K-theoretic duality for shifts of finite type

C*-algebras generalizing Cuntz-Krieger algebras can be associated to hyperbolic homeomorphisms of compact metric spaces. They satisfy a non-commutative form of Spanier-Whitehead duality with respect to K-theory. We prove this for the case of subshifts of finite type. The special feature of the present situation is that the constructions are all done on the full Fock space and are very explicit, while the general theorem requires much more abstract machinery.Comment: 23 pages, Latex fil

Portacaval shunt for glycogen storage disease and hyperlipidaemia.

Complete portacaval shunt was used to treat 10 patients with glycogen storage disease. A favourable effect was noted on body growth and a number of metabolic abnormalities. More recently, continous night feedings with an intermittently placed gastric tube or through a gastrostomy has been shown to be helpful either before or after portacaval shunts. Such alimentation techniques may eliminate the need for shunts in some patients and be of adjuvant benefit in others. Portacaval shunt was also used for three children who had homozygous Type II hyperlipidaemia. Substantial reductions in serum cholesterol concentration were observed, as well as resorption of xanthomas. Reversal of some cardiovascular lesions has been documented. The benefits of portacaval shunt in these disorders is probably due to the change in the hormone climate of the liver and the whole organism brought about by diversion of the hormone-rich splanchnic venous blood around the liver

The properties of Msh2-Msh6 ATP binding mutants suggest a signal amplification mechanism in DNA mismatch repair.

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) corrects mispaired DNA bases and small insertion/deletion loops generated by DNA replication errors. After binding a mispair, the eukaryotic mispair recognition complex Msh2-Msh6 binds ATP in both of its nucleotide-binding sites, which induces a conformational change resulting in the formation of an Msh2-Msh6 sliding clamp that releases from the mispair and slides freely along the DNA. However, the roles that Msh2-Msh6 sliding clamps play in MMR remain poorly understood. Here, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we created Msh2 and Msh6 Walker A nucleotide-binding site mutants that have defects in ATP binding in one or both nucleotide-binding sites of the Msh2-Msh6 heterodimer. We found that these mutations cause a complete MMR defect in vivo The mutant Msh2-Msh6 complexes exhibited normal mispair recognition and were proficient at recruiting the MMR endonuclease Mlh1-Pms1 to mispaired DNA. At physiological (2.5 mm) ATP concentration, the mutant complexes displayed modest partial defects in supporting MMR in reconstituted Mlh1-Pms1-independent and Mlh1-Pms1-dependent MMR reactions in vitro and in activation of the Mlh1-Pms1 endonuclease and showed a more severe defect at low (0.1 mm) ATP concentration. In contrast, five of the mutants were completely defective and one was mostly defective for sliding clamp formation at high and low ATP concentrations. These findings suggest that mispair-dependent sliding clamp formation triggers binding of additional Msh2-Msh6 complexes and that further recruitment of additional downstream MMR proteins is required for signal amplification of mispair binding during MMR

Alopecia, ascites, and incomplete regeneration after 85 to 90 per cent liver resection

A nineteen year old female underwent 85 to 90 per cent partial hepatectomy to treat a minimal deviation hepatoma. Observations afterwards suggested that the limit of resection compatible with survival had been reached. She recovered perfect health after many months, although liver regeneration was not complete. Severe but eventually reversible alopecia and ascites developed postoperatively, undoubtedly as a complication of the massive hepatic resection. © 1975

Modification of established rejection of canine kidney and liver homografts with antilymphocyte gamma-G globulin

Heterologous ALG was administered to ten canine recipients of renal homografts and one recipient of an orthotopic liver. Treatment was started after rejection was well established. Death from homograft failure was thereby significantly delayed and in several experiments the rejection was at least partially reversed. © 1969

Program Changes for Gifted Students and the Impact on Collaborative Efficacy

Research suggests that academically gifted students are often underserved when it comes to the school setting. Academically gifted students require specialized instruction to challenge them. Several successful strategies exist for creating an educational environment that appropriately challenges and helps these students achieve academic growth; however, these strategies are rarely employed due to a lack of accountability, supports, or these students’ ability to make passing scores on state assessments. The school chosen for this study came out of analysis of state growth numbers for academically gifted students. Analysis revealed that while gifted students of this school were meeting proficiency standards on state tests, academic growth numbers were in the negative. Based on these findings, research-based strategies will be implemented to improve growth numbers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect program changes for academically gifted students have on the collaborative efficacy of teachers. Participants of the study were teachers from the school of study that teach math, English/language arts, science, and social studies. All of these participants receive a growth index number based on student performance on North Carolina final exams and end-of-grade assessments in Grades 6-8. Two measures were used to determine the change in teacher efficacy, North Carolina Growth Estimates (NC Growth Estimates) and Bandura’s (1977) Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale. NC Growth Estimates from 2103 and 2016 were compared to determine the level of change. Additionally, Bandura’s Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale results from 2013 were compared with those of 2016. These two measures determined the level of impact on collaborative efficacy for teachers as a whole

Two Essays in Financial Economics

The following dissertation contains two distinct empirical essays which contribute to the overall field of Financial Economics. Chapter 1, entitled “The Determinants of Dynamic Dependence: An Analysis of Commodity Futures and Equity Markets,” examines the determinants of the dynamic equity-commodity return correlations between five commodity futures sub-sectors (energy, foods and fibers, grains and oilseeds, livestock, and precious metals) and a value-weighted equity market index (S&P 500). The study utilizes the traditional DCC model, as well as three time-varying copulas: (i) the normal copula, (ii) the student’s t copula, and (iii) the rotated-gumbel copula as dependence measures. Subsequently, the determinants of these various dependence measures are explored by analyzing several macroeconomic, financial, and speculation variables over different sample periods. Results indicate that the dynamic equity-commodity correlations for the energy, grains and oilseeds, precious metals, and to a lesser extent the foods and fibers, sub-sectors have become increasingly explainable by broad macroeconomic and financial market indicators, particularly after May 2003. Furthermore, these variables exhibit heterogeneous effects in terms of both magnitude and sign on each sub-sectors’ equity-commodity correlation structure. Interestingly, the effects of increased financial market speculation are found to be extremely varied among the five sub-sectors. These results have important implications for portfolio selection, price formation, and risk management. Chapter 2, entitled, “US Community Bank Failure: An Empirical Investigation,” examines the declining, but still pivotal role, of the US community banking industry. The study utilizes survival analysis to determine which accounting and macroeconomic variables help to predict community bank failure. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Federal Reserve Bank data are utilized to compare 452 community banks which failed between 2000 and 2013, relative to a sample of surviving community banks. Empirical results indicate that smaller banks are less likely to fail than their larger community bank counterparts. Additionally, several unique bank-specific indicators of failure emerge which relate to asset quality and liquidity, as well as earnings ratios. Moreover, results show that the use of the macroeconomic indicator of liquidity, the TED spread, provides a substantial improvement in modeling predictive community bank failure

Field Performance of Porous Pavements in South Carolina

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur