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Emergency aid for overdoses

A new agent has been developed to treat overdoses using peritoneal dialysis, which can extract up to a hundred times more toxins from the body than conventional alternatives. This method is especially effective for treating serious liver disease, including cases involving ammonia accumulation in the blood.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 17, 2014

Adding uncertainty to improve mathematical models

Researchers from Brown University have introduced a new element of uncertainty into Burgers' equation to describe turbulence and shocks in fluid flows. This formulation aims to make mathematical models more realistic by accounting for external influences such as terrain, which was previously ignored in standard equations.

New glaucoma culprit is found

Researchers found that endothelial cells in eyes with glaucoma are stiffer than healthy cells, leading to increased flow resistance and elevated pressure. This mechanical dysfunction may lead to a cure for the debilitating disease.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 12, 2014

Foam favorable for oil extraction

Researchers at Rice University have found that foam is more effective than water, gas, and surfactant combinations in removing oil from low-permeability formations. Foam's unique properties allow it to penetrate and dislodge oil without losing its effectiveness, making it a promising tool for enhanced oil recovery.

SourceRice University·JournalLab on a Chip·DateAug 12, 2014

Microscopic rowing -- without a cox

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that microscopic flagella synchronize their movements through direct hydrodynamic interactions in a fluid. The findings, published in eLife, demonstrate that the motion of the fluid created by two beating flagella is sufficient to cause them to row in sync.

Rainwater discovered at new depths

Researchers found rainwater can penetrate deep into the Earth's ductile crust, weakening rocks and initiating earthquakes. This discovery has significant implications for understanding earthquakes and the generation of valuable mineral deposits.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJul 15, 2014

Emergence of bacterial vortex explained

Researchers have explained the emergence of a bacterial vortex by understanding its relation to physical mechanisms like collisions, boundary interactions, and fluid flow. Computer modeling and experimentation confirm that bacteria align themselves in the same direction due to their flagellar motion, creating a two-way fluid flow.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 23, 2014

Liquid spacetime

Researchers Stefano Liberati and Luca Maccione suggest spacetime is a fluid with extremely low viscosity, contradicting Einstein's special relativity. This emergent model predicts novel effects on photon propagation, which could be observable with future astrophysical studies.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 23, 2014

The motion of the medium matters for self-assembling particles, Penn research shows

Researchers attach DNA-coated building blocks to form structures, but simulations predicted defects. They found hydrodynamic effects play a critical role in the structures' formation, making some patterns more likely than others. This discovery improves our understanding of particle assemblies and has implications for various systems.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 9, 2014

Diamonds are an oil's best friend

Rice University scientists have found that a mixture of diamond nanoparticles and mineral oil outperforms other types of fluid in heat transfer applications. The researchers tested the nanofluid at concentrations up to 0.1 percent weight and found significant improvements in thermal conductivity, while maintaining a usable viscosity.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMar 31, 2014

Researchers develop technique to measure engineered nanomaterials delivered to cells

Scientists at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have discovered a technique to accurately determine the amount of nanomaterials interacting with cells and tissues. The Volumetric Centrifugation Method (VCM) enables hazard rankings of engineered nanoparticles, enabling risk assessors to perform accurate assessments.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 28, 2014

Hunt for an unidentified electron object

The new framework was used to understand the dynamics of quantized vortices and their interaction with electrons. The researchers discovered a novel mechanism of vortex multiplication, which explains why unidentified electron objects were found only at lower temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2014

Exchange rate behaves like particles in a molecular fluid

A study published in Physical Review Letters reveals that exchange rate fluctuations can be modeled using the principles of statistical physics. The research demonstrates that market orders and transactions influence price movements in a manner similar to the impact of thermal agitation on particles in a fluid.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 13, 2014

Brain cell activity regulates Alzheimer's protein

New research from Washington University School of Medicine finds that increased brain cell activity boosts brain fluid levels of tau protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that brain cells may be secreting tau when they send signals, potentially leading to the spread of disease.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateFeb 25, 2014

Moderate coffee consumption does not lead to dehydration

A recent study by researchers at the University of Birmingham found no evidence of dehydration in regular coffee drinkers who consumed moderate amounts of coffee. The study measured hydration status using various methods and found that coffee consumption contributed to daily fluid requirements, just like other fluids.

SourceKaizo·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 9, 2014

Study examines endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts

The study found that endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage with a combination of a nasocystic drain and transmural stents is more effective than drainage with stents alone in patients with pancreatic pseudocysts containing viscous solid debris. The procedure resulted in lower stent occlusion rates and better clinical outcomes compared ...

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateOct 21, 2013

Finding Alzheimer's disease before symptoms start

Researchers measured levels of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid to predict cognitive impairment, identifying biomarkers that signal potential development of Alzheimer's disease up to five years before symptom onset. The study offers a potential tool for guiding earlier use of treatments and testing new drugs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNeurology·DateOct 16, 2013