Researchers created a database linking utility patents and NIH funding to assess translational efficiency. The Translational Ratio metric provides insights into patenting efficiency and its impact on drug innovation and treatment development. Institutions with strong engineering operations tend to be more successful in producing patents.
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech has developed a new method for upcycling plastics into high-value chemicals used in soap production. By heating and cooling polyethylene, they break down the long carbon chains into short-chain waxes that can be converted into fatty acids and soap.
Scientists have found several genes that produce minimal RNA fluctuations, shedding light on gene expression and noise. These ultra-low noise genes provide a unique window into understanding how cells function optimally.
A recent study published in Nature Mental Health emphasizes the need for further research on sex differences in depression. The study, led by Georgia Hodes and Dawson Kropp, aims to uncover effective and sex-specific biomarkers for depression onset and target better treatment options.
A historic study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that e-scooter riders face significant safety risks from infrastructure, environmental factors, and their own behaviors. Transitions between surfaces proved to be the riskiest, with riders facing nearly 60 times more likelihood of a crash or near-crash experience.
A Virginia Tech study found that hellbender fathers are more likely to eat their eggs in deforested areas, leading to a drastic increase in filial cannibalism. The research suggests that protecting and re-establishing forest cover around streams is crucial for the species' survival.
A recent study published in Science of the Total Environment found a scarcity of studies on microbial and chemical drinking water contamination in Appalachia and associated health outcomes. Only 85 publications met the criteria, with many gaps remaining to be filled.
Researchers at Virginia Tech developed a method to create adhesives with both strong bonds and easy removal using the ancient Japanese art of cutting paper. This innovation has potential applications in robotic grasping, wearables for health monitoring, and manufacturing for assembly and recycling.
A recent study published in Behavioral Sciences demonstrates the effectiveness of ACQUIRE Therapy in improving functional outcomes for children with various motor impairments. The framework provides a standardized approach to intensive therapy, emphasizing the importance of therapists' dynamic awareness and adaptability.
African Superplume is responsible for rift-parallel deformation and seismic anisotropy in the East African Rift System, contradicting previous theories on plate-driving forces. The study uses 3D thermomechanical modeling to explain this phenomenon.
Researchers found two antimicrobial agents that are more effective in treating the disease-causing agent Treponema pallidum in a laboratory setting. The discovery opens new doors in understanding the disease and finding ways to prevent infection and intervene.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that officers' first 45 words during a vehicle stop with a Black driver can indicate how the stop will end. The study discovered a unique 'linguistic signature' that characterizes escalated stops, where officers give an order without stating the reaso...
Researchers at the Center for One Health Research have found that antiviral drugs can make antifungals work again by blocking efflux pumps in Candida auris. This approach may be a key treatment strategy against the deadly fungal pathogen, which has a 60% mortality rate.
A multi-institutional team of experts is studying how to use focused ultrasound to create a temporary gateway through the blood-brain barrier to deliver cancer medicine. Researchers aim to develop a personalized medicine approach in which they can test drugs on patient tumors and predict treatment effectiveness.
Researchers discovered a specific form of ubiquitin protein selectively involved in forming fear memories in female brains, providing a potential target for therapeutic treatments. The finding could lead to more effective treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in females.
Cocaine use disorder has been rising for over a decade, with no robust treatment available. Researchers are using cocaine contingency management to provide cash or value in exchange for drug-free urine samples, aiming to change an individual's temporal horizon and reduce consumption. The study aims to guide innovative interventions tha...
A team of Virginia Tech scientists has identified a brain pathway responsible for synchronized movement in individuals, including mice, without rehearsal. The study provides an underlying mechanism for coordinating group behavior, which is essential for understanding social communication in humans and developing therapies for ADHD, ASD...
Researchers found that certain soaps increased mosquito attractiveness while others decreased it, with coconut scented soap being the repellant. The study's findings have implications for disease prevention and could be expanded upon with further research.
Researchers found Sedition Hunters community successfully used Twitter to identify suspects with real value, creating multi-angle composite images and overcoming barriers in first images collected. The team's creativity and law enforcement interest contributed to the community's success.
New research reveals that sections of the Chesapeake Bay are sinking at rates of nearly a quarter inch per year, exacerbating flooding risks from rising sea levels and storm surges. The study estimates that 454 to 600 square kilometers face a risk of flooding by 2100, highlighting the need for updated flood maps.
Researchers identified 33 themes and broad categories for increasing diversity in graduate medical education programs, including recruitment, interview processes, and faculty retention. The study aims to provide ideas and starting points for developing DEI initiatives.
A team led by Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko has discovered that ice can quench heat more effectively than water, especially at high temperatures. The study found that ice absorbs heat as it melts, reducing the amount of heat available for vapor bubbles to form.
A team led by Virginia Tech's Manoochehr Shirzaei has developed high-resolution digital maps to monitor land subsidence and sea-level rise, revealing vulnerable areas along the Atlantic East Coast. The data supports flood risk management and informs climate change projections, helping to refine models for hurricanes and storms.
A recent study has investigated how cells divide in fibrous environments, revealing the impact of extracellular matrix shape and fiber number on mitotic errors. By re-creating and studying lattice structures, researchers have gained a deeper understanding of cellular dynamics and its connection to disease biology.
A group led by Virginia Tech's Audrey Ruple developed the PetSORT guidelines to standardize reporting in clinical trials involving dogs and cats. The guidelines address methodological features often missing from reported trials, which can affect meta-analysis results.
A Virginia Tech researcher has identified a key factor in DiGeorge syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting brain development. The study finds that mitochondrial deficits can be targeted with dietary supplements or more precisely-targeted drugs to support final connections during brain development.
Researchers aim to understand the allure of highly processed foods, which make up 58% of US calories. By studying their processing and added ingredients, they hope to identify underlying variables driving consumption.
Research suggests that early life stress may increase pro-inflammatory processes during pregnancy, which can have long-term effects on maternal and child health. The study found that mothers who experienced higher levels of early life stress had increased pro-inflammatory factors but decreased immune cell development.
Researchers found an increase in biologically available nitrogen during the time when marine eukaryotes became dominant, leading to a new era for life on Earth. This discovery links ancient ocean records to the present and beyond, providing context for global changes.
The study resulted in 33 terms that will aid in cider quality communication. Researchers grouped the terms into four categories: rich, fruity, sour, and funky. This lexicon will help producers describe their products with precision and clarity, benefiting both the industry and consumers.
Virginia Tech researchers Traci DuBose and Meryl Mims studied 90 species of frogs and toads using publicly available data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. They found that approximately 11% of anuran species are sensitive to climate change but not currently listed as at-risk.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified a critical molecule in the development of brain's stress response, which may lead to better understanding of stress-related mental health disorders. Deficiencies in DSCAML1 disrupt brain development and increase cortisol levels, leading to imbalanced stress responses.
A new study by Virginia Tech neuroscientist Sujith Vijayan sheds light on the mechanisms behind PTSD patients' inability to process and extinguish fear memories during REM sleep. The researchers found that high neurotransmitter levels and altered brain rhythms disrupt the normal fear-quelling work of brain rhythms.
Researchers at Virginia Tech aim to understand the role of fatty acid deficiency in optic nerve hypoplasia. A recent grant supports studies on arachidonic acid supplementation as a potential treatment for the disease.
The discovery of Funcusvermis gilmorei, a 220-million-year-old fossil, extends the history of caecilians by 35 million years and fills a gap in their evolutionary history. The fossil shares skeletal features with early frog and salamander fossils, strengthening evidence for a shared origin between caecilians and these groups.
Research from Virginia Tech reveals that shark populations are recovering in northern Atlantic waters where regulations have been put in place. This is a promising conservation success story for vulnerable species.
Researchers developed a computational model of mesenchymal migration to understand how cancer cells navigate tissue. The model confirms that cells adapt their movement based on surface stiffness, using internal biochemical signals and chemical cues from surrounding tissues.
Researcher Dana Hawley found that finches with mild and strong conjunctivitis symptoms spread a pathogen at higher rates than healthy birds. This suggests that pathogens can evolve to cause more harm to their hosts, leading to increased transmission.
Research by Virginia Tech scientist Sora Shin reveals how early life trauma alters the brain's signals to stop eating, increasing the risk of binge eating. The discovery identifies a specific brain circuit vulnerable to stress, providing new insights into therapeutic targets for treating the disorder.
A new study by Virginia Tech geobiologists reveals that a major loss of diversity occurred during the Ediacaran Period, resulting in an 80% extinction of animals. The researchers attribute this event to decreased global oxygen availability, suggesting that environmental controls played a role in shaping animal life on Earth.
A team of researchers, led by Ling Li from Virginia Tech, has discovered the key strategies behind the strength and toughness of sea urchin exoskeletons. The study reveals that a balance between branch connection nodes and pore size is critical to the material's damage tolerance.
Virginia Tech researchers found that a common oral bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, drives pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and migration. The bacterium can infect normal pancreatic tissue cells, stimulating nearby cancer cells to grow and spread rapidly.
A Virginia Tech graduate student has been awarded a two-year grant to explore a synthetic molecule as a basis for treating arrhythmias. The research aims to identify a combination of the molecule that could prevent arrhythmic incidents and potentially even sudden cardiac death.
A team of paleontologists led by Virginia Tech has discovered a new, early dinosaur in Zimbabwe, which is the oldest dinosaur skeleton found in Africa. The newly named Mbiresaurus raathi was estimated to be around 6 feet long and weighed between 20-65 pounds.
A Virginia Tech research team has developed a new method for recycling polystyrene, which is widely used in Styrofoam but rarely recycled. The process involves exposing the material to ultraviolet light and adding a chemical catalyst, creating a valuable product called diphenylmethane (DPM) that can be used in various industries.
Researchers have discovered a molecule that can suppress the development of kidney fibrosis, a condition leading to kidney failure and devastating consequences. The breakthrough could lead to the development of new drug treatments for millions of people affected by chronic kidney disease.
A large international team has reexamined the Saccorhytus microfossil and determined that it is actually a protostome, not a deuterostome as previously believed. This finding contradicts current understanding of animal evolution, suggesting a significant gap in the fossil record.
Virginia Tech scientists have developed a novel 3D tissue-engineered model of the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment to learn why tumors return and what treatments will be most effective. The model accounts for cell types, fluid flow, and other aspects of the actual tumor environment, allowing for easy testing of drug therapies.
A team of scientists used modeling to reveal that Ceres's interior decays radioactive elements, generating heat and powering geological activity. This process is different from the typical hot-cool pattern seen in larger planets, with similarities to Uranus's moons
A team of researchers, led by Virginia Tech, has engineered a glove that mimics the arm of an octopus, capable of securely gripping objects underwater. The Octa-glove uses soft, responsive adhesive materials and embedded electronics to grasp objects without squeezing.