Victoria blight of oats is caused by the fungus Cochhobolus victoriae. This fungus is pathogenic due to its ability to produce the host-selective toxin victorin. Previously, a 100-kD protein that binds victorin in vivo only in susceptible genotypes was identified as the P protein of the glycine decarboxylase complex (GDC). Victorin is a potent in vivo inhibitor of GDC. Leaf slices pretreated with victorin displayed an effective Victorin inhibited the concentration for 50% inhibition (EC������) of 81 ��M for GDA. glycine-bicarbonate exchange reaction in vitro with an EC������ of 23 ��M. We also identified a 15-kD mitochondrial protein in susceptible and resistant genotypes that hound victorin. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated this protein is the H protein component of the GDC. Thus, victorin specifically binds to two components of the GDC. Victorin had no detectable effect on GDC in isolated mitochondria, apparently due to the inability of isolated mitochondria to import victorin. The interaction of victorin with the GDC may be central to victorin's mode of action. Supporting this observation is the finding that CO��� gives partial protection against victorin. Elevated CO��� is known to ameliorate the effect of GDC inhibition. Victorin treated plants incubated in the light develop more severe symptoms than dark-incubated plants. Victorin appears to induce a plant-wide signal transduction cascade, resulting in diverse effects. Victorin induces specific proteolytic cleavage of the Rubisco large subunit (LSU). Leaf slices incubated with victorin for 4 hours in the dark accumulate a form of LSU which is cleaved after the N-terminal lysine 14. LSU cleavage in leaf slices is prevented by the protease inhibitors E-64 and calpeptin. LaCl��� prevents this cleavage of LSU and LaCl��� also confers complete protection against victorin at the whole plant level. Victorin also causes lipid peroxidation as measured by MDA accumulation. DNA laddering is seen in leaves after 3 hr treatment with toxin. The ethylene inhibitors AOA and STS give significant protection against victorin at the whole plant level, and also prevent LSU cleavage. / Graduation date: 1998

Every year thousands of families experience a major life-changing event when they are torn from their homeland and become refugees. Little is known about how the refugee experience impacts the family and how members perceive it affects their sense of family identity. The construct of family identity as proposed by Bennett, Wolin, & McAvity (1988) includes: (a) family membership, (b) quality of day to day life, and (c) an elusive historical dynamic that includes recollections and beliefs about a family's past. The purpose of this study was to explore the third component, that is, how family history affects family identity. This was done by asking family members how they perceive that their experience, the discrete event of being refugees, shaped, and continues to shape, their sense of family identity. Seventeen members from ten refugee families who fled Cambodia and Vietnam and who subsequently resettled in the United States between 1975 and 1990, were interviewed. Transcripts were qualitatively analyzed. Findings support the two primary components of the family identity construct as well as the existence of a third component. The experience of being a refugee influences (in both expected and unexpected ways) how members perceive their family identity. / Graduation date: 1997

Bipolar disorder is an extremely devastating illness, and increasingly robust evidence indicates that it emerges during adolescence. Also during adolescence, peer relationships, particularly close friendships and romantic relationships, become a central mechanism for social maturation and emotional development. The consequences of mania on the development of peer relationships have received little attention. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine the association between mania and close peer relationship quality in a community sample of adolescents. Two types of close peer relationships, close friendships and romantic relationships, were evaluated. In addition, the current study examined two potential mediators of the association between mania and close relationship quality, social skills and social dominance. Due to the substantial overlap between symptoms of mania and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the documented peer relationship difficulties experienced by youth with ADHD, symptoms of ADHD were controlled in study analyses. Participants were 571 adolescents (57% female; 19% 10th grade, 30% 11th grade, 51% 12th grade; 66% Hispanic, 17% White, 7% African-American and Caribbean American, 4% Asian, and 6% mixed or other ethnicity) from 2 public high schools in the Southeastern United States. Adolescents completed self-report questionnaires during school. The Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) was used to assess adolescents' risk for mania. Adolescents reported on their social skills (empathy, cooperation, and assertion) using the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). The Social Dominance Scale (SDS) was used to assess adolescents' tendency to be overly intrusive or dominant in social situations. The Conners-Wells' Adolescent Self-Report Scale (CASS) was used to assess adolescents' self-reported symptoms of ADHD. Parent-report was obtained for 50 adolescents by phone interview. Parent-reported symptoms of mania, social skills, and symptoms of ADHD were assessed. Four hypotheses guided study analyses. First, it was expected that greater levels of mania would be associated with fewer positive qualities and more negative qualities in a close friendship and romantic relationship. Second, it was hypothesized that more symptoms of mania would be associated with poorer social skills and greater levels of social dominance. Third, social skills and social dominance were expected to mediate the association between mania and close relationshp quality. Fourth, it was expected that the hypothesized relationships between mania, social skills, social dominance, and close relationship quality would remain significant after controlling for the association between mania and symptoms of ADHD. Gender was examined as a moderator in the main study analyses. Ethnicity and age were used as control variables. Data analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling with Mplus. Gender was found to be a moderator, and so all study analyses were examined separately for boys and girls. All adolescents reported having at least one close friend. Fifty-four percent (n = 307) of adolescents reported having a romantic partner. Analyses examining qualities of adolescents' romantic relationships were conducted using only those adolescents who reported having a romantic partner. In terms of the first hypothesis, for boys, higher levels of mania were directly associated with more positive qualities in a close friendship, and were also indirectly associated with more positive qualities in both a close friendship and romantic relationship. For girls, higher levels of mania were indirectly associated with more positive qualities in a close friendship, fewer negative qualities in both a close friendship and romantic relationship, and also more negative qualities in both a close friendship and romantic relationship. In terms of the second hypothesis, higher levels of mania were associated with greater empathy for both boys and girls. Higher levels of mania were also associated with more social dominance for both boys and girls. In terms of the third hypothesis, for boys, empathy mediated the association between mania and more positive qualities in a close friendship and romantic relationship. For girls, empathy mediated the association between mania and more positive qualities in a close friendship, and also mediated the association between mania and fewer negative qualities in a close friendship and romantic relationship. For girls, assertion also mediated the association between mania and fewer negative qualities in a close friendship. Finally, for girls, social dominance mediated the association between mania and more negative qualities in both a close friendship and romantic relationship. With regard to the fourth hypothesis, despite significant associations with some study variables, the associations described above remained significant with symptoms of ADHD entered as a control variable in the models. Findings suggest that empathy is an important strength associated with risk for mania in both boys and girls. Through empathy, close friendship and romantic relationship quality was positively associated with risk for mania in boys and girls. Social dominance was also strongly associated with risk for mania in both boys and girls, indicating that social dominance might be one way to differentiate emerging mania from other disorders, such as ADHD, in adolescents. Social dominance, however, was only associated with relationship quality for girls, and specifically, was associated with more negative qualities in both close friendships and romantic relationships. This may be one area, therefore, that girls at-risk for mania might be able to target in order to improve peer relationships. Future research might examine these associations longitudinally in order to determine causality. Additionally, studying close peer relationship quality in adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder would be of interest in future research.

Group mentoring has received much less empirical attention than one-on-one mentoring and it is not clear whether group programs can be expected to yield similar outcomes or whether the mechanisms of change are similar compared to one-on-one mentoring programs. This study examined the effects of a group mentoring intervention on quality of relationships with parents and peers for 71 program participants relative to a comparison group of 31 students. Further, analyses were performed among program participants only to determine effects of sense of belonging with mentor and mentoring group on changes in quality of relationships with parents and peers. Findings revealed no program effects, yet among program participants, findings revealed that sense of belonging with mentor and group are important in predicting changes in quality of relationship with fathers and peers.

Women outnumber men in assisted living (AL). This gender imbalance promotes the feminization of AL settings and affects men’s social experiences, particularly their co-resident relationships. AL research connects peer relationships to resident well-being and suggests gender that influences co-resident interactions. Yet, few studies have specifically examined men’s social experiences in AL. This analysis aimed to: (1) learn how men experience co-resident relationships in AL; and (2) identify the factors shaping these peer relationships. The analysis utilized qualitative data collected from two AL settings. Data collection involved participant observation and informal and formal in-depth interviews. Analysis was informed by principles of Grounded Theory Method and shows high variability in men’s co-resident connections. A range of individual- and facility-level factors promoted or constrained relationship development. Gender remains pivotal in structuring men’s social engagements. Individual- and facility-level factors often intersected with gender and influenced men’s social lives. Ultimately, co-resident relationships are consequential for men in AL.

The overall aim of this research is to explore the business relationships among Russian and Polish firms. The research performed is based on the selected literature area of industrial relationships, relationship quality, negotiations, international environment. With exploratory purpose, the embedded single case study strategy is applied in this research. The empirical data is gathered through focus group discussion among five participants and seven interviews. The findings indicate that the nature of relationships among the Polish and the Russian companies is positive, fruitful and beneficial for both sides. Companies are mainly satisfied with cooperation and overall activities are managed at expected level. Problematic issues are solved successfully with the help of negotiations. The environmental factors which are identified as the main barriers and obstacles are the political climate, legal issues and infrastructure. As the Russian market and its law are complex and difficult, the Polish companies are aware of these factors and are trying to follow all demands given by the Russian companies. Finally, negotiations are provided as the measures to strengthen their relationships and to cope with all the factors, which can have negative impact, by mutual agreements and decisions. Based on our analysis and conclusions, the companies are recommended to ensure better code of business practices and to reveal more confidence among each other.

Thesis (EdD.)--Open University.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-77). Also available online.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164). Also available on the Internet.