A new study by a multi-disciplinary team suggests that including social media visuals on screen undermines the purpose of presidential primary debates. The researchers found that competing visual stimuli may distract viewers from what is being said, hindering learning outcomes.
A new paper published in Global Ecology and Conservation found that pronghorn productivity is declining due to oil and gas development and woody encroachment. The study recommends preemptive management of woody vegetation to ensure sufficient forage for pronghorns, a crucial step in preventing population decline.
A recent study found that GPT-4 scored higher than human participants in three tests designed to measure divergent thinking, an indicator of creative potential. The AI demonstrated higher originality and elaboration in its responses, with improved fluency controlling for human performance.
Grant Shields, a psychologist at the University of Arkansas, has received an NSF CAREER Award to investigate how stress affects cognitive control. His research aims to identify the underlying processes that influence inhibitory control and develop a publicly available course to disseminate his findings.
A recent study examines the frequency of compound drought and pluvial flooding, as well as their reverse patterns, finding that 15.46% of meteorological droughts are succeeded by a pluvial the following season globally, with regional variability existing in Eurasia, western North America, South Asia, and Australia.
A study experimentally caused a predator die-off to understand its impact on freshwater ecosystems, finding that rapid predator deaths lead to an increase in zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton proliferation. However, this effect can sometimes introduce decaying biomass that causes harmful algal blooms.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers suggests that male-biased pathology makes male canaries more likely to transmit the avian bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The study found that male birds have shorter incubation periods, longer recovery periods, and higher pathogen loads than females.
The NIH award will explore how damage to mitochondria affects bioenergetic function and organ function, leading to disease severity and failure. The study aims to better understand mitochondria mutations and develop new therapies for patients with mitochondrial disorders.
A new study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice found that Black Americans experience poorer self-rated health and chronic conditions when associated with contact from the criminal justice system. Probation was identified as a strong driver of lower health outcomes, due to its stressful nature and lack of economic and social r...
Researchers analyzed tree-ring data and historical records to reconstruct rainfall totals in the eastern Amazon. They found that recent extreme floods may not have exceeded natural hydroclimatic variability, but could still pose devastating consequences for a growing population living in high-risk areas.
A $450,000 NIH grant will support a training program for Arkansas dentists on evidence-based child behavioral-management skills. This initiative aims to enhance young patient compliance and reduce dental anxiety in children aged 2-10 years.
The University of Arkansas has launched a revolutionary new semiconductor research and fabrication facility, enabling companies, national laboratories, and universities to develop low-volume prototypes with silicon carbide. The MUSiC facility will accelerate technological advancement and workforce development in the US.
A new study proves that thermal fluctuations of freestanding graphene can produce useful work by charging storage capacitors. The system satisfies both the first and second laws of thermodynamics throughout the charging process.
The NIH grant will support researchers investigating how exercise can slow the decline of skeletal muscle with age, with a focus on the transcription factor MYC. The study aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying exercise-induced rejuvenation of old muscle and its potential applications for promoting youthfulness.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas successfully used gene editing to reduce 'chalkiness' in rice, a condition caused by heat stress. The modified rice lines showed a significant improvement in grain quality, with increased starch granule compactness and reduced chalkiness.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers determines that hundreds of human skulls and mandibles at the Crenshaw site are local ancestors of the Caddo Nation. The findings use a novel dating technique to test lead and strontium isotopes in human teeth, revealing a multiregional pattern indicative of local ancestry.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers found that local newspaper coverage significantly improved the general information about public companies, leading to lower stock volatility and more accurate financial forecasts. Conversely, declining local news coverage increased stock volatility, information asymmetry, and illiquidity.
Physicist Jin Hu receives second CAREER award from National Science Foundation to investigate topological quantum materials. The award aims to discover novel physics and new materials with advanced functionalities for technology applications.
Chelsea Kross, a University of Arkansas alumna in biological sciences, earned the BioOne Ambassador award for her creative approach to science communication. Her research highlights the decline of the crawfish frog due to habitat destruction and provides insights into conservation efforts.
Researchers found that autistic children exhibit higher levels of verbal aggression and disruptive behavioral intensity across three critical developmental periods. Autistic children also show more physical aggression in early childhood, but this gap closes as they age.
The University of Arkansas engineering faculty will research ways to improve 3D printing of concrete and indigenous soils for horizontal construction projects. The project aims to develop printing instructions for mobile robots and explore biomimetic structures that can reduce material use while increasing strength.
Researchers will study how genetics and environment affect butterfly vision and behavior in the region's unique light environment. The goal is to understand how climate change impacts pollinators like butterflies.
Exercise promotes a molecular profile consistent with expression of youthfulness-promoting Yamanaka factors, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Physiology. The researchers found that exercise induces Myc protein in muscle, which may serve as a naturally induced reprogramming stimulus.
A $749,960 NSF grant will develop AI-powered AAC devices to improve outcomes for individuals with limited speech and language. The technology aims to reduce the burden on users and enhance their participation in education and workforce activities.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed computer models to determine a drug candidate's binding affinity to proteins. The models use computational physics and experimental data to estimate the effective energy of the ligand at every grid point, allowing for accurate estimation of binding affinity.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $800,000 to support the development of Edge AI applications in a proposed wearable diabetes management device. The project aims to create a smart, wearable device that monitors blood sugar levels without the need for frequent blood draws, reducing delays and increasing privacy and security.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers found that the firms experiencing greater returns around the date of senator's purchase disclosure have direct jurisdiction over them through a committee assignment or sponsorship. This suggests investors' perception of senators trading on inside information may be inaccurate over time.
Researchers studied thousands of SEC filings and found that firms disclose bad news more likely to announce unrelated news. The use of concurrent, unrelated press releases impedes market reaction to negative news by drawing investor attention away from the disclosure.
A new study by University of Arkansas professors Janine Parry and Andrew Dowdle documents the resurgence of one-party monopolies in American states. Most states have heavily favored one of the two major parties for at least a century, with some experiencing dramatic shifts in party affiliation over time.
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity awarded a $637,223 grant to Brajendra Panda to develop fast and accurate recovery mechanisms for critical infrastructure systems after cyber-attacks. The goal is to minimize delays and ensure continued operation of critical functions such as electricity.
Researchers found strong and linear associations between social media use and depression across all personality traits. Young adults who used more social media were 49% less likely to become depressed if they had high agreeableness compared to those with low agreeableness.
A new paper challenges the 'Carter argument', suggesting life on Earth increases the probability of abiogenesis elsewhere. The author argues that the existence of life on Earth is old evidence that should be treated as such.
A study co-authored by Amelia Villaseñor reveals that the extinction of megafauna in North America more than 10,000 years ago resulted in a reorganized, vulnerable ecosystem. The research found that surviving mammal communities were affected, with vacant niches and changes in dietary habits.
The University of Arkansas has been awarded $699,604 by NIST to enhance a Wi-Fi nano-biosensor for palm-sized SARS-COV-II detection. The new sensor will confirm whether the coronavirus is alive or dead, significantly improving detection accuracy.
Researchers used geospatial big data to analyze Black-owned restaurants' performance during the pandemic. They found that Black-owned restaurants experienced greater disparities in lost patronage compared to other restaurants.
A study found that air and water temperatures are reliable predictors of fish mass mortality events. The researchers predict an approximate six-fold increase in the frequency of fish mortality events by 2100 based on local water temperature projections, and a 34-fold increase based on air temperature projections.
A physicist has defended the Stokes-Einstein equation's validity in living systems, providing insight into bacterial resistance to antibiotics and cancer cell mechanics. The research reveals that the equation remains valid when considering entangled polymers and filaments within bacteria.
Researchers developed a model inspired by vascular biophysics to examine the stability of coastal channel loops. They found that strong interplay between rivers and tides is essential for loop stability, and that flows must constantly rearrange themselves to keep them open.
Researchers gathered vision data on hundreds of vertebrates and invertebrates, determining that land animals can see a wider range of colors. The study found that evolutionary history influences which colors a species sees, with invertebrates better suited to detecting short wavelengths of light.
A new study found that COVID vaccine trials conducted in locations with low infection rates reported higher efficacy results compared to those in high infection rates. The researchers argue that pandemic prevalence should be included in the interpretation of Phase 3 trial efficacy results for more meaningful policy decisions.
Physicists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a light-induced mechanism to control ferroelectric polarization in a deterministic manner. By applying ultrafast laser pulses, researchers can manipulate and reverse this polarization.
Researchers are developing novel graphite coatings with the goal of reducing energy consumption and equipment failure in industrial conveyor systems. The new coatings will be thinner, more durable, and environmentally superior to traditional lubricants.
A University of Arkansas professor is developing learning algorithms for building fair decision models in both offline and online learning settings. He will utilize Pearl's Structural Causal Model to analyze causal effects from observational data and propose universal formulations for measuring long-term fairness.
A biomedical engineering researcher will create a combined 'nasal airway and lung-on-a-chip' platform to mimic the upper and lower respiratory system. The AirLOC model will simulate exposure to particulate matter pollution, replicating complex organ functions and tissue interactions.
Researchers found that US corporate insiders with production or supply-chain activities in China sold stock ahead of the pandemic's impact, leading to significantly higher profits. These insiders were better attuned to publicly available information about COVID-19 and avoided aggregate losses of approximately $300 million.
A developmental gene found in humans is also present in sea anemones and plays a critical role in their ability to sense touch. This discovery sheds light on the ancient evolutionary roots of human hearing and its connection to other sensory modalities.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2's spike protein is more stable and has a higher energy barrier for activation, allowing it to evade the human immune response. This difference in binding behavior contributes to its increased transmissibility and infectivity.
Researchers will investigate the downstream effects of SARS-COV-2 on aortic valve pathology. The study aims to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between COVID-19 and heart valve damage.
Researchers will use virtual reality to simulate crimes and evaluate eyewitness accuracy and confidence. The pristine condition hypothesis suggests that high-confidence witness identifications are likely to be accurate when procedures are optimal.
Researchers found agreeableness had a desirable effect on 93% of variables and outcomes, emphasizing teamwork and cooperation. The study's findings suggest that agreeableness is a helpful trait for both individual and organizational success.