Scientists identify metabolic link between aging, Parkinson’s
MedicalXpress – May 30
University of Alabama researchers identified within animal models an enzyme that links genetic pathways that control aging with the death of dopamine neurons – a clinical hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Further study is needed, but the enzyme could later prove a target, the scientists said, for boosting efforts to prevent or reduce problems associated with the malfunction of dopamine-producing neurons in the brains of diseased patients. “Discerning metabolic factors that maintain the health of cells from those that make an animal live longer has remained an elusive goal,” said Dr. Guy Caldwell, UA professor of biological sciences and the paper’s principal author. “This is a step in that direction.” The research shows the “molecular intersection” where aging-associated degeneration and neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s, meet, said Caldwell. Scheduled for publication in the July 1 issue of Cell Metabolism, the findings show that a gene the scientists discovered to be “neuroprotective” also codes for a basic enzyme in the breakdown of glucose, in the pathway of glycolysis. Glycolysis is the primary cellular pathway by which cells break down sugar to generate energy.
Engineer hopes to improve carbon-capture with patented technology
Phys.org – May 29
Less than a year after patenting a process that could improve stripping greenhouse gasses from industrial emissions, a University of Alabama engineering professor was recently granted another patent that uses a different solvent to accomplish the same goal. The newest method, patented by UA and Dr. Jason E. Bara, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, uses a form of liquid salt that could be swapped with chemicals currently used to scrub harmful emissions, such as carbon dioxide, or CO2, from industrial emissions. In a different patent granted in August 2013, Bara proposed switching currently used chemicals with a class of low volatility organic molecules. It is all part of his research focus of showing different, and possibly better, ways to capture harmful emissions. “We pursue this work with novel solvents to hopefully achieve the greatest energy efficiency for CO2 capture,” Bara said. “It’s the magnitude of the problem and the impact on the global economy that makes it extremely important that capture processes be highly optimized when they are rolled out at full scale.”
Auburn University and University of Alabama ranked among most influential in nation on social media
Al.com – May 30
The University of Alabama and Auburn University were both ranked among the best in the country when it comes to the most engaged university communities via social media, according to a new report by College Atlas Encyclopedia of Higher Education. Meanwhile, Auburn University ranked among the top colleges in the nation for social media influence, the report showed. The rankings evaluate the social media efforts and effectiveness of 400 major U.S. colleges and universities using data such as the number of Facebook likes and tweeting frequency. … the University of Alabama ranked 13th in the nation when it comes to social media engagement, which measures the university’s social media success based on metrics such as Facebook likes and engagement within pages and posts. Auburn University ranked 26th in the nation when it comes to social media engagement. It also ranked 23rd in the nation for most influential social media, which measures university’s efforts to hone their social media presence to leverage promotional campaigns and amplify their messages.
Harper Lee prize finalists named; Balson, Strout, Grisham vie for top honors
Tuscaloosa News – May 29
The University of Alabama School of Law and the American Bar Association’s magazine have named three books as finalists for the 2014 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The finalists are “Once We Were Brothers” by Ronald H. Balson, “Sycamore Row” by John Grisham and “The Burgess Boys” by Elizabeth Strout. A winner will be picked based on votes from five judges and online public voting. The public will be able to vote for a favorite on the ABA Journal website (http://ow.ly/xpqpN). The winner of the online vote will count the same as a vote from a judge, according to the contest website.
Al.com – May 29
LOCAL Q&A: Robin M. Boylorn
Tuscaloosa News – May 29
This week, we spoke with Robin M. Boylorn, assistant professor of interpersonal and intercultural communication at the University of Alabama, who teaches and writes about issues of social identity and diversity, focusing primarily on the experiences of black women. Boylorn, who earned a doctorate in 2009 from the University of South Florida, is a member of the Crunk Feminist Collective and co-editor of “Critical Autoethnography: Intersecting Cultural Identities in Everyday Life” (Left Coast Press, 2014). Her first book, “Sweetwater: Black Women and Narratives of Resilience” (Peter Lang Publishing, 2013), offers an auto/ethnographic narrative of the intergenerational experiences of black women growing up in a small rural community. It won awards, including the inaugural H.L. “Bud” Goodall Jr. Award, the Nicholas Lee Trujillo “It’s A Way of Life” Award in Narrative Ethnography, the 2013 Book of the Year Award from the National Communication Association’s Ethnography Division and the 2014 International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Book of the Year Award.
Alabama repeating gets repetitive as Tuscaloosa becomes Titletown in more than football
Al.com – May 29
Mike Slive was wrapping up his daily briefing Wednesday evening at the SEC spring meeting when one of his associate commissioners stepped up to the podium and handed him a note. Slive read it and said, “Oh, that’s great. Alabama just now won its second straight NCAA men’s golf title. So congratulations to Alabama.” Kudos indeed. Alabama repeating is getting repetitive. Jay Seawell’s men’s golf team is the third Crimson Tide team to win back-to-back national championships since 2011. Sarah Patterson’s women’s gymnastics team did it in 2011 and 2012, and Nick Saban’s football team doubled in those seasons as well. Mic Potter’s women’s golf team gets overshadowed because it won a single national title in 2012. Oh, and the Crimson Tide may not be done earning big rings this year. Pat Murphy’s softball team starts play Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City as the No. 2 seed. His young ladies have a shot at their second national title in three years after winning it all in 2012.
‘There’s nothing better than this,’ as Alabama celebrates second-straight men’s golf national title
Al.com – May 29
The Alabama men’s golf team was all smiles Thursday afternoon as they celebrated their Wednesday night national championship victory over Oklahoma State. Coach Jay Seawell conducted a short press conference Thursday at the Jerry Pate Golf Center in Tuscaloosa to talk about the victory and the past, present and future of the team he leads. “There’s nothing better than this,” Seawell said. “We’re up at the top of the mountain.” Seawell credited the program’s strong foundation. He said the team stood on the backs of giants to reach two consecutive national championships. “Everyone who has played golf at this university has helped build this power, this is not just about these five guys,” Seawell said. “Those are the foundations and building blocks that have allowed us to stand here today.”
Clark selected for Girls State
Hartselle Enquirer – May 29
Whittney Olga Clark has been chosen to represent Priceville at the 2014 session of American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State held on the campus of The University of Alabama.