THURSDAY APRIL 29, 20100
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The OU softball team hosted Oklahoma State on Wednesday night. Recap on page 6.
A former Sooner’s ner’s TTV series based ed in Oklahoma had a three-seasonn rrun. Learn more re aabout her plans ns oon page 3.
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oZONE past major problems, OU IT says Next stage in improvement schedule for online platform includes updates to appearance, convenience CASEY WILSON Daily Staff Writer
For students frustrated with oZONE, the worst is over, according to OU Information Technologyw. OU IT is working on improvements to the computer program, but the main changes will be modifications to the usability and appearance, said OU IT spokesman Nick Key. “Phase 2 will address much of the feedback received from students, faculty and staff,” Key said. For instance, Key said OU IT plans to
implement a flexible registration module similar to enroll.ou.edu that will offer trial schedule capability back into the enrollment process. “We will also improve the overall look, feel and usability of oZONE,” he said. Key said OU IT also is working on a Webhosting and file-storage service called Portfolio. This service will eventually replace the current Web hosting, he said. OU’s online services could soon be available to those with smart phones. OU IT also is working with the OU administration, the Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth and colleges across campus to develop mobile content for iPhones, iPads and other mobile platforms, he said. Students said they have found the changes to OU’s websites to be frustrating in certain sections and are glad the bugs are
being worked out. Long Nguyen, University College freshman, said the only problem he has with oZONE is the enrollment tab. “I don’t want to have to click on 18 tabs to enroll in one class,” Nguyen said. Nguyen said he enjoyed being able to use enroll.ou.edu, but likes that IT will implement the trial schedule capability into oZONE. “It would make life a lot easier,” he said. Compared to enroll.ou.edu, Nguyen said the money tab of oZONE makes tracking his bursar account much easier. Allison Douglas, University College freshman, said she does not like the setup of oZONE. “There’s too many links,” Douglas said. “It needs to be more streamlined.” —Jessica Sheets contributed to this report
OU SCIENTISTS DISCOVER PINK EYE CAUSE Scientists at the OU Health Sciences Center are among researchers who recently discovered how the virus that causes pink eye affects the eye. Viral keratoconjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a contagious virus which causes the eye to become inflamed and red. Until now, scientists knew its symptoms and effects, but not exactly how it worked or how to effectively treat it. The OU HSC worked with scientists at Harvard Medical School and the Department of Ophthalmology of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in the study. The group found that a coating around the virus is most responsible for the discomfort and inflammation caused by pink eye. In turn, the inflammation bothers the rest of the eye, according to a report published by the group. “This is important because without inflammation, there would be no discharge from the eye and therefore no transmission,” said Dr. James Chodosh, the lead author of the report and surgeon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. “Now that we know what causes inflammation, we hope to find a way to block it.” The researchers used mice to test different parts of the virus to see which part created swelling. Also, the researchers were able to prevent this swelling, which could become a treatment for pink eye. “With this ne w understanding, we are one step closer to developing a treatment for the common — and highly contagious — eye condition,” Chodosh said. —Kathleen Evans/The Daily
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Mice play Wednesday afternoon at Petco in Norman. Researchers at the OU Health Sciences Center used similar mice to find a possible cure for blindnes caused by a disease that affects the lining of the eye.
OU researchers may have found cure for eye disease Results of OU scientists’ tests show possible cure for a disease known to cause blindness KATHLEEN EVANS Daily Staff Writer
Two OU Health Sciences Center researchers are part of a group of scientists who may have found a cure for a blinding disease. The disease, retinitis pigmentosa, affects the retina, or lining, of the eye. Retinitis pigmentosa decreases vision in those affected. Although it does not completely blind in most cases, it does greatly reduce the field of vision. The disorder is genetic, said Muna Naash, a cell biology researcher at OU HSC. To find a cure, the researchers studied mice who had the abnormal gene that causes the disease. They used three methods to test the affected mice, according to the lab report. The first and most effective method involved using nanoparticles to deliver the normal gene. Nanoparticles work together as a group
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to deliver or transport the gene. In this group of mice, scientists found hints of healing and reduced blindness. “[These] nanoparticles are an exciting treatment study for these diseases, and we look forward to exciting new developments,” Naash said. In the other test groups, scientists only gave the normal gene without the use of nanoparticles. Also, they delivered saline to one as a control group. In these two studies, the mice continued to lose vision, according to the lab report. Until now, there has been no cure or treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, Naash said. However, these results suggest that loss of sight due to this particular disorder could be cured. “We hope the results of our study will be instrumental in generating a cure for the debilitating blindness associated with [this disease] and other retinal diseases,” Naash said. Also involved from OU HSC was Xue Cai, who works in the department of cell biology. Other people involved in the study were researchers from the Ross Eye Institute, the University of Buffalo and Copernicus Therapeutics Inc.
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CAMPUS SECURITY CATCH BIKE THIEVES OUPD conducted a sting operation to find bike thieves Saturday, resulting in one arrest and an assault on a police officer. This semester multiple bikes have been stolen on campus, according to OUPD reports. OUPD Criminal Investigation Division conducted the undercover bike theft operation, which involved a “bait” bike being placed on campus under the supervision of OUPD officers. Two suspects attempted to steal the bait bike, police reports stated. During the arrest process of the suspects, one suspect assaulted an OUPD officer and escaped. During the subsequent pursuit, another OUPD police officer was injured. The second suspect was taken into custody without incident. —Casey Wilson/The Daily
VOL. 95, NO. 145