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University of Delaware


Offshore wind push

Researchers from University of Delaware and Princeton University show that US grid can manage large amounts of offshore wind power, reducing pollution and electricity costs. The study found that the PJM grid can handle over 35 gigawatts of offshore wind, powering approximately 10 million homes.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalRenewable Energy·DateFeb 21, 2017

Old enzyme, new role

A team of researchers at UD has discovered a new function for an enzyme involved in bacterial metabolism. They found that the enzyme plays a major role when generating sugars from non-sugar substrates and facilitates 'back-flow' even when sugar is being consumed.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 27, 2017

Finding a needle in the ocean

Xia emphasizes that big data is about more than just numbers and requires new mathematical methods to analyze. Researchers in mathematics, signal processing, and computer science must develop these new tools to unlock the full potential of big data.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalIEEE Signal Processing Magazine·DateJan 20, 2017

Tectonic shift?

Researchers studied olivine, a key mineral in Earth's mantle, to understand plate tectonics and measure the Earth's surface thickness. They found that tectonic plates are approximately 100 kilometers thick, contradicting previous theories.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 14, 2016

Military environment

Researchers at the University of Delaware developed models to improve environmental conservation on military bases, resulting in a 21% increase in military readiness and environmental protection. The study found that by considering the cost-effectiveness of project selections, the DoD can achieve significant benefits with reduced costs.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalLand Economics·DateNov 29, 2016

Oceans act as 'heat sink'

A new study by the University of Delaware and colleagues reveals that oceans play a crucial role in absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere, redistributing it within the Earth system. This redistribution explains the observed decrease in global mean surface temperature, considered a key indicator of climate change.

Secrets in the soil

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a combination of beneficial soil microbes that can boost rice plant defenses against both arsenic and fungal diseases. By applying a 'health cocktail' of these microbes, plants can better withstand stresses, providing a natural solution for addressing global food security concerns.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateNov 17, 2016

Nightlights under the sea

A new study reveals that 100 feet below the ocean surface is a critical depth for ecological activity in the Arctic polar night. Bioluminescence from marine organisms becomes the dominant light source at this depth, and changes in zooplankton composition are observed as depth increases.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 2, 2016

Healthy knees

The study aims to examine the biochemical and biomechanical bases for osteoarthritis development after ACL surgery. Researchers plan to analyze gait mechanics, electromyography, qMRI, and finite element modeling to understand knee unloading and cartilage stress distribution.

Putting software on a diet

Researchers aim to improve energy efficiency in software applications by increasing understanding of their impact on power usage. The three-year project will develop novel automatic analyses and tools to support decision-making, with the goal of enabling software engineers to create more energy-efficient code.

Sensing trouble: A new way to detect hidden damage in bridges, roads

Researchers from the University of Delaware have developed a new approach to detect hidden damage in structures, using carbon nanotube composites and electrical impedance tomography. The technique can monitor the health of structures and alert owners to potential problems, with major benefits including scalability and relatively low cost.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Nondestructive Evaluation·DateJul 7, 2016

Research: Your kids are what you eat

A recent study found that parental diet quality has a significant impact on children's diet quality, with too few vegetables and empty calories being major contributors. Researchers analyzed data from over 600 parent-child duos and found that parents had better diet scores than kids, but only by a small margin.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJul 6, 2016

Should I stay or should I go?

A new study published by researchers at the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center aims to sharpen planners' insight on how many people may leave a given area during a hurricane. The study found that demographic data, such as race and socioeconomic status, influence evacuation decisions, with white respondents having a highe...

Major support for cataract study

Researchers led by Salil Lachke are investigating cellular processes controlling protein production in eye lenses to prevent cataracts. The team aims to build a biological gene regulatory circuit and understand the role of RNA-binding proteins in lens development.

Polymer 'pens'

The University of Delaware-DuPont team has received an NSF grant to investigate a new approach to manufacturing small-scale structures that are cheaper, lighter and defect-free. The research aims to create ultra-small features using self-assembling macromolecules and block copolymers.

An eco-friendly approach to reducing toxic arsenic in rice

University of Delaware researchers found that incorporating rice husk into soil can decrease toxic arsenic levels in rice grain by 25 to 50 percent. This eco-friendly approach has implications for developing countries relying on rice as a staple food and aims to improve soil quality without negatively affecting yield.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJun 8, 2016

Researchers take prints of storms on the ocean floor

Scientists have developed an algorithm to characterize ripples on the ocean floor, which can help understand storm behavior. The algorithm uses fingerprint analysis to measure ripple parameters, such as wavelength and orientation, allowing for more accurate predictions of erosion, storm surge, and overwash.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalContinental Shelf Research·DateJun 7, 2016

Repairing chronic wounds

Researchers at University of Delaware develop new biomaterials platform to stimulate growth factor expression and enhance chronic wound repair. The approach aims to provide a more efficient and localized production of growth factors, promoting full wound closure.

Highly tuned catalytic controls

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new process that triggers targeted reactions using red or near-infrared light or a tiny dose of an enzyme. This breakthrough has significant implications for medicine and engineering, particularly in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 2, 2016

Plasma physics' giant leap

Researchers analyze MMS data to understand magnetic reconnection, a process that produces powerful phenomena including solar flares and large releases of plasma from the sun's corona. The mission provides high-resolution measurements of particles and electric and magnetic fields at the electron scale.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience·DateMay 17, 2016

Finding sleep's sweet spot

Researchers found that the early-to-bed, early-to-rise approach is associated with better cardiovascular health behaviors, including reduced smoking, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary choices. Adequate sleep at optimal times is key to promoting heart-healthy habits.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine·DateApr 21, 2016

Prison's extended punch

A new study by Kathleen Brewer-Smyth of the University of Delaware's College of Health Sciences found that female inmates with an incarcerated adult family member during childhood were more than twice as likely to have neurological abnormalities as adults. The implications are significant internationally, particularly in light of a Wor...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalHealth Care For Women International·DateApr 19, 2016

Scientists uncover what makes plants 'clot'

Researchers have identified two novel molecular players necessary to regulate plasmodesmata in plants under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. These enzymes help control the flow of nutrients, minerals, and cellular signals between cells by altering callose levels at the plasmodesmata channel.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Plants·DateApr 11, 2016

UD researchers examine ways to break down, track synthetic compound in herbicides

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a method to break down glyphosate, a common commercial herbicide, using manganese oxide minerals. The study found that the mineral can degrade glyphosate and AMPA, a major byproduct, within hours, providing a potential solution to environmental concerns about these compounds.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateMar 24, 2016

Getting from here to there

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new algorithm to reduce massive amounts of connected traffic data, enabling real-time information to be provided to users. The HTGD approach identifies similar communities in the data and finds the shortest route at the highest level, reducing search space and increasing effici...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalIIE Transactions·DateMar 2, 2016