Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a high-power semiconductor switch called the Emitter Turn-off (ETO) Thyristor, suitable for fast and dynamic voltage support in the nation's congested power grid. The ETO switch offers fast switching speed, rugged turn-off capacity, and voltage control, reducing energy storage elements and size.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified two enzymes in Methanococcus jannaschii that may predate the cell's use of ribosomes to build proteins. These discoveries provide insight into how peptides were formed before ribosomes, expanding our knowledge of gene function and the evolution of life.
A new vacuum technology has been developed to control insects in solid wood packaging materials, providing an alternative to current methods. The system creates a low-oxygen environment that eliminates insects in several hours to days.
The US Army has awarded a $1 million grant to Virginia Tech researcher Thomas J. Inzana to develop a vaccine and diagnostic test for tularemia, also known as 'rabbit fever'. The goal is to create an effective vaccine that can stimulate the production of proteins that stimulate T-cells of the cellular immune system.
Researchers are conducting critical infrastructure modeling and assessment to improve public safety. They analyze the connections between infrastructures, such as traffic lights and power plants, to anticipate potential failures. The project creates data visualizations to help policymakers understand the big picture.
The NIH award will focus on oxidative stress research in baker's yeast, with the goal of developing new strategies to combat neurodegenerative diseases. The grant also provides opportunities for high school and undergraduate students from economically-depressed areas to receive bioinformatics training.
The Virginia Tech program aims to develop improved wildlife management strategies for chimpanzee populations in east Africa. Researchers will use a multidisciplinary approach, combining data collection with information sharing and education.
A study on dynamic systems could lead to fewer falls and smoother rides by developing a method to predict the effects of discontinuities on stability. The research aims to create design criteria that can reduce or prevent unintended collisions, resulting in improved safety and comfort.
Reid's undergraduate physics research earned her a trip to the International Conference of Physics Students in Denmark, where she will present her work. Her project focused on anomalous diffusion and percolation using computer simulations.
A team of researchers used a computer model to simulate the impact of airbag deployment on pilots wearing night-vision goggles. The study found that minimal distance between the eyes and goggles increased stress on orbital bones, while a protective lens reduced impact force but increased surrounding bone pressure.
Researchers Barany and Hammett found that forests and non-timber forest products are crucial for household coping strategies, offering low-cost alternatives to meet nutritional needs. Medicinal plants from these resources can treat conditions related to HIV/AIDS, making them a vital priority for conservation and management efforts.
A Ph.D. student in chemistry at Virginia Tech has been selected to attend the 53rd Meeting of the Nobel Laureates, focusing on biochemistry. The student will have personal interactions with Nobel laureates and engage in seminars and roundtable discussions.
Researchers found that association constants, a crucial factor in supramolecular chemistry, are often determined with faulty measures. They developed new equations to calculate Ka when ion-pairing is different and showed that this has significant implications for creating functional materials.
Researchers are working to make cell phones more accessible for people with disabilities by identifying user requirements and challenges in user interface designs. The study focuses on usability tests with selected Toshiba phones and aims to develop new features for future cell phone interfaces.
Daniel Crawford's work aims to prevent undesirable side effects in synthetic drugs by accurately determining molecule handedness. He is developing computer models to compute optical rotation, allowing natural-products chemists to identify the correct hand of molecules.
A 22-page technical review explores the relationship between economic growth and wildlife conservation, revealing a high correlation between the two. The review aims to increase awareness about the fundamental conflict and identify potential solutions.
A new network aims to provide comprehensive support for children and families affected by disasters and terrorism. Dr. Russell T. Jones, a Virginia Tech professor, is part of the group, which seeks to foster integrated readiness, response, and recovery programs across the US.
A Fulbright scholar will study nano-sized polymer magnetic complexes at the University of Western Australia. The research aims to develop new technologies for localizing high concentrations of drugs at a tumor site, potentially reducing extreme side effects with systemic cancer therapies.
Researchers are developing user-centered design guidelines to reduce pesticide exposure among ethnic minority farm workers, improving safety and communication. The project aims to create more effective risk communications, applicable to all farm workers regardless of ethnicity.
Ultra-wideband technology offers advantages in communication due to its wide spectrum range. The technology allows for efficient transmission and reception of data without interference, enabling military communications to remain secure and domestic devices to achieve higher data rates.
Researchers have improved the bonding in mechanically linked molecules by developing a method to increase the association constant of host-guest interactions, allowing for longer self-assembled chains. By utilizing hydrogen bonding instead of covalent chemistry, they were able to overcome the difficulty of creating rigid macrocycles.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have made a significant breakthrough in fuel cell technology by developing an industrially available starting material for manufacturing proton exchange membranes. The starting material, derived from new copolymers, enables the mass production of fuel cells on an industrial scale.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new cryptand compound that forms stronger non-covalent bonds than traditional host crown ethers. The improved association constants enhance the recognition and attraction between host and guest molecules, paving the way for potential applications in medicine.
The researchers in Gibson's lab studied the attractive forces between the rings and rods using x-ray crystallography to understand how they self-assemble into pseudorotaxanes. By connecting molecular entities to polymer chains, the team creates materials with improved properties and low-temperature processing capabilities.
The discovery reveals free water, loosely bound water, and tightly bound water, each influencing the process's speed and efficiency. The findings have significant implications for fuel cell development and potential improvements in hydrogen production.
Researchers found low-dose exposure to permethrin triggered a process with early onset and persistent effects, while high-level exposures had delayed effects. The study suggests that genetic predisposition may increase the risk of damage from pesticide exposure.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have designed a new class of molecules that can bind to and stop replication of DNA when triggered by light. The complex molecules, developed by Professor Karen Brewer's group, have demonstrated the ability to kill cells in the presence of light.
Researchers studied encrustation on fossilized shells to gain insights into ancient sea ecosystems. The analysis found that epibionts preferentially colonize brachiopod shells, providing clues about the evolution of these organisms.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed new phosphide-based catalysts that improve the removal of sulfur and nitrogen from hydrocarbon fuels. These catalysts are more active, physically strong, and inexpensive to produce and regenerate than existing sulfide-based catalysts.
Scientists have found that the DNA-repair enzyme functions uniquely in different organisms, with varying electron transfer pathways. This discovery may lead to the development of a novel enzyme for treating skin cancer in humans.
A new study reports the results of several studies on determining the optimum materials for use as a proton exchange membrane in methanol-based fuel cells. The researchers believe that methanol-based fuel cells could be developed before hydrogen-based fuel cells, providing a convenient and accessible alternative for powering devices.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the attraction between particles and surfaces using an atomic force microscope. This technique allows for the simulation of various environmental conditions and the quantification of sticking efficiencies, which can improve contaminant removal methods.
Virginia Tech researchers discovered that tert-butoxyl radicals are more reactive than initially thought, making them a poor model for studying oxygen-free radicals in biological systems. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the behavior of these radical species.
The Association for Computing Machinery has awarded Carroll the CHI Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to human-computer interaction. His research focused on scenario-based design, usability specification, and participatory design, which have had significant impacts on software development and user experience.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded Virginia Tech's Conservation Management Institute a contract to develop a national database for chronic wasting disease (CWD) research. The database will enable scientists to share information on the disease, improving their ability to address it nationwide.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have made significant contributions to understanding bear behavior, including the impact of radio-collars on survival rates and the role of dispersal distance in helping bears evade hunters. Their findings also led to the development of a morphometric-based dichotomous key for age identification.
A Virginia Tech study found that women are increasingly finding their homes to be a haven of satisfaction, rather than their workplaces. This challenges the long-held assumption that women seek work as an escape from family obligations.
A Virginia Tech researcher is developing a fleet of low-cost, miniature autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to collect elusive environmental data in Hog Island Bay. The AUVs will be equipped with sensors to monitor water parameters and work cooperatively to gather data that can't be collected with traditional methods.
The new Civil War Newspapers website will feature scanned documents of selected newspapers from both North and South, providing detailed indexes and a comprehensive master index. This project aims to provide a valuable resource for historians, allowing them to access a vast amount of information on various topics related to the era.
The report highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach to manage freshwater resources, including empowering local groups and increasing communication among disciplines. It also recommends protecting minimally impaired ecosystems and creating awareness of healthy ecosystems' importance to everyday living.
Researchers have found that dietary grain affects colonic hydration, leading to significant changes in gut function. The study suggests that switching from hay only to hay and grain can decrease water content in the colon.
A team led by Sandeep Shukla is working on devising strategies for achieving the optimal balance of power and performance in embedded computer systems. The goal is to guarantee maximum performance while reducing power consumption, which is crucial for devices like wireless devices, cars, and climate control systems.
A telephone survey of 1,988 Chesapeake Bay watershed residents found concern about pollution and importance of restoration, yet a lack of individual stewardship activity. To encourage action, agencies must inform citizens about their role in pollution and how their actions can improve water quality.
Researchers from Virginia Tech have validated a mathematical model of cell division using experiments on frog egg extracts. They found that the control system is bi-stable and hysteretic, requiring specific levels of cyclin to regulate mitosis.
New tri-metallic supra-molecules can be positioned in exact parts of cancer cells and excited by therapeutic light to kill diseased cells. The system enables precise targeting, reducing side effects of chemotherapy.
Marcella Kelly uses infrared remotely triggered cameras to photograph jaguars in Belize's Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Her research estimates the presence of at least eight jaguars per 100 square miles, highlighting the species' endangered status due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting.
The Darwin Correspondence Project has published 12 of a projected 32-volume set of Charles Darwin's letters, providing a historical view of his ideas on evolution. The project, founded in 1974, is jointly managed by the American Council of Learned Societies and Cambridge University Library.
Virginia Tech researchers are working on ways to protect battery-operated computers and wireless devices from hacking attempts that can drain their batteries. The project aims to develop built-in measures to prevent such attacks, which could become a major concern for the wireless industry.
The Virginia Tech photonics center is developing single-crystal sapphire-based sensors for IGCC plants, which can operate reliably in high temperatures and corrosive environments. The project aims to improve the thermal efficiency of IGCC plants and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The report highlights agriculture's significant impact on urban daily life, from green industry to economic benefits and crime reduction. It proposes initiatives for collaboration between agricultural science, higher education, research, and government to remain relevant to society.