Advertisement


U of I: News digest
2/17/2009

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA NEWS DIGEST ================================ Feb. 17, 2009

The UI News Digest is an electronic summary of news releases produced by the University of Iowa offices of University Relations, News Services, University of Iowa Health Care Media Relations and Art Center Relations.

Editor: Stephen Pradarelli, stephen-pradarelli@uiowa.edu, 319-384-0007

Find the latest UI news at http://news.uiowa.edu

=========================================================

TODAY'S UI NEWS ______________

UI organizes flood clean-up project over spring break

Hundreds of homes in Cedar Rapids remain in poor condition after the June 2008 floods, and the University of Iowa community's help is needed to clean out and refurbish these structures over spring break. The University of Iowa is organizing alternative spring break service projects to do post-flood cleanup in Cedar Rapids, joining volunteers from across Iowa and the rest of the nation. http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/february/021709spring_break.html

Hygienic lab is first state public health lab to add new pregnancy screens

The Iowa Maternal Screening Program now provides women across the state access to the most advanced and safest methods to screen for Down syndrome and open neural tube defects with the recent addition of the Iowa Maternal Integrated Screen to the tests performed at the University Hygienic Laboratory. http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/february/021709pregnancy_UHL.html

UI Libraries digitizes early TV documents

The switch to digital telecasts is on, and to mark the occasion the Iowa Digital Library has released a new online collection celebrating the birth of American prime-time TV more than 75 years ago, when regularly scheduled TV programs were launched on the University of Iowa campus in a building at the corner of Iowa Avenue and Dubuque Street in Iowa City. http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/february/021709early_tv.html

Alley Cabaret continues, with 'Vagina Monologues' Feb. 27-87 and other dates

"The Alley Cabaret: Live late-night theatre at the Englert," a late-night, nonalcoholic entertainment option for downtown Iowa City, continues through the spring semester, including performances of Eve Enseler's "Vagina Monologues" at Midnight Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28 in the Englert Theatre. http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/february/021709alley_cabaret.html

_____________________________________________________________

AT A GLANCE ______________

* UI to study coenzyme Q10 for Parkinson's disease * Talk on medical aspects of Lincoln's assassination is Feb. 24 * Free fitness assessments available Feb. 24

Details at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/february/021709at-a-glance.html

_____________________________________________________________

UI IN THE NATIONAL NEWS ______________

Note: Some publications require registration or a subscription to access the full article.

Story examines UI faculty suicides (Chronicle of Higher Ed, Feb. 20)

A story examines the significance of academic reputations and how universities handle sexual-harassment allegations. The story describes the accusations against two former University of Iowa faculty members, oboe professor MARK O. WEIGER and political scientist ARTHUR H. MILLER, both of whom committed suicide last year. http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i24/24a00101.htm?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Maxson discusses consolidating leadership (Omaha World-Herald, Feb. 17)

The University of Iowa may consolidate leadership in some of its smaller departments to trim its budget. Officials say consolidating the leadership in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences would save the university $250,000. LINDA MAXSON, dean of the college, said the plan would cut the number of faculty members who serve in administrative posts, freeing them to do more teaching. http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10566034

UI researchers seek cure for cystic fibrosis (BBC, Feb. 17)

Researchers say they are a step closer to developing a gene therapy cure for cystic fibrosis. In lab tests their altered virus effectively delivered a new gene to replace the faulty one that causes cystic fibrosis and completely rid the lung of disease. In order to get the new, healthy gene into the cells, scientists use a harmless virus. The University of California team, working with experts from the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, found a way to make this virus more effective at entering lung cells. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7892520.stm?lss

Canady provides tips for selecting a surgeon (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 17)

Plastic surgery has for years attracted doctors from unrelated specialties who are able to acquire a minimum level of training in cosmetic medicine by attending courses for brief periods, medical experts say. JOHN CANADY, professor of plastic surgery at the University of Iowa and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said patients should question a surgeon about plans for handling a medical emergency. He says prospective patients should ask what the doctor's procedure is for handling events such as a heart attack during surgery. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123483369375096025.html?mod=article-outset-box

Bern-Klug: use of restraints in nursing homes decreases (USA Today, Feb. 16)

Nursing homes immobilize 5.5 percent of their residents with physical restraints on average, about a quarter as many as they did in 1991, a USA Today analysis of nursing homes' self-reported data to Medicare shows. "In general, restraint use has gone down dramatically," says MERCEDES BERN-KLUG, an assistant professor in social work at the University of Iowa who studies nursing homes. "Now we need to be vigilant about the places where restraint use is much higher than average." She says muscles atrophy, and residents become socially withdrawn if they are immobilized. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-16-nursing-home-restraints_N.htm

UI study examines what men and women want in a partner (About.com, Feb. 16)

University of Iowa researchers CHRISTINE WHELAN and CHRISTIE BOXER have attempted to answer the question of what men and women want in a relationship by studying the results of surveys taken in 1939 and 2008 about mate preferences in heterosexuals. They found that the dating market has changed dramatically in almost 80 years, with mutual attraction and love, dependable character and emotional stability topping the charts for both sexes. http://dating.about.com/b/2009/02/16/what-do-men-and-women-want-in-a-relationship.htm

Heimer: Minority victimization rises in recessions (Yahoo! News India, Feb. 16)

A new study has revealed that the victimization of both female and male blacks and Latinos increases during or after periods of economic recession. The study was conducted by researchers KAREN HEIMER of the University of Iowa and Janet Lauritsen of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090216/385/ten-recession-linked-to-increased-victim.html

==========================================================


Printer-friendly version      Send this article to a friend