Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Penn State Schuylkill Undergraduate Students Present Original Research at ECA
SCHUYKILL HAVEN, Pennsylvania, April 21 -- Pennsylvania State University's Schuykill Campus issued the following news:
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Penn State Schuylkill undergraduate students present original research at ECA
Eight Penn State Schuylkill students and one University Park student presented original research at the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) convention in Pittsburgh. In total, the students presented seven papers, three posters, and three panel presentations. One Schuylkill corporate communication major, Anastasia Rakowsky, had a Top Paper with the Undergraduate Scholars Conference and received
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SCHUYKILL HAVEN, Pennsylvania, April 21 -- Pennsylvania State University's Schuykill Campus issued the following news:
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Penn State Schuylkill undergraduate students present original research at ECA
Eight Penn State Schuylkill students and one University Park student presented original research at the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) convention in Pittsburgh. In total, the students presented seven papers, three posters, and three panel presentations. One Schuylkill corporate communication major, Anastasia Rakowsky, had a Top Paper with the Undergraduate Scholars Conference and receivedan award for her work at the conference.
All students were mentored by Valerie Schrader, professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Schuylkill.
"I'm so proud of this group of undergraduate scholars," she said. "They did a great job preparing and presenting their work, and I'm so glad they got the opportunity to share their research with a larger audience at ECA."
Emma Wollyung, a third-year student, presented her work during the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.
"Having the opportunity to attend ECA and present helped me learn so much more about what professionals are doing in the field post-graduation, and that really inspired me," Wollyung said.
Second-year student Christine Weicicoskie also presented her research during the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.
"This experience helped me confront my self-doubt and find a footing in my academic career," Weicicoskie said. "I feel more confident in my academic abilities and feel a renewed sense of hope and inspiration after attending the conference."
ECA is the oldest professional communication association in the country, having been founded in 1910. The organization celebrates achievement in research, criticism, communication theory and teaching. The James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference was established in 2011. Penn State Schuylkill has been participating in the Undergraduate Scholars Conference since 2013.
The students who presented at the conference were:
Madisyn Billingsley
Billingsley is a second-year student at Schuylkill majoring in advertising and public relations. She presented a panel presentation entitled "Emergence through Stories and Songs: 8 Mile and Walter Fisher's Narrative Paradigm" on a panel programmed by the Media Communication Interest Group. This is Billingsley's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2025 Pennsylvania Communication Association conference in Loretto.
Isabella Frederick
Frederick is a third-year student at University Park double-majoring in English and biology with a neuroscience option. She presented a panel presentation entitled "That Gold Mine Changed You: Fame, Facework, and Feminine Pain in Phoebe Bridgers' Public Persona" on a panel programmed by the Media Communication Interest Group, as well as a paper, "'All Lights Turned Off Can be Turned On:' Constructing Belonging Through Burkean Identification and Creating Equipment for Living in Stick Season - Forever," at the James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference. This is Frederick's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2025 ECA conference in Buffalo, New York.
Lily Kreiser
Kreiser is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in nursing with a minor in communication arts and mass media. Lily presented two projects at ECA this year: a poster entitled "You Have No Power Over Me:" A Rhetorical Analysis of Defying Hegemony as a Woman in the Film Labyrinth" and a paper, "Narrative Theory as Seen in Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show," which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. This is Kreiser's fourth communication conference, having previously presented at ECA in 2025 and PCA in both 2024 and 2025, along with a number of campus events. Last year, Lily's poster presentation was recognized with a third place Top Poster award at ECA.
William Mills
Mills is a first-year student at Schuylkill majoring in business with the accounting option. Mills presented his paper, "The Book of Hebrews from a Rhetorical Perspective," which he completed for his honors option in "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. Mills is one of the first Penn State Schuylkill students to have a full paper that was written in his first semester of college accepted to ECA. This is his first communication conference.
Jenalise Muir
Muir is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in nursing with a double-minor in communication arts and mass media and communication arts and sciences. She presented three projects at ECA this year: a panel presentation with the Media Communication Interest Group entitled "Como La Flor: Burkean Identification in Selena: The Movie," a poster titled "Burkean Identification and West Side Story," and a paper called "Burkean Identification and Epic: The Musical," which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 404" during the fall 2025 semester. This is Muir's fourth communication conference, having previously presented at ECA in 2025 and PCA in both 2024 and 2025, along with a number of campus events.
Veronica Plichta
Plichta is a first-year student at Schuylkill majoring in political science. Plichta presented her paper, "Aristotle and the American Civil Liberties Union: The Use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Immigrant Rights Rhetoric," which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 210" during the fall 2025 semester. Plichta is one of the first Penn State Schuylkill students to have a full paper that was written in her first semester of college accepted to ECA. This is her first communication conference.
Anastasia Rakowsky
Rakowsky is a fourth-year student at Schuylkill majoring in corporate communication with a double-minor in communication arts and sciences and civic and community engagement. Rakowsky presented her paper, "Breaking Free From Tradition: An Analysis of Three Presidential Inaugural Addresses through the Lens of the Rhetorical Situation and the Commonalities of Presidential Rhetoric," which she completed for her honors option in "CAS 210" during the fall 2025 semester. She presented it on the Top Paper Panel and received an award for it at the conference. This is Rakowsky's second communication conference; she previously presented work at the 2024 PCA conference here at Penn State Schuylkill.
Christine Weicicoskie
Weicicoskie is a second-year student at Schuylkill majoring in psychology. She presented her poster, ""Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings," at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference. Christine's poster is based on a rhetorical paper she wrote for "CAS 101N" in fall 2025. This is her first communication conference.
Emma Wollyung
Wollyung is a third-year student at Schuylkill majoring in business with the individualized business option with three minors in human resource management, communication arts and mass media, and communication arts and sciences. Her paper, "Better in Denim: Burkean Identification and Gap's Viral Campaign," which she completed in her "CAS 101N" honors option, was presented at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference. This is Wollyung's first communication conference.
In addition to the nine students and Schrader, Janelle Gruber, lecturer of corporate communication, participated in the conference. Dr. Schrader presented her own original research, discussed publication on a panel, and chaired and responded to various panels for the Undergraduate Scholars Conference, as well as to a panel with the Media Communication Interest Group.
At the end of the conference, the students went on a sightseeing boat cruise with the Gateway Clipper Fleet along the three rivers of Pittsburgh, where they learned about Pittsburgh history and culture.
The students' participation in the conference was made possible by funding from the Schuylkill campus, the Office of the Vice President of Commonwealth Campuses, and generous donors who contributed to the Penn State Schuylkill Fall 2025 Fundraising Campaign.
To learn more about the Penn State Schuylkill ECA Undergraduate Scholars Team, contact Schrader. Find more information about the ECA, and learn more about undergraduate research opportunities at Penn State Schuylkill (https://schuylkill.psu.edu/research/undergraduate-research).
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Original text here: https://schuylkill.psu.edu/story/24896/2026/04/20/penn-state-schuylkill-undergraduate-students-present-original-research-eca
N.C. State: Material Makes Heart Monitoring Tech More Comfortable
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 21 (TNSjou) -- North Carolina State University issued the following news release:
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New Material Makes Heart Monitoring Tech More Comfortable
Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving. With performance comparable to sensors already on the market, the new technology can be made using existing manufacturing processes.
"Medical patients are often asked to wear devices to record electrocardiogram (ECG) data that can be used to diagnose an illness, monitor the progression
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 21 (TNSjou) -- North Carolina State University issued the following news release:
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New Material Makes Heart Monitoring Tech More Comfortable
Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving. With performance comparable to sensors already on the market, the new technology can be made using existing manufacturing processes.
"Medical patients are often asked to wear devices to record electrocardiogram (ECG) data that can be used to diagnose an illness, monitor the progressionof recovery or disease, and so on," says Kirstie Queener, first author of a paper on the work. "However, this process can take hours - or even days - and the existing technology poses some challenges. For example, existing sensors must be held in place using an adhesive that can irritate patient skin. Existing technologies also require gel to be applied to the patient so the electrode can get a clear signal, and the signal degrades as the gel dries.
"Our goal was to create a polymer electrode that is comfortable to wear, adheres to the patient's skin, and can get an accurate reading without using gels or adhesives," says Queener, who is a Ph.D. candidate in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
For this project, the researchers worked with a polymer called POMaC, which has all the desirable mechanical properties needed for this application but lacked the electrical properties necessary to make it a functional electrode. To resolve this, the researchers incorporated two additional elements into the POMaC - a conductive polymer and a surfactant - while still in liquid form.
This mixture can then be applied via screen printing, or cast in molds, depending on the shape of the electrode needed for a given application. The material can then be "cured," or heated, until it becomes an elastic solid.
"The final product is a conductive matrix, which makes it highly functional as an electrode that can pick up ECG signals," says Queener. "It's also shaped to our specifications, is adhesive enough to stick to the skin, can bear the weight of the wires necessary to transmit readings to the device recording the ECG, and can be peeled off later without yanking your hair out."
In proof-of-concept testing, the new electrodes performed comparably to existing ECG monitoring technologies.
"We actually tested the new electrodes using two different technologies: a commercial ECG device like the ones used in many health care settings or for long-term monitoring at home; and an experimental patch we're developing that transmits ECG data wirelessly," says Michael Daniele, corresponding author of the paper. "It worked well with both devices, which underscores the versatility - and utility - of these electrodes." Daniele is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State and a professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at NC State and UNC.
"We developed this engineered electrode material for use in ECG applications," Queener says. "But the nature of the material means it could also be used in a variety of other technologies."
"We're currently exploring a range of additional biomonitoring applications and are in the process of preserving our intellectual property rights on the material," says Daniele. "The electrodes are made from conventional materials using scalable manufacturing techniques, so we're optimistic that this will be a practical, cost-effective means of improving health monitoring technologies.
"We'd love to work with private sector partners to explore potential applications and opportunities to scale up production of this electrode material."
The paper, "Self-Adhesive Conductive Elastomers for Gel-Free Biopotential Recording," is published open access in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials. The paper was co-authored by Alec Brewer, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Alper Bozkurt, the McPherson Family Distinguished Professor in Engineering Entrepreneurship in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State; Koji Sode, the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; He Sun and Jack Twiddy, postdoctoral researchers in the Lampe Joint Department; and Vladimir Pozdin, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Florida International University.
This work was done with support from the National Science Foundation under grants 2231012 and 2037328; the National Institutes of Health under grant 1R01CA297854-01; and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research under grant 90REGE0017-01. The work was also supported by NC State's Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST), which was created with funding from NSF under grant 1160483.
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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.
"Self-Adhesive Conductive Elastomers for Gel-Free Biopotential Recording"
Authors: Kirstie M.K. Queener, He Sun, Jack Twiddy, Koji Sode and Michael Daniele, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Alec Brewer and Alper Bozkurt, North Carolina State University; and Vladimir A. Pozdin, Florida International University
Published: April 6, Advanced Electronic Materials
DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202600004
Abstract: The growth of wearable electrophysiology is accelerating demand for gel-free biopotential electrodes that are skin-conformal, comfortable for extended use, and stable under typical human motion. Here we report oPOMaC, a self-adhesive, conductive, skin-compatible elastomer based on poly(octamethylene maleate (anhydride) citrate) (POMaC), a citrate-derived polyester with mechanical characteristics that are easily tunable via changes to monomer ratios and curing. Although POMaC is readily processed into soft structures, achieving robust electronic conductivity that survives curing, drying, and handling remains challenging, hindering its use in bioelectronic interfaces. To address this, we co-formulate a soft conductor, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), with a surfactant, 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), into the POMaC prepolymer to generate conductive oPOMaC composites. Because these additives affect processing parameters and material properties, such as curing time and viscoelasticity, we optimized composition and processing to jointly achieve high conductivity (50 S/cm; 0.02 .cm), skin-appropriate adhesion (0.013 +- 0.004 N/mm on PDMS), and elastomeric compliance suitable for biopotential recording. Using optimized oPOMaC, we fabricated a custom chest patch featuring conformal ECG electrodes and demonstrated clear, high-fidelity on-body ECG waveforms comparable in morphology and timing to simultaneous recordings made using commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes. Together, these results position oPOMaC as a material platform for gel-free, self-adhesive, skin-interfaced bioelectronic electrodes, enabling simplified application and improved interface with the end-user and reducing disposable hydrogel waste in longitudinal monitoring.
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Original text here: https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/04/comfortable-heart-monitoring/
Having More Kids Associated With Reduced Risk of Stroke and Brain Damage, Research Co-led by UT Health San Antonio Shows
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 21 (TNSjou) -- The University of Texas Health San Antonio issued the following news release:
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Having more kids associated with reduced risk of stroke and brain damage, research co-led by UT Health San Antonio shows
While some say having lots of kids can make you lose your faculties, a new study suggests otherwise.
Research co-led by UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, associates a greater number of live births with a reduced risk of stroke or brain damage for mothers. As more women than men have strokes,
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 21 (TNSjou) -- The University of Texas Health San Antonio issued the following news release:
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Having more kids associated with reduced risk of stroke and brain damage, research co-led by UT Health San Antonio shows
While some say having lots of kids can make you lose your faculties, a new study suggests otherwise.
Research co-led by UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, associates a greater number of live births with a reduced risk of stroke or brain damage for mothers. As more women than men have strokes,the finding is seen as significant in helping determine risk.
The study, titled, "Number of Live Births as a Protective Factor Against Clinical and Covert Brain Infarcts: The Framingham Heart Study," was published on April 7 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, and on behalf of the association.
"Our findings would suggest that reproductive factors - for example, number of live births - may be an additional factor to consider when assessing stroke risk in women," said Sudha Seshadri, MD, a behavioral neurologist, professor and founding director of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio.
She is joint senior author of the study with Emer R. McGrath, PhD, with the School of Medicine at the University of Galway in Ireland. "Inclusion of this risk factor in female-specific clinical prediction rules for stroke may enhance risk prediction in women," Seshadri said.
Reproductive factors in stroke
The study notes that stroke is a major cause of morbidity and death, and disproportionately affects women, who account for 57% of all strokes in the United States.
Reproductive factors - for example, age at first menstrual period, age at menopause, circulating estrogen levels, number of pregnancies and use of hormone replacement therapy - affect overall lifetime exposure to estrogen, and therefore have been implicated as important predictors of future stroke risk in women.
Generally, greater exposure for a longer period or to higher levels of the body's own estrogen has recently been associated with a lower burden of cerebral small-vessel disease in women. However, evidence for some factors, such as live births, has been conflicting.
For this study, researchers determined the association between number of live births and other female-specific reproductive factors and subsequent risk of stroke and magnetic resonance imaging markers of vascular brain injury in a community-based cohort. That cohort was the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term and ongoing community-based observational study of residents in Framingham, Massachusetts, dating to 1948. Seshadri serves as senior investigator.
Live births and decreased risk
The scientists followed 1,882 women over time, and who were stroke-free at a baseline examination during 1998 to 2001 and at a mean age of 61. They considered reproductive factors including the women's number of live births given, age at menopause, postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy use, and serum estradiol and estrone levels.
During a median 18-year follow-up, they assessed the same participants for number of strokes from all causes, and secondarily for "covert brain infarcts" - like brain lesions representing vascular damage from restricted or reduced blood blow - and white matter hyperintensity volume, detected by MRI.
Over that period, 126 women had strokes. The researchers used statistical analyses known as multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for major vascular risk factors, and determined that three or more live births were associated with a reduced risk of stroke. Similarly, they found that three or more live births were associated with decreased risk of vascular brain injury.
"This may be an important factor to include in female-specific clinical prediction rules for stroke, but will require further study," Seshadri said.
The researchers found no significant association between other reproductive factors and stroke or MRI markers of vascular brain injury.
Other authors of the study are with Boston University; Mass General Brigham, Boston; and University of California-Davis.
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Number of Live Births as a Protective Factor Against Clinical and Covert Brain Infarcts: The Framingham Heart Study
Senan Maher, Matthew R. Scott, Rachel F. Buckley, Charles S. DeCarli, Hugo J. Aparicio, Jose Rafael Romero, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Joanne M. Murabito, Shalender Bhasin, Alexa S. Beiser, Sudha Seshadri, Emer R. McGrath
Published April 7, 2026, by Journal of the American Heart Association
Link to full study: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.044037
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UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), offering a comprehensive network of inpatient and outpatient care facilities staffed by medical, dental, nursing and allied health professionals who conduct more than 2.5 million patient visits each year. It is the region's only academic health center and one of the nation's leading health sciences institutions, supported by the schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health that are leading change and advancing fields throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better(R)," visit UTHealthSA.org.
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The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio is dedicated to providing comprehensive dementia care while advancing treatment through clinical trials and research. The Biggs Institute is a National Institute on Aging (NIA)-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). UT Health San Antonio is the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio). In addition to providing patient care and conducting research, the Biggs Institute partners with the School of Nursing at UT San Antonio to offer the Caring for the Caregiver program.
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Original text here: https://news.uthscsa.edu/having-more-kids-associated-with-reduced-risk-of-stroke-and-brain-damage-research-co-led-by-ut-health-san-antonio-shows/
University of Alabama-Huntsville: U.S. Climate Sees Declines in Both Hot and Cold Extreme Temperatures Since 1899
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, April 21 (TNSjou) -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
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U.S. climate sees declines in both hot and cold extreme temperatures since 1899
Dr. John R. Christy
A comprehensive new study extending the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) record back to 1899 finds that both hot and cold temperature extremes across the contiguous United States have declined over the past 127 years. The research, performed by Dr. John R. Christy, Alabama State Climatologist (retired) and professor of atmospheric and earth science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville,
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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, April 21 (TNSjou) -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
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U.S. climate sees declines in both hot and cold extreme temperatures since 1899
Dr. John R. Christy
A comprehensive new study extending the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) record back to 1899 finds that both hot and cold temperature extremes across the contiguous United States have declined over the past 127 years. The research, performed by Dr. John R. Christy, Alabama State Climatologist (retired) and professor of atmospheric and earth science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville,a part of The University of Alabama System, analyzed more than 40 million daily temperature observations to provide the most complete long-term view to date of U.S. extreme heat and cold. The paper is published in Theoretical and Applied Climatology.
Drawing on 1,211 of the best weather stations in the lower 48 states, many of which required extensive reconstruction from nearby correlated stations, the study evaluates when and where the nation's hottest and coldest days occurred, how often daily records were set and how the frequency of heatwaves and cold waves has evolved since the late 19th century.
Building the dataset took years of tedious effort, requiring manually sifting through thousands of original forms to fill in the large gaps present in the NOAA datafiles currently available to researchers.
"It was a labor of love and curiosity," Christy says. He still retains his own observations started in the 1960s in Fresno, Calif. "This paper demonstrates that Fresno is a prime example of how growing cities have skewed temperature records over the decades with nighttime minima now over 5 F warmer in the city than experienced by surrounding stations."
Extreme summer heat has not increased. Metrics such as the hottest annual temperatures, number of daily heat records and heatwave days show modest declines since 1899. The most intense nationwide heat events remain concentrated in the 1925-1954 period, especially the 1930s.
Extreme cold has decreased sharply. Since the 1990s, the frequency and severity of record-cold winter temperatures have dropped substantially. The study notes that this decline may reflect both atmospheric warming and the influence of human development around weather stations, which tends to raise nighttime minimum temperatures in particular.
Overall extremes have become less extreme. The difference between the hottest and coldest annual temperatures for all stations has narrowed by about 6 F over the full record, indicating a long-term reduction in temperature volatility.
Regional patterns matter. Western U.S. regions have seen substantial increases in heatwave activity in the past decade, while central and eastern regions show long-term declines. When averaged nationally, these opposing trends offset each other. Natural variability remains dominant. The magnitude of early-20th-century heat extremes - especially the 1930s - continues to exceed recent events, underscoring the strong role of natural climate variability in shaping U.S. temperature extremes.
The study also demonstrates how this dataset can be used to evaluate public claims about extreme weather. For example, while the National Climate Assessment #5 states that heatwaves have increased since the 1960s, Christy's analysis finds that the national trend is small and statistically insignificant, though increases are evident in parts of the West. However, when extended back to 1899, heat extremes have actually declined nationwide.
"This dataset allows us to ask - and answer - questions about extreme heat and cold with more confidence, given the amount of data available now," Christy notes. "Understanding how extremes have changed over time is essential for interpreting (dispassionately) how today's events actually compare with the past."
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Original text here: https://www.uah.edu/news/items/us-climate-sees-declines-both-hot-and-cold-extreme-temperatures-since-1899
Syracuse University: Growing Replica Hearts Helps Improve Drug Testing
SYRACUSE, New York, April 21 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Growing Replica Hearts Helps Improve Drug Testing
Biomedical and chemical engineer Zhen Ma uses human stem cells to create 3D heart models that could accelerate drug screening and personalize patient care.
John Boccacino
There is one type of stem cell that can remarkably transform itself into any cell in the human body. Known as human induced pluripotent stem cells, or hiPSCs, they hold enormous potential for medical research--and biomedical and chemical engineer Zhen Ma is putting them to work.
In his lab,
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SYRACUSE, New York, April 21 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Growing Replica Hearts Helps Improve Drug Testing
Biomedical and chemical engineer Zhen Ma uses human stem cells to create 3D heart models that could accelerate drug screening and personalize patient care.
John Boccacino
There is one type of stem cell that can remarkably transform itself into any cell in the human body. Known as human induced pluripotent stem cells, or hiPSCs, they hold enormous potential for medical research--and biomedical and chemical engineer Zhen Ma is putting them to work.
In his lab,Ma uses hiPSCs to grow three-dimensional replica hearts that beat, organize and function like the real thing, opening the door to faster drug screening and more personalized patient care.
"Stem cell technology can have a significant impact on how we treat heart disease and on overall heart health," says Ma, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. "Our lab focuses on how we can better understand some of the fundamental questions on cardiac physiology and development."
By studying how a heart forms during embryonic development, Ma and his research team can build miniature cardiac models that replicate the structure, rhythm and cellular makeup of a patient's own heart.
Because the models are made from the same genetic biological materials as the patient, they offer a powerful tool for testing the efficacy--and potential side effects--of treatments for heart disease, cancer and other conditions without putting patients at risk.
In the System Tissue Engineering and Morphogenesis (STEM) lab, Ma and his student researchers study how the heart forms, how different cell types build the replica's working chamber and how that chamber develops the vascular structure that feeds the heart's muscles.
Ma's innovative research project, titled Engineering Stem Cell-Based Cardiac Organoids, examines the cardiotoxicity--damage to the heart muscle or valves caused by harmful substances like chemotherapy and radiation--impact on these 3D heart models. His work has been supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, the NSF's most prestigious award for early-career faculty.
"A drug's adverse effect on the heart is the number one reason a treatment will be pulled from the market. We use this research to better understand the effect a drug has on the heart's muscles," Ma says. "This research is helping accelerate the drug screening pipelines while also reducing the resources that are poured into these drug delivery frameworks."
Closing the Gap Between Lab and Patient
Ma says in a normal drug development platform, researchers will use two major models: a zebrafish model and mouse models, which tend to be more expensive.
Using these models, researchers will observe the potential embryotoxicity effect of the drug. Ma's lab's methods closely mimic the high-throughput potential and unique regenerative abilities found in zebrafish, with one significant difference.
"Our model is more human-based and is more relevant and applicable on a human scale," Ma says. "We believe that our models have more accuracy in terms of predicting the possible toxicity effect on human tissues."
If a patient is suffering from heart disease and is experiencing muscle loss in the heart, Ma says this form of stem cell research can help regenerate the muscles and makeup of the heart without fear of the cell tissues being rejected by the patient.
How NSF Support Helped Build a Better Heart
When Ma came to the University 10 years ago, he started his lab to create cardiac models using stem cells.
In 2020, the NSF CAREER Award helped Ma create a better model heart and map out the different cells in the organoids. By observing how the cells communicated with the other cells, Ma learned how these cardiovascular cells are creating better, stronger heart muscles.
A research breakthrough came in 2022. Seeking to manufacture exponentially higher quantities of stem cell components needed to advance new disease treatments from clinical trials into mainstream use, Ma received a $500,000 NSF future manufacturing seed grant.
Game-Changing Research
Ma and his team have published several papers on their findings and plan to explore how machine learning could improve their heart models, how physical forces on heart tissue affect its ability to pump blood and how their model compares to traditional zebrafish toxicity screenings.
Eventually, they want to build a system helping patients assess treatment risks based on their health history and how well a drug works.
When it comes to pregnant women, Ma hopes to classify treatments based on the patient's risk for developing fetal heart problems and offer solutions that present a much lower risk for developing an abnormal heart.
"This is really helping us to establish ourselves in the field of cardiac organoids and embryotoxicity," Ma says. "My students do all of the work in the lab and I'm thankful that my research has been supported by a group of talented students."
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/04/20/growing-replica-hearts-helps-improve-drug-testing/
Syracuse University: Faculty Will Leverage University's Study Away Locations This Summer
SYRACUSE, New York, April 21 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Faculty Will Leverage University's Study Away Locations This Summer
Six high-impact projects in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., are the inaugural recipients of the Study Away Summer Awards from the Office of Academic Affairs.
Wendy S. Loughlin
Seven faculty members will leverage Syracuse University's study away locations for research and program development this summer, supported by funding from the Office of Academic Affairs.
The Study Away Summer Awards initiative, launched this year, provides
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SYRACUSE, New York, April 21 -- Syracuse University issued the following news:
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Faculty Will Leverage University's Study Away Locations This Summer
Six high-impact projects in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., are the inaugural recipients of the Study Away Summer Awards from the Office of Academic Affairs.
Wendy S. Loughlin
Seven faculty members will leverage Syracuse University's study away locations for research and program development this summer, supported by funding from the Office of Academic Affairs.
The Study Away Summer Awards initiative, launched this year, providesfull-time faculty members with $10,000 for high-impact summer projects based in Los Angeles, New York City or Washington, D.C.
"These faculty members will chart new territory, using study away sites to push disciplinary and interdisciplinary research forward, forge partnerships across sectors and reimagine how students learn," says Elisa Dekaney, associate provost for strategic initiatives. "We are excited to see the new initiatives that grow out of these summer projects."
Los Angeles
Li "Lily" Jiang, assistant professor of fashion design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts' School of Design, will conduct a one-week research "sprint" investigating adaptive apparel needs for disabled performing artists, a population that is largely overlooked in existing research. Through interviews with disabled performers, Jiang will examine pain points around range of motion, quick changes, heat management, assistive device interfaces and aesthetic expression. The project will conclude with an Inclusive Performancewear Listening Session and the development of an Inclusive Adaptive Performancewear Design Requirements Toolkit.
Following the summer project, Jiang will bring VPA faculty and students into the research as stakeholders and collaborators and focus on developing prototype garment directions informed by the toolkit. She plans to return to LA next summer to engage in wear trials, follow-up interviews with original participants and the creation of a refined toolkit.
Gina Pauline, associate professor of sport management, and Scott Tainsky, senior associate dean and professor of sport management in the David B. Falk College of Sport, plan to develop two new interdisciplinary courses and advance a growing research agenda. The first course, Sport Business, Hip Hop and Fashion, will examine the commercial and cultural intersections of sport, hip hop and the global fashion economy, using LA's streetwear ecosystem and athlete-driven enterprises as living case studies. The second, Venue Hospitality: Sport Facilities as Engines of Experience, will use LA's facility landscape--including the Intuit Dome, SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com Arena--to explore the idea of modern sport venues as hospitality enterprises. The pair will meet with venue directors and industry professionals to generate curriculum content, confirm guest lecturers and support Falk College's newly funded research partnership with a leading stadium technology company.
The courses, which Pauline and Tainsky plan to launch next spring, will be designed for sustained industry engagement through recurring guest speaker infrastructure and applied student projects, while the relationships developed in LA will be expanded into internship and capstone opportunities for sport management undergraduates.
New York City
Kerianne Rubenstein, assistant professor of sport analytics in Falk College, will begin building the groundwork for a repeatable women's sports analytics study away program that will be centered on the city's concentrated women's professional sports ecosystem and emphasize city-specific partnerships, hands-on student experiences and exclusive data access. She will conduct exploratory meetings with leadership at organizations including WNBA headquarters, NWSL headquarters, Gotham FC, the New York Liberty and the New York Sirens, as well as with sports analytics firms and women's sports media companies.
Rubenstein plans to establish relationships with multiple organizational partners, secure letters of intent or MOUs, complete a feasibility report and develop a draft curriculum and syllabus informed directly by industry input. She envisions the program generating a network of industry partners committed to ongoing data sharing for research, internships and classroom collaboration, with findings integrated into coursework. The program also has potential as a student recruitment tool, and as a pathway for faculty research through sustained engagement with the New York study away site.
Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will build a sustained, credit-bearing study away program centered on peacekeeping and global governance. He will conduct archival research at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library and think tank collections to support ongoing work on multilateral diplomacy and peace operations. He will also cultivate relationships with alumni, practitioners and New York-based NGOs working on human rights, peace building and sustainable development; these organizations will serve as sources of guest speakers, internship opportunities and potential research collaborators for Maxwell students.
The project is designed as a catalyst for a repeatable, on-site intensive course offered at the 400/600 level and open to undergraduate students in international relations, political science and policy studies as well as master's candidates in international relations. That would bring Maxwell students into direct engagement with the UN, international NGOs, think tanks and global financial institutions, while partnerships with New York organizations would potentially generate collaborative projects that connect scholarly analysis to real-world advocacy and program design.
David DeAngelis, assistant professor in the School of Education and VPA's Setnor School of Music, will deepen partnerships with K-12 schools that are leading the way in modern band and popular music pedagogy. DeAngelis will meet with music educators and administrators at current and prospective partner schools, with a particular focus on programs that blend modern band and contemporary music approaches with traditional models. These efforts will broaden field placement opportunities for University music education students pursuing New York State K-12 certification.
Two high-visibility events will result from the project: a Fall 2026 professional development day at the Fisher Center featuring workshops and a panel discussion on contemporary music pedagogy with New York City-based educators and leaders in this field; and a Spring 2027 NYC music workshop that will bring partner school students to the Fisher Center for collaborative jam sessions, ensemble coaching and songwriting. These initiatives aim to create a sustained "feedback loop" between the University's music education program and New York City schools and students, strengthening and expanding New York-based field placements, elevating Syracuse's profile as a leader in contemporary music education, attracting prospective students and ultimately extending the School of Education's Bridge to the City student teaching program to include music education.
Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth Kubala, teaching professor and executive director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic in the College of Law, will utilize the University's Washington, D.C. site as a sustained hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, alumni engagement and experiential learning in military and veterans law, administrative practice and public policy. She plans to formalize relationships with federal agencies and adjudicative bodies central to military and veterans law and host a reception for stakeholders in these areas. The event will serve to convene agency leaders, alumni and faculty, and engage University government relations and alumni affairs colleagues to build a coordinated institutional strategy and durable programming infrastructure.
The project will include early-stage development of an interdisciplinary speaker series in collaboration with Maxwell in Washington that explores issues at the intersection of military and veterans policy, federal administration and institutional reform. Looking ahead, Kubala aims to establish a three-credit intersession residency course in Washington, serving both residential J.D. and hybrid-online JDi students, with a companion speaker series and alumni event to deepen professional networks. This will position the D.C. campus as a recurring convening hub that integrates academic programming, alumni relations, collaborative research and sustained federal partnerships across the College of Law and the broader University.
In its inaugural year, the Study Away Summer Awards drew 20 applications from faculty across eight schools and colleges. A review committee evaluated proposals based on five key areas: site engagement, research and creative merit, sustained impact, strategic alignment with the priorities outlined in the University's academic strategic plan, "Leading with Distinction," and strength of partnerships.
Recipients will participate in a Universitywide showcase during the 2026-27 academic year, helping establish best practices and inspire broader faculty engagement with the University's study away sites.
For more information about the awards, contact Dekaney at 315.443.0768 or emdekane@syr.edu.
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Original text here: https://news.syr.edu/2026/04/20/faculty-will-leverage-universitys-study-away-locations-this-summer/
Rutgers: Measuring the 'Empty Tank' - Pilot Study Gauges Muscle Energy in Cancer Survivors
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, April 21 (TNSjou) -- Rutgers University issued the following news:
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Measuring the 'Empty Tank': Pilot Study Gauges Muscle Energy in Cancer Survivors
By Andrew Smith
Even apparently healthy cancer survivors often complain of extreme fatigue. They have finished treatment, the scans are clear, but they feel hollowed out, unable to walk to the mailbox or stay awake through dinner.
The languor can linger for years, making it a major, unexplained symptom that clinicians have only been able to measure with subjective, imprecise surveys.
But a pilot study published
... Show Full Article
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, April 21 (TNSjou) -- Rutgers University issued the following news:
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Measuring the 'Empty Tank': Pilot Study Gauges Muscle Energy in Cancer Survivors
By Andrew Smith
Even apparently healthy cancer survivors often complain of extreme fatigue. They have finished treatment, the scans are clear, but they feel hollowed out, unable to walk to the mailbox or stay awake through dinner.
The languor can linger for years, making it a major, unexplained symptom that clinicians have only been able to measure with subjective, imprecise surveys.
But a pilot study publishedin Biomedicines may help clinicians obtain a better measurement tool that could eventually lead to better treatments.
Researchers at Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging used a specialized MRI to peer directly into the skeletal muscle cells of 11 cancer survivors, measuring how quickly their mitochondria - the organelles that generate cellular fuel - rebuilt energy reserves after exertion.
"No one before this had looked deeply into single-cell-specific biology that can drive cancer patient experiences," said the study's senior author, Leorey Saligan, a professor and the vice dean of research at the Rutgers School of Nursing. "There is some previous work on blood mitochondrial levels, but blood composition shifts constantly. Every time you sneeze, your blood cells differ."
Saligan is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, together with RWJBarnabas Health.
The team used a National Institutes of Health-validated MRI test for mitochondrial measurement called phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). Participants lay inside a scanner with a coil over their left thighs. After a brief, vigorous knee extension exercise to deplete energy stores, the scanner tracked recovery. A longer recovery time signals weaker mitochondrial function.
The 11 participants, whose ages ranged from 34 to 70, had undergone treatment for various cancers with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, hormone therapy or some combination.
Participants 65 and older exhibited about 10% slower muscle energy recovery than younger patients, along with weaker grip strength, higher self-reported fatigue and fewer daily steps. Treatment type also predicted muscle recovery to some extent, though treatment categories overlapped, and most participants had received more than one therapy. Participants who had received immunotherapy reported more fatigue, had slower muscle recovery, weaker grip strength and fewer daily steps than those who hadn't.
The most provocative finding was a counterintuitive one. Among younger participants, those with worse mitochondrial recovery reported less fatigue, not more. At the same time, worse mitochondrial recovery in that group correlated with higher resilience and coping self-efficacy. The researchers cautioned that this could reflect statistical instability in such a small sample. Still, it also raises the possibility that subjective fatigue and cellular energy capacity operate through partially distinct pathways.
"It just shows that the subjective experience of fatigue is very multidimensional," Saligan said. "It's not only the physical aspect that's dictating that symptom experience."
The study has significant limitations, including the small sample size and the mix of cancer types and treatments.
The value of the study, the researchers said, lies in demonstrating the feasibility of this approach. If 31P-MRS can provide a stable, noninvasive measure of mitochondrial function in cancer survivors, it could eventually serve as a biomarker linking the biology of post-treatment fatigue to the subjective experience cancer patients describe.
Saligan said the next step is to replicate the work with larger cohorts. A further goal would be to measure energy recovery in the brain and skeletal muscle simultaneously.
"It is really important to see how soon exercise can really accelerate recovery of the muscles, but also utilization of the energy in the muscles," Saligan said. "I think that is really critical for exercise dosing, but also timing exercise programs, for survivors."
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Original text here: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/measuring-empty-tank-pilot-study-gauges-muscle-energy-cancer-survivors
