A new coaching program at Northwestern University is boosting the persistence of underrepresented minority and female Ph.D. students towards academic careers. The program, which includes guidance from diverse coaches and peers, has shown positive results in increasing confidence and reducing feelings of pressure and isolation.
Multiple sclerosis may be triggered by the death of brain cells that make the insulation around nerve fibers. Nanoparticles have been shown to prevent progressive MS in an animal model, offering new hope for human treatments without side effects.
A Northwestern University study finds that universities' messages about socioeconomic diversity can affect academic confidence and sense of self-worth in students from low-income backgrounds. Students perceived as 'warm' versus 'chilly' towards socioeconomic diversity reported different levels of academic confidence and expectations.
Children with common allergies like asthma and hay fever have a higher rate of hypertension and high cholesterol, setting them up for heart disease early on. Inflammation from these conditions may contribute to cardiovascular risks.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technique that allows them to read the mind of a fly by lighting up active conversations between neurons during behaviors or sensory experiences. This can provide valuable insights into the computational processes underlying human brain function.
A new Northwestern Medicine project aims to better understand the effects of asthma and eczema on children's quality of life. The study will use PROMIS tools to measure the impact of these conditions, providing researchers and clinicians with more accurate assessments.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new thermoelectric material that converts waste heat to electricity more efficiently than previous materials. By doping tin selenide with sodium, they increased the material's performance, enabling it to produce significantly more electricity from the same amount of heat input.
A new approach has been discovered to reduce uncontrolled movements caused by levodopa, a common Parkinson's disease medication. By boosting the functioning of a specific brain receptor, scientists have found that side effects such as dyskinesia can be dramatically reduced.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a microfluidic device to sort neural stem cell populations, making them easier to study. The device uses inertial forces to isolate single stem cells, reducing stress on the cells and preserving their multipotency.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed Wi-FM, a technique that uses ambient FM radio signals to mitigate interference between competing wireless networks. By analyzing usage patterns and adapting to changes, Wi-FM enables devices to harmonize their signals and reduce slow speeds, resulting in improved network performance.
A new Northwestern Medicine study has identified thousands of genetic pathways that regulate insulin production and blood sugar control in the pancreas, which could lead to new therapies for children and adults with diabetes. The researchers created a detailed map of genes controlled by the circadian clock's transcription factors.
Researchers have developed a new mathematical method to characterize non-uniform semiconductors with improved efficiency and precision. The method measures electrical conductivity in a single piece of material using a magnetic field, revealing variations across the entire sample.
Researchers found that infants can identify and link new sounds to meaning, indicating a social capacity for recognizing and learning from novel communicative signals. This ability broadens our understanding of infants' coordination of social, language, and cognitive development.
Researchers at Northwestern University found Cuba's Internet connection to be among the poorest in the Americas, with information traveling back from the US taking up to 270 milliseconds. The team is exploring a possible configuration problem or routing policy as the cause of this delay.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found that blood pressure medication can reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but it cannot undo all previous damage. Middle-aged adults with well-controlled hypertension on medication had a higher risk of end-organ damage compared to those without treatment.
A new RNA editing technique called exon skipping has shown promising results in treating a rare and severe form of muscular dystrophy. The treatment, licensed to the Kurt+Peter Foundation, aims to slow down muscle decline and stabilize function in individuals with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2C.
A Northwestern University engineering team has designed a data visualization system to provide real-time insights into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The system uses historical and real-time data to forecast participant concentrations, helping officials plan accordingly.
A novel computational framework allows researchers to predict the properties of cellulose nanocomposites by modifying surface chemistry. The approach enables designing materials with targeted properties, such as improved hydrogen bonding with polymers.
Northwestern Medicine researchers aim to develop new treatments for uterine fibroids using novel targets and pathways. The NIH grant supports projects focused on progesterone effects, nuclear receptors, and AKT pathway modification.
Researchers have demonstrated a novel method to create protein polymers that can display new functionalities, including temperature responsiveness. By changing the decoration points on the protein, they found that the functional properties of the polymer were influenced.
A Northwestern University expert found mixed results on human preparedness for tsunamis, with significant progress made in tsunami science and education. However, substantial challenges remain, including the impact of 'tsunami earthquakes' and the need to incorporate new knowledge into warning procedures.
Scientists have found that neurons in a little-studied part of the brain become more active with age, leading to potential new treatments for memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that future therapies will need to account for different effects across various brain regions.
A new study found that patients on one-fourth the suggested dose of beta-blockers survived at the same rate or even better than those on higher doses, increasing survival by 20-25%. The research suggests that beta-blocker dosing needs to be personalized for individual patients.
A research team at Northwestern University has developed a computational algorithm that leverages cells' noisy nature to control the networks governing cellular behavior. By controlling a smaller network of state transitions, they can promote cellular health and prevent disease.
Northwestern University has received a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a national resource for nanotechnology facilities and expertise. The Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource provides integrated capabilities for researchers, including small businesses and industry users.
Professor Michael Frakes will examine the relationship between medical malpractice laws and health care outcomes using a unique data set from the Military Health System. The four-year study aims to identify the impact of liability pressure on practice patterns, medical costs and patient outcomes.
A multidisciplinary team is developing guidelines for the most effective antidepressant doses throughout pregnancy and postpartum, building on recent initiatives like CDC's Treating for Two and FDA's new labeling requirements.
Researchers develop cell-free protein synthesis platform to manufacture human phosphoproteins, enabling study of protein function and structure. The technology has the potential to pave the way for new drugs for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that discrimination during adolescence can have a lasting impact on cortisol levels, leading to flatter diurnal rhythms and increased risk of fatigue, mental health issues, and cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that cumulative experiences of discrimination, particularly during adole...
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a solution to create stable carbon nanotube-based integrated circuits using newly designed encapsulation layers. These layers protect the sensitive devices from environmental degradation, enabling reliable operation for years or even decades.
Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have developed a new assembly method that uses strategic 'Kirigami cuts' to create complex 3D structures out of silicon and other materials. The technique enables the production of mostly closed 3D shapes with limited ability to achieve spatially extended devices.
Northwestern researchers identify infants' ability to group objects by name as predictor of later language development, highlighting importance of early talking to young children.
The Third Coast Center for AIDS Research aims to slow and stop HIV in young gay men, a demographic group experiencing rising infections at 5% annually. The center will unite HIV researchers from different disciplines and provide services through five cores.
The new Northwestern University Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence will use nucleic-acid-based nanoconstructs called Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) to discover new aspects of cancer biology and create effective cancer treatment options. SNAs are nontoxic to humans, offering a versatile tool in medicine.
Research finds that only one in five gay and bisexual teen boys have been tested for HIV due to fears of recognition and lack of knowledge on where to get tested. Testing in schools is proposed as a solution to normalize the process, making it easier for young men to receive lifesaving medical care.
Researchers identified a similar profile among murderers of intimate partners and family members, including severe mental illness and few previous convictions. Early intervention is crucial to prevent these murders, which are often driven by jealousy or revenge, experts warn.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that graphene oxide exhibits remarkable plastic deformation before breaking, unlike its more perfect counterpart graphene. This unique property may unlock the secret to scaling up graphene oxide.
Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully created a multiferroic material by sandwiching a polar metallic oxide between an insulating material. This breakthrough design strategy realizes elusive multiferroic properties, offering potential applications in low-power electronics, logic processing, and memory storage.
Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, a Northwestern University neurobiologist, has been awarded a $750,000 Beckman Young Investigator grant to discover how chemical neuromodulatory systems work together to support complex behaviors. The award supports her research on using optical microscopy techniques and classical neuroscience technologies.
Researchers have developed an electrospray technique to improve Langmuir-Blodgett assembly, reducing the need for toxic organic solvents and increasing efficiency. This approach enables the creation of well-dispersed nanoparticle monolayers with precise control over packing density.
Researchers identified two new genetic susceptibility regions specific to European women with PCOS, including a region containing the FSH gene, which plays an essential role in ovarian function. The study provides crucial insights into the disorder's biological pathways, paving the way for new treatments and disease prevention approaches.
Researchers discover that surfaces with valleys less than one micron wide can deflect water, keeping them dry for up to four months. This discovery could revolutionize industries such as shipping and pipe coatings by reducing drag and saving billions of dollars.
Researchers discovered a critical role for extra-synaptic GABA receptors in encoding and storing fear-inducing memories. Activating these receptors can retrieve traumatic memories, offering new potential treatments for patients with psychiatric disorders.
Researchers found a 24-hour day 'bicycle' mechanism turning key brain neurons on or off with sodium and potassium currents, awakening animals in the morning and putting them to sleep at night. This ancient mechanism is conserved across hundreds of millions of years of evolution and may lead to new drug targets for sleep-wake trouble.
A study by Northwestern University researchers found an intrinsic biological difference in the molecular regulation of synapses in the hippocampus between males and females. The drug URB-597 increased inhibitory effect in females, causing a decrease in neurotransmitter release, but had no effect in males.
A new study from Northwestern Medicine finds that seniors are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of ambulatory surgery, with age being an independent risk factor. The likely cause is difficulty understanding medication dosing and discharge instructions, as well as cognitive impairment among older patients.
A new portable ultra-broadband laser can sense chemicals for various applications, including security and medicine. The compact device emits light across a broad spectrum of frequencies, enabling real-time detection of chemicals.
Scientists will develop an implantable drug delivery system to deliver antiretroviral drugs, providing protection against HIV infection for up to a year. The project aims to improve upon current methods of prevention, which have low adherence rates.
A recent study suggests that dense star clusters in the universe could be 'factories' of binary black holes. Researchers predict that advanced observatories will detect over 100 merging black holes per year from these clusters.
Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, a Northwestern University scientist, has been named a Rita Allen Foundation Scholar to research how fast-acting antidepressants impact the brain's neural circuitry. Her goal is to improve treatment effectiveness for major depressive disorders.