Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media: International Coverage Hidden danger in burning incense, study claims
The National (United Arab Emirates)
Burning traditional Arabian incense can leave people more susceptible to headaches, forgetfulness and concentration problems, a study has found. ...Ms (Karin) Yeatts, an assistant research professor at the University of North Carolina, said she was working on separate research into the pollutants emitted by bakhour and oud, and she expected research would be published on the subject in the next year. National Coverage N.C.'s New Gay Marriage Ban Leaves Couples In Limbo
"Weekend Edition Sunday" National Public Radio
In North Carolina, cities and counties that offer domestic partner benefits to employees are in limbo after voters passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. ..."They create grounds for those who oppose these programs to challenge these programs in court," says Holning Lau, a professor at the University of North Carolina Law School. He studies how legal issues, including amendments like North Carolina's, affect non-traditional families. "They do create a chilling effect on local governments considering passing domestic partner benefits." In 2012, NC campaigns heat up earlier than usual
The Associated Press
...The Supreme Court's "Citizens United" ruling will make TVs even more congested with political commercials than they would have been, said Gene Nichol, a professor at the University of North Carolina law school. "We're all going to become so sick of watching TV and the commercials that spew forth that people will just beg for the election to be over," said Nichol, a former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Colorado. Medical Myths & the Future of Health Care
"The People's Pharmacy"
Dr. Bill Roper is one of the country's leading health care experts. We talk with him about the state of health care in this country. Dr. Roper discusses medical myths and why they matter. He describes how our health care system could be greatly improved. What is the ideal health care system for the U.S.? ...He is currently dean of the School of Medicine and vice chancellor for Medical Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is also CEO of the UNC Health Care System. Parents Share Advice for the Constipated Child (Blog)
The New York Times
...Dr. Steven Lichtman, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, told me that timing is everything when you’re trying to retrain a kid who has lost the urge to poop to feel it again. Have them sit after they eat, he advised, cautioning not to let distractions get in the way. Many Livers 'Too Fat' For Transplant
ABC News.com
Increases in factors associated with fatty liver disease may be leading clinicians to discard more donated organs, researcher found. In an analysis of data from the United Organ Sharing Network (UNOS), age, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension were associated with an increased risk of a liver being discarded, Dr. Eric Orman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues reported during a press briefing at Digestive Disease Week here. Regional Coverage NFL could face thousands of lawsuits from ex-players over brain
damage from concussions (Column)
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)
...Three concussions appeared to be "kind of a cutoff," a threshold beyond which future mental and psychological problems are likely, said Bailes, a former Steelers team physician who co-authored the retired-player studies with Kevin Guskiewicz, director of the University of North Carolina's Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center. State and Local Coverage UNC to raise money, create vision for future
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The UNC Board of Trustees has given the university the OK to begin to plan for a major fundraising drive that would dovetail with a yearlong planning process to create a 21st century vision for UNC that school officials believe will be a model for other public research universities. The board gave the fundraising proposal the thumbs up during a trustee meeting last week. Lessons for the future of the Research Triangle (Book Review)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
When a strong scholar turns his attention to the home front, it can be both enlightening and daunting. We might come to understand, more insightfully, where we are and how we got here. Chances are good, though, we’ll also discover that the challenges lying beyond the horizon are more imposing than we believed. (Gene Nichol is the Boyd Tinsley Distinguished Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill.) Exceptional Children Program Highlights Services For Autism Disorders
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Exceptional Children (EC) program caters to more than 1000 students with educational disabilities, but it’s not the only source of support for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. ...She also works closely with UNC-Chapel Hill’s TEACCH, an internationally acknowledged autism program. DeTrude sends teachers to TEACCH training sessions and writes letters of support for various UNC researchers who are trying to obtain funding for their studies. Ups and downs: Champion shaggers; good news for grads; and Dory goes home (Editorial)
The Times-News (Burlington)
Thumbs up to reports that the job market for college graduates looks much better. Career service center directors of Elon University, Alamance Community College and the UNC-Chapel Hill and the UNC Law School all say the job market is looking better for this year’s batch of grads than it did for those who got diplomas last year, and even more so when compared to challenges faced by the classes of 2007-2009. Global North Carolina "Heat-Map"
WUNC-FM (Chapel Hill)
UNC’s Center for International Understanding has partnered with SAS to develop a new tool to better understand the state’s “global” footprint. ...The Global North Carolina Heat Map is believed to be the first of its kind. Adam Hartzell is executive director of The Center for International Understanding. He says the idea is to find out how global we really are. Exploring butterfly science
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Jessica Higgins, 25, and Sarah Seiter, 28, are grad students in evolutionary biology at UNC-Chapel Hill who write the Butterflies and Science blog. ...Q: Why butterflies? Higgins: They have short generation times, they occur everywhere across the planet, and they’re pretty – people care about them. They are really affected by temperature, and they work in sync with plants, so if the timing of the plant is off, their numbers are going to change. Second phase of ductbank project to begin this week
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Weather permitting, construction will begin Tuesday on the second phase of the utility ductbank that will eventually provide service to the complex of UNC Chapel Hill buildings along Airport Drive. ...Over the next six months, Carolina Conduit Systems construction crews will install the ductbank in the cleared corridor on UNC's Carolina North property. Carolina Blood Drive Needs You
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Officials of the 24th annual Carolina Blood Drive are calling on all of those who “bleed blue” to participate. Blood drive chair Katrina Coble says all blood types are needed. "Over 1,600 units of blood are needed daily" in the region, she says, "so the need for blood is absolutely constant. One unit of blood can actually impact as many as three individuals, and perhaps save their life." To find a job, get your space and yourself organized
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, director of the UNC Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic, has written a book called “The Stress Less Workbook: Simple Strategies to Relieve Pressure, Manage Commitments, and Minimize Conflicts.” It will be published by Guilford Press in August. Here are his tips for organizing your emotions about unemployment. • Separate out negative emotions, especially anger, depression and anxiety – emotions that are fueled by things we tell ourselves. Leaders to represent town at fall conference
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
...The honorary co-chairs of the trip are Mark Kleinschmidt, mayor of Chapel Hill; Mark Chilton, mayor of Carrboro; Tom Stevens, mayor of Hillsborough; Bernadette Pelissier, chairwoman of the Orange County Commissioners; and Holden Thorp, chancellor of UNC Chapel Hill. Raleigh audiology clinic adjusts hearing aids to fit each patient’s pitch
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...Stephanie Sjoblad, an audiologist who is an associate professor at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Division of Speech and Hearing, is enthusiastic about the ACAM 5’s potential. “If people who are providing hearing health care were utilizing this to customize the fitting process of each person they work with, there would be happier patients and more people utilizing hearing technology to solve their hearing loss,” said Sjoblad, who is also president-elect of the state chapter of the American Academy of Audiology. Efforts mount to cut improper use of antipsychotics for seniors
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...That’s often the case with off-label drugs, said Dr. Laura Hanson, professor of geriatric medicine and Co-director of the Palliative Care Program at UNC Hospitals “From research trials, it is not clear that they are effective,” Hanson said. “They do not make patients easier to deal with.” Higher prices from providers drive health care cost increases
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...The report from the Health Care Cost Institute is the biggest study to date of privately insured patients. The study examined 3 billion health care claims from 33 million people insured by Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare during 2009 and 2010. ...The series found that hospitals raise their charges each year: Duke Hospital by 6 percent each year, UNC Hospitals by 5 percent. The hospitals are seldom paid the full charges because insurance companies negotiate discounts. Popularity of 'Lost Colony' could be lost if historians find the answers
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Recent news that a map in the British Museum offers a tantalizing clue to the location of “The Lost Colony” was a boon for historians, but it may be less welcome for producers of the drama about the 1587 English settlement on Roanoke Island. ...“UNC’s Carolina PlayMakers originally concentrated on folk drama and theatre about rural areas,” he said. “Two of the PlayMakers’ most prolific playwrights were Kermit Hunter, who wrote both ‘Unto These Hills’ and ‘Horn in the West,’ and Paul Green, who wrote ‘The Lost Colony.’ ” Colleges claim National Merit Scholars
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the winners of its college-financed awards. Each participating college or university selects scholarship winners from among the National Merit Scholarship finalists who plan to attend the institution. The awards range from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. ...UNC-Chapel Hill: Beyza Batca of Raleigh, from Leesville Road High; Jacob Ellis Bogerd of Durham, from Durham School of the Arts... Sharpless honored
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Norman “Ned” Sharpless, associate director for translational research at UNC Chapel Hill’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been appointed the Wellcome Distinguished Professor in Cancer Research. The professorship was established by the School of Medicine in 1988 with gifts from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the William A. Smith Trust. UNC professor gets grants
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC Chapel Hill public policy professor Ashu Handa has won two research grants, each worth $634,000 over two years, to evaluate social cash transfer programs in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The grants were awarded by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, an organization devoted to improving lives in low- and middle-income countries through better policies, programs and projects based on results from impact studies. BCBSNC names trustee to board
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has announced that Dr. Lisa Carey has been named to the insurer’s board of trustees. Carey is the medical director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Breast Center and is the associate director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Botanical Garden to hold Moonlight Gala
The Chapel Hill News
The North Carolina Botanical Garden will hold its inaugural Carolina Moonlight Gala from 6:30 to 11 p.m. June 2 at the Garden’s Education Building and surrounding gardens. “Celebrating Sustainable Living” will include hors d’eouvres and drinks, live music by Rebecca and the Hi-Tones, dancing, a silent auction and more. Issues and Trends Our ‘means” (Editorial)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...Budgeting on that basis, though, has created some curious contradictions. One that stands out is that the House budget (a final version, it must be said, isn’t out) right now doesn’t address money for enrollment growth at the University of North Carolina system, or money requested by the system’s Board of Governors for additional financial aid to help students hurt by large tuition and fee increases. Chapel Hill neighbors in shock after shooting
WRAL-TV (CBS/Raleigh)
"We are in shock and grieve for the loss of a resident," Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said in a statement issued Saturday. At the homes of Ali Cherfaoui, who is charged with murder, and Chahnaz Kebaier, who died after a shooting Friday afternoon outside Mary Scroggs Elementary School, neighbors echoed the mayor's sentiment. ...According to an online bio, Kebaier was a research associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2009.
Related Links:
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2012/05/26/71512/shooting-reported-at-chapel-hill.html
http://www.chapelboro.com/Kebaier-Colleague---She-Was-A-Very-Selfless-Person/13255083
http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2012/may/26/10/neighbors-react-
chapel-hill-school-shooting-ar-2311779/
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Carolina in the News 