News from the institutes and societies that organize science. Covers scientific medals, university-hospital partnerships, oncology cooperatives, and society leadership.
A comprehensive review of electronic patient record (EPR) programs reveals significant challenges in implementing and maintaining these systems. The study highlights how EPRs can hinder primary clinical work, favor paper-based records for flexibility, and struggle with seamless integration between different systems.
Researchers are using virtual testing to design and construct a new generation of efficient passenger airplanes with carbon-fibre composite structures. Virtual tests allow for simultaneous testing in hours, condensing months of physical testing into just hours.
High-resolution computer simulations reveal that North Atlantic water enters the Arctic Ocean through three main routes: Fram Strait, Barents Sea northern branch, and southern branch. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of ocean climate change mechanisms.
A new mechanical string blossom thinner prototype significantly increased fruit size and reduced labor costs in peach production. The study found that the horizontal string trimmer resulted in improved fruit quality and reduced hand-thinning time, leading to cost savings for growers.
The Forsyth Institute receives the William J. Gies Award for outstanding achievements in oral health and education. The Institute has been a leading independent research organization since 1910, contributing significantly to dental education and scholarship.
A large-scale study of over 2,000 children found that hyperactive boys who got less sleep were more likely to have adverse family conditions and shorter sleep duration. In contrast, children who slept persistently for at least 11 hours had lower hyperactivity scores.
This pioneering research projects recreate authentic sounds of the past using acoustics, enhancing our understanding of heritage and its impact on daily life. By studying past events through sound, researchers improve acoustic preservation of old buildings and design new ones to mitigate noise pollution.
A new study found that publicly blaming others increases the likelihood of spreading blame, as individuals try to protect their egos. Blame creates a culture of fear, leading to negative outcomes in organizations.
Researchers found that key employee migration reduces an organization's competitive advantage, even in superior organizations with established routines. The loss of strategic knowledge through employee migration allows rival firms to develop competitive responses.
A study by RAND Corporation suggests that slowing US healthcare spending will require new approaches, including changing payment methods for doctors and hospitals. The most promising option is bundling payments for medical care, which would encourage providers to eliminate unnecessary care and improve quality.
A £3.2m, three-year research project is underway at the University of Exeter to develop new technologies based on the physical properties of butterfly wings. The team aims to create innovative solutions in anti-counterfeit technology, radio-frequency identification, wi-fi efficiency and security.
A study at Tufts University found that training local leaders in research practices, especially human subjects protections, improves university-community relationships. Community-based participatory research partnerships strengthened the ability of local organizations to seek additional funding and conduct independent research.
The Casablanca Seamount dive revealed a geologically interesting terrain with vertical descents and massive lava flows. The area hosted various marine life, including sponges, corals, lobsters, and fish species.
A team of researchers led by Dr Thorsten Wiegand and funded by the European Research Council (ERC) is investigating the composition and dynamics of species-rich communities. They will use advanced methods to understand the factors and processes governing biodiversity, utilizing extensive data sets from tropical forests.
The new center will support partnerships with community-based organizations to conduct innovative research and develop effective programs to eliminate health disparities. It will also expand training and technical assistance services, including multilingual materials and distance learning programs.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) has awarded 11 new Fellows, recognizing their contributions to education, practice, research, and service in operations research. The recipients include experts in fields such as nonlinear programming, healthcare, marketing science, and revenue management.
Two LMU Munich researchers, Jens Michaelis and David Vöhringer, have received EU Starting Grants to study DNA rearrangement in the cell nucleus and immune factors essential to allergic sensitization. Their projects aim to understand complex cellular processes using cutting-edge microscopic techniques.
A study by Harvard researchers found that torture can lead to the perception of guilt in innocent individuals. Participants who witnessed torture and saw the victim's pain rated them as more guilty, while those who were distant from the torture sympathized with the suffering and saw them as less guilty.
A study led by Brigham Young University professor Katie Liljenquist found that clean-smelling environments, such as those with citrus-scented Windex, can improve ethical behavior. Participants in clean-scented rooms were more likely to return a higher share of money in a trust game and show greater interest in volunteering.
A new computerized approach to airport operations aims to reduce delays by analyzing billions of possible scheduling combinations. The system will provide the best advice to controllers on where to send planes, ultimately decreasing pollution and saving thousands of liters of aviation fuel annually.
A study by Cardiff University researchers found that performance reviews under the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) led to improved council standards. Poorly performing councils were more likely to see a change in political leadership and management, resulting in better outcomes.
An interdisciplinary team at City College of New York investigates the impact of virtual organizations on scientific knowledge production and innovation. They aim to identify conditions that enable virtual collaborations to enhance scientific output.
Veterinary scientists harnessing 'barcodes' of microbes to develop a single, effective vaccine for all mammals. Tiny variations in TLRs could be key to adapting vaccines across species.
A new study from McMaster University found that young adults are more likely to donate blood, but this trend may not sustain due to aging population. The study suggests targeting campaigns to encourage more Canadians to consider blood donation.
The study highlights the need for a portfolio of measures to minimize climate change impacts while allowing city growth. It emphasizes protecting homes from flooding and reducing carbon emissions, water usage, and moving towards cleaner transport.
Researchers at Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) have identified the molecular key to understanding the p53 tumor suppressor gene's function. The discovery reveals how p53 regulates genes by recognizing specific sequences of nucleotides in DNA, providing a missing piece to this complex biological process.
The US must prioritize defending its critical computer networks from cyber attacks due to the difficulty of preventing such attacks and the unclear motivations of attackers. The RAND study highlights the need for diplomatic, economic, and prosecutorial efforts against cyber attackers rather than investing in strategic cyber warfare.
Scientists have received £1 million to research the decline of honeybees, focusing on how bees' behavior outside the hive interacts with factors affecting their health. The project aims to build a model that can predict bee responses to diseases in changing farmed landscapes.
A £1 million research project will investigate the decline of honeybees, exploring how disease and food supply affect bee survival in farmed landscapes. The team aims to build a predictive model to improve honeybee health and mitigate the impact on food security.
A new Industrial Research Chair in Software Engineering of Ultra Large Scale Systems has been established at Queen's, led by Professor Ahmed E. Hassan. The chair will focus on improving the reliability and quality of critical software applications, with support from RIM and NSERC.
Researchers at Universite de Montreal have created the world's most sensitive astronomical camera, enabling clearer images of stars. The new technology has also shown potential in detecting early signs of diseases like macular degeneration and certain types of cancer.
Researchers created a complete model of the bacterium Thermotoga maritima's central metabolic network, including three-dimensional protein structures. This breakthrough could help identify positive and adverse drug reactions and engineer bacteria to produce clean energy.
The HORIZONS-AMI trial demonstrates that drug-eluting stents are safer and more effective than bare-metal stents for heart attack patients. Bivalirudin anticoagulation enhances safety and efficacy compared to heparin + GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors.
A recent clinical trial has found that the combination of clopidogrel and stomach medicines does not lead to adverse events. The COGENT trial involved 3,627 patients and showed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal events with PPI use.
A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that HIV transmission in UK heterosexuals can occur within networks of up to 30 people. The research used phylodynamics to reconstruct viral sequence divergence, revealing smaller clusters and slower transmission rates compared to homosexual men.
Researchers have discovered molecules that can interfere with insects' sense of smell, confusing them and reducing crop damage. The findings could contribute to food security by preventing damage from insect pests.
A University of Toronto-led nanomedicine research group has received a $5-million grant to develop technologies that allow for more selective detection of diseases, including lung and leukemia cancers. The team aims to speed up cancer diagnosis by incorporating plasmonics into existing procedures.
The global scientific conference highlights the importance of developing science-based methods for monitoring and assessing land degradation. It aims to find ways to combat desertification in drylands, where climate change is expected to worsen droughts and impact rural poverty.
Biomimetic nanoparticles are degraded by cathepsin L when entering human cells, compromising their potential to deliver therapeutic proteins. Researchers have developed methods to measure nanoparticle location and state, aiding the design of nanodevices that overcome this degradation.
Researchers have discovered that all shoot tips on a plant can influence each other's growth, allowing the strongest branches to thrive. By understanding the action of hormones like auxin and strigolactone, horticultural practices can be developed to promote optimal branching patterns in crops.
Researchers from North America, Europe, Australia, and South America have solved the first one trillion cases of an ancient mathematics problem. The team developed a clever technique for multiplying large numbers, making it possible to calculate the area of right-angled triangles with whole number or fraction sides up to a trillion.
Researchers found that French and Senegalese participants could detect kinship with the same rate of success, regardless of their own racial background or exposure to other cultures. This contradicts previous theories suggesting that exposure plays a crucial role in facial recognition, particularly across different racial groups.
A multicenter study found that drug-eluting stents are safe and effective in patients with diabetes, with low acute complications. The study showed a lower rate of restenosis for certain stent types, such as SES, BES, and EES.
Researchers found exceptionally low rates of complications and stable gradient release after one-year follow-up. Multiple vascular access sites are feasible, but periprocedural complications are considerable due to the high-risk patient population.
A new type of sirolimus-eluting stent successfully demonstrated greater neointimal suppression and vessel wall integrity compared to paclitaxel-eluting stents. This study, presented at the TCT scientific symposium, confirms the superiority of the sirolimus-eluting stent for treating coronary artery disease.
A multicenter study found drug-eluting stents to be effective in treating patients with chronic total occlusions, with low rates of major adverse cardiac events. The study also showed that certain drug-eluting stents, such as SES and EES, had a lesser rate of angiographic restenosis compared to others.
Researchers have identified SHP-2 as a crucial mediator of insulin-like growth factors' effects on stimulating placental growth. This discovery may lead to new treatments for growth restriction of babies in the womb, improving their health outcomes.
Researchers created a comprehensive model of the bacterium's central metabolic network, including protein structures and interactions. The study reveals essential protein shapes and connections to unique metabolites.
A new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that common biological processes like insulin metabolism influence the body's daily clock, reversing previous assumptions about one-way communication. The findings suggest potential new treatments for metabolic disorders tied to circadian cycles.
The Migraine Research Foundation has awarded $300,000 in research grants to investigate the genetic association between migraine and cardiovascular events. The grant recipients will also explore the impact of opioids on migraine pain.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck successfully realized an excited, strongly correlated many-body phase using ultracold cesium atoms. By tuning the interaction between atoms, they created a stable, one-dimensional structure that defies traditional Bose-Einstein condensate behavior.
A new £6 million research programme aims to develop nanoplasmonic devices that can process information using light signals, potentially leading to faster data processing speeds. The project, funded by the EPSRC, is being conducted at Queen's University Belfast and Imperial College London.
A Kansas State University study found that employees who are engaged in their work experience better moods and more satisfaction at home. The researchers tracked 67 extension agents over two weeks to determine the relationship between daily work engagement and work-to-family facilitation.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have identified a critical protein called Nanog that plays a pivotal role in creating pluripotent cells. By understanding how Nanog influences other molecules, scientists hope to develop more efficient and safe methods for harnessing stem cells for medical applications.
UBC researchers have found that single-band Hubbard physics fails to explain certain conditions in high-temperature superconductors. The study suggests new theoretical approaches may be needed, revealing potentially new or less-bizarre behavior.
A new recombinase, Dre, has been discovered, allowing researchers to specifically target and modify genes in mice. This enables the creation of sophisticated mouse models to study complex gene interactions and their role in human disease.
A study found that Arctic ocean warming triggers methane release from seabed sediments, contributing to climate change. The National Oceanography Centre and researchers detected over 250 plumes of bubbles rising from the West Spitsbergen continental margin.
Researchers identify essential virulence genes in Phytopthora infestans that can be targeted for host resistance. This discovery paves the way for novel strategies to control crop losses and improve global food security.
Bladder urothelial cells sense fullness of urine through TRPV4 protein activation, which triggers Ca2+ influx and ATP release. The discovery may lead to treatment of bladder disorders such as overactive bladder and pollakiuria.
A new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that employee emotional reactions and intentions are more influenced by actual benefits and opportunities than promised ones. Organizations should focus on delivering valuable rewards rather than investing time in making promises.