Science & Technology

A new studyby UCD researcherssuggests that some epilepsy related deaths result from patients‘ brains not telling their bodies to breathe during seizures. Thefinding could help identify a risk factor forSudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy SUDEP,a condition in which the reason for death is unknown andisnot due toprolongedconvulsive seizures orseizure-relatedaccidents.

Today Environmental Drivers of Large-Scale Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Mosquito Abundance and Virus Transmission in California Chris Barker,UC Davis 12:10to1p.m.,122Briggs Sponsored by entomology

Western pine forests succumb to North America’slargest known insect invasion Western pine forests are experiencing an infestation of bark beetles that is destroying millions of acres of trees in the area. Experts say it is the largest known species infestation that hasever occurred in North America.

Marion Wittmann knows Lake Tahoe.From the invasive species that live in the basin of Lake Tahoe to the effects of the boats on the surface,this ecologist takes to the lake like a boat to water.Wittmann is known at UC Davis for her research and presentations on the Asian Clam Invasion,a particularly damaging species to environments like Lake Tahoe.

UC Davis and Aldagen,a North Carolina biotechnology company specializing in regenerative medicine,will investigate the potential of Aldagen’s stem cell technology for the treatment of stroke. The collaboration was formalized in a memorandum of understanding earlier this month and represents the first time that researchers in the stem cell program at UC Davis will work with Aldagen.

Heart transplants more successful when donor and recipient are same sex A Johns Hopkins University study found that heart transplant patients are25percent more likely to live if the donor and the recipient are of the same sex.

Today “Infectious Diseases:Think Locally and Globally“ Campus Community Book Project Freeborn Hall,10a.m.tonoon Sponsored by Campus Community Relations,UC Davis School of Medicine,Student Health Services,International Education Week Resources Faire

If you ever wanted to stop your tennis match and challenge the referee’s last call,you probably should,said UC Davis associate professor David Whitney. Published in the Oct.28issue of the journalCurrent Biology,UC Davis researchers,led by Whitney,have shown that humans – even professional tennis referees – are hard-wired to misjudge balls when they are hit close to the line.

Consisting of22million acres,alfalfa is the fourth largest crop produced in the United States.Like most crops,there is an ongoingbattle between genetically engineeredproducers and organic producers ofalfalfa. However,a recent study conducted by UC Davis plant scientists suggests that gene flow between GEalfalfaand organicalfalfacan be minimized.

Editor’s note:Nancy Hudson,the assistant program director of the UC Davisnutrition department,has had the chance to visit72different countries to pursue her professional and recreational interests.She recently sat down with TheCalifornia Aggieto discuss her travels,her career in dietetics and more.

Today “Chemical Communications Between Plants,Leafminers,and Parasites“ Le Kang,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing,China 122Briggs,12:10to1p.m. Sponsored bythe department of entomology

Older blood found to increase infections in hospitalized patients A recent study showed that hospitalized patients who received bloodthat wasmore than a month old were three times more likely to develop infections than those who received fresher blood.