Javad Lavaei, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University, has received a $400,000 NSF CAREER Award to develop high-performance optimization methods for power systems. His research aims to improve the design, modernization, and operation of smart grids, reducing electricity costs, power outages, and gas emissions.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that stronger adolescents and teens have significantly lower risks of heart disease and diabetes. The research suggests that muscle strength may play an equally important role in cardiometabolic health in children, particularly in those with higher strength-to-body-mass ratios.
A University of Huddersfield report recommends telephonic support as a key component of the new Health and Work Service, aiming to reduce sickness absence. The service will provide specialist advice to people off work for over four weeks, using trained advisers to assess needs and allocate appropriate care.
A study published in Legal and Criminological Psychology found that law students perceive child victims as more credible when expressing emotions. The researchers emphasize the importance of considering the credibility of a child's testimony without being influenced by stereotypes or emotional reactions.
Bariatric surgery patients report better quality of life, reduced need for cardiovascular medications, and improved blood sugar control without insulin or most diabetic medications. The STAMPEDE trial shows gastric bypass surgery is more effective than medical therapy in treating type 2 diabetes in obese patients.
A global study reveals that E. coli clone ST131 originated from a single ancestor prior to 2000 and has spread rapidly due to genetic exchange with other bacteria. The research provides insights into the development of effective screening and vaccination strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.
A significant solar flare was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on March 29, 2014, peaking at an X1.1-class intensity. The event disturbed the atmosphere in layers where GPS and communications signals travel.
A new study highlights the need for clear information on managing contaminants in urban soils to protect consumers and gardeners. Researchers found that gardeners generally recognize the importance of knowing a site's prior uses but lack expertise to determine accurately potential contaminants.
The USC Viterbi team created a low-cost silicon anode that offers high electrode performance for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. They also developed a method to coat sulfur powder with graphene oxide, improving the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries.
Flowering plants adapt their scent signals to balance attraction of pollinators with protection from herbivore damage. Research shows that infested plants reduce floral scent to lure parasitic wasps, which are then attracted by leaf scents. This complex interaction highlights the trade-offs in plant defense strategies.
Acoustic metadevices enable the dynamic alteration of three-dimensional colloidal crystals' geometry in real-time. Researchers have developed reconfigurable metamaterials with potential applications in optics and acoustics, such as beam deflectors and acoustic barriers.
Adolescent girls are more sensitive to untrustworthy faces due to a weaker limbic system connection with the rest of the brain. This leads to heightened responses and a greater disconnection from brain regions involved in regulating responses.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario found that rural youth are more prone to concussions caused by motorized vehicle accidents, while urban youth tend to suffer from sports-related injuries. The study highlights the need for targeted injury prevention programs and education on concussion protocols in various settings.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced 22 new Centres for Doctoral Training to further boost postgraduate training in key engineering and scientific fields. The new Centres will receive £106 million investment from research councils, universities, and industry partners.
Researchers have discovered an experimental anticancer compound that reverses schizophrenia-like behaviors and restores brain cell function in adolescent mice with a rodent version of the devastating mental illness. The compound, FRAX486, works by halting an out-of-control biological pruning process in the schizophrenic brain.
Scientists discover six new Dracula ants species in Madagascar that challenge the traditional ant caste system. The study reveals that minor workers become queens, revolutionizing our understanding of ant biology.
Researchers from Aarhus University and Lund University found that nutrients from land are the main cause of widespread oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea. The areas affected have increased drastically over the past century, harming marine life and ecosystem balance.
Researchers analyze baker's yeast to uncover key features in cellular development linked to diseases such as Parkinson's and cancer. The study reveals a precise cellular role for DJ-1 family proteins, which may provide new insight into mechanisms contributing to these conditions.
A UIC chemistry professor has been awarded a prestigious international sustainability grant to lead the US effort in developing novel catalytic methods. The project aims to replace rare metals with inexpensive and abundant metals, reducing environmental pollution and resource depletion.
A team of MIT researchers suggests that methane-producing archaea, specifically Methanosarcina, were responsible for the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. The microbe's explosive growth was fueled by a sudden increase in nickel, emitted by massive volcanic eruptions.
A new study found that certain genetic variants, such as ALDH2 and VCAM1, can predict bladder cancer recurrence in patients. These variants can help identify high-risk patients who require more frequent screenings and aggressive treatment, improving quality of life for all bladder cancer patients.
Researchers found high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and remnant lipoprotein (RLP) cholesterol levels are linked to CHD risk. HDL3 subfractions, not traditional HDL cholesterol, were more predictive in assessing and reducing CHD risk.
A recent study found that DKA rates among US youth with type 1 diabetes remained unchanged over the last 8 years, affecting nearly a third of all youth with the condition. The study also showed disproportionate rates among younger children, non-White racial/ethnic groups, and those without private health insurance.
A new UCL study found that consuming seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day significantly reduces the risk of death from any cause, cancer, and heart disease. The research also reveals that vegetables have a stronger protective effect than fruit, with each daily portion reducing overall risk of death by 16%.
The Jamaican iguana population has grown to over 200 individuals due to conservation efforts. However, a recent proposal to develop the Hellshire Hills area poses a significant threat to the species' survival.
A Yale University-led study finds that using more wood and less steel and concrete in building and bridge construction can reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption. Sustainable management of wood resources can achieve both goals while maintaining biodiversity and reducing fossil fuel burning.
The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) will provide accurate measurements of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, useful for warfighter applications. The launch improves space weather forecasting, enabling better prediction of signals transmitted or reflected, influencing radar and communication systems.
A recent study published in JAMA found that metformin treatment did not improve ventricular function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without diabetes. The study showed no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction between the metformin and placebo groups.
A new paper suggests that academia is slow to adopt social media, with most researchers failing to utilize widely available platforms. Despite efforts to increase access to research, the majority of university scholars resist using social media to disseminate their work and engage with students.
A study by Northeastern University and colleagues found that feelings of gratitude automatically reduce financial impatience. Participants who wrote about an event making them feel grateful showed more patience, particularly when considering larger future rewards.
Modjaz will observe host environments of stellar explosions to investigate which kinds of stars have exploded and why. Her research aims to determine the make-up of stellar progenitors that yield stripped envelope supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
A study found lower risks of heart attack, death, and procedures to re-open the artery in patients receiving drug-eluting stents followed by individualized blood-thinning medication. The results challenge existing guidelines for prolonged anti-platelet therapy after stent placement.
Scientists have discovered a molecule that can induce cell death (apoptosis) in dendritic cells, a key type of immune cell. This understanding may lead to new therapies that shut down dendritic cell activity and reduce an immune reaction.
Researchers found that individuals with high rates of future discounting showed significant reductions in substance use after treatment, suggesting that prioritizing instant gratification may be a hallmark of recovery. A simple cognitive test measuring present-moment bias could help personalize addiction treatments.
Researchers found that reducing blood pressure during surgery can increase the risk of brain damage due to reduced oxygen supply. The study advises a safer approach to hypotensive anesthesia to minimize risk while maintaining effective surgery.
The meta-analysis found that ACEIs reduce the risk of death from all causes by 13%, cut the risk of CV deaths by 17%, and lower the risk of major CV events by 14%. In contrast, ARBs did not affect all-cause mortality, CV death rate, or major CV events in patients with diabetes.
The POISE-2 trial found that clonidine increased rates of clinically concerning hypotension and non-fatal cardiac arrest in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The study showed higher risks from clonidine without counterbalancing benefits, contradicting earlier findings that suggested it would improve outcomes.
The Kessler Foundation will lead a new MS Collaborative Network of New Jersey, focusing on cognitive-motor interactions in MS. The network aims to design and conduct novel studies and expand professional training to improve treatment options for people with MS.
A team of researchers has won a $779,000 grant to develop a new way to rehabilitate deteriorating reinforced concrete structures using shape memory alloys. The approach aims to confine the structure all the time, preventing damage and improving strength.
A head-to-head study favors balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves for treating aortic stenosis, with a success rate of 95.9% compared to 77.5% for self-expanding valves. Patients receiving balloon-expandable valves also reported improved symptoms at a rate of 94.3%.
Researchers successfully used CRISPR gene-editing to correct a defective gene in adult mice, allowing them to survive without treatment. The study offers promising hope for treating genetic disorders, including hemophilia and Huntington's disease.
A new telemedicine program integrating office visits with supplemental phone coaching improves cardiovascular disease risk factors such as fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, stress reduction, and medication adherence. Adults who engaged in five or more coaching sessions showed significant improvements.
The LAPLACE-2 study shows evolocumab produces highly significant reductions in LDL cholesterol when added to statins, with 93% of patients achieving an LDL level below 70mg/dL. Evolocumab also reduces non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) levels without liver damage or muscle problems.
Researchers analyzed electronic health records to identify individuals at risk of familial hypercholesterolaemia. Only 4.3% of those identified were diagnosed, highlighting the need for improved provider recognition and treatment.
Researchers have developed a thermal interface material that can conduct heat 20 times better than traditional polymers, allowing for reliable operation at temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. The new material could improve thermal management in electronic devices, such as servers and mobile devices.
The AleCardio trial was ended early after patients treated with aleglitazar showed higher rates of heart failure, kidney events, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The study found no cardiovascular benefits despite dual-action on PPAR receptors, leading researchers to consider the class of drug being tested clinically.
The novel inflammation inhibitor darapladib showed no primary-endpoint advantage over placebo in treating chronic coronary heart disease, but suggested benefits for specific coronary artery-related endpoints. Subgroup analysis revealed smokers had a greater decrease in major adverse cardiovascular events.
A UCLA study found that increasing Kir4.1 levels in astrocytes improves walking and prolongs survival in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. The discovery could lead to new drug targets for treating the devastating disorder, which affects one in every 20,000 Americans.
Researchers at MIT analyzed the shells of a sea creature to determine why they are exceptionally tough and optically clear. The shells' unique properties emerge from a specialized nanostructure that allows optical clarity, as well as efficient energy dissipation and localized deformation.
Researchers measured fruit fly food consumption using radioisotope labeling and paired it with the capillary feeder assay to achieve the most accurate measurements. The team's findings provide a best practices guide for nutrition measurement in studies of metabolism and disease.
Researchers have identified two new protein markers, GlycA and GlycB, which are associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Elevated levels of these proteins were found in nearly half of the patients who died or suffered an adverse event during follow-up.
In a phase III study, evolocumab was shown to effectively lower LDL-C levels, with fewer side effects compared to ezetimibe. The results suggest that evolocumab may be a promising alternative for patients who cannot tolerate statins due to intolerable side effects.
A new 6-month follow-up study confirms that early treatment with metoprolol significantly reduces dead heart muscle, hospital readmissions, and cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. The treatment also shows promise for reducing chronic heart failure cases.
A multicenter study found colchicine significantly reduced the rate of disease recurrence, improved symptoms, and hospitalization rates in patients with recurrent pericarditis. The medication was also associated with higher remission rates compared to placebo.
Scientists found a 'continuity field' that smooths out object features, allowing us to perceive stability in the real world. This discovery explains why we often miss subtle changes in movies and everyday life.
A new gel coating has been developed to promote bone growth on implants, allowing for improved integration and reduced rejection. The coating, made from a protein that encourages bone formation, can be released slowly in response to calcium ions, stimulating bone growth on the implant.
A recent study published in JAMA compared two types of heart valve technologies used in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The researchers found that balloon-expandable valves had a higher rate of device success, with lower rates of complications such as regurgitation and the need for additional surgeries.
The study found that aleglitazar did not decrease the time to cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, or nonfatal stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes. The drug was associated with increased risks of kidney abnormalities, bone fractures, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hypoglycemia.
Researchers have developed new simulations that depict the dynamics of deep Earth, revealing a complex composition of the lowermost part of the mantle. The study suggests that mantle plumes can carry a combination of different materials from several reservoirs, explaining observations of hotspot lavas' chemical complexity.
Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure treated with renal denervation had low rates of adverse events, including five procedural complications and nine hospitalizations. The procedure also showed significant lowering of office systolic blood pressure by 11.9mmHg at six months.