Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Brown University


More post-acute care isn't always better, study finds

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that patients covered under Medicare's fee-for-service plan spent more time in nursing homes after hip fracture hospitalization, yet saw slightly worse health outcomes. In contrast, those covered under Medicare Advantage had shorter stays and similar or better health outcomes.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 26, 2018

Organics on Ceres may be more abundant than originally thought

Researchers found that up to 40-50% of the spectral signal on Ceres could be explained by organics, a much higher concentration than previously reported. The findings raise questions about the source of the material, with two competing possibilities: internal production or delivery by an impact from an organic-rich comet or asteroid.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 13, 2018

New theory shows how strain makes for better catalysts

Researchers have developed a new theory to explain why stretching or compressing metal catalysts can make them perform better. The theory suggests that applying a strain to a catalyst's atomic lattice can tune its reactivity, enabling fine-tuning of catalyst performance throughout different reaction steps.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateApr 20, 2018

Study reveals vision's role in vowel perception

Researchers found that people closely watch lip movement and shape when perceiving speech, with subtle distinctions between vowel sounds suffering without these cues. The study's findings have implications for designing more intelligible avatars and improving communication devices for the hearing impaired.

Separate brain systems cooperate during learning, study finds

Researchers found that when memory demands are high, signals in the brain correlate to reinforcement learning become stronger, suggesting a cooperative interaction between the two systems. When participants can hold information in mind, signals associated with reinforcement learning weaken, indicating an increased role for working memory.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2018

New software helps detect adaptive genetic mutations

Researchers from Brown University have developed a new method, SWIF(r), to detect adaptive genetic mutations. The technique combines multiple statistical tests into a single machine-learning framework, allowing for more accurate identification of beneficial mutations and shedding light on the evolutionary history of populations.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2018

Researchers help robots think and plan in the abstract

Scientists at Brown University have created a way for robots to learn high-level abstract representations of their surroundings, enabling them to plan and act more autonomously. By using machine learning algorithms, robots can distill complex sensory data into simple, text-based descriptions that facilitate planning and skill execution.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Artificial Intelligence Research·DateFeb 8, 2018

Researchers take terahertz data links around the bend

Brown University researchers demonstrate that terahertz frequency data links can maintain acceptable bit-error-rates after bouncing off objects, enabling the possibility of non-line-of-sight links. The study's findings support the idea of terahertz local-area networks and could pave the way for future wireless networks with increased b...

SourceBrown University·JournalAPL Photonics·DateFeb 6, 2018

Research reveals atomic-level changes in ALS-linked protein

A team of researchers has described atom-by-atom changes in a family of proteins linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a group of brain disorders. The study suggests that small chemical changes can lead to big changes in assembly and disease-associated aggregation, offering new insights into disease mechanisms.

SourceBrown University·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJan 18, 2018

Mammogram rates increase after ACA eliminates co-payments

After the Affordable Care Act eliminated cost sharing for screening mammograms, mammogram rates increased six percentage points among older women, according to a Brown University study. The study found that eliminating copayments led to an increase in their use and was concentrated among women with more education.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 17, 2018

In clinical trial, cream reduces squamous cell carcinoma risk

A new clinical trial shows that using a generic skin cream containing fluorouracil (5-FU) for two to four weeks can reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) needing surgery by 75% within a year. The study, led by Dr. Martin A. Weinstock, involved over 900 military veterans at high risk for keratinocyte carcinoma skin cancer.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateJan 3, 2018

Babies can use context to look for things, study demonstrates

A new study demonstrates that babies can learn, remember and use contextual cues in a scene to guide their search for objects of interest. The study found that 6-month-old babies showed steady improvement in finding faces in repeated scenes, but didn't get any quicker or more accurate in finding faces in new scenes.

SourceBrown University·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateNov 1, 2017

Physicists describe new dark matter detection strategy

Researchers propose a new method for directly detecting dark matter by exploiting the interaction between superfluid helium and potential dark matter particles. The strategy involves a tub of helium and a positively charged metal pin array to amplify the tiny energy signature of a released atom, enabling the detection of single atoms a...