News Briefs

Sept. 11 seminars make comeback

The university’s College of Letters & Science is
offering a second series of seminars that explore issues emerging
from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Titled “Perspectives Post 9/11,” the 37 one-unit
undergraduate seminars offered during the winter quarter span the
range of disciplines at UCLA, from national security to literature
to psychology.

In the fall quarter, UCLA responded to Sept. 11 by creating and
offering 49 seminars that began two weeks after the attacks ““
reportedly the largest response by any academic institution.
Titled

“Perspectives on Sept. 11,” most of the courses were
filled.

Several courses offered in the fall quarter will be repeated,
including “Rethinking National Security,” taught by
UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale.

Alzheimer’s brain imaging created

UCLA scientists have created the first technique to image the
earliest evidence of Alzheimer’s disease in the living brain
““ before the disorder begins attacking brain cells. Reported
in the January issue of the American Journal of Geriatric
Psychiatry, the technique will allow doctors to monitor the disease
as it unfolds ““ speeding diagnosis, intervention and new
therapies for the disorder that afflicts 10 percent of people older
than 65.

UCLA researchers combined a new chemical marker with positron
emission tomography to see for the first time the brain lesions
indicative of Alzheimer’s disease in the living patient.

“This non-invasive method will help us monitor new
vaccines and drugs designed to prevent and treat the brain damage
caused by Alzheimer’s disease,” said co-author Dr. Gary
Small, Parlow-Solomon, UCLA professor of psychiatry and
biobehavioral sciences.

Screening of “˜Roots’ at UCLA

UCLA’s Center for African American Studies and The
Anderson School will be hosting a screening of “Roots “”mdash;
Celebrating 25 Years,” a one-hour documentary that celebrates
the 25th anniversary of the miniseries at UCLA’s Korn
Convocation Hall in The Anderson School, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

A panel discussion will follow the screening. Invited to attend
are Judith Leonard, the documentary’s producer; LeVar Burton,
who played Kunta Kinte in the miniseries and hosts the documentary;
Beverly Robinson, UCLA theater professor who is also featured; and
David Wolper, the original producer of “Roots.” Darnell
Hunt, director of UCLA’s Center for African American Studies,
will moderate.

Compiled from Daily Bruin wire services.