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.
The program aimed to reduce child mortality by at least 25% in 11 west African countries but found no significant acceleration in child survival. Coverage for effective treatment interventions and nutritional status showed mixed results, with decreases in some areas but not others.
Scientists at the University of Leicester have developed environmentally friendly solvents, replacing toxic acids in metal finishing and energy storage processes. The new technologies, including ionic liquids, improve working conditions and reduce environmental impact.
The Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia's Mailman School will use the grant to extend its intellectual mission and bring humanities insights to public health challenges. The grant will support a $3,000,000 endowment campaign for faculty chairs, lectures, and research.
A study published in JAMA found that telemedicine for ICU patients was not associated with improved mortality rates, length of stay, or reduced illness and death. Tele-ICU systems were only beneficial for sicker patients.
The Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation has received $8.8 million in federal funding to develop a new bridge maintenance technology. The project aims to detect flaws in bridge decks early, extend bridge life, and reduce maintenance costs by analyzing ground-penetrating radar and seismic data.
Kelly Holley-Bockelmann's NSF award will support her research on supermassive black holes and the university's innovative program for underrepresented minorities in physics. The grant also funds initiatives to recruit and retain students from underrepresented groups.
A new report highlights the benefits of reducing emissions from deforestation, including conservation of carbon and biodiversity hotspots. However, it also warns of challenges in implementing REDD without displacing agricultural activities in lower-carbon but equally biodiverse areas.
Common bacteria can turn microgears by swimming in a suspended solution, providing insights into design of hybrid biomechanical systems driven by microorganisms. The speed and direction of gear rotation can be controlled by manipulating oxygen levels.
A landmark study by British and American researchers found that pension funds using decentralized management structures outperform those with balanced management structures. This is due to superior stock-selection skills and a competitive aspect among specialist managers, offsetting potential diversification issues.
Researchers discover ultrafast population switching of quantum dots in a structured vacuum, enabling photonic computers that are hundreds of times faster than electronic counterparts. The breakthrough could lead to compact computers without heat dissipation issues.
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.
AOptix Technologies successfully completed a two-phase flight test program for the Enhanced Air-to-Ground Lasercom System (EAGLS) Program. The tests demonstrated AOptix's capabilities in Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) and ultra-high bandwidth real-time communications.
Researchers successfully tested physical-layer quantum encryption over free space optical links with AOptix's patented adaptive optics correction, achieving low loss and stability. NuCrypt's AlphaEta quantum-noise randomized encryption technology enhances security without compromising current optical infrastructure.
Elena Baena-González will investigate how plants respond to stress and allocate energy stores, aiming to improve crop yields. Her research focuses on the SnRK1 protein, which is conserved across species, including mammals.
State agencies and universities nationwide will receive funding to upgrade their volcano monitoring networks, producing high-resolution maps of high-threat volcanoes and analyzing recent eruption data. This investment aims to provide more reliable information for emergency responders and create jobs in the equipment manufacturing sector.
Researchers found that even short interruptions can lead to longer completion times due to cognitive focus disruption. The study suggests designing pop-ups with minimal visual impact and providing time for users to rehearse their place before resuming tasks.
A team of researchers led by Tufts University Professor Gregory Crane will create a database to track topics in primary and secondary Greek and Latin sources. The system uses data mining to determine patterns and connections, enabling undergraduate research and critical thinking.
Dr. Donald F. Steiner has made significant contributions to understanding insulin secretion and glucose metabolism, including the discovery of proinsulin and clinical applications of C-peptide radioimmunoassay. He will receive a Certificate of Honor and US$150,000 in recognition of his outstanding research achievements.
Yehezkel Ben-Ari, founder of Inmed Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology, receives the 2009 INSERM Grand Prix for his pioneering discoveries in brain maturation, epilepsy, and stroke. He is recognized for his contributions to fundamental, clinical, and therapeutic research.
Clemson University researchers are studying safe storage of carbon dioxide in geological formations to reduce global warming emissions. They will focus on identifying conditions that may lead to leakage and developing techniques to minimize its impact.
A study by King's College London found that workplace basic skills courses had little impact on productivity and employability. Short course durations were identified as a major reason for the failure of the initiative. Conversely, participants reported increased confidence and a greater interest in education.
A study is using cell phones to collect detailed data on human interactions, allowing for a more accurate picture of daily life. The research aims to refine existing prevention programs by identifying patterns in individual behavior.
Clemson University has received a $45 million grant from the US Department of Energy, combined with $53 million in matching funds, to build a large-scale wind turbine drive train testing facility. The testing facility will create at least 134 jobs and generate 568 indirect jobs, supporting South Carolina's emergence as an industrial hu...
A UK survey of 1500 respondents found that those who own their own home are more likely to separate rubbish than renters, while switching off lights in unused rooms is the most popular green behavior. The survey also shows that taking fewer flights and car sharing are less common.
Researchers will study the entire power plant system to identify opportunities for energy and cost savings in carbon capture and compression. The goal is to recover heat generated during compression and use it to improve power plant efficiency.
Researchers found search engines are used for fact-checking and supporting higher-level information needs, revealing a more complex role in learning. Their study suggests design improvements for search engines can better address users' cognitive and affective aspects.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a nearly $1 million grant to support career advancement of women and underrepresented minority men in sciences and engineering. The program aims to foster environments conducive to recruiting, advancing, and retaining faculty in these fields.
The Laboratory will provide expertise and technological tools to four geothermal projects with Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico Tech, and the University of Utah. Los Alamos researchers will assist in characterizing geothermal springs and developing new chemical tracers to determine heat transfer characteristics.
Michigan State University researchers are pairing college-age students with virtual workout partners to study the impact on exercise trends. The goal is to find characteristics of a virtual partner that motivate people to exercise harder, longer or more frequently.
The project aims to create a communication network capable of supporting various military platforms and devices, while ensuring security and trustworthiness.
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 community-based policing effort launched in 2001 has been largely successful in reducing violent crime by an average of 13% in 26 cities. The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative also received $1 million in stimulus funding to help fight illegal drugs.
A study found no association between cataract surgery and worsening of age-related macular degeneration in individuals with non-neovascular AMD. The rate of progression to advanced AMD was similar among participants' other, cataract-free eyes over time.
The study found that each of five Chinese vowels has a unique representative peak on excitation patterns determining its phonetic quality. This conclusion explains perception phenomena and the frequency of occurrence of certain vowels in languages worldwide.
The University of Oklahoma has received over $10 million in federal stimulus grants to support 33 research projects across various disciplines, including archaeology, weather, and genetics. The funding will enable OU researchers to tackle important problems with practical benefits for Oklahoma and the nation.
ISU researchers have discovered a compound that neutralizes the cell-killing kinase-C and allows dopamine-producing cells to survive and function. This finding brings hope for a possible cure for Parkinson's disease by targeting the protein responsible for killing these cells.
Researchers aim to correlate seismic activity with glacier slip using pump tests and measurements of natural seismicity. The projects focus on stability of ice stream grounding zones and role of active subglacial lakes in ice sheet loss.
Researchers from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found shock-wave therapy equally effective as surgery for healing nonunions. The study showed that extracorporeal shock-wave therapy stimulated bone healing within six months and provided comparable outcomes to surgery even two years later.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a $2.1 million National Science Foundation grant to provide professional development programs for middle-school math teachers and research their impact. The program aims to improve teacher performance, energize classrooms, and get students excited about math.
The Lymphoma Research Foundation has awarded grants of $300,000 and $200,000 to Drs. David Frank and Thomas Kipps for their research on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL). The grants aim to develop new treatments for patients with refractory disease.
Researchers discovered how fish oils convert to Resolvin D2, a chemical that reduces inflammation and may treat conditions like arthritis, sepsis, and stroke. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for diseases associated with inflammation.
The symposium will explore various funding sources, including public-private partnerships, commercialization strategies, and foundations. Presenters will share their experiences with targeted support for cultivar development and national/global programs to build capacity and provide public support.
The center has awarded its third round of competitive research grants to six projects focused on energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and behavior. The projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption through innovative approaches such as design optimization, policy analysis, and behavioral interventions.
The University of Central Florida has received a $7.5 million research grant to enhance the efficiency of hybrid photovoltaic solar cells. Researchers will focus on increasing the absorption capability of organic materials to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight, leading to more flexible and efficient solar panels.
A new endowment fund will support ICT research at CSIRO Australia, enhancing the nation's wireless technologies capabilities. The fund will also provide scholarships and fellowships for students across various disciplines, addressing key skills shortages.
A new field of study, materials dynamics, is being developed to examine substances in a state of flow during manufacturing. The collaboration combines strengths in simulation and modeling with experiment design and theory to develop design principles for next-generation materials.
Researchers found that African Americans who participated in culturally specific weight loss programs with frequent partner attendance had greater weight loss success. The study suggested that the involvement of a supportive partner was linked to improved weight loss outcomes, regardless of whether they attended sessions together or not.
Researchers at MIT and San Camillo Hospital have shown that motor impairments in stroke patients can be understood as impairments in specific combinations of muscle activity. The findings support the concept of synergies, which are thought to represent fundamental building blocks for complex movements.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has received a US$100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a genetically attenuated live malaria vaccine. The project aims to provide strong and lasting immunity against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes deadly human malaria.
Deborah Friberg, COO and Executive Vice President at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, has been recognized by APIC with the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award. She supports infection prevention and control through various initiatives, including MRSA reduction and hand hygiene compliance.
Researchers led by Williams College Professor Anne Skinner investigate the lifestyle of humans living near the Nile tributaries during the Middle Stone Age. The study focuses on water resources concentrated near riverbanks during seasonal dry periods, and the site may have been a refuge during climate stress.
Researchers are developing an electric rocket thruster that uses nanoparticle electric propulsion, enabling faster travel and reduced propellant use. The technology has the potential to revolutionize nanosatellite and larger spacecraft propulsion.
A field experiment on a robust hierarchical metropolitan quantum cryptography network was recently conducted in Wuhu, China. The network uses a combination of quantum key distribution and traditional networking techniques to achieve unconditional secure communication.
Researchers found that chimpanzees altruistically help conspecifics, even without direct personal gain or reciprocation, but mostly upon request. The study suggests that 'help upon request' may be a more effective strategy for altruism in animals.
Scientists at Oklahoma State University are working on a new type of thermoelectric technology that can convert waste heat into electricity. This breakthrough has the potential to power military aircraft without toxic emissions or expensive cooling systems.
Landon Cox, a Duke University assistant professor of computer science, is researching peer-to-peer systems that distribute users' personal information across multiple servers. This aims to reduce the risk of data exploitation and provide more control over users' online presence.
Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology has received a two-year, $1 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to further its research in areas related to national security. The award aims to produce students who can become leaders in the U.S. intelligence community.
The department has been awarded four NSF grants over $1 million for their research in Cognitive Radio, Wireless Communications, and Network Security. Researchers aim to advance technology with a focus on increasing contribution to CR advancement.
Researchers at NC State University have received a $1.4 million grant to create an unprecedented cyber infrastructure for multi-agency collaboration in crime scene investigations (CSI). The platform, called IC-CRIME, will employ 3D laser scanning technologies and game engines to virtually reconstruct and preserve crime scenes.
The University of Oklahoma is developing a guide, workshop materials, and a training program for effective transportation project management strategies. The program will utilize innovative approaches, methods, and tools for successful outcomes.