Chang Lu, associate professor at Virginia Tech, is awarded a $710,000 NIH grant to advance cancer research technology using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay on microchip devices. The new test provides ultrahigh sensitivity and aims to study tumor-initiating cells and molecular dynamics.
A recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that mosquitoes reared in cooler temperatures have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to viral diseases like West Nile fever and chikungunya fever. The research suggests that temperature may play a significant role in the transmission of these diseases.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified leptospirosis as a significant health threat in Botswana, where the disease can cause flu-like symptoms, meningitis, and even death if untreated. The pathogen was found in banded mongoose, which can transmit the disease to humans through contaminated water or soil.
Hot water recirculating systems touted as environmentally friendly actually use more energy and water than traditional systems, according to Virginia Tech researchers. The study found that these systems can require up to double the energy of conventional systems, increasing consumer bills.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Institute invent technique to image nanoparticle dynamics with atomic resolution in a liquid environment. The new method allows visualization of nanoscale processes, such as nanoparticle engulfment into cells.
A Virginia Tech study found that humans are passing antibiotic resistance to wildlife, especially in protected areas where human numbers are limited. The research identified the coupled nature of humans, animals, and the environment across landscapes, posing a critical threat to human and animal health.
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech has successfully transformed cellulose into starch, a process that could provide a previously untapped nutrient source from plants not traditionally thought of as food crops. This breakthrough opens the door to creating food from any plant, reducing land use and water consumption.
Researchers discovered that Salmonella biofilms can survive in extremely dry conditions, preserving the bacteria in a protective coating. This finding highlights the need for improved sanitation and new strategies to reduce biofilm formation on equipment, potentially decreasing the likelihood of foodborne outbreaks.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified a genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus as a potential treatment for prostate cancer. The virus efficiently kills prostate cancer cells, including those resistant to hormone treatments and chemotherapy, while sparing normal human cells.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, potentially bringing a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world. The new process uses xylose, the most abundant simple plant sugar, to produce high-purity hydrogen with an energy efficiency of over 100 percent.
Researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish, Cyro, the size of a grown man, to study aquatic life, map ocean floors, and monitor ocean currents. The robot is powered by a rechargeable battery and uses a diffused nerve net to control movement, mimicking the behavior of natural jellyfish.
A study by Kathleen Alexander found that climate drives a large part of diarrheal disease and increases the threat of climate change for vulnerable communities in Botswana. Climate change is projected to increase dry season diarrheal disease incidence, while wet season incidence is expected to decline.
Researchers analyzed data from 100 instrumented vehicles and found that occasional seatbelt users are more likely to buckle up for trips on high-speed roads. The study suggests that perceived convenience plays a significant role in seatbelt use, with drivers opting out of wearing belts during local errands.
Researchers studied silicone oil jets bouncing off each other, finding that high-speed flow can inhibit mixing. The study's findings have implications for fuel efficiency in space rockets.
Researchers successfully used TALENS to edit the mosquito genome, changing eye color and enabling a new approach to controlling disease transmission. This breakthrough technology holds promise for developing pathogen-resistant mosquitoes and blocking virus transmission by the mosquito.
Danfeng Yao received a $450,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop quantitative anomaly detection methods for Department of Defense systems. The project aims to detect anomalies in computer programs, systems, and networks, enabling early detection and prevention of cyber attacks.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute found that cold reasoning and hot feelings are intimately connected in the brain. The study used a fairness probe called the ultimatum game, which showed that feelings about offers tracked well-defined computations, indicating no clean separation between rational decision-making ...
A comprehensive computer model of human metabolism has been developed, connecting the dots between the human genome and metabolism. The Recon 2 model advances understanding of human metabolism in health and disease, enabling identification of biomarkers and prediction of drug side effects.
A new regulatory methodology is proposed to improve the evaluation of invasive potential in biofuel feedstocks. The current method has a significant gap in protection against natural areas invasions, leading to massive financial effects.
Researchers aim to mimic reptiles' ability to increase locomotion efficiency and frogs' high propulsion. They investigate drinking strategies of carnivorous animals like cats and dogs to develop bio-inspired systems.
Scientific evidence supports early education's lasting impact on children's lives and society as a whole. Research from the Abecedarian Project shows that well-prepared children are more likely to be consistently employed and less reliant on public assistance.
Researchers at Virginia Tech discovered that Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium blamed for health issues like gastritis and gastric cancer, helps balance the stomach's ecosystem and control body weight and glucose tolerance in mice. The findings suggest that H. pylori may provide important metabolic traits required to combat diabetes.
The Air Force's Office of Scientific Research has awarded Virginia Tech a $3.5 million award to develop computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes and a supporting hardware-software ecosystem for simulating micro air vehicles (MAVs). The goal is to achieve substantial speed-ups in simulation speed using accelerator-based supercomputers li...
Researchers at Virginia Tech are working to improve construction safety in the US by studying Australian practices. They've found that eliminating hazards at the design stage and promoting communication between constructors and designers can significantly reduce injury rates.
Researchers analyzed over 858,717 grant and contract summaries to identify potential instances of duplicate funding. They found strong evidence that tens of millions of dollars may have been spent on grants where at least a portion was already being funded.
The Virginia Tech research center is expanding its testing of football helmets to also include hockey, baseball, softball, and lacrosse. The new five-year plan will rate helmets in these sports based on their ability to lessen concussion risk.
Jeffrey H. Reed, a Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, has received the 2012 Forum International Achievement Award for his significant contributions to software-designed radio and cognitive radio.
Researchers created a new method to analyze molecular interactions by leveraging hypergraphs to represent complex connections among molecules. The approach resolves limitations of traditional graph-based models, enabling more accurate discovery of interaction patterns.
Researchers will explore novel solutions for efficient spectrum sharing and develop cooperative sharing methods for DoD and Navy's cognitive radio ad hoc networks. The projects aim to achieve transparent coexistence and improved network performance, enabling greater spectrum efficiency and capacity.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute invent a way to directly image biological structures at their most fundamental level, providing a gateway to understanding dynamic systems in structural biology. The technique has successfully imaged viruses and other biological structures in their natural environments.
Mountaintop mining has significant environmental and social impacts, but a new public ecology approach aims to balance economic needs with ecological protection. The approach involves broad participation, transparency, and compromise among stakeholders, including miners, environmental groups, and government agencies.
Deborah Young-Corbett's research highlights the importance of Prevention through Design in reducing health risks in construction. By designing tools, equipment, and facilities to eliminate occupational hazards, the industry can improve worker safety and reduce illnesses and fatalities.
Rivers erode at an estimated 80 billion metric tons yearly, with 20 billion ending up in ocean water via rivers. Researcher Panos Diplas studies river mechanics to improve erosion process understanding and develop measures to control scour around bridge foundations.
Researchers found that pulsed ultrasound can selectively activate functional subsets of nerve fibers, providing a new method for studying pain pathways. The discovery has implications for diagnosing and treating neuropathy, affecting millions worldwide.
Researchers at Virginia Tech developed a step-by-step procedure for managing driverless vehicles through intersections, considering factors like location, speed, and acceleration. The proposed system aims to reduce crashes and emissions by keeping vehicles moving and optimizing traffic flow.
A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that a common diarrhea-causing bacterium triggers an overactive immune response, worsening illness in hospital-acquired infections. Researchers found that activating a protective mechanism involving the PPARgamma pathway can reduce disease severity and be activated by existing diabetes drugs.
Food scientists at Virginia Tech have developed a way to fortify milk with fish oil without destroying flavor or shelf life. The study found that skim milk with 78 parts butter oil to 22 parts fish oil delivered 432 milligrams of heart-healthy fatty acids per cup, meeting the daily target for healthy people.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a quasar with the most energetic outflow ever recorded, exceeding the Milky Way galaxy's total power output by 100 times. The massive material ejected has a rate equivalent to two trillion times the sun's power output.
Researchers have developed omni-tomography, a technology that integrates multiple imaging modalities to improve early disease screening, cancer staging, and therapeutic assessment. This approach enables precise reconstruction of small areas in the body using prior knowledge and common properties.
Josiah Tlou, a renowned educator and international expert, has been named Distinguished Global Scholar by the National Council for the Social Studies. His contributions include developing social studies curricula in Malawi and promoting education through partnerships with USAID and UNICEF.
Virginia Tech researchers developed a computer-based system to analyze social media posts for vehicle defects, a first large-scale case study confirming the value of social media in vehicle quality management. The system can sift through millions of unrelated posts to identify useful information on safety and performance issues.
Researchers will analyze water chemistry and pipe materials under controlled conditions to determine the effects of pipe material, water flow, and chemistry on building plumbing microbiomes. The study aims to improve public health by identifying factors that control microbe growth in water systems.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified a curious genetic trait in African mosquito species that transmits malaria, suggesting that this species is genetically linked to an older lineage. This discovery could lead to better understanding of the mosquito's capacity to transmit malaria and inform malaria control efforts.
Research published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems suggests that automatic braking systems can significantly reduce injuries in rear-end collisions. The study found that the use of three systems - warning, assisted braking, and autonomous braking - may prevent up to 50% of serious injuries.
Researchers at Iowa State, Virginia Tech, and Stanford University aim to develop techniques for analyzing large-scale data analytics from high-throughput DNA sequencing. The project will utilize the NSF-funded HokieSpeed supercomputing instrument to improve genome analysis and identify mutations relevant to cancer.
Research finds epigenetic alterations can transmit increased breast cancer risk to subsequent generations without genetic mutation. High-fat diets and excess estrogen during pregnancy may increase cancer risk in offspring.
Researchers found that half of drivers make the stop-go decision three seconds before the stop line and few can clear the intersection before the light turns red. The study also revealed that people over 60 years old react slower to yellow lights due to longer perception-reaction times.
Scientists at Virginia Tech and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that two mini-molecules called microRNAs can help stem the nation's obesity epidemic. The discovery suggests that treatments targeting these two specific microRNAs may help regulate cellular metabolism and increase energy expenditure, leading to r...
Virginia Tech engineers have developed an optimization algorithm to integrate solar technologies into smart grids, allowing for efficient energy storage and usage. The system uses real-time electricity prices and load profiles to control distributed photovoltaic power adoption, maximizing revenue for customers and utility companies.
A recent study published in Nature found that many tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity, despite being our best hope for preserving tropical forests. However, the research also highlights the importance of eliminating threats outside park boundaries and maintaining existing parks.