LOW MELATONIN MAY EXPLAIN POOR POSTOPERATIVE SLEEP
Research from the College of Medicine shows that levels of melatonin in patients the night after surgery are significantly lower than normal levels. "These low levels may indicate why a patient has difficulty sleeping after surgery," explains Arthur J. Cronin, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology. Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain. Each day as evening comes, the pineal gland goes to work, releasing into the bloodstream increasing amounts of melatonin, peaking between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Although melatonin’s effects aren’t well understood, the hormone may play a role in many body processes. "We found that melatonin levels were very low the night after surgery. But by the third night the levels were normal," reports Cronin. This new finding raises the hope that melatonin replacement may prevent these sleep disturbances. "If we can artificially increase melatonin levels for the first night, we might improve patients’ sleep after surgery," suggests Cronin. For more on this story, go to http://www.hmc.psu.edu/news/pr/oct/102400.htm. 

APPRAISAL ESTIMATES UNDERSTATE ACTUAL SELLING PRICES
Appraisal estimates understate actual selling prices, according to Karl A. Muller, III, assistant professor of accounting, who recently completed a study on the reliability of mandatory annual fair value estimates for UK investment properties that will appear in a forthcoming issue of The Journal of Accounting and Economics. He and his co-author found that appraisal estimates understate actual selling prices and are considerably less biased and more accurate measures of selling price than respective historical costs. For more, go to http://www.smeal.psu.edu. 

THE PEACE TREE TO SHINE AT HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER
For the 12th consecutive year, the Association of Faculty and Friends (AFF) of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is sponsoring "The Peace Tree" in memory or in honor of a loved one. Each light on the large evergreen tree, located in front of the main entrance of the medical center, represents a gift of love from a donor. The tree will remain lighted each night throughout the holiday season. The 12th annual tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, December 2, at 4 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. For more, go to http://www.hmc.psu.edu. 

KILDUFF NAMED ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF BRITISH JOURNAL
The British Journal of Management has appointed Martin J. Kilduff, professor of Organizational Behavior and Ph.D. advisor in the Department of Management and Organization, as associate editor of the publication. The British Journal of Management publishes articles from the full range of business and management disciplines. It is the official journal of the British Academy of Management. Kilduff’s areas of research are primarily focused on social networks and critical theory. 

ELDERHOSTEL PROGRAMS ON WEB AND BRIDGE COMING UP
-- ELDERNETTING IN COMFORT, JAN. 21-26

"Eldernetting in Comfort: Plug into the Internet Community" will run Sunday-Friday, January 21—26, 2001, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College. Participants can explore the basics of using the World Wide Web (including search engines, chat rooms, and Web shopping), the how-tos of creating personal Web pages, and the fundamentals of using e-mail as a communication tool.

-- BRIDGE AND BRAIN AEROBICS, MARCH 25-30
The Elderhostel program also presents the "Bridge and Brain Aerobics Workshop" from Sunday-Friday, March 25—30, 2001 at the Days Inn Penn State in State College. The program includes five days of bridge with lessons for beginner through intermediate players tailored to skill level and interest with practice playing time. Topics include bidding, play of the hand, conventions in vogue, competitive bidding, and defensive play.

Contact Nancy McCord at (814) 863-1738 for more information and special commuter rates. To register, call toll free at (877) 426-8056 or go to http://www.elderhostel.org.