© University of Rochester 1996-2012
“There seems to be an optimum sleep requirement for each person. To say we all need eight hours of sleep is the same as saying we all need size 11 shoes.” —Donald Greenblatt, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Strong Sleep Disorders Center, in the Washington Post, responding to a study that shows insomnia is costing the Canadian province of Quebec more than $6.5 billion annually.
“This is a time when families may be looking at options that are less costly. There are a lot of families who may make $180,000 to $200,000 but can’t afford $50,000 a year and might apply to a Rochester, where merit aid this year can be as much as $14,000.”—Jonathan Burdick, dean of admissions and financial aid, remarking on how the economic downturn could affect college applicants.
“What this study shows is that either we are getting exposed to a lot more BPA than we thought, or it’s hanging around longer than we thought, or both.”—Richard Stahlhut, a postdoctoral fellow at the Environmental Health Sciences Center, discussing a study his team conducted that suggests bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic consumer products, remains in the body longer than previously thought.
“The number is a reflection of the robust elections we have in the United States. It is something to be celebrated.”—David Primo, an associate professor of political science, on the record $4.1 billion bill for the 2008 elections.
“Often what little effect you might produce is not enough to alter the outcome.” —Richard Pomerantz, clinical chief of cardiology, assessing the value of a clot-busting drug to treat cardiac arrest.
“This vaccine has really had a very profound effect on the incidence of pneumococcal disease.”—Nancy Bennett, a professor of medicine, commenting on a new study showing that rates of potentially life-threatening pneumococcal meningitis have significantly declined since the 2000 introduction of Prevnar, a vaccine that is based on technology developed at the University.
“Although we’ve known for a long time that RSV is highly contagious and that RSV is the most important cause of lower respiratory tract infections in young children, this study gives us an idea of how common RSV infections are in the various age groups.”—Caroline Hall, a professor of pediatrics and medicine, commenting on a study she led that found respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for one of every 13 visits to a pediatrician and one of every 38 trips to an emergency room.
“The degree of information entangled can disappear faster than the information itself. It’s completely nonclassical physics.”—Joseph Eberly, a professor of physics and astronomy, discussing quantum mechanics research that he carried out with colleague Ting Yu, showing that entangled particles can suddenly and irrevocably lose their connection, a phenomenon called “Entanglement Sudden Death.”
© University of Rochester 1996-2012