Articles tagged with Postdoctoral Work
Joanna Kubler-Kielb is honored with the American Society for Microbiology ICAAC Young Investigator Award for her research excellence in microbiology and infectious diseases, including work on anthrax and Lyme disease. Her research has led to significant contributions toward developing new vaccines against these diseases.
The study reveals a novel function for COUP-TF1 in balancing the sizes of functional areas in the brain, ensuring proper partitioning into 'frontal' areas controlling emotions and movements versus sensory areas interpreting the environment. This discovery may explain individual differences in behavior and skills.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that PPARa helps control toxic fatty acids in breast milk, preventing inflammation and hair loss in pups. The discovery sheds light on the genetic program behind breast milk's purity.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers develop nanocomposite paper-based energy storage device that meets tricky design requirements of gadgets and implantable medical equipment. The device can function as both a high-energy battery and a high-power supercapacitor, using human blood or sweat to power it.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed new pink dye-sensitized solar cells with half the efficiency of commercially available silicon-based solar cells, but at one quarter of the cost. The new materials use complex metals and novel particle shapes to boost electricity production.
Researchers discovered that plant growth is controlled by both internal clock and environmental light, with genes PIF 4 and PIF 5 playing a key role. The study found that plants grow more during the late afternoon when grown in constant light, but shift to dawn just before natural light/dark cycle.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered why some mosquitoes are resistant to malaria, focusing on a protein called TEP1. The study found that genetic differences in TEP1 manifest in a region dubbed the 'warhead', which grabs onto malarial parasites.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has honored six outstanding young Canadians for their research excellence. The winners have made significant contributions to various fields, including technology, chemistry, and biology.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a mechanism to prevent cardiac hypertrophy by increasing the levels of REST protein, halting the progression of the fatal heart condition. This finding offers a new approach to treating the cause of heart hypertrophy rather than its symptoms.
Cornell researchers identified a dozen triterpenoids in apple peel with potent anti-proliferative activities against human liver, colon, and breast cancer cells. The compounds may be responsible for the anti-cancer properties of whole apples.
Canada's new government has invested $583 million in research grants to support professors and students across the country. The funding will focus on natural sciences and engineering research, with a total of $458.8 million going towards Discovery Grants for 3,300 professors.
A FSU engineering professor is developing technologies to generate bone cells in a lab that can be transplanted into human patients. The goal is to replace lost bone mass due to osteoporosis and treat traumatic injuries. Research has shown promising results, but significant hurdles remain before the technology is ready for medical use.
The discovery of the TRPM8 gene, led by Scripps Research Institute's Ardem Patapoutian, reveals that this single gene is responsible for most cool temperature sensations. The study shows that activation of TRPM8 triggers cold sensation and may lead to new treatments to ease pain.
FSU researcher Feng Zhao will receive a $450,000 fellowship award to develop methods for regenerating blood vessels damaged by secondhand tobacco smoke. She aims to construct small-diameter blood vessels that mimic the elasticity of living tissue, which could help thousands of patients undergoing bypass surgery.
Researchers have pushed the efficiency of plastic solar cells to over 6%, a significant milestone in developing sustainable energy solutions. The new record is attributed to creating nano-filaments within light-absorbing plastic, allowing for thicker absorbing layers and increased sunlight capture.
The Seismological Society of America honors MIT's M. Nafi Toksoz for his 40-year investment in the field, defining seismology and its practice. He has mentored over 100 postdoctoral students, promoting a research environment at MIT.
Researchers at Iowa State University identified four chemicals in ladybugs that cause a foul smell, which can lead to 'ladybug taint' in wine. These compounds, including a new one not previously reported in ladybugs, are potent odor-producing molecules also found in other animals and plants.
Researchers mapped neurons in zebrafish spinal cords to understand how they control movement speed, revealing a surprising pattern that regulates slow and fast movements. The study opens a door to basic understanding of spinal cord architecture and function.
Male anole lizards adjust their visual displays to overcome background noise, enabling clear communication with rivals. The findings provide insights into the evolution of signaling strategies in these species.
The NASA Goddard Space Science Center has won several prestigious awards this season, including the Bruno Rossi Prize for high-energy astrophysics and the Annie Jump Cannon Award for female astronomers. These awards recognize the center's outstanding research efforts and achievements in space science.
A Duke University-led team of physicists has pinpointed the critical density level where granular materials suddenly cease flowing and congeal, exhibiting a phase change analogous to freezing. The study provides unprecedented analysis detailing what happens as free-flowing grains begin to get jammed by each other.
Claire Ting's project aims to determine how genomic differences become advantages in the capacity for photosynthesis of cyanobacteria under certain environmental conditions. The research will also examine molecular responses and mechanisms triggered by changes in light, temperature, and other environmental factors.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered that a simple chemical link called a thioester bond acts like a switch to control the handoff of a protein called NEDD8 between enzymes E1 and E2. This switch triggers a biochemical cascade that keeps cells alive and functioning normally, including regulating cell division.
Researchers at Georgia Tech found that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) remain suspended for over a month when mixed with natural organic matter in water, making them more likely to be transported in the environment. The study highlights the need to study nanomaterials' environmental impact before commercial applications.
A study published in Nature reveals the structural basis of botulinum toxins' interaction with nerve cells, allowing for improved understanding and potential new treatments for botulism, food poisoning, and nervous system diseases. The discovery could lead to the development of new drugs, vaccines, and antibody therapies.
A Cornell-built robot learns its own model of itself and can revise the model to adapt to injury, a process resembling human and animal babies discovering their bodies. The underlying algorithm could be applied to build more complex robots and allow them to adapt to changes in environment and repair themselves.
Researchers demonstrate that quantum coherence is achievable in incommensurate electronic systems, contradicting previous assumptions. The study shows compatibility of wave functions across lattice-mismatched interfaces, paving the way for coherent device architecture with diverse materials.
The University of Arizona has received a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to improve advanced math education and train more professionals. The VIGRE program will vertically integrate mathematics training, increasing collaborations between students and faculty across different levels of training.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered a non-structural gene, duboraya, that influences cilia function and regulates left-right patterning in zebrafish embryos. The gene's activation by Wnt signaling pathway helps create a counterclockwise flow necessary for establishing left versus right asymmetry.
Researchers have developed a hybrid battery that combines the power of a capacitor with the storage capacity of a traditional battery. The device, made from plastic and polypyrrole, has twice the storage capacity of an electric double-layer capacitor and delivers over 100 times more power than a standard alkaline battery.
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that the timing of food consumption can activate genes in a specific brain area, including the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. This discovery may help explain why dysfunctional eating patterns contribute to human obesity.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a process to turn manure and corn stalks into a bio-oil that can be used as boiler fuel and potentially transportation fuel. Preliminary tests show promising results, with every kilogram of dried mixture producing .2 to .5 kilograms of bio-oil.
Wolfgang Drexler, a Professor at Cardiff University, is recognized for his development of Optical Coherence Tomography technique, leading to diagnosis of retinal diseases and cellular level resolution.
Researchers found that people under the influence of alcohol are more prone to 'inattentional blindness', missing important objects like a person in a gorilla suit while performing a task. This phenomenon has strong implications for drivers operating motor vehicles after consuming alcohol.
The McGill University Health Centre has received funding to develop new insulin-producing tissue in the laboratory, which can be implanted into diabetics. This breakthrough complements research aimed at stimulating pancreatic cell regeneration and addresses a growing diabetes epidemic.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new technique that allows them to see the polarity and smaller atoms within crystal molecules for the first time. This advancement has the potential to improve the performance of devices such as lasers, which rely on the structure of individual molecules.
A new technology developed at UC Berkeley enables remote consultations between rural clinics and hospital doctors, improving access to eye care services for half a million patients annually. The system uses directional antennas and routers to achieve network speeds of up to six Mb/s at distances of up to 40 miles.
Researchers created a network of concept vectors to analyze word pairs and reconstruct hierarchical structures in texts. This study may reveal the underlying structure of language, enabling comprehension of abstract ideas.
Reddy's study found a selective loss of both presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins in AD patients' brains, highlighting the need for further investigation into synaptic damage. The award recognizes his work on understanding molecular and cellular bases of neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers identified an intrinsic pathway involving PTEN that regulates stem cell transitions between quiescence and activity. Disrupting PTEN leads to increased active cycling and loss of quiescent stem cells, hindering long-term maintenance.
A study of 40 wrong-site surgery cases found a rate of one in 112,994 non-spine procedures. Implementation of the JCAHO protocol would have prevented eight cases, highlighting the importance of site-verification interventions.
Scientists at UNC-Rutgers create a more efficient method for producing diesel fuels from coal using a dual-catalyst system. This breakthrough could provide an attractive alternative to oil-based fuels, particularly as oil reserves dwindle, and enable the widespread adoption of cleaner-burning transportation fuels.
Researchers develop a technique to fabricate flexible nanomembranes with tunable strain, retaining silicon's properties while controlling conductivity. The method enables the creation of faster electronics, novel photonic crystals, and lightweight sensors, with potential applications in flexible electronic devices and biological sensing.
The Human Frontier Science Program awarded Young Investigator grants to 29 young scientists from 12 countries, with a focus on interdisciplinary research. The program also provided postdoctoral fellowships and Career Development Awards to support talented young scientists in setting up their independent laboratories.
A team of researchers has identified how botulinum toxin, commonly known as botox, enters and affects neurons. The study reveals that the toxin binds to a protein called SV2, allowing it to gain entry into nerve cells.
The study found that training increases neural activation in areas associated with executive control, countering the idea that opposite brain areas compensate for cognitive decline in aging. Older adults who received training showed increased activity in brain regions tied to scheduling and planning, similar to younger participants.
A new study reveals that high fitness levels can enhance the effects of short-term hormone treatment and offset declines associated with long-term use. Researchers analyzed brain tissue volume in 54 postmenopausal women and found a significant association between higher fitness levels and greater tissue volume in key areas.
Researchers have developed fully stretchable single-crystal silicon with micron-sized wave-like geometries that can be used in high-performance electronic devices on rubber substrates. The technology has the potential to enable applications such as sensors, artificial muscles, and robotic sensors.
Scientists use patch-clamp technique and protein engineering to measure proton-transfer events at single-proton, single-amino-acid level, revealing new insights into membrane proteins' behavior.
Professor Larry Milstein has been recognized with an endowed chair for his contributions to wireless communication, particularly CDMA and interference suppressing receivers. His research focuses on ultra wideband communications, MIMO systems, and orthogonal frequency division modulation.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a wearable device that harnesses mechanical energy from walking to charge mobile phones and other small electronics. The Suspended-load Backpack uses vertically oriented springs to capture energy from the wearer's movement, generating up to 7.4 Watts of power.
Researchers developed a nanoscale optical biosensor to detect amyloid ?-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), tiny proteins accumulating in brain tissue of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. The findings may enable early diagnosis of the condition, currently only possible after death.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a new method to produce hydrogen for fuel cells in portable electronics, such as notebook computers. The technique combines two previously known methods and produces high yields of hydrogen, making it promising for fuel cell applications.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new microprinting technique called microdisplacement printing, which enables precise placement of molecules during nanoscale component fabrication. This method relaxes requirements for positioning stamps used to apply consecutive patterns with different molecular inks.
A UCLA professor has been awarded a major DOE grant to develop algorithms that can solve complex plasma physics problems, which could lead to breakthroughs in controlled fusion reactors and clean energy. The research is part of the Office of Science's "Multiscale Mathematics" program.
UT Southwestern researchers discovered how a protein called nicastrin is involved in the production of beta-amyloid, a key suspect in Alzheimer's disease. By targeting just this portion of the enzyme, they hope to create treatments that block the formation of amyloid plaques without affecting other essential functions.
A growing number of older adults suffer from mental disorders, with one-third experiencing a mental disorder at any given time. The University of Rochester Medical Center has received a NIMH Training grant to support postdoctoral researchers in developing skills for independent research.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new gene silencing technique that targets chromosomal DNA to shut down gene expression in cultured cells. By blocking the ability of chromosomal DNA to be copied into RNA and made into proteins, this approach offers a promising strategy for treating and curing disease.
Researchers at UCLA have successfully created a nano valve that can trap and release molecules on demand, controlling them at the nano scale. The device uses switchable rotaxane molecules attached to a tiny piece of glass, allowing for precise control over molecule movement.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified ephrin-B3 as a molecule that inhibits the regrowth of spinal nerve cells. The study found that ephrin-B3, which normally helps control nerve fiber growth during embryonic development, is also present in high levels in adult myelin and blocks neuron regeneration.