Activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase associated with progesterone production in bovine granulosa cells cultured under different concentrations of serum, insulin-like growth factor I, and gonadotropin

Three-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) is the enzyme responsible for progesterone production. This study aimed to determine whether 3β-HSD activity can be shown to reflect progesterone production by granulosa cells cultured under different serum conditions and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations. Large bovine follicles were dissected from abattoir ovaries to recover granulosa cells. Cells were washed, stained for viability, and plated for 48 h in basic medium with or without 5% foetal calf serum (FCS). Subsequently, cells were exposed to FSH (1 ng/mL), LH (10 or 100 ng/mL), or FSH (1 ng/mL) + IGF-I (1 or 10 ng/mL) in a serum-free medium for another 96 h to predict degree of luteinisation. Before and after incubation, granulosa cells were stained for 3β-HSD activity. The high dose of IGF-I (10 ng/mL) increased (P < 0.05) progesterone secretion over 2.5-fold compared with FSH alone or the low dose of IGF-I (1 ng/mL) in cells preincubated with FCS. This was clearly reflected by darker 3β-HSD staining than in cells exposed to FSH and low dose IGF-I

Repeatability, accuracy, portability, and errors of the portable alignment gyrocompass system

Portable alignment gyrocompass system accuracy, repeatability, portability, and error

Using A Wiki As A Group Communications Tool

The research explains wiki development and use in industry and potential benefits in higher education as a collaborative communication tool. The findings of a study conducted in a business administration class involving the use of wikis is discussed. The paper concludes with useful guidelines for college instructors incorporating wikis as a teaching methodology

Laser System Technology for Quantum Experiments in Space and beyond

This thesis includes technologies and techniques for the development of compact and robust laser systems for use in harsh environments, e.g. in space. Since the first laser was launched into space on Apollo 15 almost 50 years ago, laser technologies have been established for space applications such as optical communication, remote sensing, or quantum technologies. Many of the quantum technology applications are based on cold atom experiments and rely on laser systems, i.e. not only on laser light sources, but also on optical systems for beam guidance and manipulation. Operating a quantum apparatus in harsh environments places high demands on the experiment and especially the laser system in terms of mechanical and thermal stability. In addition, the systems typically have size, weight, and power budget restrictions. For this purpose, I present developments that advance the state of the art towards more compact laser systems. In the framework of the underlying technology, fiber-coupled optical modules are assembled by mounting free-space optics on a baseplate made of Zerodur, a glass ceramic with vanishing coefficient of thermal expansion. To reduce the package size, I introduce an optical element which allows one to separate superimposed beams of different diffraction orders directly behind acousto-optic modulators, whereas the conventional approach of spatial separation requires a beam path of the order of at least 10cm. The element was first implemented on the optical modules for the sounding rocket missions MAIUS-2 and MAIUS-3. During the approximately 6min in reduced gravity on each flight, atom interferometry is performed with Bose-Einstein condensates of potassium and rubidium to test the weak equivalence principle. A further reduction of the package size is possible by implementing the technique presented for simultaneous laser frequency stabilization on transitions of multiple atomic species with a single optical setup. The method enables one to develop versatile and compact frequency reference modules for multi-species experiments. Paving the way to fully integrated quantum optical systems, I also discuss efforts to build flange-less vacuum systems based on Zerodur. By combining vacuum chambers with the modular laser system technology, a platform for robust and compact quantum sensor applications is created. With space-qualified technology also being suitable for other applications in harsh environments, I further present an optical module for transportable optical clocks. As this example demonstrates, there are numerous applications that would benefit from the advantages of the technologies and techniques presented – in space and beyond.e, v, 101 Seite

VIE-ing for the Position: An Examination of the Motivational Antecedents of Response Distortion

Faking on self-report personality tests is a widespread practice which degrades the construct validity of personality tests when they are used in personnel selection contexts and may lead to suboptimal hiring decisions (Donovan, Dwight, & Hurtz, 2003; Schmit & Ryan, 1993). While much is known about the factors which enable job applicants to successfully engage in faking (Tett, Freund, Christiansen, Fox, & Coaster, 2012), far less is known about how specific applicant perceptions throughout the hiring process influence their decision to engage in this practice. To this end, this study applied Vroom\u27s (1964) expectancy theory to the study of applicant faking. Following the work of prior researchers (Peterson, Griffith, & Converse, 2009), this study incorporated an experimental paradigm in which participants were led to believe that they were completing a personality test as part of the hiring process. Results of the study suggested that applicant faking on personality tests within personnel selection contexts is largely driven by valence (the extent to which applicants perceive the job to which they are applying as desirable) and expectancy judgments (an applicant\u27s self-efficacy regarding their ability to successfully engage in faking). However, the three-way interaction between valence, instrumentality, and expectancy judgments which forms the crux of Vroom\u27s (1964) theory did not demonstrate a significant impact on subsequent faking. A positive relationship between cognitive ability and faking was also found, suggesting that highly intelligent job applicants are more prone to engage in this behavior. In addition, applicant integrity demonstrated no relationship to faking behavior, suggesting that job applicants may not view the practice as being unethical. The potential implications of these findings in real-world selection contexts was discussed

Fast Fashion In A Flat World: Global Sourcing Strategies

The following research offers a theoretical model for understanding sourcing decisions made by apparel retailers. The concept of fast fashion is explored by applying the model to Zara and Kohl’s. Factors influencing sourcing decisions are noted, and financial results of the retailers are compared. Finally, ideas for future research using the model are offered

Outsourcing Customer Service: Applying The Value Chain As A Method To Improve Service At Call Centers

The practice of outsourcing customer support for the information technology sector has grown substantially in the last decade. U.S. companies operating in the low margin personal computer industry maintain this practice is necessary to increase profitability and remain competitive. Firms that make decisions to outsource in lower cost countries need to ensure that customers are satisfied with the level of service provided and minimize negative experiences and irate customers. Because the work of call centers is often outsourced to far flung corners of the world on a lowest bid contract, with an emphasis on transaction costs, levels of service can be uneven. This research examines data from customer satisfaction surveys on personal computers regarding technical support from the manufacturers Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple, which was gathered by Consumer Reports in March, 2006. By comparing the overall satisfaction levels to the companies’ outsourcing policies, some correlations are drawn.  The research concludes with specific recommendations on how to provide higher levels of service with fewer variations through the use of metrics that measure quantifiable results

Achieving Green and Healthy Homes and Communities in America

In the Fall of 2010, the National Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisioning contracted with the National Academy to develop and execute an online dialogue that would examine ways to increase the health, safety, and energy efficiency of low- to moderate-income homes. Since 1999, the National Coalition had worked to improve low- to moderate-income housing through the support and execution of home interventions that addressed multiple issues within a home at one time; an approach that often did not align with other traditional, single-issue housing assistance programs. By 2010, the National Coalition had taken on the leadership of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, a public-private partnership focused on integrating funding streams to improve low- to middle-income homes across the country.With plans to expand the GHHI's operations, the National Coalition partnered with the National Academy to conduct the National Dialogue on Green and Healthy Homes, a collaborative online dailogue in which participants were asked to identify challenges to, and innovative practices for, improving the health, safety and energy-efficiency of low- to moderate- income homes. The Dialogue was live from November 4-November 22, 2010, and collected 100 hundred ideas and 362 comments from 320 registered users. Over the course of its two and a half week duration, the Dialogue received more than 2,500 visits from over 1,100 people in 48 states and territories. Key FindingsBy reviewing the feedback received in the Dialogue, the Panel was able to make a number of recommendations on how the green and healthy homes community of practice could increase the health, safety and energy efficiency of homes across the country. These recommendations included: Conduct an evaluation of current housing standards to determine if they meet the Nation's health, safety, and energy efficiency needs; Develop a tiered performance standard for healthy, safe and energy efficient homes; Group government funding streams to better align programs with the comprehensive intervention approach; Develop a long-term funding strategy to support efforts after Recovery Act funding ends; and Educate government decisionmakers and the public on the importance of developing green and healthy homes and communities, and the work that supports that development