Using Mixed Methods to Explore the Impact of Macro Level Governing Structure on Public Sector Employment

Utilizing Oates’ fiscal federalism theorem, the Tiebout model and Berry’s common pool model, this dissertation develops an integrated theoretical framework of state and local government structure. Based on the framework, the author examines the effect of a macro level governing structure on public sector employment using two different methods. An econometric model is used to examine the individual effect of four characteristics of a macro level governing structure on local public employment levels by combining other socioeconomic data of 3,031 counties from 1992 to 2012. These four characteristics are spatial fragmentation, interjurisdictional completion, jurisdictional overlap and fiscal decentralization. The second method was a qualitative comparative analysis which compares different combinations of the four characteristics of a macro level governing structure in relation to public employment at the state level, then utilizes Boolean algebra to investigate the causal conditions using a bottom-up data reduction approach. The regression analysis finds that an increased level of fiscal decentralization is significantly associated with larger labor input in the production of public services. Additionally, spatial fragmentation reduces the levels of public sector employment, whereas interjurisdictional competition and jurisdictional overlap lead to the growth of local public sector employment levels. The qualitative comparative analysis presents different types of interactions of macro level governing structure characteristics in relation to high and low levels of state government employment. Several conclusions can be drawn from the results of this dissertation, which have challenged conventional theories. First, local public sector employment may grow faster in a decentralized state than in a centralized one. Second, interjurisdictional competition, in particular, the competition between general-purpose governments is unable to constrain the growth of local public sector employment. In contrast, more labor inputs are required to produce public goods and provide public services provision to satisfy the needs of local community residents. The results of the qualitative comparative analysis reveal causality asymmetry and highlight how different interactions of characteristics of a macro-level governing structure affect different levels of state government employment

Bioconjugation study of upconversion nanoparticles for cancer detection

Over the past decades, nanotechnology and fluorescence imaging techniques have become increasingly attractive for early detection of cancer. The high sensitivity required for differentiating abnormal cells from normal cells presents a challenge to existing diagnostic protocols. Among other types of nanomaterials, lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have unique optical properties and thus hold a great promise in cancer detection at a very early stage using fluorescence imaging. Large Stokes and anti-Stokes shifts, long luminescence lifetime and excellent photostability make UCNPs a good choice for biological and biomedical applications. On the other hand, biological detection based on UCNP-probes is seriously limited by aggregation of the UCNPs when interacting with biomolecules and by non-specific binding in cell-based detection assays. This thesis explores a series of novel UCNP bioconjugation strategies to overcome the current barriers in bioapplications of UCNPs by enhancing their water dispersibility and stability and decreasing the non-specific binding of UCNP-biomolecule conjugates. In this research, NaYF₄: Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ and NaYF₄: Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ UCNPs were synthesized and a NaYF₄: Yb³⁺/Er³⁺@NaGdF₄ core-shell structure was used to improve the upconversion luminescence intensity (Chapter 2). Various surface modification methods including ligand attraction, ligand oxidation, ligand exchange and silica coating were tested and compared to identify a suitable approach for the subsequent bioconjugation study (Chapter 3). Two novel bioconjugation strategies will be presented in detail. Chapter 4 illustrates conjugation of UCNPs to the MIL-38 antibodies through a biotin-streptavidin bridge. Chapter 5 demonstrates a modified one step bioconjugation strategy between UCNPs and MIL-38 antibodies by using a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) linker and orientation controlled functionalization of antibodies. Both novel UCNP-biomolecule conjugation strategies produce water-stable and dispersible products and the biomolecules tested retained their biological activity during the conjugation process. In addition, a fabricated UCNP-antibody complex specifically targeting DU145 prostate cancer cells without detectable non-specific binding was achieved

Using Mixed Methods to Explore the Impact of Macro Level Governing Structure on Public Sector Employment

Utilizing Oates’ fiscal federalism theorem, the Tiebout model and Berry’s common pool model, this dissertation develops an integrated theoretical framework of state and local government structure. Based on the framework, the author examines the effect of a macro level governing structure on public sector employment using two different methods. An econometric model is used to examine the individual effect of four characteristics of a macro level governing structure on local public employment levels by combining other socioeconomic data of 3,031 counties from 1992 to 2012. These four characteristics are spatial fragmentation, interjurisdictional completion, jurisdictional overlap and fiscal decentralization. The second method was a qualitative comparative analysis which compares different combinations of the four characteristics of a macro level governing structure in relation to public employment at the state level, then utilizes Boolean algebra to investigate the causal conditions using a bottom-up data reduction approach. The regression analysis finds that an increased level of fiscal decentralization is significantly associated with larger labor input in the production of public services. Additionally, spatial fragmentation reduces the levels of public sector employment, whereas interjurisdictional competition and jurisdictional overlap lead to the growth of local public sector employment levels. The qualitative comparative analysis presents different types of interactions of macro level governing structure characteristics in relation to high and low levels of state government employment. Several conclusions can be drawn from the results of this dissertation, which have challenged conventional theories. First, local public sector employment may grow faster in a decentralized state than in a centralized one. Second, interjurisdictional competition, in particular, the competition between general-purpose governments is unable to constrain the growth of local public sector employment. In contrast, more labor inputs are required to produce public goods and provide public services provision to satisfy the needs of local community residents. The results of the qualitative comparative analysis reveal causality asymmetry and highlight how different interactions of characteristics of a macro-level governing structure affect different levels of state government employment

How Does Intergovernmental Fiscal Environment Affect General Fund Balances of Major American Cities?

This study explores the extent to which intergovernmental fiscal factors affect fiscal reserves in municipal general funds. Statistical results from panel data of 87 major cities in the U.S. for the period from 1995 to 2010 show that cities facing more restrictive limitations on local property taxation tend to maintain higher levels of unreserved general fund balances. Additional analyses also show that fiscally constrained cities accumulate surpluses in their general funds. This is consistent with the proactive approach in which municipal governments make fiscal decisions with the awareness of expected state constraints on their revenue-raising capacity. We call for consideration of relevant intergovernmental constraints in the determination of appropriate level of fund balances for municipal governments

Oxygen Isotopic Substitution of Peptidyl Phosphates for Modification-Specific Mass Spectrometry

The first method of isotopic substitution of a nonbridging oxygen atom in pre-existing phosphates on peptides is reported, solving a long-standing, challenging issue in the sample preparation of phosphopeptides. Peptidyl phosphates, phosphate groups on phosphopeptides, are converted to phosphoramidates with carbodiimide assistance. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the newly formed phosphoramidates incorporates one oxygen atom from H216O or H218O, producing peptidyl phosphates-16O1 or -18O1, respectively. The oxygen labels are stable under common separation and analysis conditions. This labeling method causes minimal structural alteration to peptidyl phosphates and allows the direct application of established phosphate-specific marker ions to the mass spectrometric analysis of differentially labeled phosphopeptide pairs. Using phosphotyrosinyl peptides as model analytes, the characteristic 16O1- and 18O1-labeled phosphotyrosine immonium ions at m/z 216.043 and 218.047 are used for developing a method of phosphopeptide quantitation that is independent of the amino acid sequence of the peptides. From analysis by tandem parallel fragmentation mass spectrometry, it is clear that the phosphate-specific marker ions authentically inherit the quantitative information from precursor phosphopeptides. The dynamic range for relative quantitation of differentially labeled phosphopeptides is at least 2 orders of magnitude for experiments run on a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The use of 16O1 and 18O1 labeling for counting the number of phosphate groups on peptides is also demonstrated

Additional file 1 of Multimodal non-invasive non-pharmacological therapies for chronic pain: mechanisms and progress

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Clinical applications of physical modalities for chronic pain conditions. Note: Chronic pain conditions in the figure refer to ICD-11 classifications. Examples given in the article include specific diseases falling into these categories. Figure S2. Clinical applications of psychological interventions for chronic pain conditions. Note: Chronic pain conditions in the figure refer to ICD-11 classifications. Examples given in the article include specific diseases falling into these categories. Figure S3. Clinical applications of complementary and alternative therapies for chronic pain conditions. Note: Chronic pain conditions in the figure refer to ICD-11 classifications. Examples given in the article include specific diseases falling into these categories. Figure S4. Clinical applications of others therapies for chronic pain conditions. Note: Chronic pain conditions in the figure refer to ICD-11 classifications. Examples given in the article include specific diseases falling into these categories

How Does Intergovernmental Fiscal Environment Affect General Fund Balances of Major American Cities?

This study explores the extent to which intergovernmental fiscal factors affect fiscal reserves in municipal general funds. Statistical results from panel data of 87 major cities in the U.S. for the period from 1995 to 2010 show that cities facing more restrictive limitations on local property taxation tend to maintain higher levels of unreserved general fund balances. Additional analyses also show that fiscally constrained cities accumulate surpluses in their general funds. This is consistent with the proactive approach in which municipal governments make fiscal decisions with the awareness of expected state constraints on their revenue-raising capacity. We call for consideration of relevant intergovernmental constraints in the determination of appropriate level of fund balances for municipal governments

Data_Sheet_1_Grain-filling characteristics and yield formation of wheat in two different soil fertility fields in the Huang–Huai–Hai Plain.pdf

Clarifying factors that underpinning the variation in wheat yield components between high and middle soil fertility fields is critical to increase grain production and narrow yield gap for smallholder farming systems in the Huang–Huai–Hai Plain (3HP), which characterized by a large variation in soil fertility. Two-year field experiments were conducted to investigate wheat tillering, leaf photosynthesis, and grain filling characteristics in different soil fertility fields: high soil fertility field (HF) and middle soil fertility field (MF). Results showed that the spike formation rate in HF was 12.7%–13.0% higher than that in MF, leading to an 18.0%–19.8% increase in spike number. In addition, HF improved canopy light interception and leaf photosynthesis characteristics after anthesis and delayed leaf senescence, contributing to the increase in both the active grain filling period and grain filling rate. This resulted in a higher 1,000 grain weight in HF, which was 8.2%–8.3% higher than that in MF. Compared to MF, HF obtained higher yields at 9,840 kg ha−1 in 2017/18 and 11,462 kg ha−1 in 2018/19, respectively. In summary, higher spike number and 1,000-grain weight, which were mediated by spike-formation rate, maximization of light interception and improved leaf photosynthesis. These results would have important implications for narrowing yield gap between MF and HF in the 3HP.</p

Ultrathroughput Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry

A novel transformation of the multiplexing potential to the throughput potential of multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry is presented for targeted quantitation of proteins. Herein, this method is termed as ultrathroughput multiple reaction monitoring (UMRM) mass spectrometry. It integrates the use of stable isotope dilution-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry and peptide derivatization with inexpensive and commercial chemicals. One-experiment quantitation of a common signature peptide in 25 different samples demonstrates proof-of-concept for the unprecedented throughput potential of the UMRM technology