A study by Penn State researchers found that many of America's most admired companies have room for social media improvement, with some lacking basic accounts and others struggling to create engaging content. Companies in the consumer packaged goods industry excelled in this area, while those in healthcare struggled.
Despite disparate root growth patterns, tree species with magnolioid and graminoid morphology exhibit comparable efficiency in acquiring soil nutrients. Trees use symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi to take up nutrients, with thin-root species relying on rapid root proliferation.
A study measuring adults' reactions to stress found that maintaining positive moods can reduce inflammation, a risk factor for obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Women are particularly at heightened risk of chronic inflammation.
Dr. Steven Schiff aims to reduce infant mortality from neonatal sepsis by identifying infection causes and developing predictive models for optimal antimicrobial treatment. His research seeks to apply engineering control principles to prevent infections, with potential applications worldwide.
Researchers found an invasive micro-alga, Symbiodinium trenchii, improves coral resilience to heat stress but reduces calcification rates and diminishes coral's ability to build reefs. The introduction of this species poses concerns for ecosystem stability and function.
Researchers will investigate coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis, a common birth defect causing facial and cranial dysmorphology. The study aims to identify new genes and networks driving this condition and develop a predictive computational model of head growth.
A study by Penn State researchers reveals that 64% of children initially diagnosed with autism also have apraxia, a rare neurological speech disorder. The Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) accurately diagnoses autism in children with apraxia, and ongoing screenings are crucial to prevent long-term problems.
A four-year study of 73,357 Chinese adults found that faster heart rates were positively associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. Participants with faster heart rates had a 23% increased risk of diabetes for every 10 beats per minute, similar to the effects of a 3 kilogram per meter square increase in body mass index.
A workplace intervention designed to reduce work-family conflict and increase schedule flexibility has a positive influence on the sleep patterns of employees' children. Children whose parents participated in the STAR intervention showed improved sleep quality compared to those in a control group, according to researchers at Penn State.
A study found that customers rate customer service agents higher when they use emoticons in their responses, indicating a sense of emotional connection. Agents who respond quickly also receive positive ratings, as this creates a feeling of social presence.
Women who participate in clinical trials are more likely to experience positive emotions and fewer negative emotions than those who do not. The study suggests that recruiters should disclose the potential for regret and other negative feelings when participants opt out, to increase enrollment.
A study by Penn State researchers found that wolves in packs with at least five healthy members have a similar death rate to their companions when infected with mange. This suggests that social living can help individuals cope with various chronic conditions by providing supportive care and resources.
Researchers have identified a mechanism allowing E. coli to thrive in inflammatory bowel disease patients by inhibiting myeloperoxidase and regulating iron levels. This discovery may lead to new treatments targeting enterobactin-based drugs or alleviating inflammatory pathways.
The NSF-funded COMET program aims to train graduate STEM students to use DFT intelligently, bridging the gap between fundamental assumptions and numerical methods. Students will also receive professional development training and international internship opportunities.
Researchers discovered that a 55 million-year-old ocean current, formed by the North Atlantic's shape and changes in ocean currents, caused more severe acidification than other oceans during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum. This event may have implications for today's climate sensitivity to increasing carbon dioxide.
Researchers found obesity and depression to be underlying causes of regular drowsiness, with low-grade chronic inflammation a primary mechanism for fatigue in obese individuals. Depressed individuals also experienced high incidence of EDS, likely due to physiologic sleep disturbances.
A three-year study will enroll 2,000 adults aged 65+ who've had a fall-related fracture to assess the effectiveness of an exercise program integrating strength training, balance exercises, and walking with coaching. The study aims to reduce the risk of falls and fractures among seniors by addressing barriers to exercise
Researchers found that women in online games received less help from fellow players when operating unattractive avatars or male avatars. The study supports the idea that gender and appearance stereotypes follow us into virtual environments.
Scientists have discovered chemical compounds, including 2-BE and organic contaminants, in the drinking water of three Pennsylvania homes near a reported well-pad leak. The new technique, GCxGC-TOFMS, was used to characterize the contamination, which is believed to have originated from fracking fluids or drilling additives.
Researchers found a decline in cross-party voting and an increase in party-line voting among Congressional representatives over the past 60 years. The study used network modeling to identify patterns at the individual level, revealing that geography had little influence on voting behavior.
Researchers challenge previous convention that males were much larger than females in the early hominid species Australopithecus afarensis. The study uses Lucy and Kadanuumuu as templates to determine size variation and finds moderate levels of sexual dimorphism within human-like species
Researchers developed a model of a malaria-infected red blood cell to understand the mechanism behind stiffening and stickiness. The model found that protein nodules called knobs contribute to stiffness, suggesting a promising approach to treat the disease by softening the cells.
A study published in Neurology found that individuals with higher occupational levels, such as professionals and engineers, lived up to three years longer than those with lower-level occupations. This suggests that mentally demanding jobs may help protect the brain from the effects of frontotemporal dementia.
Researchers found that more resilient teens were less likely to suffer negative consequences from extreme online exposure, regardless of their level of internet usage. The study emphasizes the importance of empowering teens with coping strategies to manage online risks rather than relying solely on abstinence.
Researchers examined how people interacted with various web navigation tools to find that interactive tools can shape user perceptions of website content. Participants preferred simple clicking and mouse-over tools over more complex features like the 3D carousel.
The discovery of a gene involved in determining the melting point of cocoa butter could lead to new varieties of the cocoa plant with extended growing climates and increased crop values. This finding has significant implications for the livelihoods of millions of cocoa farmers worldwide, who rely on the crop for their income.
Research suggests that selective breeding of maize led to the evolution of root systems more efficient in acquiring nutrients like nitrogen. The study found that newer commercial varieties performed better in every agronomic environment, with characteristics known to increase nitrogen uptake.
Researchers found that story details in games are critical to feelings of appreciation, while more meaningful games evoke heightened insights and enrichment. This study encourages game developers to invest in producing games with more interactive and poignant themes.
Researchers found that interactive tools can boost persuasiveness of websites, particularly modality interactivity, which absorbs users and limits thoughts, while message interactivity increases thoughts and promotes positive attitudes towards the message.
A team of scientists using NASA's WISE observatory has found no evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life in 100,000 galaxies. The study searched for signs of highly advanced civilizations in mid-infrared wavelengths, a radiation detectable by the satellite.
A workplace intervention increased employed parents' daily time with their children by an average of 39 minutes per day, found a study published in Pediatrics. The Support-Transform-Achieve-Results (STAR) program improved family life by increasing employees' control over schedules and supervisor support for personal and family lives.
Researchers developed an acoustic-based microfluidic device to separate circulating cancer cells from blood samples with high accuracy. The device uses surface acoustic waves to push CTCs out of the fluid stream, making it a potentially game-changing technology for non-invasive diagnostics and treatment monitoring.
The use of neonicotinoid insecticides increased dramatically in the US, primarily driven by corn and soybean seeds treated with the pesticides. Researchers found that at least a third of all soybean acres and over 79% of all corn acres were planted with neonicotinoid-coated seed by 2011.
A recent study by Penn State psychologists found that college students often disregard social norms when texting, with many admitting to sending texts during funerals, in the shower, or while having sex. The researchers suggest that breaking with these norms is too tempting for most students, who prioritize checking their texts over pr...
Researchers found that folic acid supplementation increased nitric oxide production in older blood vessels, improving skin blood flow and reducing cardiovascular risk. This inexpensive alternative to pharmaceutical treatments shows promise for helping older adults cope with environmental heat waves.
Researchers at Penn State and USGS use a new stream-based monitoring system to detect high levels of methane in Sugar Run stream, consistent with what would be found in shale gas. The findings show that stream monitoring is an effective method for assessing the environmental impact of extracting natural gas using fracking.
Research by Penn State College of Medicine found that maternal high-fat diets during pregnancy and lactation may prime offspring for weight gain and obesity. Neural activity involved in energy balance and appetite regulation was compromised, suggesting a link between maternal diet and obesity later in life.
Researchers discovered that honey bees use distinct mechanisms to fight off viruses, bacteria, and gut parasites, including the RNAi pathway and DNA methylation. The findings may help develop targeted treatments for honey bee colonies affected by specific infections.
Researchers suggest that increased schooling and mentally challenging problems tackled in schools contribute to the dramatic rise in IQ scores, known as the Flynn Effect. This finding supports the idea that environment plays a stronger role in intelligence than previously thought.
Researchers at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital implemented Lean Six Sigma to reduce pediatric patient discharges without affecting readmission rates. The intervention significantly sped up discharges by 93 minutes, reducing ED boarding hours and financial losses.
Researchers found that teens tend to disclose information first and then seek help to mitigate risks, a different approach than adults who consider risks before taking action. This 'disclose-first-and-then-make-corrections' model may explain the privacy paradox observed in teens.
Researchers discovered that graphene's naturally occurring defects allow hydrogen protons to cross the barrier at unprecedented speeds, creating water channels. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient separation membranes for desalination and a new design for fuel cells.
Research reveals distinct patterns of substance use among white, black, and Hispanic teenagers, with notable age-related disparities. Cigarette use peaks later in life for African Americans compared to whites, while alcohol use is higher among males than females during adolescence.
Researchers have discovered the earliest known fossil of the genus Homo, dating back to 2.8-2.75 million years ago, in the Afar region of Ethiopia. The fossils provide insights into the environment and ecological community where early Homo lived, suggesting a mixed grassland habitat with gallery forests.
A recent study by Penn State researchers found that children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have a significantly higher risk of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems compared to their co-ethnic counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers. The study used data from over 2,500 children ages three to 17 in L...
Climate scientists found that natural oscillations in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans contributed to a 'false pause' in global warming. The researchers discovered a sharply down-trending Pacific multidecadal oscillation (PMO) was the primary driver of this slowdown.
A study by Penn State researchers found that students from Catholic colleges were more reflective when discussing issues of faith and science, suggesting they may be better prepared to address evolution questions. The study suggests that incorporating faith into discussions about evolution can help build confidence in biology teachers,...
A study found that diverse small predators, like dragonfly larvae, reduce parasitic flatworm infections in frogs. The research suggests a link between dwindling global biodiversity and increased infectious diseases.
A recent study suggests that statins may not protect against Parkinson's disease, despite previous reports of a potential link. The research found no evidence that statin use lowered the risk of PD, and may even increase it over time.
Hydrogen sulfide has been found to widen blood vessels in healthy young adults, which could lead to decreased blood pressure. The researchers plan to investigate further by examining the effects of hydrogen sulfide on hypertensive individuals and high blood pressure treatments.