- The Daily Utah Chronicle

U stem cell research may help avoid leg amputation

By By Jed Layton • July 30, 2008

U Health Sciences Center researchers hope a new stem cell study will help patients recover from an intense leg disease, which can lead to amputation if it goes unchecked. As a professor and chief of vascular surgery at the U School of Medicine, Larry Kraiss is part of a nationwide trial to see if patients' own stem cells will help them recover from a type of peripheral vascular disease.

Reconstructive efforts to improve Park Building

By By Michael McFall • July 30, 2008

The John R. Park Building is finally getting some reconstructive attention after 94 years of aging. Before talks began two years ago regarding refurbishing the central piece of Presidents' Circle, the old windows were letting in rain and snow, and the roof wasn't fully connected to the walls and was threatening to sink into the attic.

College of Engineering receives funds for new department minor

By By Jed Layton • July 30, 2008

A $1.5 million gift from the EnergySolutions Foundations to the U College of Engineering will provide a new Presidential Endowed Chair and a new minor in nuclear engineering. Richard Brown, dean of the College of Engineering, said he is excited about the endowment because of the potential it has to help U students.

Pre-1950 neighborhoods contribute to health, study says

By By Andrew Cone • July 30, 2008

U researchers report that residents living in neighborhoods built before 1950 are more likely to have a lower rate of obesity. The study, which began in 2006, found that neighborhoods built before 1950 were designed with the pedestrian in mind while newly designed neighborhoods are designed to facilitate car travel.

Shaddy: Government oil tab dwarves Utah’s

By By Aaron Shaddy • July 30, 2008

In Utah, gas prices have increased from $3 a gallon in August 2007 to $4.25, according to market research done by AAA. Consumers have already taken heed. "In the last two months our hybrid orders have been going through the ceiling: we have sold 57 new and 45 used in the past 60 days," said Richard Prospero, sales manager at Larry H.

Tech Venture declares 24 companies were created thanks to U

By By David Servatius • July 30, 2008

Further legitimizing claims that the U has become a powerful economic engine for the entire state, the Technology Venture Development Office announced this month that 24 local companies were created from technology developed at the U during the 2008 fiscal year-an increase of 41 percent from the 17 new companies launched in 2007.

U and SLCC collaborate on nursing program

By By Kimberly Bowen • July 30, 2008

Heather Greenwall wanted to be a nurse, but struggled to pay college tuition while raising her three children and working at the U Hospital as an executive secretary. Now thanks to a new collaborative program between the U and Salt Lake Community College that pays tuition for nursing students who work at the U Hospital for three years, Greenwall won't have to worry about finding the money.

Legislative funding not enough for USTAR

July 30, 2008

When advocates of the Utah State Technology and Research Initiative proposed a new program to state lawmakers that would hire nationally-renowned researchers to stimulate economic development and businesses through their work, they were hoping for $25 million annually to implement the program.

U researchers develop new solar power

By By Alex Cragun • July 30, 2008

In rooms littered with tubes and metal canisters, Valy Vardeny works with physics graduate students to discover a more efficient way to produce electricity from the sun using organic, carbon-based materials. Vardeny, a distinguished physics professor, is heading the project to develop new versions of solar power to be used on windowpanes and the sides of buildings.

Carlston: Students need to overcome economic intimidation

By By Liz Carlston • July 30, 2008

Many students in Utah are intimidated by the prospect of graduating into an economic recession, particularly when the media portrays economic conditions with a doomsday outlook. In reality, the media is doing graduating students a tremendous disservice because economic conditions are really not that bad.