Flyover Country making life better for the world – October 15, 2019
Powerful research making life better
Today's itinerary:
October 15, 2019
FLYOVER RESEARCH
Possible link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s 
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Scientists are exploring the possibility that the same bacterium that leads to gum disease may be implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease—and that could open the door to new treatment options.
A study published in Science Advances described the results of examining the brain tissue of deceased Alzheimer’s patients. In the tissue samples, the researchers discovered one of the main pathogens responsible for the development of gum disease: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). The researchers also found the bacterium’s DNA in the spinal fluid of living Alzheimer’s patients, and tests on mice showed evidence that the bacterium can spread from the mouth to the brain.
However, the study isn’t conclusive enough to support a cause-and-effect relationship between gum disease and the development of Alzheimer’s, so experts in the field are responding with caution. University of Louisville microbiologist Jan Potempa, PhD, a member of the international team that conducted the research, said, “We now have strong evidence connecting P. gingivalis and Alzheimer’s pathogenesis, but more research needs to be done.”
Ohio State researchers closer to RSV vaccine Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that causes mild symptoms in adults, but the virus can be very serious in children. According to the CDC, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.
A new study from Ohio State University is working to develop a vaccine that is weak enough not to make people sick, but just enough to prompt the immune system to respond and defend against RSV.
Creating the vaccine involved knocking out an epigenetic modification known as N6-methyladenosine in RSV RNA. Miaoge Xue, the study’s lead author and a graduate student in the virology lab in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, says “This approach may also work for similar viruses, such human metapneumovirus and human parainfluenza virus 3.”
FLYOVER LIFE
Sisters create app for families with special needs 
Photo by Mohamed_hassan for Pixabay
Nine years ago, twin sisters Melissa Danielsen and Melanie Fountaine launched Josh’s Place, in memory of their late brother who had developmental disabilities. Josh’s Place provides disability services and group homes throughout Minnesota.
Now they have a new app called Joshin that connects people in the Twin Cities to a network of disability caregivers. It can also be used to book caregivers if the main caregiver needs to run errands or enjoy some time out.
The app caught the eye of Alison Gelb Pincus, who was previously married to Mark Pincus, the billionaire Zynga founder. Pincus used the app for her own family and is now an advisory board member for the startup. Joshin plans to raise a seed round of funding in the near future, Danielsen said.
Pittsburgh to adopt UN's Sustainable Development Goals Pittsburgh is putting America on notice. Mayor Bill Peduto recently announced the city's public commitment to formally integrate the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), becoming only the second city in the US to do so to date. Like New York City before it, the City of Bridges is moving full (clean) steam ahead, enacting the 17 benchmark goals developed to “eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and improve quality of life” for present and future Pittsburghers.
According to Peduto, “the city is establishing a partnership network of local, national, and international organizations that will help measure the city's progress,” the end goal being a cleaner, safer, and more equitable Pittsburgh.
Peduto's announcement follows his attendance at the UN's 74th General Assembly, where both he and representatives from numerous higher education institutions in the Pittsburgh area touted the city's myriad accomplishments in sustainability.
BUSINESS TRIPS 
Wisconsin excels at winning NSF business grants Congrats to Wisconsin for having the second-best success rate in securing National Science Foundation (NSF) business grants. Between 2008 and 2017, Wisconsin had a 26.7% success rate for its applications to NSF. (New Hampshire edged it out at 28%.) The funding included both Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards, intended to support research leading to new business opportunities, and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants, aimed at facilitating “joint ventures between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions.”
The NSF is an independent federal agency created in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.” In fiscal year 2019, it had a budget of $8.1 billion dollars, and it funded more than a quarter of federally supported research at US universities.
Business leaders say Wisconsin’s robust startup ecosystem, and in particular, its innovative work in the areas of biological sciences and healthcare technologies, has been an important factor in the grant success rate.
Iowa's Dwolla wins Excellence in Finance award at FiNext Conference Dwolla, a Des Moines-based financial technology company that specializes in mobile payment tech, won the Excellence in Finance award at the FiNext Conference in Orlando last month. The award goes to companies that make a significant contribution toward the financial sector.
IN FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
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