RESEARCHERS DISCOVER HOW A VIRUS EXITS A HOST CELL
Researchers at the College of Medicine have identified a component of the little-understood machinery that allows retroviruses to exit or bud from the cell surface before re-infecting a new cell. This finding may offer a new target for the development of a single antiviral drug for a wide spectrum of viral diseases such as AIDS, rabies, ebola, measles, mumps or influenza. Specifically, the research points to a role for ubiquitin, a 76-amino acid polypeptide, as crucial to budding (the maturation and release of a virus from the cell surface). Akash Patnaik, an M.D./Ph.D. candidate; Vincent Chau, professor of cellular and molecular physiology; and John Wills, professor of microbiology and immunology, published their findings recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Wills says a virus must mature and "pinch off" a cell membrane before it becomes infectious. This pinching off process is called budding. In previous research, the Penn State researchers identified the Gag (groups specific antigen) protein as the viral encoded machinery that produces buds. By inserting the Gag gene into cells, Wills and his colleagues had the ability to recreate viral particles in the lab and identify the parts of Gag that actually drive the budding process. For the complete story by Marsha Elliott, go to http://www.hmc.psu.edu/news/pr/nov/112000.htm 

RIGHT AND WRONG WAYS TO DO EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS
December brings with it holiday shopping, last minute tax planning and a nightmare for many human resource professionals--employee evaluations. "Performance appraisals should not go on only once a year. Companies that are successful with performance management view it as an ongoing process that continues informally throughout the year," says Scott Snell, director of the Institute for the Study of Organizational Effectiveness in the Smeal College of Business Administration. Unfortunately, Snell notes that many managers are uncomfortable giving feedback and this leads to lots of instances of the disappearing appraisal where the appraisal is filled out and shoved in a drawer somewhere. Snell recommends that employee evaluations should include several elements: asking for employee self-assessment, which leads to better discussions and more complete knowledge; inviting participation, which puts manager and subordinate on more equal plane; and expressing appreciation for what has been done. It is also important to minimize criticism, focus on behavior instead of personal characteristics, solve problems rather than find blame, be supportive ("what can I do to help?"), (re)establish goals, and follow up day to day. For more Business news, go to http://www.smeal.psu.edu/news/index.html 

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE DOES NOT AFFECT BONE MASS
New research from Penn State College of Medicine shows that oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use by healthy teenage females does not affect their peak bone mass, or their growth. Peak hip bone mineral density is achieved in late adolescence, usually by age 16. In this study, participants had their total body and hip bone density measured with using a DXA scanner. Bone density and bone mass was measured to see if there was any change caused by OCP use. The study involved 62 white females who were studied from ages 12 to 20. There were 28 young women who used birth control pills for at least 6 months and were still using it at age 20, with the average duration of use being 22 months; and 34 non-users. They are part of the Penn State Young Women's Health Study, which is a prospective epidemiological study that began in 1990 and believed to be the largest study of its kind. Tom Lloyd, professor of health evaluation sciences and obstetrics and gynecology, said, "There was no difference in bone density between the two groups. This is good news because hormones in OCPs might, in theory, affect bone density, and peak bone mass is important in preventing osteoporosis later in life." For the complete story, go to: http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/girlbonemass.html

WILD GAME FOOD SAFETY INFO FOR HUNTERS, FISHERS
A Penn State Cooperative Extension food safety specialist has developed a comprehensive program to arm hunters and others with important information on wild game food safety. The centerpiece of the program is a set of five free publications addressing proper care and handling of wild game, fish and birds. "With over a million licensed hunters in the state, many people rely on game meat to sustain them through the winter -- especially in rural areas," says Catherine Cutter, assistant professor of food science. "But game animals -- especially deer -- are known to carry E. Coli, and game birds can carry Salmonella. Since cleaning, dressing and butchering often are done in the field, airborne contaminants, weather, temperature and other factors can affect the safety of your product." For more on this story by Gary Abdullah, go to http://www.aginfo.psu.edu/News/november00/game.html 

HOTEL, RESTAURANT SOCIETY HONORS MARILYN CARLSON NELSON
The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society recently honored Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Carlson Companies, Inc., as the 2000 Hospitality Executive of the Year. The Society was formed over 50 years ago by alumni and friends of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management and began presenting the Hospitality Executive of the Year Award to industry leaders in 1960. Nelson is a regular on Fortune Magazine's list of the Most Powerful Women in Business and has been selected by Business Week as one of the "Top 25 Executives in Business." For the full story by Beth Blew, go to http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/news/pressrel/11_27_00.html. 

NOTES ON BULGARIA
International news and information have never been a primary focus of America's news networks, especially in the absence of a crisis. However, Brad Thompson assistant professor in the College of Communications, is currently a Fulbright Scholar in Bulgaria and is posting his reflections on that country on line. Go to the WPSU Web site for text and audio files of his commentaries. They can be found at http://wpsu.psu.edu/news/bulgaria/bulgaria.html 

A QUESTION FOR DR. SPANIER:
-- BRIAN HEALY ON STUDENT GOALS
Editor's Note: Each Beaver Stadium Pictorial this season contains a column in which distinguished individuals pose questions about Penn State to President Graham Spanier. Today’s question is from Brian Healy, the Washington producer for the CBS News program SUNDAY MORNING, covering politics, religion and the arts. He has been at CBS since 1972. Healy is a 1967 journalism/communications graduate of Penn State.

HEALY: The strength of the American economy has produced instant millionaires. Many of our students go to college to make money, big money. What can a University do to point students towards professions which are key to our society--but will never make someone a millionaire. For example: teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, police officers, social workers.

SPANIER: While there is a lot of attention being given today in the media to dotcoms and other aspects of the new economy, not everybody is rushing to enroll as a business major. It might be reassuring for readers to know that joining the Peace Corps, volunteering to raise money for causes like the Dance Marathon, and other initiatives not geared toward earning large paychecks upon graduation, remain very popular among Penn State students.