Children with Autism Who Live With Pets Are More Assertive

Dogs, cats and other animals may improve social skills of children with autism

December 30th, 2014

Dogs and other pets play an important role in individuals’ social lives, and they can act as catalysts for social interaction, previous research has shown. Although much media attention has focused on how dogs can improve the social skills of children with autism, a University of Missouri researcher recently found that children with autism have stronger social skills when any kind of pet lived in the home. Full Story

550 Million Year Old Fossils Provide New Clues about Fossil Formation

December 17th, 2014

A new study from University of Missouri and Virginia Tech researchers is challenging accepted ideas about how ancient soft-bodied organisms become part of the fossil record. Findings suggest that bacteria involved in the decay of those organisms play an active role in how fossils are formed—often in a matter of just a few tens to hundreds of years. Understanding the relationship between decay and fossilization will inform future study and help researchers interpret fossils in a new way.  Full Story

Certain Parenting Tactics Could Lead to Materialistic Attitudes in Adulthood

Rewarding or punishing children using gifts can lead to financial and marital problems

December 16th, 2014

Many parents may be tempted to give children all the toys and gadgets they ask for or use the expectation of gifts to manage children’s behavior. Now, a new study from the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found that parents who use material goods as part of their parenting techniques may be setting children up for difficulties later in adulthood.  Full Story

More Than 2,500 Degrees to Be Granted at MU Commencement Ceremonies

Former Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman to be awarded honorary degree

December 16th, 2014

Thousands of students will don caps and gowns to celebrate the culmination of their academic achievements during the University of Missouri commencement ceremonies set to begin on Friday, Dec. 19 and end on Sunday, Dec. 21. MU will award 2,570 degrees, including 1,916 bachelor’s degrees, 474 master’s degrees, 152 doctorates, 7 law degrees, and 21 education specialist degrees. The university also will recognize 276 honors graduates and present former Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman with an honorary degree. Full Story

MU Scientist and Inventor Contributes to the Study of Cell Genetics

James A. Birchler elected as a Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors for contributions to cytogenetics

December 16th, 2014

Cytogenetics is a branch of science that studies the structure and function of cells with a focus on the chromosomes found within the cell. Often, plant cell researchers can be limited in their experiments due to the lack of methods available to study these complex structures. Using tools created and patented by James Birchler, a scientist at the University of Missouri, plant researchers are able to break down and engineer small parts of a chromosome and further their research. In the future, these techniques could allow scientists to introduce multiple disease-resistant traits to plants. Full Story

MU Scientist and Inventor Advances the Study of Nanomedicine

Kattesh V. Katti elected as a Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors for contributions to nanomedicine and green nanotechnology

December 16th, 2014

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology, or the use of microscopic structures to diagnose, image, treat and prevent disease. Current problems in nanomedicine include understanding and anticipating the potentially toxic impact these nanostructures have on the body and the environment once they’re released. Kattesh Katti, a researcher at the University of Missouri, is developing nano-scale molecules, including gold nanoparticles and other “green” technologies, to image and treat diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and degeneration of the eye—all while curtailing the impact these structures sometimes have on the body and environment. Full Story

Vulnerable Young Adults Will Have Better Access to Mental Health Care

MU and UMSL Receive Grant to Develop Behavioral Health Workforce

December 15th, 2014

The University of Missouri School of Social Work, in partnership with the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Social Work, has received more than $1 million from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration; to expand training to mental and behavioral health professionals throughout Missouri. The project is designed to improve access to services among high-need young adults ages 16-25 throughout the state and in East St. Louis, Ill.  Full Story

Decades of Research by MU Scientist Leads to Advancements in Nanotechnologies

Henry C. “Hank” Foley recognized as an AAAS Fellow for contributions to emerging technologies

December 10th, 2014

Nanotechnology is the study and engineering of matter and microscopic structures. These tiny systems continue to gain interest for their promise and commercial application. Henry C. “Hank” Foley, a researcher and administrator at the University of Missouri, is a pioneer in the study of nanoporous carbon, or tiny membranes and systems that allow energy sources to pass through or become stored in these structures. His analysis and scholarship in nanosystems and how they are composed continues to inform research fields of study including medicine, materials processing, energy and the environment. Full Story

MU Researcher Leads Developments in Pharmaceuticals and Energy Storage

Jerry Atwood recognized as an AAAS Fellow for contributions to chemistry research

December 10th, 2014

Chemistry is a branch of physical science studying composition, structure and properties of matter. With decades of study and a deep understanding of the field, Jerry Atwood, a researcher at the University of Missouri, is a prolific chemist who has guided the study of molecules and how they interact in the physical world. His discoveries have led to new ways of developing drugs more efficiently and better fuel storage capabilities. Atwood is considered a founding father in the field of supramolecular chemistry, or what he describes as “chemistry beyond the molecule.” Full Story

MU Researcher Contributes to the Study of Cancer-Fighting Tools

Silvia Jurisson recognized as an AAAS Fellow for contributions to cancer research

December 10th, 2014

Nuclear medicine is the branch of medicine that uses radioactive materials to provide diagnostics and treatments for cancer. Often, standard protocols involve using radioactive isotopes developed to image as well as weaken cancer cells in the body. With more than 30 years of research in radiopharmaceutical chemistry, Silvia Jurisson, a researcher at the University of Missouri, is a world-renowned scientist who continues to develop breakthrough materials used in the detection and treatment of cancer. Full Story

MU Scientist Advances the Study of Eye Disease and Aging

K. Krishna Sharma recognized as an AAAS Fellow for contributions to ophthalmology research

December 10th, 2014

Cataracts, a clouding of the lens in the eye leading to vision loss, affects more than 24 million people in the United States, according to National Institutes of Health estimates. Often linked to the natural process of aging, cataracts are a major cause of blindness worldwide. K. Krishna Sharma, an ophthalmology researcher at the University of Missouri, has worked for more than two decades to study the mechanisms involved in this degenerative disease. Discoveries in his lab are advancing both the understanding of how cataracts develop and the process of aging.  Full Story

Testosterone May Contribute to Colon Cancer Tumor Growth

December 10th, 2014

Previous cancer research has revealed that women are less likely than men to suffer from non-sex specific cancers such as cancer of the colon, pancreas and stomach. Scientists theorized that perhaps this trend was due to a protecting effect created by female hormones, such as estrogen, that help prevent tumors from forming. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found evidence suggesting that the male hormone testosterone may actually be a contributing factor in the formation of colon cancer tumors. Full Story

MU Requests Public Comment for Accreditation

December 9th, 2014

The University of Missouri seeks written comments from the public that address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. These comments are sought in preparation for the university’s periodic evaluation for accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. Full Story

Chemicals Released During Natural Gas Extraction May Harm Human Reproduction and Development

Scientists draw conclusions after review of more than 150 studies; suggest further scientific study

December 5th, 2014

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations combine directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to release natural gas from underground rock. Recent discussions have centered on potential air and water pollution from chemicals used in these processes and how it affects the more than 15 million Americans living within one mile of UOG operations. Now, Susan C. Nagel, a researcher with the University of Missouri, and national colleagues have conducted the largest review to date of research centered on fracking byproducts and their effects on human reproductive and developmental health. They determined that exposure to chemicals released in fracturing may be harmful to human health in men, women and children and recommend further scientific study.  Full Story

MU Chancellor Appoints Stokes as Provost

December 4th, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced that Garnett S. Stokes, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Florida State University (FSU), has been appointed as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at MU. Her appointment is effective Feb. 1, 2015. Full Story

Re-Focusing Investors’ Attention Away from Stock Market Losses Can Reduce Negative Emotional Responses

December 2nd, 2014

According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Board, 31 percent of Americans surveyed said they had no retirement savings, and almost half were not actively thinking about planning for retirement. Studies show that many Americans do not invest because they distrust the market and fear financial losses. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found a way for financial planners to help decrease their clients’ worries, which stem from the fear of losing money. Full Story

$1 Million Gift to Fund Exercise Physiology Research at MU

MU researcher gives gift back to MU to continue his research

November 20th, 2014

Frank Booth, a resident of Columbia and a professor in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine and MU Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, has given a $1 million gift to MU to fund his research into physical activity and health and to endow the Frank Booth Fellowship in Physical Activity and Health in the MU School of Medicine in perpetuity. Booth, an expert on genetic motivations for exercise and activity, has made research into unhealthy effects of physical inactivity on the brain and aerobic capacity his life’s work. He says his gift is motivated by a passion to help humans and animals live longer lives free from chronic diseases. Full Story

$1 Million Gift to MU to Support Community Journalism

Gift will support conferences, research on helping small, local newspapers

November 19th, 2014

Walter B. Potter Jr., a resident of Falls Church, Va., has committed $1 million to the University of Missouri School of Journalism to supplement the Walter B. Potter Fund for Innovation in Local Journalism, established in 2010. The endowment supports teaching and research centered on journalism that serves small communities, such as towns in rural areas or individual neighborhoods in larger urban areas. Potter says his gift is in honor of his late father, Walter Sr., and is motivated by his career as a journalist as well as his positive experiences as a graduate student at MU. Full Story

Salamanders Are a More Abundant Food Source in Forest Ecosystems Than Previously Thought

Advanced statistical methods used in study increase previous population estimates

November 18th, 2014

In the 1970s, ecologists published results from one of the first whole-forest ecosystem studies ever conducted in Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire. In the paper, scientists reported that salamanders represent one of the largest sources of biomass, or food, of all vertebrates in the forest landscape. Now, using new sampling and statistical techniques not available during the past study, researchers at the University of Missouri have estimated that the population of salamanders in forested regions of the Missouri Ozarks are 2-4 times higher than originally thought, and in other regions of the eastern U.S. may be on average 10 times higher. Scientists believe that acknowledging salamanders as one of the main food sources in forest ecosystems could help drive conservation efforts and forest management. Full Story

MU, Danforth Plant Science Center to Hire Four Joint Researchers

Collaboration will strengthen plant and crop research, provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students

November 18th, 2014

Officials from the University of Missouri and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis announced yesterday a new collaborative agreement that will lead to the hiring of four new researchers who enhance plant sciences research that will benefit the state, nation and world. Full Story

Catering to Needs of In-Store, Online Customers Boosts Marketing Effectiveness, Revenue

November 17th, 2014

Online retail sales totaled $75 billion in the second quarter of 2014, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. As consumers shop more using the Internet and cell phones, retailers must adjust their marketing strategies to reach these consumers. In a recently published study, a University of Missouri researcher found that consumers’ preferences differ when they are shopping in a physical store compared to shopping online. Catering to shoppers’ online and in-store preferences can increase the effectiveness of traditional marketing tactics such as direct marketing and enhanced customer service, the researcher found. Full Story

Businesses Can Help Preserve Endangered Species, Improve Employee Morale With Small Landscape Changes

November 17th, 2014

Raptors, or birds of prey, some of which are endangered species, typically live in environments that provide natural land cover, such as forests and grasslands. Protecting endangered raptor species helps maintain food chain balance and prevents overpopulation of common raptor prey, such as snakes and rodents. As more businesses are built on the edges of urban areas, land where raptors once lived becomes industrialized, which raises concerns about the consequences of habitat destruction on raptor populations. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that businesses can contribute to raptor preservation efforts by engaging in less development of lawn areas and increased planting or preservation of native grasslands and woodlots. Full Story

Moderate Consumption of Sugary Drinks Has Little Impact on Adolescents’ Metabolic Health, MU Study Finds

Physical activity may protect against negative effects of consuming sweetened beverages

November 12th, 2014

Sugar-sweetened beverages are the largest source of added sugar in the diets of adolescents in the United States, and young adults ages 15-20 consume more of these drinks than any other age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adolescent obesity rates, which have quadrupled over the past thirty years, led to widespread scrutiny of added dietary sugars, especially those found in carbonated beverages. Now, MU researchers have found that short-term, moderate consumption of high-fructose and high-glucose beverages has little impact on the metabolic health of weight-stable, physically active adolescents. Full Story

MU Business Expert Suggests Tools to Help Investors Choose Successful Fund Managers, Avoid “Copycat” Managers

Copycat mutual fund managers try to borrow from success of other managers, but often fail

November 10th, 2014

Thousands of choices are available when investing in mutual funds; this can be especially problematic for new or small investors. Selecting the right fund manager involves researching the manager of the fund to determine if past successes are due to good decision-making skills of the manager or if the manager has copied other successful managers’ choices. In a new study, researchers from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business, the University of Waterloo and the University of Cambridge identified several questions that investors can ask to determine if a mutual fund’s success is due to a skilled or a copycat manager.  Full Story

MU Researchers Offer First Analysis of New Human Glucose Disorder

Findings are informing human research into rare, sometimes fatal disease

November 10th, 2014

Glycogen storage disorders, which affect the body’s ability to process sugar and store energy, are rare metabolic conditions that frequently manifest in the first years of life. Often accompanied by liver and muscle disease, this inability to process and store glucose can have many different causes, and can be difficult to diagnose. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri who have studied enzymes involved in metabolism of bacteria and other organisms have catalogued the effects of abnormal enzymes responsible for one type of this disorder in humans. Their work could help with patient prognosis and in developing therapeutic options for this glycogen storage disease. Full Story

MU Purchases KWWC-FM from Stephens College; Increases News, Music Coverage for Mid-Missouri

October 31st, 2014

Officials from the University of Missouri and KBIA-FM today announced the purchase of 90.5 FM (KWWC-FM) from Stephens College in Columbia, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Full Story

Thermal Paper Cash Register Receipts Account for High Bisphenol A (BPA) Levels in Humans, MU Study Finds

Using skin care products dramatically accelerates BPA absorption

October 22nd, 2014

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used in a variety of consumer products, such as water bottles, dental composites and resins used to line metal food and beverage containers, and also is used in thermal paper cash register receipts. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri is providing the first data that BPA from thermal paper used in cash register receipts accounts for high levels of BPA in humans. Subjects studied showed a rapid increase of BPA in their blood after using a skin care product and then touching a store receipt with BPA.  Full Story

MU Joins the Women’s Foundation in Research Partnership to Examine Status of Missouri Women

Research to reveal areas of need to improve lives of Missouri families

October 16th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri and The Women’s Foundation have announced a research partnership with the goal of improving the lives of Missouri families. The Women’s Foundation has already begun conducting focus groups around the state, as MU researchers have been crafting an innovative research database operated by the Center for Applied Research in Economics (CARES). The CARES database combines economic and social data from around the country in a single, easy-to-access online portal. Full Story

Eating Breakfast Increases Brain Chemical Involved in Regulating Food Intake and Cravings, MU Researchers Find

Breakfast-skippers have lower dopamine levels, which can lead to overeating and eventual weight gain

October 15th, 2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many teens skip breakfast, which increases their likelihood of overeating and eventual weight gain. Statistics show that the number of adolescents struggling with obesity, which elevates the risk for chronic health problems, has quadrupled in the past three decades. Now, MU researchers have found that eating breakfast, particularly meals rich in protein, increases young adults’ levels of a brain chemical associated with feelings of reward, which may reduce food cravings and overeating later in the day. Understanding the brain chemical and its role in food cravings could lead to improvements in obesity prevention and treatment. Full Story

$2.3 Million NSF Grant Will Fund MU Study of Math Learning Outcomes

Research findings could help improve elementary math instruction

October 14th, 2014

Education researchers at the University of Missouri will receive nearly $2.3 million from the National Science Foundation over the next four years to study elementary students’ mathematics learning outcomes in relation to teacher expertise and classroom assignment. The researchers will monitor the impact of using elementary mathematics specialists – teachers who have been certified through a two-year program of study – and how the specialists are assigned in schools (whether they teach all subjects to one class or teach multiple sections of math to different classes). The results will help school and district leaders throughout the nation better determine how to use their elementary teaching staff to provide all students with high-quality mathematics instruction. Full Story

New Information about Neurons Could Lead to Advancements in Understanding Brain and Neurological Disorders

Neurons Actively Compensate for Electrical Imbalances at the Genetic Level, MU Researchers Demonstrate

October 14th, 2014

Neurons are electrically charged cells, located in the nervous system, that interpret and transmit information using electrical and chemical signals. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that individual neurons can react differently to electrical signals at the molecular level and in different ways—even among neurons of the same type. This variability may be important in discovering underlying problems associated with brain disorders and neural diseases such as epilepsy. Full Story

Millennials Uneducated on Important Clothing Care Skills, MU Study Finds

Improved education for sewing skills may lead to less textile waste, better sustainability

October 14th, 2014

As more and more high schools around the country drop home economics classes due to budget cuts or changes in educational priorities, many high school students are left without basic skills, such as preparing meals and sewing. Now, researchers have found that a significant gap exists in the amount of “common” clothes repair skills possessed by members of the baby boomer generation and millennials. Pamela Norum, a professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel Management in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, found that many more of the baby boomer generation possess skills such as sewing, hemming, button repair and general laundry knowledge than Americans 18-33 years of age. Full Story

Fourteen Faculty and Alumni Honored at MU Awards Ceremony

October 9th, 2014

The Mizzou Alumni Association (MAA) will honor 14 outstanding faculty and alumni at its 47th annual Faculty-Alumni Awards Ceremony on Oct. 10 in the Reynolds Alumni Center. The Distinguished Service Award, Distinguished Faculty Award and 12 Faculty-Alumni Awards will be presented to outstanding MU faculty and alumni. Full Story

GPA, GRE Scores as Stand-Alone Factors Inadequate for Evaluating Non-Traditional Students for Graduate School Admissions, MU Study Finds

October 9th, 2014

As more people in the middle of their careers decide to return to school to further their education, the number of students applying to graduate school programs across the country has reached a record high in the past decade. With record numbers of potential students applying to their programs, many graduate school admissions evaluators are working to develop stronger admissions criteria that assure they are admitting students who will succeed academically. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that traditional measures such as Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) test scores and undergraduate grade point average (GPA) are not adequate for predicting success for non-traditional students who are returning to school after spending several years in the workforce. Full Story

MU Approved to Open New Census Bureau Research Data Center

Satellite center will make population, economic and health research more efficient for scientists

October 7th, 2014

The University of Missouri has received approval from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to become a satellite location for the new Research Data Center (RDC) to be located in Kansas City, Mo. Now, researchers from MU and around the Midwest will be able to access millions of files of census bureau data for research projects ranging from public health issues to economics. Hank Foley, senior vice chancellor for research and graduate studies at MU, says this new center will further position MU as a leading research institution in the region. Full Story

Meet the Experts: Researchers to Present at MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders’ 9th Annual Autism Conference

October 3rd, 2014

The University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders will host its 9th Annual Autism Conference Oct. 6-7 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. At the conference, autism experts will present recent research advancements as well as best practices in caring for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Among those to present the findings of their research are several autism experts from the MU Thompson Center; a list of these experts is included below. Full Story

MU Official Fall 2014 Semester Enrollment Numbers Set Multiple Records

October 3rd, 2014

University of Missouri administrators released official enrollment numbers today, confirming that MU’s student body of 35,441 is the largest in the 175-year history of the school. Additionally, MU’s current group of students is its most diverse. A record 5,486 minority students and 2,417 international students are enrolled this semester. The size of this year’s freshman class also is a record with 6,515 new faces on campus this fall.  Full Story

MU Researcher Receives $1 Million from CDC to Continue Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention Efforts

October 3rd, 2014

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), like Autism Spectrum Disorders, manifest in childhood as physical abnormalities along with social, attention and learning difficulties that range in severity and continue into adulthood. However, unlike other birth defects or developmental disorders, FASDs can be prevented if mothers do not consume alcohol during pregnancy. Despite the ease of prevention, one in 13 pregnant women report using alcohol during pregnancy, putting their babies at risk for developing FASDs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. Now, MU researcher Leigh Tenkku Lepper has received more than $1 million from the CDC to enhance prevention efforts.  Full Story

New Molecule Could Fight Oxidative Stress, Lead to Therapies for Cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, MU Researchers Say

October 1st, 2014

Breathing oxygen helps the body create energy for its cells. As a result of the breathing process, reactive molecules called “free radicals” are produced that often cause damage to proteins and genes found in cells. This damage is known as oxidative stress. Free radicals also have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Now, investigators at the University of Missouri have discovered a molecule that treats oxidative stress. Full Story

Intervention Helps Decrease “Mean Girl” Behaviors, MU Researchers Find

Combination of group counseling, caregiver training reduces relational aggression in teen girls

October 1st, 2014

Relational aggression, or “mean girl” bullying, is a popular subject in news and entertainment media. This nonphysical form of aggression generally used among adolescent girls includes gossiping, rumor spreading, exclusion and rejection. As media coverage has illustrated, relational aggression can lead to tragic and sometimes fatal outcomes. Despite these alarming concerns, little has been done to prevent and eliminate these negative behaviors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have developed and tested an intervention that effectively decreases relational aggression among teen girls. Full Story

NSF Grants $1 Million to MU to Expand Supercomputer Equipment and Expertise for Big Data Analytics at MU

Initiative will lead to faster research results and timely sharing of information across the region

September 26th, 2014

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $1 million in two grants to the University of Missouri to install a supercomputer enabling data-intensive research and education at MU in fields such as bioinformatics, geoinformatics, high performance computing and engineering applications. The grants also will fund the position of a cyberinfrastructure (CI) engineer at MU. Together, the equipment and expert personnel will lead a network of data analysis capabilities at MU that will be shared with other campuses within the University of Missouri System.  Full Story

New MU Research Center Enables Multi-Disciplinary Work on Obesity and Related Diseases

Interdisciplinary approaches to obesity research will examine nutritional, societal, financial and physical causes of the disease and assist in developing practical solutions

September 25th, 2014

More than 30 percent of American adults and almost 20 percent of American children are obese, according to a 2014 study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Now, the new, state-of-the-art MU Nutritional Center for Health (MUNCH) at the University of Missouri will merge expertise in agriculture, medicine, food science, journalism, exercise, dietetics and other disciplines to develop holistic and practical approaches to controlling obesity and diabetes. Full Story

MU to Test Emergency Warning System on Friday

September 24th, 2014

University of Missouri officials will conduct a test of its emergency systems at 8:50 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26. This test is part of MU’s ongoing commitment to the safety of its students, faculty, staff and visitors. Full Story

Bacterial “Communication System” Could Be Used to Stop Spreading and Kill Cancer Cells, MU Study Finds

September 24th, 2014

Cancer, while always dangerous, truly becomes life-threatening when cancer cells begin to spread to different areas throughout the body. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered that a molecule used as a communication system by bacteria can be manipulated to prevent cancer cells from spreading. Senthil Kumar, an assistant research professor and assistant director of the Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says this communication system can be used to “tell” cancer cells how to act, or even to die on command. &nbsnbsp;Full Story

Infant Cooing, Babbling Linked to Hearing Ability, MU Researcher Finds

MU study reinforces the importance of early hearing interventions

September 23rd, 2014

Infants’ vocalizations throughout the first year follow a set of predictable steps from crying and cooing to forming syllables and first words. However, previous research had not addressed how the amount of vocalizations may differ between hearing and deaf infants. Now, University of Missouri research shows that infant vocalizations are primarily motivated by infants’ ability to hear their own babbling. Additionally, infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants to help correct their hearing soon reached the vocalization levels of their hearing peers, putting them on track for language development.  Full Story

MU Announces Voluntary Separation Program for Tenured Faculty

September 19th, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced Friday that MU will offer a Voluntary Separation Program for tenured faculty who are retirement eligible and at least 62 by Aug. 31, 2015. Eligible faculty who participate in the program will receive a one-time payout for retiring from the university between Dec. 31, 2014 and Aug. 31, 2015. A separate opportunity will be offered at a later date for tenured faculty who serve in a primary academic administrator role as of Sept. 1, 2014 and who also meet the eligibility criteria. Full Story

$10 Million Gift to Fund Faculty Fellowships at the MU School of Journalism

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation reaches $100 million in giving to MU

September 19th, 2014

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has pledged $10 million to the University of Missouri School of Journalism to enhance faculty salaries. This most recent gift makes the Reynolds Foundation the first $100 million donor to the University of Missouri, following previous gifts to build the Reynolds Alumni Center and to build and fund in perpetuity the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Full Story

Babies Learn Words Differently as They Age, MU Researcher Says

Study findings can help speech therapists, parents broaden toddlers’ vocabularies

September 17th, 2014

Research has shown that most 18-month-olds learn an average of two to five new words a day; however, little is known about how children process information to learn new words as they move through the preschool years. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that toddlers learn words differently as they age, and a limit exists as to how many words they can learn each day. These findings could help parents enhance their children’s vocabularies and assist speech-language professionals in developing and refining interventions to help children with language delays.  Full Story

First Water-Based Nuclear Battery Developed by MU Researcher Can Be Used to Generate Electrical Energy

Long-lasting batteries could be used for emergency equipment and in spaceflight

September 16th, 2014

From cell phones to cars and flashlights, batteries play an important role in everyday life. Scientists and technology companies constantly are seeking ways to improve battery life and efficiency. Now, for the first time using a water-based solution, researchers at the University of Missouri have created a long-lasting and more efficient nuclear battery that could be used for many applications such as a reliable energy source in automobiles and also in complicated applications such as space flight. Full Story

“Hidden Treasure of Rome” Project Unveiled; MU, Italian Museum, City of Rome, Energy Company Partner for Historical Cultural Project

The first-of-its-kind agreement allows MU researchers access to previously unstudied works from ancient Rome

September 15th, 2014

For more than a century, hundreds of thousands of historical artifacts dating back to before the founding of Rome have been stored in crates in the Capitoline Museums of Rome, where they have remained mostly untouched. Now, the City of Rome; the Capitoline Museums, the first public museum in the world; and Enel Green Power North America, a leading renewable energy company; have started a project, known as “The Hidden Treasure of Rome,” which will bring those artifacts into the laboratories of U.S. universities to be studied, restored, categorized and catalogued. The University of Missouri is the first university selected for this project. Full Story

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Asthma Influenced by Socioeconomic Status

Access to social resources could improve outcomes for disadvantaged children with asthma, MU researcher says

September 15th, 2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6 percent of children younger than five have been diagnosed with asthma, the fastest-growing and most common chronic illness affecting children in the United States. Studies have shown that asthma is associated with attention and behavioral issues in children, yet little existing research examines how socioeconomic status may influence the ultimate effects of these difficulties. Now, an MU researcher has found that the overall outcomes for children with asthma are influenced by socioeconomic inequalities. Full Story

University of Missouri Evacuates Hudson Hall; No Injuries Reported

September 14th, 2014

University of Missouri residential life staff evacuated residents from Hudson Hall early Sunday in response to a fire alarm. The sprinkler system in the building was activated. Full Story

Increased Access to Nature Trails, Forest Lands–Not Nature Preserves–Could Decrease Youth Obesity Rates, MU Study Finds

Research suggests local policymakers should evaluate outdoor resources to encourage exercise

September 11th, 2014

As youth obesity levels in America remain at record high levels, health professionals and policymakers continue to search for solutions to this national health issue. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Minnesota have found that local governments can help reduce youth obesity levels by increasing the amount and type of public lands available for recreation. Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, an associate professor of parks, recreation and tourism in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, found that counties with more non-motorized nature trails and forest lands have higher levels of youth activity and lower youth obesity, while counties with more nature preserves have lower activity levels. Full Story

MU Study Provides Guideline for Determining Effectiveness of College Football Training Methods

Findings could help athletic departments better prepare athletes for NFL combine test

September 3rd, 2014

Athletic performance varies from day to day, which can make it difficult for strength and conditioning professionals to judge whether athletes' improvements are due to effective training. Now, University of Missouri researchers have established a guideline that trainers can use to distinguish whether college football players' improvements on weightlifting tests result from increased performance capability or day-to-day variability. These findings could help coaches and other athletic department personnel determine the effectiveness of their training programs and better prepare promising football players for important tests, such as those during the NFL Combine. Full Story

MU Researchers Develop More Accurate Twitter Analysis Tools

Software program helps decipher ‘trends’ on the social media site

August 27th, 2014

“Trending” topics on the social media platform Twitter show the quantity of tweets associated with a specific event. However, trends only show the highest volume keywords and hashtags, and may not give qualitative information about the tweets themselves. Now, using data associated with the Super Bowl and World Series, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed and validated a software program that analyzes event-based tweets and measures the context of tweets rather than just the quantity. The program will help Twitter analysts gain better insight into human behavior associated with trends and events.  Full Story

Loftin Names Ward Vice Chancellor for Operations and Chief Operating Officer at MU

Gary Ward has been serving as interim vice chancellor since Jan. 1

August 26th, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced today that Gary Ward has been named vice chancellor for operations and chief operating officer at MU. Ward had been serving in the position on an interim basis since Jan. 1, following the retirement of Jacquelyn Jones. The appointment is effective Sept. 1, 2014. Full Story

MU Researchers Find Boron Facilitates Stem Cell Growth and Development in Corn

Results could lead to advancements in corn crop yields and farming techniques

August 25th, 2014

Boron deficiency is one of the most widespread causes of reduced crop yield. Missouri and the eastern half of the United States are plagued by boron deficient soil and, often, corn and soybean farmers are required to supplement their soil with boron; however, little is known about the ways in which corn plants utilize the essential nutrient. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that boron plays an integral role in development and reproduction in corn plants. Scientists anticipate that understanding how corn uses the nutrient can help farmers make informed decisions in boron deficient areas and improve crop yields. Full Story

MU Sets Records in Total, Undergraduate, Minority and International Enrollments, High-Ability Students, Retention Rate

August 25th, 2014

On the first day of classes, the University of Missouri welcomed its largest student body in its 175-year history with 34,935 students enrolled and a record number of 27,411 undergraduate students enrolled. Mizzou’s incoming freshman class of 6,546 is nearly the largest in MU’s history, second only to the 2012 freshman class of 6,560. Full Story

MUPD Announces Expanded Collaboration with Columbia Police, Offers Safety Tips for Students, Faculty, Staff and Visitors

August 22nd, 2014

Officials from the University of Missouri Police Department (MUPD) and the Columbia Police Department (CPD) announced today a broadening of the existing collaboration between the agencies in an effort to improve safety and security on the campus and in the surrounding community. As the new school year begins, MUPD will work with CPD officers to provide additional patrols on and around the campus as officers increase enforcement of alcohol-related crimes, including underage drinking and drunk driving. Full Story

MU Chancellor R Bowen Loftin Statement

August 21st, 2014

As Chancellor of the University of Missouri, I believe that one my greatest responsibilities is the well-being of our students, faculty and staff and that includes their safety and security. Since I took office more than six months ago, University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe and I have worked hard to evaluate and review our policies and resources related to sexual assault and mental health and, as a result, we have instituted sweeping changes to ensure the well-being of our community. Full Story

MU College of Human Environmental Sciences Dean to Retire

August 21st, 2014

University of Missouri Interim Provost Ken Dean announced today that Stephen Jorgensen, dean of the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, will retire effective Aug. 31, 2015. Jorgensen has served as dean since 2001. Full Story

$2.4 Million Gift Funds New Endowed Faculty Chair in Oncology, Cancer Research at MU

Gift will help further cancer research at MU School of Medicine and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center

August 21st, 2014

Mark McAndrew, a resident of McKinney, Texas, has given $2.4 million to the University of Missouri School of Medicine to create the Frances T. McAndrew Endowed Chair in Oncology. $400,000 of the gift will fund MU cancer researcher Fred Hawthorne’s innovative research on boron-neutron therapy as a treatment for cancer. McAndrew says the gift is in honor of his late aunt, Frances, who was a patient at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, a part of University of Missouri Health Care. Full Story

MU Initiative Receives $500,000 NSF Grant to Augment Public Science Education and Outreach

Mizzou’s Broader Impacts program seeks to help citizens appreciate research and outcomes made possible by federal grants

August 14th, 2014

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $500,000 grant to fund a five-year, multi-institutional initiative designed to encourage education and outreach efforts that communicate the value of taxpayers’ investment in federal scientific research. “The Broader Impacts and Outreach Network for Institutional Collaboration (BIONIC)” program, led by the University of Missouri, will bring together professionals who help scientists convey the importance of their research to society. Full Story

MU Launches Initiative to Promote Knowledge of American Political System and Constitutional Democracy

August 14th, 2014

This fall, the University of Missouri departments of history and political science will unveil a new program to support excellence in the teaching and study of American constitutional and democratic traditions. The Kinder Forum on Constitutional Democracy includes initiatives for undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty. Full Story

Missouri Research Consortium Receives $20 Million Grant from National Science Foundation to Study Impacts of Climate Variability

August 5th, 2014

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to fund a five-year, multi-institutional project to study climate variability and its potential agricultural, ecological and social impacts in Missouri. “The Missouri Transect: Climate, Plants and Community” project received funding from the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), a program initiated by the U.S. Congress to support fundamental research, education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and workforce development in areas relevant to the economy. Full Story

MU Scientists Call for Increased Conservation Efforts to Save Black Bears

Comprehensive study indicates genetic ‘bottlenecks’ and decreased genetic diversity could show need for increased conservation efforts.

August 4th, 2014

Between 1880 and 1920, the Central Interior Highlands (CIH), consisting of Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, saw the height of deforestation that also decreased the habitat for black bears and other forest species. To combat the decline of black bears and repopulate the mountainous region, more than 250 bears from Minnesota and Manitoba were relocated to Arkansas in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have analyzed genetic diversity in black bears in the CIH and have determined that coordinated conservation management is still needed to maintain healthy populations of black bears in the region. Full Story

University of Missouri Named a Preferred Contractor in a Major Department of Defense Award

Defense Systems Technical Area Tasks Award could be a significant boost for area economic development

August 4th, 2014

A collaboration between the University of Missouri's Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute (NSEI) and Center for Physical and Power Electronics has been named a preferred contractor by the Department of Defense for the Defense Systems Technical Area Tasks (DS TATs). The award includes private and public sector participants that develop and produce the defense systems necessary to keep the U.S. military strong. The partnership includes a contract ceiling of $3 billion for all contractors and could mean a significant addition to the local, regional and statewide economy. Full Story

MU Program Helps Hungry Missourians Feed Themselves

New program offers seed packets, instruction on growing and storing healthy foods

August 4th, 2014

In 2012, 17.6 million U.S. households experienced food insecurity, meaning that their access to adequate foods was limited by lack of money and other resources, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Missouri is ranked seventh in the nation in food insecurity and has the fifth highest rate of child food insecurity in the country. Now, Grow Well Missouri, a project of the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security (ICFS) in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, is helping food pantries provide more food to their clients by offering vegetable seed packets and gardening advice to people who visit food pantries for assistance. Full Story

MU Chancellor Emeritus Brady Deaton Honored with 2014 Missourian Award

August 1st, 2014

Brady Deaton, University of Missouri chancellor emeritus and executive director of the Anne and Brady Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development housed at MU, has been honored with a 2014 Missourian Award. The Missourian Award, created by Ralph Slavens and his late wife Corrine, honors the state’s most outstanding citizens who have had a significant impact on their community and on the state’s vitality. Full Story

MU Researcher Develops and Proves Effectiveness of New Drug for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

July 31st, 2014

According to recent studies, approximately one out of every 40 individuals in the United States is a carrier of the gene responsible for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscles to weaken over time. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have made a recent breakthrough with the development of a new compound found to be highly effective in animal models of the disease. In April, a patent was filed for the compound for use in SMA. Full Story

Fear of Losing Money, Not Spending Habits, Affects Investor Risk Tolerance, MU Study Finds

July 30th, 2014

As the U.S. economy slowly recovers, many investors remain wary about investing in the stock market. Investors’ “risk tolerance,” or their willingness to take risks, is an important factor for investors deciding whether, and how much, to invest in the stock market. Now, Michael Guillemette, an assistant professor of personal financial planning in the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences, along with David Nanigian, an associate professor at the American College, analyzed the causes of risk tolerance and found that loss aversion, or the fear of losing money, is the primary factor that explains investors’ risk tolerance. Full Story

MU Releases Results of Academic Career Survey

July 30th, 2014

Today, University of Missouri officials released the results of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey, which was administered in 2012 and 2013 to MU faculty. A faculty committee, including tenured, tenure track and non-tenure track faculty, was appointed by Interim Provost Ken Dean to review the data from the survey and recommend actions for improvement. Full Story

Informal Child Care Significantly Impacts Rural Economies, MU Study Finds

Policymakers can help economy by facilitating increased access to child care in rural areas

July 29th, 2014

The child care industry has grown significantly in recent years, contributing considerably to the national economy through job creation and increased opportunities for parents to work. However, little knowledge exists of the size and economic impact of child care, especially informal child care, on rural economies. Now, University of Missouri researchers have studied the child care sector in Kansas, particularly in rural areas, and have found that informal child care services create a large economic impact in the state. Full Story

De Graffenreid Named Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications at MU

July 24th, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced today that Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for communications at Brandeis University, has been named vice chancellor of marketing and communications at MU, effective Sept. 2, 2014. Full Story

MU Offers Free Tuition at MU High School for Employees Earning Diplomas

MBS Direct to Assist with Cost of Textbooks for Students

July 17th, 2014

Today, MU officials announced that university employees wanting to earn their high school diplomas may register for free with MU High School, the University’s online high school that offers more than 180 courses for high school credit. Tuition will be paid for through an extension of the existing tuition assistance benefit program and with funds from the College of Education and their Mizzou K-12 Online program. Additionally, a local company, MBS Direct, will assist students with the cost of their textbooks. Full Story

EXPERT AVAILABLE: MU Researcher Offers New Perspectives on Violent Flash Mobs

Suggests officials should pay added attention to social media and the needs of youth

July 16th, 2014

For the past few years, flash mobs have been featured in viral videos as good-natured choreographed dancing or singing events. Recently in suburban cities, several of these events have turned violent. J. Brian Houston, assistant professor in the Department of Communication and co-director of the Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Missouri, says understanding the origin of flash mobs could help combat their violent potential. Full Story

Duck Migration Study Reveals Importance of Conserving Wetlands, MU Researchers Find

July 16th, 2014

During the 2011 and 2012 migration seasons, University of Missouri researchers monitored mallard ducks with new remote satellite tracking technology, marking the first time ducks have been tracked closely during the entirety of their migration from Canada to the American Midwest and back. The research revealed that mallards use public and private wetland conservation areas extensively as they travel hundreds of miles across the continent. Dylan Kesler, an assistant professor of fisheries and wildlife in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at MU, says these findings illustrate the importance of maintaining protected wetland areas.  Full Story

MU Sets Fundraising Record for Single Year

July 8th, 2014

Today, University of Missouri Advancement officials announced that MU has set a single-year record for fundraising. The MU advancement team and the university community have raised a record $164.5 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of $160.5 million raised in 2008. With this total, MU surpassed its goal of $150 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Full Story

Non-Diet Approach to Weight Management More Effective in Worksite Wellness Programs, MU Researcher Finds

July 7th, 2014

Problematic eating behaviors and dissatisfaction with one’s body are familiar struggles among women. To combat those behaviors, which have led to higher healthcare premiums and medical trends, employers have offered worksite wellness programs to employees and their families. However, the vast majority of wellness programs limit their approach to promoting diets, which may result in participants regaining the majority of their weight once the programs end. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that “Eat for Life,” a new wellness approach that focuses on mindfulness and intuitive eating as a lifestyle, is more effective than traditional weight-loss programs in improving individuals’ views of their bodies and decreasing problematic eating behaviors. Full Story

Statement from Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin About MU Budget Reallocation

July 3rd, 2014

Due to withholdings that Governor Nixon announced in April and May, the University of Missouri is reallocating just over $3.8 million to cover the loss in state funding for fiscal year 2014, which ended June 30, 2014. Each division on campus is being asked to reallocate a certain amount of their budget based on their current balances, the amount of general revenue they received and any auxiliary enterprise funding.  Full Story

Plants Respond to Leaf Vibrations Caused by Insects’ Chewing, MU Study Finds

July 1st, 2014

Previous studies have suggested that plant growth can be influenced by sound and that plants respond to wind and touch. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri, in a collaboration that brings together audio and chemical analysis, have determined that plants respond to the sounds that caterpillars make when eating plants and that the plants respond with more defenses. Full Story

Fruit Flies Help Scientists Uncover Genes Responsible for Human Communication, MU Researcher Finds

June 25th, 2014

The evolution of language in humans continues to perplex scientists and linguists who study how humans learn to communicate. Considered by some as “operant learning,” this multi-tiered trait involves many genes and modification of an individual’s behavior by trial and error. Toddlers acquire communication skills by babbling until what they utter is rewarded; however, the genes involved in learning language skills are far from completely understood. Now, using a gene identified in fruit flies by a University of Missouri researcher, scientists involved in a global consortium have discovered a crucial component of the origin of language in humans. Full Story

Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Need Better Health Care Transition Services

MU researcher receives funding to study how to increase independence among young adults with autism

June 24th, 2014

As of 2014, approximately one out of every 68 children born has an autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Historically, less than one in four youth with ASD successfully transitions into a fully independent adult. Now, MU researcher Nancy Cheak-Zamora has received a $500,000 Autism Research Program Idea Development Award to continue her research on ways in which health care programs can help youth with ASD become independent adults.  Full Story

EXPERT AVAILABLE: Rain Relief Coming to Western United States in the Fall after a Hot and Dry Summer, According to MU Researcher

June 19th, 2014

Historic dry conditions for the western United States will continue throughout this summer, but climate conditions could change this fall and bring relief, according to a University of Missouri climate expert. Tony Lupo, chair of atmospheric sciences at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, says that the hot and dry weather has two main causes: eastern Pacific ridging and blocking events, and lower sea temperatures in the central Pacific. Full Story

MU, Missouri Symphony Society Announce University’s Purchase of Missouri Theatre

Action completes lease-to-purchase agreement signed in 2011

June 19th, 2014

Completing an agreement signed in 2011, the University of Missouri and the Missouri Symphony Society announced today that MU has purchased the Missouri Theatre for $3.7 million. Acquiring the Missouri Theatre will save the university an estimated $57.8 million in future construction costs. Additionally, the Missouri Symphony Society will continue to use the venue for offices and performances. Full Story

Potential Cholesterol Lowering Drug Has Breast Cancer Fighting Capabilities, MU Researcher Finds

Researcher suggests human clinical trials are necessary for cholesterol-fighting compound

June 17th, 2014

Researchers at the University of Missouri have proven that a compound initially developed as a cholesterol-fighting molecule not only halts the progression of breast cancer, but also can kill the cancerous cells. Full Story

Schwartz Named Interim Dean of MU College of Engineering

June 11th, 2014

University of Missouri Interim Provost Ken Dean announced today that Bob Schwartz, chief of staff and custodian of records for the UM System, has been named interim dean of the College of Engineering effective Sept. 1, 2014. Schwartz will replace James Thompson, who announced his intent to step down from the dean’s position earlier. Full Story

MU Researchers Use Sensors to Monitor Older Adults’ Health, Sync Health Information between Homes and Hospitals

June 11th, 2014

Technological advances have provided medical professionals with many devices and systems to collect and analyze patients’ health information, but many of these technologies do not share data with each other. The lack of streamlined information-sharing creates inefficiencies and, potentially, inconsistencies in patient care. Now, University of Missouri researchers are working to develop an in-home health monitoring and alert system that streams patients’ individualized health information between homes and hospitals. The system’s ability to provide comprehensive health information could lead to better care for patients as well as reduced costs for individuals and health systems. Full Story

MU Researcher Receives $330,000 National Science Foundation Grant to Study African Languages

June 11th, 2014

Many languages spoken in Africa do not have a written tradition, and relatively few are well documented. In rural western Kenya, the oral traditions of several distinct varieties of Luyia, a cluster of Bantu languages of Kenya and Uganda, remain largely unstudied. With increasing pressure from the more widespread languages of Swahili and English, there are potential threats to the longevity of these languages. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have received a four-year $330,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to investigate these under-studied languages and document their linguistic properties. Full Story

MU Researchers Develop Free Online Database for Soybean Studies

Digital infrastructure can dramatically change the way researchers conduct their experiments

June 10th, 2014

In the era of “big data,” many scientific discoveries are being made without researchers ever stepping foot in traditional laboratories. Often, data from numerous experiments is gathered and disregarded, with only the desired results analyzed. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed the digital infrastructure needed to store previously disregarded data to take plant science to the next level. The Soybean Knowledge Base (SoyKB), a free online data resource, allows collaboration among international researchers, scientists and farmers to solve questions encountered in soybean research.  Full Story

MU College of Engineering Dean to Step Down in September

June 9th, 2014

University of Missouri Interim Provost Ken Dean announced today that James Thompson, dean of the MU College of Engineering, will step down as dean effective Sept. 1, 2014. Thompson has served as dean of the college since 1994. Full Story

Risk Tolerance of Investors Decreases with the Stock Market, MU Study Finds

Trend prevents investors from maximizing returns, MU expert says

June 5th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo — As the U.S. economy slowly recovers many investors remain wary about investing in the stock market. Now, Michael Guillemette, an assistant professor of personal financial planning in the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences, analyzed investors’ “risk tolerance,” or willingness to take risks, and found that it decreased as the […] Full Story

MU Scientists Successfully Transplant, Grow Stem Cells in Pigs

New line of pigs do not reject transplants, will allow for future research on stem cell therapies

June 4th, 2014

One of the biggest challenges for medical researchers studying the effectiveness of stem cell therapies is that transplants or grafts of cells are often rejected by the hosts. This rejection can render experiments useless, making research into potentially life-saving treatments a long and difficult process. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have shown that a new line of genetically modified pigs will host transplanted cells without the risk of rejection. Full Story

Seniors Who Exercise Regularly Experience Less Physical Decline as They Age, MU Study Finds

More muscle-strengthening exercises should be encouraged among older adults in retirement communities

June 2nd, 2014

The majority of adults aged 65 and older remains inactive and fails to meet recommended physical activity guidelines, previous research has shown. However, these studies have not represented elders living in retirement communities who may have more access to recreational activities and exercise equipment. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri found that older adults in retirement communities who reported more exercise experienced less physical decline than their peers who reported less exercise, although many adults — even those who exercised — did not complete muscle-strengthening exercises, which are another defense against physical decline. Full Story

Summer Scholars Program Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Year with 330 of Missouri’s Brightest High School Students

June 2nd, 2014

This summer, the University of Missouri hosts the 30th gathering of the Missouri Scholars Academy. During the program, approximately 330 Missouri high school students will have the opportunity to participate in the comprehensive educational experience that, the end of the summer, will boast more than 9,500 alums. Full Story

For More Than Four Years, ‘The Mizzou Advantage’ has Encouraged Research Growth, Brought Nationally Renowned Faculty to Campus

MU initiative awards $3.8 million to fund additional projects; hires new faculty fellow

June 2nd, 2014

The Mizzou Advantage, an initiative that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, staff, students and external partners to solve real-world problems in four areas of strength identified at the University of Missouri, is turning four years old this summer. Officials say the first four years have been very successful, bringing more than $13 million to campus. They also announced today new awards of more than $3.8 million to 45 interdisciplinary teams representing dozens of MU faculty across multiple departments and colleges. A new faculty fellow to lead the initiative in the future also has been announced Full Story

New “Traditions Plaza” Slated for Construction at MU

Outdoor amphitheater will provide space for concerts, spirit rallies and other Mizzou traditions

June 2nd, 2014

Officials at the University of Missouri and Mizzou Alumni Association (MAA) announced today construction of the newest landmark on the MU campus. In honor of MU’s 175th anniversary, the MAA is funding the construction of “Traditions Plaza,” an outdoor amphitheater that will provide an outdoor gathering and programming space for use by MU students, faculty, staff, visitors and alumni. The amphitheater will be located along Conley Avenue on the north side of Carnahan Quad, across from Jesse Hall. Full Story

Women’s Contraceptive Use Influenced by Previous Contraception Education and Moral Attitudes, MU Researcher Finds

Family planning linked to better child and maternal health

May 28th, 2014

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and unplanned pregnancies are associated with poorer health and lower rates of educational and economic achievement for women and their children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, research shows that the desire to avoid pregnancy does not necessarily increase women’s use of contraceptives, although this discrepancy is not well understood. Now, MU researchers have found that levels of prior sex education and moral attitudes toward contraception influence whether women use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Full Story

MU Receives Gift from State Farm Insurance to Support Various Programs

May 20th, 2014

Today, officials from State Farm Insurance Company donated nearly $120,000 to the University of Missouri. This latest gift brings State Farm’s total giving to Mizzou academic programs to $1.8 million. The money will support several MU programs including: • Office of Financial Success - $22,000 • Fire Rescue Training Institute - Vehicle Rescue - $50,000 • MU College of Education - Achieve Program - $16,200 • University Hospital - Mobile Age-Older Adult Driving - $30,000  Full Story

Repeated Sexual Assault Victims Show Greater Levels of Psychological Consequences than Previously Thought, MU Study Finds

Understanding patterns can lead to strategies to combat sexual assault frequency

May 20th, 2014

According to recent studies, one in five adult women and one in 100 adult men have reported being raped. The prevalence increases to two in five among women and one in five among men who report experiencing other forms of sexual violence, such as repeated unwanted sexual contact and sexual coercion. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that those victims who are repeatedly assaulted, but not necessarily violently raped, show greater levels of psycho-behavioral consequences than earlier thought. The researchers suggest that understanding patterns of sexual victimization and related consequences will help develop strategies to combat sexual assault frequency among adolescents.  Full Story

MU Researcher Receives $1.5 Million Grant from the National Institutes of Health to Study Vascular Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease

Research could lead to treatment for complex disease

May 19th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that affects older adults, slowly destroys their memories and may cause dementia. According to estimates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the disease may affect as many as 5.1 million Americans. Now, with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the NIH, University of Missouri […] Full Story

MU Chancellor: University To Ask for Proposals from Private Developers for Future Child Care Center on Campus

May 15th, 2014

Following a report from a task force established to examine the need for child care on the University of Missouri campus, MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced today that the university intends to issue a request for proposals from private developers who would partner with MU to build and operate a child care facility on university property. Full Story

Traffic Delays Expected for MU Commencement Weekend

Traffic on U.S. 63 between Stadium and Grindstone reduced to one lane; travelers encouraged to use alternate routes

May 14th, 2014

Incoming visitors traveling on U.S. 63 to Columbia for University of Missouri commencement ceremonies this weekend may experience traffic delays as northbound traffic between the Grindstone and Stadium exits will be limited to one lane.  Full Story

Understanding the 1918 Flu Pandemic Can Aid in Better Infectious Disease Response, MU Researcher Finds

Research can be used to help inform current policies related to epidemic health issues.

May 13th, 2014

The 1918 Flu Pandemic infected over 500 million people, killing at least 50 million. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has analyzed the pandemic in two remote regions of North America, finding that despite their geographical divide, both regions had environmental, nutritional and economic factors that influenced morbidity during the pandemic. Findings from the research could help improve current health policies.  Full Story

3-D ‘Map’ of Enzyme Completed by MU Scientists Could Lead to More Effective Drugs

Enzyme map created by using a high-powered X-ray device

May 13th, 2014

The human body is full of proteins called enzymes that help nearly every function in the body. Scientists have been studying enzymes for decades in order to learn how they work and how to create better drugs and medical treatments for many ailments. Now, University of Missouri researchers have completed a 3-D map of an enzyme called Proline utilization A (PutA). PutA facilitates metabolism by adding oxygen to molecules. John Tanner, a professor in the MU Department of Biochemistry, says mapping this enzyme will give researchers a better understanding of its function, which could help drug manufacturers create more effective drugs.  Full Story

More than 5,300 Graduates to Receive Degrees during MU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies

University officials will award honorary degree to Jim Held

May 12th, 2014

Beginning Friday, May 16 and continuing through Sunday, May 18, more than 5,300 students will participate in spring commencement exercises at the University of Missouri. University officials also will honor Jim Held, owner and founder of Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Mo., with an honorary degree. Full Story

Suspect Update

May 10th, 2014

On May 10, around 11:45 a.m., University Police Department officers were dispatched to Trowbridge Livestock Center on the MU campus to investigate a report of a deceased individual. The death appears to be a suicide and no signs of foul play are present. Law enforcement officials believe this is the individual who fled from police yesterday evening, May 9. Full Story

Search for Suspect Continues

May 10th, 2014

After a three-hour manhunt last night, police were unable to locate an individual suspected of committing several burglaries and a sexual assault in Columbia. The suspect is described as a white, or possibly Middle Eastern male, in his 30s, 6’ to 6’ 2”, with an athletic build. He was last seen wearing a tan cap turned backward, dark t-shirt and khaki shorts. If you see this individual please do not approach him and call 911 immediately. Updates will be posted on http://mualert.missouri.edu. Full Story

Suspect Heading Toward Campus

May 9th, 2014

The University Police Department, working with the City of Columbia Police Department, is looking for the following individual who is currently running from law enforcement toward the university campus. The individual was last seen in the Hinkson Creek area south of campus. The suspect is described as a white, or possibly Middle Eastern male, in his 30s, 6’ to 6’ 2”, with an athletic build. He was last seen wearing a tan cap turned backwards, dark t-shirt and khaki shorts. If you see this individual tonight, please call 911 immediately. Full Story

‘Teenage’ Songbirds Experience High Mortality Due to Many Causes, MU Study Finds

It is important to preserve smaller foliage with nests for young birds, MU expert says

May 8th, 2014

Nearly one-third of songbird species across North America are experiencing long-term declines. Scientists have spent years researching potential causes for these population declines, focusing on the birds when they have just hatched as well as when they are adults. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found that songbirds are vulnerable to environmental dangers particularly when they are juveniles, shortly after they have left their parents’ nests. Frank Thompson, a scientist with the USDA Forest Service and an associate cooperative professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), worked with several colleagues to find that the majority of juvenile bird deaths occur in the first three weeks after they leave the nest.  Full Story

MU Professor Judy Wall Receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award

May 2nd, 2014

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has awarded an SEC Faculty Achievement Award to Judy Wall, Curators Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Missouri. The annual awards honor one professor from every SEC university who demonstrates outstanding teaching, research, scholarship and mentorship of faculty and students. Full Story

Consuming High-Protein Breakfasts Helps Women Maintain Glucose Control, MU Study Finds

Over time, controlling glucose in the blood may decrease individuals’ diabetes risk

April 29th, 2014

In healthy individuals, the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood increases after eating. When glucose increases, levels of insulin increase to carry the glucose to the rest of the body. Previous research has shown that extreme increases in glucose and insulin in the blood can lead to poor glucose control and increase an individual’s risk of developing diabetes over time. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that when women consumed high-protein breakfasts, they maintained better glucose and insulin control than they did with lower-protein or no-protein meals.  Full Story

Information Technology Can Simplify Weight-Loss Efforts; Social Support Still Important for Success, MU Researcher Finds

April 29th, 2014

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69 percent of adults in the United States are currently overweight or obese, which puts these individuals at increased risk for chronic health problems. Although weight loss decreases this risk, statistics show that dieters often fail multiple times before meeting their goals. Now, MU researchers have found that information technology, such as smartphone applications, can help dieters integrate healthy behavior changes into their daily lives. Full Story

Frog Eggs Help MU Researchers Find New Information on Grapevine Disease

April 29th, 2014

Vitis vinifera are common grapevines and are the world’s favorite wine-producing varietal. However, research has shown that grapevines are susceptible to powdery mildew, a plant disease, which contributes to significant crop loss for most commercial wine varietals that are cultivated each year. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have used frog eggs to determine the cause of this disease, and have found that a specific gene in the varietal Cabernet Sauvingon, contributes to its susceptibility. Full Story

STATEMENT FROM MU CHANCELLOR R. BOWEN LOFTIN

MU chancellor welcomes new basketball coach Kim Anderson to Mizzou

April 29th, 2014

First, let me offer my apologies for not being able to attend today’s announcement, as a previously scheduled American Association of Universities (AAU) meeting required me to be in Washington, D.C. today. Full Story

UPDATE: EFdA Found to Unlock Drug Therapy for HIV Patients, MU Researcher Finds

Compound is more potent than Tenofovir – one of the most used HIV drugs.

April 28th, 2014

For HIV patients being treated with anti-AIDS medications, resistance to drug therapy regimens is commonplace. Often, patients develop resistance to first-line drug therapies, such as Tenofovir, and are forced to adopt more potent medications. Virologists at the University of Missouri now are testing the next generation of medications that stop HIV from spreading, and are using a molecule related to flavor enhancers found in soy sauce, to develop compounds that are more potent than Tenofovir. Full Story

Small Business Owners Not Always Worried about Being Treated Fairly, MU Researcher Finds

Small retailers willing to sacrifice fairness for success

April 24th, 2014

Fairness is not always the most important priority for small retailers. In an international study, University of Missouri researchers found that some small retailers are less concerned about whether they are treated fairly by business suppliers than other factors, such as cash flow and company survival. Full Story

Plants Send Out Signals Attracting Harmful Bacteria, MU Study Finds

Findings could lead to natural bacterial anti-infectives in food-producing plants

April 24th, 2014

When bacteria attack plants, they often inject harmful proteins into the host plants’ cells to weaken and suppress natural defenses. However, in some plants, bacteria attack once they’ve recognized the plant cells as a potential host. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have identified and replicated the process that allows the bacteria—known mostly for attacking tomatoes—to invade its host. This discovery could lead to natural anti-infective treatments that work with food-producing plants to enhance resistance to harmful bacteria in the field.  Full Story

Remote Surveillance May Increase Chance of Survival for ‘Uncontacted’ Tribes, MU Study Finds

April 22nd, 2014

Lowland South America, including the Amazon Basin, harbors most of the last indigenous societies that have limited contact with the outside world. Studying these tribes, located deep within Amazonian rainforests, gives scientists a glimpse at what tribal cultures may have been like before the arrival of Europeans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have used satellite images to assess the demographic health of one particular village of isolated people on the border between Brazil and Peru. Remote surveillance is the only method to safely track uncontacted indigenous societies and may offer information that can improve their chances for long-term survival. Full Story

Uniting Community Development Efforts Could Benefit Members of Underserved Communities

Cooperative Extension is “one-stop shop” for community education and outreach, MU researcher says

April 22nd, 2014

Although many organizations address poverty, they often serve similar demographics and may compete for clients and resources. Recently, University of Missouri researchers studied Cooperative Extension’s efforts to link community development organizations and concluded Extension is the hub that can improve resource access for members of underserved communities. Full Story

‘Tween’ Television Programming Promotes Some Stereotypical Conceptions of Gender Roles, MU Study Finds

April 21st, 2014

The term “tween” denotes a child who is between the ages of 8 and 12 and is used to describe a preadolescent who is “in between” being a child and a teen. This demographic watches more television than any other age group and is considered to be a very lucrative market. Tween television programming consists of two genres: “teen scene” (geared toward girls) and “action-adventure” (geared toward boys). Researchers at the University of Missouri found that these programs could lead tweens to limit their views of their potential roles in society just as they begin to shape their future. Full Story

Genetic Pre-Disposition Toward Exercise and Mental Development May be Linked, MU Study Finds

Active rats showed higher levels of brain development than lazy rats

April 15th, 2014

University of Missouri researchers have previously shown that a genetic pre-disposition to be more or less motivated to exercise exists. In a new study, Frank Booth, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, has found a potential link between the genetic pre-disposition for high levels of exercise motivation and the speed at which mental maturation occurs. Full Story

MU Chancellor Responds to Dowd Bennett Report

April 15th, 2014

The University of Missouri Board of Curators retained outside counsel to examine how the University responded to a former student’s allegation of a sexual assault, information which came to light, unfortunately, after her passing. The St. Louis-area law firm of Dowd Bennett conducted a lengthy and thorough examination of the issue and presented its findings to the Board of Curators last Friday. Now that he has had time to thoroughly review the report, MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin says he accepts the findings and acknowledges that the university has a responsibility to ensure that it is stronger in the future.  Full Story

Dog Ownership Benefits Families of Children with Autism, MU Researcher Finds

Parents should consider the sensitivities of their children with autism when choosing a pet

April 14th, 2014

Many families face the decision of whether to get a dog. For families of children with autism, the decision can be even more challenging. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has studied dog ownership decisions in families of children with autism and found, regardless of whether they owned dogs, the parents reported the benefits of dog ownership included companionship, stress relief and opportunities for their children to learn responsibility.  Full Story

Statement from MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin

April 11th, 2014

First, I want to extend my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the entire Menu-Courey family, to Sasha’s friends and teammates and to all those who cared deeply about her. Time cannot lessen the enormity of her loss. On behalf of the entire University of Missouri family, I extend my deepest sympathies to Sasha’s family. I thank President Wolfe and the Board of Curators for providing the time, resources and transparency to look into this matter. These issues are of the utmost importance on a college campus, and we take them very seriously. The safety, security and health of our students are our most important priorities.  Full Story

MU Researchers Find Rare Fossilized Embryos More Than 500 Million Years Old

Study methods may help with future interpretation of evolutionary history.

April 10th, 2014

The Cambrian Period is a time when most phyla of marine invertebrates first appeared in the fossil record. Also dubbed the “Cambrian explosion,” fossilized records from this time provide glimpses into evolutionary biology when the world’s ecosystems rapidly changed and diversified. Most fossils show the organisms’ skeletal structure, which may or may not give researchers accurate pictures of these prehistoric organisms. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found rare, fossilized embryos they believe were undiscovered previously. Their methods of study may help with future interpretation of evolutionary history. Full Story

Salamanders Help Predict Health of Ecosystems on U.S. Golf Courses, MU Researchers Find

Study finds that improved turf management techniques help golf course ecosystems succeed.

April 10th, 2014

Currently, there are more than 18,300 golf courses in the U.S. covering over 2.7 million acres. The ecological impacts of golf courses are not always straightforward with popular opinion suggesting that environmentally, golf courses have a negative impact on ecosystems. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that golf courses can offer a viable habitat for stream salamanders, and enhanced management practices may be beneficial to ecosystems within golf courses. Full Story

Age Does Not Predict Success for Individuals Sentenced to Court-based Mental Health Treatment Programs, MU Researcher Finds

Older adults in treatment programs experience the same challenges as younger participants

April 8th, 2014

Statistics show that the amount of older adults in the criminal justice system has quadrupled in the past 15 years. Many of the adults have histories of mental health problems and are being placed in court-based treatment programs, where government officials and social workers tend to think that they are more likely to experience success compared to their younger counterparts. However, new research by Kelli Canada, assistant professor in the University of Missouri School of Social Work, shows that although mental health court participants older than 50 adhere to treatment programs better than younger adults, they are just as likely to be reincarcerated or relapse into criminal behavior.  Full Story

Logo Color Affects Consumer Emotion Toward Brands, MU Study Finds

Study shows blue logos invoke feelings of reliability, red logos invoke expertise

April 8th, 2014

Many studies have shown that a company’s logo is one of the most important aspects of marketing and advertising a brand, or features that distinctly identifies a company’s product or service from its competitors. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has found that the specific colors used in a company’s logo have a significant impact on how that logo, and the brand as a whole, is viewed by consumers.  Full Story

MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders to Partner with Mercy Autism Center

Affiliation will expand autism care, education and research in Missouri

April 7th, 2014

Officials from the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders have announced plans to partner with St. Louis-based Mercy Autism Center in order to expand clinical care, professional education and research for individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Full Story

Twitter Use Linked to Infidelity and Divorce, MU Study Finds

Twitter and Facebook can have damaging effects on relationships

April 7th, 2014

Twitter and other social networking services have revolutionized the way people create and maintain relationships. However, new research shows that Twitter use could actually be damaging to users’ romantic relationships. Russell Clayton, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, found that active Twitter users are far more likely to experience Twitter–related conflict with their romantic partners. Clayton’s results showed that Twitter-related conflict then leads to negative relationship outcomes, including emotional and physical cheating, breakup and divorce. Full Story

$1.1 Million Gift Funds New Endowed Faculty Chair in Biochemistry at MU

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

April 4th, 2014

Lowell Miller, a resident of Loch Lloyd, Mo., has made a gift of $1.1 million to the University of Missouri Department of Biochemistry, housed in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and the MU School of Medicine. The gift will create the Lowell D. Miller Endowed Chair in Biochemistry. Full Story

Aging Workforce Requires New Strategies for Employee Retention, MU Researcher Says

Re-evaluating retirement plans becomes more important as baby boomers, particularly those in government jobs, reach retirement age

April 3rd, 2014

As more baby boomers reach retirement age, state governments face the likelihood of higher workforce turnover. For example, in the state of Missouri, more than 25 percent of all active state employees will be eligible to retire by 2016. Such large numbers of retirees threaten the continuity, membership and institutional histories of the state government workforce, according to Angela Curl, assistant professor in the University of Missouri School of Social Work. In a case study of the state of Missouri’s Deferred Retirement Option Provision (BackDROP), Curl concluded that states may need to restructure deferred retirement incentives to encourage more employees to remain on the job longer and minimize the disruption to government operations. Full Story

MU Researchers Identify Coding Gene Responsible for Locomotion and Central Nervous System Development

Studies could shed light on paralysis, stroke and other disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease

April 2nd, 2014

Coding genes contain DNA sequences that are used to assign functions required for development and maintenance within a cell. These coding genes articulate how a fingernail grows, help develop nerve cells responsible for chewing, and are vital in helping the spinal cord facilitate movement in arms or legs. Recently, University of Missouri researchers identified a coding gene that has profound effects on central nervous system development and locomotion that could shed light on paralysis, stroke and other disorders of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease. Full Story

Criticism of Violent Video Games Has Decreased as Technology Has Improved, Gamers Age, MU Study Finds

Gaming journalists, video gamers have become more tolerant of violence as it has become more life-like

April 2nd, 2014

Members of the media and others often have attributed violence in video games as a potential cause of social ills, such as increased levels of teen violence and school shootings. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that media acceptance of video game violence has increased as video game technology has improved over time. Greg Perreault, a doctoral student at the MU School of Journalism, examined the coverage of violent video games throughout the 1990s by GamePro Magazine, the most popular video game news magazine during that time period. Perreault found that journalists from Game Pro expressed a considerable amount of concern about the level of violence in the game software companies were creating in the early 1990s, when video game design was limited by technology. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2014 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 31st, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin and Commerce Bank Chair Jim Schatz today awarded one of the 2014 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to John Bennett, associate teaching professor of marketing in the MU Trulaske College of Business. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2014 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 31st, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin and Commerce Bank Chair Jim Schatz today awarded one of the 2014 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Jeff Krug, an assistant teaching professor of physical therapy in the Department of Physical Therapy in the MU School of Health Professions. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2014 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 31st, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin and Commerce Bank Chair Jim Schatz today awarded one of the 2014 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Ann Harrell, an associate professor of voice and voice area coordinator in the School of Music in the MU College of Arts and Science. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2014 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 31st, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin and Commerce Bank Chair Jim Schatz today awarded one of the 2014 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Bryon Wiegand, an associate professor of animal science in the Division of Animal Sciences in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Full Story

MU Professor Awarded 2014 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence

March 31st, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin and Commerce Bank Chair Jim Schatz today awarded one of the 2014 William T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence to Leigh Neier, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum in the MU College of Education. Full Story

Ancient African Cattle First Domesticated in Middle East, MU Study Reveals

New genetic history of cattle allows for better breeding methods, reveals new aspects of human history

March 27th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Geneticist and anthropologists previously suspected that ancient Africans domesticated cattle native to the African continent nearly 10,000 years ago. Now, a team of University of Missouri researchers has completed the genetic history of 134 cattle breeds from around the world. In the process of completing this history, they found that ancient domesticated […] Full Story

New Statistical Models Could Lead to Better Predictions of Ocean Patterns and the Impacts on Weather, Climate and Ecosystem, MU Scientist Finds

March 18th, 2014

The world’s oceans cover more than 72 percent of the earth’s surface, impact a major part of the carbon cycle, and contribute to variability in global climate and weather patterns. However, accurately predicting the condition of the ocean is limited by current methods. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have applied complex statistical models to increase the accuracy of ocean forecasting that can influence the ways in which forecasters predict long-range events such as El Nińo and the lower levels of the ocean food chain—one of the world’s largest ecosystems. Full Story

Hank Foley Named MU Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies; Leona Rubin Named MU Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies, UM Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Graduate Education

March 13th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced today that Henry C. “Hank” Foley has been named as senior vice chancellor for research and graduate studies at MU, and Leona Rubin, who has been serving as interim dean of the graduate school, has been named associate vice chancellor for graduate studies at […] Full Story

Computer Simulations Developed by MU Researchers Help Predict Blast Scenarios, Also Have Crossover Appeal in Animation

Simulation methods helped create animation for Disney’s Oscar-winning film, 'Frozen.'

March 13th, 2014

Simulation-based engineering science (SBES) allows researchers to predict the effects of building explosions and analyze the response of building materials to those threats. Using a $400,000, five-year CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Missouri developed the Material Point Method (MPM) a computer-generated tool that not only creates blast scenarios that informs blast and impact resistant materials and design, but also is crossing over into Hollywood animation—most recently, Disney’s Oscar-winning animated film, Frozen. Full Story

University Village, Student Parent Center to be Demolished, MU Officials Announce

University will offer assistance to residents and parents in need of alternative housing and child day care facilities.

March 12th, 2014

University of Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced today that the University Village Apartment Complex will close on June 30 and will be demolished shortly thereafter. Licensed, professional engineers have inspected every occupied building at University Village, including the Student Parent Center, and have declared that all buildings are safe for occupancy. Loftin is asking several organizations on campus to begin discussing the feasibility of the future of child day care services on the Mizzou campus. Full Story

MU Study Suggests New Rehabilitation Methods for Amputees and Stroke Patients

Research on amputees with chronic dominant hand loss may inform rehabilitation of stroke patients

March 12th, 2014

When use of a dominant hand is lost by amputation or stroke, a patient is forced to compensate by using the nondominant hand exclusively for precision tasks like writing or drawing. Presently, the behavioral and neurological effects of chronic, forced use of the nondominant hand are largely understudied and unknown. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have shed light on ways in which a patient compensates when losing a dominant hand and suggest new and improved rehabilitation techniques for those suffering from amputation or stroke. Full Story

MU Recognizes Contributions to Diversity

March 12th, 2014

Officials from the University of Missouri Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative have awarded three MU students, two faculty members and a student organization with the 2014 Inclusive Excellence Award. The award is given to individuals or groups who have made contributions to any area of diversity including gender, racial-ethnic background, language, religious belief, sexual orientation, disabilities and economic strata. This year’s recipients are:  Full Story

MU Honors Faculty for Contributions to Diversity

March 12th, 2014

The University of Missouri Division of Student Affairs has awarded three faculty members the 2014 MU Faculty Achievement Award in Diversity. This is an endowed award given annually to three faculty members whose work elevates diversity and inclusion on the MU campus.  Full Story

Youth Who Help Others and Volunteer are Less Likely to Associate with Deviant Peers and Engage in Problem Behaviors, MU Researcher Finds

Intervention programs should focus on encouraging “prosocial” behaviors in youth

March 11th, 2014

Prosocial behaviors, or actions intended to help others, remain an important area of focus for researchers interested in factors that reduce violence and other behavioral problems in youth. However, little is known regarding the connection between prosocial and antisocial behaviors. A new study by a University of Missouri human development expert found that prosocial behaviors can prevent youth from associating with deviant peers, thereby making the youth less likely to exhibit antisocial or problem behaviors, such as aggression and delinquency. Full Story

MU Researchers Try to Better Predict Storms that Produce Deadly Flash Flooding

Weather phenomenon triggers intense rainfall that leads to flash floods

March 6th, 2014

According to the National Weather Service, more than 125 people die from flash floods every year. Flash floods often arise from a weather phenomenon known as an “elevated convection,” which causes intense thunderstorms that lead to flash flooding. However, scientists do not have a strong understanding of what causes these elevated storms. A team of researchers at the University of Missouri will deploy to eastern Kansas and western Missouri to study this phenomenon throughout the spring. Full Story

Access to Social Workers Could Keep Veterans Out of Criminal Justice System, MU Researchers Find

March 6th, 2014

Approximately one in six veterans struggles with substance abuse, and 20 percent show signs of mental health issues or cognitive impairments, previous research has shown. These risk factors, combined with a lack of resources, could be contributing to an increase of veterans entering the criminal justice system, according to a report by the Center for Mental Health Services. Now, University of Missouri researchers have investigated ways social workers can address veterans’ needs and keep them out of jail. Full Story

Anxiety Drug Could Improve Socialization in Individuals with Autism, MU Researchers Find

March 5th, 2014

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often struggle with social interaction. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that a prescription drug, propranolol, could improve socialization in individuals with autism. Full Story

Youngest Kindergarteners Most Likely to be Held Back, MU Study Finds

MU researcher says teachers need to adapt instruction based on the maturity and ability of all students

March 3rd, 2014

For some parents, the decision of when to enroll their children into kindergarten can result in costly consequences such as another year of daycare expenses. In general, children must be five years old to be eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten. However, the developmental differences between a young kindergartener who barely qualifies for the state-mandated age cutoff date compared to a child who is almost year older, may have implications. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that the youngest kindergartners are about five times more likely to be retained, or held back, compared to the oldest students, resulting in higher costs for parents and school districts. Full Story

St. Louis Couple Gives $2.5 Million to Fund Veterinary Medicine Scholarships at MU

Couple also donated a motorcycle to be raffled as a fundraiser for scholarships

March 3rd, 2014

Gary Savill and Barbara Stampfli-Savill, residents of St. Louis, have made an estate commitment of $2.5 million to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. The gift will create an endowment to support scholarships for veterinary students and will encourage volunteer work among its recipients.  Full Story

MU to Test Emergency Alert System Tuesday

March 3rd, 2014

At 1:45 p.m., on Tuesday, March 4, University of Missouri officials will test all components of its Mass Alert and Warning System in conjunction with state and local severe weather drills. The upcoming drill will be the first test of MU’s full emergency alert system while students are on campus. Full Story

MU Scheduled for Regular Operations on Monday

March 2nd, 2014

University of Missouri officials announced today that the university will be open Monday, March 3, for all regularly scheduled operations. Full Story

MU Journalism Dean Names Reeves New KOMU-TV News Director

February 27th, 2014

Dean Mills, dean of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, announced today that Randy Reeves has been named news director at KOMU-TV, effective Sept. 1, 2014. Reeves, an associate professor in the MU School of Journalism, will replace Stacey Woelfel, who was appointed director of the new Jonathan Murray Documentary Journalism Center at the MU School of Journalism effective in the fall.  Full Story

Bisphenol A (BPA) at Very Low Levels Can Adversely Affect Developing Organs in Primates, MU Researcher Finds

February 27th, 2014

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used in a wide variety of consumer products, such as resins used to line metal food and beverage containers, thermal paper store receipts, and dental composites. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties, and exposure of fetuses, infants, children or adults to the chemical has been shown to cause numerous abnormalities, including cancer, as well as reproductive, immune and brain-behavior problems in rodents. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that daily exposure to very low concentrations of BPA by pregnant females also can cause fetal abnormalities in primates. Full Story

Faster Anthrax Detection Could Speed Bioterror Response and Save Millions in Decontamination Costs, MU Study Finds

February 26th, 2014

Shortly following the 9/11 terror attack in 2001, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to news outlets and government buildings killing five people and infecting 17 others. According to a 2012 report, the bioterrorism event cost $3.2 million in cleanup and decontamination. At the time, no testing system was in place that officials could use to screen the letters. Currently, first responders have tests that can provide a screen for dangerous materials in about 24-48 hours. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have worked with a private company to develop a new method for anthrax detection that can identify anthrax in only a few hours. Full Story

Woelfel Named Director of New Documentary Journalism Center at MU

February 25th, 2014

Dean Mills, dean of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, announced today that Stacey Woelfel, news director at KOMU-TV and associate professor in the MU School of Journalism, has been named the first director of the new Jonathan Murray Documentary Journalism Center at the MU School of Journalism. Woelfel will step down from his position as KOMU news director and begin working as director of the Murray Center on Sept. 1, 2014.  Full Story

Statement from MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin

February 22nd, 2014

My heart is heavy this morning as my deepest condolences go to the family of the brave City of Columbia firefighter who was fatally injured in the line of duty helping keep the residents of University Village Apartments safe. Full Story

Statement from MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin

February 22nd, 2014

I am deeply grateful to City of Columbia firefighters and University of Missouri Police Department officers for their rapid response to the incident that occurred early this morning at University Village Apartments. Because of their quick and effective response, no residents were injured, and all are being moved to alternate locations. Full Story

Statement

February 22nd, 2014

University of Missouri Police and administrators are aware of a structural emergency at University Village, which is one of the university’s residential facilities. Currently, all residents are safe. University officials, along with the Columbia Fire department are currently investigating the situation. We will update this website as additional information is confirmed. Full Story

MU Researchers Join National Effort to Search for Solution for Chemical Runoff from Rural Farms

February 20th, 2014

Nearly 40 percent of the world’s corn and soybeans are produced on farms in the Mississippi River Basin. As a result, chemicals from pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer run into the river each year. Now, University of Missouri researchers are joining a national, nine-year research effort analyzing chemical runoff from a dozen farms in Missouri to determine the long term effects of these chemicals on the environment and find solutions to solve the problem.  Full Story

Reasons for Becoming Self-Employed in Later Life Vary by Gender, Culture, MU Researcher Finds

Older male workers may choose self-employment, whereas older female workers may seek self-employment because of financial necessity

February 19th, 2014

Self-employment can allow older workers to stay in the labor market longer and earn additional income, yet little research has addressed if reasons for self-employment vary across gender and culture. Now, University of Missouri researchers have studied factors that contribute to self-employment and found these factors differ for men and women in the United States and New Zealand. Full Story

MU Research of Zebrafish Neurons May Lead to Better Understanding of Birth Defects like Spina Bifida

February 18th, 2014

The zebrafish, a tropical freshwater fish similar to a minnow and native to the southeastern Himalayan region, is well established as a key tool for researchers studying human diseases, including brain disorders. Using zebrafish, scientists can determine how individual neurons develop, mature and support basic functions like breathing, swallowing and jaw movement. Researchers at the University of Missouri say that learning about neuronal development and maturation in zebrafish could lead to a better understanding of birth defects in humans such as spina bifida. Full Story

Smartphone App Aids College-Age Women in Abusive Relationships

MU researcher helped develop ‘One Love My Plan’ interactive tool

February 18th, 2014

Women between the ages of 18 and 24 are at the highest risk for dating violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, these women are less likely than older adults to seek formal safety resources and instead look to peers or technology for help and advice. In an effort to connect more young women with safety information, University of Missouri researchers collaborated with Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the One Love Foundation to develop the “One Love My Plan” smartphone application, an interactive tool that helps college-age women in abusive relationships clarify their priorities and customize personal safety plans.  Full Story

MU Sets Record Pace for Yearly Fundraising Totals

February 18th, 2014

Officials in the University of Missouri Advancement office have announced that MU is on pace for a record-setting year of fundraising. The MU advancement team has raised a record $88.3 million in the first six months of the fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of $82.3 million raised in the same six-month period last year. With a goal of raising $150 million for the entire fiscal year, MU is on track to exceed a record amount of fundraising for a single year at the university.  Full Story

$6.7 Million Gift Funds New Documentary Journalism Program at MU

New program made possible by gift from Bunim/Murray Productions chairman and MU alumnus Jonathan Murray

February 11th, 2014

The University of Missouri today announced a gift of $6.7 million from Jonathan Murray, an Emmy Award-winning MU alumnus and chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions, to create a documentary journalism program in the MU School of Journalism. The gift creates one of the largest programs in documentary journalism. The goal is to provide innovative teaching, professional outreach and research programs that will attract the most talented students, faculty and professionals from around the world. Full Story

MU School of Journalism Dean to Retire in August

February 6th, 2014

University of Missouri Interim Provost Ken Dean announced today that Dean Mills, dean of the MU School of Journalism, will retire effective Aug. 31, 2014. Mills, who has served in this position for 25 years, is the longest current serving dean at MU. Full Story

MU to Resume Regular Operations Thursday

February 5th, 2014

University of Missouri officials announced today that the university will be open tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 6, for all regularly scheduled operations. Officials warn faculty, students, staff and visitors to use caution while moving on campus as slick spots remain due to the extreme cold temperatures. Anyone driving to campus should plan ahead, leave early and allow plenty of time for travel. Full Story

MU Campus Remains Closed, Classes Canceled for Wednesday

February 4th, 2014

After reviewing reports from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the city of Columbia and university crews, University of Missouri officials have decided to keep the campus closed on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Only employees that are situationally critical should report for work. Full Story

MU Campus Closed, Classes Canceled for Tuesday

February 3rd, 2014

In anticipation of impending winter weather, University of Missouri officials have announced full closure of the MU campus for Tuesday, Feb. 4, with all classes cancelled. Only employees that are situationally critical should report for work. Full Story

MU Officials to Make Decision on Tuesday Classes by 8 p.m.

February 3rd, 2014

In anticipation of winter weather impacting the Columbia area, University of Missouri officials will make an announcement at 8 p.m. about whether or not the university will close on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Full Story

Statement

January 28th, 2014

The University of Missouri continues to express heartfelt condolences to Sasha Menu Courey’s family and friends. Although we are limited by our desire not to interfere with the pending Columbia Police Department investigation, MU responds to the most frequently asked questions resulting from ESPN’s Outside the Lines story that first ran on Friday, Jan. 24. Full Story

MU VITA Sites Open, Provide Free Tax Preparation Help

MU Extension offers face-to-face tax education

January 27th, 2014

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 will open their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites on Jan. 28. Sites will be open around the state, including two on the MU campus. Andrew Zumwalt, an assistant extension professor for financial planning and a member of the University of Missouri Extension faculty, says the VITA program not only helps participants file their taxes; it also provides MU students a great learning experience. Full Story

Statement

January 26th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. —The University of Missouri continues to express sympathies to the parents, other family, friends and teammates of Sasha Menu Courey. As a result of information that first came to the University of Missouri’s attention in a Friday, January 24th report by ESPN’s Outside the Lines program related to former student-athlete Sasha Menu Courey, […] Full Story

EXPERT AVAILABLE: ‘Monuments Men’ Protected Stolen Artwork That Was Looted by German, Russian and Asian Forces, MU Researcher Says

Allied enemies mirrored the pattern of cultural theft seen throughout history

January 24th, 2014

The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) program, established in 1943 under the authority of the Allied armies, is the subject of the upcoming major motion picture, “Monuments Men.” The Monuments Men were a group of Allied art historians and archaeologists who were brought together to protect the cultural property in war areas during and after World War II. A University of Missouri researcher says that the MFAA helped preserve and protect art from destruction in the last stages of World War II and that Germany was mirroring the pattern of cultural theft seen throughout history.  Full Story

Athletes’ Performance Declines Following Contract Years, MU Researchers Show

Results could help inform team managers and sports commentators, researchers say

January 22nd, 2014

Professional athletes in the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball can reap very large financial rewards, especially if their performance peaks during their “contract year,” or the last season before an athlete signs a new contract or becomes a free agent. Often, when these athletes perform well during the contract year, they receive huge raises and added benefits. Thus, sports pundits have long discussed a possible “contract year effect,” where player performance artificially tops out during contract years. However, the effect has seldom been tested or studied scientifically. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that the contract year performance boost is real, but they caution team managers and coaches that it might be followed by a post-contract performance crash—a two-year pattern they call the “contract year syndrome.”  Full Story

Salamander Population Size Helps Predict Health of Forest Ecosystems and Inform Forest Management Decisions, MU Study Finds

Researchers suggest a balance between timber harvest and conservation biology

January 21st, 2014

Woodland salamanders are small, lungless amphibians that live in moist, forest habitats throughout the U.S. and the world. Salamanders often serve as vital links in forest food chains; their population size and recovery from major disturbances can help predict the health of forest ecosystems. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that salamander population size reflects forest habitat quality and can predict how ecosystems recover from forest logging activity. MU researchers believe these findings can be translated to other species within forest ecosystems throughout the world. Full Story

University of Missouri Physics Professor Receives $250,000 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching

January 17th, 2014

Meera Chandrasekhar, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri, has been named the recipient of the Baylor University Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. The $250,000 Cherry Award is the only national teaching award presented by a college or university to an individual for exceptional teaching. Full Story

White House Education Summit Highlights College Access Program Headquartered at MU

MU Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton represents MU at summit

January 16th, 2014

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted officials from more than 100 universities, colleges and nonprofit groups at the White House today for a higher education summit. The University of Missouri was selected by the president to participate based on the university’s commitment to helping low-income students attend and succeed at college. Deputy Chancellor Mike Middleton represented MU at the summit. Full Story

Newly Discovered Receptors in Plants Help Them Recover from Environmental Changes, Pests, and Plant Wounds, MU Study Shows

Discovery could lead to herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides that naturally work with plants to make them stronger

January 16th, 2014

Adenosine triphosphate is the main energy source inside a cell and is considered to be the high energy molecule that drives all life processes in animals and humans. Outside the cell, membrane receptors that attract ATP drive muscle control, neurotransmission, inflammation and development. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found the same receptor in plants and believe it to be a vital component in the way plants respond to dangers, including pests, environmental changes and plant wounds. This discovery could lead to herbicides, fertilizers and insect repellants that naturally work with plants to make them stronger.  Full Story

Comprehensive, Nonsurgical Treatment Improves Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women

Women who completed therapy experienced significant improvement in urinary incontinence, defecatory dysfunction and pelvic pain

January 9th, 2014

One in three women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), a range of symptoms which include bladder and bowel problems as well as pelvic pain, according to the American Urogynecologic Society. Now, University of Missouri researchers have demonstrated that a comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment significantly improves symptoms in women with PFD.  Full Story

Social Media Helps Users Embrace Differences and Provide Support to One Another, MU Study Finds

Lady Gaga enables followers to embrace their awkwardness while deepening the perceived relationship they feel they have with the celebrity

January 8th, 2014

According to recent statistics, more than 175 million tweets are sent daily, and 11 accounts are created every second on Twitter. One celebrity who boasts the highest amount of global subscribers is singer Lady Gaga who enjoys more than 40 million Twitter followers. Now, University of Missouri communication researchers have found that online social media gives users an outlet to embrace their differences and provide emotional support to others while deepening perceived relationships they feel they have with celebrities. Full Story

University Affairs Leader at MU to Retire

January 7th, 2014

Chris Koukola, who has led the University of Missouri’s communication efforts for nearly 28 years, has announced she will retire. Koukola will leave her position as assistant to the chancellor for university affairs on Jan. 31, 2014. Full Story

MU Researcher’s Study of African Forest Elephants Helps Guide Research Efforts in the U.S.

Study finds that human occupation of an area may not contribute to population decline of an endangered species

January 7th, 2014

Conservation of a protected or endangered species requires frequent monitoring and the dynamic techniques biologists utilize to ensure the survival of threatened animals. Often, scientists study biodiversity at all levels—from genes to entire ecosystems. Currently, researchers at the University of Missouri are employing genotyping to study movement patterns of African forest elephants in protected and unprotected regions of Gabon to better understand how human occupation of these areas might affect elephants on the African continent. Genotyping is helping conservation biologists determine the best course of action to ensure biodiversity and the preservation of various species in the U.S. and abroad. Full Story

MU Scheduled for Regular Operations on Monday

January 5th, 2014

University of Missouri officials announced today that the university will be open tomorrow for all regularly scheduled operations, including classes that begin for students in the School of Medicine, the School of Law and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Individuals should continue checking http://MUAlert.missouri.edu for any updates. If any changes are made to MU’s operations, media will be alerted no later than 6 a.m., Monday, Jan. 6. MU Health Care’s hospitals, emergency rooms and clinics will remain open. For updates about MU Health Care clinics, please visit www.muhealth.org. The MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital emergency service will remain open. Full Story