Advancing Consumer Interests Through Ubiquitous Broadband: The Need for a New Spectrum

Comprehensive and long-term spectrum reform can play a critical role in the FCC\u27s development of a National Broadband Plan and in its consideration of Open Internet rules. More efficient and intensive use of the nation\u27s spectrum resources would help provide a path to greater broadband deployment, competition and innovation for all consumers. Wireless and mobile technologies hold great promise to offer consumers new services to complement, extend, or even replace existing broadband offerings. A comprehensive review of the nation\u27s spectrum policy is, therefore, necessary to ensure that wireless and mobile broadband services are not hamstrung by outdated rules or command-and-control spectrum allocations. Spectrum reform should include three main components. First, the FCC should focus on understanding how existing spectrum allocations are used currently while ensuring that all existing allocations are made available to providers in a timely manner. Second, the FCC should review its allocation and spectrum sharing rules to promote more efficient spectrum usage. Third, the FCC should ensure its regulatory approach fosters innovative technologies and more efficient uses of spectrum

Keynote Address

Meredith Atwell Baker, Former Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This Address was transcribed and modified from the introductory keynote delivered at the CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy and the Institute for Communications Law Studies\u27 2009 Symposium, Interference: Wireless Innovation, Public Interest, Regulatory Response held on February 26, 2009 at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

Keynote Address

Meredith Atwell Baker, Former Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This Address was transcribed and modified from the introductory keynote delivered at the CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy and the Institute for Communications Law Studies\u27 2009 Symposium, Interference: Wireless Innovation, Public Interest, Regulatory Response held on February 26, 2009 at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

Advancing Consumer Interests Through Ubiquitous Broadband: The Need for a New Spectrum

Comprehensive and long-term spectrum reform can play a critical role in the FCC\u27s development of a National Broadband Plan and in its consideration of Open Internet rules. More efficient and intensive use of the nation\u27s spectrum resources would help provide a path to greater broadband deployment, competition and innovation for all consumers. Wireless and mobile technologies hold great promise to offer consumers new services to complement, extend, or even replace existing broadband offerings. A comprehensive review of the nation\u27s spectrum policy is, therefore, necessary to ensure that wireless and mobile broadband services are not hamstrung by outdated rules or command-and-control spectrum allocations. Spectrum reform should include three main components. First, the FCC should focus on understanding how existing spectrum allocations are used currently while ensuring that all existing allocations are made available to providers in a timely manner. Second, the FCC should review its allocation and spectrum sharing rules to promote more efficient spectrum usage. Third, the FCC should ensure its regulatory approach fosters innovative technologies and more efficient uses of spectrum

Low-altitude measurements of 2–6 MeV electron trapping lifetimes at 1.5 ≤ L ≤ 2.5

During the Halloween Storm period (October–November 2003), a new Van Allen belt electron population was powerfully accelerated. The inner belt of electrons formed in this process decayed over a period of days to years. We have examined quantitatively the decay rates for electrons seen in the region of 1.5 ≤ L ≤ 2.5 using SAMPEX satellite observations. At L = 1.5 the e-folding lifetime for 2–6 MeV electrons was τ ∼ 180 days. On the other hand, for the half-dozen distinct acceleration (or enhancement) events seen during late-2003 through 2005 at L ∼ 2.0, the lifetimes ranged from τ ∼ 8 days to τ ∼ 35 days. We compare these loss rates to those expected from prior studies. We find that lifetimes at L = 2.0 are much shorter than the average 100–200 days that present theoretical estimates would suggest for the overall L = 2 electron population. Additional wave-particle interaction aspects must be included in theoretical treatments and we describe such possibilities here

Self-Efficacy, Perceived Skills, and Real Knowledge of Speech-Language Pathologists

Although speech language pathologists\u27 (SLPs) knowledge of communication and swallowing has been undisputed, their knowledge and skills related to tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation (MV) seem varied. The consequences associated with the presence of tracheostomy or MV demonstrate the necessity of training. Guided by Bandura\u27s social cognitive theory, this study was designed to determine if SLPs\u27 training influenced self-efficacy and real knowledge, and to evaluate trends associated with SLPs\u27 pursuit of specialized training. A total of 236 SLPs practicing in the United States responded to a researcher-developed knowledge and confidence test for tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation (KCT-TMV). Data were analyzed via ttest, one-way ANOVA with post hocs, regressions, and correlations. Knowledge scores of SLPs were low as identified by responses on the KCT-TMV. SLPs reported confidence and high self-efficacy, yet those ratings did not correlate with high levels of knowledge. Therefore, some SLPs may not recognize they lack knowledge/competency. A lack of competency in continued practice is a violation of the Rules and Code of Ethics of the American Speech Language Hearing Association as well as nonmaleficence. Trends related to the pursuit of training were focal to a lack of resources from employers and inconsistencies in healthcare practice. These results may bring positive social change to the training of SLPs. By doing so, the social impact may result in improved patient care and patient health outcomes for the tracheostomized and MV patient populations

REPAD: An empirical model of pitch angle distributions for energetic electrons in the Earth\u27s outer radiation belt

Abstract We have recently conducted a statistical survey on pitch angle distributions of energetic electrons trapped in the Earth\u27s outer radiation belt, and a new empirical model was developed based upon survey results. This model - relativistic electron pitch angle distribution (REPAD) - aims to present statistical pictures of electron equatorial pitch angle distributions, instead of the absolute flux levels, as a function of energy, L shell, magnetic local time, and magnetic activity. To quantify and facilitate this statistical survey, we use Legendre polynomials to fit long-term in situ directional fluxes observed near the magnetic equator from three missions: CRRES, Polar, and LANL-97A. As the first of this kind of model, REPAD covers the whole outer belt region, providing not only the mean and median pitch angle distributions in the area but also error estimates of the average distributions. Preliminary verification and validation results demonstrate the reliable performance of this model. Usage of REPAD is mainly to predict the full pitch angle distribution of fluxes along a given magnetic field line, or even on a given drift shell, based upon one single unidirectional or omnidirectional flux measurement anywhere on that field line. This can be particularly useful for data assimilation, which usually has large tolerance on data errors. In addition, relatively small variations in pitch angle distributions measured at L shell between?∼?4 and 5 justify the assumption of fixed pitch angle distributions at GPS equatorial crossings (L?∼?4.2) used in our previous studies

Factors associated with choosing a career in clinical psychology: undergraduate minority ethnic perspectives

Concerns have been expressed by clinical psychologists about the preponderance of white members of the profession. While studies of minority ethnic recruitment into health professions and entry into higher education have been conducted at undergraduate level, the extent to which their results can be mapped on to issues of minority ethnic choosing of postgraduate training in clinical psychology is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the attraction or otherwise of professional clinical psychology to potential minority ethnic applicants. Q methodology was used to identify patterns of incentives and disincentives within a series of statements about the profession and its academic subject matter. Thirty-seven UK minority ethnic undergraduate psychology students completed Q-sort ratings. Along with narrative descriptions of seven factors derived from analysis of the data, we present three overall categories. Q-sort data are by design defined by positive and negative aspects, and our interpretations indicate a mixture of overall attraction in all three categories. These patterns of thinking extend what was known from previous research, and explicate something of the complexity of participants' views of clinical psychology. Within the constraints of the study's limitations, we view them as a small contribution towards an empirically based understanding of factors influential in the recruitment of an ethnically more representative workforce

The Effect of Compaction and Biosolid Fertilizer on the Functional Morphologies in Young Plants

Restoration efforts in urban landscapes often include spreading seeds of native prairie species over compacted soils. Soil amendments such as fertilizers are frequently added to promote growth and success of the seedlings. Understanding the morphologies and success of young seedlings in stressful environmental conditions, like compacted soil, can indicate the success of the mature plant. However, little is known about young seedling traits, specifically root morphologies. We analyzed seedling traits of four species of prairie plants grown in artificially compacted soils. These species included two phylogenetically paired forbs, Asclepias tuberosa and Ratibida pinnata, and two phylogenetically paired grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii. In both cases, root morphologies differed between species in a pair. The seedlings were grown in one of three treatments or a control. The treatments consisted of soil amendments of half or quarter biosolid fertilizer, or a till treatment. Functional morphologies of the young plants were analyzed to determine differences between species or treatments as well as the interactions among treatments and species. Andropogon gerardii was expected to be the most successful species due to its spreading root structure overcoming the compacted soil. Additionally, the treatment with the greatest amount of biosolid was expected to grow the largest individuals, both above and belowground due to the additional nutrients. Averaging across all treatments, one species was not the most successful over the other species. The treatment with the greatest nutrient addition, the half biosolid, was not found to be the most successful. This result indicates nutrient overload and salt additions should be taken into considerations when adding soil amendments in restoration efforts. Future analyses need to be completed to understand the success of seedlings in stressful environments and how their traits can be indicative of longer-term success.No embargoAcademic Major: Evolution and Ecolog