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Ohio
State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

News

Methamphtamine drastically increases virus’ ability to replicate in brain tissue – A controversial research study here has found that exposing cells infected with feline immunodeficiency virus – a surrogate for HIV – to methamphetamine increases those cells' ability to replicate the deadly virus as much as 15-fold. The finding, if confirmed by ongoing animal studies, could answer important questions about how lentiviruses such as FIV and HIV can gain a foothold in the brain. That knowledge is vital in slowing or reducing the dementia that often accompanies AIDS and similar diseases. Ohio State University researchers reported this finding in a paper to be published in the next issue of the Journal of NeuroVirology. The paper also reports that before a nerve cell can become infected with the virus, it must be associated with a specific type of lymphocyte, or immune cell. Lastly, the researchers discovered that once the virus infects the cells, it mutates into a form that no longer needs this immune-cell association to reproduce. “We found that after about two weeks of chronic methamphetamine exposure, the ability of these infected cell lines to mass-produce virus increases dramatically,” explained Michael Podell, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences and neurosciences. Podell said the concentration of the drug the cells were exposed to was equal to an average level of methamphetamine in an adult abuser's bloodstream. All requests for interviews with Podell should be made through Earle Holland, (614) 292-8384;Holland.8@osu.edu, see http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/methcats.htm

Events

Nobel-winning Delaware, Ohio, native delivers research lecture – June 12. Sherwood Rowland, who shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in chemistry with two other researchers, will answer the question “Why is Our Atmosphere Changing?” as the featured speaker of The Ohio State University Research Lecture, at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday (6/12) in the Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High St., Columbus. A native of Delaware, Ohio, Rowland was awarded the Nobel for his work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone. He is the Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry and Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine. He is also foreign secretary of the National Academy of Sciences. Rowland's research was included in a report released this week by the Environmental Protection Agency that indicates human activities, such as oil refining, power plants and automobile emissions, are important causes of global warming. Rowland will be available to talk with reporters from 11 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday (6/12) in the Faculty Club, Room E, 181 South Oval Drive.
Contact: Randy Dunham, University Relations, (614) 292-8295.

Ohio Board of Regents' Chancellor Emerita is Humanities Baccalaureate speaker – June 13. Elaine Hairston, Chancellor Emerita of the Ohio Board of Regents, will deliver the keynote speech at the College of Humanities Baccalaureate on Thursday (6/13). The annual celebration of achievements of students, faculty and alumni begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Hairston led the Ohio Board of Regents for eight years as Chancellor. Responsible for the planning, budgeting and coordination of Ohio's 65 public college and university campuses, Hairston oversaw a system of higher education serving 400,000 students on public campuses and worked with another 70 independent colleges enrolling an additional 100,000 students. The overall public system’s annual operating budget exceeds $2 billion, making it one of the nation's largest and most complex.
Contact: Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, (614) 688-4532.

President Bush to speak at Ohio State commencement – June 14. President George W. Bush will speak to spring quarter graduates at The Ohio State University June 14 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 5,500 graduates will receive their degrees during the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Bush is expected to talk about national service and the different ways people can serve their country. Bush is the second sitting president to speak at the university. Gerald Ford spoke to summer quarter graduates in 1974. Bush’s father spoke to spring quarter graduates in June 1983 when he was Ronald Reagan’s vice president. Bush will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Administration during the ceremony. Four others will receive commencement honors: the honorary Doctor of Science award will be presented to Walter E. Massey, president of Atlanta’s Morehouse College; the honorary Doctor of Business Administration will be presented to George M. Steinbrenner III, principal owner of the New York Yankees; the honorary Doctor of Social Science will go to Marta Tienda, director of the Office of Population Research; and the Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Richard M. Hill, professor and dean emeritus of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Guests should arrive beginning at 6 a.m. to allow time for security screening. Check the Ohio State website for additional details.
Contact: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.

Ohio State Civil Engineering student team cooks up better road pavement – A team of five Ohio State engineering students has taken top honors in the National Flexible Pavements Competition, held at Auburn University, for their asphalt road surface formula. They designed a pavement mix to survive severe weather conditions, according to the team's advisor, professor Osama Abdulshafi. Ohio has some of the worst conditions for road pavement in the nation, thanks to freeze and thaw cycles that break up roads during late winter. According to Abdulshafi, this new Ohio State pavement mix may soon be the pavement mix of choice in Ohio. It may be used as part of an experimental perpetual pavement test of an 8-mile stretch of road in northeast Ohio. Team members are Michael Bline, Sage Flannagan, Adam Fowler, Daniel Pizzino and Stephen Risser, team captain.
Contact: Osama Abdulshafi, Engineering, (614) 292-7756.