Weekend, February 13-15, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal

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Romantic pentameter: Need to smoove your girl? We’ve got you covered ARTS

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

IT’S OVER: BADGERS END FIVE-GAME SKID Sophomore forward Tara Steinbauer leads UW to win with double-double

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Weekend, February 13-15, 2009

Common cold DNA unlocked on campus

GRAPHIC BY JENNY PEEK/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Stem cells develop heartbeat By Molly Sheetz THE DAILY CARDINAL

UW-Madison researchers have discovered a way to convert stem cells developed from adult skin cells into functional heart-muscle tissue, a breakthrough that could change the way the medical community treats heart disease. A paper published Thursday in the scientific journal Circulation Research details the study conducted since 2007. Using induced plu-

ripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, UW cardiologist Dr. Tim Kamp created heart-muscle cells that, under a microscope, visibly maintain a steady heartbeat. UW-Madison researcher James Thompson and his research team created iPS cells in 2007, which can be generated from adult tissue and do not generate the controversy associated with embryonic stem cells. In 1998, Thompson was the first scientist to remove and grow human

JEFF MILLER/UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Charter to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL

Charter Communications, the main provider of cable television to Madison residents, announced Thursday they will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of massive debts. The company agreed to declare bankruptcy by April 1 in a restructuring deal with creditors that will help to reduce Charter’s debt by $8 billion. Charter said in a statement that company operations are expected to continue as normal, including service to customers and general workings of the business. “We are committed to continuing to provide our 5.5 million customers with quality cable, Internet and phone service,” said Neil Smit, president and chief executive officer in a statement, “And through this agreement, we will be even better-positioned to deliver the products and services

our customers demand now and in the future.” Yet Charter’s stock value dropped by over 55 percent upon the announcement, declining to roughly $0.03 cents a share on the NASDAQ index. The stock was over $1.67 a share earlier in the financial year, according to nasdaq.com. The company still has roughly $800 million in cash, according to the statement, which, when combined with other assets, should allow the company to pay normal operating costs and expenses. Despite this, Charter still plans to raise $3 billion in capital to make the company more financially viable, though it will also make $74 million interest payments on the debts. Donald Hausch, professor of operations and information management for the UW-Madison School of charter page 3

embryonic stem cells. In the past, embryonic stem cells have proven capable of forming heart cells, but this study marks the first time iPS cells have been used to form the same heart cells. “[The study] shows that those induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated and can form heart cells, which we thought they should be able to do because embryonic stem cells can, and we think they’re like embryonic stem cells,” Kamp said. Kamp also said researchers are excited that iPS cells allow them to create disease models, which, when constructed in a lab dish, would allow scientists to develop a better understanding of heart disease within a contained environment. The iPS cells have been used for more than just heart muscle development. Dr. Clive Svendson of the UW-Madison School of Medicine and his lab have also successfully used these iPS cells to create motor neuron

cells in a disease-model of spinal muscular atrophy. UW-Madison scientist Jianhua Zhang, lead author on the paper, said she believes iPS cell development can positively affect the future of medicine by allowing doctors to personalize the way they treat patients While she admits it could be several years before iPS technology is actively incorporated into cell therapy, Zhang feels that, since its start in 2007, iPS research has made very significant progress. Edward Fallone, president of the non-profit group Wisconsin Stem Cell Now, said the discovery is exciting and such research with iPS cells must continue. “Everything we learn about replacement tissue and the ability to generate replacements for body tissues that are diseased or damaged, everything we learn brings us one step closer to eventually being able to cure these conditions,” Fallone said.

Scientists at UW-Madison were crucial in mapping the entire genetic code of the common cold, researchers announced Thursday, likely leading to relief for many worldwide. University clinicians started the process when they needed to find the gene sequences of the common cold virus in an ongoing study of asthma patients. They collaborated with the University of Maryland to do so, said Ann Palmenberg, UW-Madison professor of molecular virology and co-author of the study. “We needed the complete genome, so we decided ‘what the heck,’ we’ll take all the ones that haven’t been done and do the whole thing,” Palmenberg said. She said the sequencing of the genetic code tells a “huge amount about the biochemistry” of the virus, and only 30 of the 99 strains were sequenced before the study. No other researchers had yet studied the cellular structures inside the virus that make humans sick, according to Palmenberg. The common cold has three major species: A, B and C. Although the three differ, mapping the entire genetic sequence let researchers draw comparisons between the three and better understand how to fight the disease, she said. However, she said it is unlikely there will be a vaccine for the virus page 3

Love at first read: 1966 flashback By Ashley Spencer THE DAILY CARDINAL

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n Tuesday, Nov. 1, 1966, Jeffrey Bartell saw his future wife for the first time in a black and white photo on the 11th page of the Daily Cardinal. There, on the right side of the page, Jeff stared at an exquisite beauty, pictured with a cute flippy bob parted to the side, her lips rounded in a warm smile. Above the photo, Jeff read her name, “Angie Baldi.” At the time, the Cardinal was profiling the Wisconsin Homecoming Queen Candidates, and Jeff liked what he saw. “This is a nice-looking group,” Jeff remembered thinking as he circled the pictures of a couple of the attractive co-eds. But Angela stood out. It wasn’t just her striking looks that caught Jeff’s eye. The short biography under love story page 3

PHOTO COURTESY JEFF BARTELL

Thanks to a 1966 Daily Cardinal, Jeff Bartell was able to meet and eventually marry the love of his life, Angie Baldi.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”


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