LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily -- Thursday, March 22, 2001 - 3A RESEARCH New antibiotic inhibits enzymes College of Pharmacy researchers have found an unknown family of metal- requiring enzymes in bacteria, the result ofanewly discovered potential antibiotic inhibits enzymes of the family Led by pharmacy Prof. Ronald Woodard, researchers found that the inhibitor PD 404182 was 10,000 times more effective than any other in inhibiting an enzyme in the bacteria, called Gram negative bacteria. The enzyme KDO 8-P synthase plays a necessary role in forming lipopolysac- charides on the surfaces of the cells of bacteria, which help the organisms protect themselves from harmful bod- s,-including antibiotics and host une responses. By targeting KDO 8-P synthase, researchers from the college and Wayne State University School of Meudicine determined the crystal struc- ire of the enzyme using E. coli bacte- ria; Researchers could not observe the inhibitor binding to the enzyme's active site because of the high salt con- entration in the holding solution Wterfering with binding. Instead, the enzyme was isolated and crystallized in a bacterium called Aquifex aeolicus, which .lives at high temperatures, allowing researchers to introduce substrates at lower tempera- tures without completing the reaction. Through this process, eight interme- diate structures of KDO 8-P synthase were found, showing the necessary steps of its catalytic cycle. The group also found that the *nzyme requires metal to function, and it is unaffected by the potential antibi- otic called PD 404182. The researchers work appeared in the March 16 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Online shopping on the rise * Rather than leaving home, a grow- ing. number of shoppers are choosing to buy their groceries online, accord- ing to a study at the University of Georgia. The study, led by Prof. Brenda Cude, the chair of the Housing and C -onsumer Economics Department, found that only 14 percent of 243 shoppers had purchased groceries online during their first survey, where- 43 percent had in their second sur- ieyof412 shoppers. When asked if people would be .willing to buy all of their groceries online, 48 percent of the people origi- nal surveyed said yes and 79 percent supported the idea in the second. By surveying people after they com- .pleted online orders, the study found that people were most concerned with buying meat and fruit products online, *nd that 30 percent of them said they had previously shopped at a large, competitive grocer. The group will present its findings on.April 5 at the American Council on Consumer Interests' annual meeting. Half of Americans think they've had a mid-life crisis 9, Researchers at Cornell University believe that more than half of the 25 : cent of Americans over 35 who think they have experienced a mid-life Zriis are only dealing with a stressful ievent in their lives, and that women are just as likely as men to believe they hive had a mid-life crisis. Human development Prof. Elaine Wethington conducted the research, *which consisted of 724 follow-up sur- veys of people between the ages of 28 1n 78 years old as part of a larger 'tfdy, titled "Mid-life in the United States." Brought on by fears and anxieties of aging, a mid-life crisis bases itself on personal turmoil and deal- ing with challenges in people rang- -,ing from 39 to 50 years old, yet Wethington's research showed that most people report stressful events which occurred before age 39 or after age 50. The average age of the perceived crisis in people survey was 46. 20 percent of these people said they suffered a crisis because of their awareness of their aging, where few felt the feelings were caused by the though of impending mortality. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Lisa Hoffman. Nerves of steel oenracan rof.talks on race, militarism By Courtenay Basile For the Daily Members of the history department gathered yesterday in Tisch Hall for a lecture on German colonialism and race relations delivered by Prof. Pascal Grosse of Humboh University in Berlin. Grosse's lecture, titled "The Milita- rization of 'Race' and the Racialization of the Military: The German Experi- ence," was sponsored by the history department and allowed students and faculty to learn about German colonial politics and the racial order of the mili- tary between 1910 and 1925. Focusing on the racial sentiment of the German military regarding the mili- tary makeup of other European nations pre-World War I, Grosse said, "Germans believed themselves to be the only true defenders of the white race." He went on to explain this in the context of his stud- ies of colonial migration from Africa to Germany in the late 19th century. Grosse geared his discussion toward three main topics: the reaction of Ger-. mans to the Allied use of colonial sol- diers, the policies within German prisoner of war camps and the relation between the occupation of the Rhineland and post-war politics of Germany. He explained that the Black Threat, the use of black colonial soldiers from Africa, and the way in which the colonial soldiers were treated, were symbols of the German brutality in the coming war. "Non-whites were frowned upon," Grosse said. Grosse actively engaged the audience in discussion of the Allied European policies versus German policies. He 4is- cussed the ongoing conflicts of defining the term "race." The questions posed to Grosse by the audience, consisting most- ly of graduate students and profess rs, reflected their obvious interest in Jhe material presented. "German warfare has always beenan avid interest of mine. When I heard the topic that Professor Grosse was spealng on from a friend, I was really interejed in hearing a German perspective," Eiigt- neering sophomore Eric Mattson said: Grosse, who trained in history 'nd medicine at the University in Berlin, eur- rently is continuing his medical studies at the Institute of Neurology in London, SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily Chad Bowerson holds onto a rail wire while working on the new Haven Hall yesterday. The iron workers expect to complete the new steel frame for the building tomorrow. Students say need to have a car outweighs costs o fp arking fines Upcoming Events M=C For information on all Michigan Athletics, visit MGoBlue.corn PARKING Continued from Page 1A or outstanding parking tickets and students contribute significantly to the city's revenue. Edwards said at one point she had six outstanding parking tickets but only let a few weeks go by without paying them. "It just happens today I got one," Edwards said yesterday. "I put quar- ters in the machine and it didn't work. The time didn't go up. I just left my car since I was late for an exam." LSA freshman Mark Worthley uses the lot in front of Mary Markley Residence Hall, and said despite the parking tickets he's received, it's nec- essary to have a car because he lives out of state. "Everyone wants to have cars to drive home for the weekend," he said. City Administrator Neil Berlin said Ann Arbor currently has one employee who surveys license plates for outstanding parking tickets and is not planning to hire any additional staff. MILES Continued from Page 1A sors might not be assigned to teach his classes immediately and that they would not be offered. "Students would not have an opportunity to take it and I had no indication that the course would go under another teacher," Miles said. Students have planned a reception tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in the Chrisler Auditorium on North Cam- pus to honor Miles for his service to the University community. Zakiya Franklin is one student who will be honoring Miles. She said his in-depth lectures and his willingness to drive so far to teach his classes have made her respect him as an educator. "He makes a two hour lecture very interesting. His speaking method is what caught me the most," Franklin said. Miles said he treks from Chicago every week because he feels teaching is a way to repay the University. As a graduate student with a wife and two children, Miles said he did not have enough money to put him- self through college. "The University was very gener- ous in offering me scholarship assis- tance," Miles said. "I just see (teaching) as a way to give back to the University that was so kind to me." Miles also said learning about reli- gion is an important part of an edu- cation, because it helps people understand culture. "I feel religion has played a pow- Ticketing employees also have the power to impound a vehicle if they find while writing a ticket that the car already has several outstanding, Scott said. In February 2000, 98 cars were towed as a result of outstanding parking tickets, with that figure increasing to 178 by March, accord- ing to city parking statistics. State law dictates that a car can be towed after accumulating six or more out- standing tickets, Scott said. "The city of Ann Arborhas gone to a system where we have gotten a writ of execution and can tow after four or more," Scott said. The city was able to ask for this writ as a result of its population size and park- ing capacity. Scott said the Main Street area is a major ticketing area because of shorter time limits on meters. In order to retrieve a car after it has been towed, outstanding tickets and an administration fee must be paid in full at the police department. "They have to go to the towing company to have their vehicle released and pay the towing charges," Scott said. erful role in the lives of people. Religion has impacted the develop- ment of public schools, has shaped the way our country does business with other countries. One can not really understand the role of the African American experience with- out understanding their religion," Miles said. Marlon Ross, associate director of the Center for Afro-American and African Studies, said that both his program and the religion program are looking at ways to expand cours- es that professors such as Miles have started at the University. "This is a beginning of a much more broad effort," Ross said. Miles said that his class is not a requirement for any concentration but that the class always has the maximum number of students regis- tered. "Students who take my class learn a lot about an area that most people don't study. They heard that we had a good class. They found that the sub- ject matter gripping. We talk about how some of the things fold into other areas of life. Every time I come to Michigan I try to do the best I can, to really give a great lecture," Miles said. Miles said that he has no ill feel- ings toward the University for asking him to leave. "I'm always going to be a Michi- gan supporter. It was the University's right to do this. I'm not egotistical enough to say no one else can teach what I did," he said. "I'm a little sorry about the classes that will take a while to build back up." Friday, March 23 #3 Michigan vs. #5 Sonoma State #2 Colorado State vs. #18 Texas Saturday, March 24 #5 Sonoma State vs. #18 Texas #3 Michigan vs. #2 Colorado State Sunday, March 25 #2 Colorado State vs. #5 Sonoma State #3 Michigan vs. #18 Texas r-2 0 0 1 - 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Oosterbaan Fieldhouse (off State Street behind Schembechler Hall and Yost Arena) Admission (at the door only): $2 for UM students/staff (with ID), $4 for general public -V Exciting Promotions * Free T-shirt toss after every UM goal f * Free posters to first 200 fans every night o Halftime shooting contest with prizes! lie] c Ito United Jewish Communities' Half Shekel Campaign v Join us and contribute to a world-wide community service effort. UJC represents and serves one of the THE CALENDAR world's largest and most effective networks of social service providers and programs, working to meet the needs of all people--Jews and non-Jews wherever thev live. , t, What's happening in Ann Arbor today EVENTS S Undergraduate English Seventh Annual Poster Contest and Exhibition Award Ceremony, Spon- --r- ki,- Cn in of- Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Alejan- dro Herrero-Olaizola will cno l- nnn '?OQ fiWR SERVICES Campus Information Centers. 764-INFO. 1 114