The devices offer significant improvement in tissue imaging while simultaneously enabling photo thermal therapy, administering drugs and monitoring drug delivery. The biodegradable and biocompatible micro-mirrors dissolve harmlessly at predetermined rates, requiring no surgery to remove them.
A new optical imaging technology, developed at Tufts University School of Engineering, uses near infrared light to scan breast tissue and can identify water, fats, and oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor tissue. This non-invasive technique could complement standard mammography, particularly for women with dense breast tissue.
Researchers at Tufts University developed 'transient electronics' that can dissolve in a prescribed time, ranging from minutes to years. These devices promise medical implants that never need removal and consumer electronics that become compost.
A Tufts University researcher has developed a new statistical model that estimates air pollution exposure for previous time periods where direct data is lacking. The study shows that air quality improves when unemployment rises.
Researchers used dynamic mapping to analyze hospitalization records for adults over 65 across the US during individual flu seasons. The analysis revealed variations in disease patterns, including shifts in geographic spread and timing of peaks.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered a mechanism for organ placement in humans and other species, including plants and worms, that is driven by tubulin proteins. This finding has implications for understanding birth defects and the development of asymmetrical patterning across the tree of life.
Researchers at Tufts University have discovered a way to stabilize heat-sensitive drugs in silk protein, preserving potency for months at temperatures above 110 degrees F. The technology allows for the development of single devices that can store and deliver vaccines or antibiotics without costly refrigeration.
Researchers at Tufts University found that female fireflies prefer males with larger nuptial gifts after mating, leading to higher reproductive success. This discovery challenges the conventional view that flash duration is the primary cue for female choice in firefly courtship.
Researchers found that rotavirus incidence is higher during the coldest, driest months of the year in South Asia. They also discovered an association between rotavirus and vegetation density, suggesting a potential tool for disease surveillance and prevention.
Researchers created fully biodegradable silk scaffolds with high-compressive strength, mimicking native bone features. The composite materials enhanced human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and improved bone remodeling.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified a self-correcting mechanism by which developing organisms recognize and repair head and facial abnormalities. This process allows craniofacial structures to move and remodel themselves to compensate for defects, restoring normal shape and position.
The PCP genetic pathway has been found to act as a stop sign for cell growth, signaling organisms when to halt growth. Inhibition of this pathway results in excess growth of neural tissue, offering new potential strategies for regenerative medicine and birth defect treatment.
Researchers at Tufts University discovered that single atoms of palladium can catalyze industrially important chemical reactions, including the hydrogenation of acetylene. The findings offer significant economic and environmental benefits by reducing costs and waste associated with traditional catalysts.
Researchers at Tufts University developed silk-based microneedle systems that can precisely control drug release rates and maintain bioactivity. The technology has the potential to address limitations in existing painless drug delivery mechanisms and prevent local infections.
Researchers at Tufts University used genetic manipulation to induce eye formation in tadpoles' backs and tails, revealing a new control mechanism for organ development. This breakthrough enables potential applications in regenerative medicine, including eye transplantation and limb regeneration.
A team of researchers, led by Tufts University scientists, discovered a new species of fungus in an invasive paper wasp nest. The fungus, named Mucor nidicola, is fluffy and fast-growing, resembling bunny fur.
Tufts University researcher Catherine Kuo is developing living tissue in the lab to study factors contributing to birth defects. She plans to engineer normal and abnormal tissues to investigate the impact of muscle movement on embryonic development.
A team of scientists at Tufts University is developing ultra-sensitive techniques to detect breast cancer earlier and treat it with greater precision. They aim to create a simple blood test for screening and diagnose the disease more accurately.
A study from Tufts University found that social status cues can alter the perception of race, revealing a complex process influenced by context and pre-existing stereotypes. The researchers used computer simulations to demonstrate how subtle effects of status cues emerge in a system similar to the human brain.
Chemists at Tufts University have developed a single molecule electric motor, measuring 1 nanometer across and controlled by electricity. The motor's operation depends on temperatures around 5 Kelvin, which could lead to real-world applications in sensing devices and medical equipment.
A Tufts University study found that analyzing bird feathers can detect corticosterone levels, a hormone linked to avian stress response. The technique provides a long-term snapshot of stress exposure and has implications for conservationists studying human impacts on wildlife.
Sam Guyer, a Tufts University assistant professor of computer science, has won a $443,000 grant to develop a new approach to improving virtual machines. His research aims to create more efficient software that can balance security and resource usage without sacrificing performance.
Scientists have observed three stages of bioelectric activity that shape the developing face, including a wave of hyperpolarization that marks eye formation and gene expression domains. Disrupting this signaling can lead to craniofacial abnormalities.
Researchers found that practitioners' judgments of patients with Parkinson's disease were influenced by cultural and gender stereotypes, leading to inequitable healthcare. Facial masking, a condition where faces lose expression, was particularly stigmatizing for women and men from different ethnic backgrounds.
Three teams of Tufts graduate students have won $10,000 from the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Award program for their research on clean water, renewable energy, and green medical technologies. The winners will use their prize money to develop solutions to pressing global challenges.
According to a new study from Tufts University researchers, whites now perceive anti-white racism as a bigger problem than anti-black racism. Whites agree that anti-black racism has decreased over the last 60 years, while also believing that anti-white racism has increased and is now prevalent.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed a device that can help reduce patient discomfort during colonoscopies by detecting and preventing 'looping' of the scope. The EFOST technology uses fiber optic bend sensors to create a visual image of the scope's position and shape, allowing doctors to make adjustments in real-time.
Fiorenzo Omenetto, a Tufts biomedical engineer, has been awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship to develop bioresorbable optical and electronic components. His research focuses on silk-based photonics, which could address unmet needs in medical, food safety, and environmental applications.
Researchers found that the process of repairing damaged DNA repeats can lead to cell death in yeast, providing insight into neurodegenerative diseases. The study suggests that expanded DNA repeats can be toxic to cells, contributing to disease progression.
Assistant Professor Tom Vandervelde of Tufts University has been awarded a $400,000 NSF Career Award to continue his research on thermophotovoltaics. His goal is to make these cells more efficient at lower temperatures, enabling applications in medical devices and sustainable energy solutions such as cooling data server farms.
Researchers found that flying female fireflies receive nuptial gifts from their mates, whereas wingless females do not. This suggests that flightless females prioritize reproduction over male contributions.
Researchers found five to ten times more massive galaxies existed 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, with high infrared luminosities indicating intense growth and activity, challenging current understanding of galaxy formation.
Joshua Kritzer's $1.5 million grant will fund rapid drug-screening process to identify new cancer treatments. Cyclic peptides, produced using baker's yeast, can bind with disease-causing proteins that are difficult to target.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered that changes in membrane voltage in newly identified 'instructor cells' can cause stem cells' descendants to trigger melanoma-like growth in pigment cells. The researchers found that this metastatic transformation is due to changes in serotonin transport.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered that sodium plays a key role in initiating a regenerative response after severe injury, enabling the regeneration of injured spinal cord and muscle. A specific drug-based treatment triggers an influx of sodium ions into injured cells, breaking new ground in biomedicine.
Researchers created the first large area metamaterial structures on implantable bio-compatible silk substrates, providing a promising path towards developing novel biomaterial-inspired biosensors and biodetectors. The silk metamaterials retained their resonance properties while implanted under muscle tissue, opening up possibilities fo...
Researchers at Tufts University have made significant advancements in silk materials, transforming them from commodity textiles to high-tech applications. The development of silk hydrogels, films, fibers, and sponges enables advances in photonics, nanotechnology, electronics, adhesives, and microfluidics.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered a novel 'two-body' system of locomotion in the crawling tobacco hawkmoth caterpillar, where its gut moves independently of the surrounding body wall. This finding may offer valuable insights for designing soft-bodied robots and re-examining the role of soft tissues in human biomechanics.
Researchers find DNA polymerase theta promotes inaccurate DNA repair process that can cause mutations and cancer. The discovery could lead to the development of new cancer drugs targeting the protein.
Four Tufts graduate students have won $10,000 from the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge for their research into sustainable solutions to global challenges. The winners proposed innovative projects on topics such as clean water access, food security, and animal species decline.
A Tufts University study sheds light on how marine animals like Galapagos iguanas survive stress, revealing the crucial role of negative feedback in coping with 'fight or flight' responses. The research also has implications for understanding wildlife responses to environmental disasters and oil spills.
Researchers found that hermit crabs gather in groups and queue up for new shells, increasing the chances of finding improved housing. This social behavior is similar to human apartment hunting and can be applied to other animals relying on reusable resources.
A Tufts study found that nonverbal behavior on popular TV shows influences viewers' own racial bias, with white characters exhibiting more positive responses. The research showed that exposure to subtle patterns of racial bias via TV can measurably influence bias among viewers.
A team of researchers led by Tufts University Professor Gregory Crane will create a database to track topics in primary and secondary Greek and Latin sources. The system uses data mining to determine patterns and connections, enabling undergraduate research and critical thinking.
Scientists from Tufts University have proposed a link between cholera outbreaks and fluctuating water levels in the region's three principal rivers. The researchers found two distinctive epidemic patterns associated with seasonal cycles of low river flows and floods.
Biocompatible silk-based optical waveguides have been developed to meet the growing need for photonic components in biomedical applications. These waveguides are fabricated using direct ink writing and can be readily functionalized with active molecules.
A research team led by Sergei Mirkin has developed a yeast model to study the molecular mechanisms of Friedreich's ataxia, a genetic disorder caused by GAA repeat expansions. The team found that proteins facilitating smooth replication fork progression decrease repeat expansions, while those causing fork deviations increase them.
A three-year study by Tufts University aims to determine whether service-learning enhances engineering programs' appeal to students, particularly women. The research will investigate service-learning's impact on student motivation, self-efficacy, and confidence in their skills.
Researchers at Tufts University found that long CGG repeats stall replication, leading to chromosomal fragility and breaking, and disable cellular checkpoints that repair replication malfunctions.
A Tufts University study found that women on low-carb diets performed poorly on memory-based tasks compared to those on reduced-calorie diets with carbohydrates. Cognitive skills returned to normal when carbohydrates were reintroduced.