A Sampling of Clips for Sept. 17, 2010

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

Study Suggests Link Between a Type Of Virus, Obesity In Children
FOX Business News, Sept. 20 – A  new study released Monday provides additional evidence supporting a link between obesity and a type of virus known to cause common respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Researchers at UC San Diego have been exploring whether a type of adenovirus, known as adenovirus 36, might play a role in the development of obesity. More

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TIME Magazine
The Wall Street Journal
Bloomberg
USA Today
The Washington Post
San Francisco Chronicle
San Diego Union-Tribune

Better Coordination Needed in US Tsunami Warnings
CBS News, Sept. 18 -- The U.S. system to warn about giant waves has improved since the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, but more work lies ahead, according to an analysis that noted at least one instance when alerts from centers in Hawaii and Alaska appeared to contradict each other. "For a tsunami warning system to be effective, it must operate flawlessly, and emergency officials must coordinate seamlessly and communicate clearly," John Orcutt of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., said in a statement. More

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MSNBC
FOX News
The Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
Forbes
Seattle Times
Sacramento Bee
Contra Costa Times
San Diego Union-Tribune

Better Health, With a Little Help From Our Friends
The New York Times, Sept. 18 -- Is your social network making you fat? Are your friends and family influencing you to smoke and drink more, or to sleep less? And if our relationships contribute to behaviors that erode our health, can social networks be harnessed to improve it? These are seminal questions in “network science” — an emerging field that examines how behavioral changes spread through social networks. James Fowler, of UC San Diego, is one of the lead researchers in the field. More

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Public Radio International

Cellphone Talk Distracts Bystanders
UPI, Sept. 17 -- Cellphone conversations are irritating to people close enough to hear only half of the conversation, U.S. researchers say. (Quotes psycholinguist Benjamin Bergen of UC San Diego) More

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Wired News

High-protein Greek Yogurt Gains in Popularity
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 20 -- Super-thick, creamy nonfat Greek yogurt has become a highly popular product, with the benefits of a high-quality protein. A few short years ago, Greek yogurt was a rarity on supermarket shelves. (Quotes Vicky Newman, director of the Healthy Eating Program at Moores UC San Diego Cancer Center) More

Boxer Again Vows to Work for Military Issues
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 18 -- Facing fierce criticism from her Republican opponent on her record on military issues, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer made yet another visit Friday to a facility with military ties meeting with officials of a USC program who are training mental healthcare providers to work with veterans and active duty personnel. (Quotes UC San Diego political scientist Thad Kousser) More

Busy Bodies, Happy Minds
The Chicago Tribune, Sept. 20 -- With unemployment idling near 10%, the negative effect of job loss on mental health  has assumed a sharp relevance. Losing work has been linked to depressive symptoms, heavy alcohol use and even long-term psychological damage. (Mentions research by Ariely and Daniel Mochon, who examines consumer behavior at UC San Diego's Rady School of Management) More

Boxer Unapologetic for Reputation as a Fighter
San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 20 -- This was to be the crowning year of California Sen. Barbara Boxer's career: More than three decades as a liberal environmental crusader had landed her at the helm of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, with lead jurisdiction over climate-change legislation. (Quotes UC San Diego political scientist Samuel Popkin) More

UCSD Looks for Big Enrollment in Extended Studies
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept.19 -- The UC San Diego’s extended studies program has reported record enrollment for the last academic year and expects similar numbers in the upcoming academic year, which begins this week. UCSD Extension served 55,598 students in the 2009-10 academic year, according to figures released last week. More

The Bersin Hangover
Voice of San Diego, Sept. 19 -- Five years have passed since Alan Bersin ended his rocky tenure as superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. He is now known nationally as the border czar, not a schools chief. (Quotes Bud Mehan, who directs a center on educational equity at UC San Diego) More

UCSD Welcomes 2,600 Transfer Students
La Jolla Light, Sept. 20 -- A record 2,600 transfer students will join 3,950 incoming freshmen when the fall session opens at UC San Diego on Thursday, it was announced Monday. The number of transfer students is up by 35 percent over last year, according to the university, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. More

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