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(06/08/06 1:10am)
Last weekend approximately 50 IU faculty and students from both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses traveled to Denver to participate in the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference. IU researchers showcased their work during the meeting and viewed poster presentations, heard lectures and participated in a symposia throughout the weekend. \n"This conference is a chance for a lot of people interested in various areas of sports medicine to get together and share cutting edge research in the field," said Sandra Tecklenberg, an IU student who presented at the conference. "It is also a good chance to network with people who are doing research in the same area to get feedback on current research and new ideas for future research." \nAs a leader in the world of sports medicine, the ACSM's conference brings the world's top sports and exercise scientists together. This year, approximately 6,000 people attended. There were over 4,000 poster or individual presentations and hundreds of major presentations, including large-scale lectures and a symposia. The ACSM is made up of physicians, doctoral students, physical therapists, athletes and coaches. The conference draws upon a very wide range of people in the field, from world class athletes to everyday people. \n"This is the most important sports medicine conference," said John Raglin of the department of kinesiology. "There were thousands of presentations dealing with any conceivable part of sports medicine. You can find something for everybody here."\nRaglin was one of four IU researchers to present at the conference. His research in sports and exercise science has shown the importance of considering psychology in a range of people, from those who just want to start exercising to elite athletes. He conducted research on athletes in the area of over-training and also explored the psychology of why people quit exercise programs. Raglin found that approximately 10 to 15 percent of competitive athletes in intensive training programs will develop overtraining or "staleness" syndrome during their lifetime. The risk of developing this syndrome is possibly twice as high in elite athletes and can occur in children as young as 12. \nIn his presentation, Raglin discussed mood-state monitoring of athletes. He proposed that psychological assessments could give athletes and their coaches a way to detect over-training syndrome before it becomes full-blown and damaging to an athlete's career. This method, which is not frequently used throughout the United States, is used in other countries to help ameliorate staleness in athletes. \nTimothy Mickleborough, also of the department of kinesiology, presented his research during the conference as well. His novel research focused on alleviating asthma and exercise-induced asthma through dietary modification, including low salt diets and taking supplements like fish oil and antioxidants. \n"Doing this could potentially reduce a patient's reliance on pharmaceutical medications, reduce cost and thereby increase their quality of life," Mickleborough said. \nTecklenburg's research also focused on diet and exercise-induced asthma. Specifically, the project she presented dealt with Vitamin C supplementation in correlation with the condition. She found that Vitamin C reduces the symptoms and severity of exercise-induced asthma. "I think [this research] helps researchers to understand about the mechanisms and prevention of symptoms related to the disease." \nGeorgia Frey, an associate professor at IU's department of kinesiology and one of IU's lead researchers at the conference, participated in a symposium titled "Physical Activity Behavior and People with Disabilities: Emerging Issues in Research and Practice." During the symposium she talked with other researchers about the dangers of inactivity for people with disabilities. There has not been nearly as much research done about physical activity in disabled people as non-disabled people, and Frey believes that physical activity researchers need to understand the social, cultural and psychological aspects of living with a disability instead of focusing on the medical status of their handicap. \nGraduate students within the fields of exercise physiology, motor control and biomechanics are selected to attend the conference. This year, somewhere between 15 and 20 IU students went, many of whom were authors of papers that were presented in the conference. The department of kinesiology supported the students and paid their travel expenses for the trip. IU has frequently produced a large turnout at the conference in the past. A few years ago, IU presented the second largest number of research papers in the entire conference. \n"This conference is important for the sports medicine world because the premier sports and exercise scientists around the world get to share ideas and showcase their research," Mickleborough said. "It's a great stimulant for one's own research"
(06/05/06 3:05am)
As officials have dealt with a variety of dangerous drug use on college campuses across the country, a new trend is emerging among college students that health experts warn could lead to serious complications -- the recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication. \nWhile Viagra is medication mainly targeted toward impotent older men, recent studies conducted by the Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital have found that one out of every 18 college-aged men have used Viagra or other sexual enhancement drugs such as Levitra or Cialis before. The research also concluded that half of the men using these medications were doing it recreationally for purposes of enhancing their sexual experience despite having no true medical problems below the belt.\nThe study was done on three different college campuse and a survey taken exclusively at IU turned up conflicting results of the severity of the use in Bloomington. \n"In a questionnaire we asked over 6,000 men and women at IU if they had used Viagra (or similar drugs) and only 2% of men that say they have ever tried it," said Erick Janssen, associate scientist and director of graduate studies at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction. "It is a relatively small number of people who have done it regularly." \nAlthough the Kinsey Institute didn't find the use of Viagra as prevalent on IU's campus as the Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital study did elsewhere, experts caution that those who do use Viagra as a party drug should be wary of the possible consequences.\nThe Chicago study found that 64% of college men who use Viagra recreationally are mixing it with other drugs that weaken the ability to perform sexually such as alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy. These drugs are known to increase sexual drive and reduce inhibitions, but weaken the ability to actually perform. That's where Viagra steps in. \n"I know of no problems mixing Viagra with alcohol. However, if you were doing cocaine, speed or ecstasy, the danger of Viagra is greatly increased," said Dr. Rose Wenrich, a family practitioner. \nResearchers found that those mixing Viagra with other drugs causes the user to be more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors that increase the chances of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, simply because recreational users that pop the pill with other drugs are less likely to wear a condom. \nBecause most people who are taking Viagra as a party drug are not actually prescribed it, Anne Reese, the director of Health and Wellness Education at the IU Health Center, said she theorizes that they are obtaining it from external sources, namely the Internet. \n"The pharmacy here has only prescribed Viagra sporadically in the past year, therefore I am doubting that the larger group of people using it for recreational use are getting it from the health center or other physicians," she said. \nAnother danger of taking Viagra without first consulting a doctor is that certain medications may have a negative reaction when taken with it and can cause dangerously low blood pressure, Reese said. These problematic medications are usually those used to treat heart problems. People who have any sort of heart or circulatory problems should steer clear of Viagra. Viagra also makes it possible to have more sex during a shorter period of time than men who don't have erectile dysfunction would normally be capable of. \nViagra is only one of the many drugs that college students are using to enhance their sexual experiences.\n"When you look at other drugs, the numbers are larger," Janssen said. "Viagra is in that group but is not as widely used. One reason for that might be that it is not as easy to get as some other drugs, like marijuana for example, which we also found was being used to enhance the sexual experience." \nHealth professionals are also concerned about the underlying issues as to why young, seemingly healthy men are feeling that they need to take drugs to intensify their sexual experiences. \n"I know that students talk all the time about improving their sex lives and they want to know what they should do in order to do so," Reese said. "Poor sexual performance at this age could be from a number of problems, such as excess alcohol or drugs, stress or even unknown diabetes, and Viagra is not the best solution in most of those situations." \nFor most college-aged students, using Viagra recreationally probably doesn't pose serious health risks.\n"Viagra is among the least dangerous drugs," Janssen said. "There are a lot of other drugs that students are taking that are much more likely to get them to engage in risky sexual behaviors." \nBut not many studies have been done that can draw firm conclusions on long-term risks of non-impotent men taking anti-impotent drugs, so abusers should be cautious. In fact, other than the study conducted by the Chicago Memorial Children's Hospital, there have been hardly any other conclusive studies completed. \n"There is not very much that's informative out there on this subject (and) there haven't been many decent studies," Janssen said. "One thing that may complicate this research is that while some men have no problem admitting that they have tried Viagra, a lot of men feel uncomfortable and won't want to admit it. It may not be that easy to find out about"
(06/01/06 2:19am)
Within the next month many IU students and recent graduates will have the opportunity to save thousands of dollars by consolidating their federal student loans before the interest rates substantially increase July 1. By consolidating their loans now, students can lock in the lower interest rates for life and reduce their monthly payments by up to $10,000 in the repayment process. \n"The interest rate is currently at 4.7 percent, but after July 1 it will go up to 6.8 percent, and that's quite a change," said Bill Ehrich, associate director of the IU Office of Student Financial Assistance. \nThe current loan rate is the fourth lowest it has ever been in the history of the federal student loan program, but Ehrich said he believes that the rate of 6.8 percent will stick for up to three years. If students consolidate their loans now, the interest rate they pay won't ever change unless they qualify for discounts from the lender. Considering that some students pay loans off for up to 30 years after college, a low interest rate makes a tremendous difference in the amount they will pay over time. \nThe most common type of loan that students use is a Stafford Loan, which is put into law by Congress. The federal interest rate is raised when more people want to borrow. \n"Student loans are subsidized by the federal government," said Robert Jennings, IU professor of finance. "Interest rates increase with the pace of economic activity and inflation."\nThe process of consolidating a loan is relatively simple and can be done by submitting an online application in a matter of minutes. IU students who borrow their loans from Sallie Mae, the largest student loan consolidator in the country, are recommended to consolidate loans through them. When consolidating loans, a borrower's savings will depend not just on the current interest rate, but on the current balance of their loan as well. Students who do not want to fill out an online application can go to the IU financial office for assistance or to receive consultation about their options. \n"I am definitely going to consolidate the loans I've taken out soon," said sophomore Erika Schlichter. "The low rate makes a huge difference, especially for me because I am paying out-of-state tuition."\nEhrich said students looking into their loan consolidation options should beware of false advertising and disreputable organizations.\n"Students should stick with large, well-funded banking organizations like Sallie Mae," Ehrich said. "Some other loan consolidation organizations make offers that are too good to be true, so students should be careful. If someone makes you an offer that's too good to be true, it is." \nHe added many companies that send direct mail and telemarket their services may seem like they are affiliated with the federal government, but they are actually private consolidation brokers who get paid for every loan that they consolidate. \nWith the deadline fast approaching, students only have a limited amount of time to weigh their options.\n"It is important not to wait until the last minute to fill out the application," said Pat Scherschel, vice president of loan consolidation at Sallie Mae. "Lenders need to have a completed application by June 30 to ensure that their borrowers won't incur interest at the higher rate. There's no reason to wait, students should get going on this"
(05/25/06 1:27am)
The IU community has recently voiced various levels of concern as President Bush announced last week a set of comprehensive immigration reform proposals that would include an expanded but restricted guest worker program while also adding extra security to the U.S. and Mexican border. \nThe proposals are currently being debated throughout the government and address the fundamental issue of whether to punish or welcome those who enter the United States illegally.\n"We would not be as a country if it was not for this workforce who is willing to work long hours with little pay and no vacation," said La Casa Director Lillian Casillas. "These are hardworking, loyal folks." \nLa Casa, IU's Latino Culture Center, works to increase cultural awareness and education of the Latino community. It also helps recruit Latino students to come to IU.\nThe guest worker plan allows for undocumented workers to be able to live in the United States as long as they can prove that they are working. Additionally under the proposals, citizenship would be attainable for most illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants would be permitted to stay in the United States, but at a cost. In his speech earlier this week, Bush called for undocumented workers to pay their back-taxes, learn English and work a job over a length of time in order to stay. \nThe past few months have been marked by protests and boycotting all over the United States. A few months ago, The House of Representatives passed a tough bill that would impose fines on employers of illegal immigrants, called for tighter border control and would make becoming a citizen an arduous task. The recent announcement by Bush to send 6,000 National Guard troops to the border has exacerbated tensions in the past weeks. \nRegions and cities with large populations of working, undocumented immigrants are most affected by the reform. While activism is alive within the Latino community of Bloomington, the legislation does not pose a major threat to most people who live in Bloomington or attend IU. \n"In Bloomington, we have Latinos, but they are kind of scattered," Casillas said. "They are not the big numbers that I think the (reform) will have a major impact on. The students I work with are all documented or U.S. citizens. We don't have the sort of worker population here that is in other places."\nDespite the fact that immigration reform does not directly impact Bloomington as much as other places, some students have still felt the ramifications of this bill for people they know. Many students, professors and members within or outside of the Latino community have reacted to the bill.\n"Some students did go protest this because they know families affected by it or are against (the reform)," said Casillas. "Also, I have seen a lot concern at La Casa from non-Latino students."\nAldo Huitzil, a recent IU graduate and involved member of IU's Latino community and La Casa, participated in a protest in Indianapolis recently. \n"We wanted to protest that immigrants help this country grow," he said. "This country has always had a reliance on immigrants. They have been important for so long."\nThere are many reasons why the reform has sparked controversy.\n"Many Latinos think that (it) is wrong-headed because border enforcement has greatly increased since 1994, (but) undocumented immigration has increased as well," said Jorge Chapa, the director of Latino studies at IU.\nHe said America, a country founded on immigrants, has allowed over 80 million people to enter the United States in the past. Jorge proposes that if the United States needs the workers, the government should support the same type of immigration policy that has worked successfully in the past -- such as increasing the legal immigration of permanent residents. \nOther adversaries of the reform argue that illegal immigrants play an important role in the economic scheme of the United States, one that, frankly, no one else wants to fulfil. \nHuitzi said that people are wiling to risk their lives to cross the border for work and that even though they are making low wages and don't get benefits, it is more than they are making in their home countries. \nThe flip side of the bill is that if immigrants do get the guest-worker permits, they would enjoy more protection and benefits of living in the U.S. \n"I am happy to see that they are doing more than saying that they are doing more than building walls," Casillas said. "It's important to know who's here and at the same time that they have certain rights. We can't deny benefit from them."\nOpposition for this aspect of the bill argues that undocumented workers are going unpunished, even rewarded for illegally entering the country. \nHuitzil believes that the best way to reform immigration is to tackle the source of the problem.\n"It's going to get worse before it gets better," he said. "One thing the government can try to do is focus on employers. They need to develop technology that certifies who is legal and who is not so employers have no excuses for hiring illegal immigrants." \nIf this technology were developed, Huitzil theorizes that people in other countries will get the message that there is no work in the U.S., deterring them from attempting illegal entry. \n"The reality is that we are benefiting from them," said Casillas. "The reform is kind of a hypocrisy. But, illegal immigrants should have to do something in order to earn the right to stay here"
(05/25/06 1:25am)
Monday's Gill Award and Symposium drew over 250 people to the Indiana Memorial Union for a day of neurobiology discussions and celebration of the achievement and accomplishment of those in the field. The biennial Symposium honored Harvard professor Carla Shatz's for her research on brain-eye interaction. Shatz received a $25,000 award and presented a keynote lecture.\nIn addition to Shatz's lecture, attendees at the day-long Symposium heard lectures from Dr. Alexander Niculescu of the IU School of Medicine, Anne Prieto and Joseph Steinmetz of the Department of Pyschological and Brain Sciences, Dr. David Bredt of Eli Lilly and Company and both Jack and Linda Gill, founders of the Gill Award and the Gill Center for Biomolecular Science at IU. \nIn addition to giving the award, the Gill Center plays a major role in developing and advancing IU's neuroscience program. The Gill center gives both undergraduate and graduate scholarships, endows faculty chairs in several departments of the College of Arts and Sciences, sponsors neurobiological seminars and is funding the construction of the new Multi-Science building on campus. The Symposium is just one thing the Gills do to bring light to the neuroscience program.\n"The Symposium showcases great science, individual faculty members, as well as attracting scientists and professors from other universities and honor a special one," said Jack Gill.\nShatz's findings have made a profound impact in the neuroscience community. She found that images and activity that come in through the eyes has a direct influence on brain development. In her lecture, Shatz discussed the importance of specific genes and the vast differences between the undeveloped eye of a pre-natal baby and the developed eye. She used color-coded pictures in her presentation to visualize the role that genes play in eye development. \nAssistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Anne Prieto, who lectured during the Symposium, thinks the impact of Shatz's findings have revolutionized neuroscience. \n"In the future, I see the work that she has done being turned into it's own field," she said. "Now we are seeing so many important questions arise just because of her discoveries."\nStudents, professors and the general public alike were welcomed at the Symposium. Throughout the day, attendees could come and go as they please and enjoy breaks for food and conversation. Della Cook, a professor of physical anthropology at IU, stayed throughout the entire day. \n"The Symposium is an exciting way to find out what other people are doing and how they organize their research," she said. "Understanding the biology of brain-eye relations is essential (for neuroscience)."\nMarisa Geoghegan, a recent IU graduate, came to the Symposium to hear Shatz's lecture specifically. \n"Some of the lecture was outside of my area of study, but I really liked (Shatz's) overall message," she said. "The pictures she showed were helpful."\nThe committee that selected Shatz to receive the award considered her as a person as well as a scientist. In the award presentation speech made by Linda Gill, stories about Shatz and quotes from her colleagues and family were used to paint the picture of her as a kind, dedicated and personable individual as well as a brilliant neuroscientist. Shatz is the first woman to receive the Gill Award. \n"She is a great role model for women," said Preito.\nShatz has devoted over two decades to studying the brain. \n"(To accomplish this research) it takes countless hours of work and personal sacrifice, personal attention to her staff and lab assistants, collaboration with researches worldwide, but most importantly an uncompromising search for answers that uncover the mysteries of the brain," Linda Gill said.
(05/22/06 12:48am)
The biennial Gill Symposium and Award ceremony will take place today in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall. The esteemed Gill Award is given to a neuroscientist whose work has significantly contributed to the field of neuroscience. The day-long symposium features lectures and a keynote speech by the award recipient and attracts lead researchers in the field of neuroscience from all over the country to Bloomington.\nThe recipient of this year's $25,000 award is Carla Shatz, a professor of neurobiology at the Harvard University Medical School. Her research in brain development has revolutionized the understanding of brain-eye interaction.\n"Carla has pioneered how brain activity and neuron activity cause the brain to develop," said Alex Goodard, a Ph.D. student at Harvard who works directly with Shatz. "She has shown that activity coming in through your eyes influences development of the brain."\nShatz will be making a keynote lecture in which she describes her findings and research in depth to attendees.\nThe Gill Center for Biomolecular Science gives the award in order to contribute to the neuroscience community at IU. The Gill Center was established by Linda and Jack Gill with the intent of training students in state-of-the-art facilities, giving undergraduates the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research and bringing a top faculty together.\n"It was designed to further IU's neuroscience program," Jack Gill said. \nGill, who received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from IU in 1963, has dedicated his life to re-vamping, improving and bringing attention to the neuroscience research conducted at IU through the work of the Gill Center. Besides giving out the award, the Gill Center has five undergraduate and five graduate endowed scholarships, as well as endowed chairs for professors. Gifts are also given for lecturers to come speak at IU. Recently, the Gill Center has contributed significant funds to help build the new multi-science building that is being constructed on campus. \n"The Gill Center, the new-multi-science building and attended gifts are the engine that allows Indiana University to step up to the bar and become a world class leader in research in the neurosciences," Jack Gill said.\nThe award, created in 1997, brings positive attention to IU's neuroscience program. The Symposium provides an opportunity for top researchers to come together and share their ideas with one another, while honoring one scientist's outstanding works. \n"If we want a superstar faculty from Harvard for example, we have to have a reason for them to be here," Jack Gill said. "This prestigious $25,000 award is an efficient incentive. The award is a way to showcase IU and to bring those people to Bloomington and make them aware of the quality program that (is here)."\nJ. Michael Walker, a professor at IU and the director of the Gill Center, has seen the impact the Gill Center has made on campus. \n"The neuroscience department is experiencing considerable growth right now," he said.\nWalker sits on the advisory board that sifts through the best and brightest researchers and collaborates with other board members to choose who will receive the award. Among all of the candidates, "(Shatz's) work was particularly deserving of the award," he said. \nLinda Gill, who also played a substantial role in the candidate selection process, conducted interviews with Shatz's family members, colleagues and her executive assistant. \n"The biggest gift in doing this is getting to know the researchers personally," Linda Gill said. "The people who win these awards are not only excellent in their work, but they are caring and kind people (too)." \nShatz has dedicated over two decades to brain research. Even as a graduate student, she participated in research that provided new insight into the relationship between eye development and the presence of cataracts. \nThe Symposium lectures will begin at 9 a.m. today and conclude at 4:30 p.m at the IMU. Admission is open to all. \n"The best of the best researchers will be here in Bloomington for the day to honor (Shatz)," said Jack Gill. "The Symposium is going to show the world that Indiana is on a roll"