Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Air-Drying Of Banana: Influence Of Experimental Parameters, Slab Thickness, Banana Maturity And Harvesting Season, Minh-Hue Nguyen, William E. Price

William E. Price

Air-drying of banana slabs has been investigated and the influence of experimental parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and slab thickness has been studied. This was in part re-investigated because of inconsistencies in previous studies, particularly in relation to derived water diffusion coefficients. In addition, it is shown that harvest season and hence initial moisture content has a very marked influence on the drying kinetics. By contrast banana maturity (ripeness) has little influence on the kinetics despite there being significant differences in morphology and chemical composition between green and ripe bananas. The effect of these two variables on the drying …

Increased Probiotic Yogurt Or Resistant Starch Intake Does Not Affect Isoflavone Bioavailability In Subjects Consuming A High Soy Diet, Theresa A. Larkin, William E. Price, Lee B. Astheimer

William E. Price

Objective: Probiotics and prebiotics that affect gut microflora balance and its associated enzymeactivity may contribute to interindividual variation in isoflavone absorption after soy intake, possiblyenhancing isoflavone bioavailability. This study examined the effects of the consumption ofbioactive yogurt (a probiotic) or resistant starch (a known prebiotic) in combination with high soyintake on soy isoflavone bioavailability.Methods: Using a crossover design, chronic soy consumption was compared with soy plusprobiotic yogurt or resistant starch in older male and postmenopausal females (n 31). Isoflavonebioavailability was assessed at the beginning and end of each 5-wk dietary period by samplingplasma and urine after a standardized soy meal.Results: …

Fractionation Of Sedimentary Arsenic From Port Kembla Harbour, Nsw, Australia, Glennys A. O'Brien, William E. Price, Bryan E. Chenhall, Muhammad Damris

William E. Price

The binding of arsenic in sediments of the heavily industrialised Port Kembla Harbour, NSW, Australia, has been investigated. Both dredge and core samples have been used to develop a sieving/sequential extraction (SE) procedure. Dredge samples included oxic surficial and deeper anoxic sediment. The main core sample analysed was 18 cm deep, sliced at 2 cm intervals. Sediment was sieved to three size ranges (250 microm) and each of these was then subjected to a four step SE, sequentially solubilizing arsenic as ion exchangeable, 1 M HCl soluble, NH(2)OH.HCl soluble, and strong oxidising acid soluble. Concentrations of 50-500 mg As kg(-1) …

A Fragmentation Study Of Isoflavones In Negative Electrospray Ionization By Msn Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry And Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry, Jinguo Kang, Larry A. Hick, William E. Price

William E. Price

This study has elucidated the fragmentation pathway for deprotonated isoflavones in electrospray ionization using MSn ion trap mass spectrometry and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Genistein-d4 and daidzein-d3 were used as references for the clarification of fragment structures. To confirm the relationship between precursor and product ions, some fragments were traced from MS2 to MS5. The previous literature for the structurally related flavones and flavanones located the loss of ketene (C2H2O) to ring C, whereas the present fragmentation study for isoflavones has shown that the loss of ketene occurs elsewhere at ring A. In the further fragmentation of the [M-H-CH3]•- radical …

Tissue Distribution Of Lignans In Rats In Response To Diet, Dose-Response, And Competition With Isoflavones, Timothy Murray, J. Kang, Lee Astheimer, William E. Price

William E. Price

This paper investigates the occurrence and distribution of the lignan metabolites enterodiol (END) and enterolactone (ENL) and the isoflavone daidzein (DAID) in rat tissues using liquid chromatography - electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC – ESI/MSn) following a variety of dietary regimes. Further, we examined the dose-response and distribution of END and ENL in liver, testes, prostate and lung, and investigated the effects of competition between lignans and isoflavones on metabolite distribution. In liver, testes, prostate & lung tissue, dose related increases in END concentration were observed. In the testes, the co-administration of 60 mg/kg SDG with 60 mg/kg isoflavones produced …

Effect Of Organic Solvents On The Separation Of Benzoic Acids By Capillary Electrophoresis, Young J. Lee, William E. Price, Margaret Sheil

William E. Price

The effect of organic modifiers on the separation of a number of closely related isomeric benzoic acids by capillary electrophoresis is described. It is shown that while a single modifier concentration cannot help resolve the entire electropherogram, organic modifiers do significantly enhance the resolution of parts of the separation system by comparison with 40 mmol l-1 phosphate buffer. The effects on separation and retention times are discussed in terms of the effects on electroosmotic flow and the electrophoretic mobilities of the charged solutes. The effects were found to be modifier specific, although the trends were in the same direction (ie., …

Occurrence Of Phytoestrogens In Municipal Wastewater And Surface Waters, Jinguo Kang, William E. Price

William E. Price

Phytoestrogens (isoflavones, enterolignans and coumestrol) in wastewater samples and surface water samples have been analysed by LC-ESI-MSn. In wastewater samples, high levels of enterolactone (581 – 2111 ng/L), daidzein (341 – 1688 ng/L) and enterodiol (60 – 834 ng/L) were detected in raw sewage, but the vast majority of the analysed phytoestrogens were removed effectively in treatment process. The removal rates of the analysed phytoestrogens in the two advanced tertiary treatment plants were > 99%; a case study in one of the treatment plants showed that most of the residual phytoestrogens were removed by biological treatment using activated sludge. In surface …

Corrigendum To ‘‘The Chaperone Action Of Bovine Milk As1- And As2-Caseins And Their Associated Form As-Casein’’ [Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 510 (2011) 42–52], Teresa M. Treweek, David C. Thorn, William E. Price, John A. Carver

William E. Price

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Dextran On Subunit Exchange Of Αa-Crystallin, A. Ghahghaei, A. Rekas, W. E. Price, J. A. Carver

William E. Price

α-Crystallin, a member of small heat shock protein (sHsp) family, is comprised of αA and αB subunits and acts as a molecular chaperone by interacting with unfolding proteins to prevent their aggregation. The αA-crystallin homopolymer consists of 30-40 subunits that are undergoing dynamic exchange. α-Crystallin and αA-crystallin are poorer chaperones in the presence of the crowding agent, dextran. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer, it is shown that the αAcrystallin subunit exchange rate strongly increased with temperature. Binding of reduced ovotransferrin to αA-crystallin markedly decreases the rate of subunit exchange, as does the presence of dextran. In addition, in the presence …

The Key Importance Of Soy Isoflavone Bioavailability To Understanding Health Benefits, T. A. Larkin, William E. Price, L. Astheimer

William E. Price

Research over the past two decades has provided significant epidemiological and other evidence for the health benefits of the consumption of soy-based foods. A large number of dietary intervention studies have examined the effects of soy isoflavones on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and hormone-dependent cancers. However, these report large variability in outcome measures, very limited reproducibility between studies and in some cases, controversy between results of clinical trials using dietary soy or soy protein and isoflavone supplementation. This highlights a major gap in our understanding of soy isoflavone uptake, metabolism, distribution, and overall bioavailability. There are many potential factors …

Using Calibration Approaches To Compensate For Remaining Matrix Effects In Quantitative Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Multistage Mass Spectrometric Analysis Of Phytoestrogens In Aqueous Environmental Samples, Jinguo Kang, Larry A. Hick, William E. Price

William E. Price

Signal suppression is a common problem in quantitative LC-ESI-MSn analysis in environment samples, especially in highly loaded wastewater samples with highly complex matrix. Optimization of sample preparation and improvement of chromatographic separation are prerequisite to improve reproducibility and selectivity. Matrix components may be reduced if not eliminated by a series of sample preparation steps. However, extensive sample preparation can be time-consuming and risk the significant loss of some trace analytes. The best way to further compensate matrix effects is the use of internal standard for each analyte. However, in a multi-component analysis, finding appropriate internal standards for every analyte is …

O Cidadão E O Estadista, Paulo Ferreira Da Cunha

Paulo Ferreira da Cunha

Fala-se muito em crise, naturalmente em mudanças políticas, e até em regeneração dos partidos. Cremos que esta é fundamental. Ou tal ocorre, ou virá, mais dia menos dia, após esta ou aquela convulsão, a ditadura e o partido único, sob qualquer bandeira, normalmente populista. Muitos estão já a atiçar o lume antipartidário e antidemocrático, como ocorreu noutros tempos. E apontando já os bodes expiatórios a sacrificar, enquanto os verdadeiros responsáveis passam ao largo... Por outro lado, não é Estadista quem quer. São precisas virtudes e qualidades. Não uma competência mitificada e abstrata. Mas projeto político e capacidade, experiência, etc.

Product Markets And Industry-Specific Training, Armin Schmutzler, Hans Gersbach

Armin Schmutzler

We develop a product market theory to explain why firms provide their workers with skills that are also useful to their competitors. Firms first decide whether to invest in industry-specific training, then make wage offers for each others’ trained employees and finally engage in imperfect product market competition. Equilibria with and without training can emerge. If competition is soft, firms invest in training if others do. Thereby, they avoid having to pay high wages for trained workers. Furthermore, we draw welfare conclusions from the analysis. Finally, we discuss how our ideas apply to supplier relationships and to general training.

Implementing Oclc's Wms (Web-Scale Management Services) Circulation At Pepperdine University Powerpoint, Sally Bryant, Gan Ye

Sally Bryant

This presentation covers the reasons why Pepperdine University Libraries decided to move to the next-generation technology of WMS as our library system. WMS is an integrated library system hosted by OCLC that is “in the cloud.” Pepperdine was one of the first libraries to go live with WMS, and in this presentation we focus on implementation process, circulation, course reserves and holds. Although WMS is not a perfect system, we believe that libraries are poised to benefit from the next generation of library systems, such as WMS.

Implementing Oclc's Wms (Web-Scale Management Services) Circulation At Pepperdine University Powerpoint, Sally Bryant, Gan Ye

Gan Ye (Grace Ye, 叶敢 ）

This presentation covers the reasons why Pepperdine University Libraries decided to move to the next-generation technology of WMS as our library system. WMS is an integrated library system hosted by OCLC that is “in the cloud.” Pepperdine was one of the first libraries to go live with WMS, and in this presentation we focus on implementation process, circulation, course reserves and holds. Although WMS is not a perfect system, we believe that libraries are poised to benefit from the next generation of library systems, such as WMS.

The Embodiment Of Tolerance In Discourses And Practices Addressing Cultural Diversity In Schools, The Case Of Cyprus, Nicos Trimikliniotis, Corina Demetriou, Elena Papamichael

Nicos Trimikliniotis

The report examines the processes, methods and Practices of the Cypriot educational system as the

embodiment of tolerance in discourses and practices addressing cultural diversity in schools. These are

mediated by the perceptions of policy makers, the convictions of stakeholders involved in the processes and abilities of and tools made available to educationalists. In examining the nature of the educational system and particularly the way in which the system treats its minoritised individuals and groups, the philosophy which emerges is that of viewing diversity as a disadvantage and a deficiency that needs to be ‘treated’, against a backdrop of essentialising …

Disillusionment In Afghanistan. Content-Analysis Als Methode, Esmeralda Kleinreesink

Esmeralda Kleinreesink

Maintain, Demolish, Re‐Purpose: Policy Design For Vacant Land Management Using Decision Models, Michael P. Johnson Jr., Justin Hollander, Alma Hallulli

Michael P. Johnson

Neighborhoods, cities, regions and countries face sustained economic and population decline, due to lower population growth rates, deindustrialization and sustained disinvestment, and the housing foreclosure crisis. Planners increasingly see ‘decline’ as something to plan for: a place may lose population while ensuring a high quality of life and enhanced social value (Delken 2008, Hollander 2010). Growth-oriented planning continues to maintain its hegemony over local government decision-making. Can decision models help planners devise strategies that will maximize the social value of managed decline?

The Economic Benefits Of Mobile Broadband, James Prieger

James E. Prieger

Mobile broadband is becoming increasingly important to national economies and the personal lives of users. However, broadband availability and adoption are not diffusing as quickly in rural areas or among certain minority groups. This article updates the rural and minority digital divide. Empirical estimations of mobile broadband provision and fixed broadband usage in the US show that rural areas have fewer providers and minorities have lower usage rates. The potential for mobile broadband to benefit rural areas through economic development and urban areas through enhancing the digital inclusion of minority communities is also examined.

Applications Barriers To Entry And Exclusive Vertical Contracts In Platform Markets, James Prieger, Wei-Min Hu

James E. Prieger

Our study extends the empirical literature on whether vertical restraints are anticompetitive. We focus on exclusive contracting in platform markets, which feature indirect network effects and thus are susceptible to applications barriers to entry. Exclusive contracts in vertical relationships between the platform provider and software supplier can heighten entry barriers. We test these theories in the home video game market. We find that indirect network effects from software on hardware demand are present, and that exclusivity takes market share from rivals, but only when most games are non-exclusive. The marginal exclusive game contributes virtually nothing to console demand. Thus, allowing …

Verifiable And Non-Verifiable Anonymous Mechanisms For Regulating A Polluting Monopolist, James Prieger, Nicholas Sanders

James E. Prieger

Optimal regulation of a polluting natural monopolist must correct for both external damages and market power to achieve a social optimum. Existing non-Bayesian regulatory methods require knowledge of the demand function, while Bayesian schemes require knowledge of the underlying cost distribution. We introduce mechanisms adapted to use less information. Our Price-based Subsidy (PS) mechanisms give the firm a transfer that matches or approximates the incremental surplus generated each period. The regulator need not observe the abatement activity or know the demand, cost, or damage functions of the firm. All of the mechanisms induce the firm to price at marginal social …

Are Drivers Who Use Cell Phones Inherently Less Safe?, James Prieger, Robert Hahn

James E. Prieger

Mobile phone usage while driving is increasing throughout the world. In this paper, we use survey data from 7,268 U.S. drivers to estimate the relationship between mobile phone use while driving and accidents. We hypothesize that drivers who use mobile phones while driving may be more likely to get into accidents than drivers who do not, even when they are not using the phone. We find evidence for the endogeneity of mobile phone and hands-free device usage, and our analysis suggests that individuals who are more likely to use hands-free devices are more careful drivers even without them. Once we …

The Empirics Of The Digital Divide: Can Duration Analysis Help?, James Prieger, Wei-Min Hu

James E. Prieger

Accurate measurement of digital divides is important for policy purposes. Empirical studies on broadband subscription gaps have largely used cross-sectional data, which cannot speak to the timing of technological adoption. Yet, the dynamics of a digital divide are important and deserve study. With the goal of improving our understanding of appropriate techniques for analyzing digital divides, we review competing econometric methodology and propose the use of duration analysis. We compare the performance of alternative estimation methods using a large dataset on DSL subscription in the U.S., paying particular attention to whether women, blacks, and Hispanics catch up to others in …

Product Innovation, Signaling, And Endogenous Regulatory Delay, James Prieger

James E. Prieger

This paper examines the determinants of the timing of a monopolistic firm’s product innovation and regulatory approval, and proposes a signaling model with endogenous regulatory delay. Regulatory delay exerts a multiplier effect on total time to market, because when the firm expects the regulator to take longer to grant approval, the firm delays its product introduction. The firm can time its innovation to communicate its private information about the marginal cost of delay to the regulator. Successful signaling in the separating equilibrium leads the regulator to reduce regulatory delay. The implications of the model are consistent with data on innovation …

The Rules Of The Road Or Roadblocks On The Information Highway? Regulation And Innovation In Telecommunications, James Prieger, Daniel Heil

James E. Prieger

Regulatory policy in telecommunications must balance short-term efficiency (low prices) against the firms’ incentives to innovate, which have longer reaching impacts on economic welfare. Historically, policy tended to sacrifice dynamic efficiency for the sake of competitive prices and static efficiency. In the last few decades, economists and other researchers have begun to document the large welfare costs of ignoring dynamic efficiency. We analyze the impact regulation has on innovation in a simple theoretical framework. We then turn to the empirical evidence that regulation dampens firms’ incentive to innovate in the telecommunications industry in general and the market for broadband Internet …

The Microeconomic Impacts Of E-Business On The Economy, James Prieger, Daniel Heil

James E. Prieger

The adoption of e-business at the microeconomic level of retail, wholesale, and labor market transactions has an enormous impact on the performance of firms and the economic welfare of consumers and workers. This article reviews, in broad outlines, the economics of e-business, focusing on empirical research. The fundamental notion that e-business and adoption of ICT lowers the cost of transferring, storing, and processing in-formation is used to organize the examination. E-business spheres of impact covered include B2C and B2B e-commerce, the labor market, and the productivity of firms. This article covers both the predicted impacts of e-business on the economy …

The Macroeconomic Impacts Of E-Business On The Economy, James Prieger, Daniel Heil

James E. Prieger

The growing use of information and communications technology (ICT) by business—e-business—profoundly affects the economy. This article covers some of the macroeconomic impacts of e-business. Evidence from empirical studies examining the impact that greater use of ICT by business has on productivity and national economic growth is presented, along with discussion of how e-business changes the volatility and complicates measurement of growth. E-business can bring down inflation, but also exacerbates some monetary and fiscal policy challenges, and raises new ones. While e-payments and e-money can complicate monetary policy and may alter its goals, little effect has been seen to date. Sales …

The Broadband Digital Divide And The Nexus Of Race, Competition, And Quality, James Prieger, Wei-Min Hu

James E. Prieger

We examine the gap in broadband access to the Internet between minority groups and white households with geographically fine data on DSL subscription. In addition to income and demographics, we also examine quality of service and competition as components of the Digital Divide. The gaps in DSL demand for blacks and Hispanics do not disappear when income, education, and other demographic variables are accounted for. However, lack of competition is an important driver of the Digital Divide for blacks. Service quality is an important determinant of demand, and ignoring it masks the true size of the DSL gap for Hispanics.

Deployment Of Mobile Broadband Service In The United States, James Prieger, Thomas Church

James E. Prieger

Broadband deployment in the United States is expanding rapidly but unevenly. Using new FCC census data on wireline and wireless broadband providers, we study mobile broadband provision within the United States. Although rural areas lag non-rural areas in the availability of residential access to both mobile and fixed broadband, mobile broadband is at least partially filling in geographical gaps in fixed-line broadband coverage. Multiple regression results indicate that population density and growth, and the fraction of blacks, Hispanics, and youth in an area are positive predictors of the number of mobile broadband providers. The fraction of Native Americans, Asians, and …

Economics At The Fcc, 2008-2009: Broadband And Merger Review, James Prieger, Michelle Connolly

James E. Prieger

Many issues have come before the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) in the last year. Some actions were taken (as with particular mergers), some actions were postponed (as with Universal Service Fund reform), and some issues are currently being tackled (the National Broadband Strategic Plan). In this paper, we focus on the topic of the National Broadband Plan, which the FCC is mandated to provide to Congress February 17, 2010, the FCC Merger Review process, and the determination of optimal penalties for violations of FCC rules or orders.