A Sampling of Clips for 
October 22 - 24, 2005

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

Smart Move to Market Bright Ideas
CNN, Oct. 20-History is littered with examples of innovative technologies and great ideas that failed to make the leap to commercial success. But one new U.S. business school believes it can carve out a niche by addressing just this challenge. The UCSD Rady School, which opened its doors to MBA students for the first time last month, has tailored its degree courses to provide guidance in how to take developments to market. More

Stem Cell Work Proceeds with Caution
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 24-A single gene mutation causes Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. That one error can wreak havoc on children born with it, triggering mental retardation, muscle stiffness, uncontrollable writhing, kidney failure and a compulsion to violently gnaw on the lips, tongue and fingertips. The disease may be a perfect candidate for stem cell research. (Refers to research by Theodore Friedmann, a gene therapy expert at UCSD who has studied Lesch-Nyhan for years.) More

A Life-Saving Operation
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 23-A recent fetal surgery performed at UCSD has saved the lives of twin boys who had Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. It was the first such fetal surgery in Southern California, according to UCSD. More

Tasting Sound
Times of India, Oct. 24- Far from remaining the curiosity it has been considered to be in the past, synaesthesia, a cognitive disorder in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, may soon play a significant role in the adaptive rehabilitation of people who suffer from sensory disabilities like deafness and blindness. (Refers to research by UCSD neurologist, V S Ramachandran.) More

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Treasure
Astrobiology Magazine, Oct. 23-Genetic material derisively called "junk" DNA because it does not contain the instructions for protein-coding genes and appears to have little or no function is actually critically important to an organism's evolutionary survival, according to a study conducted by a biologist at UCSD. More

The Scripps Mother Ship
MSNBC, Oct. 23-If you want to understand why Gov. Jeb Bush wants Scripps Florida so much, visit La Jolla, Calif. The community has carved out its own identity as a biotech hub, even though it's actually part of San Diego, the nation's seventh-largest city. (Mentions UCSD.) More

It's Not Your Dad's Oil Story
Newsweek, Oct. 31-Because we think higher oil prices caused double-digit inflation in the '70s, we fear it could happen again. The trouble with this: the facts are wrong. (Quote by James Hamilton, an economist at UCSD.) More

'What Can I Do with This Sound?'
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 23-Ever since early childhood, when he played with pots and pans in his family's kitchen in Brownsville, Texas, composer-percussionist Gustavo Aguilar has been experimenting with sound. Music has taken him all the way to the innovative music department at UCSD. More

Political Promises on Jobs Don't Deliver
Houston Chronicle, Oct. 22-During the election campaign and again this summer as the Bush administration fought for a free trade agreement with Caribbean countries, White House officials regularly extolled their efforts on behalf of American workers who lose their jobs to foreign competition. (Quote by Lori Kletzer, a professor at UCSD.) More

Beach Cleanup
Fox 6, San Diego, Oct. 23-Volunteers picked up "tons" of cigarette butts and other trash during a cleanup operation at Mission beach and bay Saturday, a Surfrider Foundation representative said. The volunteers included students from UCSD, San Diego State University, Brownies and Girl Scouts. More

Scholar Diagnoses Mexico's Political Ailments
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 23-Sergio Aguayo, a professor at the Center for International Studies at the Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, has strong credentials in the fight for democracy. He helped found the Mexican human rights group Alianza Civica, which played a large role in helping bring about more equitable elections. Aguayo will give a talk at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at UCSD at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on "Some Possible Remedies for Mexico's Sick Democracy." More

Hollywood South in North County
North County Times, Oct. 24-Two thumbs up to the forward-thinking San Marcos City Council for supporting the sale of the old recycling plant to a film production studio. After sitting idle for 10 years, the 15-acre site could soon become a major player in San Diego County's booming film industry. San Diego County is already home to a talented pool of filmmakers, including UCSD student Laren Poole. More

Med Data Exchange System Urged
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 23-The San Diego County Medical Society Foundation is creating a network for all health care entities in the region to electronically exchange information to better track and treat patients. (Quote by Ed Babakanian, chief information officer at UCSD Medical Center.) More

Poll Numbers Clash on Propositions
North County Times, Oct. 23-All those polling numbers about ballot initiatives got you feeling dazed and confused? You're not alone. With the conflicting numbers shown in recent public opinion polls, many voters must be wondering just what is going on. (Quote by Thad Kousser, a political science professor at UCSD.) More