Researchers at UCLA have modeled the structure of large cellular particles, known as vaults, which may function in innate immunity. The study proposes ways to engineer these particles for targeted release of drugs.
A team of researchers at UCLA has modeled the structure of the largest cellular particle ever crystallized, proposing ways to engineer vaults for targeted drug delivery. The proposed atomic structure consists of a barrel-shaped shell with 96 identical protein chains, offering a human-friendly nanocontainer for therapeutic applications.
The NIH grants will support the study of cytochrome c biogenesis pathways in bacteria and humans. The long-term goal is to engineer electrical nanowires into E.coli to make an efficient biofuel cell. Researchers will also develop a screen to find inhibitors of the pathways, which could be potential antimicrobial agents.
A new bus scheduling algorithm, developed by a University of Southern California engineer, aims to reduce waiting times and improve transit reliability. The algorithm analyzes the impact of slack time on buses and finds that building in between 15 and 20 percent slack time is optimal, depending on total round trip travel time.
A new coating method mimics mussel adhesive properties, allowing for the attachment of various materials to inorganic and organic surfaces. This method has potential applications in fields such as electronics, medical devices, and water treatment.
Wind power variability poses a challenge for grid systems. Researchers are developing methods to measure wind farm capacity contribution and establish energy storage systems to manage this variability. The goal is to enable more efficient integration of wind power into existing power systems.
L.T. Fan, a renowned chemical engineer at K-State, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to particle technology and teaching. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers awarded him the Particle Technology Forum Award for his advocacy in industry, academia, and government.
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has chosen Elsevier as its publishing partner, starting in January 2008. The partnership will enable early publication of articles in press and improve accessibility for authors, editors, and the academic community.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present five awards for key contributions to space science and technology during the AIAA SPACE 2007 Conference & Exposition. Burt Rutan will be recognized as the AIAA Engineer of the Year for his innovations in access to space.
A research group led by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin has received a $2 million NSF grant to explore novel methods for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. The project aims to engineer new material surfaces that will allow a range of tissues to grow, potentially leading to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
New discoveries in ACS Chemical Biology highlight the potential for snail toxins to lead to new drugs, as well as strategies to minimize the side effects of COX inhibitors. The journal also explores how sex hormones activate cell signaling pathways, and helper peptides influence calcium channel opening.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new fingerprinting technique that analyzes chemical residues to detect an individual's diet, race, and sex. The technique involves lifting fingerprints with gel tape and analyzing them in a spectroscopic microscope, providing a detailed chemical composition of the print.
Researchers at the University of York have developed urothelial cell sheets that regenerate to repair damage, paving the way for engineered bladders. Pharmaceutical companies will soon be able to test therapies using these models.
Researchers are developing a new system to analyze beating heart stem cells, which could lead to more detailed information on their electrical activity and potentially facilitate their use in regenerating damaged hearts. The team aims to engineer a novel system for real-time analysis of cardiomyocytes during early development.
Researchers at Virginia Tech and UC Berkeley developed irreversible electroporation (IRE) to target cancer cells, successfully abling tissue in rat livers. IRE preserves vessel architecture and kills cells with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Dr. Dilhan M. Kalyon, Highly Filled Materials Institute director at Stevens Institute of Technology, recognized for his significant contributions to chemical engineering and the field. He has made a meaningful impact through process or product development, education, technical publications, patents, and theoretical developments.
A $2.5M NIH grant supports research using adult stem cells to engineer soft tissue for facial reconstruction after injuries or surgery. The Columbia University team aims to develop a process that allows patients to use their own stem cells to create long-lasting implants.
Rice University researchers discovered a bacterium that ferments glycerin and produces ethanol, reducing operational costs by 40 percent. This biotech breakthrough could alleviate the industry's glycerin glut, forcing producers to shutter plants.
Recent studies from ACS Chemical Biology reveal new insights into how cells die when chemicals bind to DNA, fast ways to create novel molecules, thyroid hormone regulation, and the regulation of attaching proteins to membranes. The journal provides a platform for exploring cellular function from both chemical and biological perspectives.
Researchers at UCSF develop a model describing how simple chemical interactions can lead to natural selection on a micro scale, potentially explaining how life emerged. The model focuses on enzymes and chemical catalysts, suggesting that simple principles of chemical interactions can give rise to complex arrangements.
Researchers have discovered the controlling enzyme, GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, which serves as the biosynthetic pathway for plants to manufacture vitamin C. This breakthrough could lead to engineered plants with increased vitamin C content, improving plant resistance and human nutrition.
Dr. W. Gene Corley, a leading expert on building collapse investigations and building codes, received the National Engineering Award from IEEE-USA for his inspirational leadership and tireless devotion to improving engineering education. The award also recognizes his work in promoting sound public policies as an engineer-statesman.
The journal ACS Chemical Biology explores recent discoveries in cellular function, including the inhibition of new blood vessel formation using an antifungal drug. Nanoparticles are also shown to enhance the delivery of short interfering RNAs to cells, potentially aiding clinical applications.
A University of Houston engineer is using a new device to study the adult brain's ability to adjust and recover from injuries. The research aims to understand the level of plasticity in adult brains and potentially develop new treatments for brain damage.
A research team from the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin aims to discover, engineer and produce promising phosphonate-based antibiotics. The project seeks alternatives to standard antibiotics due to growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Yueh-Lin Loo at the University of Texas at Austin has developed a plastic with changeable conductivity, which can be altered during manufacturing to meet the needs of future electronic devices. This breakthrough could lead to flexible, inexpensive wiring in products such as military camouflage and foldable electronic displays.
The journal reveals how changing protein charges enables cell membrane passage and introduces an enzyme's role in synthesizing antibiotics against resistant bacteria. Additionally, researchers develop artificial methods to induce keratinocytes' differentiation, providing insight into diseases like psoriasis and basal cell carcinoma.
A University of Manchester engineer has pioneered a way to make single-layered planar plastic transistors and diodes using fast and simple printing techniques. This could lead to the production of information displays that can be rolled up, intelligent tickets for public transport systems, and electronic stamps for letters and packages.
Eugenio Schuster, a controls engineer at Lehigh University, has received a five-year NSF CAREER Award to develop active control systems for nuclear fusion reactors. The goal is to regulate the density, current, and temperature of plasmas in fusion reactors to achieve self-sustaining fusion reactions.
Cornell astronomers have confirmed that solar radiation and an asteroid's shape determine its rotation rate, a phenomenon known as the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack Effect. This effect can help explain the formation of binary asteroids by creating strong centrifugal forces.
Susan Murcott, an MIT engineer, collaborates with people from developed and developing countries to solve humanitarian problems. Her co-evolutionary engineering design approach ensures sustainable, affordable, and safe drinking water solutions.
The American Chemical Society journal ACS Chemical Biology explores the latest research in cellular function from both chemical and biological perspectives. Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for cancer by linking proteins to activate the immune system. Additionally, scientists have found that certain bacteria can in...
A University of Texas at Austin researcher has developed a more economical technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants, which could lead to a 90% reduction in emissions. The project is being supported by a $1.8M donation from TXU Power.
Researchers at Duke University developed a new molecular 'fishing' technique using atomic force microscopy, allowing for fast and precise measurement of chemical concentrations. The method could be adapted for various chemicals and made faster by parallel testing.
Two research teams discovered detailed views of the toxin plugged into its neuronal receptor, providing new information on how it shuts down neurons. The findings could aid efforts to engineer specialized versions of the neurotoxin used to treat various medical conditions.
Scientists from Northwestern University find New Madrid rocks surprisingly similar to other areas of the eastern United States, contradicting the idea that hot rocks are weak. The study suggests the fault system may be shutting down, with no large earthquakes expected for thousands of years or longer.
A team of researchers, led by Lehigh University's Volkmar Dierolf, has received a $1.2-million grant to study the nanostructure of ferroelectric domains. They aim to image and control these domains at the nanoscale to engineer devices.
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers will dedicate two sessions at its annual meeting on November 13, 2006, to honor WPI professor Yi Hua Ma's pioneering work on inorganic membranes and membrane reactors. Ma's research has led to over 100 scholarly publications and four patents.
Breakthroughs in protein interaction studies, antibiotic development, and signaling G Proteins are highlighted in ACS Chemical Biology. Researchers have also found a small molecule that controls thyroid hormone receptor activity.
Gary D. Thomas, a Raytheon engineer, has been honored by the USC Center for Systems and Software Engineering (CSSE) for his seminal contributions to systems and software cost models. His work on COCOMO, a widely used tool for estimating costs and time required for software development, has had a lasting impact on the field.
Stanford engineer James Swartz has made significant advances in cell-free protein synthesis, including the production of nanoscale viral spheres that can act as delivery trucks for new vaccines. These engineered capsids have the potential to provide safer and more effective vaccinations by targeting specific immune-system cells.
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories tested the system during a series of games, achieving broad coverage of over 40 different chemicals using multiple detection technologies. The Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System offers a fast and potentially lifesaving capability to event managers, providing swift protection again...
A new microbial fuel cell design by Washington University engineer Lars Angenent increases power output from 3 to 29 watts per cubic meter, enough to run a small light bulb. The system harnesses wastewater's organic matter to generate electricity, offering potential applications in the food and agricultural industries.
Research at Yale School of Medicine found significant psychological distress among Iranians exposed to high-intensity warfare and chemical attacks. Fifty-nine percent of Sardasht residents experienced PTSD in their lifetime, with severe depressive symptoms also prevalent.
Researchers at the Salk Institute identified a key role for the TOPLESS gene in plant development, enabling them to engineer plants to grow leaves or flowers instead of roots. This breakthrough allows for the manipulation of plant polarity later in embryogenesis, offering opportunities for agricultural improvements.
The MIT team uses particle-spring systems to create three-dimensional designs that can find a structure's most efficient form in minutes. Historically, finding new structural forms required physical means, but this method offers a more efficient and sustainable approach.
Dr. Kerry Sieh, Dr. Peter Ventzek, and Dr. Denice Denton receive NOGLSTP awards for their groundbreaking work in earth science, semiconductor industry, and engineering education. The recipients are recognized for their leadership in the GLBT community and their commitment to promoting diversity in STEM fields.
A University of Florida engineer has designed a tiny, easy-to-manufacture motion sensor with potential applications in personal electronics, medical devices, and athletic monitoring. The sensor measures 3 square millimeters and is extremely sensitive, drawing minimal power.
A team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin has created a miniaturized silicon chip that can control laser light, enabling faster data transfer rates in high-performance computing devices. The chip uses silicon photonic crystals to slow down light travel, allowing for modulated transmission of information.
Researchers have developed a portable device that uses Doppler ultrasound to find veins quickly and accurately. The device is composed of two parts: a reusable unit with signal processing components and a disposable coupler box with a reflector and needle guide.
Treena Arinzeh, a NJIT engineer, has received two new grants to develop stem cell therapies for spinal cord and cartilage injuries. Her research aims to regenerate nerve tissue and promote bone growth using nano-scaffolds.
A mechanical engineer at Purdue University and a civil engineer at Tel Aviv University have created new theorems that improve structure and machine design by combining kinematics and statics. This knowledge enables engineers to create safer structures and machines with better stability, potentially at lower cost.
Researchers use Purdue's unique wind tunnel to study airflow and turbulence, aiming to design aircraft that heat up less from atmospheric friction. The goal is to create lighter-weight, lower-cost vehicles for space planes using scramjets.
Dan Luss' research focuses on developing operation and control policies for chemical reactors, increasing efficiency, and producing advanced ceramics. He aims to prevent runaway reactions and explosions by understanding initial conditions and developing start-up procedures.
Researchers have developed a prototype device using trained Microplitis croceipes wasps to detect target odors, including explosives and toxic fungi. The device, called Wasp Hound, can be used for various applications, such as detecting plant diseases, chemical odors associated with human diseases, and hidden bodies.
A study by Louisiana State University researchers has found that Katrina floodwaters were not as toxic as previously thought, but still contained high levels of certain metals and bacteria. The findings suggest that while the floodwaters posed some risks to human health, they were not the chemical catastrophe initially predicted.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed an alternative therapy to surgery for brain cancers. By engineering T-cell receptors with enhanced binding capacity, the approach aims to eradicate tumors with minimal side effects.
The NMSU Physical Science Laboratory designed and fielded a countermeasure device in under three months to combat IEDs, providing increased survivability for warfighters. The signal-jamming equipment is being used by the US Army, Marines, and Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit.
Researchers are developing an in vitro model to evaluate the ability of several inhibitors to block protein aggregation by TGases. Several compounds show positive effects, including creatine and cystamine hydrochloride.
The ACS Scholars Program has reached its 10-year milestone, providing financial support to over 1,600 minority students pursuing degrees in chemistry and related disciplines. The program aims to diversify chemical fields in academia and the workforce, with a focus on African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students.