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(03/04/08 5:53am)
A link between stress and poor health has been known for years, but a new study highlights how for women, chronic daily stress might be more damaging than even major stressful events, such as divorce or job loss. \nThe study recruited women in Philadelphia with cervical dysplasia – abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix –and tested them over a period of four years. The study indicates that stress might hurt the body’s ability to fight the disease. \nCarolyn Fang, an associate member of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, said past research suggests stress is associated with the progression of cervical disease. However, few studies have examined the biological mechanisms that could be driving this association.\n“Our team wanted to see what some of the plausible biological methods there might be to see whether stress is associated with the immune response to Human Papillomavirus type 16 among women with cervical dysplasia,” Fang said.\nFang said the results of this study concluded that higher levels of stress are associated with impaired HPV-specific immune responses in women with cervical dysplasia.\n“The more stress women felt, the less likely they were to have proper immune defense,” Fang said.\nBetsy Bove, laboratory manager for the Fox Center, said while she was not surprised that stress level affects women’s immunity, she was surprised by the specific conclusions of the study. \n“Stress can actually be defined as a real effect to HPV,” Bove said. “The fact that we can identify this association is groundbreaking.”\nFang said the study has not yet determined how much stress leads to a greater risk of developing cervical cancer.\nMany strategies can reduce stress, including yoga, medication and physical exercise, Fang said. Whether each strategy is effective depends on \nthe individual. \nCathlene Hardy Hansen, director of health and wellness education at the IU Health Center, said stress can affect any part of a person’s life.\n“The more stress a person has, the body will respond in many ways that will not be helpful to their health,” Hansen said. \nHansen said there are two kinds of stress: eustress, which is helpful stress that helps to motivate an individual, and distress, which often leads to exhaustion and illness. \nHansen said some useful ways to reduce stress include taking a walk, eating well-balanced meals, avoiding caffeine and getting at least seven hours of sleep each night. She added physical touch, such as hand holding, a hug or stroking a pet can help with stress as well. \nThe fourth floor of the health center offers students discounts on massages, free fitness testing, nutrition tips and other helpful services all aimed at reducing stress and helping people live longer, healthier lives, Hansen said. \nFang said she and her group are currently launching a new five-year study to see whether reducing women’s stress affects their immune response to HPV. The women will be divided into two groups; only the first one will participate in a stress-reduction class. All women participating will have received an abnormal response from a Pap test and have a greater risk for cervical cancer. She said they will take blood and cervical samples and compare their results to a similar group of women who did not take part in a stress-reduction class. \nFang said results from this new study will not be available for several years; they are only now beginning to enroll women in the class.
(02/05/08 5:19am)
According to a new report from the Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business, nursing jobs are expected to grow nearly 30 percent by 2014. \nRachel Justis, geodemographic analyst for the Indiana Business Research Center, said the findings are likely because more nurses are working outside of traditional hospital and doctor’s offices. \nJustis said registered nurses have more opportunities now. For instance, she said 42 percent of nurses work in nursing homes or assisted-living centers, while 52 percent work in traditional hospital settings and others work for home health agencies. \nLisa Parsley, education liaison and recruitment specialist for Bloomington Hospital, said Bloomington Hospital recognized early in 2000 that there could be a possible shortage in nurses in the future and created a program called “Grow Our Own.” \n“We go out and let people know about the various health care careers, including nursing,” Parsley said. “We give hospital tours as well so students can learn more by being in the (hospital) environment.”\nHealth care giant Johnson & Johnson also recognized the shortage of registered nurses will impact the whole country and started a campaign called Discover Nursing, which highlights why there has never been a better time to be a nurse. \nJustis said many current nurses will be looking to retire soon, because many are baby boomers. Therefore, hospitals and other facilities will need new nurses to come into the workforce. Justis said the whole country, not just Indiana, is in need of nurses. \nParsley agreed, saying many baby boomers are reaching the age of retirement or will simply be cutting their hours. She also said the shortage of nurses has a lot to do with not having enough faculty to teach. \nParsley said projections show that 100,000 registered nurse positions are currently open, and by the year 2020, 800,000 will be available, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics on Registered Nurses. \n“We are doing everything we can to lessen that number,” Parsley said. \nHospitals are trying to encourage people to enter the nursing field by offering their staffs tuition reimbursement. The Bloomington Hospital, IU and Ivy Tech have teamed up and received the Indiana Region Eight Workforce Development Grant, which helped to create a simulation lab where students can practice their skills in a controlled environment. Parsley said students can practice on SimMAN, a highly technical mannequin that responds to students and shows symptoms the way a real person would. \nJustis said she expects a growth in nursing programs. She said it is wise for students to look into nursing if they want job stability and competitive pay. State-wide, the average salary for nurses is $51,196, she said. The lowest Indiana salary for nurses was in southwest Indiana where the average was $42,000, which Justis said is still pretty high. \nOnly one factor could limit the amount of jobs available for incoming nurses, Justis said. She said some nurses now will work past retirement, skip retirement or not retire as early as they once might have.
(02/05/08 5:14am)
Obesity rates among children are growing, so some Bloomington health and fitness facilities are stepping up to get children healthy and active. \nJames Laughlin, a pediatrician at Bloomington Hospital, said obesity and health problems have increased among children nationwide. Some of the health problems doctors are seeing are high blood pressure, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which is an excess of fat and fatty substances in the blood. \n“This has been called an epidemic of obesity because children and adolescent obesity rates have quadrupled since the mid 1960s,” Laughlin said. \nHe said children are less active; idle activities such as watching TV or playing computer games have taken the place of physical activities. Laughlin added that we are a fast food society. Prepared foods are quicker for a busy lifestyle, but contain more fat and sodium than when food is prepared with fresh ingredients. \nRyon Wheeler, program director for the Boys & Girls Club of America in Bloomington, located at 311 S. Lincoln St., said for $20 a year, the facility offers children several health-related activities.\nIn addition, transportation from schools to the club is free. For an additional $40, kids can join a basketball league that is both competitive and developmental. \nThe Boys & Girls club is open to children ages 5 to 18. Some of the activities available every day are dance, running and organized games such as kickball and dodgeball, he said. \nWheeler said the Boys & Girls Club has a five-year strategic plan called Impact 2012, which deals with problems young adults face such as obesity and the temptation to use drugs and alcohol and drop out of school. \n“We encourage parents to help their kids stay active,” Laughlin said. “At my office, I encourage parents to have their children do something active every day that makes them sweat.”\nHe said this does not mean children need to participate in organized sports. It could be as simple as participating in another school activity such as dance or playing outside and walking. \nParents are the role model for their children, so when it comes to food choices, change has to be made at the family level, Laughlin said. \nEating fruits as snacks and cutting down on fast food and sugary treats are all positive steps, Laughlin said. \n“Kids should eat only when they are hungry and stop when they feel full,” Laughlin said.\nAnother place parents can take their children is the Monroe County YMCA. Staff member David Estes said the facility offers all kinds of programs; parents can even test their child’s fitness level. The YMCA also offers preschool classes for children ages 4 to 6. \n“We have a program called Gravity, which is a unique core and strengthening exercise system that uses body weight as a single constant resistance,” Estes said. \nThe Gravity program is available for children ages 12 to 14. In addition, the YMCA offers gymnastics classes called Mommy and Me and Tiny Tumblers. \nThere are age restrictions on each activity, and each program varies in price, Estes said. Children can participate in swimming lessons, dance, martial arts, basketball and soccer in the spring. The facility also has racquetball courses, a fitness room and yoga for children. \nThe Bloomington SportsPlex is another place children can participate in physical activities to help them stay in shape. Sportsplex Marketing Manager Chris Doran said the club offers a basketball league called Future Stars for children 5 and up, as well as various soccer leagues for children. \nDoran said the club has a track and a gym and offers a sports performance program that is aimed to help young athletes 12 and up improve in their sport. \nDoran added that he has been seeing more mothers and daughters buying family memberships and working out together. \n“I think children and adults are inspiring each other to stay fit,” Doran said.
(01/31/08 6:25am)
The Mathers Museum of World Cultures is highlighting the work of local quilters with “Bee-Town Quilts: A Common Thread,” which opened Friday, Jan. 25.\nElaine Gaul, co-curator of exhibits for the Mathers Museum, said for the last two years, the museum has featured local quilting bees, in honor of the Indiana Heritage Quilting Show held the first weekend in March at the Bloomington Convention Center. \n“This (exhibit) is always a great success,” Gaul said. “We like doing it because it features local talent and I think that’s very important.”\nBeth Sluys, a 15-year quilting bee member, said the group started with a few women taking a beginning quilting class. She said the women did not know each other, but by the end of the class, the women decided to keep getting together to quilt, ultimately forming the quilting bee. \nGaul said after last year’s quilting exhibit, Sluys contacted her about her bee participating in this year’s show. \nSluys said she wanted her bee to show at the Mathers Museum exhibit. She said she saw the first quilting show held at the museum and wanted her group to share their quilting with the community, as well.\n“Bee-Town Quilts” features quilts that were constructed in a variety of manners – some traditional and some more contemporary. \nSome quilters use machines to piece their fabric together while others quilt entirely by hand. Either way, Gaul said this is a very long process to complete. \nOne quilt features black and white photos of famous men and women, and another, titled “Circle of Love,” is a representation of a family album going in clockwise order in the shape of a pie, with dates embroidered on the outside of the circle above each addition and experience of the quilter’s family.\nGaul said the bees from this group work individually on their own projects, but occasionally work on one quilt together. \nJennifer Deam, a newer member of the group, said the inspiration for her quilt came from her teenage daughter cutting out magazine pictures and making collages. She started collecting material of all sorts. Deam wanted her quilt to look free-framed and unplanned. Her quilt is a collage of skulls, Elvis, a geisha woman and many other different patterns. \nGaul said some of the quilts were done within the year, while others are projects from various years. The quilts are on display in the hallway of the museum. Each quilt has a particular size, shape and design. Some quilts are very avant-garde with very abstract patterns while others are more traditional. \nSluys said the inspiration for her “Fractal Fractioning” quilt came when she was in the geology building and saw a copy of Nature magazine laying around. The magazine had an image on the cover that reminded her of a quilt. The article in the magazine had to do with the earth’s crust fractionation and held a tiny illustration that later became the pattern for her quilt, she said. \nSluys said she has been quilting since she was 18 years old. \n“(Quilting) is in my blood,” Sluys said. “(This group) has created lifelong friendships and a (mutual) love of the craft.”\nThe Mathers Museum is free to all and is located at 416 N. Indiana Ave. and is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
(01/31/08 5:00am)
Because of the times we live in, I expected a movie about cyber crime to dwell on the moral and legal aspects of such crimes. I was wrong.\n"Untraceable" was a generic thriller, its only redeeming qualities being the technological splendor of the FBI's Portland, Ore., headquarters and the cautionary social commentary about the freaks who troll the Web and the awful things those freaks will do when not burdened by social stigmas.\nAfter opening with an exploration of the killer's basement lair, the movie cuts to Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane), a young FBI agent who, while working late one night, discovers www.killwithme.com, where someone on the other end of a Webcam is killing people by automating the murder weapons and linking them to a Web counter. Every hit the site gets brings the victim closer to death. \nThe pervasive use of computer jargon and "1337"-speak ("ROFLMAO," the killer gloats after his first kill -- i.e., "rolling on the floor laughing my ass off") time-stamps this film as a product of the 21st century. Otherwise, it would have been any mystery-esque horror movie. One insane villain, one plucky officer of the law and some creative ways to destroy the human form equal a visual romp, but not much else. \nDespite its running time being less than two hours, this movie felt long. One murder isn't enough time for Marsh and her cubicle buddy stereotypical cyber geek Griffin Dowd (Colin Hanks), to figure out which local residence houses the killing floor. By the time another person and yet another person were strung up, I found myself yawning and tapping my foot, restless for the end. Instead of creating tension in taking a human life, "Untraceable" made its victims expendable and therefore offered no emotional argument against the masses who were killing with a click. \nUnless you're someone whose goal in life is to see any film that involves maiming, don't pay to see this at a theater. Wait until it's released on DVD, or better, venture into the Internet's series of tubes and download it to your PC. Until then, I've GTG, but there's MTC.
(01/31/08 3:59am)
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management granted Duke Energy an air permit for its proposed coal plant in southwest Indiana on Jan. 25, allowing construction of the new plant to begin. \nThe air permit was approved for the 630-megawatt coal gasification power plant –\ntouted by Duke Energy as a “clean coal plant” – in Edwardsport Station, Ind., Duke Energy spokeswoman Angeline Protogere said. The permit allows the state to make sure Duke is in compliance with the law, and also regulates how much pollution is released into the air, she said. \nThe plant, which Protegere calls “one of the cleanest coal-fire power plants in the world,” will be completed in 2012, replacing another coal plant in the same location. The new plant will cost about $2 billion to construct, and will result in an average electric rate increase of 16 percent, Protogere said.\nThe plant will have the ability to produce 10 times more energy than the existing plant. The energy from the plant will serve Bloomington residents and other customers across Indiana, Protegere said. \nBarry Sneed, public information officer for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, said the plant will release less sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury particulate emissions than the old plant because of the technology used.\n“The net amount of pollution in the air will be much less,” Sneed said. “This plant will be much more efficient than the old plant.”\nProtogere said the plant will run around-the-clock but will produce fewer pollutants than the current facility. According to the Duke Energy Web site, the current 160-megawatt plant at Edwardsport runs less than 30 percent of the time and emits about 13,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates in an average year. The new plant running 100 percent of the time will emit about 2,900 tons of these pollutants annually. \nThe plant will produce more carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to global warming, Protegere said. However, the rate per-megawatt-hour that this gas will be emitted is less than the current plant, she said.
(01/29/08 4:06am)
A new orthopedics and neuroscience unit will soon make its home at Bloomington Hospital. \nMyron Lewis, executive director of Bloomington Hospital’s Regional Neuroscience Institute and Regional Orthopedics Center, said the unit, which will have several private rooms and a therapy gym, is scheduled to open in July. \nThe project will involve an existing unit that was previously leased by Select Specialty Hospital, whose program in Bloomington closed last fall. \n“We expect to have final drawings completed and approved by the State in February and for construction of the new 23-bed orthopedic and neuroscience unit to start in March,” Lewis said. \nA majority of the rooms will be private, Lewis said. It will also have a therapy gym for patients to receive physical and occupational therapy. The hospital has allocated funds to pay for the new unit, he said. \n“Each year, the hospital invests in equipment upgrades and services,” Lewis said. “In previous years, we have purchased new MRI and CT scanners, as well as built a new Women and Children’s unit.” \nSonya Zeller, executive director of Bloomington Hospital’s Regional Cancer Institute, said in addition to the new orthopedics and neuroscience unit, the hospital’s current 27-bed Acute Ortho and Neuro Unit will be converted into a medical unit. \n“Overall, the changes should lead to the addition of approximately 11 beds and additional private rooms to the hospital’s main campus,” Zeller said. \nZeller said the hospital will be able to care for more patients in Bloomington, especially those facing joint replacement and orthopedic surgery. \n“We have the expertise, the compassion, the technology and now the dedicated space to provide a high quality, positive experience for these patients,” Zeller said.
(01/22/08 5:13am)
For the first time, early cancer detection will be routine thanks to BioCurex, Inc., a biotechnology company in Canada that has developed the technology to identify a cancer marker present in malignant cancer cells and absent in most normal cells. The technology could be available some time this year.\n“Everyone knows if you catch cancer early, you have a better chance of stopping it,” said Terry Johnston, spokesman for BioCurex.\nThe cancer marker RECAF is able to differentiate cancer cells from nornal cells, Johnston said. Discovered by researcher and director of BioCurex Ricardo Moro, RECAF is found only in cancerous cells and not in healthy ones.\nJohnston said that RECAF, which is present on all malignant cells, is more than 90 percent effective at indicating the presence of cancer. RECAF has a high sensitivity and specificity to breast and lung cancer, which are two forms of cancer for which there are no available tests. \nThis new technology looks very promising, said Janice Ross, manager of the Olcott Center for Cancer Education at Bloomington Hospital. \n“One of the most promising aspects of this test kit is early detection,” Ross said. “Some people may have no signs of cancer, but with this test, people would be able to see if they do.”\nPeople who smoke have a high risk for developing lung cancer and, with this technology, people could be tested once a year, perhaps more, allowing lung cancer to be caught in an early stage.\n“It would be great to have a test that is simple and easy to see if people have cancer,” said Laura Ohl, registered nurse and oncology unit coordinator for Bedford Regional Medical Center.\nJohnston said BioCurex signed with Abbott Diagnostics, the third largest company in cell and diagnostic tools in the world. In addition, BioCurex is working in conjunction with Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc., which is a global leader in rapid point-of-care diagnostics. \nJohnston said when people currently go to get tested for cancer, doctors snip a piece of the skin cell. However, this type of testing can sometimes lead to false positives because of infection in the body, Ross said.\nOhl said there was no routine test a person could get for all cancers. \nRoss added that testing for cancer is specific to the type of cancer. For instance, to check for breast cancer, women get a mammogram; for colon cancer, doctors take several types of x-ray and true-positive (TP) scans. \n“With this new test, (BioCurex is) hoping to have the one test to diagnose all types of cancer,” Ross said.\nJohnston added cancer screening is not a common event. He said that at age 47, he has never had a cancer screening nor has his doctor ever mentioned it. \nOhl added that doctors do not test for cancer unless the patient is experiencing symptoms.\n“Some people only get screened if they develop certain symptoms, but by that time the cancer (could be) throughout the body,” Johnston said.\nJohnston said BioCurex’s goal is to distribute a cancer detection kit that will be as common as a simple blood test each time a person goes to the doctor. With the cancer detection kit, doctors will be able to determine if the marker is in the blood, which can then put them on the path of finding where the cancer is.\nRoss said that once doctors are aware the cancer marker is present, they can turn to other types of tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x-rays to determine the exact location of the cancer. \n“This will make early detection of cancer routine; right now it is not,” Johnston said. “If that could happen, millions of lives would be saved.”\nJohnston said the company wants to see tens of millions of these kits available in the market. He also added that BioCurex is working on an even faster test called the Rapid Test, where a quick prick of blood would show a person instantly if there is cancer present. This test will be similar to ACCU-CHEK, which diabetics use to test their blood-sugar levels by pricking their finger. He said the Rapid Test is still a few years away from being approved.\nJohnston said the cancer-detection kits are pre-market right now. He said that Abbott Diagnostics, which will be commercializing the product, will do the clinical trials and then the product will be up for Food and Drug Administration approval.
(01/18/08 3:35am)
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Shalom Community Center will sponsor the third-annual Children’s Health Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, located at 219 E. Fourth Street. \nShalom Center Director Joel Rekas said the principle goal is to improve access to health and dental care for all, especially for local families living in poverty. \nThe event is free, and all families, regardless of economic standing, are encouraged to attend, he said. Those who attend will receive free health packets filled with items such as Children’s Tylenol and a thermometer, Rekas said. \n“I think this is a fun and great way to spend Martin Luther King Day,” Rekas said about volunteering for the program.\nRekas said that in addition to free food, this festive event will also feature a clown. However, the central piece of the fair will be the mobile dentists, sponsored by the Children’s Dental Health Foundation, a non-profit organization. \nKelly Matteson, state manager for Indiana Mobile Dentists, said they provide teeth cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants. Parents interested in getting their children’s teeth cleaned can fill out a permission slip, and if they have insurance, can write it down at that time; dentists will later bill their insurance. If they do not have any insurance, grant funding will pay for their visit. \nMatteson said seeing the Mobile Dentists is less expensive than going to a dentist’s office. \n“This is an opportunity for getting in touch with people and kids who don’t usually go to a dentist,” Matteson said. “We come to (the kids) who won’t otherwise be seen because they don’t have insurance, and paying out of pocket is a lot of money.” \nIU and several other local health organizations will also participate, and the Atwater Eye Clinic will offer free eye exams.\nSheila Evans, Community Health and Education program manager for Bloomington Hospital, said the hospital will perform children’s lead screenings and provide lead-swabbing kits for parents to test toys for lead. She said the hospital will host a program about proper car seat safety, as well. \nEvans said representatives from Community Health and Education will also be talking about Women, Infants and Children, a nutrition education and food supplement program for low-income families. The Community Health and Education Program donated items for gift bags, including nutrition and hygiene pamphlets about proper hand washing. \nEvans said that the Commnunity Health and Education program provides health education seminars in an effort to distribute health and resource information within the community. \n“This event is an opportunity for families to learn about what resources are out there and educate them,” Evans said. \nRekas said event volunteers can help in a variety of ways, such as working with parents to complete paperwork, leading children in activities while waiting to see a dentist or helping distribute food.\nHe said students interested in volunteering should contact Pam Kinnaman, volunteer and resource coordinator for the Shalom Center at 334-5728.
(01/15/08 5:20am)
Several different credit card companies offer their customers incentives for taking their cards. These incentives can range from earning points for free trips to programs allowing them to pay monthly bills with their card. Picking the right card and being responsible is key to maintaining good credit standing.\n“Credit cards aren’t a bad thing – they serve a purpose,” said Robert McManus, branch manager of Chase bank in Bloomington. \nVery few people abuse their credit cards, McManus said. Credit cards offer people the chance to build credit and get something in return, such as reward points.\nMcManus said a woman in his branch uses her card to pay monthly bills and then writes one check to the credit card company. Her rewards allow her to get cash cards for each one of her kids to use as spending money for vacation.\nHowever, McManus said if a person decides to use his or her card for monthly bill payments, it is important to find out if there will be any hidden fees from each individual company. For example, an electric company could have a service they use that charges the customer for it. Instead of just treating the card as a purchase, the individual service could take a cash advance on the credit card. Therefore, it is important to call to find out how the process will work.\nAmerican Express is one credit card company that allows customers to use their card for monthly bill payments. Sarah Meron, spokeswoman for American Express, said the program is available to any customer with an American Express brand card. \nMeron said American Express offers an award-winning membership rewards program with a variety of incentives for customers to use. Members’ rewards can earn points for travel, shopping, jewelry, televisions and much more, she said.\nMichael Courtney, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation branch library coordinator, said he has three credit cards that offer rewards. One card offers a reward points program that is one point for every dollar spent. \n“You are able to redeem accrued points for either items out of their catalog, such as watches, stereos and iPods, or gift cards from certain merchants like Best Buy,” Courtney said.\nCourtney said he can also receive travel incentives such as money off of airfares and hotel and car rentals. His other card is a “travel rewards” card that earns points based upon travel-related spending. This third card is a straight $1 spent equals one frequent flier mile, which goes into his frequent flier account. \nAlthough some credit card companies now allow their customers to pay their rent and monthly bills, such as water and electric, McManus said people make the conscious decision when they want to use their card and for what reasons they use the card. Using a credit card to pay monthly bills is not necessarily a bad thing because rent and monthly bills are considered purchases, and therefore there is no hidden interest attached.\nMcManus said it is important to build credit and be responsible while doing so. This means paying monthly bills on time. The more responsible people are with their cards, the lower their risk is to creditors, he said. Lower risk equals a better interest rate on purchases such as cars and housing. \n“Your money takes care of you, so you need to take care of your money,” McManus said.
(01/15/08 4:34am)
It is a common misconception that too much vitamin C can harden a person’s arteries, but dietitians say in most cases, reasonable doses of vitamin C are necessary to be healthy. \n“Vitamin C is good for people because it helps in many aspects of benefiting your body,” said Samantha Schaefer, registered dietitian for Bloomington Hospital.\nA person only needs to consume 10 milligrams of vitamin C per day, said Hilary Elliot, registered dietitian for the IU Health Center. However, 60 milligrams is the recommended amount.\nTomatoes, cabbage, green peppers, potatoes and, of course, all citrus fruit contain vitamin C, said Shari Zee, registered nurse for Wishard, a hospital in Indianapolis. And just one cup of strawberries or one medium orange will give the consumer the needed allotment of vitamin C, according to the Yale-New Haven Hospital Web site. \nHowever, pregnancy, breast feeding, hyperthyroidism, surgery and burns can all increase the body’s need for vitamin C, Zee said. \nWhether people get their daily intake through citrus or some other vitamin entity, it protects the body and defends it against illness and viruses, Zee said. \n“Vitamin C supports the body in an effort to heal,” she said. “Vitamin C has healing qualities that help with all tissue and blood cells in the body.” \nTherefore, consuming the vitamin through drinking orange juice might help students heal when they are sick. \n“Vitamin C is essential for cell formations,” Zee said. “Vitamin C is also a proven antioxidant.” \nHowever, in high doses vitamin C can cause diarrhea, kidney stones and for women, changes in the menstrual cycle, Zee said. A high dosage is any amount more than 5,000 milligrams per day, according to the Yale-New Haven Hospital Web site. \nAnd if a person is on medication, such as those for blood clotting, too much vitamin C can undo the effects of the medication, Schaefer said.\nStill, a lack of vitamin C in the average diet can cause adverse effects in the body, such as bleeding on the skin around the gums and hair, and can affect a person’s heart rate, Zee said. In the most serious instance, scurvy can occur, Zee said. Scurvy can cause formation of liver spots, spongy gums and bleeding from all mucous membranes. \nBut all vitamins and minerals in the body work together as one, Elliot said. Therefore, the lack of one vitamin or mineral alone will not entirely make a person sick, but it can help weaken the body’s defenses. \nSchaefer said this misconception that too much vitamin C can harden a person’s arteries stems from a study conducted in 2000 by James Dwyer. However, Schaefer said the study was never published, nor were the results ever confirmed.
(01/14/08 2:06am)
Every year, people fall victim to Internet scams in the hope of getting some kind of reward or extra cash, and recent reports from the Indiana State Police show the Bloomington area is no exception.\nTrooper Cameron McCreary of the Indiana State Police Versailles Post recently investigated two Internet scams, one involving a 21-year-old male from Vevay, who got an e-mail regarding work as a “payment assistant,” according to an Indiana State Police news release. The second involved an e-mail about a dog for sale.\nSgt. Curt Durnil, public information officer and recruiter for the Indiana State Police, said in cases of Internet scams, there is not a lot the police can do. Since the majority of Internet scams come from around the country, he said, the lines of jurisdiction cross from county to county and state to state, which makes it difficult for law enforcement to establish its case.\n“Even though (officers) are all under the same federal constitution, different states have different laws that require different aspects of a case to establish probable cause,” Durnil said.\nChris Soghoian, Ph.D. student in the IU department of Informatics, said one of the most popular scams is commonly known as the “Nigerian 419,” an “advance fee fraud” scheme he said has been in existence through regular postal mail for more than 20 years. In almost all cases, Soghoian said, the e-mails appear to come from someone in an African country claiming to have large amounts of money that are trapped or frozen.\nWith this scam, the criminal promises to give the person a percent of the money for helping get the money out of the country, when in reality they are going to steal from the victims’ account, Soghoian said.\nSoghoian said most scams are sent through e-mail and in the future may come by telephone as well. He said the vast majority of scams are created by people outside the U.S., where wages are significantly lower than they are here, and the risk of getting caught is significantly lower.\n“These scams promise everything and deliver nothing,” Soghoian said.\nSoghoian said these criminals can get anyone’s e-mail address if the address is listed as public, such as when a student has his or her e-mail address on their Web page or on Facebook. Criminals use programs that can go around the net looking for e-mail addresses they can send these scams to, he said.\nWhen people report a scam, Durnil said, an investigating officer will immediately guide victims through what they need to do to stop the criminal’s damage. He said this involves shutting down credit or debit cards by reporting to the company or financial institution that the card has been stolen or compromised. He said people would go through the same process if their Social Security number was stolen or compromised.\n“The financial companies then work with law enforcement to bring the suspects to justice,” Durnil said. “The financial companies can provide paper trails and possibly video tapes of the suspects attempting to use the cards or numbers.”\nDurnil said there are ways to identify an Internet scam before becoming the victim of one. He said that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. In addition, consumers can contact the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General’s office or others who might already be involved with the Internet business in question.\n“It is your money; handle it with care,” Durnil said. “Doing research and asking questions is a major part of the process.”\nFor more information, visit www.ustreas.gov/usss.
(01/10/08 5:53am)
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department recently announced that it has received a $2,294 grant from the Raymond Foundation to hold a series of nature days for local sixth-grade students. \n“Leonard Springs Nature Day is a program for sixth-grade Monroe County Community School Corporation students to learn about multiple environmental topics relative to Indiana,” said Angie Smith, natural resources coordinator for the department. \nKim Williams, coordinator of High Ability Education for the Monroe County Community School Corporation, said the program idea came about through a partnership among the Sycamore Land Trust, Bloomington Parks and Recreation and MCCSC.\n“Leonard Springs Park is a unique setting full of all types of ‘environmental laboratories,’” Williams said. \nSmith said Bloomington Parks and Recreation is facilitating stations on creek monitoring and health, wetland bird habitat and identification, soil composition and forest ecology.\nWilliams added that the students would be studying water quality and soil composition. The history of the area and the natural setting of the park are also integrated into the day’s activities, she said. \nThe grant money from the Raymond Foundation will be used to purchase additional supplies, as Bloomington Parks and Recreation plans to expand the program from last year, Smith said. \n“Some of the supplies we will be purchasing include additional binoculars and two spotting scopes for bird identification, water monitoring test kits and some forestry equipment,” she said. \nWilliams said sixth-grade students from five elementary schools participated in last year’s program. This year, sixth-grade students from nine MCCSC schools will participate.\nWilliams said that next year, students from all the MCCSC elementary schools will participate in the program. \nLeonard Springs Nature Day will be an annual event for local sixth-grade students. \n“In the future, we hope to develop additional educational programs for elementary students in other grades using the resources and uniqueness of the many city parks in Bloomington,” Williams said. \nSmith said they are still seeking volunteers to help out with the program. \nKim Ecenbarger, special services coordinator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said that at each nature day, there will be stations set up where volunteers can teach instructional pieces about different aspects of the environment and why each are important.\nLast year, students from the IU Department of Biology and School of Public and Environmental Affairs volunteered, Ecenbarger said.\nAny students or community members interested in volunteering to help with the program can contact Ecenbarger at ecenbark@bloomington.in.gov or Angie Smith at smithan@bloomington.in.gov.
(12/06/07 5:36am)
Pet-related Web site www.zootoo.com is sponsoring the first-ever national animal shelter contest, and the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter is in the running. Community participation will determine the winner.\nThe top prize will be a makeover worth up to $1 million. \nLaurie Ringquist, director of the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter, said the shelter received a packet of information describing the contest and encouraging the shelter to participate. Ringquist said any shelter can participate, and all her shelter had to do was register at the Web site zootoohouse.org. Zootoo House is the Zootoo branch dedicated to aiding pet shelters. \n“We ask community members to go to (zootoohouse.org) and select our shelter and ... write reviews of products or local veterinarians,” Ringquist said.The contest was created by Richard Thompson, former Chief Executive Officer of the cat food company Meow Mix. When he left the company, he started zootoo.com, the first user-generated, opinion-sharing Web site for the pet community, said Renee Lane, business development director of Zootoo. Thompson devised this contest as a way to give back to the pet community.\n“We have created a platform to give the pet community a voice,” Lane said. “Pet lovers and owners can go to zootoo.com to find out information on pets, pet products and pet services.”\nShe said the contest was created to increase awareness, support and funding for shelters nationwide.\nPeople wanting to help the shelter need to register only once, she said. From there, every time people post a review or comment, the shelter they selected earns credits.\nThe contest ends March 31, 2008, and the top 20 shelters will all receive a prize. Members of the Zootoo House Advisory Board will visit each shelter to evaluate their needs and assess how Zootoo House can best facilitate enhancements, Lane said.\nWhile the shelter with the most points wins a shelter makeover worth up to $1 million, the shelter with the second highest points will receive a $10,000 cash reward. The 18 other shelters will receive $5,000 each, Ringquist said. \nThe City of Bloomington Animal Shelter is currently ranked No. 39 of 3,840 shelters on the site. \n“There is a limit to how many times per day (people) can go on and review, but (they) can go visit the site everyday.”\nRingquist said the reason the City of Bloomington entered the contest is to win the shelter makeover.\nShe said the entire shelter is about 10,000 square feet and is evenly divided. The newer part opened in May 2003. The older part is 5,000 square feet. Ringquist said the shelter would like to knock down the old part of the building and completely rebuild it. Currently, the old part of the building is the area that houses sick animals.\n“Part of our building is new, the other part is 30 years old,” Ringquist said. “We would love to remodel that part of the building and do the best we can for the animals.”
(12/04/07 2:57am)
As students venture forth after graduation, furthering their education sometimes proves to be the ideal choice. Some choose graduate school, others, law school; others opt for a different degree: the MBA, or Master of Business Administration.\nWith application deadlines looming for MBA programs, business and non-business students alike must decide if earning an MBA is the right choice for them.\nMark Brostoff, associate director for undergraduate career services at IU’s Kelley School of Business, said most undergraduates do not seek an MBA degree directly after graduating. Only a highly select few go for their MBA right after their undergraduate degree. \n“MBA programs are looking for students who can apply real work experience to concepts and ideas,” Brostoff said. \nRobby Spigner, a 2005 Kelley School alumnus, said he has decided not to pursue his MBA yet because of the work \nexperience factor. \n“You can relate more of the material if you have had firsthand experience,” Spigner said.\nSpigner added that the top tier schools like to see at least three years of work experience before one goes for an MBA. \nFor students who are planning to pursue an MBA, Brostoff said, deciding between a part-time and full-time position is not a major one. The decision depends on what a person has going on in their life such as income and time. \n“Whether you complete an MBA full-time or part-time, the qualities and values (one) learns is close to the same,”\nBrostoff said.\nBrostoff added that students, no matter their major, can seek an MBA after college, since an undergraduate business degree is not needed for success at a higher level.\nTherefore, Brostoff encourages students interested in an MBA to start preparing while in school. He suggests taking a variety of courses, such as overseas internships, or learning a second language. By doing this, students can differentiate themselves and become more marketable to schools.\n“Students with a wide range of experience and diversity will look more appealing to MBA programs,” Brostoff said. \nBrostoff said IU has a very good MBA program. The average age for students admitted to IU’s full-time MBA program for the class of 2009 is 28, according to the Kelley School Web site. Thirty-two percent of students have an undergraduate business degree, while 26 percent have one in the social science and \nhumanities area.\nSpigner added that not having an MBA does hinder him in situations where he is potentially looking to make a \ncareer change. \n“In consulting, having an MBA gives you more credibility,” Spigner said. “If you are not on the ‘fast track’ already, it is hard to get to it without going back to get your MBA.”\nFor example, Spigner said, it is hard for people to move into management or strategy consulting if they did not start in it right after obtaining an undergraduate degree. \n“I think the value of an MBA depends on whether you are on the ‘fast track’ or not,” Spigner said.
(11/30/07 5:19pm)
In 1958, Spencer County resident Duane Walter went on a boat ride down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to commemorate the trip Lincoln took 130 years before and to celebrate Lincoln’s 150th birthday. Walter described his trip as a “real adventure.” \nWalter will experience the same adventure and beautiful river scenery again in September 2008 when he takes a similar boat trip, called “Lincoln’s Journey of Remembrance,” in honor of Lincoln’s 200th birthday.\n“Not everyone knows that Lincoln lived in Spencer County for 14 years,” Walter said. “He came here when he was seven and left when he was 21.”\nThe 26-day journey is designed to “raise awareness” of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday on February 12, 2009, said Melissa Miller, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. The trip will kick off in Rockport, Ind., and end in New Orleans.\n“While in New Orleans, Lincoln was very disturbed by a slave auction he witnessed on the docks,” Miller said. “This was an experience he would never forget and one that influenced his views on the practice of slavery in years to come.”\nThe boat will be stopping in Owensboro, Ky.; Evansville; Cave-in-Rock, Ill.; New Madrid, Mo.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Baton Rouge, La.\nShe said the goal of the trip is not only to pay tribute to Lincoln’s legacy, but also to educate people about the various attractions honoring Lincoln in Spencer County, such as the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln State Park and Amphitheatre, Lincoln Ferry Park and the Lincoln Pioneer Village. \n“Although Lincoln was born in Kentucky and rose to political fame in Illinois, many of the lessons he learned growing up in Indiana formed his character and influenced the decisions he made as President,” Miller said. \nJohn Cooper, who constructed the vessel for the voyage, said it looks like a pioneer flatboat, similar to the one Lincoln was on. The inside “looks and smells” very realistic to how it would have in 1828. There will be pots, pans, skillets and corn on board, much like what Lincoln would have had. The boat is 43,000 pounds and took three months to build, he said.\nCooper said all of the lumber came from a farm in Sullivan, Ind., which is also where the boat was made. He said the boat has “two or three” rooms and a bathroom facility. \n“This trip gives people the chance to see what life was like in the late 1700s/early 1800s,” Cooper said. “The reason I do this is because it is the best means to understand U.S. history.” \nWalter said the trip is interesting because it is a recreation of an actual event that happened in history.\n“This is a chance for people in Indiana to take pride in the fact that our state helped shape this frontier boy into a great man,” Miller said. “We’re excited about taking the story of Lincoln’s Indiana heritage down-river to share with people all over the country.”
(11/29/07 4:36am)
Jewelry is more than a display of diamonds and gems, but rather a reflection on culture. \nCurrently, the IU Art Museum is displaying the work of sculptor and jewelry designer Marjorie Schick. Inspired by this, independent scholar Tacey Rosolowski will lecture at 6:30 p.m. today in Woodburn Hall on how studio and art jewelers are creating objects that give a new look at culture. \nThe lecture is being co-sponsored by the Department of the History of Art’s Robert & Avis Burke Lecture Series, in conjunction with the IU Art Museum, said Jenny McComas, curator of Western art after 1800. \nMcComas said that Schick is a touring artist. Roslowski, who will be giving today’s lecture, is the curator for Schick. McComas said the lecture will be a slide show and discussion looking at jewelry in a larger cultural context. \n“Rather than creating jewelry to be pretty,” McComas said, “some jewelers want to make jewelry that reflects the culture we live in using non-traditional materials.”\nThe lecture is free and open to all students who wish to attend. McComas said that Schick’s work encompasses a large part of the body. Her exhibit at the museum is wearable sculpture, where pieces are designed to be placed and worn on the body. She said the pieces designed by McComas are not things one would wear in everyday life because they are mostly large cages and frames. \nAn example of how studio and art jewelers are creating objects to give people a new look at our culture is artist Jan Yager, who collects used crack vials and syringes. From these she creates ornaments that capture the urban tragedy of the crack epidemic and link it to the West’s colonization of the New World, said Rosolowski in an e-mail interview. \nIn an e-mail, Rosolowski said futurist jewelers examine the role of technology in life, making ritual objects from computer parts or brilliant ornaments for the new, post-industrial millennium that flash with electronic light. \n“These objects make us appreciate the art that forms a powerful lens, making us re-see our society and culture,” Roslowski said in an e-mail interview. \nIn addition, Rosolowski’s lecture will discuss other aspects linking culture to art. \n“This lecture is a good opportunity (for students) to learn something about another art form,” McComas said. \nTo view Schick’s exhibit or other exhibits, visit the IU Art Museum’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
(11/27/07 2:43am)
IU senior Abbey Stemler traveled to Ecaudor during the summer of 2006 as an intern with the Timmy Foundation, an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization. Once her internship was over, Stemler hoped to continue to support Timmy. The result? The Virtu Project, designed by Stemler and other students in IU’s Liberal Arts and Management program.\nThe Virtu Project, which debuted Nov. 16, is a social entrepreneurship initiative that uses pledges from donors to a mock investment portfolio. The money raised is then given to the Indianapolis-based Timmy Foundation.\n“The project challenges almost every skill that a LAMP student works on developing, such as communication, writing, financial savvy, balance, negotiation and business know-how,” said Stemler, one of the project’s co-founders. \nAdam Clevenger, associate director for development for the Timmy Foundation, said the foundation has been in a partnership with IU for over five years. The foundation, which works to provide education and health care for children in financially needy regions of Central and South America, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, has offered internship opportunities to students. \nStemler said the project took two years and lots of meetings to build momentum and clearly define goals and strategies. \nMelissa Bailey, LAMP student advisory board member, said that Stemler, senior Vic Simianu and herself took a LAMP sophomore seminar together, which analyzed the effects of globalization and capitalism on American society as well as the rest of the world. \n“We were interested in how business can benefit others, and thus grow a desire to combine our business skills with our ideals,” Bailey said. \nStemler said the project involves three teams, all of whom work closely with one another. The fund development team focuses on procuring donations for the mock portfolio, while the investment team manages the mock portfolio and hopefully earns a significant return, she said. The accountability team keeps track of all pledges as well as reports for donors, and its members write follow-up letters once it is time for the donors to fulfill their pledges. \nClevenger said the students will be asking donors to pledge a certain amount of money. Virtu Project members will then invest this money into a mock stock market that was developed with faculty. The mock market will run as a normal stock market. If there is a profit at the end of the year, students will ask the donors to make a donation based on the net earnings of the initial amount.\n“If a donor pledges $10,000 and at the end of the year if there is a profit, they will be asked to donate $1,000 to the Timmy Foundation,” Clevenger said. \nBailey said her work on the Virtu Project has allowed her to further her interest in communications and event planning. Bailey organized the inaugural gala for the project. \n“Virtu is a business; we must understand how to work and communicate with others, clearly articulate our aim with Virtu to donors and develop and monitor a mock portfolio,” Bailey said. “The project allows us to use what we have been studying before we graduate and have our first job.”\nStemler added that the Timmy Foundation is a remarkable organization and its approach parallels precisely with that of Virtu. Students get hands-on learning opportunities, such as traveling abroad with medical professionals to set up short-term service trips. \nClevenger said that this project is a learning experience for students without the risks of the real stock market. \n“Students get the opportunity to invest while supporting the Timmy Foundation,” Clevenger said.\n Stemler described the project as a conduit for learning and instrument for change.\n“The project provides students with an educational opportunity that classrooms cannot,” she said. “The end result of the project will help many more people than just those who learned something.”
(11/13/07 3:11am)
For those who like maps, geology, geography or even aerial photos, Wednesday’s Geographic Information Systems Day offers an opportunity to learn more about careers in this field.\nScheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Herman B Wells Library, GIS Day is a global event for users of Geographic Information Systems technology to educate others on how geography makes a difference in people’s everyday lives. GIS grew out of geography and has a very broad array of applications, including the study of topics like environmental change, water resources, market research and sustainable development, said Tom Evans, associate professor of geography.\n“GIS is a methodological tool that is used across disciplines on campus,” Evans said.\nThis year’s event will have several opportunities for students. Anna Radue from University Information Technology Services’ Data Management Services said each participant will have a table for demonstrations and will be given 15 minutes to present their topic. \nRadue said the goal of GIS Day is to make students aware of GIS technology and how it helps people with their everyday lives. The event is free and is open to all students.\n“GIS Day provides an opportunity for the community of students and scholars at IU to get together at a single event and share finding from research projects,” Evans said.\nOne demo table expected at the event is the GIS jobs table set up and run by Nancy Obermeyer, associate professor of geography at Indiana State University. This demo will be about different GIS job possibilities and will be given from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m. Another demo, titled “New Indiana Properties Database,” will be presented by Carol Rogers of the Indiana Business Research Center. This demo will be from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.\nThere will be a keynote speaker from noon to 1 p.m. in the library conference room, E174. The speaker will be Gilbert Rochon, associate vice president for collaborative research and geoinformatics at Purdue University. He will be speaking on “The Evolution, Applications and Convergence of Geographic Information Systems and Satellite Remote Sensing.” \nRadue said having a keynote speaker from Purdue gives IU a chance to interact with this school. In addition to the demonstrations and the keynote speaker, there will also be games, give-aways and department booths, she said.\nRadue said that some examples of GIS in the real world include Google Maps, Global Positioning Systems and Microsoft Virtual Earth. She added that there are many career fields that use GIS, including engineering, real estate, emergency management and the federal government. \n“Students will have the opportunity to talk with GIS professionals to learn more about this cutting edge technology, including jobs and career options in this growing field,” Radue said.
(11/13/07 2:52am)
The IU School of Education has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.\nThe grant will form a partnership between the School of Education at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and three Indianapolis Public Schools to implement a five-year project to better prepare teachers of English Language Learners, said Annela Teemant, assistant professor of second/foreign language education at IUPUI. \n“The need for something like this is so intense,” said Beth Berghoff, associate professor of language education at IUPUI. “Our immigrant population is doubling every year and teachers are being faced with the challenge of teaching students who do not really understand English.” \nThe grant was written by the IU School of Education because there is a need for more teachers to be prepared to teach English language learners. This grant will prepare 20 faculty in two years and a total of 180 teachers in the span of five years to redesign their curriculums and teaching styles.\nBerghoff said the goal is to redesign the English language learner program at the University level. She said this involves bringing professors together and teaching them how to teach their students majoring in English language learners how to teach. \nThe grant works in four phases. The first phase takes 75 English language learner teachers and prepares them based on rigorous assessments and activities that aid in their understanding and development of curriculum materials, she said. \nIn the second phase, University faculty from the School of Science, Liberal Arts, and Education, along with 75 public school teachers from three demonstration school sites, participate in professional development such as workshops and job-embedded coaching, Teemant added. \n“The goal is for these students to learn English and be taught in ways that respect their native language and culture,” Teemant said. \nTeemant said the teachers will be taught how to teach in a way that supports these students and helps them learn. \nIn the last two phases, years three through five, 45 teachers from IPS will be recruited and provided tuition scholarships to complete University requirements for the English as a new language license. In addition, 60 secondary teachers will also receive tuition stipends for participating in intensive summer workshops. \n“(In) years three, four and five, teachers will take redesigned courses following the pedagogy method that works with English language learners,” Teemant said. \nThis grant will result in the redesign of five required undergraduate mathematics/science courses, eight elementary and secondary methods courses in the credential program, seven English as a new language courses and 75 exemplary clinical placement sites at three elementary and secondary schools. \nThese goals, objectives and activities ensure improved teacher performance, curriculum alignment and student achievement. \n“Our plan is complex enough to deliver a new kind of teaching and learning that will go across the University and out into public schools – so that it is deep enough to make a change,” Berghoff said.