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Dip in consumer confidence signals disappointing holiday retail season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Consumer confidence among Floridians fell one point to 62 in November and is expected to remain low through December, ushering in what may be the worst holiday buying season in decades, a new University of Florida study finds.
“Although consumer confidence rose in November, it is still very close to historical lows,” said [...]

Filed under Business, Florida, Research on Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

Phone counseling works to reinforce weight loss, UF study finds

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Telephone counseling may be just as successful as face-to-face counseling in helping people maintain weight loss, report University of Florida researchers.
The UF study is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of telephone counseling for long-term management of obesity in rural communities. The findings appear in today’s (Nov. 24) issue of [...]

Filed under Gender, Health, Research on Monday, November 24, 2008.

Scientists build ‘roach motel’ for nasty bugs of the bacterial variety

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The vacancy sign is on, but the lowlifes who check in never check out.

Filed under Environment, Health, Research on Monday, November 24, 2008.

Climate change opens new avenue for spread of invasive plants

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Plants that range northward because of climate change may be better at defending themselves against local enemies than native plants.

Filed under Environment, Florida, Research on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

Floridians expect to dramatically reduce holiday shopping, survey shows

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tough economic times are forcing Florida consumers to drastically cut plans for holiday spending, leaving retailers with what may be their worst season in decades, according to telephone surveys of more than 500 state residents.

Filed under Business, Florida, Research on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

To widen path to outer space, UF engineers build small satellite

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s not much bigger than a softball and weighs just 2 pounds.
But the “pico satellite” being designed and built in a University of Florida aerospace engineering laboratory may hold a key to a future of easy access to outer space — one where sending satellites into orbit is as routine [...]

Filed under Engineering, Research, Sciences on Thursday, November 13, 2008.

UF-tied research to study embryos in space

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Mankind’s quick trips to space haven’t had to cope with many problems that come with a longer stay off-planet, but research aboard the next shuttle mission will address one issue bound to come up in the foray to the final frontier — extraterrestrial motherhood.

Filed under Research, Sciences on Wednesday, November 12, 2008.

Zoologists: Sea snakes seek out freshwater to slake thirst

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sea snakes may slither in saltwater, but they sip the sweet stuff.

Filed under Environment, Research, Sciences on Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Brief consultations may affect students’ health-risk behavior

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College students cut down on drinking alcohol, using marijuana and drunken driving after receiving a new form of health consultation that addresses multiple risk behaviors and focuses on positive self-image, a University of Florida study has found.

Filed under Health, Research on Monday, November 3, 2008.