Gender differences in attributions of self-defense and control in interpartner aggression.

PIP: Previous research into gender differences suggest that the frequency of domestic abuse is equivalent for men and women, that forms of abuse differ by gender, that outcomes are more negative for women, and that the motive for abusive behavior is a desire on the part of men to control women and a desire on the part of women to defend themselves. Based on these predictions, this study compared broader contextual questions of outcomes and attributions to shed light on the gender-specific nature of domestic abuse. Data were gathered from 30 women and 34 men who were involved in violent relationships (not with each other). Data were gathered from the women using the Conflict Tactics Scale and from both groups using the Relationship Abuse Questionnaire. It was found that the frequency of verbal, psychological, threat, and physical abuse did not differ significantly by gender. However, there were major gender differences in outcomes of physical, verbal, psychological, and threat abuse. Men reported frightening their partner significantly more often and were more concerned with controlling the woman. Attributions for abuse also differed between men and women, with women showing a strong self-defense motive. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings and to refine the study instruments. Research is also needed to advance efforts to use the term "battering" as a distinction from violence that is employed for self-defense.^ieng

Characterization of an iridescent virus isolated from the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis.

An insect iridescent virus has been isolated from diseased velvetbean caterpillars, Anticarsia gemmatalis, found in Argentina. The cytopathology is similar to that reported for other iridescent viruses with infected larvae exhibiting blue-purple opalescence. Icosahedral particles (n = 119) purified by sucrose gradient rate zonal centrifugation had dimensions of 145 +/- 7 nm (point-to-point) and 136 +/- 12 nm (side-to-side). The sedimentation coefficient was 2250 +/- 10 S20,w when the virus was suspended in phosphate buffer. Characterization of proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed 24 polypeptides with a single major species of 53.6 kDa. Purified viral DNA had a density of 1.6902 g cm-3 in equilibrium ultracentrifugation, corresponding to a guanine:cytosine content of 32.2%. Analysis of digests of this DNA with two restriction enzymes revealed an average molecular size of 181.8 +/- 5.6 kbp. A 499-bp fragment was amplified from the genome of this isolate using the polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced; data suggest this virus is very closely related to IV 1, originally isolated from Tipula paludosa. These properties indicate this virus is an isolate of the genus Iridovirus.

Cowpea aphid borne mosaic virus-Morocco and South African Passiflora virus are strains of the same potyvirus.

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of tryptic peptides and partial amino acid sequence analysis have been employed to establish the taxonomic status of the Moroccan isolate of cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV). Some previous reports have suggested CABMV to be very closely related to blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (B1CMV) while other reports have concluded that this relationship is distant. In this report a tryptic digest of the coat protein of CABMV-Morocco was compared with those of the coat proteins of B1CMV-Type, B1CMV-W, the mild mottle strain of peanut stripe virus (PStV-MM) and the NY15 strain of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV-NY15), all of which are now recognised as strains of BCMV. The comparisons also included the NL-3 strain of bean necrosis mosaic virus (BNMV-NL3), which had previously been classified as a strain of BCMV. The HPLC peptide profiles indicated that CABMV-Morocco was distinct from BCMV and BNMV. Amino acid sequence analysis of peptides accounting for more than half of the coat protein confirmed that CABMV-Morocco was not a strain of BNMV or BCMV but was a distinct member of the BCMV subset of viruses that previously has been shown to include BCMV, BNMV, soybean mosaic virus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus, passionfruit woodiness virus and South African Passiflora virus (SAPV). Comparison of the partial sequence data with these and other published sequences revealed that the coat protein of CABMV-Morocco is very similar to that of SAPV suggesting that they are strains of the same virus. Since CABMV was described over 25 years earlier than SAPV, the name CABMV should take precedence and SAPV should be renamed CABMV-SAP, the South African Passiflora strain of CABMV.

Quantification of electroantennogram responses of the primary rhinaria ofAcyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) to C4-C 8 primary alcohols and aldehydes.

Electroantennograms (EAGs) of the distal and proximal primary rhinaria (DPR and PPR, respectively) were recorded from excised antennae of alate virginoparous pea aphids,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Primary unsaturated alcohols and aldehydes with varying carbon length (C4-C8) were used as volatile stimuli. EAGs were recorded for a series of source concentrations from the DPR and PPR separately through the use of sectional electroantennography. A logistic equation was fitted to the source concentration-response data. Differences in relative EAG response of the DPR and PPR to the alcohols and aldehydes were analyzed by deriving five parameters from this logistic equation. These parameters relate to particular characteristics of sigmoid curves: the saturation (maximum) EAG response (R s ), the concentration for which the relative EAG response is ½R s (CR50), the stimulus response range (SR 0.9), the threshold concentration (CR1), and the EAG response area (A R ). Of these parameters, the EAG response area showed the largest separation between EAG responses of the DPR and PPR to the two homologous groups and between compounds with varying carbon chain lengths. The DPR was significantly more responsive to alcohols than to aldehydes, while the reverse was true for the PPR, indicating a basic difference between the two primary rhinaria. The highest overall responses were elicited by 1-hexanol, hexanal, and heptanal.

Watermelon mosaic virus-Morocco is a distinct potyvirus.

The relationship of the Morocco isolate of watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) to WMV2, soybean mosaic virus (a virus closely related to WMV2) and the W strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W), formerly WMV1, was examined by comparing tryptic peptide profiles using high performance liquid chromatography. The profiles indicated that the coat protein sequence of WMV-Morocco differed substantially from those of the other potyviruses. This conclusion was supported by sequence data from five tryptic peptides from the coat protein of WMV-Morocco, which showed only 61-68% identity to equivalent sequences in PRSV-W, WMV2 and zucchini yellow mosaic, another potyvirus infecting cucurbits. Based on the above data, and on known correlations between coat protein sequence similarities and potyvirus relationship, it is concluded that WMV-Morocco should be regarded as a distinct potyvirus.

A summary of potyvirus taxonomy and definitions.

The current taxonomic status of the family Potyviridae is presented with suggestions for resolving some taxonomic problems. Terms such as strain, pathotype, serotype, variant, mutant, and isolate are discussed in relation to the family.

Coat protein properties suggest that azuki bean mosaic virus, blackeye cowpea mosaic virus, peanut stripe virus, and three isolates from soybean are all strains of the same potyvirus.

The interrelationship of a number of potyviruses infecting legumes has been investigated by comparing molecular properties of their coat proteins. Comparison of the coat proteins by the techniques of amino acid analysis and PAGE was inadequate to distinguish strains from distinct potyviruses. However, high-performance liquid chromatographic peptide profiles of tryptic digests of coat proteins of these legume-infecting potyviruses enabled such assignments to be made. These data indicate that amino acid sequences of coat proteins of azuki bean mosaic virus, the Type and W strains of blackeye cowpea mosaic virus, three isolates (74, PM, PN) of a potyvirus obtained from soybean in Taiwan, and the Blotch and Mild Mottle strains of peanut stripe virus (PStV) may be very similar to the known sequence of PStV Stripe coat protein. In contrast, peptide profiles of coat proteins from soybean mosaic virus, clover yellow vein virus, bean yellow mosaic virus, potato virus Y, and tobacco etch virus were dissimilar to each other and to the profile of PStV Stripe, suggesting that their coat protein sequences were also quite different. Based on observations of the coat protein structure of many potyviruses, the results suggest that the potyvirus isolates with similar coat proteins are strains of the same potyvirus.

The assessment of maritally violent men on the California Psychological Inventory.

This study assessed 87 maritally violent men (MV), 42 maritally nonviolent, maritally discordant men (NVD), and 48 maritally nonviolent, maritally satisfied men (NVS) on the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), a test of the normal personality. A MANOVA and subsequent range tests indicated that the NVD and NVS groups had significantly higher scores than the MV group on 10 of the 18 subscales: Responsibility, Socialization, Self-Control, Tolerance, Achievement via Conformance, Achievement via Independence, Good Impression, Intellectual Efficiency, and Psychological Mindedness. A discriminant analysis contrasting the MV group with the combined NVD and NVS group correctly classified 68% of the subjects and accounted for 20.94% of the variance between groups. Along with previous findings, the data indicated that maritally violent males exhibit different personality characteristics than maritally nonviolent men in three general areas: intimacy, impulsivity, and problem-solving skills. Many of these problem areas were significantly correlated with childhood violence experiences.

Coat protein of potyviruses. 7. Amino acid sequence of peanut stripe virus.

The amino acid sequence of the 287-residue coat protein of peanut stripe virus (PStV) was determined from the sequences of overlapping peptide fragments. Results indicated that the amino terminus was blocked by an acetyl group, as has previously been found for the coat protein of Johnsongrass mosaic potyvirus. Comparison of the PStV sequence with coat proteins of 20 distinct potyviruses gave sequence identities of 47-57%, except for zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), passionfruit woodiness virus (PWV), and the related strains watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV 2) and soybean mosaic virus-N, which showed sequence identities of 70-76%. Several amino acid residues which were common to the core sequences of these coat proteins were at positions previously found to be invariant among potyvirus coat proteins. The degree of these similarities suggests that although PStV, WMV 2, ZYMV, and PWV are distinct potyviruses, they share a common ancestor in their evolutionary development.

Tests for Transmission of Prunus Necrotic Ringspot and Two Nepoviruses by Criconemella xenoplax.

In two of three trials, detectable color reactions in ELISA for Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) were observed for Criconemella xenoplax handpicked from the root zone of infected peach trees. Criconemella xenoplax (500/pot) handpicked from root zones of peach trees infected with PNRSV failed to transmit the virus to cucumber or peach seedlings. The nematode also failed to transmit tomato ringspot (TomRSV) or tobacco ringspot viruses between cucumbers, although Xiphinema americanum transmitted TomRSV under the same conditions. Plants of peach, cucumber, Chenopodium quinoa, and Catharanthus roseus were not infected by PNRSV when grown in soil containing C. xenoplax collected from root zones of PNRSV-infected trees. Shirofugen cherry scions budded on Mazzard cherry seedling rootstocks remained symptomless when transplanted into root zones of PNRSV-infected trees. Virus transmission was not detected by ELISA when C. xenoplax individuals were observed to feed on cucumber root explants that were infected with PNRSV and subsequently fed on roots of Prunus besseyi in agar cultures. Even if virus transmission by C. xenoplax occurs via contamination rather than by a specific mechanism, it must be rare.

Reasons for alcohol use in maritally violent men.

This study compared the contexts and reasons for drinking of a maritally violent group as compared to three nonviolent comparison groups. We found that the maritally violent group reported higher levels of alcohol consumption in all of the drinking context items with the most significant differences being on drinking at home after work, at home while playing with the kids, at recreational activities, at home by oneself, on the job, at workday lunch, and with people after work. While we did find significant differences, the mean level of consumption in all contexts was relatively low. We found that the maritally violent men tended to drink to forget worries, pains, and stresses in their lives more so than the nonviolent groups. At least half the maritally violent men reported that drinking accompanied abusive events at least occasionally, while about one-third reported it often or very often accompanied their abuse. We concluded that while our findings indicate that alcohol use may facilitate marital violence, they also suggest that alcohol use and mental abuse may be symptoms of other individual, structural, or cultural norm factors. Therapy should not focus exclusively on alcohol use, but on underlying causes of both alcohol use and spouse abuse.

Use of experimental designs with quantitative ELISA.

Precise use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a quantitative technique depends on repeatability of color development and its measurement. Variation in measured response among wells, within and among microtiter plates, often precludes such precision. For example, plates with all wells treated uniformly exhibited unacceptable optical density differences in excess of 0.35 and 0.25 O.D. U among row and column averages, respectively. Arrangement of samples on plates according to classical experimental designs, with compact blocking features and two-dimensional control over spatial patterns, provides a possible remedy. Analysis of variations over uniformly treated plates demonstrated the potential for increased precision when such designs are used instead of random arrangements. Retrospective analysis of more than 100 tests performed with various experimental designs confirmed that this potential was realized when using Youden square and lattice square designs. Several designs appropriate for microtiter plates are presented and their conduct described.

Improved ELISA conditions for detection of plant viruses.

Clover yellow vein virus (CYVV) and homologous antisera were used to test effects of time and temperature on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in polystyrene substrate plates. Replicated lattice square and Youden square experimental designs were used to measure and account for variation in absorption values associated with sample position within polystyrene plates. Adsorption of coating antibody to polystyrene was relatively rapid, reaching optimum assay efficiency in 1 h at 5 degrees C when applied at 2.5 microgram/ml. Binding of antigen and enzyme-linked antibody (conjugate) in their respective steps during ELISA was also rapid. Incubation of antigen and conjugate for 2 h each was adequate to enable detection of 20 ng CYVV in a 100 microliter sample, but longer incubation of either reactant improved results. At this virus concentration, reduction in antigen incubation time by one-half could be compensated by doubling the conjugate incubation time and vice versa. Incubation of conjugates at 5 degrees C rather than 30 degrees C increased final ELISA readings (A400nm) more than two-fold. Substrate hydrolysis followed classic first order kinetics at room temperature. Greater efficiency of late antisera in ELISA was demonstrated by comparison of antisera produced relatively early and late during a rabbit's immune response. Alfalfa mosaic virus and peanut stunt virus with their homologous antisera were used to test the effects of antigen and conjugate incubation times for optimum assay efficiency. The results of these time course experiments with both viruses were similar to those obtained with CYVV. These time and temperature effects on ELISA should be applicable to most rabbit serum-virus combinations.

Sedimentation of multicomponent viruses: evaluation of sedimentation coefficient ratios.

Ratios of the sedimentation coefficients for alfalfa mosaic virus components are shown to be independent of the virus concentration and the density of the solvent. Different numbers of components are observed in solvents of different density. This implies that in sedimentation velocity experiments an estimate of the number of components of a multicomponent virus should involve centrifugation in solvents of different density. For some viruses, estimates of the sedimentation coefficients of individual components can be obtained from the coefficient ratios observed in unfractionated solutions and the sedimentation coefficient of the most easily purified component.