundation reports to provide information about this relatively recent phenomena. The increasing popularity of these plans was shown in that a majority of institutions had such plans in effect during FY 1979. Analyses of the effectiveness of these plans showed no statistically significant differences between institutions with incentive plans and those without such plans, although mean federal research expenditures were approximately 20% greater at those institutions without these incentive plans. The evidence presented indicates that the receipt of federal research funds is not associated with the use of a formula-based research incentive plan.