What Should EDA Fund? Developing a Model for Pre-Assessment of Economic Development Investments

This paper describes the completion of a “comprehensive study of regionalism” that was conducted by a joint team of economists and economic development specialists for the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The project consisted of two main activities: an examination of the factors associated with economic development success and the creation of a practical interactive tool for EDA project assessment and comparison. Findings from surveys, interviews, and project case studies are discussed in terms of their support for a positive relationship between successful economic development efforts and factors such as leadership and private investment. Also, the authors discuss the creation of a quantitative assessment model utilizing well-known approaches such as economic impact multipliers and cluster theory. The primary contribution of this work to the existing body of EDA-focused research and evaluation literature is introducing a means of using standardized scores, also known as z-scores, to compare and assess economic development projects across both industries and regions.regional economic development, economic impact, assessment model, EDA, z-score

Constitutive CD8 expression allows inefficient maturation of CD4+ helper T cells in class II major histocompatibility complex mutant mice.

Although mature CD4+ T cells bear T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and mature CD8+ T cells bear TCRs that recognize class I MHC, it is possible that the initial commitment of an immature thymocyte to a CD4 or CD8 lineage is made without regard to the specificity of the TCR. According to this model, CD4+ cells with class I TCR do not mature because the CD8 coreceptor is required for class I MHC recognition and positive selection. If this model is correct, constitutive expression of CD8 should allow CD4+ T cells with class I-specific TCRs to develop. In this report, we show that mature peripheral CD4+ cells are present in class II MHC-deficient mice that express a constitutive CD8.1 transgene. These cells share a number of properties with the major class II MHC-selected CD4 population, including the ability to express CD40 ligand upon activation. Although mature CD4 cells are also detectable in the thymus of class II MHC mutant/CD8.1 transgenic mice, they represent a small fraction of the mature CD4 cells found in mice that express class II MHC. These results indicate that some T cells choose the CD4 helper lineage independent of their antigen receptor specificity; however, the inefficiency of generating class I-specific CD4 cells leaves open the possibility that an instructive signal generated upon MHC recognition may bias lineage commitment

A study to improve the mechanical properties of silicon carbide ribbon fibers

Preliminary deposition studies of SiC ribbon on a carbon ribbon substrate showed that the dominant strength limiting flaws were at the substrate surface. Procedures for making the carbon ribbon substrate from polyimide film were improved, providing lengths up to 450 meters (1,500 ft.) of flat carbon ribbon substrate 1,900 microns (75 mils) wide by 25 microns (1 mil) thick. The flaws on the carbon ribbon were smaller and less frequent than on carbon ribbon used earlier. SiC ribbon made using the improved substrate, including a layer of pyrolytic graphite to reduce further the severity of substrate surface flaws, showed strength levels up to the 2,068 MPa (300 Ksi) target of the program, with average strength levels over 1,700 MPa (250 Ksi) with coefficient of variation as low as 10% for some runs

Reactions With Platinum (ll) Complexes And Selenium-Containing Amino Acids

We have reacted [Pt(Me4en)(D2O)2]2+ [Me4En=N,N,N’N’-tetramethylethylenediamine] with Selenomethionine (SeMet), Methionine (Met), and Methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys). When MeSeCys was reacted with [Pt(Me4en)(D2O)2]2+, we observed both stereoisomers of Se,N chelates, as well as [Pt(Me4en)(MeSeCys)Cl]+ from ­1­H NMR Spectroscopy; the latter formed due to the presence of Cl- in the solution. Both isomers of the chelate seemed to form proportionally to one another, not favoring a specific stereoisomer. Eventually the [Pt(Me4en)(MeSeCys)Cl]+ products became Se,N chelates. We incubated SeMet with NaCl for 30 minutes and then mixed with [Pt(Me4en)(D2O)2]2+; we saw equal amounts of the [Pt(Me4en)(SeMet)Cl]+ isomers along with a specific stereoisomer of the Se,N chelate forming first (R chirality), then approximately two hours later the (S) chirality formed. Previously, Met and [Pt(Me4En(D2O)2]2+ have been studied by prior students and there were no chiralities favored in the reaction. There were S,N chelates formed, but no specific isomer favored over another. We obtained equal amounts of SeMet, Met and [Pt(Me4en)(D2O)2]2+ and mixed the solutions together to see which amino acid would platinate first, either SeMet or Met. The NMR spectra we observed showed that SeMet attached first to [Pt(Me4en)(D2O)2]2+, with the (R) chelate forming first, then the (S) chelate. Met was slow to react, and we saw both chelates form at approximately equal rates

Theories that Explain Contradiction: Accounting for the Contradictory Organizational Consequences of Information Technology

The potential of information technologyto transform organizations has been a consistent theme in the management literature since computers were first introduced commercially in the 1950s. Yet, the empirical literature on information technology\u27s role in organizational transformation has been characterized by mixed findings across studies and contradictory results within studies. This paper treats the problem of contradictory findings as an opportmfity to\u27examine several theoretical approaches that deal directly with contradiction. The paper discusses several means to address contradictions that occur among studies and within studies, including the use of alternative theories. Four theoretical approaches with the potential to address contradictions directly are then presented. Considered are political theory, organizational culture, institutional theory, and organizational learning. Each of these theoretical approaches expressly accounts for both organizational persistence and change, and each may be located within the metatheoretical framework of structuration. Although differing in their maturity and precision, these theories may account more satisfactorily for the empirical results observed if employed to guide future research on the organizational consequences of information technology

Alfalfa in Our Dairy Operation

Welcome to Robey Farms. Our farm has been in our family for six generations. The farm was founded by my great grandfather, Herbert Robey, in 1899. Four generations live and are actively involved in the farm operation today. My mom and dad, Jane and D.L., my wife Denise and I, our oldest son Chris and his wife Jessica and three grandchildren, Jessalyn, Ethan, and Whitley, our middle son Adam and his wife Amanda, our youngest son Eli, who is a Sophomore at U.K. majoring in Ag. Economics, and my older brother Carr

Counselor’s Personal Experience with Counseling

Approximately 20 to 30 volunteer and paid community counselors were surveyed in this exploratory study by the author about their experiences with personal therapy and whether they believe they are more effective counselors as a result of their own therapy. The participants in the study were given two surveys. The first survey consisted of five multiple choice questions to measure the counselors own experience with therapy. The second survey consisted of eight short answer questions to measure the counselor’s beliefs about how their own personal therapy has affected their current work as a therapist. The participants in the study ranged from graduate student interns to professional counselors in the fields of counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapists. The author summarizes the prevalence of therapists receiving their own personal counseling, the benefits of counselor’s receiving personal therapy, and the overall affects it has on their effectiveness as a counselor. It should be noted that for this paper the words therapist, counselor, and psychotherapist are used interchangeably