Mice fed crumbs
from local eatery
to examine yeast,
sugar digestion
By LEA GIOTTO
Daily Staff Reporter
When Ann Arbor locals think
of Zingerman’s, they are most
likely not considering the estab-
lishment as a beacon for medical
advancement.
However, bread from Zinger-
man’s Bakehouse contributed to
a new study involving intestinal
bacteria and its role in curing
intestinal and autoimmune dis-
eases such as yeast infections and
Crohn’s disease.
The study, co-conducted by a
University professor, found that
certain bacteria in the intestines
— namely one strain called Bacte-
roides thetaiotomicron — are able
to digest sugars on the surface
of yeast, a large and unique com-
ponent of the human diet. These
sugars have previously been dis-
covered to exacerbate many of the
symptoms of common intestinal
diseases.
Eric Martens, assistant profes-
sor in the Department of Micro-
biology and Immunology at the
University Medical School; Wade
michigandaily.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Monday, January 12, 2015
CELEBRATING OUR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
Mayor officiates
ceremony as
fire department
welcomes new head
By LARA MOEHLMAN
Daily Staff Reporter
Ann Arbor’s new fire chief is
preparing to set the city ablaze
with plans to improve its fire-
fighting unit.
Friday morning, members of
the Ann Arbor Fire Department,
the Ann Arbor Police Depart-
ment and the Ann Arbor City
Council gathered for the inaugu-
ration of the city’s new fire chief,
Larry Collins.
Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher
Taylor (D) served as master of
the ceremony, which took place
at the Ann Arbor Fire Depart-
ment on North Fifth Avenue.
Taylor said he was excited to
welcome Collins to Ann Arbor,
who had previously served as fire
chief for the Brevard County Fire
Rescue in Florida since 2009.
“It’s a tremendous day for Ann
Arbor to welcome a new chief,”
Taylor said. “I want to say, chief,
that I think you’ll like it here
in Ann Arbor. I think you’ll be
proud, and you will value your
colleagues in the fire department
because they are dedicated, pro-
fessional, and work hard every
day to protect us.”
Taylor stressed the impor-
tance of the Ann Arbor Fire
Department in maintaining the
city’s mission of maintaining the
quality of life of its citizens.
“At its core, basic services are
what this city is all about, and
at the core of basic services, of
course, is fire, and police, and
law enforcement.”
Amy Brow, Ann Arbor Fire
Department
assistant
chief
of operations, also expressed
Governor gains
national media
attention ahead of
2016 primaries
By EMMA KINERY
Daily Staff Reporter
Following his reelection and
the success of several of his
state economic reforms, several
national media outlets have float-
ed Republican Gov. Rick Snyder
as a contender in a crowded field
of potential GOP presidential can-
didates.
Snyder sparked national media
attention after he visited Wash-
ington, D.C. in early December
to accept Governing Magazine’s
award for Public Official of the
Year. During the trip, he said he
hoped to visit more places around
the country to tell the story of
Michigan’s recovery.
Several major national media
outlets have since run stories
about Snyder’s prospects, includ-
ing Politico and The Washington
Post.
However, the governor has
remained
noncommittal,
tell-
ing reporters at the U.S.-China
Automotive Forum on Sunday
he thought experience running
a state would make for an ideal
presidential candidate, but he
declined to say whether or not he
would consider running for the
position.
“Right now I’m just trying to
get around,” he said jokingly, in
reference to a torn Achilles ten-
don. “I’m back to working on lit-
eral running first.”
Michigan’s first lady Sue Sny-
der has been less reserved. Dur-
ing the annual joint interview
with her husband on Michigan
Public TV, she said she would not
want Snyder to run for president
nor seek the vice presidency.
Snyder’s office did not return
several requests for comment on
the prospect of his 2016 candi-
dacy.
In regard to Snyder’s overall
chance of attaining the presiden-
cy, Political Science Prof. Vincent
Hutchings said the candidacy
University
researcher stresses
importance of
disease awareness
By PARISHA NOVA
Daily Staff Reporter
A
University-based
data
project has found patients with
kidney disease are living longer
than in the past.
The United States Renal
Data System, whose coordi-
nating center is located in the
School of Public Health Build-
ing, reported fewer cases of
end-stage renal disease and
fewer deaths related to it in the
U.S. this year compared to last
year in its annual data report.
As of 2012, there were
636,905 people in the United
States being treated for end-
stage renal disease, which
worsens or eliminates the kid-
ney’s ability to function and
support the body’s needs. The
kidneys filter wastes and tox-
ins out of the body’s blood sup-
ply, making them an essential
organ for supporting life.
Treatments for end-stage
renal disease include dialysis —
a method through which blood
is purified clinically, or kidney
transplant.
Rajiv Saran, a professor
of internal medicine and the
associate director of the Uni-
versity’s Kidney Epidemiology
and Cost Center, said the report
shows a declining trend in the
growth rate of new cases of the
disease.
“The USRDS registers and
tracks every patient diagnosed
with end-stage renal disease,”
Saran said. “For the last three
years, the rate of appearance of
patients reaching end-stage has
decreased.”
Saran said the data indicates
an improvement in U.S. health
care. After the age of 30 to 35,
the body’s organ functions start
declining. Low kidney func-
tion coupled with risk factors
such as diabetes, hypertension
and obesity makes the body
more prone to end-stage renal
disease. Fewer cases of this
disease indicate an increased
focus on addressing risk factors
Vice president
for student life
discusses current
campus issues
By IRENE PARK
Daily Staff Reporter
E. Royster Harper, vice
president for student life,
participated
in
the
third
#UMichChat event to discuss
student life at the University
on Friday afternoon.
Participants asked Harper
questions using the #UMi-
chChat hashtag on Twitter
about various topics, includ-
ing the rewards and the chal-
lenges of her administrative
role and campus issues she
considers most important.
The University’s Office of Stu-
dent Life manages programs
and facilities related to life on
the University’s campus.
When asked about the stu-
dent life challenges on the
agenda for the upcoming year,
See FIRE CHIEF, Page 3A
See SNYDER, Page 3A
See TWITTER, Page 3A
See ZINGERMANS, Page 3A
See KIDNEY, Page 3A
RUBY WALLAU/Daily
During an inauguration ceremony, Chief Larry Collins is sworn in as Ann Arbor’s 14th fire chief at the Ann Arbor Fire Department Friday.
ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
LSA senior Monica Korzon, Woman’s Ice Hockey forward, plays in a scrimmage against the HoneyBaked senior B team
Sunday.
FROZE N FACE- OFF
Red Berenson doesn’t want the
attention to be on his 800th win
» INSIDE
SportsMonday
INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 44
©2015 The Michigan Daily
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WEATHER
TOMORROW
HI: 13
LO: -7
Snyder not
discussing
Oval Office
possibility
Intestinal bacteria study
uses Zingerman’s bread
National report:
Kidney patients
now living longer
Harper
addresses
concerns
in ‘U’ chat
A2 inaugurates new fire
chief after lengthy search
CAMPUS LIFE
HEALTH
GOVERNMENT