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Northwestern University


Pulling a fast one

Research by Northwestern University and Wake Forest University found that fast disclaimers undermine consumers' trust in unfamiliar brands, while trusted brands remain unaffected. Trusted brands can use fast disclaimers without impact on purchase intention.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2011

Why more African Americans turn to Twitter

According to a Northwestern University study, African Americans are more likely to start using Twitter, particularly those interested in celebrity news and having higher Internet skills. The research found 37% of black students used Twitter in 2010 compared to 21% of white students.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNew Media & Society·DateMay 17, 2011

Heads or tails?

Planarian flatworms can regenerate their entire body from a small piece of tissue due to the critical role of an ancient gene called notum. Notum determines whether a head or tail will regrow at amputation sites, enabling the worms to restore missing body parts.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·DateMay 16, 2011

Musical experience offsets some aging effects

A Northwestern University study finds that lifelong musical training can benefit adults by offsetting age-related decline in memory and ability to hear speech in noisy environments. Musicians aged 45-65 outperform non-musicians in auditory memory, hearing speech in noise, and other cognitive functions.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 11, 2011

Flipping hot Jupiters

Astronomers at Northwestern University have developed a computer simulation that explains how hot Jupiters form with flipped orbits around their stars. The study, published in Nature, suggests that gravitational perturbations from other planets in the system can cause the inner planet to lose energy and orbit closer to its star.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateMay 11, 2011

Race in America

A group of prominent social scientists weigh in on topics such as the future of African American studies and intra-minority group relations. The authors explore how racial minorities will react to demographic shifts, with some finding that a separate line of research suggests distinct racial minority groups may react differently.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalDaedalus·DateMay 4, 2011

Electronic medical records speed genetic health studies

Researchers at Northwestern University have found that using electronic medical records to identify patients with diseases can be faster and cheaper than recruiting thousands of participants. The study used data from five national sites to accurately identify patients with five types of diseases, achieving accuracy rates of 73-98%.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 20, 2011

Addressing the nuclear waste issue

Researchers use Closterium moniliferum algae to remove strontium, a major component of nuclear waste, by sequestering it in solid crystals. The algae's ability to differentiate between strontium and calcium can help isolate highly radioactive 'high-level' waste from 'low-level' waste.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalChemSusChem·DateApr 4, 2011

A small quantum leap

The new switching device enables high-speed routing of quantum bits along a shared network, maintaining entanglement information. This practical step toward creating a quantum Internet could achieve secure encrypted information and ultra-fast quantum computing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 10, 2011

Tiny gems take big step toward battling cancer

A Northwestern University research team found that binding chemotherapy drugs to nanodiamonds significantly improves the effectiveness of cancer treatment, particularly in cases where tumors are resistant to conventional therapies. The discovery holds promise for treating aggressive cancers with fewer toxic side effects.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 9, 2011

Cardiac catheter that can do it all

A new, multifunctional catheter developed by Northwestern University and the University of Illinois can perform all necessary medical devices for cardiac ablation therapy in one minimally invasive procedure. The device combines diagnostic and treatment capabilities, improving clinical arrhythmia therapy by reducing steps and costs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 6, 2011

Researchers discover new shapes of microcompartments

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered new shapes of microcompartment shells, including dodecahedra and octahedra, which can be used to create containers or microreactors with specific functions. These designed shells could efficiently deliver therapeutic materials to cells at targeted locations.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2011

Older patients confused about multiple drug dosing

A new Northwestern Medicine study shows that standardized medicine prescriptions into doses at four clearly identified periods of day, can improve health outcomes for older patients. The study found that low health literacy was the greatest predictor of patients taking their medications more times per day.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 28, 2011

Who's the best tennis player of all time?

A Northwestern University researcher developed a novel ranking system that evaluates male tennis players through network analysis. According to the study, Jimmy Connors ranks on top due to his long career and matches against other strong opponents. The rankings will be reassessed in 10 years to reflect changes in competition.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 28, 2011

Struggling to follow doctor's orders

A Northwestern University study found that over one-third of paid caregivers struggled with reading and understanding health-related information, while 60% made errors when sorting medications. The study aims to develop standardized tests to evaluate caregiver skills and improve senior care.

Turning to nature for inspiration

Researchers at Northwestern University are developing artificial hair cell sensors that mimic nature's ability to sense vibrations and movement. These biologically inspired sensors have the potential to improve medical device performance, enhance robotic capabilities, and create new consumer goods.

What a rat can tell us about touch

Researchers at Northwestern University are studying the rat whisker system to gain a better understanding of how animals perceive touch. By developing models and simulating the rat's behavior, they aim to unlock the secrets of neural processing and potentially create new technologies that can mimic the senses of mammals.

Doing good with operations research

Karen Smilowitz and her team are applying operations research techniques to promote welfare and equity through efficient delivery of goods and services. They have worked with organizations such as the Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation to develop models for matching donors and recipients, as well as designing collection and delivery routes.

Rewrite the textbooks

Researchers at Northwestern University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of neuroscience, finding that axons can transmit signals to the cell body and even communicate with each other. This challenges conventional wisdom on how neurons operate, revealing a new layer of complexity in neural communication.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 17, 2011

Waking up is hard to do

Researchers found that the 'twenty-four' gene is critical for producing a key clock protein in fruit flies. Without this gene, flies experience disrupted sleep-wake rhythms and have trouble waking up. The findings suggest a similar mechanism may be at play in humans.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateFeb 16, 2011

Gonorrhea acquires a piece of human DNA

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered the first evidence of a human DNA fragment in a bacterial genome, specifically Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This finding offers insight into the bacterium's ability to adapt to its human host and could lead to new strains of the disease.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalmBio·DateFeb 13, 2011

Not just for raincoats

The study reveals a miniature version of the 'water hammer' effect, which causes pressure spikes in water droplets on textured surfaces. This insight could lead to the design of more effective superhydrophobic surfaces for various applications, including energy efficiency improvements.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2011

Making a point

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new method for rapidly prototyping nanoscale devices and structures, combining the benefits of scanning-probe lithography and polymer pen lithography. The technique, called hard-tip, soft-spring lithography, produces patterns with sub-50-nanometer resolution and scalability.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateJan 26, 2011

NFL linemen recover from back surgery, and so can you

A new Northwestern Medicine study found that 80% of NFL linemen who underwent disc surgery were able to return to play many games, suggesting that average people can also resume their active lives. After proper recovery and rehabilitation, patients can safely lift weights and engage in strenuous activities without long-term risks.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalTranslational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine·DateJan 21, 2011

Robotic ghost knifefish is born

Researchers created a robotic fish that can swim vertically and horizontally with unprecedented agility. The robot uses a sophisticated fin to generate inward counterpropagating waves, allowing it to move in unexpected directions. Its potential applications include underwater recovery operations and long-term monitoring of coral reefs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateJan 18, 2011

Better than the human eye

Researchers developed a curvilinear camera with adjustable zoom capability inspired by the human eye. The camera combines simplicity and versatility, enabling applications in night-vision surveillance, robotic vision, endoscopic imaging and consumer electronics.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2011

Farther and farther apart

A new study reveals that people's spatial memory biases develop as they become more familiar with a particular area. As individuals better understand the relationship between buildings on a campus, they tend to exaggerate distances and create cognitive biases.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateJan 17, 2011

Cracking a tooth

Scientists use atom-probe tomography to map millions of individual atoms in a sea creature's tooth, revealing organic/inorganic interfaces. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for tracking fluoride in teeth and cancer, osteoporosis drugs in bone, and designing new materials with improved properties.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateJan 12, 2011

Smarter systems help busy doctors remember

A new system using electronic health records significantly improves primary care physicians' performance and the health of patients with chronic conditions. The program boosts preventive care in vaccinations and cancer and osteoporosis screenings, increasing rates by up to 10 percentage points.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalMedical Care·DateDec 21, 2010