WUSTL in the News

Washington University faculty and staff make news around the world and a sampling of this news coverage is summarized below. Click on the headline for more information on a story and for links (when available) to the story as it appeared online in an external publication.

• Archived News Clips

September 2009

Illustrator's Works Defined an Era The Washington Post and 2 others Sept. 21, 2009 -- Obituary for Bernie Fuchs, 76, an illustrator whose influential work defined an era. He graduated from WUSTL art school iin 1954. His paintings were exhibited in galleries worldwide. Jill Bossert, editor of Society of Illustrators books, once described Mr. Fuchs' skill: "His colors shine with the brilliance of stained glass as if lit from within. His equine pictures rival Degas."

U.S. Census Bureau data on the medically uninsured simply can't be denied Los Angeles Times Sept. 17, 2009 -- Michael Hiltzik says the medically uninsured iin America have become a political football. Opponents and supporters of healthcare reform toss assertions about them back and forth. The report, which says 46.3 million people lacked coverage as of the end of 2008, makes the case for reform stronger than ever by punching holes in arguments that minimize the plight of the uninsured. Includes comments by WUSTL social work and public health professor Timothy McBride.

A Legal Battle: Online Attitude vs. Rules of the Bar The New York Times and 9 others Sept. 16, 2009 -- The lawyer who railed against a judge online found himself hauled up before the Florida bar, which issued a reprimand and a fine for his intemperate blog post. Schwartz quotes WUSTL legal ethics professor Michael Downey: "When you become an officer of the court, you lose the full ability to criticize the court." Legal ethics experts say that collisions between the freewheeling ways of the Internet and the tight boundaries of legal discourse are inevitable -- whether they result in damaged careers or simply raise eyebrows.

When Talking Smack About a Judge, Proceed With Caution The Wall Street Journal blog and 1 others Sept. 16, 2009 -- Ashby Jones writes about a NYT report on what happened to a lawyer who publicly railed against a judge. The lawyer found himself hauled up before the Florida bar, which in April issued a reprimand and a fine for his intemperate blog post. An abrogation of one's First Amendment rights? Schwartz quotes WUSTL legal ethics professor Michael Downey: "When you become an officer of the court, you lose the full ability to criticize the court."

Save the Whales! Abolish Patents! Huffingtonpost.com Sept. 16, 2009 -- WUSTL economics professor David Levine says abolishing 'intellectual property' won't solve all social ills, but it would be a big step in the right direction for solving a range of problems from the high cost of health care, to innovating our way out of the current recession. In a series of posts with his co-author, WUSTL economics professor Michele Boldrin, they will be posting here about green technology, entertainment, free speech, multinationals, and innovation over the next weeks.

New Clues to Sex Anomalies in How Y Chromosomes Are Copied The New York Times Sept. 16, 2009 -- Article looks at another David Page contribution to the science of genetics. A weakness in the system that allows the male Y chromosome to protect and repair itself can explain an array of genetic sexual disorders.: The palindromes were discovered in 2003 when the Y chromosome's sequence of bases, represented by the familiar letters G, C, T and A, was first worked out by David Page of the Whitehead Institute and colleagues at the DNA sequencing center at WUSTL medical school.

Why capitalism fails The Boston Globe Sept. 15, 2009 -- U. of Georgia historian Stephen Mihm writes about the late WUSTL economist Hyman Minsky, who "has begun emerging as perhaps the most prescient big-picture thinker about what, exactly, we are going through. A contrarian amid the conformity of postwar America, an expert in the then-unfashionable subfields of finance and crisis, Minsky was one economist who saw what was coming. He predicted, decades ago, almost exactly the kind of meltdown that recently hammered the global economy. "

Sleep helps reduce errors in memory United Press International and 4 others Sept. 15, 2009 -- Researchers at Michigan State, Chicago, and WUSTL says sleep may reduce mistakes in memory for both the young and the old. They studied the presence of false memory in groups of college students. Previous research has shown that sleep improves memory, but this study address errors in memory. The study was published in the journal Learning & Memory.

Jobless, and Fighting Hopelessness The Washington Post and 7 others Sept. 14, 2009 -- Article on the impact of long-term unemployment. One of those featured is Rick Rose, who lost his job at a non-profit. After 15 months of unemployment, he was hired as marketing and communications manager for a new partnership between the Brookings Institution and the Olin Business School at WUSTL. Includes comments by Jackson Nickerson, director of the Brookings-Olin partnership.

Brain Scientists Misled By Squid NPR Morning Edition and 1 others Sept. 11, 2009 -- Jon Hamilton reports on a recent German study in Science that says that for more than 50 years, scientists who study the brain have been misled by squid. They did experiments on squid nerve cells thinking that those cells were good models for the human nervous system. WUSTL radiology professor Marcus Raichle, who does brain imaging studies, says, "There is always this tendency that if you're working in an area and your experiments are working well and you're getting good data, to not think of the larger context in which this is occurring."

NYUers paper clipped New York Post and 1 others Sept. 11, 2009 -- NYU, one of the most expensive higher-education institutions in the country, has resorted to rationing paper and charging students for printouts in order to cut costs. Seething students derided the measure, which kicks in after a student surpasses a 500-page printout limit per semester, as a cheap shot. Similar measures have been introduced at dozens of smaller colleges -- and this year at the larger WUSTL -- for economic and environmental benefits.

Commentary: More Funding To End Migraine Forbes.com Sept. 10, 2009 -- Cindy McCain explains the need for more funding for research to cure migraine headaches. As a nation, we spend very little on research into the causes and treatments of migraines. It is estimated that the NIH spends less than $13 million a year for migraine research. Neurology professor Todd Schwedt of WUSTL's Headache Center says that based on the burden migraine exacts from society, funding should be closer to $260 million.

Chimps use 'tool kits' to gather army ants United Press International and 3 others Sept. 10, 2009 -- Researchers led by WUSTL anthropology professor Crickette Sanz in the Republic of Congo's Nouabale-Ndoki National Park said they have discovered chimpanzees that have developed specialized "tool sets" to forage for army ants.

Elusive price tag for universal health coverage MSNBC.com Sept. 10, 2009 -- How much is it going to cost to provide health care for all Americans? Until the details are complete, the only honest answer is: no one knows, reports John Schoen. "We know that the underinsured tend to be healthier," said Timothy McBride, associate dean for WUSTL's public health. "So if they were to get insured they would not be as expensive as the rest of us."

Protein found to control form of diabetes United Press International and 4 others Sept. 10, 2009 -- U. of Iowa scientists say they've discovered a molecular mechanism regulates specialized pancreatic cells and insulin secretion in a form of diabetes. The study that also involved researchers at WUSTL is reported in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

More Alzheimer genetic risk factors found United Press International and 3 others Sept. 9, 2009 -- An international team of scientists has reported finding two more genetic risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. Includes comments by co-author and WUSTL professor of genetics in psychiatry Alison Goate.

Let Orthopedic Surgery Wait Until Morning When Possible U.S. News & World Report online and 8 others Sept. 8, 2009 -- Scheduling a prime daytime slot to undergo an orthopedic procedure may lower your risk of an unplanned follow-up surgery later on, a new study published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery has found. Includes comments by surgeon William Ricci, chief of WUSTL medical school's Orthopaedic Trauma Service.

Young Animals May Be Able to Erase Bad Memories U.S. News & World Report online and 5 others Sept. 8, 2009 -- New Swiss research published in Science suggests that young animals may have a mechanism that allows them to jettison traumatic memories, but experts say it's unclear whether humans of any age can do the same. Includes comments by WUSTL psychology professor and memory specialist Mark McDaniel.

Gallaudet University Announces 4 Finalists for President The Washington Post Sept. 3, 2009 -- Gallaudet U. officials named four finalists Wednesday in the search for the next president of the nation's premier college for the deaf and hard of hearing, signaling that the school is near the conclusion of a process that sparked mass protests and arrests last time. All the finalists are deaf, and all can sign. WUSTL alum T. Alan Hurwitz presides over one of eight colleges in the Rochester Institute of Technology and is vice president and dean of the institute, in addition to leading the school for the deaf.

Pancreatic Cancer Deaths Higher for Blacks U.S. News & World Report online and 9 others Sept. 3, 2009 -- Even after eliminating known pancreatic cancer risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, blacks still had a 42 percent higher risk of dying from the disease than their white counterparts, according to a WUSTL-led study, which appears online in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

After-hours bone surgery slightly riskier United Press International and 3 others Sept. 2, 2009 -- A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found after-hours orthopaedic surgeries risk a slightly higher rate of necessary follow-up surgeries. WUSTL orthopaedic surgron and lead author William Ricci comments.

Girls Gotta Move Health.com Sept. 1, 2009 -- In the last decade, there's been a boom in children running races that were once strictly for adults. Getting kids outside and active is obviously a good thing. But are the physical and mental demands of long-distance running safe for children? At what age is competition appropriate, and what do parents need to keep in mind? WUSTL pediatric sports medicine specialist Mark Halstead, who has been a distance runner for most of his adult life, offers advice.

Burqa Furor Scrambles French Politics The New York Times and 2 others Sept. 1, 2009 -- In France, a parliamentary commission will soon meet to investigate whether to ban any cloak that covers most of the face. WUSTL anthropology professor John Bowen, who wrote "Why the French Don't Like Headscarves: Islam, the State and Public Space," has been asked to testify by the parliamentary commission.

Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal Associated Press and 42 others Sept. 1, 2009 -- Yoshio Matsumoto was among the 110,000 Japanese-Americans seemingly bound for an internment camp soon after America entered World War II when WUSTL agreed to take him in.

August 2009

Meat, Dairy Won't Up Odds for Breast Cancer U.S. News & World Report online and 8 others Aug. 31, 2009 -- For years, dietary factors have been debated as either boosting or reducing the risk of breast cancer, with research yielding conflicting results. But in the new research, scientists could not conclude that meat, eggs or dairy product intake as an adult raised breast cancer risk. Connie Diekman, a registered dietitian and director of university nutrition at WUSTL comments.

Belly fat may be innocent bystander United Press International and 2 others Aug. 26, 2009 -- Belly fat has long been blamed for obesity-related disease but it may actually only be something of an innocent bystander, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Liver fat may be the important risk factor for obesity-related metabolic disorders often linked to diabetes, heart disease and other diseases. Includes comments by senior investigator and WUSTL nutrition expert Samuel Klein.

Child athlete's death revives heart testing debate Associated Press and 24 others Aug. 25, 2009 -- An obese eighth-grader's sudden death during a football conditioning lap has revived discussion about whether testing children's hearts before they engage in sports or strenuous activity is necessary. WUSTL cardiovascular professor Keith Mankowitz, who directs an athletes screening program, said some conditions go undetected during routine screening.

Knowledge Network -- Fall 2009 Course Listings The New York Times Aug. 25, 2009 -- One of the courses offered in The New York Times Knowledge Network Fall 2009 catalog is Introduction to Encore Careers. This course will introduce you to the phenomena of encore careers in the health and human services sector and help you explore some of the distinguishing features and challenges of the nonprofit sector. WUSTL social work professor Nancy Morrow-Howell is among participating faculty.

Take charge of your checkup MSNBC.com Aug. 24, 2009 -- Medical tests are no fun, so why take them twice? People often end up with inadvertently skewed results, but some simple prep work will ensure that your numbers are accurate. Includes advice from WUSTL researchers on how not to skew the PSA (prostate cancer screening) exam.

Surgeon accused of faking study resigns United Press International and 1 others Aug. 21, 2009 -- Timothy Kuklo, a former U.S. Army surgeon, "voluntarily" resigned from WUSTL, effective Sept. 30, and "will have no clinical, research or educational duties for the university between now and that date," a spokeswoman for the university's medical school said in a statement.

Q&A: The Man Behind U.S. News College Rankings Time.com Aug. 20, 2009 -- The 2010 U.S. News & World Report college rankings hit stands today. TIME spoke to Robert Morse, director of data research at U.S. News and a two-decade veteran of the controversial rankings, about how the list is put together and how it could be better, plus a look at this year's rising stars. He said WUSTL (No. 12) and USC have had slow and steady climbs up the national university list by making across-the-board improvements.

Surgeon Tied to Bone Product Inquiry Resigns The New York Times Aug. 19, 2009 -- Timothy Kuklo, a former Army surgeon accused of falsifying a study on a bone growth product used on severely injured Iraq war veterans, has resigned his teaching position at WUSTL, according to spokeswoman Joni Westerhouse. Kuklo tendered his resignation on July 30, according to Don Clayton, associate vice chancellor and director for medical public affairs. University officials declined to comment further.

Ultra-tiny 'bees' target tumors CNN International and 1 others Aug. 18, 2009 -- Another report on the use of nanobees -- tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells by delivering a synthesized version of toxin called melittin that is found in bees. Samuel Wickline, director of WUSTL's Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, explains how it works. Nanobees are one of the latest examples of how nanotechnology may change the way diseases are treated.

What's Wrong With This Picture? Baby Is in Danger U.S. News & World Report online Aug. 18, 2009 -- "There are a lot of mixed messages that are being sent to families," says pediatrician Rachel Moon, who has probed several widely read parenting and women's magazines and found that many photos in articles and advertisements clash with what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents do to keep infants safe while asleep. WUSTL pediatrics professor Bradley Thach comments.

Medical Imaging Under The Gun In Health-Reform Push The Wall Street Journal and 5 others Aug. 14, 2009 -- Health-reform moves proposed by the White House and pursued in Congress have largely steered clear of direct hits to the medical-technology sector, with one big exception: medical imaging. Such proposals follow years of rapid growth for medical scanning that has provoked questions about overuse. William Peck, who directs WUSTL's Center for Health Policy, suggests the House legislation needs to get at the causes of overuse, such as doctors hedging against the threat of malpractice suits.

(Un)wired For God Newsweek Aug. 13, 2009 -- Sharon Begley reports on new data in the debate on neurobiology and whether we are wired to believe in God. In a paper last month in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, Gregory Paul posits that, rather than being wired into the brain, religion is a way to cope with stress in a dysfunctional society -- the opium-of-the-people argument. She mentions research by WUSTL anthropology professor Pascal Boyer.

Early human European diets studied United Press International and 4 others Aug. 12, 2009 -- U.S. and Canadian scientists say data from human fossils suggest a shift in animal resource exploitation as humans spread into Europe 40,000 years ago. There is little evidence for the regular eating of fish by the Neanderthals, but early humans consistently consumed fish, supplementing their diet. This study by WUSTL anthropology professor Erik Trinkaus a Canadian colleague was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A Fashion Trend Meets A Watery Grave The Wall Street Journal online Aug. 7, 2009 -- The rise and fall of bottled water may be the best case study yet in the strange politics of trendy environmental causes. Bottled water got its foothold in the U.S. as a statement about healthy living. It wasn't that long ago that making water available everywhere was itself a sort of crusade. But now schools such as WUSTL have made "Ban the Bottle" a campus cry. Thus does one crusade lead to another, with the solution to yesterday's crisis providing the stuff of today's.

Movies enhance recall if facts are correct United Press International and 1 others Aug. 7, 2009 -- WUSTL psychology doctoral student Andrew Butler said students who learn history through watching blockbuster movies may be doomed to repeat history. ". . . when information in the film directly contradicted the text, people often falsely recalled the misinformation portrayed in the film." The findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.

Scientists Identify 'Itchy' Neurons In Mice NPR.org Aug. 7, 2009 -- Scientists know surprisingly little about the common sensation of itching. But in a recent study of mice, researchers identified specific nerve cells that pass along an itch signal to the brain. And these cells appear to be independent of the pathway for pain. WUSTL anesthesiology professor and co-author Zhou-Feng Chen comments on the study that was published in Science Express.

Happiness: Staying positive in negative territory USA Today and 1 others Aug. 6, 2009 -- Researchers suggest that unlike money, social experiences can provide happy memories, which don't wear away as fast as the rush of buying a new possession. But WUSTL [marketing professor Joseph Goodman] and a Texas colleague have found that negative experiences can have a more negative impact on happiness than other spending of a comparable amount.

Genome of Leukemia Patient Reveals Common Mutations U.S. News & World Report online and 13 others Aug. 6, 2009 -- Decoding the genome of a man with acute myeloid leukemia revealed genetic mutations that may be common among other cancer patients. The findings could help scientists understand the genetic basis of cancer. Includes comments by WUSTL researchers Richard Wilson, co-author and director of the Genome Center, and Timothy Ley, study senior author and medicine professor.

Can Toddlers Get Depressed? Yes, and Parents Can Help Them Feel Better U.S. News & World Report online Aug. 5, 2009 -- A child psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, treats tiny babies who have "flat affect" -- no joy in the things that a baby would normally delight in. Refrence made to a WUSTL study on childhood depression [led by WUSTL psychiatry professor Joan Luby].

Toddler Depression -- Real or a Phase? ABCNews.com Aug. 4, 2009 -- While a number of studies in recent years have found toddlers -- and even babies -- can suffer from major depressive disorder, doctors have debated whether preschool depression was an isolated blip in a child's development or a sign of future problems. According to a new WUSTL study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, preschoolers can suffer from major depression, and those children are likely to face depression again in elementary school.

Sleep linked to Parkinson's dementia United Press International and 1 others Aug. 3, 2009 -- WUSTL neurologist and study author James Galvin says more than 74 percent of Parkinson's patients have trouble sleeping, and up to 80 percent of patients age 65 and older who have Parkinson's disease for seven years will develop dementia.

Unfolding the mysteries of the brain The Boston Globe Aug. 3, 2009 -- Technological and computational advances have enabled researchers to image the brain's wrinkled exterior in stunning detail, mapping the size and shape of each fold. Scientists pursuing this new discipline of "cortical cartography'' expect it to yield insights into how the brain develops and what happens when things go awry. WUSTL neurobiologist David Van Essen comments.

July 2009

Should states' rights trump the fed? CNN American Morning July 31, 2009 -- Should states' rights trump the fed? It seems to be a trend across the country. At least 20 states have introduced resolutions reasserting states' rights because they think that federal government is way too involved in what states do with things like taxes and health care and education. WUSTL law professor David Law comments.

Scientists, doctors unite to fight malnutrition MSNBC.com and 27 others July 29, 2009 -- WUSTL pediatrician Mark Manary, a doctor who has long treated malnourished people, is working with plant scientists trying to improve the nutritional content of food.

The Princeton Review gives 623 colleges financial aid ratings The Princeton Review July 28, 2009 -- The Princeton Review -- an education services company that helps students choose and get in to colleges -- this year collected a wealth of data to help applicants and parents find the highly-coveted financial aid that a majority of them will need to pay for college. WUSTL was among 13 of which received the highest possible score of 99.

Top 10 Schools with the Best Quality of Life Encarta.MSN.com July 28, 2009 -- In The Princeton Review's top 10 colleges that offer the best quality of life, WUSTL comes in at No. 4, behind Rice U., Bowdoin College, and Claremont McKenna College.

Campus Care Improves The Wall Street Journal July 27, 2009 -- Many college health clinics provide a wide range of services, including programs that encourage healthy lifestyles. There is a growing recognition that the college years are a time of transition in which healthy habits can be encouraged and dangerous ones, like excessive drinking, discouraged. Includes comments by Alan Glass, director of WUSTL's health and wellness center.

In New York City, Trans Fat Ban Is Working U.S. News & World Report online and 7 others July 21, 2009 -- In December 2006, New York City required that artificial trans fats be phased out of restaurant food, and the mandate was in full effect by November 2008. Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at WUSTL and a past president of the American Dietetic Association, said that banning fats is not enough.

For Mars Rover, Really Remote Roadside Assistance The Wall Street Journal July 17, 2009 -- On Mars, NASA's robot rover Spirit is spinning its wheels on the soft shoulder of planetary exploration, up to its axles in silt millions of miles away from tense engineers who are struggling to extricate it by remote control. Includes comments by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, who is the project deputy principal investigator.

Wash. U: Doctor hid Medtronic ties St. Louis Business Journal online and 2 others July 17, 2009 -- WUSTL orthopaedic surgeon and researcher Timothy Kuklo, who was accused by the Army of falsifying a medical study, delayed disclosing his consulting ties to the school, according to its response to a U.S. Senate investigation. The doctor was put on leave by the university pending an internal review. According to Chancellor Mark Wrighton, WUSTL also suspended open human research projects by Kuklo.

Medical School Says Former Army Surgeon Hid Ties to Medtronic The New York Times and 9 others July 15, 2009 -- Timothy Kuklo, a former military doctor and Medtronic consultant at the center of a research scandal, did not tell WUSTL, his medical school employer for a year, about his Medtronic ties even as he was conducting company-sponsored research. The new disclosures, which WUSTL medical school dean Larry Shapiro made in response to a Senate investigation, may intensify the controversy surrounding the physician.

Disclosure by Surgeon Is Faulted The Wall Street Journal July 15, 2009 -- The allegation that Timothy Kuklo failed to properly disclose his financial relationship with Medtronic was made in a June 23 letter from WUSTL medical school dean Larry Shapiro to Sen. Charles Grassley, who is investigating the Kuklo matter. Kuklo is on paid personal leave at the request of WUSTL, where he is a member of the medical faculty. The university said it is continuing to investigate.

Permanent diet may equal longer life Los Angeles Times and 8 others July 10, 2009 -- Evidence has been mounting for years that the practice of caloric restriction — essentially, going on a permanent diet — greatly reduces the risk of age-related diseases and even postpones death. Now, in a much-anticipated HIH study, many of the same benefits have been demonstrated in primates, the best evidence yet that caloric restriction would help people. Includes comments by WUSTL nutritional science expert Luigi Fontana.

Updating a Standard: Fetal Monitoring The New York Times and 1 others July 7, 2009 -- Today, more than 85 percent of the babies born alive in this country each year are assessed by electronic fetal monitoring, amid continuing controversy over whether it does more harm than good. New guidelines on fetal monitoring, published this month, aim to bring more consistency to how doctors interpret the results and act on them. WUSTL ob-gyn professor George Macones comments.

How to quit smoking Chicago Tribune and 1 others July 7, 2009 -- Eric Wolbert has been a non-smoker for 30 days. He quit his pack-a-day habit because he has watched cigarettes hurt too many people, including his grandparents, who died of lung cancer, he said. As part of his third attempt at quitting, Wolbert signed up for a seven-week group therapy program called "Freedom From Smoking" at WUSTL.

The Life of James W. Von Brunn The Washington Post and 1 others July 6, 2009 -- In a profile of James von Brunn, Michael Ruane writes that "although von Brunn may have once had a bright future, his paranoia and anti-Semitism got the best of him." The alleged gunman in the attack on the U.S. Holocaust museum was once a talented young commercial artist. Ruane writes about some of von Brunn's experiences at WUSTL.

David Holtzman: Attacking Alzheimer's With a New Test for Amyloid Beta U.S. News & World Report online July 1, 2009 -- WUSTL neuroscientist David Holtzman and colleagues have devised a test that shows whether an experimental medication has a chance of working in Alzheimer's patients.

Elaine Mardis and Richard Wilson: Taking Cancer's Genetic Measure U.S. News & World Report online July 1, 2009 -- WUSTL biochemists Elaine Mardis and Richard Wilson helped decode the human genome and are now working to find genetic mutations associated with acute myeloid leukemia.

June 2009

Out of the Bedroom, Into the Clinic The New York Times June 30, 2009 -- Dwight Garner reviews Thomas Maier's new biography on sex researchers Masters and Johnson. Masters was a WUSTL ob-gyn professor when he met Johnson.

Patterns: Drinking Age Affects Bingeing, to a Point The New York Times June 30, 2009 -- A new study in The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that as the drinking age has gone up, binge drinking has gone down -- except among college students. Includes comments by study leader WUSTL psychiatry professor Richard Grucza.

Black Reverence for Jackson Is Now Unreserved The New York Times and 11 others June 29, 2009 -- Around the world, Michael Jackson was celebrated Sunday, but there was a special fervor in black neighborhoods and churches. Jackson is seen as a towering figure with crossover appeal, even if in life some of his black fans wondered if he was as proud of his race as his race was of him. Includes comments by WUSTL AFAS professor Gerald Early.

Vacation: What the Heck Is That? MSN Money June 26, 2009 -- Not taking some R&R could leave you carrying some heavy baggage down the line, bringing you and your company down. WUSTL entrepreneurship specialist Clifford Holekamp advises that shorter vacations are less stressful for small startups that are "very dependent on the founder to run the day-to-day operations."

Despite everything . . . Americans are seeing better times ahead USA Today and 2 others June 23, 2009 -- Americans say they're still in a tunnel, but more are beginning to see a light at its end. Fewer people say they've prospered over the past year than in decades, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. WUSTL social work professor Mark Rank comments on the 'American Dream.'

Jobs Had Liver Transplant The Wall Street Journal June 22, 2009 -- Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave from Apple Inc. since January to treat an undisclosed medical condition, received a controversial liver transplant in Tennessee about two months ago. The chief executive has been recovering well and is expected to return to work on schedule later this month, though he may work part-time initially. WUSTL pancreatic and gastrointestinal surgery professor William Hawkins and surgery professor William Chapman both comment.

Keeping a True Identity Becomes a Battle Online The New York Times and 3 others June 18, 2009 -- Since Facebook started giving out customized Web addresses last Friday, some 9.5 million people have rushed to grab their top choice. But for people signing up for these accounts, the battle over domain names is taking place in murky waters. WUSTL student Jeremy Fancer comments.

Study: 'Depression Gene' Doesn't Predict the Blues Time.com June 17, 2009 -- Are some people hardwired to get the blues? Scientists have long believed that a tendency toward melancholy runs in families. A new study published on June 16 in JAMA now threatens to send researchers back to the drawing board. The meta-analysis of 14 prior studies concludes that the so-called depression gene may not be associated with an elevated risk for depression, as many researchers had believed. WUSTL psychiatric geneticist Alexandre Todorov, whose 2007 peer-reviewed study was included in the JAMA piece, comments.

A Suicide at 102 Unites a City in Thanks for a Man's Life The New York Times June 16, 2009 -- When Isadore E. Millstone jumped off a bridge and killed himself, the people of St. Louis mourned his loss even before his body was found in the Missouri River early this month. At 102, Mr. Millstone left a deep and lasting imprint here in his hometown. He was a well-known member of the board at WUSTL. WUSTL chancellor emeritus William Danforth comments.

Revealed: Secret allergy triggers CNNhealth.com and 1 others June 16, 2009 -- You could blame weeds, trees, and grasses if you start itching, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing this fall. But the usual suspects aren't the only triggers. A host of household items candles, chemicals, stuffed animals, and spices may be the real culprits. Includes advice from WUSTL allergy and immunology professor James Wedner.

Gunman shoots, kills guard at Holocaust Museum Associated Press and 51 others June 11, 2009 -- Story on James von Brunn, the accused 88-year-old gunman with a violent and virulently anti-Semitic past, who opened fire with a rifle inside the crowded U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday, fatally wounding a security guard before being shot himself. According to a relative, von Brunn attended WUSTL and is an artist.

How to Win a Business Plan Competition The New York Times June 11, 2009 -- Since their advent in 1984, more than 50 American colleges and universities host business plan competitions, yielding prizes worth more than ever. Still, it's really not about the money, says Cliff Holekamp, a senior lecturer in entrepreneurship at WUSTL's Olin business school, which hosts multiple competitions, including the recently introduced Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, a do-good variation with a $150,000 prize pool.

When Second Really Is the Best U.S. News & World Report online June 10, 2009 -- In industry after industry, entrepreneur after entrepreneur is saying the same thing: Being first can surely be an advantage, but so can being second. Those who follow a market leader can actually be more successful in most cases, says WUSTL business strategy professor Anne Marie Knott, who discusses second-to-market advantages on the first day of her entrepreneurial studies class.

Bad Habits Asserting Themselves The New York Times and 3 others June 9, 2009 -- Despite the well-advertised healthy lifestyle message, healthy habits are in decline, according to an authoritative national survey on health and nutrition. WUSTL epidemiology professor Ross Brownson, who is a leading expert in chronic disease prevention, comments.

Analysis: Obama tries evenhanded approach Associated Press and 51 others June 8, 2009 -- Nancy Benac reports on Obama's Cairo speech in which he tried to explain the American mindset to Muslims and the world of Islam to Americans. Various experts comment on the speech, including WUSTL presidential rhetoric specialist Wayne Fields.

Parental Eating Habits Don't Rub Off on Kids U.S. News & World Report online and 10 others June 5, 2009 -- Parents' eating habits don't seem to influence their children's food choices as much as experts have thought, new research suggests. The findings suggest that other factors, such as peer influence and television viewing, may be more powerful influences. The results are something of a surprise, said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at WUSTL and past president of the American Dietetic Association.

No scars: New obesity surgery goes through mouth Associated Press and 52 others June 4, 2009 -- Doctors are testing a new kind of obesity surgery without any cuts through the abdomen, snaking a tube down the throat to snap staples into the stomach. The experimental, scar-free procedure creates a narrow passage that slows the food as it moves from the upper stomach into the lower stomach, helping patients feel full more quickly and eat less. The first U.S. procedure was done at WUSTL. WUSTL surgery professor Chris Eagon comments.

Please silence your phone -- NOW! Los Angeles Times online June 3, 2009 -- A new study that shows that a cellphone ring, more than just being annoying, can pose the kind of distraction that can impair learning or derail someone's train of thought. Study author and WUSTL psychology postdoctoral research scholar Jill Shelton comments.

Body found in river IDed as missing philanthropist Associated Press and 19 others June 3, 2009 -- Jim Salter reports that the body found in the Missouri River on Tuesday is confirmed to be I.E. Millstone. On Sunday, hundreds of people, including many civic leaders from St. Louis, gathered for a memorial to honor Millstone, who graduated from WUSTL with an engineering degree. Includes comments by close friend and WUSTL chancellor emeritus William Danforth.

The culture of failure The Boston Globe June 1, 2009 -- If at first you don't succeed, tell the world about it -- because Web culture has become obsessed with "failure videos," mostly on YouTube. Whatever the reason, the sharing of personal missteps has become a part of today's e-culture. WUSTL psychology professor Don Fitz comments.

Words of Wisdom for 2009 grads USA Today June 1, 2009 -- Excerpts from several 2009 commencement speakers, including WUSTL's speaker Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America.

May 2009

Gene Mutation May Up Risks of Endometrial Cancer U.S. News & World Report online and 8 others May 27, 2009 -- A genetic marker for aggressive endometrial cancer has been identified by U.S. researchers, who said their finding could lead to more targeted and risk-appropriate treatments. WUSTL gynecologic oncologist Israel Zighelboim comments on the study that appears online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Former Army Doctor Accused of Research Fraud Takes Leave From University The New York Times and 6 others May 26, 2009 -- Orthopaedic surgeon Timothy Kuklo, a former Army physician accused of falsifying research involving injured soldiers, has taken a leave of absence from WUSTL medical school and its affiliated hospitals.

Ouch! How not to be a slave to pain MSNBC May 26, 2009 -- Top medical experts offer tips on how you can learn to control pain. Includes comments by WUSTL orthopaedic surgeon Matthew Matava.

2009 Commencement Address Highlights CBS Evening News May 26, 2009 -- Public service has been a common theme at college commencement ceremonies around the country this past month. Sunday's CBS Evening News gives a sampling, including WUSTL's commencement speaker Wendy Kopp.

Are Medical Residents Worked Too Hard? Time.com May 26, 2009 -- There has been much hand-wringing over the dangers of medical residents' grueling schedules. One recent study advised that a solution would be to reduce the length of their shifts. But many in the medical community, including residents themselves, worry that shorter shifts could come at the expense of educational opportunities and possibly even patient safety. Includes comments by WUSTL Department of Medicine chairman Kenneth Polonsky.

When the Justices Ask Questions, Be Prepared to Lose the Case The New York Times May 26, 2009 -- A new study by four political scientists, including WUSTL doctoral candidate Ryan Black, to be published in the WUSTL Journal of Law and Policy, looks at whether or not Supreme Court justices tip their hands during oral arguments.

Limiting Work Hours for Medical Residents Could Be Costly U.S. News & World Report online and 9 others May 21, 2009 -- A new study shows that allowing doctors-in-training to work fewer hours and take longer naps during their shifts will cost the nation's teaching hospitals an estimated $1.6 billion a year. And there are no guarantees that shortening the shifts will improve patient safety. WUSTL medical professor Kenneth Polonsky comments in an accompanying co-written journal editorial.

Moves to Allow Medical Residents More Shut-Eye Rouse Opposition The Wall Street Journal May 21, 2009 -- Another study has indicated that shorter shifts for medical residents might actually increase patient harm because a departing resident hands over the patient to a fresh resident unfamiliar with the case. WUSTL medical professor Melvin Blanchard co-wrote an accompanying journal editorial that strongly disagrees with the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for shorter shifts.

Sen. Grassley investigating army surgeon who allegedly wrote bogus study of Medtronic graft Los Angeles Times and 8 others May 20, 2009 -- Influential Senator Charles Grassley is investigating a former Army surgeon who the Army says forged signatures and falsified data in a study touting the benefits of an implant from Medtronic. Orthopaedic surgeon Timothy Kuklo retired from the Army in 2007 and is now a professor of orthopedic surgery at WUSTL. WUSTL spokeswoman Joni Westerhouse comments.

Senator Seeks Data on Doctor Accused by Army of Falsifying a Product Study The New York Times and 1 others May 19, 2009 -- A top Republican lawmaker has opened an inquiry into a former Walter Reed Army Medical Center doctor whom the Army has accused of falsifying a medical study involving a product made by Medtronic, a company for whom he works as a paid consultant. The doctor currently works as an associate professor at WUSTL Medical School.

What another woman would bring to Supreme Court The Christian Science Monitor online May 19, 2009 -- Expectations are high that Obama will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court. A recent study by three academics focusing on the votes of federal court of appeals judges bears out the observation that a conservative woman acts more pro-women's rights than a conservative man. The research was conducted by WUSTL law and political science professor Andrew Martin and WUSTL political science doctoral student Christina Boyd, along with Lee Epstein of Northwestern University Law School in Chicago.

Doctor Falsified Study on Injured G.I.'s, Army Says The New York Times and 9 others May 13, 2009 -- According to the Army, WUSTL orthopaedic surgery professor Timothy Kuklo, a former surgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, who is a paid consultant for a medical company, published a study that made false claims and overstated the benefits of the company's product in treating soldiers severely injured in Iraq. A WUSTL official declined to say whether it was investigating Dr. Kuklo but added that he remained on the faculty.

Perfectly Happy The Boston Globe May 12, 2009 -- The new science of measuring happiness has transformed self-help. Now scholars suggest it could transform society — from tort law to urban planning to medical care. WUSTL law professors Samuel Bagenstos and Margo Schlanger co-wrote a law review article in 2007 suggesting that the emphasis on lost enjoyment of life in jury awards actually makes it harder for the plaintiff to recover.

Chemical clue to dementia decline BBC News May 12, 2009 -- WUSTL scientists have pinpointed compounds in the spinal fluid which may give an early warning of how fast patients with mild dementia will decline.

What's Next: Ultrasound Images Via Cellphone The Washington Post May 12, 2009 -- WUSTL engineers led by computer science professor William Richard have created a USB-based ultrasound probe that can connect to a smartphone, creating a low-cost ultrasound imaging platform.

Union boss returns some of $1.2 million pay The Washington Times May 12, 2009 -- Controversy over compensation received by the president of the shipyard workers union, much of which was returned after it was disclosed to the government. Several labor analysts expressed concern about the union's pay practices and the changes it made in its financial reports. Labor consultant and WUSTL law professor emeritus Neil Bernstein comments.

Is The FDA Easing Up? Forbes May 8, 2009 -- Matthew Herper reports on the controversy surrounding the FDA and its policy for approving new schizophrenia drugs. Includes comments by WUSTL psychiatry professor John Newcomer.

Autism diagnosis may occur years late United Press International and 4 others May 7, 2009 -- U.S. researchers suggest autism diagnoses are not occurring soon enough. WUSTL social work professor and study lead author Paul Shattuck comments.

Bright Spot in Downturn: New Hiring Is Robust The New York Times and 3 others May 6, 2009 -- Everyone knows the grim news — unemployment in the United States has jumped to 8.5 percent, a 25-year high, and is racing toward double digits. But not everyone knows the brighter side to the equation: deep in the maw of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, millions are still being hired. Like many educational institutions, WUSTL continues to hire. It has 175 job openings in admissions, residential life and other areas.

Early Admission From Waiting List InsideHigherEd.com May 5, 2009 -- This year, the process of turning to waiting lists has started early at some private colleges. WUSTL — and other institutions with competitive admissions — turned to their waiting lists in recent weeks, before the final tallies were in on how many accepted applicants were coming.

Early Alzheimer's, think less efficiently United Press International and 2 others May 5, 2009 -- Alzheimer's patients sift the important from less important less efficiently early on, according to a study conducted by WUSTL researchers.

Justices Limit Use of Identity Theft Law in Immigration Cases The New York Times and 3 others May 5, 2009 -- The Supreme Court rejected a favorite tool of prosecutors in immigration cases, ruling unanimously that a federal identity-theft law may not be used against many illegal workers who used false Social Security numbers to get jobs. WUSTL immigration law professor Stephen Legomsky comments.

Particles, Molecules Prefer Not To Mix ScienceDaily.com and 7 others May 5, 2009 -- In the world of small things, shape, order and orientation are surprisingly important, according to findings from a new study by WUSTL chemistry professor Lev Gelb, graduate student Brian Barnes, and postdoctoral researcher Daniel Siderius.

Flu control tests Obama balancing skills Associated Press and 47 others May 4, 2009 -- When it comes to swine flu, Obama is trying to strike the right balance between protecting public and economic health. That's resulted in some doublespeak and spin, evidence of the inextricable ties between a looming epidemic and a listing economy. Includes comments by WUSTL American culture studies director Wayne Fields, who is an expert on presidential rhetoric.

How Being Materialistic Can Actually Make You Happy U.S. News & World Report online May 1, 2009 -- Consumer behavior and psychological research has found all sorts of counterintuitive lessons about how we shop. So it's not surprising that a forthcoming study in the Journal of Consumer Research shatters some myths about materialism. Includes comments by WUSTL marketing professor Joseph Goodman, study co-author.

April 2009

Students in urban schools get big boost from pioneering tutor program The Christian Science Monitor April 8, 2009 -- A new WUSTL social work study shows that comprehension and other critical skills improve dramatically with one-on-one help from Experience Corps' volunteers. WUSTL social work professor Nancy Morrow-Howell comments.

December 2008

Buffets, exercise lack linked to obesity United Press International and 33 others Dec. 22, 2008 -- People in Middle America may have larger middles from frequent buffet and cafeteria eating and perceived barriers to physical activity, U.S. researchers said. "It's not that people don't want to get physical activity or eat healthy foods, but we've made it difficult in many communities," senior author of the study Ross Brownson of the Washington University in St. Louis said in a statement.

November 2008

Social workers to teach money management CNN.com and 1 others Nov. 17, 2008 -- In the contemporary era of rampant foreclosures, credit card debt, and ever-evolving scams that prey on the economically vulnerable, few social work schools offer specialized financial training to their students, but change is under way. WUSTL social work professor Michael Sherraden devised the concept of Individual Development Accounts, which helps low-income families build assets to reach long-term goals.

Social workers boosting expertise on money woes Associated Press and 123 others Nov. 10, 2008 -- Against the backdrop of the economic meltdown, a movement is building within the ranks of America's social workers to make their profession more adept at helping clients overcome financial woes. WUSTL social work professor pioneered the concept of Individual Development Accounts, which help low-income families build assets to reach long-term goals such buying a home.

PTSD Tied to Domestic Violence Among Vets PsychCentral.com (MA) and 8 others Nov. 7, 2008 -- New research suggests the risk of domestic violence will rise as increasing number of veterans are diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. The consequences on families and children in communities across the U.S. are an emerging concern says WUSTL social work professor Monica Matthieu, an expert on veteran mental health.

Financial literacy leads to positive change Chicago Tribune Aug. 5, 2008 -- Asset Builders CDC executive director Cecilia Salinas responds to critics of the benefits of financial literacy saying, "We have learned education does make a difference in changing behavior and establishing savings habits." "Nationally a recent report by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis noted positive changes in financial behavior resulting from participation in the IDA program and financial education classes."