A MU News Bureau Feed2013-05-21T11:22:59-06:00MU News Bureautag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-22:/index.xml2009-07-30T01:00:00-06:002009-07-30T15:30:13-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-30:/news-releases/2009/0730-fritschi-drought-simulators.phpDroughts have devastating effects on farmers. In most of the world, droughts are the leading cause of crop failure. Droughts increase consumer costs, kill livestock, reduce crop yields, and trigger wildfires and dust storms, which lead to malnutrition and famine, social unrest and political instability. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) are constructing drought simulators over a variety of soil types so that scientists can study how certain plants respond to a broad range of drought conditions, providing information that is critical to develop more tolerant crop plants.2009-07-29T10:00:00-06:002009-07-29T15:24:45-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-29:/news-releases/2009/0729-lowell-gift.phpA gift to the University of Missouri will honor the memory of two golden retrievers and support veterinary students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. MU administrators announced today that David and Gloria Lowell, dog owners and friends of MU, have committed $1 million of their estate to fund scholarships for students in the college.2009-07-22T01:00:00-06:002009-07-22T12:42:57-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-22:/news-releases/2009/0722-reid-arndt-chemotherapy-cognitive-functioning.phpEach day, thousands of people undergo chemotherapy treatments for different types of cancer, and it is widely known that patients are negatively affected during the treatments; previous research has shown decreases in cognitive functioning among cancer survivors following treatment. However, scientists were unsure how these cognitive declines might affect daily tasks or quality of life when the treatments ceased. A new study at the University of Missouri reveals that, following chemotherapy, mild decreases in skills, such as verbal fluency and problem-solving ability, affect the quality of life for cancer survivors.2009-07-21T11:00:00-06:002009-07-21T11:50:46-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-21:/news-releases/2009/0721-duncan-gourd.phpThe party was over more than 4,000 years ago, but the remnants still remain in the gourds and squashes that served as dishware. For the first time, University of Missouri researchers have studied the residues from gourds and squash artifacts that date back to 2200 B.C. and recovered starch grains from manioc, potato, chili pepper, arrowroot and algarrobo. The starches provide clues about the foods consumed at feasts and document the earliest evidence of the consumption of algarrobo and arrowroot in Peru.2009-07-20T11:00:00-06:002009-07-20T11:28:52-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-20:/news-releases/2009/0720-speck-fireworks.phpA star does not die without getting noticed and may even leave the universe with "fireworks." At the end of its life cycle, a star begins to collapse in the middle and throws new material into space. The new material eventually becomes incorporated into new planets and life. Now, a University of Missouri professor identified new features in the material that is being ejected from the dying star Helix Nebula.2009-07-15T08:00:00-06:002009-07-15T09:05:49-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-15:/news-releases/2009/0715-mashhoon-einstein-footnote.phpIn his discussion of accelerated motion on page 60 of The Meaning of Relativity, Albert Einstein made an approximation that allowed him to develop the theory of relativity further. Einstein apparently never had the opportunity to check his original approximation. Now, a University of Missouri physicist has uncovered some clues about the basis of Einstein's theories and presented a more general approximation, which may better link quantum physics with classical physics.2009-07-14T09:00:00-06:002009-07-14T09:49:09-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-14:/news-releases/2009/0714-gilbert-usa-wheelchair-basketball.phpJohn Gilbert already has one gold medal from international competition, and in less than 12 hours, he might have a second one. Gilbert, a member of the University of Missouri Tiger Wheelchair Basketball team, will face Spain's team today in Paris as a member of the USA wheelchair basketball team.2009-07-13T10:00:00-06:002009-07-13T10:40:18-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-13:/news-releases/2009/0713-hyder-tumeric-and-cancer.phpPrevious studies have found that postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy have increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that curcumin, a popular Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy.2009-07-02T13:00:00-06:002009-07-02T14:04:14-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-02:/news-releases/2009/0702-RADIL-audit.phpUniversity of Missouri Provost Brian Foster has confirmed structural changes for the Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (MU RADIL) to address issues raised by university auditors. As a result, Dr. Alex Bermudez has assumed the role of interim director with responsibility for all MU RADIL operations, which will continue to play a major role in MU research and economic development activities. 2009-07-02T08:00:00-06:002009-07-02T08:59:56-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-07-02:/news-releases/2009/0701-gable-overweigh-kids.phpAs childhood obesity rates continue to increase, experts agree that more information is needed about the implications of being overweight as a step toward reversing current trends. Now, a new University of Missouri study has found that overweight children, especially girls, show signs of the negative consequences of being overweight as early as kindergarten.2009-06-29T11:00:00-06:002009-06-29T11:40:29-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-29:/news-releases/2009/0629-bergin-student-attachment.phpWhen students are underachieving, school policymakers often examine class size, curriculum and funding, but University of Missouri researchers suggest establishing relationships may be a powerful and less expensive way to improve students' success. In a review of the research they show that students with positive attachments to their teachers and schools have higher grades and higher standardized test scores.2009-06-25T12:00:00-06:002009-06-25T13:47:53-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-25:/news-releases/2009/0625-roberts-pig-stem-cells.phpFor years, proponents have touted the benefits of embryonic stem cell research, but the potential therapies still face hurdles. Side effects such as tumor development, a lack of an effective and long-term animal model to test new therapies, and genetic incompatibility between the host and donor cells are some of the problems faced by researchers. Now, scientists at the University of Missouri have developed the ability to take regular cells from a pig's connective tissues, known as fibroblasts, and transform them into stem cells, eliminating several of these hurdles. The new study appeared in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).2009-06-24T10:00:00-06:002009-06-24T10:48:27-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-24:/news-releases/2009/0624-korkin-nsf-career-award.phpIf the growing presence of computer 'geeks' on television crime shows is any indicator, computers are increasingly becoming essential tools for detecting and combating skullduggery. However, television detectives are not the only ones taking advantage of these tools. Researchers also are beginning to collaborate with computer scientists to help uncover biological forms of deception, called molecular mimicry.2009-06-23T11:00:00-06:002009-06-23T11:21:45-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-23:/news-releases/2009/0623-cook-biological-joints.phpInstead of using plastic and metal in joint-replacement surgery, surgeons may soon be able to use living tissue grown in a specialized petri dish. With the help of a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, University of Missouri researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at Columbia University in New York City, will expand their biological joint technology that uses living tissue instead of plastic and metal to replace damaged joints. This new technology, which responds in ways similar to normal cartilage in a healthy joint, could prevent patients from having complications that result in repeat joint-replacement surgeries.2009-06-22T14:00:00-06:002009-07-24T12:02:00-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-22:/news-releases/2009/0622-lowery-playtime-for-kids.phpIt's summertime, summertime, sum-, sum-, summertime! For some kids, that means little league, play groups, swim lessons, camping, summer school, dance class and many other activities. But hold on a second! All of those structured activities may be doing more harm than good. A University of Missouri occupational therapist says that toddlers and elementary-aged kids need unstructured playtime during the summer, in part, to help with their emotional and physical development. In fact, a lack of unstructured playtime might be the reason today's young adults have trouble with problem-solving or critical thinking.2009-06-22T10:00:00-06:002009-06-22T12:58:14-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-22:/news-releases/2009/0622-geary-big-brain.phpFor the past 2 million years, the size of the human brain has tripled, growing much faster than other mammals. Examining the reasons for human brain expansion, University of Missouri researchers studied three common hypotheses for brain growth: climate change, ecological demands and social competition. The team found that social competition is the major cause of increased cranial capacity.2009-06-18T11:00:00-06:002009-06-18T11:12:03-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-18:/news-releases/2009/0618-truman-foundation-honor.phpThe Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation has announced that the University of Missouri is one of two universities that has been designated a 2009 Truman Foundation Honor Institution. Foundation President Madeleine K. Albright awarded the designation to MU based on the university's promotion of the values of public service and sustained success in helping students win Truman Scholarships.2009-06-12T09:00:00-06:002009-06-12T09:24:25-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-12:/news-releases/2009/0612-rji-iphone-competition.phpFour University of Missouri students (Team NearBuy) showcased their innovative mobile phone application recently at Apple's WorldWide Developer Conference in San Francisco. The students demonstrated a new way to deliver classified advertising as Apple, Inc. unveiled a new version of its iPhone.2009-06-10T09:00:00-06:002009-06-10T10:35:14-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-10:/news-releases/2009/0610-difficult-dialogues.phpCreated in response to reports by the Ford Foundation of growing intolerance at colleges and universities, the University of Missouri will host a summer institute June 12-15 to teach faculty and staff from MU and nine participating universities how to implement a Difficult Dialogues program.2009-06-10T09:00:00-06:002009-06-10T09:26:16-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-10:/news-releases/2009/0610-cook-arthritis-biomarkers.phpOsteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed in the late and irreversible stages, when treatment can only be expected to decrease pain and slow progression of disease. Because osteoarthritis is a widespread problem in dogs, horses and humans, doctors and veterinarians need a precise way to diagnose the disease early and accurately. Now, University of Missouri researchers are investigating potential biomarkers in dogs for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, which could help identify patients at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.2009-06-08T10:00:00-06:002009-06-08T10:59:28-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-08:/news-releases/2009/0608-geary-student-evolution.phpOver thousands of years, humans have evolved to naturally understand things like facial expressions and social interactions. But a University of Missouri researcher has found there is an ever-widening gap between what humans can naturally learn and what they need to learn to be successful adults in today's modern society. Schools have traditionally helped bridge the gap between evolution and new knowledge, but in the U.S. more may need to be done.2009-06-04T16:00:00-06:002009-06-05T09:08:56-06:00tag:munews.missouri.edu,2009-06-04:/news-releases/2009/0605-benoit-ohio.phpPamela Benoit, vice provost for advanced studies and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri, has accepted the position of executive vice president and provost at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The appointment is effective July 1, 2009.