The School of Dental Medicine announced last week that a preliminary study found that rinsing regularly with mouthwash was linked to a decreased rate of incidence of preterm births.

This summer, assistant Engineering professor Katherine Kuchenbecker was selected as one of ten PopTech Fellows in the sophomore class of the Science and Public Leadership division. PopTech, an organization which hosts a community of scientists from around the world, is known for its series of talks on popular science issues.

A lively circus act composed of jugglers and tightrope walkers greeted over 200 locals early Wednesday afternoon at the opening celebration of the new green space adjacent to 30th Street Station. GALLERY: Photos of ‘The Porch’ opening

The event, called “Burning of the Epithets,” was planned by the United Minorities Council as part of Unity Week in an effort to encourage those impacted by negative stereotypes of race, gender, social status or sexuality. GALLERY: Photos of ‘Burning of the Epithets’

An underground gas explosion at 34th and Ludlow Streets today at about 5 p.m. Nov. 2 caused pavement damage at the southwest corner of the intersection.

Last week, Business Services sent students who purchased the Eat Any Time meal plan an email restating its policy regarding “moocher meals” — the number of guest swipes allocated to each student. Business Services also posted flyers around the dining halls listing the plan’s terms and conditions. VIDEO: Students’ takes on unlimited dining plan

Thanks to the “Hopes and Fears Revisited” mixed-media installation, members of the Penn community have been writing their hopes and fears on post-it notes, signing them with a fingerprint. INTERACTIVE: Notes from the ‘Hopes and Fears’ exhibitGALLERY: Photos of ‘Hopes and Fears’ exhibit

The symbolic strike, held in solidarity with the Occupy Oakland movement, began at noon and lasted exactly 99 minutes long. TOPICS: Occupy movement

If convicted of all counts, Leslie Mosby faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum of 10 years, a $500,000 fine, five years supervised release and a $200 special assessment.

The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival will feature screenings, film shorts and more in its fourth year. The bulk of the programming will take place at the Ibrahim Theater in Penn’s International House.

Theft Oct. 27 — A female student, 19, reported than an unknown suspect removed her wallet from her unattended purse at the Starbucks located at 3401 Walnut St at about 3:30 p.m. Oct.

On Tuesday, the president announced a “Pay as You Earn” proposal to help struggling college graduates with student loan debt, though officials believe the proposal will only translate to Penn “minimally” because of Penn’s no-loan financial aid policy.

The Young Americans for Obama program will hold its national launch event in Houston Hall’s Hall of Flags Wednesday at 6 p.m. The National Obama Student Summit, which will be broadcast on national television, will feature appearances by Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina and Philadelphia Mayor and 1976 Wharton graduate Michael Nutter.

Penn Medicine, in collaboration with the Gift of Life Donor Program, performed the first bilateral hand transplant in the Delaware Valley region last month, described by Penn doctor L. Scott Levin as a “medical miracle.”

Sakai, still in the early stages of development, may be an alternative to the course management program Blackboard. Sakai is currently being tested in 24 courses across the University.

After long-time Director June Chu departed from the Pan-Asian American Community House, the Asian American umbrella organization has named Meeta Kumar the interim director of the organization.

Lauren Shapiro, a senior at Doris and Alex Weber Jewish Community High School in Atlanta, Ga., said “it’s absolutely necessary that [the college I attend] has some Jewish population.” Of 10,000 undergraduate at Penn, around 25 percent are Jewish.