Researchers have developed a second-generation synthetic water channel that improves on earlier attempts to mimic natural aquaporins. The peptide-appended pillar[5]arenes (PAP) membranes are more stable and easier to manufacture, making them suitable for highly efficient water purification membranes.
A nearly 20-year study found that kindergarteners' social-emotional skills are a significant predictor of their future success. Students demonstrating better prosocial behavior were more likely to graduate from college, be gainfully employed, and avoid arrest.
Researchers link positive and negative mood to daily pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients, suggesting that interventions targeting depression and momentary mood may improve pain and quality of life. The study's findings may have implications for individuals with chronic pain beyond rheumatoid arthritis.
Research confirms that certain vaccines can lead to the survival of more virulent virus strains, increasing risk to unvaccinated populations. This has significant implications for food-chain security and human health.
Research reveals that schools with more black and minority students tend to prioritize punishment over medical or psychological interventions, leading to higher rates of expulsions, suspensions, and referrals to law enforcement. This trend is linked to centralized governance and zero-tolerance policies in disadvantaged districts.
A study analyzing special education data found that autism diagnoses increased, but so did reclassifications of intellectual disability cases. Researchers believe this shift may be attributed to the variability of autism and its overlap with other related disorders.
Researchers found that inviting customers to tailor ads improves attitudes towards location-based advertising. Customization with high-involvement products also enhances customer acceptance.
A recent study found that marijuana use among teens is increasing, particularly among black teens, while cigarette and alcohol use are decreasing. The study analyzed data from over 600,000 high school seniors between 1976 and 2013 and found a marked decline in cigarette use and an increase in marijuana use.
Researchers sequenced the genomes of two extinct woolly mammoths and three modern Asian elephants, identifying genetic variants associated with traits such as hair development, fat storage, and temperature sensation. The study found that these changes likely enabled the mammoths to adapt to harsh Arctic environments.
Researchers have developed a cost-effective method for producing hundreds of female emerald ash borer decoys using biomimetic fabrication. The new approach, which requires only one mold, is 40% more successful than previous methods and can be produced faster and less expensively.
Researchers at Penn State discovered Sphaerobolus stellatus, also known as artillery or shotgun fungus, is the causal agent for emerging turfgrass disease thatch collapse. The fungus causes circular patches of dark-green turf and a characteristic mushroom odor.
Poor sleep quality predicts increased severity and frequency of depression and mania in women with bipolar disorder. For men, baseline depression score and neuroticism are stronger predictors of mood outcome. Improving sleep quality could help patients avoid mood episodes and improve quality of life.
Researchers studied the aftermath of Yosemite's Rim fire, which burned 400 square miles in 2013, to understand its impact on forest recovery. They found that uncharacteristically high severity and altered dynamics, with potential for vegetation switching to shrubs if not restored through controlled burns.
The Head Start program empowered poor children and civil rights activists in Mississippi by including them in the administration of the programs. The program also taught black history and civil rights, providing an alternative to electoral power.
Research suggests minority children are less likely to receive help for disabilities than similarly placed white children, due to greater risk factor exposure. This disparity affects the odds of identification as learning disabled, intellectual impaired, or having emotional disturbances.
A study by Penn State researchers found no significant differences in in-hospital mortality rates, lengths of stay, and readmission rates after implementing an overnight academic hospitalist program. The researchers evaluated over 6,000 patient admissions between 2011 and 2014.
Researchers have found that scarlet macaw remains in Chaco Canyon date back to between 775 and 875 years, suggesting social complexity began earlier than previously thought. This discovery challenges current understanding of Pueblo Bonito's development and raises questions about the origins and trade routes of these birds.
In a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found that disabling the production of NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps) can speed up wound healing in diabetic mice. By preventing neutrophils from producing NETs, wounds healed more quickly and tissue repair was improved.
Researchers found that jet contrails depress daytime-highs and nighttime-lows, mimicking the effect of ordinary clouds, with a 5-6 degree Fahrenheit reduction in daily temperature range in regions like the South and Midwest.
A study of federal policy decisions between 1998 and 2002 found that businesses have a roughly equal chance of success as citizen groups when opposing them. However, businesses may excel in certain types of legislative battles, such as technical projects, where they draw little opposition. The researchers also found that businesses hav...
Researchers found that regulatory T cells suppress killer T cells through a protein on their surface, enabling the immune system to remember past pathogens. This discovery could lead to faster-acting vaccines and improved immunity to diseases like cancer.
A recent study suggests that mutations in the ZnT2 protein, responsible for transporting zinc, can lead to severe deficiencies in breast milk and difficulties with breastfeeding. The researchers found that mice without functional ZnT2 had reduced beta-casein, fat, and lactose in their milk, impacting infant health.
Researchers found that high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation improved vitamin D status and reduced HIV-1 infection in individuals with winter deficiency. The study also showed that vitamin D's impact on the immune system can attenuate HIV-1 replication.
Research suggests that clear and strong environmental stimulation can lower apathy levels in nursing home residents with dementia. Apathy is a common neurobehavioral symptom in dementia, affecting up to 90% of older adults, and can lead to faster cognitive decline and caregiver burnout.
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.