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Tag: University of Texas

  • Zika virus might cure brain cancer – Research

    The devastating Zika virus could be used in the fight against brain cancer, a recent medical report said on Friday.

    The report was published on Tuesday by researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, who have been researching into the Zika virus for years, trying to figure out how the virus attacks the brain.

    Read Also:Scientists develop new tool to target mosquito-borne Zika virus

    Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is thought to be the most dangerous form of brain cancer as most patients die within two years after diagnosis.

    According to the leader of the research group, Dr. Shi Peiyong, it is almost incurable because tumors always grow back after surgery and chemotherapy.

    Scientists found that a live-attenuated Zika vaccine with a weakened version of the virus could kill GBM stem cells without causing disease in humans.

    “That’s because GBM stem cells have similar properties to neural stem cells, the target of Zika,’’ Dr. Shi explained.

    Research has shown that the Zika vaccine could prolong the lives of mice with human GBM without damaging the brain or altering their behaviour.

    “However, that is far from enough, we still need to further improve the specificity of the cancer-killing ability, while retaining the safety of the vaccine strain.

    “For example, we need to make sure that the therapeutic vaccine virus does not infect and kill normal neurons in humans,’’ Dr. Shi explained.

    Zika has not been considered as a severe problem until a massive outbreak in 2015.

    Apart from flu-like symptoms, Zika could also cause birth defects including blindness, deformed limbs and microcephaly in children from infected mothers during pregnancy.

    NAN

  • Ex-BBNaija Double Wahala housemate hints on new song `Down’

    Tope Adenibuyan a.k.a `Teddy A,’ BBNaija Double Wahala former housemates, has gotten all his fans excited with news that he is set to drop a new hit “Down’’.

    Teddy, who recently floated Apha Records his own music label made this known on Monday through his instagram handle, @iamteddya.

    “I live for this! Can’t wait to share this beautiful tune with y’all. Love lives here! DOWN out soon!’’

    The 29 year-old U.S. based singer, rapper, song writer and performer did not mentioned the date of the release, but with the sudden revelation, it may be any time soon. The song was produced by Genius Beat.

    However, before floating his record label, the self acclaimed `Badman’ was a musical artist with Big A Entertainment and Africbac Music Group.

    Teddy A, before his participation in the BBNaija show, had a number of hit tracks which included “Pepper’’ in which he featured Phyno, “Feeling the Boy’’ featuring Timaya, “Pop Something’’, “Follow Follow’’, “So Beautiful’’ and others.

    During his stay in the BBNaija house, the father of a four-year old boy and graduate from University of Texas in the U.S. was romantically involved with fellow housemate and strategic partner, Oluwabamike Olawunmi a.k.a Bam Bam.

  • Okagbare to be inducted into University of Texas Hall Of Fame today

    Okagbare to be inducted into University of Texas Hall Of Fame today

    Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare will be recognised by her Alumni, University of Texas  today  as she will be inducted into the University of Texas at El Paso Hall of fame.Four  other alumni who have proved true ambassadors of the institution will be inducted.

    The criteria for being considered for selection to the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame are as follows:
    Participated as a student-athlete at The University of Texas at El Paso
    Been named 1st team “All America.” or…
    Won an NCAA/AIAW national championship, or…
    Set a world record, or…
    Participated in the Olympic Games, or…
    Led the nation in a recognized statistical category, or…
    Succeeded as a professional athlete, or…
    Any male or female athlete who distinguished themselves and the University, or…
    The individual must possess and shall have possessed such qualities as sportsmanship, character and integrity. The individual must not have been convicted of or plead guilty to any criminal activity.
    A former student-athlete shall be first eligible for selection five (5) full academic years after completing his/her eligibility at the University.
    If a student-athlete has left the University prior to completion of eligibility, the five-year waiting period shall have begun at the end of the fourth academic year following their initial enrollment at The University of Texas at El Paso or any other university or junior college.

    It could be recalled that Okagbare scored a 100 m/long jump double at the NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship for University of Texas at El Paso, completing an undefeated collegiate streak that year.

  • ‘Hold varsity mgt. responsible for allocated funds’

    Professor of African Studies, University of Texas, Austin United States, Toyin Falola, has urged Nigerian government to hold university administrators accountable for funds allocated to them.

    Falola also recommended cost sharing between states and beneficiaries of  the school system in the country.

    Falola spoke at the first distinguished lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The lecture was titled: ‘Contemporary issues in the management of higher education in Nigeria.’

    He said the culture of something for nothing is no longer realistic  amid increased stress at the local and global economy levels.

    He added that state funds should be geared towards providing better learning facilities, environment, teachers and condition of service to ensure quality graduates.

    Falola added: “By providing funding, creating new types of universities, making it cheaper to attend school, using the appropriate languages, teaching the right skills, helping currently unemployed citizens to find jobs, we can rise above our present predicament and take our place on the global scale.”

    He said creation of more universities without focus will further complicate the falling standard of education in Nigeria.

    His words: “As long as more and more universities are established with less emphasis on service and merit, so long will standards continue to fall. Why not focus on better funding of existing ones? The ruling elites in collaboration with the post-colonial state are busy establishing new universities for parochial reasons.

    “The Federal and state governments create new universities with limited prior planning. And private universities have emerged with goals that are not always connected with imparting knowledge and building capacity for national development.

    “Add to the problem is undue government intervention in the university system through the instrumentality of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The NUC has over the years, abandoned its traditional regulatory role as stipulated in the edict that established it several decades ago.

    “The NUC has become so powerful that it has usurped the duties of university Senates and councils to the detriment of the requisite autonomy the system needs in order to operate as centre of research and learning. Today, the NUC dictates to vice chancellors and determines university programmes, admissions, and policies without due consideration for their individual peculiarities and comparative advantages.

  • Adeleke Varsity VC wins award

    Adeleke Varsity VC wins award

    The University of Texas at Austin has named Adeleke University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayandiji Daniel Aina as the winner of its 2013 Distinguished Public Service Award. The award was one of the four annual awards for the 13-year old African forum of the Texas varsity. The event took place on March 30, 2013.

    The opening paragraph of the citation for the award read: “A President of a university invariably lives a life of public service. However, for Dr Ayandiji Daniel Aina, this life of public service began long before his appointment as President and Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University in 2011. Dr Aina’s commitment to the promotion of higher education in Nigeria is most admirable and worthy of emulation.”

    In the three-day event, Prof Aina, who was invited to chair two major panels at this years edition of the annual conference, presided over the panel focusing on education development where scholars from Africa, Europe and the United States explored the challenges of education as the bedrock of development. This was the theme of the conference, which explored political developments, religion and social movements in Africa.

    The award was witnessed by university administrators, scholars and researchers from Brazil, Canada, US, Jamaica, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon and Nigeria.

    Prof Femi Mimiko, Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), who witnessed the occasion, praised the organisers for identifying Prof Aina, whom he referred to as a first class scholar and a thoroughbred academic.

    The recipient, Prof Aina, said: “This distinguished public service award given to me shall remain the doyen of recognition of my professional career and public service exploits and shall ginger me on to render quality service not minding the difficult challenges we daily face as African scholars.”

    He added: “I am most honoured by the fact that I became part of this 13-year old gathering of Africanists just seven years ago and have only attended four times, yet my contributions within and without were highlighted through this important recognition. It is evident that this award is an energizer, an added tool designed to assist someone with immense potential not to relent in the pursuit of greater exploits and in adding unquantifiable value to knowledge production and development of the African continent.”