The integrated academic information management system at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

Over the past seven years, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center has been planning and implementing an integrated academic information management system. Accomplishments to date include establishing an institutional information architecture, installing a campus-wide network of workstations, recruiting the staff needed to develop and implement the system, and developing various applications. This paper presents the rationale and steps involved in these accomplishments, as well as data on use of the system so far.     

Spectral characterisation and frame synchronisation of optical fibre digital PPM

The discrete time decoding of data in pulse position modulation calls for accurate timing synchronisation, particularly at the frame rate. The spectral properties of optical fibre digital PPM are considered. An original expression is presented for predicting the spectrum and it is shown that, unlike satellite PPM, a component exists at the frame rate which may be used for timing extraction purposes. Further, it is illustrated that the modulation index can be used to enhance this component by up to 19 dB. This has been verified practically, with the results agreeing to within 1 dB of those predicted from the original expression presented.<>     

MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE FILLED EVA: THE EFFECTS OF FILLER SURFACE MODIFICATION ON THE STRENGTH OF FILLER/MATRIX ADHESION AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES

The interaction of ammonium stearate (AS) and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) treatments with a magnesium hydroxide flame retardant filler and their effects on its use in an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer compound have been investigated. The work has shown clear evidence of changes in the structure of the surface layers formed on the filler as the amount of additive is increased and the levels at which these occur can be correlated with theoretical monolayer quantities. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy data suggest that the stearate coating changes from a half salt to a full salt as the coating level is increased and that the APS coating on the filler initially has a significant bicarbonate content, presumably due to reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide. The effect of coating level on the melt flow rate, insoluble matrix content, crystallisation behaviour, tensile properties, limiting oxygen index, and ageing of the filled compound has been studied. Distinct trends have been observed, many of which can be correlated with the structure of the filler surface layers. Of particular importance is the observation that, unlike APS, excess stearate appears to promote detrimental ageing effects.     

The determination of polymer additive effects in a spherilene process HDPE matrix upon water carry-over in water quenched,cast film extrusion

A test method useful in determining the effects of polymer additives upon water carry-over (WCO) in water quenched, cast film extrusion is presented. Data from this test is obtained on film specimens based in a Spherilene process HDPE resin individually doped with 250 and 500 ppm of six various primary and secondary antioxidants and acid scavengers. Water contact angles and film surface tension data is also presented. The WCO test is reproducible and data may be applied to commercial production. Different additives that carry out the same function in the polymer may have greatly varying WCO properties; these differences are not detected by equilibrium goniometry.     

Characterizing the deformation of cold-rolled copper sheet

An advanced x-ray diffraction technique allows the development of texture components to be monitored and provides supplementary information about the cold work and residual stresses in cold-rolled copper sheet. The new technique confirms the results of an ultrasonic test, except for the ultrasonic test’s sensitivity to grain size. The new x-ray diffraction technique could be adapted to provide in-process, nondestructive evaluation of thin copper sheet, even for material moving at high speeds.     

Did a local distribution company procure prudently during the California electricity crisis?

To manage cost risk, prudent procurement of electric power requires that some portion of a buyer's energy demand be met through long-term contracting. Under cost-of-service regulation or performance-based regulation, a local distribution company (LDC) should be allowed to fully recover all prudently incurred power procurement costs. However, the regulatory test of prudence is an ex post review with the threat of disallowance. This paper presents an economic analysis of procurement prudence involving a small LDC, Bear Valley Electric Service (BVES), which serves a resort area in Southern California. The key findings are: (a) high and volatile prices and rolling blackouts characterized the market environment faced by the owner of BVES, Southern California Water Company (SCWC), at its signing of a 5-year fixed price contract; (b) SCWC was a price-taker with no incentive to act imprudently; (c) the contract was obtained via a competitive bidding process; (d) the contract price was comparable to the benchmark price of contemporaneous contracts; (e) the fixed price contract was economic when compared to available alternatives; and (f) despite (a)–(e), a negotiated settlement with the state regulator and a large user resulted in substantial disallowance. The policy implication is that a regulator should approve a prudent procurement plan proposed by an LDC to remove the unreasonable risk of an ex post review. If the LDC strictly adheres to the plan, the resulting electricity purchases are per se prudent and should entitle the LDC to full cost recovery.     

使用自举积分电路的精密电流源设计

如图1所示的普通电流源的精确度不低于1%,而且对温度不太敏感(温度系数低于5×10-5/℃).该电路有较高的输出阻抗和较宽的电压允许范围(4.3～34V).它采用电压参考集成电路IC1及电阻R1来产生一个稳定的电流源,并符合表达式ISOURCE=VREF/R1+IC1的对地电流.     

Organizing Sexuality: Silencing and the Push–Pull Process of Co-sexuality in the Workplace

How human beings think about, talk about, and organize around sexuality is changing. Growing social legitimization for sexual minority relationships and a more fluid social understanding of sexual identities has shifted how we bound “normal” sexuality. In the workplace, these shifting norms affect employees of all sexual identities who must make sense of new policies and complex daily practices. This paper introduces the concept of co-sexuality, the push-and-pull process of communicatively organizing around sexuality. Using this concept, we take a grounded theory approach to exploring how employees of various sexualities and in different occupations understand “normal” sexuality and subsequently organize around it. Ultimately, participants described being silenced or silencing another to maintain sexual “norms” at work.     

运算放大器的进展

如何为不同应用选择最好的运算放大器。运算放大器自1963年问世以来,走过了很长的发展道路,并成为所有线性系统中事实上的标准部件。几乎每个大型半导体制造商的产品线中都有运算放大器这个产品。而且应用场合的不同也促使放大器的封装从TO-8的金属罐状封装发展至2mm×2mm的芯片式封装,如图1所示。目前放大器的性能水平已达到了如下指标,这在20世纪60年代是闻所未闻的。●带宽超过1GHz;●转换速率超过5000V/μs;●工作电流低于10μA;●工作电压低至0.9V;●输入失调电压低于20μV。C M O S与双极性工艺制造工艺和前沿设计技术的进步使得…