The University of California’s Education Abroad Programs in Beijing will be suspended due to the expansion of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, and the 44 students currently participating in those programs have been instructed to return immediately.
The decision reflects the University of California’s ongoing concern for student safety, given the spread of SARS in Beijing, including a recently confirmed case at Peking University and other cases in neighborhoods near the university.
No EAP students have been diagnosed with SARS.
To ensure the swift return of UC students still in China, EAP is supporting students with travel plans, helping eliminate financial obstacles due to the program suspension, securing as much academic credit as possible for students and advising precautions for students on health care upon their return.
EAP continues to monitor local conditions that may impact its programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. At this time, all other EAP programs currently operating in Asia remain open.
EAP will decide no later than May 10 about operating its summer programs in Beijing. Summer programs in Beijing are scheduled to begin in late June.
Bright light exposure increases male hormone
The levels of a pituitary hormone that increase testosterone are enhanced after exposure to bright light in the early morning, according to researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine. The findings suggest that light exposure might serve some of the same functions for which people take testosterone and other androgens.
The study also supports data that bright light can trigger ovulation in women, which is also controlled by luteinizing hormone, the pituitary hormone that was studied.
The study looked at LH excretion following bright light exposure from 5a.m. to 6 a.m. each morning for five days in 11 healthy men ages 19-30. The same group of men had their LH measured again after exposure to a placebo light from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. for five days.
The researchers found that LH levels were increased 69.5 percent after bright light exposure in the early morning.
Previous studies have shown that bright light exposure helps alleviate the symptoms of depression.
According to the study’s authors, sexual dysfunction, such as loss of libido and decreased sexual activity, which are known depression symptoms, as well as side effects of newly developed antidepressants, may be helped by bright light exposure.
The study is published in the current issue of the journal Neuroscience Letters.
$10,000 essay contest open to students
A $10,000 essay contest on the wealth or poverty of nations for students and recent graduates is being sponsored by aWorldConnected.org.
Participants must write on the topic: “”Why are some countries rich while others remain poor? How does globalization contribute to the wealth or poverty of nations?”” Entrants are encouraged to supply some research in their entry.
First, second and third prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500, respectively. Four honorable mention prizes of $250 each will also be awarded.
The competition is open to anyone enrolled in a university or graduate school or anyone under the age of 25. The deadline for essay submissions is May 1. Essay submissions may be no longer than 2,500 words.
The essay contest features a distinguished review panel that includes Deepak Lal, professor of international development studies at UCLA; Brink Lindsey, author of “”Against the Dead Hand;”” John Powelson, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Colorado; and George Ayittey, president of the Free Africa Foundation.
aWorldConnected.org is a resource for students that provides information, critiques and stories of the benefits and challenges of globalization.
More information about the Globalization Essay Contest can be found at http://www.aWorldConnected.org/essay.
