A Sampling of Clips for August 12^th, 2008

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

Juice for Today's Athlete
Newsweek, Aug. 12 -- The newest—and perhaps most troubling—trend in the world of athletic enhancement, gene doping involves modifying an athlete's DNA, or having them inject or inhale foreign DNA, to make them bigger, stronger and faster. It's harder to detect than most drugs, which makes it all the more desired by cheaters looking to prosper. (Quotes Dr. Ted Friedmann, a leading authority on gene therapy and director of the Center for Molecular Genetics at UCSD's School of Medicine) More

Understanding China
CNN, Aug. 10 – Fareed Zakaria interviews several guests about China, including Susan Shirk, who was a senior State Department official on China during the Clinton administration, and is presently a professor of international relations at UCSD. More

Drop in Oil Prices May Not Boost US Economy Much
CNBC, Aug. 11 -- It has been one of the most predictable trades on Wall Street all year. When oil prices go down, stock markets go up, and vice versa. If the stock market is a reflection of the broader economy, then only half of that equation makes sense. (Quotes UCSD economist James Hamilton) More

Similar story in
Reuters

Beijing Olympic Games Offer Air Pollution Experiment
Los Angeles Times, Aug. 12 -- The brief hiatus in environmental degradation offers a window of opportunity for scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD to chronicle effects of curtailing pollution on global warming. More

Simlar story in
Christian Science Monitor

What's Driving Illegal Immigrants Home?
Sacramento Bee, Opinion, Aug. 12 -- Though it hasn't got much notice, there's now fairly wide agreement that the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has declined by a hefty 10 percent or more in the past year or so. (Mentions research by Wayne Cornelius, director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at UCSD) More

Rise of The Poker Bots
San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 12 -- A Texas Hold 'em program created by a Hillcrest resident finished in a three-way tie for second place in an annual contest that pits artificial intelligence poker programs against each other. The program is called “Fell Omen 2” and its play “has no weaknesses,” said creator Ian Fellows, a researcher and statistician with the UCSD department of psychiatry, who developed the program in his spare time. More

Doctors Warn of Skin Problems from Black Henna
San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 12 -- Doctors nationwide are blaming a rash of skin problems – including blisters, eczema and permanent scarring – on henna tattoos made black with a chemical called p-phenylenediamine. “We've seen a staggering number of people and children getting black henna . . . tattoos at local fairs, beachside stalls and cruise ships,” Dr. Sharon Jacob, a dermatologist at Rady Children's Hospital and a clinical professor at UCSD, said yesterday. More

What's Up, Docs?
San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 12 -- With the recent increase in medical knowledge and new treatments, it's difficult for any one physician to be aware of all the latest data. Studies show that getting another doctor's point of view results in a new diagnosis in as many as 30 percent of cases. Second opinions can provide a fresh perspective and new information so better medical decisions can be made. (Quotes Dr. Ewa Carrier with the Moores UCSD Cancer Center) More

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