LOCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 25, 2001- 3A RESEARCH Anthrax receptor discovered at U. Wisconsin University of Wisconsin researchers in collaboration with scientists at Har- vard Medical School have discovered the receptor for anthrax toxin on cell membranes. The anthrax toxin receptor, or ATR, is made of a single protein unit, and researchers have already produced a form that blocks anthrax toxin from entering the cells. Researchers said their short term goals are to study the binding mecha- nism of ATR and to make enough of the blocking receptor to test it in animal systems, according to a recent press release. By blocking toxin entry to the cell, the bacteria cannot secrete the toxin, * which consists of three factors. Two of these factors, the edema factor and the lethal factor, lead to problem in the cell. The third binds to ATR and allows EF and LF to enter. The research, which did not use the entire anthrax bacteria, identified -a gene product called TEM8 as a major component of ATR. They also found that a small portion of the receptor protruded outside of the cell, which is the actual binding site. By eliminating the third toxin factor, researchers found that anthrax did not bind to ATR effectively. Chocolate intake helps cholesterol Dark chocolate and cocoa powder help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, according to a study at Penn State University. Researchers found that diets com- posed of flavonoid-rich substances, including tea, coffee, wine, apples, soy- beans and grapefruits, helped to lower the number of low-density lipoproteins. Flavonoids inhibit the oxidation of LDLs, which plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis or hard- ening of the arteries. Researchers studied 10 men and 13 women between the ages of 21 and 62, who ate one of two diet plans contain- ing a different amount of flavonoids. After four weeks on their diet plan, the participants had a two week break before starting the other plan for anoth- er four weeks. At the end of each diet, the partici- pants had blood drawn to test the LDL in each sample. Participants who at the cocoa and chocolate showed an oxidation rate 8 percent slower rate of oxidation. Good cholesteral (HDL) levels were also four percent higher in people who ate flavonoid-containing foods. Males experience sexuality anxiety Historians at the University of North Carolina feel that the rise in feminism, immigration and racial ideologies has led to anxiety in men over their sexuali- ty. With the rise in global networks and companies, researchers said men identi- fy with popular male figures who repre- sent strength, freedom and life on the wild side to cope with their stress, according to a recent press release. The historians use people like Hou- dini, Tarzan and the idea of the "Perfect man" as examples of strong masculine figures because they represent courage, strength and independence. Effect of space on heart studied After receiving a $1.7 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern can begin their research on the decrease in heart size while in space for long periods of time. The condition, known as cardiac atrophy, affects the ability of the heart to pump blood, which causes the heart to shrink and stifferi. It also makes standing upright almost impossible. The disease causes a heart arrhyth- mia that limits the duration of extended space missions, a problem with the planned Mission to Mars, which is a two and a half year mission. The researchers are looking at ways to reverse cardiac atrophy and have found that exercise training prevents it. - Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Lisa Hoffman. Asian student integration concerns grow Toisa Ladika Daily Staf Reporter Seven deaths in the past four years among Asian-Pacific students at the University - five of which were suicides - and an offen- sive e-mail addressed to members of the Asian-Pacific student community last week have spawned concern over the integration and unity of these students at the University. The e-mail, sent by a group identifying themselves as the "Crew of UM AzN Voice,' read, "day in and day out we walk around campus and see groups of Asians walking around like herds of sheep." It challenged Asian-Pacific students to stop "walking around campus like a bunch of hardasses and staring everyone down." Sunny Park, named as a commissioner of the White House Initiative on Asian-Pacific Americans by President Bush last August, addressed the dilemma facing the Asian com- munity at the University, saying Asian-Pacific students are stereotyped as being overachiev- ing, financially motivated minorities with no problems. Park said these stereotypes persist because Asian-Pacific students are passive and do not communicate enough with other faculty and students. He stressed participation as the key to integration, challenged them to socialize and participate more at the University and urged them to work to remove negative stereotypes. Identifying Asian-Pacific Americans as "missing in history," Sunny also said the eth- nic group needs to become aware of their his- torical contributions in America. Jason Kwah, the Asian-Pacific American Coordinator at the Office of Multi-Ethnic Stu- dent Affairs, said all minorities can easily feel disconnected from the University, but the problem is greater among Asian-Pacific stu- dents. Psychiatrist Daniel Park, director of Research and Special Projects at the Universi- ty, has been studying how Asian-Pacific stu- dents isolate themselves and said there are two primary reasons. First, participation in extra-curricular activities is significantly lower among Asian-Pacific students. Secondly, as a group, they feel more disconnected upon leaving their parents for college. As a result, he said, Asian-Pacific students tend to congre- gate with students of the same background at college. Kwah said the Asian-Pacific community is very divided because there are many different cultural backgrounds among the minority group and not enough resources for these stu- dents at the University. Daniel Park said his office has encouraged Asian-Pacific students to utilize the resources the University does offer such as counseling and psychiatric services. The office is also developing an outreach program to help the students become more involved around cam- pus. Kwah said he has been overburdened because the University has employed only one Asian-Pacific American coordinator since 1971, despite a large enrollment increase in the minority group. Asian-Pacific Americans constitute 14 percent of the student population. Sunny Park's White House committee is responsible for advising the President on the integration of Asian Pacific Americans in the government. He said the initiative also col- lects data on the group and encourages com- munity involvement in local communities. In addition to working for the initiative, Sunny Park began the Good Neighboring Campaign, a program aiding the integration of recent Asian Pacific immigrants by instructing them to mingle with their Ameri- can neighbors, learning American history and exhibiting pride in their nation. Sunny Park, the commissioner of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, spoke yesterday in Assembly Hall at the Business School. CourseTools becomes popular class resource for students, professors By Mathew Raoul Warren For the Daily In an effort to increase the availability of class materials and student-professor com- munication, many classes this semester are using CourseTools, the University's software that enables professors to create webpages where students have access to syllabi, home- work and class resources. Glenda Radine, assistant director of com- munications and events at the Media Union, said that 1,517 CourseTools sites were pub- lished this fall, 937 more than last fall. In the Fall 2000 semester, 42.7 percent of all students used course tools for one class or more. This semester that percentage rose to 63.3. Those who use CourseTools use it rather frequently, Radine said. "All of these students visit CourseTools at least once a week," she said. French Prof. Pamela Bogart said she uses CourseTools to avoid an overload of paper and to make it easier for her students to share material. "Students can see each other's work, and they won't have to turn in 30 pages at the end "CourseTools can't ever be a substitute for classroom discussions." - Megan Stohner LSA sophomore of the term," Bogart said. "Also, they don't have to wait to come to class to get their grades." Some students who use the software have found it a convenient alternative to actually attending class. "I missed class for two weeks and still managed to stay ahead with CourseTools," said LSA sophomore Karl Hinburg. Despite its advantages, not all students and professors find CourseTools efficient. "You can't make revisions once you post an assignment," said LSA junior George Khouri. Physics Prof. Gus Evrard said he uses the physics department server instead of Course- ALEX HOWBERT/Daily LSA freshman Gillian Feldman uses the CourseTools website in the Angell Hall Campus Computing Site. Tools. ."My large introductory course requires a functionality beyond CourseTools," Evrard said. "Our server allows for an individualized automated home work system." Though more professors are using the Internet, they don't think it will replace the need for books. "Students still need physical materials, because reading off a computer is not too healthy," Bogart said. While many students appreciate the conve- nience an online course site offers, many still see the fundamentals of classroom activity to be necessary. "CourseTools can't ever be a substitute for classroom discussions," said Megan Stohner, an LSA sophomore. October in Michigan: tornadoes yesterday, snowstorms today r -0, 1 The Associated Press A mixture of rough weather hit Michigan yesterday, with severe thun- derstorms and high winds battering the Lower Peninsula and heavy snow pre- dicted for the Upper Peninsula. In Calhoun County, winds gusting up to 71 mph destroyed eight mobile homes south of Tekonsha, said John Townsend, director of the county's Office of Emergency Services. Seven residents of the mobile home park were released from local hospi- tals after being treated for minor injuries, Townsend said. The Red Cross was arranging for shelter for seven families left homeless by the storm, he said. At least 20 residences elsewhere in Calhoun County sustained wind dam- age, Townsend said. Wind gusts toppled trees and power lines, knocking out electrical service to 44,000 Consumers Energy cus- tomers and 20,000 Detroit Edison cus- tomers, the utilities said. The hardest-hit area served by Con- sumers was Kalamazoo, where 15,000 customers were without power last night, spokesman Timothy Pietryga said. Service might not be restored to the last of those customers until mid- night tonight, he said. Detroit Edison spokesman Scott Simons said 11,000 customers in Oak- land County were without electricity last night. "The storms are still going on, so it's a little early to assess total damage and total outages," he said. "High winds are expected until (today), so there could be more." The National Weather Service had tornado watches in effect for eastern and central Lower Michigan, along a line from southern Lake Michigan to southern Lake Huron, until shortly before 10 p.m. The weather service issued tornado warnings earlier yesterday for Saginaw, Tuscola, Gratiot, Livingston and Oak- land counties. But police emergency dis- patchers in those counties said there had been no confirmed reports of funnel clouds touching down. Highs reached the low 70s yesterday afternoon in Detroit, Pontiac, Mount Clemens and Flint. But highs in the Lower Peninsula were expected to reach only the low to mid 40s Thurs- day, with rain and snow showers likely through Saturday throughout the region, the weather service said. In the Upper Peninsula, forecasters warned of storms possibly as intense as the one that caused the storied sink- ing of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. "I wouldn't want to be out on the lake," weather service meteorologist John Dee told The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton. Dream ii. Do it. DisneV. Disney is coning Don't miss your chance to check to campus. out the buzz behind the Walt Disney Worlc College Program. Paid internships with this world-famous resort are available to all majors and all college levels. Visit wdwcollegeprogram.com and then attend the presentation to find out what Disney can do for you. Presentation attendance is required to interview. THE CALENDAR What's happening in Ann Arbor today EVENTS Macromolecular Science and Engineering 25th music; Sponsored by the University of Michigan Hospitals, 12:10 p.m., U- M Hospital Courtyard, 1500 E. Medican Center Harvey Citron; a talk by the New York Academy of Art professor, Sponsored by the School of Art & Design, 5 p.m., Art & SERVICES Campus Information Centers, 764-INFO, info@umich.edu, or Thursday, October 25, 2001 5:30 PM i i