18,346 research outputs found
When Do Firms Hire Lobbyists? The Organization of Lobbying at the Federal Communications Commission
This paper examines the explanatory power of transaction cost economics to explain vertical integration decisions for lobbying by firms. We examine 150 lobbying contacts at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the issue of payphone compensation for dial-around calls. When firms lobby on topics that are highly firm-specific and prone to sensitive-information leakage, they are more likely to use employees to lobby the FCC. However, when topics arise that are more general to the industry and do not include sensitive information, firms are more likely to use outside counsel to lobby the FCC.
The Effects of Language Brokering Among the Korean Population
Children of immigrant families frequently are immersed in a process called language brokering (LB) in which they interpret and translate between various linguistic and cultural parties for their families. Previous studies that investigated correlations among LB, mental health and behavioral outcomes revealed both positive and negative effects of well-being and development. The current study expanded this research by examining the relationship of LB, acculturation, hope, and resilience among 53 Korean adults. This study revealed a significant negative relationship between the frequency of LB and levels of hope. Additionally, the results did not demonstrate any significant relationships between the frequency of LB and acculturation or frequency of LB and levels of resilience. This study aids in further understanding and considering the complexity of how various cultural factors may influence one’s experience. Implications and future research are discussed
Type Ia supernova diversity: Standardizing the candles
Future use of type Ia supernovae for cosmology aims not only to determine the
equation of state of dark energy, but also to constrain possible variations in
its value. To achieve this goal, supernovae need to become better calibrated
standard candles - not only to improve the precision of the measurement, but
more importantly to gain better control over systematic uncertainties in order
to ensure the accuracy of the result.
Here we report on a project to quantify the diversity in type Ia supernovae,
and to look for trends and/or sub-types that can be used to improve their
calibration as standard candles. We implement a version of principal component
analysis on type Ia supernova spectra. Although the quantity of data is not
sufficient to draw any firm conclusions we show that this method holds promise
for, at the very least, effectively separating peculiar supernovae. Whether it
can be further used to improve the calibration of normal type Ia's remains a
project for future study.Comment: Conference Proceedings. Cefalu 2006, The multicoloured landscape of
compact objects and their explosive origins. Six pages, three figure
Removal of Confined Ionic Liquid from a Metal Organic Framework by Extraction with Molecular Solvents
This work was supported in part by NSF Grant No. CHE-1223988 and by EPSRC Grant No. EP/K00090X/1.Peer reviewedPostprin
MicroRNA-762 is upregulated in human corneal epithelial cells in response to tear fluid and Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigens and negatively regulates the expression of host defense genes encoding RNase7 and ST2.
Mucosal surfaces regulate defenses against infection and excessive inflammation. We previously showed that human tears upregulated epithelial expression of genes encoding RNase7 and ST2, which inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa invasion of human corneal epithelial cells. Here, microRNA microarrays were used to show that a combination of tear fluid exposure (16 h) then P. aeruginosa antigens (3 h) upregulated miR-762 and miR-1207, and down-regulated miR-92 and let-7b (all > 2-fold) in human corneal epithelial cells compared to P. aeruginosa antigens alone. RT-PCR confirmed miR-762 upregulation ∼ 3-fold in tear-antigen exposed cells. Without tears or antigens, an antagomir reduced miR-762 expression relative to scrambled controls by ∼50%, increased expression of genes encoding RNase7 (∼80 %), ST2 (∼58%) and Rab5a (∼75%), without affecting P. aeruginosa internalization. However, P. aeruginosa invasion was increased > 3-fold by a miR-762 mimic which reduced RNase7 and ST2 gene expression. Tear fluid alone also induced miR-762 expression ∼ 4-fold, which was reduced by the miR-762 antagomir. Combination of tear fluid and miR-762 antagomir increased RNase7 and ST2 gene expression. These data show that mucosal fluids, such as tears, can modulate epithelial microRNA expression to regulate innate defense genes, and that miR-762 negatively regulates RNase7, ST2 and Rab5a genes. Since RNase7 and ST2 inhibit P. aeruginosa internalization, and are upregulated by tear fluid, other tear-induced mechanisms must counteract inhibitory effects of miR-762 to regulate resistance to bacteria. These data also suggest a complex relationship between tear induction of miR-762, its modulation of innate defense genes, and P. aeruginosa internalization
A 10 GHz Quasi-Optical Grid Amplifier Using Integrated HBT Differential Pairs
We report the fabrication and testing of a 10 GHz grid amplifier utilizing sixteen GaAs chips each
containing an HBT differential pair plus integral bias/feedback resistors. The overall amplifier consists of
a 4x4 array of unit cells on an RT Duroid™ board having a relative permittivity of 2.2. Each unit cell
consists of an emitter-coupled differential pair at the center, an input antenna which extends horizontally
in both directions from the two base leads, an output antenna which extends vertically in both directions
from the two collector leads, and high inductance bias lines. In operation, the active grid array is placed
between a pair of crossed polarizers. The horizontally polarized input wave passes through the input
polarizer and couples to the input leads. An amplified current then flows on the vertical leads, which
radiate a vertically polarized amplified signal through the output polarizer. The polarizers serve dual
functions, providing both input-output isolation as well as independent impedance matching for the input
and output ports. The grid thus functions essentially as a free-space beam amplifier. Calculations indicate
that output powers of several watts per square centimeter of grid area should be attainable with optimized
structures
Impact of environmental factors on growth and satratoxin G production by strains of Stachybotrys chartarum
The black mould Stachybotrys chartarum and its mycotoxins have been linked to
damp building-associated illnesses. The objective of this study was to determine
the effects of water availability (water activity, aw) and temperature on growth
and production of satratoxin G (SG) by a macrocyclic trichothecene-producing
strain (IBT 7711) and non-producing strain (IBT 1495) of S. chartarum. Growth
studies were carried out on potato dextrose agar modified with glycerol to
0.995-0.92 aw at 10-37 °C. Growth extension was measured and the cultures were
extracted after 10 days and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) method used to quantify the SG content. Growth was optimal at 25 to 30
°C at 0.995 aw, but this was modified to 0.98 aw at 30 °C for both strains (1.4-
1.6 mm/day, respectively). The ELISA method revealed that, in contrast to
growth, SG production was maximal at 20 °C with highest production at 0.98 aw
(approximately 250 μg/g mycelia). When water was freely available (0.995 aw), SG
was maximally produced at 15 °C and decreased as temperature was increased.
Interestingly, the strain classified as a non-toxigenic produced very low
amounts of SG (<1.6 μg/g mycelia) that were maximal at 25 °C and 0.98 aw.
Contour maps for growth and SG production were developed from these data sets.
These data have shown, for the first time, that growth and SG production
profiles are very different in relation to key environmental conditions in the
indoor environment. This will be very useful in practically determining the risk
from exposure to S. chartarum and its toxins in the built env
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