Today's News: Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Featured
U of M Medical School cracks 'Top 10 Medical Schools'
The University of Minnesota Medical School is ranked seventh in the nation for primary care. Each year, U.S. News & World Report surveys more than 1,200 graduate schools and programs and ranks them according to our methodology to help students decide what to study and find the right school for them.
U.S. News & World Report
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2013/03/11/2014-best-graduate-schools-preview-top-10-medical-schools
Administration
University of Minnesota Addresses Admin. Budget
The President of the University of Minnesota was in front of the legislature today to defend the systems funding request of $1.2 billion over the next biennium.
Northland News Center
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/University-of-Minnesota-Addresses--197230751.html
Research
Poor sleep may signal onset of Alzheimer's
Disturbed sleep quality may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, research shows. In a cross-sectional study, research conducted by Karen Ashe, MD, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, was used to assess molecular levels of the disease.
MedPage Today
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/AlzheimersDisease/37823
University searches for Parkinson's markers
The University of Minnesota announced this month that it’s been chosen as one of five clinical sites for a new study focused on finding biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/university/collegesuniversities/ahc/2013/03/11/university-searches-parkinson%E2%80%99s-markers
When colonoscopy misses: Who or what is to blame?
Researchers at last year’s American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting discussed the effectiveness of colonoscopy, specifically in the detection of colorectal cancers (CRC) in the proximal colon, and the issue of missed or incompletely resected lesions. Aasma Shaukat MD, associate professor, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, explained the three predominant mechanisms through which CRC develops and progresses.
Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News
http://www.gastroendonews.com/ViewArticle.aspx?d=In%2Bthe%2BNews&d_id=187&i=March+2013&i_id=939&a_id=22772
Business and Politics
Those national debt clocks on Congressional websites are wrong
National debt clocks are all the rage on Republican lawmakers' websites. At least 54 other lawmakers have them as well. But if you look at the figures on the clocks, you'll notice an obvious discrepancy. Writing on the blog Smart Politics, University of Minnesota's Eric Ostermeier finds that national debt clocks on congressional websites are far from being in sync.
National Journal
http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/those-national-debt-clocks-on-congressional-websites-are-wrong-20130312
Lawmakers consider banning triclosan, other chemicals
A state Senate panel on Tuesday will consider making Minnesota the first state to ban triclosan, a common ingredient in antibacterial soap. Environmental groups are concerned about triclosan and its byproducts, which include a dioxin, building up in the environment and causing potential health problems. A recent University of Minnesota study found increasing amounts of the substance in eight Minnesota lakes.
MPR
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/12/environment/lawmakers-ban-triclosan
Commentary and Opinion
Minnesota lawmakers scrutinize U's tuition
The dustup over University of Minnesota administrative staffing generated by a December Wall Street Journal report appears to be settling in the university's favor at the Capitol. President Eric Kaler presented the preliminary findings of a comparative study of staffing levels to a state House panel Monday, and was met with few questions in response.
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/197161481.html
Updates and Events
U considers environmental impact in de-icing
Winter ice is a constant threat to students’ balance on campus, but minimizing slips can also threaten the environment. For years, the University of Minnesota has turned to anti-icing products like sodium chloride — common table salt — to prevent students from skidding, but these products come with negative environmental effects.
Minnesota Daily
http://www.mndaily.com/news/campus/2013/03/11/u-considers-environmental-impact-de-icing
SARS 2013: 10 years ago SARS went around the world, where is it now?
For a little over four months in 2003, the world was gripped in the clutches of an alarming new disease, one that spread at jet speed to at least 30 countries. Then, as quickly as it emerged, SARS vanished. And as it occasionally appears, people wonder: Where did SARS go? Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, comments.
Huffington Post Canada
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html
UMD hosting bone-marrow donation event
Northland residents can register Wednesday to be bone-marrow donors in an event sponsored by students from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy’s Duluth campus.
Duluth News Tribune
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/261172/group/News/
Algae from outer space? Not so fast
Last December, several eyewitnesses saw a streak of light in the sky over Sri Lanka. Local police then collected a number of local rock fragments and sent them to scientists in the UK who, after a couple weeks of analysis, concluded that the rocks, "are crushing evidence that human life started outside Earth." Several other scientists disagree strongly with this bold claim, including biologist PZ Myers from the University of Minnesota-Morris.
Physics Central
http://www.physicscentral.com/buzz/blog/index.cfm?postid=7990469841818264991