Search Results
Understanding Prenatal Hydration Behaviors
To examine women’s self-reported pregnancy hydration behaviors, especially during a global pandemic. This study will also examine other lifestyle behaviors (e.g., weight gain, exercise, eating behaviors, sleep, pain management). It is hypothesized that hydration behaviors will decrease due to lifestyle changes related to the pandemic. Secondary outcomes will also be influenced by hydration behaviors and pandemic lifestyle changes.
Women
18-45
English speaking
Men
Younger than 18
Non-English speaking
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.
You are willing to share several of your past Uber/Lyft trip records in the app with us.
Skin pathophysiology of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
The purpose of this research study is to collect skin samples from volunteers with HS and volunteers with healthy skin. The collected skin samples will be processed and compared to each other to see if there are specific differences in the skin between the HS volunteer group and the healthy skin volunteer group.
Participants will need to come to a one-time, in-person visit where biopsies (small skin samples) will be collected.- For participants with HS: Up to 4 biopsies will be collected - For participants with healthy skin: Up to 2 biopsies will be collected
HS lesions present in the armpits and/or groin
Certain medications are not allowed in this study- the study team will provide details
Inflammatory, Behavioral and Neural Markers of Anhedonia in Major Depressive Disorder
The purpose of this study is to investigate the underlying biological causes of the loss of pleasure in individuals diagnosed with depression. This study will examine brain, behavioral, and inflammatory markers of depression. Participants will answer questions, give blood and saliva, undergo fMRI and perform computer tasks. The study is also recruiting healthy controls with no history of major mental illnesses.Participants will be compensated $130 in total. To limit time in-person, the first portion of the study will be conducted remotely (1.5hrs), followed by an in-person appointment (3hrs). Mandatory COVID-19 precautions will be taken to ensure safety for the in-person appointment.
There will be one virtual visit where participants will review consent, answer questions about their mental health, and complete online questionnaires. There will also be one in-person visit where blood will be drawn, vitals (blood pressure, height, weight, and pulse) will be taken, participants will undergo an fMRI scan and complete computer tasks, and saliva samples will be collected at 3 time points.
$130
Failed two lines of anti depressant treatment
Between 18-65 years of age
Bipolar Disorder or Psychotic Disorder
Heavy alcohol or recreational drug use
Inflammatory disease like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis
A multisensory evoked potential brain-computer interface for communication in ALS
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device that has the potential to restore communication by direct translation of brain signals. The BCI used in this study, the P300 Speller, relies on the generation of a P300 evoked potential when a user is presented a rare and unpredictable target stimulus amidst a larger pool of non-target stimuli. This evoked potential is used to perform selections on the computer. Those with advanced ALS demonstrate decreased capacity for BCI control using the P300 speller. With this study, we aim to use a combination of eye tracking and sensory testing to quantify sensory and cognitive processes necessary for the generation of a P300 response. We will test the performance of a multisensory P300 spelling task, where brain potentials are evoked using a combination of visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. The goal is to demonstrate the perceptual benefits of multisensory integration and generate evidence for its use in this patient group.
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device that has the potential to restore communication by direct translation of brain signals. The BCI used in this study, the P300 Speller, relies on the generation of a P300 evoked potential when a user is presented a rare and unpredictable target stimulus amidst a larger pool of non-target stimuli. This evoked potential is used to perform selections on the computer.With this study, we aim to use a combination of eye tracking and sensory testing to quantify sensory and cognitive processes necessary for the generation of a P300 response. We will test the performance of a multisensory P300 spelling task, where brain potentials are evoked using a combination of visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli.
$40
Fluent in written and spoken English.
Able to visit the study site in-person for the study visits
(Patient Group Only) - Diagnosis of motor neuron disease, including ALS.
(Control Group Only) Neurologically healthy individuals matching the age, gender, and education level of the patient cohort.
History of seizure disorder
Co-existing neurological or psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the research team, exclude the subject from participation.
Emotion in Motion: Behavior and Mental State Analysis on Human Visual Data
The main purpose of the proposed study is to examine the relationship between emotional body expression and internal emotional and psychophysiological processes among individuals with mental disorders in social interaction situations.
In this study, participants will be asked to answer structured questions. After this, participants will be asked to engage in emotional induction tasks, communicate with another person, and walk. During the interview and experimental procedures, your motion will be video recorded.
40
Fluent in English
Able to walk at a leisurely pace on a treadmill without assistance
Not fluent in English
Unable to walk at a leisurely pace on a treadmill without assistance
Experiencing cognitive impairments
Evaluation of calf muscle size and structure after an Achilles tendon rupture
The objective of this study is to compare to different methods of measuring the size of calf muscles: magnetic resonance (MRI) and ultrasound imaging. Participant will undergo a MRI scan (about 1 hour) and an ultrasound imaging session (about 1 hour). Images obtained from patients with Achilles tendon rupture will also be used to determine the feasibility of quantifying damage to the soleus muscle.
After you accept participating demographic questions will be asked. You will also be asked standard MRI safety/screening questions. These questions are used to determine that it is safe for you to participate in MRI research. You will be asked to leave metal objects and personal belongings and to remove any articles of clothing with metal before entering the MRI room. Please ask the experimenter if you are unsure about any items. If it is safe, an MRI will be performed on your leg. Additionally, several images will be taken from your leg using ultrasound. The ultrasound and MRI sessions can be performed the same day or in different days depending on your preference. Depending on scheduling constraints at the MRI facility, you may be scheduled for the ultrasound session first.
You will receive $25 after completing the MRI and $25 after completing the ultrasound imaging sessions.
Previous Achilles injury (only for healthy individuals)
Respect and Satisfaction in Same-Sex Romantic Relationships
The purpose of this study is to expand on previous research looking at respect and relationship satisfaction among heterosexual relationships and compare it to that of same-sex relationships to find where they are similar or different. Participants will complete self-report measures regarding their romantic relationships, including respect toward partner, satisfaction, and attitudes toward love. 30 minutes will be required for the study.
Understanding Information Needs and Challenges faced by International Spouses during Adjustment
The study examines ways in which technology can be designed to provide support and services to international spouses during their adjustment to a new host environment. In particular, we would like to investigate the needs of spouse’s communities, the challenges faced by this population during adjustment, and propose design implications for developing systems and services to improve their access to social services and to promote community development and civic engagement.
Individuals who hold a dependent (F-2/J-2) visa status
Age under 18
Non-dependents (F-2/J-2) visa status
Anyone who cannot consent to participate in this study
Audio-based mental health intervention study
This study tests the effect of an audio-based mental health intervention for symptoms of depression. Participants will be asked to listen to an audio program and perform exercises to support their mental health as suggested by the program. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their depression and related mental health symptoms at pre-intervention, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up.
The study takes place over five total weeks, with four survey sessions (the first two of which are live on Zoom), and two weeks of brief daily surveys. Detailed information is below.For the first day, participants would be asked to complete Visit 1, which involves an interview, listening to a mental health audio program, and completing surveys. One week later, participants would be asked to complete Visit 2, which involves listening to another mental health audio program and completing surveys. One week after that, participants would be asked to complete Visit 3, which involves completing surveys. Three weeks after that, participants would be asked to complete Visit 4, which involves completing surveys. For the week following Visits 1 and 2, participants would also be asked to complete daily surveys.
Up to $40
Moderate or higher depression symptoms as indicated by survey and interview
Score below moderate depression symptom range in survey and/or interview
Angiotensin-(1-7) Cardiovascular Effects in Aging
We will investigate the effects of acute intravenous infusion of the hormone, angiotensin-(1-7), on cardiovascular function in healthy older adults in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
Participation in this study will include three separate visits to the Clinical Research Center within the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Participants will first have a screening visit to determine if they are able to participate in this study. If eligible based on the screening visit, they will participate in two study visits separated by at least one week. At each study visit, they will be infused with doses of a placebo or angiotensin-(1-7) for about two hours. Before and at the end of the infusion, we will measure blood pressure and blood flow, nerve activity with an acupuncture-type needle in your leg, and collect blood samples from a small plastic tube (catheter) placed in the arm. Cells will also be collected from inside the vein using the catheter if the participant is willing.The study visits will include intravenous infusion of angiotensin-(1-7) or saline for approximately two hours, starting with increasing doses and holding at a steady-state dose. Endothelial function will be measured and blood samples and endothelial cells (if willing) will be collected at baseline and at the end of infusions. Blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity via microneurography will be measured throughout the study.
$25 per hour; additional $25 per study visit for cell collection
Body Mass Index between 18.5-30 kg/m2
Blood pressure less than 130/80 without medication
No serious chronic medical problems
Fluent in written and spoken English
History of cardiovascular, liver, or kidney disease
Taking certain medications (such as SNRIs, NET inhibitors, anticoagulants, glucocorticoids)
Women who are pregnant, nursing, or taking hormone replacement therapy
Evidence of diabetes
Social Media Usage Effect on Symptomatology for Those with Obsessive-Compulsive
This study seeks to explore how social media use may result in increased severity of compulsions and/or obsessions in those with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will complete questionnaires, digital sleep and social media journals.
social media user
Individuals who display symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (self-reported)
Has unlimited access to device for social media
Non-English speakers
Digital tools for assessment of motor functions and falls in ALS
This is a 48-week, two arm study that incorporates digital tools for assessing motor function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and healthy controls.During the study, neck- and wrist-worn “activity sensors” (PAMSys, BioSensics, Newton, MA) will be worn by subjects while performing tasks of daily living. Subjects will also complete a motor, speech, and handwriting assessment during site visits. They will complete a digital home assessments of speech, handwriting, and pattern tracing tasks throughout the study, and report any falls which occur on the study tablet. We will explore whether sensor-based functional changes are sensitive to self-reported changes over the length of the study.
During the study, neck- and wrist-worn “activity sensors” (PAMSys, BioSensics, Newton, MA) will be worn by subjects while performing tasks of daily living. Subjects will also complete a motor, speech, and handwriting assessment during site visits. They will complete a digital home assessments of speech, handwriting, and pattern tracing tasks throughout the study, and report any falls which occur on the study tablet.Subjects will be required to visit the study site around the time of 5 consecutive standard ALS clinic appointments.The research study will last approximately 48 weeks.
$240
18 years of age or older
Walking with or without mobility support (such as a cane or walker)
Fluent in written and spoken English
Pregnant or nursing woman
Prisoner or institutionalized individuals
Have any clinically relevant medical history of other disease or diseases that, in the opinion of the research team, exclude the subject from participation (including severe cognitive dysfunction).
School Choice: Factors in Making a Choice and the Impact of Economics
The purpose of this study is to communicate with decision makers (parents and guardians) to identify the processes and considerations used when seeking and determining information relative to school choice. This study will examine those factors and see if there is equality among socio economic groups.
guardian
child in elementary / middle school
live in or around a low income community
not a parent or guardian
Analyzing Student Newspaper Political Coverage
This study involves a content analysis of student newspaper political articles, as well as a survey of student journalists regarding their views about how politics are reported in student media.
Involvement on student newspaper
Involvement with other student media
The Role of Prediction in Understanding Spoken Language
In this study, we are studying how listeners use information in spoken language to anticipate upcoming information. We study this in typical listening conditions (e.g., when others are speaking simultaneously).
In a single visit lasting between 60 ~ 90 minutes, you will be asked to listen to speech played over headphones and verify/click on the pictures on the screen if they are mentioned. While you do so, your gaze behavior will be tracked. At the end, we will ask you questions about your general language history and complete answer some simple questions about words and sentences.
18
Working Knowledge of English
No History of Language or Speech Disorders
History of Language or Speech Disorders
Collective Punishment and Identity Fusion: An Examination
This study, part of a broader dissertation on terrorism and radicalization, aims to experimentally determine how collective punishment fuses individual identities to that of an ingroup, expanding extant knowledge of identity fusion theory.
Identification as Republican or Democratic
English Speaker
Political identification as independent (not republican or democrat)
Non-English Speakers
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?
English speaking individuals
non english-speaking individuals
Testing a Biosocial Model of Borderline Personality Features in Youth
In this study, we hope to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying risk for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in adolescent girls. BPD is a condition that is usually found in adults. However, it may be possible to identify risk for the disorder before adulthood. Understanding who is at risk for BPD early in development is important in order to develop preventative interventions.
There will be a total of three visits - one main visit and two follow-ups. Participants will be completing questionnaires, participating in a parent-child observation task, and children will be doing an EEG assessment during the first visit. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and participate in a parent-child observation task during the follow-up visits.
$100
Girls
With or without a current or past history of mental health disorder
Fluent in English
Diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g., Autism, Asperger's) , or any psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
Males
Not fluent in English
GLNE 007 Evaluation of Stool Based Markers for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancers and Adenomas
The purpose of this study is to see if stool or blood can be used to determine whether or not a patient has any colon polyps or colon cancer. This study will compare these biological samples (blood, urine, stool) to any colonoscopy or surgery a patient has to see if the outcome could be predicted.
Subjects with Colon Cancer or Adenoma
OR subjects undergoing colonoscopy screening
HIV/Hepatitis
Have had or are receiving chemotherapy or radiation
Have had surgery for your colon cancer
Cognitive Impairment
NSF Proposal 2000047: Understanding the contribution of individual differences todomain-general and domain-specific components of false memories in both young and older adults
This research study investigates the neural processes underlying how people process, store, and remember visual or auditory information.
There will be two in person visits completing tasks on a computer and some verbal tasks.
$10.00/hour for behavioral tasks, $20.00/hour for fMRI scanner tasks.
Ages 60-85
High school education
Trust in Realistic Situations
We are exploring how a robot's competence, benevolence and integrity influence one's decision to rely on a robot and accept its guidance. We're also exploring different ways to interact with robot using virtual reality and in person experimentation.
Able to complete the consent form
Able to see
Individuals that have uncorrected seeing difficulties that would prevent them from being able to complete the survey will be excluded
Remote testing for psychophysical studies of sensory perception and cognition
The purpose of this study is (1) to understand how the brain processes sensory information and (2) how this is affected by factors like blindness or synesthesia.
Participants will complete simple online tasks, for example judging differences in auditory pitch; processing visual and auditory stimuli in congruent and incongruent pairings; rating the sound-symbolic properties of either real words, pseudowords, or both; or discriminating between two stimuli on the basis of their structural properties over a change in their surface properties, and vice versa.
Amount varies depending on the study
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
No other sensory deficits
Adults who experience synesthesia
Saliva microRNA signatures in infants with wheezing associated respiratory illness
Wheezing is a common symptom of respiratory distress in infants and children. Infants who wheeze are at increased risk of being diagnosed with asthma, the most common chronic disease of childhood. This study aims to yield an objective measure of asthma risk using molecular markers obtained from saliva. Saliva miRNA (markers used in this study) levels will be measured using HiSeq technology. Refinement and validation of this measure in future large-scale studies could allow clinicians to accurately predict for families an infant’s risk of asthma and optimize medical management to prevent future hospitalizations.
If your child has a respiratory illness you will be asked to provide a saliva sample at one clinic visit. Six months after the initial encounter, you will be asked to do complete surveys designed to be done remotely at home.
$20.00
Presence of respiratory illness symptoms (cough, congestion, shortness of breath, runny nose)
Concurrent pneumonia (bacterial lung infection) at the time of enrollment
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Concurrent bacterial infection requiring antibiotics (e.g. otitis media)
Spoken communication in people with ALS
This is a zoom-based research study on how people with ALS can improve verbal communication. In this study, you will first be asked to complete a hearing test and a short demographic questionnaire. After that, you will do one of two tasks depending on the condition you are assigned to. In one of the tasks, you would listen to recorded speech and indicate what the person in the recording said. In the other condition, you would play an interactive game with another participant. In the second condition, you would be interacting via Zoom to complete a task together and your speech will be recorded.
Interact with a person with speech impairment on Zoom to complete tasks.
$10
have good hearing
between 18 and 90 years of age
No identified speech, language, learning or cognitive disorders
Not good hearing
under 18 or over 90 years of age
have identified speech, language, learning or cognitive disorder
Central Pennsylvania Rural Birth Cohort
This study is being conducted to understand what strategies are most successful: 1) in building and retaining a cohort of families from rural communities in Central Pennsylvania with recruitment beginning in pregnancy, infant/toddler age, and preschool age using a cohort sequential design; 2) for collecting clinical and semi-invasive, remote-based biobehavioral measurements to better characterize synergistic factors associated with obesity and substance use in this high risk population; and 3) for identifying points for future intervention, treatment, prevention, and policy efforts to reduce health disparities in maternal-child morbidity and promote positive family processes.
Cohort 1 (Pregnancy Cohort) will follow the assessment schedule as described below:Visit 1 will occur around 16-weeks gestation. You will complete online surveys. The surveys should take 1 hour or less.. Visit 2 will occur around 32-weeks gestation. You will complete online surveys, and a semi-structured health behaviors interview via Zoom. You may also be asked to collect hair and/or nail samples. The visit should take 2 hours or less. Visit 3 will occur around 6 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys. The surveys should take 1 hour or less. Visit 4 will occur around 12 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys and a parent-child interaction observation (one session). This visit should take 1 hour or less.Cohort 2 (12 month old child Cohort) will follow the assessment schedule as described below:Visit 1 will occur around 12 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys, and a parent-child interaction observation (one session). You may also be asked to provide hair and/or nail samples. This visit should take 2 hours or less. Visit 2 will occur around 24 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys. This visit should take 1 hour or less.Cohort 3 (24 month old child Cohort) will follow the assessment schedule as described below:Visit 1 will occur around 24 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys. You may also be asked to provide hair and/or nail samples. This visit should take 1 hour or less.Visit 2 will occur around 36 months post-delivery. You will complete online surveys. This visit should take 1 hour or less.All electronic health record data will be extracted at the end of study participation.
$100-200
Over the age of 18
Families with toddlers that are either 12 or 36 months of age
Live in rural Pennsylvania
Have smartphone/wifi access
Pregnant person or parents under age of 18
Families without toddlers that are either 12 or 36 months of age or a multiple (twin, triple, etc.)
Live outside of rural Pennsylvania
Do not have smartphone/wifi access
COVID-19: Implications for Family Meals
The purpose of this study is to gather information about family meals, what they look like, and how they have changed over time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will complete a confidential online survey last approximately 10-15 minutes.
Adults who live in a household with a child under the age of 18
Adult who are fluent in English
Individuals who can read and respond to written closed and open-ended survey questions electronically
Individuals who live in the United States
Individuals who do not reside in a household with a child under the age of 18
Individuals who are not fluent in English
Individuals with poor reading comprehension or are otherwise limited in their ability to read and respond to survey questions.
Individuals who do not currently live in the United States
Tongue movement in adults with motor speech disorder
Tongue movement in adults with motor speech disorder
have normal hearing
between 18 and 40 years of age
have no known speech, language, learning or neurological disorders
have very little experience in communicating with people that have motor speech disorders
Not a speaker of American English only
With hearing impairment
have neurologic and/or speech/language disorders
have extensive experience in communicating with people that have motor speech disorders
Investigating the emotional and behavioral response in humans playing games against a humanoid robot
We would like to study the emotional and behavioral response of a human playing games against a robot. Games such as Connect Four and card games will be used.
Physically and mentally able
Basic proficiency of english
Unwilling to have video footage of the experiment taken
Observations of Family Mealtime Routines
The purpose of this study is to gather information about what family mealtimes look like for families with children between the ages of 3 and 8. Families will be asked to video record their family mealtime, in addition to answer some questions and to complete some questionnaires, some about body image and dieting.
On one occasion, your family's mealtime will be recorded via Zoom. You and your family will be asked some questions and to complete some questionnaires online.
$20
Adults age 18 and older
Children, ages 3-8
Individuals fluent in English
Caregivers who are under the age of 18
Individuals who are not fluent in English
Families without at least one child age 3 to 8