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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1995)
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Council Travel 2000 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX 78705 512-472-4931 Eurailpasses issued on-the-spot! Offer your fellow students a service they will always need. ISIl-:::-. OPPORTUNITY You can help them publish their career desires and educational accomplishments in front of over 25,000 of the nation's largest employers. BECOME A PARTNER! We will help you start your own _ business, representing Career Shop! to students searching for a career. iAREER HOP National On-line Career Databank! FOR For an Immediate Interview contact TenKey, Inc. 800-639-2060 M For Help When the Flu Gets You! CarePlus MEDICAL CENTER Metlife Provider rJl# M, d- mm#* No Appointment Necessary 10% Discount with A&JV1 Student I.D. 696-0683 Texas Ave. at S.W. Pkwy. College Station Open until 8 p.m. - 7 days a week US AIR FORCE CAREER DAY Friday, 31 March MSC Flagroom 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sponsored by the Texas A& Ad Department of Aerospace Studies THE AIR FORCE PROVIDES ITS OFFICERS: -Employment upon graduation (regardless of academic major!) -S41.000+ Salary (after only 4years!) - S25.000 Starting Salary (minimum!) - Post-graduate programs (numerous options, reduced cost!) - 30 days annual vacation (immediately!) - $200,000 life insurance policy! - Retirement (after only 20years!) — 40% oft base salary (with no personal contributions!) - Qualification for veterans’ benefits! - Travel (free military airlift & opportunities to live overseas!) Page 2 • The BATTALION Monday • March 27, Researchers probe into function of internal clock seek to enhance areas of agriculture, medicine Q Scientists study circadian rhythms of plants and animals in hopes of finding ways to manipulate them. By Brad Dressier The Battalion Determining how organisms’ internal clocks work and interact with life functions may hold benefits for many areas, including medicine and agriculture. Most known organisms, from bacteria to humans, have an internal biological clock that regulates many life processes. The clock, often referred to as circadian rhythms, influences digestion, hormones, alertness and other biological functions. Most organisms have a biological clock that resets itself every 24 hours. Biological clocks are influenced by bright light, particularly sunlight. The presence or absence of light can determine when the clock will reset itself. Mutants who either lack a biological clock or have clocks that run more or less than 24 hours do exist. Nicholas Tsinoremas, a post-doctoral re search scientist in molecular biology, said that studying a simple organism is one of the most logical ways to determine specific details about how a biological clock works. Texas A&M has been a leader in the stud ies of bacteria in relation to bio logical clocks for more than two years. The projects generally study cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae. “We have isolated a few genes in the mutant cyanobacteria,” Tsinoremas said. “We hope to be able to track the abnormal genes back to the original source, the main compo nent of the biologi cal clock.” Since all nor mal organisms have similar bio logical clocks, scientists hope that studies of bacteria will teach them about other organ isms’ internal clocks. Paul Hardin, an assistant professor in biol ogy, studies biological clocks in Drosophila malanogaster, common fruit flies. Fruit fly studies generally deal with the study of genes. “We can get much further, more quicld with the study of lower organisms in which can manipulate the genetics,” Hardin said. Studies have uncovered a period gene Hi; regulates the fruit fly’s biological clock. “We hope to eventually find out how gene is regulated,” Hardin said. “Why is the an approximately 24-hour time period?” Dr. Vincent Casson, a professor in gy, has been studying biological clocks higher organisms such as birds and ma: mals. He said that people can bene! greatly from understanding more ahi how things influence the biological clock Currently, experiments are done usii the drug melatonin to influence a partofll clock in birds. When more details are learned from the studies, they might benefit the agrit ture industry. Influencing plants’ biological clot! could increase crops’ outputs. By manip lating insects, many pests might be elii nated, he said. Studies can also benefit medicine, tors could gain a great deal of knowled by understanding the biological clock ai how it interacts with humans’ life proces es, he said. D Engineering department accelerates into actio ioe to construct ideal electric motor automobile □ Faculty and students collaborate their efforts to design a car for national competition. By Brad Dressier The Baitalion Texas A&M University facul ty and students are putting their skills and knowledge to use by designing a hybrid electric vehi cle for a national competition. A hybrid electric vehicle com bines different technologies and power sources to make a more fuel efficient car that emits fewer exhaust fumes. Texas A&M is one of 12 schools nationwide competing in the hybrid electric vehicle com petition sponsored by the Chrysler Corporation. Faculty and students from the departments of electrical engi neering, engineering technology, nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering and management have been working together to design and build the vehicle, the Electrically Peaking Hybrid. The ELPH combines the ad vantages of an individual conven tional engine and an electric en gine. The electric motor is used for quicker, more efficient acceler ation. The conventional engine has two purposes, cruising and recharging the batteries. Dr. Mehrdad Ehsani, a profes sor in electrical engineering, is the director of the ELPH project. Ehsani said the students involved gain practical experience while working toward their goals. “The students gain much in working toward their goals,” he said. “We all work together and hope to develop a new technology for conventional automobiles.” Lewis Callaway, a graduate student in electrical engineering, is the student coordinator of the ELPH project. He said the pro ject has taught him and others much about the world outside of the university. “I have learned that you just need to determine what to know, learn it and apply that knowl edge,” he said. “But, you must always keep in mind that how it "A hybrid electric vehicle, partic ularly Texas A&M's Electrically Peaking Hybrid, could feasibly be mass produced. This competition could have an impact on the au tomobile iridustry as we know it." —Dr. Tim Coppinger, professor in engineering technology Mor works on paper is not always how it works out.” Dr. Tim Coppinger, professor in engineering technology, is the coordinator of the proje The competition is unique, said, because an innovative! sign could lead to change! the automobile industry. “A hybrid electric vehicles ticularly Texas A&M’s ELF could feasibly mass produced,' said. “This comp tion could have impact on the a; mobile industry a; know it. “The autoraol] industry is lool to these student' innovations. never know wk-S* the right idea come from.” The ELPH sht be in running dition in the n two weeks. i The national competit will be held in early Apri Detroit, Michigan. : CONTACT LENSES ONLY QUALITY NAME BRANDS (Bausch & Lomb, Ciba, Barnes-Hind-Hydrocurve) Disposable Contact Lenses Available $118°° TOTAL COST...includes $ EVE EXAM, FREE ALCON OPTI-FREE CARE KIT, AND l~WO PAIR OF STANDARD FLEXIBLE WEAR SOFT CON TACT LENSES. 149 00 TOTAL COST. .INCLUDES EYE EXAM, FREE ALCON OPTI-FREE CARE KIT, AND TOUR PAIR OF STANDARD FLEXIBLE WEAR SOFT CONTACT LENSES. SAME DAY DELIVERY ON MOST LENSES. Call 846-0377 for Appointment CHARLES C. SCHROEPPEL, O.D., PC. DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY 505 University Dr. East, Suite 101 College Station, TX 77840 4 Blocks East of Texas Ave. & University Dr. Intersection ( l)esl Gun Shout the Brazos ValleyJIas Sver Seen' GUN SHOW April 1st, 9:00 am thru 6:00 pm April 2nd, 9:00 am thru 5:00 pm VFW POST 4692 1447 S. FM Rd. 2818, Bryan Admission $4.00 or 2 Day Pass $6.00 HEY AGS! $1 OFF WITH A&M I.D. BUY • SELL • TRADE NEW & USED GUNS AMMUNITION SCOPES & MOUNTS - STUN GUNS NIGHT VISION & LASER SIGHTS • SURPLUS & MUCH MORE For More Information Call 409-779-8103 PITS UPDATES PITS UPDATES -4 PITS UPDATES PTTS UPDATES N 8.M U/V/j, 4. T CD <c Q CL. CD £ o. T TJ o 3> Parking News: CD 4* £2 March 28 - A portion of the University Center will be reserved for con <t Q Q_ CD t Q_ T CD ferences during the day. March 30 - Beginning at 3:30 p.m. the University Center Garage will be reserved for OPAS. =1 CD TJ O Shuttle Bus News: 4* uj One-ride bus coupons may be purchased from our cashiers at the 3 Koldus Building in Room 118, or purchase coupons with your Aggie CD Bucks at the new ticket dispenser at the Gig’em bus stop by the ^ Psychology Building. This is a great way to get to and from ^ Q Q_ T111 Battalion MARK SMITH. Editor in chief JAY ROBBINS, Senior managing editor HEATHER WINCH, Managing editor JODY HOLLEY, Night News editor TIFFANY MOORE, Night News editor AMANDA FOWLE, City editor STERLING DAYMAN, Opinion editor ROB CLARK, Aggielife editor NICK GEORGANDIS, Sports editor DAVE WINDER, Sports editor STEWART MILNE, Photo editor Staff Members City desk— Stephanie Dube, Kasie Byers, Eleanor Colvin, Lynn Cook, Brad Dressier, Cheryl Heller. Lisa Messer, Gretchen Perrenot, Tracy Smith, Wes Swift, and Brian Underwood News desk—Kristi Baldwin, Michele Chancellor, Kristin De Luca, Kristen De Rocha, Li be Goad, Randy Goins, Robin Greathouse, Derek Smith and James Vineyard Photographers—Tim Moog, Amy Browning, Robyn Calloway, Nick Rodnicki, Eddy Wylie, Bart Mitchell, Roger Hsieh and Rogge Heflin Aggielife— Michael Landauer, Amber Clark, Amy Collier, Keryl Cryer, Nikki Hopkins and Jay Knioum Sports writers— James Anderson, Kristina Buffin, Tom Day, Shelly Hall and Robert Rodriguez Opinion — Erin Hill, Drew Diener, Laura Frnka, Zack Hall, David Hill, Kyle Littlefield, Jenny Magee, Jim Pawlikowski, Elizabeth Preston, Gerardo Quezada, David Taylor and Amy Uptmor Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley Office Assistants— Wendy Crockett, Heather Fitch, Adam Hill and Julie Thomas Graphic Artist — Ines Hilde Writing Coach— Mark Evans campus! m CD CD UJ Bus operations will be accepting new driver applications March 27 - March 31. <X a CL. Applications are available at the Bus Ops facility on Agronomy Rd. 4 -a CD CD ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Watch for PTTS updates in the Battalion, each Monday and Thursday! C= "U o J> I— We’re doing our best to keep you informed of activities and events that could m impact your parking and transportation needs. For more information, call our ^ parking counselors at 862-PARK or Shuttle Bus Operators at 845-1971. S3ivadn slid 4- saivadn slid saivadn slid <- saivadn slid The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holidays a 110 exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student Publication, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. E-mail: BATT@TAMVM1 .TAMU.EDU. Newsroom phone number is 845- 3313. Fax:845-2647. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising offices are in 01 5 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a singt copy of The Battalion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 perfu 1 year. To charge by VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express, call 845-2611.