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After statewide teacher evaluation reform, low-rated teachers leave struggling schools: Study finds

A recent study by New York University found that statewide teacher evaluation reform is associated with increased turnover of lower-performing instructors, particularly in urban districts and low-performing schools. The research suggests that these reforms can help retain more effective teachers for longer periods.

SourceNew York University·JournalAmerican Educational Research Journal·DateMar 23, 2020

Vaping chemical creates toxic ketene gas, RCSI research

Researchers from RCSI University have discovered that heating up vitamin E acetate in vaping products produces highly toxic ketene gas, which can cause serious lung damage and impair the central nervous system. The study highlights the potential risks of vaping and calls for further investigation into the chemicals found in vape mixtures.

SourceRCSI·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2020

New study confirms value of family meals

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior confirms that frequent family meals are associated with better dietary outcomes and improved family functioning. The research found a positive relationship between family meal frequency and increased fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as measures of family c...

SourceThe Ginger Network·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 10, 2020

Want to live longer? Stay in school, study suggests

A multi-institution study finds that level of education is best predictor of life expectancy, outshining racial factors. Higher education levels resulted in 1.37 fewer years of lost life expectancy, suggesting improved access to education could reverse declining life expectancy trends.

SourceYale University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 20, 2020

How coworkers impact the value of your skills

A recent study by Harvard's Growth Lab analyzed administrative data on Sweden's 9 million inhabitants, finding that workers with complementary coworkers earn high wages and returns on education, comparable to having a college degree. The research offers a tool to assess the right and wrong coworkers in fields of expertise.

SourceHarvard Kennedy School·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 15, 2020

Online educational videos boost cancer knowledge

Rutgers researchers found that online educational videos boost cancer knowledge and awareness among viewers, leading to increased behavioral changes such as self-skin inspections and lung cancer screening. The study highlights the potential of digital health videos to reach disadvantaged populations and improve health outcomes.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Cancer Education·DateJan 13, 2020

Researchers identify starting point for designing drugs that cure Clostridium difficile

Scientists combined advanced molecular imaging techniques to characterize and understand how Clostridium difficile toxins work, providing a new target for effective treatment of the most dangerous strains. The study's findings will guide the design of drugs targeting C. difficile infections.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 2, 2020

Special issue of Educational Researcher examines the nature and consequences of null findings

A newly released special issue examines the prevalence of null findings in randomized control trials, highlighting their expected and valuable role in evaluation research. Key articles propose frameworks for defining and interpreting null results, exploring context and implementation fidelity as factors influencing outcomes.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Researcher·DateDec 17, 2019

Tracking titin in real time

MDC researchers used new imaging techniques to track titin's entire lifecycle, revealing its dynamic nature and unexpected pool of soluble titin outside the sarcomere. This breakthrough provides novel insight into muscle tissue formation and could lead to understanding of human diseases associated with mutated sarcomeric proteins.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 13, 2019

Achieving optimal collaboration when goals conflict

New research reveals that knowing more about a partner's actions accelerates joint physical task collaboration. Game theory insights inform the development of robots that can interact with humans in a natural, human-like fashion.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateDec 12, 2019