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Turbulent flows in 2D can be calculated in new model

Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have developed a statistical model that can replicate chaotic flows in two dimensions, providing a better understanding of turbulent behavior. This breakthrough enables more accurate weather forecasting by accounting for motion patterns in the atmosphere, which are largely two-dimensional.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateOct 23, 2012

High levels of blood-based protein specific to mesothelioma

Researchers have discovered a specific marker, fibulin-3, that is four to five times higher in the plasma of patients with mesothelioma compared to those exposed to asbestos. The protein demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing mesothelioma, potentially leading to earlier treatment and improved patient outcomes.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 10, 2012

New NIST screening method identifies 1,200 candidate refrigerants to combat global warming

Researchers at NIST have developed a new computational method to identify promising refrigerant fluids with low global warming potential. The new method identified over 1,200 candidates from 56,000 compounds, including fluorinated olefins that react rapidly with atmospheric compounds.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·DateSep 18, 2012

Going with the flow

An international team of researchers has developed a way to manipulate cells using fluid flow patterns generated by mechanical oscillations in a microfluidic channel. This technique combines the precision of direct physical contact with the speed of non-contact methods, allowing for high-level control over individual cells.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 12, 2012

Modeling metastasis

Researchers used Active Shape Model to simulate fluid forces acting on breast cancer cells in blood flow. The study aims to develop new therapies targeting metastasis by understanding mechanical properties of cancer cells.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateAug 24, 2012

Keeping the faith through souvenirs

A Concordia University study explores how Christian pilgrims give souvenirs to spark interest in religion and perpetuate their faith. Pilgrims believe gifts can open a conversation with God, fulfilling their desire to pass down their faith.

SourceConcordia University·JournalJournal of Material Culture·DateAug 7, 2012

New genetic target found for diuretic therapy

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have identified a new genetic target, pendrin, for diuretic therapy. The study suggests that targeting pendrin could lead to a targeted treatment option for patients with severe fluid overload who may not respond well to current diuretics.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2012

Giraffes are living proof that cells' pressure matters

Physicists developed a two-component model accounting for cell expansion and fluid dynamics. The model revealed that homeostatic pressure, not fluid pressure, drives cell division in biological tissues. This discovery could help understand cancer growth by disrupting homeostasis.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJul 3, 2012

Countering crowd control collapse

Researchers found that crowd disasters are not caused by individual panic, but rather amplifying feedback and cascading effects. They introduced a new scale to assess criticality of conditions in the crowd, aiming to prevent disasters before they occur.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateJun 26, 2012

We are drinking too much water

Research suggests that encouraging people to drink more water is driven by market interests rather than a need for better health. A balanced diet and lifestyle are key to weight loss, with fluid intake from unprocessed sources being equally important.

SourceWiley·JournalAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·DateJun 5, 2012

Make or break for cellular tissues

Researchers developed a model to study the behavior of cellular tissues, finding that they can split into disjointed patches when subjected to unfavorable substrates. This phenomenon, known as dewetting, is governed by the cells' sensitivity to substrate stiffness.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMay 16, 2012

Study resolves debate on human cell shut-down process

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have resolved the debate on the mechanisms involved in human cell shut-down during division, finding that receptors can transport nutrients but are temporarily blocked. This discovery may lead to future studies on manipulating this process to prevent harmful infections.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2012

Study on swirls to optimize contacts between fluids

A new study optimizes fluid mixing in bioreactors by controlling undercurrents to improve cell exposure. Researchers found that rotating inner cylinders and adjusting fluid velocities can create homogeneous feeding of cells from a liquid nutrient supply.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMar 21, 2012

New Notre Dame study examines density stratification on microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have found that density stratification has a significant impact on small organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Organisms near pycnoclines experience reduced risk of predation, affording a competitive advantage, which can lead to an accumulation of particles and alter environmental processes.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2012

Fukushima at increased earthquake risk

A new study finds that seismic faults close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have reactivated after a magnitude 9 earthquake in March. The researchers warn of a higher risk of large earthquakes disturbing the region, which could potentially cause another nuclear disaster.

SourceEuropean Geosciences Union·JournalSolid Earth·DateFeb 14, 2012

Amazing skin gives sharks a push

Researchers found that shark skin's denticles boost swimming speed by creating a turbulent flow pattern around the body, reducing drag and increasing propulsion. The unique arrangement of denticles on the skin surface enhances fluid dynamics, leading to a significant improvement in swimming performance.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateFeb 9, 2012

Scientists make strides toward fixing infant hearts

Researchers at Rice University and Texas Children's Hospital have successfully derived vessel-forming stem cells from amniotic fluid, offering hope for repairing infant hearts. The breakthrough could lead to growing tissue patches using the infant's own cells, potentially replacing defective tissue with beating heart tissue.

SourceRice University·JournalTissue Engineering Part A·DateFeb 6, 2012

Cosmology in a Petri dish

Scientists studying micron-size particles trapped at fluid interfaces found a collective dynamic governed by seemingly unrelated laws. The study uses numerical simulations to model long-range gravitational attraction, which transitions to short-range attractive and repulsive forces at certain length scales.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJan 26, 2012

The perfect liquid -- now even more perfect

Physicists at Vienna University of Technology have found a way to break the limits on viscosity, with implications for understanding superfluid helium and quantum theory. The results, published in Physical Review Letters, suggest quark-gluon-plasma can exhibit extremely low viscosity, even below previously established bounds.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 17, 2012

Earthquakes: Water as a lubricant

Researchers found that rock water acts as a lubricant, causing significant differences in mechanical properties along the fault at depth. This supports the idea that fluids play a key role in the onset of earthquakes, and tremor signals are linked to areas with trapped fluids.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature·DateNov 30, 2011