Students Create Specialized Clothing for Individuals with Disabilities in MU Class

Researchers recently received grant to continue project

December 17th, 2013

Dress is something that individuals may take for granted; yet, those with disabilities may have difficulties shopping for clothes that are fashionable and adapt to their specialized needs, whether it’s formal wear for wheelchair-bound individuals or clothes that fit an amputee victim comfortably. Now, a class in the University of Missouri Department of Textile and Apparel Management has challenged undergraduate students to design fashionable, adaptive clothing for individuals with disabilities. Full Story

University of Missouri System administrator receives national recognition

December 17th, 2013

Hank Foley, executive vice president for Academic Affairs for the University of Missouri System and professor of chemical engineering in the MU College of Engineering, was recently honored with a major award from a national organization that recognizes and promotes inventors. Foley was named as one of 143 innovators to receive fellow status by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), chosen from 94 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutions. NAI fellow status is bestowed upon academic inventors who have demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Full Story

MU Researchers Develop Advanced Three-Dimensional “Force Microscope”

Innovation could lead to faster drug therapies and increased understanding of proteins on the microscopic level

December 17th, 2013

Membrane proteins are the “gatekeepers” that allow information and molecules to pass into and out of a cell. Until recently, the microscopic study of these complex proteins has been restricted due to limitations of “force microscopes” that are available to researchers and the one-dimensional results these microscopes reveal. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a three-dimensional microscope that will yield unparalleled study of membrane proteins and how they interact on the cellular level. These microscopes could help pharmaceutical companies bring drugs to market faster. Full Story

International Research Team Close Human Evolution Gap with Discovery of 1.4 Million-Year-Old Fossil Human Hand Bone

University of Missouri researcher part of team that found the bone in Kenya

December 16th, 2013

Humans have a distinctive hand anatomy that allows them to make and use tools. Apes and other nonhuman primates do not have these distinctive anatomical features in their hands, and the point in time at which these features first appeared in human evolution is unknown. Now, a University of Missouri researcher and her international team of colleagues have found a new hand bone from a human ancestor who roamed the earth in East Africa approximately 1.42 million years ago. They suspect the bone belonged to the early human species, Homo erectus. The discovery of this bone is the earliest evidence of a modern human-like hand, indicating that this anatomical feature existed more than half a million years earlier than previously known. Full Story

MU Informatics Expert Conducts National Study of Nursing Homes’ IT Use

Expert will examine the relationship between IT use and the quality of patient care in nursing homes

December 16th, 2013

Nearly all nursing homes use some sort of information technology (IT) system, and previous research has shown the use of IT in nursing homes is related to the quality of patient care; however, no recent nationwide study has evaluated which types of IT systems affect which aspects of nursing home care. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri will be the first to study the relationships between IT systems and specific components of nursing home care, such as resident care, clinical support and administrative activities. Full Story

MU Commencement Ceremonies Stay on Schedule

December 13th, 2013

University of Missouri officials announced this afternoon that winter commencement activities will remain on schedule tonight and tomorrow. Full Story

MU Researcher Close to Solving Problem for Cancer Patients

Cachexia anorexia can cause severe body mass loss in cancer patients

December 10th, 2013

Patients with cancer and other long-term debilitating diseases often have additional problems. Many cancer patients, and those with other chronic diseases, can experience a wasting disease, cachexia anorexia, which causes the body to consume its own organs. Now, a University of Missouri researcher is beginning to plan for clinical trials with a drug that could block the cachexia from occurring, giving physicians additional time and treatment options for their patients. Full Story

More than 2,300 Graduates to Receive Degrees During MU’s Winter Commencement Ceremonies

University officials will award honorary degree to Larry McMullen

December 10th, 2013

Beginning Friday, Dec. 13 and continuing through Saturday, Dec. 14, more than 2,300 students will receive degrees during winter commencement exercises at the University of Missouri. University officials also will honor lawyer and MU alumnus Larry McMullen with an honorary degree at the Honors Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14. Full Story

MU Safety Expert Offers Tips for a Safe Winter Break

December 10th, 2013

With winter break approaching quickly, the University of Missouri Police Department is advising students, faculty, staff and community members to take extra precautions before traveling for the holidays.  Full Story

Motivating Healthy Adults to be more Physically Active Improves their Cardiorespiratory Fitness, MU Researcher Finds

December 10th, 2013

Fewer than half of adults in the United States meet the recommended physical activity guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often physical inactivity may be associated with overweight and obese individuals, but even healthy, normal-weight Americans sometimes fail to meet physical activity guidelines. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that simply encouraging healthy adults to be more physically active can improve their cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).  Full Story

MU College of Education Partners on Digital Archive to Capture Struggle Against Apartheid

Project will digitize collection from Robben Island Museum

December 6th, 2013

With the passing of Nelson Mandela this week, preserving and documenting the many facets of his life will be crucial as future generations learn about his impact and carry his legacy into the future. Full Story

UM System selects top academic leader from one of the nation’s most prominent universities, renowned researcher, as chancellor at the University of Missouri-Columbia

Current Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin also served in leadership positions at Old Dominion and the University of Houston

December 5th, 2013

University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe today announced the appointment of Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, president of Texas A&M University, as the 22nd chancellor of the University of Missouri–Columbia. Loftin will begin serving as chancellor on February 1, 2014. Full Story

Social Stigmas against Breast-feeding May Contribute to African-American College Students’ Hesitation to Breast-feed Future Children, MU Researcher Says

December 4th, 2013

African-American mothers breast-feed their children at lower rates than Caucasian, Latina and Asian mothers. This difference often has been attributed to socio-demographic factors such as age, income, education and personal experience with breast-feeding. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has discovered that African-American college students are aware of the benefits of breast-feeding for infants, yet some still are hesitant about breast-feeding future children. Evidence revealed a lack of public acceptance toward breast-feeding may influence this hesitation.  Full Story

MU Researcher Develops Virtual Wall Which Could Stop the Spread of Oil and Could Help Build Invisible Barrier for Oil Spills

December 2nd, 2013

The outer shell of a droplet of oil on a surface has a thin skin which allows it to hold its shape like a small dome; this shell is referred to as the liquid’s surface tension. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a technique to form a virtual wall for oily liquids that will help confine them to a certain area, aiding researchers who are studying these complex molecules. This development will have future implications in the guided delivery of oil and effective blockage of oil spreading. Full Story

Women Living with HIV Share Their Stories through Photography

Taking pictures empowers women to realize their strengths and move beyond their illness, MU researcher finds

November 26th, 2013

A University of Missouri researcher found that participating in photovoice, a process by which individuals document their lives by taking pictures, empowered women living with HIV to realize their strengths in the midst of their struggles.  Full Story

Social Trust, Connectedness Increases Entrepreneurship in Communities, MU Study Finds

November 25th, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Previous research has shown a correlation between a community’s level of entrepreneurship and its economic success and positive living conditions. Now, Colleen Heflin, an associate professor in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs, has found that the higher the level of social trust within a community, the more likely […] Full Story

MU to Test Emergency Beacon System

November 21st, 2013

At 9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25, University of Missouri officials will test ALERTUS, the new beacon alert system that has been installed on campus. MU officials have installed more than 250 beacons in buildings throughout campus. The beacons are designed to alert anyone in the vicinity to an emergency, including weather emergencies and violent individuals. Full Story

MU Research Sheds Light on Nerve Regeneration Following Spinal Cord Injury

November 21st, 2013

Fish, unlike humans, can regenerate nerve connections and recover normal mobility following an injury to their spinal cord. Now, University of Missouri researchers have discovered how the sea lamprey, an eel-like fish, regrows the neurons that comprise the long nerve “highways” that link the brain to the spinal cord. Findings may guide future efforts to promote recovery in humans who have suffered spinal cord injuries. Full Story

Women Who Are Prescribed Combination Hormone Replacement Therapy Should Use Caution When Taking Apigenin Supplements, MU Study Finds

November 20th, 2013

Hormone replacement therapies, or medications containing female hormones that substitute those no longer produced by the body, are often prescribed to reduce the effects of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms in women. Research and clinical trials on hormone replacement therapies have indicated a higher incidence of tumors, especially breast cancer, in post-menopausal women who take synthetic hormones; therefore, doctors have become more reluctant to prescribe the treatment. In 2011, studies conducted by University of Missouri researchers found that a natural compound called apigenin, which is found in celery, parsley, and apples, could reduce the incidence of tumor growth in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. Now, based on subsequent studies conducted by MU researchers, they are recommending that women not ingest pure apigenin as a supplement.  Full Story

Bedroom Access to Screen-based Media May Contribute to Sleep Problems in Boys with Autism, MU Researchers Find

November 19th, 2013

Having bedroom access to television, computers or video games is linked to less sleep in boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a team of University of Missouri researchers found.  Full Story

New MU Program Offers Grief Counseling to People Suffering from Pet Loss

November 19th, 2013

When a person suffers the loss of a loved one, they have many options for grief counseling to help them work through their emotions. However, very few resources exist for people who lose their beloved companion animals, like dogs, cats or horses. Together In Grief, Easing Recovery (TIGER) is a new program in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine designed to help people work through their unique emotions after losing their pets. Francesca Tocco, a doctoral student in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), uses her background in social work to help pet owners come to terms with their grief as well as prepare veterinary medicine students for working with grieving clients.  Full Story

Natural Compound Mitigates Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse, University of Missouri Researchers Find

November 19th, 2013

Studies have shown that resveratrol, a natural compound found in colored vegetables, fruits and especially grapes, may minimize the impact of Parkinson’s disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease in those who maintain healthy diets or who regularly take resveratrol supplements. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that resveratrol may also block the effects of the highly addictive drug, methamphetamine.  Full Story

MURR Working to Stabilize Supply of Cancer Drugs

Due to unexpected interruptions at international reactors, MURR will change maintenance schedule to maintain drug supply for the nation

November 18th, 2013

Each day, thousands of cancer patients rely on a routine supply of radiopharmaceuticals, which are drugs that have a shelf-life ranging from several days to mere minutes, depending on the isotopes used in the drugs. With the international radioisotope supply chain currently experiencing disruption, the MU Research Reactor (MURR) is taking action to mitigate the impact on the medical community. Full Story

$1 Million Gift to Fund Full Scholarships for Veterans at MU

November 13th, 2013

The University of Missouri has received an estate commitment of $1 million to create the Col. Dwight B. Schannep U.S. Army Air Corps Veterans Scholarship Fund, which will support full academic scholarships for MU students who are military veterans. This gift was committed to create opportunities for future veterans to pursue higher education and help transition from their military time defending their country to being successful citizens and helping build a better America. The donors, who requested to have their identities remain confidential, did not attend MU as students but chose the school for this gift to honor Missouri native Col. Dwight Schannep, the positive impact of the MU Veterans Center, and MU’s excellent national academic reputation and Midwestern values.  Full Story

MU Receives APLU Designation for Exemplary Efforts in Advancing the Economic Well-being of the State, Region and Nation

November 12th, 2013

Since 2008, MU has filed 278 U.S. patents and signed 204 options and licenses for new technologies developed at the university. As a result, companies that have licensed products invented by MU scientists have received about $1 billion in sales revenues. University officials also have created resources to support and encourage entrepreneurial students. Now, the University of Missouri has been designated by the Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU) as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University (IEP) recognizing MU for its successes in innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development. Full Story

Clarifying Who Qualifies as a Journalist Needed To Protect Journalism Practitioners, MU Expert Says

Changing media landscape has created the need to re-examine who should qualify as journalists

November 11th, 2013

Recent debates in the U.S. Senate about federal shield laws, which are laws protecting journalists from being forced to reveal their sources by judges during trials, as well as recent newsworthy events such as Edward Snowden’s and Bradley Manning’s release of U.S. government secrets, have created questions as to how a journalist should be legally defined in today’s society. Edson Tandoc, Jr., a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, has compiled the following broad definition of a journalist, based on extensive research on how society currently describes the role: A journalist is someone employed to regularly engage in gathering, processing, and disseminating news and information to serve the public interest. Tandoc believes that it is important to establish a consistent definition of a journalist, especially with the shifting media landscape due to new technology and social media.  Full Story

Low Levels of Blood Calcium in Dairy Cows May Affect Cow Health and Productivity, MU Study Finds

MU researchers suggest dietary calcium supplements for dairy cows after giving birth

November 11th, 2013

The health of dairy cows after giving birth plays a big factor in the quantity and quality of the milk the cows produce. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that subclinical hypocalcemia, which is the condition of having low levels of calcium in the blood and occurs in many cows after giving birth, is related to higher levels of fat in the liver. John Middleton, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says these higher levels of fat are often precursors to future health problems in cows. Full Story

University of Missouri Researchers Determine that Televised Presidential Debates Help Moderates Choose Their Candidates

November 6th, 2013

Televised presidential debates have been a staple of the political landscape for more than 50 years. Starting in 1960 with John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, debates have influenced popular opinion and have swayed voters in every election cycle since. Recent political commentary has focused on the release of a tell-all book outlining the painstaking presidential debate preparation both sides experienced during the 2012 electoral cycle and how those debates helped sway potential votes. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that televised presidential debates do have important consequences on the attitudes of those who view them—specifically among apathetic or ambivalent voters.  Full Story

Hoping to Help Heart Attack Patients, MU Signs Agreement With Global PET

Global PET Imaging LLC would utilize the expertise of the MU Research Reactor (MURR®) and nuclear medicine scientists to produce active ingredient for diagnostic drug

November 6th, 2013

Following a heart attack, many patients consult with their doctors about the necessity of heart bypass surgery. However, the active ingredient for a test that helps determine the need for surgery could be in short supply in the near future. Now, an agreement signed by officials from the University of Missouri and Global PET Imaging LLC (GPI) could lead to a solution to that shortage. Full Story

Mothers’ Relationships Can Influence Adolescent Children’s Relationships, MU Study Finds

November 5th, 2013

Until now, little research has been conducted on the association between parents’ friendships and the emotional well-being of their adolescent children. A new study from researchers at the University of Missouri suggests that mothers’ friendships with other adults can impact their adolescent children’s relationships with their own friends, particularly the negative aspects of these relationships such as conflict and antagonism. Full Story

MU Researcher Finds Way to Reduce Unnecessary Lab Tests, Decrease Patient Costs by Modifying Software Design

November 4th, 2013

When patients undergo diagnostic lab tests as part of the inpatient admission process, they may wonder why or how physicians choose particular tests. Increasingly, medical professionals are using electronic medical systems that provide lists of lab tests from which medical professionals can choose. Now, a University of Missouri researcher and her colleagues have studied how to modify these lists to ensure health professionals order relevant tests and omit unnecessary lab tests, which could result in better care and reduced costs for patient Full Story

MU receives $1.1 million training grant to increase diversity in biomedical sciences

Grant renews decade-old project that has trained 28 scholars.

October 31st, 2013

Since 2003, University of Missouri faculty have been working to increase diversity in 30 biomedical sciences departments and programs by recruiting minority students into the MU Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). Now, a $1.1 million training grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow the program to continue for another four years. Full Story

Older Siblings’ Cells Can Be Passed From Female Dogs to Their Puppies in the Womb, MU Researchers Find

Discovery will help further research into health effects of microchimerism

October 23rd, 2013

Some people possess a small number of cells in their bodies that are not genetically their own; this condition is known as microchimerism. In prior studies, researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine found that this condition also exists in dogs. Now, the researchers have found evidence that this condition can be passed from a female dog to her offspring while they are still in the womb. Jeffrey Bryan, an associate professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and director of Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, says this discovery will help further study into the health effects of microchimerism in dogs and in humans. Full Story

Mutual Fund Managers Invest Similarly because of Competitive Pressures, Might Miss a Good Investment, Says MU Researcher

October 22nd, 2013

In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that institutional mutual fund investors tend to invest in companies that have an independent board of directors because it is perceived as a “safer” option, even though no evidence exists that demonstrates these companies perform better in the stock market. Full Story

MU Researcher Develops Intervention to Help Older Adults Prepare for Emergencies

Program helped at-risk seniors in rural communities plan ahead

October 21st, 2013

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults age 65 and older falls at least once every year. These falls can result in moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found a way to help older adults who live independently better prepare for health emergencies.  Full Story

Health News Stories on Local Television News Broadcasts are Too Short, MU Researcher Says

October 21st, 2013

Previous research has shown that the most popular way Americans get their health news is by watching local television broadcasts. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Journalism have found that while local television news is the most common source of health news for Americans, most health news stories on local news broadcasts are only 30 seconds or less in length. Glen Cameron, the Maxine Wilson Gregory Chair in Journalism Research and professor of strategic communication at the MU School of Journalism, says this trend may lead to misunderstanding of important but complicated health news stories. Full Story

Sixteen Faculty and Alumni Honored at MU Awards Ceremony

October 18th, 2013

The Mizzou Alumni Association honored 16 outstanding faculty and alumni tonight, at its 46th annual Faculty-Alumni Awards Ceremony in Reynolds Alumni Center. The Distinguished Service Award, the Distinguished Faculty Award and 14 Faculty-Alumni Awards were presented to outstanding MU faculty and alumni.  Full Story

Sisters Serve as Confidants, Sources of Support and Mentors During Intimate Conversations, MU Researcher Finds

Older sisters could aid prevention efforts aimed at reducing risky sexual behaviors among teen girls

October 15th, 2013

Adolescence can be an impressionable time for girls as they begin forming ideas about dating and sexuality. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that sisters often take on key roles of confidants, sources of support and mentors during conversations about romantic relationships. Sisters may be helpful in health education efforts to promote safe-sex practices and healthy romantic relationships. Full Story

Individuals Genetically Predisposed to Anxiousness May Be Less Likely to Volunteer and Help Others

MU researcher finds biological component of “prosocial” behavior linked to social anxiety

October 14th, 2013

Scientists increasingly are uncovering answers for human behavior through genetic research. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that prosocial behavior, such as volunteering and helping others, is related to the same gene that predisposes individuals to anxiety disorders. Helping such individuals cope with their anxiety may increase their prosocial behavior, the researcher said.  Full Story

MU Vice Chancellor for Research Takes Position at Texas Tech

October 11th, 2013

University of Missouri Provost Brian Foster announced today that Rob Duncan, vice chancellor for research at MU, will leave his position to become the vice president for research at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Duncan will begin his position at Texas Tech on Jan. 1, 2014. Full Story

Pacific Ocean Temperature Influences Tornado Activity in U.S., MU Study Finds

October 10th, 2013

Meteorologists often use information about warm and cold fronts to determine whether a tornado will occur in a particular area. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that the temperature of the Pacific Ocean could help scientists predict the type and location of tornado activity in the U.S. Full Story

Adding Citrus Fiber to Meatballs Improves Nutritional Quality, Does Not Affect Taste, MU Researcher Finds

October 8th, 2013

Many American diets fall short of meeting nutritional guidelines resulting in burgeoning obesity rates and health problems across the nation. Statistics show that most Americans consume only half of the daily recommended amount of dietary fiber. Now, a research team at the University of Missouri is addressing the fiber deficit by including citrus fiber in ground beef while retaining the quality and taste of the meat. Full Story

Four MU Faculty Named as 2013-2014 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellows

October 3rd, 2013

Four faculty members from the University of Missouri will join 45 other faculty from Southeastern Conference (SEC) universities as 2013-2014 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program fellows. The four MU faculty are Stephen Ferris, Jana Hawley, Sandy Rikoon and Gregory Triplett. Full Story

Advocacy Groups Can Make Veterans’ Benefits Claims Process More Efficient, MU Expert Says

Report highlights best practices for veterans’ organizations when working with the veterans’ affairs office

October 3rd, 2013

The recent economic downturn has significantly increased demand for government benefit programs, and agencies are having difficulty keeping up with the demand. Waiting times for several programs, including veterans’ disability compensation, are so long that many have labeled it a crisis. Lael Keiser, an associate professor in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs, says this increased demand highlights the importance of private veterans organizations that can help expedite the benefit-filing process. Full Story

MU’s Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services to Retire

October 2nd, 2013

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton announced today that Jackie Jones, vice chancellor of administrative services, will retire at the end of this year. Jones has worked at MU for 34 years. Full Story

MU 3-D Printing Lab Helps Doctors and Scientists, Builds Student’s Careers

The lab encourages entrepreneurship and investment in Missouri and earns money for MU.

September 30th, 2013

In the two years since the University of Missouri’s College of Engineering opened a three-dimensional (3-D) printing facility, students and faculty from fields as diverse as paleontology, medicine and engineering have used the printers to prepare for complicated surgeries, model extinct crocodiles and build skills for future employment. Full Story

Mizzou Alumni Association Honors Rep. Mike Thomson, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton with Geyer Public Service Awards

September 30th, 2013

The Mizzou Alumni Association (MAA) has announced that Missouri State Representative Mike Thomson and MU Chancellor Brady J. Deaton are the recipients of the 2013 Geyer Public Service Awards. Thomson is receiving the award in recognition of his continued efforts on supporting higher education public policy, and Deaton is being recognized for his career of distinguished service to the university and as a leader in higher education public policy. Full Story

Americans Don’t Contribute Enough to Retirement Funds, MU Researcher Finds

Americans should contribute at higher levels during economic downturn

September 30th, 2013

As the oldest of the baby boomers begin to reach retirement age, a large percentage of Americans are thinking more and more about how much money they must save to be able to retire comfortably. Also, more and more employers are changing retirement benefits from defined-benefit plans, which guarantee some level of retirement income, to defined-contribution plans, which require employees to invest on their own for retirement. All of these changes, plus the recent economic recession, have created a difficult financial environment for future retirees. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that more than 90 percent of future retirees are contributing only a minimal amount of their salaries to their retirement funds. Rui Yao, an associate professor of personal financial planning in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at MU, says this number is quite concerning.  Full Story

Provost Announces New Director of University of Missouri Press

September 27th, 2013

University of Missouri Provost Brian Foster announced today that David Rosenbaum, director of product development and project management for the American Heart Association, has been named director of the University of Missouri Press effective Nov. 1. Full Story

First Step to Reduce Plant Need for Nitrogen Fertilizer Uncovered in Science Study

MU scientists say discovery could save farmers billions and protect the environment.

September 26th, 2013

Nitrogen fertilizer costs U.S. farmers approximately $8 billion each year, and excess fertilizer can find its way into rivers and streams, damaging the delicate water systems. Now, a discovery by a team of University of Missouri researchers could be the first step toward helping crops use less nitrogen, benefitting both farmers’ bottom lines and the environment. The journal Science published the research this month. Full Story

CANCELED: MU Officials to Sign Memorandum of Understanding with Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences

September 26th, 2013

The signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between officials from the University of Missouri and the Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences has been canceled due to a family emergency of a SHIATS official. It will be rescheduled at a later date. Full Story

$1.57 Million Gift Funds New Endowed Faculty Chair at MU Law School

Gift to help MU compete with other top law schools in attracting and retaining elite faculty

September 26th, 2013

The University of Missouri has received a gift of $1.57 million from the Nancy and Charles Wall Family Foundation to create the Wall Chair in Corporate Law and Governance, an endowed faculty chair in the MU School of Law. Thom Lambert, formerly a professor in the MU School of Law, has been named the inaugural Wall Chair for his exceptional work as a teacher and researcher at MU. Gary Myers, dean of the MU School of Law, says Lambert is more than deserving of this honor. Full Story

MU Scientist Finds Late Cretaceous Period Was Likely Ice-free

Study results could foreshadow earth’s future climate, MU researcher says

September 24th, 2013

For years, scientists have thought that a continental ice sheet formed during the Late Cretaceous Period more than 90 million years ago when the climate was much warmer than it is today. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found evidence suggesting that no ice sheet formed at this time. This finding could help environmentalists and scientists predict what the earth’s climate will be as carbon dioxide levels continue to rise.  Full Story

MU Researchers Identify Risk-Factors for Addictive Video-Game Use among Adults

Escapism, social interaction and rewards fuel problematic gaming behaviors

September 23rd, 2013

New research from the University of Missouri indicates escapism, social interaction and rewards fuel problematic video-game use among “very casual” to “hardcore” adult gamers. Understanding individual motives that contribute to unhealthy game play could help counselors identify and treat individuals addicted to video games.  Full Story

Different Stories Play Different Roles in Patients’ Health Decision-Making, MU Researcher Says

Narratives about treatment processes and experiences inform patients without persuading

September 18th, 2013

Individuals often turn to others for advice when making choices. Perhaps, it seems fitting then, that individuals would seek out others when they are faced with important health decisions. Yet, health communicators have debated whether stories should be included in patient decision-aids (which are informational materials designed to help patients make educated choices about their health) because they worry stories are too biased. Now, an MU researcher has found that stories used in decision-aids don’t necessarily bias patients’ decision-making; rather, certain types of stories can help patients confidently make informed decisions that fit their individual health needs.  Full Story

MU Awards Six Grants to Advance Biomedical Discoveries

Coulter program pairs physicians and engineers to develop new health technologies

September 18th, 2013

The University of Missouri’s Coulter Translational Partnership Program awarded six grants today totaling approximately $600,000 to help launch biomedical research projects from laboratory studies to health care innovations.  Full Story

MU Provost to Retire in January

September 18th, 2013

Today, University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton announced that Brian Foster, MU provost and the catalyst behind Mizzou Advantage, will retire effective Jan. 1, 2014.  Full Story

Driving Cessation Hinders Aging Adults’ Volunteer and Work Lives, Social Lives Don’t Immediately Suffer, MU Researchers Find

September 17th, 2013

For many senior drivers, it is only a matter of time before they are forced to give up their car keys due to failing eyesight or other health issues. Now, University of Missouri researchers have studied how aging adults’ driving cessation influences their work and social lives. The researchers found that seniors’ loss of driving independence negatively affected their ability to work and their volunteerism; the adults’ social lives were not instantly affected yet dwindled over time.  Full Story

Non-Traditional Mathematics Curriculum Results in Higher Standardized Test Scores, MU Study Finds

September 16th, 2013

For many years, studies have shown that American students score significantly lower than students worldwide in mathematics achievement, ranking 25th among 34 countries. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have found high school students in the United States achieve higher scores on a standardized mathematics test if they study from a curriculum known as integrated mathematics.  Full Story

Safety on Campus is a Partnership Between Students, Staff, Faculty and Emergency Providers; Relies on Good Communication and Responsible Actions, MU Officials Say

University of Missouri hosting Safe Mizzou 2013 from Sept. 16-20

September 12th, 2013

Safety, which is the No. 1 priority on the University of Missouri campus, must be a partnership between first responders and the public, MU officials say. In an effort to make MU students and faculty more aware of various safety tools available and to help them take responsibility for their personal safety, MU is hosting “Safe Mizzou 2013,” a week of events, including a safety fair, a simulation of a burning room and personal threat training. Full Story

Food Insecurity Continues to Grow, MU Researchers Find

Missouri trends mirror the national picture; MU scientist offers policy suggestions to fight hunger issues

September 9th, 2013

The 2013 Missouri Hunger Atlas, issued by the University of Missouri’s Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security, shows that more than one in five Missouri households with children are food insecure, meaning they worry about not having enough food. One author of the Hunger Atlas said that patterns in Missouri reflect what is happening at the national level, and offers suggestions for actions from government policy makers and individuals to provide some relief. Full Story

MU Announces New Scholarship Initiatives, New Chancellor’s Award

Scholarships nearly double for certain awards

September 6th, 2013

Recognizing the growing cost of higher education in the nation and to maintain and continue the highest quality for which the University of Missouri has become known, today Chancellor Brady Deaton announced that MU scholarships for high-ability students will be increased for students enrolling at Mizzou for the first time in Fall 2014.Specifically, the plan includes the following changes:  Full Story

Spouses Play an Important Role in Planning for Retirement, MU Researcher Finds

September 3rd, 2013

As Baby Boomers begin entering retirement, some may find themselves unprepared for the transition. New research from the University of Missouri indicates that spouses tend to have similar levels of planning for retirement. This planning can lead to more success and less stress when they leave the workforce. Full Story

Facebook Use By Organizations During Crises Helps Public Image, MU Study Finds

PR professionals can improve public attitudes by communicating through Facebook during times of crisis

September 3rd, 2013

Social networking sites have become incredibly popular in recent years, with Facebook now ranking as the third most popular website in the U.S. With so many people spending so much time on Facebook, public relations professionals are using the site more and more to communicate to the public. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Journalism have found that posting public relations information on Facebook during a time of crisis can improve the overall image of the organization that is experiencing the crisis. Full Story

Supervolcanic Ash Can Turn To Lava Miles From Eruption, MU Scientists Find

“Viscous heating” can reheat volcanic ash enough to convert it to lava

August 27th, 2013

Supervolcanoes, such as the one sitting dormant under Yellowstone National Park, are capable of producing eruptions thousands of times more powerful than normal volcanic eruptions. While they only happen every several thousand years, these eruptions have the potential to kill millions of people and animals due to the massive amount of heat and ash they release into the atmosphere. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have shown that the ash produced by supervolcanoes can be so hot that it has the ability to turn back into lava once it hits the ground tens of miles away from the original eruption.  Full Story

Snapping Turtles Finding Refuge in Urban Areas While Habitats are Being Polluted or Developed, MU Researcher Finds

Stopping pollution from flowing into waterways could restore natural habitats

August 26th, 2013

In the Midwest, people have a fear of encountering snapping turtles while swimming in local ponds, lakes and rivers. Now in a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that snapping turtles are surviving in urban areas as their natural habitats are being polluted or developed for construction projects. One solution is for people to stop using so many chemicals that are eventually dumped into the waterways, the scientist said. Full Story

NSF Grant Will Fund Study of Innovative Teacher Professional Development Program at MU

Program Could Be Replicated to Help More Teachers and Students

August 26th, 2013

Researchers at the University of Missouri will receive a $2.6 million National Science Foundation grant over the next four years to study an innovative model of teacher professional development that includes controlled teaching experiences–-opportunities for teachers to develop new skills while working directly with students and colleagues. Deborah Hanuscin, an associate professor jointly appointed in the MU College of Education and College of Arts and Science, is the lead investigator on the project, “QuEST: Quality Elementary Science Teaching.” The NSF grant will enable Missouri K-6 teachers to attend the physics-focused program and enable researchers to conduct an in-depth study of the effects of the program on teachers and their students.  Full Story

Toxic Nanoparticles Might be Entering Human Food Supply, MU Study Finds

Scientists develop new way to detect threatening nanoparticles in food

August 22nd, 2013

Over the last few years, the use of nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, pesticides, cosmetics and other industries has increased. For example, farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms. However, a growing concern is that these particles could pose a potential health risk to humans and the environment. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a reliable method for detecting silver nanoparticles in fresh produce and other food products.  Full Story

Mizzou Advantage Builds on Past Success, Prepares for Upcoming Academic Year

MU names new facilitators for Education and Media of the Future

August 22nd, 2013

The University of Missouri is known for its highly collaborative, interdisciplinary culture. Since 2010, four key areas of strength have been collectively known as the Mizzou Advantage: One Health, One Medicine; Sustainable Energy; Media of the Future; and Food for the Future. Nearly 100 research projects involving approximately 400 faculty members and hundreds of students across campus have been spearheaded by a facilitator in each of the four areas in addition to a facilitator that oversees an educational component. As MU prepares for a new academic year, new facilitators for the education component and Media of the Future will continue the progress of the Mizzou Advantage. Full Story

Number of Child Maltreatment Deaths Currently Unknown

MU professor receives funding to better estimate child fatalities due to abuse and neglect, which will strengthen prevention efforts

August 22nd, 2013

Approximately 1,700 children die of maltreatment every year in the United States, according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System; however, researchers estimate that the actual number of child fatalities due to abuse and neglect is nearly double that number. During a 13-month health policy fellowship at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), an MU nursing researcher will investigate better ways to identify child maltreatment deaths on death certificates then use this data to estimate a more accurate number of child fatalities due to abuse and neglect nationally. Full Story

MU’s Student Body Diversity Increases on First Day of School

Freshman class is the second largest in the history of the university.

August 19th, 2013

On the first day of classes, the University of Missouri welcomed the most diverse student body in its history. With 34,111 students enrolled, diversity in the student body increased 3.4 percent compared to this time last year. In spite of declining high school graduates, Mizzou’s freshman class of 6,227 is the second largest in MU’s history, second only to last year’s class of 6,560. International and out-of-state students increased as well.  Full Story

MU Researchers Develop App that Could Save Cattle Lives, Farmers’ Wallets

App also allows users to communicate with MU animal science experts

August 16th, 2013

Each year, overheated cattle cost farmers more than $1.2 billion. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have created a smartphone application that can detect when a cow is at risk for heat stress. The app also can offer the best methods for intervention. Full Story

Preschoolers Inability to Estimate Quantity Relates to Later Math Difficulty, says MU Researcher

August 14th, 2013

Preschool children who showed less ability to estimate the number of objects in a group were 2.4 times more likely to have a later mathematical learning disability than other young people, according to a team of University of Missouri psychologists. Parents may be able to help their children develop their skills at approximating group sizes by emphasizing numerals while interacting with young children. Full Story

Cities with High Racial Economic Inequality and Widespread Poverty Increase Police Force Size, say MU Sociologists

Research may inform public policy designed to increase individuals’ security and ensure justice.

August 7th, 2013

Commentary on the trial of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin highlighted some Americans’ perception of the influence of race and class on law enforcement in the United States. University of Missouri sociologists recently documented the influence of racial division and economic inequality on the size of a city’s police force. Understanding the dynamic relationship among race, economic inequality and the criminal justice system can help America’s leaders design policies that increase individuals’ security while ensuring justice for all. Crime reporters can use this study’s results to give nuance to their reporting, according to the MU researchers. Full Story

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton and other University Leaders Call on Congress and President Obama to Close Innovation Deficit

University Community Launches National Effort to Urge Washington to Restore Investments in Research and Education That Ensure America’s Role as Innovation Leader, Power the Economy, Create Jobs

July 31st, 2013

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton today joined other university presidents and chancellors in calling on leaders in Washington to close what they call the “innovation deficit.”  Full Story

New Technology Allows Scientists, School Children to Examine Biological Details

MU scientist says this can complement detailed studies of anatomy and introduce science students to complex structures.

July 23rd, 2013

Many scientists agree that the best way to learn the anatomy of any species is to utilize donor bodies. However, thousands of junior high, high school and college students, and university researchers do not have access to specific animals. Now, new computer technology is making highly sophisticated biological systems available for viewing by students and researchers. In a new study, a scientist from the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine found that 3D computer modeling can complement the study of biological systems for many species. Full Story

Peer-led Program Developed by MU Researcher Helps Individuals with HIV Adhere to Treatment Plans

July 23rd, 2013

Individuals diagnosed with HIV nowadays can live long, healthy lives if they follow their medical treatment plans; however, nearly half of individuals with the virus fail to get needed medical help or to continue treatment, according to previous research. Now, a nursing researcher at the University of Missouri has developed a peer-led intervention that helps individuals with HIV adhere to their treatment plans that can improve their quality of life. Full Story

MU, K-State Research Team Collaborate to Save the Bacon

Scientists battling disease that costs hog industry $800 million each year.

July 22nd, 2013

A research team from the University of Missouri and Kansas State University has been working to find a cure for a specific virus that affects pigs and costs the hog industry $800 million annually. In their latest study, the team disproved one way the virus spreads, which will help scientists narrow the search for an ultimate cure. Full Story

Black Bears Return to Missouri Indicates Healthy Forests, say MU Biologists

Outdoor recreationists should take precautions to avoid problems with bears in southern Missouri

July 17th, 2013

For nearly a century, the only bears known to reside in Missouri were on the state flag or in captivity. Unregulated hunting and habitat loss had wiped out most black bears in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma by the 1920s. Now, thanks to a reintroduction program in Arkansas during the 50s and 60s, hundreds of bears amble through the forests of southern Missouri, according to a joint study by University of Missouri, Mississippi State University, and Missouri Department of Conservation biologists, who warn that although the bear population is still small, outdoor recreationists and homeowners should take precautions in the Ozark forest to avoid attracting bears. Full Story

MU Researcher Works to Increase Hearing-Aid Use among Adults with Hearing Impairments

July 15th, 2013

Nearly half of individuals who are prescribed hearing aids do not wear the devices, previous research has shown. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has received a fellowship that will help her continue her work to increase hearing-aid use among adults with hearing impairments. Full Story

Snakes Devour More Mosquito-Eating Birds as Climate Change Heats Forests, According to MU Biologist

Reductions in bird populations could harm agriculture, disease prevention and tourism

July 11th, 2013

Many birds feed on mosquitoes that spread the West Nile virus, a disease that killed 286 people in the United States in 2012 according to the Centers for Disease Control. Birds also eat insects that can be agricultural pests. However, rising temperatures threaten wild birds, including the Missouri-native Acadian flycatcher, by making snakes more active, according to University of Missouri biologist John Faaborg. He noted that farmers, public health officials and wildlife managers should be aware of complex indirect effects of climate change in addition to the more obvious influences of higher temperatures and irregular weather patterns. Full Story

MU Researchers Find Condition in Dogs that May Help Further Research Into Human Disease

July 9th, 2013

Some people possess a small number of cells in their bodies that are not genetically their own; this condition is known as microchimerism. It is difficult to determine potential health effects from this condition because of humans’ relatively long life-spans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that microchimerism can be found in dogs as well. Jeffrey Bryan, an associate professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and director of Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, says this discovery will help doctors determine what diseases humans with microchimerism may be more likely to develop during their lifetimes. Full Story

Over-Confident CEOs Can Put Companies at Risk, MU Study Finds

July 9th, 2013

CEOs need to demonstrate strong leadership and good decision-making skills, but CEOs with over-confidence can involve their companies in riskier ventures and put investors’ funds at risk, according to a new study from the University of Missouri, Georgia Tech University and the University of Texas-Arlington.  Full Story

Find local, in-season produce with new app from MU Extension

Interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, students led to app’s development

July 9th, 2013

Finding fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables just got easier, thanks to an app developed by University of Missouri faculty and students. The free app, Seasonal and Simple, helps consumers find, choose, store and prepare fresh produce.  Full Story

Neighborhood Residents with Lowest Incomes Most Likely to Care about their Communities, MU Researcher Finds

July 1st, 2013

Some may assume that low-income residents of run-down, crime-ridden neighborhoods do not care about their communities. However, research from the University of Missouri suggests otherwise. Full Story

Freedom of Information Laws Prevent Corruption, But Not a Quick Fix, MU Study Finds

July 1st, 2013

Nations that have freedom of information (FOI) laws in place tend to have lower incidents of corruption than those with no similar laws, a new University of Missouri study found. In comparing data from 168 countries, Edson Tandoc, Jr., a doctoral candidate in the MU School of Journalism also found that having an FOI law is linked to higher levels of human development. He says governments of many countries enact FOI laws in an effort to stop corruption, but while FOI laws work to reduce corruption over time, they are not a quick fix. Full Story

Nerve Cells Can Work in Different Ways with Same Result, Says MU Researcher

Discovery may inform treatment of epilepsy and other diseases

July 1st, 2013

Epilepsy, irregular heartbeats and other conditions caused by malfunctions in the body’s nerve cells, also known as neurons, can be difficult to treat. The problem is that one medicine may help some patients but not others. Doctors’ ability to predict which drugs will work with individual patients may be influenced by recent University of Missouri research that found seemingly identical neurons can behave the same even though they are built differently under the surface.  Full Story

Helping Many People Boosts Social Standing More Than Helping Many Times, Says MU Anthropologist

Research could guide business and political decisions as well as charity work

June 26th, 2013

A business may build a better reputation as a good corporate citizen by donating $100,000 to ten charities, as opposed to $1 million to one charity, suggested University of Missouri anthropologist Shane Macfarlan. Contrary to earlier assumptions in theoretical biology, Macfarlan’s research found that helping a greater number of people builds a positive reputation more than helping a few people many times. The results of this research can offer guidance to businesses and politicians on how to improve their public images.  Full Story

Sexual Minority Youth Need Specialized Treatment from Therapists, Says MU Researcher

June 18th, 2013

President Obama officially declared June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. However, despite advances in civil rights, sexual minority youth are still at greater risk for suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. A University of Missouri psychology graduate student recently published recommendation to improve psychologists’ treatment of sexual minority youth, which could help improve psychological functioning and reduce depression and suicide rates. Full Story

MU Chancellor Brady J. Deaton Announces Upcoming Retirement

June 12th, 2013

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady J. Deaton announced today that he will retire from the position of MU chancellor, effective Nov. 15, 2013. The son of a Kentucky farm family who glimpsed the outside world through 4-H, Deaton is the 21st chief executive officer of MU. He will continue to serve the University as chancellor emeritus with a focus on the university’s role in international development. Full Story

Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Not Getting Adequate Mental Health Services, MU Researcher Finds

Family physicians positioned to intervene and connect survivors with needed services

June 10th, 2013

Although many abused women suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or depression, they are not receiving needed mental health services, a University of Missouri researcher found.  Full Story

Summer Program Gives Talented Missouri High School Students New Educational Adventures at MU

June 7th, 2013

This summer at the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), hosted by the University of Missouri, approximately 330 high school students across Missouri will have the opportunity to participate in an educational experience unlike any other.  Full Story

Excessive Facebook Use Can Damage Relationships, MU Study Finds

Using Facebook too much can lead to cheating, breakup and divorce

June 6th, 2013

Facebook and other social networking web sites have revolutionized the way people create and maintain relationships. However, new research shows that Facebook use could actually be damaging to users’ romantic relationships. Russell Clayton, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, found that individuals who use Facebook excessively are far more likely to experience Facebook–related conflict with their romantic partners, which then may cause negative relationship outcomes including emotional and physical cheating, breakup and divorce. Full Story

Higher State Health Spending Positively Correlates to Higher Obesity Rates, MU Study Finds

Study shows governmental anti-obesity initiatives are not working, MU expert says

June 5th, 2013

Americans are gaining weight at an alarming rate, with obesity increasing from 12 percent of the nation’s population in 1990 to 23 percent by 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite an increase in state public health funding to combat these growing rates around the country, obesity continues to rise. A new University of Missouri study has found that as states spend more money on health care, obesity rates actually increase. Charles Menifield, a professor in the Truman School of Public Affairs at MU, says his findings strongly suggest that governmental spending efforts in fighting obesity have not been successful. Full Story

Stories Help Patients Make Health Decisions, MU Researcher Says

Narratives used in patient decision aids should inform, not persuade

June 4th, 2013

Stories often appear in health communication in order to encourage individuals to change behaviors, such as smoking or not wearing sunscreen. A University of Missouri researcher studied how stories influence patients’ decision-making when behavior change is not the desired outcome of the health communication. Full Story

Term Limits, Redistricting Contribute to Shifting Demographics in Missouri Legislature, MU Expert Says

Increase in women, decrease in middle-aged legislators attributed to term limits in Missouri

May 30th, 2013

Missouri voters approved legislative term limits in 1992, which took effect in the House of Representatives in 2001 and the Senate in 2003. Now, David Valentine, a research associate professor in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs, has found that since voters approved term limits in the early 1990s, the number of women in the Missouri legislature has increased from 18 percent to 23 percent. Valentine, who compiled a report measuring diversity in the Missouri legislature from 1991-2013, says the institution of term limits in the early 2000s may be a contributing factor to this change. Full Story

Maintaining Positivity, Motivation Can Help Job Search Process, MU Researcher Finds

May 28th, 2013

Currently, many recent college graduates still face the daunting task of searching for a job. While the job search process can be long and exhausting, a University of Missouri researcher has found that maintaining positivity and staying motivated can lead to a more successful job search.  Full Story

‘Renew Mizzou’ Project Continues MU’s Stewardship Model to Improve Academic Performance, Safety of Historic Francis Quadrangle Buildings

May 23rd, 2013

Utilizing the University of Missouri’s stewardship renovation model, MU is planning a $22.85 million project to improve the academic performance of Swallow Hall and install safety features, including a sprinkler system and new fire alarm, in Jesse Hall, pending approval from the UM Board of Curators. In addition, the decommissioning of Pickard Hall will continue. The project, “Renew Mizzou,” will eliminate the need for more than $14.3 million in deferred-maintenance costs associated with these buildings. The initial cost for this project will come from various campus funding sources. Full Story

Rubin Named Interim Dean of Graduate School, MU Provost Announces

May 21st, 2013

University of Missouri Provost Brian Foster has announced that Leona Rubin, professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named interim dean of the MU Graduate School. Rubin, who has been a professor at MU since 1989, will begin serving as interim dean effective June 1. MU officials will begin a searching for a permanent dean soon.  Full Story

MU Researchers Develop Radioactive Nanoparticles that Target Cancer Cells

This is an early step toward developing therapies for metastasized cancers, MU scientist says

May 21st, 2013

ancers of all types become most deadly when they metastasize and spread tumors throughout the body. Once cancer has reached this stage, it becomes very difficult for doctors to locate and treat the numerous tumors that can develop. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found a way to create radioactive nanoparticles that target lymphoma tumor cells wherever they may be in the body. Michael Lewis, an associate professor of oncology in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says being able to target secondary tumors is vital to successfully treating patients with progressive cancers. Full Story

Hagglund Named Dean of MU’s School of Health Professions

May 20th, 2013

University of Missouri Provost Brian Foster has announced that Kristofer Hagglund, director of the Master of Public Health Program and associate dean of the MU School of Health Professions, has been named dean of the MU School of Health Professions. Hagglund, who has been the associate dean since 2001, will officially begin serving as dean on July 1.  Full Story

Psychologists Need Specific Education to Help Genetic Testing Patients, says MU Researcher

Psychologists can prepare by learning about the connections between genetics and disease.

May 20th, 2013

Angelina Jolie’s recent decision to have a double mastectomy resulted from a genetic screening in which she found that she carried a genetic mutation that significantly increased her risk for breast and ovarian cancer. As more people get genetic screenings, psychologists need to increase their knowledge of the relationship between DNA and disease, according to a University of Missouri doctoral student. Doing this will improve psychologists' ability to respond to the mental strain individuals may feel after learning they carry a gene that increases risk for a disorder, as well as guide further research and inform policy makers’ decisions. Full Story

Cholesterol-Lowering Drug May Reduce Exercise Benefits for Obese Adults, MU Study Finds

May 15th, 2013

Statins, the most widely prescribed drugs worldwide, are often suggested to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease in individuals with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of medical disorders including excess body fat and/or high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and/or cholesterol. However, University of Missouri researchers found that simvastatin, a generic type of statin previously sold under the brand name “Zocor,” hindered the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults. Full Story

New MU Survey Will Help Evaluate and Teach Students News Literacy

May 15th, 2013

A crucial role of journalism is educating the public about important events and issues. However, impactful journalism requires consumers who are “news literate,” meaning they possess the ability to think critically about what they read and watch. Evaluating the level of an individual’s news literacy has long been a challenging task for educators and media researchers. Now, Stephanie Craft, an associate professor in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, along with former University of Missouri School of Journalism doctoral students Seth Ashley, who is now on the faculty at Boise State University, and Adam Maksl, who is now on the faculty at Indiana University Southeast, has developed a survey to measure news literacy and tested it with a key population demographic: teenagers. She says this survey instrument can be a helpful tool in teaching teens critical thinking skills regarding information they are exposed to through the media.  Full Story

Male Testosterone Levels Increase When Victorious in Competition Against Rivals, but Not Friends, MU Researchers Find

Team spirit and rivalries reflect how humans evolved to form coalitions

May 14th, 2013

Sporting events can bring a community together, such as when the Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA championship and University of Louisville campus was filled with camaraderie. They also can fuel bitter rivalries, such as the long-standing animosity between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A new University of Missouri study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare.  Full Story

Trying to be Happier Works When Listening to Upbeat Music, According to MU Research

May 14th, 2013

The song, “Get Happy,” famously performed by Judy Garland, has encouraged people to improve their mood for decades. Recent research at the University of Missouri discovered that an individual can indeed successfully try to be happier, especially when cheery music aids the process. This research points to ways that people can actively improve their moods and corroborates earlier MU research. Full Story

New MU Astrophysics Program Will Help Prepare Students for a Wide-Variety of Career Options

May 8th, 2013

This spring, three University of Missouri students will graduate with degrees in physics with an emphasis in astronomy, or the equivalent to an astrophysics degree. Until now, the University of Missouri hadn’t offered a degree in the field and had been losing Missouri students to bordering states such as Illinois and Kansas. Studying astrophysics prepares students for jobs everywhere from NASA to Wall Street. Full Story

5,292 Graduates Received Degrees During MU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies

Peter Hessler, award winning author and Columbia native, received honorary degree from MU

May 6th, 2013

Beginning Friday, May 17 and continuing through Sunday, May 19, 5,292 students will receive degrees during Spring commencement exercises at the University of Missouri. University officials also will honor Peter Hessler, an award-wining author and Columbia native, with an honorary degree during the Honors Ceremony on Saturday, May 18. Full Story

MU Researchers Develop App to Help Save Farmers’ Lives

May 2nd, 2013

Tractor rollovers are the leading cause of death among farmers and claim about 250 lives each year according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These accidents are deadly because they often occur far away from farmers’ homes or roads and they may be unable to reach a phone to call for help. Now, University of Missouri researchers have developed an application for smartphones that uses GPS systems to locate farmers who have rolled their tractors. Full Story

MU Expert Analyzes Fossil of Great Ape

11.9 million-year-old fossil provides insights into human evolution

May 1st, 2013

Researchers who unearthed the fossil specimen of an ape skeleton in Spain in 2002 assigned it a new genus and species, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus. They estimated that the ape lived about 11.9 million years ago, arguing that it could be the last common ancestor of modern great apes: chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, gorillas and humans. Now, a University of Missouri integrative anatomy expert says the shape of the specimen’s pelvis indicates that it lived near the beginning of the great ape evolution, after the lesser apes had started to develop separately but before the great ape species began to diversify. Full Story

MU’s First African-American Professor Passes Away

May 1st, 2013

Arvarh Strickland, the University of Missouri’s first tenured African-American professor, has passed away. Strickland began his career at MU in 1969. Until he retired, Strickland, a nationally known historian, participated in curricular changes and directed undergraduate and graduate studies at MU, where he was largely responsible for increasing African-American enrollment and for transforming MU’s culture. Full Story

Encountering Connections May Make Life Feel More Meaningful, says MU Psychologist

April 30th, 2013

Experiencing connections, regularities, and coherence in their environment may lead people to feel a greater sense of meaning in life, according to a new study published by University of Missouri researchers in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science Full Story

MU Discovery Helps Explain How Children Develop Rare, Fatal Disease

April 30th, 2013

One of 100,000 children is born with Menkes disease, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to properly absorb copper from food and leads to neurodegeneration, seizures, impaired movement, stunted growth and, often, death before age 3. Now, a team of biochemistry researchers at the University of Missouri has published conclusive scientific evidence that the gene ATP7A is essential for the dietary absorption of the nutrient copper. Their work with laboratory mice also provides a greater understanding of how this gene impacts Menkes disease as scientists search for a treatment.  Full Story

Economics Influence Fertility Rates, Says MU Anthropologist

Economic factors outweigh medical concerns and cultural influences

April 30th, 2013

The world population could top 8 billion in the year 2023 if current growth rates remain constant, according to United Nations figures. However, if global fertility rates slow more quickly than expected, there could be up to half a billion fewer mouths to feed on Earth in 2023. Based on a recent study by a University of Missouri anthropologist, economic changes have the greatest impact on reducing family size, and thus slowing population growth, compared to other factors. Understanding the causes of declining birth rates may lead to improved policies designed to influence fertility and result in reduced competition for food, water, land and wealth. Full Story

EXPERT AVAILABLE: New Senate Bill Could Solve Internet Sales Tax Issues, MU Expert Says

April 26th, 2013

This week, the United States Senate overrode a filibuster and elected to debate the Marketplace Fairness Act, which, if passed, would provide states with a mechanism to tax online transactions that they cannot tax under current federal law. Currently, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling only allows states to levy sales and use taxes on businesses with physical presences in the state. For example, Amazon.com does not charge sales tax in Missouri because it is physically located in California. However, Wal-Mart charges sales tax, since it has stores in Missouri. Andrew Wesemann, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs, says that if the bill that is currently being considered in the Senate is passed, states will have a means for collecting tax revenue from entities that have, to date, been able to avoid the tax. Full Story

New Program Saves 15,000 Pounds of Food Per Month; MU Goes Trayless

National trend also saves 100,000 gallons of water, costs for students

April 25th, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The average American discards approximately 20 pounds of food each month, which amounts to $2, 275 a year for a family of four. This recent trend in America doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon and continues to be a problem in today’s society. However, the University of Missouri Campus Dining Services (CDS) has implemented a new system in their residential dining locations, which has reduced food waste on campus by more than 15,000 pounds per month. Full Story

EXPERT COMMENT: Business Competition Could Fuel Another Space Race, says MU Instructor and Former Astronaut

April 25th, 2013

Humans compete against aliens to explore the universe in the sci-fi future of the upcoming Star Trek movie, just as during the Cold War the United States competed against the Soviet Union for space supremacy. In the present, instead of aliens or Soviets, businesses could launch another space race as they compete for profits, according to former astronaut Steven Nagel, instructor in the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri. However, Nagel noted that the source of those potential profits is still uncertain. Full Story

Enterprise Holdings Gives Unrestricted $2 Million Gift to MU

Gift will provide endowment for important sustainability research

April 23rd, 2013

The University of Missouri has received an unrestricted gift of $2 million from the world’s largest car rental company, Enterprise Holdings, and its philanthropic arm, the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings owns and operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Full Story

Food Safety and Bioterrorism Defense May Benefit from Improved Detection Test Developed at MU

Nanotechnology used by system may bring jobs and investments to Missouri

April 18th, 2013

Sales of chicken products in China plummeted recently during an outbreak of a deadly new strain of bird flu. From bird flu to mad cow disease, numerous food scares have made global headlines in recent years. A technique developed by University of Missouri Professor of Engineering Shubhra Gangopadhyay’s group may make food contamination testing more rapid and accurate. The detection test also could accelerate warnings after bioterrorism attacks. Full Story

Children and Teens with Autism More Likely to Become Preoccupied with Video Games, MU Researcher Says

Research could lead to interventions to treat disorder

April 17th, 2013

Children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use screen-based media, such as television and video games, more often than their typically developing peers and are more likely to develop problematic video game habits, a University of Missouri researcher found.  Full Story

MU Creates Exit Counseling Program; Helps Graduating Students with Debt Management

April 16th, 2013

In order to help students manage debt after graduation, the University of Missouri’s Student Financial Aid office and the Office for Financial Success are launching a new counseling program that provides one-on-one counseling sessions for students. In the program’s first two weeks of operation, approximately 500 students have scheduled appointments. Full Story

Drug Could Improve Working Memory of People with Autism, MU Study Finds

April 15th, 2013

People with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have trouble communicating and interacting with others because they process language, facial expressions and social cues differently. Previously, researchers found that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety and panic, could improve the language abilities and social functioning of people with an ASD. Now, University of Missouri investigators say the prescription drug also could help improve the working memory abilities of individuals with autism.  Full Story

Plasma Device Developed at MU Could Revolutionize Energy Generation and Storage

Researcher warns cutting funding for basic research endangers America’s energy future

April 15th, 2013

University of Missouri engineer Randy Curry and his team have developed a method of creating and controlling plasma that could revolutionize American energy generation and storage. Besides liquid, gas and solid, matter has a fourth state, known as plasma. Fire and lightning are familiar forms of plasma. Life on Earth depends on the energy emitted by plasma produced during fusion reactions within the sun. However, Curry warns that without federal funding of basic research, America will lose the race to develop new plasma energy technologies. The basic research program was originally funded by the Office of Naval Research, but continued research has been funded by MU. Full Story

Individual Donation Amounts Drop When Givers Are in Groups, Says MU Researcher

April 11th, 2013

In December of last year the New York Post published images of a man about to be killed by a train while several bystanders did little to help him. Numerous studies have provided evidence that people are less likely to help when in groups, a phenomenon known as the “bystander effect.” Those studies examined situations where only one person was needed to take action to help another. A University of Missouri anthropologist recently found that even when multiple individuals can contribute to a common cause, the presence of others reduces an individual’s likelihood of helping. This research has numerous applications, including possibly guiding the fundraising strategies of charitable organizations. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

April 10th, 2013

University of Missouri Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton and Commerce Bank Chairman Jim Schatz of Commerce Bank today awarded one of the 2013 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Angela Speck, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the MU College of Arts and Science. Full Story

Alcohol Use, Anxiety Predict Facebook Use by College Students, MU Study Finds

April 9th, 2013

With nearly one billion users worldwide, Facebook has become a daily activity for hundreds of millions of people. Because so many people engage with the website daily, researchers are interested in how emotionally involved Facebook users become with the social networking site and the precursors that lead to Facebook connections with other people. Russell Clayton, now a doctoral student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, found that anxiety and alcohol use significantly predict emotional connectedness to Facebook. Full Story

Measuring Microbes Makes Wetland Health Monitoring More Affordable, Says MU Researcher

Understanding microbe communities could improve wetland wastewater treatment systems

April 9th, 2013

Wetlands serve as the Earth’s kidneys. They filter and clean people’s water supplies while serving as important habitat for many species, including iconic species like cattails, cranes and alligators. Conventional ecosystem health assessments have focused on populations of these larger species. However, the tiny, unseen creatures in the wetlands provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems’ health in a study by University of Missouri Associate Professor of Engineering Zhiqiang Hu and his team. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter humans' wastewater. Full Story

Couch Potatoes May Be Genetically Predisposed to Being Lazy, MU Study Finds

Genetics could be a reason some people are motivated to exercise more than others

April 8th, 2013

Studies show 97 percent of American adults get less than 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is the minimum recommended amount based on federal guidelines. New research from the University of Missouri suggests certain genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less motivated to exercise and remain active. Frank Booth, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, along with his post-doctoral fellow Michael Roberts, were able to selectively breed rats that exhibited traits of either extreme activity or extreme laziness. They say these rats indicate that genetics could play a role in exercise motivation, even in humans.  Full Story

Marriages Benefit When Fathers Share Household, Parenting Responsibilities, MU Researcher Says

April 8th, 2013

Although no exact formula for marital bliss exists, a University of Missouri researcher has found that husbands and wives are happier when they share household and child-rearing responsibilities. However, sharing responsibilities doesn’t necessarily mean couples divide chores equally, said Adam Galovan, a doctoral student in the MU Department of Human Development and Family Studies.  Full Story

New Measurement of Crocodilian Nerves Could Lead to Better Understanding of Ancient Animals’ Behavior, MU Researcher Finds

April 4th, 2013

Crocodilians have nerves on their faces that are so sensitive, they can detect a change in a pond when a single drop hits the water surface several feet away. Alligators and crocodiles use these “invisible whiskers” to detect prey when hunting. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri has measured the nerves responsible for this function, which will help biologists understand how today's animals, as well as dinosaurs and crocodiles that lived millions of years ago, interact with the environment around them. Full Story

Breakthrough Cancer-Killing Treatment Has No Side-Effects, Says MU Researcher

New chemistry could cure human cancers when funding is secured

April 3rd, 2013

Cancer painfully ends more than 500,000 lives in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The scientific crusade against cancer recently achieved a victory under the leadership of University of Missouri Curators’ Professor M. Frederick Hawthorne. Hawthorne’s team has developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice. This innovative treatment produced none of the harmful side-effects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies. Clinical trials in humans could begin soon after Hawthorne secures funding. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

April 2nd, 2013

University of Missouri Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton and Commerce Bank Chairman Jim Schatz of Commerce Bank today awarded one of the 2013 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Elizabeth Baker, a professor in the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum in the MU College of Education. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

April 2nd, 2013

University of Missouri Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton and Commerce Bank Chairman Jim Schatz of Commerce Bank today awarded one of the 2013 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Cheryl Black, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre in the MU College of Arts and Science. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

April 2nd, 2013

University of Missouri Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton and Commerce Bank Chairman Jim Schatz of Commerce Bank today awarded one of the 2013 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to William Horner, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science in the MU College of Arts and Science. Full Story

Disease Over-Diagnosis Can Result in Needlessly Medicating Infants, Finds MU Research

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is frequently over-diagnosed and over-treated in infants.

April 2nd, 2013

In a new study, MU psychological sciences Professor Laura Scherer found that when physicians label common symptoms in infants, such as crying and spitting up, as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), commonly known as reflux disease, this increases parents’ desire for medication even when parents are told that the medications are probably ineffective. As a result, using diagnostic labels like “GERD” may cause parents to believe that their infant needs medications, and contribute to overtreatment and use of ineffective medications. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

April 1st, 2013

University of Missouri Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton and Commerce Bank Chairman Jim Schatz of Commerce Bank today awarded one of the 2013 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Tim Evans, an associate professor of toxicology in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. Full Story

Certain Breast Cancers Have a Trait that Could be Attacked by New Therapies, says MU Researcher

March 27th, 2013

More than 100 women per day die from breast cancer in the United States. The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research by University of Missouri scientist Salman Hyder may lead to treatments for breast cancers associated with taking these synthetic hormones. Hyder, along with an international team, found that hormone-therapy-related breast cancer cells have a physical feature that could be attacked by cancer therapies. Full Story

Protein-Rich Breakfasts Prevent Unhealthy Snacking in the Evening, MU Researcher Finds

March 26th, 2013

Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but up to 60 percent of American young people consistently skip it. Now, Heather Leidy, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, says eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening, which could help improve the diets of more than 25 million overweight or obese young adults in the U.S. Full Story

Vitamin D May Lower Diabetes Risk in Obese Children and Adolescents, MU Study Finds

Supplement helped control blood-sugar levels in obese youths

March 26th, 2013

Childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically in the past three decades. Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now, University of Missouri researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.  Full Story

MU Program Helps Health Care Workers Move Past Tragedy

Program has been recognized nationally

March 26th, 2013

When a patient dies unexpectedly, whether suddenly or after a long illness, the loss can hit loved ones hard. In some of these cases, health care workers can be affected deeply due to the emotional bonding that can occur between patients and their caregivers. Now, studies have shown that a new program that provides support and training at the University of Missouri Health Care System is helping health care workers get back on their feet and heal both mentally and physically. Full Story

Men May Have Natural Aversion to Adultery with Friends’ Wives, Says MU Researcher

Findings about testosterone levels illuminate how humans evolved to form alliances

March 20th, 2013

After outgrowing teenage infatuations with the girl next door, adult males seem to be biologically designed to avoid amorous attractions to the wife next door, according to a University of Missouri study that found adult males’ testosterone levels dropped when they were interacting with the marital partner of a close friend. Understanding the biological mechanisms that keep men from constantly competing for each others' wives may shed light on how people manage to cooperate on the levels of neighborhoods, cities and even globally. Full Story

Park Amenities Differ According to Income of Neighborhoods, MU Scientist Finds

March 19th, 2013

Every community in America has its share of parks. However, park amenities in certain communities can be lacking, which can be detrimental to the health of potential patrons. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that while more parks exist in lower-income neighborhoods, they tend to be less attractive than parks in upper- and middle-class neighborhoods, which have more amenities and are more visually pleasing.  Full Story

Soldiers and Families Can Suffer Negative Effects from Modern Communication Technologies, Says MU Researcher

March 18th, 2013

As recently as the Vietnam and Korean wars, soldiers’ families commonly had to wait months to receive word from family members on the front lines. Now, cell phones and the internet allow deployed soldiers and their families to communicate instantly. However, along with the benefits of keeping in touch, using new communication technologies can have negative consequences for both soldiers and their families, according to a study by University of Missouri researcher Brian Houston. This research could lead to guidelines for how active military personnel and their families can best use modern communications. Full Story

MU Researchers Suggest Changes for Missouri Tax Credit Programs

March 18th, 2013

In the past few weeks, Missouri legislators have been considering a number of different tax credit reforms. While these tax credits can be beneficial to Missourians, the financial outcomes of tax credits can be unpredictable. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have published a report with recommendations for legislators to consider when discussing the future of tax credits in Missouri. Since the report was sent to Jefferson City at the end of 2012, the Senate has passed three new tax credit bills, modified two existing tax credit bills and placed stricter caps on three existing tax credit bills. Full Story

International Gender Difference in Math and Reading Scores Persists Regardless of Nations’ Gender Equality Levels, says MU Psychologist

Addressing possible biological basis for difference could be used to improve education.

March 13th, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Malala Yousafzai, the teenaged advocate for Pakistani girls’ education, was released from the hospital in February. Most of the world’s girls don’t have to fight as hard as Yousafzai for their education. However, even in countries with high gender equality, sex differences in math and reading scores persisted in the 75 nations […] Full Story

Researcher Discovers Bug That Might Only Exist on Mizzou’s Campus

March 12th, 2013

The University of Missouri has Jesse Hall, Faurot Field, Memorial Union and the Columns. Now, MU has its own bug. An MU researcher has discovered a new insect on campus and given it a Mizzou name. Ben Puttler, assistant professor emeritus of plant sciences at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, first discovered Aphis Mizzou in 2005 while conducting research on wasps on the MU campus. Full Story

Missouri Couple Gives $1.4 Million to Continue New Music Initiative

The gift will support programs and scholarships directed toward promoting the creation of new music

March 11th, 2013

Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, residents of Westphalia, Missouri, have given a $1.4 million gift to the University of Missouri. Through the generous gift from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, Jeanne and Rex will continue and expand the Mizzou New Music Initiative (MNMI) and the Creating Original Music Project at MU. The gift announcement was made at the annual MU Chancellor’s Concert Monday evening.  Full Story

MU Distinguished Arts and Science Alumni Honored at Annual Banquet

March 11th, 2013

On March 9, four distinguished alumni from the University of Missouri College of Arts and Science were honored during the College’s annual banquet. Honorees represented the division of biological sciences and the departments of romance languages, literatures, art and history. In its 32nd year, the distinguished alumni awards recognized alumni whose professional contributions have enhanced their respective disciplines and the lives of others, while also reflecting well on the University of Missouri’s College of Arts and Science. The Arts and Science Distinguished Service Award was also given at the banquet. Full Story

Hubler Named Director of Nuclear Renaissance Institute at MU

March 8th, 2013

University of Missouri Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Duncan has announced that Graham K. Hubler, a nuclear physicist who worked for the Naval Research Laboratory for 40 years, has been named director of the Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance (SKINR) at MU. Full Story

Family and Kinship to be Discussed at MU Conference

The 9th annual MU Life Sciences and Society Symposium “Claiming Kin” will take place in March

March 6th, 2013

Kinship has been studied by researchers in fields as diverse as genetics and gender studies. Modern reproductive technology, blended families, same-sex marriages, and shifting gender roles have changed the way in which we view kinship. While historians investigate the way understandings of family have changed across cultures and over time, some anthropologists and primatologists are struck by continuities that link humans across populations, and even across species, suggesting that we inherited some aspects of our kin relationships from our primate kin. These topics and more will be discussed at the 9th annual Life Sciences & Society Symposium, “Claiming Kin,” at the University of Missouri on March 15-17. Full Story

Statement Concerning Inadvertent Emergency Test Message

March 5th, 2013

The university has a contract with a mass notification system that automatically sends tornado warning alerts. In order to enable the quickest possible response to an actual tornado, a pre-determined message is written and saved in the automatic mass notification system, along with other messages about other emergency situations. The system scans the National Weather Service for emergency notices. When the National Weather Service activates its system for Boone County, and the message is detected by the automatic system, phone, text and email messages are sent to all subscribers of the system. Full Story

News Websites Should Target “Reward Seekers”, MU Researcher Finds

Website designers should strive for simplicity, invoke emotion to boost online revenue

March 5th, 2013

As newspaper sales continue to decline, many news organizations are searching for ways to improve readership and revenues from their online presences. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that news organizations should target readers with certain personality traits in order to optimize their online viewership. Paul Bolls, an associate professor of strategic communication at the MU School of Journalism and a 2011-2012 MU Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow, has found that news consumers who have “reward-seeking” personalities are more likely to read their news online and on mobile devices, and to engage with websites, by leaving comments on stories and uploading user-generated content. Full Story

Obama-Appointed Experts to Discuss International Hunger Issues at MU

University to Host BIFAD Public Meeting

March 4th, 2013

By the year 2050, earth’s population will grow from 7 billion to 9 billion people. Currently, all countries, even the richest, struggle to feed their citizens and are challenged by food deserts, difficult landscapes for growing crops, and tough weather conditions. The Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) is a group of scholars and agricultural specialists appointed by President Obama to develop solutions to this growing need. The University of Missouri will host the next public meeting of BIFAD on March 15.  Full Story

MU’s Rebecca Johnson to Take on National Advisory Role

March 4th, 2013

Rebecca Johnson, a professor at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, director of Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, and the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing, has been elected to the National Academies of Practice (NAP) and the Veterinary Medicine Academy (VMA) as a distinguished scholar and fellow. Johnson will be inducted into the NAP in April during the organization’s annual meeting and forum. Full Story

MU Graduate Dean Accepts Deanship at Arizona State University

March 4th, 2013

University of Missouri Provost Brian Foster announced today that George Justice, dean of the MU Graduate School, will resign effective June 1, to take the position of Dean for Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. Foster said that he would immediately initiate an accelerated internal process to name an interim dean, and will commence a full-scale national search to fill the dean’s position this fall.  Full Story

International Aid and Advocacy Groups are Influenced by Their Home Countries’ Cultures, Says MU Researcher

Donors can choose groups based on activism preferences

March 4th, 2013

In February, Greenpeace activist and actress Lucy Lawless, star of “Xena: Warrior Princess,” was sentenced to 120 hours of community service for boarding a Shell oil rig to protest offshore Arctic drilling. Dramatic protests by Netherlands-based Greenpeace contrast sharply with the lobbying and letter-writing of the U.S.-based Sierra Club. The differences among those two groups and other international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) reflect the cultures of the nations where they are based, according to research by a University of Missouri political scientist. Individuals can use knowledge of INGOs’ home nations to decide which organizations they wish to support economically. Full Story

Retailers Should Re-Size Maternity Wear for Women Throughout Their Pregnancies, MU Study Finds

Demand exists for comfortable, visually appealing maternity wear for women earlier in pregnancies

February 27th, 2013

Fashion retailers have seen an increase in demand for maternity wear in recent years, as sales for maternity clothing have increased while overall women’s apparel sales have declined. Currently, most retailers produce maternity wear using a standardized size chart that begins with women in their seventh month of pregnancy. Retailers produce garments for women who are earlier in their terms by adjusting the sizes smaller proportionally based on the standardized chart. In a recent study, University of Missouri researcher MyungHee Sohn, an assistant professor of textile and apparel management in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, has found that retailers should re-produce the industry standardized size chart to size maternity wear for women entering their fifth month of pregnancy.  Full Story

MU Will Open Wednesday

February 26th, 2013

The University of Missouri will be open tomorrow, Feb. 27, and classes will be in session as scheduled. Full Story

MU Awards Faculty for Contributions to Diversity

February 26th, 2013

The University of Missouri Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative has awarded three faculty members the 2013 MU Faculty Achievement Award in Diversity. This is an endowed award to be given annually to three faculty members whose work elevates diversity and inclusion on the MU campus. This year’s recipients are: Full Story

MU Recognizes Contributions to Diversity

February 26th, 2013

Officials from the University of Missouri Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative have awarded two MU students, two faculty members and a group of doctors with the 2013 Inclusive Excellence Award. The award is given to individuals or groups who have made contributions to any area of diversity such as gender, racial-ethnic background, language, religious belief, sexual orientation, disabilities and economic strata. This year’s recipients are:  Full Story

MU to Close Tuesday Due to Weather

February 25th, 2013

The University of Missouri will be in full closure tomorrow, Feb. 26. All classes, exams and events are canceled, and only employees that are considered “situationally critical” are required to be on campus, according to Human Resources Policy 217. The policy can be accessed at: http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/hrm/hr200/hr217  Full Story

Dogs Improve Quality of Life for Families with Children with Autism, MU Study Finds

New social media mapping methods allow MU researchers to analyze posts by families affected by autism

February 25th, 2013

Families who have children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often faced with significant challenges, such as caregiver burden, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. Because of these difficulties, ownership of pet and service dogs by families with ASD children has received growing attention as a way to provide benefits for these children and their families. However, there has been little research on how dog ownership affects families with ASD children. Now, through a novel method of monitoring social media, interdisciplinary researchers from the University of Missouri have found that families with ASD children regard dog ownership as having a positive impact on their households. Rebecca Johnson, director the MU Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) and professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine, says these findings further indicate the positive effects animal interactions can have on children with autism. Full Story

MU Open on Saturday

February 22nd, 2013

The University of Missouri will be open effective Saturday, Feb. 23. Full Story

MU Remains Closed Tomorrow

February 21st, 2013

The University of Missouri will remain closed tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 22. Officials cited the road conditions as the reason for the closure. All classes, exams and events are canceled for tomorrow. Officials expect that operations will resume as normal on Monday, Feb. 25. Certain continuous operations will remain open, staffed by situationally critical personnel. “We have […] Full Story

University of Missouri Closes for Remainder of Day

February 21st, 2013

The University of Missouri is in full closure today, Feb. 21, with all classes, exams and events cancelled. Certain continuous operations will remain open, staffed by situationally critical personnel. Please check mualert.missouri.edu for further updates.  Full Story

MU Canceling Classes Effective Immediately

February 21st, 2013

Classes and exams are canceled effective from 1 p.m. through the rest of the day and evening. Go to MUAlert.missouri.edu for updates. Full Story

Perceptions of Health Improve with Pension Receipt, MU Researcher Says

Personal assessments of well-being vary by gender and fade over time

February 20th, 2013

After retirement, pensions provide consistent income to aging individuals. Although the details of pension eligibility and implementation vary by country, receiving pensions can represent a new life stage for individuals. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has studied how older men and women view their health before and after receiving fixed incomes. South African men and women in the study viewed their health more positively when they began receiving their pensions, but the heightened sense of well-being faded over time. Full Story

Obesity Coverage in Black Newspapers is Mostly Negative, MU Study Finds

Negative health stories could discourage man in the African-American community from taking action

February 14th, 2013

Obesity rates have increased dramatically in the last few decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up more than 60 percent of the overweight and obese population, while only 13 percent of the total population. A new study from the University of Missouri School of Journalism shows that American newspapers, and specifically newspapers geared toward an African-American audience, frame stories on obesity in a negative way. Hyunmin Lee, who performed her research while a doctoral student at MU, says this negative framing could have damaging effects on African Americans looking to lose weight. Full Story

MU Hires Three Prominent Scientists Boosting Anthropology and Economics Expertise on Campus

Scientists hired with funds from Mizzou Advantage, Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence and College of A&S

February 14th, 2013

The University of Missouri is one of 34 public universities in the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is recognized for its national expertise in many academic fields. MU’s nationally prominent faculty scholars and scientists bring their expertise and discoveries into the classroom while publishing more than 1,500 books and scholarly articles each year and attracting multi-million dollar grants. Recently, Mizzou officials hired three prominent scientists, each a member of his country’s national academy of sciences. The new hires – Napoleon Chagnon and Martin Daly in the Department of Anthropology, and William “Buz” Brock in the Department of Economics – were made possible by funds from Mizzou Advantage, the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence and the College of Arts and Science. Full Story

2013 Summer Could be Similar to Last Summer, MU Researcher Says

Farmers should prepare for possible drought conditions through July

February 14th, 2013

Last summer, the Midwest experienced one of the hottest and driest summers on record. While a few rain showers have occurred across the Midwest the past few weeks, it appears that the region is in for another dry summer. A University of Missouri researcher says that an opposing weather pattern could bring more favorable weather conditions to the Midwest, but won’t be here until after this summer. Full Story

Happily Married Couples Consider Themselves Healthier, Says MU Expert

Medical professionals should consider how marital quality affects patients’ health

February 13th, 2013

Research shows that married people have better mental and physical health than their unmarried peers and are less likely to develop chronic conditions than their widowed or divorced counterparts. A University of Missouri expert says that people who have happy marriages are more likely to rate their health as better as they age; aging adults whose physical health is declining could especially benefit from improving their marriages. Full Story

Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder Need Help Transitioning to Adult Health Care, Says MU Expert

Less than one in four young people with ASD receive transition services

February 12th, 2013

Health care transition (HCT) services help young people with special health care needs such as asthma or diabetes move from pediatric to adult health care. However, youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have less access to these services, which are designed to prevent gaps in care and insurance coverage. A University of Missouri researcher recommends that the medical community develop HCT services for individuals with ASD as a way to ensure consistent and coordinated care and increase their independence and quality of life.  Full Story

Effective Treatment for Late Infantile Batten Disease Developed by MU, BioMarin Researchers

Enzyme therapy slows progression of Batten disease in a dog model

February 11th, 2013

Batten disease is a rare, fatal genetic disorder that affects children. Currently, no effective treatment exists for the disease, which ultimately kills all who are affected. Dachshunds also suffer from Batten disease, and now researchers from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Medicine, in collaboration with BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., have developed a treatment for the disease that has significantly delayed the onset and progression of symptoms in the Dachshunds. The effectiveness of the treatment in the dogs has been so encouraging that plans are underway to initiate human trials of the therapy in children. Full Story

St. Louis Area Couple Gives More Than $5 Million to Support Cancer Research, Companion Animal Medicine

MU College of Veterinary Medicine estate gift will honor family veterinarians

February 11th, 2013

Cottrell and Kay Fox, residents of Town and Country, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, have given an estate gift of more than $5 million to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Through their generous gift, Cottrell and Kay want to recognize the work of their long-time family veterinarians James Schuessler and Fred Bendick from St. Louis, both alumni of the college. Full Story

Midwest Soil Could Take Up to Two Years to Recover from Long Drought, Says MU Researcher

February 11th, 2013

The Midwest suffered the worst drought in years last summer, and Midwest soil has been suffering from a drought since early 2010. As a result, crops have wilted and farmers have fallen on hard times. Now, a University of Missouri researcher says that it may take at least two years for crops and soil to recover. Full Story

Bisphenol A Affects Sex-Specific Reproductive Behaviors in a Monogamous Animal Species, Says MU Researcher

Animal Findings Suggest That Gender May Also Influence Chemical Exposure Risks for Humans

February 11th, 2013

Parents, teachers and psychologists know boys and girls behave differently. However, that difference isn’t taken into account by most methods used to assess the risk to children from chemical exposure, according to Cheryl Rosenfeld, associate professor of biomedical sciences in the University of Missouri’s Bond Life Sciences Center. A series of experiments by Rosenfeld studied the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) on later reproductive-associated behaviors using a socially and genetically monogamous rodent, the California mouse, which may better mirror most human societies than other rodents. Full Story

MU Invests $2.5 Million to Launch 16 Online Degree and Certificate Programs

February 8th, 2013

The University of Missouri will launch 16 online programs in an effort to respond to the demand for increased online learning opportunities and a more highly educated citizenry. MU officials said the $2.5 million investment is intended to increase access to higher education and enhance the number of graduates in specific industries. Full Story

MU Wheelchair Basketball Coach to Lead U.S. National Team

February 7th, 2013

Just months after the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games ended, preparations for the 2016 games in Rio, Brazil began. Recently, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association announced that the University of Missouri wheelchair basketball head coach, Ron Lykins, will coach the United States men’s wheelchair basketball team for the 2016 Paralympic games. Lykins will look to improve on the U.S. team’s third-place finish in the 2012 Paralympics in London. Full Story

Information Technology Improves Patient Care and Increases Privacy, MU Informatics Expert Says

February 6th, 2013

The federal government invested more than $25 billion in health information technology (IT) as a result of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act; yet, little is known about how IT applications improve patient safety and protect their privacy. Now, a University of Missouri nursing informatics expert suggests that sophisticated IT leads to more robust and integrated communication strategies among clinical staff, which allows staff to more efficiently coordinate care and better protect patient privacy. Full Story

MU Extension Declares February “Missouri Saves Month”

MU Extension program to encourage savings goals for 2013

February 5th, 2013

In an effort to promote smart financial decisions by Missourians throughout the state, University of Missouri Extension has declared February “Missouri Saves Month”. The “Missouri Saves” program aims to help individuals and families save and build wealth. This program assists those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education or save for retirement. The goal of the campaign is to convince all Americans that they can build wealth and to assist them in doing so.  Full Story

President Barack Obama Recently Awarded University of Missouri Researcher M. Frederick Hawthorne the National Medal of Science, the Highest Honor Bestowed by the Country to Scientists

MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and his wife attended the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

February 4th, 2013

More information about the honor bestowed upon Dr. Hawthorne can be viewed here: President Obama Honors MU Researcher with National Medal of Science Hawthorne is the director of the International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine at MU, as well as Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Radiology. Hawthorne was named a National Medal of […] Full Story

Mothers’ Behavior during Playtime Linked to Young Children’s Engagement with Them, MU Researcher Says

Affectionate, less controlling mothers have strongest relationships with their children

February 4th, 2013

Researchers long have evaluated the roles parents play in children’s development. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that mothers’ directiveness, the extent to which they try to control the content and pace of young children’s play, varies based on the children’s ages and the mothers’ ethnicities. In addition, the study found that the more directive the mothers were during play, the less engaged children were with them and the more negative emotion the children displayed toward their mothers.  Full Story

MU Scientists Build Harness for Powerful Radiation Cancer Therapy

Scientists at MU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville created a gold nanoparticle that can transport powerful radioactive particles directly to tumors for treatment.

February 4th, 2013

We’ve all heard that “it’s not wise to use a cannon to kill a mosquito.” But what if you could focus the cannon’s power to concentrate power into a tiny space? In a new study, University of Missouri researchers have demonstrated the ability to harness powerful radioactive particles and direct them toward small cancer tumors while doing negligible damage to healthy organs and tissues. The study is being published this week in PLOS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed and open-access publication. Full Story

Program to Overcome Early U.S. Math Deficiencies Could Improve Workforce, says MU Psychologist

America’s future workers could benefit from improving a certain math skill in preschool

January 30th, 2013

One in five adults in the United States lacks the math competency expected of an eighth grader, according to the United States Center for Educational Statistics. University of Missouri researchers identified how a lack of a specific math skill in first grade correlated to lower scores on a seventh grade math test used to determine employability and wages in adults. Intervention programs designed to overcome this early math deficiency could prepare students for later employment, help them make wiser economic choices and improve the future U.S. workforce.  Full Story

Statements from MU Chancellor and Ihm Family Regarding Homicide Investigation of Jeong H. Im

January 30th, 2013

Officials from the University of Missouri Police Department announced today that they had identified the individual responsible for the homicide of Jeong H. Im, a retired faculty member at MU. Full Story

Low-income Pregnant Women in Rural Areas Experience High Levels of Stress; Mothers’ and Babies’ Health at Risk, MU Researcher Says

January 29th, 2013

Stress during pregnancy puts mothers’ and their babies’ health at risk, previous research has shown. Now, a University of Missouri study indicates low-income pregnant women in rural areas experience high levels of stress yet lack appropriate means to manage their emotional and physical well-being.  Full Story

MU VITA Sites Open, Provide Free Tax Preparation Help

MU Extension offers face-to-face tax education

January 29th, 2013

With the beginning of a new year comes the start of another tax season. To assist Missourians with their tax return preparation, tax experts in the personal financial planning department in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri and MU Extension opened their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites on Jan. 28. Andrew Zumwalt, an associate state specialist for financial planning and a member of the University of Missouri Extension faculty, says the VITA program not only helps participants file their taxes, but also provides MU students a great learning experience. Full Story

$8.3 Million Gift Will Support MU Athletic Facility Improvements

Athletic donation will propel Mizzou forward in its continuing transition into the SEC

January 29th, 2013

Don and Audrey Walsworth of Marceline, Missouri, have given a nearly $8.3 million gift to the University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Through their generous gift, the Walsworth family will support athletic department facility improvements and expansions, including renovations to Memorial Stadium and a new clubhouse for the men’s and women’s golf teams at The Club at Old Hawthorne. The new clubhouse will house coaches’ offices, team locker rooms, indoor heated hitting bays and the latest in swing instruction technology. Full Story

Digital Diagnostic Tools Lead to Patient Dissatisfaction, Says MU Expert

Physicians should incorporate decision aids with personal attention

January 24th, 2013

Health care practitioners now can access patients’ data using electronic medical records, which often include information systems that assess individuals’ medical histories and clinical research to facilitate doctors’ diagnoses. A University of Missouri researcher says the increased use of computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) leads to greater patient dissatisfaction and could increase noncompliance with preventative care and treatment recommendations. Full Story

Facebook Activity Reveals Clues to Mental Illness, says MU Researcher

Analysis of social media use could give therapists more complete view of patients’ health

January 24th, 2013

Facebook activity provided a window into the psychological health of participants in a study at the University of Missouri. Social media profiles could eventually be used as tools for psychologists and therapists, according to study leader Elizabeth Martin, doctoral student in MU’s psychological science department in the College of Arts and Science. Full Story

Women Must Do More to Reap Same Positive Health Outcomes as Men, MU Research Suggests

Fitness program benefits obese men with Type 2 Diabetes; female counterparts lack similar successes

January 23rd, 2013

More than one-third of Americans are obese, and these individuals often experience accompanying health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. In response to the so-called “obesity epidemic,” many medical professionals have suggested ways to improve the health outcomes of obese individuals through diet and exercise. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri suggests certain exercises that benefit obese men may not have the same positive results for obese women. These findings could help health providers and researchers develop targeted exercise interventions for obese women. Full Story

Public Acceptance of Climate Change Affected by Word Usage, Says MU Anthropologist

Better science communication could lead to a more informed American public.

January 22nd, 2013

Public acceptance of climate change’s reality may have been influenced by the rate at which words moved from scientific journals into the mainstream, according to anthropologist Michael O’Brien, dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri. A recent study of word usage in popular literature by O’Brien and his colleagues documented how the usage of certain words related to climate change has risen and fallen over the past two centuries. Understanding how word usage affects public acceptance of science could lead to better science communication and a more informed public. Full Story

MU to Help Foster Food Pantry Capacity, Education in Rural Missouri

January 15th, 2013

Missouri is ranked seventh in the nation for food insecurity, which is the lack of money or resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet, and has the fifth highest rate of child food insecurity in the country. Now, through a new grant, the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security (ICFS) in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), and the Health Communication Research Center (HCRC) housed in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, will work to increase the availability of healthy foods and nutrition education in food pantries in Missouri. Full Story

A Quantum Leap in Gene Therapy of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

January 15th, 2013

Usually, results from a new study help scientists inch their way toward an answer whether they are battling a health problem or are on the verge of a technological breakthrough. Once in a while, those results give them a giant leap forward. In a preliminary study in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), University of Missouri scientists showed exactly such a leap using gene therapy to treat muscular dystrophy. The results of the study will be published in the journal Molecular Therapy on Jan. 15, 2013. Full Story

Online Message Boards Provide Outlets for Mothers’ Concerns, MU Researcher Says

Nurses should monitor boards and discuss common questions during visits with health providers

January 9th, 2013

Parenting infants and toddlers can be challenging, and for generations, mothers have turned to other moms for advice. Now, with the availability of the Internet, mothers are consulting each other using modern venues: online message boards. Research from the University of Missouri indicates online discussion boards provide safe environments for mothers to anonymously express child-rearing concerns and receive support from other moms.  Full Story

Portable X-Ray Source Invented at MU Could Put Medical Diagnosis and Terrorism Prevention in the Palm of the Hand

The inexpensive device could improve health in the developing world and reduce mining risks

January 8th, 2013

The hand-held scanners, or tricorders, of the Star Trek movies and television series are one step closer to reality now that a University of Missouri engineering team has invented a compact source of X-rays and other forms of radiation. The radiation source, which is the size of a stick of gum, could be used to create inexpensive and portable X-ray scanners for use by doctors, as well as to fight terrorism and aid exploration on this planet and others. Full Story

Recognizing Psychological Common Ground Could Ease Tensions Among Those with Different Religious Beliefs, says MU Psychologist

January 7th, 2013

Understanding how thoughts of mortality influence individuals’ beliefs sheds light on the commonalities among different groups’ motivations and could help ease tensions between opposing viewpoints, according to University of Missouri experiments that tested the relationship between awareness of death and belief in a higher power. The study found that thoughts of death increased atheists, Christians, Muslims and agnostics conviction in their own world views. For example, contrary to the wartime aphorism that there are no atheists in foxholes, thoughts of death did not cause atheists to express belief in a deity.  Full Story

Previous Studies on Toxic Effects of BPA Couldn’t be Reproduced, says MU Research Team

The MU study is not claiming that BPA is safe, but that the previous series of studies are not reproducible.

January 2nd, 2013

Following a three-year study using more than 2,800 mice, a University of Missouri researcher was not able to replicate a series of previous studies by another research group investigating the controversial chemical BPA. The MU study is not claiming that BPA is safe, but that the previous series of studies are not reproducible. The MU study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also investigated an estrogenic compound found in plants, genistein, in the same three-year study. Full Story