News on the grants and awards that fuel scientific work. Covers federal grants, foundation awards, gene-editing and disease programs, and shifts in funding policy.
A team of researchers has developed a new system to evaluate proposed scientific research projects that distributes the workload among proposers and uses machine learning to match reviewers with proposals. The system also includes a feedback mechanism to improve the review process.
A new grant will support a collaboration to investigate the link between arterial, brain, and cognitive integrity in healthy older adults. The researchers aim to show that actively engaging areas of the brain can improve arterial function.
A new sensor chip smaller than a ladybug records multiple lung and heart signals, body movements, and sounds to offer the big picture of a patient's heart and lung health. The chip's high resolution and quantified data could identify pathologies and enable clinical readings in the future.
Researchers propose Anticipated Learning Machine (ALM) for precise future-state predictions based on short-term data. ALM efficiently reconstructs dynamics even with a small number of samples by constraining to a low-dimension space.
Researchers measured oxygen consumption in wild-caught lesser treeshrews across various temperatures. The study found that Bornean treeshrews have a high upper limit of the thermoneutral zone, contradicting current assumptions.
The University of Texas at El Paso has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish engineering leadership academies. The program aims to improve undergraduate STEM education, particularly at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), by supporting non-tenure-eligible Engineering Instructional Faculty.
Researchers will develop techniques for analyzing MRI and echocardiogram images to improve patient assessment and diagnosis. The collaboration aims to co-develop practical solutions for both the US and India, addressing high healthcare loads and improving diagnostic accuracy.
A team of researchers led by Gang Tan aims to create parsers that provide provable guarantees about safety and are resistant to bugs. The SPARTA system focuses on securely opening PDFs, but the goal is to apply this technology to other formats as well.
Jan Esper will track tree growth at 100 sites in the Northern Hemisphere to develop a new model for reliable climate data. This project aims to overcome the divergence problem, which undermines the reliability of temperature reconstructions based on tree rings.
The Oregon State University-led research program will focus on the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human health, including cancer, neurological systems, and developmental disorders. Researchers will work with communities impacted by hazardous waste sites to better understand the risk posed by PAHs.
Researchers found that Stomaphis aphid diversification was primarily driven by host plant shifts, rather than associated ant species. The study revealed a surprising finding that the aphids had not shifted between closely related plant species, but instead between very distantly related host plant taxa.
Scientists at the University of Central Florida and partners have successfully created anti-ferromagnetic devices that operate on the terahertz level, paving the way for ultra-fast electronics. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize guidance systems, communications, and even mimic brain function.
Researchers Susanne Hellmuth and Olaf Stemmann found that the protein shugoshin regulates separase activity, preventing premature sister chromatid separation. This discovery adds to our understanding of chromosome inheritance and highlights the importance of tight regulation in cell division.
From 1999 to 2017, approximately 64,000 firework-related eye injuries were treated in US emergency departments. The study found that men and children under 18 were more likely to be injured.
A new startup, Oqullo, is developing a platform that utilizes computer visual algorithms and network cameras to gather demographic information about customers. This data can be used to offer personalized experiences in shopping, traveling, and other consumer activities.
A team of researchers has identified the wallflower as a suitable model plant for discovering new cardenolides, which could lead to safer versions of heart disease and cancer treatments. The study provides a foundation for understanding the biosynthesis of cardenolides and their potential applications.
A team of scientists at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that distinct serotonergic receptor types control the gain of both streams of information in a separable manner. This finding may facilitate new concepts of diagnosis and therapy for neuronal disorders related to malfunction of the serotonin system.
Researchers found that investors' forward-looking strategic behavior, social interactions among individual investors, and their expectations on the crowd's behavior contribute to crowdfunding dynamics. Fundraisers can optimize fundraising goals and crowdfunding platforms can predict successful campaigns by understanding these mechanisms.
A new mathematical model, developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Princeton University, uses information theory to improve epidemiological predictions. The model takes into account the evolutionary changes of both disease and information, allowing for more accurate predictions of epidemic spread.
A study surveyed 2,400 US 12th-graders from 2015 to 2018, finding an increase in marijuana vaping and edible use. The researchers also found that smoking marijuana was the most common method of use among this age group.
A UMass Amherst team, led by Professor David Julian McClements, has been awarded $200,000 to develop plant-based protein with a meat-like texture and feel. The goal is to create fiber-like structures from plant proteins that improve the texture of plant-based meat.
George Mason University researchers Brenda Bannan and Julie Zobel are supporting two research teams to develop smart community IoT innovation projects at the Eagle Bank Arena Living Lab. The funding will cover experiments on chemical release monitoring and enhanced alert systems.
Princeton researchers are investigating how anxiety influences the sharing of accurate COVID-19 information. They will create online networks to examine how conversational interactions impact knowledge transmission and anxiety levels.
A novel point-of-care testing device that detects COVID-19 through genetic material may provide early diagnosis and control the spread of the disease. The device's potential benefits include a turnaround time of under 45 minutes, making it an urgent solution for capacity enhancement in testing COVID-19.
At high altitudes, the researchers observed increased foam production from soda eruptions caused by Mentos candies. However, this effect cannot be explained solely by gas laws. The team suggests that a unique balance between bubble size and number of bubble sites on the candy may contribute to excellent fountains.
A new analysis of over 26,000 movies produced in the US from 1911 to 2010 reveals a sharp decline in female representation among actors, directors, and producers during the Studio System era. Female producers and directors may help further the careers of other women in the industry.
A new system of cameras and vision software is being developed to monitor commercial broilers' activity levels, providing a common assessment tool for farmers, retailers, and consumers seeking to support better animal welfare.
One-third of COVID-19 patients from Hubei, China, exhibited ocular findings, which occurred frequently in those with more severe physical conditions. The study highlights the importance of monitoring for ocular complications in high-risk patients.
Professor Christina Salmivalli has received a €2.5 million ERC Advanced Grant to study persistent bullying cases. She aims to identify factors explaining why interventions fail in certain cases and develop new operational models.
A four-year study led by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is developing practical guidelines for integrating automated driving systems into current fleets. The research will provide critical data to guide rulemaking and fleet operations, addressing challenges of deploying automated commercial trucks.
A collaborative study using machine learning techniques to predict six life outcomes for children, parents, and households found that even with high-quality data and state-of-the-art modeling, the predictive models were not very accurate. The study suggests that sociologists and data scientists should use caution in predictive modeling...
A mass study collaboration found that AI predictive models are not accurate in predicting life outcomes, particularly in the criminal justice system and social programs. The study used a large dataset of 13,000 data points from over 4,000 families, but even state-of-the-art modeling was not very accurate.
Researchers argue that robots can help combat COVID-19 by performing 'dull, dirty and dangerous' jobs such as disinfection and temperature checking. The use of robots in pandemic response could reduce human exposure to pathogens and be essential for future epidemics.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that hotter temperatures increase the probability of reporting bad mental health in the US. People are willing to pay several dollars to avoid each additional hot day in terms of its impact on self-reported mental health.
Researchers discovered web-like patterns in whiskey droplets that can identify different brands of American whiskey, potentially used to detect counterfeits. The unique web patterns arise from the combination of solutes in each whiskey and can be matched with over 90% accuracy.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that observing scrambled body stimuli while moving the whole body produces a sense of possession of specific body parts, but not the entire body. Spatial arrangement plays a crucial role in creating an illusion of whole-body ownership.
Researchers propose a new method for measuring large areas by synchronizing chaotic oscillators, enabling accurate and robust measurements without requiring individual sensor interrogation. The approach allows for spatial averaging and harvesting information from nodes through gentle stimulation with an exciter signal.
Research combining data from 42 studies shows a correlation between increased screen time and decreased language proficiency in young children. The analysis found that children who spent more time on screens had poorer language skills, suggesting a potential link between excessive screen use and delayed linguistic development.
A research team has induced a re-association of the right thumb with a virtual left arm through visuo-motor synchronization in a virtual environment. The study contributes to understanding body schemes of augmented humans and their limitations. Body-part re-association may be applied to developing functional prosthesis and embodied tools.
Researchers at TU Graz have developed X-Burst, a system that enables direct information exchange between IoT devices with different radio technologies. The system uses time-controlled energy pulses to transmit data packets of varying lengths, allowing for efficient communication without gateways.
A study by University of Washington researchers found that people often ignore fake news on social media, but some use strategies like evaluating the source or noticing inconsistencies to detect misinformation. The study provides a framework for understanding how people react to fake news and could inform interventions to resist misinf...
Dr. Susan Mohammed, a leading researcher on team mental model conceptualization and measurement, has been recognized as an SIOP Fellow for her significant impact on the field of industrial and organizational psychology. Her research on temporal cognition, diversity, and leadership has important implications for I-O psychology practice.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and risk of fracture in children, analyzing data from Sweden. The research found a significant association between PPI use and increased risk of fracture in children.
Researchers propose that Mercury's surface chemistry lab, fueled by solar winds and hot temperatures, can produce ice over a period of 3 million years. This process could account for up to 10% of Mercury's total ice reserves.
Dr. Joseph Allen has been named a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of I-O psychology. His research focuses on workplace meetings, occupational safety and health, and community engagement, with significant funding from government agencies.
A Rutgers study of people with serious mental illness found that physical health problems are a greater barrier to job seeking than psychological health issues. Chronic unemployment can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression, and reduce access to care for managing both physical and mental conditions.
Researchers found that some oyster species can pass on memories of harsh conditions to their offspring, improving survival rates. However, this ability varies between species and life stages.
Researchers at Bielefeld University are developing ultra-thin carbon nanomembranes that can filter out impurities from water, producing ultrapure water and beverage concentrates. The technology aims to reduce energy consumption and preserve flavors in food production and pharmaceutical applications.
Using DES data, researchers found more than 300 trans-Neptunian objects, including 245 discoveries made by DES. The method developed by Pedro Bernardinelli can also be used to search for TNOs in upcoming astronomy surveys.
Researchers tested zika virus as a therapy for dogs with spontaneous brain tumors, achieving tumor reduction and longer survival. The treatment was well-tolerated and safe, with no adverse side effects.
Kessler Foundation receives a $250,000 grant from the Derfner Foundation to expand regenerative rehabilitation research and develop new treatments for musculoskeletal and neurological injuries. The lab will focus on restoring function to individuals with disabilities caused by injuries, disease, and aging.
The nTIDE February 2020 jobs report reveals a significant increase in employment-to-population ratios for both people with and without disabilities, with modest job gains reported for Americans with disabilities. The labor force participation rate for working-age individuals with disabilities also showed a notable increase.
George Mason University's Todd J. Zywicki has received $226,944 from the CFPB to lead a task force on harmonizing and updating federal consumer financial laws. The project aims to improve and strengthen consumer financial laws and regulations by end of 2020.
Researchers at George Mason University's Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media are creating teaching modules using resources from the Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Nathan Sleeter will oversee the project, recruiting consultants and compiling topics.
Researchers investigated extremist groups' online and offline networks, finding that financing and ideology dissemination are crucial components. The study aimed to pave the way for early intervention and prevention, analyzing online content and biographies of convicted individuals.
Researchers at Cornell University are developing a portable imaging system that uses thermal and multispectral imaging to detect live and dead buds on grapevines. The system aims to increase profits and yields by guiding more efficient pruning practices.
Over a 12-year period, list and net prices for branded US drugs increased significantly. Discounts on these medications sometimes mitigated this rise in costs.
A study comparing the financial performance of large pharmaceutical companies and S&P 500 Index companies found that pharmaceutical firms consistently generated higher profits over the 18-year period. The analysis used data from annual financial reports and controlled for various factors such as market size and industry structure.
Researchers use blue light intensity methods to analyze tree rings, recreating summer air temperature in the Eastern United States over 300-500 years. The project aims to understand longer-term climate trends and contribute to developing better general circulation models.
A new study by New York University researchers found that the Affordable Care Act has had a significant impact on reducing financial barriers to healthcare, with 19.3 million people gaining coverage since its implementation in 2010. The law's market reforms have also led to measurable gains in the financial well-being of poor Americans.