A new funding model is being tested in Pennsylvania, which could lead to higher quality care at lower costs. The global budget model provides a fixed payment to hospitals, incentivizing them to focus on patient outcomes rather than extensive care.
A new study by Penn State researchers found no significant difference in fear of crime between people living in areas with high and low incarceration rates. Despite the US having the world's highest incarceration rate, the study suggests that mass incarceration policies may not have the desired effect on reducing crime fear.
Research from Penn State and Michigan State found paternal depression symptoms associated with adolescent depression and behavior problems, even among non-genetically related families. Parent-child conflict was a key factor contributing to these effects.
A new study suggests that developing culturally-sensitive interventions for Latino college students can help prevent problem drinking. The research found that ethnic pride was associated with significantly less drinking and alcohol-related consequences, while ethnic shame was linked to a higher likelihood of problem drinking. Familismo...
Eating one avocado a day for six months improved overall diet quality by eight points and slightly decreased LDL cholesterol levels. However, avocados had no effect on belly fat or weight gain in participants with overweight or obesity.
Research led by Penn State found that low-severity fire treatments reduced the worst effects of the Dixie Fire. The study also showed that areas with a history of high-severity fires were more likely to burn at high severity again, highlighting the importance of ecological memory and legacy effects of past fires.
Researchers at Penn State discovered that people with high 'Fear-of-Missing-Out' and 'Need-to-Belong' personality traits check their phones significantly more often when in silent mode, staying on the phone longer as well. This suggests a one-size-fits-all approach to managing smartphone distractions may be misguided.
A recent study from Penn State's Center for Childhood Obesity Research found that second-born children in families where mothers received responsive parenting training slept an average of 40 minutes longer per night. The training also promoted healthier feeding practices and lower body mass indices (BMIs) in infants.
Researchers at Penn State have created a highly customizable microscale gas sensing device using laser writing and responsive sensor technologies. The device enables the simultaneous detection of multiple gases, including disease indicators and pollutants, in various environments and substrates.
A comprehensive study reveals that turtles, crocodilians, and salamanders have low aging rates and extended lifespans. Protective phenotypes like hard shells contribute to slower aging, with some species experiencing 'negligible aging' or lack of demographic aging.
Research found that people who experience little unemployment after age 35 have better health than those with frequent unemployment in their twenties and thirties. Frequent unemployment can also lead to worse physical and mental health by age 50.
A new study from Penn State College of Medicine finds that a unique combination of drugs can activate natural killer cell immunity in mice, which may also reinvigorate T cells to attack melanoma tumors. The combination targets proteins AKT and WEE1, increasing p53 pathway activity and enhancing natural killer cell infiltration.
African countries face a growing cancer burden, with an estimated 2.1 million new cases and 1.4 million related deaths expected by 2040. Insufficient healthcare resources and infrastructure will likely overwhelm capacity levels, delaying screenings and limiting treatment options if action is not taken.
A new study suggests that losing a grandmother may have a significant impact on adolescent boys, leading to a 50% increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers also found that the loss of a grandparent can be a risk factor for teen depression and other negative outcomes.
Researchers found that user-initiated corrections with reliable sources consistently helped users reject fake news. Individuals with higher health anxiety and conservative political stance were more susceptible to misinformation. The study encourages social media users to correct fake news they see online if they have a reliable source.
A Penn State-led team created an artificial skin that exhibits both elasticity and cognitive functions like cephalopod skin. The device retains its neurological behaviors when deformed, enabling potential applications in neurorobotics, skin prosthetics, and artificial organs.
A Penn State-led team examines the shift to biotechnology platform-based vaccine manufacturing, which enabled rapid production of COVID-19 vaccines. This approach could be applied to future virus research and development, facilitating modular manufacturing and mass customization.
A recent study found that older adults in later-born generations are more likely to have multiple chronic health conditions than prior generations. This trend may lead to increased strain on the well-being of older adults and medical insurance systems, particularly as the US population ages. The researchers suggest that sociodemographi...
Researchers found that indigenous smallholder gardens and farms in Huánuco, Peru, play a crucial role in diet and biodiversity. The study identified a positive correlation between the use of indigenous Quechua language, degree of commercialization, and agrobiodiversity.
A new study found that the delta variant surge in the US was partially due to overestimating population immunity, with only 67% of southern New Englanders actually immune. This underestimation led to inaccurate projections and an incorrect assumption about herd immunity.
Wealthy individuals are more likely to purchase unsustainable products with higher price tags, feeling entitled to the benefits despite environmental costs. However, when encouraged to think about equality, this effect is diminished.
A new program, IVAN, developed at Penn State uses virtual reality to teach nutrition concepts and improve users' skills. The program scored highly across 14 domains, indicating it was received positively by experts.
Researchers developed flexible, porous nitrogen dioxide sensors that can be attached to skin and clothing for continuous monitoring. The sensors have potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and military use, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers found Madagascar's tree losses occurred internally in forests without landscape-scale fires, suggesting medium to large fires did not cause high rates of tree loss. Fire is declining across tropical grassy ecosystems globally, including on Madagascar, with major implications for ecosystems.
A new study found that individuals high in grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are less likely to wear masks or get vaccinated. However, those who do choose to participate may be more likely to encourage others to do so. Researchers suggest using unique messaging strategies to tap into these personalities.
Studies in fruit flies reveal coordinated movements of heads and bodies to stabilize vision and improve flight performance. Similar synchronization is observed in other animals, including primates, suggesting evolutionary benefits for energy efficiency and performance.
Research led by Penn State College of Medicine found that US-born Black adults have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to Black immigrants. The study analyzed data from nearly 65,000 Black adults aged 25-74 and found that deaths were 54% lower among immigrants overall and 40% lower from cardiovascular disease.
Researchers find that criminal violations of supervised release contribute the majority of prison time imposed through revocation. Advocates for reform focus on technical violations, but these also lead to significant punishment. The system raises constitutional questions due to potential double punishment and erosion of rights.
Ads on VAs are better received if VA is a medium, not the source of the ads. Socially motivated users see VAs as companions and respond positively to ads delivered in context.
A study published in PeerJ has discovered that the dominant tree group in Brunei's rainforest, dipterocarps, has remained unchanged for at least four million years. The research suggests that the current ecosystem is similar to what was present during the Pliocene Epoch, providing additional justification for conservation efforts.
A 60-million-year-old fossil of a coconut reveals insect tunneling signs, pinpointing the culprit as palm bruchines beetles. This finding sheds new light on Neotropical rainforests and their interactions with insects, highlighting the importance of specialized plant-insect relationships in maintaining plant diversity.
Researchers at Penn State found emerging problems in Remote Sighted Assistance (RSA) technology that cannot be solved with existing computer vision techniques, warranting new development in human-AI collaboration. The technology connects visually impaired individuals with human agents for daily tasks requiring sight.
Researchers found a simulated annual downward trend in surface PM10 concentrations in Senegal and Cabo Verde after the 1980s. However, there was an increase in dust over the Western Sahara transported to Cabo Verde, suggesting Eastern Atlantic dust continued on toward the U.S. and Caribbean.
Researchers will investigate the radiation resistance of wide bandgap semiconductors to develop devices for environments with significant radiation. The team aims to understand defects and their impact on device performance to achieve optimum radiation hardness.
Researchers analyzed ancient corn roots to understand the transformation of wild grass teosinte into modern corn. The study found that early corn specimens lacked seminal roots, a key adaptation for drought tolerance, and had different root anatomy than modern corn.
An international team of engineers has successfully bioprinted bone along with two growth factor encoding genes that help incorporate cells and heal defects in rats. The researchers used gene encoding PDGF-B and BMP-2, which encouraged cell multiplication and migration, resulting in a 40% increase in bone tissue creation.
Researchers at Penn State and UC San Diego found a new method to tune the magnetic properties of manganese bismuth telluride, enabling efficient control of lossless electrical currents. The discovery uses phonons to modify the magnetic bonding between layers, potentially leading to ultra-fast devices with reduced energy waste.
A new study has shown that increasing genetic diversity can improve researchers' ability to identify important genetic markers for health conditions. The study, which analyzed data from over 470,000 Hispanic/Latino individuals, identified 42 previously unidentified regions of the human genome related to BMI, height, and waist-to-hip ra...
Researchers found that cloud tenants are vulnerable to receiving sensitive customer data when IP addresses are leased and released back to the public. To mitigate this risk, companies and cloud-service providers must implement practices such as preventing IP address reuse.
Researchers found that early European farmers were on average 1.5 inches shorter than their pre-agricultural counterparts. Heights steadily increased through the Copper, Bronze, and Iron ages, with some parts of Europe experiencing a height loss. The study suggests that environmental factors contributed to the decrease in heights.
A new Penn State study found that people are more likely to choose empathy for an animal over a human, but only when the choices are not in competition. When context matters, people's willingness to engage in human empathy decreases, while their interest in animal empathy increases.
Research analyzed EU's Rapid Alert System data from 2006 to 2018, documenting reasons for rejected products, including food safety concerns. The study found evidence that decreases in tariffs are associated with increased use of nontariff barriers and protectionist policies.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a machine learning model that better measures baseball players' performance by analyzing game context. The model uses natural language processing and computer vision techniques to provide more nuanced descriptions of player impact on the game.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that engaging in meaningful and challenging activities during free time can significantly reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings. The researchers identified that flow, a state of being fully engaged and focused on an activity, is crucial to reducing loneliness.
Researchers found that mutation frequencies in mitochondrial DNA of developing egg cells are lower and increase less with age compared to non-reproductive cells. This suggests a protective mechanism may keep reproductive cells relatively stable, potentially related to human propensity to reproduce at later ages.
Researchers found that changes in hydrology and pressure beneath the glacier are responsible for the relationship between meltwater discharge and calving. This discovery could help project future sea-level rise and its impact on coastal communities.
A research team led by Chris Arges developed a simplified process to separate and compress hydrogen from gas mixtures, achieving high recovery rates. The new method uses an electrochemical hydrogen pump with newly developed membrane materials, operating at high temperatures and improving efficiency.
A new study published in Ambio highlights the potential for tropical forests to provide food security in the face of a nuclear winter. Researchers identified 33 wild, edible plants and insects that could be cultivated or foraged in post-nuclear war conditions. These findings offer a new perspective on global food security and resilience.
A recent study found that child abuse investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) do not necessarily prevent poor sexual health outcomes in adolescent girls. In fact, the researchers discovered that girls who underwent investigation were more likely to experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including STIs and pregnancy, befor...
A new study found that red-backed salamanders have limited ability to adjust to warming climates, with depressed metabolic rates in warmer conditions. This may lead to energy deficits and negatively impact individual growth and reproductive success.