July 23, 2001
-more-
Air pollution doesn’t respect borders – The most critical factor affecting ozone concentrations in U.S. cities is beyond the control of local regulators: It is the amount of ozone that drifts into a city from outside its boundaries. In a new nationwide study, Ohio State researchers used a statistical analysis to determine what factors most influenced levels of ozone and carbon monoxide – both major pollutants – in more than 100 U.S. cities. Jean Michel Guldman, professor of urban and regional planning at Ohio State, also found that the number and placement of road intersections within a city determine carbon monoxide levels. Contact: Jean-Michel Guldmann, (614) 292-2257; see www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/airqual.html
Alzheimer’s vaccine may be on horizon – Scientists are reporting some success with an experimental vaccine that could halt Alzheimer’s disease. The vaccine, which showed remarkable results in mice, seems to be safe in humans after one year of testing. The next phase of testing will include Alzheimer's patients at multiple centers in the U. S. and Europe. Dr. Douglas Scharre (pron: SHA-ray), a neurologist at The Ohio State University Medical Center, works to relieve symptoms of the devastating brain disease. He has been involved in testing and gaining approval for a daffodil-based drug to reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and has developed a test to determine if Alzheimer patients are capable of driving. Contact: Dr. Douglas Scharre, neurology, (614) 293-8531.
Young Einsteins and Curies explore biomedical research – through Aug. 2. Seven Columbus-area high school students are participating in a unique science opportunity at Ohio State this month. The young researchers will be performing experiments as they explore biomedical engineering with top university scientists, learning the same techniques used to develop therapeutic biomedical devices here. Biomedical engineering marries medicine and engineering to create products and methods to improve health. Mauro Ferraro, director of the Ohio State Biomedical Engineering Center, led the student project development effort. The students will work alongside researchers as they manage their own research projects involving growing cells and using complicated machinery to analyze, measure and manipulate the cells. The class meets Tuesday and Thursdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Contact: Mauro Ferrari, (614) 292-4756; or Jennifer Lewis, Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, (614) 247-6700.
Shall we calculate? – July 28. An Ohio State summer mathematics program for teens is offering summer entertainment for math whizzes and math phobics alike. The Ross Summer Mathematics Program presents the Midwest premiere screening of “Fermat’s Last Tango,” a musical celebrating the triumphant solution of Fermat’s Last Theorem. The Ross Summer Mathematics Program is an intensive eight-week summer math program for pre-college students, sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and the Clay Math Institute. The movie will be shown at 1:30 on Saturday (7/28) at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theatre. Math Professor Karl Rubin will offer an introduction. The screening ends around 3:45 p.m. Contact: Melissa Weber, College of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, (614) 292-2254; or cell (614) 327-6024.
The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, (614) 292-0569; Karissa Shivley, (614) 292-8295, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.
###