In an attempt to find new genes that are involved in the induction of the SOS system of Escherichia coli, a plasmid library of Escherichia coli K-12 DNA cut with EcoRI was created in a pUC plasmid. The plasmids were transformed into the Escherichia coli strain AT492 containing a sulA::lacZ fusion. Colonies which did not show lacZ expression when the SOS systems had been induced by Mitomycin C were isolated. Four plasmids were found to suppress SOS induction when they were highly expressed. Kohara phage hybridization and restriction mapping suggest that these plasmids contain the genes for lexA and a truncated recA gene ending at the EcoRI site at basepair 1016.

This study examined people's attitudes regarding varying cases of sexual harassment in the workplace. The study attempted to determine if sexual harassment could be classified in a manner similar to drinking on the job and/or plagiarism of a colleague's work. The participants in this study (n = 252) voluntarily completed one version of the self-designed questionnaire, which consisted of four different versions. Each form contained directions, three hypothetical case scenarios, and request for demographic information. Following each scenario, participants responded to closed-ended questions about recommended consequences for, and seriousness of, the conduct described. Results, which were yielded through T-tests and chi-squares, demonstrated that certain cases of sexual harassment were viewed to be as serious, if not more so, than examples of intoxication and plagiarism. Further, findings indicated that implementation of similar consequences would be suitable for these inappropriate types of behavior at work.

I determined reliable methods for monitoring Sonoran populations of the desert tortoise. Tortoises were significantly clumped (p < 0.001) on three 1-mi² plots in Arizona, but were not significantly different from random (p > 0.05) on a 1-km² plot, supporting the use of smaller plots in mark-recapture population studies. Simulations showed that Program CAPTURE's Jackknife and Darroch estimators are robust to variations in capturability, which confound most commonly used estimators (e.g., Lincoln-Petersen). Mean capturability determines which estimator is most appropriate for a given population. These methods were applied to data from several tortoise populations. CAPTURE's Jackknife method estimated 70 tortoises/km² in a Mazatzal Mountain, Arizona, population surveyed during 1992. Density was corrected with the mean maximum distance moved method. Regression of CAPTURE estimates indicated two separate populations were stable or increasing from 1990 to 1992, while a third declined. Program JOLLY estimated high survivorship for these three populations (87-100%), but recruitment was lowest for the decreasing population (0-17 tortoises/year).

This study explores the subjective catalyst influencing bulimic women to seek psychological treatment, as measured by the Subjective Factors Influencing Bulimics to Seek Treatment self report inventory. The factors addressed in the inventory designed specifically for this study were divided into five categories: Environmental, Thoughts and Behaviors, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual. Both clinically diagnosed and self diagnosed female subjects participated in this study. The subjects voluntarily completed the anonymous self report inventory designed in a four point Likert format. Additional space was provided to write in any influencing factors on treatment seeking that were not included in the questionnaire. The data was collected, statistically analyzed, and summarized. Results were yielded through means, standard deviations and T-tests. Findings indicated that factors in the Emotional category had the greatest influence on bulimic participants to seek psychological help. The specific questionnaire item that was rated as having the strongest influence was "Hate your body".

During 1991 and 1992, I studied environmental contamination of the aquatic communities at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge on the lower Colorado River. I collected composite samples of sediment, detritus, aufwuchs, aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fishes from 2 river sites, 5 backwater lakes, and 2 seepage lakes. Selenium concentrations (μg/g, dry weight) were elevated in sediment (geometric mean = 0.93, range = none detected (ND) to 4.1); detritus (4.50, 0.4-27.4); aufwuchs (4.85, 2.6-10.2); Najas marina (5.66, ND-21.0); Corbicula spp. (10.54, 5.8-26.5); Procambarus clarkii (7.70, 1.5-35.8); whole fishes (6.70, 1.6-17.2); and fish fillets (9.72, 5.8-22.6). Ninety-four percent of whole fishes and invertebrates (n = 185) contained concentrations of selenium that exceeded 3 μg/g, a concentration recommended by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect aquatic birds from chronic selenium toxicity. Biological samples from seepage lakes had significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) selenium levels than similar samples from backwater lakes. Selenium is incorporated into plants in backwater lakes and enters consumers primarily through the detrital food web.

This study was designed to examine the relationships between exercising while injured, and variables found to be relevant in the exercise dependence literature. It was also designed to test the utility of the Self-discrepancy model (Higgins, 1989) of motivation, cognition and affect. Twenty-six (N = 26) injured athletes participated. The AIQ was designed for this study to measure involvement with exercise and the nature of the injury. Negative mood was measured by POMS, and self discrepancies were measured by the Selves Questionnaire. Therapists' ratings were included to measure injury rehabilitation behavior. Confirmatory factor analyses and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. The utility of the self-discrepancy model for this sample, was unsupported. Seriousness and persistence with exercise, the recurrence of the injury, and depression due to the injury, were significant predictors of exercising while injured. A power analysis was used to test the probability of significant findings.