On the basis of the Isolndole formation mechanism In the o-phthalaldehyde/2-mercaptoethanol (OPA/2-ME) derivatization of primary amines and the structure-stability relationships for Isolndoles, an Improved fluorogenic reagent, naphthalene-2,3-dlcarboxaldehyde (NDA) In the presence of cyanide ion (CN ), has been developed. Reaction of NDA/ CN' with primary amines In aqueous media results In the formation of -substKuted 1-cyanobenz[/]lsoindole (CBI) derivatives which have significantly Improved stability compared to the corresponding OPA/2-ME derivatives (for glycine greater than 50-fold Improvement was realized) and have high quantum efficiencies for fluorescence ( , = 0.54 In 60% aqueous acetonitrile for the CBI--propylamine derivative) In solvent systems commonly used In liquid chromatography. Parameters In the NDA/CN' derivatization of alanine are defined (l.e., pH and the reagent component concentrations) and used In the development of a labeling procedure for amino acid mixtures. Gradient elution fractionation of 18 CBI-amino acid derivatives was accomplished In 60 min and permitted detection limits of less than 200 fmol Injected (excitation 246 nm) or 3 pmol Injected (excitation 420 nm). The utility of the reagent In assaying amino acid mixtures resulting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the peptides Met-enkephalln and glucagon Is demonstrated.

Here, two studies seek to characterize a parsimonious common‐denominator personality structure with optimal cross‐cultural replicability. Personality differences are observed in all human populations and cultures, but lexicons for personality attributes contain so many distinctions that parsimony is lacking. Models stipulating the most important attributes have been formulated by experts or by empirical studies drawing on experience in a very limited range of cultures. Factor analyses of personality lexicons of nine languages of diverse provenance (Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Turkish, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Maasai, and Senoufo) were examined, and their common structure was compared to that of several prominent models in psychology. A parsimonious bivariate model showed evidence of substantial convergence and ubiquity across cultures. Analyses involving key markers of these dimensions in English indicate that they are broad dimensions involving the overlapping content of the interpersonal circumplex, models of communion and agency, and morality/warmth and competence. These “Big Two” dimensions—Social Self‐Regulation and Dynamism—provide a common‐denominator model involving the two most crucial axes of personality variation, ubiquitous across cultures. The Big Two might serve as an umbrella model serving to link diverse theoretical models and associated research literatures.

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The 59-item Barriers to Treatment Inventory (BTI) was administered to 312 substance abusers at a centralized intake unit following assessment but before treatment entry to assess their views on barriers to treatment. Factor analysis identified 25 items in 7 well-defined latent constructs: Absence of Problem, Negative Social Support, Fear of Treatment, Privacy Concerns, Time Conflict, Poor Treatment Availability, and Admission Difficulty. The factorial structure of the barriers is consistent with the findings of other studies that asked substance abusers about barriers to treatment and is conceptually compatible with Andersen's model of health care utilization. Factors were moderately to highly correlated, suggesting that they interact with one another. Selected characteristics were generally not predictive of barrier factors. Overall, results indicate that the BTI has good content validity and is a reliable instrument for assessing barriers to drug treatment. The potential utility of the BTI in assessment settings is discussed.

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