A new study found that using electronic health records (EHRs) can identify patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease and encourage them to receive cholesterol-lowering medication. The study showed that patients who received personalized risk assessments via mail were twice as likely to receive a prescription for lipid-lowering m...
A Northwestern University team has developed a technique for creating nanofluidic devices using paper and scissors, generating numerous ion channels when layered. The method uses inexpensive materials and allows for easy shaping and scaling of the device.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that introducing a novel word for an impending event enhances infants' tendency to imitate unconventional behavior. Infants as young as 14 months old coordinate their insights about human behavior and language to discover which actions are worth imitating.
A father-son team has developed a mathematical model to balance costs and benefits of different disaster protection strategies. The approach considers optimization techniques and helps communities make informed choices about protection measures.
A Northwestern University study found that black football players are more likely to be penalized for celebrations compared to their white counterparts. Participants rated arrogance levels equally regardless of race but suggested lower compensation for black celebrants. This 'hubris penalty' highlights racial bias in NFL rewards.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that even physically active women spend an average of nine hours a day sitting. The research suggests that incorporating light activity throughout the day can help mitigate negative health consequences associated with prolonged sitting.
A new HIV test developed at Northwestern University is being tested in Mozambique to deliver a diagnosis in under an hour. The test has a 95% accuracy rate and could significantly improve the rates of infected infants being diagnosed and treated, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a tool called namehelp to help avoid the impact of public DNS services on web-surfing experience. The tool speeds web performance by 40 percent and provides personalized benchmarks to determine optimal DNS configuration.
Researchers have created a new family of compounds that could slow Parkinson's disease progression by shutting down the Cav1.3 channel, which allows calcium to flood into dopamine neurons. The compounds were developed by Northwestern University scientists and show promise in animal trials without obvious side effects.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities discovered how to control the shape of DNA nanoparticles that move through the body. The shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in treating cancer and other diseases. Using computer models, they found that worm-shaped particles resulted in 1,600 times more gene ex...
Scientists at Northwestern University have created a mouse model that replicates the human response in rheumatoid arthritis. The new prototype uses human stem cells implanted in mice, which showed authentic human reactions, paving the way for more accurate drug discovery and treatment options.
Researchers tracked nearly 2,000 youths in Chicago up to 5 years after release, finding over 45% of males and 30% of females had one or more psychiatric disorders. Substance use disorder was the most persistent and prevalent, with rates dropping less dramatically for girls than boys as they age.
A Northwestern University study reveals that our brains make complex decisions for us without our knowledge or consent. Researchers found that even when people are aware of the trick, their brains still rely on visual information to guide hand movements.
Researchers from Northwestern University and others demonstrate 'transient electronics' that dissolve in a well-controlled manner. These biocompatible devices could be used for medical implants, environmental monitors, or military applications, offering advantages over conventional electronics.
Researchers at Northwestern University have identified two promising therapies to treat AMKL: alisertib and dimethylfasudil. Alisertib targets Aurora A kinase and shows promise in mouse models, while dimethylfasudil boosts mature bone marrow cells and inhibits malignant ones.
A study by Northwestern University found that human memories adapt and change with each retelling, leading to distorted recall. The research used a telephone game-like scenario where participants recalled object locations, showing improved recall accuracy on the final test for objects tested on day two but never exactly right.
Northwestern University scientists have developed a thermoelectric material that can convert 15-20% of waste heat to useful electricity. The material exhibits a ZT of 2.2, the highest reported to date, and has the potential to recover high-temperature waste heat and turn it into usable energy.
Researchers at Northwestern University have engineered a surface that prevents bubbling during boiling, creating a stable vapor cushion and eliminating bubbles. This discovery could lead to advancements in heat transfer equipment, anti-frost technologies, and reduce damage to surfaces.
A new study found that 70% of reported cases receive a physician's diagnosis for their child's food allergy, but only 1 in 5 receives an oral food challenge test. Lower-income and minority households are more likely to have undiagnosed food allergies, with 32% not receiving diagnostic testing.
Researchers developed a nanoparticle system that can detect even the smallest levels of heavy metals in water and fish, offering an inexpensive alternative to existing cumbersome techniques. The device is capable of measuring low concentrations of mercury, a toxic metal that can accumulate in predatory fish and harm human health.
A new Northwestern University study developed a formula that accurately predicts a young scientist's success in the life sciences, considering factors like publications, h-index, and high-impact journal articles. The formula is more than twice as accurate as existing methods for predicting future success.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created two new synthetic materials with the greatest amount of surface areas reported to date. The materials, NU-109 and NU-110, belong to a class of crystalline nanostructures known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are promising vessels for natural gas storage.
A new study by Northwestern University found that most Americans feel empowered and enthusiastic about the high volume of information available, rather than feeling overwhelmed.
Researchers developed a new questionnaire to assess preschoolers' behavior, enabling early identification and treatment of emerging mental health problems. The study found that temper tantrums are not frequent among young children, occurring less than 10% of the time.
The new resonator creates purest, brightest and most powerful single-mode quantum cascade lasers in the 8-12 micron range, a wavelength of great interest for military and industrial use. The laser technology controls both wavelength and beam quality, achieving peak power over 6 watts with nearly diffraction-limited beam quality.
Researchers at Northwestern University have found that the influenza virus reduces immune system-regulating protein production in human cells by activating specific microRNAs. This discovery sheds light on a new mechanism of viral immune evasion and may lead to the development of therapeutics to preserve the immune response.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new class of organic materials that can be used for ferroelectricity, which could improve computer memory and sensing devices. The discovery could save $6 billion in electricity costs annually if used in cloud computing.
Researchers connect 250 years of organic chemical knowledge into a giant computer network, optimizing syntheses of drug molecules and identifying suspicious chemical recipes. The Chematica system learns from experience and can test every possible synthesis, finding truly optimal ways to make desired chemicals.
Researchers identified a group of elderly people with exceptional memories and brains that resemble those of middle-aged individuals. Their cortex thickness and attention region were found to be thicker than normal aging peers, suggesting a greater number of neurons and potentially improved cognitive abilities.
A Northwestern University study reveals that brain activity changes in olfactory regions after a week of blocked nostrils, compensating for the interruption of the sense of smell. The brain's response to odors returns to normal shortly after free breathing is restored.
New-onset diabetes in normal-weight adults is associated with significantly higher mortality rates compared to overweight/obese individuals. The study found that older adults and non-white participants are more likely to experience normal-weight diabetes, highlighting the need for targeted health screenings.
A new paper reveals the off-label use of dexamethasone to engineer fetal sex in pregnant women at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The synthetic steroid is known to cause significant developmental changes, raising questions about the ethics of prenatal experimentation.
Recent studies from Northwestern University's Physical Sciences-Oncology Center report significant methodological advances in gene expression regulation. The breakthroughs enable better comprehension of gene transcription in both normal cells and cancer cells.
A new class of drug developed at Northwestern University has shown early promise in reducing inflammation in the brain, which is a common denominator in these neurological diseases. The drug targets proinflammatory cytokines and prevents their overproduction, preventing damage to synapses and neurons.
A Northwestern University study reveals that farmers and ranchers with major limb amputations struggle with durable, affordable, and adaptable prosthetics. These limitations hinder their ability to perform farm tasks, making traditional prosthetic solutions unsuitable for their unique needs.
A weekly stress management program for patients with multiple sclerosis prevented the development of new brain lesions, a marker of the disease's activity in the brain. The study showed that stress management therapy reduced two types of new brain lesions common in multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new logic circuit family based on magnetic semiconductor devices, which could result in computers 1 million times more power-efficient. The spin-logic circuits utilize the quantum physics phenomenon of spin to perform Boolean logic and can be cascaded to develop sophisticated func...
A study by Northwestern University found that many caregiver agencies do not conduct thorough background checks or provide adequate training for their employees. This can put vulnerable seniors at risk of abuse and neglect. The study suggests that consumers should be aware of the potential risks and take steps to ensure they hire a qua...
Scientists have developed a design that allows electronics to bend and stretch up to 200%, overcoming the major obstacle of rigid electronics. This breakthrough enables medical monitoring devices to track vital signs and transmit them wirelessly, opening up new possibilities for patient care.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel gene regulation technology that can selectively target disease-causing genes in skin cells. The treatment uses spherical arrangements of nucleic acids to penetrate the skin and deliver therapeutics, offering new hope for life-saving therapies for skin cancers and other skin ...
A Northwestern University study found that chronic pain develops when two brain sections communicate excessively, increasing the likelihood of chronic pain. Researchers predicted with 85% accuracy which participants would develop chronic pain based on brain scan data.
According to a Northwestern University study, the prevalence of visual impairment in adults aged 65 and older decreased by 58% between 1984 and 2010. Improved cataract surgery techniques and reduced smoking rates are likely contributing factors.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created an animal model that spontaneously develops rheumatoid arthritis and is predisposed to atherosclerosis. The model allows scientists to examine the systemic influence of inflammatory arthritis on the development of heart disease, with promising results from treatment with Enbrel.
Researchers found that stimulating a musical tune during slow-wave sleep improved memory for complex skills. Participants made fewer errors when pressed keys to produce the melody presented while they slept compared to the other melody. The study opens doors for future studies on sleep-based memory processing.
A Northwestern University study found that many college students cannot track down reliable information on emergency contraception pills (ECPs) online. Only two-thirds of the participants were able to conclude that their friend should seek ECPs, with fewer than half providing the ideal response.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2000 census, finding that poor other-race neighbors disproportionately contribute to neighborhood poverty, especially among blacks and Hispanics. Concentrated poverty is attributed to three segregations: racial, poverty-status within race, and segregation from high-income members of other groups.
A new Northwestern University study suggests that children of older fathers inherit longer telomeres, which may promote slower aging and facilitate extension of lifespan. The association is cumulative across multiple generations, offering insights into the evolution of aging.
A new study has mapped children's food allergies by geographical location in the US, revealing that urban centers have a higher prevalence of peanut and shellfish allergies compared to rural areas. The study controlled for household income, race, ethnicity, gender, and age, tracking food allergy prevalence in different regions.
A Northwestern University study found that phone therapy retains more patients and improves depression outcomes compared to face-to-face sessions. The randomized control trial included 325 primary care patients with major depressive disorder and showed that phone therapy reduced dropout rates by 12 percentage points.
Complex networks from different disciplines exhibit similar core structures, known as skeletons, which are shaped by basic growth mechanisms. This discovery could help predict how diseases or information spread across networks.