LOCAL/STATE
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 27, 2001- 3A
RESEARCH
Microscopic tools
developed at 'U'
University researchers have
bridged the gap between design
and development for nanostruc-
tures, microscopic machines that
range in function from virus fight-
ers to power generators, according
to a recent University press
release.
To make development of the
microscopic structures more of a
reality, the team optically induced
land detected quantum coherence
structures using an optical probe
and spectral selectivity of optical
spectroscopy.
Using nonlinear optical spec-
troscopy and low-temperature near-
field microscopy, the researchers
discovered new techniques for
material preparation and enhance-
ment of diagnostic and control
capabilities in nanostructures.
Most tissue loss
in teenage years
with schizophrenia
Schizophrenic patients experi-
ence the largest amount of tissue
loss in the brain during their
teenage years, according to
researchers at UCLA.
1 The researchers, who created the
first images depicting the damag-
ing effects of schizophrenia on the
brain, now have imaging tech-
niques that catch the disease soon-
er. Earlier treatment could slow
down brain tissue loss.
Magnetic resonance imaging of
gray matter showed losses of more
than 10 percent of tissue in the
outer regions of the brain, with
damage spreading to the rest of the
brain within five years.
The disease, which typically
appears in a person's late teens or
20s, affects one percent of Ameri-
cans.
HIV-infected drug
users most likely
Ito avoid therapy
Failure to undergo drug therapy
continues to be a problem among
injection drug users with HIV,
according to researchers at the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg. School
of Public Health, who found that
40 percent of infected users don't
undergo highly active antiretroviral
therapy.
The drug regimen, which dra-
matically reduces the levels of the
virus in the body and slows the
onset of AIDS, helps to reduce the
viral load, which makes the person
less infectious to others.
Through examinations of 528
HIV-infected injection drug users
in Baltimore, researchers found
that people who consistently
injected drugs were more than 58
percent less likely to start treat-
ment, and sporadic users were 20
percent less likely to begin the
drug regimen.
Other factors, including
methadone addiction in men, type
of health insurance and access to
regular health care, showed an
increase in the likelihood of
patients beginning their drug regi-
men.
New drug-delivery
systems thanks
to use of silicon
The light-emitting properties of sili-
con may help in the development of
new drug-delivery systems and bio-
logical/chemical sensors for medical
and manufacturing measurements,
according to researchers at Purdue
University.
The properties of nanocrystalline
silicon help to stabilize the surface of
a material and can initiate the materi-
al's response to specific chemical
environments and cues.
To date, no commercial devices use
this porous silicon, which unlike the sil-
icon used in microelectronic and com-
puter application, has tiny pores on its
surface to absorb and emit light.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter
Lisa Hoffman.
Students use cell over dorm phones
By Jeaifer Misthal
For the Daily
The number of students using the long-distance
services provided in the residence halls is down,
which may be due to the fact that 77 percent of
incoming University students brought cell phones
with them to Ann Arbor, according to a University
report.
LSA freshman Cheryl Anderson said she prefers
to use her cell phone instead of the phone in her
room.
"The national calling plan I have makes calls
really cheap. Plus, it's so much more convenient to
talk on the move," she said.
Other residents agree, feeling that a wireless
plan is cheaper and less complicated.
"I don't have a cell phone so I call my parents,
say hi, and hang up. They call me right back
because they have cheaper long distance rates,"
said one student.
While these rates exclude an additional monthly
charge that many other providers require, rates can
change at anytime during the course of the school
year, without notice.
Andrew Palms, University Information and
Technology Communications Services director of
marketing and product development, said the Uni-
versity subscribes to a non-profit organization
called MiCTA, which is responsible for getting
bids from long distance carriers not only on the
behalf of the University but for other schools and
some government bodies.
"The University of Michigan doesn't play games
with its long distance service. Any revenue made
from the phone service gets put back into the com-
munication system to improve it," Palms said.
Some students use calling cards, which offer
rates as low as 2.5 cents a minute. Palms said the
University has noticed an increasing number of
800 numbers in the records.
One option not available for residents to use
in making long distance calls is 10-10 numbers.
These services don't work at all at the Universi-
ty. Instead of billing the student, the University
is billed because it is the primary customer of
the service.
"The only reason why I have a calling card is
because it's cheaper than the University's rates.
Why should I have to pay more;" said LSA student
Alison Gillete.
The University Housing website explains that
for those residents wishing to use a long distance
provider other than Ameritech, they should contact
their carrier for information on how to access their
network and rates.
Ameritech charges University students 9
cents for daytime domestic calls made between
7 a.m. and 6:59 p.m., while an evening domestic
call, made between 7 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., is 6
cents a minute. The weekends, defined from.
12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sundays, are
also billed at 6 cents a minute. Students also
receive special holiday rates.
'U' Engineering degrees
available in Shanghai
BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily
Engineering sophomores Dave Byan (spotting) and Ian Mackenzie (lifting)
work out at the Central Campus Recreation Building.
Students reducing
intake of creatine,
question its worth
By C. Price Jones
For the Daily
At the end of August, the University of Michigan
became the first American college to offer its own
degrees at a Chinese university. The College of Engi-
neering's plans to provide higher education to graduate
students in China at Shanghai Jiao Tong University is
scheduled to begin this January.
The partnership between the two schools is also the
first agreement formed by the Chinese Education Min-
istry for this type of degree.
"The top universities in China have been encouraged
by the Minister of Education to engage with the top
universities elsewhere in the world," said Engineering
Dean Stephen Director. Director was one of the dele-
gates who traveled to China to form the agreement.
While other study-abroad programs have already
been implemented in China, receiving an American or
other foreign degree of this sort was impossible until
now. Since Chinese universities graduate more engi-
neering students than any other country, staying cur-
rent in global innovations is essential for Chinese
engineers. So a program to improve Chinese education
in such a large field of engineers held great value for
the institutions.
This interaction with China through higher education
has been under way for over a year, but in the last
weeks, measures to allow Chinese students to earn
their masters of engineering in manufacturing at SJTU
were passed by the Chinese Education Ministry. While
students will earn an the degree while at the SJTU, it is
solely issued by the University of Michigan.
Requiring two and a half years to complete, the
degree is chiefly earned "through distance learning and
enrolling in advanced engineering, business and manu-
facturing classes. Up to nine credits, or three courses,
may be taken from a list of University-approved class-
es at SJTU.
Similar joint-degree programs are already available
for undergraduate, masters and doctoral studies.
The arrangements between SJTU and the University
are the first of many that are still in development.
Other agreements are in discussion for similar pro-
grams, notably at Xi'an Jiao Tong University in Xi'an
and Tsinghua University in Beijing.
By Usa Hoffman
Daily Staff Reporter
Notions of bigger muscles and a
six-pack stomach lead many students
to take muscle-enhancing supple-
ments to enhance their workout per-
formance, but many athletes and
physicians question whether the sup-
plements are effective.
"I heard creatine built muscle
faster and helped endurance," said
Kinesiology senior Erik Brabo, who
said he took creatine when it first
became popular about five and a half
years ago. "I thought it allowed me to
work out longer and lift more weight.
It just kind of numbs the brain to the
effect of what you're doing to your
muscle."
Athletes, trainers and researchers
are also still trying to determine the
long-term effects of creatine, a natu-
rally occurring anabolic substance in
the body that is involved in storing
and converting food into a usable
form of energy.
"No one really knows what
happens if you take it long-term,"
said orthopedic surgeon James
Carpenter. "There is some evi-
dence that it can increase perfor-
mance in some individuals, but if
you eat a pretty good diet, you
don't need to eat any more."
Carpenter said some studies
show supplemental use of crea-
tine can increase body weight by
a few pounds, but it doesn't
increase muscle. It is most effec-
tive in providing quick energy
bursts for non-endurance activi-
ties such as sprinting, rowing and
football, he said.
"People think it's going to make
them bigger, but it's really just
water weight," said men's track and
field team member Ike Okenwa,
who is highly discouraged from
using creatine as a supplement.
"Our team did a-lot of research and
there is just not enough on the long
term effects."
Though not banned by the
NCAA, many coaches and train-
ers still turn their athletes away
from taking creatine supple-
ments, which former University
football team physician Edward
Wojtys said can lead to severe
dehydration, muscle cramping,
kidney failure and, in extreme
cases, death.
"I always say, you should use your
own body stuff," said men's track and
field assistant coach Ricardo Deligny.
"I'd love to say to my shot putters,
Here, take creatine to help you get
stronger,' but I don't."
Athletic staff members recommend
athletes to tell them if they are taking
creatine and then direct them to talk
to a nutritionist and a trainer.
"We leave it up to the professionals
to make the recommendations,"
Deligny said. "All in all, we don't rec-
ommend them to use any hard core
stuff even though it is not banned."
"Even though it looks like its
benign, there are no long term stud-
ies. The honest answer is, nobody
knows enough," Wojtys said, who is
also the director of the University's
MedSport clinic. "I know athletes
who have used it with no problem,
but there is reason for concern."
Many medical professionals
expressed concern over the break-
down of what is actually in store-
bought creatine supplements.
"A lot of different companies make
and sell creatine, and you don't know
what you're getting," Carpenter said.
"Some are mixed with caffeine and
ephedrine, which can get you in trou-
ble if you're an athlete."
Ephedrine is banned by NCAA
regulations.
Nutrition stores, including the
General Nutrition Center, boast a
variety of creatine supplements made
by different companies. All claim
their product may cause an increase
in muscle mass and lead to longer
workouts with a quicker recovery
time for muscle fibers.
Some people do see small differ-
ences in their workout, like Hugh
Chung, a freshman in the School of
Public Health.
"It's a minimal difference: It's
basically just a small increase in
the number of reps," Chung said.
"For the average person, it
won't make them look better or
feel stronger. They'll just get rid
of it," Carpenter said. "The ener-
gy bursts don't allow you to lift
longer."
Deligny, though he does
believe that creatine can help
strengthenmuscle and allow an
athlete to quickly put on size,
still suggests only using more
studied supplements like magne-
sium and calcium to help
decrease muscle cramping and
replenish lost nutrients.
"Just pop a Centrum in your
mouth," he said.
Opponents of CCW law
abandon 2002 petition drive
LANSING (AP) -- Opponents of Michigan's
months-old concealed weapons law say they have aban-
doned their drive to create a ballot proposal to overturn
it in 2002.
Representatives of the group People Who Care
About Kids said they are no longer working to get
enough petition signatures to put the issue before vot-
ers because they don't have the money to run a cam-
paign. Without the financial strength, they say they're
afraid a repeal of the law would be rejected.
"It's not going to go forward," Carolynne Jarvis, of
the Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence,
said Tuesday.
The national gun control organizations and wealthy
individuals that opponents of the law were counting on
to finance a campaign were skeptical about the chances
of success, Jarvis told the Detroit Free Press.
Although backers of the proposal were convinced
they could collect more than 250,000 signatures to
place the issue before voters, they were less certain
that they could win a "yes" on it without a multi-mil-
lion-dollar advertising campaign.
III
THE CALENDAR
What's happening in Ann Arbor today
EVENTS Footsteps? Social Mobil- Languages;" Featuring SERVICES
ity in Japan;" Featuring James Odell, 4:00 p.m.,
A Capella: Friars and Hiroshi Ishida, professor 231 West Hall Campus Information
Gimble; Sponsored by of sociology at the Uni- "Population Changes of Centers, 764-INFO,
the Michigan League versity of Tokyo, Spon- Myogenic Stem Cells and info@umich.edunor
___ers i . 1. ...... A . .C. w . wwwetumich _..u/ .-in
m