Science
press releases.

Science9 Jan 2024

The Frank R. Breul Memorial Prize

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Frank R. Breul Memorial Prize has been awarded to Jessica Pac, Sophie Collyer, Lawrence Berger, Kirk O'Brien, Elizabeth Parker, Peter Pecora, Whitney Rostad, Jane Waldfogel, and Christopher Wimer for their article “The Effects of Child Poverty Reductions on Child Protective Services Involvement,” which appears in the March 2023 issue. The prize pays tribute to Professor Breul’s career as an educator, administrator, and editor of the Social Service Review (SSR) while on the faculty of the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Virginia Tech, Virginia Cooperative Extension receive USDA funding to advance specialty crops

Six Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension projects that help advance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in the commonwealth have been awarded nearly $550,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Specialty Crop Block Grants program. The projects are aimed at assisting Virginia farmers in making specialty crop production a driver of economic development. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Virginia Tech and Extension’s projects ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

With only the pawprints, researchers study elusive bobcat

One Sunday morning in February of 2021, Dave Duffy’s kids told him they had just seen a bobcat through the window of their home near the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience outside St. Augustine, Florida. They knew their dad would want to know, because they had helped him countless times take samples of animal tracks in hopes of studying the creatures that left them. Initially skeptical – bobcats are rarely spotted during the day out in the open – Duffy eventually went to check and there they were: six clear bobcat prints in the sandy soil. With his kids’ help, he scooped up small soil samples from the ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Kessler Foundation receives two federal grants to further new research on autism and outcomes and assessment for people with disabilities

East Hanover, NJ – January 9, 2024 – Kessler Foundation, a leading research organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, received two significant grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to further research on barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. The grants, totaling $1,175,510, will fund groundbreaking research initiatives focused on enhancing employment opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum and improving travel instruction services available to people with disabilities in New Jersey. A $577,787 grant will support study lead Helen ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

SwRI’s Dr. Steve Dellenback joins USDOT’s Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee

San Antonio – January 9, 2024 – Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Steve Dellenback, vice president of the Intelligent Systems Division, will join the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC). The USDOT recently announced the launch of the committee and its 27 members who represent a diverse spectrum of perspectives from academia, think tanks, the public sector, labor and industry. TTAC will provide expertise and insights, covering a broad range of topics such as automation, cybersecurity, safety, ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery

About The Study: Racial disparities in rates of general anesthesia continue to exist; however, the findings of this study including 35,000 patients who underwent cesarean delivery suggest that, for laboring patients who had labor epidural catheters in situ, no disparity by race or ethnicity existed. Future studies should address whether disparities in care that occur prior to neuraxial catheter placement are associated with higher rates of general anesthesia among patients from ethnic and racial minority groups. Authors: Caroline Leigh Thomas, M.D., of ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Rallying for a better badminton birdie

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2024 – Badminton traces its roots back more than a millennium, but the modern version of the racket game originated in the late 19th century in England. Today, it is the second most popular sport in the world behind soccer, with an estimated 220 million people who enjoy playing. For the last three decades, badminton has been a competitive Olympic sport, and with “bird” speeds topping 300 mph in “smash” shots, it certainly makes for exciting spectator sport. Shuttlecocks, also known as birdies or birds, are ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

The hidden identity of leukemia

Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) use various technologies to better characterize a rare form of leukemia on the molecular level Tokyo, Japan – Leukemia is a common term used to refer to a form of blood cancer. However, there are different types of leukemia depending on the cell type involved. One unique form is myeloid/natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia (MNKPL). Because of its rarity, there is no consensus on the specific characteristics needed to clinically identify this disease. In a recent article ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Increasing levels of "hype" language in grant applications and publications

Tsukuba, Japan—The success of scientific endeavors often depends on support from public research grants. Successful applicants increasingly describe their proposed research using promotional language ("hype"); however, it remains unclear whether they use hype in their subsequent research publications. A research team led by the University of Tsukuba analyzed all published research abstracts of projects funded by the US National Institute of Health (NIH) from 1985 to 2020. The analysis covered 139 hype adjectives emphasizing significance ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Light measurement enables estimation of the chemical attributes of spice extracts

Tsukuba, Japan—Spices and other plant-derived products contain many active components, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. However, even the slightest variations in conditions can considerably affect the extraction efficiency of these active components, posing challenges in determining the exact quantity of active components in the extract solution. In this study, researchers comprehensively measured the fluorescence emitted by polyphenols and flavonoids and analyzed the acquired data using machine learning methods. ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Multidisciplinary panel advocates for increased adoption of Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) in peripheral vascular interventions

EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00 AM ET ON JANUARY 9, 2024 WASHINGTON (January 9, 2024) – Proceedings from an expert consensus roundtable that discussed the benefits of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in lower extremity revascularization procedures were released today in the Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (JSCAI), Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR), and Journal of Vascular Surgery - Vascular Insights. The roundtable focused on the current challenges in diagnosing ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Analysis of rowing force of the water strider middle leg by direct measurement using a bio-appropriating probe and by indirect measurement using image analysis

A research paper by scientists at the Ibaraki University analyzed the rowing force of the water strider middle leg by direct measurement using a bio-appropriating probe and by indirect measurement using image analysis. The new research paper, published on Nov. 17 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, reported the rowing force of water striders obtained by direct and indirect measurements, and analyzed the maximum force arrival time and the middle leg angular velocity of the direct and indirect force measurements. “Rowing force of the middle leg of a water ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Discovering a new mechanism of vestibular neuritis

Prof. Sun-Uk Lee of the Department of Neurology and Prof. Euyhyun Park of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology from Korea University’s Anam Hospital discovered a new mechanism of vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis is one of the common diseases causing acute dizziness. It is known to be caused by an inflammation in the vestibular nerve and inner ear, which is responsible for balance and body motion sensation. Various mechanisms had been suggesting as the cause of vestibular neuritis, such as reactivation of latent herpes virus or peripheral blood circulation disorder in the ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Press passes now available for Discover BMB to be held March 23–26

Complimentary press passes are now available for Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). Join us March 23–26 in San Antonio to experience an engaging agenda showcasing the newest developments and current trends in the field. As the flagship meeting for one of the largest molecular life science organizations in the world, #DiscoverBMB brings together researchers in academia and industry from across the globe. Explore captivating science stories and connect with leading experts during the scientific symposia, which will encompass 12 themes. Topics include: Exciting ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

The value of information gathering for phages

Phages, the viruses that infect bacteria, will pay a high growth-rate cost to access environmental information that can help them choose which lifecycle to pursue, according to a study. Yigal Meir and colleagues developed a model of a bacteria-phage system to investigate how much the viruses should be willing to invest to acquire information about their local environment. A temperate phage, once inside a bacterium, can choose one of two life cycles. In the lytic cycle, the phage turns the bacterium ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Stranger than friction: A force initiating life

As the potter works the spinning wheel, the friction between their hands and the soft clay helps them shape it into all kinds of forms and creations. In a fascinating parallel, sea squirt oocytes (immature egg cells) harness friction within various compartments in their interior to undergo developmental changes after conception. A study from the Heisenberg group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), published in Nature Physics, now describes how this works. The sea is full of fascinating life forms. From algae and colorful fish to marine snails and sea squirts, a completely different world reveals itself underwater. Sea squirts or ascidians in particular are very unusual: ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Samsung leads again in U.S. patents while Qualcomm leaps into second place; overall grants dip 3.4%

New Haven, Conn., Jan. 9, 2024—U.S. patent grants declined 3.4% from 2022, the lowest level since 2019, and Samsung held onto the top spot for the second year in a row according to IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, world leader in tracking patent application and grant data. IFI CLAIMS Patent Services is a Digital Science company that compiles and tracks data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and other patent-issuing agencies around the globe. IFI translates its world-leading data into an annual U.S. Top 50 and IFI Global 250 patent rankings, providing valuable insights into companies’ R&D activity. Other findings in IFI’s latest rankings include patent powerhouse ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Spanish butterflies better at regulating their body temperature than their British cousins

Butterfly populations in Catalonia in northern Spain are better than their UK counterparts at regulating their body temperature by basking in the sunshine, but rising global temperatures due to climate change may put Spanish butterflies at greater risk of extinction. An international study, led by the University of Cambridge and the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) in Barcelona, found that butterflies use different methods to regulate their body temperature. In Catalonia, butterflies tend to angle ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Ultrasensitive molecular sensing with synthesize complex-frequencey waves

Sensors are essential tools for detecting and analyzing trace molecules in a variety of fields, including environmental monitoring, food safety, and public health. However, developing sensors with high enough sensitivity to detect these tiny amounts of molecules remains a challenge. One promising approach is surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), which uses plasmonic nanostructures to amplify the infrared signals of molecules adsorbed on their surface. Graphene is a particularly promising material for SEIRA because of its high ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Where to go with nitrate electroreduction reaction?

Ammonia is a necessary feedstock to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. To date, about 80% of global ammonia is used to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers which relates to 50% of global food production. The global production of ammonia is about 180 million metric tons per year through the carbon-intensive and highly energy-consuming Haber-Bosch process. The high energy consumption, high carbon intensity, and high capital investment of the Haber-Bosch process make the development of environmentally sustainable and affordable routes for ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions more urgent. The electrochemical ammonia ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Measuring grass pollen allergens instead of grass pollen count will help hay fever sufferers

Measuring airborne grass allergen levels instead of pollen counts will be more beneficial for hay fever sufferers as new research shows grass allergen levels are more consistently associated with hay fever symptoms than grass pollen counts. The research, published today in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and led by King’s College London and Imperial College London, shows for the first time that measuring airborne allergen levels will help people with hay fever better control their symptoms. 1 in 4 adults in the UK suffer from hay fever from late-March to September. Symptoms include a runny or blocked ...

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Science9 Jan 2024

Scripps Research scientists give new insight into a molecular target of alcohol

LA JOLLA, CA— Ethanol—the compound found in alcoholic beverages—interferes with the normal functioning of a long list of biological molecules, but how each of these interactions contributes to the behavioral effects of alcohol is not fully understood. A guiding, but elusive, goal of researchers is to identify the protein (or proteins) to which ethanol binds that makes some people vulnerable to excessive drinking. Solving this question would point the way to effective therapies for alcohol use disorder, ...

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Science8 Jan 2024

Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning and its applications

“TAR cloning is used to genetically engineer synthetic viruses with novel properties that may be used for the development of new vaccines.” BUFFALO, NY- January 8, 2024 – A new review paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on December 22, 2023, entitled, “Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning and its applications for gene function; genome architecture and evolution; biotechnology and biomedicine.” Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning represents a unique tool to selectively and efficiently recover a given chromosomal segment up to several hundred ...

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Science8 Jan 2024

Slow the scroll: Users less vigilant about misinformation on mobile phones

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mobile phones pack a lot of information into pocket-sized devices, which is why users may want to slow down the next time they’re scrolling through social media or checking email on a mobile app. People process information more efficiently but tend to be less vigilant about misinformation on their mobile phones compared to personal computers (PCs), according to a team led by Penn State researchers. This is especially true for users who have developed a routine or habit of using their ...

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Science8 Jan 2024

Rensselaer researcher helps scientists make sense of vast amounts of molecular data

Thanks to technological advances, scientists have access to vast amounts of data, but in order to put it to work and draw conclusions, they need to be able to process it. In research recently published in Genome Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Boleslaw Szymanski, Ph.D., Claire and Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and director of the Network Science and Technology Center, and team have found a method that effectively organizes and groups the data for a variety of applications. The process is referred to as clustering ...

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