A Sampling of Clips for October 31^st, 2008

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

Digital Images a Lock for Copying Keys
CBS News, Oct. 31 -- Beware of flashing your keys in public. Computer scientists at UCSD have developed software that can make a duplicate of a key from just a distant photo of it using technology available to almost anyone. More

Similar story on
CNET
Wired
UPI

U. of California at San Diego
and U. of British Columbia Strike a Deal to Study Green IT
Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct.30 -- UCSD and the University of British Columbia are starting to work together on “green cyberinfrastructure” — computing techniques that will improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The two institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding that says they will work together on green-IT issues. More

Who Shrank the Economy? Food Prices Dent U.S. Growth
Reuters, Oct. 30 -- Inflation ate deeply into U.S. consumer spending in the third quarter, doing more harm to the economy than either slumping car sales or housing, but recent commodity price falls may support growth going forward. (Quotes UCSD economist James Hamilton) More

Similar story in
Forbes

Highlights and Buzz From Educause Conference
Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct.30 -- This year’s Educause conference was as big as ever, despite a bad economy that is starting to impact travel budgets. (Mentions Calit2’s Director Larry L. Smarr who showed off some innovative uses of massive video walls for scholarship and teleconferencing) More

Who Advises Candidates on Economic Crisis?
Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 31 -- Economic advisers are perennially important to presidential policymaking, but rarely more so than now. Neither candidate has a background in economic policymaking, and the worst US financial crisis since the 1930s has evolved into a global storm. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Keith Poole) More

DNA-Rewinding Protein Discovered
Chemistry World, Oct. 31 -- US scientists have found an enzyme that rewinds sections of DNA whose strands have mistakenly come apart. Jim Kadonaga and Timur Yusufzai at UCSD say the new protein is the first of what could be a whole class of DNA and RNA rewinding enzymes, yet to be discovered. More

Similar story in
UPI
The Post Chronicle

Changing Ways of Commuters
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 30 -- As part of their efforts to go green, colleges across the country are rolling out programs to promote more eco-friendly commuting among students, staff and faculty. With fluctuating gas prices and all the talk about carbon footprints, students increasingly are receptive to the idea. UCSD is trying a number of ways to discourage students and employees from driving. More

A Political Soap Opera Plays Out Via E-mail
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 31 – Private political e-mails have become public property in Coronado in the days leading up to the Nov. 4 election. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Thad Kousser) More

Local Campuses Prepare For Voting Lines
NBC San Diego, Oct. 30 -- Long lines are a common scene on election day and have been a problem on local college campuses in the past. At UCSD, campus workers are sending out emails and handing out fliers to inform voters about the issues, and let them know where they're supposed to vote. More

High-Salt IV Test in San Diego Trauma Patients Suspended
San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 30 – – A clinical trial testing the use of high-salt intravenous fluid in trauma patients in San Diego County and 10 other North American communities has been suspended by the federal government because of unspecified safety concerns. (Quotes Dr. Daniel Davis, a UCSD clinical medicine professor who is the trial's principle investigator in San Diego County) More

Aguirre Versus Goldsmith : What are the Odds?
KPBS, Oct. 30 -- Incumbent Mike Aguirre has become a lightening rod for controversy.  He is facing a strong challenge from Jan Goldsmith, a former judge and state assemblyman, who says he wants to purge the city attorney’s office of political agendas. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More

Ceregene Awaits Parkinson’s Trial Results, In a Key Test for Gene Therapy
Xconomy, Oct. 31 -- A critical turning point is coming for Ceregene by the end of the year. The San Diego-based biotech company expects to get results in the next couple months on whether its experimental gene therapy can effectively help treat Parkinson’s disease. Mark Tuszynski, a neuroscience professor at UCSD, is Ceregene’s founder. More

Lots to Do Locally This Halloween
KUSI, Oct. 31 -- Spooky events will be held around San Diego on Friday to mark All Hallow's Eve, better known as Halloween. (Mentions UCSD’s pumpkin drop) More

Make Some Noise
San Diego CityBEAT, Oct. 30 – UCSD aluma Nina Waisman’s newest piece, “Between Bodies,” uses audio samples in an immersive, interactive sound installation, which was created for, and is currently on display in, the new multi-million-dollar addition to the Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT), the major international art museum and cultural center in Tijuana. Her piece is part of the opening show, Proyecto Civico (Civil Project), curated by Lucía Sanromán and Ruth Estévez. More

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