How "The Government Performance and Results Act" Borrowed from the Experience of OECD Countries

To what extent did the United States draw upon the experience of OECD countries in developing a framework for "managing for results"? A great deal the author argues, tracing how The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) borrowed from the experience of Australia and OECD countries, and how this experience influenced both the legislative and executive branches in formulation and passage of GPRA that included elements of results-oriented strategic planning and resource assessment

Agencies in Transition: A Report on the Views of the Members of the Federal Senior Executive Service

Many think of leadership transition in government as something that happens only once every four or eight years. While presidential transitions are undoubtedly the largest in scope, leadership transition in government is a constant process. In fact, the average tenure of Senate-confirmed appointees is only 3.3 years, while appointees at executive departments generally spend only 2.8 years in a single post.In a federal government made up of departments and agencies as large and complex as any Fortune 500 company, a strong leadership team is critical to effective governance. Members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) serve as the primary link between political appointees and the broader federal workforce, operating and overseeing nearly every government activity. They play a significant role during leadership transitions, ensuring the continuity of operations within government. Members of the SES are also uniquely positioned to help incoming political leaders build on the positive reforms of the past, and provide insight from lessons learned that can inform success in the future.The National Academy saw the 2008 Presidential transition as an opportunity to draw upon the experience of the SES to find ways to strengthen the partnerships between political and career leaders and build a more efficient and effective government. The results of our study reinforced the critical role played by members of the SES, and revealed that the majority of these career leaders, though experienced in government, were relatively new to managing transition issues as executives.Key FindingsThe findings demonstrated that despite the newness of presidential transitions for most SES, they have a clear understanding about the role they must play in assisting new political appointees, the importance of forming an effective partnership, and their role in the process. At the same time, they wanted help to prepare for those roles, and were eager to engage in training and other activities that would promote success. These SES preferred to receive assistance in preparing for the transition through: (1) policy briefings; (2) discussions with their peers; (3) written materials; and (4) attendance at seminars or training sessions

The Quantum Socket: Three-Dimensional Wiring for Extensible Quantum Computing

Quantum computing architectures are on the verge of scalability, a key requirement for the implementation of a universal quantum computer. The next stage in this quest is the realization of quantum error correction codes, which will mitigate the impact of faulty quantum information on a quantum computer. Architectures with ten or more quantum bits (qubits) have been realized using trapped ions and superconducting circuits. While these implementations are potentially scalable, true scalability will require systems engineering to combine quantum and classical hardware. One technology demanding imminent efforts is the realization of a suitable wiring method for the control and measurement of a large number of qubits. In this work, we introduce an interconnect solution for solid-state qubits: The quantum socket. The quantum socket fully exploits the third dimension to connect classical electronics to qubits with higher density and better performance than two-dimensional methods based on wire bonding. The quantum socket is based on spring-mounted micro wires the three-dimensional wires that push directly on a micro-fabricated chip, making electrical contact. A small wire cross section (~1 mmm), nearly non-magnetic components, and functionality at low temperatures make the quantum socket ideal to operate solid-state qubits. The wires have a coaxial geometry and operate over a frequency range from DC to 8 GHz, with a contact resistance of ~150 mohm, an impedance mismatch of ~10 ohm, and minimal crosstalk. As a proof of principle, we fabricated and used a quantum socket to measure superconducting resonators at a temperature of ~10 mK.Comment: Main: 31 pages, 19 figs., 8 tables, 8 apps.; suppl.: 4 pages, 5 figs. (HiRes figs. and movies on request). Submitte

Cytogenetic monoclonality in multifocal uroepithelial carcinomas: evidence of intraluminal tumour seeding

Twenty-one multifocal urinary tract transitional cell carcinomas, mostly bladder tumours, from a total of six patients were processed for cytogenetic analysis after short-term culturing of the tumour cells. Karyotypically related, often identical, cytogenetically complex clones were found in all informative tumours from each case, including the recurrent tumours. Rearrangement of chromosome 9, leading to loss of material from the short and/or the long arm, was seen in all cases, indicating that this is an early, pathogenetically important event in transitional cell carcinogenesis. The presence of related clones with great karyotypic similarity in anatomically distinct tumours from the same bladder indicates that multifocal uroepithelial tumours have a monoclonal origin and arise via intraluminal seeding of viable cancer cells shed from the original tumour. Later lesions may develop also from cells shed from the so called second primary tumours. The relatively complex karyotypes seen in all lesions from most cases argue that the seeding of tumour cells is a late event that succeeds the acquisition by them of multiple secondary genetic abnormalities. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Amplified and selective assay of collagens by enzymatic and fluorescent reactions

Sensitive and selective assay of collagen is of substantial importance to the diagnostic study of health- and aging-related failures. In this paper, we describe a highly specific and sensitive method for the assay of whole collagens in biological samples using a novel fluorogenic reagent, 3,4- dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA). The 3,4-DHPAA reagent can selectively detectN-terminal Gly-containing peptides (NGPs) in the presence of sodium borate and NaIO4. Under conditions optimized, this assay format for collagen, termed 3,4-DHPAA assay method showed a good linear relationship between the amplified FL signals and the collagen concentrations from 0.18 to 12 μg/ml. Therefore the sensitive determination of intracellular collagens in cheek tissue and HeLa cells was individually possible without any separation protocol. The dual recognitions of the collagens in the samples could be performed by the enzymatic digestion and the FL reaction. The proposed assay method enables the determination facile, specific, sensitive and quantitative for biogenic collagens

History of ESL Pronunciation Teaching

This chapter tells the story of over 150 years in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) pronunciation. An analysis of historical resources may reveal a reliable history of pronunciation teaching. A consistent theme within the historical record is that prior to the second half of the nineteenth century pronunciation received little attention in L2 classrooms. Beginning in the 1850s and continuing for the next 30 years, early innovators such as Berlitz, Gouin, Marcel, and Predergast were rejecting and transitioning away from classical approaches. A change that resulted in pronunciation teaching\u27s considerably more consequential second wave was the formation in Paris during the period 1886-1889 of the International Phonetic Association. The 1950s-1970s coincide with a slow rise of attention to innovations in how to teach pronunciation. If we may speculate on the future of ESL pronunciation teaching, there is every reason to feel optimistic