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• 281. [Article] The Institutional Context that Supports Team-Based Care for Older Adults

  The aging population in the U.S. is dramatically increasing; it is predicted that not only will individuals live longer but also that they will live with multiple chronic diseases that could require high ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Institutional Context that Supports Team-Based Care for Older Adults Author: Tresidder, Anna Foucek Year: 2013 The aging population in the U.S. is dramatically increasing; it is predicted that not only will individuals live longer but also that they will live with multiple chronic diseases that could require high levels of medical and social resources. While the aging population increases, the number of health care providers choosing to specialize in caring for the elderly is decreasing just as dramatically. Teams are believed to be a possible response to more efficiently use the providers available, take advantage of alternative provider types, and integrate a range of health and social services to meet patient needs more effectively. Interdisciplinary teams are the best practice in the care of older adults, who require both medical and social services. However, maintaining functional collaborative teams has been an ever-present challenge to health and social care organizations. Research has found that institutional support is critical for teams to benefit patients and organizations alike. This study examined the role of institutional context in supporting interdisciplinary teams (IDT) in the care of older adults through interviews of the management and staff of the Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) in six states. PACE organizations must commit to an interdisciplinary model of care consisting of 11 different disciplines from across the professional spectrum. The research question posed for this study was: What elements of institutional context support the use of interdisciplinary teams in the care of older adults? Due to the standardized team structure used, PACE was selected as the model to see how institutions at macro and micro levels support the work done by PACE teams and possibly highlight where support is still lacking. A case study approach drawing upon qualitative methods was used to examine policy-regulative, cultural-cognitive, normative, relational, and procedural elements of institutional context and the extent to which they support collaborative teamwork. Thirty-two interviews were conducted with administrators and team members from seven PACE programs across the country. For these PACE programs, five elements and 14 categories of support were identified by the interviewees. Policy and regulatory elements constrain and systematize behavior. PACE IDT experience these constraints and systems through regulatory body practices, resource allocation, and quality measurement. Cultural-cognitive elements mediate between an IDT's external environmrder to make sense of what is happening. PACE IDTs create meaning through their interactions with their external environments through interdependence, demographic characteristics, and organizational structure. Normative findings constrain behavior and confer the rights and duties of IDT members, which arise from organizational mission and values, leadership, and professient and the response of the IDT in oonal boundaries. Relational elements emphasize relationships among IDT members and team interaction with the organization's environment. Social constructs within the team affect role definition and communication, which support IDT practice. Procedural support standardizes practices to maintain highly functional teams. In order to support IDT practice, PACE organizations highlighted recruitment and retention, time and space, and training and education as the primary ways to support IDTs. These categories illustrate the complexity of supporting teams and actualizing teamwork in practice. These findings suggest that PACE is succeeding in supporting the IDT model and provides lessons for other organizations that wish to do the same. Title: The Institutional Context that Supports Team-Based Care for Older Adults Author: Tresidder, Anna Foucek Year: 2013 The aging population in the U.S. is dramatically increasing; it is predicted that not only will individuals live longer but also that they will live with multiple chronic diseases that could require high levels of medical and social resources. While the aging population increases, the number of health care providers choosing to specialize in caring for the elderly is decreasing just as dramatically. Teams are believed to be a possible response to more efficiently use the providers available, take advantage of alternative provider types, and integrate a range of health and social services to meet patient needs more effectively. Interdisciplinary teams are the best practice in the care of older adults, who require both medical and social services. However, maintaining functional collaborative teams has been an ever-present challenge to health and social care organizations. Research has found that institutional support is critical for teams to benefit patients and organizations alike. This study examined the role of institutional context in supporting interdisciplinary teams (IDT) in the care of older adults through interviews of the management and staff of the Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) in six states. PACE organizations must commit to an interdisciplinary model of care consisting of 11 different disciplines from across the professional spectrum. The research question posed for this study was: What elements of institutional context support the use of interdisciplinary teams in the care of older adults? Due to the standardized team structure used, PACE was selected as the model to see how institutions at macro and micro levels support the work done by PACE teams and possibly highlight where support is still lacking. A case study approach drawing upon qualitative methods was used to examine policy-regulative, cultural-cognitive, normative, relational, and procedural elements of institutional context and the extent to which they support collaborative teamwork. Thirty-two interviews were conducted with administrators and team members from seven PACE programs across the country. For these PACE programs, five elements and 14 categories of support were identified by the interviewees. Policy and regulatory elements constrain and systematize behavior. PACE IDT experience these constraints and systems through regulatory body practices, resource allocation, and quality measurement. Cultural-cognitive elements mediate between an IDT's external environmrder to make sense of what is happening. PACE IDTs create meaning through their interactions with their external environments through interdependence, demographic characteristics, and organizational structure. Normative findings constrain behavior and confer the rights and duties of IDT members, which arise from organizational mission and values, leadership, and professient and the response of the IDT in oonal boundaries. Relational elements emphasize relationships among IDT members and team interaction with the organization's environment. Social constructs within the team affect role definition and communication, which support IDT practice. Procedural support standardizes practices to maintain highly functional teams. In order to support IDT practice, PACE organizations highlighted recruitment and retention, time and space, and training and education as the primary ways to support IDTs. These categories illustrate the complexity of supporting teams and actualizing teamwork in practice. These findings suggest that PACE is succeeding in supporting the IDT model and provides lessons for other organizations that wish to do the same. Close

• 282. [Article] Testing the Ecological and Physiological Factors Influencing Reproductive Success in Mosses

  As non-vascular, early land plants with an aquatic ancestry, mosses do not regulate internal water conditions separate from that of their environment and as a result, evolved mechanisms to survive in a ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Testing the Ecological and Physiological Factors Influencing Reproductive Success in Mosses Author: Shortlidge, Erin Elizabeth Year: 2014 As non-vascular, early land plants with an aquatic ancestry, mosses do not regulate internal water conditions separate from that of their environment and as a result, evolved mechanisms to survive in a terrestrial world out of water. Yet, there is a widely accepted dogma that moss reproductive success is solely dependent on rainfall events carrying swimming, bi-flagellate sperm across the landscape to reproductively mature and receptive female mosses--but this classic view of moss reproduction may be too simplistic. In this dissertation I test the assumptions of reproductive limitation in mosses and present novel findings in a basal, yet understudied terrestrial plant mating system. I find evidence of environmental desiccation tolerance in moss sperm, thus offering the potential for stress-tolerant gametes on the landscape possibly suited for various transport vectors, reminiscent of a pollen grain. To investigate the broad evolutionary implications of this newfound complexity in moss sexual reproduction, I tested classic tenets of plant-pollinator theory on the ancient mosses and their ubiquitous microarthropod inhabitants. Experimental results show that mosses and microarthropods are engaged in a "pollination-like" syndrome guided by sex-specific volatile cues that differentially affect microarthropod behavior. These data indicate an existing complex mutualistic relationship and provides new evidence of sexually dimorphic investment by male and female mosses into reproductive success. Further, these data put forth the idea that female mosses challenge an inherent mate limitation by investing into reproductive assurance via maintaining a relationship with microarthropods. Experimental work further confirms a role for invertebrates in moss reproductive success and tests mutualism theory through ongoing experiments. Such experiments include an assessment of moss genetic diversity, paternity, and male fitness traits as it relates to mosses with or without the presence of microarthropods, thereby testing for fitness benefits gained by mosses possibly engaged in a transport mutualism with microarthropods. I further tested mutualism, community ecology and moss sexual reproduction concepts in extreme geothermal moss populations living at the edges of inhabitable Earth, and results show that even geothermal moss canopies are diverse and host differential and abundant life. In a first field test of mutualism I found that although extreme heat stress may constrain sexual reproduction in mosses, a correlation between within-population moss genetic diversity and microarthropod abundances exists. To further examine mosses in extreme environments, and how these environments may constrain sexual reproductive success, I evaluated the effects of simulated warming on Antarctic moss physiology and reproductive biology. Data indicates that simulated warming relieves mosses of physiological stress, and results in a greater investment into primary productivity and sexual reproduction. These data support the hypothesis that with less stress, sexual reproduction is increased. Mosses are an ideal system by which to understand organisms that exist in environments ranging from the mesic to the extreme, in the laboratory and the field and even in the classroom, where the small functioning ecosystem of mosses can be used for discovery-based biology education as described in the Mosscosms curriculum. This work contributes significantly to the field of bryophyte and plant biology by revealing novel insights into the biotic and abiotic drivers of sexual reproduction in mosses. Title: Testing the Ecological and Physiological Factors Influencing Reproductive Success in Mosses Author: Shortlidge, Erin Elizabeth Year: 2014 As non-vascular, early land plants with an aquatic ancestry, mosses do not regulate internal water conditions separate from that of their environment and as a result, evolved mechanisms to survive in a terrestrial world out of water. Yet, there is a widely accepted dogma that moss reproductive success is solely dependent on rainfall events carrying swimming, bi-flagellate sperm across the landscape to reproductively mature and receptive female mosses--but this classic view of moss reproduction may be too simplistic. In this dissertation I test the assumptions of reproductive limitation in mosses and present novel findings in a basal, yet understudied terrestrial plant mating system. I find evidence of environmental desiccation tolerance in moss sperm, thus offering the potential for stress-tolerant gametes on the landscape possibly suited for various transport vectors, reminiscent of a pollen grain. To investigate the broad evolutionary implications of this newfound complexity in moss sexual reproduction, I tested classic tenets of plant-pollinator theory on the ancient mosses and their ubiquitous microarthropod inhabitants. Experimental results show that mosses and microarthropods are engaged in a "pollination-like" syndrome guided by sex-specific volatile cues that differentially affect microarthropod behavior. These data indicate an existing complex mutualistic relationship and provides new evidence of sexually dimorphic investment by male and female mosses into reproductive success. Further, these data put forth the idea that female mosses challenge an inherent mate limitation by investing into reproductive assurance via maintaining a relationship with microarthropods. Experimental work further confirms a role for invertebrates in moss reproductive success and tests mutualism theory through ongoing experiments. Such experiments include an assessment of moss genetic diversity, paternity, and male fitness traits as it relates to mosses with or without the presence of microarthropods, thereby testing for fitness benefits gained by mosses possibly engaged in a transport mutualism with microarthropods. I further tested mutualism, community ecology and moss sexual reproduction concepts in extreme geothermal moss populations living at the edges of inhabitable Earth, and results show that even geothermal moss canopies are diverse and host differential and abundant life. In a first field test of mutualism I found that although extreme heat stress may constrain sexual reproduction in mosses, a correlation between within-population moss genetic diversity and microarthropod abundances exists. To further examine mosses in extreme environments, and how these environments may constrain sexual reproductive success, I evaluated the effects of simulated warming on Antarctic moss physiology and reproductive biology. Data indicates that simulated warming relieves mosses of physiological stress, and results in a greater investment into primary productivity and sexual reproduction. These data support the hypothesis that with less stress, sexual reproduction is increased. Mosses are an ideal system by which to understand organisms that exist in environments ranging from the mesic to the extreme, in the laboratory and the field and even in the classroom, where the small functioning ecosystem of mosses can be used for discovery-based biology education as described in the Mosscosms curriculum. This work contributes significantly to the field of bryophyte and plant biology by revealing novel insights into the biotic and abiotic drivers of sexual reproduction in mosses. Close

• 283. [Article] Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go?

  The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go? Author: Ngawhika, Simon, Marshall, Scott Year: 2014 The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 2004 and 2024, over $200 billion will need to be spent upgrading and expanding America’s wastewater infrastructure. One significant challenge in maintaining treatment infrastructure is the build-up of struvite. Struvite accumulates inside treatment facility pipe networks, reducing capacity and increasing operating and maintenance costs. But discharging the components of struvite – the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous – into the environment also has negative consequences. Concentrated amounts can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems. Clean Water Services (CWS) is the public wastewater utility for Washington County, Oregon USA, providing sewage and stormwater treatment services to more than 500,000 homes and businesses. Responsible for the health and management of a public good – the 83-mile long Tualatin River – CWS is subject to regulations over the temperature and quality of the water it discharges into the natural environment. This case follows Clean Water Services in its pilot test of a home garden fertilizer product that is linked to the environmental benefits and operational efficiencies gained through an innovative treatment technology. In 2009, CWS implemented a groundbreaking solution to the challenge of struvite; one that also had the potential to turn a waste stream into a revenue stream. An advanced 'nutrient recovery technology' removes the nutrients that form struvite and pollute the environment if discharged, recycling them into an effective, safe to handle garden fertilizer. In mid 2012, the CWS Board gave the green light to produce Clean Water GROW™, its own brand of fertilizer, and test its commercial viability in the local consumer market. The case educates students on the challenge of finding innovative ways to operate and maintain wastewater infrastructure in the face of population growth and increased pressure on natural systems. It provides detail on the development and commercial pilot of the GROW fertilizer product, and the packaging, pricing and distribution options that were analyzed. It asks students to conduct the crucial steps of analyzing the implications of marketing mix options in terms of break-even quantity and return on investment, and recommending a 'go' or 'no go' decision to the CWS board. Title: Clean Water Grow: Go or No Go? Author: Ngawhika, Simon, Marshall, Scott Year: 2014 The $43 billion US wastewater treatment industry is a landscape in which the high costs of capital construction and the need for economies of scale feature prominently. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 2004 and 2024, over $200 billion will need to be spent upgrading and expanding America’s wastewater infrastructure. One significant challenge in maintaining treatment infrastructure is the build-up of struvite. Struvite accumulates inside treatment facility pipe networks, reducing capacity and increasing operating and maintenance costs. But discharging the components of struvite – the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous – into the environment also has negative consequences. Concentrated amounts can cause significant harm to aquatic ecosystems. Clean Water Services (CWS) is the public wastewater utility for Washington County, Oregon USA, providing sewage and stormwater treatment services to more than 500,000 homes and businesses. Responsible for the health and management of a public good – the 83-mile long Tualatin River – CWS is subject to regulations over the temperature and quality of the water it discharges into the natural environment. This case follows Clean Water Services in its pilot test of a home garden fertilizer product that is linked to the environmental benefits and operational efficiencies gained through an innovative treatment technology. In 2009, CWS implemented a groundbreaking solution to the challenge of struvite; one that also had the potential to turn a waste stream into a revenue stream. An advanced 'nutrient recovery technology' removes the nutrients that form struvite and pollute the environment if discharged, recycling them into an effective, safe to handle garden fertilizer. In mid 2012, the CWS Board gave the green light to produce Clean Water GROW™, its own brand of fertilizer, and test its commercial viability in the local consumer market. The case educates students on the challenge of finding innovative ways to operate and maintain wastewater infrastructure in the face of population growth and increased pressure on natural systems. It provides detail on the development and commercial pilot of the GROW fertilizer product, and the packaging, pricing and distribution options that were analyzed. It asks students to conduct the crucial steps of analyzing the implications of marketing mix options in terms of break-even quantity and return on investment, and recommending a 'go' or 'no go' decision to the CWS board. Close

• 284. [Article] Factors for Improved Fish Passage Waterway Construction

  Streambeds are important fish passageways in Oregon; they provide for the necessary habitats and spawning cycles of a healthy fish population. Oregon state law requires that hydraulic structures located ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Factors for Improved Fish Passage Waterway Construction Author: Sillars, David N., Moradkhani, Hamid, Tymvios, Nicholas, Smith, Trevor D. Year: 2011 Streambeds are important fish passageways in Oregon; they provide for the necessary habitats and spawning cycles of a healthy fish population. Oregon state law requires that hydraulic structures located in water properly provide fish passage. Increasingly stringent state and federal regulations apply to these fish passageways, and designers must become more cognizant of conditions over a range of flows to accommodate fish movement and avoid expensive structural failure of these passageways. Fish passage structures are built when roads cross streambeds and may include culverts, or bridges. When these structures are built, the streambeds are re-created using a technique called “roughened channels”. Roughened channels are man-made stream channels utilized for re-creating the hydraulics necessary for adequate stream passage, and this may include new constructions or retrofits of older, inadequate structures. Mixtures of materials are used to construct the bed of roughened channels, ranging from fines such as sand, silt and gravel to coarse elements like cobbles and boulders. Fines are a critical element in limiting permeability of the constructed bed thus keeping stream flow at the surface of the roughened channel during low flow periods. This report discusses work of a research project designed to discover factors that are key to successful long-term implementation of fish passageways, especially focused on the construction process. Areas of inquiry postulated in this study are that failures experienced in actual installations may be due to inadequate range and/or mix of soil and rock material gradation; unexpected water velocity, especially during high flows; inadequate mixing of rock and soil materials during construction; and inadequate compaction of rock and soil materials during construction. This report suggests that several factors may be especially important considerations in fish passage success. These factors are the relationship of downstream slope to structure slope, well-graded fine soil materials in the channel fill (improved by choice of fill source), and frequent site visits. Improving fish passages for cost-efficient fish movement is a priority for government agencies such as Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC). Title: Factors for Improved Fish Passage Waterway Construction Author: Sillars, David N., Moradkhani, Hamid, Tymvios, Nicholas, Smith, Trevor D. Year: 2011 Streambeds are important fish passageways in Oregon; they provide for the necessary habitats and spawning cycles of a healthy fish population. Oregon state law requires that hydraulic structures located in water properly provide fish passage. Increasingly stringent state and federal regulations apply to these fish passageways, and designers must become more cognizant of conditions over a range of flows to accommodate fish movement and avoid expensive structural failure of these passageways. Fish passage structures are built when roads cross streambeds and may include culverts, or bridges. When these structures are built, the streambeds are re-created using a technique called “roughened channels”. Roughened channels are man-made stream channels utilized for re-creating the hydraulics necessary for adequate stream passage, and this may include new constructions or retrofits of older, inadequate structures. Mixtures of materials are used to construct the bed of roughened channels, ranging from fines such as sand, silt and gravel to coarse elements like cobbles and boulders. Fines are a critical element in limiting permeability of the constructed bed thus keeping stream flow at the surface of the roughened channel during low flow periods. This report discusses work of a research project designed to discover factors that are key to successful long-term implementation of fish passageways, especially focused on the construction process. Areas of inquiry postulated in this study are that failures experienced in actual installations may be due to inadequate range and/or mix of soil and rock material gradation; unexpected water velocity, especially during high flows; inadequate mixing of rock and soil materials during construction; and inadequate compaction of rock and soil materials during construction. This report suggests that several factors may be especially important considerations in fish passage success. These factors are the relationship of downstream slope to structure slope, well-graded fine soil materials in the channel fill (improved by choice of fill source), and frequent site visits. Improving fish passages for cost-efficient fish movement is a priority for government agencies such as Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC). Close

• 285. [Article] Effect of phenoxy acids and their derivatives on the ionic permeability of bilayer lipid membranes

  It has been found that the herbicide 2,4-D has the ability to increase the rate of transport of positive ions of several kinds and inhibit the transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effect of phenoxy acids and their derivatives on the ionic permeability of bilayer lipid membranes Author: Illangasekare, Malkanthi Paulis Year: 1979 It has been found that the herbicide 2,4-D has the ability to increase the rate of transport of positive ions of several kinds and inhibit the transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions in lipid bilayer membranes. Only the neutral molecules of 2,4-D are transport active. The ionized 2,4-D molecules do not modify the transport of ions, and do not by themselves permeate through lipid membranes. The results suggest that the enhancement of transport of positively charged ions is dominated by the increase of the ion translocation rate constant. It has been shown that membrane transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions is suppressed by 2,4-D. The effect is dominated by the suppression of translocation of these ions across membrane interior, rather than by the decrease of their adsorption at the membrane surface. It has been shown that the enhancement of nonactin-mediated transport of potassium ions by 2,4-D can be accounted for by a simple carrier model. From the changes of kinetic parameters of nonactin-K('+) transport, membrane conductance due to positively charged tetraphenylarsonium ions and also from the changes of membrane conductance and relaxation time constant due to transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions, the changes of the electric potential of the membrane interior have been estimated. The potential of the membrane interior becomes more negative in the presence of 2,4-D and its change is proportional to the aqueous concentration of 2,4-D. The effect of 2,4-D on ion transport was explained by the hypothesis that a layer of 2,4-D molecules is absorbed within the membrane/water interfacial region, and that the 2,4-D molecules are oriented in such a way that their dipole moment is directed toward the aqueous medium. The results suggest that this layer is located in the hydrocarbon side of the interface. The hypothesis has been confirmed by the measurements of changes of electric potential difference across air/water and air/lipid monolayer/water interfaces. It has been found that the electric potential of the nonpolar side of the interface decreases in the presence of neutral molecules of 2,4-D, which is in agreement with the conclusions drawn from the results of membrane experiments. The effect of the other auxin-type phenoxy herbicides, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-DB on lipid bilayer membranes has been found to be similar to that of 2,4-D. In contrast, the phenoxy acid 2,4,6-T, has very little or no herbicidal activity, and at the same time has small effect on ion transport in membranes. Biologically active 2,4-D derivatives, amino acid conjugates of 2,4-D (isoleucine, leucine and valine conjugates) have been found to be also transport active in a manner similar to 2,4-D. Similar conclusions have been drawn from experiments with natural auxin indole acetic acid. The results obtained in this work suggest the existence of correlation between the biological activity of herbicides acting as plant growth regulators and their ability to enhance transport of positively charged ions across lipid membranes. This work provides insight into the physical origin of such activity. Title: Effect of phenoxy acids and their derivatives on the ionic permeability of bilayer lipid membranes Author: Illangasekare, Malkanthi Paulis Year: 1979 It has been found that the herbicide 2,4-D has the ability to increase the rate of transport of positive ions of several kinds and inhibit the transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions in lipid bilayer membranes. Only the neutral molecules of 2,4-D are transport active. The ionized 2,4-D molecules do not modify the transport of ions, and do not by themselves permeate through lipid membranes. The results suggest that the enhancement of transport of positively charged ions is dominated by the increase of the ion translocation rate constant. It has been shown that membrane transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions is suppressed by 2,4-D. The effect is dominated by the suppression of translocation of these ions across membrane interior, rather than by the decrease of their adsorption at the membrane surface. It has been shown that the enhancement of nonactin-mediated transport of potassium ions by 2,4-D can be accounted for by a simple carrier model. From the changes of kinetic parameters of nonactin-K('+) transport, membrane conductance due to positively charged tetraphenylarsonium ions and also from the changes of membrane conductance and relaxation time constant due to transport of negatively charged tetraphenylborate ions, the changes of the electric potential of the membrane interior have been estimated. The potential of the membrane interior becomes more negative in the presence of 2,4-D and its change is proportional to the aqueous concentration of 2,4-D. The effect of 2,4-D on ion transport was explained by the hypothesis that a layer of 2,4-D molecules is absorbed within the membrane/water interfacial region, and that the 2,4-D molecules are oriented in such a way that their dipole moment is directed toward the aqueous medium. The results suggest that this layer is located in the hydrocarbon side of the interface. The hypothesis has been confirmed by the measurements of changes of electric potential difference across air/water and air/lipid monolayer/water interfaces. It has been found that the electric potential of the nonpolar side of the interface decreases in the presence of neutral molecules of 2,4-D, which is in agreement with the conclusions drawn from the results of membrane experiments. The effect of the other auxin-type phenoxy herbicides, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-DB on lipid bilayer membranes has been found to be similar to that of 2,4-D. In contrast, the phenoxy acid 2,4,6-T, has very little or no herbicidal activity, and at the same time has small effect on ion transport in membranes. Biologically active 2,4-D derivatives, amino acid conjugates of 2,4-D (isoleucine, leucine and valine conjugates) have been found to be also transport active in a manner similar to 2,4-D. Similar conclusions have been drawn from experiments with natural auxin indole acetic acid. The results obtained in this work suggest the existence of correlation between the biological activity of herbicides acting as plant growth regulators and their ability to enhance transport of positively charged ions across lipid membranes. This work provides insight into the physical origin of such activity. Close

• 286. [Article] Characterization of Functional Domains of Cul3, an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, Using Chimeric Analysis

  Modification of cellular proteins with molecules of ubiquitin is an important process that regulates the activity of cellular proteins. Cullin RING ligases (CRLs) are multi-subunit complexes that act in ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Characterization of Functional Domains of Cul3, an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, Using Chimeric Analysis Author: Mitchell, Jennifer Anne Year: 2014 Modification of cellular proteins with molecules of ubiquitin is an important process that regulates the activity of cellular proteins. Cullin RING ligases (CRLs) are multi-subunit complexes that act in concert with E2 enzymes to attach molecules of ubiquitin to protein substrates. There are seven CRLs in mammalian cells (Cul1, Cul2, Cul3, Cul4A, Cul4B, Cul5, and Cul7) that are highly homologous in sequence and structure. CRLs possess a highly conserved C- terminal domain that interacts with E2 enzymes, and a more variable N- terminal domain which recruits substrates through distinct substrate adapter molecules. Despite the structural similarity, these CRLs recognize distinct substrates and carry out unique functions in cells. In order to characterize the functional domains of cullins that are responsible for their unique activity, we generated cullin chimeras for expression and analysis in mammalian cells. These chimeras are Cul3 mutants in which the C- terminal domain or N- terminal domain of Cul3 has been replaced by that of Cul1 or Cul2, respectively. These chimeras were cloned into a mammalian expression vector for the purpose of experimentation in cultured cells. The chimeric cullin constructs provided a valuable tool for investigating how different functional domains of CRLs contribute to their specific functions in cells. In this study, we first investigated if the chimeras that we engineered were able to interact with their respective substrate adapters. We performed co- immunoprecipitation experiments in which we tested the ability of wild type, chimeric, or mutant cullin proteins to bind to three different substrate adapter proteins. We found that the chimera possessing the C- terminus of Cul1 and the N- terminus of Cul3 retains the ability to interact with the BTB substrate adapters Ctb57 and KLHL3. We also found that the chimera that possesses the C- terminus of Cul3 and the N- terminus of Cul1 was unable to interact with BTB proteins. Lastly, we found that the Cul1 adapter Skp1 was able to bind to Cul1, but did not bind to Cul3 or either chimera. We concluded that the chimera possessing the N- terminus of Cul3 likely retains the functional binding abilities of Cul3 at the N- terminus and would therefore be useful for conducting experiments. In this study, we also used the cullin chimeras to investigate the binding interactions between E2 enzymes and cullin RING ligases. We performed co- immunoprecipitation assays to examine the interactions between E2 enzymes and wild type, mutant or chimeric cullin proteins. We found that E2 enzyme UbE2E1 selectively binds to Cul3 and not to Cull. Notably, the BTB binding region at the N- terminus of Cul3 is required for binding to UbE2E1. Furthermore, we found that UbE2E1 also binds to Cul3 substrate adapter protein Ctb57. These experiments revealed a novel interaction between and E2 enzyme and the N- terminus of Cul3, as well as with a Cul3 substrate adapter protein. In conclusion, the chimeras generated in this study have provided valuable information regarding what regions of CRLs are important for interactions with other proteins, and will continue to be a useful tool for investigating CRL structure and function. Title: Characterization of Functional Domains of Cul3, an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, Using Chimeric Analysis Author: Mitchell, Jennifer Anne Year: 2014 Modification of cellular proteins with molecules of ubiquitin is an important process that regulates the activity of cellular proteins. Cullin RING ligases (CRLs) are multi-subunit complexes that act in concert with E2 enzymes to attach molecules of ubiquitin to protein substrates. There are seven CRLs in mammalian cells (Cul1, Cul2, Cul3, Cul4A, Cul4B, Cul5, and Cul7) that are highly homologous in sequence and structure. CRLs possess a highly conserved C- terminal domain that interacts with E2 enzymes, and a more variable N- terminal domain which recruits substrates through distinct substrate adapter molecules. Despite the structural similarity, these CRLs recognize distinct substrates and carry out unique functions in cells. In order to characterize the functional domains of cullins that are responsible for their unique activity, we generated cullin chimeras for expression and analysis in mammalian cells. These chimeras are Cul3 mutants in which the C- terminal domain or N- terminal domain of Cul3 has been replaced by that of Cul1 or Cul2, respectively. These chimeras were cloned into a mammalian expression vector for the purpose of experimentation in cultured cells. The chimeric cullin constructs provided a valuable tool for investigating how different functional domains of CRLs contribute to their specific functions in cells. In this study, we first investigated if the chimeras that we engineered were able to interact with their respective substrate adapters. We performed co- immunoprecipitation experiments in which we tested the ability of wild type, chimeric, or mutant cullin proteins to bind to three different substrate adapter proteins. We found that the chimera possessing the C- terminus of Cul1 and the N- terminus of Cul3 retains the ability to interact with the BTB substrate adapters Ctb57 and KLHL3. We also found that the chimera that possesses the C- terminus of Cul3 and the N- terminus of Cul1 was unable to interact with BTB proteins. Lastly, we found that the Cul1 adapter Skp1 was able to bind to Cul1, but did not bind to Cul3 or either chimera. We concluded that the chimera possessing the N- terminus of Cul3 likely retains the functional binding abilities of Cul3 at the N- terminus and would therefore be useful for conducting experiments. In this study, we also used the cullin chimeras to investigate the binding interactions between E2 enzymes and cullin RING ligases. We performed co- immunoprecipitation assays to examine the interactions between E2 enzymes and wild type, mutant or chimeric cullin proteins. We found that E2 enzyme UbE2E1 selectively binds to Cul3 and not to Cull. Notably, the BTB binding region at the N- terminus of Cul3 is required for binding to UbE2E1. Furthermore, we found that UbE2E1 also binds to Cul3 substrate adapter protein Ctb57. These experiments revealed a novel interaction between and E2 enzyme and the N- terminus of Cul3, as well as with a Cul3 substrate adapter protein. In conclusion, the chimeras generated in this study have provided valuable information regarding what regions of CRLs are important for interactions with other proteins, and will continue to be a useful tool for investigating CRL structure and function. Close

• 287. [Article] Gendering the Body: Exploring the Construction of the Sexually Dimorphic Body

  Gender is a pervasive and regulating social institution that is operationalized in mainstream Western culture as a natural extension of the ontological difference perceived to exist between the binarily ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Gendering the Body: Exploring the Construction of the Sexually Dimorphic Body Author: Lewis, Sarah Kaye Year: 2011 Gender is a pervasive and regulating social institution that is operationalized in mainstream Western culture as a natural extension of the ontological difference perceived to exist between the binarily sexed bodies of male and female. Feminist theory has widely established, however, that gender is done - i.e., gender is not a naturally occurring phenomenon, but is an ongoing construction engaged and replicated by individual actors and which, while compulsory, is nevertheless optional. Within this canon is a small number of feminist theorists, notably Judith Lorber, Judith Bulter, and Nancy Tuana, who argue that the constructive manifestations of gender performativity (that is, doing of gender) are not limited to the social sphere. They argue the role of gender in the construction of the material body, asserting that doing gender has a constructive role in physical embodiment: what we do influences, and in fact creates, what our bodies are. This study engages feminist theory on the production of the body through a qualitative exploration of the lived experience of gendered bodily change, as described in the first-hand narratives of trans-identified individuals. I predict that the analysis of the narratives in the sample will show that in comparison to cisgender individuals, trans individuals possess a heightened awareness of the performative nature of gender, and that trans individuals consciously engage performativity in order to conform to the normative expectations associated with the desired gender role. I further predict that trans individuals experience sexually dimorphic bodily change to be a direct result of changes to their gender identity. The interview analysis findings provide mixed support for the first hypothesis, demonstrating that while trans individuals in the sample do demonstrate a heightened awareness of the ways in which gender is performed, the respondents’ insights came largely from their experiences in their compulsorily cisgender, pre-transition lives, rather than their current gender embodiments. The concept of performativity and its perceived implication of artificiality clashed with the respondents’ sense of their gendered actions as an expression of an authentic self, and my analysis thus addresses performativity as a necessarily polemic concept located between the subjectivity of the individual narratives and the theoretical position that gender is done. The findings provide a substantial level of support for the second hypothesis that trans individuals understand experienced bodily change to be a direct result of changes in gender identity. This study’s exploration of trans experiences of lived bodily change contributes a narrative perspective to the ongoing discussion in feminist theory which surrounds the role of gender in the production of the material body. Title: Gendering the Body: Exploring the Construction of the Sexually Dimorphic Body Author: Lewis, Sarah Kaye Year: 2011 Gender is a pervasive and regulating social institution that is operationalized in mainstream Western culture as a natural extension of the ontological difference perceived to exist between the binarily sexed bodies of male and female. Feminist theory has widely established, however, that gender is done - i.e., gender is not a naturally occurring phenomenon, but is an ongoing construction engaged and replicated by individual actors and which, while compulsory, is nevertheless optional. Within this canon is a small number of feminist theorists, notably Judith Lorber, Judith Bulter, and Nancy Tuana, who argue that the constructive manifestations of gender performativity (that is, doing of gender) are not limited to the social sphere. They argue the role of gender in the construction of the material body, asserting that doing gender has a constructive role in physical embodiment: what we do influences, and in fact creates, what our bodies are. This study engages feminist theory on the production of the body through a qualitative exploration of the lived experience of gendered bodily change, as described in the first-hand narratives of trans-identified individuals. I predict that the analysis of the narratives in the sample will show that in comparison to cisgender individuals, trans individuals possess a heightened awareness of the performative nature of gender, and that trans individuals consciously engage performativity in order to conform to the normative expectations associated with the desired gender role. I further predict that trans individuals experience sexually dimorphic bodily change to be a direct result of changes to their gender identity. The interview analysis findings provide mixed support for the first hypothesis, demonstrating that while trans individuals in the sample do demonstrate a heightened awareness of the ways in which gender is performed, the respondents’ insights came largely from their experiences in their compulsorily cisgender, pre-transition lives, rather than their current gender embodiments. The concept of performativity and its perceived implication of artificiality clashed with the respondents’ sense of their gendered actions as an expression of an authentic self, and my analysis thus addresses performativity as a necessarily polemic concept located between the subjectivity of the individual narratives and the theoretical position that gender is done. The findings provide a substantial level of support for the second hypothesis that trans individuals understand experienced bodily change to be a direct result of changes in gender identity. This study’s exploration of trans experiences of lived bodily change contributes a narrative perspective to the ongoing discussion in feminist theory which surrounds the role of gender in the production of the material body. Close

• 288. [Article] A Performance Appraisal Model for Postsecondary Education

  Purpose. Although performance appraisal is an important factor in the successful operation of organizations, it is often a difficult and threatening task. Traditional approaches to evaluation have proved ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Performance Appraisal Model for Postsecondary Education Author: Connolly, Peggy Year: 1989 Purpose. Although performance appraisal is an important factor in the successful operation of organizations, it is often a difficult and threatening task. Traditional approaches to evaluation have proved to be neither effective nor in legal compliance. This problem affects postsecondary institutions, where customary subjective appraisal contributes to undesirable employment discrimination. This study provides postsecondary administrators with an effective and legally defensible model of performance appraisal. Research addressed these questions: (1) What does statutory law mandate in appraisal? (2) What issues, patterns, and decisions concerning appraisal have been identified through the judicial process, and what degree of consistency has been shown in decisions? (3) What standards are suggested by performance appraisal law and practices? (4) What should constitute an appraisal program for postsecondary education that synthesizes appraisal practices and emerging legal standards? Federal statutes and court records governing employment practices were examined to identify data. Data were analyzed according to principles of grounded theory development proposed by Glaser and Strauss, and complemented by legal research methodologies recommended by Alton. Appraisal law was summarized, followed by review of current practices identified in appraisal literature. A performance appraisal model for postsecondary education synthesizing legal standards and current practices was presented. Although statutes governing appraisal apply to all employers, the courts demand less stringent compliance by postsecondary institutions. The judiciary acknowledges prejudice in employment decisions in academia, but implores educators to regulate their own behavior to preserve academic freedom. In non-academic employment, periodic appraisals should be based on written, objective standards known to employees, that are valid, reliable, and fair; and administered and scored under standardized conditions by trained evaluators. Records must be confidential. The courts do not require strict compliance by postsecondary institutions; they urge, but do not mandate, that academic employees be treated without bias. Guidelines are needed to define a non-discriminatory evaluation process for postsecondary employees. This research model presents a first step toward this goal. Title: A Performance Appraisal Model for Postsecondary Education Author: Connolly, Peggy Year: 1989 Purpose. Although performance appraisal is an important factor in the successful operation of organizations, it is often a difficult and threatening task. Traditional approaches to evaluation have proved to be neither effective nor in legal compliance. This problem affects postsecondary institutions, where customary subjective appraisal contributes to undesirable employment discrimination. This study provides postsecondary administrators with an effective and legally defensible model of performance appraisal. Research addressed these questions: (1) What does statutory law mandate in appraisal? (2) What issues, patterns, and decisions concerning appraisal have been identified through the judicial process, and what degree of consistency has been shown in decisions? (3) What standards are suggested by performance appraisal law and practices? (4) What should constitute an appraisal program for postsecondary education that synthesizes appraisal practices and emerging legal standards? Federal statutes and court records governing employment practices were examined to identify data. Data were analyzed according to principles of grounded theory development proposed by Glaser and Strauss, and complemented by legal research methodologies recommended by Alton. Appraisal law was summarized, followed by review of current practices identified in appraisal literature. A performance appraisal model for postsecondary education synthesizing legal standards and current practices was presented. Although statutes governing appraisal apply to all employers, the courts demand less stringent compliance by postsecondary institutions. The judiciary acknowledges prejudice in employment decisions in academia, but implores educators to regulate their own behavior to preserve academic freedom. In non-academic employment, periodic appraisals should be based on written, objective standards known to employees, that are valid, reliable, and fair; and administered and scored under standardized conditions by trained evaluators. Records must be confidential. The courts do not require strict compliance by postsecondary institutions; they urge, but do not mandate, that academic employees be treated without bias. Guidelines are needed to define a non-discriminatory evaluation process for postsecondary employees. This research model presents a first step toward this goal. Close

• 289. [Article] A Global Investigation of Stakeholder and Contextual Influences on Firm Engagement in Sustainability

  Global sustainability issues cross all sectors of society, including businesses, governments, and communities and come with substantial costs. Business organizations are increasingly expected to address ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Global Investigation of Stakeholder and Contextual Influences on Firm Engagement in Sustainability Author: Nemetz, Annette M. Year: 2014 Global sustainability issues cross all sectors of society, including businesses, governments, and communities and come with substantial costs. Business organizations are increasingly expected to address sustainability issues in a responsible manner and to disclose socially responsible behaviors accurately and transparently, showing that they are effective at managing and being proactive about sustainability challenges. In light of these pressures and expectations for business organizations, the fundamental research question for this study was whether variation existed in the levels of engagement in sustainability efforts across firms globally, and, more importantly, why such variation existed. The level of strategic firm engagement in sustainability was proposed to be influenced by stakeholders and other factors that had relevance to sustainability. Three types of stakeholders with the potential power and legitimacy for influencing strategic decisions regarding firm engagement in sustainability were investigated - executive management, community and government. Multiple firm-related and country-related contextual factors were also investigated as influencers. The study was global in nature, consisting of four hundred companies in twenty-five countries. Stakeholder theory, as the foundation of the investigation, was supported by the results of the study. Executive management, community, and government as stakeholders were found to have significant influence on the level of firm engagement in sustainability. Firm size, country economy, country technological readiness, country fossil fuel dependence, and industry sector were also found to have significant influence on the level of firm engagement in sustainability and approximately 26% of the variation in firm sustainability engagement was accounted for by the combined influence of executive management, government and community as stakeholder influences and firm size and country technological readiness as contextual factors. Specific findings showed that there were higher levels of firm engagement in sustainability when executive management provided explicit support for sustainability as a strategic issue, in communities with positive supportive norms for sustainability and a higher propensity for citizen-based political action and when there was an optimal level of government regulation and formalized institutional power. Other factors that led to higher levels of firm engagement in sustainability were for firms in energy-related and automotive industry sectors, for larger firms based on revenue size, and for firms with headquarters located in countries with developed economies and higher technological readiness. Title: A Global Investigation of Stakeholder and Contextual Influences on Firm Engagement in Sustainability Author: Nemetz, Annette M. Year: 2014 Global sustainability issues cross all sectors of society, including businesses, governments, and communities and come with substantial costs. Business organizations are increasingly expected to address sustainability issues in a responsible manner and to disclose socially responsible behaviors accurately and transparently, showing that they are effective at managing and being proactive about sustainability challenges. In light of these pressures and expectations for business organizations, the fundamental research question for this study was whether variation existed in the levels of engagement in sustainability efforts across firms globally, and, more importantly, why such variation existed. The level of strategic firm engagement in sustainability was proposed to be influenced by stakeholders and other factors that had relevance to sustainability. Three types of stakeholders with the potential power and legitimacy for influencing strategic decisions regarding firm engagement in sustainability were investigated - executive management, community and government. Multiple firm-related and country-related contextual factors were also investigated as influencers. The study was global in nature, consisting of four hundred companies in twenty-five countries. Stakeholder theory, as the foundation of the investigation, was supported by the results of the study. Executive management, community, and government as stakeholders were found to have significant influence on the level of firm engagement in sustainability. Firm size, country economy, country technological readiness, country fossil fuel dependence, and industry sector were also found to have significant influence on the level of firm engagement in sustainability and approximately 26% of the variation in firm sustainability engagement was accounted for by the combined influence of executive management, government and community as stakeholder influences and firm size and country technological readiness as contextual factors. Specific findings showed that there were higher levels of firm engagement in sustainability when executive management provided explicit support for sustainability as a strategic issue, in communities with positive supportive norms for sustainability and a higher propensity for citizen-based political action and when there was an optimal level of government regulation and formalized institutional power. Other factors that led to higher levels of firm engagement in sustainability were for firms in energy-related and automotive industry sectors, for larger firms based on revenue size, and for firms with headquarters located in countries with developed economies and higher technological readiness. Close

• 290. [Article] A Structural Analysis of Corporate Political Activity: An Application of Euclidean Modeling to the Study of Intercorporate Relations

  During the past two decades business has become increasingly active in the political process, and scholars continue to debate the extent to which this activity is organized. This fundamental issue is addressed ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Structural Analysis of Corporate Political Activity: An Application of Euclidean Modeling to the Study of Intercorporate Relations Author: Mullery, Colleen Bridget Year: 1991 During the past two decades business has become increasingly active in the political process, and scholars continue to debate the extent to which this activity is organized. This fundamental issue is addressed by examining corporate political activity within the context of resource dependence and class cohesion theories. Political action committee (PAC) campaign contributions, this study's measure for corporate political activity, are structurally analyzed to determine if either resource dependence or class cohesion theory explains the forces which drive business participation in the U.S. public policy process. The rationale which forty-two diverse corporate PACs exercise when selecting which congressional campaigns to support during two election cycles is explored. Resource dependence theory contends .that a firm's behavior is a function of its dependence on the environment for resources. Successful firms attempt to manage this external dependence by controlling or manipulating their environment corporate involvement in politics, therefore, will reflect a firm's dependence on the government for sales, subsidies or regulation. The regulatory environment in which a firm operates is this study's measure of resource dependence. Conversely, class cohesion theory argues that a firm's political activity is a function of its top management's inclusion in a network of corporate elites. Board members and chief executives from the nation's largest corporations coalesce to advance a political agenda which is compatible with the overarching goals of the business community rather than the parochial goals of an individual firm or even industry. Interlocking directorates, professional association memberships, shared educational experience and geographic proximity of headquarters locations are this study's indicators of a corporate elite network. Two categories of analytical methodology are applied. Multidimensional scaling maps corporate patterns of support for congressional candidates based on a PAC contribution proximity measure. These patterns are subsequently subjected to discriminant analysis, canonical correlation, regression and chi-square analysis to test for Resource Dependent and Class Cohesive political behavior. The results are conclusive: Support of selected congressional campaigns is more likely fueled by fragmented business interests, as resource dependence theory suggests, rather than the collective motives of a corporate elite. In fact, no support emerged for class cohesion theory as an explanation for the observed patterns of intercorporate relations. Further, a corollary proposition that PAC activity will vary with the ideology of White House administrations is not supported. Rather, PAC contribution patterns do not vary significantly between the Carter and Reagan administrations. This research renders four significant contributions to scholarship: 1. It provides empirical evidence to clarify a central issue in business-government relations, i.e., the atomistic or collective nature of corporate political activity. 2. It introduces a rigorous mathematical technique to the business-government relations discipline. 3. It indirectly addresses an ongoing scholarly debate over the role of interest groups in a democracy. 4. It indirectly addresses the current public policy debate over campaign finance reform. Title: A Structural Analysis of Corporate Political Activity: An Application of Euclidean Modeling to the Study of Intercorporate Relations Author: Mullery, Colleen Bridget Year: 1991 During the past two decades business has become increasingly active in the political process, and scholars continue to debate the extent to which this activity is organized. This fundamental issue is addressed by examining corporate political activity within the context of resource dependence and class cohesion theories. Political action committee (PAC) campaign contributions, this study's measure for corporate political activity, are structurally analyzed to determine if either resource dependence or class cohesion theory explains the forces which drive business participation in the U.S. public policy process. The rationale which forty-two diverse corporate PACs exercise when selecting which congressional campaigns to support during two election cycles is explored. Resource dependence theory contends .that a firm's behavior is a function of its dependence on the environment for resources. Successful firms attempt to manage this external dependence by controlling or manipulating their environment corporate involvement in politics, therefore, will reflect a firm's dependence on the government for sales, subsidies or regulation. The regulatory environment in which a firm operates is this study's measure of resource dependence. Conversely, class cohesion theory argues that a firm's political activity is a function of its top management's inclusion in a network of corporate elites. Board members and chief executives from the nation's largest corporations coalesce to advance a political agenda which is compatible with the overarching goals of the business community rather than the parochial goals of an individual firm or even industry. Interlocking directorates, professional association memberships, shared educational experience and geographic proximity of headquarters locations are this study's indicators of a corporate elite network. Two categories of analytical methodology are applied. Multidimensional scaling maps corporate patterns of support for congressional candidates based on a PAC contribution proximity measure. These patterns are subsequently subjected to discriminant analysis, canonical correlation, regression and chi-square analysis to test for Resource Dependent and Class Cohesive political behavior. The results are conclusive: Support of selected congressional campaigns is more likely fueled by fragmented business interests, as resource dependence theory suggests, rather than the collective motives of a corporate elite. In fact, no support emerged for class cohesion theory as an explanation for the observed patterns of intercorporate relations. Further, a corollary proposition that PAC activity will vary with the ideology of White House administrations is not supported. Rather, PAC contribution patterns do not vary significantly between the Carter and Reagan administrations. This research renders four significant contributions to scholarship: 1. It provides empirical evidence to clarify a central issue in business-government relations, i.e., the atomistic or collective nature of corporate political activity. 2. It introduces a rigorous mathematical technique to the business-government relations discipline. 3. It indirectly addresses an ongoing scholarly debate over the role of interest groups in a democracy. 4. It indirectly addresses the current public policy debate over campaign finance reform. Close