Researchers work to fight wind, soil erosion

Researchers at MSU are working on a lower intensity tillage system which will help to maintain a crop's nutrients and combat wind and soil erosion.

When liquid manure is placed on fields, the substance slides through wormholes and other permeable surfaces. The new research will help farmers combat this problem. Final results will be made available by the MSU Extension in the fall.

"If we can stabilize the manure in the soil, natural biological processes can quickly convert livestock manure into crop nutrients and other beneficial compounds," said Tim Harrigan, MSU Extension specialist and principal investigator for the project in a written statement.

The project is funded by the Ann Arbor-based Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control.

Stephanie Korneffel

Rogers to speak on international issues

Congressman Mike Rogers will discuss current international issues during MSU's Visiting International Professional Program's "Pioneers of Globalization" seminar Tuesday.

Rogers, whose expertise was sought during development of the USA Patriot Act following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will also share his personal experiences and observations during his recent trip to Iraq.

Chris Carter, professional outreach program coordinator for Visiting International Professional Program, said Rogers will discuss international issues such as terrorism and immigration issues, as well as national security issues such as airport security.

VIPP's goal is to help understand global culture through cross-cultural education and language training.

Sandy Holy, assistant director for VIPP, said the program offers cultural training programs that introduce visiting scholars to different aspects of American culture to help them better interact with Americans.

Holy said having someone like Mike Rogers give his insight on understanding global issues is significant to those in the community.

"I think it's important that we have respected people in the community talking to our visitors because I know it matters a lot to them," Holy said. "We're very pleased to continue the guest speaker seminar series, and the audience will probably have a lot of questions for him."

Evan Rondeau

Student awarded grant for disease research

An MSU student has been selected to receive a 2003 Solvay Pharmaceuticals Student Research Fellowship, which will provide the opportunity to research inflammatory bowel disease.

Carole Kuehl, a microbiology senior, is one of 17 students nationally selected to receive the fellowship this year. Kuehl has worked as an undergraduate lab assistant for the National Center for Food Safety and Toxicology at MSU and was a lab assistant last summer at AEGIS Environmental Management in Midland.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, better known as inflammatory bowel disease, affect up to 1 million Americans, including 30,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Ulcerative colitis is a disease linked to an increased risk for colon cancer and causes bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and weight loss. Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the small and large intestines and can lead to diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss and bowel obstruction.

The causes of the diseases are currently unknown, though genetic and environmental factors are believed to be culprits. There is no cure for either disease.

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America awards the fellowships to undergraduate, graduate or medical students who will perform full-time research on the diseases. This is the eighth year Solvay Pharmaceuticals has provided funding for the fellowship program, and so far they have given almost $150,000 in fellowships.

Evan Rondeau

New study evaluates care of stroke victims

MSU is working in collaboration with 15 Michigan hospitals to improve stroke treatment and prevention.

The research is part of a project called the Michigan Acute Stroke Care Overview & Treatment Surveillance System, or MASCOTS, to evaluate how stroke victims are cared for in Michigan.

Funding for the project is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an effort to establish a National Hospital Stroke Registry to track hospital care quality and monitor for quality improvement.

So far the study has shown that despite the effectiveness of a clot-busting drug called tPA, tissue plasminogen activator, it was used in less than 4 percent of stroke cases. The drug can help prevent some of the complications caused by strokes.

Blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin were given to more than 90 percent of patients upon discharge, yet specific smoking cessation interventions were only documented in roughly a quarter of smokers.

The data shows great variation in care given among hospitals across the state, said Mathew Reeves, an assistant professor of epidemiology and director of the project.

"You wouldn't expect perfect care for all patients all the time, but there is evidence of good care and average care at different hospitals," Reeves said. "This study is aimed at making sure care methods are being implemented more consistently."

More than 2,700 hospitalized stroke cases have been studied so far in the MASCOTS project.

The study's findings will be circulated to hospitals, clinics and professional organizations for their input.

Evan Rondeau