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The Seniority System in Congress: A Selected Bibliography
This report provides a bibliography of resources related to the seniority system in Congress.
[News Script: Leonards]
Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas relating a news story.
Faculty Recital: 2017-11-12 – Jeff Bradetich, double bass
Faculty recital presented at the UNT College of Music Voertman Hall.
[News Clip: Radio Clinton]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
Recent results from the PEP4-TPC on quark fragmentation
The physics goals for the PEP-4/PEP-9 experiment concentrate on two areas: the fragmentation properties of quarks and gluons produced in e+e- annihilation, and the investigation of hadron production in 2-photon collisions. Only the first of these topics is addressed. Despite the many successes of QCD in the description of deep inelastic reactions, the basic fragmentation process of quarks and gluons is not very well understood. This lack of knowledge has been shown to jeopardize precise test of QCD, such as the accurate determination of the strong coupling constant. With its ability to disentangle complex hadronic events and to identify most of the final state particles, the TPC allows new and more sensitive tests of fragmentation models. A brief description of the detector is given and particle identification by ionization energy loss is described. Next, the inclusive production of stable hadrons and of resonances is discussed, and limits on the inclusive production of fractional charged particles are given. A new analysis of long-range correlations in e+e- annihilation is given.
Test and evaluation of the BBC CQK 200-4 modulator tube for the MFTF sustaining neutral beam power supply system
The BBC CQK 200-4 Tube was tested by Aydin at LLL, to confirm that it would switch 90 kV after conducting 88 amperes for 30 seconds. The CQK 200-4 is a recent modification of the CQK 200-3, an Rf transmitter tube designed for continuous loading, to increase the anode hold-off voltage to 150 kV. During the design life of the tube it will be subjected to 10/sup 5/ to 10/sup 6/ cyclic thermal loads. Two concerns are that (1) during the 30 second high current load, the screen grid may have excessive dissipation causing a loss of control of the tube, and (2) the cyclic temperature-induced stresses in the anode may cause fatigue failures that will reduce the tube's useful life. The first concern was addressed by performing full scale tests at the LLL test facility.
[News Clip: Drive-by]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
Cost of Federal tax credit programs to develop the market for industrial solar and wind energy technologies. Final report to Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California. Volume 2: appendices
A study was made to estimate the impact tax credits (from Acts passed by Congress) would have on renewable energy investment and to estimate the net costs to the US Treasury of providing these tax credits. The appendices to this study are presented. Some investment and marketing penetration worksheets are presented on wind turbines, solar ponds, flat plates, evacuated tubes, and parabolic troughs. A market penetration and economic analysis program with test written for TI-59 programmable calculator with printer is presented. Data on the average $/kWh for each state are included for energy use (70 to 400/sup 0/F and electricity) and energy resource (total and direct solar and wind). Also included is an energy use processing program written for TI-59 programmable calculator with printer. (MCW)
Investigations toward simplification of missile control systems
Paper presenting three ideas regarding potential simplifications of missile-control systems in order to make them more reliable without sacrificing system performance. The three methods presented include an autorotating-vane spoiler, a bellows flap, and free controls. All are based on modified airplane control systems.
The Effects of a Small Jet of Air Exhausting From the Nose of a Body of Revolution in Supersonic Flow
Report presenting the results of an investigation to determine the effects of a small jet of air exhausting from the nose of an elliptical body of revolution upon boundary-layer transition and the viscous, pressure, and total drag of the forebody at three body stations at Mach number 1.62. The jet effects on body pressure, pressure variations, boundary-layer transition, and total drag are provided.
China's Political Institutions and Leaders in Charts
This report provides a snapshot of China's leading political institutions and current leaders in the form of nine organization charts and three tables. This chart-based report is intended to assist Members and their staffs seeking to understand where political institutions and individuals fit within the broader Chinese political system and to identify which Chinese officials are responsible for specific portfolios.
Current Debates over Exchange Rates: Overview and Issues for Congress
This report provides information on current debates over exchange rates in the global economy. It offers an overview of how exchange rates work; analyzes specific disagreements and debates; and examines existing frameworks for potentially addressing currency disputes. It also lays out some policy options available to Congress, should Members want to take action on exchange rate issues.
Jazz Recital: 2012-11-12 - Zebras
Jazz recital presented at the UNT College of Music Kenton Hall.
Guest Artist Recital: 1997-11-12 - Martha Curtis, violin
Guest artist recital performed at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.
Guest Artist Recital: 1989-11-12 - Linda Rosenthal, violin
A guest artist recital performed at the UNT College of Music Concert Hall.
The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications
This report is designed to assist Members of Congress as they consider the costs and benefits of the U.S.-South Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA.) It examines the provisions of the KORUS FTA in the context of the overall U.S.-South Korean economic relationship, U.S. objectives, and South Korean objectives.
Air Traffic Control: FAA's Acquisition Management Has Improved, but Policies and Oversight Need Strengthening to Help Ensure Results
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) multibillion-dollar effort to modernize the nation's air traffic control (ATC) system has resulted in cost, schedule, and performance shortfalls for over two decades and has been on GAO's list of high-risk federal programs since 1995. According to FAA, performance shortfalls were due, in part, to restrictions imposed by federal acquisition and personnel regulations. In response, Congress granted FAA exemptions in 1995 and directed it to develop a new acquisition management system. In this report, GAO compared FAA's AMS with (1) the FAR and (2) commercial best practices for major acquisitions, and (3) examined FAA's implementation of AMS and its progress in resolving problems with major acquisitions."
Options for a Federal Renewable Electricity Standard
This report discusses current ideas for a federal Renewable Electricity (or Energy) Standard (RES) and a broader Clean Energy Standard (CES). The goal of this report is to explore how such policies could potentially increase the amounts of renewable electricity generated in the United States, discussing other related public policy goals and rationales for renewable energy development, and the challenges/drawbacks of RES policy.
Cuba: Issues for the 111th Congress
This report discusses the current political conditions of Cuba, as well as its relationship with the United States. In particular, the report focuses on U.S. policy regarding Cuba, including various economic sanctions, human rights issues, and foreign aid appropriations.
The U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Issues in the U.S. Ratification Debate
The Senate may consider providing its advice and consent to U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, or the Convention) during the 112th Congress. CEDAW is the only international human rights treaty that specifically addresses the rights of women. This report provides an overview of CEDAW's background, objectives, and structure, including the role of the Convention's monitoring body, the CEDAW Committee. It examines U.S. policy and issues in the U.S. ratification debate, including the Convention's possible impact on U.S. sovereignty, its effectiveness in combating discrimination, and its role as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.
VA and DOD Health Care: Efforts to Coordinate a Single Physical Exam Process for Servicemembers Leaving the Military
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Servicemembers who leave the military and file disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be subject to potentially duplicative physical exams in order to meet requirements of both the Department of Defense's (DOD) military services and VA. To streamline the process for these servicemembers, the military services and VA have attempted to coordinate their physical exam requirements by developing a single separation exam program. In 1998, VA and DOD signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) instructing local units to establish single separation exam programs. This report examines (1) VA's and the military services' efforts to establish single separation exam programs, and (2) the challenges to establishing single separation exam programs. To obtain this information, GAO interviewed VA and military service officials about establishing the program; evaluated existing programs at selected military installations; and visited selected installations that did not have programs."
Defense Management: Actions Needed to Ensure National Guard and Reserve Headquarters Are Sized to be Efficient
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Between fiscal years 2009 and 2013, the total number of funded positions--both full-time support and part-time--at the Department of Defense's (DOD) 75 Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve (Reserves) component headquarters grew from about 30,200 to 31,900 positions (about 6 percent overall). Some organizations grew more markedly, among them the National Guard Bureau (17 percent); Army National Guard Directorate (44 percent); Air National Guard Readiness Center (21 percent); and the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve (45 percent). DOD officials attribute growth to the conversion of contractor workload into civilian positions and increased missions assigned at certain headquarters. Over the same period, staff levels at the National Guard's 54 state Joint Force headquarters remained flat and the Air Force Reserve shrank by 4 percent."
Nursing Home Deaths: Arkansas Coroner Referrals Confirm Weaknesses in State and Federal Oversight of Quality of Care
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO was asked to assess the effectiveness of nursing home oversight by considering the effect of a unique Arkansas law that requires county coroners to investigate all nursing home deaths. Coroners refer cases of suspected neglect to the state survey agency and law enforcement entities such as the state Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracts with survey agencies in every state to periodically inspect nursing homes and investigate allegations of poor care or neglect. MFCUs are charged with investigating and prosecuting resident neglect. GAO examined (1) the results of Arkansas coroner investigations, (2) the state survey agency's experience in investigating coroner referrals, and (3) whether weaknesses in state and federal nursing home oversight identified in prior GAO reports were evident in the survey agency's investigation of coroner referrals."
Census 2000: Design Choices Contributed to Inaccuracy of Coverage Evaluation Estimates
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Evaluations of past censuses show that certain groups were undercounted compared to other groups, a problem known as "coverage error." To address this, the Census Bureau included in its 2000 Census design the Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation Program (A.C.E.) to (1) measure coverage error and (2) use the results to adjust the census, if warranted. However, the Bureau found the A.C.E. results inaccurate and decided not to adjust or plan for adjustment in 2010. Congress asked GAO to determine (1) factors contributing to A.C.E.'s reported failure to accurately estimate census coverage error, and (2) the reliability of the revised coverage error estimates the Bureau subsequently produced. To do this, GAO examined three sets of Bureau research published in March 2001, October 2001, and March 2003 and interviewed Bureau officials."
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Preliminary Assessment of Federal Financial Risks and Cost Reimbursement and Notification Policies and Procedures
Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "On April 20, 2010, an oil spill of national significance in the Gulf of Mexico followed an explosion on the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon (the Deepwater Horizon oil spill). The Deepwater Horizon was leased by BP America Production Company (BP) as part of the Macondo project. 152 days later, on September 19, 2010, BP confirmed the completion of cementing operations to prevent further oil from spilling from the Macondo Prospect well to which the Deepwater Horizon was attached when it exploded. In order to coordinate the federal response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the National Incident Commander established the Deepwater Integrated Services Team (IST) consisting of 18 federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The U.S. Coast Guard's National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC) designated two BP subsidiaries--BP Exploration and Production and its guarantor, BP Corporation North America, Inc.--and five other companies as "Responsible Parties" for Deepwater Horizon oil spill related claims. Shortly after the spill, at the direction of NPFC, BP established a facility to receive and process all claims against Responsible Parties. In June 2010, as part of an oral agreement between the administration and BP, BP established a new claims processing facility--the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF). GCCF began operations on August 23, 2010, and is responsible for handling claims from individuals and businesses for damages resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. BP also established an irrevocable trust (Trust), to which BP is to provide a total of $20 billion by 2014, primarily for the purpose of paying GCCF and other claims related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The total cost to clean up this massive and potentially unprecedented spill, the damage to the environment, …
State Department: Diplomatic Security's Recent Growth Warrants Strategic Review
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "State Department's (State) Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Diplomatic Security) is responsible for the protection of people, information, and property at over 400 foreign missions and domestic locations. Diplomatic Security must be prepared to counter threats such as crime, espionage, visa and passport fraud, technological intrusions, political violence, and terrorism. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to assess (1) how Diplomatic Security's mission has evolved since 1998, (2) how its resources have changed over the last 10 years, and (3) the challenges it faces in conducting its missions. GAO analyzed Diplomatic Security data; reviewed relevant documents; and interviewed officials at several domestic facilities and 18 international missions."
Preliminary Observations on DOD Estimates of Contract Termination Liability
Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In its review of guidance and practices related to contract termination liability estimates, the Department of Defense (DOD) found that weapons programs generally received estimates of contract termination liability from contractors;, although there is no comprehensive guidance on how or when programs should require or consider these estimates. DOD plans to include additional language to help ensure that program managers are aware of the need to consider termination liability before contract award and during the life of a contract in its next update of its acquisition management guidance."
Defense Health Care: Force Health Protection and Surveillance Policy Compliance Was Mixed, but Appears Better for Recent Deployments
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "A lack of servicemember health and deployment data hampered investigations into the nature and causes of illnesses reported by many servicemembers following the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War. Public Law 105-85, enacted in November 1997, required the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a system to assess the medical condition of servicemembers before and after deployments. Following its September 2003 report examining Army and Air Force compliance with DOD's force health protection and surveillance policies for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Joint Guardian (OJG), GAO was asked in November 2003 to also determine (1) the extent to which the services met DOD's policies for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and, where applicable, compare results with OEF/OJG; and (2) what steps DOD has taken to establish a quality assurance program to ensure that the military services comply with force health protection and surveillance policies."
Management Report: Improvements Are Needed to Strengthen the American Battle Monuments Commission's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures
Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "During its audit of the American Battle Monuments Commission’s (the Commission) fiscal year 2012 financial statements, GAO identified two material weaknesses that resulted in ineffective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012. Specifically, the material weaknesses concern the Commission’s financial reporting process and its monitoring process. Because of these control weaknesses, GAO found significant errors in the Commission’s financial reporting that were not detected by the Commission. The Commission made the necessary adjustments and was able to prepare financial statements that were fairly stated in all material respects by fiscal year-end. However, these material weaknesses increase the risk that a material misstatement of the Commission’s financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. GAO also found that a previously reported significant deficiency concerning foreign payroll processing continued to exist during fiscal year 2012. These material weaknesses and the significant deficiency in internal control warrant the attention of those charged with governance of the Commission."
Single-Family Housing: Progress Made, but Opportunities Exist to Improve HUD's Oversight of FHA Lenders
A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Every year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Federal Housing Administration (FHA), insures billions of dollars in home mortgage loans made by private lenders. Oversight of lenders has historically been a challenge for HUD. In January 2003, GAO reported that, due in part to poor lender oversight, HUD's single-family mortgage insurance programs remained a high-risk area. This report examines (1) how well HUD follows its guidance when granting lenders direct endorsement authority (the ability to underwrite loans and determine their eligibility for FHA mortgage insurance without HUD's prior review), (2) the extent to which HUD uses a risk-based approach when monitoring FHA lenders, and (3) the extent to which HUD holds accountable lenders that it identifies as not complying with its performance requirements."
SSA Disability Decision Making: Additional Steps Needed to Ensure Accuracy and Fairness of Decisions at the Hearing Level
A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Historically, the proportion of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) disability benefits claims that were approved has been lower for African-Americans than for whites. In 1992, GAO found that racial differences, largely at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level, could not be completely explained by factors related to the decision-making process. This report examines how race and other factors influence ALJ decisions and assesses SSA's ability to ensure the accuracy and fairness of ALJ decisions."
Coast Guard: Strategy Needed for Setting and Monitoring Levels of Effort for All Missions
A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The September 11th attacks affected the scope of activities of many federal agencies, including the Coast Guard. Homeland security, a long-standing but relatively small part of the Coast Guard's duties, took center stage. Still, the Coast Guard remains responsible for many other missions, such as helping stem the flow of drugs and illegal migration, protecting important fishing grounds, and responding to marine pollution. GAO was asked to review the Coast Guard's current efforts and future plans for balancing resource levels among its many missions."
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai, to address corruption within the Afghan government. The report also includes discussion of election fraud and corruption in Afghanistan.
Heterodyne phase shift diagnostic for measuring atomic vapor density
We describe a technique for atomic density measurements. We generate and recombine frequency shifted laser beams producing beat signals on reference and signal detectors. Opacity in the signal detector leg is proportional to the phase difference between detector signals. 4 refs., 2 figs.
[News Clip: Tarrant County commisioners]
B-roll video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Fort Worth School board]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Iran Protest]
B-roll video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Air bags]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Derailment Adalene Harrison about recent train wrecks in Dallas]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: SMU Homecoming]
B-roll video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Boarding home]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Iran protest in Dallas]
B-roll video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Shell reaction]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
[News Clip: Gas dealer]
Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.
MFTF supervisory control and diagnostics system hardware
The Supervisory Control and Diagnostics System (SCDS) for the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) is a multiprocessor minicomputer system designed so that for most single-point failures, the hardware may be quickly reconfigured to provide continued operation of the experiment. The system is made up of nine Perkin-Elmer computers - a mixture of 8/32's and 7/32's. Each computer has ports on a shared memory system consisting of two independent shared memory modules. Each processor can signal other processors through hardware external to the shared memory. The system communicates with the Local Control and Instrumentation System, which consists of approximately 65 microprocessors. Each of the six system processors has facilities for communicating with a group of microprocessors; the groups consist of from four to 24 microprocessors. There are hardware switches so that if an SCDS processor communicating with a group of microprocessors fails, another SCDS processor takes over the communication.
Development of a Plasma Streaming System for the Mirror Fusion Test Facility
The Plasma Streaming System (PSS) is an essential portion of the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF), scheduled for completion in October 1981. The PSS will develop a plasma density of at least 2 x 10/sup 12/ particles/cm/sup 3/ at the MFTF magnet centerline by injecting particles along the field lines. The plasma will have a midplane plasma radius as large as 40 cm with variable plasma particle energy and beam geometry. Minimum amounts of impurities will be injected, with emphasis on minimizing high Z materials. Each of the 60 PSS units will consist of a gun magnet assembly (GMA) and a power supply. Each GMA consists of a plasma streaming gun, a pulse magnet that provides variable beam shaping, and a fast reaction pulse gas valve.
Digital simulation of the MFTF power supply system using EMTP
The power supply system for MFTF will consist of twenty-four sets of accel, arc, and filament power supplies. The system will be fed from a common source and split into sets of two for the accel supplies and sets of four for the arc and filament supplies. This paper describes the simulation of this system and the EMTP code that was used. Interactions between power supplies during turn on that are due to common system impedances are studied, and a description of Transient Analysis of Control Systems (TACS) control is presented. The system harmonic content found by EMTP is discussed. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of an accel crowbar simulation.
Currents in ATF
This paper contains viewgraphs on the existence of currents in ATF Torsatron. Current sources like bootstrap, Pfirsch-Schluter, beam driven and flux conserving are investigated and suggestions on minimization are given. (LSP)
Overview of the MFTF electrical systems
The Mirror Fusion Test Facility, scheduled for completion in October 1981, will contain a complex, state-of-the-art array of electrical and electronics equipment valued at over 60 M$. Three injector systems will be employed to initiate and sustain the MFTF deuterium plasma. A plasma streaming system and a startup neutron beam system will be used to establish a target plasma. A sustaining neutral beam system will be used to fuel and sustain the MFTF plasma for 0.5 s. Additional power supply systems required on MFTF include two magnet power supplies with quench protection circuitry for powering the superconducting YIN/YANG magnet pair and eight 10 KHz power supplies for powering the Ti gettering system. Due to the complexity, physical size, and multiple systems of MFTF, a distributed, hierarchial, computer control and instrumentation system will be used. Color graphic, touch-panel, control consoles will provide the man-machine interface. The MFTF will have the capability of conducting an experiment every five minutes.
Overview of MFTF supervisory control and diagnostics system software
The Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) is currently the largest mirror fusion research project in the world. Its Control and Diagnostics System is handled by a distributed computer network consisting of nine Interdata minicomputer systems and about 65 microprocessors. One of the design requirements is tolerance of single-point failure. If one of the computer systems becomes inoperative, the experiment can still be carried out, although the system responsiveness to operator command may be degraded. In a normal experiment cycle, the researcher can examine the result of the previous experiment, change any control parameter, fire a shot, collect four million bytes of diagnostics data, perform intershot analysis, and have the result presented - all within five minutes. The software approach adopted for the Supervisory Control and Diagnostics System features chief programmer teams and structured programming. Pascal is the standard programming language in this project.
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