Virginia Tech professor Webster Santos has received a grant to discover drugs that inhibit a small molecule transporter, which modulates the immune system and could treat multiple sclerosis. The collaboration aims to develop SPNS2 inhibitors for treating MS and metastatic cancers.
Researchers have developed a method to use atovaquone-coated mosquito bed nets to cure mosquitoes and prevent malaria spread. The treatment could be more effective and less harmful than current methods.
A team of researchers has discovered a rare double helix structure in the high-strength polymer PBDT, which could enable the creation of lightweight aerospace materials. The polymer's supreme rigidity and low processing cost make it an attractive alternative to conventional fillers.
Research reveals that vaccines may be less effective at higher pathogen doses and when individuals have similar susceptibility, such as younger or malnourished populations. Mathematical modeling simulations validated these findings with real-world data from nearly 6,000 articles.
Researchers Lee Vinsel and Andrew Russell aim to improve the lives of maintenance professionals through a global network and recognition. They received a $189,193 grant from the Alfred Sloan Foundation to connect leaders with maintainers in various industries.
A free software platform called Photo Sleuth uses crowdsourcing to identify faces in Civil War-era photos, with over 85% of proposed identifications being correct. The database now contains over 4,000 registered users and more than 8,000 photos, making it a valuable tool for historians and genealogists.
A team of paleontologists has discovered the oldest known frog fossils in North America, dating back to the Late Triassic period around 216 million years ago. The fossils, found in Arizona, provide new insights into the ecosystems of the time and highlight the importance of microfossil collection and analysis.
A recent study published in PNAS revealed that raindrop impact can transport rust spores using tornado-like air vortices, enabling long-distance pathogen spread. This discovery has significant implications for preventing disease spread in wheat crops and may inform new strategies for managing disease.
Researchers found that sealing holes less than 3mm wide can keep out most brown marmorated stink bugs. Removing dead stink bugs can also deter new arrivals, while 'seeding' traps with corpses may improve performance but requires further testing.
Guoliang Liu's lab creates uniform porous structures in carbon fibers, enabling high loading of pseudocapacitive materials like MnO2. This results in a balance between high energy density and sustained high charging and discharging rates, overcoming industry challenges.
Research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers using hands-free electronic devices are less likely to get into a crash. The study analyzed data from over 3,400 drivers and found that hands-free cell phone use was associated with a lower crash rate in some cases.
A team of researchers studied the evolution of plants and fungi over 1 billion years to find that their coexistence played a key role in shaping their biodiversities. The study found that fungal colonization of land was associated with the emergence of terrestrial green algae, which preceded the origin of land plants.
For the first time, researchers have created carbon fibers with uniform pores, enabling greater surface area and improved energy storage. This breakthrough, achieved using block copolymers, opens up new possibilities for designing functional materials.
A study published in Political Communication found that digital ads increased voter participation in a Dallas municipal election by 2.6 percentage points. The ads targeted millennials with information and reminders, resulting in higher turnout rates in competitive districts.
Researchers found a correlation between loss of function in patches of astrocytes and development of epilepsy. Altered astrocytes may be the root of epilepsy development after mild traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a method to 3D print piezoelectric materials that can be custom-designed to convert movement, impact, and stress into electrical energy. The new printing technique enables the creation of smart materials with high sensitivities, flexibility, and programmable properties.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified the structure of iridium single-atom catalysts, leading to a 25-fold increase in efficiency compared to traditional catalysts. The study's findings pave the way for designing more cost-efficient and effective catalysts.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a novel drug delivery system that uses attenuated bacteria cells to transport anti-cancer drugs directly to cancer sites, showing up to 100-fold improvements in distribution and retention. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment options.
A study of over 2,400 low-income women found that stress and poverty can lead to chronic diseases in mothers and children. Breastfeeding was shown to provide some protection from the negative health effects of stress.
Researchers are developing a nonopioid drug, ML351, to treat certain types of chronic pain. The drug targets a novel signaling pathway responsible for chronic pain development and has shown promise in preclinical studies.
Researchers Max Mikel-Stites and Anne Staples investigated Ant-Man's microscale respiration, finding that superhero suits contain a combination of air pumps, compressors, and molecular filters to breathe while insect-sized. Their study could lead to new microfluidic technologies with potential consumer benefits.
Virginia Tech professors Shane Ross and Traian Iliescu receive NSF grant to create a computational model-based simulation that quickly predicts contaminant spread. The research aims to improve forecasts of disaster response operations, minimizing environmental damage and costs.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are leading a national concussion study to examine the impact of gender on injury response, exploring how men's and women's rugby and lacrosse athletes respond differently to head injuries. The $1M grant will support data collection using advanced sensors and imaging techniques.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a virtual reality technique called Force Push, enabling users to manipulate objects with subtle hand gestures. The interface responds to the speed and magnitude of hand movements, providing a more physical and intuitive experience than traditional hand controllers.
Researchers found that people with recent cancer diagnoses tend to prioritize short-term gains over long-term health benefits, leading to behaviors like excessive drinking, smoking, and infrequent tanning bed use. This 'discounting the future' phenomenon can be a significant risk factor for various health problems.
Researchers found that adults who received early life educational interventions displayed high levels of fairness in social interactions, even when being fair came at a personal cost. Participants who received intensive education showed positive effects on social decision-making more than four decades later.
A team from Arizona State University and Virginia Tech will work with 100 shelters to evaluate three types of fostering: check-outs, brief sleep-overs, and traditional foster experiences. The goal is to explore how to foster dogs most effectively and improve their adoption prospects.
A new study reveals the importance of 'cryptic' connections in disease transmission between species and among individuals. The researchers used fluorescent dust to track the dynamics of disease transmission in bat populations devastated by white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has killed millions of bats in North America.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a drug that can block the spread of glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer, by halting the rapid movement of fluid within the body. The breakthrough finding could lead to improved treatment options for patients with glioblastoma.
Virginia Tech researchers are developing a new algorithm to predict the effects of novel gene mutations in living cells. They will apply this framework to models of cell growth and division in budding yeast, paving the way for faster drug development and improved cellular understanding.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed BespoKV, a novel framework that enables high-performance computing (HPC) data systems to thrive with flexibility and scalability. By leveraging key value systems in an innovative way, supercomputers can process huge amounts of data efficiently.
Researchers solved a 125-year-old brain mystery by discovering that perineuronal nets modulate electrical impulses in the brain. Without these structures, inhibitory neurons fire too slowly, leading to seizures. The findings have implications for various forms of acquired epilepsy and may lead to new treatments.
Researchers found that mutations in specific genes also attack sensory neurons, leading to new insights for preventing or reversing ALS. Sensory neurons' axons exhibit similar pathological changes as motor neurons, making them a potential target for discovering and testing molecules to treat ALS.
Researchers found that increases in diarrheal disease cases were closely tied to periods of rainfall, flood recession, and changes in surface water quality. The study suggests that adapting water treatment facilities to handle rapid shifts in surface water quality is crucial to mitigate the risk of waterborne disease.
Two Virginia Tech professors, Amy Pruden and Marc Edwards, are leading studies on antibiotic resistance in recycled water and plumbing. Their research aims to identify effective disinfectants and designs for preventing the spread of resistant bacteria in water systems, a growing concern that affects public health.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are conducting a three-year study to identify the root causes of epilepsy development after traumatic brain injuries. The team aims to find predictive biomarkers and strategies to prevent brain changes that lead to epilepsy.
Ubadah Sabbagh, a Roanoke-based Virginia Tech graduate student, has been selected as a Society for Neuroscience fellow. He will receive funding to attend conferences and be paired with senior mentors through the two-year training initiative.
A new study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) analyzed child restraint laws nationwide and found that 34 states exempt taxis and for-hire vehicles from child restraint requirements. The study also revealed that up to half of parents report not providing appropriate child safety seats while riding in ride-share vehicles, ...
Researchers at Virginia Tech aim to create new ways to use renewably sourced plant and wood polymers to tackle long-standing challenges in medical drug solubility. The project focuses on designing biodegradable polymers that can help orally administered drugs reach the bloodstream effectively.
Conspiracy theorists on Reddit discuss recurring elements such as Big Pharma, US elections, and government corruption. The study found that narrative-motifs expose commonalities between multiple conspiracy theories, even when referring to different events or circumstances.
Virginia Tech will create an international business education program focusing on East Asia with the new grant. The program will integrate language and culture studies through coursework, study abroad, and internships in China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Virginia Tech has received a $3 million grant from the US Department of Energy to develop comprehensive solutions for electric vehicle charging infrastructure cybersecurity. The team will focus on mitigating threats and ensuring the reliability of EV transportation, including fast charging systems and user privacy.
A novel machine learning framework developed by Virginia Tech researchers accelerates the discovery of new materials through computer simulations. The framework, which trains on the fly, enables faster development of accurate computational models of materials with potential biomedicine and energy applications.
A new study suggests that surface water dynamics are a crucial contributor to the global health concern of antibiotic resistance. The research team found that land use and season were statistically significant predictors of antibiotic resistant bacteria presence in surface water.
Researchers found that daily lactoferrin supplementation can change salivary protein profiles in cancer patients, protecting their taste buds and odor perception. This could help patients recover from chemotherapy with improved nutrition and quality of life.
Experts emphasize the need for more neuroscience research on long-term recovery from substance abuse, citing the potential benefits for clinical practice and public policy. The International Quit & Recovery Registry provides valuable insights into recovery processes.
Researchers at Virginia Tech developed a passive anti-frosting surface that keeps surfaces 90% dry and frost-free in humid, sub-freezing conditions. The surface uses intentional ice stripes to create low-pressure zones, pulling moisture from the air onto the nearest ice stripe.
Scientists at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have identified a potential strategy in fighting brain cancer by targeting a gene associated with circadian rhythms. Inhibiting this gene may inhibit cancer stem cells from renewing themselves and differentiating into glioblastoma cells.
A new grant will support research on intermittent, or not continuously flowing, streams across the southern United States. The project aims to understand how climate and biological factors affect stream ecosystems when they dry, and develop a large-scale framework to analyze environmental changes.
A researcher is studying a heart mutation that can lead to sudden cardiac death and other heart conditions. The scientist found a parallel process of conduction called ephaptic coupling that helps maintain heart rhythm even when gap junctions are lost.