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Released: 27-Jan-2010 12:50 PM EST
Prayer Increases Forgiveness
Association for Psychological Science

Is it possible that directed prayer might spark forgiveness in those doing the praying—and in the process preserve relationships?

Released: 26-Jan-2010 3:40 PM EST
Professor Tells New Tales About Mark Twain
Indiana State University

Pulitzer-prize nominee and ISU Professor of English Michael Shelden has released a fourth biography. After spending years interviewing celebrities, Shelden returned to writing the sorts of stories he enjoys most.

Released: 25-Jan-2010 11:00 AM EST
Do We Have Free Will? FSU Philosopher Awarded $4.4M Grant to Find Out
Florida State University

Since the beginning of time, philosophers, scientists and theologians have sought to find out whether human beings have free will or whether other forces are at work to control our actions, decisions and choices.

Released: 24-Jan-2010 11:00 AM EST
Kibbutz Transformation Continues
University of Haifa

Israel's kibbutz movement continues to shift from the "collective" model to differential wages.

Released: 22-Jan-2010 3:25 PM EST
At Home on the Street: First-Person Look At Homelessness
University of Alabama at Birmingham

In their new book At Home on the Street: People, Poverty and a Hidden Culture of Homelessness, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor of Sociology Jeffrey Michael Clair, Ph.D., and UAB alumnus Jason Wasserman, Ph.D., give readers an in-depth look at long-term homelessness and show the true meaning of life on the street.

Released: 22-Jan-2010 2:00 PM EST
Study Looks at Welfare Reform from the Viewpoint of Most Needy
University of Chicago

Providing a street-level perspective on welfare reform, a new study reveals a world of struggle for people living in Philadelphia row houses, where many residents contend with long histories of drug addiction and alcoholism and where their lives did not improve.

Released: 22-Jan-2010 12:10 PM EST
Conservative Views Don’t Dampen African-American Males’ Perceptions of Environmental Risk
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)

Survey of African-Americans' risk perceptions finds patterns unlike those of white counterparts. Research calls for more study of minorities’ views of risks to improve communication efforts.

21-Jan-2010 1:00 PM EST
‘Extraordinary Measures’ Continue Against Pompe Disease
University of Florida Health Science Center

University of Florida researchers continue to work on a therapy will help patients in the late stages of Pompe disease -- the "villain" in the film “Extraordinary Measures” starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser.

   
Released: 19-Jan-2010 9:00 AM EST
Go for the Good Deal – and Get a Dose of Spirituality
University of Haifa

New Zealand missionaries want to host the "Chosen People" for the spiritual experience; Israeli backpackers use their services for the cheap deal. "Both sides come out ahead; the Israelis even come out with unexpected spiritual gains," says Prof. Yoel Mansfeld.

Released: 15-Jan-2010 1:00 PM EST
Professor Publishes Book on Noted Philosopher Wittgenstein
Clarkson University

A Clarkson University professor has completed a book on one of the most noted philosophers of the 20th century. Christopher C. Robinson recently published “Wittgenstein and Political Theory: The View from Somewhere” with Edinburgh University Press and Columbia University Press.

Released: 13-Jan-2010 12:15 PM EST
Men’s Testosterone Responses to Olfactory Ovulation Cues
Association for Psychological Science

Men who smelled shirts of ovulating women subsequently had higher levels of testosterone than men who smelled shirts worn by non-ovulating women, suggesting that testosterone levels may be responsive to smells indicating when a woman is fertile.

   
Released: 12-Jan-2010 3:00 PM EST
Online Poker Study: the More Hands You Win, the More Money You Lose
Cornell University

A new Cornell study of online poker seems counterintuitive: The more hands players win, the less money they’re likely to collect – especially when it comes to novice players.

Released: 11-Jan-2010 11:25 AM EST
Research Reveals First Evidence of Bimusicalism in Untrained Listeners
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

A University of Arkansas researcher and her colleagues present the first evidence for bimusicalism in untrained music listeners.

Released: 8-Jan-2010 1:40 PM EST
One Type A Characteristic Lowers Work Stress
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Most characteristics of the "Type A" personality are linked to increased work stress. But there's one important exception, according to a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

   
Released: 6-Jan-2010 1:30 PM EST
Hand Amputation May Result in Altered Perception Around the Hands
Association for Psychological Science

New research indicates that amputation of the hand results in distorted visuospatial perception (i.e., figuring out where in space objects are located) of the area within reach of our hands.

   
Released: 23-Dec-2009 10:00 AM EST
UNH Demographer Available to Discuss New U.S. Census Data; With Less Migration, Natural Increase Now More Important to State Growth
University of New Hampshire

Kenneth Johnson, professor of sociology at University of New Hampshire and senior demographer at the UNH Carsey Institute, is available to discuss U.S. Census Bureau data released today.

Released: 23-Dec-2009 8:00 AM EST
Internet Usage Grows Fast among Latinos Who Want to Know “Que Pasa” with Friends and Family
QuePasa Corporation

According to a new survey from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet and American Life Project, Latino adults are increasing their use of the Internet faster than other ethnic groups.

Released: 22-Dec-2009 11:00 AM EST
Youth Scholars Offer New Research on Political Views of Young Americans
Academy Communications

Dan Cassino says young Americans see little difference between political campaigns and messages and marketing strategies designed to pitch them an iPod. His new research shows that young voters today are different from any other generation.

Released: 22-Dec-2009 6:00 AM EST
University President Ranks America’s Most Literate Cities; Study Also Reports How Top-Rated Cities Compare on Other Quality-of-Life Measures
Central Connecticut State University

A national survey announced today in “USA Today” measures a key component in America’s social health by ranking the culture and resources for reading in America’s largest cities. The study’s author, Dr. Jack Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, also compares the literacy rankings with other quality of life measures and finds, for instance that cities that rank high for literacy also tend to feature great singles’ scenes: Boston, Seattle, Washington, and Atlanta all made the top ten in literacy and as best places for singles.

Released: 17-Dec-2009 2:00 PM EST
Women Outplay Men in Virtual World
University of Southern California (USC)

Women play longer in popular online game, are happier players than men and healthier than both sexes in general population – but are less honest about their time online, according to a new study in the Journal of Communication.

Released: 16-Dec-2009 11:15 AM EST
Professor Available to Discuss Impact of Oral Roberts
University of New Hampshire

Michele Dillon, religion scholar and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, is available to discuss the significance of Oral Roberts in the U.S. evangelical movement. Roberts died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. He was 91.

Released: 14-Dec-2009 3:45 PM EST
New Book Explores Gay Dads' Paths to Parenthood
University of Iowa

As more and more gay men set out to become parents, a new book by University of Iowa Professor Ellen Lewin explores their desire to become parents, the challenges they face along the path to parenthood, and how fatherhood affects their identities as gay men.

Released: 14-Dec-2009 2:50 PM EST
Professor Discovers Feminist Views in Muslim Author’s 19th-Century Writing
Baylor University

Albanian writer's view of women as “equal but different” was radical for his time but made it past censors.

Released: 14-Dec-2009 11:40 AM EST
Baylor Researchers Launch Scientific Study of Prosocial Benefits of Scouting
Baylor University

Researchers with Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion have received a two-year, $992,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a first-ever series of studies examining the impact of Scouting in fostering positive youth development and healthy, virtuous behaviors--termed "prosocial behavior."

Released: 11-Dec-2009 2:15 PM EST
College Students Review Top Video Games for the Holidays
Wake Forest University

Americans bought more than $21 billion worth of video game systems, software and accessories in 2008. This year, Wake Forest University students have created the blog, VGameU.org, to help players and parents evaluate new video games for the holiday season.

Released: 9-Dec-2009 11:00 AM EST
Personality Has an Impact On Medical School Success
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)

A new study shows strong relationships between personality traits and medical school performance.

   
Released: 9-Dec-2009 8:30 AM EST
Debunking Fears: Latino Growth Does Not Boost Crime
North Carolina State University

Rural industries, such as meat-packing, create job opportunities that bring large numbers of Latinos to small- and medium-sized towns. This influx of Latinos often meets resistance from other residents, who fear increased crime and poverty. A new study debunks those fears, showing that the introduction of Latinos contributes to positive changes.

Released: 7-Dec-2009 4:35 PM EST
New Book Explores U.S. Passenger Rail
Northern Michigan University

James McCommons, a Northern Michigan University English professor and writer, spent a year riding the rails and conducting interviews for a new book on passenger rail service in the United States.

Released: 4-Dec-2009 4:40 PM EST
History Internships Provide Students with Exciting, Hands-on Look at the Past
University of Delaware

Imagine serving as a bosun's mate sailing aboard explorer Henry Hudson's vessel, Half Moon. Or being in the shoes of Union private A.J. Hamilton as he guarded Confederate prisoners at Fort Delaware during the Civil War. These are among the intriguing scenarios that brought the past to life for University of Delaware students engaged in history internships over the past several months.

Released: 4-Dec-2009 12:55 PM EST
Human Guinea Pigs Are Wary of High-Paying Experiments When Volunteering for Clinical Trials
Washington University in St. Louis

Human guinea pigs do their homework before volunteering for high-paying clinical trials. New research shows that people equate large payments for participation in medical research with increased levels of risk. And when they perceive studies to be risky, potential participants spend more time learning about the risks and nature of the study. Findings published this month in Social Science and Medicine, suggest there is a "mismatch" between current research guidelines for setting compensation levels and the assumptions participants make about the levels of pay and risk.

   
Released: 4-Dec-2009 8:30 AM EST
Students Discover Thomas Jefferson Letter
University of Delaware

Two University of Delaware graduate students recently stumbled upon a letter written by President Thomas Jefferson while sifting through thousands of documents and other items donated to the university’s library.

Released: 2-Dec-2009 4:30 PM EST
History Professor’s New Book Takes First Scholarly Look at Role of Junior Officers in Vietnam
Texas Tech University

The My Lai Massacre and anti-war propaganda blurred the facts about the training, capabilities and educational background of junior officers in Vietnam.

Released: 1-Dec-2009 8:15 PM EST
Professor Remembers Watching Romanian Revolution First-Hand
University of Alabama

Twenty years ago, history beckoned to Dr. David Michelson. Michelson, then 14, was living with his family in Bucharest, Romania. When Romanians took to the streets in protest in late December, Michelson’s father took him out to see history unfold first-hand.

Released: 30-Nov-2009 3:40 PM EST
Study Examines Racial 'Blind Spots' in Chicago Area Communities
University of Illinois Chicago

Racial residential segregation in the Chicago area may be perpetuated by a lack of knowledge of communities across racial lines, according to a new study led by a University of Illinois at Chicago researcher.

Released: 30-Nov-2009 12:20 PM EST
Canadian TV Shows "Talk First, Shoot Later"
University of Manitoba

A Canadian expert on conflict resolution says one CBS drama series gets it right by having its characters "talk first and shoot later."

Released: 30-Nov-2009 11:35 AM EST
Over 40 and Never Married? New Research Shows You Are Just Fine
Academy Communications

New research further shatters the once-popular myth that, if you’re over 40 and have never been married, there must be “something wrong” with you. The study by Jamila Bookwala of Lafayette College shows no psychological disadvantages between Americans who remain single or get married.

Released: 27-Nov-2009 9:00 AM EST
New Technology Produces New Words
Wake Forest University

The Facebook term “unfriend” was recently picked as 2009 Word of the Year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. Ananda Mitra, professor and chair of the Department of Communication, discusses how technology influences language and social interaction.

Released: 25-Nov-2009 2:45 PM EST
Iowa Journalism Professor Investigates the Secret Story of Pearls for New Book, 'Tears of Mermaids'
University of Iowa

University of Iowa Journalism Professor Stephen G. Bloom set out to trace a single pearl, from the moment a diver in Australia scoops from the ocean floor a giant oyster to the moment a woman 10,000 miles away fastens the clasp to a shimmering pearl necklace. The result of Bloom's improbable four-continent odyssey is "Tears of Mermaids: The Secret Story of Pearls," a nonfiction book released this week by St. Martin's Press.

Released: 24-Nov-2009 2:00 PM EST
University Students Tackle Hunger in Philadelphia
Saint Joseph's University

In the spring of 2009, Philabundance, the second largest food bank in the United States, solicited the help of Saint Joseph’s food marketing department to develop a food service model that better met the needs of the city’s hungry. A class of Saint Joseph’s students responded by developing a realistic, practical solution: the Community Food Center.

Released: 23-Nov-2009 8:00 PM EST
Your Life Could Depend on Knowing Your Health Heritage
University of Virginia

Thursday is National Family History Day. A team of researchers at the University of Virginia announces it is enhancing a Web site called Health Heritage®, which will allow families to track and share their medical histories.

Released: 13-Nov-2009 4:00 PM EST
Scholar on Vampires: New Moon and the Razor-Sharp Language of Eternal Love
Academy Communications

Amy Smith, vampire literature scholar at University of the Pacific, offers insights on Stephenie Meyer's books and on celebrations surrounding the release of “New Moon,” the latest in the popular “Twilight” film series.

Released: 13-Nov-2009 2:00 PM EST
Pop-Culture Expert Can Discuss Implications of “New Moon” on Vampire Image
Texas Tech University

Edward Cullen is a prime example of "vampire lite" -- scrubbing a typically blood-soaked genre free of its dark spots.

Released: 12-Nov-2009 11:00 AM EST
Expert Says Number of Children's Books About Obama Is Astounding
Kansas State University

It's no wonder the market for children's literature has seen its share of books about the new president, But the number of titles about Barack Obama is astounding, said Phil Nel, K-State professor of English and head of K-State's children's literature program.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 3:00 PM EST
Migration's Impact on the New South, Labor Focus of Professor's Book
University of Alabama at Birmingham

In a new book Migration and the Transformation of the Southern Workplace Since 1945 (University of Florida Press), University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Professor of History Colin Davis, Ph.D., along with his co-editor, Robert Cassanello, present a collection of seven essays that examine the impact that migration and globalization are having on labor in the American South.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 11:00 AM EST
South, Rural America Have Highest Percent of Disabled Veterans
University of New Hampshire

Veterans with service-related disabilities are concentrated in the American South and in rural places, a new report from the Carsey Institute at UNH finds. Issued to commemorate Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11), the report analyzes new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 10:00 AM EST
Endangered Species: America's Heartland
Saint Joseph's University

According to Saint Joseph’s University sociologist Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., the heartland of America’s greatest export is no longer corn and wheat, but rather its young and talented people. With one out of every five Americans still living in non-metropolitan areas, and considering that those areas now face natural decline with more deaths than births, the problem of the youth exodus from rural America is one that simply cannot be ignored.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 10:00 AM EST
Pirate Radio: True History Stranger than Hollywood Fiction
University of Indianapolis

A University of Indianapolis history professor says the upcoming film "Pirate Radio" is unlikely to capture the outlandish real-life exploits of unlicensed broadcasters in 1960s Britain.

Released: 10-Nov-2009 7:00 AM EST
Study Shows Drop in Heart Attacks After Smoking Ban Implemented
Mississippi State University

A recent study found a 27-percent decrease in heart attacks from citizens of Starkville, Miss., three years after the city passed a smoking ban in public places.

Released: 6-Nov-2009 4:10 PM EST
Workplace Aggression Expert Cautions Employers to Look For ‘Hostile Attribution Style’ When Laying Off Employees
University of New Hampshire

As the economic downturn forces more companies to lay off workers, a workplace aggression expert at the University of New Hampshire cautions employers about what to do and not do when breaking bad news to employees and to be watchful for employees who exhibit a “hostile attribution style.”

Released: 6-Nov-2009 3:00 PM EST
Researcher's Analysis Shows Buying Alaska No Sweet Deal for American Taxpayers
University of Iowa

Sarah Palin has a new book out, and the former Alaska governor's rise to fame has brought more notoriety to her native state than it's had since the United States bought it from Russia in 1867. But a new analysis by a University of Iowa economist suggests the $7.2 million investment hasn't been worth it for U.S taxpayers.



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