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At the heart of globalization

The new Käte Hamburger International Research Center will study globalization from the dynamics of 'dis:connectivity', considering opposing forces, diversions, and loss of connectivity. Researchers hope to develop a practice-based understanding of globalization combining scholarly approaches with aesthetic points of view.

Higher education does not influence how the brain ages

A recent study by the Lifebrain consortium found that brains shrink at the same rate in highly educated and less educated individuals. Despite slightly larger brain volumes in highly educated people, their brains age similarly throughout life. The researchers measured brain aging using MRI scans from over 2000 participants and tracked ...

SourceNorwegian Institute of Public Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2021

Brushing away oral health disparities in America's rural children

A recent study from Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina found that rural children are less likely to receive preventive dental care than their urban counterparts. This disparity can have serious consequences for children's oral health, including increased risk of decay and bacterial growth.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Public Health Dentistry·DateApr 21, 2021

Study snapshot: Untested admissions

A study found that test-optional admissions policies at selective private institutions led to a 3-4% increase in Pell Grant recipients, a 10-12% increase in first-time Black, Latinx, and Native students, and a 6-8% increase in women enrollment. However, these gains were relatively small compared to the overall student body.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalAmerican Educational Research Journal·DateApr 12, 2021

Study snapshot: Disproportionate burden

A new study estimates that FAFSA verification costs public colleges and universities nearly $500 million annually, with community colleges spending 22% of their financial aid office budget on verification. The burden falls disproportionately on these institutions, which enroll nearly half of all undergraduates.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateApr 12, 2021

Paying for whose performance? Teacher incentive pay and the black-white test score gap

A study found that teacher incentive pay programs in North Carolina expanded the test score gap between Black and White students, with gains smaller for Black students. The programs aimed to increase teaching effectiveness in high-need schools but had little impact on average student achievement overall.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateApr 12, 2021

Study sheds light on interplay among PTSD, combat experience, alcohol use

A recent study found that combat experience is associated with a higher risk of alcohol use to cope with PTSD symptoms, but this link weakens when adjusting for PTSD severity. The study also reveals that trauma-exposed men without combat experience are more likely than those with combat experience to report an alcohol use disorder.

SourceVeterans Affairs Research Communications·JournalJournal of Dual Diagnosis·DateApr 2, 2021

E. Coli calculus: Bacteria find the derivative optimally

Researchers from The University of Tokyo have shown that the standard model biologists use to describe bacterial chemotaxis is mathematically equivalent to optimal dynamics. By using nonlinear filtering theory, they found that the system used by bacteria is indeed optimal for efficient sensing and adaptation in noisy environments.

Latinos, Blacks less swayed by college-bound friends

Research by Steven Alvarado found that having college-bound friends increases the likelihood of enrolling in college, but this effect is weaker for Black and Latino students. Structural and cultural processes may mitigate the influence of friendship on these groups' college enrollment rates.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Educational Research Journal·DateMar 4, 2021

How to track the variants of the pandemic faster

Scientists highlight the need for sustainable collaboration frameworks and harmonization of health data practices to tackle the pandemic. Improved sequencing could enable better tracking of transmission and mutations, leading to more accurate estimates of R-number and improved understanding of mutational impacts.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature·DateMar 3, 2021

SHEA names first editor for Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has launched a new open-access journal, Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, with Dr. Gonzalo Bearman at the helm. The journal will focus on original research, reviews, and commentaries on infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateMar 2, 2021

Reinforced by policies, charters segregate schools

Research from Cornell University finds that charter schools have contributed to increased school segregation and a decline in residential segregation. The study analyzed over 1,500 metropolitan school districts and found a link between charter school enrollment and racial sorting among families.

SourceCornell University·JournalDemography·DateMar 1, 2021