Thursday, February 9, 2012

Scientific American featured research by Valter Longo of biological sciences and gerontology finding that short periods of fasting could help cancer patients better tolerate chemotherapy, and may even make treatment more effective. NPR Boston affiliate WBUR-FM reported that in an animal model, 40 percent of subjects who received no food or drink except water before and after chemotherapy were cured of cancer, compared with zero percent of subjects who only received chemo. Patients in California are now trying the fasting, Longo said. The study was also covered by BBC News (U.K.), Daily Mail (U.K.), La Repubblica (Italy), Corriere della Sera (Italy), The Scientist, Agence France-Presse, The Press Association (U.K.), AOL News, Asian News International, Indian Express (India), Press Trust of India (India), Radio Santiago (Chile), Diario Digital (Portugal), EFE (Spain), Salute 24 (Italy), ANSA (Italy), ASCA (Italy), Gaianews (Italy), Republika (Indonesia) and Ihlas Son Dakika (Turkey).

 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Chronicle of Higher Education mentioned USC’s $6 billion fundraising campaign. The story noted that USC had already raised $1 billion in a "quiet phase," including the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College.

The Guardian (U.K.) highlighted two major gifts to USC in a list of the 10 biggest philanthropic benefactors in America. The list included the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to USC Dornsife, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.

Los Angeles Times quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about the different messages that presidential incumbents and challengers seek to communicate.

San Francisco Chronicle quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about ballot initiatives competing against Gov. Jerry Brown’s effort to raise taxes.

Mobiledia quoted Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, assistant professor of psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, about the impact of mobile technology and social networking on teenagers.

Sugar mentioned that USC Dornsife alumnus Paul Frommer created the language Na’vi for the movie "Avatar."

 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

KPCC-FM highlighted research by Jody Agius Vallejo of sociology and Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about the development of a Latino middle class. Vallejo wrote about upwardly mobile Latinos, noting that many have grown up in poor or disadvantaged communities and retain links to those communities. Among families that are economically secure, legal status allows parents to obtain well paid jobs and have more resources to invest in education. Myers’ research shows an increase in Latino and Asian American homeownership, just as aging white Californian homeowners are looking to sell their real estate.

The Sacramento Bee included the novel "Assumption" by Percival Everett, Distinguished Professor on English, in a recommended reading list for Black History Month.

CBS News Cincinnati affiliate WKRC-TV mentioned that the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC led an earthquake preparedness drill called the Great Central U.S. Shakeout.

 

February 4-6, 2012

CNN ran an op-ed by Antonio Damasio, director of USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute, about the nature of consciousness.

The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, quoted Pamela Starr of international relations about the chances of a PRI victory in the Mexican presidential election.

Inside Higher Ed quoted Kenneth Easwaran of philosophy about the usefulness of the American Philosophical Association’s jobs publication.

WND cited Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about the Republican establishment’s feelings toward Newt Gingrich.

 

Friday, February 3, 2012

The San Diego Union-Tribune highlighted USC’s role in a new California Department of Public Health study on health risks and climate change. USC helped to develop the methodology of the study, which found that poor, urban and minority residents are the most at risk for problems related to climate change. The story noted that Manuel Pastor of American studies and ethnicity advised the study.

Philadelphia Daily News quoted Jacob Soll of history about a proposed merger between Rutgers and Rowan Universities.

Politico quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about controversies surrounding Mitt Romney.

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

China Review News (China) featured the USC U.S.-China Institute’s symposium on the Taiwanese elections. The story quoted Stanley Rosen of political science and Daniel Lynch of international relations. The event was also covered by the China Times (Taiwan), Central News Agency (Taiwan), Radio Taiwan International (Taiwan), Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore) and Agence France-Presse.

Current TV’s "The Young Turks" featured Ange-Marie Hancock of political science on a panel discussing the Florida Republican primary.

JoongAng Ilbo (South Korea) ran an op-ed by David Kang of international relations stating that an Arab Spring-style revolution in unlikely in North Korea. A second JoongAng Ilbo op-ed focused on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s challenges following his father’s death.

Chosun Ilbo (South Korea) interviewed David Kang of international relations about China writing its own history as it strives to be a global leader.

American Public Media’s "Marketplace" cited an interview with David Kang of international relations about the North Korean economy.

The Tampa Tribune quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about Newt Gingrich’s chances of survival in February’s Republican primaries.

Burlington County Times quoted Jacob Soll of history about a merger between Rutgers and Rowan University.

KSCI-TV ran two stories (second link here) interviewing David Kang of international relations about Kim Jong Il’s death.

Star Observer (Australia) reported that Alice Echols, Barbra Streisand Professor of Contemporary Gender Studies and professor of English, gender studies and history, will speak at Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

The Korea Times (South Korea) ran two stories (second link here) covering a USC Korean Studies Institute event that featured Roy Choi, founder of the Kogi Korean BBQ food trucks.

JoongAng Ilbo (South Korea) highlighted the USC Korean Studies Institute’s holiday card.

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Guardian (U.K.) featured the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, which has made 52,000 video testimonies by Holocaust survivors available to the University of London. Stephen Smith, executive director of the institute, said that the testimonies are more than just an archive. "This is a voice of a conscience of our age," he said. The story notes that the institute is broadening its focus and collecting testimonies from the survivors of other genocides.

Voice of America covered a symposium held by the USC U.S.-China Institute on the Taiwanese election. The event featured ideas presented by Stanley Rosen of political science, Daniel Lynch of international relations and Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute. Rosen discussed election advertising, Lynch said it wasn’t clear what China expects of Taiwanese victor Ma Ying-jeou, and Dube said that American policy toward Taiwan is unlikely to change regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election.

Chicago Tribune quoted Lanita Jacobs of anthropology and American studies and ethnicity about black women wearing their hair short in the ’70s as a statement of pride.

NPR interviewed Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about Newt Gingrich peppering his speeches with references to late writer and political organizer Saul Alinsky.

The Tampa Tribune quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about the Florida Republican primary and what its outcome could mean for Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

San Jose Mercury News quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about the chances of the Republican candidate race lasting until California’s June primary.

The Sacramento Bee mentioned last year’s $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to USC Dornsife.

The Oregonian cited a study by Michael Messner of sociology and gender studies finding that TV sports coverage dedicated to women’s athletics has barely grown since 1989.

ScienceWatch interviewed Hashem Pesaran, John Elliott Chair in Economics and professor of economics, about his paper "A Simple Panel Unit Root Test in the Presence of Cross-Section Dependence," which Essential Science Indicators from Thomson Reuters selected as the most-cited paper in economics and business.

 

January 28-30, 2012

Los Angeles Times reported that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited a class taught by Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics. "Case Studies in Modern Leadership" focuses on readings from a variety of leaders; Villaraigosa spoke about the policies that guide his own leadership and how he rose to become mayor. Schnur said that overcoming adversity is an important quality in a leader.

The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, quoted Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about the Republican establishment’s feelings toward Newt Gingrich.

 

Friday, January 27, 2012

The New York Times ran an op-ed by Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, about Mitt Romney and the Florida Republican debates. Before the debate, Schnur wrote that this was the most important night of Romney’s political life. A poor performance could doom his chances at winning the primaries, though a stellar performance wouldn’t guarantee the nomination would be his. The New York Times also ran a post-debate op-ed by Schnur, in which he wrote that despite some stumbles, Romney gave his best debate performance yet.

La Repubblica (Italy) ran an op-ed by Antonio Damasio, director of USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute, about the roots of moral reasoning. Damasio wrote that moral conventions grew out of instinctual, unconscious responses that developed before humans even had the ability to reason. Conscious human reasoning refined those instincts into true moral conventions. These emotions were selected in evolution because they contributed to better management of life by solving social problems, Damasio wrote.

The Washington Post quoted Jacques Hymans of international relations about the possibility of the Japanese abandoning plans to restart idled nuclear reactors.

 

 

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