Zoning and city revenues: Does euclidean zoning impact cities\u27 Tax Revenues?

This paper is primarily concerned with measuring the impact of zoning for single family residential on city tax revenues within the San Francisco Bay Area. Single family residential zoning acts as a form of Euclidean zoning by restricting zoned land to one type or use. In the wake of decisions of cities such as Minneapolis to end zoning for single family housing, there has been a push for more research into the possible impacts going forward. This paper takes cross-sectional data from 2020 for 101 cities within the Bay Area. To estimate the impact of zoning on city tax revenues, this paper utilizes OLS regression models with robust standard error to help account for heteroskedasticity. The final model used found a negative causal impact of single family residential zoning on tax revenues. It was estimated that if a city had more than 80% zoned for single family residential that they would face a decrease of $82,783,312.90 in tax revenue. These findings were shown to be significant at the 10% level. In addition, multiple control variables were found to have statistically significant impacts on city tax revenues

Heat transfer investigations for the flow of superheated steam at velocities ranging up to the sonic

Abstract not available

Function block programming for distributed control : a thesis presented in complete fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Engineering, 216.899 thesis at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

This report discusses research and development using the draft IEC 61499 function block standard for distributed control with embedded microprocessor applications. This is a function block programming language that is currently under development for programming distributed control systems. The report covers what is required to develop an IEC 61499 compliant product and its suitablity for use with distributed control systems. To utilise the IEC 61499 standard, research and development of an embedded Java platform was performed. This required porting a Java virtual machine to run on an embedded microprocessor. An existing industrial network protocol DeviceNet was chosen for distributing the data between the network of control devices. To achieve this an upgrade was required to an existing DeviceNet communications engine to support distributed control. A third party IEC 61499 software application engine was ported to run on an embedded microprocessor. This option was chosen rather than completely developing a software engine as a commercial decision by the developer company. It also allowed support from other companies and researchers working with this standard. To test distributed control using this function block programming standard a test application consisting of a conveyor and three axis robot was developed. The test application demonstrated the feasibility of distributed control using IEC 61499 function blocks and some of the advantages of distributed control. Further outcomes of this research have highlighted some of the problems that require rectifying before this function block programming standard is feasible for commercial products

Direction of the Play: The Fantasticks

This project entailed the selection, background research and documentation, musical analysis, casting, direction, vocal coaching, and post-production analysis of Ridgefield High School\u27s production of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt\u27s The Fantasticks. Documentation includes research and analysis of the play, its music, and an evaluation of the musical as a production vehicle for the Department of Theatre Arts at Central Washinton University. The analysis also includes a discussion as to the non-traditional directorial vision of this production

Dupuytren's disease: The effect of steroids on pro-inflammatory cytokine production and cellular apoptosis

Dupuytren's disease is the result of a chronic inflammatory process, producing progressive contracture of patients' fingers. The histology of Dupuytren's tissue has been well studied; demonstrating inflammatory cells in addition to the myofibroblasts within the Dupuytren's nodule itself These inflammatory cells produce growth factors and cytokines that regulate the proliferation and progressive contracture of the Dupuytren's myofibroblasts. The mechanism of the migration of these inflammatory cells through the endothelial walls of the blood vessels within the Dupuytren's tissue is not well established. This work examined one possible pathway of inflammatory cell adherence to the endothelial cells and their migration. The cells in Dupuytren's tissue expressing the integrin alpha4beta1 and the corresponding ligands, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and HepII/IIICS region of fibronectin known as CS1 were studied. Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important group of factors linked with fibrosis. The distribution of TGF-beta production in relationship to the expression of CS1 region of fibronectin was also studied in Dupuytren's tissue. Cells expressing alpha4beta1 were noted principally in and around the blood vessels expressing VCAM-1 and CS1 fibronectin. VCAM-1 was present within the endothelium of blood vessels surrounding and penetrating areas of active nodule growth. TGF-beta was noted to be expressed in very similar areas to the CS1 sequence of fibronectin. Having established this, the effect of methylprednisilone steroid injected locally around the Dupuytren's nodule was studied. The effect of steroids on the expression of growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TGF-beta was investigated. In addition, the effect of steroids on the presence of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1, CS1 sequence of fibronectin and alpha4beta1 expressing cells was studied. In Dupuytren's tissue treated with steroid, the studied growth factor and cytokine expression was reduced, VCAM-1 expression was down regulated in the blood vessels, as was CS1 fibronectin and the number of alpha4beta1 expressing cells was reduced. As chronic inflammation may represent a failure of inflammatory cells to undergo apoptosis, the rates of apoptosis and proliferation of cells within the Dupytren's nodule was assessed by immunological staining for the Lewis Y marker and the Ki67 antigen respectively. In addition, cells from Dupuytren's nodules were cultured and studied using flow cytometry measurements of cellular markers of apoptosis (Annexin V binding). This was compared to fibroblast cultures from specimens of pahnar fascia taken at carpal tunnel decompression, where Dupuytren's disease was not present. Fibroblasts were also cultured from specimens of fascia lata taken at hip surgery. These fibroblasts acted as controls. The effect of addition of steroid was again studied. Steroid produced a marked increase in cellular apoptosis, as represented by Lewis Y marker binding and a reduction in proliferation, as measured by Ki67 antigen binding. In the cell culture experunents, Dupuytren's cells were much more sensitive to steroid induced apoptosis than fibroblasts from normal carpal tunnels. By understanding the factors involved in controlling inflammatory cell adherence and transendothelial migration and the subsequent failure to undergo normal apoptosis, therapeutic intervention to prevent progression may be possible

Sex-Specific Heterosis in Line Crosses of Mice Selectively Bred for High Locomotor Activity

When populations with similar histories of directional selection are crossed, their offspring may differ in mean phenotype as compared with the average for the parental populations, often exhibiting enhancement of the mean phenotype (termed heterosis or hybrid vigor). We tested for heterosis in a cross of two replicate lines of mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running for 53 generations. Mice were paired to produce four sets of F1 offspring: two purebred High Runner (HR) lines and the hybrid reciprocal crosses. The purebred HR showed statistically significant, sex-dependent differences in body mass, wheel revolutions, running duration, mean running speed, and (controlling for body mass) organ masses (heart ventricles, liver, spleen, triceps surae muscle). Hybrid males ran significantly more revolutions than the purebred males, mainly via increased running speeds, but hybrid females ran intermediate distances, durations, and speeds, as compared with the purebred females. In both sexes, ventricles were relatively smaller in hybrids as compared with purebred HR. Overall, our results demonstrate differential and sex-specific responses to selection in the two HR lines tested, implying divergent genetic architectures underlying high voluntary exercise

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors.BackgroundHigh protein diets and diabetes increase renal renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, which is associated with glomerular injury. Aminopeptidase A (APA) is a cell surface metalloprotease that degrades angiotensin II (AII) in the mesangium. Mesangial cells (MC) also possess receptors for AII; the type 1 (AT1 receptor) promotes proliferation and fibrosis, while the type 2 (AT2 receptor) opposes these effects. We evaluated whether amino acids and glucose alter expression of APA, AT1 receptor and AT2 receptor in a manner that further augments RAS activity.MethodsConfluent rat MC were grown in serum-free media for 48 hours prior to exposing to experimental conditions: control (C), high amino acids (HA, mixed amino acid solution added to raise concentrations 5- to 6-fold over C), high glucose (HG 30, mM glucose). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA for APA, AT1 receptor, AT2 receptor, and β-actin. Values are expressed relative to βbgr; actin.ResultsBoth HA and HG reduced APA mRNA (HG 1.13 ± 0.19, HA 1.12 ± 0.16 versus C 1.27 ± 0.16 P < 0.05, N = 8). HA increased AT1 receptor mRNA (HA 2.11 ± 0.43 versus C 1.14 ± 0.28 P < 0.05, N = 8). HG increased AT2 receptor mRNA (HG 1.31 ± 0.43 versus C 0.82 ± 0.33 P < 0.05, N = 6).ConclusionsA reduction of APA, in response to high levels of amino acids or glucose, could contribute to increased AII as a result of decreased degradation in MC. The effect of amino acids to increase AT1 receptor expression may further enhance adverse hemodynamic and pro-fibrotic actions of AII. Conversely, glucose increased AT2 receptor expression, which could modulate responses mediated by the AT1 receptor