Various solutions have been proposed to “fix” performance management (PM) over the last several decades. Pulakos, Mueller Hanson, Arad, and Moye (2015) have presented a holistic approach to improving PM in organizations. Although this approach addresses several key elements related to the social context of PM, namely the buy-in of organizational stakeholders, timely and regular feedback, and future-directed feedback, we believe that several robust findings from the PM research literature could further improve this process. Are Pulakos et al. looking at the forest but missing the trees? In the following commentary, we offer several reasons that performance judgments and perhaps even informal ratings are still operating and occurring in the proposed holistic system. Therefore, advancements in other areas of PM research may offer additional ways to fix PM.

Glucosyltransferases (GTs) are the important group of enzymes which facilitates the incorporation of UDPactivated glucose to a corresponding acceptor molecule through glucosylation. Glucosylation is a common alteration reaction in plant metabolism and is regularly associated with the production of secondary metabolites. Glucosylation serves a number of roles within metabolism including: stabilizing structures, affecting solubility, transport, and regulating the bioavailability of the compounds for other metabolic processes. GTs involved in secondary metabolism share a conserved 44 amino acid residue motif (60–80% identity) known as the plant secondary product glucosyltransferase (PSPG) box, which has been demonstrated to include the UDP-sugar binding moiety. Among the secondary metabolites, flavonoid glycosides affect taste characteristics in citrus making the associated glucosyltransferases particularly interesting targets for biotechnology applications in these species. Custom design of enzymes requires understanding of structure/function of the protein. The present study focuses on creating mutant Flavonol- 3-O- Glucosyltransferases proteins using site-directed mutational analysis and testing the effect of each mutation on substrate specificity and kinetic properties of the enzyme.

Citrus paradisi 3-O-glucosyltransferase (Cp3GT, Genbank Protein ID: ACS15351) and Citrus sinensis 3-O-glucosyltransferase (Cs3GT, Genbank Protein ID: AAS00612.2) share 95% amino acid sequence identity. Cp3GT was previously established as a flavonol-specific 3-O-glucosyltransferase by direct enzymatic analysis. Cs3GT is annotated as a flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase and predicted to use anthocyanidins as substrates based on gene expression analysis correlated with the accumulation of anthocyanins in C. sinensis cv. Tarocco, a blood orange variety. Mutant enzymes in which amino acids found in Cs3GT were substituted for position equivalent residues in Cp3GT were generated, heterologously expressed in yeast, and characterized for substrate specificity. Structure–function relationships were investigated for wild type and mutant glucosyltransferases by homology modelling using a crystallized Vitis viniferaanthocyanidin/flavonol 3-O-GT (PDB: 2C9Z) as template and subsequent substrate docking. All enzymes showed similar patterns for optimal temperature, pH, and UDP/metal ion inhibition with differences observed in kinetic parameters. Although changes in the activity of the mutant proteins as compared to wild type were observed, cyanidin was never efficiently accepted as a substrate.

We examined associations between trait hope and preparation for future care needs (PFCN) among 66 older adult primary care patients in western New York. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing PFCN (awareness, information gathering, decision-making, concrete planning, and avoidance), and the Adult Trait Hope Scale. In multivariate regressions, lower hope, particularly less agency, was associated with more awareness of needing care, whereas higher hopefulness, particularly pathways thinking, was associated with increased decision-making and concrete planning. Greater hopefulness appears to be linked to goal-directed planning behaviors, although those with lower hope may actually be more aware of the need for planning. Evidence-based programming that encourages learned hopefulness may contribute to enhanced health planning and decision-making among older adult primary care patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of QR code (quick reference) linked video-based instruction (VBI) on daily vocational skills for students with moderate to severe disabilities (MSD). A multiple probe across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of VBI accessed through scanning a QR code. During technology training a system of least prompts was used to teach students to unlock the iPod, scan the QR code, press play, and press pause between each step of the task; after reaching mastery, students entered into the intervention condition (VBI). During VBI an immediate change in level was observed across three particpants. This study found a functional relationship between VBI and the completion of vocational tasks.

Guided by the conceptual framework of self-directed learning and culture, this study investigated the effectiveness of Title IV private, for-profit colleges and universities (FPCUs). Little research has examined this topic, which is problematic considering the disproportionate rate of student loan defaults experienced by Black FPCU borrowers. A phenomenological design was used to explore the meaning of academic achievement for Black doctorate recipients who attained a doctorate in psychology through an FPCU. This study specifically examined how Black students experience the completion of doctoral psychology programs at 2 FPCUs and what factors contributed to these students finishing their degrees. A unique-criterion-purposive sample of 7 Black students who completed doctoral psychology programs at FPCUs within the past 5 years was recruited to participate in telephone interviews. Moustakas' data analysis steps were applied to the data. The results indicated that study participants saw an association between attaining their doctorates in psychology and their self-actualization. They shared the experiences of selecting a suitable FPCU, choosing a specialty area, negotiating transfer credits, completing the doctoral coursework phase, and completing the dissertation phase. Their commitment to achieving self-actualization was a salient experience in finishing their degrees. A core aspect of self-actualization was their cultural knowledge, which helped them to overcome challenges and persevere. However, the results uncovered some insufficiencies in the FPCUs' practices. They have implications for positive social change by highlighting how FPCU academic support services might use cultural knowledge and self-actualization strategies to maximize the successful matriculation of Black students.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a lethal autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CFTR transports anions at the apical surface of epithelial membranes and functions in many areas of the body. However in CF, loss of CFTR function in the lungs is the major source of morbidity and mortality. Replacing the defective CFTR in the lungs through gene therapy has the potential to cure the disease. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) is an effective gene transfer vector and has been used extensively to deliver genes to cells in culture. A number of clinical trials using AAV have been attempted for a variety of diseases, including CF, albeit with limited success. Poor vector transduction efficiency prevents effective gene therapy. We have previously used a technique to greatly increase the transduction efficiency of AAV in human lung tissues by selecting from a library of AAVs using a directed evolution technique. However, this evolution was performed in cultured cells and did not fully represent the in vivo environment in which the AAV would be used. In 2008, a CF pig model was developed to develop a further understanding of the mechanisms of CF and CFTR function. We hypothesized that we could use directed evolution to select for a vector in vivo using the pig, allowing gene therapy studies to be conducted in a physiologically relevant model of CF. We selected a novel AAV variant, called AAV2H22, which is closely related to AAV2 but with greatly increased transduction efficiency in pig airway epithelia. AAV2H22 displayed specific tropism for pig airway epithelia and saturated cell surface receptors, indicating specific binding in those cells. We found that AAV2H22-mediated gene transfer corrected chloride and bicarbonate transport defects both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, bicarbonate transport was sufficient to normalize pH in the airway surface liquid, resulting in increased bacterial killing likely due to increased activity of antimicrobial peptides. To investigate the mechanics of the increased transduction of AAV2H22, capsid mutants were assayed for transduction efficiency. Two of the five amino acid differences between AAV2 and AAV2H22 lie at the surface and are predicted to alter capsid binding. This is consistent with the results showing specific binding in cultured airway epithelia. This research has important implications for gene therapy and investigations using AAV2H22 will increase our understanding of the biology needed to successfully treat CF.

Fasciola cause considerable monetary loss in the agriculture industry, while parasitism of humans is an emerging disease. Fasciola cathepsin L-like proteases are believed to aid parasite invasion and survival through a range of functions including feeding, immune evasion and modulation, tissue migration, egg production and excystment. As such these proteases are considered good targets for chemotherapies and vaccine development. Fasciola cathepsins are evolutionarily divided into clades that reflect function and life stage of expression. Analysis of F. gigantica genomic DNA and mRNA identified novel cathepsin L-like sequences which are incorporated into a phylogenetic analysis of the complete Fasciola cathepsin L-like protease family. Analysis of mRNA transcripts isolated in this study also points to trans-splicing occurring amongst cathepsin transcripts, the first time this has been identified in Fasciola species. S2 subsite specificity is important in determining substrate interactions with cathepsin L-like proteases. Previous work has shown that amino acid substitutions at this site can dramatically influence substrate specificity. A number of substitutions, specifically those that have been observed, or predicted to occur during the evolution of Fasciola cathepsins L-like proteases, were introduced into the S2 subsite of FhCatL5 at aa69 to determine their influence. The introduction of L69C and L69S substitutions resulted in low overall activity indicating their expression provides no functional advantage, thus explaining the absence of such variants amongst fluke. The L69F variant showed an increase in the ability to cleave substrates with P2 proline, indicating F69 variants expressed by fluke are also likely to have this ability, similar to that shown with L69Y and FhCatL2. The introduction of a L69W substitution leads to increased cleavage of substrates with P2 proline, along with a decrease in cleavage of substrates with P2 phenylalanine. FgCatL1G transcripts were isolated from F. gigantica metacercariae. This contrasts with FhCatL5 and FhCatL2 which have been isolated in adult F. hepatica. These cathepsins differ at aa69, possessing tryptophan, leucine and tyrosine respectively. The processing and substrate specificities of each recombinant enzyme was analysed and compared. While FhCatL5 and FhCatL2 process in vitro in a manner similar to that reported for FhCatL1, FgCatL1G requires different processing conditions, including neutral pH. Combined with FgCatL1G possessing increased stability at acidic pH, this reflects the different environment into which FgCatL1G is expressed by immature compared to the adult flukes. The substrate specificity of FgCatL1G also differed from previously reported cathepsins, with a preference for P2 proline and low activity against substrates with P2 phenylalanine. This is the first time recombinant expression and purification of a cathepsin L-like protease specific to the immature life stages of Fasciola has been undertaken and had enzyme specificity analysed. This work has expanded knowledge of the repertoire of cathepsin proteases expressed at various life-stages of the liver fluke. Vaccination and/or drug inhibition studies may in the future be targeted towards cathepsins that are expressed in either the adult or immature stage, or perhaps both in a multi-targeted approach. The knowledge gained in this study may allow such targets to be chosen.

<p>As space exploration vehicles travel deeper into space, their distance to earth increases.The increased communication delays and ground personnel costs motivatea migration of the vehicle health management into space. A way to achieve thisis to use a diagnosis system. A diagnosis system uses sensor readings to automaticallydetect faults and possibly locate the cause of it. The diagnosis system usedin this thesis is a model-based reasoning tool called RODON developed by UptimeSolutions AB. RODON uses information of both nominal and faulty behavior ofthe target system mathematically formulated in a model.The advanced diagnostics and prognostics testbed (ADAPT) developed at theNASA Ames Research Center provides a stepping stone between pure researchand deployment of diagnosis and prognosis systems in aerospace systems. Thehardware of the testbed is an electrical power system (EPS) that represents theEPS of a space exploration vehicle. ADAPT consists of a controlled and monitoredenvironment where faults can be injected into a system in a controlled manner andthe performance of the diagnosis system carefully monitored. The main goal of thethesis project was to build a model of the ADAPT EPS that was used to diagnosethe testbed and to generate decision trees (or trouble-shooting trees).The results from the diagnostic analysis were good and all injected faults thataffected the actual function of the EPS were detected. All sensor faults weredetected except faults in temperature sensors. A less detailed model would haveisolated the correct faulty component(s) in the experiments. However, the goal wasto create a detailed model that can detect more than the faults currently injectedinto ADAPT. The created model is stationary but a dynamic model would havebeen able to detect faults in temperature sensors.Based on the presented results, RODON is very well suited for stationary analysisof large systems with a mixture of continuous and discrete signals. It is possibleto get very good results using RODON but in turn it requires an equally goodmodel. A full analysis of the dynamic capabilities of RODON was never conductedin the thesis which is why no conclusions can be drawn for that case.</p><p> </p>

<p>Although several systems with structure editors have been built, no model exist to formally describe the edit operations used in such editors. This thesis introduces such a model --- a formalism to describe general structure edit operations for text oriented documents. The model allows free bottom-up editing for any tree-based structural document with a textual content. It can also handle attribute and erroneous structures. Some classes of common structures have been identified and structure editor specifications constructed for them, which can be used and combined in the creation of other structure editors.</p>