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University of Minnesota

Report: NIU's Kill gets Gophers coach job

Mon, 12/06/2010 - 09:50 by Prince damin

Minneapolis -- Northern Illinois football Coach Jerry Kill has been hired for the same position at the University of Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported Sunday.

The Minneapolis newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said Kill would be introduced as the successor to the fired Tim Brewster at a Monday press conference.

The report came on the same day the Huskies (10-3) accepted a bid to play in their third straight bowl game. They will face Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl.

Brewster was fired last month after the Golden Gophers stumbled to a 1-6 start.

One of the Gophers' defeats this season came at the hands of Kill and Northern Illinois, who spanked Minnesota 34-23 in a Sept. 25 game.

Indoor tanning linked to increased risk of melanoma

Thu, 05/27/2010 - 13:09 by Samia Sehgal

Indoor tanning may raise the risk of developing melanoma by 74 percent, according to a new study. The risk has been found to be far greater in people who frequently opt for indoor tanning services.

Two colas a week could double the risk of pancreatic cancer

Mon, 02/08/2010 - 20:21 by Samia Sehgal

Singapore, February 8 -- Soft drinks raise a person’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer, suggests a new study.

Technology can spur heart failure therapy

Wed, 11/25/2009 - 21:54 by Inderjit Singh

Minneapolis -- University of Minnesota scientists say they have developed a technology that can help speed development of drug treatments for heart failure.

The researchers, in collaboration with the Celladon Corp., said the technology can more rapidly identify compounds for heart failure therapy.

Chronic heart failure affects about 5.7 million people in the United States, producing about 290,000 deaths annually. However, the medical researchers say developing new treatments is costly and time-consuming, taking nearly a decade to gain regulatory approval and requiring hundreds of millions of dollars.

Computer program helps restore streams

Wed, 11/25/2009 - 21:44 by Inderjit Singh

Minneapolis -- University of Minnesota scientists say they have developed a computer model called the Virtual StreamLab, designed to help restore real streams.

The scientists, led by Professor Fotis Sotiropoulos, said their program demonstrates the physics of natural water flows at an unprecedented level of detail and realism.

They have completed their first simulation of a scaled natural stream along the Mississippi River, mapping more than 90 million data points into their computer model, resulting in the most accurate model of a real stream to date.

Science closer to drug-free cannabis plant

Thu, 09/17/2009 - 23:25 by surajdogra

Minneapolis -- U.S. scientists say they are moving closer to engineering a totally drug-free cannabis plant to produce hemp fiber and oil.

University of Minnesota researchers said they have identified genes producing tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, which is the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Studying the genes could also lead to new and better drugs for pain, nausea and other conditions, the scientists, led by Professor David Marks, said.

Study leads to new schistosomiasis insight

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 02:23 by Salinder Kumar

Minneapolis -- University of Minnesota Medical School researchers say they've found how a commonly prescribed drug may work to treat the parasitic disease schistosomiasis.

The schistosomiasis parasite flatworm infects about 200 million people in tropical areas worldwide and is endemic in more than 70 countries, where people become infected simply by bathing, drinking or cooking with water contaminated with the parasite. Although not immediately deadly, left untreated the scientists said the disease can permanently damage the lungs, kidneys, liver and intestines, and ultimately lead to death.

A drug called praziquantel has been used as the main treatment for several decades but scientists have never understood how the drug works.

Hunters depleting lion, cougar populations

Tue, 06/23/2009 - 23:50 by surajdogra

Minneapolis -- A U.S. study has determined sport hunters are depleting lion and cougar populations in both the United States and Africa.

The study, led by University of Minnesota Professor Craig Packer, looked at the number of lions and cougars killed by hunters during the past 15 to 25 years in Africa and the western United States. The analysis suggests sport hunting takes a significant toll on the large feline species because replacement males routinely kill their predecessors' cubs to improve their mating opportunities. Killing cubs forces female lions into estrus or "heat," the researchers said.

Report: Minnesota hoops coach sued

Sat, 06/20/2009 - 01:35 by surajdogra

Minneapolis -- University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Tubby Smith is being sued by a man who was rejected for an assistant's job, the Star Tribune said.

Jimmy Williams was a coach at Oklahoma State in 2007 when he quit with one year left on his contract, thinking he would join Smith's staff in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis newspaper reported.

It added that in a lawsuit Williams claimed his hiring to a job that would have paid $200,000 per year was rejected by Minnesota Athletic Director Joe Maturi in April 2007.

His suit accuses Smith of "false representations of authority" and claims that Smith told him "he was the right person for the job. I am really offering you the job, and I can get you the money that you wanted."

Study: Medication may help kleptomaniacs

Sun, 04/05/2009 - 01:32 by rcrchauhan

Minneapolism, April 4 -- A drug commonly used to treat alcohol and drug addiction appears to also curb compulsive behaviors of kleptomaniacs, U.S. researchers said.

Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they found that treatment with the drug naltrexone appears to blocks the part of the brain that feels pleasure when kleptomaniacs steal. The medication has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol and opiate dependency.