Campaign Spending and Incumbency: An Alternative Simultaneous Equations Approach

This paper estimates the effects of incumbent spending and challenger spending in U.S. House elections in the 1970s and 1980s. The paper employs FIML simultaneous equations analysis involving instrumental variables as vote predictors, and zero-covariance restrictions for the vote-spending disturbances. This procedure allows the estimation of spending effects given plausible assumptions about the effects of unobserved causes of the vote on candidate spending. The results are that incumbent spending matters even with only modest amounts of simultaneity. Evidence is presented to suggest that the effectiveness of new incumbent spending declines with seniority but accumulates to the incumbent's long-term advantage

Sample heating in near-field scanning optical microscopy

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2130388.Heating near the aperture of aluminumcoated,fiber opticnear-field scanning optical microscopy probes was studied as a function of input and output powers. Using the shear-force feedback method, near-field probes were positioned nanometers above a thermochromic polymer and spectra were recorded as the input power was varied. Excitation at 405 nm of a thin polymer film incorporating perylene and N-allyl-N-methylaniline leads to dual emission peaks in the spectra. The relative peak intensity is temperature sensitive leading to a ratiometric measurement, which avoids complications based solely on intensity. Using this method, we find that the proximal end of typical near-field probes modestly increase in temperature to 40–45 °C at output powers of a few nanowatts (input power of ∼0.15mW). This increases to 55–65 °C at higher output powers of 50 nW or greater (input power of ∼2–4mW). Thermal heating of the probe at higher powers leads to probe elongation, which limits the heating experienced by the sample

Examining Co-teaching through A Socio-Technical Systems Lens

Qualitative research was conducted in a large suburban school district implementing co-teaching as a new service delivery model for special education. Researchers examined the changes that resulted from the new service delivery model using a socio-technical systems lens. This framework views schools as open systems that contain a structural, task, human, and technical subsystem. The intent of the study was to document the changes in each of these subsystems resulting from the implementation of co-teaching and to provide educators with strategies to implement co-teaching in a seamless and effective manner. Unanticipated challenges included scheduling, teacher work ethic, personality compatibility, classroom composition, and time

Examining A Decade Of Reading And Mathematics Student Achievement Among Primary And Secondary Traditional Public School And Charter School Students: A Meta-Analytic Investigation

The current investigation will synthesize numerous studies conducted across the nation at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Meta-analytic techniques will assist parents and educators in making evidence-based decisions while adding to the research supporting educational reform and promoting best practices in both educational models. This study was specifically designed to consider a number of variables in charter schools relative to traditional public schools, including socioeconomic status, English language learning, school competition, and eligibility for special education that may impact student mathematics and reading achievement. The findings of the current investigation suggest that students in charter school programs are not performing as well as students in traditional public schools on mathematics and reading achievement examinations

Access, provision, and cost of routine eye care: A comparison of Oregon optometrists and ophthalmologists

A study was conducted among optometrists and ophthalmologists that practice in Oregon to measure the differences in several characteristics associated with the provision of routine eye exams, specifically: (1) fees, (2) availability of visual field testing, (3) appointment availability, (4) acceptance of Medicare, and {5) acceptance of Medicaid. A sample of the populations\u27 offices were phoned, a short interview completed, and demographics assessed. Significant differences were found in routine exam fees and availability, provision and fees for visual field testing, and Medicare and/or Medicaid acceptance. Access to optometric care is greater as measured by number of providers, appointment availability and cost. Therefore, optometrists are more accessible and cost effective than other vision care providers

Characterization of power induced heating and damage in fiber optic probes for near-field scanning optical microscopy

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2740133.Tip-induced sample heating in near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is studied for fiber optic probes fabricated using the chemical etching technique. To characterize sample heating from etched NSOM probes, the spectra of a thermochromic polymer sample are measured as a function of probe output power, as was previously reported for pulled NSOM probes. The results reveal that sample heating increases rapidly to ∼55–60°C as output powers reach ∼50nW. At higher output powers, the sample heating remains approximately constant up to the maximum power studied of ∼450nW. The sample heating profiles measured for etched NSOM probes are consistent with those previously measured for NSOM probes fabricated using the pulling method. At high powers, both pulled and etched NSOM probes fail as the aluminumcoating is damaged. For probes fabricated in our laboratory we find failure occurring at input powers of 3.4±1.7 and 20.7±6.9mW for pulled and etched probes, respectively. The larger half-cone angle for etched probes (∼15° for etched and ∼6° for pulled probes) enables more light delivery and also apparently leads to a different failure mechanism. For pulled NSOM probes, high resolution images of NSOM probes as power is increased reveal the development of stress fractures in the coating at a taper diameter of ∼6μm. These stress fractures, arising from the differential heating expansion of the dielectric and the metalcoating, eventually lead to coating removal and probe failure. For etched tips, the absence of clear stress fractures and the pooled morphology of the damaged aluminumcoating following failure suggest that thermal damage may cause coating failure, although other mechanisms cannot be ruled out

Fuming Method for Micropatterning Structures on Langmuir- Blodgett Films

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Langmuir, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://doi.org/10.1021/la804104k.Lipid monolayers of L-α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) are used to pattern substrates using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Lipid monolayers are deposited onto a freshly cleaved mica surface or glass capillary under conditions that lead to distinct patterns in the film. Exposure of the supported monolayer to ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate fumes leads to preferential polymerization in the more hydrated regions of the patterned monolayer. This method enables surfaces to be micropatterned where the lateral features are controlled by the structure present in the underlying LB film and the vertical feature size is controlled by the length of the fuming process. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements confirm that the original structure in the LB film is preserved following fuming and that the lateral and vertical feature sizes can be controlled from nanometers to microns. This method, therefore, provides a rapid and versatile approach for micropatterning both flat and curved surfaces on a variety of substrates

On Orbit ISS Oxygen Generation System Operation Status

The International Space Station (ISS) United States Orbital Segment (USOS) Oxygen Generation System (OGS) has accumulated almost a year of operation at varied oxygen production rates within the US Laboratory Module (LAB) since it was first activated in July 2007. It was operated intermittently through 2009 and 2010, due to filter clogging and acid accumulation in the recirculation loop. Since the installation of a deionizing bed in the recirculation loop in May of 2011 the OGA has been operated continuously. Filters in the recirculation loop have clogged and have been replaced. Hydrogen sensors have drifted apart, and a power failure may have condensed water on a hydrogen sensor. A pump delta pressure sensor failed, and a replacement new spare pump failed to start. Finally, the voltage across the cell stack increased out of tolerance due to cation contamination, and the cell stack was replaced. This paper will discuss the operating experience and characteristics of the OGS, as well as operational issues and their resolution