June 28 - COVID alters spread of child illnesses, UCI-made material amazes
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Members of the UCI Health Gender and Diversity program joined Saturday’s Orange County LGBT Pride celebration. Photo from Twitter/@UCIrvineHealth
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Is COVID-19 changing the course of childhood illnesses?
After two years of living with the coronavirus, parents and pediatricians are noticing that childhood viruses virtually unseen during the pandemic are back — including flu, rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial virus — and they’re showing up out of season. But there is no need to panic or cocoon your kids, according to Dr. Coleen K. Cunningham, a UCI Health pediatrician who specializes in childhood infectious diseases, chairs the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and serves as senior vice president and pediatrician-in-chief for CHOC Children's Health of Orange County.
Alon Gorodetsky shows off the adaptive heat-managing composite material his lab developed that is nicknamed after its inspiration: squid skin. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
Squid skin-inspired material a game changer
Inside a lab in the Calit2 building, Aleksandra Strzelecka opens a drawer, pulls out a small square sheet and hands it to a visitor. The brownish, rubbery material stretches to more than double its original size. “It is very light,” notes Panyiming Liu, Strzelecka’s fellow graduate student in chemical engineering, and sure enough, were one to hazard a guess on how much it weighs, zero ounces would be a reasonable answer. Created in the lab of Alon Gorodetsky, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, the wrappable substance has amazing insulation properties – and potential commercial use.
UCI-led studies point to gasoline emissions as source of soil lead contamination in Santa Ana
Two recent studies conducted by UCI researchers show a strong correlation between lead concentrations in the soil and historical vehicle emissions, specifically in urban, disadvantaged neighborhoods across Santa Ana. Both studies were based on a community-based approach, which coalesced environmental activists, a youth collective and UCI researchers from various disciplines.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Coronavirus easier to get, harder to avoid In California
The number of coronavirus cases reported in California is on the brink of crossing 10 million, a milestone that probably undercounts the total significantly yet still carries an increasing sense of inevitability. Since the hyper-transmissible omicron variant stormed onto the scene in early December, the virus has wormed its way into seemingly every family and social circle.
US grapples with whether to modify COVID vaccine for fall
Food and Drug Administration advisors are debating today whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall that are modified to better match recent changes of the shape-shifting coronavirus. Moderna and Pfizer have tested updated shots against the super-contagious omicron variant. "This is science at its toughest," FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told the Associated Press.
EVENTS
Transfer BOOST -Thursday Coffee Hour with UCI Faculty & Staff
Thursday, 11 a.m. (sponsored by Student Success Initiatives)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
UCI Health receives key donation for new advanced care center
The Orange County Register, June 28
Cited: UCI and UCI Health
Abortion ruling draws mixed reaction in Orange County
Spectrum News 1, June 24
Cited: Tony Smith, professor of political science and law, and David S. Meyer, professor of sociology, political science and planning, policy, and design
What is a recession? Why the most horrifying term in economics isn’t what you always think
Bankrate, June 27
Cited: Eric Swanson, professor of economics
#UCICONNECTED
Congratulations to UCI Foundation Board of Trustees chair Julie Hill for being recognized as one of Forbes' "Top 11 Purposeful Leaders." The business leader and philanthropist was noted for “working tirelessly” to make a positive impact on her community and the world. In a wide-ranging video interview linked in the article, Hill discusses organizational change, being a woman in business, climate change action, and diversity and equity issues. UCI Foundation trustees raise and manage private funds to support the university’s broader mission of excellence in teaching, research and public service. From LinkedIn/UC Irvine
“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the protections it provides against sex-based discrimination, UCI continues to strengthen its commitment to cultivating an inclusive environment that promotes equal opportunities and experiences for all our students, faculty and staff.”
– Hal Stern, provost and executive vice chancellor
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.