Researchers discovered that low nitric oxide levels in mouse newborns with hypoplastic lungs hinder the proper development of blood vessels, leading to persistent pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress. The study aims to identify genes affecting lung development and function.
Falling fertility rates in sub-Saharan Africa may signal the first steps towards a balanced population, adequate food supplies, and relative economic stability. The region's population is expected to increase from 650 million to 1.5-2 billion by 2050.
A recent study found that children of divorce are more likely to develop a lingering mistrust of their fathers, regardless of the child's age at which it occurs. However, maintaining good relationships with both parents after divorce can mitigate this effect and promote trust in later life.
Men who live with their biological children are more involved in community organizations and connected to family members through phone calls and visits. They also take the good provider role seriously and invest more hours in work and career than non-fathers and fathers of adult children.
A study by Dr. Karen Fingerman found that older mothers and daughters have a different perception of pleasant interactions, with fewer references to the mother-daughter bond itself. Instead, they often discuss family-related topics and the daughter's children, siblings, or husband.
Research at Penn State reveals vitamin D deficiency worsens symptoms of Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis in mice, while treatment with Vitamin D supplements reduces inflammation. The connection between vitamin D status and inflammatory bowel disease incidence is also suggested by geographical distribution.
A study by Penn State researcher Dr. S. E. Specter found that young men who ate mashed potatoes prepared with heart-healthy mono unsaturated oil stayed satiated longer than those who ate the same lunch with rice or polyunsaturated oil.
A Penn State researcher suggests listing energy density on Nutrition Facts labels to encourage people to choose lower-calorie, yet still satisfying foods. This approach can help reduce calorie intake and combat the current obesity epidemic.
Researchers have successfully engineered cancer cells that can suppress growth at secondary sites, a breakthrough with implications for the treatment of cancers that metastasize. By inhibiting cell growth at the site of metastasis, these cells may be able to treat existing tumors by blocking their ability to grow.
A Penn State biologist has identified 13 sunfish and sucker species as being at high risk of extinction, primarily due to their isolated distributions and limited geographical range sizes. The study found that larger body size is associated with a higher risk of extinction in sunfish, but not in suckers.
New research reveals that menstrual function matures rapidly after the first period, accompanied by a surge in hormones, rather than gradually over four to six years as previously thought. This finding has significant implications for adolescent pregnancy prevention and contraception initiation.
A recent study found that nearly half of undergraduate students (18-19 years old) had fantasized about committing homicide recently. The study suggests that homicidal fantasies may be a relatively normal phenomenon with roots in the evolutionary history of the species, rather than psychopathology.
Dr. Guoray Cai's research highlights the importance of considering geographical space in understanding cyberspace. The study found that variations in access bandwidth can generate feelings of distance due to faster communication channels, and existing infrastructure biases towards certain categories of consumers.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment of climate change impacts identifies severe consequences for the region's population and ecosystems. The study finds that rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events will have devastating effects on agriculture, water resources, and coastal communities.
Researchers have developed a new and painless way to measure glucose levels in diabetics using low-frequency ultrasound. The method, described in a recent study, involves making the skin permeable with ultrasound waves, allowing glucose to cross the skin and be measured continuously for up to 12 hours.
Integrated Regional Assessment framework considers human activities, climate change impacts, economic responses, and social implications to inform local decisions. The approach aims to mitigate problems and create jobs in regions heavily dependent on coal production.
The Earth's oceans are predicted to evaporate within 1 billion years as the sun's temperature increases, leading to a waterless planet. The process is driven by the sun's increasing brightness, which will eventually cause water to evaporate into space.
Penn State graduate student Ray Wakeland will demonstrate the fire organ, a heat-driven instrument producing musical sounds, and the daxophone, a unique sound-producing instrument. He will also showcase the Long String Instrument, a large bronze harp-type string instrument that produces ethereal music.
A Penn State researcher found that elementary school teachers face enormous time pressure, with those having children feeling the most stressed. Schools need to incorporate the value of teacher's work and family commitments into policy-making.
A Penn State study found that serving larger portions to 5-year-olds but not 3-year-olds leads to increased food intake and calorie consumption. This early learning period marks a significant milestone in children's eating habits, highlighting the importance of portion control for healthy development.
Researchers have identified two new grouts for bonded post-tensioning applications, which may increase the service life of bridges up to twice as long. The grouts, with specific water-cement ratios and admixtures, can prevent corrosion in coastal and inland environments.
Tubeworms living in cold, calm hydrocarbon-seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico have surprisingly long life spans, growing up to 2 meters over 170-250 years. In contrast, their cousins at hot and dynamic hydrothermal vents grow just one meter in a year. The researchers aim to understand why these animals live so long and grow slowly.
A new study from Penn State suggests that healthy eating habits and good health status can help maintain the ability to fight off germs and reduce illness in older adults. The research found that well-nourished women between 60 and 80 years old have immune systems that function similarly to younger women.
A Penn State engineer has developed a computer-based technique that reliably predicts the probable number of accidents due to wet pavement on a particular section of highway. The approach suggests corrective actions to improve safety, focusing resources on eliminating problems where the risk is highest.
Researchers at Penn State found that Beowulf clusters, composed of low-cost personal computers linked together, can offer supercomputer-like capabilities. The clusters can run multiple processors in parallel, providing a cost-effective solution for scientists who need to run complex codes.
A revised geological history of coastal California reveals that the Mendocino Triple Junction is a slab window, too simple to accurately portray events at the northern end of the San Andreas fault. The thickening and thinning of the crust alter the underlying rock characteristics, influencing earthquake responses.
A Penn State meteorologist suggests that tilt is the key to understanding both the Faint Young Sun problem and the Snowball Earth problem, proposing a solution where the Earth's axis is tilted at 70 degrees. This theory could potentially explain why the Earth was warmer in the early Precambrian despite a weaker sun.
Researchers identified how ozone 'chokes up' plants by directly affecting guard cells, inhibiting stomatal opening and reducing photosynthesis. This knowledge may lead to breeding or genetically engineering less ozone-sensitive plant varieties to improve productivity in regions with high ozone exposure.
A new liquid crystal film can protect against continuous glare and intense light, improving visibility for drivers and welders. The material reduces light intensity from 140 milliwatts to 5 microwatts, solving glare problems in optical sensors and communications systems.
The new circular configuration increases the conversion ratio without adding volume or weight, advancing the field of piezoelectric transformers. The devices use a lead, zirconium, titanium ceramic doped with manganese and cerium, providing increased efficiency and higher conversion ratios.
Researchers found iron oxides in concrete up to an inch away from steel bars cause stress and cracking. Colored rust areas indicate metal loss from the bar, compromising its reinforcing action.
A new five-year research study will investigate the economic consequences of cancer survival on patients' work and health insurance. The study will follow a large sample of cancer survivors over time, comparing their experiences with those without cancer.
Research reveals that boys are more vulnerable to stress and lower self-esteem when it comes to dating, particularly if they feel pressured into relationships. Girls, on the other hand, tend to have intimacy skills and handle breakups better than boys.
A Penn State researcher suggests that increasing oxygen levels may have triggered the first of three past episodes when the Earth became a giant snowball, covered from pole to pole by ice and frozen oceans. The study proposes that low methane levels and high carbon dioxide levels were responsible for the glaciation process.
Researchers have discovered iron-rich rock formations dating back 2.3 billion years, indicating the presence of land-based life and atmospheric oxygen during that time. The findings, made by Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto and Nick Beukes, suggest that life on Earth existed much earlier than previously thought.
A recent study by Penn State researchers found that severe poverty can lead to violent behavior in psychiatric patients. The study surveyed 293 patients and found that 23% showed violent behavior after discharge, with 14% committing a violent act during the follow-up period.
Researchers developed a model to predict bird flight patterns, enabling pilots to adjust their routes and altitudes. The model can forecast bird locations and altitudes hours in advance, reducing the risk of bird strikes and damage to windshields and turbine engine blades.
Penn State engineers have developed a new mini-thruster that draws only 80 Watts of power but produces more thrust than any system in its class. The thruster uses microwave technology to create a free-floating plasma, which generates thrust when released through a nozzle.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that dimethyl ether (DME) produced from coal-derived syngas has lower carbon monoxide emissions compared to propane or butane. DME also exhibits similar or lower nitric oxide emissions in most cases, making it a viable alternative fuel.
A Penn State researcher found that nearly three-fourths of women addicted to crack cocaine engage in prostitution to support their habit, highlighting the need for comprehensive support services. The study suggests that programs should offer housing, education, and job training to help these women escape poverty and addiction
Research suggests that strong traditional values among Southern Black women may be a key factor in lower smoking rates among African-Americans. The study found that Black adults in the non-urban South had the lowest smoking prevalence rates, with 11% of those aged 18-24 living smoke-free. This trend holds true for Southern Black women ...
Researchers found that increasing humus content can increase quinoline's movement to groundwater, but mineral interactions play a key role. The study suggests that strongly bound pollutants may still be broken down by microorganisms.
Researchers found that consuming water-rich foods instead of drinking water before meals can curb appetite and reduce calorie consumption. Foods high in water content, such as vegetables and soups, provide a sense of fullness while reducing energy density.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new mobile data access system (MDAS) that enables efficient access to diverse data sources through both wired and wireless connections. The system uses multidatabases to provide integrated access to multiple databases with a single query, reducing traffic jams caused by simultaneous queries.
A Penn State neuropsychologist emphasizes the need for individualized assessment when determining an athlete's readiness to return to play after a concussion. Reliable Change scores can provide a general guideline, but their application is limited by factors such as practice effects and difficulty in determining significant differences.
Researchers found that a single night of disrupted sleep increases levels of interleukin-6, leading to daytime fatigue and decreased well-being. Healthy young men with normal sleep patterns experienced increased IL-6 secretion during the day after missing a night of sleep.
Researchers developed a system that enables users to interact with a computer-controlled map using natural speech and hand gestures. The system recognizes spoken words and gestures, allowing users to locate buildings and parking lots on the Penn State campus.
Long-term societal changes, particularly the aging baby boomer generation, contributed to a significant decline in serious crimes during the Clinton presidency. The strong economy and increased community-based crime prevention initiatives also played a crucial role in reducing crime rates.
A recent study found that U.S. math students in smaller classes (6-18 students) outperform those in larger classes, but the effect size is marginal and unclear. This contradicts findings in other countries where class size has no impact on math scores.
A decline in burglary rates since 1980 is attributed to a shift towards drug trafficking and various forms of non-index crimes. Researchers suggest that the abundance of stolen goods has reduced demand, making burglary less lucrative, while improvements in security measures have also deterred potential burglars.