A Sampling of Clips for June 5^th, 2008

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

Sunlight, Vitamin D May Cut Kids' Diabetes Risk
U.S. News & World Report, June 5 -- Adequate sun exposure and vitamin D levels may play an important role in helping to prevent type 1 diabetes in children, a new study suggests. Researchers at UCSD analyzed type 1 diabetes incidence rates and found that populations living at or near the equator -- where there is abundant sunshine -- have lower rates of the disease than populations at higher latitudes, where there is less sunlight. More

Similar story in
Globe and Mail, Canada

Artificial Sweeteners Confound the Brain; May Lead to Diet Disaster
Scientific American, June 2008 -- Splenda is not satisfying—at least according to the brain. A new study found that even when the palate cannot distinguish between the artificial sweetener and sugar, our brain knows the difference. At UCSD, 12 women underwent functional MRI while sipping water sweetened with either real sugar (sucrose) or Splenda (sucralose). More

Puerto Vallarta's Not Just for Tourists, It's for Artists Too
Los Angeles Times, June 4 -- It's been 4 1/2 decades since director John Huston and company came here to shoot “The Night of the Iguana” and placed this former fishing village on the map. But Puerto Vallarta still conjures up Hollywood-style tropical fantasies that lure cruise ships and charter-jet tourists by the tens of thousands every year. (Mentions UCSD professor Ruben Ortiz-Torres) More

Robot Nannies Threat to Child Care
Daily Telegraph, June 5 -- A warning that parents may be sorely tempted to give up looking after their children because of advances in child-minding robots is issued today. (Mentions Dr. Fumihide Tanaka, who has conducted studies of Sony’s 23 inch tall Qrio at UCSD, and his colleague Dr Javier Movellan, who is also developing his own child friendly robot, RUBI.) More

Scientist: Warming Bodes Ill for Water
Las Vegas Sun, June 5 -- Federal scientists and Western water managers will call Congress’ attention Friday to the potentially devastating effects of climate change on the Colorado River, warning that an expected warming trend would reduce the amount of water in the river. (Quotes Tim Barnett, from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography) More

Upshaw Sings for Birds, Fans at Ojai New Music Fest: Alan Rich
Bloomberg, June 4 -- Contradiction abides in loveable Ojai, California, an easygoing, bucolic hamlet (population about 8,000) of horse farms and orange groves that, once a year, turns itself into a Woodstock for hard-core devotees of new music. (Mentions Philippe Manoury on the UCSD faculty) More

Spoleto Scores
with Heaney's Searing Antigone
Globe and Mail, June 3 -- The big event at this year's Spoleto Festival is the opera Amistad, written by UCSD professor Anthony Davis, that inaugurates the $6-million (U.S.) renovation of the Memminger Auditorium that had been left a ruin by hurricane Hugo in 1989.  More

UCSD Grad to Compete in Beijing
La Jolla Light, June 4 -- Julie (Swail) Ertel, a UCSD graduate ('95) who guided the women's water polo team to two national championships, will be attending the Olympic Games. Ertel, by winning the second of three U.S. triathlon trials recently in Alabama, secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. More

Historic Honor
La Jolla Light, June 4 -- The La Jolla Historical Society, the Kumeyaay Indians and UCSD have been honored with the 2008 Historic Preservation Award in Cultural Diversity by the city of San Diego Historic Resources Board. The award is for their shared work on University House. More