An analysis of oral reading achievement in relation to a basal text,

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Insufficient FDA Resources: Levelling the Playing Field and Reducing Fraud by Altering Incentives

This paper seeks to explore the problems illustrated by the Procter and Gamble orange juice example ; namely, the peculiar side effects of inadequate FDA funding upon competition and rule compliance. Part I of this paper will describe the problem in detail, exploring the FDA’s resources and responsibilities, their effects on competition and compliance, and the various externalities associated with this particular issue. Part II of this paper will discuss ways in which various industries have attempted to circumvent and supplement FDA regulation. Part III of this paper proposes a way in which limited FDA resources could be used more efficiently to encourage industry to notify the agency of violations while simultaneously encouraging violators to cease their offending behavior before formal FDA action is taken towards them or an industry leading scapegoat. My proposal seeks to alter the costs and benefits of FDA rule violation by increasing penalties when appropriate and making enforcement more likely, thus reducing the aggregate amount of rule violation and leveling the playing field. I argue that this goal can be accomplished without significant increases in FDA spending, and perhaps could even reduce spending and increase funding

A concept for reducing oceanic separation minima through the use of a TCAS-derived CDTI

A concept for using a cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI), as derived from a modified version of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System 2 (TCAS 2), to support reductions in air traffic separation minima for an oceanic track system is presented. The concept, and the TCAS modifications required to support it, are described. The feasibility of the concept is examined from a number of standpoints, including expected benefits, maximum alert rates, and possible transition strategies. Various implementation issues are analyzed. Pilot procedures are suggested for dealing with alert situations. Possible variations of the concept are also examined. Finally, recommendations are presented for other studies and simulation experiments which can be used to further verify the feasibility of the concept

Microwave remote sensing of soil moisture, volume 1

Multifrequency sensor data from NASA's C-130 aircraft were used to determine which of the all weather microwave sensors demonstrated the highest correlation to surface soil moisture over optimal bare soil conditions, and to develop and test techniques which use visible/infrared sensors to compensate for the vegetation effect in this sensor's response to soil moisture. The L-band passive microwave radiometer was found to be the most suitable single sensor system to estimate soil moisture over bare fields. The perpendicular vegetation index (PVI) as determined from the visible/infrared sensors was useful as a measure of the vegetation effect on the L-band radiometer response to soil moisture. A linear equation was developed to estimate percent field capacity as a function of L-band emissivity and the vegetation index. The prediction algorithm improves the estimation of moisture significantly over predictions from L-band emissivity alone

Development of visible/infrared/microwave agriculture classification and biomass estimation algorithms, volume 2

Agricultural crop classification models using two or more spectral regions (visible through microwave) were developed and tested and biomass was estimated by including microwave with visible and infrared data. The study was conducted at Guymon, Oklahoma and Dalhart, Texas utilizing aircraft multispectral data and ground truth soil moisture and biomass information. Results indicate that inclusion of C, L, and P band active microwave data from look angles greater than 35 deg from nadir with visible and infrared data improved crop discrimination and biomass estimates compared to results using only visible and infrared data. The active microwave frequencies were sensitive to different biomass levels. In addition, two indices, one using only active microwave data and the other using data from the middle and near infrared bands, were well correlated to total biomass

Shock Chlorination of Stored Water Supplies

Treatment of drinking water to improve its sanitary or bacteriological quality is referred to as disinfection. Shock chlorination is one disinfection method employed by public suppliers to reduce bacterial contamination of water. This method also can be used by private-water-well owners