Penn State researchers found that working outside school affects not only U.S. children but also children worldwide, leading to negative effects on math and science achievement. Light work such as babysitting also has detrimental effects on academic progress.
A Penn State study reveals that unmarried mothers, particularly young and African American women, predominantly live with their parents before and after childbirth. The data indicates that co-residence with parents remains the most important living arrangement for first-time, never-married mothers.
Research reveals psychological uncertainty about pregnancy is a major barrier, rather than immigrant status, for Puerto Rican women seeking adequate prenatal care. Despite being U.S. citizens, some women report inadequate care due to unwanted pregnancies or lack of awareness.
Sociologists analyzed daily rituals and activities to understand the mechanisms of biculturalism in Chinese Americans. They found that both older and newer generations retain their cultural heritage through practices like family gatherings, language classes, and cultural events.
Research by Dr. Daniel B. Lee finds that elite colleges transmit cultural advantages from one generation to the next, including social skills and valuable networks. These advantages can lead to increased chances of joining the highest social stratum after graduation.
A Penn State study found that restructuring public schools can be detrimental to student performance, particularly in low-income communities. The researchers argue that complex educational technologies and instructional practices require skilled teachers and substantial resources, which may not be available in disadvantaged schools.
Penn State engineers have developed a new manufacturing process that produces stronger and stiffer carbon fiber grids, which can be tailored to specific applications using computer simulations. The grids offer advantages over traditional steel reinforcing rods, including corrosion resistance and reduced weight.
Penn State researchers developed a neural network-based model to predict tire stress on roads, providing engineers with improved capabilities for designing better tires and roads. The software can accurately predict outcomes even without training data, using precisely measured contact-stress distribution patterns.
Young and old rats show distinct responses to compromised circulation, highlighting the need for age-based treatment for ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Studies reveal that neutrophil accumulation plays a key role in young rats but not older ones.
Research by Penn State engineers shows mechanical forces exert equivalent roles in some aspects of cardiovascular health and disease as bio-regulators like cholesterol and dietary fat. The study found a one-to-one correspondence between effects of shear stress and growth factor VEGF on blood vessel health.
A team of scientists discovered that polymer molecules in ultra-thin films of 14 nanometers retain their shape and size comparable to their bulk counterparts. This finding challenges previous simulations, which suggested minimal changes in molecular structure with decreasing film thickness.
A team of Penn State researchers successfully used microwave sintering to produce machine components with improved mechanical properties in just 10-30 minutes, compared to traditional sintering methods which take long periods of time and large amounts of energy.
Penn State engineers discovered that graphite flake shape and microstructure significantly impact cracking and chipping during casting and machining. They found that increasing machinability can reduce product breakage and costs by supporting the development of consistently machinable cast iron.
A new study by Penn State researchers improves the regional climate assessment of the Mid-Atlantic Region. The research involved gathering input from over 95 stakeholders representing industry, environmental groups, government, and research organizations. Key findings highlight the importance of human health in addressing global change...
Penn State researchers have found a statistically significant correlation between the presence of Helicobacter pylori in private wells and cases of stomach ulcers. The study reveals that even coliform-free water samples can contain the ulcer-causing bacterium, raising questions over the safety of current drinking water testing methods.
Researchers at Penn State found a correlation between jet stream strength and precipitation in the Sahel region, which has been experiencing drought since the 1970s. The Tropical Easterly Jet was mostly weaker during dry periods, while the African Easterly Jet showed slightly stronger patterns in very dry years.
A Penn State study found that female athletes with poor body image and excessive exercise schedules are more likely to experience menstrual irregularities, including transient infertility. The research highlights the importance of addressing psychological and behavioral factors alongside dietary and exercise habits.
A team of astronomers has discovered a unique cluster of young stars, approximately 8 million years old, located 97 parsecs from Earth. The cluster, centered around eta Chamaeleon, is one of the nearest to our planet and exhibits unusual characteristics.
A Penn State-led study found lower concentrations of a stress hormone in pregnant teens are linked to greater numbers of depression and conduct disorder symptoms. The hormone, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), is associated with emotions and behavior during pregnancy.
A Penn State study suggests that eating low-energy-density meals, which contain fewer calories per ounce and are rich in fruits, vegetables, or grains, can help individuals manage their weight while still feeling full and satisfied. The study found that the energy density of food, rather than fat content, plays a key role in satiety.
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope has successfully observed a distant quasar candidate, confirming its status and providing insight into the universe's early evolution. The instrument will also enable detailed study of objects in and near the Milky Way with the addition of two new facility-class spectrographs.
A study found that middle-aged men with higher testosterone levels are less likely to experience high blood pressure, heart attacks, and obesity. However, they are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and excessive drinking.
Alan Walker, a distinguished professor at Penn State, has been recognized by the British Royal Society for his groundbreaking work on human origins. He is one of forty-two new Fellows elected this year and was honored for his distinguished contributions to the world's knowledge of human origins.
Recent feminism has brought deeper changes to specific sciences like medicine, anthropology, archaeology, biology, physics, and mathematics. Medicine has seen increased funding for women's health, such as osteoporosis and heart disease research.
A team led by Penn State's Ken Tamminga is using a new approach to regenerate the Nine Mile Run area in Pittsburgh, highlighting the potential of resilient species like Ailanthus and African dung beetles. The project aims to enhance biodiversity and reintroduce native species to create a more sustainable ecosystem.
A team of physicists has devised a general theorem to explain the phenomenon of allometric quarter-power scaling, which describes how biological processes vary in predictable ways depending on an organism's mass. The researchers found that efficient transportation networks, including those in plants and animals, follow this scaling law.
Researchers at Penn State's College of Medicine have identified a marker for certain types of brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which are the most prevalent and difficult-to-manage. The marker, interleukin 13 receptor, is present in over 90% of patients with GBM, making it a valuable diagnostic tool.
Researchers found that WIC participants had lower infant death rates related to pregnancy and delivery. Additionally, Medicaid participation reduced the risk of infant mortality due to external causes like infectious diseases and accidents. The study also highlighted disparities in access to healthcare among low-income families.
Penn State's InterWET website enables users to calculate water quality consequences with point-and-click calculators, exploring topics like surface runoff, groundwater, and fish populations. The website aims to help beginners understand hydrological concepts without requiring complex math.
Researchers have developed a new method to create activated carbon products from unburned coal waste, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. The process separates the fly ash from the unburned carbon and activates it for high surface area production with yields over 70 percent.
Researchers have developed a new method to engineer glass that can withstand stress without catastrophic failure, reducing the variability in strength. This new approach creates internal compressed layers that stop crack propagation, making the glass more consistent and reliable.
Researchers monitored the Soufriere Hills Volcano's cyclic eruptions to understand mechanisms behind them. They identified cyclical events nearly so well as no one before and made predictions on eruption timing and areas affected, saving lives through evacuation efforts.
A recent study found that 54% of single women entering Medicaid receive assistance for less than one year, with only 15% staying for five years. The researchers suggest that policy makers develop a stable source of coverage for former welfare recipients and shift the cost among women, employers, and Medicaid as their incomes and employ...
Researchers have developed a new class of porous materials, called nanobubblepack, with ordered crystal-like arrangements of ultra-small spherical spaces. They can produce these materials in a range of pore sizes and fill them with various substances.
A common surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), has been shown to inactivate sexually transmitted viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The discovery provides a major step towards developing a practical, non-toxic, and inexpensive product to protect women from HPV infection.
A recent gene study published in Science magazine contradicts decades of research suggesting that birds are the closest relatives of reptile groups. Turtles have been found to be the closest living relatives of crocodilians, according to the analysis of 24 nuclear genes and 9 DNA segments from reptile cells.
Researchers have created a simpler computer simulation for ultrafine particle size growth and distribution, which can accurately predict particle group sizes over time. The simulation is fast, accurate, and uses modest computing power, and has already been confirmed by experimental results in certain cases.
A study of 254 women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) found that 7.5% had undiagnosed diabetes, compared to 1% in the general population. Insulin resistance is a key factor in PCOS-related glucose intolerance and diabetes risk.
A commercially available additive can double the life of concrete bridge decks and lower costs by enhancing resistance to water, corrosion and deicing salt. The study found that bridge decks constructed with the additive had less tendency for water or salts to intrude into the concrete.
Recent genetic studies suggest modern humans originated in Africa, with extremely high genetic diversity across the continent. This diversity holds potential for understanding genetic diseases of Africans and African Americans, as well as finding treatments for diseases like malaria and HIV.
A study on non-Western folk beliefs found that partible paternity is a common concept among indigenous groups in South America and New Guinea. This ancient tradition suggests that every man who contributes sperm during pregnancy biologically contributes to the child, challenging the long-held assumption of a single biological father.
A recent gene study challenges the popular Cambrian Explosion theory, proposing that major animal groups evolved steadily over 1200 million years. The research uses hundreds of gene sequences to calculate evolutionary timelines and suggests that many species existed before their fossils appeared.
Astronomers have discovered large numbers of previously unknown stars in the Virgo Cluster using dying green stars as tools. The findings suggest that at least 22% of Virgo's light is coming from these hidden stars, and could affect estimates of universe mass.
Chemists have discovered a key to enhancing hydrodesulfurization, the most widely used process for removing sulfur compounds from crude oil. By observing individual molecules on surfaces, they found that nickel atoms can act as 'sticky ballbearings,' capturing thiophenes and helping them bind at optimal edge sites.
Researchers continuously monitored carbon dioxide flux at a 35-acre tree-kill area near Horseshoe Lake, discovering daily cycles that defy temperature explanation. The data suggests barometric pressure oscillations and Earth tides may influence the degassing rate, highlighting the complexity of volcanic gas emission.
A study found that smoking-related illnesses and deaths have risen sharply in the US and France, with increased female smoking causing a steady increase in disease and mortality. The proportion of deaths attributable to cigarette smoking rose from 16.7% to 47.4% among American women.
Pat Shipman's book Taking Wing: Archaeopteryx and the Evolution of Bird Flight has received the 1998 Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science. The book explores the enigmatic fossil Archaeopteryx, whose anatomy combines birdlike and reptilian features, and its role in understanding how birds evolved flight.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered specific compounds in garlic that lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting liver cell production. The study found three water-soluble sulfur-containing compounds that decreased cholesterol production in cultured rat liver cells by 40 to 60 percent, with potential implications for heart health.
A study by Penn State researchers found that microwaving or roasting garlic can destroy its anti-cancer activity, unless the herb is chopped or crushed first. However, a 10-minute standing period allows an enzyme to react with chemicals, producing allyl sulfur compounds that retain anti-cancer properties.
Researchers found that injecting methotrexate significantly improved patient health and reduced costs for those with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 52 patients, with 73% switching to injection treatment due to dissatisfaction with oral method side effects.