Using ERPs and eye-tracking to study language learning and processing in adult learners.
In an increasingly global environment, both within the US and abroad, the ability to rapidly gain native-like linguistic competence is a critical asset. The ability to use an L2 in a way that is both expected and recognized by its native speakers is important both to the broad public, and to specific sectors, such as military personnel, that must develop native-like competence in a foreign language in a limited amount of time. The studies conducted under this IRB protocol will examine how learners/speakers of a second language acquire and process multi-word units (e.g., carry a business; run a store) in their second language, and how knowledge from the first language might influence the learning and processing of multi-word units in a second language.
Manuel Pulido at mfp149@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education, Language & Linguistics
A more naturalistic interaction: using back-channeling in smart-speakers to indicate active listening
In this project, we aim to extend the capabilities of smart-speakers (such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri, etc.) to support more engaging interactions with their users. Specifically, we would like to make the future of smart-speakers more conversational. One of the key aspects in developing a conversation is to be an active listener; showing interest in the speaker and allowing them to extend their turn in talk. In this study we investigate how smart-speakers can become better listeners by incorporating some of the human-human conversational features of active listening. Our question is, how can smart-speakers extend the users' turn in talk by being better listeners?
Nasim Motalebi at nfm5140@psu.edu or 814-753-2081
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Mental & Behavioral Health
A phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of ribociclib with endocrine therapy as an adjuvant treatment in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer (New Adjuvant TriAl with Ribociclib [LEE011]: NATALEE).
This is a drug study that will examine the drug Ribociclib with endocrine therapy versus just endocrine therapy in patients with early breast cancer.
Kathleen Rizzo at krizzo@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03701334
Cancer
Site for EA9161: A Randomized Phase III Study of the addition of Venetoclax to Ibrutinib and Obinutuzumab versus Ibrutinib and Obinutuzumab in Untreated Younger Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
The is a drug study to compare the progression free
survival of the three drug combination Ibrutinib-Obinutuzumab-Venetoclax (IOV) to Ibrutinib-Obinutuzumab (IO) in untreated CLL patients younger than 70 years of age.
Michelle Stojanovic at PSCI-CTO@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5471
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03701282
Cancer
Storytelling on Snapchat
This study will examine via ethnographic observation the Story feature on social media. Participants will be asked to provide their Snapchat or Instagram username and must be willing to let the researcher observe the Stories that they post. The primary aims are to illuminate how and why people are using the Story feature on social media, and to analyze how this feature is changing how we relate to and understand the world around us.
Michael Krieger at mlk75@psu.edu or 646-430-0117
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education, Mental & Behavioral Health, Language & Linguistics
Site for A RANDOMIZED PHASE III DOUBLE BLINDED PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ASPIRIN AS ADJUVANT THERAPY FOR HER2 NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER: THE ABC TRIAL.
This is a drug study with a primary outcome of testing aspirin as therapy versus a placebo pill for patients for breast cancer.
Lea Russell at PSCI-CTO@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5471
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT02927249
Cancer
Walking through the forests of the future: Using data-driven iVR to visualize forests under climate change
We used a combination of ecological modeling, procedural modeling, and virtual reality to provide an embodied experience of “walking through the forests of the future”. This study will provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of this immersive experience based on users’ feedbacks on different kinds of tools we developed.
Jiawei Huang at jzh87@psu.edu or 734-355-5327
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education, Language & Linguistics
"Alexa, I’m in pain! "A Real-Time Mindfulness Intervention to Control Pain: Delivery Through a Conversational Agent
We are interested in learning about people’s experiences with using the Amazon Alexa for delivery of a real-time mindfulness intervention to help with chronic pain management. Participation will include a free day-long introductory mindfulness training followed by daily use of mindfulness practices using the Amazon Alexa to establish a habit of use.
The participants will use our developed Amazon Alexa app ("skill") and provide assessments. We will ask participants to complete short daily surveys and a follow-up interview.
Sanjana Mendu at spm6450@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Pain Management
Describing your voice: Viewpoints from pre-professional voice users
The purpose of this study is to conduct semi-structured interviews with students at Penn State who are working towards degrees in fields that require a high vocal demand (e.g. teachers, lawyers, singers, actors, etc). The purpose is to learn more about what students think about their voice, what they know about protecting their voice, and what they would do if they had a voice disorder. This information can be used to design interventions and preventative outreach programs for these students.
Nicole Etter at oppal@psu.edu or 814-863-2021
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Prevention, Education, Language & Linguistics
Randomized trial of low nicotine cigarettes plus electronic cigarettes in smokers
This study will examine the health effects of lowering the nicotine content in cigarettes while having access to an electronic cigarette.
Candace Bordner at cbordner@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-0003, ext=282798
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT04058717
Smoking, Vaping, Nicotine and Tobacco, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Mental & Behavioral Health
Physical Therapists Role in Promoting Physical Activity for People with Chronic Physical Disabilities
We plan to conduct a qualitative study exploring perspectives of physical therapists and people with disability regarding physical activity promotion
Jacob Corey at jjc6062@psu.edu or 814-865-1691
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Neurology, Muscle & Bone
A Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of BMS-986165 in Subjects with Moderate-to-Severe Crohn's Disease
This study is for patients with moderate to severely active Crohn's disease to measure how effective and safe an experimental medication is in treating this condition.
Stella Z. Chroneos at zchroneos1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-8259
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03599622
Digestive Systems & Liver Disease
Assessing cognitive and psychosocial mechanisms of Useful Field of View cognitive training using ecological momentary assessment
We are interested in how brain games impact everyday life in healthy older adults. Participants will play 20 hours of brain games on a study-provided laptop, and we will examine how the brain games impact everyday life. This study will be performed remotely in participants homes using study-provided laptops. Some participants may also participate in 2 optional visits with brain MRI scans at Penn State University and at home sleep monitoring.
Courtney Fine at cjf5860@psu.edu or 814-865-4773
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT04651582
Mental & Behavioral Health
A Phase 2b/3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, 2-Arm, Efficacy, and Safety Study in Prurigo Nodularis with Nalbuphine ER Tables for Pruritus Relief Through Itch Scratch Modulation (PRISM Study)
Prurigo Nodularis: Phase 2b/3 Subject and Investigator Blinded, 56 Week study. Oral medication taken twice daily, Males/Females 18 years and older with Prurigo Nodularis
Prurigo Nodularis (PN) is a skin disease that causes hard, itchy lumps (nodules) to form on the skin. The itching (pruritus) can be intense, cause people to scratch themselves to the point of bleeding or pain.
The goal of this study is to evaluate the change of itch with using Nalbuphine ER.
Amy Longenecker at alongenecker@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5136
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03497975
Skin Conditions
Understanding the effect of drivers’ profile information on riders’ feedback in ride-sharing context
This study aims to understand ways to affect how riders perceive and provide feedback to drivers through technology intervention. Particularly, we investigate how presenting drivers’ personal profile under different trip conditions may lead to differences in the ways riders may provide feedback. We hypothesize that riders will provide positive feedback when provided drivers’ personal information when the trip goes well, and that riders will provide less negative feedback when provided drivers’ personal information when the trip goes bad due to uncontrollable reasons.
Ning Ma at nzm37@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education
A Pivotal, Multicenter, Blinded, Sham Procedure-Controlled Trial of Renal Denervation by the Peregrine System Kit in Subjects with Hypertension
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of renal denervation while still on blood pressure medications. Renal denervation is the destruction of nerve fibers that run along the kidney blood vessels. This causes an interruption of nerve signals that may cause high blood pressure. Therefore, the effectiveness of the study catheter and the alcohol (Peregrine Kit) will be assessed by how well the treatment reduces blood pressure.
Paula Trump at PSHVIResearchCoordinators@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5967
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT02910414
Heart & Vascular
Neural Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic syndrome in which the heart beats too quickly when standing. POTS primarily affects young women. People with POTS also experience symptoms such as feeling faint, fatigue, nausea, and mental clouding or "brain fog." “Brain fog” is one of the most bothersome symptoms of POTS and it is unknown why people with POTS experience this symptom. Some studies have shown that POTS patients have problems with attention, memory and executive function (ability to plan, organize information, and adapt to changes) while seated and when upright. In this study, we will evaluate how brain function during mental tasks is affected in people with POTS compared to healthy volunteers. All volunteers will complete mental tasks while lying down and standing. If eligible, we will measure brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).The findings from this study will increase our understanding of the mental complaints in people with POTS, to hopefully help with development of new treatments.
Aimee Cauffman at acauffman@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-1617
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT04137757
Heart & Vascular, Neurology
Collaborative Research: Measuring and Enhancing Scientific Creative Thinking for STEM Education and Research: Classroom-Aligned Assessment and Network Neuroscience-Based Mechanisms
The project is interested in understanding how the brain supports creative thinking in the context of solving scientific problems. During functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral experiments, participants will be presented with open-ended scientific questions and asked to produce responses.
Brendan Baker at brendan.baker@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Characterization and Exploration of Cognitive Assistants in the Space of Knowledge and Social Demands
The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of artificial intelligence on ideation in groups (specifically the process of brainstorming). Facilitation and facilitator/participant perceptions will also be analyzed. This study collects qualitative data through surveys, interviews, and audio/video recording.
Torsten Maier at torstennamaier@psu.edu or 812-781-0014
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education, Language & Linguistics
Using Exercise to Relieve Arthralgia (Joint Pain) and Improve AI Adherence in Older Survivors (REJOIN): A Pilot Study
Briefly, the purpose of this study is to use a self-management approach (combining education and exercise) to help older breast cancer survivors manage joint pain, a common side effect of aromatase inhibitors (AIs), a medication used to reduce hormones that might increase risk of recurrence and mortality following primary cancer treatment. We believe that reducing joint pain might help survivors take their medication longer and thus improve survival outcomes, compared to standard care.
Nancy Olsen at nolsen@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Female
18 year(s) or older
NCT03955627
Cancer
Muscular Dystrophy Association Neuromuscular Observational Research (MOVR) Data Hub Protocol
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) wants to collect information about individuals with neuromuscular disease to better understand the disease progression and ultimately improve the medical care, quality of life, and survival of those with neuromuscular disease. To collect this information, MDA has created a data registry called the Neuromuscular Observational Research Data Hub (referred to as the “MOVR Data Hub”). The MOVR Data Hub is a kind of database — a way of collecting and storing information.
Anne Haulman at ahaulman@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-0003, ext=289123
All
All
N/A
Neurology
Understanding the Well-being of Advanced Counseling Students of Color
The primary objective of this study is to increase our understanding of the ways in which perceived discrimination, coping strategies, competence, stress, social support, and self-efficacy in counselor education programs relate to overall well-being for advanced counseling students of color.
Kyesha Isadore at kmi5@psu.edu or 337-326-3788
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Education, Mental & Behavioral Health
The Effect of Resistance Exercise on Craving and Cannabis Use in Individuals with Cannabis Use Disorder
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug and rates of hazardous use, and cannabis use disorders (CUDs), have continued to rise in recent years. Increased exposure produces higher risk for detrimental psychological and behavioral effects of cannabis use. Given this increased prevalence of problematic cannabis use, identifying effective behavioral strategies for individuals experiencing problems with addiction would offer significant benefits. Exercise, particularly resistance exercise, is a behavioral intervention with considerable potential as an adjunctive treatment for CUD. No prior study has investigated the effects of an acute bout of resistance exercise on cannabis craving and consumption, nor has prior research identified what psychobiological mechanisms may underlie these exercise potentiated effects.
The aims of this proposal seek to address these issues by implementing an acute resistance exercise protocol in men and women who have severe cannabis use disorder. This proposal will examine the acute effects of resistance exercise on craving, mood, anxiety, and markers of reward and stress regulation. In addition, this proposal will examine the trajectory of these effects in the subsequent days.
Gwendolyn Thomas at gat112@psu.edu or 814-863-3172
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03867786
Addiction & Substance Abuse
Examining contextual factors associated with food-related reward and eating restraint
Rates of obesity have risen sharply throughout the world over the past several decades. The increase in the availability of highly palatable, high-calorie foods may be one factor that has contributed to this trend. That is, the availability of such foods may lead to their over-consumption and corresponding weight gain. Currently, relatively little is known about how the availability of foods, per se, affects things such as the motivation to eat and the ability to resist doing so. The current study is designed to help address this knowledge gap by examining the effects of food availability in people with high levels of dietary restraint. Dietary restraint, which refers to the intention to restrict food intake deliberately in order to prevent weight gain or to promote weight, is linked to problematic patterns of eating. This project uses laboratory tasks and brain imaging to study the effects of food availability on various outcomes, including food choices, food craving, and responses in brain areas linked to motivation.
Josie Huang at suh438@psu.edu or 814-867-2333
Female
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Food & Nutrition, Mental & Behavioral Health
Vernacular Feature Comprehension and Perception in Persons with Aphasia
This study investigates whether persons with aphasia understand and process sentences with vernacular features in a manner similar to more typical populations. Participants will rate sentences on their naturalness and on whether they make sense, and they will also read sentences while we track their eye movements.
Frances Blanchette at fkb1@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Language & Linguistics
Phase II Study of Bendamustine and Rituximab plus Venetoclax in Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma over 60 Years of Age
This study is to see if venetoclax in combination with bendamustine and rituximab chemotherapy is effective in treating people who have mantle cell lymphoma and to examine the side effects, good and bad, associated with this combination .
CI-CTO Petrask at PSCI-CTO@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5471
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT03834688
Cancer
Effects of heating on exercise pressor reflex in peripheral artery disease: Exercise Ability
To determine if the sympathetic and blood pressure (BP) responses to exercise will be attenuated during and after heat exposure in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Cheryl Blaha at cblaha@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-1605
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
Heart & Vascular
Site for Phase III Study of Daratumumab/rHuPH20 (NSC-810307) + Lenalidomide or Lenalidomide as Post-Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Maintenance Therapy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM) Using Minimal Residual Disease to Direct Therapy Duration (DRAMMATIC Study) (PSCI# 19-079) (S1803)
This study is being done to answer the following questions:
1. Will adding the drug daratumumab/rHuPH20 to the usual maintenance treatment with lenalidomide after stem cell transplant help multiple myeloma patients survive longer?
2. For patients who have no evidence of multiple myeloma in their bone marrow (patients who do not have “minimum residual disease” [MRD-negative]), should maintenance therapy be stopped after 2 years?
We are doing this study because we want to find out if this approach is better or worse than the usual approach for your multiple myeloma. The usual approach is defined as care most people get for multiple myeloma.
Kathleen Rizzo at PSCI-CTO@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-5471
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT04071457
Cancer
Robots that Learn Games by Asking People Questions
The study goal is to develop robots that can learn simple games by interviewing humans. The robot interview strategies are represented as Markov Decision Process policies, and are developed offline through robot interactions with simulated interviewees. The investigator can set the simulated interviewee to respond to the robot's queries with different amounts of information. The games include board games like Connect 4, Quarto, and Checkers. The communication between the robot and simulated interviewee is in a formal language like first order logic. After a simulated dialogue, the robot will have more or less knowledge of the game, depending on the conditions of the simulated interviewee. Human subjects will interact with the robots in two ways. First, to test the utility of the new knowledge, human subjects will participate in experiments where they play the game with virtual robots that have learned the game under different conditions. Second, to investigate the kinds of misunderstandings of questions and answers that might arise if the robot could interview a human, we will present subjects with extracts from the formal language dialogues that we have mapped to English in different ways, and ask subjects to imagine how they would express the same meaning in English, or answer questions in different ways, or what sorts of misunderstandings they might imagine in a real dialogue.
Maryam Zare at muz50@psu.edu
All
18 year(s) or older
N/A
A151216-Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial (Alchemist)
Purpose of study is to examine lung cancer patients' surgically removed tumors for certain genetic changes and to possibly refer these patients to a treatment study with drugs that may specifically these tumors.
Michelle Eschbach at meschbach@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 610-378-2336
All
18 year(s) or older
NCT02194738
Cancer