Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit Rationing in Small Firm-Bank Relationships

I study credit rationing in small firm-bank relationships by using a unique data set of matched loan applications and contracts. I establish the degree of credit rationing by relating a firm's requested loan amount to the bank's granted amount. In line with theoretical predictions, credit rationing is higher for opaque than transparent firms at the beginning of their bank relationships and decreases over time for both. After testing for several alternative explanations, the results suggest that information and incentive problems explain the observed credit rationing and its dynamics.
The molecular basis of the frontotemporal lobar degeneration–amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spectrum

Abstract There is increasing evidence that frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represent a continuum of neurodegenerative diseases. FTLD is complicated by ALS in a significant proportion of patients, and neuropsychological studies have demonstrated frontotemporal dysfunction in up to 50% of ALS patients. More recently, advances in neuropathology and molecular genetics have started to disclose the biological basis for the observed clinical concurrence. TDP-43 and FUS have been discovered as key pathological proteins in both FTLD and ALS. The most recent discovery of a pathological hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the gene C9orf72 as a frequent cause of both FTLD and ALS has eventually confirmed the association of these two at first sight distinct neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in the TARDBP, FUS, and VCP genes had previously been associated with different phenotypes of the FTLD-ALS spectrum, although in these cases one end of the spectrum predominates. Whilst on the one hand providing evidence for overlap, these discoveries have also highlighted that FTLD and ALS are etiologically diverse. In this review, we review the recent advances that support the existence of an FTLD-ALS spectrum, with particular emphasis on the molecular genetic aspect.
Relaxing Signal Delay Constraints in Distributed Embedded Controllers

Embedded systems often involve transmitting feedback signals between multiple control tasks that are implemented on different electronic control units communicating via a shared bus. For ensuring stability and control performance, such designs require all control signals to be delivered within a specified deadline, which is ensured through appropriate timing or schedulability analysis. In this brief, we study controller design that allows control feedback signals to occasionally miss their deadlines. In particular, we provide analytical bounds on deadline misses such that the control loop retains its stability and meets its control performance requirements. We argue that such relaxation allows us to 1) use lower quality communication resources (e.g., event-triggered instead of time-triggered communication) and 2) provide more flexibility-e.g., use simulation-in communication timing analysis since analytical worst-case delay bounds for real-life communication protocols are often pessimistic. We illustrate this approach using the FlexRay communication protocol for distributed automotive control systems.
False Event Detection for Mobile Sinks in Wireless Sensor Networks

In large-scale sensor networks, adversaries may capture and compromise several of the sensors. Compromised nodes can be used by adversaries to generate many false messages which waste the batteries of sensor nodes and the bandwidth of the sensor network. Many works aim to detect a false event in-network even if many nodes are compromised. Certain existing methods can achieve this, but, they cannot be used in a situation where the location of the sink changes. We propose a new method that resiliently detects false messages, even when there are a large number of compromised nodes and that can handle situations where the location of the sink changes. By preloading a legitimate combination of keys (LCK) on sensor nodes before deployment, the nodes can detect false events created from false combinations of keys. Our mathematical analysis and the simulations we conducted prove the effectiveness of our method.
Histone Deacetylase 2 Cell Autonomously Suppresses Excitatory and Enhances Inhibitory Synaptic Function in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) negatively regulates excitatory synapse number and memory performance. However, whether HDAC2 regulation of excitatory synapses occurs in a cell-autonomous manner and whether HDAC2 regulates inhibitory synaptic functions are not well understood. To examine these aspects of HDAC2 function, we used sparse transfection of rat hippocampal slice cultures and whole-cell recordings in pyramidal neurons. HDAC2 knockdown (KD) in single postsynaptic pyramidal neurons enhanced, whereas HDAC2 overexpression (OE) reduced, excitatory synaptic transmission. Postsynaptic KD of HDAC2 also facilitated expression of long-term potentiation induced by subthreshold induction stimuli, without altering long-term depression. In contrast, HDAC2 KD reduced, whereas HDAC2 OE enhanced, inhibitory synaptic transmission. Alterations of postsynaptic GABAA receptors (GABAARs) likely underlie the impact of HDAC2 on inhibitory transmission. Consistent with this, we observed reduced transcript and protein levels of the GABAAR γ2 subunit and reduced surface expression of the α2 subunit after HDAC2 KD. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in synaptic but not tonic GABAAR currents by HDAC2 KD, suggesting that HDAC2 selectively affects synaptic abundance of functional GABAARs. Immunostaining for postsynaptic GABAARs confirmed that HDAC2 KD and OE can regulate the synaptic abundance of these receptors. Together, these results highlight a role for HDAC2 in suppressing synaptic excitation and enhancing synaptic inhibition of hippocampal neurons. Therefore, a shift in the balance of synaptic excitation versus inhibition favoring excitation could contribute to the beneficial effects of reducing HDAC2 function in wild-type mice or of inhibiting HDACs in models of cognitive impairment.
Role Perceptions of Georgia High School Principals in Light of Requirements of No Child Left Behind: A Qualitative Profile of Experiences

Georgia high school principals are under extreme pressure to meet new education standards through No Child Left Behind, such as ensuring and improving teacher quality, meeting and exceeding state mandated testing, increasing graduation and graduation rates, and meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP). The role of principal is important in an effective school where student achievement is occurring. The perceived implications of the principals‟ roles may also impact how efficiently they can improve student achievement in their schools. Principals‟ perceptions of their roles, and their perceived changes in their roles, may have an effect on how they address achievement in their school. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of Georgia high school principals‟ awareness and perceptions of their role in addressing the requirements of NCLB who had been in that position at least 5 to 7 years. A qualitative method was used to conduct the research. Procedures for this study involved employing a research instrument of 10 questions designed to elicit responses relating to three research sub-questions. The researcher interviewed five Georgia high school principals, one principal recently retired from public education. The study allowed the participants to articulate their experiences as they reflected upon the impact of NCLB on their roles as high school principals and how their roles evolved over their tenures. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded for recurring patterns and themes by the researcher. This information supports the conclusion that the requirements of NCLB mandates have had an impact on the role of Georgia high school principals in the selected regions. Principals have seen an evolution in their roles and responsibilities since the law has been enacted. Therefore, the answer to the overarching question is that Georgia high school principals are aware of their roles and perceive that NCLB mandates have affected their roles and responsibilities by requiring them to rely on their human relations and communications skills in developing teacher leaders and being more data driven in their instructional leadership. This research points to a definite evolution in the role of the high school principals studied as a result of NCLB. INDEX WORDS: Educational leadership, Secondary principals, No Child Left Behind, Roles ROLE PERCEPTIONS OF GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN LIGHT OF REQUIREMENTS OF NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: A QUALITATIVE PROFILE OF EXPERIENCES by JA‟NET BISHOP B.S, Hunter College, 1986 M.Ed., Campbell University, 1991 Ed.S. , Augusta State University, 1998 A Prospectus Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP STATESBORO, GEORGIA 2009
Deriving Matrix Concentration Inequalities from Kernel Couplings

This paper derives exponential tail bounds and polynomial moment inequalities for the spectral norm deviation of a random matrix from its mean value. The argument depends on a matrix extension of Stein's method of exchangeable pairs for concentration of measure, as introduced by Chatterjee. Recent work of Mackey et al. uses these techniques to analyze random matrices with additive structure, while the enhancements in this paper cover a wider class of matrix-valued random elements. In particular, these ideas lead to a bounded differences inequality that applies to random matrices constructed from weakly dependent random variables. The proofs require novel trace inequalities that may be of independent interest.
Incrementalism and Public Policy

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Chapter 1. Models of Policy Change Part 3 I. The Sources of Incrementalism: Chapter 2. Incrementalism and the Limits of Rationality Chapter 3. The Unequal Group Struggle Chapter 4. The Privileged Position of Business Chapter 5. Is There an Alternative to Incrementalism? Chapter 6. Feder Part 4 II. Understanding Policy Change: Chapter 8. Rationality and Nonincremental Policy Chapter 10. When is Policy Change Nonincremental? Chapter 10. Welfare Reform: Obstacles to Nonincremental Change Chapter 11. Policy Change Constraints and Possibili Chapter 5 Bibliography Chapter 6 Index
Relations among socioeconomic status, age, and predictors of phonological awareness.

PURPOSE This study simultaneously examined predictors of phonological awareness within the framework of 2 theories: the phonological distinctness hypothesis and the lexical restructuring model. Additionally, age as a moderator of the relations between predictor variables and phonological awareness was examined. METHOD This cross-sectional quantitative study included a total of 700 participants between 2 and 5 years of age. Participants were identified as being from homes of lower or higher socioeconomic status (SES) based on preschool funding source, and they completed 2 measures of vocabulary, 8 measures of phonological awareness, and 2 measures of speech sound accuracy. RESULTS Results indicate that SES, age, speech sound accuracy, and vocabulary each contributed unique variance to the prediction of phonological awareness. Age amplified the relations between speech sound accuracy and phonological awareness and between SES and phonological awareness but not between vocabulary and phonological awareness. CONCLUSION The current study provides further support for both the phonological distinctness hypothesis and the lexical restructuring model. Additionally, this study provides novel information regarding the role that age plays in the prediction models. Specifically, the effects of SES and speech sound accuracy on phonological awareness were amplified by age.
Development of a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine Hybrid System Model for Aerospace Applications

ABSTRACT Recent interest in fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid applications for the aerospace industry has led to the need for accurate computer simulation models to aid in system design and performance evaluation. To meet this requirement, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and fuel processor models have been developed and incorporated into the Numerical Propulsion Systems Simulation (NPSS) software package. The SOFC and reformer models solve systems of equations governing steady-state performance using common theoretical and semi-empirical terms. An example hybrid configuration is presented that demonstrates the new capability as well as the interaction with pre-existing gas turbine and heat exchanger models. Finally, a comparison of calculated SOFC performance with experimental data is presented to demonstrate model validity. Keywords: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Reformer, System Model, Aerospace, Hybrid System, NPSS INTRODUCTION Fuel cell technology continues to mature due to innovations from industry, government, and academia. Electric drive-trains for automotive applications are evolving from early pure battery-powered vehicles to commercially viable combustion engine/battery hybrids, with pure fuel cell buses and automobiles undergoing on-road demonstrations. Stationary power fuel cell systems continue to be installed, proving environmental sensitivity and becoming more capable with regard to reliability, availability and user friendliness. New types of fuel cells, such as the direct methanol fuel cell, are potentially creating new market applications for fuel cells including portable power for laptop computers and other compact electronics. This continued progress towards more reliable and cost-effective fuel cells establishes a basis to consider fuel cells in aerospace applications. These applications include electrical power units for commercial aircraft and uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) and also propulsion power for UAVs and other small aircraft. NASA has been using fuel cells for the manned space program since its inception and is currently assessing the feasibility of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for its next-generation space launch vehicle. Other space applications for fuel cells such as electrical power for satellites and even planetary in-situ-based electrical power units are also being examined. As in other applications, aerospace fuel cells may offer reduced criteria pollutant (e.g., NO
Influence of Transportation Noise and Noise Sensitivity on Annoyance: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

Environmental noise is known to cause noise annoyance. Since noise annoyance is a subjective indicator, other mediators—such as noise sensitivity—may influence its perception. However, few studies have thus far been conducted on noise annoyance in South Korea that consider noise sensitivity and noise level simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between noise sensitivity or noise level and noise annoyance on a large scale in South Korea. This study estimated the level of noise exposure based on a noise map created in 2014; identified and surveyed 1836 subjects using a questionnaire; and assessed the impact of transportation noise and noise sensitivity on noise annoyance. The result showed that noise exposure level and noise sensitivity simultaneously affect noise annoyance, and noise sensitivity has a relatively larger impact on noise annoyance. In conclusion, when study subjects were exposed to a similar level of noise, the level of noise annoyance differed depending on the noise sensitivity of the individual.
The modulatory effect of electrical stimulation on the excitability of the corticospinal tract varies according to the type of muscle contraction being performed

Afferent input caused by electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve increases corticospinal excitability during voluntary contractions, indicating that proprioceptive sensory input arriving at the cortex plays a fundamental role in modulating corticospinal excitability. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the effect of electrical stimulation on the corticospinal excitability varies according to the type of muscle contraction being performed. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during a shortening contraction, an isometric contraction, or no contraction of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle. In some trials, electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve was performed at 110% of the sensory threshold or 110% of the motor threshold prior to TMS. Electrical stimulation involved either a train of 50 pulses at 10 Hz or a single pulse. Shortening contraction with the train of electrical stimuli significantly increased MEP amplitudes, and the increase was dependent on the type of stimulation. Isometric contraction with the train of electrical stimuli and electrical stimulation without voluntary contraction did not affect MEP amplitudes. A single pulse of electrical stimulation did not affect MEP amplitudes in any condition. Thus, electrical-stimulation-induced modulation of corticospinal excitability varied according to the type of muscle contraction performed and the type of stimulation. These results show that the type of contraction should be considered when using electrical stimulation for rehabilitation in patients with central nervous system lesions.
New Developments in Evaluating Evidence from the Skeleton

The author of a recent anthropologic book' described by the publisher as "controversial" has stressed the idea that man shares with some other animals and with many birds a sense of territorial rights. By this he means that man has always been inclined to "stake out" a territory for himself and to defend it against all comers. A little thought should convince anyone that this idea has all sorts of possibilities in discussions of the evolution of human customs and even of man himself. However, I cite territoriality not in order to discuss it but simply to make the point that professional specialization with its attendant jealousies is just another expression of a far-ranging biologic tendency. For example, here am I, a physical anthropologist, in a meeting sponsored by the dental profession. Under the circumstances I am, in a sense, uncomfortable. An ancient and inherent warning system reminds me of the dangers of trespassing on someone else's territory. But then I take courage from the fact that I have been assigned to a somewhat neutral corner of this alien territory-to a corner which, even though programed under a fancy, albeit restrictive, name, seems to me to be essentially skeletal identification. Also, since the teeth are part of the skeleton, I am comforted by the thought that you are likely to be interested in developments correlating teeth and bones. For a long time, individual dentists and physical anthropologists have been called upon by law-enforcement agencies to pool their talents for the purpose of identifying human remains. Lately, groups of dentists and groups of physical anthropologists have been giving organized attention to the problems of identification confronting them. Many of you will know the history of this movement as it relates to the dental profession. The American Association of Physical Anthropologists first recognized identification officially in 1948, when a symposium on this and other aspects of applied physical anthropology was featured at the annual meeting. Then in 1955 the Association sponsored a week-long seminar in Washington on the role of physical anthropology in the field of human identification. Dr. David B. Scott, of the National Institute of Dental Research, represented dentistry on that occasion. No one can follow these developments without concluding that there is a fundamental difference in the roles of dentists and of physical anthropologists in the field of identification. Dentists limit themselves to the teeth or, at most, to the facial skeleton; physical anthropologists take the whole skeleton, including the teeth, as their province. This is not to say, of course, that physical anthropologists know as much about teeth as do dentists; it is to say only that physical anthropologists do not ignore the teeth and jaws the way dentists ignore the postcranial bones.
Incremental Prognostic Significance of the Elevated Levels of Pentraxin 3 in Patients With Heart Failure With Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Background Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a novel inflammatory marker produced by various cell types including those of the vasculature and the heart. The relationship between inflammatory markers and prognosis of patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) remains unknown. We investigated whether plasma PTX3 levels can predict future cardiovascular events in patients with HFNEF. Methods and Results Plasma PTX3, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and B‐type natriuretic peptide levels were measured prospectively in 360 stable patients with HFNEF. The subsequent incidence of cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina pectoris, nonfatal ischemic stroke, hospitalization for heart failure decompensation, and coronary revascularization, was determined. During a mean 30‐month follow‐up, 106 patients experienced cardiovascular events. These events were more frequent in patients with high plasma PTX3 levels (>3.0 ng/mL) than low levels (≤3.0 ng/mL). Multivariable Cox hazard analysis showed that PTX3 (hazard ratio: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.27; P<0.01) and B‐type natriuretic peptide (hazard ratio: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.14; P<0.001), but not high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels, were significant predictors of future cardiovascular events. Multivariable Cox analysis with the forced inclusion model, including 5 previously identified prognostic factors, found that PTX3 was a significant predictor of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.27; P<0.01). The C‐statistics for cardiovascular events substantially increased from 0.617 to 0.683 when PTX3 was added to the 5 previously identified prognostic factors. Conclusions High plasma PTX3 levels, but not other inflammatory markers, are correlated with future cardiovascular events in patients with HFNEF. PTX3 may be a useful biomarker for assessment of risk stratification in HFNEF. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.umin. ac.jp; Unique identifier: UMIN000002170.
Functional states of kinetochores revealed by laser microsurgery and fluorescent speckle microscopy

The impact of mechanical forces on kinetochore motility was investigated using laser microsurgery and fluorescent speckle microscopy on kinetochores and associated microtubules during anaphase in crane fly spermatocytes. Kinetochores detached from their chromosomes moved at twice their normal speed, entering a motile state identified as “park. ”
Spatiotemporal coupling and decoupling of gene transcription with DNA replication origins during embryogenesis in C. elegans

The primary task of developing embryos is genome replication, yet how DNA replication is integrated with the profound cellular changes that occur through development is largely unknown. Using an approach to map DNA replication at high resolution in C. elegans, we show that replication origins are marked with specific histone modifications that define gene enhancers. We demonstrate that the level of enhancer associated modifications scale with the efficiency at which the origin is utilized. By mapping replication origins at different developmental stages, we show that the positions and activity of origins is largely invariant through embryogenesis. Contrary to expectation, we find that replication origins are specified prior to the broad onset of zygotic transcription, yet when transcription initiates it does so in close proximity to the pre-defined replication origins. Transcription and DNA replication origins are correlated, but the association breaks down when embryonic cell division ceases. Collectively, our data indicate that replication origins are fundamental organizers and regulators of gene activity through embryonic development. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.21728. 001