A study found that serotonin function declines with age, particularly in the hippocampus region, leading to impaired cognitive function and increased risk of depression. Researchers hope to develop new therapeutic approaches based on these findings.
Dr. Ramaswamy Anantheswaran has successfully developed a packaging method that regulates humidity within mushroom packages, improving shelf life and quality. The modified humidity packaging works by utilizing moisture adsorbers to maintain optimal levels of moisture, reducing the growth of bacteria and discoloration.
A new protein, IL 13-PE38QQR, has shown high specificity and sensitivity to kill cancer cells, including those with Kaposi's sarcoma. The compound targets receptor sites on cancer cells, gaining access through interleukin 13.
Research suggests that children from less wealthy families have better survival rates among the Herero people, a group of pastoralists in Botswana. The study found that wealthiest families' children had lower body fat, but overall mortality is low due to the high prosperity of the community.
Research suggests that higher hCG levels are associated with an increased risk of morning sickness during the first trimester. The study also found a link between age and pregnancy-related sickness, with older women experiencing less symptoms.
Rural women in developing countries tend to experience menopause about eight years earlier than in developed countries due to stress and low body mass. However, improved nutrition, better medical care, and fewer pregnancies are expected to increase the age at menopause as these countries develop.
The US South's economic transformation from rural farm to industrialized society was driven by government policies, including infrastructure investments and trade protection. Despite initial success, social inequalities persisted, with poverty rates for Black Americans remaining three times those for Whites.
The Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center aims to develop specific guidelines for evaluating and restoring wetlands in Pennsylvania. The project has identified 51 reference wetlands and categorized them into types, such as riparian depressions and forested wetlands.
A paper by Peter D. Usher presents evidence that Shakespeare's Hamlet is an allegory for the competition between cosmological models of Thomas Digges and Tycho Brahe. The play dramatizes the struggle to discover the real picture of the universe from appearances in the sky. Hamlet favors the Diggesian model, which is the forerunner of m...
Studies at Yale and the National Cancer Institute have shown capsaicin's pain-relieving effectiveness. Capsaicin stimulates nerve cells to release more Substance P, leading to decreased pain signals and improved mobility.
A recent study suggests that combining creatine supplements with extra carbohydrates can increase muscle creatine levels by 60% and muscle glycogen levels. This combination allows athletes to improve performance in both aerobic exercise and short, intense bursts of strength.
Researchers outline requirements for habitable moons, including stable orbit and atmosphere retention. Moons in the right position and size could support life on planets like Jupiter's Europa.
A new study suggests that cognitive tests can predict which older adults will develop Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. Those who scored poorly on the tests were 11 times more likely to show symptoms of dementia two years later than their healthy counterparts.
A recent study by Penn State found that Meals on Wheels clients, particularly women, are at risk for iron deficiency due to insufficient nutrition. The study's authors recommend iron supplementation as a viable solution to improve the iron status of female recipients.
Researchers investigated urbanized watersheds in four US regions over 50 years, comparing stream flow data with population growth. They found that higher population densities led to increased stream flow despite lower precipitation levels.
Researchers discover large areas of non-volcanic carbon dioxide vents in Italy, contributing significantly to atmospheric CO2 levels. The 200-mile area between Florence and Naples produces an enormous amount of carbon dioxide, but its measurement has never been attempted before.
The monsoon's peculiar ocean currents increase nutrients, boosting plankton productivity. This boost converts carbon dioxide to organic forms, storing it in deeper layers and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Lee Marshall, a Penn State graduate student, captures electromagnetic signals of sprites and elves, which are optical phenomena caused by ionized nitrogen above thunderheads. The project uses automatic alert systems to detect these signals, which last only milliseconds and microseconds.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the structure of the Earth's mantle beneath Tibet, finding that it is not horizontal but oriented in three dimensions. This new understanding could improve models of plate tectonics and provide insights into the evolution of continents.
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope has taken its first look at the universe, demonstrating its novel design and paving the way for groundbreaking astronomical discoveries. The telescope's innovative design eliminates expensive features while tracking objects with precision, allowing for efficient and cost-effective large-scale observations.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new gene called KiSS-1 that suppresses the metastasis of melanoma in laboratory mice. The gene, located on chromosome 1, reduces the spread of melanoma by at least 50 percent of the time and may be the most potent gene to block or suppress metastasis in human cancer.
A team of biologists has discovered a new species of tiny frog in Cuba's Monte Iberia rainforest. The frog, Eleutherodactylus iberia, measures just one centimeter long and is the smallest known tetrapod, a group that includes all animals with backbones except fishes.
Researchers studying ancient oceans using supercomputer-based models found that changing surface waterways can affect ocean circulation patterns. The study suggests that alterations in freshwater runoff may lead to changes in deep water formation sites, which could impact carbon dioxide concentrations and the environment.
Researchers at Penn State found that laboratory experiments on soil mineral weathering do not match natural processes, with molecules dissolving in groundwater forming coatings or wearing away. The team is monitoring conditions in the field to better understand the mechanisms underway in the soil and develop more accurate models.
Paleontologist Dr. Roger Cuffey compares the diversity of dinosaurs and proboscideans, finding a similar pattern of decline over 5 million years. The study suggests that both groups were affected by complex factors, including food supply and habitats, leading to their extinction.
Penn State researchers are searching coal mines for fossil meteorites that fell over two million years ago. They use tramp-iron magnets to find ancient iron meteorites, which could provide valuable information about the solar system in the distant past.
The CUBIC observatory aims to learn more about the unknown sources of a diffuse glow of X-rays reaching the Earth. By studying the energy spectrum of these X-rays, scientists hope to gain insights into the makeup of hot gas that emitted them.
A delegation from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Project is meeting with South African astronomers to discuss collaboration on constructing a large astronomical telescope. The proposed telescope would be similar in design to the existing Hobby-Eberly Telescope, featuring an 11m primary mirror and 91 hexagonal segments.
Researchers at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are developing an electromechanical artificial heart to save thousands of lives. The device is expected to be widely available by 2005 and could implant over 50,000 patients per year.
Orthostatic intolerance affects at least 70% of returning astronauts due to the body's adaptation to weightlessness. Astronauts often struggle with standing and may have puffy faces and thin legs during and after space travel. Researchers are studying this condition to improve astronaut health for future long-duration missions.
A large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients with mild asthma do not need to take albuterol regularly. The study suggests that using albuterol only during symptoms can effectively manage asthma without negative consequences.
Researchers developed a new sediment basin design that reduces silt removal by using a skimmer system. The system removed 37 pounds of soil during simulated events, outperforming other methods tested.
Researchers analyzed ancient methane levels in ice cores, revealing patterns of climate change over the past 110,000 years. The study confirms high methane levels during warm periods and suggests a link between global warming and changes in terrestrial climate.
A prototype propulsion system powered by a kitchen microwave has the potential to reduce propellant needed by up to 50%, enabling longer satellite lifespans and cost savings. The microwave-powered thruster operates more efficiently than chemical systems and is safer, as it only produces thrust when microwaves are active.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that certain vegetable oil formulations can perform as well or better than commercial standards in tests for high-temperature resistance, slipperiness, and evaporation loss. This breakthrough has the potential to provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lubricants.
Researchers are investigating the history of forests, fire incidence, and signs of early settlers in the Lake Tahoe Basin due to a bark beetle infestation. The study aims to reconstruct the forest structure before logging, the history of fire in the area, and the age of trees.
Researchers challenge conventional wisdom that scraping off bee stings is more effective than pinching them out. Immediate removal of the sting, rather than its method of removal, reduces the amount of venom injected. Delaying removal increases welt size and envenomization.
Researchers investigated nausea in a study of 1,695 Penn State students, discovering 17 descriptors that define the feelings associated with nausea. These descriptors were clustered into three groups: somatic, gastrointestinal, and emotional distress, highlighting the variability in nausea experiences among individuals.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed a method to recover fossil iron meteorites from coal using tramp iron magnets. The method involves examining magnetic materials pulled out of coal by these electromagnets, which could potentially yield up to 5 pounds of iron meteorites per year.
Researchers find that parents' management of their children's emerging autonomy during the Terrible Twos significantly impacts future behavioral problems. The study reveals that families with less income, negative emotions, social isolation, and authoritarian parenting styles are more likely to experience troubled interactions.
Researchers at Penn State have developed advanced computer techniques to improve the efficiency of nuclear and fossil fuel power plants. These new techniques can help extend the lifetime of fuel, increase operating efficiency, and save money, potentially leading to lower costs for consumers.
The Penn State students will test off-the-shelf semiconductor chips to learn the effect of high energy particle radiation on standard semi-conductors. They will also measure how much micro debris hits the shuttle using a piezoelectric device, and map the Earth's magnetic field as it flies through it.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that rosemary significantly inhibited the binding of a known cancer-causing agent to DNA in mammary cells, reducing tumor formation by 76 percent in rats fed a diet supplemented with 1 percent rosemary.
Researchers at Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory develop a 'roadmap' for applying machine sensor technology to human health. The technology could enable constant surveillance of bone cracks and heart activity, alerting physicians to intervene before it's too late.