Today's News: Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Administration
U may consider tighter AP credit policy
University of Minnesota officials want to work with colleges and departments to consider a stricter Advanced Placement policy. As a greater proportion of freshmen enter the University with AP credit every year, some administrators want to explore accepting only scores of four and five. The University currently accepts a score of three in most cases.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2013/03/05/u-may-consider-tighter-ap-credit-policy
Research
C-Section rates vary widely
Cesarean delivery rates ranged from as low as 7% to as high as 70% at U.S. hospitals, a nationwide study showed. The magnitude of the variation was more than could be accounted for by case mix, suggesting a possible quality-of-care problem, Katy Backes Kozhimannil, PhD, of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, and colleagues reported.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/health/rate-of-caesarean-deliveries-varies-widely-across-us.html?_r=1&
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/195072291.html?refer=y
MPR
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/04/health/hospital-cesarean-rates
MinnPost
http://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2013/03/hospital-c-section-rates-vary-widely-u-m-study-finds
MedPage Today
http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/37658
Kaiser Health
http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/index.php/2013/03/c-section-delivery-rates-vary-widely-across-nation/
Consumer Reports
http://news.consumerreports.org/baby/2013/03/advice-to-pregnant-women-choose-your-hospital-carefully.html
WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20130304/c-section-rates-vary-widely-at-us-hospitals
Nurse.com
http://news.nurse.com/article/20130304/NATIONAL02/103040038/-1/frontpage
UM News Release
http://www.health.umn.edu/healthtalk/2013/03/04/u-of-m-researchers-find-wide-variation-in-cesarean-delivery-rates-among-u-s-hospitals/
US power grid costs rise, but service slip
America's power grid is like an old car. It gets the job done, even if its performance is slipping. But the repair bills go up every year and experts say only a major overhaul will reverse its decline. Massoud Amin, a grid security expert and professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Minnesota, adds insight.
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/05/3267733/us-power-grid-costs-rise-but-service.html
U of M Oreo spliter
U of M professor Barry Kudrowitz and his former MIT classmate Bill Fienup have designed a machine to separate the Oreo.
KMSP-TV
To Watch: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/video?clipId=8547305&topVideoCatNo=237345&autoStart=true
Business and Politics
Pelowski wants end to MnSCU, U of M administrator bonuses
State Rep. Gene Pelowski has authored a bill that would increase funding for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system — but ask both to jump through some hoops to get it. The Winona DFLer’s bill would authorize $80 million in increased funding. But it’s contingent on the the U of M Board of Regents trimming administrator expenses and MnSCU ending a policy that allows administrator performance bonuses.
Winona Daily News
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/article_cc210ec4-854e-11e2-9c00-001a4bcf887a.html
Students push for fossil fuel divestment
Students are pressuring the Board of Regents to get rid of the University of Minnesota’s investments in the fossil fuel industry. Two University student groups — Fossil Free Minnesota and Eco-Conscious Campus — are joining a state and national push for colleges to remove their investments in fossil fuel companies.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2013/03/05/students-push-fossil-fuel-divestmen
Best Buy ends flexible work program for its corporate employees
Best Buy Co. said Monday it has ended its program that allowed corporate employees to control their schedules and how often they showed up at the company’s Richfield headquarters. Now most corporate employees will work the traditional 40-hour week, though managers still have discretion to accommodate some workers. Erin Kelly, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota who has authored studies on ROWE, comments.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/business/195156871.html
Sam's Club offers discounted memberships through Tuesday
Why does Sam's Club do promotions and not Costco? It could be that Sam's is hurting for customers, but George John, professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, said it's part of Sam's more promotional marketing strategy.
Star Tribune (blog)
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/195121641.html
Renewable energy grants will end
A program that has funded more than 200 renewable energy research projects at the University of Minnesota over the past decade will come to a close after this year. In 2012, the state Legislature passed a bill allowing Xcel to keep ratepayer funds rather than transfer them to the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment grant program, which funds renewable energy research and development at the University.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/2013/03/05/renewable-energy-grants-will-end
People and Lifestyle
Mpls. company offers 'crystal ball' for heart health
Nearly half of all people who suffer heart attacks have no symptoms, making prevention all the more difficult. A new company that uses a Minnesota-made medical device is out to change that. Using technology developed at the University of Minnesota by a local doctor, HeartSavers now administer what's called the "Cardio 101" test.
WCCO-TV
To Watch: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/03/04/mpls-company-offers-crystal-ball-for-heart-health/
The catfighting of the chimpanzee: Females pander to males but act aggressively towards their own sex, say scientist
Female chimpanzees pander to their male counterparts because they are affected by ‘social pressures’, new research has found. PhD student Nicole Scott, from the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, USA, studied the different gestures used by a group of chimpanzees at Chester Zoo, Cheshire.
Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2288342/Female-chimps-suck-act-aggressively-males-chimpanzees-affected-social-pressures.html
Science World Report
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/5357/20130304/females-more-negative-toward-each-chimp-behavior-unravelled.htm
Ex-defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove's claim dismissed
Former Gophers defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove's claim against the University of Minnesota for further payment on his salary following coach Tim Brewster's midseason firing in 2010 was dismissed in the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday, March 4. ...U spokesman Chuck Tombarge issued a statement.
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_22718297/gophers-football-ex-defensive-coordinator-kevin-cosgroves
Commentary and Opinion
Human rights trials strengthen the rule of law
Kathryn Sikkink, the Arleen C. Carlson professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, wrote a debate article for the New York Times on the affect of human rights trials on the rule of law.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/03/04/can-we-afford-to-forgive-atrocities/human-rights-trials-strengthen-the-rule-of-law
Updates and Events
Best of the Best workshop brings MN, ND soybean and wheat farmers together
University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University researchers presented findings on a range of production topics from soybean cyst nematode management to spray nozzles and drift, along with several hands-on demonstrations, at "The Best of the Best in Wheat and Soybean Research" winter meeting in Moorhead.
Post-Bulletin
http://www.postbulletin.com/business/best-of-the-best-workshop-brings-nd-mn-soybean-and/article_20dd91bb-b2f3-5e7d-9f96-7efec6194230.html
35th annual Morris Jazz Festival begins Friday, April 5
The 35th annual University of Minnesota, Morris Jazz Festival will be held Friday, April 5, through Saturday, April 6. Featuring guest artists Bill Pierce, tenor saxophone, and Steven Davis, trombone, the 2013 festival promises to be a unique and soulful experience. Performances will be held nightly in the Student Center's Edson Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
UMM News
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=12503