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Nov. 5, 2007
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
Drug-eluting stents not riskier in study
Reuters
Patients who received drug-eluting stents were no more likely to die or suffer a heart attack than those who got bare-metal versions, researchers found in a large U.S. study that adds to the debate over the safety of the artery-opening devices. ... "The stents are relatively comparable, with the exception that revascularization is lower," said Dr. Sidney Smith, of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Brain 'closes eyes' to hear music
BBC News (England)
A US study of 20 non-musicians and 20 musical conductors found both groups diverted brain activity away from visual areas during listening tasks. ... The researchers, from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and the University of North Carolina, used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which can measure real-time changes in brain activity based on the blood flow to different areas of the brain.
Lifetime trauma speeds HIV progression
United Press International
Evidence indicates psychological factors play a role in disease progression of HIV, say researchers led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lead author Jane Leserman, a professor of psychiatry and medicine, says traumatic life events, such as physical or sexual abuse, are associated with faster mortality.
Related Links: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=32084
http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20071103/lifetime_
trauma_speeds_hiv_progression-id-1012630.html
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/nov07/lifetimetrauma110107.htmlPeople over 60 with high blood pressure get less lifestyle advice: study
CBC (Canada)
People over 60 who suffer from high blood pressure receive the least lifestyle advice from their doctors of all age groups, a large-scale study suggests. Lifestyle advice includes recommending a patient adopt healthier eating habits, consume less salt — which can increase blood pressure — drink less alcohol and increase exercise. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill looked at data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control gleaned through a national survey of 28,457 people over the age of 18 who had high blood pressure.
Must the rainbow turn monochrome in parliament?
The Economist (London)
The political representation of racial minorities troubles in almost every country, rich or poor. ... The voting system can also make a difference. Andrew Reynolds of the University of North Carolina found in a survey of 31 countries that proportional representation (PR) tends to attract more minority candidates than first-past-the-post voting.National Coverage
The Water Cooler
The Associated Press
...Colleges and universities across the nation are increasingly offering programs in entrepreneurship, and the cream of the crop are including hands-on experience, according to recent rankings by Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review. ...The University of Southern California offered the No. 1 graduate program, with Babson College, the University of Arizona, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and DePaul University in Chicago rounding out the top five.
To vote or not to vote?
"Marketplace Money," American Public Radio
If you have any money tied up in investments, you're probably getting a ton of mail asking you for something. Not more money -- your vote. ...Professor Jennifer Conrad with the University of North Carolina business school, explains that proxies are a way for shareholders who don't attend the company meetings to vote their shares on whatever items happen to be on the agenda.
Double or Nothing on the Democrat
The New York Times
... “Until the 1920s, New York would have been the center of gambling in the United States, what Las Vegas is today,” said Paul Rhode, a professor of economic history at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Technically, gambling on the result of an election was — and is — illegal, but the laws were not widely enforced, and newspapers routinely reported the names of prominent bettors and the Wall Street firms that held the stakes.
New Measures Improve Heart Care
HealthDay News
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. New research shows this mantra works when it comes to controlling high blood pressure, which is the leading risk factor for premature death worldwide. ..."Based on the results, this is a very handy algorithm. It's very useful," added Dr. Sidney Smith, past president of the AHA and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Related Link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-11-04-
prasugrel_N.htm?csp=34&loc=interstitialskipDrug-Coated Stents No Riskier in Long Run Than Bare Metal Ones
HealthDay News
In the largest study of its kind to date, Harvard researchers report that they have found drug-eluting stents pose no more risk of heart attack or death than bare metal stents do. ... Dr. Sidney Smith is past president of the American Heart Association and professor of medicine and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. He said the new "findings are similar to what came out in [a recent]Lancetmeta-analysis.
Regional Coverage
Policies on leaving high school campuses vary
Newsday
The question defies easy answers: How can parents and schools keep their teenage drivers safe? Should they allow them to leave school for lunch or let them drive others? ... A 2002 study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine found that crash rates were three times higher for 16- to 18-year-olds in counties where teens were permitted to drive during lunch, from noon to 2 p.m., compared to those with a closed campus.
Lessons shift focus on American Indian images
The State (S.C.)
Mauryce Jamison worked closely with his teacher Lynn Moseley shaping clay to make pottery as his class learned about American Indian crafts, culture and history. ... “South Carolina is a diverse state,” said University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill history professor Theda Purdue. “Indians were joined by Europeans and Africans. These three races are the foundation of the state.”
State & Local Coverage
Students get help for college dream
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC Chancellor James Moeser will visit students at Hillside High School from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday as part of the Carolina College Advising Corps. The visit is part of Moeser's Carolina Connects initiative. The Carolina College Advising Corps is a partner program of the National College Advising Corps, an advisory program that helps low-income and first-generation college students enroll in two- and four-year colleges.
N.C. elections to decide big issues for an off year
The Associated Press
Elections in odd-numbered years usually are local affairs, with races for mayor, city council or school board getting the attention only of the few citizens who care enough to vote. ... "Voters will be indicating whether we should be spreading these costs across the board or whether certain groups should (pay)," said Shea Denning, a professor specializing in local taxation at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Can a region be a home?
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Let's talk about something we all know but can't quite grasp. The Triangle. Yes, the place where we live. Or rather, the name for the collection of places where we live. We hear the term a dozen times a day, in our news, sports, weather and traffic -- especially the traffic. ... William M. Rohe, director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, who is writing a history of the Triangle, said the growth of RTP reshaped the region's identity in profound ways. To understand those changes, Rohe said, you have to appreciate how RTP reimagined the concept of a metropolitan region.
The future of journalism
The News-Record (Greensboro) Editor's Blog
Ferrell Guillory, director of the Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill, told the audience at the annual Conference on Public Administration that the major newspapers in the state bore some responsibility for the scandal at the state Department of Transportation. (Doesn't matter which scandal; there have been enough to go around.)
Uninsured health care plan will require collaboration
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
A program to provide specialized care to the more than 30,000 uninsured people in Durham County will involve the cooperation of Duke University Health System, county government, Lincoln Community Health Center and a host of other local organizations. ..."This is a national problem that requires a national solution, but we can't rely on the federal government to solve this big problem. We can do something about it at the local level," said Jonathan Oberlander, associate professor of Social Medicine and Health Policy and Administration at UNC Chapel Hill.
Heart attacks treated faster
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
More North Carolinians suffering the deadliest type of heart attack are receiving life-saving treatment faster through a unique statewide collaboration among paramedics, doctors and hospitals. ... At UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, which participated in the improvement project, ambulances carrying heart attack patients now go directly to the heart catheterization lab, bypassing the lengthy process of bringing patients through the emergency room. Dr. George Stouffer III, chief of clinical cardiology at UNC Hospitals, said that one change saves at least 15 minutes.
Morrisville company banks success on saliva-based DNA test
The Triangle Business Journal
ParagonDx wants to change the way doctors determine whether a drug is safe for patients. The company's new diagnostic product might just give it a spitting chance. ... Howard McLeod, a professor of pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is familiar with ParagonDx's research. He says saliva-based tests will be useful for testing those who could be difficult to draw blood from, such as young children and psychiatric patients.
Gray Water Use Harmful, Illegal
NBC 17 (Raleigh)
Many residents all across North Carolina may not realize that using leftover bath, sink or washing machine water on plants outside is actually illegal. Dr. Chip Simmons, a professor at the University of North Carolina's Department of Environmental Sciences said, "When put in yards of gardens it could lead to an increased risk for kids playing and others susceptible to illness.” Simmons said the concern comes from fecal remains and other types of bacteria that are in gray water. Dr. Phil Singer is also a professor at UNC's Department of Environmental Sciences and he said, "If everyone did this and took water from bathtubs and put it onto plants and that water ran into a lake nearby, then there is a risk. Singer said it's hard to say how much of a risk gray water poses, but it’s there.
Greensboro got ahead of the game
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
For years, the city of Greensboro has drawn part of its water from an invisible reservoir nicknamed Lake Efficiency. City officials began aggressive conservation efforts long before the current drought. Those efforts include a graduated rate structure that penalizes larger residential water users. ... Setting water rates that encourage efficient use is one of the most important environmental responsibilities of local governments, said Jeff Hughes, director of the Environmental Finance Center at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government.
UNC researcher recognized
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Krishnamurthy Janakiraman, Ph.D., a research associate at UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has received an American Federation for Aging Research and General Electric Healthcare Junior Investigator Award for Excellence in Biomarker Research. The award includes $1,500 for Janakiraman's research.
UNC People Brief: http://www.unc.edu/news/briefs/2007/103007.htmlUNC represented on biology society
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC biologist Alan Jones has been elected to a three-year term on the executive committee of the American Society of Plant Biologists. The American Society of Plant Biologists, with headquarters in Rockville, Md., is a nonprofit science society of 5,000 members from the United States and about 60 other nations.
UNC People Brief: http://www.unc.edu/news/briefs/2007/103007.htmlUNC nutrition professor honored
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Anna Maria Siega-Riz, associate professor in the departments of epidemiology and nutrition at UNC's School of Public Health, has received the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award. The annual award recognizes distinguished achievement in research, education or clinical services in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition.
UNC Research Brief: http://www.unc.edu/news/briefs/2007/110107.htmlChild care for Latinos studied
The Chapel Hill Herald
Researchers from UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute will study families across North Carolina as part of a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The study will examine issues Latino families face in taking advantage of child-care programs and services.
UNC Research Brief: http://www.unc.edu/news/briefs/2007/110107.htmlUNC honors group of first black grads
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The Black Alumni Reunion met this weekend at UNC-Chapel Hill to honor its groundbreaking members. The group held a banquet Saturday for the university's earliest black graduates. About 10 of the university's first black graduates were inducted Friday into the "Golden Rams," those who graduated 50 or more years ago. Some were inducted posthumously.
Honorable Mentions
The Chapel Hill Herald
Eight UNC faculty members were recently selected as the university's first class of Faculty Engaged Scholars. ... The two-year program, which includes a stipend of up to $7,500 each year, helps scholars to connect their faculty work with the needs of a community.
UNC News Release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/oct07/engaged103107.htmlResearchers get boost from EPA
The Chapel Hill Herald
The Environmental Protection Agency has recently awarded a contract that could bring as much as $22 million to researchers at UNC's Institute for the Environment over five years. The goal of UNC's work with the EPA is to ameliorate the effects of dangerous emissions to protect and improve human and ecosystem health.
UNC Research Brief: http://www.unc.edu/news/briefs/2007/110107.htmlIssues & Trends
Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Associated Press
President Bush on Monday presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, to recognize contributions in science, the arts, literature and the cause of peace and freedom. ...Francis Collins. The director of the National Human Genome Research Institute was honored for his leadership of the Human Genome Project and for greatly expanding the understanding of the human DNA.
Note: Dr. Francis Collins is a 1977 graduate of the UNC School of Medicine.Dungy Builds Coaching Tree by Going Against the Grain
The New York Times
In the early 1980s, 20-something football coaches were rare, 20-something black coaches rarer still. ... Walter Farrell, a professor of social work at the University of North Carolina who has studied the rise of minority coaches in the N.F.L., put Dungy on par with groundbreaking sports figures like Branch Rickey, who signed Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers; Red Auerbach, who used the N.B.A.’s first all-black starting lineup with the Boston Celtics; and Bill Walsh, the San Francisco 49ers coach who began a fellowship program for minority coaches.
'Helicopter parents' hover over college students' lives
The Associated Press
College administrators grumble about the rise of "helicopter parents," moms and dads who keep hovering over the lives of their children even after they leave for college. But helicopter parents aren't just hovering. They're swooping down in attack mode. Nearly 40 percent of first-year college students have had a parent or guardian intervene on their behalf to solve a problem at college, according to new research being released today. About 13 percent of first-year students said such interventions were frequent.
Tuition: Hold it (Editorial)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
An education at one of North Carolina's 16 public campuses remains, relatively speaking, a pretty good buy for students and parents in the state. But in the last decade, boards of trustees and the University of North Carolina system Board of Governors, facing what they saw as the need for more revenue, have boosted tuition and fees at a tremendous rate. This would be a good year to hold the line.
Blueprints greener in Chapel Hill
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A local architect is proposing one of the most ambitious green projects in the United States. Ironically, the town's own environmental protection rules could derail the plan. ..."It really does look greener than Greenbridge," said George Cianciolo, the town Planning Board's liaison to the Community Design Commission, which reviewed Szostak's concept plan last week. "Everything you could possibly want in a green building is there."... But Cianciolo said the council might not want to bend the rules, especially with UNC-Chapel Hill also proposing to reclaim a stream as part of the Carolina North project. "That's why I think this is a real tricky one," he said. "You like the idea of encouraging green building, but ... the council could set a precedent that they might not like later."
Produced by News Services, Carolina in the News is an e-mail sampling of current news media coverage about Carolina people and programs, as well as issues and trends that affect the university. Stories usually will be online and available free for a limited time - often one to two weeks. Expiration dates before stories move to archives vary by media outlet. Some outlets require free user registration or a subscription.
Carolina in the News is also posted daily to the News Services Web page, http://www.unc.edu/news/clips/index.shtml.
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