A new combination of a breast cancer chemotherapy agent and an artificial antibody has been tested in clinical trials, showing promising results in targeting colon cancer cells. The treatment, which combines lapatinib with monoclonal antibodies, has the potential to provide hope for patients with treatment-resistant cancers.
Researchers found that cash-based overcompensation leads to higher satisfaction ratings than industry-standard compensation or voucher-based overcompensation. Participants were most satisfied with a $400 cash bonus, but satisfaction levels did not increase linearly with the amount of cash provided.
Researchers found that carbon release into atmosphere today is nearly 10 times faster than during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a 55.9 million-year-old event similar to current global warming. The study suggests this rapid change may not allow sufficient time for biological systems to adapt.
Scientists at Penn State College of Medicine have created a new approach to treating brain tumors by targeting the ferritin protein with siRNA. By reducing ferritin levels in cancer cells, the sensitivity to chemotherapy can be increased, allowing for lower doses and potentially fewer side effects.
Researchers created a 3D model of Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption to better understand pyroclastic density currents and their impact on terrain. The model accurately reproduced the blast's effects, revealing that gravity and terrain shape play key roles in determining damage zones.
A new intervention using cognitive activities is being tested to help patients with delirium superimposed on dementia. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to improve physical function and resolution of delirium.
A gamma-ray burst, GRB 090429B, has been identified as a potential candidate for the most distant object in the universe at an estimated distance of 13.14 billion light years. The burst was detected by NASA's Swift satellite and is believed to be extremely likely, with a 99.3% chance, to be the most distant cosmic explosion.
Researchers found that naltrexone significantly reduced inflammation in Crohn's disease patients, with 88% experiencing at least a 70-point decline in symptoms after 12 weeks of treatment. The study suggests that interfering with the opioid system may lead to the reversal of inflammation.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed a laboratory procedure that allows scientists to assemble and study the structure of entire chromosomes. The process reveals the construction of chromatin, a super-compressed marvel of molecular packaging that contains all an organism's DNA and associated proteins.
Scientists use new technique to demonstrate that cell membrane and cytoplasm structure can guide asymmetric cell division. Model cells show that simple chemical interactions can result in complex behaviors like asymmetric division even without genetic signals.
The Bee Informed Partnership aims to reduce honey bee mortality, increase profitability, and enhance sustainable management systems. The project will use epidemiological methods to identify effective practices and create a dynamic Honey Bee Health database with an interactive web-based interface.
A study of 508 children found a strong association between childhood excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and obesity, asthma, anxiety, and depression. Waist circumference was also significantly associated with EDS, suggesting metabolic factors play a role.
Researchers have developed a method to deliver vitamins using corn starch, potentially creating stable vitamin-enriched ingredients. This technique could offer an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods of producing medications and food supplements.
A Penn State study reveals that obesity impairs skeletal muscle function in rats, leading to impaired muscle strength and locomotion. The research suggests that the muscles of obese mammals are not properly 'tuned' to their body weight.
A parasitic fungus infects tropical carpenter ants, causing them to become zombie-like and die in ideal conditions for the fungus. The fungus affects the ant's muscles, nervous system, and behavior, leading to a loss of coordination and death.
A $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will support Penn State's efforts to develop and evaluate an oral hygiene approach for patients with dementia. The project, led by Rita A. Jablonski, aims to reduce care-resistant behaviors and improve oral health through the application of neurobiological principles.
Penn State's Childhood Obesity Prevention Graduate Training Program aims to reduce child obesity rates through comprehensive training in ingestive behavior, nutrition education, and research methods. The five-year grant will support nine graduate students and provide on-the-job training in four career areas.
Researchers found that employees initially assigned to powerful supervisors had a better experience when participating in work-family programs. This
A new oral hygiene approach called Managing Oral Hygiene Using Threat Reduction (MOUTh) has been developed to help nurses care for dementia patients who resist care due to perceived threats. The technique focuses on making the patient feel comfortable and reducing threat perception, resulting in improved oral health outcomes.
Researchers found that higher BPA concentrations at 16 weeks of pregnancy were associated with wheezing in children, while effects diminished as they aged. More research is needed to confirm the correlation between BPA and wheezing in children.
Researchers have discovered a novel strategy by which antibiotic-resistant bacteria change their genetic make-up to evade multiple antibiotics. The study provides a clear chemical picture of a clever mechanism for antibiotic resistance that some bacteria have evolved, enabling the design of new compounds to combat superbugs.
Researchers have found that over-expression of motor protein km23-1 can block human ovarian tumor growth, leading to eventual cancer cell death. This discovery offers promise for new therapies to treat ovarian cancer, a disease affecting U.S. women with an estimated 21,880 new cases and 13,850 deaths in 2010.
Researchers have found that repeated topical application of ISC-4 can reduce tumor cell expansion by 80-90% and decrease tumor development in mice skin by about 80%. The compound is safe and kills melanoma cells two to five times more effectively than normal cells.
Researchers used data mining to analyze the corrosion-resistant properties of Alloy 22, a key material for nuclear waste containment. They found that the alloy can predict future corrosion patterns under similar environmental conditions.
The ENCODE Project, a massive database cataloging the human genome's functional elements, is being made available as an open resource. The project provides a guide for using the vast amounts of data and resources produced so far, facilitating scientific discovery and public understanding of science.
A study by Matt Evans finds that Israeli media frame information to separate secular and religious Jewish communities, using techniques such as selective reporting and emotive language. This division is not limited to Israel, with similar framing tactics observed in the US media.
Researchers have developed a method to recreate schizophrenic brain cells from skin cells, enabling safe and effective studies. This approach offers a step towards personalized medicine for patients with schizophrenia and potentially other diseases.
Researchers found that real-time search terms have significant economic value, with unique searches generating $33 million in revenue daily. The study, published in Information Processing and Management, suggests a growing market for real-time search, driven by the increasing number of Twitter updates.
Researchers discovered that a tumor suppressor gene, p120, can actually contribute to cancer development when it's absent. In mice models, the loss of p120 led to hyperactivated immune systems and pro-tumor generating cells that promoted cancer growth.
A new genetic study suggests that the evolution of flowering plants was 'jump started' by two major upheavals in the plant genome, occurring nearly 200 million years ago. These events produced thousands of new genes that drove the evolutionary explosion leading to the diverse range of present-day flowering plants.
Scientists have identified a new type of symmetry in materials, expanding possibilities for discovering materials with desired properties. This discovery can lead to the development of novel ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials, which could be used in next-generation ultrasound devices and computers.
Researchers investigate links between wetland resources and city emergence, exploring archaeological sites from 5,000 B.C. to Islamic times. The study aims to understand the contributions of early-mid Holocene shoreline and marshes to Mesopotamian cities.
Researchers discovered that butterflies colonizing new habitats have distinct genetic traits, including faster egg maturation, higher energy metabolism, and superior flight ability. These traits provide an advantage for exploring new areas, potentially leading to the establishment of new populations.
Researchers found that demographic trends and statistical aberrations may skew statistics on a recent drop in black violent crime. Adjusting for the Hispanic effect revealed little overall change in the black percentage of violent crime, with slight increases in assault and homicide rates.
College-age males experience improved self-image after first intercourse, while females become less satisfied. In contrast, women's satisfaction with their appearance increases over the first four years of college, while men's satisfaction decreases.
A recent study by Penn State researchers found that sign language users can process both English words and American Sign Language (ASL) signs concurrently. When word pairs were matched with similar signs, reaction times were faster and accuracy rates improved compared to control group bilingual speakers.
Research finds that immigrant children are more likely to live in households headed by two married parents, receiving economic and social benefits. This intact family structure helps them adapt to their new country, improving their chances of success.
The study found that humans have unique non-coding DNA segments missing in chimpanzees and other animals, which are correlated with specific human physical characteristics. These differences may have evolved to favor pair-bonding relationships and group living, rather than rapid copulation.
ChesapeakeView consolidates various datasets on land use, habitat changes, and biodiversity for research and planning purposes. The project makes these datasets available to the public via its website.
Researchers found that African Americans experiencing racial discrimination had higher odds of developing generalized anxiety disorder, while Afro-Caribbeans did not. Non-Hispanic whites also showed an association between non-racial discrimination and GAD.
A recreation program that allowed autistic adults to choose their own leisure activities improved their communication and social skills, according to Penn State researchers. Participants scored higher on personality tests than a control group, showing significant improvement in recognizing and labeling emotions.
Researchers have developed a new class of optical fibers using zinc selenide, enabling more efficient light manipulation and transmission in the infrared spectrum. This breakthrough has potential applications in medical lasers, countermeasure lasers, and environmental monitoring.
Four Penn State faculty have been selected to participate in collaborative projects with international partners on various topics, including ocean acidification, earth surface sedimentary flow processes, climate change adaptation, and public health. The partnerships aim to address global issues and promote interdisciplinary research.
A $2 million DOE grant supports collaboration between researchers and modelers to improve climate change policy analysis. The program aims to bridge the gap between empirical analysts and modelers, leveraging joint research and workshops to foster communication and cross-fertilization of ideas.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have developed cerasomes, molecular-sized bubbles filled with chemotherapy drugs, to treat liver cancer. These tiny bubbles target cancer cells specifically and accurately, avoiding healthy cells.
A Penn State materials chemist has developed an artificial system that mimics photosynthesis to produce solar-derived hydrogen fuel. However, the process remains inefficient and expensive due to recombination of electrons and limited lifetime of the system. The researcher aims to improve efficiency by modeling energy pathways and adjus...
Research universities, like Penn State, host foreign students and visitors, creating security concerns. The National Security Higher Education Advisory Board fosters communication between higher education, the FBI, and federal agencies to promote understanding and cooperation.
A global shift in research will reposition the US as a major partner but not leader, according to Penn State researcher Caroline Wagner. The US could benefit from this shift by adopting knowledge-sharing policies with emerging global researchers.
Research suggests that bilingual speakers outperform monolinguals in certain mental abilities, such as editing out irrelevant information and prioritizing tasks. This 'mental juggling' skill allows bilinguals to better navigate between languages and enhances their cognitive flexibility.
To solve the world's food problems, agriculture needs to use resources more efficiently by integrating various sectors and adopting innovative methods. Researchers are exploring ways to grow crops in areas that were previously unused, such as using wastewater to irrigate and fertilize fruit and vegetables.