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

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

A model of self-discipline

In this paper, we propose a model of self-discipline where a decision-maker balances the benefits of regulating her moods against a cost of self-discipline effort. Self-discipline is beneficial as it reduces the chances of internal conflict, yet it is a costly effort to undertake. We provide an axiomatic characterization of our model in a menu-choice framework, and show how costs of self-discipline can be elicited and compared across individuals. Our model generalizes well-known models of temptation-driven behavior by viewing temptations as the endogenous outcome of a self-discipline choice problem.Preprin

Parental religiosity and human capital development : A field study in Pakistan

Peer reviewedPostprin