University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

The Trump Administration has an anti-ISIS military policy but has zeroed out reconstruction support for areas that have been liberated from ISIS in Syria. It has an anti-Iranian policy both rhetorically and economically, but it leaves containing the spread of Iran and the Shia militias in Syria to Israel and to the Russians and leaves Israel on its own to deal with the Russians. It has declared it will present a peace plan for the Israelis and Palestinians but at this point is unable to deal directly with the Palestinian Authority. In all these areas, there are elements of a policy but inconsistencies as well. The gap between objectives and means remains wide. Can it be bridged? Will we see an effective strategy for the area? And, what would an effective strategy look like? Dennis Ross will cover all this in his lecture. Series: "Herman P. and Sophia Taubman Endowed Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Show ID: 34373]

Recent UC Berkeley doctoral graduate, Rebecca Sorla Portnoff, uses her computer security know-how to help catch sex traffickers. She creates computer codes that help identify similarities in traffickers' online ads and find the Bitcoin accounts they use to buy the ads. Since graduating in 2017, Rebecca has been working for THORN: Digital Defenders of Children, an organization that builds technology to fight sexual abuse of children. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Show ID: 34476]

When were in pain, we have a hard time sleeping. But how does poor sleep affect pain? For the first time, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have answered that question by identifying neural glitches in the sleep-deprived brain that can intensify and prolong the agony of sickness and injury.

Their findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, help explain the self-perpetuating cycles contributing to the overlapping global epidemics of sleep loss, chronic pain and even opioid addiction. A 2015 National Sleep Foundation poll found that two in three chronic pain patients suffer from reoccurring sleep disruptions.

If poor sleep intensifies our sensitivity to pain, as this study demonstrates, then sleep must be placed much closer to the center of patient care, especially in hospital wards, said study senior author Matthew Walker, a UC Berkeley professor of neuroscience and psychology. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Show ID: 34477]

Most people are part-Neanderthal, the closest extinct human relative. Svante Pääbo explores human genetic evolution by analyzing preserved genetic material from the remains of ancient organisms, including Neanderthals. He explores his findings on interbreeding of Neanderthals and modern humans. Series: "Scripps Institution of Oceanography" [Show ID: 34458]

Whether your cesarean section was planned or unexpected this video will prepare you by explaining when you might need the procedure, what the process is like and what "gentle" cesarean means. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Show ID: 34366]

More than 5 million Americans are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to triple by 2050, without prevention or cure. By 2060, the number of Latinos in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to increase 832 percent — from 379,000 in 2012, to more than 3.5 million. Find out what UC San Diego is doing to both serve this community and catalyze the research careers of investigators from underrepresented groups. Series: "Brain Channel" [Show ID: 34417]

In this talk Julian McAuley, UC San Diego Computer Science and Engineering, discusses the modeling techniques behind personalized recommendation technology on the web. Examples of Recommender Systems range from simple statistical approaches like Amazon's people who bought X also bought Y links, to complex AI-based approaches that drive feed ranking on sites like Facebook. We'll discuss the models that drive these systems, look at the research questions that drive the future of this field in the coming years, and discuss their ethical implications. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Show ID: 33714]

Having a baby is an exciting and special time, but labor can be painful. You have many choices for pain relief during labor. Anesthesiologist Dr. Peter Winfield, talks about what to expect if you choose to have an epidural. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Show ID: 34346]

Health Hub is designed to help UCSF inventors get the support and professional development they need to grow and build successful companies. UCSF aims to translate its scientific ideas and advances in healthcare into deliverable breakthroughs that will promote the health of the community and the advancement of science generally. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Show ID: 34163]

Former Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift talks about the nature of strategic competition between the U.S. and China and the grand strategies they may be employing. This competition is less about global leadership and more about how the rules that govern that leadership are being challenged and modified. The annual IGCC Herb York Lecture honors the memory of the distinguished nuclear physicist. York was the founding chancellor of UC San Diego, first director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, first chief scientist of the Advanced Research Projects Agency and founding director of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. [Show ID: 34359]