\u3ci\u3eKeffeler v. Department of Social and Health Services\u3c/i\u3e: How the Supreme Court of Washington Mistook Caring for Children as Robbing Them Blind

Social Security benefits aid in the basic care of beneficiaries. Washington\u27s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) used benefits toward this end until Keffeler v. Department of Social and Health Services. In Keffeler, the Supreme Court of Washington ruled that DSHS, even when acting as representative payee, could not use a foster child\u27s Social Security benefits to pay for his or her current maintenance. The court held that DSHS\u27s use of Social Security benefits to pay for the current maintenance of foster children violated 42 U.S.C. § 407 of the Social Security Act, which protects Social Security beneficiaries from the claims of creditors. The Supreme Court of Washington reasoned that because state law required DSHS to provide foster care, it could not reimburse itself for the costs of that care without becoming a creditor, in violation of § 407(a). Section 405G) of the Social Security Act states that benefits must be used in the best interests of the beneficiary. The court stated that because DSHS was already required to provide for the current maintenance of foster children, using Social Security benefits for maintenance was not in the children\u27s best interests. This Note argues that federal law and Social Security regulations permit DSHS when acting as representative payee-to use Social Security benefits for the current maintenance costs of foster children. States may act as representative payees, and use benefits to pay for the current maintenance of beneficiaries under 42 U.S.C § 4050(j), which pronounces that such a use is considered to be in the best interests of a beneficiary

Species- and organ-specificity of secretory proteins derived from human prostate and seminal vesicles

Polyclonal antibodies against semenogelin (SG) isolated from human seminal vesicle secretion and acid phosphatase (PAP), β‐microseminoprotein (β‐MSP), and Prostate‐Specific Antigen (PSA) derived from human prostatic fluid, as well as a monoclonal antibody against β‐MSP were used for immunocytochemical detection of the respective antigens in different organs from different species. SG immunoreactivity was detected in the epithelium of the pubertal and adult human and in monkey seminal vesicle, ampulla of the vas deferens, and ejaculatory duct. PAP, β‐MSP, and PSA immunoreactivities were detected in the pubertal and adult human prostate and the cranial and caudal monkey prostate. With the exception of a weak PSA immunoreactivity in the proximal portions of the ejaculatory duct, none of the latter antisera reacted with seminal vesicle, ampullary, and ejaculatory duct epithelium. Among the non‐primate species studied (dog, bull, rat, guinea pig) only the canine prostatic epithelium displayed a definite immunoreactivity with the PAP antibody and a moderate reaction with the PSA antibody. No immunoreaction was seen in bull and rat seminal vesicle and canine ampulla of the vas deferens with the SG antibody. The same was true for the (ventral) prostate of rat, bull, and dog for β‐MSP. The epithelium of the rat dorsal prostate showed a slight cross‐reactivity with the monoclonal antibody against β‐MSP and one polyclonal antibody against PSA. The findings indicate a rather strict species‐dependent expression of human seminal proteins which show some similarities in primates, but only marginal relationship to species with different physiology of seminal fluid

Survey of Texas Black-owned Businesses

Report on the state of black-owned businesses in Texas, based on 2010 Census data and a statewide survey of black business owners conducted in 2013. The demographic portion of the study found that the number of black-owned businesses in Texas grew faster in the early 2000s than the state average for all businesses, but the vast majority of black-owned businesses in Texas were small, with no paid employees other than the owner. In sales and number of employees, black-owned businesses lagged behind state averages. In their survey responses, a majority of black business owners indicated they felt they had the education and skills needed to succeed. They saw room for improvement in the areas of political access and contracting opportunities.Bureau of Business Researc

Improvement of the Gait Analysis Process

This report describes the complete design and testing of a methodology for the creation of a force sensing device that can be used to provide clinically significant data to aid a prosthetist in the static alignment of a transtibial prosthesis fitting. Thin-film force transducers form the basis for the prototype force sensing module that is integrated into a prosthetic leg for the testing and future alignment fittings. This physical force sensing device was used along with a computer simulation of the limb and module to collect force measurement results, both positionally relative and absolute. The experimental data collected were analyzed using Analysis of Variance, effects plots and prediction equations. The statistical analysis helped to evaluate the feasibility of using similar data and methods for producing a system capable of predicting and validating changes in force distribution relationship, the accuracy of the force sensing module could be improved. The recommendations for future revisions of this design include using more accurate force sensors and conducting more replications of the physical testing

Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: Exploring the Role of Spousal Caregivers through an Occupational Therapy Lens

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the occupational needs of caregivers of stroke survivors and to identify potential implications for occupational therapy’s role with this population. Methods: Focus groups and a semi-structured interview were used to gather an in-depth perspective on caregivers’ needs and level of participation in valued activities. Interactions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis included open coding, formulation of categorical patterns, and thematic analysis. Rigor was enhanced through peer review, multiple coders, member checking, and triangulation. Results: Four primary themes emerged: (1) the essential need for additional services and support; (2) the amount of time spent on addressing spouses’ needs resulted in occupational loss; (3) finding new ways to participate in daily life activities; and, (4) an association between the survivor’s level of impairment and the caregiver’s quality of life. Conclusion: Demands of caregiving can lead to changes in roles, responsibilities, and routines. OT practitioners are uniquely qualified to reinstate valued occupations into daily life, formulate balanced routines, and provide client specific supports and resources. OT services could provide strategies to enhance caregivers’ ability to partake in meaningful occupations and resume a balanced lifestyle. More research is needed to determine the occupational needs of caregivers and the effectiveness of caregiver interventions

Spitzer Secondary Eclipses of the Dense, Modestly-irradiated, Giant Exoplanet HAT-P-20b Using Pixel-Level Decorrelation

HAT-P-20b is a giant exoplanet that orbits a metal-rich star. The planet itself has a high total density, suggesting that it may also have a high metallicity in its atmosphere. We analyze two eclipses of the planet in each of the 3.6- and 4.5 micron bands of Warm Spitzer. These data exhibit intra-pixel detector sensitivity fluctuations that were resistant to traditional decorrelation methods. We have developed a simple, powerful, and radically different method to correct the intra-pixel effect for Warm Spitzer data, which we call pixel-level decorrelation (PLD). PLD corrects the intra-pixel effect very effectively, but without explicitly using - or even measuring - the fluctuations in the apparent position of the stellar image. We illustrate and validate PLD using synthetic and real data, and comparing the results to previous analyses. PLD can significantly reduce or eliminate red noise in Spitzer secondary eclipse photometry, even for eclipses that have proven to be intractable using other methods. Our successful PLD analysis of four HAT-P-20b eclipses shows a best-fit blackbody temperature of 1134 +/-29K, indicating inefficient longitudinal transfer of heat, but lacking evidence for strong molecular absorption. We find sufficient evidence for variability in the 4.5 micron band that the eclipses should be monitored at that wavelength by Spitzer, and this planet should be a high priority for JWST spectroscopy. All four eclipses occur about 35 minutes after orbital phase 0.5, indicating a slightly eccentric orbit. A joint fit of the eclipse and transit times with extant RV data yields e(cos{omega}) = 0.01352 (+0.00054, -0.00057), and establishes the small eccentricity of the orbit to high statistical confidence. Given the existence of a bound stellar companion, HAT-P-20b is another excellent candidate for orbital evolution via Kozai migration or other three-body mechanism.Comment: version published in ApJ, minor text and figure revision