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UB Experts Available to Discuss Hurricane Sandy

UB faculty members are available to discuss challenges relating to the arrival of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast, including threats to buildings, infrastructure and water supplies. A partial list of available experts follows. News media may contact these professors directly. To reach professors after hours, contact Charlotte Hsu in the Office of University Communications at 510-388-1831. 
THREATS TO BUILDINGS, INFRASTRUCTURE
Andrew Whittaker, PhD
Director of MCEER (UB’s extreme events engineering research center); Professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
716-645-4364
Whittaker can address questions regarding the storm’s effect on infrastructure, especially buildings and other man-made structures. He directs MCEER, a national center of excellence in advanced technology applications dedicated to reducing losses from extreme events. Teams from MCEER have conducted reconnaissance in regions hit hard by hurricanes or earthquakes, such as the Gulf Coast, Haiti and Chile.
 
 
NEW AT 2:02 P.M.: PUBLIC HEALTH FOLLOWING A STORM
Pavani Ram, MD
Associate Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine
UB School of Public Health and Health Professions
716-829-5380 or through Ellen Goldbaum at 716-645-4605
Ram can discuss the public health consequences resulting from the widespread loss of power and water, and other public health issues arising from Hurricane Sandy. Ram has been involved in reconnaissance trips to areas hit by extreme events, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
She says issues to be aware of include the hazards associated with using generators: She says people should review instructions for generators and to be sure to use them in very well-ventilated areas. She adds that people should try to stay informed about boil water advisories in their areas, a point of particular concern for the elderly and very young.
 
DAMAGE TO BRIDGES
Jerome S. O'Connor, MEng
Adjunct Professor of Professional Practice of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
716-645-5155
A former bridge management engineer with the New York State Department of Transportation, O’Connor can address questions regarding the storm’s effect on bridges.
 
WATER SUPPLY
James N. Jensen, PhD
Professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
716-645-4007
Jensen can address questions regarding the storm’s effect on water systems and the availability of supplies during emergencies and disasters. He was one of six UB researchers to visit the Gulf Coast soon after Hurricane Katrina hit as part of a National Science Foundation-funded mission organized by MCEER, UB’s extreme events engineering research center.
 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA AND DISASTERS
Nancy J. Smyth, PhD, MSW
Dean and Professor of Social Work
UB School of Social Work
Contact Dr. Smyth through Anna Cerrato at 716-645-1266
Smyth is an expert on psychological trauma and the effects on those experiencing traumas. Smyth is known for teaching her students the role trauma plays in social problems. She can address questions on how the storm and associated threats can affect people caught in its wake, from both a short- and long-term perspective.
 
PERSONAL HEALTH AND DISASTER RESPONSE
Jessica Castner, PhD, RN
Research Assistant Professor of Nursing
UB School of Nursing
716-829-2060
Castner is a board-certified emergency nurse. She has experience reviewing disaster plans for hospitals and educating health care providers and the public on personal health and disaster response. She studies emergency department utilization, as well as hospital quality and safety. Castner can address common issues seen in emergency departments during weather emergencies.
 
EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION:
Adel Sadek, PhD
Director of UB’s Transportation Systems Laboratory
Associate Professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
716-645-4367; 716-374-4747 (cell)
Sadek can address questions on emergency evacuation and transportation during the storm. He studies the use of new technologies such as collision avoidance systems, adaptive traffic control and dynamic route guidance to increase safety and efficiency.
 
Daniel Hess, PhD
Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning
UB School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo
Contact Dr. Hess through Patricia Donovan at 716-645-4602
Hess is an expert on planning practice and public policies in cities and their influence on travel behavior, including in emergency situations. He studies transit system performance (buses, rapid transit, trains) and alternate transit-oriented development.
 
COMMUNICATION IN A DISASTER
Natalie Simpson, PhD
Associate Professor of Operations Management and Strategy
UB School of Management
716-493-8090 (cell)
Note: Simpson prefers to be reached by email.
Simpson studies emergency responses and emergency services as a unique sector of service management, analyzing and evaluating elements of successful operations in highly uncertain conditions. She has special interest and expertise in emergency and disaster communications. She has served as a volunteer firefighter since 1997.
 
Michael Stefanone, PhD
Assistant Professor of Communication
UB College of Arts and Sciences
Contact Dr. Stefanone through Patricia Donovan at 716-645-4602
Stefanone is an expert on the use of social media and its impact on how information is used and disseminated in disaster situations.

 

Related Topics:

disaster response, hurricane sandy, tropical storms

UB Experts Available to Discuss Supreme Court Ruling on Obama Health Care Plan

University at Buffalo law and health care experts are available to discuss the Supreme Court's long-awaited ruling on President Barack Obama's signature health care law.
 
Ruling Could Foster Long Overdue Changes in Health Care System, Family Medicine Professor Says
 
Tom Rosenthal, MD
Chair and Professor of Family Medicine
University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
716-816-7269
 
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold much of the Affordable Care Act will not only provide as many as 30 million or more uninsured Americans with health care coverage, it may also help foster some important and long overdue changes in the health care system, Rosenthal says.
 
“From a primary care perspective, the most common thing we see in an office setting is that we are now seeing more young people in their 20s than we did because they are covered by their parents’ insurance to age 26,” he says. That change is adding to health care costs because this is a new population that is now seeking medical care.
 
However, in the long run, this coverage will prove to be more economical, he says.
 
“Studies have shown that health care for people without insurance prior to turning 65 and going on Medicare costs close to twice as much in the first few years compared to the costs for those who had been covered by insurance,” explains Rosenthal. “Having continuous coverage is an important part of preventive health care. Addressing health risk factors such as early hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity will save health costs later in life.”
 
He also sees as critical the provision in the law that establishes in 2015 the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a national oversight committee that will evaluate the evidence for specific treatments and procedures.
 
“This committee, modeled after England’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, will look at the clinical evidence and patterns of outcome for, say, treating hypertension or performing back surgery, and will make recommendations based on that evidence and adjust policy and payments accordingly,” says Rosenthal.
 
He adds that it will not only help patients receive the most appropriate care, but physicians will now have a national standard of care to consider when deciding what course of treatment to follow.
 
“The United States has never had a national standard for care,” says Rosenthal, who adds that other industrialized countries have similar organizations that perform this function. “I think this is essential.”
 
In the end, he says, there will need to be more improvements in the health care reimbursement system to accomplish one of health care reform’s most basic goals: improving access to the best care at the right place and the right time.
 
“Certainly, other health care providers can deliver certain aspects of health care but there are points when patients have the right to have access to a physician,” he says.
 
Therefore, increased demand for primary care physicians would be one outcome, says Rosenthal, who notes that currently, many medical students choose specialties over primary care.
 
“We saw a greater demand for primary care physicians in Massachusetts after they passed their healthcare legislation,” says Rosenthal. “Two years after the law passed, a number of new family medicine residencies in the state opened up. When you insure everyone, you wake up the next morning and say, ‘We don’t have enough primary care providers.’”
 
 
Ruling Upholds Much of Act's Intentions -- With One Exception, Law Professor Says
 
Anthony H. Szczygiel
Professor of Law
University at Buffalo Law School
716-645-3027
 
The Supreme Court ruling on Obama’s signature health care law upholds much of the act’s intentions to expand coverage, with one major exception, says Szczygiel, a health care expert and founder and director of the William and Mary Foster Elder Law Clinic at UB’s Law School.
 
“That exception has to do with the expansion of the Medicaid program,” Szczygiel says. “The president’s health care act encouraged states to expand Medicaid, but the president’s plan also went further and gave the secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to withhold all Medicaid funding -- not just that related to the expansion -- if states fail to expand the Medicaid programs.”
 
Szczygiel says the bottom line is that the Supreme Court ruling will accomplish much of what the act intended, in terms of expanding health insurance.
 
“But the expansion of Medicaid coverage will be a matter of state choice,” he says. “And thus in some states, the added coverage will be more limited.
 
“Everything stays in effect, but the intention of the act to expand coverage is somewhat tempered by the ruling of the court because of Medicaid expansion.”
 
Szczygiel says the Affordable Care Act fundamentally changes the Medicaid program, making it much more like private insurance.
 
“The Court held that each state needed to be able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to that fundamental change,” he says, “without the coercion posed by the threat of losing all federal funding for their current Medicaid programs.”
 
Szczygiel also says the majority decision was “very respectful of the government’s separation of powers.” Congress sets the policy, whether that be good or bad.
 
“If the people don't like it, they can vote against the policy makers,” he says. “The Court only decides whether Congress acted within the authority of the Constitution, and the Court should give Congress the benefit of the doubt when considering that question.”

 

Related Topics:

health care, Obama, supreme court

Wallenda’s High-Wire Walk: UB Experts Weigh in on Water Plumes, Crowd Psychology and Angry Falcons

On June 15, high-wire artist Nik Wallenda will attempt to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope -- the first such attempt in more than 100 years.

He will use an 1,800-foot long, custom-made, two-inch wire that will stretch from Goat Island on the American side of the falls to a site just below the falls on the Canadian side. The wire will be strung about 200 feet above the base of the Niagara Gorge.
 
The walk poses considerable danger to Wallenda from such things as the falls’ mist plume, changeable winds, possible attack by peregrine falcons as he traverses their flight path, and clamps on the safety harness he is being forced to wear by ABC, which is televising the event. 
 
This event has generated much excitement and controversy, and University at Buffalo experts are available to discuss the nature of such spectacles, their role in popular culture, the Niagara mist plume, crowd psychology and the kinds of risks involved in this venture. 
 
 
David Schmid, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Chair of English
University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences
716-645-0679
schmid@buffalo.edu
 
The public loves a spectacle that involves possible violence
 
"From the popularity of reality TV to our tendency to slow down to rubberneck at car accidents on the highway, our society loves a spectacle, particularly if it includes the possibility of violence. This is especially true for those who want to be famous or are attracted to celebrity. More than ever before, fame means to be visible, to do something that grabs public attention and keeps it. 
 
"Because the tightrope walk by Nik Wallenda touches upon all these themes, public interest in it extends far beyond morbid curiosity. The Wallenda event also has that X-factor that sets it apart from so much on the contemporary media landscape: unpredictability.
 
"Despite the ubiquity and popularity of so-called 'reality TV,' the vast majority of it is so safe, scripted and managed that any element of risk or unpredictability has been entirely removed. This falls walk, on the other hand is real 'reality' television that presents a genuinely chancy, dangerous spectacle on live TV, a performance that could actually lead to the actor’s death. That fact makes us nervous. It also compels us to watch.
 
"Suzanne Collins, author of the best-selling 'Hunger Games' books, presents the premise in which, in a future United States, children kill each other as part of an immensely popular televised game. At first glance, that seems completely unbelievable. But consider the success of the books and the movie adaptation and the excitement the Wallenda walk is generating. Collins has struck a nerve."
 
 
Marcus Bursik, PhD
Professor of Geology
University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences
716-645-4265, 716-308-4070
mib@geology.buffalo.edu
 
Niagara Falls Water Plume and Wind Could Affect Wallenda's Safety
 
"Wallenda will be walking over a portion of the Niagara Gorge directly below Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. The location is not the safest route he could have chosen. In fact, it is probably the worst place to cross. There is a plume of mist that rises from the pool of water in the Niagara Gorge just below the falls that produces a moist updraft. It will be a little like walking a tightrope in a mini-thunderstorm. If he is used to moist updrafts, of course, it may not be a problem for him.
 
"The size and height of the plume will depend on meteorological conditions that day. It's all super-sensitive to small temperature differences. If the water is colder than the air, as it is in the summer months, there is no or little plume, and the air will be blowing down-gorge instead. At certain times of the year, the water is warmer than the air, which results in a plume that can rise up to 3,500 feet. The warmer the water is than the air, the bigger the plume will be.
 
"The wind will be a factor as well. The wind can be, and often is stronger than the up or downdrafts associated with the falls. From our measurements, we found that the wind is often blowing across the gorge, so he could get a head or tail wind, or even shear. The plume adds an extra vertical component to a wind that in most places is much weaker than the horizontal wind.
 
"Wallenda will have factored possible conditions into his consideration of the walk, of course. He must be used to dealing with different kinds of wind conditions. The plume will be relatively small at this time of year, possibly nonexistent, because air temperatures are warmer than the water. It presents a possible risk, however. Since his wire will be only 220 feet above the gorge basin, even a small plume could increase risk.
 
 
Arun Jain, PhD
Samuel P. Capen Professor of Marketing Research
University at Buffalo School of Management
716-645-3214
 
Wire walk poses 'opportunity of a lifetime' for regional tourism
 
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime. We will be window to the world to see this fete being performed at one of the Wonders of the World. Whether he succeeds (I hope he does) or fails, Niagara Falls will be etched in the minds of people across the globe.
 
"The challenge is to claim it as a Buffalo Niagara event and do things to put a glow on our fair city, attractions (history), and make us an inviting place to visit. Media will be looking for events and activities to show before, during and after the event. Either it will be filled with stories about us or Niagara Falls, Canada. My question is, are our local leaders savvy enough to take advantage of this opportunity handed to them on a silver platter?"
 
 
Megan E. Pailler, PhD
Director of the Psychological Services Center
University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology
716-645-6888
 
Public Appeal of Wallenda's Walk Has Psychological Underpinnings
 
"Sensation seeking, vicarious thrills, danger and uncertainty -- because of our psychological makeup, Nik Wallenda's planned walk across Niagara Falls fascinates us on a variety of levels. 
 
"In many ways, its appeal is similar to that of arousal-inducing action or horror media. As in those cases, the terms applied to the walk are 'dramatic,' 'thrilling' and 'exciting.' But why is this particular event so electrifying? I think for several reasons:
 
·         Many people enjoy the physiological arousal they experience when watching dangerous, exciting and novel events, and the Wallenda walk offers danger, excitement and novelty. 
 
·         There is some evidence that people who rate higher on sensation seeking scales prefer arousing media. In general, men tend to rate higher in sensation seeking and may be more likely to enjoy watching a thrilling or dangerous event like the Wallenda walk. The walk also involves voyeurism, and we know how people enjoy watching other people's lives and activities (in fact, this accounts for some of the popularity of reality TV). 
 
·         The danger and uncertainty of the outcome intensifies the experience, and, if the walk is successful, there is also the vicarious sense of relief and accomplishment -- similar to the experience of watching your favorite team win a game.
 
·         The Wallenda walk is outside the realm of day-to-day experience. It provides an appealing escape from the mundane. Many of us have detailed memories of watching significant and novel events like the moon landing. And as I said, the potential for danger may heighten this feeling.
 
·         Finally, there is often a satisfying sense of shared experience that accompanies watching such things with others -- things that may collectively be recalled and recounted."
 
 
Christopher Hollister, MLS
Associate Librarian
University at Buffalo University Libraries
 
Possible Peregrine Falcon Attacks on Wallenda a Safety Risk
 
Hollister is an avid conservationist and ornithologist and a contributor to the Breeding Bird Atlas published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
 
"The Canadian Peregrine Foundation has raised alarms over the possibility of attacks on Nik Wallenda by a pair of peregrine falcons nesting in a nearby decommissioned Ontario Power Generation plant. They say the birds could feel threatened by Wallenda, since his Niagara Falls walk will take him through their flight path.
 
"Peregrines are aggressively protective of their territory, particularly when they are caring for their young, and in this region, this is the time of year when they are doing just that. There are countless stories of peregrine falcons diving-bombing people.
 
"I do think that possible falcon attacks should be a serious consideration in terms of his safety. Peregrines reach speeds of 200 miles per hour during a hunting swoop, making them the fastest animal on the planet. Being hit by a bird moving at that speed would have quite an impact on a man trying to balance on a high wire."

 

Cristian-Ioan Tiu, PhD
Assistant Professor of Finance
University at Buffalo School of Management
716- 645-3299
ctiu@buffalo.edu

Wallenda Falls Walk Entails Different Kinds of Risks
 
"The upcoming walk by Nik Wallenda over Niagara Falls entails a variety of risks.
 
"The first kind is enterprise risk. This is the risk that the whole 'adventure' won’t happen for reasons such as regulations, last minute concern from authorities, etc. I assume that there has been work dedicated to ensure that this event will happen, so the risk here is low.
 
"Second is specific risk. In this case, danger could be increased by weather, mechanical complications or health issues. I am no professional wire walker, but I assume that the training and accurate weather reports predict most of these risks and pose appropriate responses.
 
"Finally, there is uncertainty or unquantifiable risks. For example (and I hope not to jinx the guy), the walker cannot prepare for such things as a kid flashing a laser pointer, a helicopter flying too close or someone falling in the water, but they might increase his risk. In fact, however, these are poor examples. What I mean by uncertainty is something for which it is completely impossible to plan.
 
"I have described these risks from the perspective of the walker. From the perspective of the viewer, the risk will appear greater, partly because what is quantified above as specific risk, that is, a risk that can be managed, will be perceived by the viewer, who is not a rope walker, as uncertainty.
 
"The greater the difference in perception, the more interesting the show will be."
Related Topics:

high-wire walk, niagara falls, nik wallenda, tightrope walk

CISPA: ‘Devil Is in the Details’ of Cybersecurity Bill, UB Law Professor Says

expert photo
EXPERT CONTACT :

Mark Bartholomew

Associate Professor of Law

University at Buffalo School of Law

716-645-5959

bartholo@buffalo.edu

Bartholomew is an expert in intellectual property and cyber law. Here, he comments on the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), a controversial cybersecurity bill pending in Congress.

On the intent of CISPA:
“The basic thought behind CISPA is to enable corporations holding personal online data to share it with the federal government when necessary to prevent a national security threat.”
On why CISPA could raise serious privacy concerns:
“I think CISPA is a good idea, but the devil is in the details. Right now, the language of the proposed act calls for sharing of online data when it is needed to help prevent a ‘cyber threat.’ The real question is how do you define 'cyber threat?'
“I do not want that definition of ‘cyber threat’ to be satisfied except in extraordinary circumstances. There are serious privacy concerns at stake, and personal online data should only be shared with the Feds when it really is needed to prevent a national threat.”
On the difference between CISPA and SOPA, a previous cybersecurity bill that sparked significant protest among consumers:
“SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) was designed to prevent intellectual property infringement, not threats to national security. SOPA was about giving intellectual property-holders and the government the right to shut down infringing websites -- for example, stopping foreign websites that allowed you to watch bootleg copies of Hollywood movies. CISPA addresses a different issue: when is it acceptable for companies to turn over your personal online information to the Feds.”
Why some tech companies like CISPA:  
“It is important to note that the legislation does NOT require companies to turn over your online data to the government. It just allows companies to do so when that definition of cyber threat has been satisfied.
“Companies like Facebook like this proposed law because it gives them legal cover if they turn over personal information and then someone tries to sue them for a privacy violation. They also argue that the legislation will help them coordinate with government agencies and respond to cyber threats to their own platforms more quickly. My big concern is that, if cyber threat is defined too vaguely, it would give the government too great of an ability to snoop through our personal online information.”
On whether CISPA, like SOPA, will spark widespread outrage and protest:
“I don’t know. The online outrage at SOPA was kind of shock to me; usually, pro-intellectual property rights legislation like SOPA just sails through Congress. I think there is definitely the possibility for CISPA to galvanize many in the online community like SOPA did because there are many who do not like the idea of their personal information being shared with others.
“On the other hand, one big force against SOPA was that powerful technology companies like Google and Wikipedia moved against the legislation because they saw it as a threat to their bottom line. Here, I do not know what the corporate constituency is against CISPA. It looks like it is just up to individual citizens (and advocacy groups like the ACLU) to protest if CISPA portends to turn everything into a cyber threat."

Related Q&A: SOPA's Vague Language Could Lead to Wide Restrictions on Information Available on the Internet, UB Expert Says

Related Topics:

CISPA, cyber law, cybersecurity, Internet, SOPA

Gay Marriage -- NC is Wrong Again and the President is Right!

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EXPERT CONTACT :

Jonathan Katz, PhD
Director of Doctoral Program

Department of Visual Studies

University at Buffalo

646-241-5241

jonathandavidkatz@gmail.com

 

Consistently, polls have shown an ever increasing percentage of Americans, especially younger Americans, are in favor of marriage equality for gay men and women.

That North Carolina elected to be on the wrong side of history once again is, sadly, a habit it needs to break.  North Carolinians opposed civil rights for African Americans; they elected Jess Helms and kept putting him in office despite his hateful rhetoric against blacks and gays.

A governor of North Carolina will, in the not too distant future, have to hold a press conference to apologize for this vote.  The habit to disenfranchise others runs deep there and has for centuries, and despite constitutional guarantees of equality, the state's voters continue to pick and choose who will be made "equal."

The President's statement in favor of marriage equality is a game changer.  Active support for him among the left was at best lukewarm and this statement will revitalize the progressive movement at large;  it's import goes far beyond the queer community, because he's finally shown some of that fighting spirit and principled commitment that made him a favorite during his campaign.

Obama's statement, then, is an olive branch to the left.  And he needs us to win again, not just our votes, but our fervor, our door-to-door politicking, our grassroots savvy. We always knew he believed in marriage equality, but we weren't sure on which side his politicalcalculus would come down.  It's great to see he's come out in favor of full equality.

 

 

Related Topics:

2012 election, electoral politics, gay marriage, gay rights

Obama's Gay Marriage Position is a "Shrewd Political Move," says Dyck

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EXPERT CONTACT :

Joshua Dyck, PhD

Associate Professor of Political Science

University at Buffalo

(716) 645-8435

jdyck@buffalo.edu

 President Barack Obama's "evolving" position on gay marriage should be understood as a shrewd political move that carries a considerable, but calculated, risk.

The proceeding months will unveil how it pans out, but right now, President Obama and the Democrats are entering uncharted campaign territory.

Over the last 30 years, Republicans have used their positions on social issues to galvanize the electorate and mobilize their base.  Obama's support for marriage equality signals that the President intends to make the 2012 campaign about more than the economy --  he intends to take the fight to the Republican party on the social issue front. 

So far we have seen the Obama campaign characterize Romney and the Republicans as anti-immigrant and anti-woman and his affirmation of his support for gay marriage demonstrates that the President plans to hold Republicans accountable for positions on this issue as well. 

With modest economic growth and some warning signals from the economy, the political environment in 2012 is, and will continue to be, extremely competitive.

In a close election, mobilization of core supporters becomes critical. While the President's evolving position on gay marriage has the potential to help conservatives mobilize voters, this move is clearly aimed at mobilizing many on the left who may feel less excited by Obama's promises of hope and change in 2012 than they were in 2008.

           

 

 

Related Topics:

2012 election, Barack Obama, gay issues, gay marriage

Could Post-Concussion Symptoms Have Driven Junior Seau to his Death?

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EXPERT CONTACT :

John J. Leddy, MD, director and Barry S. Willer, PhD, research director

University at Buffalo Concussion Clinic
University at Buffalo School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Leddy: 716-204-3200
Willer:  716-304-6585
leddy@buffalo.edu
bswiller@buffalo.edu

John J. Leddy, MD, associate professor and director of the University at Buffalo Concussion Clinic and Barry S. Willer, PhD, professor and the clinic’s research director consider the possibility that former NFL player, Junior Seau, who was found dead on May 2, may have been suffering from concussion-related depression.

What was your response when you first heard about Seau’s death?

The pattern of behavior, including the domestic violence incident just a month or so ago and the violent end to his life, is reminiscent of other former players struggling with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He may have shot himself in the chest so his brain would be preserved and examined for CTE. Junior Seau made a choice to end his life rather than expose his family and friends to his untethered anger. Our response is one of sorrow for him and his family.  We wonder how many other former players are living with the consequences of CTE.
 
How significant is Seau’s long football career in terms of possible exposure to concussion?
 
Junior Seau was one of the best linebackers to play the game of football. The position he played is considered very high risk for repeated sub-concussive blows and therefore at high risk for CTE. Sub-concussive blows are at a force lower than that which cause observable concussion, but sufficient to cause temporary disruption of brain function.  Repeated sub-concussive blows create damage much greater than one concussive blow.
 
What would you hope to learn from an examination of Seau’s brain if that takes place?
 
We assume that examination of Junior Seau's brain will take place at Boston University (BU) and we expect they will find evidence of CTE. We are currently in discussion with the research team at BU to develop a research protocol to determine CTE in those still living with the disease. This requires advance magnetic resonance imaging and we are developing a pilot study to look at former Bills and former Sabres. In addition to BU researchers, we are collaborating with local researchers in neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and the UB School of Public Health. We have some local funding for initiation of the study from the Robert Rich family foundation, the Sabres Foundation, Ralph Wilson fund, and PUCCS (Program for Understanding Childhood Concussion and Stroke).
Related Topics:

concussion, CTE, head injury, Leddy, NFL, seau, suicide, Willer

The American Heart Association's Recent Statement on Gum Disease and CVD Is Misleading, Says UB Expert

EXPERT CONTACT :

Sebastian Ciancio, DDS

Distinguished Service Professor, chair, Department of Endodontics and Periodontics
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine

716-829-3848
ciancio@buffalo.edu

UB’s chair of periodontics and endodontics, Sebastian Ciancio, DDS, responded to questions about the American Heart Association’s recent statement that although observational studies support an association between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease, they don’t support a causative relationship.

You have been involved in many studies of the relationship of periodontal disease and CVD. What do you say to this claim?

The problem with the press release of the AHA statment is that the press release does not accurately reflect what the statement says. The actual statement is scientifically correct and reports tht there is an assciation between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease but no causal relationship. Periodontal researchers are generally in agreement that there is an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascualar disease but that a cause and effect relationship has not been established. However, the press release is written in such a way as to suggest that there is no association as well as no causal relationship.

It is noteworthy that a large body of research suggests that periodontal disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, independent of shared risk factors. As a matter of fact, the statement by the American Heart Assn. states “ Statistical adjustment for smoking in studies of the association between periodontal disease(PD) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASVD) does not preclude the possibility for residual confounding; however, recent evidence seems to indicate that the observed association between PD and ASVD may be independent of smoking. It has been shown, both in cross sectional and longitudinal studies that PD and ASVD are associated in never smokers as well.”

The press release is also misleading in that it states that “500 journal articles and studies reviewed by the committee didn’t confirm a causative link.”

However the article only addresses data from 79 studies.

What would you like for the public to know about this?

I would like the public to realize that there are a number of studies which show an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and in 2009, the editor of the American Journal of Cardiology joined with the editor of the Journal of Periodontology joined together to publish an article Consensus: Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. In that article they state: “It seems reasonable, however, on the basis of current data, to acknowledge that because untreated or inadequately controlled moderate to severe periodontitis increases the systemic inflammatory burden, periodontitis may independently increase the risk for CVD (Cardiovascular Disease).

I am agreement with these editors and their review and summary comments. Therefore I would like the public to realize that there is an association between CVD and periodontal disease and that good oral health is important not only for retaining teeth but also for having an impact on their general health. Studies have not only suggested a relationship between periodontal disease and CVD but also with diabetes severity, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and pre-term low birth weight babies. Although proof of a cause and effect relationship has not been clearly established in these conditions, a strong association with these conditions has been demonstrated.

Therefore my advice to the public is to maintain your mouth in as healthy a condition as possible because there is good reason to believe that a healthy mouth is important for a healthy body.

Is there anything you could add?

The best way to have a healthy mouth is by thorough brushing twice daily with an antiseptic toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing twice daily with an antiseptic mouth rinses. Mouth rinses and toothpastes accepted by the American Dental Association for the management of plaque and gingivitis are definitely the most effective on the market and consumers are advised to use these products to get the best value for their oral care expenditures. In addition, professional tooth cleaning and dental examinations are important at least twice a year.

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UB Volcanologist Can Discuss Mexico’s Rumbling Popocatepetl Volcano

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EXPERT CONTACT :

Michael F. Sheridan, PhD

Volcanologist, Professor Emeritus of Geology

University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences

mfs@buffalo.edu

Or via Charlotte Hsu at 716-645-4655

Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano, some 40 miles outside Mexico City, has entered a heightened phase of activity. The mountain has been spewing towering clouds of ash and steam since mid-April, putting local residents on alert.

Sheridan has been studying Popocatepetl for years. After the volcano’s last significant eruption, in December 2000, he and a team of researchers developed a map showing which communities around the volcano could be threatened by mud flows during a major event.
Q: Why is Popocatepetl considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes?
A: The great danger that ‘Popo’ presents is that there is a dense population in an area that potentially could be affected by a really big eruption. They say more than 25 million people live in and around Mexico City. Since the end of the last Ice Age (14,000 years ago) there have been five really large eruptions of Popo.
 
The oldest of these big eruptions sent blocks the size of a person’s fist to the middle of Mexico City. The most recent big eruption resulted in mudflows that inundated a large pre-Hispanic city near where the city of Puebla sits today.
 
However, such a large event would give distinctive precursor signals prior to an eruption that the civil protection authorities and scientists in the region could detect.
Q: Is the threat of a major eruption high?
A: It has been more than 1,100 years since an eruption that seriously affected human habitation.
In the back of my mind is the fact that these volcanoes are more or less continuously accumulating gas and liquid in a subterranean chamber. The longer the material is sitting down there, the longer the volcano is in ‘repose,’ and the bigger the eruption that could be expected.
Q: Does Popocatepetl’s current behavior indicate that a large eruption may be about to occur?
A: Most forecasts are based on observation of the behavior of a volcano. We know how Popocatepetl behaved before it began erupting in 1994, and how it behaved in 2000, when it had a significant eruption.
It’s behaving like that now. There was a report from CENAPRED yesterday that said there have been some mud flows already.
Q: Is the risk map you developed in 2001 still useful today?
A: There hasn’t been enough research done at this volcano yet to make what you would call a definitive hazard map.
What we did in 2000 was use computers to simulate two different categories of events that we thought would be possible, small- and intermediate-sized. The map we published provides basic information on mud flows, which are important to consider.
Q: What can people do to prepare for a disaster?
A: If the imminent threat is a mud flow, the idea is to go to high ground. The surface of the mud flows themselves might be three feet or 10 feet or 15 feet above the channel that they flow in. So the way to be safe is to have a pathway from your house to somewhat higher ground nearby, somewhere you can go to in 10 or 15 minutes.
An alternative is that the government will come in and evacuate people if they feel that it’s severely dangerous. People should also have food and medical supplies available in case they become isolated for a few days.
Related Topics:

Popocatepetl, volcanoes, volcanology

'Take-Back' Programs Can Keep Harmful Pharmaceuticals Out of Great Lakes, UB Expert Says

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EXPERT CONTACT :

Helen Domske

Associate Director, Great Lakes Program

University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

716-645-3610

hmd4@cornell.edu

April 28 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which enables people to drop off unwanted medication at safe locations across the United States.

Every day, Domske says, people flush antibiotics, hormonal supplements and other drugs down the toilet without realizing that they’re polluting waterways—including the Great Lakes. Take-back programs help keep our waters clean and prevent pharmaceuticals from falling into the wrong hands, Domske says.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 28. For a list of local drop-off sites, visit http://bit.ly/JVtPXA. The UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a partner in this effort.
Q&A WITH DOMSKE:
Q: What is the right way to dispose of pharmaceuticals?
A: The best way to dispose of unwanted or unused pharmaceuticals is to take them to a drug take-back program, like the one that UB's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will be assisting with, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Besides these drug take-back programs, some pharmacies will accept pharmaceuticals, so people should check with their pharmacists.
If someone cannot take their materials to return programs, they can mix the pharmaceuticals with something unattractive to people and pets, like used coffee grounds or kitty litter in a plastic bag. That bag should be taped shut and then placed in a non-recyclable plastic container, sealed with tape and placed in the garbage.
Q: Why is it harmful to the environment when people fail to follow proper procedures?
A: Many people flush unused or expired pharmaceuticals down the drain or toilet, thinking the material will get treated in wastewater treatment facilities. Unfortunately, most treatment plants were not designed to deal with pharmaceuticals. The substances pass through the treatment facilities and are released into local waterways, posing a threat for fish and other aquatic organisms. Researchers have found such pharmaceuticals as anti-depressants and anti-seizure medicines in the Great Lakes.
Q: Is improper disposal of pharmaceuticals a common problem?
A:  It is a common and easily treated problem. People can have a positive impact on the health of our freshwater resources, like Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, by utilizing take-back programs, or at least disposing of unwanted or unused pharmaceuticals correctly. They should never flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain!
Not only are unused, unwanted and expired pharmaceuticals an environmental concern when they are flushed or dumped, they also pose a human health threat when they get into the wrong hands. The use of drugs by teenagers and young people is on the rise and, unfortunately, many of them can find these substances right in their parents' and grandparents' medicine chests.
Related Topics:

great lakes, medication, pollution, prescription drugs

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