Week Ending 21 July - Synopsis number 708

University of Dundee News

Students in Scotland have highest drop-out rate in UK
Universities north of the border have the highest drop-out rates in the UK, according to new figures. Official statistics show that nearly 12% of students left university in Scotland in 2004-05 after their first year. The figures shown include that of the University of Dundee.
The Herald 20.07.06

Academic's fears for family in Lebanon
A Lebanese academic who teaches at Dundee University joined a protest in the City Square last night and spoke of his deep concern about the Israeli bombardment of his home country. Dr Rami Abboud is quoted.
The Courier 20.07.06

Housing land near former hospital to go on market
The second and final tranche of land adjacent to the former Liff Hospital on the western outskirts of Dundee is to go on the market in about three weeks. Since planning consent was granted for the first phase of the development, the area has become a magnet for buyers from Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and other areas south of the border, with many connected to the biomedical industry at Ninewells and Dundee university.
The Courier 20.07.06

Liff land set to go on market
as above
Evening Telegraph 19.07.06

University scientist honoured
Dr Tomoyuki (Tomo) Tanaka of the School of Life Sciences at Dundee University has been awarded the Hooke Medal from the British Society for Cell Biology in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cell biology.
The Courier 19.07.06

Study examines impact of skin conditions
Research centred on Dundee and Perth has established that children with serious skin conditions can lead lives as seriously impaired as others with life-threatening diseases. The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, is co-written by Dr Sue Lewis-Jones, who set up a paediatric dermatology service at Ninewells.
The Courier 19.07.06

Skin disease a trauma for children; study
as above
Evening Telegraph 18.07.06

Links with Spanish Civil War
Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War and Dundee Trades Union Council marked the event with a public meeting looking at the origins of the war. The meeting at Dundee University fell victim to the weather, with only a handful attending to hear speaker Paul Philippou from Perth. Paul teaches at Dundee and Stirling Universities.
The Courier 18.07.06

Dr Finegan with his award
A Dundee University academic from Northern Ireland, who survived cancer and whose late wife died from the disease has received the Queen's University, Belfast, graduate of the year award.
The Courier 18.07.06

'The high is finding a moral strength'
If Craig Murray had written his memoir as a novel, how would he have ended this curious tale of a British ambassador sacked from his post for exposing the everyday torture of one of the world's most brutal regimes? The Scot's newly published book is called Murder in Samarkand, an evocative title whose contents now bring to three the number of troublesome former emissaries who have sought to break free of the straitjacket of diplomacy. Murray is a Dundee University graduate and previously considered a high-flyer, he rose swiftly through the ranks after joining the diplomatic service in 1984.
The Herald 18.07.06

Pictures of the week
Degrees of separation: twin sisters Emily and Laura Paterson are set to work apart for the first time after graduating in medicine from Dundee University.
Sunday Times 16.07.06

US watches Jack whatsisname as Scotland 'lurches to left'
In-depth reports reveal surprise American view of devolution under 'Connell. It's a socialist society led by a left-wing parliament ruling a population with a tendency to boo its own leaders. Dr Alex Wright, an international affairs specialist at Dundee University is quoted.
Scotland on Sunday 16.07.06

Doctors in audience came to cardiac arrest actor's rescue
Few actors will readily admit to dying on stage, but for Peter Spence that thespian's trauma very nearly came reality. Fortunately there were at least three medics in the audience and they administered life-saving resuscitation. Among then was Dundee University's Professor Philip James who is quoted.
The Sunday Post 16.07.06

Your body bits are worth an arm and a leg
It's the world's grisliest trade - operated by an underground network of dealers in the most precious commodity of all. Today, greedy traffickers can literally put a price on a pound of flesh by trading in everything from skin to bones - and even eyes. Sue Roff, a research at Dundee University is quoted.
The Sun 15.07.06

Passion drives the best and brightest in biology
We all know the stereotype: a scientist is an ageing male with a beard, glasses and an unnatural attachment to his comfortable footwear. However, a proper look inside universities reveals legions of ambitious young scientists - of both sexes - who are truly passionate about shaping their discipline. Dario Alessi from the University of Dundee is quoted.
THES 14.07.06

University of Dundee Radio, TV & online

Itching for a cure
If you've ever had itchy skin trouble, you know horrible it can be, keeping you up all night and driving you bonkers during the day. And everyone loves being covered in raised red scaly bumps. One extremely common skin condition is eczema, or dermatitis, a group of skin conditions that come with fun differentiations like "atopic," "allergic," "irritant," "infantile seborrhoeic" and "adult seborrhoeic" and can affect people at any age but are most prevalent among children. Poor little things. Research at the University of Dundee in Scotland has found a gene that's linked to eczema and asthma.
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-07-20/goods_health.php 20.07.06

UCD graduate is new GP professor
UCD graduate Professor Tom Fahey from the University of Dundee has been appointed professor of general practice at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
http://www.imt.ie/displayarticle.asp?AID=11270&NS=1&SID=1&CAT=18 19.07.06

Children With Eczema Have The Same Impaired Quality Of Life As Those With Kidney Disease, UK
Children with serious skin conditions feel their quality of life is impaired to the same extent as those with chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, renal disease and diabetes, according to research published in the July issue of British Journal of Dermatology. Co-author of the study, Dr Sue Lewis-Jones from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee is quoted.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=47613 19.07.06

Distress due to eczema very worrying
as above
http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/dermatology/article_4706.shtml 19.07.06

Children With Eczema Have The Same Impaired Quality Of Life As Those With Kidney Disease
as above
http://www.emaxhealth.com/50/6660.html 18.07.06

Children with eczema have the same impaired quality of life as those with kidney disease
as above
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/bpl-cwe071806.php 18.07.06

Children with eczema have the same impaired quality of life as those with kidney disease
as above
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=18896 18.07.06

SIAM Awards Lagrange Prize to Roger Fletcher, Sven Leyffer, and Philippe L. Toint
Established in 2002, the Lagrange Prize in Continuous Optimization is awarded jointly by the Mathematical Programming Society (MPS) and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). SIAM awarded the Lagrange Prize at their annual meeting held in Boston from July 10-14, 2006. The recipients of this year's prize are Roger Fletcher of the University of Dundee, Scotland, Sven Leyffer of Argonne National Laboratory, and Philippe L. Toint of the University of Namur, Belgium.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-07/sfia-sal071806.php 18.07.06

Selling Kidneys: Doctors In This Week's BMJ Debate The Issue
Doctors in this week's BMJ debate the issue of selling kidneys. A personal view article, published earlier this month, asked what's wrong with a market in body parts? Sue Rabbitt Roff of Dundee University Medical School is quoted.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=47278 17.07.06

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[Week ending - 14 July 2006]
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