Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
New psychotherapy effective in most eating disorders
The Post (Islamabad, Pakistan)
…Good nerve cells, ‘bad’ cancer cells survive in similar way: Cancer cells and nerve cells or neurons could not have been more dissimilar, yet they use strikingly similar ways to survive, according to new research. The study, conducted by Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina (UNC), describes how neurons and cancer cells achieve the common goal of inhibiting the series of biochemical events called apoptosis that eventually causes cells to break down and die.
Related Link:
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=105226
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/shared-survival-mechanism-
explains-why-good-nerve-cells-last-and-bad-cancer-cells-flourish.html
Congo in context (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The Journal (Edinburgh, Scotland)
The fighting that erupted in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in late October 2008 has three major causes: the Rwandan genocide of 1994; the weakness of the Congolese state; and the DRC’s enormous wealth in natural resources. (Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja is Professor of African Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.)
Colonoscopy not as effective as thought at finding cancers: study
Agence France-Presse (Wire Service)
A colonoscopy, the procedure in which a doctor looks for dangerous growths in the large intestine, may not be as great a protection from death from colorectal cancer as once thought, a study found Tuesday. …"The study should caution physicians about saying that colonoscopy will reduce the risk of dying from colorectal cancer by 90 percent. A 60- to 70-percent risk reduction rate seems more reasonable," said David Ransohoff, a medical doctor and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina.
Related Links:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1095862/Popular-test-signs-bowel
-cancer-misses-40-cent-cases-warn-doctors.html
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Tech%2Band%2
BScience/Story/STIStory_315356.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4BF6LJ20081216
National Coverage
What Exactly Does a Journalist Throwing a Shoe at Bush Mean?
U.S. News & World Report
Is the so-called shoe insult an Arab custom, a Muslim one, neither, or both? The question has surfaced as news organizations struggle to make sense of the shoe-hurling Iraqi journalist whom President Bush encountered at a Baghdad press conference over the weekend. …Omid Safi, an Islamic studies professor at the University of North Carolina, says that the meaning of the recent shoe incident is probably more universal than has been acknowledged.
Study Questions Effectiveness of Colonoscopies
Fox News
How effective are colonoscopies? Once rated as the “gold standard” in detecting colon cancer, a study by Canadian researchers is raising questions about the popular procedure, according to a study published online by the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. …Dr. David Ransohoff, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who wrote a related editorial in the medical journal, said the screenings probably prevent about 60 to 70 percent of deaths from colorectal cancer, not about 90 percent as previously thought.
Student Says School Persecuted Him for Being Conservative
Fox News
A former student at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work is suing the school and several of his professors for discrimination, saying he was persecuted by the school's "liberal political machine" for being a conservative. …Kim Strom-Gottfried, professor of social work at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that faculty members should not impose their politics on students.
Regional Coverage
Cuban propaganda alive and well — thanks to hurricanes
The Miami Herald
The usual cast of characters in Cuba's prolific propaganda war — Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos — have recently welcomed a new roster of names: Gustav, Ike and Paloma. …Richard R. Cole, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, has traveled to Cuba 16 times to study the influence of the state-run media outlets. Cole said Cuban officials have not been quick enough to adapt their message to those not old enough to remember Fidel Castro's ascent to power.
State and Local Coverage
UNC expert to be featured
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and a UNC Chapel Hill professor will present ideas on how to address the wave of foreclosures across the country and resurrect a responsible housing finance system in a Webcast from Washington, D.C.'s New American Foundation from 9-11 a.m. today. …Roberto Quercia, director of the Center for Community Capital at UNC, FDIC chairwoman Sheila Bair and others will speak.
Related Link:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4152628/
UNC Media Advisory:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/business/fdic-chair-unc-professor-to-debate
-response-to-housing-crisis.html
Student smoking rate drops, but a third of young adults smoke
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Cigarette use by North Carolina high school and middle school students has significantly decreased since the state began financing tobacco-use prevention and cessation initiatives for teens in 2003, according to UNC-Chapel Hill researchers.
Related Link:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/noteworthy/story/4150809/
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/first-comprehensive-
report-on-states-multiple-tobacco-programs-shows-major-successes.html
Everyday sensations overwhelm some children
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
In the ears of Abby Shevach, who's not quite 4, the whoosh of a public rest room's hand dryer can roar like a jet taking off at close range. …The scope, origins and treatment of such problems are the subject of a 10-year, $3 million UNC-Chapel Hill study that recently won renewed National Institutes of Health funding for its second five-year term. …"Clearly these issues exist — they exist in autism; they sometimes exist in typical kids," said researcher Grace Baranek, a UNC professor of occupational science.
Award named for UNC prof
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The International Journal of Research in Marketing and the European Marketing Academy have established an award to recognize long-term research impact on the field of marketing, an award named in honor of Jan-Benedict E.M. Steenkamp of UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School.
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/business/international-journal-names-impact-award
-for-uncs-kenan-flagler-marketing-chair.html
Leone wins HIV award
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Peter Leone, M.D., associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill, has been awarded the 2008 Marty Prairie Award. The award, presented by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch, is given to individuals or organizations whose work with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases "exhibits distinguished, bold and innovative community service and/or advocacy that positively impacts North Carolina."
UNC News Brief:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/unc-professor-recognized-for
-service-to-hiv/std-care-in-north-carolina.html
LEARN NC's White named
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Ross White, associate director of LEARN NC at UNC Chapel Hill, has been named North Carolina's statewide director of e-Learning for Educators, a federally funded teacher development program. …LEARN NC — Learners' and Educators' Assistance and Resource Network of North Carolina — part of the UNC School of Education, provides online resources for teachers and students in 50 states, 145 countries and all 115 N.C. school systems via www.learnnc.org.
UNC News Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/humanities-and-social-sciences/learn-ncs-white
-chosen-to-lead-nine-state-effort.html
Pie gets healthier with still-tasty makeovers (Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Bake that pie and eat it, too — without compromising your health-supporting diet. You can still enjoy holiday favorites – pumpkin, pecan and fruit pies – just make some substitutions and pay attention to basic principles of nutrition.
User struggles to open files (Question & Answer)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Recently I downloaded an XP update from Microsoft. All was OK until I attempted to open a .tif attachment on an e-mail from a trusted sender. It would not open. …Let's say you have the file blah.xyz as an e-mail attachment that you can't open, said Priscilla Alden with UNC-Chapel Hill's Information Technology Services.
CHRISTmas trees (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It was predictable that we would have hysterical responses to the decision of the UNC librarian not to display a Christmas tree in the university's library. Astonishingly, the writer of the Dec. 13 letter "Manger danger" stated that there is nothing CHRISTian about CHRISTmas trees. (Elliot Cramer, Chapel Hill.)
Related Links:
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/opinion/story/31472.html
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/opinion/chhletters/index.cfm#1047671
Mason Farm Road to close for work
The Chapel Hill News
Construction work will close Mason Farm Road to traffic from 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday night. The closure will allow UNC-Chapel Hill to begin installation of an electric duct bank near the intersection with South Columbia Street.
Issues and Trends
UNC challenged to tune of $10 million
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A foundation run by former UNC system President C.D. Spangler has hand-delivered $10 million to the university system, an advance payment to a challenge grant program for distinguished professorships. …"My family and I feel there has never been a time when the benefits of the University of North Carolina and all 16 of our campuses were needed more by the people of our state than is so at this time," Spangler said in a statement.
Related Link:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1047406.cfm
UNC group to study possible hate crimes policy
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
An 11-member commission scheduled a meeting at noon Wednesday to begin considering whether the University of North Carolina system needs a policy to address hate crimes on its 16 campuses. UNC system President Erskine Bowles appointed the group – which includes students, staff and faculty from 10 UNC campuses – after four North Carolina State University students spray-painted racist graffiti on campus.
Related Links:
http://www.wchl1360.com/details.html?id=8882
http://wake.mync.com/site/Wake/news/story/22165/unc-commission-
to-review-university-policy/
http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=602581
UNC pledges cooperation on airport
The Chapel Hill News
UNC will respect local zoning rules and use eminent domain as a last resort in citing a new airport, Chancellor Holden Thorp wrote last week in a letter to the Orange County commissioners. "The University and Health Care System cannot unilaterally force the development of a new airport," Thorp wrote in the Dec. 9 letter to Valerie Foushee, the new chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
Related Links:
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/news/story/31496.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1336802.html
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/opinion/columnists/
guests_ch/110-1047405.cfm
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/campusnotes/about-that-airport-bill-part-3
Nightmare (Editorial)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
…Another disturbing view of the mental health system was a first-person account published in Tuesday's News & Observer by Sheila Read, now a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate student, who worked as a social worker at John Umstead Hospital in Butner for 17 months starting in 2003. Read's story was frightening and exasperating.
Probation woes not data based, report claims
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
A group advising Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has acknowledged problems in the state's probation office, but nonetheless says the public and government leaders so lack "unpoliticized information" about them that their views are "shaped by celebrated cases, not data." …The system has been under fire since two on-probation convicts were accused earlier this year of killing students from UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Related Links:
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1047639.cfm
http://www.salisburypost.com/Area/121708-probation
http://www.newsobserver.com/2932/story/1336819.html