Researchers at UConn School of Medicine developed a new hearing test to identify binaural processing deficits in individuals with normal or near-normal audiograms. The study found that listeners with essentially normal clinical hearing test results may exhibit substantial deficits in binaural processing.
A new study has found that ventilator-associated pneumonia rates have been stable and substantial since 2005, with approximately 10% of critically ill patients developing the condition. The study's findings contradict previous data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting a need for further research into preven...
A recent study found that mixed-severity fires, also known as 'Goldilocks fires,' can increase biodiversity of birds in California forests over time. The research suggests that forest managers should prioritize managing forests to promote a mixture of intensities, resulting in a mosaic of patches with different burn severities.
A new study by University of Connecticut researchers reveals that larger particles, approximately 2 microns in size, are most effective for delivering cancer drugs to tumor sites. Smaller particles, however, tend to skip through blood cells and reach the target site less frequently.
A global campaign is proposed to gather essential biological information to improve climate change predictions for biodiversity. Current predictions fail to account for critical factors like species competition and movement, leading to inaccurate outcomes.
A global study found that patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the hospital for congestive heart failure face a high risk of mortality, highlighting the need for increased attention to this critical condition. The study suggests that heart failure outcomes should receive equal scrutiny as other cardiovascular events in future rese...
Eating walnuts changes the gut microbiome in a way that suppresses colon cancer, with male mice developing 2.3 times fewer tumors when fed walnuts as part of a Western diet. This effect is likely due to walnut's anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote a diverse gut flora.
A study by the University of Connecticut team reveals that natural forest regrowth can store significant amounts of carbon, doubling in young second-growth forests and increasing by 120% in intermediate age forests. This approach offers a low-cost alternative to tree planting for reaching carbon mitigation targets.
Gram-negative bacteria use vesicles to communicate with and influence neighboring cells, triggering a deadly response in the body. The vesicles can lead to inflammation, fever, and low blood pressure, making sepsis difficult to cure.
UConn researchers develop a systematized approach to materials design using machine learning. They create numerical fingerprints of polymers based on atomic configurations, enabling computers to quickly scan theoretical compounds for desired properties. The breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the search for new materials.
Researchers at UConn investigate whether early exposure to sign language can forestall cognitive issues in deaf children, challenging a longstanding debate. The study finds that congenitally deaf children who learn sign language from birth develop language, cognition, and literacy on normal timetables.
Hydrothermal activity plays a significant role in the earth's climate. The release of hot molten rock from beneath the earth's crust drives this process. By analyzing sedimentary records, researchers have established a direct causal relationship between hydrothermal activity and deglaciation.
Researchers discovered a specific gene variant linked to fragile bones in mice with Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, a rare inherited disorder. The study suggests that overactive bone-absorbing cells contribute to the disease's characteristic bone loss and fractures.
The American College of Prosthodontists has published its first national clinical practice guidelines, emphasizing the importance of routine dental examinations every 6 months to maintain restored teeth and implants. The guidelines also highlight the need for continuous education on individualized at-home maintenance regimens.
A team of engineers has developed a simple technique for diagnosing and monitoring sickle cell disease using magnetic levitation and a smartphone. The test is quick, inexpensive, and can be performed in regions with limited medical resources.
Researchers sequenced the complete genome of dinoflagellate S. kawagutii, revealing surprising findings about its genetic makeup and adaptability. The study suggests that this species has evolved to cope with stress imposed by climate change and pollution, potentially holding key to understanding other dinoflagellates.
Researchers have successfully sequenced the most complicated gene known using the MinION nanopore sequencer, demonstrating a new technology that can quickly and affordably analyze complex gene expressions.
A national effort helped Connecticut rebalance long-term care services, transitioning over 2,200 residents to community settings. This increased overall quality of life and life satisfaction among participants.
A team of physicists has identified a material with negative thermal expansion, shrinking in size as it warms. The discovery challenges current theoretical understanding of thermal expansion and may lead to the development of more durable electronics.
A new study by UConn Health psychiatrist Golda Ginsburg found that family-based intervention works to prevent anxiety in children. The study, published online September 25 in The American Journal of Psychiatry, found only 9% of children who participated in a therapist-directed family intervention developed anxiety after one year.
A new drug, SF0034, selectively affects potassium channels in the brain to treat epilepsy and prevent tinnitus. It has shown promise in preventing seizures in animals and is being developed as a potential treatment for both conditions.
A new study found that catch-and-release practices in recreational fishing may influence the evolutionary path of species, favoring fish with lower metabolisms. Researchers compared largemouth bass populations from fished and unfished lakes, showing a significant difference in metabolic rates.
Researchers found that populations of largemouth bass taken from recreational fisheries had significantly lower resting metabolic rates than those from unexploited reference populations. This suggests that recreational fishing may favor fish with lower metabolic rates, which tend to be more aggressive and easier to catch.
A study found that a common mutation in the SCARB1 gene is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, especially among men and African Americans. The mutation was linked to a 49% higher risk of heart disease in African American males compared to white males.
Research by UConn researcher Mark Hamilton analyzed 300 celebrities across various fields, finding that certain astrological signs tend to cluster at specific times of the year. These seasonal effects are associated with traits like creativity, extroversion, and stubbornness.
Echoes and fluctuations in volume are key cues for judging sound distance, a finding that opens up new possibilities for improving hearing aids and prostheses. Researchers used tiny microphones to record rabbit sounds and simulated modulated noise, measuring neural responses in the midbrain.
A new mobile phone app, LifeRhythm, detects depression symptoms by analyzing user behavior such as activity levels and social interactions. The technology has the potential to revolutionize depression diagnosis, providing an objective and automated screening method.
A UConn Health study finds that smaller plates do not universally help reduce portions in children and teens with obesity. The researchers suggest that diet education should be clear, simple, repeated, and interesting for this population.
Researchers have made an experimental breakthrough in understanding the Kondo Effect, a phenomenon affecting electrical resistance in materials. The discovery could lead to new technologies, including magnetic refrigeration and magnetocaloric properties, which could significantly reduce energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions.
Research suggests that too much artificial light in the evening can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm and lead to health problems such as breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, and depression. Experts recommend using devices with dimmer, longer wavelengths of light in the evening to minimize disruption.
A recent study by the University of Connecticut explores the potential of important fish species to adapt to a more acidic ocean due to climate change. The researchers found that related fish had similar lifespans, suggesting a significant genetic component to survival in an acidic environment.
Researchers have developed a new method to protect computer chips using advanced 3D optical imaging and photon encryption, making them virtually uncounterfeitable. The system replaces traditional electronic part numbers with compressed QR codes that can be scaled down to the size of microns.
A study found that both fruit flies and mice exhibit similar cellular and genetic features during ovulation, including the degradation of follicle cells and the role of Matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp) enzymes. These similarities suggest a conserved basic mechanism in ovulation across animals.
A National Institutes of Health white paper found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of opioid drugs in treating long-term chronic pain, despite their widespread use. The study's findings suggest that many studies used to justify prescription were poorly conducted or of insufficient duration.
A rare connexin mutation has been linked to a baby's disordered breathing, with researchers discovering that astrocytes with the mutation cannot bind to carbon dioxide. This breakthrough could lead to the development of an algorithm to pinpoint when a premature infant's breathing pattern goes south.
The study identifies tiny differences in protein sequences between cancer cells and healthy tissue, enabling the creation of personalized vaccines. The research aims to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer, which often responds well to surgery and chemotherapy but returns lethally within a year or two.
UConn scientists have found a way to prevent Monk Parakeet nests from causing power outages and public hazards on utility poles. By blocking the pathway to their nests, researchers can keep these invasive birds from building huge nests that weigh up to 200 pounds and cost electric utility companies millions of dollars annually.
A 325,000-year-old site in Armenia challenges old assumptions about human technological development by revealing the simultaneous use of two distinct technologies: biface and Levallois. The discovery highlights local innovation and flexibility rather than population expansion, suggesting that humans developed Levallois technology out o...
Human embryonic stem cell therapy has been shown to significantly reduce MS disease severity in animal models, offering a promising new treatment for the debilitating disease. The therapy also provides an unlimited source of high-quality mesenchymal stem cells, which can be propagated indefinitely in lab cultures.
A new study found that migratory birds are responsible for spreading plant species across the Americas, with seeds trapped in their feathers offering clues to plant distribution between hemispheres. The research provides critical insight into the ecology and evolution of plants represented across both continents.
A $440,000 grant-funded global project aims to protect remaining old-growth forests and promote sustainable reforestation through a multidisciplinary approach. Researchers from 14 countries will work together to understand factors leading to forest regrowth and provide tangible recommendations for policymakers.
Researchers from UConn, University of Maryland, and Rice University will analyze and upgrade security protections for nanoscale computer hardware with a $7.5 million grant. The project aims to elevate security as a fundamental design parameter for next-generation nanoscale devices.
A UConn team developed a novel process creating monomodal mesoporous metal oxides with uniform pores, allowing targeted molecules to flow in and out of the material. This 'green' technology has significant applications in adsorption, sensors, optics, magnetic, and energy products.
A UConn research team has found a way to stabilize hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier protein in the blood, by wrapping it in a polymer chain. This discovery could lead to the development of stable vaccines and affordable artificial blood substitutes.
A new report by UConn Prof. Jonathan Plucker examines the 'excellence gap' in high-achieving American students, revealing that students from specific backgrounds dominate national assessment tests. The study shows the gap between white, relatively affluent students and their poorer, nonwhite classmates has widened since 1996.
Researchers from UConn have captured the structural dynamics of a protein channel in the mitochondrion using fluorescent probes. The study reveals that the channel complex changes its structure in response to changes in the inner membrane's electrical field, providing new insights into how cellular transport systems harness energy.
A study has shown how a relatively young gene can acquire an essential function and become crucial for an organism's survival. Researchers found that the novel essential gene in fruit flies, born via gene duplication, acquired its role through stepwise changes over 15 million years.
A new UConn study found that video game players are more likely to experience aggressive thoughts and words when battling human-like characters. The research suggests that exposure to violent games can lead to increased aggression, particularly when players perceive the opponents as human-like.
A new geochemical method has found a link between the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and Earth's surface temperature, suggesting that the planet is inextricably linked. The study uses a recently developed technique to measure the change in terrestrial temperature associated with a shift in global atmospheric CO2 concentrat...
A novel fabrication technique called selective area atomic layer deposition (ALD) developed by Brian Willis could vastly improve the efficiency of solar rectenna arrays. Rectennas can harness more than 70% of the sun's electromagnetic radiation, converting it into usable electric power.