In a recent study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Moffitt researchers found for the first time that smokers often have greater urges to smoke and smoke more cigarettes when they experience pain.

"This study provides the first experimental evidence that situational pain is a potent motivator of smoking, partially due to an increase in negative mood state," said Thomas H. Brandon, Ph.D., author and director of Moffitt's Tobacco Research & Intervention Program.

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is the only Florida-based cancer center with the NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center for its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer and ear, nose and throat. Moffitt's sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

UF Technology Helps Turn Sugar Beets into Energy

Technology originally developed by the University of Florida (UF) for NASA will be used to help Minnesota-based American Crystal Sugar Co. efficiently recycle sugar beet tailings into methane gas, a burnable energy source.

UCF Study Finds Physical and Mental Benefits of Video Games
Researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) were recently awarded a $200,000 grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through the Health Games Research national program, an initiative that explores how video games can improve the nation's health and health care costs.

Nominate Florida's Innovative Tech Companies for Governor's Award
The Governor's 2008 Business Diversifications Awards program is now accepting nominations for Florida companies in emerging and high tech industries that contribute to Florida's economic growth. Companies will be evaluated relative to other companies in similarly sized markets for their contribution to Florida's economic growth and corporate citizenship and on criteria specific to the individual award.
Winning companies receive an exclusive evening reception with Governor Charlie Crist along with other statewide winners and local development organizations at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee during Industry Appreciation Week September 15-19, 2008, recognition in a full-page ad in Florida Trend magazine and on high-traffic Web sites such as www.eFlorida.com
and www.myflorida.com, and promotion through a press release to their local newspaper.
Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. EST Friday, July 18, 2008.
For more information, visit http://www.eflorida.com/govawards

Tech Jam 2008 Coming to Tampa Bay
The year's largest networking event for the high tech Tampa Bay community—the Tampa Bay Technology Forum's (TBTF) Tech Jam 2008—is coming to the St. Pete Times Forum on August 7. For more information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.

Northrop Grumman Funds Optics and Photonics Partnership
Northrop Grumman's Central Florida operations recently formulated a strategic research initiative focused on the co-development of advanced optic and photonic technologies. The partnership will help create technologies that have military, intelligence, homeland defense and civil applications. For more information, please visit: http://tiny.pl/k6q4

Central Florida IT Company's Expansion to Create 420 New Jobs
Internet technology company, Channel Intelligence Inc., will spend $33 million to expand its Celebration-based facility by 125,000 square feet. The expansion will create 420 jobs with an average annual salary of $55,400, which is 200 percent higher than Osceola County's current average wage.

Orlando, Brevard Metro Areas Outpace Nation in Tech Industry Job Growth
According to a report compiled by the Orlando Sentinel and the Florida Council for AeA, technology sector jobs in the Orlando (Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties) and Brevard County metropolitan areas increased between 2001 and 2006 while technology employment in the U.S. declined during that same time period.

The Orlando metro area grew by 3.6 percent, or 1,531 new jobs, while the Palm Bay-Melbourne area grew by 9 percent or 1,708 jobs. During that same time period, technology employment in the U.S. dropped by 11.7 percent or 763,443 jobs.