Articles tagged with Diffusion
New research at Brown University finds that a non-equilibrium phenomenon relies on entropy to emerge, surprising scientists who thought disorder would decrease as systems move away from equilibrium. The study's results have implications for our understanding of entropy and may lead to new practical applications.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered a key flaw in the widely used radioisotope dating technique, which may lead to overestimated ages of geological samples. The technique's accuracy depends on accounting for differential mass diffusion, a process that was previously overlooked.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have directly measured the diffusion length of perovskite solar films, showing that electrons can travel long distances without deteriorating. The findings suggest that solar cells could be made thicker without harming their efficiency, potentially leading to better solar panels.
Researchers have shown that weak attraction forces between proteins can greatly impact diffusion in densely concentrated protein molecules, similar to those found in living cells. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding biological processes and their regulation.
A team of Indian researchers created a model to describe the diffusion of liquids through paper, revealing new theoretical details. The study aims to control liquid spreading for precise creation of products involving paper-based technologies.
A new study found that head impacts in high school football players can cause changes in the gray and white matter of their brains. The research used brain imaging exams to measure the effects of repeated head trauma on young athletes.
A new imaging technique has confirmed that each person's brain structure is unique, allowing for nearly perfect identification. The study also shows the brain's unique pattern changes over time.
Researchers found that smartphones enhance self-reporting of weather incidents, school attendance, illness, and other daily life aspects in rural areas. This technology has the potential to provide near-real-time data for policy makers and planners.
Researchers discovered that two-liquid cocktails exhibit long-range correlations at equilibrium and when disturbed, resulting in coexistence of different characteristics within the same fluid. Understanding these effects is crucial for studying diffusion mechanisms in various physical and biological processes.
Researchers at LMU Munich developed a new theoretical model explaining how regulatory proteins are transported to their sites of action in microtubules. The model suggests that energy is required to capture freely diffusing particles and proposes a mechanism for efficient transport by diffusion.
Athletes may experience long-term brain changes even after recovery from a concussion, according to new research. The study found alterations in brain white matter six months post-injury, with more severe symptoms at the time of the concussion being a predictor of these changes.
Borophene exhibits an ultrahigh sodium diffusivity of over a thousand times higher than conventional materials. This leads to a significant improvement in the rate capability of sodium-based batteries. Additionally, borophene maintains good electronic conductivity and stable cyclability during charge and discharge.
Recent advancements in neuroimaging technology have led to better understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. These innovations enable clinicians to detect preclinical stages of AD through PET imaging, and also provide new therapeutic interventions.
Researchers have found that mixtures of equally sized particles in solution will demix, or sort themselves, if they differ in their diffusion constants. This phenomenon, known as the Brazil Nut effect, was simulated and explained by a theoretical model, showing that random particle motions play a key role in the process.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a method to accelerate biological assays, which typically take hours or days to complete. By employing cyclic solution draining and replenishing, they were able to reduce reaction times to just seven minutes in one case, using antibodies and nanoparticles to detect specific cellu...
Researchers have developed new mathematical approaches to understand stem cell function, nutrient signaling, and brain development. The models provide insights into the complex interactions between stem cells and neural tissues, shedding light on phenomena such as differentiation and cortical formation.
A Massachusetts General Hospital-developed system using diffusion MRI improved patient selection for endovascular treatment, leading to a greater percentage of screened patients receiving treatment. The system's precision resulted in similar outcomes to recent clinical trials and significantly increased the number of treated patients.
Researchers discovered cytokinin patterning cannot happen via diffusion alone, with unexpected physical constraints on pattern formation. Computational simulations identified limits on cytokinin movement and patterning, revealing a need to solve the puzzle of how patterns are created.
A neuroimaging study will use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), enabling medical professionals to predict motor recovery and provide more accurate prognoses. The study aims to improve rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with incomplete SCI.
Researchers discovered that plants use biological mechanisms to transport volatile compounds to the atmosphere, contradicting the long-held theory of diffusion. This finding could revolutionize our understanding of plant biology and potentially lead to breakthroughs in plant health, defense, and pest management.
Researchers have discovered a new law governing anomalous heat conduction, which scales up with temperature in a power law manner. This finding challenges previous exponential scaling predictions and provides insights into the thermal transport of electrons.
Scientists at the University of South Carolina and University of Florida have created a new system for studying gas flow in narrow tubes with single-file atom movement. By comparing these nanotubes to wider tubes, researchers aim to understand fundamental processes involved in gas separation and membrane technology.
A new experiment by MIT engineers provides a more nuanced picture of heat production in microelectronics. The researchers devised an experiment to measure the mean free path distribution of phonons, which reveals that classical diffusion theory underestimates temperature rise at extremely small length scales.
University of Illinois researchers have developed a specialized microscope to study the movement of unfolded proteins in cells. They found that these proteins slow down and interact with chaperones, which can lead to cell dysfunction and disease. The discovery provides insight into protein-misfolding diseases.
A team of researchers from Lebanon and France has developed a laser biospeckle technique capable of detecting the climacteric peak in fruits like apples, bananas, and pears. This non-invasive method uses coherent light to analyze speckle patterns, which change with time depending on the medium's scattering properties.
Research by Ghita Mezzour and Kathleen Carley found that hacked emails tend to send spam more aggressively, reaching a larger audience faster. This is because malware-infected accounts generate spam automatically, whereas human-propagated spam is often done manually.
Two studies by Belgian scientists investigate thermodiffusion's impact on binary and ternary mixtures, paving the way for studying multi-component mixtures in orbit. The findings also have implications for oil reservoirs and carbon capture technologies.
Researchers at Kyoto University developed a novel method to assemble graphene into porous 3D structures, overcoming the challenge of maintaining unique material properties. The technique uses interfacial complexation with oppositely charged polymers, enabling tunable porosity and scalability for large-area films.
A new study found that physically fit children have more fibrous and compact white-matter tracts in the brain, linked to faster nerve activity. The researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze water diffusion into tissues, revealing significant fitness-related differences in brain integrity.
Researchers from Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze the optic radiation in 13 healthy volunteers. The study found that the optic radiation fiber tract volume was approximately 0.16% and fractional anisotropy value was about 0.53, enabling accurate detection of probability pathways.
Researchers report recovery of injured corticospinal tracts in a patient with subfalcine herniation, suggesting neurological remodeling under rehabilitation intervention. Diffusion tensor tractography results show narrowed and then thickened tracts indicating recovery.
Researchers detected age-related changes in lateral ventricular width and periventricular white matter using DTI, which may correlate with cognitive and sensory motor deficits. The study published in Neural Regeneration Research found increases in fractional anisotropy value related to ventricle enlargement.
Scientists at the University of Vienna observe random diffusion of a butterfly-shaped atomic defect in graphene, revealing a random walk through the crystal. The study uses high-resolution electron microscopy to track the defect's migration over time.
A team of researchers using a quantum simulator discovered that ultracold atoms can switch from non-interacting to strongly interacting in just one millisecond. The study found that this rapid change is due to diffusion, which affects the magnetism of the atoms.
Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to measure the volume of optic radiation fiber tracts in 13 healthy volunteers. The study found that the measured optic radiation fiber tract volume was approximately 0.16% and fractional anisotropy value was around 0.53.
Researchers at NREL have discovered a new solar material, perovskite, that can generate electricity more efficiently than previous materials. The material has a unique ability to diffuse photons a long distance, making it suitable for low-cost and high-efficiency devices.
Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to evaluate the effects of mild hypothermia on diffuse axonal injury. They found that mild hypothermia therapy may be beneficial for patients with this type of injury, resulting in a 1.36 times higher fractional anisotropy value compared to the normothermia group.
Elena Conti wins the prize for her work on understanding the mechanisms governing RNA quality, transport, and degradation, while Denis Le Bihan receives it for his innovative brain imaging technique that has revolutionized stroke diagnosis and treatment. Both researchers will use the prize money to further their research.
Researchers developed a scoring system to assess nerve root morphology and functional alteration. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging-based tractography can quantify nerve root function according to fiber bundle area and morphology.
A new study has found that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy have abnormal brain connections, which could help diagnose and treat the condition. The study used diffusion tensor imaging to track water movement in the brain's white matter, revealing a decrease in long-range connectivity of up to 45%.
Researchers developed a new method for reliable fiber tracking with accurate orientation, outperforming existing methods in tracking white matter bundles. The approach showed superior results in detailed images of fiber bundles.
Researchers found that temporal characteristics, particularly bursts of activation events, significantly impact diffusion processes. This new understanding can help build more accurate metrics for analyzing real-world network data.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania define a novel mechanism of tumor hypoxia induced by the longitudinal gradient of residual oxygen along tumor vessels as they transverse the tumor. The researchers found large regions of moderate hypoxia that were not easily explained by existing concepts, suggesting a new scale for unders...
In some Earth's mantle regions, the movement of subducted plates stagnates due to slow diffusion and transformation of mineral components. High-pressure experiments revealed that exchange of elements between minerals slows down significantly at depths of 440-650 kilometers, leading to congestion.
Researchers developed a diffusion abnormality index (DAI) to measure brain tumor response to radiation therapy. The study showed that changes in DAI can predict post-treatment response with high sensitivity and specificity.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made crucial discoveries about the development of cell polarity. They found that diffusion traps, created by sticky regions on the membrane, play a crucial role in maintaining cell polarity.
Theoretical physicists created models to study van der Waals-Casimir-Polder (vdW-CP) force, which depends on electron diffusion. This finding could contribute to designing minimally invasive surface probes for quantum computer hardware architectures.
Researchers demonstrate Anderson localization of light for the first time, showing waves no longer spread if defects are within one wavelength apart, exceeding previously thought threshold.
A new study found that frequent cognitive activity in late life is associated with higher diffusion anisotropy values in the brain, indicating better microstructural integrity. The research suggests that keeping the brain occupied can have positive outcomes and may help maintain brain health in older adults.
A new study reveals that fetal alcohol exposure alters brain structure and metabolism in children, with MRI techniques showing statistically significant thinning of the corpus callosum. Diffusion weighted imaging also detected increased diffusion, indicative of neurological disorders or brain damage.
Intensive LSAT training strengthens brain connections involved in thinking and reasoning, potentially improving IQ scores. Brain imaging reveals increased connectivity between frontal lobes, and between frontal and parietal lobes.
A new study by Professor Kimberley Scharf suggests that having more Facebook friends can reduce the likelihood of sharing information about charitable causes, as people rely on others to pass on information. In smaller, closer-knit groups, people are more likely to give to charities.
A new model ranks US airports in terms of their spreading influence, with Honolulu surprisingly ranking third due to its location and connections. The study could inform vaccine allocation strategies and national security agencies.
A new brain imaging study has revealed a pervasive 3D grid structure with no diagonals, similar to the streets of New York City. The grid structure is continuous and consistent at all scales across humans and other primate species.
The study reveals that water diffusion is unusually fast in nanochannels above 1nm, while below 1nm, fewer hydrogen bonds need to be broken, enabling macroscopic diffusion. This breakthrough may lead to innovative water desalination and filtration methods.
Indiana University's Filippo Menczer has developed new tools to analyze political social media and track the diffusion of memes. The research team found that Twitter mentions create a communication bridge between left- and right-leaning groups, and can be used to identify partisan asymmetries.
Researchers used 3D computer simulations to study the diffusional behavior of nanoparticles on surfaces. They found that ordered nanorods can facilitate faster diffusion than disordered ones, with channels between rods enabling particles to speed through.
A new model for epidemic contagion has been developed, accounting for human mobility patterns and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. The study found that older diffusion-based models overestimated the speed of epidemics, highlighting the importance of considering home locations in modeling human mobility.
Researchers confirm the fundamental physical principle relating individual particle behavior to that of a multiparticle system. Using fluorescent molecules and high-resolution imaging, they measured diffusive behavior of ensembles and single molecules, providing the first experimental confirmation of ergodicity.
A French study found that slow information diffusion within farmer communities leads to significant delays in implementing pest management procedures. The study used a modeling framework combining social and ecological perspectives to predict the efficiency of such programs.