Universities develop a more sustainable future

(University College London) Experts from the worlds of law, geography, economics, health and planning will meet at UCL on Friday, Sept. 19 to examine the ways in which today’ s universities can become locally-rooted champions for global sustainability, reaching out to the wider community to help bring about lasting change. The symposium, called: "The Sustainable University: Relating Ecological Thinking, Learning and Research, " will feature a keynote speech by Professor Michael M’ Gonigle, co-founder of Greenpeace International.

Children who are concerned about parents arguing are prone to school problems

(Society for Research in Child Development) A new study charted how children's concerns about their parents' relationship may increase their vulnerability to later adjustment problems. Children who worry a lot about conflict between their parents were found to have school problems because of difficulty focusing and sustaining attention. These attention problems were noted by teachers in the year that the concern was reported and one year later. The findings have implications for mental health programs among children dealing with parental discord.

LSUHSC awarded grant to address nursing shortage

(Louisiana State University Health Science Center) LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Nursing has been awarded a $100, 000 grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to provide scholarships to individuals under-represented in nursing or from disadvantaged backgrounds in an accelerated nursing degree program. The funding will support ten scholarships in LSUHSC's Career Alternative RN Education, or CARE, Program, expanding enrollment and the number of fully qualified nurses prepared to practice.

Britney is back. No, really

BRITNEY Spears' improving health and popularity have prompted her record label to rush-release a new album in a dramatic turnaround of fortunes.

15 years later: Landmark hearing study follows up on farm youth

(Marshfield Clinic) A landmark study conducted by Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation 15 years ago found that an educational intervention improved hearing protection use among farm youth.Now, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has awarded a $954, 000 grant to MCRF to study the same group of Wisconsin youth to see whether the increase in hearing protection use continued into adulthood and whether it helped preserve hearing.

Broadway biz boosted in '08

Business News: Attendance hits a record 12.32 million -- Broadway sales last year hit $940, 871, 190, a calendar-year record -- but just barely. Ditto attendance, which squeaked out a record of 12.32 million.

Courbit invests in music talent site

Business News: MyMajorCompany looks to expand into U.K. -- Gallic media entrepreneur Stephane Courbit, the former prexy-CEO of Endemol France, has acquired a 49% stake in French website MyMajorCompany.

Apple drops anti-piracy protection

Business News: iTunes to introduce variable pricing -- Apple is dropping its anti-piracy protection on iTunes and the music biz if finally getting the variable pricing it has long desired.

Canal Plus, Orange agree to pact

Business News: Deal will extend reach of competitors -- After months of phony war, France’s two media giants, Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group and France Telecom-Orange, have signed what looks like a historic peace pact.

ITV invests in Carbon Media

Business News: U.K. broadcaster takes 25% stake -- Blighty’s biggest private terrestrial web, ITV, has taken another stake in a shingle as the broadcaster attempts to beef up its global content activities.

France TV workers protest ad ban

Business News: Strikers hope to influence Senate -- Staffers on Gallic pubcaster France Televisions have again gone on strike to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's post-8 p.m. ban on advertising on channels France 2, 3, 4, 5 and radio station RFO, which became effective on Monday.

Dilution of eSun halted

Business News: Passport Capital blocks efforts by company -- Wall Street investment fund Passport Capital is blocking a share dilution by eSun, the holding company that owns Hong Kong film producer Media Asia.

UTA makes Jeremy Barber partner

Business News: Film agent reps Cheadle, Coogan, Morgan -- UTA has promoted film agent Jeremy Barber to become the percentery's 19th partner.

Hollywood swag on the decline

Business News: Golden Globes to host a lighter gift of grab -- The economy is a real drag on swag. It's definitely the time of year for freebies, with at least six Golden Globes gifting suites scheduled over the weekend.

Universal takes Gamble in CFO post

Business News: Executive will report to Meyer, Calpeter -- Universal Studios has tapped Sean Gamble as executive VP and chief financial officer.