Today's News: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Research
U of M researchers develop molecular 'calcium sponge' to tackle heart failure
Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and the Lillehei Heart Institute have utilized molecular genetic engineering to optimize heart performance in models of diastolic heart failure by creating an optimized protein that can aid in high-speed relaxation similar to fast twitching muscles.
Health Talk
http://www.health.umn.edu/healthtalk/2013/02/11/diastolic-heart-failure-calcium-sponge/
Ask about aspirin - Part 2
This January, researchers with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the Lillehei Heart Institute began their second round of advertising encouraging the use of aspirin to prevent heart attack and stroke for a campaign to encourage residents of Hibbing, MN, to take daily aspirin.
Hibbing Daily Tribune
http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/health/article_5d173c62-7557-11e2-bd65-001a4bcf887a.html
Why isn't there a birth control pill for men?
The University of Minnesota is at the forefront of developing a male birth control pill, and Dr. Elaine Tyler May, who specializes in gender, sexuality and culture at the U, offers insight.
KMSP-TV
To Watch: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/video?clipId=8365027&topVideoCatNo=237345&autoStart=true
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2013/02/13/prof-creates-male-birth-control-pill
CoBank creates agriculture research, education fund
CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, announced yesterday that it has committed $5 million to fund agricultural research and education at land grant universities and other institutions throughout the United States. The CoBank contribution will support a broad range of programs at more than 30 schools, one of which is the University of Minnesota.
Farm Futures
http://farmfutures.com/story-cobank-creates-ag-research-education-fund-17-94605
Business and Politics
Science park near U of M gets another look
Plans for a private research park near the University of Minnesota have languished for more than a decade amid a stalemate between academic administrators and the development community. But there may be some détente when it comes to building an up to 1.6-million-square-foot research park in Minneapolis. Brian Herman, VP for Research at the U of M, comments.
Finance & Commerce
http://finance-commerce.com/2013/02/science-park-near-u-of-m-gets-another-look/
Bill could change how students pick majors
This spring, thousands of students will graduate from the University of Minnesota, unsure of where their future will take them next. Newly-proposed legislation could change that. The "Student's Right to Know before You Go Act" would require all colleges and universities to report average earnings by students, as well as the average cost of a program and debt accumulated.
KARE-TV
To Watch: http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1010805/14/Bill-could-change-how-college-students-pick-majors
People and Lifestyle
SARS-linked virus may have spread between people
British officials say a mysterious virus related to SARS may have spread between humans, as they confirmed the 11th case worldwide of the new coronavirus in a patient who they say probably caught it from a family member. ...Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota, warned the virus could be adapting into a more transmissible form.
Pioneer Press (via AP)
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_22579806/sars-linked-virus-may-have-spread-between-people
Heart Health
During this week of Valentine's Day, Dr. Jon Hallberg, an assistant professor in family medicine at the University of Minnesota, discusses the central role the heart plays in our health, and some recent heart headlines in the news.
MPR
To Listen: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/12/health/hallberg-heart
The dangers of sleepwalking and REM behavior disorder
Sleepwalking affects an estimated 10 percent of Americans and often goes unreported and undiagnosed, despite causing painful and life-threatening consequences. Michael Howell, M.D., assistant professor with the Department of Neurology, explains the dangers of sleepwalking and REM behavior disorder.
Health Talk
http://www.health.umn.edu/healthtalk/2013/02/12/the-dangers-of-sleepwalking-and-rem-behavior-disorder/
Updates and Events
Gophers holding bone marrow registry drive Wednesday
University of Minnesota athletes don’t have to look far to see the importance of bone marrow donors. ...The football team and an organization called Be The Match are hosting a bone marrow registry drive on Wednesday from 1-4 p.m., in the Gophers locker room at TCF Bank Stadium.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/190963901.html
University of Minnesota to build $95.9m cogeneration plant
The University of Minnesota in the US has voted to approve designs for a combined heat and power plant.
Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production
http://www.cospp.com/articles/2013/02/University-of-Minnesota-to-build-959m-cogeneration-plant.html
Tastefully Simple CEO to speak at U of M, Crookston
Tastefully Simple founder and CEO Jill Blashack Strahan will speak at the University of Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 26 as part of an entrepreneurship speakers' series. Strahan, who was born and raised in Villard, Minn., has been running the $100 million food and gift company since 1995.
Prairie Business
http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/13622/group/Business/
U of M Extension offers food safety classes in Mankato
University of Minnesota Extension is offering two courses to help food service establishments meet the educational requirements for Certified Food Managers. Participants will attend an all-day course including information about safe food preparation, handling, sanitation and prevention of food-borne illnesses.
St. James News
http://www.stjamesnews.com/article/20130213/NEWS/130209658/1001/NEWS
News Releases and Multimedia
Can we feed the world?
Start with this: Everyone eats. Whether we all have enough to eat in the future, and how to make sure we get there—that’s an attention getter. U of M research led by Deepak Ray and scientists with the U’s Institute on the Environment (IonE) and McGill University in Montreal, Canada, certainly has people talking.
UMNews
http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2013/UR_CONTENT_430583.html
Dow + U = lab safety
They say you can never be too careful. At the University of Minnesota, that goes double. Through a unique partnership with the Dow Chemical Co., graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from the U departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) are leading a campaign to improve and sustain the safety culture in chemistry and chemical engineering laboratories.
UMNews
http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2013/UR_CONTENT_430755.html