News from colleges and their role in students and communities. Covers academic programs, student mental health and resilience, campus culture, and economic impact.
The Macrosystems EDDIE modules have been effective in building student and instructor quantitative literacy and data science skills in ecological forecasting, reaching over 35,000 students globally. The modules aim to introduce students to core concepts of forecasting and complement educators' work teaching ecological concepts.
UT Arlington psychology Professor Yuan Bo Peng has received the 2024 Individual Outstanding Community Service Award for his dedication to the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Under his leadership, participation from North Texas students has increased significantly, with over 400 students participating this year.
A recent study by Mizzou researchers found that infections are a significant problem for white-tailed deer on Missouri farms. The study identified the three most common types of bacteria causing pneumonia in farmed deer, providing actionable data for veterinarians and farmers to make informed decisions.
A new study found compositional and functional differences in the gut microbiota of Chinese long-living adults (over 90 years) compared to elderly adults (65–74 years). The researchers noted lower relative abundances of bacteria in certain genera, which may regulate biological processes like autophagy and telomere maintenance. These fi...
The Cyber-Resilience Resource Center will provide training and support to organizations across West Virginia, with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. Over 200 students will gain real-world cybersecurity experience through the center.
A new study led by Dr. Jasmine Weiss found that HBCU students face three major themes in navigating medical school: complex institutional relationships, preferential treatment concerns, and the importance of a 'village mindset'. The study highlights opportunities for medical schools to engage with HBCUs and attract diverse student bodies.
A WVU researcher says ancient tree rings can record rare and extreme space weather events, including geomagnetic storms. The study aims to better understand how to prepare for such events and mitigate their impact on communication satellites and astronauts.
Karimian's research will investigate common hardware-based attacks on biometric systems, including spoofing, template, side-channel, and fault-injection attacks. He also aims to develop a hardware-based biometric template protection system that addresses bias in facial recognition software.
The University of Cincinnati is launching a new climate change health research center, focusing on vulnerable populations and extreme heat exposure. The center aims to reduce risks for people, especially in economically disadvantaged urban areas.
A Dartmouth study introduced a smartphone app to monitor student mental well-being, which was recognized for its impact on the development of mobile and wearable health technology. The app found strong correlations between student mental health and academic performance, social interactions, and behavior.
Karen Jo Matsler, a UTA professor, is being honored for her extensive contributions to physics education and her efforts to support educators nationwide. Her Quantum for All initiative aims to integrate quantum concepts into high school science instruction, preparing students for careers in quantum technology.
Researchers found that AI-generated essays are most similar to those written by male students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and private schools. The writing styles also tend to be less varied than human-written essays, with AI favoring longer words and affiliations.
The five-year project, 'Advancing Career Choices for Employment Success in Technology,' will provide career counseling, work-readiness skills training, and customized-training leading to certified skills in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more. The program aims to foster a diverse workforce and drive innovation in the tech industry.
An interdisciplinary study found associations between exposure to environmental phenols like BPA and triclocarban and altered cardiac electrical activity, particularly in women with higher body mass indexes. Researchers identified moderate changes to cardiac electrical activity that could exacerbate existing heart disease or arrhythmias.
Researchers identified six guiding principles to improve student well-being, including Research Learning Experiences that foster peer relationships and a sense of belonging. These initiatives have shown significant improvement in students' self-identification as researchers and overall well-being.
A study found that one-minute technology breaks can reduce phone use during class, leading to higher test scores. Phone use was lowest during one-minute breaks, suggesting this duration may be optimal for minimizing distractions.
The 2024 guideline provides comprehensive recommendations for assessing cardiovascular disease risk and managing patients taking SGLT2-inhibitors. It also highlights the importance of judicious screening and evidence-based management of cardiovascular conditions before, during, and after noncardiac surgery.
Well-being is defined as a sense of belonging, agency, purpose, identity, civic engagement, and financial well-being. The authors summarize data-backed teaching practices supporting elements of student well-being, including supportive mentorships and experiential learning opportunities.
Researchers found that colleges offer multimillion-dollar coaches instead of throwing money at student-athletes, leading to an arms race in athletics. The study revealed a significant correlation between head coach salaries and team recruitment success, with higher salaries associated with better teams and more victories.
Researchers will conduct laboratory and field work at UC Medical Center to detect airborne transmission of MRSA. The study aims to better understand the significance of airborne transmission of MRSA and inform enhanced workplace safety measures.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame finds that Big Tech privacy policies can decrease consumer engagement and satisfaction with ads, leading to reduced performance and revenue. The study explores how data minimization and other policies affect ad variety and consumer behavior.
A new library of healthy participants' neuroimaging data has been created to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Normative Neuroimaging Library consists of data from approximately 1900 individuals, providing a comprehensive dataset for clinicians and researchers.
A new AI tool called CAR-E is being developed to provide personalized coaching conversations for medical students and residents, encouraging reflective practice and enhancing their skills. The web-based tool will use a coaching approach to prompt students to think back on their clinical encounters and knowledge gaps.
A study by Washington State University researchers found that more communication with parents generally leads to better relationships, but parents should avoid always initiating it. Phone, text, video or in-person communication makes students feel better about their relationship with parents.
Researchers have developed a new method to increase speed and success rates in drug discovery by combining data from the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures with targeted docking simulations. This approach can accelerate the drug research process, identifying potentially effective compounds more efficiently.
A new vaccine created by Mizzou researchers protects cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a devastating tick-borne disease causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses. The vaccine has been proven to give immunized cattle protection for at least a month and is being discussed with industry partners for future distribution.
A WVU statistician is developing new methods to analyze curve-type data for predicting extreme weather patterns, financial turmoil and pollution levels. The research aims to create innovative tools for understanding high-resolution data and addressing regional risks in mountainous states like West Virginia.
A WVU researcher argues that more validation is needed for the increasing number of gallbladder surgeries performed for biliary dyskinesia, a functional gallbladder disorder. The researcher suggests that a combination of factors must come together to diagnose and select patients who would benefit from surgery.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is partnering with Texas A&M University to co-lead SECURE Southwest, a regional center launched to enhance U.S. research security. The center aims to educate the research community about security issues and engage them in collaborative problem-solving.
A roundtable discussion explores the integration of positive psychology and autism, highlighting its potential to amplify strengths and improve interpersonal dynamics. The study suggests that appreciating character strengths can have a significant impact on daily life.
A WVU biologist is studying how genes establish animal body plans and contribute to regenerative abilities. He has identified Hox genes as key players in planarian regeneration, suggesting their functions may differ in highly regenerative versus poorly regenerative organisms.
Bloomberg Philanthropies' $5 million gift supports the planning phase of Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, the only historically Black medical school in the Gulf South. The new school aims to train physicians who reflect the diversity of their communities and address healthcare shortages.
A new psychological intervention has been introduced to enhance the sense of belonging and academic performance of minority students. The intervention involves displaying lecturers' names in multiple languages, resulting in improved grades for Palestinian students.
A recent study found that medical and educational debt collectively exceeds $150 billion among US health care workers. Educational debts disproportionately burden Black workers, while medical debts are more prevalent among women, home health personnel, and those with recent hospitalizations.
Researchers in the College of Agriculture, College of Pharmacy, and College of Science are developing effective cancer treatments targeting multiple genes with a single agent. They also created patent-pending superabsorbent materials from hemp, showing higher absorption capacity than traditional options.
Researchers at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy discovered key mechanisms of skeletal muscle regeneration and growth following resistance exercise. Increasing levels of Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) or X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in muscle stem cells may improve muscle repair and reduce disease severity.
A meta-analysis published in Ecopsychology found that even brief nature exposure can have a positive effect on symptomology, including affect, anxiety, and depression. The study suggests using nature exposure as an intervention to improve health and wellbeing for adults with mental illness.
Leadership education should encompass both horizontal and vertical development, with skills like conflict management and wisdom being crucial for effective leaders. The authors provide a comprehensive model for training competent leaders by outlining concepts and strategies that can be embedded in coursework.
A randomized controlled trial found that four weeks of outdoor gait training, combined with home exercises, improved running biomechanics and reduced the time feet were in contact with the ground. This technique may help patients improve their stride and reduce pain associated with shin splints.
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that increased social media usage 18 months into the pandemic had a negative effect on college students' mental health. Students who spent more time on social media were more likely to experience depression and anxiety.
The University of Texas at Arlington has increased its paid undergraduate research opportunities by tripling them in 2024. Undergraduate students who participate in these programs are more likely to finish college and pursue graduate studies, including medical school.
Research by Lancaster University found that people in higher social grades, including corporate world and education sectors, are adopting each other's speech patterns to be more inclusive. This 'resonance' has increased over the past 20 years, particularly among those with high social status.
A novel inhibitor HVH-2930 targeting heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) demonstrates efficacy against drug-resistant breast cancer cells. It selectively downregulates HER2 signaling, crucial for breast cancer progression, without triggering the heat shock response.
Researchers found that hospitals that implemented standardized protocols from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association saw significant reductions in stroke treatment times. The protocols, which include specific limits on time between symptom onset and hospital arrival, helped medical teams respond more quickly to ...
A study by Virginia Tech researchers found that shelter dogs paired with suitable companions exhibited reduced stress levels and were adopted more quickly. The findings suggest that matching dogs with compatible roommates could alleviate stress and improve their adoptability, leading to better outcomes for animal shelters.
A study by University of Washington School of Medicine found that a cognitive test is an inaccurate predictor of athletes' concussions. Instead, symptom reports were the most accurate indicator of concussion. The study involved 92 NCAA Division I athletes who sustained a concussion and their teammates as matched control subjects.
Sam Haynes, a professor of history at UTA, is recognized for his extensive scholarly output, including four books and several edited volumes. His recent publication won a prize in the study of race, national identity, and power in 19th-century US history. Jaehoon Yu, a physics professor, is honored for his groundbreaking research on th...
Researchers developed DiFC, a two-color diffuse flow cytometry system that detects rare cancer cells in the bloodstream without invasive methods. The technology provides insights into cancer progression and response to treatments by studying different subpopulations of cancer cells simultaneously.
New research reveals a 'mobile giving gap' where consumers are less likely to donate when using smartphones than PCs. To overcome this, charities should focus on highlighting the needs of others in their appeals, creating a sense of empathy and other-focus.
Recreational marijuana legalization in US states is associated with a 9% increase in college freshmen enrollments, primarily driven by out-of-state students. The study found no negative impact on degree completion or graduation rates.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame shows that repeated trips to the grocery store can be a reliable indicator of creditworthiness. The research found that buying healthier groceries and consistent shopping habits are linked to on-time credit card payments.
Researchers analyzed over 20,000 college application essays to identify key predictors of academic success. Essays covering more semantic ground and making smaller conceptual jumps were associated with higher grades.
The Academic Payvider model enhances value-based care by fostering improved coordination, reduced insurance hassles, and increased staff attention. This joint approach between payers and providers aims to drive complex care down through innovative reimbursement structures.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that less than 15% of US college students can administer naloxone, a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses. Despite this, nearly 62% of students can identify signs of an overdose and nearly 67% feel comfortable calling emergency services.
A new study finds that birdwatching can improve subjective well-being and reduce psychological distress in college students compared to nature walks or a control group. Birdwatching was found to yield higher gains in well-being and more reduction in distress than nature exposure.
Clinical trials show decreased effectiveness of vancomycin in treating C. diff infection, with reduced cure rates and lower sustained clinical responses associated with antimicrobial resistance. The finding poses a significant concern for the management of C. diff infection, with only two recommended antibiotics available.
Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science has been selected to work with NASA on the University Nanosatellite Program. The program provides systems engineering training for students and aims to prepare them to work in the space industry.
US pharmaceutical spending surged to $473.12 billion from 2011 to 2020, with diabetic medications accounting for a significant increase. The study found that antidiabetic agents were the most expensive therapeutic area, with Medicare and Medicaid contributing significantly to the costs.
A Washington State University study found that growth mindset emails improved the grades of first-generation students in an introductory science course by an average of a third of a letter grade. The intervention, which included personalized messages and strategies for improvement, helped bridge the gap with continuing-generation stude...
A researcher at West Virginia University is using 'reverse engineering' to study the structural characteristics of slot machines and their impact on players. The study aims to understand what makes these games immersive and how they interact with individual vulnerabilities, ultimately informing the development of safer gambling products.