Episode Summary

Shelie Miller is an associate professor of environment and sustainable systems and is also the director of Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan, but don't let her smile fool you, she's also know as "Mean Josie Green!"

Shelie Miller: https://seas.umich.edu/research/faculty/shelie-miller
Misperceptions of Plastic story: http://myumi.ch/jxbjV

Episode Notes

Portrait Photo: Doug Coombe
Roller Derby Photos: Dan Bachorik

Michigan News Beyond the Headlines S2 Episode #4 Shelie Miller

The protests calling for "Homeland and Life" in Cuba have been met with military tanks and censorship by the Cuban government. Sociologist Silvia Pedraza from the University of Michigan says the protests are the result of a perfect storm that includes the coronavirus pandemic, the lack of a charismatic leader, the deep financial crisis unleashed by changes in the CUC currency, the de-dollarization of the Cuban economy and access to the internet.

Full Q&A: myumi.ch/wlYnk

Protests in Cuba: The Beginning of a New Revolution?

Michael Traugott, professor emeritus of communication studies and political science and research professor emeritus at the Center for Political Studies, says the Jan. 6 insurrection—where many voters wrongly believed there was fraud in the 2020 presidential election—was an assault on democracy not seen since the War of 1812. What it means for politicians in both parties as they maneuver for power in the 2022 and 2024 elections remains to be seen, he says.

Full Q&A: https://myumi.ch/n88mA

Traugott on the need for a historical record of the events

Dan Slater, professor of political science and the director of the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, says this war is not Russia against Ukraine but Putin against peace and democracy. Slater gives us his opinion on the future of Russia, Ukraine, and democracy.

Full Q&A: https://myumi.ch/bRbdj

Dan Slater on Russia’s attack on Ukraine

William Calvo-Quirós, who tells us about his research on lowriders, jotería and his upcoming book about saints and monsters, and how it all connects to the Latinx experience in the US.

Episode 1: Puro escándalo, featuring William Calvo-Quirós

Marjoris Regus, who recently finished her PhD at the University of Michigan and is returning to New Jersey to teach music. She shares her experience as an Afro-Latina, her personal journey defining her identity and the challenges she's faced within and outside the Latino community.

Episode 3: Musically speaking, featuring Marjoris Regus

The Biden administration recently announced a new national strategy  to end hunger by 2030 and make healthy foods more available.

Katherine Bauer, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and the Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Food Security at the University of Guelph (2022-23), can discuss aspects of the plan.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/3kdn9

Katherine Bauer On Biden's Plan To End Hunger

University of Michigan researchers examined the effects of three months of exercise on people with obesity, and found that exercise can favorably modify abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, the fat tissue just beneath the skin, in ways that can improve metabolic health–even without weight loss. 

They also found, surprisingly, that moderate and high intensity exercise yielded the same positive changes in fat tissue composition and structure, and that fat cells still shrank a bit even without weight loss, said Jeffrey Horowitz,  professor in the School of Kinesiology and principal investigator.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/e6VQQ

U-M Kinesiology prof Jeffrey Horowitz on exercise, fat tissue and weight loss

New research from Movement Science faculty members and Kinesiology PhD students are providing evidence that exercise can protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

U-M Kinesiology prof Jacob Haus on intense exercise protecting memory

For decades, China's large population was seen as a burden. Is the latest announcement of demographic decline negative? Is the structure of its population, with imbalances of both age and gender, the real problem?

University of Michigan assistant professor Yun Zhou, a social demographer and family sociologist, share insights on what to know and what is next for China and the significance of the country's population shrinking.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/VM7ej

U-M Sociology's Yun Zhou discusses China's population decline

For decades, China's large population was seen as a burden. Is the latest announcement of demographic decline negative? Is the structure of its population, with imbalances of both age and gender, the real problem?

University of Michigan professor Mary Gallagher, an expert in Chinese politics, law and society, and labor politics, shares insights on what to know and what is next for China and the significance of the country's population shrinking.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/VM7ej

U-M Political Science professor Mary Gallagher discusses China's population decline

For years, nurses have detailed chronically poor working conditions and health care executives have warned of impending nursing staffing crises––but few recent studies have asked nurses directly about their employment plans. 


To that end, University of Michigan researchers launched the Michigan Nurses Survey, asking 9,150 state-licensed nurses in Michigan about their plans to leave their current nursing jobs, reduce hours, or pursue travel nursing. They also surveyed 1,224 nurses who left their nursing positions within the past two years. Researchers hoped the study would paint a clearer picture for Michigan and inform solutions, said Christopher Friese, Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing, and lead study author.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/8eQG5

U-M Nursing's Christopher Friese on Michigan Nurses Survey

Women's gymnastics has the highest rate of preseason concussion of all NCAA sports, with women gymnasts experiencing concussions at a rate 50% higher than football players. Lead researcher Steve Broglio said women are underrepresented in research studies that help set clinical concussion protocol, and hopes these findings allow people to examine what's happening and improve outcomes.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/EPZWG

Researcher Steven Broglio on women's gymnastics concussion rates

People who did light exercise within 48 hours after a concussion saw their symptoms resolve in about half the time as those who waited over a week to exercise, a new study found.

The University of Michigan paper adds to the growing body of science that suggests that "cocoon therapy"––bed rest in the dark with minimal mental stimulation after concussion––isn't good for patients, and that exercise while symptomatic––when done under the guidance of a trained clinician, is preferable, said Landon Lempke, a research fellow with appointments in the Concussion Center and the Exercise and Sport Science Initiative, both housed in the School of Kinesiology. Landon is first author of the paper.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/73QEd

U-M Kinesiology researcher Landon Lempke on the benefits of light exercise after concussion

A University of Michigan study to appear in JAMA Network Open found that's not the case.  Researchers report that high school seniors who used stimulant therapy were no more likely to use cocaine or methamphetamine as young adults (19-24), than peers who did not use stimulant therapy to treat ADHD as teenagers.

"These findings should be comforting to parents who have teenagers taking stimulants for ADHD, who worry that these medications may lead to illicit stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine as their children enter young adulthood and become more independent," said lead researcher Sean Esteban McCabe, professor of nursing and director of the Center of the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/AWQje

Researcher Sean Esteban McCabe discusses stimulant therapy for ADHD in teens

Scientists already know that the stress caused by racial discrimination is related to a host of chronic health conditions, but less is known about which types of discrimination are most harmful. 

To answer that question, researchers at the U-M School of Kinesiology surveyed 100 adolescents aged 13-19, who had obesity or who were overweight, about their experiences with institutional, peer, educational, and cumulative discrimination. They measured their salivary cortisol five times a day over three days, and found that teens who experienced peer discrimination––racial discrimination from other teens––had unhealthy levels of the so-called stress hormone cortisol circulating in their bodies throughout the day. Disruptions in cortisol patterns can lead to unhealthy cortisol levels in the body, which is connected to many chronic health conditions.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/Qq4xE

Rebecca Hasson on teens discriminating against teens

Roughly 40% of older Black adults live with a disability, compared to only one-third of older adults overall.  

Disability is one of various disparities highlighted in a new study from the University of Michigan, which used data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging to examine the extent to which 50- to 80-year-olds were prepared to age in place and the racial and ethnic disparities that exist to that end.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/n7QgR

Sheria Robinson-Lane on the high rate of disability among black older adults

The second Monday in October is observed as a federal holiday, but many communities nationwide are changing their focus to celebrate Native Americans rather than the explorer whose efforts led to slavery and violence against them centuries ago. 

University of Michigan law professor Matthew Fletcher, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, says the day (Oct. 9) should not honor Christopher Columbus, in part, since he "discovered" land already occupied by Indigenous people. In fact, cities and states are increasingly replacing "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to celebrate Native American culture and contributions to society.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/w7GjW

U-M law professor Matthew Fletcher on Indigenous People's Day

Racial and ethnic disparities and aging needs among older adults persist today despite the raft of health care changes that occurred after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, a new study shows.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and Syracuse University found that wide disparities in difficulties with daily tasks—and who can afford to pay for care to help meet those needs—remain. However, those disparities were not present among the poorest Americans, they say. 

"Hoping America's long-term care problems away won't work," said Geoffrey Hoffman, assistant professor in the School of Nursing. "Policies not directly targeting the millions of Americans with unmet needs won't do the job. We need direct solutions to ease burdens that disproportionately impact minority groups, older Americans and their family members."

Learn more: https://news.umich.edu/racial-ethnic-disparities-in-long-term-care-remain-among-older-adults-despite-passage-of-aca/

U-M Nursing's Geoffrey Hoffman on racial, ethnic disparities in aging since the Affordable Care Act

Thanksgiving is a time for loved ones to gather and reconnect, but for some it can be a stressful and anxiety-filled time as families navigate the "minefields" of political and religious conversations. 

University of Michigan psychology professor Robin Edelstein offers tips in handling difficult conversations.

Full Q&A: https://myumi.ch/NkwjR

Robin Edelstein on handling difficult Thanksgiving conversations

Ninety-four percent of Michigan nurses report emotional exhaustion, with younger nurses significantly more likely to report burnout––a key component of emotional exhaustion––than their colleagues who are over 45.

The data were collected from the Michigan Nurses' Survey in 2022, which was released in April and found that up to 39% of Michigan nurses planned to leave their jobs. The survey was led by the University of Michigan School of Nursing. 

This latest paper examined three outcomes among nurses: emotional exhaustion, a key component of burnout, thoughts of self-harm, and overall wellness, and identified interventions.

Principal investigator Christopher Friese, Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing, was surprised by the number of younger nurses experiencing burnout.

"I've been studying nurse burnout for 20 years and these are among the highest numbers I've seen," he said.

Learn more: https://myumi.ch/M6bpe

Emotional Well-Being Outcomes of Registered Nurses

Alain Mukwege discusses how rape has been used to destroy the fabric of society in the Democratic Republic of Congo - one of the most dangerous places in the world for women. Mukwege is a visiting scholar and research associate at the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan. To learn more about this story, visit myumi.ch/LR5gM.

Alain Mukwege on rape as a terror tool in the DR Congo

A gelada male giving a vocal sequence that includes a yawn call. Photo by John Allen. 

Gelada Male Vocal Sequence

An example playback stimulus of a male giving a sequence of grunts. Photo by Morgan Gustison.

Gelada Male Vocal Grunts

An example playback stimulus of a male giving a complex sequence that includes a wobble call. Photo by Morgan Gustison.

Gelada Male Wobble Call

A new study of geladas—a species of monkey living in Ethiopia—has revealed that their long, complex vocal sequences follow a pattern seen in many human languages: the longer the overall sequence, the shorter the sounds within it. 

Gelada Vocal Sequence Of 24 Calls

U-M President Mark Schlissel and Roger Cone, Vice Provost and Director of the Biosciences Initiative, discuss the Biosciences Initiative at the University of Michigan.

0:13 Learn more about Roger Cone
1:12 Why launch a biosciences initiative?
2:03 What the initiative means to Roger Cone
3:00 What faculty should know about the initiative
4:54 The work that has gone on so far
6:39 What is planned for the fall
7:52 How the coordinating committee was selected
9:44 Where the resources will be invested
12:26 Why this is unique at Michigan
13:28 What the public should know

Learn mores about biosciences at U-M at myumi.ch/JgMqj

The Biosciences Initiative at the University of Michigan

More kids start vaping at younger ages than five years ago. U-Michigan researchers found that the number of lifetime e-cigarette users who started at age 14 or younger has more than tripled over five years.

Full story: myumi.ch/PlEZ4

U-M School of Nursing's Rebecca Evans-Polce on younger vaping ages

Where did the 2019 Hong Kong protests come from? What has been fueling the protests? What is Hong Kong fighting for? What does it really want from Beijing? What do mainland Chinese think of Hong Kong protests and why? How do Hong Kong protests affect the U-M campus?

We asked two U-M students from Hong Kong and one professor who was born and raised in mainland China to share their memories and answer the above questions.

On this episode:
- Nicole Wu, Ph.D. student in political science
- Edgar Chung, undergraduate student in the College of Engineering
- Xiaohong Xu, assistant professor of sociology

Contributors
Host: Hans Anderson
Producer: Debing Su
Project Assistant: Siyin Zheng
Sound Editor: Justin DeGroat
Executive producers: Laura Lessnau, Bernie DeGroat

Episode #1: Hong Kong Protests

Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine, a new University of Michigan study suggests.

The result challenges conventional wisdom about vaping nicotine, says the study's principal investigator, Carol Boyd, the Deborah J. Oakley Collegiate Professor Emerita at the U-M School of Nursing.

https://myumi.ch/Bob4B

Nursing prof Carol Boyd on Lung Damage from Vaping Marijuana

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