Friday Roundup

Here is a listing of articles published in the last 7-10 days that may be of interest:

Health
1. Study: More evidence links specific genes to ADHD; USA Today, December 5, 2011
Brief Introduction: Variations in genes involved in brain signaling pathways appear to be linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study. The findings suggest that drugs that act on these pathways may offer a new treatment option for ADHD patients with the gene variants, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers said.

2. Too few doctors may be telling parents their kids are overweight; Los Angeles Times, December 5, 2011
Brief Introduction: Parents can sometimes be clueless about the fact that their kids are too heavy, but doctors may not be steering them in the right direction. A study finds that less than a fourth of parents recollect their healthcare providers telling them their children were overweight.

Education
1. Study: Phys. Ed., recess mandates boost school physical activity time; Education Week, December 5, 2011
Brief Introduction: Schools are more likely to offer students 150 minutes of physical education per week if located in a state or district that mandates that level of P.E., according to a study published online today in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

2. Education a fresh start for those in poverty; Marionstar.com, December 6, 2011
Brief Introduction: Wiseman, 20, is among students enrolled at Marion County Jobs for Ohio's Graduates. Its students refer to it as their second chance, and sometimes as their only hope as many struggle to not fall into a cycle of poverty.

Race
1. Postal service cutbacks to hurt blacks; Chicago Tribune, December 6, 2011
Brief Introduction: The U.S. Postal Service's announcement Monday that it plans to close 252 mail processing centers and trim 28,000 jobs to fend off possible bankruptcy is part of a growing trend of shrinking government employment opportunities. For its workforce, which is disproportionately composed of African-Americans, the news means a lot more than the prospect of slower mail delivery.

2. Nudging Latinos toward math and science; Chicago Tribune, December 7, 2011
Brief Introduction: For Chicago-area educators such as Adrianzen, empowering Latino boys and girls to enroll in and excel in math and science classes is important to combating relatively high absenteeism and dropout rates, low college enrollment rates and disproportionately low numbers of minorities working in STEM careers.