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Books: Delusion, guilt and misplaced loyalty in Philippe Sands’ examination of the Nazi past

The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive




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Six students earn recognition as Bellisario College student marshals

Six accomplished seniors will celebrate the culmination of their collegiate involvement and success by representing the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications as student marshals for the Class of 2020.




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Ten student teams compete for $25,000 prize pool in the Nittany AI Challenge

Ten student teams will be funded to use AI for Good to build and submit a minimum viable product in the Nittany AI Challenge for a chance to compete for a portion of a $25,000 prize pool. Students were invited to submit their ideas to improve the world by providing solutions for problems within the areas of education, health, humanitarian challenges, sustainability and climate change.




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Do privacy controls lead to more trust in Alexa? Not necessarily, research finds

Giving users of smart assistants the option to adjust settings for privacy or content delivery, or both, doesn’t necessarily increase their trust in the platform, according to a team of Penn State researchers. In fact, for some users, it could have an unfavorable effect.




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Student submits entry for 'Get Out the Count' video challenge

A rising Penn State senior has submitted a video to a national contest promoting the 2020 Census, which includes several other Penn State students and University President Eric Barron.




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Communications alumnus' latest thriller focuses on college admissions scandal

Penn State alumnus and author Paul Levine's latest novel, "Cheater's Game," focuses on the college admissions scandal.




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Privacy worries prevent use of social media account for signing up for apps

People find it convenient to use Facebook or other social media accounts to sign up for most new apps and services, but they prefer to use their e-mail address or open a new account if they feel the information in the app is too sensitive, according to a team of researchers.




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Web of psychological cues may tempt people to reveal more online

In a study published in the latest Proceedings of Computer-Human Interaction, a team of Penn State researchers identified a dozen subtle — but powerful — reasons that may shed light on why people talk a good game about privacy, but fail to follow up in real life.




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Two student journalists among placewinners in Keystone Media Awards

Entries from two Penn State students were among winners in categories for professional television journalists as part of the Keystone Media Awards.




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Inaugural fellows reflect on experiences

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ Graduate Fellows for Science Advocacy and Diversity (EMS-GFSAD) program is wrapping up its inaugural year and has already had an impact in promoting a diverse and inclusive scientific community.




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Mann elected to National Academy of Sciences

Michael Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences and director of Penn State's Earth System Science Center at Penn State, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, recognizing distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership in the NAS is one of the highest honors given to a scientist or engineer in the United States.




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EESI EarthTalks panel to focus on energy education in post-pandemic world

Susan Brantley, director of the Earth and Environmental System Institute, and Lee Kump, John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, will lead a panel discussion on the future of energy education at 4 p.m. Monday, May 18, via Zoom.




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Challenge met: Geography department transitions to remote teaching and learning

Within days of the University's shift to remote learning, faculty, instructors and teaching assistants in the Department of Geography moved 35 resident instruction courses into remote delivery mode to teach 1,947 students.




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Materials science graduate student earns award for outreach efforts

Tom Nigl, doctoral candidate in materials science and engineering (MatSE), was awarded the Intercollege Graduate Student Outreach Achievement Award from the Graduate School for outreach efforts that promote science within society.




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Does Two-Factor Authentication Really Make You Safer?

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is becoming increasingly common, but one reader points out that it seems easy to get around its protection. Is he right? Security expert Max Eddy takes a look.




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The Real Reason I Don't Have a Security Camera

Security expert Max Eddy doesn't want creepers spying on him (or his dog) through insecure hardware, but that's not why he doesn't have internet-connected cameras in his home.




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US Attorney General William Barr Has Encryption All Wrong

Attorney General William Barr has a completely wrong-headed take on encryption, and he's not the only one. Adding backdoors to secure services is a terrible idea, despite its popularity with law enforcement.




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Two dedicated COVID-19 clinics available through Penn State Health Medical Group

Penn State Health has opened two regional clinics to care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 who have health care needs that are serious enough to warrant a face-to-face appointment.




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Eight Penn State Health doctors named to 'Top Physicians Under 40' list

Eight Penn State Health doctors have been named among the Pennsylvania Medical Society's "Top Physicians Under 40."




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Penn State Health partners with food banks to feed patients in need

When a patient comes through the Penn State Hershey Medical Center drive-through COVID-19 testing site, they're asked if they are worried about running out of food during isolation. If they say yes, they drive away with a box full of 25 meals.




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Health care workers at St. Joseph battle the COVID-19 pandemic

Penn State Health St. Joseph has moved swiftly to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, converting portions of its hospital as COVID-19 clinics, applying tried-and-true methods and learning on the fly.




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We are family: COVID-19 brings Hershey Medical Center front-line staff together

The staff of Hershey Medical Center is one of only several academic hospitals in the country with specialized infrastructure and and training geared around offering care during a contagion outbreak. But they have another advantage, too. “We are all a family,” says one doctor. “And we look out for one another.”




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College of Medicine celebrates student achievements virtually

The spring season at Penn State College of Medicine is packed full of research presentations, awards and ceremonies. Since experts cannot predict when social distancing guidelines will be relaxed, College of Medicine leaders plan on celebrating many of these springtime celebrations virtually — including commencement.




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St. Joseph begins convalescent plasma therapy with COVID-19 patients

St. Joseph Medical Center has begun using an experimental treatment program called convalescent plasma therapy with a growing number of its COVID-19 positive patients.




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The Medical Minute: Heightened risk of child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic

Reports of suspected child abuse have declined in Pennsylvania since the onset of social distancing guidelines. But experts in the Penn State Center for the Protection of Children say this does not correlate with an actual decline in abuse cases.




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Microsoft Closes Ebook Store, Will Refund All Purchases

The books category has disappeared from the Microsoft Store and you'll no longer be able to access purchased or rented ebooks from July. Expect a full refund, though.




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Deals: Dell Inspiron 15 5000, iPad Pro, Hyundai Sapphire 480GB SSD

Today there are discounts on the Dell Insprion 15 5000 laptop, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a few SSD and HDD storage devices, the second-generation AirPods, and more.




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4 J.D. Salinger Books Are Available as E-Books for the First Time

Despite J.D. Salinger's distaste for technology, his published work is coming to e-readers later this week. His son, Matt Salinger, is responsible for the push to get his father's work in front of young readers.




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Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle is $60 Off Right Now

Get the latest Kindle Paperwhite plus a leather cover and power adapter for just $129.97. That's less than the cost of the Paperwhite on its own.




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NYPD arrested more people of color for social distancing and other charges: Data

The Brooklyn District Attorney released data to show the disparities in arrests. The NYPD released data to show the demographics of summonses.




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Biden to scale up campaign as anxiety grows ahead of general election

Former Vice President Joe Biden has approved a series of new hires that will significantly expand his campaign ahead of the general election fight with President Trump.




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Court halts ban on mass gatherings at Kentucky churches

The ruling clears the way for Sunday church services in Kentucky.




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Blast of arctic air grips eastern half of US, record lows possible

Snow and record cold are in the forecast for New York City and the Northeast Saturday.




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Odd but stellar undergrad research project vital to student’s education, future

When Kaylee Kishbaugh arrived at Penn State four years ago, she didn’t even know what prosciutto was, let alone that it could be made from duck. But now, looking back over her undergraduate experience and looking ahead to her career, she realizes the odd meat product was pivotal for her.




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Smeal spring 2020 finance marshal excels even with student-athlete demands

Siena Salvaggio, who will graduate Saturday with a 4.0 GPA in finance and a minor in economics, has been named Smeal’s spring 2020 finance student marshal.




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Global Programs honors faculty, staff and students

Global Programs has announced the 2020 recipients of annual awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and academic programs at Penn State who have helped to advance the University’s global engagement goals.




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Smeal spring 2020 accounting marshal's freshman course inspired choice of major

Cecelia Minnick, who will graduate this Saturday with a 3.98 GPA in accounting and minors in information systems management and legal environment of business, has been selected as Smeal’s spring 2020 accounting student marshal.




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Librarian at Penn State Harrisburg elected to third term leading national group

Bernadette Lear, Penn State University Libraries behavioral sciences and education librarian and coordinator of library instruction at the Penn State Harrisburg Library, has been elected vice chair/chair elect of the Library History Round Table, a membership group of the American Library Association.




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Schuylkill Speaks: Senior Bria Nickerson has heart and mind for criminal justice

Bria Nickerson turned her love of true crime television into a passion for criminal justice. During her time at Penn State Schuylkill, this administration of justice major has distinguished herself in the classroom and as a campus leader, earning her this year's Student Life Chancellor's Award for Student Leadership for contributions to the improvement and advancement of campus life.




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How Digital Games Take the Stress Out of Formative Tests

Elementary school teachers in the Peach State are using "game-based" formative assessments to take a pulse on their students' learning.




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Students With Disabilities Fear Fallout From College Admissions Scandal

Allegations that some students lied about having disabilities so they could get special accommodations on college entrance exams have the disabilities community worried about a backlash.




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Is PISA a Victim of Its Own Success? IES Head Calls for Change

The U.S. Department of Education sees two specific challenges potentially undermining the quality of the international assessment program, writes Mark Schneider.




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The Five Big Challenges Ahead for Advanced Placement

AP has managed to dodge the partisan pitfalls that have felled other ambitious curricular efforts—so far, write Chester E. Finn Jr. and Andrew E. Scanlan.




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It's Official: All States Have Been Excused From Statewide Testing This Year

Within three weeks, a pandemic has completely changed the national landscape on testing. The U.S. Department of Education has now excused all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the requirement that they test all their students in math and English/language arts.




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Holocaust Education Initiative releases first set of free instructional material

To help teachers remotely engage their students during the coronavirus crisis, Penn State’s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative has released its first set of free learning resources.




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COVID-19 online roundtable to examine disease’s impact on international affairs

The Coronavirus and International Affairs Roundtable, taking place 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 17, via Zoom, will bring together experts in law and international affairs from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the Caribbean to discuss the broader impact of COVID-19.




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Virtual speaker series in May to focus on impact of COVID-19

The Penn State Law, Policy and Engineering initiative is hosting a virtual speaker series — titled, “Technology, Policy and Law during COVID-19” — that will consist of six sessions throughout the month of May.




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Penn State Law librarian elected 2021 chair of national law library organization

Rebecca Mattson, head of faculty and research services for the H. Laddie Montague Jr. Law Library, Penn State University Libraries, and professor of legal research at Penn State Law at University Park, has been elected vice chair/chair elect of the Research Instruction and Patron Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries.




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Penn State Law professor authors immigration chapter in COVID-19 legal textbook

Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar and Clinical Professor of Law at Penn State Law in University Park, has written a chapter on immigration law in a new legal textbook covering issues surrounding the current global COVID-19 pandemic, published by Columbia Law School.




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Penn State Altoona's visual art studies seniors showcase work online

Visual Art Studies program seniors Andrea Regalbuto and Gary Weyandt are showcasing their respective exhibitions “Flap/Flutter” and “MEDIAted” online via websites, Instagram, and virtual exhibits.